Thanks so much for spelunking the World Europa, I've been quite curious about the new ships ... I'm an MSC cruiser from the USA (Yacht Club only) and am setting sail at the end of this month from Rio to Rome (16 days) and then spending a week in Rome. We'll be on the Seaview - a new ship for us - we've never had any complaints with guest services or any of the service or food in the MSC YC (the concierges are very attentive) and we really enjoy cruising there. As far as entertainment, MSC really needs some Broadway-type shows like other ships ... however, the fact that their shows are only about 35 min. long is nice if you want to do several things in an evening! We love the trivia, but ... yes, there isn't quite as much as on other lines (NCL is our other preferred line) but my hubs, a friend and I have won the multi-night progressive trivia on almost every MSC ship we've been on --- one was almost every night for 12 nights. Some of the activities staff on MSC ships are very interactive and friendly and we always have a good time with them. Master Chef at Sea is a lot of fun and the Jr. Master Chef at Sea is wonderful to watch.
I'm a simple woman. I see a new Ben and David video and I click. I'm not even a cruiser but love them. Mostly because they are such lovely guys and just amazing quality videos.
I have never cruised, and I live far from any oceans or seas. However, I watch a few cruising videos to see what it is like. I only recently (one month ago?) discovered Ben and David's channel, and I love it! Ben and David remind me of many people I once knew and miss dearly. Thanks guys for making me feel 30 years younger 😊👍
Came to watch this one specifically after watching your 'censored' video. Honestly, even if people knew you, knew your channel, and went on a mission to find themselves in the background of your videos, they would seriously struggle. You so clearly make every effort to be unobtrusive. In fact, the only noticable people in the background were the 2 crew waving at you from the bar near the beginning 🤔🤔 Stay strong guys. Continue to enjoy the cruiselines who let you mind your own business 🤭
❤ was a lot of fun! As an old lady, I can tell you an unhappy staff is because of lousy management. That’s really where it all begins. Thanks for doing this for our benefit.
My heart breaks for you. I lost my husband 18 months ago and miss him every day.💔 We used to like taking vacations together, so traveling without him was an adjustment. I have taken two cruises since he passed; the 'Best of the Baltics' on Celebrity Apex with my 24 yr old grandchild last summer, and a Royal Caribbean Bahama's trip in December with my daughter. It was different without him, but I had a nice time and am planning another trip in the future.
I would never go on a mega-ship, but the energy of these guys is so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable, that I will watch their videos about ships I am not interested in! I don't know if they'd ever do smaller ships or a more upscale line, but I would be so happy to run into them on a cruise!
I’m researching to see if cruising is something that I would enjoy. I did a Nile cruise years ago and while I enjoyed it the main focus was the temples and tours instead of the ship itself. It was a very action packed and more of an adventure than a holiday. I’m not sure that cruising is for me though. I need to learn more.
@@mikoto7693 last year was the first time I'd ever been on a cruise. My wife and I booked a 5 day trip through MSC to Nassau and their island. I was extremely nervous at first. It's a little intimidating seeing the size of the ship when you first get there but we ended up having a great time. With a ship that size you barely feel the movement and there are so many activities that if you get bored you can't blame anyone but yourself. We're going again in a week with MSC on a 7 day trip.
.I just completed a cruise on the MSC Seashore sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida to the private islsnd and a stop in Nassau. It was a great cruise. I have cruised more than 20 times. The staff and crew were very friendly and helpful. The entertainment was excellent. Boarding was quick and easy. Excellent buffet. Well designed ship. Did not feel crowded. Plenty of chaises. Reserve seats for shows so no problem getting in and no problem making reservations. Beautiful ship. Main dining room appetizers and desserts were very good, main courses were hit or miss. Buffet layout was very good for crowd control. No lines as stations repeat. Very stable ship and very quiet balcony cabin, soundproof. Fabulous private island, natural beauty, not an amusement park. I will sail with them again.
@@mariaaguila1274I was on MSC Seashore in November, and MSC Meravligia in January. I have asthma and so I always try to avoid smokers. Didn't have any trouble on either cruise.
Few cruise ships now enforce it. After Covid it’s like passengers are rebelling and don’t wash their hands at all. I never known it as bad as it is now even in the men’s toilets. They miss that they are risking their own holidays as well as everyone else’s. You can only do what’s best for you and let everyone else get sick
@@richardparmenter188This is what we did in Egypt during our Nile cruise. We avoided getting upset stomaches by taking proper hygiene precautions unlike half of the passengers.
People bash MSC because they could happily afford 2-3x the price with other cruiselines for marginally better experience. My last Italy/Spain/France cruise with MSC was €55/night, including gratuities, for a solo traveller! (= €30-40 per person if double-sharing) . For that price, even if the food is bland (they are actually not too bad, some pasta dishes are pretty good), just having a 4-course meal with expensive seafood dishes is already easily worth the price. If I find cheap deals with MSC, I would set my expectations accordingly. Unless you are the type ooozing $$$ or you want each and every cruise to be a dream cruise, for me, cheaper cruise means I can cruise more often and explore more places/have more vacations.
I'm from Chicago and just caught myself saying, "I'm feeling a bit peckish, I might tuck into that cheeky donut from the breakfast deserts." Husband was very confused. A week of binging of your videos has left a mark! loL!
I’ve also thought of the term “peckish” and since watching Ben and David I’ve actually uttered the term for the first time ever in my life. I’m forever changed❤
My husband and I have cruised a few times on MSC recently. In the past our cruises were mainly with RC or NCL. However as we are now retired our budget is more restricted. While the food and customer service on MSC is poor their prices mean we can continue to cruise as the other lines are now out of our price range. If you go on MSC with realistic expectation you can have a great cruise. While we enjoy the ship we are more interested in the ports and love their itineraries here in Europe as most are port intensive. BTW the fact MSC matches any loyalty level you have with other lines is a plus seldomly mentioned.
i must say , the food in the main dining is great.. for me its 5 a 6 stars... only the buffet is not that great, could have more choices 3 stars.. .. but yeah for the cruise price its very good..
I kinda hate the bigger ships that try to match malls and shopping streets. I dont want to be stuck on a 6k+ person ship give me a nice 1500-4000 person ship any day.
You have never been on a bigger ship then. Don't speak on something you don't know about. The smaller ships are so crowded at max capacity. The larger ships are designed to carry 5k plus and it feel like only 1000 are on board. The larger ships are WAY less crowded than the small ships that they pack in and oversell.
I feel lost and not really on a cruise on a ship like the one shown above. I like the older smaller ships of the Lirica, the Fantasia and the Musica class. Not so much "cold bling bling" - but nice for people not looking for "thrills" but cruising in the "old fashioned style" 😉
Thank you, Ben and Dave for warning us people with the respiratory problems about the smoking I love cruising, but not if there’s going to be more smoking problems on the ship
Yeah having a coffee in a cigar lounge is going to do it every time. Yes, there is smoking on board, but its generally pretty well confined to the Cigar lounge, the back right side of the open deck and the left side of the Zen bar. I suffer from asthma and didnt have any issues at all, but then i didnt go sit in the Cigar lounge for my coffees.
We're big cruisers. Mostly Princess and NCL. Food and entertainment are very important to me so I probably won't try MSC. Also, the smoking is a problem for me. I avoid the casino and won't do a ship that forces us through the casino because it always smells. Yuck!
How do you like Princess in comparison? I am the kind of person that likes quiet comfort, afternoon tea/coffee, and a meal that takes my palate on an adventure! Is Princess right for me?
We do like Princess. I think the food is very good at the MDR. We don't really do the buffet. We're not buffet people. They have 2 high teas. Free and pay. Weve done the free one. Its good enough for us. They have a 24 hr. Cafe for coffee and tea with food on most ships. Drinks are included there with the drinks pkg. They don't usually have the same amount of drunks or fights. The degree of quiet depends on the location and number if people I think. And we love the medallion which is your cruise card but it's wearable. You can order food and drink almost anywhere on the ship and they'll deliver it.
