Topic: ALL-INCLUSIVE for just £1?? Too good to be true, surely...

QUOTE:

hi all. i am planning to book a cruise with msc next year. i think this is a good offer. i did a cruise on the thompson dream this year all inclusive it was worth every penny. yes there will be some exclusions you will pay extra for but i think you would find this on all cruise ships. has anyone done a cruise with msc if so could you share any positives or negatives with me?.

I suggest you read the reviews on MSC. Never again is a common retort..........http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-reviews/msc-cruises/

Not been on an MSC cruise but we recently met an Australian couple in the queue at the top of the cable car in Dubrovnik and they said the ports and itineray of their cruise were a dream but the ship was a nightmare! There main complaint was about crowding and fellow passengers - mainly of Italians shoving them constantly, even when they were standing at the carvery about to receive their plates of food they were shoved out of the way! They also complained about the cost of transfers into town from ports, which was very high. They said they would love to cruise again (this was their first) but never on MSC again.

We've not been on MSC but had similar to Evie's experience with Costa. We missed some things on the ship because even though the announcements were made in a variety of languages, we couldn't always make out that they were speaking in English as they had such a heavy accent! I also believe we were purposely mislead - on embarkation I specifically checked that our OBC would be amalgamated & would come off the final account (as per all the other lines we'd sailed on). However, when I queried my 'lost' credit on the last day the story changed about it being amalgamated. Each person has to use it or lose it!
The main thing for us Brits to remember is that most of the rest of EU haven't been brought up to queue - they're not necessarily being rude they're just being themselves (which is downright pig ignorant to us but bog standard to them)!

Heather. The vast majority of bad descriptions you read about MSC have a strong element of truth in my experience I am afraid. Not all the food is inedible, we found the main restaurant offerings to be not great, but OK. Buffets & breakfasts are at best poor, and reports of behaviour of the Italian crew contingent and passengers sound all too familiar. Ship announcements in every language followed by those in broken English is a true accusation. However, we found the non-Italian crew to be honestly hard working, thorough and courteous, and the shore itineries excellent - provided you adopt the "DIY" approach. All in all, they are one of the cheapest cruise lines around and you get what you pay for in all walks of life. It totally depends on your own minimum tolerence level....!!

Thanks to all who replied about cruising with m.s.c not a very encouraging response!! Could anyone recommend a cruise line preferably all inclusive? We like the idea of going to the baltics but can only go in school holidays.

THINK WE HAVE CRUISED WITH MOST CRUISE LINES, AT LEAST ONCE. OUR 1 WEEK CRUISE WITH MSC, WAS NOT THAT BAD, WE HAD A GREAT PRICE AND WE PAID EXTRA TO MAKE OURSELVES -ALL INCL(APPROX 230 POUNDS) sO TO GET THIS ALL INCLUSIVE FOR A POUND IS A BARGAIN. IT MUST BE WORTH CONSIDERING IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT. BELIEVE KIDS GO FREE. BALTIC CRUISES ARE ALWAYS QUITE EXPENSIVE ANYWAY.dRINKS IN ALL THE PORTS OF CALL ARE VERY VERY EXPENSIVE, SO AT LEAST YOU CAN HAVE A DRINK ONBOARD. THE FOOD MAY NOT BE BRILLIANT BUT ONE CAN ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE IN THE BUFFET REST. IF NOT THE MAIN REST. ALSO TH SHIPS ARE ALL NICE AND NEW. THE ONLY OTHER COMPANY I COULD RECOMMEND WITHOK DRINKSPRICES IS P.@ O.

iS IT A GOOD OFFER?nOTE THE PRICE OF THE CRUISE HAS CORRESPONDINGLY GONE UP FROM LAST YEAR!

We have booked to go on MSC Armonia May 6th Malaga - Venice,when we asked the agent about the £1 all inclusive she sent us a e-mail saying if we wanted the full all inclusice package it was £38 @ head there was other packages but not for a £1.

I'm booked on my first ever cruise with MSC Orchestra on 18 November. Bit worried about the reviews, but its too late now!

On the plus side I got it for bargain, bargain price, free drinks package and gratuities included and an upgrade to a balcony cabin. I figure if its that bad I'll hop off at first port and fly on to out end destination early!