As Promised MSC OPERA 2/18-2/25 Review Part 2

[joedebnh]

You have all seen reviews that indicate good entertainment and a good cruise activity group called Animation. Animation is their European name, here in NA they were just called the Entertainment Group. They are not good. THEY ARE GREAT. Evening entertainment is excellent, both in the lounges and in the main theater. The Animation group seems to be working 24 hours a day. I have never seen such passenger participation and it can be directly contributed to this group. Their multi-lingual capabilities are astounding. At one dance lesson I observed (didn't participate) the Animation leader was explaining the steps in 5 different languages, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and just a little bit of German. That will also give you a flavor for the passenger mix. Very few announcements but always multi-lingual. It was hard to estimate the mix but it might have been 50 % North America and 50% other if you include Puerto Rico. One thing that we did not experience was any rude group of passengers. Everyone we met or saw were there to have a good time. Very little rudeness in lines and few people with vocal complaints.

 

There is a cruise director, Franco, however he does not seem to participate in very many passenger activities. Other than the initial ship introduction in the theater, the only time we saw him was at quick and sometimes hokey introductions of the evening show and then he disappeared. During the introduction to the ship he seemed like he didn't even know the ship very well and had to be constantly prompted by other cruise personnel to remind him to mention a ship's area or activity. Maybe his major tasks are administrative.

 

The unusual evening stop at San Juan is also geared for discharging and embarking quite a few passengers. We wish we knew they did that. We may have opted to start and end our cruise in PR rather that Florida. We had been to San Juan many times and elected to leave the ship for an hour or so to use the Internet Cafe that is across from the pier and to have a margarita at Senor Frogs. The Internet Cafe is about 1/10th the cost of Internet access on the ship. Access on the ship is prohibitively expensive and I heard that it was very, very slow.

 

The Breakfast buffet was very disappointing. There is definitely a European emphasis in the buffet. Salads, cold meats and cheeses, hard boiled eggs and hot dogs. The scrambled eggs were probably powdered but I only tried a couple of mouthfuls, The breads, rolls, and croissants were excellent but other than melon and baked apples, most of the fruits ere canned. They need to find someone who can cook bacon. It was either under or over cooked usually in the same pan. The sausages were typical precooked and heat, like you would find in the frozen food section of a grocery. There is an egg, pancake, and omelet station where the burgers and hot dogs are available during the day but it tends to have lines and limited ingredients for the omelets. There was never waffles or French toast available. We did not have breakfast in the dinning room but I believe it would be much better that the buffet. I usually went up and brought back a plate of croissants and melon to our cabin and sit on the balcony. We always travel with our own coffee maker and coffee so we did not have ship coffee in the morning nor did we ever need room service except for more ice. They were always amazingly fast in response to that request usually every afternoon.

 

The luncheon buffet was also disappointing to us although we saw many, many people with heaping platefuls every day. Lots of salads, some of them strange. Usually 3 or 4 hot choices like a pasta dish, meat dish that looked a lot like one of the dinner entrees, and some type of fish. Always a carving station, beef, turkey, veal, and one day sucking pig, head and all.

 

Again, we did not use the dining room for lunch. We usually opted for a green salad and some of the great pizza and pasta. My wife and I did not like the hamburgers. Some type of spice we could not determine. The hot dogs were good but no sauerkraut or chili.

 

The grill and pizza stations are open all afternoon until just before dinner.

 

There is a dinner buffet for those that do not want to use the dining room. We looked at it one evening and it appeared that many of the items on the dining room menu were also at the buffet.

 

In general we were pleased with the quality of the dinners. They were comparable in quality and taste to latest Celebrity and Princess, (none of them are as good as they were 5 to 10 years ago) but not as many choices. The service from our waiter and his assistant was excellent. He had good recommendation of food selection, too bad he didn't know anything about wines. It was very unusual to have to refill our own wine glasses. Last Celebrity cruise I had my hand slapped for reaching for the bottle to refill my wife's glass.

 

As I said we had late seating usually in the dining room from 8:15 to 10:15, just in time for the late show in the theater. The shows were very good. The only one that we decided to leave was a classical show that included a very good pianist, violin, soprano, and tenor. Heard they were excellent but it is not our cup of tea. Other night5s included a decent magician and illusionist. It is hard to have great illusions on ship's stage but he did pretty good. Some great gymnasts and dancer for the variety shows.

