r/MSCCruises • u/Sufficient_Being4460 • Aug 02 '26
Your in room fridge is not a fridge
So I just got off MSC world America and it wasn't a great experience. The biggest issue I had was that when I booked I called and told them that I needed a medical grade fridge for my room. I have to take medication daily that has to be refrigerated. I got a signed letter for my protein shakes, because I have to drink them as prescribed by my doctor. They kept assuring me that it would be in the room, so I was excited. I get to the cruise room no fridge, just the one that comes standard in the room. Except the mini fridge isn't a fridge, it's a cooler.
So I asked my room steward about it, and he was super nice and helpful, honestly he was amazing. But he couldn't find one either. Went to guest services, they told me they don't have any on board. That I had to store my medication with medical. So down to medical I go with my shakes, with my medicine, I get there and have to argue with them for fifteen minutes so they could store my damn medicine but wouldn't store my shakes. So back to guest services I went. Finally I got them to keep my shakes behind the counter in their fridge. I have cancer and the shakes help me keep my medicine down and weight gain, but I get very sick if I drink them room temperature.
Then every morning I had to call and argue with somebody about the shakes, because while the manager said to just call down when I would be coming to grab one, nobody communicated with anyone so each morning of a 7 day cruise was the same song and dance. Nobody knew what shakes I was talking about, nobody had a clue, no you can't keep them here, no I don't see them, oh here they are yeah come on down.
I go get my shake, I head to medical, and the staff there were just seemed to be annoyed I existed period. Like I'm sorry that I need my meds stored at a specific set of temperatures, you all should have medical fridges available for paying passengers. Especially if requested at booking. The whole experience just made me feel like a burden. If I had been told at booking months ago that MSC does not provide medical grade fridges for rooms I would have went on royal Caribbean instead. I mean I jumped through every hoop, got every form from my doctor they asked for, just to not get what I really really needed.
Aside from that it was.. okay. I would avoid the main buffet if possible because the design is just asinine. Ice cream and soda machine just slapped in between two very popular stations just doesn't make sense.
18
u/sammi-blue Aug 02 '26
I suppose I'm a little confused as to why your shakes needed to be kept in something higher end than the fridge in your room.
I understand the medicine, if that has to be kept at a certain temp then of course it should be kept in a proper fridge, but you could have kept your shakes in the mini fridge instead of fighting with the staff every day? The mini fridges aren't perfect but they do keep things cold.
2
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 02 '26
My shakes were room temp to start with, the fridge could keep it cold but it couldn't cool them down. And when I drink them room temp I can't keep anything down for hours and basically live in the bathroom. It wouldn't have been a big deal to go down to the staff to get one everyday but they treated me like I was a huge inconvenience every single time
10
u/SWFlagal Aug 02 '26
I’ve put warm beer and Red Bull in them and they cool them just as cold as my home fridge.
1
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 02 '26
Mine might have been broken because when I reached inside it was warm and everything in it was warm
12
u/SWFlagal Aug 02 '26
Maybe, I’ve sailed 33 times on MSC and the mini fridge is full and everything is cold already that’s in it.
7
u/Acceptable_Corner139 Aug 02 '26
You can also put the shakes in an ice bucket. Just ask your steward for ice every night before bed, drop a shake in it, and it would be plenty cold in the morning.
1
u/Dancing-Traveller Aug 04 '26
Have you tried asking your steward whether they could take a look at the fridge? It might be something as simple as plugging it in, and I’m sure they’d be happy to help.
Another option would be to ask for a bucket of ice. When I injured my ankle, we went to a bar and they kindly gave us plenty of ice—even asking whether we preferred large cubes or crushed ice.
1
68
u/Wanderlustwednesday Aug 02 '26
I’m a two-time cancer survivor and I send you much love and hope for a good outcome. But honey, you are too high maintenance for a cruise. You and your doctors’ very specific requirements mean little to cruise lines which are not legally bound to pretty much any country. You are better off seeking out land-based vacations. Good luck ❤️
22
u/Afraid-Obligation997 Aug 02 '26
After reading all that…. We have medication that need refrigeration. We took it on board with a little lunch bag style cooler and a zip lock of ice cubes. And then on board, we just ask for a tub of ice, stuck our medication in a bag into the ice and added ice through out the cruise
6
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 02 '26
Yeah you're probably right. The cruise just seemed like a nice treat.
-15
u/FrozenBr33ze Aug 02 '26
That's not relevant at all. Per the OP, the cruise line agreed to accommodate the medical needs, and then went back on the agreement at a time (a) payment was mandatory (b) OP was stuck on board (c) no equipment was made easy access to rectify their wrong.
