MSC Lirica

[allanna]

At last I have my tickets from MSC, we depart in 5 days from Crete for a 8 day cruise to Corfu,  Croatia,  Venice, Bali, Mykanos and return to Heraklion.

This is my first time on MSC, been with Costa, and Royal Caribbean so lets check the difference.

Have a balcony stateroom on deck 9, first time with a balcony could be interesting.

 

Driving down to the cruise port from our home ( about two hours away ) One night at a local hotel then embarkation 11am the next day.

Shall continue the blog

Allanna

 

 

 

 

 

[todd-r]

We are doing this same itinerary in April but round-trip from Venice.

Looking forward to your comments!

[allanna]

Just back home from our 7 night trip to the Eastern Med.

 

A little bit about ourselves, my wife and I live in Crete so it seemed easy for a quick cruise with MSC Lirica and a port intensive cruise to the Med.from Iraklion.

 

We drove down from Chania the day before and booked in to the Ibiss central hotel In Iraklion. 81 Euros for the night, including breakfast and secure parking .Large family room even though we were only a couple. Happy to recommend this hotel.

 

After a good breakfast we drove to the port ( 5 mins ) and parked next to the port entrance, 32 euros for 7 nights.

Passed through security with no problem, baggage scanned and we were ready to board the shuttle bus to the ship. ( 2 passengers on a 52 seater coach)

On arrival at the ship there was nobody to assist us with our luggage, as we both have mobility problems it was difficult to take our bags on board, eventually a porter arrived and helped us with our luggage to our balcony stateroom.9223. deck 9. without any security checks////  Our Muster drill was a receptionist showing us how to put on a lifejacket.

 There were only 24 passengers embarking at Iraklion so maybe our safety was not too important.

 

Our cabin was in between the new section that had been added and in the corridor you could see the join....

 

The cabin was big enough for two, large bed, plenty of storage, the safe is behind the mirror, and the balcony is enough for two but you would have trouble having a party.

 

Departed Iraklion heading for Corfu  more later

 

 

 

 

[allanna]

Ok we are leaving Iraklion  at 1400 hrs and expect to arrive in Corfu at 1300 hrs tomorrow. Time to explore the ship.

 

First thing to do is change our seating time for the MDR. From 2100 hrs to 1830. Easy change with the Maitre D . Cruise card changed and new one issued.

Many children on board ages from babies to toddlers. Seems a family oriented cruise. 

Evening meal in the MDR ( La Bussola ) very busy, our waiter Ebnu from Indonesia helped us find our table for the rest of the cruise and helped us with the menu.

Food was very good just small portions (we learnt later to order extra dishes )

The evening entertainment in the Broadway Theatre was mediocre at best so we left after 15 mins  to hit the sack.

 

Woke up early the next day and headed for breakfast at the Le Bistrot Cafeteria, Cafeteria is the right word, the food was dismal, after the good evening meal we expected better. Cold eggs ,cold toast ,cold mushrooms, plastic plates,,, what more can I say. Very small seating areas for the amount of passengers.

 

We decided to use the hop on hop off bus for a tour round Corfu. We hopped off at Kanoni to photograph the mouse island at the end of Corfu Airport runway. Amazing views.

The only problem with Corfu was the rubbish collectors were on strike and at every corner of any road there was a huge pile of stinking garbage. Spoilt the image of a nice island.

Back to the ship for evening meal.

 

Hoping for a good time tomorrow in Dubrovnik...(.total chaos ensued many complaining passengers.)

[allanna]

We were told via the Daily programme to collect our tender tickets between 6.30 am to 9.00 am and wait in the Broadway Theatre till our tender number was called. So we docked at 7.00am and the theatre was full with at least 500+ passengers waiting to disembark.