 

The lounge groups were pretty good. The piano bar is usually our favorite spot but this one used a synthesizer as well as the piano and it was too loud for easy conversation. We found the bartenders and drink servers very aloof. Never very friendly, never much for conversation, except among themselves. To say they don't push drinks is an understatement. Usually you had to solicit their service and some times interrupt their private conversations. We like a good martini bar but the choices at the La Cabala that serves as the martini bar on Opera left a lot to be desired. We were very disappointed that we were unable to satisfy our once a cruise extravagance of caviar. It is not offered at any price on the Opera.

 

You probably have read that the lounge chairs at the pool area are a little different. They do not have a lot of choice in the angle of the chair but they do have a built in sun screen if desired. We never had a big problem finding a chair at any time. There are still an awful lot of chair hogs all day long but there are always more chairs stacked in the corners of the deck and an attendant will get them for you and help move them to a space of your choice.

 

The pool activities run by the Animation group are great and surprising not too noisy at any time. In fact if you go to the opposite end of the pol area you can barely hear want is going on. I have never seen a group draw as much passenger participation as this group. As I said they are great.

 

One hint, bring a 16 Oz. cold drink container and some Crystal-lite individual lemonade or iced tea portions. Every time we went to the pool we filled the container with ice and water and made our own drinks. Nothing is available during the day and the juice cups in the morning are extra small.

 

We did not use the Spa services at all so can't comment on them. The ships shopping is very limited. It almost seemed drab compared to other ship shopping areas. Incidentally the Art Auctions are there, but not very obtrusive, many people went there just for a free glass of champagne. Inch of Gold was only on deck the last day of the cruise and took up about 10 feet of deck space. These items are really not an issue on the Opera and have not created a negative situation.

 

The casino is small and not very busy. It is open a lot less often than most other cruises we have recently been on. For example it is usually always closed between 6:30 and 8:30. This is when I usually would go there while my wife is getting ready for dinner but not on this cruise.

 

The ship itinerary could use a little change and/or explanation. We arrived in San Juan around 4 and I really think they go there for loading and unloading passengers and it is incidental to the itinerary. We did not participate in any activity related to San Juan so we can't comment on any excursions.

 

We have been to St. Martin many times. We elected to just walk around the town for an hour or so, buy some t-shirts and went back to the ship for lunch and the pool. From everything I heard, it is just as easy to get you own cab if you are going to the beach and it is a lot cheaper. I don't understand why they leave St. Martin so early. It seemed to us they could stay a couple of hours longer with out impacting the rest of the itinerary. There were 4 other ships when we got there and they were all still there when we left.

 

Our next visit was La Romana. We decided not to use any ship excursions. We took the shuttle service that provided transportation to either the Casa De Campo Marina or Altos De Chavon or both for $6 person. We thoroughly enjoyed walking around the Marina for an hour or so. The yachts in the Marina are overwhelming. There were a few multi-million examples that must cost a million or so per year to maintain.

 

We then got back on the shuttle to Altos. This again was an enjoyable walk for an hour. Great Chapel and views of the river and golf courses. Back to the ship just in time for lunch and a few more hours at the pool.

 

The highlight of the trip was the beach at Cayo Levantado. We have been to a few cruise line private islands and none compare to the Cayo. Too bad the barbecue was not of the same quality. It was very disappointing. Overcooked burgers, chicken breast, and hot dogs. A couple of salads and a little fruit. The people who went on the whale watch saw many whales but also had a lot of very sea sick passengers. When we got back on the ship my wife went up to deck 12 and saw some whales passing right along side the ship.

 

General Conclusions

 

Food – Be a little adventurous. Just because a dinner item has a strange name don't dismiss it out of hand. Ask your waiter what it is like and if he recommends it or not. They don't want you unhappy but remember you can always ask for something else.

 

If you are a breakfast person either head to the dining room or plan on making the omelet station your last stop at the buffet.

 

Check out the lunch buffet but don't forget the pizza and pasta station.

 

Don't miss the entertainment. Check the Daily Program and follow the activities that are being run by the Animation Group and you can't go wrong day or night.

 

If you find the ship excursions expensive do some investigation here the boards and plan ahead. San Juan, St. Martin, and La Romana have choices that are safe and less expensive.

 

If you run into any problems tackle them head-on. Don't wait until it either can't be corrected or has prolonged your disappointment. An example would be that you were seated at dinner with someone who is not compatible. Don't wait, go to the Maitre D and he will solve that problem in a heartbeat.

 

Understand in advance that the cabins are small and may seem cramped to you. Unless you have a suite the rooms are essentially all the same.

