My Review of MSC Opera's UK to South Africa Grand Voyage 2014

[Skier52]

LINK to review at the bottom of this post

 

 

A few important things first

Just for Cruisetrail, who doesn't seem to be around at the moment

What happened

 

The back of the TV

 

 

 

 

 

 

the bottle opener in the bath room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some wet footprints near the pool

 

 

 

 

 

My review can be found on the link below

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=270&t=9224

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy it

 

 

Pete

Edited November 19, 2014 by Skier52

[portofrome]

Thanks so much for your review.

[Skier52]

Thanks so much for your review.

I appreciate you taking the time to read it and reply on this thread

 

Pete

[Skipper Tim]

Pete,

 

Many thanks for that review. I would have joined you had I not already made alternative plans - i.e. if MSC had offered the cruise without solo supplement in the first place.

 

Re. Cruisetrail, he appears to have periods of 'incarceration'. I am sure he will be back and on message before too long. I loved the picks but I have to point out that the back of TV shot is meant to show the connections for nerds such as myself to attach their devices. Also, that bottle opener is not the one I am used to on MSC ships so quite interesting.

 

The outside (OV) cabins on the Lirica class are the same size as the insides - an absolute minimum - unlike those on the Musica and Fantasia classes which give significantly more space. On the Armonia, I booked an inside exactly for this reason. The extra for a balcony (although it would have been what MSC call a suite as the Armonia does not have any regular balcony cabins) was more than the cost of Allegrissimo and choices had to be made. I could not see the point in paying extra just for a window when I was mostly going to use the cabin to sleep in.

 

Also yes, those cabins with fold-down bunks are best arranged as twins for the reasons you give. I wish there were a way of specifying this at the time of booking to avoid putting out the cabin attendant, having just made up the cabin as a double.

 

It is interesting that MSC has introduced pictorial quizzes. Thanks for the notice of likely subjects!

 

I am looking for a repo in around a years time and now I know MSC UK's new policy is only to drop rates and supplements (and add flights) near departure date, I know to hang on. An East Coast route would be particularly appealing.

 

Thanks again.

[Kreuzfahrtneuling]

thank you so much for this review! Enjoyed it immensely ... could you post a link to your ship description again for me?

 

Stef

[AmoMondo]

Loved reading your review.i really well written and constructed. Little Bedford seems to have had fun too!

 

I did a similar. Oy age on the Sinfonia, only we started in Livorno. Sounds like the entertainment was the same (apart from the quiz wing pictorial). Actually met a solo,passenger who was doing the cruise because of the Opera/ classical shows. They were extremely popular on our cruise.

[Skier52]

thank you so much for this review! Enjoyed it immensely ... could you post a link to your ship description again for me?

 

Stef

Here is a link to the review with a descritption of the ship. If you scroll down to almost the bottom of page one ( actually post number 4) you'll find images of places aeound the ship.

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=270&t=6463

 

hope this is what you want

 

Pete

Edited November 21, 2014 by Skier52

[Skier52]

Pete,

 

Many thanks for that review. I would have joined you had I not already made alternative plans - i.e. if MSC had offered the cruise without solo supplement in the first place.

 

Re. Cruisetrail, he appears to have periods of 'incarceration'. I am sure he will be back and on message before too long. I loved the picks but I have to point out that the back of TV shot is meant to show the connections for nerds such as myself to attach their devices. Also, that bottle opener is not the one I am used to on MSC ships so quite interesting.

 

The outside (OV) cabins on the Lirica class are the same size as the insides - an absolute minimum - unlike those on the Musica and Fantasia classes which give significantly more space. On the Armonia, I booked an inside exactly for this reason. The extra for a balcony (although it would have been what MSC call a suite as the Armonia does not have any regular balcony cabins) was more than the cost of Allegrissimo and choices had to be made. I could not see the point in paying extra just for a window when I was mostly going to use the cabin to sleep in.

 

Also yes, those cabins with fold-down bunks are best arranged as twins for the reasons you give. I wish there were a way of specifying this at the time of booking to avoid putting out the cabin attendant, having just made up the cabin as a double.

