The two cruiselines are different but both can be enjoyed. Depending on what you expect resp. like.

E.g. Celebrity has sommeliers, MSC has not. Evening entertainment is much more lively and much longer on MSC.

IMHO MDR food is more varied on MSC, the service on Celebrity is more relaxed.

Anything particular you are looking for?

Just looking at the location of the hotel, there are pros and cons.

Con: Quite a long walk to the plaka and other evening and night life areas (might be a pro for you)

Pro: There is a metro station close by, so are many bus lines, and the hotel is very close to a number of most interesting museums including the nationalgalery and the byzantine museum. 

Having four nights you hopefully will not be satisfied with the acropolis only but ready to enjoy the many sights of the Greek capital. A week would be better and not even enough time.

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.

A to the general question. It's kind of fun. Some live music is nice and entertaining.

C By the end of the video it sounds like it turned into a sing along. That gets a big no from my side, I would not appreciate that.

We like to make it a game to try to identify the port photos others post here. 

21 hours ago, bluemarble said:

If you have any more photos of other ports on our "Cunard ports not seen yet" list, we would love to see them. We'd prefer for you post them without identifying the port right away so we can have a crack at figuring them out first. We like to make it a game to try to identify the port photos others post here. 

 

Thanks again for joining this amazing long-running game we have going here.

Yes, @bluemarble, thank for all your effort, would indeed be great to get some new challenging, unidentified photos of actual visitors to so far unseen ports!

I was denied such a request in the past. 

Others might have other experiences. Certainly does not hurt to ask your travel agent.

8 minutes ago, Tjccjt said:

I've booked this trip. Now I'm starting to wonder quite what I've let myself in for. I've always wanted to see a total eclipse and I'll be 60 in 2026. It's also our 30th wedding anniversary so it seemed like a good idea to level up our usual holiday spend.

 

Looks like I'm going to be rinsed on board for drinks and internet. Do people think the drinks packages are worth the cost? My wife doesn't drink a great amount and from the website it appears that both of us have to book the same drinks package. I'd have to put quite a bit away to make that add up.

 

We're not people who dress up either. Are formal nights limited to the main dining room? I'm quite happy to put on a shirt and jacket and go to one of the restaurants but black tie is a bit over the top for me. 

 

Anything else I should know before we travel?

 

Thanks.

Looks like in your situation the drinks package might not be the best option. If you search you will find a number of posts. Some people enjyo the package, many more are better off eg ordering bottles of wine for dinner and other drinks individually.

Prices are lower than on some US based lines.

The formal dress code does apply not only to the dining room but also the theatre, the ball room and many other rooms, basically to all public spaces that are not specifically exempted. Shirt and jacket will not suffice. Dark suit and tie is minimum. The majority wears black tie.

Anything else? It is different than US style lines. Great lectures. Good music. Mostly people with good manners. A lot awaits you to enjoy!

What for?

If one desire one or some or all of the addtional items, one can buy them.

To have "Cunard plus" guests vs lowely normal guests might be quite a bit against the overall brand image.

My first advice would be to skip all of the cities that require additional travelling time and to stick to the port cities. Do not go to Seville and Florence. 

In Bilbao and Oporto it also takes some time to get to the historic areas, thus they are candidates for skipping.

Cannes is famous by name but otherwise less significant and may be skipped.

Just from the point of balancing sightseeing and relaxation, you might consider skipping every third day or so. All of the cities will be around a couple of years more 😉

2 hours ago, Twolittleboys said:

 

Huh, we only did Alcazaba (not Castillo de Gibralfaro) and I don't remember it being especially steep. Looking at Google Maps it also seems to be basically right at the port? 

 

Like I said, my memories are kind of hazy but definitely don't remember it as being difficult. Kids were 11 and 9, I think.
 

Yes, the Alcazana is very close to the port. The way to the entrance is all even. Within the site there is some incline.

Now the Gibralfaro is a different story, high above the city.

12 hours ago, Scoup said:

Need suggestions for transfer from our hotel in Trastevere to Civitavecchia cruiseship port please 

In case public transportation is an option for you: There is a train station right in Trastevere, where you can get a train directly to Civitavecchia. Very easy.

There you can continue by taxi or shuttle/bus.

No tip is expected.

The European culture is different from the US. 

I have actually taken the SIT bus. 

It was very convenient, starting right at the port gate. From the upper deck one has a nice view.

I did not go all the way to Termini but left at Via Crescenzio which is closer to the Vatican and many parts of the city centre.

The 9.30 h departure was fine with me for a more relaxed start. We had more than five hours in Rome.

1 hour ago, jelayne said:

 

 Mid cruise they eliminated any fixed seating, everyone was anytime 

Good to know.

I will make a note never to sail any of these ships!

38 minutes ago, Saab4444 said:

Thanks! So usually there is no loud music and dancing until late? 

Music stops rather early. In my experience most often around midnight.

Nothing akward at all with eating there as solo. I have done this several times. They treat one well.

Yes, there are some items that are available only for a surcharge but the included choice is rather nice, too.

Search for one of the existing threats about this for details.

To update on my own question:

Last week taxis were available roght at the port gate for fixed prices starting from € 70 for Mycene or Epidaurus. 

Debarked last Friday: There were many, many taxis. The line went through all the port area at terminal C and there was even an overflow of taxis on the street outside the gate. 

Today it is 22 celcius in Heraklion. Likewise yesterday the pool deck was full of sun bathers and swimmers. 

On Cyprus locals said, they expect the cold period to be over now. JFYI.

Enjoy your cruise.

Thanks for all the answers and assistance.

To report back on my current experience: On the Infinity I got a sewing kit from the guest relations desk. Actually they gave me two "just in case".

Sorry. Now I can answer myself: I locked / signed out and after a while I signed in again and, magically, the right button appeared.

How do I do this? I am sailing tomorrow.

On the website it says: "

You are required to download the mobile app prior to sailing

• Access your digital boarding pass
• Answer the health questions on the app the day before your sailing"

Well, I have the app but can neither find a digital boarding pass nor any health question. What do I need to do?

Thank you all!

The problem has appeared while I am aleady on my way to the cruise.

It looks like there will be something found on board.

Is it possible to get a sewing kit on board? How?

Does Celebrity offer a sewing/mendig service eg. for a fee?

On 2/14/2024 at 5:00 PM, Cruisehiker said:

. Also not many people know that the blue line metro which runs from the airport to Piraeus now terminates at the impressive new station of Dimotiko Theatro (Municipal Theatre) that is in the commercial heart of Piraeus, and actually nearer to the cruise terminals than the station that is called Piraeus. It’s a much more pleasant location than around Piraeus station to linger, and to catch a bus or hail a taxi to the terminal when embarking.

Thank you for this. Do you have experience with the taxis? Are they willing to take you just to the terminal and do to use the meter for a fair price?