MSC Cruises
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Saesoned traveller, and cruiser, Attempting Yacht Club.
I have just returned from a Yacht club experience with my family. I have been on 4 MSC cruises, including the Grandiousa, Virtuosa, and Europa (sorry about the spelling). I am about one more cruise away from Diamond status. This is my experience of MSC. I have also travelled in many various levels of both 5 star and 1 star hotels and resorts, throughout my life, as I used to work in travel. I will bullet point the pros and cons; Pros; MSC is very relaxed, regarding it's dress codes and dinning. (This is great, as you can dress up if you wish, and stick to your football shirt if you don't, though for heaven sake make an effort, your mum would be proud). The shows are a good length and fun. Food is good, if you step out of the buffet once in a while. The facilities, like the spa and thermal areas, including the bars and tea rooms, are excellent. The ships are beautiful and the staff, usually friendly. The cleaning staff, are always excellent, and the rooms were kept very well, with a turndown service. Speciality dinning is a must. Cons on this trip; When I booked this weekends yacht club, I did so, firstly by paying for two people, in order to book myself a room, and then for 4 people to share a room, (My Father, sister and her children aged 14, and 12). At no point was it pointed out to me this booking cost the same as a booking of Three rooms, nor that the 4 berth cabin, did not provide 4 beds, only a sofa bed which according to my sister, had a metal bar in the centre making sleeping very difficult. Sleeping on a sofa bed, when you have paid the same as all other guest, for your room, is not a premium experience, regardless of its comfort. This also meant that 4 paying adults were sharing a bathroom. All in all, I paid full price, for 6 people, and received facilities for 4 people, this is not how 5 star service, should be provided. MSC should be doing their best to ensure, we get the best they can offer. Multiple requests, throughout the trip went unmet, such as; Butler not answering my one and only call, nor meeting me except by chance at the end of the evening. (worth saying that the concierge, held most of the experience together). Room service took over an hour for a pizza, to be bought, Could they not jump the queue for their Yacht club guests? Service was slow, (which is expected in Europe, though it is generally nice to know you are being served, if the drinks do take a while). They lacked enough staff to take orders at the bar and prepare meals. All in all, it could take longer to get a drink, in Yacht Club, than during the packed bar, at the white party. Overall I feel that MSC, after several trips, does not seam to value me as a customer, and lacks the service or treatment I've come to expect from other 5 star resorts or experiences I frequent. I will be thinking long and hard about, my next cruise (grand tour, through the east of Africa), next year, and whether or not to book something else instead. It pains me to say this, but I have given MSC more than one exception throughout my time with them, I wish only to save anyone else from having to do the same. I used the Yacht Club weekend to determine if it would be worth it for a longer stay. Thinking that MSC would put their best foot forward (I'm sure other guest planned the same). Sadly they did not, and I with MSC there is no real complaints procedure or customer service you can go to, to resolve any issues (from previous experience). So ultimately, I can not recommend MSC, as a luxury cruise liner.