I was on a cruise from hell last April on MSC Divina; I was supposed to have a $200 onboard ship credit. I showed the customer service desk staff the paperwork and proof I was owed the money. The staff did nothing and didn't seem to care. If that had been the worst thing about the cruise, I could have lived with that, but it wasn't even close to being the most significant issue. The cabin next to mine was full of cigarette smoke that poured into my room under a door that the two cabins shared. When I complained to guest services, they did NOTHING. When I went to the buffet on the 14th deck, other folks around me and I saw people smoking. I complained to the staff who did NOTHING! Thanks to the entitlement of individuals who smoked, I got sick with a sore throat, my nose was clogged, and my eyes got red, which ruined my cruise. NO ONE, and I mean NOT one staff member on the MSC Divina, cared. I met a woman, a nurse from Germany on the cruise who complained about the stench of weed she smelled on her deck. NO ONE CARED. I saw an elderly man with Parkinson's disease complain that he had asked for a cabin for disabled people when he booked the ship, and the room was unacceptable. He left the cruise early without compensation because no allowance was made for him. The food on MSC Divina was awful, from runny eggs for breakfast to a steak that could have been used for a hockey puck. I had paid for my laundry to be done. The staff held it for more than three days, and at 11:45 p.m. the night before disembarkation, my laundry showed up - it was too late to pack it and place the luggage outside my room correctly, so I had to drag my suitcases with me during disembarkation. There were good things about the cruise. The first would be disembarking from the ship. I couldn't wait for the cruise to end. I admit the cabin was nice. I had a deluxe balcony cabin. However, I couldn't enjoy the balcony because everyone around me was smoking on their balconies. I WILL NEVER AGAIN EVER CRUISE ON MSC.
I’ve only cruised MSC because it’s all I can afford and I have no complaints, have had all good experiences! Love MSC. Best value for solos in America.
That ship usually sails for a very good price so I wouldn't say you got ripped off. A lot of the criticism these guys bring up are in relation to the service and product expected for the price.
As a Travel Professional, I want to sail on all cruise lines so I can share my experiences with my guests. I’m absolutely cautious about sailing with MSC. Ben and David, your honesty and integrity are inspirational and I’d love to have a chat with you for a column I write.
My daughter and I went on the MSC Meraviglia about two months ago from NY to their private island for 11 nights and I must admit I was very skeptical and somewhat hesitant to go as I had heard some horror stories about MSC. It was my 18th cruise, so, I am not necessarily a complete novice at cruising. Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. Our balcony cabin was very comfortable, the cabin attendant very efficient and courteous and it was very easy to check in and get settled. We did have a specialty diner package and every one of the restaurants we tried were excellent. The buffet was extensive, and overall very good. Like with all the other cruise lines I’ve been with, there were things I liked better than others, but no surprise there. Our experience in the dining room, was interesting. Our main waiter and his assistant made us feel like royalty, however the food was hit and miss, but in all fairness more hit than miss. The highlight of the cruise for me was the “in house” entertainers. They were exceptional. The singers, dancers, musicians and Cirque du Soleil-type artists were some of the very best I have seen on any cruise. All four of the production shows were outstanding and I would go back if I knew I would get the same cast. I was not as enamored with the House of Rock and Houdini shows (which had a surcharge) mainly because the noise level was uncomfortable for me. I soon learned where the smoking areas were and I avoided them at all costs because I have pretty severe asthma. When I had to go through the casino, I actually held my breath and walked very fast through it. Fortunately, it was a fairly small area and I could hold my breath for the duration!!! Would I travel again with MSC? Yes, if the price was right. Was it the cruise of my dreams? NO. But from my experience, I did not think it deserved as harsh a criticism as it seems to get from many quarters.
@Alainmath if the ship is in full capacity, then " only a few" can become a lot. As they stated in the video, some people just ignored the no smoking and carried on. There was even a guy lighting up in the restaurant where Ben was having his coffee. Compared to most cruise lines, MSC are definitely behind with their smoking rules.
I can see that MSC is not a cruise line I’ll ever sail on. I have to draw the line on smoking/vaping. I can’t handle it. It doesn’t help that a former hairstylist of mine just passed away from lung cancer. She wasn’t a smoker, but she was exposed to plenty of second hand smoke. Nope, nope, nope.
I sailed MSC Caribbean and Europe, did not notice as much smoke on Meraviglia in the Caribbean, the Europe cruise had in my opinion too many designated smoking areas and there were people smoking in non designated areas. Smoke from casino would drift up or down the stairs as there was a staircase in the middle of the casino area
I hate smoking but it was no worse than most hotels I have stayed at, worst was the casino so just avoided it, in fact my asthma was more affected by walking down the cleaning producer isle in my local supermarket.
We had people smoking On their balconies on both sides..it was nauseating. I complained to management and nothing was resolved. Pushy and rude clientele, dated Eurovision style shows…average buffets, terrible wifi…..
I've heard so many bad things about MSC. Frankly, even if you guys had a good cruise this time, I'd still hesitate to try them. We don't cruise that often, so I want it to be great every time.
MSC Seashore is a beautiful ship and we had a great time. Every ship in a cruise line is not the same. I just returned from a cruise out of Port Canaveral Fl.
I watched one of my favorite Japanese travel creators Try an MSC cruise and he hated everything I felt so bad for him I know immediately I won't go on an MSC cruise
So shocked how you can go from a great cruise and kudos to MSC on this sailing. Next video they did a 360 and made your wonderful experience go south really fast. I was considering trying them but I think I'm good without it. Thanks always for your honesty and giving different perspectives. MSC loss in so many ways!
I laughed out loud when David was singing "Walking on broken glass" as Ben crossed the glass walkway. Thank you, Ben and David, for publishing another informative video.
Great point Ben when you talked about sanitation enforcement at the buffet, sadly there is no enforcement at all. Recently I cruised with MSC and for the first time in my life We got very, very sick at the end of the cruise. I was really concern because the lack of proper sanitation enforcement at the buffet, nobody tells people to wash the hands and there was only two lavatories at the buffet entrance without soap. I really hate that!
We cruise often. We have taken 42 cruises in last 9 years. We took our first MSC cruise on the Meraviglia this past November. For the price you pay you definitely get value for your money. The downside was that their food was subpar and often cold. Their customer service is non existent if you have a problem. Their officers are invisible! You get what you pay for on MSC
Agreed. I went on the same ship from Brooklyn in December last year. The worst cruise I’ve ever had in my life. Very rude maîtres de; I have wheelchair bound mother and got yelled and insulted for being late the first night of dinner. Terrible customer service. Disgusting food. The rooms have no storage space. Worse cruise ever.
I love MSC, had 4 great cruises with them but at 26 mins in Ben, you mention about the cleanliness of others and you couldn’t be more correct, was on Euribia at the end of January, there were far too many onboard that were carrying more than just a cold, hand washing in the buffet wasn’t pushed hard enough and yes I ended up with flu, pneumonia and jaundice (I succumbed on disembarkation day and I’m an early 40’s active gym going healthy person so can happen to anyone). It is down to individuals but MSC has to clamp down on people when they are clearly ill, I fed this back to them too!
That is what scares me about huge cruise ships with sick people. I don’t see how it would be possible to stop people carrying infectious diseases from cruise ships. Maybe one needs to take health precautions like masking, using anti viral wipes and more hand washing. Some travelers on cruise ships do these things.
I'll take a swipe at them: smoking is disgusting. Your habit affects everyone around you. Would you enjoy having people barf on you everywhere you go. That is the bs non-smokers put up with.
Smoking and 🧼 cleanliness around food is a deal breaker for me. The ship looked nice but just not for me. Too bad because cruises are getting so expensive would have liked a good alternative to my normal Royal crusades. But this was very informative and I’m glad I did. Because now I know this is not for me. Great video as always. Thank you.
Great vid. World Europa looks amazing. We paid £350 each for a 7 night north Europe cruise on Virtuosa. All inclusive food with 4 ports for the price of 2 nights in a Premier Inn. Absolutely stunning value for money. Customer service fine, food fine, ship stunning. I couldn't get over it. Going on MSC again ASAP. And yeah I love the fragrance 😄
One TH-cam presenter called his MSC cruise "the cruise of queues"! Too big and crowded for me. The smoking thing would put me off for sure. Here in Australia, non-smoking laws are very strict. People aren't allowed to smoke even in outside eating areas of restaurants. Also, smoking is not allowed in the pedestrian malls in the city so we're used to that kind of environment.
We just got off MSC Seashore on Sunday March 10th, and the buffet was definitely insanity a lot of the time. There were times (mealtimes) when there were no seats available at all. You had to go to one of the neighboring areas to try to find a lounger to sit. If you went an hour before or after you could find seats. They had people walking around taking orders, and those staff should have instead been working on clearing tables, or serving behind the buffet, to help get the lines through, and to help clear spaces for those of us who were wandering around the entire circle area of the buffet trying to find a seat. Overall, a cruise is always what you make it. But, there's just not enough staff working on "capacity-related" issues.
Fair play for giving it another go guys! You are incredibly fair with your assessment of everything. I've never tried MSC and after your last video I swore I never would. The ships themselves are lovely, just a shame they fall down in other areas.
Those huge ships look so grand and glamorous, but 6000 people! We actually like the small Norwegian Star and are looking forward to our April 22nd Fire and Ice cruise on Norwegian Spirit. 16 nights from Hawaii to Alaska. So excited!! Love your videos!!