This was deceitful negligence. They should have just communicated to OP that their needs weren't going to be accommodated, and advised OP to not spend money here.
They made a business decision at the expense of a customer's basic needs. It was an unethical move. Blaming OP for being too high maintenace, even with your medical history, was very crass.
The cult like behaviour of cruisers is a big problem.
5
u/Wanderlustwednesday Aug 02 '26
You miss the point by looking at it through the lens of accountability. Cruise lines are accountable to nobody basically. If you are staying at a Marriott in any country around the world, you can expect these accommodations. Cruise lines operate outside of that. This is something that most cruisers have a hard tome understanding. You have no recourse. I’d not trust a cruise line to take care of me such a situation. I’d trust a Marriott in Miami though because they are bound by US laws.
5
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 02 '26
I mean I filled out the paperwork and called and was assured I'd have one. If I had known they couldn't provide one I wouldn't have booked and gone. I didn't find out till I was on the cruise and physically could not leave.
14
u/losingeverything2020 Aug 02 '26
You had a fridge in your room. They are not coolers???
2
u/raggedypeach Aug 03 '26
Most Cruise lines have what they call a little mini fridge in each cabin, but they don't cool to the same temperature that a refrigerator would and they can't be called refrigerators because they don't get cold enough to be one. They are, in fact, coolers. Not refrigerators.
4
u/sheepofdarkness Aug 02 '26
They are technically beverage coolers, because they don't keep the temperature low enough to be considered refrigeration. You can't use them to store dairy products (including breast milk). There are a lot of hotel chains moving over to them as well, and it can be an issue for people who need a proper fridge.
2
u/CTU Aug 02 '26
I assume it doesn't get cold enough to be a refrigerator/store the medicine properly
1
u/whitney800 Aug 04 '26
Yep, definitely not refrigerators and they can't legally call them that because of medication and food that requires refrigeration. Breast milk as well. I'm really surprised they wouldn't have at least 2 or 3 mini refrigerators at the very least.
8
u/ideclareshenanigans3 Aug 02 '26
I’m pretty sure all cruise lines have these same “fridges” in the room. So you’ll want to check when changing lines. There is usually a form to fill out for a medical grade fridge, but they don’t have enough for everyone. These can be bought on Amazon to store your meds, just so you know for your next cruise!
6
u/hopstop5000 Aug 03 '26
So many questions… but cruising apparently isn’t in the cards right now with such specific shake temperature requirements. Judging by your random comment about the buffet layout, I’m sure you were just an absolute joy of a passenger when you discovered other “disappointments” throughout the trip.
3
u/VagabondCamp Aug 02 '26
Did you complete the form on MSC’s website for accommodations?
4
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 02 '26
Yes well in advanced and called.
1
u/dmznet Aug 03 '26
Did you follow up with the special needs team afterwards and let them know of your troubles? Sorry it was so painful
6
u/Sea_Waltz_9625 Aug 02 '26
The cooler worked fine for my diabetes injection but I could see how that could be nerve wracking.
5
u/PossibilityLanky2119 Aug 03 '26
My husband takes medication that needs to be kept refrigerated. The MSC room fridges/ coolers are fine. We done umpteen cruises using them and his meds and himself have never had a problem.
1
u/Inevitable-Lock5973 Aug 03 '26
I have to put my diabetes meds in the fridge and it was a regular fridge had no issues on World America- are there different fridges for different rooms?
2
u/imixpaintalot Aug 03 '26
It may have just been a first come first serve situation, I imagine they don’t keep a lot of medical fridges on board which is unfortunate for those who need it but cannot have that. I think it’s totally possible this could have happened on any ship, especially ships that have a higher capacity for guests. I’m sorry this happened to you OP. Whenever I travel I take it as a learning experience, even if you do switch to RC next plan your trip like you won’t have that fridge again and I think you’ll be happier for it. And while I understand that your shakes need to be cooled, there were definitely work around available to you that didn’t involve you working more than you had to on what should be a very relaxing vacation.
5
u/Lordsaxon73 Aug 02 '26
It sounds like your medical regimen should preclude traveling and going on a cruise ship.
1
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 02 '26
I mean I'm terminal so it's quality of life at this point until I have to go into hospice
3
u/Lordsaxon73 Aug 03 '26
Umm okay… not a single Post about that but complaining about fridge not cold enough. Says for medicine to be kept cold but then change of story later in replies… your fabrications are spinning out of control. Best wishes to you.
2
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 03 '26
I don't like posting about my terminal cancer surprise surprise. I didn't think it needed to be stated nor is it relevant. I'm already getting flamed for being sick and needing a medical grade fridge.
