Celebrity Vs MSC out of Abu Dhabi

[RichKath]

The status match is good. However, the food spoilt it for us. There were other issues but we could have lived with those. Pity because the itineraries and prices are good. I suppose you get what you pay for.

[villauk]

Was the docking pier close to the city in Cochin? I'm sure it's the same scenario for us next year on Christmas Day (port day), but I think we'd prefer to head out a little later in the morning and just explore the city independently.

 

Btw, thanks for continuing to post your photographs :).

[Solon]

Like you, several years ago, we tried MSC just to give them a try.

 

Couldn't agree more with your comments. We did find the staff very friendly though and very open about how awful the food is on MSC! Apparently, they get a lot of complaints.

 

The only exception though is the pizza as one other on this thread mentioned. If all you eat is pizza on a cruise, then you should enjoy MSC.

 

We will never try them again however, and still very much enjoy X.

[RichKath]

villauk:

not sure it is easy to leave the port. See next photos

[RichKath]

Next disappointment: we were expecting a tranquil ride through the backwaters but it turned out to be very busy.

 

 

 

We were better off than being on a local boat.

 

 

 

 

[RichKath]

Some more backwaters photos.

 

 

 

Quite an expensive trip, but it probably saved us from staying on a houseboat in the future. We did enjoy the day though.

 

 

Port of Cochin.

[RichKath]

Our next stop, on Boxing Day, was New Mangalore. We felt we needed to do an excursion but didn't have very high hopes for this one. We weren't disappointed!

 

First stop was a cashew nut factory.

 

 

Cashew nuts grow outside the fruit.

 

 

The workers had to protect their hands with oil against the corrosive nature of the nuts.

 

We did get a sample bag of nuts which were good.

 

 

Then we visited the Kadri Marjunayh Temple that was interesting.

 

 

 

 

Then on to St Aloysius Church and Gokamath Temple, above. Really one temple would have been enough, especially as the second involved walking up a concrete road being cured with wet straw. We got our shoes and legs filthy.

[jjh9]

What camera did you use. Great photos.

[RichKath]

Just a compact camera - Panasonic TZ70 & DW's Fuji V10.

Edited January 30, 2017 by RichKath
Camera added.

[comcox]

We are booked on the 2017 holiday cruise so getting these details about the tours is great. We want to do the Kerala cruise, but knowing the ship puts the whole group on one large boat is disappointing news as the photo on the shore ex website looks different. I did a boat tour when on a Swan Hellenic cruise a few year ago but we were on one of the motorized boats then and a small group at that.

[RichKath]

Our next stop was Goa and we opted for A Day At Cansualim Beach. We didn't think it was the best beach we'd ever been on, but had a nice day.

 

 

 

 

Surprisingly, considering the cost of the excursion, sun-beds were not provided on the beach. However, they only cost $5 for beds, umbrella, table and chairs. Above is the beach bar we were sat at, not where we had lunch.

 

 

This where we had the lunch provided on the excursion. The food was quite good. The only sour note was we went to sit at a table with two men and they said the chairs were occupied. A couple at the other end of the table said there was room opposite them, which is where we sat. Thing is, no-one joined the men up to them leaving. They were sat on two chairs with bags on another two and two empty.

 

 

 

Probably a bit expensive for what it was. No doubt there are cheaper ways of getting to a beach.

[RichKath]

The next stop was Mumbai where we took the Shades of Mumbai excursion. We picked this mainly for lunch at the Taj Mahal Hotel that was subject of a British TV series.

 

 

First we went to Khotachiwadi, a Portuguese village where we visited a designers house. We thought the time could have been better spent as it was the only morning stop. We were whisked around Mumbai without any photo stops.

 

 

 

 

 

This is The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel where we thought we would be having lunch. Unfortunately the venue was changed.

 

 

The Gateway of India.

[RichKath]

For our lunch we went to the Oberoi Hotel and although we were disappointed not to be going to the Taj Mahal Hotel this alternative was fine. It is the top rated hotel in Mumbai on TripAdvisor.