As a vision impaired person, ease of movement and layout of a ship is important for my independent navigation. My senses are heightened, so the smell of smoke would make me feel quite unwell. I do like that not all cruise lines/ports accept digital paperwork- what if your phone goes flat or has technical difficulties? Give me printed materials anytime! My opinion on cruise food - as long as you don’t get poisoning, I haven’t had to cook it, so am always keen to try something different. The ship experiences are more important to me than the destination 😊 As always, thank you for your honest reviews ❤
I’m just one person with a limited travel budget, so MSC could not care less what I think - but after decades living near a cruise port and never having any desire to cruise, I finally decided to cruise last year based 💯 percent on TH-cam content - you and Don and Parideejay and Ben and David showed me a credible view of what I could expect on a cruise, and helped me narrow it down to a cruise line that was a good fit for me. I had a long career in advertising in the resort and travel industry, and I know that Hell itself could be made to look appealing with a skillfully created ad campaign (like the new one on TV for MSC). When TH-cam cruisers like you started showing me the good and the bad, I felt informed rather than “sold” on cruising. So thank you, Tony, and shame on MSC for failing to read the room.
We were ‘quiet’ cruisers, and are not enthusiastic cruisers on large ships. We were docked in one port, and were sitting on our balcony, and an MSc ship came to dock. Within a few minutes there was a mass exodus of parents and pushchairs, they looked like ants leaving the ship, happy ants, with happy parents, so the ship must be doing something right. The only thing that changed on the cruise line we always used was the sale of lanyards to hold your key card. It was mainly the men that used these and it made it look as tho you were at a convention! Strangely when we returned a few weeks later, there wasn’t a lanyard to be seen! It is probably obvious that we were a rather Mature couple and the ship didn’t really cater for families which was better for us! If faces were anything to go by, as I said, happy faces and happy children on the MSC.
Yuck..I detest the smell of smoke. We sailed the Mediterranean with MSC and on both sides of our ocean balcony suite, we had smokers..I couldn’t breath fresh sea air on y own balcony..in the middle of the sea , I had the worst pollution. Guest services did bugger all to rectify. Never smiling with MSC
I haven't seen this addressed, but if you look closely, you can see a reflection of the equipment they were using in a couple of reflective surfaces. It was a smaller camera on a longer folded tripod. It was bigger than an iPhone but smaller than some of the fuller media setups that I've seen in other videos on this subject.
I’ve been on a few cruises and on different cruise lines. Haven’t tried MSC and probably wouldn’t. Because the prices are less expensive compared to other lines, they are of course more crowded. 6000 people on a confined area has no appeal to me. I love your videos and watching you is so much fun. I’m glad you had a better experience this time. ❤😊
We're seasoned cruises and have been on most lines. We've sailed with MSC 4 times now, each time in the Yacht Club, and those cruises were better than our suite experiences on other lines.
Just boarded the World Europa in Marseille, today! Love it so far. I know what you mean about the smokers lounge. I vape myself and currently writing this from sitting in the smokers lounge & the smoke smell is rather strong to put up with. 😂
I think that was the longest I've ever waited to watch you guys grab a meal. That meatball looked positively disgusting. Thanks for always doing honest reviews and being so thorough. Love your videos and can't wait for the next installment of this series.
P&O, celebrity and RCL cruiser here. MSC ship looks gorgeous but the food and the customer service is just not for me. Really informative video. Cannot wait to watch the next one!
Australian here. I also found the food on MSC to be borderline okay to dreadful. I dislike American style food but the offering on MSC was just so poor from the quality of food to the presentation I was actually missing the food I had on US cruises. I dont really enjoy pizza but when that becomes the most appealing food option something is very wrong.
I’m holding my breath with excitement!! I was shocked after watching your previous video on MSC. I really hope this is a better experience. Love you guys ❤
I'm a former smoker and use a vape now. I don't understand breaking the rules when it's clear that MSC provide many more than the usual amount of designated smoking areas. I also don't like the indoor smoking bar. Why not put a small bar at one of the outdoor smoking areas and leave the interior of the ship fresh and clean for everyone?
💯 support you, Ben & David. Shame on MSC. After watching your first MSC World Europa, we started to consider taking an MSC when we hadn’t prior. We even started to look up dates and availability. Now, there is no chance in hell!
Smoking is a real p in the a... we just have returned from a canary island cruise with AIDA where believe it or not you are still allowed to smoke on balcony although you have to watch a Video where fire on board of ship is called a big hazard 😢 same as you Ben I have asthma and in addition a heart condition and a defibrilator implant.besides the smoke the food is great and the intinerary convinced us to book this cruise as one port of call was Madeira.. smoking is one reason we prefere to book Cunard, Celeberty, Princess etc mostly there are some designated areas where smokers can go and thats it, everybody is happy, thanks for your video I always look forward to them
It was disturbing to see how filthey the food service areas were around the platters In the buffet area. I prefer eating in the dining rooms when I cruise. Love your videos
I watch these types of vlogs because I want to go on a cruise for the very first time. I have seen numerous negative reviews on MSC. This has confirmed it. I will not book my first cruise or any further cruises with MSC. I used to work for the Marriott and Sheraton Hotels for 20 years. I have never heard any manager or security guard yell at a guest or censor them. This includes when guests break out into fights. Very unprofessional of MSC. There are a lot of vacation packages and cruises to book. I guess their business is good enough without mine nor Ben and David.
So glad you had a great time and to hear they keep improving. We did the seaview 7 night Mediterranean last summer and for our family of 4 it cost $4000. Despite some flaws you mentioned we thought it was a great value and we really enjoyed the trip.
Hi Ben and David. I had some hesitation about a cruise with msc. I finally decided to give it a try. We booked the Yacht Club. We were blown away. Yes, we tried the main buffet to see how it was. Absolutely crazy busy. We went another afternoon so we could make a small charcuterie plate for a snack. It was still crowded but not as bad. It seems it can be hit or miss outside of the Yacht Club. Love the Mediterranean food as well. As always thank you for all your hard work in making these videos. Hope you are both well. ❤❤
The black pizza, is not black cause of charcoal, but because of the ink of a squid. It is a squid/seafood pizza. And there are a lot of young people, with a lot more energy, so they don't like to sit in lounge areas and are less patient when walking around.
Very helpful comments about MSC, which we will be sailing for the first time in 2 months. Looking forward to the next video as we got an upgrade to Yacht Club. Enjoying your videos even more: the editing it getting really slick so you’re able to cram more good content into less time - very well done!
I’ve been on three MSC cruises and they were great! We never had any problem with anyone smoking and the food was very good. The crew was very professional and friendly. We love MSC!
MSC are so far the best cruise line that is in my budget. I've tried Costa and did not like it, I've tried AIDA (I'm German) and it was pretty good. MSC so far has been clearly the best. If you go into an MSC cruise with a realistic expectation, you will have a great time. If you go in expecting perfection and luxury akin to a 500$ a night cruise, you will be disappointed.
Have to add, I once found an amazing offer by Princess Cruises, a week on Regal Princess, solo, inside cabin for 729 € and that was by a mile my best cruise ever, so if I could afford it, I would go on more premium lines but as long as I can't, MSC will do nicely.
I was on the MSC Euribia 2 weeks ago. Very different experience. No 5 languages on that one, only English and German, as the ship mostly embarked guests in Southamption and Hambourg, the entertainment was different (I would say better), etc... On the other hand, I experienced serious housekeeping issues (the cabin stewart completely forgot our cabin one day) and cabin corridors were unkept. That said customer services reacted appropriately on that point. The food was average even if the main restaurants service was very efficient. It remained a very decent cruise and I haven't paid too much so I can't complain.
I have zero interest in cruises, I never want to go on one again.. but I absolutely adore your channel so much! You make me want to book a cruise! Also your camera is stunning ❤
Please add info for handicapped accessibility I am in a wheelchair and what about excursions are they handicapped accessibility and are there rooms available thanks😊
Consider an Alaskan Cruise. It was absolutely magical, and the staff on Quantum of the Seas were not only very good, but my wife and I felt that they also really enjoyed their jobs.
Consider a Viking cruise. And the ships are smaller. Their expedition ships are about 350 people and their regular ships are about 2,300. It’s a line that is focused on education about the destinations. Every stateroom has a balcony with 2 chairs. It’s all inclusive including wine and beer. If you want a higher quality alcohol theres a spirits package and higher quality wine you can purchase. No gaudy shows, just educational lectures and some small performances as well as a guitarist and a pianist. No children. No formal nights just casual clothes. If you want to go to one of their 2 specialty restaurants, wear nice slacks/blouse or a dress. No gambling or art sales. No smoking allowed. We love Viking and will continue to cruise with that line. I’m looking forward to one of their European river cruises.
