How does msc compare to p&o cruises.

[JessBlu]

There are a couple of other MSc threads if you do a search.

Was on 4 times last year, loved it, and will be back on in a few weeks, that’s the virtuosia.

[SquishTheWhale]

Hi Vampiress

We have sailed on both, and here's my view.

P&O:
Generally good service
Food fine
Entertainment OK but a tad blah. Not much on during the day
Ship nice but no wow factor (we sailed on Britannia)
Good pricing
Good for kids
Very British

MSC:
God awful service and organisation
Very Italian/European
Food in MDR poor. Food in buffet fine
Entertainment bonkers and not great
Ship absolutely stunning huge wow factor (Meraviglia)
Really good prices. Great deals with drinks included etc

My impression of P&O is that its much more about being in a nice floating hotel to visit the ports. The ship itself isn't the destination unlike lines like RCI and NCL.

MSC have stunning ships but dear god the service is abysmal. I'm not someone who asks for much, but it was so stressful just trying to get what we'd paid for, for instance a pre paid photo package shouldn't have taken 10+ visits to the photo desk to try and sort out. However, our cruise was out of Italy and I hear they are much better out of the UK and US.

Pricing on both lines I find very good. P&O don't charge for kids outside of the school hols which makes a huge difference. MSC is cheap overall and did a very good NHS offer a little while ago.

I have a future cruise booked on both lines. A girly weekend with my friends on MSC Virtuosa out of Southampton (my husband refuses to set foot on MSC again) and a 2 weeks family cruise on P&O Arvia next year. My hesitation around cruising P&O again was mainly to do with the ship not being that exciting, but Iona and Arvia look much better.

[Rachaelwoolly]

Originally Posted by SquishTheWhale

Hi Vampiress

We have sailed on both, and here's my view.

P&O:
Generally good service
Food fine
Entertainment OK but a tad blah. Not much on during the day
Ship nice but no wow factor (we sailed on Britannia)
Good pricing
Good for kids
Very British

MSC:
God awful service and organisation
Very Italian/European
Food in MDR poor. Food in buffet fine
Entertainment bonkers and not great
Ship absolutely stunning huge wow factor (Meraviglia)
Really good prices. Great deals with drinks included etc

My impression of P&O is that its much more about being in a nice floating hotel to visit the ports. The ship itself isn't the destination unlike lines like RCI and NCL.

MSC have stunning ships but dear god the service is abysmal. I'm not someone who asks for much, but it was so stressful just trying to get what we'd paid for, for instance a pre paid photo package shouldn't have taken 10+ visits to the photo desk to try and sort out. However, our cruise was out of Italy and I hear they are much better out of the UK and US.

Pricing on both lines I find very good. P&O don't charge for kids outside of the school hols which makes a huge difference. MSC is cheap overall and did a very good NHS offer a little while ago.

I have a future cruise booked on both lines. A girly weekend with my friends on MSC Virtuosa out of Southampton (my husband refuses to set foot on MSC again) and a 2 weeks family cruise on P&O Arvia next year. My hesitation around cruising P&O again was mainly to do with the ship not being that exciting, but Iona and Arvia look much better.

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Exactly what I would have said! ...I really not would not choose an MSC cruise again after our one time experience last year...we had the NHS discount and it was a good price...ships lovely ...service, care & organisation very poor.I have said more about it it other threads but will not bore anyone again..I've sailed P & O a couple of times & would choose them over MSC but would prefer to sail with Royal Caribbean over the lines sailed-NCL epic was nice but not my fave. I have cruise booked on RCI Navigator Nov but would love to try Celebrity & Disney CL.
happy cruising !