 

 

 

 

 

View from the hotel.

 

 

After a good lunch we set off for the railway station.

 

[RichKath]

After lunch we went to Church Gate station to catch a train to see the laundry.

 

 

 

 

We then walked to see Mahalakshji Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai's laundry.

 

 

 

 

Next was Mani Bhawan, the Ghandi museum that was formerly his Mumbai base.

[RichKath]

Last stop in Mumbai was at Crawford Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did spend quite a time here. Like with the first stop I think this could have been shortened and some photo stops around Mumbai added.

 

 

The end of our day in Mumbai. As mentioned, we were attracted to this excursion by lunch at the Taj Mahal Hotel (we booked on a previous cruise so got 10% off). We wouldn't have booked it otherwise. That said it was probably the best excursion we did in India.

 

Next stop Dubai.

[villauk]

Still following. Thanks for all your added comments, it helps us immensely :).

[RichKath]

Any questions and I'd be happy to help

[RichKath]

We arrived in Dubai on New Year's Eve. After a poor Christmas on board NYE was good. We dined early (lobster) to get a good seat in the Sunset Bar and were entertained by Joe & Liv until the New Year.

 

 

Docked in Dubai near the QE2 with the Burj Khalifa in the distance.

 

 

We could see the fireworks at midnight but were a little far away to fully appreciate them.

 

 

 

On New Year's Day we went on a tour of Dubai - Wonders of Dubai with a Visit to the Top. The top being that or the Burj Khalifa.

 

 

[RichKath]

Next we went up the Burj Ak Khalifa.

 

 

Remains of NYE fireworks. Must have been a job getting then up there.

 

 

 

 

That's the Dubai Mall below.

 

 

 

You can just about see Connie to the left of the QE2 and an RCL ship to the right.

[RichKath]

We disembarked in Abu Dhabi and spent a week there before going on an MSC cruise.

 

 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, named after the founder of the UAE and also his final resting place. It is the third largest mosque in the world and the largest outside of Saudi Arabia. It also contains the world's largest carpet and chandelier.

 

 

 

 

 

[villauk]

Any questions and I'd be happy to help

 

When you embarked, what time was the all aboard on the second (sailing) day from Abu Dhabi? Even though we didn't sail until 5pm from Hong Kong on our Christmas Millie cruise, we all had to be back onboard by 1pm. Just wondered if we would have any time to explore on that second day?

[RichKath]

We didn't get off in Abu Dhabi because we were going back to stay for a week. All aboard in Celebrity Today was 10:30am, because there was a lifeboat drill at 11, but they did another at 1pm.

 

Don't forget you will need visas for India. Too soon to do it yet.

[villauk]

We didn't get off in Abu Dhabi because we were going back to stay for a week. All aboard in Celebrity Today was 10:30am, because there was a lifeboat drill at 11, but they did another at 1pm.

 

Don't forget you will need visas for India. Too soon to do it yet.

 

Thanks you :). I was hoping the new Tourist Visas for India would be sorted by the time we visit. Allegedly, they are supposed to be adding (approximately) 6 cruise ports to the list of the current airports for arrivals into India. It's not a multi-entry visa, however I'm unsure if we would need that if we are still in Indian waters between each city. The Indian authorities have given the go-ahead, but it's still unclear if it's been adopted at the ports' immigration yet?

[RichKath]

I understood that you did need a multi entry visa. That's what we got. The application isn't too difficult with a bit of guidance. We did it ourselves by post.

[villauk]

I understood that you did need a multi entry visa. That's what we got. The application isn't too difficult with a bit of guidance. We did it ourselves by post.

 

Yes, prior to last month, you had to apply for the multi-entry visa. It's a new initiative from the Indian Government, but it's only just being implemented so may not be fully in place by the time we visit. If not, we'll have to apply like you did. Did you go through an agency or complete directly by post?