sealynx

I'm talking about all the 'just not as good as other cruise lines'-issues, both companies appear to be having.

In the colour of a war ship, though with red details.

Very interesting indeed. I believe if there would be one company that can afford the ship, it would be MSC. Their are making big money from their container business (a little too big if you ask me). MSC is a family-oriented cruise line, so maybe the Global Dream would fit. However, apart from school vacations, most families will be 2 person. That makes a lot of empty bunk beds. I do believe that converting this ship to the MSC-product would be way cheaper than what NCL spend on Joy. For MSC is would mostly mean demolition of facilities they don't offer, and replacing them with sun beds, bar stools and sofas.

Their prices sure are premium. Their product give me a whole different impression, more on par with MSC probably. This wouldn't be the first Virgin-startup that is discontinued soon after launch. Is has happened with several airlines and other business as well. If MSC takes the ships, not the brand, it would give them an extra growth possibility, much faster than buying new tonnage. They would however need to invest big time to make the ships fit the MSC-concept. All in all an interesting development.

From Civitavecchia there will probably be transfers, but to Rome-centre, possibly not to the airport. An alternative is using public transit. This will take you about 2 hours. In that case, 13:35 departure is too early, if you also want to be 2-3 hours before departure at the airport. Another alternative would be to extend your sea-vacation with an overnight ferry to Barcelona (I don't know where in Spain you need to be). This departs 21:30 from Civitavecchia, and takes about 20 hours. Don't expect cruise-luxary though, but you can certainly get a nice cabin and a decent meal.

Yep, that has been a recent change. All cabins are now deluxe or better on the newer ships. No cabins are pre-assigned Bella or Fantastica anymore. It really simplifies the difference between these two experiences, and it makes it more desirable to book Fantastica, since no longer people can choose the best Bella as a cheaper alternative.

I believe FlixBus offers direct services from Genova to Milan Linate, it takes 2 hours and departs at 13:00. I only remember MSC to offer transfers from the ship to the main train station, but that is within walking distance (20 minutes).

Thank you for this quote :-). As I have dyslexia, this might come in handy some time when I've again made a huge spelling error.

Last cruise I made with MSC we made friends onboard. They had a drinking package, we didn't. Since we never met before, we all had our own booking. Two nights we asked the maitre'D to seat us together for dinner. Wasn't a problem at all, but they did pay attention that we would pay for our own drinks (except for the bottle of water, we were allowed to share that).

In may on a med cruise we had to do an 'official' test max. 48 hours before departure on our own costs and had a test at the terminal on MSC costs plus my 8 yo had to do a test halfway during the cruise (after we left the EU and returned to Italy) onboard on MSC costs because she isn't vaccinated.

Announcements may be long, but there are only a few per day. Don't expect activities to be announced for example, only the most important things like safety, weather and changes of schedule (and in the theatre before every show, but they try to make it fun (which works the first night, but since they always do the same thing, the joke is old by the second night, and then you just have to endure it for the following nights). I haven't been on Poesia and Meraviglia, but I've been on Magnifica, Seaview and Opera. In that order. I was also a bit scared that going on an older ship after having experienced the wonderful Seaview, I expected a high chance of disappointment. But that wasn't the case at all. There were bars on Opera I enjoyed better than some bars on Seaview. If you really like stake btw, you can get that in the main restaurant for a supplement (€18 on our cruise).

We've done it several times on MSC (and we don't travel light, but we are strong, and we have suitcases with little wheels). It's not that they actively offer it, or communicate the option (but what does MSC communicate properly?), but we just did it and no one made a comment about it at any time.

The quickest way to disembark in my experience is a self disembark. Don't use the labels given to you the night before and don't put your luggage outside your door, but carry it yourself from the ship. That way you can leave as soon as the ship is docked. Otherwise, your luggage must leave the ship before you do, so you have to wait before that (I was told this is a rule or a law, I don't know by whom or what the idea behind it is though).

