Skipper Tim

Horizon is on the move again. After a couple of days at anchor just outside Mumbai, she is making 11 knots Westwards in the direction of the Gulf of Aden. Though CruiseMapper still shows her destination as Mumbai, this may not have been updated. Returning to Europe and if so why? What was she doing in Mumbai? 

From my experience in charter yachts, the big operators got very good prices on new boats and put them up for sale at a profit even before they were delivered, only reducing the price after a lifetime of heavy use (generally 5-7 years) when they wanted to replace them. If the cruise ship market is remotely similar, then cruise ships can be on sale for many, many years. We should not read too much into a ship we are hoping to sail on being for sale. Even if a ship is sold, the transfer might not take place for 18 months or so and it may just continue as was under a different legal ownership. 

I understand that Pullmantur (49% owned by RCI, 51% by a Spanish investment firm) only leases their ships (currently all from RCI). No doubt if RCi managed to sell the Horizon, RCI would provide a newer/bigger/better replacement to Pullmantur. RCI are saddled with some mega ships of their own that they need to fill over the coming lean years.

KenC, I would love to read the blog but preview doesn't lead anywhere, no matter what I click. Could you provide a URL please? 

You (and any others) may want to join the Roll call for the March 21 repo:

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2712442-pullmantur-horizon-dubai-athens-march-2021-roll-call/

Tim.

Plato, Agreed. Bruce's vlog was sensationalistic self-promotion. We are holding bookings for the Horizon repo (Dubai-Athens) in March 2021, also on small deposits. We will wait and see what transpires. 

I have trawled the travel and cruise industry websites and cannot find a mention of a sale or transfer of the Horizon. There could be other reasons for a trip to Mumbai - a refit, furlough of staff etc.. I would have thought those due to sail on her this Summer (sailings are currently suspended only until July 3rd and Greece is opening to foreign tourism next week) would be the first to hear. 
 

Still if anyone can find any information, please share it here.

Thanks very much! I had exactly the same question as the deck plan does not show 'The Waves'.  I am booked on the March 2021 repo from Dubai to Athens in one of the suite categories and only discovered information about The Waves afterwards. 

Indeed Sidari! I thought it was "Long time no sea" but I am dyslexic and tend to mix things up appropriately :-)

Such a long time since I was in Sidari. The first in '76 when Corfu/Kerkira, even Greece, was an unknown. Then around 10 years later on a nostalgia trip - I had a day off from the yacht I was working on and rented, without a licence of course, a scooter for the day. I went through Kasiopi, Roda where we had stayed then Sidari before I had to return. I have not been back since.

Corfu is probably one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It is rightly popular. I would only visit now out of season. Then I have my little hideaway in Stoupa in an equally beautiful part of the World.

I do not expect any favours from MSC. However, if they want my custom again, they will have to curry them. Is that another mixed metaflaw :-) ?

I am 'Gold' through earning on MSC and it is good to see the 5% discount has been brought back. And now I have a hundred times as many points :-) ! I am not sure my lowly 'Platinum' status with Royal Caribbean will carry much muster with MSC but I have asked, all the same. I think it is just 2 points with Cunard - it sounds totally underwhelming I know.

Thanks Bea! We may meet on that next, somewhat currently elusive, repo with no solo supplements.

Enjoy the Sinfonia to Durban!

Bea, I am putting my faith in the cruise industry investing in over-capacity :-) It may take time, as you say, but every industry always makes mistakes on future growth based on extrapolating the orthodoxy of past performance.

At the moment, I am taking advantage of such a mistake in the Turkish luxury hotels market. Noticeably better than Cunard's QM2 service and food: sole-occupancy of a double with views to die for, 'ultra; all-inclusive (imported drinks, 24 hr food and drink, free room service, packed min-bar, 17 swimming pools, choice of entertainment, etc.) for £22/night. However my first hotel of 'the season', two weeks tomorrow and for the rest of October, is a lowly four star :-), beach-front, sole-occupancy, spa, bars etc. for £7/night - all-inclusive.

One has to be versatile to extract the marrow from life :-)

I am patient for my next cruise. I have a fondness for MSC because I lived in Italy and appreciate their chaotic and sincere hospitality. Pulmantur is also on the radar - older, smaller ships with another latino ambience.

Sorry, just passing through.... I wanted to contact one of my old cruising buddies via CC and got gripped by this topic :-)

I will be back just as soon as MSC lose their solo-occupancy surcharges for cabins that will otherwise go empty !!! Good things come to those who wait :-)

Yes, the Juliet balcony cabins on the Fantasia are the best bargain at sea. They are full-sized 'balcony' grade cabins that just happen to have a shallow balcony and are charged at the Oceanview ('porthole') rate (not so on the Divina).

