MSC vs DCL?

[LoveMickey]

Languages, English, Italian, German and 3 others. It became annoying.

 

[monkeydawn]

Taking notes about the sharks.

I honestly can't say I've noticed a huge difference between DCL - Carnival - RCCL when it comes to how the staff is taking care of us. I don't have huge expectations except the basis (having cabin cleaned, being served at the restaurant, receiving answers from Guest Services).

Dont let the shark thing wig you too much. Be alert anytime you are in their environment. I feel like the nets give off a false sense of security so just be aware.

I agree on the service. I cant complain about any of the main service people youd regularly come into contact with on any cruise Ive taken, save for the one DCL steward. He had been lackluster the entire cruise, sullen, not making up the room 2/5 days, refusing any extras requested (which I get they are extras). The most problematic thing for me happened on our very last night. My cabinmate had a questionable appetizer. By dessert she excused herself because she was feeling so sick. I had promised Id take a kid we were traveling with to the See Ya Next time character palooza so I stayed out and did that. When I got back to the room my cabin mate was out. I noticed a lot of our towels were missing but was tired and didnt think too much of it. Turns out she was throwing up (contained to toilet part of split bathroom and one trash can). She had peeked her head out the door and asked our steward for help with the situation. He advised her it would be at least a half hour before he could get to her. She took the towels and cleaned up the best she could and left them in the hall. He never knocked on the door to follow up. I feel like he should have more immediately assisted someone in obvious distress and that after it was clear she was vomiting, he should have reported it to medical for the safety of other guests. It made it easier on us that he didnt but how was he to know it wasnt Noro? But he really was just bad all around. If he was still stewarding in March of this year, hopefully the in the time off he found something better suited to his temperament.

 

[mevelandry]

Languages, English, Italian, German and 3 others. It became annoying.

»Challenge accepted ».

 

[John VN]

»Challenge accepted ».

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/faq/on-board-information
" ...The company uses six main languages for its communications: English, Italian, German, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. The order in which these languages appear is determined exclusively by the number of guests in each language group as a proportion of our total guests... "

Our sailing on Seaside in Yacht Club was far superior to our DCL Dream Concierge cruises and RCCL Sky on Oasis for much le$$ $$$$. Have already needed to cancel 2 more Seaside YC but do have a hopeful Seaside next year.

 

[DCLDVC1]

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/faq/on-board-information
" ...The company uses six main languages for its communications: English, Italian, German, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. The order in which these languages appear is determined exclusively by the number of guests in each language group as a proportion of our total guests... "

Our sailing on Seaside in Yacht Club was far superior to our DCL Dream Concierge cruises and RCCL Sky on Oasis for much le$$ $$$$. Have already needed to cancel 2 more Seaside YC but do have a hopeful Seaside next year.

What were some of the things you found superior in the Yacht Club vs DCL Concierge? The more Yacht Club research I do, the more interested I am.

 

[John VN]

What were some of the things you found superior in the Yacht Club vs DCL Concierge? The more Yacht Club research I do, the interested I am.

DW and I felt that EVERYTHING DCL Concierge has to offer is matched by YC and the SUPERIOR would be everything that comes with YC that is not available in Concierge at a cruise price that is less than DCL Concierge. It was very unique having our Butler escort us to our restaurant for dinner on night one. We told him it was not needed again even though he insisted but WE INSISTED MORE since he had other passengers who APPARENTLY NEEDED to be escorted every night.

Our own huge lounge, restaurant, outside area, express elevator action, available drinks in room and throughout, priority placement --- etc was simply sooooo enjoyable.

Be aware that Seaside should be leaving FL and be replaced by Meraviglia.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/cruise/ships/msc-meraviglia

 

[mevelandry]

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/faq/on-board-information
" ...The company uses six main languages for its communications: English, Italian, German, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. The order in which these languages appear is determined exclusively by the number of guests in each language group as a proportion of our total guests... "

Our sailing on Seaside in Yacht Club was far superior to our DCL Dream Concierge cruises and RCCL Sky on Oasis for much le$$ $$$$. Have already needed to cancel 2 more Seaside YC but do have a hopeful Seaside next year.

Thanks for the info.

*Fingers crossed for your Seaside cruise*

 

[John VN]

Thanks for the info.

*Fingers crossed for your Seaside cruise*

THANKS I'm including toes and eyes but not holding my breathe.

 

[mevelandry]

THANKS I'm including toes and eyes but not holding my breathe.

When are you sailing?

 

[John VN]

When are you sailing?

We have a Royal Mariner 4 Day in January - NOT - and the MSC Seaside YC Western in March MAYBE??? Seaside is scheduled to be out of Port Canaveral instead of Miami and that would be AWESOME.

 

[mevelandry]

We have a Royal Mariner 4 Day in January - NOT - and the MSC Seaside YC Western in March MAYBE??? Seaside is scheduled to be out of Port Canaveral instead of Miami and that would be AWESOME.

