Reception
Unlike the Royal Caribbean, the reception at the MSC was so cold. People here had a straight face and checked us in as if they were doing us a favor.
As soon as we checked in, we were told to proceed to another counter where a person with a very stern face pointed a finger towards some papers, they were promoting packages. I asked them If I could see it after I have gone into my room as I was very tired. With a very cold and rude way I was told ok. I was quite surprised at this but I thot I was over thinking for no reason.
On our 2nd day we realized that all our friends (we had 7 or 8 rooms) had a 14 bottle water package which was given to us during our booking. For some reason we did not get this package. When I went to the reception desk, they rudely told me that this package is not included in our room. I tried to explain it to them that all my other friends have this package and we are on the same package but it was impossible to reason out. At the end I had to tell them that I did not care about this package and I left for my excursion. When I returned from my excursion, I saw the water coupons on my bed. I called the reception and thanked them. I don't understand why they had to fight and argue with a customer for a water package. They could have told me that they would check it and get back to me. The next day I got a call from the reception in my room telling me that I can not get two water packages. I told them that I do not want two water packages and that I had received my coupons from them. He banged the phone down.
Shuttle Bus & Excursions
The next day we docked off at Barcelona, as ususal we were directed to the shuttle bus but this time I first went to the ticket counter and asked them where the bus would take me and I was told that it takes us right up to “Ramblas” . I told them that we were 2 adults and 2 children, she told me that it was better to take the shuttle. We took the shuttle and it was really shocking because with in 3 min the shuttle stopped and we all had to get down and it was a good long walk to the Ramblas. I was very disappointed. On our way back I decided to take a cab back from the same point to the ship and I had pay Euro 4.5 by the meter. This was a total rip off, I went to the accounts desk and complained about it. The person behind the accounts desk (mr. claud or something like that, I cant rembmer) agreed with me and told me that these people are rip offs and its not done but he cud not do anything abou it and I had to sort it out with the excursion desk. I decided to do that. The desk was busy booking excursions at that moment and I waited. Once they were done, I went to the lady who was free and I told them about how I was mis led and over charged 4 times. She was so so rude (Ms. Sarah) and she said we don't own the taxi’s here to know the charges. I told her that I am not here to fight or argue or to hear her rudeness. I had spend over 800 euro in the ship on just eating and drinking and another 26 euro did not matter but it was a matter of principle. And what they had done was wrong. She just walked away. I asked them to call the manger and they said “manager is busy else where” (patent reply all the time). I also checked that at Genoa we had gone to an aquarium which was only a 10min leisure walk and we paid euro 18 for an adult for a ticket. But at the cruise they charge you Euro 34 per person.
Dining Experience (Breakfast / Dinner and Room Service)
At the Dining room. If we ever ever asked for a dish extra, we were meant to wait and we were told by the waiter that this is not a done thing. I am so surprised.
One day when I asked the waiter to please get us some rice and a chicken dish, after good 20 min we asked him what happened to the order and he made a face and said, how do you expect me to keep serving your table promptly. After 20 min we got that answer and and he says stop behaving like a kid. I was shocked at this answer. Another 5 min later, he got us plain rice with out the main dish and walked away. What were we meant to have the rice with?
We were there for a week, so many things happened that I just can not tell you.
One day at the breakfast hall, the table right next to ours had a tray which had around 10 glasses or orange juice and there was a waiter next to that. We asked him if he could pass us the juice and he said no it was not his job. Once we got the juice and sipped it, we realizd it was water put into some powder. Not even a Tropicana or any other orange juice. Can you believe this?
Also at one time we asked a waiter to get us a spoon and he refused, we questioned that how can you refuse to do this and he said that they were not allowed to touch spoons etc as the management didn't trust them.
One day we ordered room service and when the server came, we had 2 plates and 1 cup from the previous day which was not cleared, we asked him to take it away and we got a reply “this is not my job”
One day I could not go for breakfast because my younger daughter age 5 was not well and I was waiting for my wife to come back from breakfast so I could go for mine but she came only at 10:15 so I decided to order from room service, when I called them I told them that I know that I am 15 min late but can I please get only a cup of coffee and a croissant. Of course it was stupid of me to expect anything, I got a reply “you can get as long as you pay for it” I was shocked at this horrible hospitality, I went down to the restaurant, ordered a cup of coffee and croissant, paid for it and gave a euro 5 tip but I refused to ever order room service.
Over all a horrible experience. May be if it is your first cruise then you may be ok with all this but I had gone for a Royal Caribbean cruise before this and I had some at least some expectation. I paid less at Royal Caribbean and got a 7* treatment. I paid a 7 star price at MSC and got a treatment that even a 1 star property can not give.
Upon Check out
We were charged Euro 7 per person, per night for 7 nights that we stayed there, we were never informed about these charges. There was a document we received that this was up to us to pay or not, but we were given this and told we have to pay this. When we tried to reason out, they refused to listen to us, and when we asked to speak to the manager, we were told that the “Manager was busy else where’. We are charged 15% service charge for any anything that you order. So why this 7 euro per person charge which comes to over euro 100.
Horrible staff, horrible treatment, horrible cruise experience. It is sad because they have a beautiful ship and just because their attitude, their cruise experience sucks. I suggest if they do not like certain country prople, do not promote this ship in that country. I got to know that we pay pay much more. I paid over USD 3300 for this cruise and I believe that for Italians its much cheaper by over 60%. So why give this horrible treatment to us.
This is my first written complaint ever in my life, I think you all can imagine what we all must have gone thru that I have taken out so much of my time doing this.
But please remember, never never ever take this Cruise, you will make a big mistake but if you by mistake, then surely do not take their excursions. They are total Rip offs.
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