Being so high-up, the views are amazing and I would never grow tired of watching the wake of the ship through the wall-to-wall glass - mesmerising.

Then there are the 'private' staircases either aft quarter - one flight up to the rear of the buffet (the most interesting part with its daily changing ethnic section) and another to the quieter and more civilised bar, jacuzzis and pool.

On my 17 night repo on the Fantasia, I barely had need to leave the rear of the ship. The juliet balcony cabins are a 'poor man's Yacht Club', then some - less walking required for a start :-).

We passed Gibraltar when it was dark and saw nothing either side of the ship.

P.S. Sorry for the slow reply - I don't often drop in to CC these days!

Tim, do you blog or review your "land-cruise" trips anywhere? You have my curiosity piqued since you first mentioned them. I'm intrigued to know how you find and book these places. I may be looking for alternatives to cruising :D

Bea,

I do review them over on Trip Advisor. Here is my review of the next 'land cruise' venue from earlier this year. There will be eight of us at the Sunrise Queen, pre-Christmas who met each other through cruises. I am so looking forward to it!

No, I have not blogged about land cruises. I have merely spammed by email everyone I thought might be interested :). I could add you to my spam list if you like :).

The Sunrise Queen is genuinely superb quality but relatively very pricey by all-inclusive, five-star hotels on that stretch of the coast at around 30 GBP per night, sole-occupancy of a double during the 'winter season' (November-March). More common rates for other five-stars are in the range of £12-£25 all-inclusive. The extra is absolutely worth it and compared to a 'sea cruise' an absolute steal.

You can message me via the Trip Advisor review link above.

Surprisingly, I don't disagree with this entiment at all. We may have viewed and reacted differently to the changes, but I do agree that is barely worth having it now for all the difference it makes.

So I see my MSC Club points have been multiplied by 100 and the most valuable perks removed or reduced.

My favourite hospitality loyalty scheme was at the Hotel Concorde, Lara in Turkey and involved planting a young tree in the grounds adorned with a brass plaque carrying the name of the guest complete with planting and naming ceremony attended by senior management and fellow awardees. That is just not practicable on a ship.

All the more reason, since the era of Giles Hawke, that I am concentrating on 'land cruises' for the time being. The next, at the utterly blissful Sunrise Queen, in Side, will even be preceded by a pre-cruise stay at the five star Seher Sun Palace at £6.80 per night, all-inclusive. I am afraid MSC cannot compete for me at the moment. Nor does it look likely to any time soon on the current trajectory.

My heart is always warmed when I see this topic reappear. MSC's terrible website is quite endearing over time.

Yes you can ask for more pillows, just ask your cabin steward.

 

I think you're over worrying about seasickness. I've been on the Armonia (before it was stretched) and all her sisters many, many times and no one is sick all the time. Even those really sensitive to motion. July in the Med usually means fairly even sea conditions. Yes there is always the chance of a storm but it doesn't last 7 days and nights.

Fear of seasickness can be worse than the real thing. I am more prone to motion sickness than anyone else I know. I recognise the onset (drousiness, yawning and light headedness). If I am on a ship, I move to the least-moving part of the open deck (a little aft of the centre length-wise and nearest the centre across if there are no stabilisers) and look at things not moving so much - the clouds, land if in sight, or stars at night time. I usually find I am immune after 2 days onboard when my brain has got used to the movement of the ship. Short car journeys kill me though, I usually have to lie down afterwards :).

Yes, there was on my TA crossing in the buffet. It was not on the breakfast menu in the MDR but I did not ask for it - it may have been available. I imagine it was full-fat, strained yogurt rather than actually 'Greek'.

How sad Amomondo - that means you won't be joining me on the Zenith repo!

For comparison purposes, I obtained one of the 'Grand Suites', three times the size of a regular outside cabin with 'Grand Class' freebies for a little under £700 for 14 nights with zero sole-occupancy supplement. I will have the party room but few to party with :(.

Good use of Avios though. I will flying from Madrid to avoid UK long haul APD.

In the name of safety concerns, a cruise line will change ports of call to maximise revenue from excursions. There is little money in going to ports where guests are too afraid to go ashore.

Wait for their offer of alternatives and compensation to come in before cancelling.

I too loved the QE2, but CDF just seem to paint over the rust. And Horizon wasn't built by John Browns. Its been worked to death.

