Live From The Armonia. 13.09.13

[papcx]

18.09.13 Kafelonia.

 

Alarm call was not very welcome this morning! Those cocktails have got a lot to answer to, do they honestly expect me to say no?

 

The breakfast arrives and we eat what we can very gingerly. Get ourselves sorted and head off to tender. This morning we already have a ticket but when we get to the stairs we didn't need it. I think MSC need to look at the tender process.

 

Kafelonia is a much more developed tourist area. We walk for a little looking at the shops and then stop for a coffee. A rush of caffine gets us going again. We walk back down to the port and get what DW calls the noddy train, the tourist road train. It's a 20 min drive through Kafeliona, which isn't all that.

 

After, we wander along the harbour and join a group watching some beautiful, graceful sea turtles. They are swimming separately but there are 3 maybe 4 and they're huge.

We stayed there for about an hour watching them, they are that mesmerising. There's also a local fisherman in the harbour. His boat is moored up and he's on the shore under an old parasol. His catch of the day is in a bowl with him and he's talking to a local woman. As they're talking he's scaling, gutting and cleans a fish. He then puts it straight into an old carrier bag, takes some money off the lady and gives her the bag. Fresh fish for dinner tonight in that Greek household.

 

A wander back towards the tender we pass a restaurant so stop for a Greek salad and a beer, then tender back to the ship. Throwing the bag into the cabin there's an invitation to the captains cocktail party tonight. Now I'll have to think about what I'm going to wear! The bag of laundry is also still on the bed so I call reception and Antonio tells me he'll sort it.

 

DW goes for a sun bathe and I stay in the cabin for a chill out.

[sidari]

papcx ... Shame the weather was not so good for Corfu, how long was the port stay ? if i had known you were going there i could have given you a few places to see and to eat maybe another time.

 

With regard to tendering sadly organisation is not one of the best traits of the Italians!

Edited September 18, 2013 by sidari

[msclover]

amazing live review! :)

 

Can you tell me if the Armonia Lounge is closed? I love that place and when I had a Med cruise on the Armonia in 2010 it was always closed...in Brazil it was one of the main lounges, after the Bar del Duomo, of course :)

[AmoMondo]

It's a little nippy in Kefalonia too, it's only 24 degrees, better have a cafe latte to warm me up.

 

 

Yeah, yeah rub it in! Your latte certainly looks nicer than the one out of my canteen. Due to hit a top temperature of 11 today and you'll be pleased to know its going to chuck it down too. Always think its nice to know the weather in the UK is dire when you are in the Med sunshine!

 

Still going to warm back up to 19 for Sunday, so perhaps winter has not arrived early after all.

 

Glad you are enjoying yourselves (and the Allegrissimo!)

 

I'm enjoying reading about your cruise. Not just interested in the Armonia but some of your ports are the same as what mine will be next month.

[Skipper Tim]

17.09.13 Gythion.

 

Gythion is a small town. Seems that a tourist industry is only just starting up there as there are only a few surveour (sp) shops and a few restaurants.

 

 

Tourism has been going since the 1960's in the Mani, which is the lower part of the middle peninsular of the very bottom of the Peloponnese where Gythion is located. The problem has been that it the Mani has been so hard to get to. It is not the least-invaded part of Europe, historically, for nothing. The first roads and bridges to the Mani were built not by the ancient Greeks or the Romans but by the Germans in WW2. In the 60's it was a three day trip from Athens with two overnight stays along the way. Now, you can fly to the military Kalamata airport and drive for three hours to reach Gythion.

 

On the three busses a day from Kalamata, it takes a full day with a prolonged stop and change at Itilo, which is why, as a non-driver, despite spending most of the time I am out of the UK in that part of the World, I have never yet reached Gythion. Gythion is far easier to reach by cruise ship!

 

I imagine being on the regular Summer itinerary of the Armonia will be a much needed boost to the local economy of Gythion.

 

Enjoying but very jealous of your cruise.

 

The weather has improved here in Huddersfield. The rain is falling at only 45 degrees compared to the previous near 90. It is set to improve for your return - we may see 20 degrees again for the last time this year.

 

Have you been through the entire cocktail menu?

Edited September 19, 2013 by Skipper Tim

[sidari]

Looks like one hell of a storm off to the Starboard side on the Armonia webcam.

