patrice1

17 hours ago, Mawcruiser56 said:

Anyone recently on the Orchestra ship? I’m trying to see if they have Starlink installed for the internet access. It seems that MSC has installed it on certain ships. 
 

I’m taking a week cruise soon and I’ll need to be connected a bit for work. 

I was on last May and they had good wifi access to the internet. I had the streaming package.

On 8/4/2023 at 11:00 PM, Nunagoras said:

Muito obrigado e que seja muito bem-vindo a Lisboa!... (Many thanks and be very welcome to Lisbon!...)

 

Wonderful to know that those relatively old ships are doing well and that they're recommended!... Have a wonderful return to the now crazy Lisbon! Enjoy all those youth here for World Youth Day!... And enjoy your next MSC adventures!... 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

Permit me just a simple question: Did they still have the nice classical or otherwise piano music in the atrium area?

Muito obrigada! Sim -lovely atrium music. When my husband was alive, we preferred the older, calmer ships. Never needed all the bells and whistles. FYI, the sushi restaurant was amazing!

Have to admit , very happy Papa left today.

10 hours ago, sealynx said:

Nope, different class. Sinfonia shares class with Opera, Lirica and Armonia. Orchestra is actually part of the class with Musica, Poesi and Magnifica. The latter a approximately 1/3 larger than the former.

Oops, my bad. Everything else is true, tho! 😁

I just went on a 4 day Med cruise on Orchestra, the same class as Sinfonia. I have lived in Lisbon for 5 years now, so I am more used to "European" ways. I loved the smaller portions on the ship, the pizza was great, the specialty restaurant was a sushi restaurant and it was amazing. We were also a Carnival cruisers when we lived in the states and am definitely not into to partying and I found the ship to be a lovely size and vibe.What I really loved was that every bar had a very popular giant espresso machine for cappuccinos and other coffees which were included in the premium drink package. If you're a coffee drinker, you could easily spend your drink package getting drinks AND coffee - good coffee! (My particular vice was a cappuccino and Amaretto!) It was my first solo cruise (lost hubby a few years ago), my first Med cruise and my first MSC cruise and I will be doing it all again in 2024. Enjoy your cruise!

RosieMac8:

 I apologize for not paying attention to the issues in your questions. I did not notice a delayed embarkation in any port, but I confess it really didn’t matter to me as I had no planned excursions. I do believe they disembarked off boarding passengers first, then opened it up to passengers on excursions, but I’m not positive.

For what it’s worth, I prefer the smaller ships and she didn’t disappoint.

This was a 4 day Med cruise from Barcelona to Genoa and Marseille. It was my first MSC cruise. I was quite impressed. I currently live in Lisbon, Portugal so I am accustomed to European customs. 
So…

I thought the food was wonderful. The choices were more limited than other lines, but I could always find something I liked. Dining room food was served hot and was very good. The pizzas were also great.

The cabin, an outside, was lovely with plenty of storage. Everything worked properly. Housekeeping came twice a day. In Europe, washcloths are not provided, but she brought me some every day once I asked.

I did not use the entertainment, but the casino was limited.

The bars all had large coffee machines for espresso, cappuccino, etc. I had the premium drink package and enjoyed the coffee quite a bit as well.

The muster drill was on the third day because we took on passengers at every port. It felt odd, but not a problem in any way. 
The ports were just okay. I still enjoyed the cruise quite a bit and will probably book them again.

On 5/10/2023 at 10:27 AM, heatherb1958 said:

Sorry to see you are having a mixed experience on your first European MSC cruise. 

We have always had a cruise excursion guide in our cabin on boarding day with instructions how to book, obviously the smart ships you can do it on the app. 

Glasgow and Edinburgh are very easy to do on your own if just wanting to visit the cities, train from Greenock to Glasgow . We have visited Greenock many times and were there just a few days ago on Regal though the weather was cool so I just went shopping in town, there is a small mall there with all the usual high street stores including Primark. If walking is your thing there is a lovely walk

In Europe the only nation that knows how to queue or form a line are the British,  you have to embrace the way France, Germany, Spain and the Italians operate and sharpen your elbows 😆 . 

