Frode

Hi Frode.

 

Email me: -

 

Papcx at hotmail dot com

 

And I'll sent you a link to register for the webinar.

Thanks a lot Papcx...have e-mailed you now.

// Frode

Will the March webinar announce.......

Questions, questions....

Hi Tim, I'm very curious about the future of MSC as well :confused:

Ignorant me - I am wondering what the webinar (in March) is?

Something for the public to join as well?

When and where?

Thanks!

// Frode

I Have Did My Research On The Divina, And I Honestly Believe, I Have Picked A Winner!!!!

Glad for you - that you are so happy ahead of the cruise.

And I fully agree with Tim: Please give us a fair review after the cruise! It will be so interesting to see how your expectations were fulfilled....or not :cool:

Who else would like to take this amazing cruise?

Tim.

Oh yes - that would really be something! :)

However, how to explain for my employer that I would need more than a months vacation...during the company's high-season :confused:

Finally MSC Cruises confirms that the MSC Lirica will be lengthened and 200 cabins will be added. [/url]

Will be interesting to take part of the plans... I do hope that MSC will release the details within short :p

I have cruised onboard both MSC Opera and MSC Armonia (both times in Suites...the only cabins onboard which have balconies).

I am 100 % sure that the lengthening will implicate a new cabin category, i.e. Balcony Cabins! :)

4) The excitement of the Gulf of Aden - will pirates attempt to board? Will the guests and crew fight them off?

 

Anyone thinking about joining me?

Tim.

Ha, ha...that's an interesting and exciting aspect.

However, I believe to 100% that there is no reason to be afraid or worried!

I would really love to go on this repositioning; one of the main high-lights - for me - would be the passage through the Suez channel.

Though, the biggest problem is to be away from work that many days. I guess that is a very common issue for a lot of us...

If not - like you Tim - you have a company of your own and may do your work from anywhere, or if you are a pensionar or similar (with a good economy) :rolleyes:...

As far as I know, there is only one rumour suggesting the Lirica class would be stretched.

Tim.

Hi!

MSC Lirica will be streched according to this information (which I received last evening - Scandinavian time - from Cruise Industry News).

There is some interesing news about MSC Orchestra as well...which will cruise from Dubai next winter (2014/2015) - and then continue to Australia:

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/10309-msc-lirica-to-be-lengthened-msc-set-for-asiaaustralia-with-orchestra.html

If you should have problems in opening it; here comes the info:

MSC Lirica to be Lengthened, MSC Set for Asia/Australia with Orchestra

on 26 November 2013.

MSC Cruises has announced that the MSC Lirica will be lengthened to the tune of 200 staterooms.

At a press conference in Brazil celebrating the arrival of the MSC Preziosa to the market, MSC confirmed they will add 200 rooms to the Lirica, which was the first newbuild to enter service for MSC when it launched in 2003.

The refurbishment will be completed before the 2014/2015 South America season, which will feature the Preziosa, Poesia, Magnifica and Lirica.

Furthermore, the line said the MSC Orchestra was set to sail in the Red Sea from Dubai, and then head to Asia and Australia in early 2015.

Hi, I was onboard MSC Armonia during the 8 nights repositioning from Venice to Las Palmas (Nov 1-9, 2013).

This was my very first repositioning cruise, and although it wasn't that long - it was a nice "test": I will absolutely do such a cruise again....and a longer one - gladly even with more days & nights at open sea :) We had some really nice, relaxing days onboad, with no stress and a lot of time to read, to eat, to use the gym, to relax in a sunbed at the pool-deck a s o :rolleyes:

The weather was mostly very nice - except from two nights and one day when we more or less experienced storm.

I heard from the guys at the check-in desk in Venice, right before we departed, that there were approx 970 passengers onboard. (The capacity, I believe, is a maximum of around 2 000 passengers.) Therefore, there were no crowding onboard at all.

Myself; i had a Suite; the only type of cabin which have a balcony onboard the MSC Armonia. The vessel has, as you surely know, only three different categories: Inside / Outside / Suites.

Many nationalities among the passengers were represented; though - most of them seemed to come from UK and Germany. There were not to many Italians :D

During such a repositioning cruise I found it much more easy and common to interact and speak to the fellow passengers than on a regular cruise. We were like a big family.

I got the information from many of the passengers that MSC had sold this cruise, in combination with air transport (i.e. Fly & Cruise), at very low and competitive prices. And more or less always with a cabin upgrade.

Very many passengers (at least those from UK and Germany) who had bought Fly & Cruise-packages, had even got an extra cruise week included in the deal.

I.e. when we arrived the last day during the repositioning to Las Palmas, they were going to continue onboard even during the first week of the regular cruise program round the Canaries.

Finally - even though the ship is built in 2001, I was actually quite surprised that the public areas onboard are very fresh and nice!

When it comes to the service onboard; the food in the MDR and at the buffet; the entertainment etc., there is a lot to be said... Something was good...and other things should need to be improved.

Let us wait for - and read - the reviews from this cruise that certainly will come from other passengers :rolleyes:

Eataly is Italian ;) Italy.. Eataly... :D

You're right....! You've seems to (finally) got it right :)

Another novelty onboard, which we havn't seen onboard the MSC ships in Europe, seems to be all the towel animals spread out at the bedspreads:rolleyes:

However, none at Sophia Lorens bed...and none on top of the bed in the other Yacht Club-suite shown at the pictures...:cool:

I wonder if the towel animals were there only because of the sightseeing for press and travel trade agents, or if they will be a permanent element onboard...:confused:

Followed by me. Here is the shot out of my window of the Fantasia just leaving Venice. The Grand Canal is the inverted 'S' through the middle. All of Venice and the Fantasia on one photo - not bad eh?

Tim.

A really great shot! Venice is one of the most fantastic harbours to arrive to / leave from, by ship.

The ship even passes by the "Saint Marcus Square"...the church is very visible at your picture.

Thanks a lot for your great report on Cruise Critic!

My dream (when having the time and the possibility) is to do a (Trans-Atlantic) repositioning cruise myself.

However, my biggest problem is that my wife is totally uninterested.

....there is 40% off diamonds today only and you can buy a full-size model of the Fantasia for $28.

Tim.

Wow, "a full-size model..." :eek: Must be very large and heavy to bring back home, through the customs and onboard the aircraft :)

Thank you so much guys for your reports! Is has been mostly entertaining and enjoyable. I will miss your daily updates.

I miss the adult-only, quiet retreat area of the pool deck of Royal Caribbean's vision class ships.

How many children would say are onboard? Probably quite young/small ones (pre school-aged)? :eek:

I understand you very well... Adult-only areas are the best!

However, my experience with MSC is that their ships hardly have any adult-only areas at all. And if they have, families (especially Italian ones) with children doen't respect the rules...and the staff onboard do not bother. That is a pity!

I am really enjoying your diary / review. Probably because I'm dreaming of making a transatlantic cruise myself :rolleyes:

I have a couple of questions:

* When cruising the next time (transatlantic back from S-America to Europe?), will you then cruise MSC as well? Or will you try another shipping company/vessel?

* What do you think about the fact that many passengers cruising onboard MSC do not seem to respect the dress codes? (Myself, I find it not OK to appear in jeans and t-shirt during dinner. People not wearing formal attires when coming to the captains/gala dinners, should not be allowed to enter the a la carte restaurants. They should resolute be advised by the maitre that they are welcome to the buffet restaurant instead).

Wishing you the best for the rest of the cruise.