[pmacher61]

Absolutely riveting.

[papcx]

18.09.13 Kafelonia cont.

 

2 hours later the laundry still hasn't been picked up so I go down to reception and talk to Bianca. She's very apologetic and speaks (I assume) to cabin services on the phone. She then tells me it will be sorted. I say I was told that 2 hours ago by Antonio, who by chance is stood beside her. He calls (I assume) cabin services and asks why it wasn't sorted an hour ago. He come off the phone and says our cabin steward hasn't been to our cabin yet and will be picked up at the next visit. I say that's not true because the cabin has been made up while we were ashore and the laundry is still there. I tell them both we need this laundry to have clean clothes for our post-cruise stay. I'll leave it in their capable hands. I don't like it when I have to be direct like that, but I remained polite.

 

A walk down to the buffet, where I grab a sandwich and then look for DW who isn't where she said she'd be! So I go for a beer. Or 2! Back to the cabin where DW is and the laundry's gone.

 

We skip the theatre again and then it's the captains cocktail party (I said I was having a drink with him!) A photo with him as we go in and a glass of bubbly, the usual thank you in 5 languages and off to dinner.

 

I had: -

 

Spumante risotto.

 

Cheese plate.

 

As its gala night the baked Alaska does the parade of the dinning room, except is not on fire. H&S, I don't know but the chefs do their walk through and get a descent reception.

 

The baked Alaska is good!

 

Post-dinner drinks in the Red bar. Agus is on form again and a waitress Sartika, who has been friendly last couple of days is there.

 

We have a couple and head to bed, early start in Kotor.

 

Clocks go back an hour tonight.

 

The cabin window still needs cleaning.

[papcx]

19.09.13 Kotor.

 

We've decided against getting up at stupid o'clock to watch the Kotor sail in, mainly for 2 reasons. We enter the bay at 4:45 and sun rise isn't until 7:26 so we wouldn't see much anyway! So a 7 o'clock alarm call and dress to go to breakfast in the MDR. I have eggs Benedict which are okay but MSC don't seem to be able to toast bread, I wonder if its anything to do with the large number of Italians that are coeliac, so the bread is different?

 

While waiting for the tender, another p**s poor example of preparation, I notice a lot of people have jumpers etc on. We decide we'll be all right, WRONG. Everything's fine until 30 minutes into our HoHo open top bus tour when it starts to rain. Rookie mistake! What should be at least 1 1/2 hours turns into 40 minutes of "just get us back to Kotor". DW and I luckily get at the front under the minimal shelter and by the heater. The guide is talking to us, telling us it only rains like this rarely. We tell her we're used to it, we're from Manchester, but we do usually bring a coat!

 

The rains stopped by the time we get back to Kotor so we sit in a cafe and have a Montenegro beer to warm us up? A walk around the town and were pleasantly surprised to find Kotor is a smaller, older Dubrovnik. There are fewer shops and some are higher end tourist shops. Our delight is short lived as it starts to rain again.

 

Wet and sodden we tender back to the ship and go for the MDR lunch. I have: -

 

Shrimp cocktail.

Pasta with tomato sauce not Heinz!

Milanise eggs with asparagus.

 

Again it's all good.

 

As we finish we start to sail away so we go to the front observation deck on deck 8. Not many people must know about it as there's only a few people there. We stay about 1 1/2 hours because we've put our Regatta 3in1 macs on. The Kotor coastline is stunning. A nice preview for next years Opera Norwegian cruise.

 

A couple of beers and a spot of ship related rubbish purchases and off to pack :-(

 

An hour in the casino. It's all over my head to be honest, no one seems to win except the house.

 

Pre-dinner drinks and dinner. I have: -

 

Far too much!

 

Salmon and mouse.

Catalania style soup.

Seafood risotto.

Salted cod

Canolo (Italian wafer and ricotta cheese)

 

It's all good.

 

Whilst at dinner we quiz our new friends Elspet & Henry on their MSC experience. Remember they have about 14 cruises with many companies. Their verdict: - it's a cruise, none of it is bad, but some things need some spit and polish. For example, all week none of the ships windows (outside) have been cleaned. They do say the ship is as clean as any they've been on so don't understand about the windows. Henry's biggest complaint was the length of time to get served in the lounges, but he did comment its an Italian ship, that's how the Italians do things. We never had a problem getting served, but we generally sit at the bar, or go to the bar when we go in before sitting elsewhere. I have however on 3 occasions hear a passenger come to the bar and complain they can't get a waiter to take their order.