This makes me wonder if business for Costa is going well or not. Of course they've added two giants to their fleet, but that was planned years ahead. Apparently they don't have the bookings in the med to keep their fleet intact, so they need to dispose of Luminosa. On the other hand, MSC is adding extra capacity to the med with the transfer of the Bellisima. If the market was the same for Costa, they wouldn't have the need to dispose of the Luminosa, but they would also have the possibility to get the Firenze and Venezia (either or both) to their home market.

I've been on both, and loved both. If 55 pound difference for the whole cruise, then I think I would opt for MSC Seaview. The price difference is well worth the extra amenities and the more extravagant decor. The buffet food is identical on both ships (even though I sailed Seaview well before the pandemic, and Opera just recently). The a la carte is also similar. The theatre shows on Seaview are much bigger, but still similar to Opera's. I would give both ships a 4 star review out of 5, both have plenty options to improve, but are well worth the ticket price.

That is great. Enjoy your holiday 🙂

The other way around was no problem when I was on MSC Opera a few weeks ago. On two night we asked to be seated together with friends we made, even though we had early dining in the deck 6 restaurant and they had late dining in the deck 5 restaurant, this was no problem at all. I can't imagine asking to get a table for two to be a problem, especially not if you don't mind changing dining times.

The Costa website states that a) you need to inform your need for change of the contract within a specified amount of days after you gained knowledge for the need of the change (the exact amount of days varying according to the days left for the start of the cruise). If you want to cancel, you'll be charged a minimum of €50 (if the cruise is more than 45 days away), 25% of the price paid when 44-30 days away, up to 100% when less then 5 days away. About the medical services, there needs to be a doctor onboard any ship carrying over 12 paying passengers according to international law. Well, even at reduced capacity this applies to any cruise ship. Cruise ship medical centres are often well equipped. You'd probably be best of calling the company to see if they can provide in your sons need.

Good to hear. Can you elaborate on what you enjoyed specifically at Ocean Cay and maybe compare to other cruise lines' islands?

I just got back from a MSC Opera cruise from Marseille. When we boarded in Marseille, two Costa ships were also there (and MSC Poesia as well). Both MSC's ships and one Costa ship (I believe the Fascinosa) were docked at the MPCT-terminals. The second Costa ship (I believe the Smeralda) was docked across the bay, near the dry dock (43.35181966705139, 5.320176532684046 coordinates on google maps). I cannot find any information on this part of the port. How to get there? Is there a shuttle? Why used this dock, when others are available? There isn't much information about the Marseille cruise port at all actually. Just in port we found out there is a free bus shuttle from terminal to port entrance and back, this isn't advertised anywhere.

When I was in Genua last sunday on MSC Opera they used the fixed bridge from deck 6 to shore for (dis)embarking passengers, while transit passengers used the exit/entrance on deck 4. The fixed bridge was open minutes after arrival, while the deck 4 bridge took some 15 minutes to be installed. Similar arrangements were used in other ports as well. In Barcelona for example two bridges were installed on deck 6, while in Palermo and Tunis two bridges were installed on deck 4 and one stairs bridge on deck 5.

Thanks for the additional information, I didn't know that.

I believe none of the ships in this class have speciality restaurants, just 2 main dining rooms, a buffet and an outside cafeteria. All included in your ticket price.

In my experience it takes some 15 minutes for the crew to install the gangway after arrival. The line is gone in 5-10 minutes. In Barcelona there is a port-shuttle for €4,50 per person, to the WTC (bus, several standing passengers). The MSC-shuttle was € 9,- per person, to the same destination (coach, all seated). In Marseille there is a free port-shuttle to the port entrance. There you can change (5 minute walk) to public transport (15 minutes to the city for € 2,- per person). MSC-shuttle to the city was € 16,- per person. In Genua I don't know about an MSC-shuttle, but you can walk 10 minutes to public transport, several service to the centre of the city.

Just back from a MSC Opera cruise from Marseille. We took a test in some random pharmacy (the first we entered didn't do tests, the next was only 2 blocks away), with a certificate of the result. It was € 20 per person, and result back in 15 min. At the terminal we were tested again, even though this was only 2 hours after the first. I don't know what would have happened when we didn't have the first test.