There’s no such thing as being allergic to cigarette / cigar smoke. While it’s unpleasant, it’s not possible to be allergic to it. Don’t diminish the meaning of the word allergy
My mother used to occasionally have a neighbor lady do some ironing for her after doing laundry for our seven person family. Mom would then have to hang it all on our clothes line outside to air it all out. The neighbor lady was a heavy smoker! 😃
Yeah sailing YC is way different given the benefits. Between your own private dining areas, personal butler service, and private bars to roped off seating in the theaters you really don’t have to cruise with the other passengers if you don’t want to 😂 you also get priority boarding and debarkation…a pillow menu, Bottle service in your cabin…the list is extensive. If you’re not into all the peoples….probably just pay for YC 😂
Thanks for the honesty about the crowds. Most of the video didn't reflect that but even I know that it's not hard to find areas of the ship that have few if anyone there when doing videos. That's something to stress to the viewers that even on crowded ships, it can be fun to find that somewhat hidden place. It's almost like it was waiting for you to arrive.
We have a very similar story to yours about MSC! Which made us not sail with them ever again… And recently we thought about trying it again (also after 3 years)… This video helped us on the decision, but the most important thing we need to see a change (for the better) is the customer services, cause it was absolutely terrible! Thanks for this video! Love you guys! Guga
It looks like a shopping mall with no character and a vibe similar to Las Vegas. I prefer the classic look of an elegant vessel, such as the layout of the DCL ships. They are gorgeous, and you feel like you're sailing a classic ship.
You guys are too cute! I love all your wonderful videos!! May you continue to be abundantly blessed and thank you so much for shining your light in my life ❤
You guys are definitely my FAVORITE cruise bloggers. Always great content and I really appreciate how you edit the videos. Fantastic job!!! Please stay encouraged and keep up the great work!
If I want an interior balcony, I'll book a room at Embassy Suits. I go on a cruise to see water not ANTHER cruiser cabin. If a cruise ship has interior balconies it is a good sign the ship is OVERCROWDED with long lines everywhere. I can also tell you guys were never in the military. Us military men would go out on that see through balcony and JUMP on it to see how strong it is and if our wife/beneficiary could win a lawsuit against the cruise line.
I love you two so much! David saying it felt like seeing an ex after everything went down, just as friends had me HOWLING!! I love both of you and your wit!😂❤
I am a smoker and I’m glad there’s a cruise that lets people have smoking sections. I’ve been slowly switching to the vape 💨. It’s less smelly and a heck of a lot cheaper. I’m sorry my smoke bothers you. Too bad they can’t make smoking and non smoking cruises. 20:52
@@Cruisewith I’ve been on three Carnival cruises and I loved them! We had so much fun. I was looking at the new Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island. Carnival is building a new resort there. It opens summer 2025. I’m thinking about booking it!
Every ship we've been on has a smoking section. They are generally easy to avoid but some are in areas where you have to walk through which is a pain for non smokers. You generally need to cross the deck to the other doors. There's always a small group of smokers united and enjoying their spot.
There should be no smoking cruises. Non-smokers don’t want to walk through smoking sections and deal with their hair and clothes smelling like smoke the rest of the day and then go back to the cabin and have their cabin smell like smoke. It’s really not fair to their experience, not to mention many are allergic to it. Even if there are no smokers currently smoking in a room, it still stinks and the residue in the air and in true furniture transfers. I’d think nonsmoking cruises would be popular and don’t understand why lines don’t try them.
I haven't been on huge the mega ships, but not being able to see the water on the sides of the ship because of the high middle would REALLY be a negative for us. I'm not big on trying one. 🤷🏼
I cruised on the MSC Meraviglia last May. I really enjoyed it and found the service to be great. I actually thought the food was better than my last Royal Caribbean cruise. Keep in mind, I prefer clean food and Royal had a lot of processed food. I also really enjoyed the private island. Beautiful, relaxing and the cabana was fairly priced.
We just got off the MSC Meraviglia and had a great time ! We were particularly impressed with the crew and the service. Food was a bit hot or miss but overall the MDR was good . The ship was gorgeous
Thank you Ben and David for this review! Been hesitant to try MSC but just booked our first on MSC World Europa Yacht Club for next year so can't wait to see your next video!
We cruise USA... MSC yacht club is the best on the high seas... book least expensive balcony and upgrade offer follows... yacht club will be half off... everything is included and the finest service anywhere... we have 35+ cruises so we recognize excellence... the yacht club is fantastic...
Celebrity’s buffet is still the business. Both quality and variety (not to mention the friendliness/service by the crew) of a much higher standard, at least compared with MSC in late 2023.
I cruised on MSC Fantasia and on MSC Meraviglia in Europe and I had a great time. What you get for what you pay is absolutely fair, and the ships are the most beautiful I ever seen. I prefer NCL's dining style without shared tables but MSC is absolutely worth a shot.
To be fair every buffet is packed on almost every ship. You are 💯correct about the lack of handwashing and I found a lack of hand sanitizer dispensers around the ship (MSC Seashore in February) the food was decent however I’m not a foodie.
So you guys were clearly in the Yacht Club based on your bracelets. Will you be doing a review of the Europa’s YC to include its benefits, butlers, restaurant, lounge, and pool buffet ?? We just did our first MSC cruise in YC on Seascape and absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to go again
Ben and David you should have some merch , shirts made. On the front you can have =MSC Is A No For Me. On the back you can put your channel name up top and midway down you can put Proud TH-camrs. I'd buy the shirt to support your channel.
@jlpkbrb1086 Originally, the object was to dodge the cars that were trying to bump you, and then we found it much more exciting to bump them, so both are correct 😀 👍
I haven’t even started the video but I’m LOVING the hotel room tour! I’m about to have my first ever UK/Europe trip from Australia and the idea of having a runway view room is right up my alley!
Head to squarespace.com/benanddavid to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code benanddavid
was that hotel in england , i like thatalot. did you get tosee the flights land etc..
About the airport hotel, how was the room soundproofed? Did u hear sounds from planes? Cause they might go like every 5 minutes :D
Thanks so much for spelunking the World Europa, I've been quite curious about the new ships ... I'm an MSC cruiser from the USA (Yacht Club only) and am setting sail at the end of this month from Rio to Rome (16 days) and then spending a week in Rome.
We'll be on the Seaview - a new ship for us - we've never had any complaints with guest services or any of the service or food in the MSC YC (the concierges are very attentive) and we really enjoy cruising there.
As far as entertainment, MSC really needs some Broadway-type shows like other ships ... however, the fact that their shows are only about 35 min. long is nice if you want to do several things in an evening! We love the trivia, but ... yes, there isn't quite as much as on other lines (NCL is our other preferred line) but my hubs, a friend and I have won the multi-night progressive trivia on almost every MSC ship we've been on --- one was almost every night for 12 nights. Some of the activities staff on MSC ships are very interactive and friendly and we always have a good time with them. Master Chef at Sea is a lot of fun and the Jr. Master Chef at Sea is wonderful to watch.
i hate smoking
Buffet plates look sad
😂 happily watching an hour long video on a cruise line I have zero interest in experiencing. That’s how good you guys are!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love this comment!!😂❤
Exactly!
Me, too. I am near destitute, and I will never go on another cruise. A vicarious cruise with Ben and David is as good as it gets for me.
I'm a simple woman. I see a new Ben and David video and I click.
I'm not even a cruiser but love them. Mostly because they are such lovely guys and just amazing quality videos.
❤️
I have never cruised, and I live far from any oceans or seas. However, I watch a few cruising videos to see what it is like. I only recently (one month ago?) discovered Ben and David's channel, and I love it! Ben and David remind me of many people I once knew and miss dearly. Thanks guys for making me feel 30 years younger 😊👍
I'm not a cruiser either!
Same here.
Ditto!
Came to watch this one specifically after watching your 'censored' video. Honestly, even if people knew you, knew your channel, and went on a mission to find themselves in the background of your videos, they would seriously struggle. You so clearly make every effort to be unobtrusive. In fact, the only noticable people in the background were the 2 crew waving at you from the bar near the beginning 🤔🤔
Stay strong guys. Continue to enjoy the cruiselines who let you mind your own business 🤭
❤ was a lot of fun! As an old lady, I can tell you an unhappy staff is because of lousy management. That’s really where it all begins. Thanks for doing this for our benefit.
I watched the video there was no mention of unhappy staff!
You are not "old." You are elderly! And you have an adorable cat!
MSC Cruise company is worst. The owner, officer, HR and manager are r@cist, di$©riminstion and $lavery. If you know the reality about MSC quality food and beverage, higiene over all ships you Would never come join vacation. Better join vacation on board on royal Caribbean internasional, xelebrity, Disney, cunard queen Elisabeth, virgin Voyage.