 

My opinion of the cruise? I'll let you know after dis-embarkation tomorrow.

 

I've had far tooth to eat! Couldn't even manage a beer after dinner!

 

Back to cabin and put the cases out its nearly over :-(

[papcx]

Tourism has been going since the 1960's in the Mani, which is the lower part of the middle peninsular of the very bottom of the Peloponnese where Gythion is located. The problem has been that it the Mani has been so hard to get to. It is not the least-invaded part of Europe, historically, for nothing. The first roads and bridges to the Mani were built not by the ancient Greeks or the Romans but by the Germans in WW2. In the 60's it was a three day trip from Athens with two overnight stays along the way. Now, you can fly to the military Kalamata airport and drive for three hours to reach Gythion.

 

On the three busses a day from Kalamata, it takes a full day with a prolonged stop and change at Itilo, which is why, as a non-driver, despite spending most of the time I am out of the UK in that part of the World, I have never yet reached Gythion. Gythion is far easier to reach by cruise ship!

 

I imagine being on the regular Summer itinerary of the Armonia will be a much needed boost to the local economy of Gythion.

 

Enjoying but very jealous of your cruise.

 

The weather has improved here in Huddersfield. The rain is falling at only 45 degrees compared to the previous near 90. It is set to improve for your return - we may see 20 degrees again for the last time this year.

 

Have you been through the entire cocktail menu?

 

Whoops! Should have known better than comment on Greece with Tim lurking ;-)

 

At the moment we're sat on the top deck after the stunning Venice sail in. Just to let you know the Allergissmo is still working as DW is on the prosecco. (sp) and I'm having a coffee.

 

I don't think we managed the whole cocktail list, but we had a damn good go!

 

4 nights in Venice. I hate my life ;-)

 

Glad the weathers improving.

[papcx]

amazing live review! :)

 

Can you tell me if the Armonia Lounge is closed? I love that place and when I had a Med cruise on the Armonia in 2010 it was always closed...in Brazil it was one of the main lounges, after the Bar del Duomo, of course :)

 

The Armonia lounge is only open later on in the day I think. As its "out of the way" at the front of deck 7 I don't think many people know about or got here. We went once and had to walk around to the back side of the bar to find a barman

/ waitress. It's a nice lounge and maybe an option for the Las Palmas group/gang/rabble/misfits. Have we thought of a name yet?

[papcx]

papcx ... Shame the weather was not so good for Corfu, how long was the port stay ? if i had known you were going there i could have given you a few places to see and to eat maybe another time.

 

With regard to tendering sadly organisation is not one of the best traits of the Italians!

 

The weather brightened up to be fair and we didn't need the rain macs we put in the bag after all (needed them in Kotor but that's a different matter)

 

Reading back my opinion of Corfu was a little harsh. I'm not a fan of shop after shop anywhere but the walk back to the main square along the sea road was very spectacular.

 

Can't remember where we ate, and I'd never be able to find it again, but there were locals eating there and that's good enough for me.

 

Italian organisation! Mutually exclusive.

Edited September 20, 2013 by papcx

[papcx]

So we're back home now and I know I have to finish up the cruises final morning, which I'll try and do tomorrow.

 

4 1/2 days in Venice! WOW! And we hardly scratched the surface.

 

Manchester weather is a real buzz kill.

[AmoMondo]

Welcome back!

[moomoocow]

So we're back home now and I know I have to finish up the cruises final morning, which I'll try and do tomorrow.

 

4 1/2 days in Venice! WOW! And we hardly scratched the surface.

 

Manchester weather is a real buzz kill.

 

Welcome back. You had a good trip and not long till the next one.

 

Also only six months till you're back on the Armonia!

[northerncomfort16]

Welcome back Paul, enjoyed reading about your trip.

 

Less than 7 weeks now till my repo on the Musica.

[tbmrt]

Absolutely riveting.

 

Looking forward to more!

 

Thanks

[travelberlin]

Nice that you are back home and that you have enjoyed your cruise.

[papcx]

Okay. Better late than never.

 

20.09.13 Venice and dis-embarkation.

 

It's quite a long time ago now so most of this is from memory.