 

I live in Lisbon and the Portuguese queue very well! 😄

Best Mac and Cheese I’ve ever had. It’s a bit looser than baked mac and cheese which I love. Finally figured out how to make it at home…

and…

Caesar salad dressing. Actually got the chef to give me the recipe and I had a chef friend re-work it from 200 portions to family size! 😁

On 5/4/2023 at 8:40 PM, carlmm said:

Good to hear from a local.

I would like to ask the question just the other way around: Where can I (solo) go later in the evening, like after 10.30 pm, and stay far beyond midnight?

If you want something other than Fado, head to Barrio Alto.

17 hours ago, Nunagoras said:

Grato por ver mais um Português por cá! Seja bem-vindo ao fórum!... Deve ser o pacote de restaurante de especialidade de que falaram acima e que talvez faça parte do seu pacote contratado com a sua agência. Tenha um bom dia!...

(Grateful to see one more Portuguese here! Be welcome to the boards!... It might to be the specialty dinning package they mentioned above and that perhaps maybe part of your contracted package with your Travel Agent. Have a nice day!...)

Obrigada, Nunangoras, however I must tell you I'm an American living in Lisbon for 5 years. I adore your country and will not be leaving.🇵🇹❤️

2 hours ago, marazul said:

Go to a fado performance. These two are very good:

Tasca do Chico in Alfama

Bela Petiscos e Vinhos 

 

Agreed, but also include Tasquinha Canto do Fado in Mouraria. It’s in my neighborhood and I take all my guests there. Good food and Fado , which starts early enough (8pm) to not keep you out till midnight.

4 hours ago, tscoffey said:

How was this only $26?  On Divina in March it was quite a bit more.

Beats me. Maybe because it’s only a 4 day Med cruise with only one specialty restaurant.

1 hour ago, creativepen9 said:

Legacy Duo is two dining experiences at the specialty restaurants. Enjoy!

Thank you!

Long time cruiser, first time MSC’er. On my booking documents, it shows “Legacy Duo” for $26. What is this? TIA!

On 8/27/2022 at 7:53 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

I find this is now nearly impossible to do unless it is a very small carry-on.  On my most recent Delta One flight, I had seat 2A with a Flight Attendant standing in the Galley, watching me.  I was having much difficulty and ended up with a minor injury to a little finger.  A passenger in 3A provided help to push the bag into the bin.  The Flight Attendant did nothing; I was miffed.  Since then, I have learned why he didn't help.  

My husband and I retired to Lisbon, Portugal  and, sadly, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two months later and passed within the year.I flew back to Florida with his cremains for a memorial service with friends and family. The container was quite heavy and was in my carry on. I could not lift it into the overhead bin and asked a Flight Attendant to help. She said sure and after she got it in the bin she asked, laughing, "What have you got in there? A dead body?". I told her not to be upset but it was my husband's cremains. She was mortified, However, it struck me as a bit funny and I know my husband would have, too. Poor woman. I know she will never say that again!

As for the topic, we were avid cruisers and this cruise in May will be my first solo. I chose a 4 day Med cruise on MSC to see if I still enjoy cruising without him. I suspect I will. 

Is the dining room open for breakfast on Med cruises? TIA.

Interesting thread, I am a “boomer” and will be 70 yo by the time I cruise. While in my 30’s backpacked through Europe solo for four months because I couldn’t find anyone to go with me. Taught me to be able to do things alone and also reach out to other travelers when I needed company. Then met and married my husband. We traveled extensively but eventually became dedicated cruisers. Retired and moved from Florida to Lisbon, Portugal, where he was quickly diagnosed with cancer and passed 2 years ago after 30 years of marriage and countless cruises. I am now contemplating booking my first solo and am looking at a 4 day to see if I loved cruising with Bob or just cruising. Hopeful that the experience will be just as enjoyable as it has been in the past. My major concern is that a European cruise might be a language problem compared to an American one. It has been my experience so far after 4 years in Europe is that most people speak some English. I have been studying Portuguese, but ‘não ‘ta facil’ (it’s not easy)! 

