Cruising can be a remarkable experience, offering a relaxing getaway from home. Millions of travellers go on different cruises to experience new cultures, explore new destinations, bask in the sun, and enjoy world-class amenities. However, not every ship follows through on the promise of delivering an exceptional cruise. Some vessels have garnered less-than-stellar reviews from disappointed and frustrated passengers who shared poor experiences.
Thousands of complaints from Cruise Critic, Cruiseline.com, and TripAdvisor were compiled by Cruise Mummy in a 2024 research project, highlighting the worst-rated cruise ships. Today we are exploring the top five ships that are infamous for their shortcomings, from poor food quality to cleanliness issues.
1. Costa Fortuna
The Costa Fortuna was unfortunately rated the worst cruise ship. The ship garnered an average score of just 2.83 out of 5 and a variety of complaints from passengers, underscoring the need for intervention. The predominant complaint that was shared among numerous guests was a cleanliness issue. Some passengers emphasised this issue by noting that they found leftovers from previous guests. They also reported malfunctioning sanitation stations.
Other complaints indicated that the ship’s menus were repetitive and offered little variety, particularly for those with dietary restrictions. When the food was served, passengers were again disappointed by what was described as a lacklustre meal. Additionally, English-speaking passengers experienced language barriers aboard the ship, as many of the activities and entertainment were in Italian.
Among the long list of grievances, one review shared a meeting with a hospitality representative, who suggested dissatisfied guests leave the ship despite it being in the middle of the ocean.
2. Carnival Firenze
Carnival Firenze, formerly known as the Costa Firenze, shares a similar fate as the Costa Fortuna, as it garnered the same review score. Carnival Firenze garnered a swarm of complaints about their food, service, and overall guest experience. When it comes to dining, many passengers were very unhappy as some complained about the long waits for restaurants and bars. Additionally, not only was the food frequently described as “horrible,” but there were also complaints about food poisoning.
The ship received more backlash for being overcrowded with a poor layout. Passengers often experienced obstruction caused by staff pushing large carts. There was also limited entertainment and language barriers, as many tours were conducted in non-English languages.
3. MSC Seascape
Next on the list of the worst-rated cruise ships is MSC Seascape, which did not provide the dream escape that passengers hoped for. This ship’s infamous reputation on travel platforms was earned due to its underwhelming food, bad service, and poor maintenance.
Passengers complained about the food quality, describing it as bad and cold, the long waiting times at the bars, and the poor customer service and discrimination. Also, the repetitive entertainment garnered criticism for being unimpressive and underwhelming. Cleanliness was also one of the ship’s shortcomings, as passengers reported finding leftover items from previous guests and even waste in the water park.
4. MSC Seashore
Another ship in the MSC fleet that made it on the list of worst-rated cruise ships is the MSC Seashore, which garnered complaints about poor service and underwhelming food. Along with serving poor-quality food, the ship often served stale or cold meals, according to the complaints. Due to the slow drink service, which garnered criticism, guests had to serve themselves frequently.
While the ship received praise for its aesthetic, it received backlash for inconsistent and inefficient service. The complaints highlighted that the crew members were untrained in hospitality and customer service.
5. Costa Pacifica
Taking the fifth spot on the list of worst-rated cruise ships is a ship that was criticised for overcrowding, poor food, and communication issues. This ship is the Costa Pacifica, which failed to live up to the expectations of guests. One of the most natural expectation is to be served in a timely fashion. However, guests who found themselves constantly waiting complained that there were long queues for meals, entertainment, and basic services.
Guests who expected delicious meals complained that the food was poor. Some emphasised that it was so bad they would not let their pets eat it. Drink packages were also criticised, especially the exclusions and confusing pricing. While the ship garnered some positive reviews, such as the Rhapsody Bar receiving praises, the flood of negative remarks overshadowed the few good ones, creating a bad reputation for the Costa Pacifica.