 

MSC ask that you leave your cabin by 7:30, so we set an alarm call for 8:00. We'd set up the days clothes last night so after a quick shower and throwing the last bits in a rucksack we were in the MDR for breakfast by 8:30. We both had a smoked salmon omelette which was very good. No problem with staying in the cabin longer, but we wanted to see the sail in anyway.

 

By 9:00 the sail in had passed the lido so we went onto the top deck. It was already quite busy, but we managed to get a space at the railing towards the aft. DW has a tradition of a glass of bubbly on the last mornings sail in so she had proscetto (sp)and I had a coffee, helped by the allegroissmo (sp) still working.

 

 

People say how spectacular the sail in/out of Venice is, and it truly is. In the bright Venetian sunshine it is breath taking.

 

We were lilac 2 on our luggage so weren't expected in the theatre till 11:20, so we stayed on the top deck watching luggage been unloaded and wagon after wagon of food and drink arrive and be loaded onto the ship. We wandered along the top deck and down to the theatre for 11:20. They'd just called lilac 1 so after about 5 minutes it was lilac 2. A 2 minute que as everyone has their card scanned and we're off the ship. A short walk to the terminal building and we found our 4 cases in about 60 seconds. And it's all over. We are cast out into the madness that is Venice cruise terminal, but we can't blame MSC for that!

[papcx]

Overall.

 

So what's my opinion of this cruise?

 

Remember, it's only my 3rd cruise (Costa in 2008 and Poesia last year) so I don't have a huge frame of reference.

 

The cruise was very good. A couple of things that could be better, but nothing to put me off cruising or MSC.

 

The good.

 

Meeting new friends. Cheers Elsbet & Henry (how's the washing?)

Embarkation and dis-embarkation very smooth and no problems.

The cabin, good size, plenty of storage (too much) and very clean.

The ship as a whole, very clean and in good condition for her age.

The food, started okay and got better. Over all very good.

Theatre show (excl. the dancers) were of a high standard.

99% of the crew were friendly and would say hello as you pass.

The drinks package, I can't understand why there is so much debate about it. It's a no-brainier as far as I'm concerned.

 

 

The could be better.

Cabin steward didn't introduce herself and although the cabin was good didn't do anything above and beyond (ie no towel animals.) because of this she didn't get (an extra) tip.

Pillows, having to ask a second time for an extra pillow is not he best, but they did sort it in minutes.

Laundry, having to ask twice to get laundry picked up is poor, probably the worst experience of the cruise (which isn't too bad!)

Busy bar staff and wait staff. Especially at the beginning of the cruise, as people "discovered" which bar they liked. The red bar was very busy and the wait staff couldn't cope (one bar man, Agus, and 2 waiters, Sartika & Francais) some passengers were quite annoyed and came to the bar to be served. As things calmed throughout the week it became manageable for them and then their personalities had a chance to come through. Agus and Sartika are a real credit to MSC, DW gave Sartika a gift of her necklace and Agus got (an extra) tip.

Same with the wait staff, seemed rushed and disorganised to begin with, but then became much calmer and more personable.

Clean the bloody windows!

 

 

The bad.

It has to end.

As I said, nothing is bad - Your on a cruise, would you rather be working?

 

Then 4 nights in Venice! But that's another story :-)

 

[POSTAPB]

Hallo

pls could pls write what options are avaible at Gythion port? I mean rent a car agency or bus to Diros Caves or ...?

What can you see if you stroll around?

Tnx rgs

[papcx]

Hallo

pls could pls write what options are avaible at Gythion port? I mean rent a car agency or bus to Diros Caves or ...?

What can you see if you stroll around?

Tnx rgs

 

Hi post.

 

Not a lot as far as I remember.

 

I'm afraid I never look out for car hire so I didn't notice any, or buses.

 

It a really small town. Apparently the octopus legs hanging out to dry is very famous. Here's my snap shot.

 

 

From what we saw there's only a couple of tourist type shops and a few restaurants. The town has its own charm and to a pleasant enough place to spend a few hours and have a fresh seafood lunch.

[POSTAPB]

Tnx Rgs

[mummyd]

Thanks for taking the time to write have really put me in the mood for this cruise which we going on the 11/10:)

Nicola x

[POSTAPB]

Nikola bon voyage, pls write back about Gythion when you'll be back.

Tns rgs