Plan B

Have you seen this, Charleyann?     ...........   

Not how you would be wishing to start your cruise!   It is an awful situation to be in for everyone concerned.  I see that another Princess ship is being held off the coast of Cailfornia because of the virus.

We sail in a couple of weeks around the Med, taking in 3 Italian ports - who knows what might happen?

I hope you have a great time regardless of everything but the stress must be overwhelming at the moment

Did you post your thoughts, Bobbingbob?  Thanks

1 hour ago, dethman said:

so who's on smeralda right now?  any port being cancelled yet?

The ship or any of the passengers didn't have Coronavirus so I'm assuming that all is well and the schedule is being followed - no reason not to 

Thank you MK_Cruiser - think I will give that one a miss!  I'll stick to my own hand washing stuff.  And thank you for your review too

Thank you

Thanks for all the info - much appreciated.

I saw a photo of a weird looking hand washing station - did you use it?  I am allergic to some of the chemicals in liquid soap, shampoo, shower gel, washing u liquid etc etc etc so I always carry my own soap and anti bacterial gel.  Would I be able to use my own soap in these "stations" or is the soap incorporated in with the water?  Thanks, again 

My allergy is to Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT

Here is the review where I saw the photo. 

 https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=676598

Thank you so much for all the details.  The photos are really good but where are all the people?

We are booked for Easter week from Barcelona.  I booked thinking that Costa would be the same as MSC, who we have cruised with many times before and really enjoyed, I should have done my research before booking instead of just assuming!  The cost of the cruise with similar dates on the MSC ship was 3 times as much as Costa - although the MSC price was a suite not just a balcony - I blindly booked thinking that I was getting a bargain.  I looked last night to see about cancelling Costa but nothing else ties into our dates/flights to Barcelona.

I am resigned to going and making the best of things but my OH and daughter aren't quite as flexible but they haven't seen any of the reviews etc - only the "blurb" of the adverts and Costa's website.  I am torn between showing them all the terrible reviews and waiting to see if it is as bad as it seems - I have a few weeks to make up my mind!!  It is the food that worries me the most - they both love the food on cruise ships, especially as is available for most of the day - it sounds like we will have to plan our time according to when it is possible to eat rather than relaxing and enjoying whatever we are doing.

How or when can you choose which dining room you would like to eat in?  Thanks

On 1/6/2020 at 8:30 AM, Plan B said:

I have read somewhere about about a Chocolate Bar or cafe or ???  Did you see or use it?

I have taken this from Costa's website:

“Brindiamo” Beverage Package

• Apéritifs & Vermouth Tio Pepe / Aperol / Bitter Campari / Martini Rosso, Bianco, Dry / Pastis / Pernod 45 / Ricard / Campari Soda / Crodino / Flûte Asti Spumante Martini & Rossi, Prosecco DOC “Valdo”
• Beers International Draught Beer Beer (alcohol free)
• Fruit Juices Pear / Peach / Apricot Pineapple / Orange / Grapefruit
• Soft Drinks and Mineral Water Sodas / Tonic water/ Bitter Lemon Lemon Iced Tea Peach Iced Tea Syrup with water by glass Mineral Water Sparkling or Natural
• Hot Beverages Illy Espresso Decaffeinated Illy Iced Coffee Illy Caffè Shakerato Illy Cappuccino Illy “Corretto” “Dammann” Tea Selection
• From the Chocolate Bar Coconut, Mint, Meringue, Hazelnut, Strawberry, Pistachio, Orange, Cinnamon, White, Extra Milk, Extra Dark, Light, Hot or cold Chocolate
• Wines by glass DOC White Wines DOC Red Wines

Is the Chocolate Bar part of the Illy Coffee Shop or is it separate?  I'm assuming that it is chocolate to drink rather than to eat?   Thanks

Thank you for answering our questions - hope you had a good time?  The reviews on TripAdvisor are not too good!

I have read somewhere about about a Chocolate Bar or cafe or ???  Did you see or use it?

Thanks for any advice

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Cruise_Review-d15691416-Reviews-Costa_Smeralda

Sounds amazing!

20 hours ago, fragilek said:

If only !- It was fish fingers lol the maitr'd  apologized as he gave me them and said this should only be for bambinos lol.

