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A BEAUTIFUL SHIP MARRED BY POOR OPERATION. |
| Reviewed By: Tebbutt, Croyde, North Devon on 28th Nov 2008 |
| Cruise Line: MSC Cruises |
Times cruised before: 1-2 |
| Cruise Ship: MSC Musica |
Sailed:
November,
2008 |
| Destination: South America |
Age: 65+ |
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Several reviewers have wasted no time in airing their views of a disappointing experience on MSC "Musica" Venice to Rio/ Santos on November 2nd. I agree with most of the criticisms and disagree with the single MSC supporter from Lagoa, particularly his "anti-Brit comments, so I will summarise as follows:-
Firstly, PLUS points which will benefit future aspiring MSC passengers:-
1) MSC "Musica" is a large, comfortable and stunningly-designed ship.
2) My cabin was roomy, clean and attractively furnished with larger-than-average balcony.
3) Entertainment venues (La Scala Theatre, Cascata Lounge and Crystal Lounge all magnificently-designed facilities.
4) Entertainment good, particularly resident "La Delicia" String Quartet and guest operatic soprano & tenor (passengers intolerant of classical music shouldn't book a ship called "Musica"!)
5) Daily programme was good .... but often delivered after bedtime.
6) Activities were varied..... but how many quizzes bawled out in 6 languages do you need?
7) Cabin and evening waiting staff (those which depended on gratuities for a living income) were friendly and efficient but unable to counteract poor and unenlightened management.
8) Food - see below- but rolls and croissants for Room Service breakfast (FREE!) were excellent.
9) Notwithwithstanding the criticisms below, this cruise was a repositioning cruise and represented extremely good value-for-money.
BUT, BUT, BUT,:- (where do I start?)
10) Check-in abysmal - not enough staff and PC terminals -most passengers herded like cattle in hot and austere Venice Cruise Terminal.
11) Most calls to Reception/Room Service in !st 24/48 hours were ignored e.g. a request for a firmer pillow for medical reasons was met with a blank stare - only one sort of pillow is reputedly carried for a 2200-passenger ship!
12) Inadequate and belated Emergency Drill muster.
13) The "water-rebellion" was handled badly - free tap-water supplied on first day then dining-room staff told to remove them - staff quoted Maitre D,, Maitre D blamed Hotel Director, Hotel Director, who eventually agreed an appointment with a disgruntled passenger after 5 days, quoted "Head Office" policy.
13) Extravagantly-produced menus were a delight to read - but the food bore little relation to them - fruit, cold meats O.K. but hot courses luke-warm or cold.
14) Room-service tea consisted of pot of luke-warm water, 1 tea-bag and 12-14 sachets of sugar/sweeteners!
15) Poorly-trained staff were ill-supported by diffident and disinterested management e.g.-
16) Maitre D. smiled a lot, but was incapable and disinterested in passengers criticisms.
17) Chief Purser, if such a person existed, hid behind a young Reception team, who were rarely able to solve any problems.
18) I am unable to comment on the chaotic disembarkation in Santos, as I had left the ship in Rio, but the feeling of MSC not caring for their customers once they had checked out was overwhelming!
I have tried to produce a balanced summary (9 points for and against), but the overall impression is that, despite having a beautiful ship, MSC is NOT for discerning "Brits" until it develops a culture of "customer is always right" or even "passengers pay all our wages" instead of "passengers will be tolerated , but ignored whenever possible!"
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