I have had a hard year I lost my wife.
I really love watching you guys having the time off your life. You both cheer me up.
Keep them coming ❤
My deepest condolences.
So sorry for your loss
*hug*
My heart breaks for you. I lost my husband 18 months ago and miss him every day.💔
We used to like taking vacations together, so traveling without him was an adjustment. I have taken two cruises since he passed; the 'Best of the Baltics' on Celebrity Apex with my 24 yr old grandchild last summer, and a Royal Caribbean Bahama's trip in December with my daughter. It was different without him, but I had a nice time and am planning another trip in the future.
I'm about to loose my husband and I find these 2 lads a great distraction - and they are funny!!
I would never go on a mega-ship, but the energy of these guys is so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable, that I will watch their videos about ships I am not interested in! I don't know if they'd ever do smaller ships or a more upscale line, but I would be so happy to run into them on a cruise!
I’m researching to see if cruising is something that I would enjoy. I did a Nile cruise years ago and while I enjoyed it the main focus was the temples and tours instead of the ship itself. It was a very action packed and more of an adventure than a holiday.
I’m not sure that cruising is for me though. I need to learn more.
@@mikoto7693 last year was the first time I'd ever been on a cruise. My wife and I booked a 5 day trip through MSC to Nassau and their island. I was extremely nervous at first. It's a little intimidating seeing the size of the ship when you first get there but we ended up having a great time. With a ship that size you barely feel the movement and there are so many activities that if you get bored you can't blame anyone but yourself. We're going again in a week with MSC on a 7 day trip.
.I just completed a cruise on the MSC Seashore sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida to the private islsnd and a stop in Nassau. It was a great cruise. I have cruised more than 20 times. The staff and crew were very friendly and helpful. The entertainment was excellent. Boarding was quick and easy. Excellent buffet. Well designed ship. Did not feel crowded. Plenty of chaises. Reserve seats for shows so no problem getting in and no problem making reservations. Beautiful ship. Main dining room appetizers and desserts were very good, main courses were hit or miss. Buffet layout was very good for crowd control. No lines as stations repeat. Very stable ship and very quiet balcony cabin, soundproof. Fabulous private island, natural beauty, not an amusement park. I will sail with them again.
Were there lot of smokers not using designated smoking areas? We have family with respiratory issues and are very sensitive to it
@@mariaaguila1274I was on MSC Seashore in November, and MSC Meravligia in January. I have asthma and so I always try to avoid smokers. Didn't have any trouble on either cruise.
Awesome! I am on this cruise in May and so excited.
We will be on that ship in May. Thanks for your review. 😊
This seems like it was written by someone with MSC lol.
Thankyou for sharing! The smoke smell and smoking is a complete NO GO for me! Thankyou from Perth Western Australia
The smoking and the apparent lack of forced hygiene at dining venues is an absolute deal breaker. Thank you for the review!
Few cruise ships now enforce it. After Covid it’s like passengers are rebelling and don’t wash their hands at all. I never known it as bad as it is now even in the men’s toilets. They miss that they are risking their own holidays as well as everyone else’s. You can only do what’s best for you and let everyone else get sick
Agreed
Common.. u dont get sick from each other germs... u can be sick from eating the food.. and that smoking.. its on every place in europe..
@@richardparmenter188This is what we did in Egypt during our Nile cruise. We avoided getting upset stomaches by taking proper hygiene precautions unlike half of the passengers.
I have respiratory if i come across it so thank u so much for telling me about this. I must never. Consider an Msc ship.
People bash MSC because they could happily afford 2-3x the price with other cruiselines for marginally better experience. My last Italy/Spain/France cruise with MSC was €55/night, including gratuities, for a solo traveller! (= €30-40 per person if double-sharing) . For that price, even if the food is bland (they are actually not too bad, some pasta dishes are pretty good), just having a 4-course meal with expensive seafood dishes is already easily worth the price.
If I find cheap deals with MSC, I would set my expectations accordingly. Unless you are the type ooozing $$$ or you want each and every cruise to be a dream cruise, for me, cheaper cruise means I can cruise more often and explore more places/have more vacations.
I'm from Chicago and just caught myself saying, "I'm feeling a bit peckish, I might tuck into that cheeky donut from the breakfast deserts." Husband was very confused. A week of binging of your videos has left a mark! loL!
I’ve also thought of the term “peckish” and since watching Ben and David I’ve actually uttered the term for the first time ever in my life. I’m forever changed❤
My husband and I have cruised a few times on MSC recently. In the past our cruises were mainly with RC or NCL. However as we are now retired our budget is more restricted. While the food and customer service on MSC is poor their prices mean we can continue to cruise as the other lines are now out of our price range. If you go on MSC with realistic expectation you can have a great cruise. While we enjoy the ship we are more interested in the ports and love their itineraries here in Europe as most are port intensive. BTW the fact MSC matches any loyalty level you have with other lines is a plus seldomly mentioned.
i must say , the food in the main dining is great.. for me its 5 a 6 stars... only the buffet is not that great, could have more choices 3 stars.. .. but yeah for the cruise price its very good..
I kinda hate the bigger ships that try to match malls and shopping streets. I dont want to be stuck on a 6k+ person ship give me a nice 1500-4000 person ship any day.
You have never been on a bigger ship then. Don't speak on something you don't know about. The smaller ships are so crowded at max capacity. The larger ships are designed to carry 5k plus and it feel like only 1000 are on board. The larger ships are WAY less crowded than the small ships that they pack in and oversell.
I agree, I hate the bigger ships.
I feel lost and not really on a cruise on a ship like the one shown above. I like the older smaller ships of the Lirica, the Fantasia and the Musica class. Not so much "cold bling bling" - but nice for people not looking for "thrills" but cruising in the "old fashioned style" 😉
@@reenakemp9132calm down
@@reenakemp9132you can’t have been on a small ship then, they are NOT crowded
Thank you, Ben and Dave for warning us people with the respiratory problems about the smoking
I love cruising, but not if there’s going to be more smoking problems on the ship
Yeah having a coffee in a cigar lounge is going to do it every time.
Yes, there is smoking on board, but its generally pretty well confined to the Cigar lounge, the back right side of the open deck and the left side of the Zen bar.
I suffer from asthma and didnt have any issues at all, but then i didnt go sit in the Cigar lounge for my coffees.
We're big cruisers. Mostly Princess and NCL. Food and entertainment are very important to me so I probably won't try MSC. Also, the smoking is a problem for me. I avoid the casino and won't do a ship that forces us through the casino because it always smells. Yuck!
Don’t do MSC
How do you like Princess in comparison? I am the kind of person that likes quiet comfort, afternoon tea/coffee, and a meal that takes my palate on an adventure! Is Princess right for me?
We do like Princess. I think the food is very good at the MDR. We don't really do the buffet. We're not buffet people. They have 2 high teas. Free and pay. Weve done the free one. Its good enough for us. They have a 24 hr. Cafe for coffee and tea with food on most ships. Drinks are included there with the drinks pkg. They don't usually have the same amount of drunks or fights. The degree of quiet depends on the location and number if people I think. And we love the medallion which is your cruise card but it's wearable. You can order food and drink almost anywhere on the ship and they'll deliver it.
I was on a cruise from hell last April on MSC Divina; I was supposed to have a $200 onboard ship credit. I showed the customer service desk staff the paperwork and proof I was owed the money. The staff did nothing and didn't seem to care. If that had been the worst thing about the cruise, I could have lived with that, but it wasn't even close to being the most significant issue. The cabin next to mine was full of cigarette smoke that poured into my room under a door that the two cabins shared. When I complained to guest services, they did NOTHING. When I went to the buffet on the 14th deck, other folks around me and I saw people smoking. I complained to the staff who did NOTHING! Thanks to the entitlement of individuals who smoked, I got sick with a sore throat, my nose was clogged, and my eyes got red, which ruined my cruise. NO ONE, and I mean NOT one staff member on the MSC Divina, cared. I met a woman, a nurse from Germany on the cruise who complained about the stench of weed she smelled on her deck. NO ONE CARED.
I saw an elderly man with Parkinson's disease complain that he had asked for a cabin for disabled people when he booked the ship, and the room was unacceptable. He left the cruise early without compensation because no allowance was made for him. The food on MSC Divina was awful, from runny eggs for breakfast to a steak that could have been used for a hockey puck. I had paid for my laundry to be done. The staff held it for more than three days, and at 11:45 p.m. the night before disembarkation, my laundry showed up - it was too late to pack it and place the luggage outside my room correctly, so I had to drag my suitcases with me during disembarkation. There were good things about the cruise. The first would be disembarking from the ship. I couldn't wait for the cruise to end. I admit the cabin was nice. I had a deluxe balcony cabin. However, I couldn't enjoy the balcony because everyone around me was smoking on their balconies.