 They knew I was not happy with the food, even got a call to go to customer services, they noted my frustration there and said they would pass on to management.  No help to me though lol

 

 

Oh no!  How awful.  Customer service on Italian lines leaves a lot to be desired

On 10/28/2019 at 11:52 AM, fragilek said:

As you can see in my menu the one on Favolosa obviously thinks frozen fish fingers is an appropriate adult meal lol

Did you see or try the fish fingers?   Sometimes when translating to English some of the nuance is lost and sometimes the meal is completely different to what you would think.  Maybe it was Sea Bream Tempura or Goujons 🤔 

Thanks for your review.  We are booked to go with Costa next April from Barcelona.  I'm not sure if I want to read your next installment  🤨   It doesn't sound like it will be as favourable 😂😂

I always take my insulated travel cup with lid and just pour the coffee or juice etc in and enjoy :)

Thank you so much for the menus - Wandering Two - much appreciated.  I'm glad to see that the "always available" will keep my daughter from starving if there isn't anything on the normal menu that she likes 😁 

Thank you for the very detailed review.

I wonder if anyone can help?  We are booked on our first Costa cruise next April and having seen the fabulous lunch and dinner menu's in this review, I would like to know if these are the standard throughout the ship or is it because the OP was in a suite with all the extra perks?  Also, the breakfast in cabin menu - will this still be the same?    Thanks for any help

I will TRY and add some photos later!

There is still dry and medium prosecco on the All Inc package. Cheers

I am sat on my balcony watching Greece (somewhere in the Ionion Sea) pass by. It is nearly 9am on the 3rd day of our cruise from Venice and we are having a lovely time.

It is 2 years since we last cruised with MSC on the Fantasia and little things have improved :) The food is of better quality in the dining rooms - this was a real disappointment last time. The service in the bars and restaurants is also much improved. The Musica is a happy ship - the crew, mostly, appear to be content to be on board.

We are in cabin 12050 with the Aurea experience - the balcony is one of the odd shaped ones which gives much more room - there is plenty of space for 2 sun lounges, but we only have the normal 2 chairs and table. All the Aurea cabins are on deck 12 which is under the pool area and Spa. Through the night there is a lot of noise above our cabin - it doesn't bother me but my OH is a bit cheesed off :(

We left Venice on Sunday, yesterday was Brindisi and at noon today we dock in Katakolon. Left to do is Athens, Corfu, Santorini and Kotor.

If anyone had any questions etc I am happy to try to answer them :)

We did a 10 day cruise on the MSC Fantastica - Aurea level - around the Med in Feb/March 2016 and were very impressed with the Top 18 Private Sundeck. 4 adults and our 15 year old daughter.

It had showers, a large hot tub, a bar, lots of sunbeds and massive day beds. We had to show our cruise cards for the first 2 days but then the staff just waved to us. On the first day I "smuggled" our daughter in by ensuring she stayed in the middle of us but she is very tall for her age - much taller then me and my Mum - she was under strict instructions not to do anything that would draw attention to herself and annoy the other cruisers. I need not have worried because there was hardly anyone else up there - I guess that was a combination of the temperature being chilly in the wind, although the sun shone virtually constantly all holiday, and the fact that nearly all the other cruisers were Mediterranean and therefore, hardly likely to be sun worshipping in the winter.

Later in the cruise more and more people started to venture up to the Sundeck but I think they were paying for the one day access pass because we only ever saw them once.

Thank you for being patient with me Pete - just about to switch the PC on and book. So, so excited :D Venice here we come :hearteyes:

Thanks Pete. Those photos are of the Orchestra? Should I assume the Musica will be the same?

Skier 52 - Pete. We are looking at the MSC Musica for next Easter. Do you know if the Top 18ish area has comfy (good English word!) sunbeds? I've scoured loads of images/photos and can see it doesn't have the big day beds or a hot tub :( Any ideas? Does the Orchestra have the posh sunbeds?

Thanks for any help. I'd like to book later today and need to choose between Fantastica and Aurea. What I really want is the Fantastica cabin with the Aurea experience!!! Cheers

Hot tub, showers and great day beds on the newer older ships - love this area