American's would you cruise MSC from an American port to the Caribbean, rather than RCI, Carnival, Princess and HAL etc. assuming the prices were the same.

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Originally posted by Caronia II:
Another line is always worth considering and trying!

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I'm interested in how popular MSC would be cruising from US ports:

American's would you cruise MSC from an American port to the Caribbean, rather than RCI, Carnival, Princess and HAL etc. assuming the prices were the same.

Yes or No answers and reasons please?

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That's the big question which Rick Sasso and Co. have been asking, and MSC is investing a lot of money, hoping the answer is yes!

MSC has very low pricing in the Caribbean for Americans, but many of us (not me personally) feel that the product is too "international" for our tastes. The Italian flavor may be more popular with people from New York and other Northeast areas, but it is a hard sell to convince Mom & Pop Midwest that they should stray away from the tried and true major brands. Costa has faced this issue with Americans for years on their ships out of Florida, which are only seasonal.

On a personal note, I would sail on them without hesitation, but I'm one American who is open-minded towards European cultures and I embrace the Italian flavor of MSC.

Rich

[ 11-23-2005: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

US Lines are more costly than European Lines in the Med, yet Americans will flock to them, because they can use US$, eat Prime Rib & Lobster Tail, and not have to deal with 'foreigners'; those who don;t sopeak the same lingo and don't want US$.

One of my most amusing conversations was with a group on Norwegian Dream after a call in Nice. They were astounded at how friendly the French were to them, having previously been worried they would get snubbed or even mugged....????? been hearing too much rubbish on the TV it seemed. The only complaint they had, was that US$ were not accepted in the shops

If an Outer Mongolian vessel called at our shores, and the price was equivalent or less to a UK ship for the same itinerary, I would be aboard straight away. I am sure many others here would too, but there would also be UK citizens who would not go, purely because it wasn't British. I also know Brits who do not wish to sail US Lines.

It is strange how people become like this, many are those who have not travelled far afield, but there are some who have seen the world yet still prefer to see it from the cradle of their own nationality's bosom.

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Originally posted by PamM:
I think you are asking too much for a simple yes or no Malcolm..

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Americans don't accept that others' have different ways in general. I think I may be laughed at and ridiculed if I sent my bacon back on say RCI, telling them it was a cheap cut & burnt. Yet MSC seem to want to bow down when told their bacon is not cooked enough, and hire a Jamaican chef to burn it OK, just one example, but there are plenty of others. The comment in the other thread where Sasso says he stopped smoking in the dining rooms.. well it was not permitted anyway, so he didn't do much. So many things are different.

People will begin to think I am anti-American.. far from it actually, or I wouldn't spend so much time there, or in fact be able to go cruising at all... but I do wish the average person opened their eyes more.

I think most cruise lines will change every aspect of their onboard culture if it means filling their ships in American waters.

How 'Norwegian' is the cruise experience onboard a Norwegian cruise line vessel, for example? I'd say zero!

[ 11-23-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by PamM:

Americans don't accept that others' have different ways in general.

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The following is from an MSC review:

The grill offered hamburgers and low quality hotdogs. But forget about a cheeseburger, much less something as extravagant as veggie burgers. Condiments did not include relish or pickles.

Just imagine if they did not offer Hotdogs and Burgers at all? The world would probably end!

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Just imagine if they did not offer Hotdogs and Burgers at all? The world would probably end!

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Catering for both sides of the pond is difficult, you need 2 sets of stores and staff need to know what everything is called.

Although the standards on 'Melody' for example, seem to have improved in recent years. However, the Bacon and Ice raise their ugly heads again:

They do not know how to cater to Americans on vacation - and us Americans like to be cater to. The lack of communication was horrible.

I don't think the Italians believe in ice. You have to ask for ice at meal time.

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mec1 wrote:
...Louis isn't Greek, MSC isn't Italian...

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Louis is Cypriot, and MSC is Italian.

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Hoping that MSC has plans to enter the Asian market at some time.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I assume that is a 'yes', but would you really book an unknown product over a trusted one?

