Beamafar

We checked out the buffet after we finished lunch and Mr B decided to try the biryani, which he reported was very nice. There is outdoor seating at the aft, so he enjoyed it there. The buffet was not busy at all. We’ve been assigned late dining, which is 9pm (early is 6.30pm). We decided not to dine in the MDR as the buffet offerings were more or less the same, with the added Ethnic station (disappointing) and roast veal on the carvery. The place was almost empty; as a result, food was cold as it was lying out. On the subject of the buffet, I had read somewhere that a section becomes a Speciality steak and fish restaurant at night and would not be covered by the Diamond perk. However, this is not true - the only SR onboard is Kaito.

We booked a Bella balcony cabin and took our chances. We were assigned 10009, which we’re very satisfied with. It’s smaller than the cabins with sofa (there’s just a chair and very small table, plus the footstool under the dressing table). The bathroom is fine with a shower curtain in the shower.

I pre booked the 10 items Take Home for €28. Here’s the packages available onboard:

No JWB on the list.

It looks like we’re going to have to chase our steward down as there are no towelling robes or slippers in the cabin (which we should have, being at Diamond level in VC).

There are no surface areas to put bits and pieces in the cabin, such as sunglasses, caps, clutch bags, etc; no shelving around the tv or dressing table areas. It won’t be easy to keep the place looking neat and tidy (I like to make the steward’s job as easy as possible. Yeah - I forgot to bring my wall hanger magnets for the caps 🙄).

During this week, I hope to pass on information regarding this ship to those who have an interest. I’ll try to point out the things that may be of relevance. For now, to me, one of the most important things that those of you will need to know is that there are no USB ports in the cabin. Only American and European sockets. (Fortunately I came prepared).

We didn’t have a transfer arrangement from airport to port, but I was convinced that I’d read somewhere that there was a fixed taxi fare. However, our taxi driver insisted that the fare was a metered one so we had no choice but to accede. The fare was €105, which seemed very steep to us. We arrived at the port at 12.55pm and were in our cabin by 1.05pm. 😁 Lunch in the MDR was between 12.30pm and 1.30pm so we hurried down to dine. Now, on MED cruises, embarkees are “encouraged” to lunch in the buffet (in other words, they’re turned away from the MDR). For years, now, we have often politely requested access and it has always been granted and today was no exception.

Musica Review October 2023 For those here who know me, while our cruise history mainly involves MSC ships, I’m far from being an MSC cheerleader. Last year, for the first time since 2011, we didn’t cruise on an MSC ship. We were in the ‘never again on MSC’ mode. Instead, we tried Azamara and gave Celebrity another try in a Sky Suite (to experience the Retreat), despite having a less than stellar experience in one on a 14 night from Singapore in 2016 - pre Retreat. However, as we had World Europa booked for a 16 night from Abu Dhabi to Genoa, sailing last March/April, we ended up back with MSC this year. Let’s just say that it doesn’t rank in our top 20! Since then, we had an expired FCC from cancelled cruises extended for a third time, so we finally decided to use it and booked Seascape for next year. In the meantime, we came across a too good to miss offer for a 7 night Med cruise on Musica, so, here we are, sailing MSC for the umpteenth time, due to a great deal. The itinerary was also very attractive. Due to the awful situation in Israel/Gaza, Haifa has now been substituted with a call to Rhodes, a replacement we’re more than satisfied with. This will be our fourth time on a Musica-class ship, but our first on this particular one. We have been to Mykonos and Santorini many times before so we will stay onboard for those POCs. We have excursions booked for Limassol and Kusadasi. More on those later. We had one booked from Haifa to Jerusalem; we’d visited before on our Sinfonia Venice-Durban cruise when we stopped at Eilat, so not as big a disappointment than had we been looking forward to a first visit. Our thoughts are with those unfortunate people. It’ll put any little gripes we may have on this cruise into perspective.

Yep - we’ve covered that Miss the choc nuts. These are a poor substitute (though not a bad one for M&Ms 😁)

Nor I. Got a taste for the XOs from the time of the Deluxe package (God be with the days when that was €42 pppd and had great inclusions - including the minibar and room service menu)

Hi Joe. Mr B actually “joked” about having a JWB when I said I was going to have a decent cognac. Haven’t explored the menu yet for it, but I see it’s $27 on US sailings. Don’t think he’s partial enough to it to pay the upcharge. I went for the Martell XO today for a €2 upcharge (plus 15%). Was given a double and not charged. I think Rémy is €3 over the PremX package.

We’ve just embarked Musica; we’ve have ordered the €14 glass of champagne and confirmed it’s included in PremX.

Tea, coffee, water and juices in the buffet - that’s it.

There’s no service in TSL before 6am. The night butler is usually around (or on) the concierge desk.

Yes, but not on packages. Not sure what the discount is for Diamond, but there’s a place on the top of the laundry list to mark your Voyagers Club level. I’ve sent items for ironing without indicating my level and have always had the discount applied automatically.

I received official confirmation this morning from our TA of our changed itinerary from Sunday on Musica.

You could ask the concierge if it’s possible to have a coffee delivered to the Top Sail Lounge rather than to the cabin.

Every event we’ve ever been to in TSL, the venue was packed out.

We once benefited from a glitch in their system (it had to have been) and got an 11 night to the Canaries from Barcelona for a bargain basement price which I’d spotted on the website. I booked it immediately. The very next day, it had shot up in price.

I checked the Ireland website and they are offering 5 + 5% if booked within 6 months. I booked a cruise 7 months out (with a TA) and only received the 5% discount (Early Booking rate). I’ve asked my TA to check this out.

I was just about to post the very same sentiment.

Had to google that one. 🙄 Turns out I know it - just didn’t know the lyrics other than “If that’s moving up, then I’m moving out”. 😆

From our experience it tends to vary. You can have anything - from wonderful classical music played on a piano, to a singer accompanied by a guitar, to a band - depending on your sailing and the ship you’re sailing on. I read on here that someone had very lively music that they danced all night to. Not something I could imagine in TSL - it’s usually a venue for chilling out in. There are lounges around the rest of the ship if you want to dance the night away.