perakcruiser

Depends on the location of your cabin. There are lots of coffee places on Virtuosa. 

4 minutes ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

We are tossing around trying MSC just for a change.Ive read reviews years ago and they were horrific. It seems hit or miss. Wondering if they have improved?

MSC has not improved, but the reviews you read are from horrific people not from a horrific cruise line. 

Switching between MSC and Celebrity since 2011, both know how to do their business very good. Both are not perfect. But both can be recommended 100 percent. MDR food is better at Celebrity, must be obviously with the price gap. 

6 hours ago, bob10173 said:

Thanks. I think I will just take the shuttle to the Venice cruise terminal  and do my own thing once I get to Venice. Good plan?

That is what we will do in three weeks time 🙂 

Probably Vaporetto line 2 and then walk around the canals. 

2 hours ago, bob10173 said:

From what I am reading from this post. I am better off just getting off the ship in Marghera

I am not sure if you are allowed to leave at Marghera, I think you have to go Venice cruise terminal with a MSC bus or boat. But things change, maybe now you can disembark (but not embark) at Marghera. 

5 hours ago, alserrod said:

I would recommend you to walk to those unknown canals

I could not agree more. 

9 hours ago, alserrod said:

but no one who hopes to go to a unique city in the world should believe that things are cheap.

Actually I did not have this impression. Cheap Cappuccino, cheap pizza and lunch menus, the last time we stayed in a hotel (in Venice,not Mestre!) ten years ago it was also way under 100 euros. The hotel maybe have changed, but I am pretty sure the coffee and the pizza are still very affordable. Of cause you can sit down at Marco and pay 20 euros for the music and 10 for the coffee😄 

9 hours ago, alserrod said:

- I consider the vapporeto a means of transportation. A way to get from San Marco to Piazzale Roma. The two times I took it it turned out to be line 1 and from so many stops, starts and stops I ended up dizzy.

You need to take line 2. 

And to complete your list:
- CRUISE SHIP

Nothing, nothing (!), beats the smooth ride on MSC Poesia or Armonia through the Cuidecca canal. I am so happy that I did this two times and on the other hand very sad that they have forbidden the cruise ships. 

Thanks! 

3 hours ago, trfccruiser said:

and they mentioned the walk above Kotor  which we planned to do was closed due to the stone steps being wet

3 hours ago, trfccruiser said:

By then the sun came out and after lunch we climbed the stone steps to the little chapel. It’s a challenging climb, 400 odd steps , but it’s so worth it for the views.

Is this the same walk? We will be there in a few weeks and I am planning right now. 

And does the "Surf&Turf" restaurant still exist on Armonia?

All this is included, but not in 3rd party shops that do exist also on Virtuosa.  

1 minute ago, alserrod said:

In my last chance it was just 5 years ago. I think I payed 70 euro

As a Spaniard, they not consider you as easy victim, so you got overcharged not too much 😉

43 minutes ago, alserrod said:

I have taken a gondola several times. I think it worths. It is not cheap at all.... but Venice is Venice and it hasn't any sense without the gondola.

While I took a gondola before, I totally disagree. Venice is absolutely amazing, the gondola is one option, not a must for me at all. Meanwhile you get robbed 80 (!) euros for 30 minutes. And if you look like a stupid foreigner the asking price will move to three digits 😄

I really would love to do this cruise, it is one of the very few really interesting routes in Europe. But so limited departures, really only two or three every year. 2024 does not fit, 2025 does not fit, but 2026 looks good for me. Fingers crossed.

On 4/24/2024 at 2:38 PM, dmck14 said:

We're over a year away still but the only option for Amsterdam is a tour that includes a canal tour and a bus tour and then a few hours free time.

MSC is offering exactly this. But your cruise is so far away, probably it is not available yet. The Code is RTM08. Just check every one or two month. It will not be sold out, European cruisers do not like so much booking long in advance. 

3 hours ago, amurray88 said:

I think you're right - it probably depends on who is on and what mood you catch them in too.

Yes. And some obvious things. If you put your bottle of wine in a suitcase together with your swiss army knife, certainly both will be confiscated 😄 

13 hours ago, amurray88 said:

Does anyone have experience of it and how strict they are?

I have a lot of experience with it and sometimes had the wine been confiscated, sometimes not. Your chances are best at small ports where not many embark. So every answer with "no chance" or "no problem" is not really based on facts. 