We arrived at 7.30 am for our tickets ( after a rushed breakfast ) and were told to come back in an hour or so when our tender would be waiting ( Yeah of course and we also saw pigs flying past }

As the last tender was due to leave Dubrovnik and back to the ship at 12.15 many passengers were becoming agitated and angry and all hell let loose. Many passengers returned their tickets back exasperated as to 

 why they had to wait for 2/3 hours and no tender ticket was called.

 

Eventually we were called at 1045 am and landed in Dubrovnic at 1100 am. Not much time to see anything considering the last tender back was 1 1/4 hrs later.

 

We returned to the tender embarkation area to see at least 500+ people waiting to board the last tender.Obviously something had gone seriously wrong.

MSC  ordered a large tender from another company to assist with the embarkation from Dubrovnik and we eventually boarded our ship at about 1400 hrs.

Departure from Dubrovnik was delayed by at least 3 hours.

 

At least we had a nice meal to look forward to in the MDR or did we??

 

 

 

[allanna]

So we arrived at the port of Venice at 8 am. First time visit and we were not disappointed (with the exception of a 15 min walk from the ship to the water bus/ taxis.) The water bus took us to St Marco square and even at this late time of year it was teaming with tourists. The high tide was just beginning and parts of the square were under water.

 

We arrived at a gondola stop and spoke with an Argentinian lady who was holidaying with her mother. We agreed to share a Gondola thus sharing the cost as well, 40 Euro`s each instead of 80 Euro`s just for the two of us.

 

After a good 1/2 hour tour of the water inlets we left the gondola near Marco Square again.

 

I needed a beer at this time so we stopped at a cafe behind the main square, 1 large beer and 1 small beer... 25 Euros wow.

 

After another 2 hours of walking and sightseeing we returned to the ship for a quick nap ready for the  evening meal.

 

The food was good again and our waiter as attentive as ever.

 

Casino time after the MDR for a quick flutter. (Only a small gaming area 2 roulette tables and 3 blackjack tables and maybe 20 + one armed bandits.)

 

So Bari tomorrow ( At least the weather has been kind to us )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[allanna]

So we arrived at Bari at 12.30 am, took the MSC coach to the city center, as we exited the coach we were inundated with touts trying to get us to join their excursions, tours, small train excursions.

 

We could not understand why we had arrived at the same time the shops closed for their siesta`s.

 

However we had a good time and found SOME shops open and good coffee shops.

Back to the ship in time for the evening meal at the MDR.

 

 

OK so we now have a full day at sea and we will arrive at Mykonos the day after at 7.30 am.

 

Just an easy day on board, weather nice and warm, some fun and games at the pool area.

 

Mykonos the next day.

 

 

 

 

[allanna]

Arrived Mykonos  7.30 am, why do we have to stay 12 hours on a small Island with very little to show for its self.

 

Ahh we now know why, they started to sand down and re-stain the pool bar. All closed off, no beers no drinks. This started at 7.30 am and continued till 1800 hrs.

Again MSC were charging us to get to the main port,, 6.90 Euros each return and come and go as many times as you wanted.

The shuttle boat was 4.00 euros each return.

Drinks were very expensive, 6 Euros for a 330 ml can of Mythos lager, but after searching on the front we found Mythos 500 ml for 4 euros. Needless to say we spent a while at this taverna.

Back to the ship for a quick nap and then ready for the evening meal at MDR. Again good food and good service.

 

Last night on the ship as we disenbark tomorrow at Iraklion and back home with a 2 hour drive.

 

 

 

 

[allanna]

General feelings about Lirica.

 

Pro.

 Very clean ship

Enough staff to help us

Cabin was big enough for two.

MDR  Good food but more needed, service was very good.

Great ship for children and their clubs,

 

 

Con

Breakfast food was disgusting, If I were the chef I would be wanting to jump ship.

Food again during the day was below par,

Evening entertainment was amateurist

Too many dance classes at the pool.

Tender at Dubrovnic was a shambles

 

[allanna]

Would I sail again with MSC.........No Way