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Royal Caribbean vs MSC: 7 Fundamental Differences

Emma Cruises
Emma Cruises
πŸ…Authority
πŸ‘οΈ 239K viewsπŸ“… 6 years ago⏱️ 14:38

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator compares the experiences of cruising with Royal Caribbean, which represents American and British cruise lines, against MSC and Costa, which represent Italian cruise lines. The video highlights seven fundamental differences between these styles of cruising. First, itineraries differ because MSC allows passengers to embark and disembark at various ports, whereas American lines typically have fixed start and end points. Second, the linguistic environment on MSC is multilingual, which can slow down announcements and entertainment but provides an international atmosphere. Third, entertainment styles vary, with Royal Caribbean offering Broadway-style musicals and MSC providing more interpretive, language-independent shows. Fourth, the creator notes that MSC is significantly more budget-friendly than its American counterparts. Fifth, service styles differ, as American lines often follow a more proactive customer service model while Italian lines are described as more hands-off. Sixth, food offerings vary from the Mediterranean-focused menus on MSC to the diverse, large-portion buffets on American lines. Finally, the creator mentions logistical differences, such as the requirement to set up cruise cards manually on MSC and the absence of bars within theaters. The creator concludes that while both options are enjoyable, travelers must understand these differences to avoid disappointment.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for MSC Cruises USA
Solid Strip
All-time creator consensus for MSC Cruises USA
A Nibble

This review is more positive than the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsShip ComparisonπŸ…Authority Creator
Veteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

I have cruised with both MSC and Royal Caribbean and although I love them both the experience on board is completely different

MSC Cruises are so much cheaper than cruising with an American or British Cruise Line

I love the MSE ships they're all very modern and they're just brilliant

Creator's Tips & Advice

βœ“Be prepared for fundamental differences when switching between cruise lines
βœ“Set up your cruise card within the first 24 hours on MSC
βœ“Consider the flexibility of MSC's boarding and disembarking options

πŸ†•New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Confusion about muster drills on MSC β€” You only have to go to a muster drill once, even if announced later

Questions This Creator Answers

QHow do Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises compare?
QWhat are the fundamental differences in itineraries, onboard experience, food, service, and price?

Topics Covered

Itinerary Route3 Happy BaconEntertainment Shows2 Happy BaconValue Pricing3Β½ Happy BaconService Crew1Β½ Happy BaconDining Main2 Happy BaconSafety Medical1 Sad BaconEmbarkationMeh

Port Highlights

Barcelona2Β½ Happy Bacon
Genoa3 Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon β€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon β€” creators took issue with this
Meh β€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = β€œmeh”, 5 = β€œbacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube