spamwhiches Posted February 28, 2019 #176 Share Posted February 28, 2019 My experience is limited to the Armonia sailing at the end of January so YMMV. I'm sure someone with more sailings or intimate knowledge may be along to answer soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCTribeFan Posted March 1, 2019 #177 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Thanks so much for posting the Dailies! I've been doing some reading on the Cuba board and trying to make decisions on what to do in the ports and I'm in my usual state of "Paralyzed with Indecision." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 1, 2019 Author #178 Share Posted March 1, 2019 On 2/20/2019 at 12:03 PM, Dear_Maria said: Thank you Beamafar for such a amazing review! I loved it! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this review and share your pictures. I am off on the Armonia in 12 days time, and I feel really prepared. Again thanks 🙂 Bon Voyage, Maria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 1, 2019 Author #179 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Did they have afternoon tea? Any spa specials? Trying to decide if I should book before or wait.. Did they do a big buffet with chocolate sculptures and ice sculptures? They don't do formal Afternoon Tea (only in Yacht Club on other ships). However, they have a small selection of sandwiches and pastries in the buffet - the times varied between 3.30pm-5pm and 4pm-5pm. No big buffet with chocolate or ice sculptures either. The only time I've experienced MSC doing that was at Christmas. There were different Spa specials each day, except Monday and Tuesday's were the same. Here they are from Tues to Sunday Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 1, 2019 Author #180 Share Posted March 1, 2019 I thought people might also like to see the end of cruise offers. This may influence your decision about purchasing any of these items beforehand.Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 1, 2019 Author #181 Share Posted March 1, 2019 16 hours ago, sailawaybellaluna said: Thanks for this review! It was wonderful! My husband and I are currently considering booking the Armonia for April, 2020, along with our two children. We really would love to visit Cuba, and this seems like a great option for our entire family! We cruise frequently, but have never done so with MSC, so I appreciate the information. We aren't really mega-ship people (nor are we crazy party people), so I think we may enjoy MSC! I had reservations about our first time on Armonia's sister ship due to its size. However, there is an intimacy on small ships that's lacking on the bigger ones - it's a nice change (for us, anyway, as we usually sail on the bigger ones). We chose this itinerary for Cuba, too. Afterward, we felt that an overnight was enough for us in Havana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 1, 2019 Author #182 Share Posted March 1, 2019 (edited) 47 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said: Thanks so much for posting the Dailies! I've been doing some reading on the Cuba board and trying to make decisions on what to do in the ports and I'm in my usual state of "Paralyzed with Indecision." I know that feeling! I would recommend to anyone to do the Hop-on Hop-off in Havana on the first day to get a 'feel' for the place. Then you'd have an idea of where you want to explore more of on the second day. Just download a map beforehand as they don't have any on the bus. Edited March 1, 2019 by Beamafar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 1, 2019 Author #183 Share Posted March 1, 2019 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Beamafar said: Double post! Edited March 1, 2019 by Beamafar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nashna Posted March 1, 2019 #184 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Bea, Thank you so much for your excellent report. You have been so helpful answering questions and were instrumental in our booking MSC Divina for next January. Cuba is definitely on our list of ports to visit in 2021. As an American, it has always bothered me that our Country imposed travel restrictions. I hope, by 2021, our Government will have changed and we are allowed to visit without the pretense of restrictions. Thank you for the all the menus and photos. That strip steak looked so delicious that I am serving one for dinner. Although...it just isn't the same if one has to cook it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AerynSun_JohnCrighton Posted March 1, 2019 #185 Share Posted March 1, 2019 7 hours ago, Beamafar said: They don't do formal Afternoon Tea (only in Yacht Club on other ships). However, they have a small selection of sandwiches and pastries in the buffet - the times varied between 3.30pm-5pm and 4pm-5pm. No big buffet with chocolate or ice sculptures either. The only time I've experienced MSC doing that was at Christmas. There were different Spa specials each day, except Monday and Tuesday's were the same. Here they are from Tues to Sunday Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Thanks, I shall chew on this information and decide what to pre book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 1, 2019 Author #186 Share Posted March 1, 2019 (edited) Nashna ... Goodness, thank you! ... hope that your Divina cruise is a wonderful experience. Believe me, the strip steak was really good and I was sorry I hadn't chosen it more often. But, usually, the "always available" (as it's labelled on Med cruises) isn't very good, so I had (wrongly) assumed the same thing in this instance. I will elaborate to say that this was my first US-based MSC cruise experience (I've probably indicated that already 🙄). Those on here who are familiar with me know that I'm no MSC cheerleader. Having said that, I do enjoy the MSC experience. For me, the biggest factor is the international demograph onboard. We've met so many people from other countries (especially European), some of whom we keep in touch with. We will be cruising in August with a couple from Norway who we met on Meraviglia a couple of years ago. Edited March 1, 2019 by Beamafar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caymus88 Posted March 4, 2019 #187 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Hi Beamafar. I’m considering a cruise on Armonia, but have a few questions. 1. Are the beds in the cabins king Sized? I noticed some were listed as doubles. 2. In the Y C area is there any smoking at all that would be considered inside? Allergic. 3. Are the entertainments ie movies, shows, trivia in English? TV programs? Thank you for your amazing review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 4, 2019 Author #188 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Hi Caymus ... thank you for your kind comment. 1. The bed is actually 2 singles pushed together so I would class it as kingsize. 2. There is no YC on Armonia. The only smoking areas inside were in the smoking lounge beside the English pub and on one side of the casino. If you avoid these areas, you'll be fine. 3. They had movies in the Business Centre which, I believe, were in English. Though as we didn't go, I can't say for definite. But they were well-known American ones. (They should be listed in the daily activities' pages that I've posted). I heard Trivia questions being posed in English. I don't bother with the TV as the English stations are usually only news ones. Hope these answers help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caymus88 Posted March 4, 2019 #189 Share Posted March 4, 2019 5 minutes ago, Beamafar said: Hi Caymus ... thank you for your kind comment. 1. The bed is actually 2 singles pushed together so I would class it as kingsize. 2. There is no YC on Armonia. The only smoking areas inside were in the smoking lounge beside the English pub and on one side of the casino. If you avoid these areas, you'll be fine. 3. They had movies in the Business Centre which, I believe, were in English. Though as we didn't go, I can't say for definite. But they were well-known American ones. (They should be listed in the daily activities' pages that I've posted). I heard Trivia questions being posed in English. I don't bother with the TV as the English stations are usually only news ones. Hope these answers help. Thank you. Very helpful 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bollinge Posted March 8, 2019 #190 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Thank you Beamafar. I have read through your comprehensive report, but I wonder what is the freebie Black Card Voyagers’ Club meal, bearing in mind there is no speciality restaurant? And do we get one freebie per week on a 14 night back-to - back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 8, 2019 Author #191 Share Posted March 8, 2019 You're welcome. MSC introduced a Speciality Restaurant onboard Armonia for her Miami season; it's called Surf n' Turf. There is only the one menu and Black Card members can enjoy a 3 course meal there. If you're B2B you will get to have 2 meals there. The menu is in post #89 directly beneath the photo of the MDR menu for that night (sorry - I've tried to copy and paste it here but it won't upload. Also, it's a bit blurry - the seas were rough on the night in question. I've discussed what we had and posted photos from post #90) https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2631573-notes-from-armonia-miami-havana-jan-2019/?page=4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwegian Cruiser 73 Posted March 8, 2019 #192 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Bea, you mentioned the "the always available menu", the beef paillard comes into my mind 😂 Haven't seen the paillard on the menus lately though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 8, 2019 Author #193 Share Posted March 8, 2019 25 minutes ago, Norwegian Cruiser 73 said: Bea, you mentioned the "the always available menu", the beef paillard comes into my mind 😂 Haven't seen the paillard on the menus lately though. Yeah ... I've commented on that before. Even the salmon was gone from the menu on our last few cruises - steamed fish and grilled chicken were the only 'Always Available' options. On Armonia, they had NY strip steak on the 'Classic favourites' which was what the Med's 'Always available' is known as. I had it on the last night - it was really good - nothing like the beef paillard that you could sole your shoe with! I'd always got the impression that the food offerings on US-based ships were up a notch from Med cruises; that was certainly our experience on Armonia. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyt Posted March 12, 2019 #194 Share Posted March 12, 2019 Thank you for your review! It was very informative. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to our trip in May. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tch912 Posted March 12, 2019 #195 Share Posted March 12, 2019 I'm late getting to this post, considering I'm looking at this cruise for New Year. I am enjoying the trip report along with the pictures. I'm sorry you missed Montego Bay because this is my favorite place in Jamaica. Thanks again for your detailed report. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Europe Cruiser 05 Posted March 15, 2019 #196 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Hi Beamafar. This is my first post on CC and first cruise with MSC. I, as many others have stated, really appreciate your very thorough review and your open approach for any and all questions. We will be doing this cruise later this year and I wondered if they offered any photo specials? I'm trying to decide if I should book before or wait. Thanks in advance. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 15, 2019 Author #197 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Hi Europe Cruiser ... I'm afraid I can't answer you - sorry. We don't purchase photos on the ship, so we don't look at, or for, the specials. I've checked back through the 'Daily Special' leaflets that accompany the daily programmes and the only mention of the specials is "Ask for our special offers"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AerynSun_JohnCrighton Posted March 17, 2019 #198 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Beamafar, we just upgraded from balcony to suite ( I know it's not a true suite) a s2 since prices went down... what's the difference on this ship besides more room? Is there a particular restaurant we will be assigned separate from the others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted March 17, 2019 Author #199 Share Posted March 17, 2019 23 minutes ago, AerynSun_JohnCrighton said: Beamafar, we just upgraded from balcony to suite ( I know it's not a true suite) a s2 since prices went down... what's the difference on this ship besides more room? Is there a particular restaurant we will be assigned separate from the others? Yes ... on this class of ship, Fantastica suite guests can enjoy MyChoice dining along with Aurea Suite guests. The MyChoice restaurant is La Pergola, on deck 6. You can also have breakfast and lunch here (check the daily programs as it's closed for lunch on some port days. It's also closed on disembarkation day). While the menus will be the same as in the other MDR, the service is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyt Posted March 17, 2019 #200 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Not trying to hijack or anything but I was thinking about trying this myself. What did you do to upgrade just call them and ask if they have anything? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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