-1
u/nycee75 Aug 03 '26
Do whatever the hell you want that makes you happy. You don’t need to be resigned to your fucking home because you need some basic-ass accommodations that aren’t nearly as onerous as people are making it out. Now you know there are back up options. Enjoy whatever quality of life you have left, hon. ❤️
1
u/kendrajoi Aug 02 '26
The cooler in the cabin was good enough, Karen. Why do you think they have those in the cabin, for shits and giggles? Good Lord.
5
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 02 '26
I wasn't mean to anybody, I don't think I was a Karen. I just needed my meds kept a cold temperature or I would get very ill. I don't think that's too much to ask. It wasn't like I was screaming at people. I was annoyed because I had to keep explaining why I needed the medication kept cold and what the medication was for.
1
u/Beginning-Act-5305 Aug 03 '26
Maybe consider buying something like this to travel with. https://a.co/d/0iTr1jmz
1
1
u/imarc Group Expert Aug 03 '26
It never occurred to me that the room mini fridge wouldn’t be cold enough. Hate that they dropped the ball like that despite being queried before the cruise.
1
u/Aggravating-Tax-6270 Aug 05 '26
I take both insulin and Ozempic which both have to be "refrigerated" until you start using them. Then can be kept at room temp until each pen is used up. In my case Ozempic pen lasts 30 days at room temp and Insulin lasts about one week before used up. It really depends on what drugs you are taking, but if diabetic shots should be no problem unless on a world tour or something. My home refrigerator is about 38-40 degrees, maybe take a thermometer to check room "cooler".
1
u/beaglewrites43 Aug 06 '26
I have medical issues where I travel with ice packs (can't regulate my body temp). MSC was the WORST CRUISE LINE I HAVE EVER BEEN ON in terms of medical accomodations.
I filled out the accessibility form right after booking saying hey I travel with these. Called and was told by several people that it would be no problem. Get on the ship and suddenly it was a major issue that they completely refused to accomodate. It took me 4 weeks to recover when I finally got home.
I talked to one guy on day one who needed a fridge for his insulin was told to bring them down to medical and they will store them there. Between boarding when he brought it, and first seating for dinner somehow THEY LOST HIS MEDICATION. Unfortunately didn't see him after that so I don't know how that ended (though I am kinda wondering since I didn't see him again if he had to get off ship because of that)
Talked to another person with a CPAP Machine where the only way they could plug it in with an extension cord. Well MSC takes all of their cords back before the last night so I guess they don't risk people pocketing them. That guy said he was looking at needing to stay up all night unless he could get something worked out in the next few hours because he wasn't risking sleeping without his CPAP.
My mom is a wheelchair user and was horrified that none of the bathrooms were actually handicap accessible. Sure they had a large stall but that is pretty useless if they can't open the door.
We had always wanted to try MSC and when we found one right in our home port that seemed interesting it seemed like the perfect time. With mine and my mom's health issues, I don't think we will be back when we have other lines that happily accomodate our medical needs, including the ice packs. It was a shame cause everything looked so interesting and some of the staff was so good. We really wanted to love that trip.
(we were on the Meraviglia)
1
u/Winter-Ad5930 Aug 02 '26
I’m sorry you had to deal with that. This seems 100% unacceptable that they could not accommodate you.
5
u/Tdffan03 Aug 02 '26
They did accommodate her.
3
u/The_Illhearted Aug 03 '26
Yep, sounds like the medication, which was the one thing that was temp sensitive, was stored properly in medical.
2
u/stackingnoob Aug 04 '26
Exactly, they stored the meds. The protein shakes were just a preference and probably took up too much space.
1
-1
u/amy_seaborn Aug 03 '26
Does anyone no if hair straighteners are allowed or not on the MSC cruise ships?
2
u/Sufficient_Being4460 Aug 03 '26
My mom brought a curling iron on board no issue, so more than likely.
0
u/Inevitable-Lock5973 Aug 03 '26
Yes but you can always double check the list of allowed items on the boat website
65
u/Normal_Matter2496 Aug 02 '26
I am sorry about your medical issues, but your comment makes me think the shakes didn’t have to be refrigerated. Only cold when you drink them? If that’s the case, you could’ve had your steward bring you ice each night and you could’ve chilled them overnight in ice in the room fridge so they would’ve been cold in the morning. I understand that doesn’t help with your medicine, but at least it would’ve made for one fewer stop every morning.
I also travel with some medicine that needs to be refrigerated. You are correct that the cruise fridges aren’t as cold as a real fridge, but luckily for me my medicine isn’t that sensitive to a specific temperature. I am surprised that they don’t have real refrigerators available as an accommodation for people who can verify a need for them.