I would say I am a tiny bit more confident for the March cruise than the January cruise. That being said, I hope you can do both.

 

[kaseyC]

Our sailing on Seaside in Yacht Club was far superior to our DCL Dream Concierge cruises and RCCL Sky on Oasis for much le$$ $$$$. Have already needed to cancel 2 more Seaside YC but do have a hopeful Seaside next year.

I have to agree with this and I will add that we found the MSC YC superior to NCL's Haven as well. We loved the service and felt absolutely spoiled on our Seaside and Meraviglia cruises.

 

[John VN]

I have to agree with this and I will add that we found the MSC YC superior to NCL's Haven as well. We loved the service and felt absolutely spoiled on our Seaside and Meraviglia cruises.

Did you manage to go to Ocean Cay? Not a Castaway Cay or CocoCay experience for sure but it looks fabulous.

 

[DCLDVC1]

I have to agree with this and I will add that we found the MSC YC superior to NCL's Haven as well. We loved the service and felt absolutely spoiled on our Seaside and Meraviglia cruises.

How did your kids feel the Seaside and Meraviglia compared to the DCL ships?

 

[T & R]

Ocean Cay question: I read online that they stay in port there even after dark up until midnight so you can have sunset, bonfires on the beach and light shows. Prior to the shutdown was this still done or was this something from years ago? Why does DCL not do something like this on CC? Sounds awesome not to have to rush back to be onboard by 4:30p or so from CC. Would be cool if ship didn't leave till midnight and you could chill on beach for a CC sunset.

 

[mevelandry]

Ocean Cay question: I read online that they stay in port there even after dark up until midnight so you can have sunset, bonfires on the beach and light shows. Prior to the shutdown was this still done or was this something from years ago? Why does DCL not do something like this on CC? Sounds awesome not to have to rush back to be onboard by 4:30p or so from CC. Would be cool if ship didn't leave till midnight and you could chill on beach for a CC sunset.

I believe Ocean Cay opened only last fall. Some itineraries do offer evenings on land.

Unfortunately, our itinerary doesn't (we leave at 6:30 PM).

 

[kaseyC]

Did you manage to go to Ocean Cay? Not a Castaway Cay or CocoCay experience for sure but it looks fabulous.

Yes, on our Meraviglia sailing this past spring break. It's a gorgeous island, but having the separate YC area, bar and restaurant was awesome. We also rented a YC Oceanview Cabana which was great. Probably the best service we've had on any of the cruise lines private islands. I know we were extremely lucky because many of the sailings before ours didn't make it to Ocean Cay.

I have to add this sailing was amazing overall and somewhat bittersweet. It was a last minute booking (for me at least because usually I books things a year or more in advance and this was about a month before sailing.) It was just me and middle daughter since it was her college spring and her sisters already had plans for their spring breaks. I had some fantastic one on one time with my college freshman. Our butler absolutely spoiled the both of us onboard. It was also the Meraviglia's last sailing before cruising was suspended. The suspension of cruising was announced during our sailing...we were unsure we would be allowed to disembark in Miami.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Yes, on our Meraviglia sailing this past spring break. It's a gorgeous island, but having the separate YC area, bar and restaurant was awesome. We also rented a YC Oceanview Cabana which was great. Probably the best service we've had on any of the cruise lines private islands. I know we were extremely lucky because many of the sailings before ours didn't make it to Ocean Cay.

I have to add this sailing was amazing overall and somewhat bittersweet. It was a last minute booking (for me at least because usually I books things a year or more in advance and this was about a month before sailing.) It was just me and middle daughter since it was her college spring and her sisters already had plans for their spring breaks. I had some fantastic one on one time with my college freshman. Our butler absolutely spoiled the both of us onboard. It was also the Meraviglia's last sailing before cruising was suspended. The suspension of cruising was announced during our sailing...we were unsure we would be allowed to disembark in Miami.

How did the Oceanview Cabana compare to the cabanas on Castaway Cay? How much closer to the water are the YC Beachfront Cabanas?

 

[kaseyC]

How did your kids feel the Seaside and Meraviglia compared to the DCL ships?

My kids are older so they did not participate in the youth programs. For our first MSC cruise on the Seaside Christmas 2018 they were 22, 17 and 15. We were in one of the YC Royal Suites plus a YC inside across the hall. So they were very happy with hanging together on our balcony in the hot tub, laying on the YC sundeck in RS's pool cabana and going to shows with us.

 

[kaseyC]

Ocean Cay question: I read online that they stay in port there even after dark up until midnight so you can have sunset, bonfires on the beach and light shows. Prior to the shutdown was this still done or was this something from years ago? Why does DCL not do something like this on CC? Sounds awesome not to have to rush back to be onboard by 4:30p or so from CC. Would be cool if ship didn't leave till midnight and you could chill on beach for a CC sunset.

When we were there this past March. I believe we left around 9:00 or 10:00. We were there for sunset and the lighting of the light house. I don't recall a light show but we may have missed it because we went to dinner.