MSC Cruises
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Cruise on MSC Virtuosa 3 - 17 June, 2023
3rd - 17th June - MSC Virtuosa - Scotland, Iceland and Norway cruise. Don't go on this ship if you are disabled. On 8th June we were taken to Isafjordur in Iceland. A tender service was required. This was a total, unorganised disaster. Only two tender boats were in operation to get 4000 passengers onto shore. A lift that they were using for the disabled, broke and we were asked to go to the other side of the ship. We finally reached shore only to find that there was absolutely nothing at Isafjordur. We then had to try and get back. We waited several hours! When we finally were able to get off the tender boat, my disabled husband's rollator (walking aid) had been put somewhere else and he was left trying to balance on a moving platform until it finally appeared. Disaster happened again the following morning when we were docked in Reykjavik. We had a coach trip booked for 9.30. We tried to leave the ship, only to find that, at that time, the only access was one steep access ramp at deck 6. Dangerous even for the able bodied and someone fell down it. We were then sent to various decks only to find unorganised crew members trying to get suitable ramps arranged. When the ship docked all ramps should have been safely in place and organised ready for passengers to get off. This has been the case when we have travelled with other cruise companies. At every port it wasnt easy getting on and off the vessel. We have cruised before but have never experienced such appalling service. For the reasons stated we would never cruise with MSC again. We would worry about getting off one of their ships if there was an emergency. There seemed to be a lack of experienced officers onboard. It was also mentioned several times by various passengers that for a large ship and the volume of passengers involved, there didn't seem to be enough lifeboats and 4 tenders should have been used when we went to Isafjordur. The whole ship seemed to be run by young, poorly trained, inexperienced people. It was badly managed. Don't go on an MSC cruise, even if it is cheap, if you are disabled. It wasnt a pleasant experience.