 

We believe that most people felt they got their money's worth. A lot depends on expectations. This is not a 5 or 6 Star ship. It is value priced and you get what you pay for. It needs some changes if it is going to depend on the US marketplace.

 

Will we cruise MSC again? Not the Opera mainly because of cabin size and lack of food options such as alternative dining, even at extra cost.. We will reserve judgment until we can review the new ships on MSC's schedule.

[msbptg]

Joe+Deb. I was a little surprised to hear that you did not take advantage of the dining room at breakfast..the choices where way better than the buffet..and always made fresh to order..I made the mistake during the cruise (2/11-2/18) of trying the buffet one morning and found it dissapointing at best..why? You have to walk outside to order fresh eggs, than back inside to your table...I also had waffles that morning, and for the life of me could not find any syrup..come to find out..yes u guessed it..its outside..needless to say, I was not a happy camper..running all around just to find basic stuff while my food was geting cold.. ..From than on, we stuck with the dining room area.. I can not figure out why msc has this strange way of making eggs outside and than haveing you walk back inside to your table...all in all, the food all during our cruise was fine..its not celebrity..but will do

[bigmike7]

Yo-

 

Again - our 'Lirica' experiences last March were very similar to yours-

 

Thanks again for the very good and detailed review-

 

Mike

[penguinscott]

I was offered a 5-day cruise on Opera starting in San Juan on 2/20. As an airline employee, the price could not be beat and I did get my money's worth on my time on board the Opera.

 

When I got on board I explored the ship a bit, since this was my first cruise. I started with dinner at the buffet, since my bags had yet to be delivered to my room. I was not overly impressed. The fish was overcooked and the selection was minimal.

 

My first morning I went to the breakfast buffet. As a flight attendant, I have had many of such, this was simply typical. Nothing to be impressed with. The following mornings I went to the restaurant. Now that was impressive.

 

The waffles were about the best I've had, in fact, I don't typically like them. While not on the menu, I asked for and received eggs benedict. They were so good and buttery I had them each morning but the last, when they were not offered.

 

If I asked for crispy bacon, I got it. Others asked for limp, they got it.

 

The food at dinner was really good and the service was good as well. The portions were huge and I saw so much food going to waste. The lobster was sub-par and full of breading. Some of the appitizers were the best I've had.

 

The room was small but there were so many cubby spaces. I was afraid to use them for fear I'd forget to check them and leave items on board. I had an inside room and left the TV on continually on the ship's video feed from the wheelhouse. I was impressed that it was never turned off. I could count on my room being made up while I was eating breakfast.

 

My first day on board I discovered the fresh baked pizza. I never went to the restaurant or the buffet. It was pizza every day and one day they had a pasta station with really good pasta. The daily tea on deck 12 was nice with a good variety of sweets.

 

I was upset that I encountered more smokers than I expected. It was not entirely limited to the port side, but I was quite vocal about it before I left.

 

I did go to the wonderful art auctions for the free champagne, but wound up spending over $12,000 (yes, 3 zeros) on art! They were really good bargains. If you go, tell Michael King the Peter Max guy says hello!

 

I loved the entertainment and fell in love with many of the ladies, esp. the singer in the Summertime Trio. The circus acts were phenominal and I even enjoyed the dance routines. So many nice bodies to enjoy!

 

If you want to really get to know the staff and esp. the animation team, end your nights in the disco on deck 12. They all go there and dance and mingle, even the magician and dancers. It was really fun hanging out with them. I can't believe the animation team can stay up that late with all they do during the day!

 

I had a few hard times communicating with the staff on board, but usually it was eventually dealt with to pleasing ends. They were really good about the small stuff. Each evening the would turn on the 2 lamps in my room. I eventually asked that only 1 lamp be turned on and that was the way it was the remainder of my trip.

 

I never noticed going hungry for lack of eating times.

 

I saw lots of whales and even porporses.

 

I highly recommended to MSC that they expand their days in St. Maarten and the private island and shorten La Romana.

 

When we arrived in Florida, the disembarkation went so smoothly and quickly, it was too much so. My color group was called and left and I wound up leaving 3 color groups back and still went right to the curb and got a taxi to the airport in no time. It was like all the people ahead of me had been lost at sea! And there were 5 other ships in port as well.

 

Since I've not experienced other ships, I am eager to do, but I would not hasten to take advantage of another opportunity to sail on the Opera. I would also even recommend it to my friends and family. The staff, more than once, bent over backwards to accomodate me and never let me feel the slightest guilt in asking.

 

I hope this helps as it comes from another perspective as one of the first time cruisers. Enjoy your voyage!

 

Penguin