 

It is interesting that MSC has introduced pictorial quizzes. Thanks for the notice of likely subjects!

 

I am looking for a repo in around a years time and now I know MSC UK's new policy is only to drop rates and supplements (and add flights) near departure date, I know to hang on. An East Coast route would be particularly appealing.

 

Thanks again.

This is the itinerary for Sinfonia's Repo next year

Leaving Genoa on 25th Oct 2015 for a 25 night cruise

Day

1 Genoa

2 At sea

3 Katacolon

4 At sea

5 Port said

6 Port said/Suez canal

7 Suez canal

8 Safaga

9 Aquaba

10 - 16 At sea

17 Seychelles

18 - 19 At sea

20 Mauritius(overnight stop)

21 Mauritius

22 Reunion

23 - 25 At sea

26 Durban

Pete

[Skier52]

Loved reading your review.i really well written and constructed. Little Bedford seems to have had fun too!

 

I did a similar. Oy age on the Sinfonia, only we started in Livorno. Sounds like the entertainment was the same (apart from the quiz wing pictorial). Actually met a solo,passenger who was doing the cruise because of the Opera/ classical shows. They were extremely popular on our cruise.

Bedford Bear is a marketting tool for a TA in the UK

 

At the moment if you take Bedford on a holiday, get some photos of where he has been and write a review, they give you a free Kindle or a voucher to use against a holiday booking with thm.

 

Bedfgord wrote his review and I now have a kindle , just in time for my cruise next week on Sinfonia.

 

Here is a link which contains a link to Bedford's review (essentialy a shorter version of the one you have read)

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=230&t=9211

 

and here is a link to all of Bedford's photo's

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=321&pid=13298#top_display_media

 

He's very popular with members of the cruising forum I help modrate

 

 

 

Pete

[Skier52]

Pete,

 

Many thanks for that review. I would have joined you had I not already made alternative plans - i.e. if MSC had offered the cruise without solo supplement in the first place.

 

Re. Cruisetrail, he appears to have periods of 'incarceration'. I am sure he will be back and on message before too long. I loved the picks but I have to point out that the back of TV shot is meant to show the connections for nerds such as myself to attach their devices. Also, that bottle opener is not the one I am used to on MSC ships so quite interesting.

 

The outside (OV) cabins on the Lirica class are the same size as the insides - an absolute minimum - unlike those on the Musica and Fantasia classes which give significantly more space. On the Armonia, I booked an inside exactly for this reason. The extra for a balcony (although it would have been what MSC call a suite as the Armonia does not have any regular balcony cabins) was more than the cost of Allegrissimo and choices had to be made. I could not see the point in paying extra just for a window when I was mostly going to use the cabin to sleep in.

 

Also yes, those cabins with fold-down bunks are best arranged as twins for the reasons you give. I wish there were a way of specifying this at the time of booking to avoid putting out the cabin attendant, having just made up the cabin as a double.

 

It is interesting that MSC has introduced pictorial quizzes. Thanks for the notice of likely subjects!

 

I am looking for a repo in around a years time and now I know MSC UK's new policy is only to drop rates and supplements (and add flights) near departure date, I know to hang on. An East Coast route would be particularly appealing.

 

Thanks again.

The TV is so ancient (not quite in the black and white era) and of the CRT design that I don't think it has any connections on the back for other devices :D:D:D

 

 

THe TV

 

 

 

 

Pete

[Skipper Tim]

This is the itinerary for Sinfonia's Repo next year

Leaving Genoa on 25th Oct 2015 for a 25 night cruise

Day

1 Genoa

2 At sea

3 Katacolon

4 At seah

5 Port said

6 Port said/Suez canal

7 Suez canal

8 Safaga

9 Aquaba

10 - 16 At sea

17 Seychelles

18 - 19 At sea

20 Mauritius(overnight stop)

21 Mauritius

22 Reunion

23 - 25 At sea

26 Durban

Pete

 

That is now in my diary. Don't tell anyone else :).

