MSC, Sinfonia Review

Overall Rating

The entertainment is of good value for adults. Only on the last night would it be suitable for children and then only for those less than 10 years of age. The cabin was sufficiently roomy for two adults and constantly cleaned. The food was consistently good. The Asian waiters that served our table directly were wonderful.

1. The first was delayed and we missed our connection. We were reassured before the trip that under these circumstances, MSC would take care of us and make sure that we are transported to the boat in any eventuality - "all we had to do was ring the MSC if we got into trouble". We eventually managed to contact the travel agents who had arranged the cruise. They were able to get hold of MSC and call us back on our telephone. The solution given to us indirectly by MSC through the agent was that we take a taxi to the embarkation port. We subsequently found out that if had we had done this, we would have missed the cruise altogether and had to go home. Stranded as we were, we decided to change our second flight to a destination close to the next stopping point of the cruise and to try to catch it the following day. We needed to stay overnight, but were told by the booking agent that MSC would not arrange either transportation or the hotel. 2. Our return 2 MSC-organised flights incorporated a 40 minute connection in a major international airport. We repeatedly requested before and during the cruise for our flights to be changed and no attempt was made to do this. Therefore, during the connection we found it necessary to sprint between gates incorporating passport control in order to just make the flight. Any slight delay and we would have missed it again. Secondly, this would have been impossible if we were not fit enough to run all the way in a major airport. With infirm elderly or children, this would not have been an option. 3. On the ship, the reception staff were disorganized and either not interested in interacting with passengers, or rude. 4. The senior waiters were rude to the point of making us feel unwelcome and privileged to be there. The ma tre de was unhelpful. Without choice, we were placed on the second dinner sitting and informed by him that there was not room to change from a second dinner sitting to the first. Only when we insisted on him checking this, did he finally make the effort and was immediately able to move us to the first sitting. 5. On the shore excursions, there was no list of passengers with the guide. They checked passengers by counting only. We were 5 minutes late reaching a meeting point having been lost in a labyrinth market only to find that the guide and the passengers had already gone. Only with the help of a shop owner did we find our way out and had to run to catch the coach. On one excursion, the guide, clearly with no training and absolutely no information whatsoever given to us by the guide on the capital city that we were visiting. 6. Towards the end of the cruise we were presented with a bill to which was added 42 euros tip per passenger. 7. The 'Disembarkation meeting' was hosted by inexperienced staff who's lack of knowledge reflected the company's incompetence at organizing transfer to and from the ship. 8. Disembarkation was also described aptly by other passengers as 'organized chaos'. No-one guided us to the coaches, or the correct coach. At one point ourselves and other passengers with our baggage were put on the wrong coach. Only when we insisted that the driver confirm the airport destination did we find our way to the right coach. We had to leave our rooms by 8.30 am in order to use the only transfer provided to the airport, which delivered us to the airport 7 hours before our flight. Despite complaints by many to the cruise staff at a 'disembarkation meeting' and information and reception desks, no change in transfer time was made.

We have been on several cruises and our conclusion is that the for the MSC Sinfonia, the insecurity and stress involved in dealing with the incompetence of the MSC staff cannot be compensated for by the good food and entertainment.

Members' Comments onecstatic's Review

• maryd on 18th Jan 2008

  I shall be going on a cruise (my 1st ever) on the Sinfonia at the end of March and I will write a note on the experience afterwards ...... watch this space!

• Chillynorth on 9th Jun 2008

  I found this review helpful because the details turned out to be very true. I didn't pay close enough attention when I first read it; and unfortunately I learned the hard way. I will shortly write my own review to help enlighten others.