Cruise 2023

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Discussion

DodgyGeezer

40,538 posts

191 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
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digitrac said:
DodgyGeezer said:
be genuinely interested in hearing your thoughts
Ok a quick review as promised

EMBARKING/DISEMBARKING

Fine - very quick and easy both ways - No issues but you just have to remember that MSC operates like a bus with people leaving/joining on every port day along with the compulsory safety Tannoys in various languages repeated throughout the afternoon! - Didn't bother me and it also means no big crowd getting off at once

CABINS

Adequate basic internal cabin for our purposes - Niggling issue with Toilet flush in our cabin throughout the cruise

Didn't see the steward very often but room was always sorted twice a day

DRINK

Good - we had the drinks package and there were numerous bars all over - Never got any 'extra' charges and they even stocked my wife's favourite Whitley Neil Gin flavour at all the bars. Good selection of draft beers in Sports Bar - Never had to wait too long at any location

FOOD

Not brilliant - the food in the MDR tasted Ok but it was always served luke warm! Disappointing as other lines seem to be able to serve food hot to the table. Buffet was an absolute scrum at peak times so I avoided it. We had two speciality meals (Butchers Cut & Asian Garden) The Asian Garden was the best meal we had on board but the Butchers Cut steak was a little underwhelming

ENTERTAINMENT

Didn't get to see much but what we did see of the shows was not to the standard of Princess/RCI - Generally there didn't seem to be as much going on as on other ships. We did enjoy the bowling alley and I had hoped to do the Zip-line (Which looked fun) but was unable to due to it being windy on the last day. Waterslides also looked good but weather put me off trying them!

SUMMARY

Would I cruise again with MSC? - Certainly I still think they are good value but I would have to factor in the speciality dining packages when comparing to others - I would describe MSC as 'a bit rough around the edges' compared to other lines I have been on but overall perfectly acceptable to me
to be fair that's not too far removed from my thoughts - just wanted to see if I was being urealistic either way. We didn't have the drinks package so no view; we really enjoyed the Cirque de Soleil show (I'm normally one of those who swerves as much 'entertainment' as I can); food wasn't bad, wasn't great; less casual seating than P&O, Princess, HAL and what there was was quite hard/uncomfortable.


Deep Thought

Original Poster:

35,843 posts

198 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
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Cunard 5 nighter from Southampton coming up Wednesday week.

Looking forward to it. Paid for the drinks package, a couple of excursions and a speciality restaurant so that should be us all set.

Northern Europe, so Le Havre, Rotterdam and Zebrugge. Doing a monestary that makes a spiced liqueur from Le Havre and heading to Ghent Christmas markets from Zebrugge.

stevemcs

8,674 posts

94 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
quotequote all
Deep Thought said:
Cunard 5 nighter from Southampton coming up Wednesday week.

Looking forward to it. Paid for the drinks package, a couple of excursions and a speciality restaurant so that should be us all set.

Northern Europe, so Le Havre, Rotterdam and Zebrugge. Doing a monestary that makes a spiced liqueur from Le Havre and heading to Ghent Christmas markets from Zebrugge.
Enjoy it, the trees are up on the ship so looks festive. Queen Mary 2 looks good value for next year at the minute.

Deep Thought

Original Poster:

35,843 posts

198 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
Enjoy it, the trees are up on the ship so looks festive. Queen Mary 2 looks good value for next year at the minute.
Were you on it recently?

Seen some pics in the FB groups and it does look well. Festive, without being over the top.

This is our first Cunard cruise. Will see what we think but yes, wouldnt be adverse to going on the QM2 if that goes well. I'll check out those prices!

stevemcs

8,674 posts

94 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
quotequote all
Deep Thought said:
Were you on it recently?

Seen some pics in the FB groups and it does look well. Festive, without being over the top.

This is our first Cunard cruise. Will see what we think but yes, wouldnt be adverse to going on the QM2 if that goes well. I'll check out those prices!
Not been, I looked at the cruise your on but the prices went stupid, considered Azura in the Canaries and finally booked playa Blanca on land !