[AmoMondo]

Bedford Bear is a marketting tool for a TA in the UK

 

At the moment if you take Bedford on a holiday, get some photos of where he has been and write a review, they give you a free Kindle or a voucher to use against a holiday booking with thm.

 

Bedfgord wrote his review and I now have a kindle , just in time for my cruise next week on Sinfonia.

 

Here is a link which contains a link to Bedford's review (essentialy a shorter version of the one you have read)

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=230&t=9211

 

and here is a link to all of Bedford's photo's

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=321&pid=13298#top_display_media

 

He's very popular with members of the cruising forum I help modrate

 

 

 

Pete

 

Loved the photos - he seems a very popular bear with the Opera crew as well!

[sidari]

Hi Pete ... Finally found time to read the review of your trip, once again a fascinating read as were the previous ones.

 

Zak was part of the Animation team on our Divina TA and was a good laugh and always had time for a chat whenever he could.

 

With our Venice to Dubai trip just a few days away it would be good to see some of the people like Zak on this trip ... :D

 

Tim ... The prices for cruise only for the cruise above are still the same despite there being a number of cabins available at this late stage.

Edited November 21, 2014 by sidari

[travelberlin]

Thanks a lot for the comprehensive review! I am glad you have got your black card discount although the cruise was discounted. MSC has refused twice to give the gold member discount n cruises who were "on sale".

[Skier52]

Loved the photos - he seems a very popular bear with the Opera crew as well!

The crew loved him and if ever i left him in the cabin they were quick to ask where he was and if he was OK.

Although one waiter obviously didn't know the word 'bear' and asked "where is your dolly?", My wife nearly wet herself laughing on that occasion.

 

 

Bedford is off on his next cruise with us on thursday. MSC Sinfonia, Genoa to Istanul for 11 nights.

 

Pete

[Skier52]

Thanks a lot for the comprehensive review! I am glad you have got your black card discount although the cruise was discounted. MSC has refused twice to give the gold member discount n cruises who were "on sale".

That's interesting, I've never been refused the discount, (at all levels of membeship from classic to black), on any of the 12 MSC cruises since i've been a member and all of them have already been discounted or on "sale" as you call it.

 

Perhaps you should ask to talk to a supervisor when you get told NO and ask them why.

 

 

I've found the sales staff are not always the best at dealing with problems when booking cruises.

 

Pete

Edited November 23, 2014 by Skier52

[travelberlin]

That's interesting, I've never been refused the discount, (at all levels of membeship from classic to black), on any of the 12 MSC cruises since i've been a member and all of them have already been discounted or on "sale" as you call it.

 

Perhaps you should ask to talk to a supervisor when you get told NO and ask them why.

 

 

I've found the sales staff are not always the best at dealing with problems when booking cruises.

 

Pete

 

Both cruises were booked through travel agents. In both cases I have insisted through the travel agents. Answer from MSC in both cases was NO, because of special prices. Nothing to do despite my efforts.:(

Edited November 23, 2014 by travelberlin

[Skipper Tim]

Both cruises were booked through travel agents. In both cases I have insisted through the travel agents. Answer from MSC in both cases was NO, because of special prices. Nothing to do despite my efforts.:(

 

MSC may be more reluctant to give the Club discount when they also have to pay travel agents' commission. Or they may even suggest to the agent that they bear part of the discount - hence the agent's response to you, "no".

 

I have always found using TA's problematic. From things like this - obtaining the correct discount -, getting past guest no.s and special requests passed on, booking extras, taking advantage of advertised promotions etc. the extra layer of red tape, not specialised to the particular cruise line really does not help. Having to deal with MSC is bad enough already. To put a junior paper-pusher between me and MSC is guranteed to have unintended consequences.

 

I once responded to a TA's ad for a cruise with Royal Caribbean and obtained a quote. When I checked RC's website, there was an extra discount so I tried to book direct. The line had my name on record as having already enquired via that TA and therefore the extra discount did not apply! Had I booked 'direct' that TA would have still got their commission. I booked under my travelling companion's name and I have never used a TA since. Be very wary of TA's! Just talking to them can raise the fare and probably make it less likely to obtain the full discounts to which you are entitled.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Skipper Tim