MSC Armonia Reviews

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Embarkation OK no disabled check in though, cabin supposed to be biggest inside on ship so the others must have been very very small. Food in buffet deck 11 is a joke, breakfast, lunch and dinner, everyday the same hardly any rotation. All geared to Italians i had a bowl of cereals in morning, we had to get every lunch off ship in port, and dinner was a cheese roll and fries. Pizzas and fruit at side of pool bar, same everyday and a nice chap did cook different fresh pasta at lunchtimes at side of pizza place, and this wasn't to bad. We do not do main restaurants so cannot comment on those. Drinks are a bit on the expensive side but if you drink water or fizzy drinks, i recommend the restaurant soda package. For 7 euros all cans and bottled water free during mealtime hours on deck 11 and main restaurants, this saved an absolute fortune, and if you have to go with MSC get this! Be warned though you do have to pay for tea and coffee with meals(except breakfast) and the only place you could get them free was a machine on deck 11 near pizza`s, and then you had to carry them to the buffet restaurant. Staff, i would say 10% of them are friendly and helpful, the other 90% rude and not helpful. i was holding the door open 1 evening, stood with a drink and my walking stick keeping the door open for my wife and a manager walked straight through without even a thanks, i could not believe it! Ports of call were very good and we did enjoy those, but watch Santorini, if you want to get off early you need to be on an excursion or get a number. I was pushed into a corner by an Italian member of staff who did not explain this, and when i was told 20 mins later to go to reception i found all numbers had gone and we could only go ashore after 4pm! Entertainment a big let down nothing at all to do if you were sailing, only sit around reading or sunbathing or spend more money on drinks and sit in the empty lounges. And finally the Italian guests, they are the most rude people i have ever met, you press for a lift and stand back to let people off, not the Italians, they barge past you and wont let people get off the lift before they get in!! I did complain about all our problems we had in the week and Marcello the Guest relations manager was very nice about it and did cancel our 7 Euro daily service charge, and i gave 2 tips to the only 2 i thought deserved any.

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Well, As I said in the headline, I knew what I was going to get-- I read the brochure but more importantly, I studied the reviews. The MSC Armonia is a budget cruise, specifically for Italians, going to great ports, on a budget, budget (how many times shall I say budget?). Embarkation: easy, fine, but Venice is a very expensive city for cabs. Ask if you really want to go from Venice. We shouldn't have- its not a city for the disabled (obviously) although don't let that put you off as an included port in an itinerary. The procedure when you get to the ship (don't ask me how to find it, the cab knew) is easy- they hand you physical tickets (why not post them out?!?), they take your luggage and you are on. From that point, if you're in a wheelchair, the fun is over. We got on up a steep ramp to deck 4. Nobody meets you there. We spent half an hour lost, in a state, pushed and shoved by rude Europeans (literally shoved), until we found our way back to reception and joined the wrong end of the line to be shown to our cabin. MSC really has no idea how to help disabled people (its not just the ramps guys). When the hell of getting on is over (and it should be simple if you walk on, honestly, very quick very nice). The cabin was fine. It's small. The shower is tiny (think motorhome), but it has all you need. We had two inside cabins (one for my parents, one for me). Yes we should definitely have booked another cruise with a disabled one available, but heck we made do. Once you relax into the ship, you'll find it a pleasant place to be. It's clean--- really clean. The staff are lovely (where did you lot get the impression otherwise? Perhaps they fired the old lot?). The drinks are affordable (very for a cruise) and if you're into listening to a pianist for hours each evening or lying by the pool all day, you're going to be ok. It's a busy ship. It's small (for my experience the bigger the better really) and after dinner there's nothing to do really. There's no interesting lectures I could find, no-where for a British lad to chill for a few hours (the club doesn't open till midnight, sorry boys I'm in bed by then). The show is ok- quite sweet, but seriously does everyone have to stand in the aisle and block the disabled view???? I'm going to stop mentioning disabled now- because this wasn't a disabled holiday, I didn't pay for one (and you need to) and the rest of our party had good legs. Now, I like meeting people from all countries- honestly I do! But you're going to get a bit of a culture shock being with 2000 Italians for the week. You know when you find your quiet spot on the ship, take your book, lie down and enjoy... that isn't going to happen. Shouting across the deck, piling up their chairs, pushing yours out the way-- a different respect for "personal space". I guess it's fine, it's not my option to say it should be any other way. Hey, they have passion and they enjoy themselves. Nobody was ever drunk, nobody directly rude, it's just not peaceful. The ports- yes, nice, but I wanted to just walk away after a few days. I didn't want to get back on. It just wasn't a cruise in my opinion. The food (in Pergola, by far the nicer of the restaurants) was fine/good. The buffet -- well you get what you pay for, but well made, no tummy probs. Plastic trays... etc. Look- it was like ??400 through my agency. ??800 because I didn't share my cabin as a single person. If I paid ??1000, I'd be annoyed. If I paid ??2000 I'd have gone for a very long swim. It comes across in the lack of personalised service (forgot a birthday, big problems with trying to just get a cake made, very slow room service one night, one beer on tap, no alternative places to eat, nothing much to do apart from sit, maybe 30 books in the library, no proper ramps, nobody just out there to make my vacation amazing)... I can't say it enough, you get what you pay for. I hear the bigger MSC ships are better. This was... it's ok... don't worry if you've booked, you won't hate it... you will have a great time if you choose to-- I just decided I never want this sort of thing again. I want to pay more, half as often and enjoy heaven for a week, not "a journey". A lot of British people held the tips back- how mean!!! Just pay up. If you want this price, but a bit more flair, more to do if you're under 50 and like something memorable-- try NCL. If you can afford it do Crystal, if its the only ever cruise you'll go on go for Cunard. And if you have a wheelchair, for goodness sake just sail from Southampton, you know it makes sense. Would I go again: No. Should you: Sure, but don't overpay for this one ok! -Oh by the way, I know I said I wouldn't bang on about wheelchairs but seriously-- not one excursion in the main ports I'm allowed on???? Alex.

