We have cruised with MSC before and were really looking forward to repeating out previous and wonderful experience. Not to be. We travelled from Aust to Milan, bus to Genoa and were put in a grotty hotel - which was under renovation, sanding and painting going on and building surrounded by scaffolding. We met several other Aussie couples doing the same cruise. They had paid for interior rooms or ocean view, we paid top dollar to indulge ourselves after returning to work fulltime at out ages 65 and 69 for the previous 6 months just to pay for this trip. All the other Aussie were upgraded to a balcony cabin on Deck 14 and we on Deck 12 - as far aft as ya can get! They in mid ships. They paid $6,999 aus each and we $9,999 aus each. So in essence we paid $6,000 more than any other Aus couple and we got a crap cabin with limited view as our small balcony has half metal and half clear glass - restricted view. We were offered no upgrade or recompense. The food is crap at best 3/10. This ship is too big, too many people and staff don't give a damn about passengers. One has to pay for water - even in the restaurants. Everything is about the mighty dollar and not passenger comfort - shuttles to the towns are another cost - never experienced by us before. Buffet food is crap. Restaurant food sub standard and all done on the cheap. One meal was "seafood Paella" - it consisted of rice and one prawn and 1 mussel - no other protein or seafood. Disgusting !!! We have travelled from the other side of the world for this!!! We are devastated..........we are so disappointed and disillusioned .......We have cruised withe Holland American, P & O. Norwegian and on MSC Armonia (which we thoroughly enjoyed and recommended) BUT never again will we risk MSC. We are currently still on the ship as we took a 3 week cruise; we are looking forward to getting off!!! Embarkation was an all day affair and so so disorganised, it was a nightmare! Hope disembarkation is not as horrid - it will be cause for celebration for us to put this experience behind us. Sorry cannot recommend.