I WILL NEVER AGAIN EVER CRUISE ON MSC.
The only ship that kind of forced us through the Casino was kind of the NCL Epic.
I’ve only cruised MSC because it’s all I can afford and I have no complaints, have had all good experiences! Love MSC. Best value for solos in America.
I took my mother on her first cruise last May on MSC Meraviglia.....we had a grand time, however we don't have anything to compare it to lol
@@angelinatanaI have to agree with you. If it’s their first cruise and MSC impressed them and they enjoyed themselves then that’s what matters.
That ship usually sails for a very good price so I wouldn't say you got ripped off. A lot of the criticism these guys bring up are in relation to the service and product expected for the price.
As a Travel Professional, I want to sail on all cruise lines so I can share my experiences with my guests.
I’m absolutely cautious about sailing with MSC.
Ben and David, your honesty and integrity are inspirational and I’d love to have a chat with you for a column I write.
My daughter and I went on the MSC Meraviglia about two months ago from NY to their private island for 11 nights and I must admit I was very skeptical and somewhat hesitant to go as I had heard some horror stories about MSC. It was my 18th cruise, so, I am not necessarily a complete novice at cruising. Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. Our balcony cabin was very comfortable, the cabin attendant very efficient and courteous and it was very easy to check in and get settled. We did have a specialty diner package and every one of the restaurants we tried were excellent. The buffet was extensive, and overall very good. Like with all the other cruise lines I’ve been with, there were things I liked better than others, but no surprise there. Our experience in the dining room, was interesting. Our main waiter and his assistant made us feel like royalty, however the food was hit and miss, but in all fairness more hit than miss. The highlight of the cruise for me was the “in house” entertainers. They were exceptional. The singers, dancers, musicians and Cirque du Soleil-type artists were some of the very best I have seen on any cruise. All four of the production shows were outstanding and I would go back if I knew I would get the same cast. I was not as enamored with the House of Rock and Houdini shows (which had a surcharge) mainly because the noise level was uncomfortable for me. I soon learned where the smoking areas were and I avoided them at all costs because I have pretty severe asthma. When I had to go through the casino, I actually held my breath and walked very fast through it. Fortunately, it was a fairly small area and I could hold my breath for the duration!!!
Would I travel again with MSC? Yes, if the price was right. Was it the cruise of my dreams? NO. But from my experience, I did not think it deserved as harsh a criticism as it seems to get from many quarters.
The chap behind Ben firing up his pipe @21:55 was perfect timing 😂😂
Saw that!
Right?!?!😂😂😂😂
Yes! How funny.
😂 😂
Disgusting 🤢
The fact that they allow smoking is a deal breaker for me. Too many other ships to choose from. Enjoyed the review!
They have smoking areas like other cruise lines. Some Italians seem to be more liberal and take the limited area and think the whole deck is smoking.
21:54 there’s someone lighting a pipe while he’s having his coffee! 😳🤢
They don't allow smoking in the marketplace or the restaurants or the corridors, galleries, and only some people smokes in the bars or the casino.
All that smoking puts me off.
@Alainmath if the ship is in full capacity, then " only a few" can become a lot. As they stated in the video, some people just ignored the no smoking and carried on. There was even a guy lighting up in the restaurant where Ben was having his coffee. Compared to most cruise lines, MSC are definitely behind with their smoking rules.
I can see that MSC is not a cruise line I’ll ever sail on. I have to draw the line on smoking/vaping. I can’t handle it. It doesn’t help that a former hairstylist of mine just passed away from lung cancer. She wasn’t a smoker, but she was exposed to plenty of second hand smoke. Nope, nope, nope.
Oh no that’s awful! It really did put is off.
I sailed MSC Caribbean and Europe, did not notice as much smoke on Meraviglia in the Caribbean, the Europe cruise had in my opinion too many designated smoking areas and there were people smoking in non designated areas. Smoke from casino would drift up or down the stairs as there was a staircase in the middle of the casino area
@@andrewreidy18 25 years ago , u could smoke everywhere.. people are becoming to much argh..
I hate smoking but it was no worse than most hotels I have stayed at, worst was the casino so just avoided it, in fact my asthma was more affected by walking down the cleaning producer isle in my local supermarket.
We had people smoking On their balconies on both sides..it was nauseating. I complained to management and nothing was resolved. Pushy and rude clientele, dated Eurovision style shows…average buffets, terrible wifi…..
I've heard so many bad things about MSC.
Frankly, even if you guys had a good cruise this time, I'd still hesitate to try them. We don't cruise that often, so I want it to be great every time.
Wait till next weeks video…! 😂
Thats why you will stay home and waste your life
Wow! You must be one of those rude Euproiens they were talking about. @@ItsJustPreVR
MSC Seashore is a beautiful ship and we had a great time. Every ship in a cruise line is not the same. I just returned from a cruise out of Port Canaveral Fl.
I watched one of my favorite Japanese travel creators Try an MSC cruise and he hated everything I felt so bad for him I know immediately I won't go on an MSC cruise
So shocked how you can go from a great cruise and kudos to MSC on this sailing. Next video they did a 360 and made your wonderful experience go south really fast. I was considering trying them but I think I'm good without it.
Thanks always for your honesty and giving different perspectives. MSC loss in so many ways!
I laughed out loud when David was singing "Walking on broken glass" as Ben crossed the glass walkway. Thank you, Ben and David, for publishing another informative video.
My thought was what if I'm wearing a dress? Plus I do hate walking on glass walkways of any sort.
Great point Ben when you talked about sanitation enforcement at the buffet, sadly there is no enforcement at all. Recently I cruised with MSC and for the first time in my life We got very, very sick at the end of the cruise. I was really concern because the lack of proper sanitation enforcement at the buffet, nobody tells people to wash the hands and there was only two lavatories at the buffet entrance without soap. I really hate that!
We was msc orld europa Last week and they have hand sanitation everywhere.
We cruise often. We have taken 42 cruises in last 9 years. We took our first MSC cruise on the Meraviglia this past November. For the price you pay you definitely get value for your money. The downside was that their food was subpar and often cold. Their customer service is non existent if you have a problem. Their officers are invisible! You get what you pay for on MSC
I kind of agree. I think we over paid for crap food and service. Never again!
Agreed. I went on the same ship from
Brooklyn in December last year. The worst cruise I’ve ever had in my life. Very rude maîtres de; I have wheelchair bound mother and got yelled and insulted for being late the first night of dinner. Terrible customer service. Disgusting food. The rooms have no storage space. Worse cruise ever.
I love MSC, had 4 great cruises with them but at 26 mins in Ben, you mention about the cleanliness of others and you couldn’t be more correct, was on Euribia at the end of January, there were far too many onboard that were carrying more than just a cold, hand washing in the buffet wasn’t pushed hard enough and yes I ended up with flu, pneumonia and jaundice (I succumbed on disembarkation day and I’m an early 40’s active gym going healthy person so can happen to anyone). It is down to individuals but MSC has to clamp down on people when they are clearly ill, I fed this back to them too!
That is what scares me about huge cruise ships with sick people. I don’t see how it would be possible to stop people carrying infectious diseases from cruise ships. Maybe one needs to take health precautions like masking, using anti viral wipes and more hand washing. Some travelers on cruise ships do these things.
I'll take a swipe at them: smoking is disgusting. Your habit affects everyone around you. Would you enjoy having people barf on you everywhere you go. That is the bs non-smokers put up with.
Smoking and 🧼 cleanliness around food is a deal breaker for me. The ship looked nice but just not for me. Too bad because cruises are getting so expensive would have liked a good alternative to my normal Royal crusades. But this was very informative and I’m glad I did. Because now I know this is not for me. Great video as always. Thank you.
Great vid. World Europa looks amazing. We paid £350 each for a 7 night north Europe cruise on Virtuosa. All inclusive food with 4 ports for the price of 2 nights in a Premier Inn. Absolutely stunning value for money. Customer service fine, food fine, ship stunning. I couldn't get over it. Going on MSC again ASAP. And yeah I love the fragrance 😄
@@paulreiche2746 I'm confused. What's funny?
One TH-cam presenter called his MSC cruise "the cruise of queues"! Too big and crowded for me. The smoking thing would put me off for sure. Here in Australia, non-smoking laws are very strict. People aren't allowed to smoke even in outside eating areas of restaurants. Also, smoking is not allowed in the pedestrian malls in the city so we're used to that kind of environment.
We just got off MSC Seashore on Sunday March 10th, and the buffet was definitely insanity a lot of the time. There were times (mealtimes) when there were no seats available at all. You had to go to one of the neighboring areas to try to find a lounger to sit. If you went an hour before or after you could find seats. They had people walking around taking orders, and those staff should have instead been working on clearing tables, or serving behind the buffet, to help get the lines through, and to help clear spaces for those of us who were wandering around the entire circle area of the buffet trying to find a seat. Overall, a cruise is always what you make it. But, there's just not enough staff working on "capacity-related" issues.
Fair play for giving it another go guys! You are incredibly fair with your assessment of everything. I've never tried MSC and after your last video I swore I never would. The ships themselves are lovely, just a shame they fall down in other areas.
Those huge ships look so grand and glamorous, but 6000 people! We actually like the small Norwegian Star and are looking forward to our April 22nd Fire and Ice cruise on Norwegian Spirit. 16 nights from Hawaii to Alaska. So excited!! Love your videos!!
As a vision impaired person, ease of movement and layout of a ship is important for my independent navigation. My senses are heightened, so the smell of smoke would make me feel quite unwell. I do like that not all cruise lines/ports accept digital paperwork- what if your phone goes flat or has technical difficulties? Give me printed materials anytime! My opinion on cruise food - as long as you don’t get poisoning, I haven’t had to cook it, so am always keen to try something different. The ship experiences are more important to me than the destination 😊 As always, thank you for your honest reviews ❤
I’m just one person with a limited travel budget, so MSC could not care less what I think - but after decades living near a cruise port and never having any desire to cruise, I finally decided to cruise last year based 💯 percent on TH-cam content - you and Don and Parideejay and Ben and David showed me a credible view of what I could expect on a cruise, and helped me narrow it down to a cruise line that was a good fit for me. I had a long career in advertising in the resort and travel industry, and I know that Hell itself could be made to look appealing with a skillfully created ad campaign (like the new one on TV for MSC). When TH-cam cruisers like you started showing me the good and the bad, I felt informed rather than “sold” on cruising. So thank you, Tony, and shame on MSC for failing to read the room.
Buffet Review --- all of those tongs resting actually on the cold food platters totally triggered me! upper handle areas ON THE FOOD 🤢
We were ‘quiet’ cruisers, and are not enthusiastic cruisers on large ships. We were docked in one port, and were sitting on our balcony, and an MSc ship came to dock. Within a few minutes there was a mass exodus of parents and pushchairs, they looked like ants leaving the ship, happy ants, with happy parents, so the ship must be doing something right. The only thing that changed on the cruise line we always used was the sale of lanyards to hold your key card. It was mainly the men that used these and it made it look as tho you were at a convention! Strangely when we returned a few weeks later, there wasn’t a lanyard to be seen! It is probably obvious that we were a rather Mature couple and the ship didn’t really cater for families which was better for us! If faces were anything to go by, as I said, happy faces and happy children on the MSC.
Yuck..I detest the smell of smoke. We sailed the Mediterranean with MSC and on both sides of our ocean balcony suite, we had smokers..I couldn’t breath fresh sea air on y own balcony..in the middle of the sea , I had the worst pollution. Guest services did bugger all to rectify. Never smiling with MSC
I haven't seen this addressed, but if you look closely, you can see a reflection of the equipment they were using in a couple of reflective surfaces. It was a smaller camera on a longer folded tripod. It was bigger than an iPhone but smaller than some of the fuller media setups that I've seen in other videos on this subject.
I’ve been on a few cruises and on different cruise lines. Haven’t tried MSC and probably wouldn’t. Because the prices are less expensive compared to other lines, they are of course more crowded. 6000 people on a confined area has no appeal to me. I love your videos and watching you is so much fun. I’m glad you had a better experience this time. ❤😊
We're seasoned cruises and have been on most lines. We've sailed with MSC 4 times now, each time in the Yacht Club, and those cruises were better than our suite experiences on other lines.
Just boarded the World Europa in Marseille, today!
Love it so far.
I know what you mean about the smokers lounge. I vape myself and currently writing this from sitting in the smokers lounge & the smoke smell is rather strong to put up with. 😂
I think that was the longest I've ever waited to watch you guys grab a meal. That meatball looked positively disgusting. Thanks for always doing honest reviews and being so thorough. Love your videos and can't wait for the next installment of this series.
P&O, celebrity and RCL cruiser here. MSC ship looks gorgeous but the food and the customer service is just not for me. Really informative video. Cannot wait to watch the next one!
Australian here. I also found the food on MSC to be borderline okay to dreadful. I dislike American style food but the offering on MSC was just so poor from the quality of food to the presentation I was actually missing the food I had on US cruises. I dont really enjoy pizza but when that becomes the most appealing food option something is very wrong.
How are you finding the RCL food at the moment?
I’m holding my breath with excitement!! I was shocked after watching your previous video on MSC. I really hope this is a better experience. Love you guys ❤
I'm a former smoker and use a vape now. I don't understand breaking the rules when it's clear that MSC provide many more than the usual amount of designated smoking areas. I also don't like the indoor smoking bar. Why not put a small bar at one of the outdoor smoking areas and leave the interior of the ship fresh and clean for everyone?
💯 support you, Ben & David. Shame on MSC. After watching your first MSC World Europa, we started to consider taking an MSC when we hadn’t prior. We even started to look up dates and availability. Now, there is no chance in hell!
Smoking is a real p in the a... we just have returned from a canary island cruise with AIDA where believe it or not you are still allowed to smoke on balcony although you have to watch a Video where fire on board of ship is called a big hazard 😢 same as you Ben I have asthma and in addition a heart condition and a defibrilator implant.besides the smoke the food is great and the intinerary convinced us to book this cruise as one port of call was Madeira.. smoking is one reason we prefere to book Cunard, Celeberty, Princess etc mostly there are some designated areas where smokers can go and thats it, everybody is happy, thanks for your video I always look forward to them
It was disturbing to see how filthey the food service areas were around the platters In the buffet area. I prefer eating in the dining rooms when I cruise. Love your videos
I watch these types of vlogs because I want to go on a cruise for the very first time. I have seen numerous negative reviews on MSC. This has confirmed it. I will not book my first cruise or any further cruises with MSC. I used to work for the Marriott and Sheraton Hotels for 20 years. I have never heard any manager or security guard yell at a guest or censor them. This includes when guests break out into fights. Very unprofessional of MSC. There are a lot of vacation packages and cruises to book. I guess their business is good enough without mine nor Ben and David.
Your microphone/volume is top notch!!!!!!!
I agree, no noise..it is crystal clear
A drinking game every time they mention Royal Caribbean would be wild
So glad you had a great time and to hear they keep improving. We did the seaview 7 night Mediterranean last summer and for our family of 4 it cost $4000. Despite some flaws you mentioned we thought it was a great value and we really enjoyed the trip.
Hi Ben and David. I had some hesitation about a cruise with msc. I finally decided to give it a try. We booked the Yacht Club. We were blown away. Yes, we tried the main buffet to see how it was. Absolutely crazy busy. We went another afternoon so we could make a small charcuterie plate for a snack. It was still crowded but not as bad. It seems it can be hit or miss outside of the Yacht Club. Love the Mediterranean food as well. As always thank you for all your hard work in making these videos. Hope you are both well. ❤❤
The black pizza, is not black cause of charcoal, but because of the ink of a squid. It is a squid/seafood pizza. And there are a lot of young people, with a lot more energy, so they don't like to sit in lounge areas and are less patient when walking around.
Very helpful comments about MSC, which we will be sailing for the first time in 2 months. Looking forward to the next video as we got an upgrade to Yacht Club.
Enjoying your videos even more: the editing it getting really slick so you’re able to cram more good content into less time - very well done!
I’ve been on three MSC cruises and they were great! We never had any problem with anyone smoking and the food was very good. The crew was very professional and friendly. We love MSC!
MSC are so far the best cruise line that is in my budget. I've tried Costa and did not like it, I've tried AIDA (I'm German) and it was pretty good. MSC so far has been clearly the best. If you go into an MSC cruise with a realistic expectation, you will have a great time. If you go in expecting perfection and luxury akin to a 500$ a night cruise, you will be disappointed.
Have to add, I once found an amazing offer by Princess Cruises, a week on Regal Princess, solo, inside cabin for 729 € and that was by a mile my best cruise ever, so if I could afford it, I would go on more premium lines but as long as I can't, MSC will do nicely.
I was on the MSC Euribia 2 weeks ago. Very different experience. No 5 languages on that one, only English and German, as the ship mostly embarked guests in Southamption and Hambourg, the entertainment was different (I would say better), etc... On the other hand, I experienced serious housekeeping issues (the cabin stewart completely forgot our cabin one day) and cabin corridors were unkept. That said customer services reacted appropriately on that point. The food was average even if the main restaurants service was very efficient. It remained a very decent cruise and I haven't paid too much so I can't complain.