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We were apprehensive after reading reviews about MSC, but we found that this cruise line suits families very well. There were babies to Grandparents on board, off all nationalities, which we enjoyed. Announcements are made in 5 languages Italian, English, French, Germany and Spanish. An individual language representative was available to answer any questions. The menus and daily news are printed in 5 languages eg: we were given the English one. Food - yum - Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner you could sit down and be served or go to the buffet. We were seated with a Australian family for the evening meal. We observed that other nationalities were seated with passengers that spoke their language. The food we could not fault. You could have smoke salmon for breakfast every day if you wanted. Lunch eg: hamburgers, pizza, pasta to salads, hot and cold meats, cheese, bread, deserts and fruits. The waiters were friendly and helpful. Entertainment - one night was an Italian Night - we don't speak Italian but we enjoyed the experience. - another evening had circus type acts that needed no language and were wonderful even breathtaking. - We played bingo one afternoon with 3 Italian grandmas who could not speak English but we got on beautifully - it was fun. Shore excursions - we used this cruise as a break from our 4 week European holiday, so we were not inclined to do the shore excursions. I spoke to some passengers who said they enjoyed them. This cruise went to Ancona, Corfu, Santorini, Piraeus, Argostoli, Kotor. Ancona- we chose to stay on board - and rest by the pool. Corfu - we payed to go on the bus to the town (otherwise a long hot walk) and went swimming. Santorini - went to Fiya and watched the sunset, but wished we had gone to Oia (can use public bus) Piraeus - we organised Georges Taxi - good service - booked via their website. Argostoli - not much to see in town but the Info centre at ship has internet service Kotor - a great old wall town - enough time for walking up to the old fort, down for ice cream and coffee. On the ship - you could buy coffee/beer/wine/water/cocktail vouchers. We choose not too do this. The Cocktails were about Euro7, Beer about Euro3, Coffee Euro3. Bottle water at dinner Euro2. But water is free 24hrs a day on the pool deck, as is tea and coffee. Venice -the ship cruises right pass St Marks Square - wow what a sight. Room 9080 - very quiet and and luggage went under the beds ok. Internet - too slow, wait until you get to port if needed. From my 10 year old = I loved it. The mocktails were delicious. I did not go the the kids club because there were no other English speaking kids there. I loved the basket ball court, putt putt golf, table tennis, shuttle cock and arcade games. The people were lovely and kind to me. We bought lollies/candy in the shop. I am dairy intolerant and found lots of food to eat, they made a different flavored sorbet every night - I liked the apple flavored one the best. The pool is great but bring goggles as it is very salty. The ship was lovely, many nice places to sit in quiet if needed. Nicely decorated. We could not fault it.

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We had an excellent flight by Easy jet to Marco Polo airport in Venice, transfer by water taxi to ship an added bonus as our driver took us through the canals of Venice to the MSC Armonia.The embarkation process was first class and we boarded with out a hitch. Purchased Both wine and beer packages which proved to be the best option saving a few euros.Staff on board were very friendly and attentive. Food was adequate,and well presented in the main dining rooms. Tried the buffet restaurant's but unless you like hunting for a table I would give this a miss as your food is generally cold by the time you do get a table.Bars and other public areas were clean and presentable. Plenty of sun beds for all passengers. Life boat drill for those embarking in Venice was efficient but did notice those who embarked in Ancona didn't have to do it why? Main faults unfortunately the ship is geared mainly for Italians who I found to be over bearing and extremely loud and vocal even when sitting next to each other. Time spent in ports of call was very limited. Afternoon tea could have been more varied, also control of persons ignoring notices not to take food into the bathing areas.Other point of concern was that the Forward sun deck was always closed for no reason. The compulsory tips of 7 euro a Day is excessive it should be 7 euro per cabin.I would certainly cruise again with MSC if they can amend these minor faults. Ports of Ancona and Argostoli were adequate but not enough time was allowed for independent cruisers or information available about each port

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Unfortunately, we decided to go cruising with MSC this year and that was BIG mistake. Be prepared for awful service if you book MSC Armonia. We choose this cruise because of destinations (Santorini, Kefalonia, Montenegro) and the places were perfect, but we have only 4-5 hours for visiting those beautiful places in every port . The drinks are not included in the cabin price so everything including water you should pay additional for it and the prices are extremely high. We travelled with two kids (twins) 3 years old, and we use for the first and last time kids club. They separate our kids, one of them was in the theatre and one of them they left it in the club crying for his brother for over 30 min. Very very bad ,incompetent service. The only bright spot on that cruise were places we visit. The Kotor in Montenegro was stunning and Kefalonia and Santorini also worth visit.
 
Ancona - rating 5 of 10 Corfu - rating 6 of 10 Santorini - rating 8 of 10 Athens - rating 4 of 10 Argostoli - rating 8 of 10 Kotor - rating 10 of 10
Anyway I will never again use this company.

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