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Well, when one says another line is worth considering... OK, YES! Without question. I hear everyone so far, mostly from outside of the USA, claiming to know what Americans are like and what they will accept... Perhaps there is a thread of truth to it, having seen some of these people, but by the same token it is the noisy whining ones who never seem satisfied by anything, but hardly make up the majority. I still clearly and even fondly recall the kinds of "American food" that was served in the 70's & 80's era of cruising. Hamburgers without cheese? Typical... No relish? Obviously... Vegemite served in the Lido? Of course! Where else might I have encountered such delicacies!!!

To this day my brothers and I joke about "Turkey sandwich, dry. Plenty of butter!" Why? Because that was the only way you could GET a Turkey sandwich from the room service menu on a Sitmar ship in the Caribbean! Seriously, it wasn't so long ago that NONE of the cruiselines had the foggiest idea of what "American food" was aside from grilled steaks... and even then they had difficulties!

Avoiding MSC merely beacuse they don't know how do do food like they do "back home" is HARDLY a reason to avoid them...

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
Put me down for a 'No'

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I guess I forgot to put my reasons...

I am a creature of habit, and when I find something I really like and am happy with I tend to stick with it. I have cruised on several cruise lines a multitude of times because the quality is there, it is consistant, and I am happy with the product. Venturing out to another 'unkown' is a gamble at this point for me, so MSC would not be an option.

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As Rich explained, it is hard to convince the average American to try anything other than something they know, something American. Mainly because they know of nothing else, don't think or want to know that anything else exists or do not wish to experience the world/Med, just see it from a piece of floating Little America. OK, I may be harsh, and it does not apply to the Americans in this group, but it does to the average Mom & Pop.

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I guess I am an average 'mom and pop'-type.

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...but many of us (not me personally) feel that the product is too "international" for our tastes...but it is a hard sell to convince Mom & Pop Midwest that they should stray away from the tried and true major brands.

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That about sums me up on a nutshell. If I were to cruise to Europe or Asia it would be on Celebrity or Princess, not on a cruise product where I am a so obviously a minority (?) as an English speaking American. That may be another reason why some culturally-challenged Americans may not cruise MSC or Costa, etc.

I hate that this sounds so shallow. I have travelled by land across the world for many decades and experienced incredible cultures from Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Europe (where I lived for 2 years in Italy), South America, the Far East and SE Asia. Just wanting to be honest.

My apologies if offense is given.

[ 11-24-2005: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

Don't be ashamed, I think most cruise passengers are the same. The cruise lines depend on repeat bookings.

I'm the opposite. If I have a really great time on a ship/line, I often book a different ship/line next time because to attempt to repeat the experience is often disappointing for me, anyway. Personally I often find 'change' to be very refreshing.

My fear of taking multiple cruises with one line would be that I might be missing out on a better line which I might never get to try. For example: Mrs M. will not eat Sushi, for example, because she knows she does not like it. However she's never had it? Go figure?

Venturing out to another 'unknown' is a gamble at this point for me, so MSC would not be an option.

You surprise me? You have lived in Italy for two years and but you would not risk a week on an Italian ship? However, it is your choice, I do not criticize you for it.

My apologies if offence is given.

Don't apologise, you are being very honest about your preferences. We all have them.

Anymore Yes or No's?

[ 11-24-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

I found it fascinating, and still do, to recognise and think about all this cultural differences and how they influence your thoughts and behaviours, sometimes without knowing it.

Food is one of those points which are very central in any holiday experience. One of the most current caricatures of Belgian on holiday, is thay they only judge destinations or hotels on the criterium if they make a good "biefstuk friet" (steak-and-chips).

Apart from this, if I were an American, I'd love to taste a cruise on a "different" cruise line, in this case an italian one, as you could get more or less an italian (allthough i doubt if it is all so italian) experience right in your frontyard in the caribbean, without really travelling very far.

Apart from this, there are no doubt differences (we all remark when we come to the USA, for example the enormous size of the food on your plate), but don't think it is a big one : it still is a western company, catering to passengers from the western civilisation. I wonder more how passengers will react to ships from Star Cruises now based in Malta, a ship which was geared to Far Eastern passengers, and which is still marketed there.

The relative cultural difference between USA and Europe is, I think much much less, than the relative cultural difference between Americans and Europeans vs Far Eastern passengers. I think this is more difficult test than MSC in American waters.