Writing from Lisbon, Portugal. New cases are low, have had no deaths in recent days. Restaurants still at 50% seating, all indoor spaces require masks and social distancing. Outdoor masks only if you can't maintain distancing. For example, I wear one when I walk my dog during the day, because I'm not sure I can maintain distancing. People respectful with masks and distancing. The Portuguese are very patient! As each level was opened there was a small uptick in cases, but with testing and tracing, it was contained. Tourism has returned, but Americans and Brazilians are not allowed. You can tell a lot of Europeans have cabin fever because the restaurants in my square are full every day for lunch and dinner, many from France, Spain and Italy. Also, walking tours have returned. Still, Lisbon seems empty compared to last summer. 

On our next cruise, we're trying a new  cruise line. We wanted our next cruise to be Carnival, but we moved to Portugal a year ago and there were no Carnival ships in Europe this year, so we're trying MSC for a Med cruise. Be interesting too see the differences and look forward to sailing Carnival again when they come back.

OP, after running Nursing Homes, some with specialty dementia units, I think you are kind and generous friends. Your assessment of what they thought they had purchased is probably correct. We also cared for my Mom in her last 2 years in our home and she was convinced my husband was her's and that I had stolen him from her. Made it hard to get respect! 😀 We took her on a few cruises, too and I had a friend who came along to be her roommate. Fortunately, there were no mobility issues as she was physically fairly healthy. There's no arguing with stubborn elders, I have learned, and I plan to be just as stubborn when I'm that age (my DH thinks I already am!).

On 4/26/2019 at 7:50 AM, ollienbertsmum said:

...

I am planning my first trip to Venice in September.  We have a bit longer than you because we are staying two nights pre-cruise ...

We are in the same position early November and we will probably do the same as you plan. We agree about the restaurant advice, as well, as we now live in Lisbon and enjoy walking around and trying  un-famous restaurants. We usually ask locals where they go and have not been disappointed. Just in case, tho, I recently bought Rick Steeves Venice Guide and am enjoying the planning.

On 9/2/2019 at 4:34 PM, Crusin Karen said:

OP, you just described our cruises lol.  Have never been to Amber Cove, but when we are at Grand Turk and/or HMC, we get off the ship, park out fannies on a lounge chair and relax.  Would LOVE to do specialty dining on every cruise, but it's not in the budget.  We have gone twice on different cruises using our free meal offer for turning Diamond.  Have never gotten Cheers either and we are big drinkers.  As an aside: I had extremely bad acid reflux (GERD) and would never think of leaving home without a bottle of Tums!  Went to a dr. who rx'ed Omeprazole.  It is a miracle pill!  And it's also available OTC.  Have DW try it and if it works, you can put Cheers back on your list! Have a GREAT cruise! 

I don't think I could live without Omeprazole.

To the OP's question, DH has been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so for the first time, we getting the soda package only. Also, our last 17 cruises have all been on Carnival, but last year we retired to Lisbon, Portugal and CCL isn't in Europe this year so we're cruising MSC for the first time. They have a status match program that, with our Platinum on CCL, started us at Gold on their line. Looking forward to trying something new. BTW, their non-alcoholic plan includes specialty coffees and teas, virgin drinks, all water, soda and juices and soft serve ice cream.

17 hours ago, drafterdw said:

where did you get silicone? don't like drinking out of metal.

 

Amazon. Lots to choose from.

 I now bring my own straw everywhere. I started with the stainless ones, but I didn't like them clanking on my teeth, so I bought silicone ones. Love them! Bought one that folds into a little case and keep it in my purse.

Thanks all! Good to know. We're limited now to European cruises, but will definitely consider in the future.