Having said that some of the public rooms are beautiful and in 100% cosmetic condition, Horizon was a ship built with a stylish interior and some remains.

Regular cabins are very basic and outdated and have poor sound insulation between decks though, if you want to sleep at night never - NEVER - contemplate a cabin below a galley or buffet deck.

Ultimately CDF is Royal Caribbean with local oversight. I am not a fan of RCI but I hope that the local, in this case French, would bring something to the party - especially when it comes to dining as the French make dining such an institution.

We Brits have rolled over to Americanisation but the French never will.

Hence I hope to hear your full review....

Look at the prices one cabin at a time. Most cruise lines charge double for solo occupancy on regular itineraries. For repositioning cruises they may ask less or no supplement. MSC of late have refused even to take a booking from solos at any price.

So, start with a solo occupancy booking/search. If a solo-cabin is not available at any price, there is no point in continuing.

We made it to Barcelona this morning, the first port we have not been hours late getting into.

I think most of the Anglophone passengers breathed a sigh of relief at having made it without a major breakdown of this tired old ship and being towed into port.

Only 30 minutes of free internet at Barcelona airport so I'll post when I have better access.

Going on the Zenith? Good Luck is all I can say.

Please don't be overly negative. The ship is hardly old. My first ship was the QE2 which was by far the oldest of any liner I have been on but still the best. 1990's is young, 30 years younger than the QE2. 1960's would be oldish now, hardly the 1990"s!

As for timings, I only care if I am late into port before my flight home. Other ports do not matter at all. I will arrange my days around whatever happens.

Hi everyone,

 

We (me, wife and 2 girls (12 & 10)) are booked on the MSC Musica departing Venice on 24th May for a 7 day cruise.

 

This is our first cruise so are complete novices.

We have the 'all-in' drinks package so things should be OK with food and drink?

 

Main queries are - what to pack? Ships dress code? Any experience of this ship?

plus any other tips/advice will be welcomed with open arms!

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

MIB

They say that everyone enjoys their first cruise. It is not that they don't get better but just that there are few previous similar experiences by which to judge it.

My favourite spot on the Musica, which I would waste no time in seeking out, is the wine bar. It is elegant, service amazing, lighting beautiful, it has the best wine glases on the ship and the best selection of wine included in your package. Then every evening before dinner they have different tapas themes (included) and a pianist on the gand piano. I learned to sit within good earshot of the piano but not too close that we couldn't talk. Perfect!

Study the daily cruise programme (delivered to your cabin the night before) over breakfast and mark off the things that interest you. Carry it with you wherever you go. It is easy to forget where and when things are happening.

Lunch in the main restaurant is more civilised than the buffet (which can be a bun fight at peak times).

You can read plenty more about my experience on the Musica with photos in the 'live blog' linked to in my signature below though my itinerary was a repositioning cruise so quite different to your future cruise.

As for packing, Amomondo knows I like to travel light. Concentrate on versatile, smart-casual. The more ways and outfits a garment or accessory can be worn in the more useful it is. I think in scenarios: breakfast/lunch, on deck, going ashore, and dinner with the themes that Amomondo describes. Sensible shoes are a must as there is a surprising amount of walking involved on a cruise.

Depending on your airline and hand luggage allowance, it may be more economical to use the onboard laundry service than pay for hold luggage. Certainly don't take more clothes between you than you can unpack into the limited storage space - that makes everything inconvenient.

Enjoy the anticipation!

You may find that MSC bans its agents from selling outside their respective geographical region. You may still find one to oblige and also supply their own address to satisfy MSC's booking system. I had success with a U.S. agent doing the latter.

Alterantively use something like Tunnelbear to appear to be in another country and book on the local MSC web site. Any address in the right country would work, they won't be posting anything to you. You may also need a local tax or insurance number, these are easy enough to find too.

I made a recent booking on the Brazilian Pullmantur site which permits overseas bookings although 11 zeros were required in the insurance number field. Pullmantur could be another possibility for you - they operate several ex-RCI and Celebrity ships for the Brazillian market in our Winter though they are older and smaller than anything MSC has.

Finally, I would like to plug the repo cruise on the CDF Zenith. I managed to bag one of the Royal Suites for around £600 (sole occupancy) on the Pullmatur Brazil site which are currently listed for sale in France at over 3,400 Euros pp. Details in the roll call below. I am not sure how the French and Braziians will mix - should be fun regardless! Flights at both ends are doable with Avios (from Tesco poits - also see below).