13 hours ago, amurray88 said:

I normally bring on a bottle of wine, a bottle of coke and maybe 2 cans of beer for my cabin.

With this amount your chances are VERY small, the guys on the screens are not blind 😄

18 hours ago, Itaybre said:

I have checked out other sites, and such insurance is optional and since I already got one for my trip, I don't event want theirs. Is there any issue if I book through other MSC site?

There are some issues that can pop up and probably will do. Note that you give up all your local travellers rights if you book not in your home country. Anyway, I think Uruguay does not have a local website anyway. Probably the Spanish MSC website is your best choice to avoid any hidden fees, disappointments and so on. 

1 hour ago, nikoo.s said:

Do they still have the amazing MSC pizza?

MSCs signature pizza is available on all ships and all routes since they started business and will be available until they stop business (which will probably not happen in the next decades). 

On 4/21/2024 at 6:02 PM, dbrown84 said:

does MSC, especially the Seashore, have made to order stations in the buffet for lunch/dinner?  I'm thinking pasta station

There usually is a made to order pasta station, but the options to interfere the cook with your special wishes are very limited. But you can expect to get a very nice pasta dish. 

2 hours ago, carlmm said:

A follow up question for@perakcruiser and everybody else with experience on the Opera or that kind of ship, please:

How do they compare in respect to nightlife?

On other MSC ships I enjoyed the live music all around, at least until midnight, and some music and a lively atmosphere at least in one or two places long after that.

That is exactly the same on all MSC ships, one or two places for after midnight partying. I cannot guarantee this for the Japan and China cruises (as the late night life on board there is mainly casino), but for all cruises in Europe it the Caribbean.

27 minutes ago, nikoo.s said:

My question is, will we still enjoy an older smaller ship, or will we hate it and be bored ?

You will love it. Don´t know if you did a Canaries cruise before, but this is the best to do between November and March. So happy that MSC is bringing them back finally. The Poesia is a ship I would go on with no doubt, true for all ships of the Musica class. The spa is not up to standard of the newer classes, but a nice place to relax. That is the main difference to the MSC ships you know. And it is a cruise with much less kids and families and the ship will not be full, which is a good thing. I think the prices are great at the moment. people were not prepared for this surprise move from MSC 😄 

2 hours ago, cellfree said:

I have always used the MSC Agent without any problems but have of course read the horror stories! Have not used a TA for years, but would enjoy that 10% discount, just sorry you cannot tell me the excellent person you work with. 

I know your feelings exactly. I hate to give my booking out of hands, but a discount is a discount. At least it MUST be a travel agent that has a high reputation (and special contact) with MSC. 

16 minutes ago, sboston06 said:

The primary reason we chose the Aurea suite (which is definitely still available) is the pullout sofa bed for our daughter. She prefers that over the ceiling bed.

My kids prefer the ceiling beds 😄 And for our cruise the family cabins left are oceanview, all inside, balcony and suites are gone already.

18 minutes ago, sboston06 said:

I’m super interested to hear how your trip is in May! Please come back to share!!

Will do!  

On 4/5/2024 at 2:38 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

Actually Americanization means McDonalds Starbucks and Hersey, iconic American staples.

To mee Americanization means removing opera with tribute to Michael Jackson.

4 minutes ago, notley-cruise said:

FYI, MSC Armonia is due to go into dry dock in Malta sometime between July and September, so those listed Adriatic sailings may not happen or you'll be on a ship pre and post retrofit.

Absolutely impossible that MSC sends the ship to dry dock in the most important months of the year. No boat with go out of service before mid September. 

6 minutes ago, notley-cruise said:

Aurea suites are nicely positioned forward on deck 12 and decent size, just don't overpay based on the spa.  Less than £160 / USD200 per person per night would be fair price.

You have to be very lucky to get this price in August, even Inside can be around 200 EUR. 

We booked this cruise (because of Zakynthos) in May. Third time on Armonia, great ship, especially for kids. Certainly this is a pure family cruise, don´t think about taking it as a couple with no kids😄 You book it to bring maximum happiness to your 8 year old. 

I think it is a great route with excellent ports. Check if it is better to start from Bari or Venice, for us Bari was cheaper, but that is different from cruise to cruise. And before you think too much about Aurea suites, check if they are available on your date. Often sold out. 

3 hours ago, notley-cruise said:

I believe Water bus arrangement includes a free transfer to old cruise terminal for self guided excursion option, but can't say for sure, as we embarked and disembarked in Venice. 

Thank you.