Are MSC Making a big mistake?

Back in May you may have seen that MSC have said that they would build 2 new ships, with the option of a 3rd ship should these really take off, but one does have to ask the question if MSC are doing the right thing by launching them now. Well when I say now, they are currently being built and will launch in November 2017 and May 2018. Royal Caribbean are also shortly releasing 2 new ships, Quantum and Anthem, and in the next few years a brand new Oasis Class ship with the option of another, P&O have the Britannia, again due out next year but they also hold the option of another vessel.

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On speaking to customers, more and more people are cruising and loving it, but I don’t see how we are going to be able to fill these ships every week…. Are we going to see a huge divide in the cruise world with more cheap budget cruises from £100.00 per week, where the ships are really basic and then the 5* plus market, or is it going to be a case of cruise lines dropping their prices like they are at the moment.

I appreciate that everyone likes a deal, but one of the major issues I hear is that the service and standards are dropping, which of course they will if the cruise lines are throwing out the cruises at ridiculous prices.

I suppose what I am getting at is – would you be happy paying a much lower fare but receiving a lower level of service or would you prefer to pay that little bit more and get much more from your cruise experience?

One of the big things we are seeing is passengers that are paying less and less but are complaining more and more and nothing is going to change unless we are prepared to work with the cruise lines, we like a good deal but at the same time you cannot have the highest level of service for £499.00pp for a week’s cruise in a balcony, something has to give.

A big gripe for me is, and I find the highly annoying. Take P&O for example they came in at the start of the year with these amazing fares which they said would stop last minute bargains,  that they were scrapping the Getaway fare and replacing with 2 others that would make booking early a benefit, but they didn’t promote the ‘Saver fare’, mainly as they lead agents to believe that they would not put these on many cruises – well guess what nearly every cruise in a few months basis from now has them! Come on P&O – stick by what you said you were going to do.

Well MSC’s new ships will be part of the Seaside Class – Sounds lovely doesn’t it. Have a look below at what they are going to look like, personally I think it’s a floating Butlins… At 154,000 gross tons they are not that much bigger than Independence which holds 3,500 passenger but these will hold 5,400 passenger – 10,800 between the two off them, we struggle to fill the MSC Opera out of Southampton and she’s only a small ship.

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MSC are a Italian owned cruise line and lately we have been seeing more and more complaints but maybe that is unfair of my to pinpoint one cruise line as Royal Caribbean and P&O guests are also giving more negative feedback.

Have you cruised lately? Do you think standards are dropping?

www.tomstravels.co.uk – 0800 408 6143 – [email protected]

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About Me

Hello there, I'm Tom Harding and I have been in the Cruise and Travel industry for about 10 years. Cruising has always been a passion of mine ever since I was little. I love the elegance and sophistication that comes with cruising and to be able to see lots of places…

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