HeinBloed-Blog from MSC WORLD EUROPA/QUEEN ELIZABETH - October 2023 - Western Mediterranean

[HeinBloed]

 

 

The HeinBloed blog now starts here with the MSC part.

 

The second part of the trip takes place on the MSC WORLD EUROPA. Our journey starts in Barcelona, Spain, the end of our trip on QUEEN ELIZABETH.

But there is a logistical problem: the journey with the MSC WORLD EUROPA ends in Genoa, Italy. But we have enough time to reposition the car and finally have the opportunity to discover the coast's beauty between the ports.

 

Our route takes us to Genoa via Antibes, France, and Nice, France. Because the SEADREAM II happens to be in Nice, we know where we will dock next September with the AZAMARA QUEST, which we will also see later in Monte Carlo.

 

In the evening, we will have a great experience of Ligurian cuisine: the Rosmarino is fantastic — especially the pasta with pesto Genovese.

 

If you would like to read the first part of the journey:

 

In Blogger, it starts in the Cunard blog: https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

At Cruisecritic, it starts in the Cunard section: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2976327-heinbloed-blog-from-queen-elizabethmsc-world-europa-october-2023-western-mediterranean/

 

For Romeo, scroll up to the beginning of the posting.

 

https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-msc.html

 

[HeinBloed]

 

 

 

In the morning, I want to go on the ferry to photograph the BRILLIANT LADY, but it's not running due to "bad" weather.

 

This is how we see Genoa waking up. After breakfast, we park our car in the Ponte dei Mille garage - so positioned correctly to drive off immediately.

 

We take a taxi to the airport. The flight to Barcelona is a lot cheaper than the train journey.

 

There, we returned to the same beautiful hotel as a few days ago, and in the evening, we returned to the Casa de Tapas Canota. We don't want to eat tapas this time because they have so many other things on display that we want to try out.

 

https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0b-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-msc.html

 

[HeinBloed]

 

 

 

We went back to the harbor early in the morning to take photos. Once again, I am allowed into the non-public part upon presentation of my shipping company ID card.

Here it comes: so beautifully illuminated: MSC WORLD EUROPA. Also in the harbor are the former MEIN SCHIFF 2/HERZ: MARELLA VOYAGER and AIDAcosma.

After breakfast, Eva picked us up and took us reliably back to the port.

It only takes a few minutes for us to get on board. The ship is quite impressive. A little too big. But with lots of oases that we can make good use of because we don't have a drinks package.

We are booking another trip on board the MSC ARMONIA for 2025; then, we will know all MSC ship classes. We are also curious about how things work in Venice-Marghera.

In the evening, we have a great dinner at La Pescaderia. We enjoy fresh fish from the display and the excellent service from Ayoub and Tawiba.

We are surprised by the modern shows in the Panorama Lounge. We always remember "one-size-fits-all" events. But that was great.

 

https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-1-auf-der-msc-world-europa-in.html

 

[HeinBloed]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 takes us to Marseille, France. So much happened that day that I had to divide the second day into two chapters.

 

We already know Marseille, so we limit ourselves to a research walk to the bus stops and prefer to enjoy the options on board.

 

We experience new offers: breakfast and tea time in the Raj Polo tea room with excellent service from Joseph John, Shennoy, and Anitek.

 

Or Audrey and Akshay, who make your coffee the way you want. We are therefore very sorry that we prefer to go to the Coffee Emporium, even though we always received amiable service from Novi at Jean-Philippe's.

 

The Speakeasy Bar is also very inspiring in its concept - I've never experienced anything like it on any other ship. I love the non-alcoholic cocktail.

 

We are delighted with our cabin steward, Aggriawan.

 

Specialties Restaurant Manager Alex knows how to serve friends of the house, even if something goes wrong... I would have gotten my steak if we had shipped with our shipping company instead of MSC!

 

I was lucky to meet Hotel Manager Neven and Director of Hotel Services Aniello, and I could share my sincere enthusiasm with them.

 

Then came the shows. Jugglers, rope artists, and can-can are part of MSC's DNA. They could do a presentation about the moon landing and still include a can-can in the plot.

 

But if Sarah Brightman is singing Christine from The Phantom of the Opera, that speaks for MSC.

 

Even better: at 4:00 a.m. I was at a rehearsal in the Panorama Lounge. Latin rock isn't my thing: "Let's get loud" - I'm thrilled and feel like I've been in a fountain of youth all day. That was two days of intensive medical care from MSC.

 

https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-21-auf-der-msc-world-europa-in.html

 

https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-22-auf-deron-msc-world-europa-in.html