MSC Splendida

We have just returned from MSC Splendida Northern Europe 7-14 September 2016.

Having checked in very quickly we came to a halt on boarding from the gangway. There appeared to be only one gangway in use coping with passengers coming off and passengers getting on. We stood on the gangway for about 20 minutes.

On handing over our cruise card to security it was found we had the wrong cards! We were subsequently escorted to guest services for new cards.

We found our stateroom on deck 11 at the back of the ship. It was a good size and had new furniture on the balcony. As Splendida is a few years old, she is in pristine condition. The public areas and central atrium were particularly smart and the crystal staircases were beautiful.

After having some lunch we queued for nearly an hour to see what table we had been allocated. Bolsover had made a request for a table for 2/first sitting. We were advised by the Maitre-D that no request had been received and we were seated on a table for 6. Nothing could be done and we were ƒ??wait listedƒ??. We never heard anymore except they found the request for dining during the week but we were never moved during our stay despite repeated requests. The table we were originally seated at was not our allocated table so we had to move ƒ?? quite embarrassing!

The service in the restaurant left a lot, on occasions, to be desired. At breakfast I took a tea bag with me and it was a battle to get a cup/saucer/teaspoon/milk/sweetener and hot water! On several occasions we had our fruit and yoghurt after our cooked breakfast – rather odd !

On the sea day we had trouble finding a lounger on deck that was facing the sun. The ƒ??europeanƒ?? guests had got there first. They were all taken with a towel and a book and no one came to sit on them within the 30 mins. allowance.

We were very much in the minority being British as the majority were German and Italian. Manners were nearly non-existent regarding getting in the lifts. We regularly played ƒ??sardinesƒ?? and the lift doors refused to shut and on one occasion the last in had to get out before the doors closed.

We were very fortunate with the weather which made the holiday. If the weather had been bad I think we would have been disappointed with the cruise. We have holidayed on MSC Armonia before and perhaps we got what paid for. Would we go again ƒ?? the juryƒ??s out.