We’ve cruised with MSC many times and never had an issue but we are fortunate we always travel
yacht club and that’s a different kettle of fish 😊
I have zero interest in cruises, I never want to go on one again.. but I absolutely adore your channel so much! You make me want to book a cruise! Also your camera is stunning ❤
Thanks so much!
Love your videos! The filming is fab! ❤
Please add info for handicapped accessibility I am in a wheelchair and what about excursions are they handicapped accessibility and are there rooms available thanks😊
Consider an Alaskan Cruise. It was absolutely magical, and the staff on Quantum of the Seas were not only very good, but my wife and I felt that they also really enjoyed their jobs.
Consider a Viking cruise. And the ships are smaller. Their expedition ships are about 350 people and their regular ships are about 2,300. It’s a line that is focused on education about the destinations. Every stateroom has a balcony with 2 chairs. It’s all inclusive including wine and beer. If you want a higher quality alcohol theres a spirits package and higher quality wine you can purchase. No gaudy shows, just educational lectures and some small performances as well as a guitarist and a pianist. No children. No formal nights just casual clothes. If you want to go to one of their 2 specialty restaurants, wear nice slacks/blouse or a dress. No gambling or art sales. No smoking allowed. We love Viking and will continue to cruise with that line. I’m looking forward to one of their European river cruises.
Smoking would end it for me, no matter what.
Thanks, guys!
Love you guys! Great honest reviews! I am a first time cruiser anxiously waiting for August to come for departure!
On behalf of people who are allergic to cigarette/cigar smoke, thank you for the warning!
Europeans smoke more than Americans!
Of course, that’s my opinion!☹️
There’s no such thing as being allergic to cigarette / cigar smoke.
While it’s unpleasant, it’s not possible to be allergic to it. Don’t diminish the meaning of the word allergy
My mother used to occasionally have a neighbor lady do some ironing for her after doing laundry for our seven person family. Mom would then have to hang it all on our clothes line outside to air it all out. The neighbor lady was a heavy smoker! 😃
Ewwww.
Do I spy Yacht Club bands? I do I do! Can’t wait to see your review of the YC experience! This is suspenseful for me hahah Great content!
Stay tuned for next weeks video
Yeah sailing YC is way different given the benefits. Between your own private dining areas, personal butler service, and private bars to roped off seating in the theaters you really don’t have to cruise with the other passengers if you don’t want to 😂 you also get priority boarding and debarkation…a pillow menu,
Bottle service in your cabin…the list is extensive. If you’re not into all the peoples….probably just pay for YC 😂
Thanks for the honesty about the crowds. Most of the video didn't reflect that but even I know that it's not hard to find areas of the ship that have few if anyone there when doing videos. That's something to stress to the viewers that even on crowded ships, it can be fun to find that somewhat hidden place. It's almost like it was waiting for you to arrive.
We have a very similar story to yours about MSC! Which made us not sail with them ever again… And recently we thought about trying it again (also after 3 years)… This video helped us on the decision, but the most important thing we need to see a change (for the better) is the customer services, cause it was absolutely terrible! Thanks for this video! Love you guys!
Guga
It looks like a shopping mall with no character and a vibe similar to Las Vegas. I prefer the classic look of an elegant vessel, such as the layout of the DCL ships. They are gorgeous, and you feel like you're sailing a classic ship.
You guys are too cute! I love all your wonderful videos!! May you continue to be abundantly blessed and thank you so much for shining your light in my life ❤
Thank you so much!
You guys are definitely my FAVORITE cruise bloggers. Always great content and I really appreciate how you edit the videos. Fantastic job!!! Please stay encouraged and keep up the great work!
If I want an interior balcony, I'll book a room at Embassy Suits. I go on a cruise to see water not ANTHER cruiser cabin. If a cruise ship has interior balconies it is a good sign the ship is OVERCROWDED with long lines everywhere. I can also tell you guys were never in the military. Us military men would go out on that see through balcony and JUMP on it to see how strong it is and if our wife/beneficiary could win a lawsuit against the cruise line.
I love you two so much! David saying it felt like seeing an ex after everything went down, just as friends had me HOWLING!! I love both of you and your wit!😂❤
I am a smoker and I’m glad there’s a cruise that lets people have smoking sections. I’ve been slowly switching to the vape 💨. It’s less smelly and a heck of a lot cheaper. I’m sorry my smoke bothers you. Too bad they can’t make smoking and non smoking cruises. 20:52
Smoking on cruises has never really bothered us, just on MSC.
@@Cruisewith I’ve been on three Carnival cruises and I loved them! We had so much fun. I was looking at the new Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island. Carnival is building a new resort there. It opens summer 2025. I’m thinking about booking it!
Every ship we've been on has a smoking section. They are generally easy to avoid but some are in areas where you have to walk through which is a pain for non smokers. You generally need to cross the deck to the other doors. There's always a small group of smokers united and enjoying their spot.
There should be no smoking cruises. Non-smokers don’t want to walk through smoking sections and deal with their hair and clothes smelling like smoke the rest of the day and then go back to the cabin and have their cabin smell like smoke. It’s really not fair to their experience, not to mention many are allergic to it. Even if there are no smokers currently smoking in a room, it still stinks and the residue in the air and in true furniture transfers. I’d think nonsmoking cruises would be popular and don’t understand why lines don’t try them.
Love your videos ❤ very informative 👍 I'm a disabled person so watching you guys feels like I'm traveling with you without leaving my house 🏠
I haven't been on huge the mega ships, but not being able to see the water on the sides of the ship because of the high middle would REALLY be a negative for us. I'm not big on trying one. 🤷🏼
NEVER EVER will I sail MSC after this video, even after their apology on fb
I cruised on the MSC Meraviglia last May. I really enjoyed it and found the service to be great. I actually thought the food was better than my last Royal Caribbean cruise. Keep in mind, I prefer clean food and Royal had a lot of processed food. I also really enjoyed the private island. Beautiful, relaxing and the cabana was fairly priced.
We just got off the MSC Meraviglia and had a great time ! We were particularly impressed with the crew and the service. Food was a bit hot or miss but overall the MDR was good . The ship was gorgeous
Thank you Ben and David for this review! Been hesitant to try MSC but just booked our first on MSC World Europa Yacht Club for next year so can't wait to see your next video!
We cruise USA... MSC yacht club is the best on the high seas... book least expensive balcony and upgrade offer follows... yacht club will be half off... everything is included and the finest service anywhere... we have 35+ cruises so we recognize excellence... the yacht club is fantastic...
Celebrity’s buffet is still the business. Both quality and variety (not to mention the friendliness/service by the crew) of a much higher standard, at least compared with MSC in late 2023.
Thanks for your honest review.
Always!
I cruised on MSC Fantasia and on MSC Meraviglia in Europe and I had a great time. What you get for what you pay is absolutely fair, and the ships are the most beautiful I ever seen. I prefer NCL's dining style without shared tables but MSC is absolutely worth a shot.
To be fair every buffet is packed on almost every ship. You are 💯correct about the lack of handwashing and I found a lack of hand sanitizer dispensers around the ship (MSC Seashore in February) the food was decent however I’m not a foodie.
That meatball is horrifying. And on an Italian cruise line? 😮
So you guys were clearly in the Yacht Club based on your bracelets. Will you be doing a review of the Europa’s YC to include its benefits, butlers, restaurant, lounge, and pool buffet ?? We just did our first MSC cruise in YC on Seascape and absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to go again
Yes we will be doing a whole YC video next week
We did MSC in 2009 and even then said never again!! They even locked the bread rolls up with a padlock! 😂😂😱
Ben and David you should have some merch , shirts made. On the front you can have =MSC Is A No For Me. On the back you can put your channel name up top and midway down you can put Proud TH-camrs. I'd buy the shirt to support your channel.
Ben called bumper cars dodge ‘ems 😂. This ship is gorgeous, MSC has beautiful ships for sure. They’re gonna build a port in Galveston soon.
That’s what they are called at my local park and I always thought it weird
I think it's a British thing. We call them bumper cars where I come from too. 😊
Dodge em cars in Australia 🇦🇺
Dodge ems? Lol... you're not dodging, you're bumping
@jlpkbrb1086 Originally, the object was to dodge the cars that were trying to bump you, and then we found it much more exciting to bump them, so both are correct 😀 👍
Love MSC. Been on several cruises with them. Fantastic!!
After this video I won’t be on an MSC ship. Too many smoke areas and just looks like a big mall in the middle of the ship.
I haven’t even started the video but I’m LOVING the hotel room tour! I’m about to have my first ever UK/Europe trip from Australia and the idea of having a runway view room is right up my alley!
This ship would be my worst nightmare!
We did our first MSC cruise last year, it was absolutely awful. The food was atrocious, and everything was an extra.
Back to Royal :)
Love the 1hr long content! Keep it coming🎉