MSC Grandiosa

Could be better: Somewhere to wait in the terminal after disembarking.

Could be better: There was a problem with the pre-purchased drinks package on three (!!) separate occasions — a lot of promises and clumsy handling on board, and it worked out in the end, but it cast a shadow over what was otherwise a professionally run trip.

Could be better: Getting ashore in Cannes by tender, as we queued for two hours to get our turn.

Could be better: The ship was hopelessly overcrowded; people were packed into the pools like sardines. There was a constant crush in the restaurants. On the first and second days we stood in a sewage smell the whole time on the waterslides, which seriously called the hygiene on board into question. On the days when we could go ashore, we always did, to escape the crush. The evening shows were weak to middling. The crew did everything they could to reduce the downsides of the overcrowding, cleaning constantly and clearing the dirty dishes. Unfortunately there were too many cabins and too many passengers for the public areas, so even they could not work miracles. The trip was not restful at all; for this money we could have had a much better time elsewhere.

Could be better: Now and then the cabin was noisy early in the morning, as though a ballroom were being rearranged above our heads.

Could be better: I find the excursions overpriced for what you get; they often don't offer that much yet they are extremely expensive, and on top of that it's one excursion a day at most. So there's no option of something lighter in the morning and something bigger around midday or the afternoon, or the other way round