Just off the Fantasia. Any questions welcome. Sir Bani Yas island was cancelled.

We have just returned from The Emirates cruise with MSC.

Was a little disappointed that the night before we was to dock at Sir Bani Yas island they announced that it was cancelled and that we would be visiting Doha instead.

Does anyone think it's worth complaining as we was looking forward to the island and didn't want another city stop?

Welcome to ask any other questions about the cruise we might be able to answer.

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What was the reason for the cancellation? If it was due to adverse weather or other such issue then that would probably be covered in the Ts and Cs, if you enjoyed yourself it might be worth complaining still as you may get a discount off a future cruise :)

Was there an Italian night onboard, they usually have one during med cruises, but I seem to remember reading somewhere about Eastern Delights or similar?

I'd be very interested in hearing of your experiences and echo Tim's question re 'Italian Night' as I'm sailing on Fantasia in a few weeks.

They said there was a burst pipe in the channel that the ship uses to navigate to the island so the port authority's closed the channel so we couldn't dock.

I don't remember an Italian themed night but I do remember there being an Arabian themed night.

I will have a look through the daily program papers as I kept them all.

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They said there was a burst pipe in the channel that the ship uses to navigate to the island so the port authority's closed the channel so we couldn't dock.

 

I don't remember an Italian themed night but I do remember there being an Arabian themed night.

I will have a look through the daily program papers as I kept them all.

 

 

 

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You could complain to the Abu Dhabi Port Authority.

We had 'Mediterranean ' night on Fantasia just before Xmas . It was rubbish - no hankerchief waving like then Italian night

Sent an email of letting them know our "disappointment" [emoji23].

Today they've replied with an apology and a discount off our next cruise.

So well worth an email. [emoji106].

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Sent an email of letting them know our "disappointment" [emoji23].

Today they've replied with an apology and a discount off our next cruise.

So well worth an email. [emoji106].

Nice one! :cool:

Definitely complaining :)

Very nice of MSC to give the discount. Unfortunately I think that was the third or fourth time this season that the call at Sir Bani Yas had to be cancelled. Weather and sea conditions were the main reasons and there was also an island pipe line fire once that cause cancellations - not just MSC but all the cruise lines having the weekly port calls. Port cancellations are nothing unusual because for safety reasons a captain can elect to head for another destination when the sea is too rough, gale winds, or obviously when the local authorities close the port. It's happened to me on several cruises over the years.

Sent an email of letting them know our "disappointment" [emoji23].

Today they've replied with an apology and a discount off our next cruise.

So well worth an email. [emoji106].

Nice to know. Really worth it!

My partner and I are on fantasia in a few weeks time and noticed you went to Doha when sir bani yes island cancelled but I thought that Doha was on the itinerary anyway! Also grateful if you could give us any info on any excursions you thought were good,many thanks

My partner and I are on fantasia in a few weeks time and noticed you went to Doha when sir bani yes island cancelled but I thought that Doha was on the itinerary anyway!

It depends - Fantasia is doing 2 alternating itineraries, 1 to Bahrain and the other to Muscat, Oman. Doha is included in the sailing to Bahrain so I'd say the ship headed to Doha before continuing on to Muscat.

We had 'Mediterranean ' night on Fantasia just before Xmas . It was rubbish - no hankerchief waving like then Italian night

My partner and I are on fantasia in a few weeks time and noticed you went to Doha when sir bani yes island cancelled but I thought that Doha was on the itinerary anyway! Also grateful if you could give us any info on any excursions you thought were good,many thanks

Beamafar is right there are two itineraries.

We was on the Muscat one.

We stopped at Doha after Khasab and before Dubai. Muskat was on day two of our itinerary.

Excursions we thought was good was Dolphin at Khasab. The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Burj Khalifa Dubai.

We also booked independently a meal in the Burj al Arab which was special.

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Hi hope you don't mind me asking but have seen a cruise with fantasia, just returned off divina, looked on you tube they look similar, can you eat in other restaurants apart from buffet & main dining room without paying? I.e. Sports bar etc, is there an adult only pool? And is there an outside smoking area? I don't smoke, but on divina it was by the adult only pool at the back of the ship which was always hectic. Many thanks lynne, :)

We have just returned from The Emirates cruise with MSC.

Was a little disappointed that the night before we was to dock at Sir Bani Yas island they announced that it was cancelled and that we would be visiting Doha instead.

Does anyone think it's worth complaining as we was looking forward to the island and didn't want another city stop?

 

Welcome to ask any other questions about the cruise we might be able to answer.

 

 

Hi hope you don't mind me asking but have seen a cruise with fantasia, just returned off divina, looked on you tube they look similar, can you eat in other restaurants apart from buffet & main dining room without paying? I.e. Sports bar etc, is there an adult only pool? And is there an outside smoking area? I don't smoke, but on divina it was by the adult only pool at the back of the ship which was always hectic. Many thanks lynne, :)

 

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Our Cruise to Sir Bani Yas was postponed a couple of days in December because of fog. We went to Dubai and then Doha before returning to the beach resort.

We're scheduled to be at Sir Bani Yas on 20 and 27 March. Hoping for no fog, no strong winds, no rain, no pipe line fires, etc. etc. The island has really been a hit or miss port call this winter.

I hope we make it as well on the 27th, looks to be a highlight in my plans as we don't take beach holidays now we go cruising!

Hi hope you don't mind me asking but have seen a cruise with fantasia, just returned off divina, looked on you tube they look similar, can you eat in other restaurants apart from buffet & main dining room without paying? I.e. Sports bar etc, is there an adult only pool? And is there an outside smoking area? I don't smoke, but on divina it was by the adult only pool at the back of the ship which was always hectic. Many thanks lynne, :)

They are both Fantasia class ships, though Divina is slightly bigger, but the layouts are very similar.

There are only 2 choices of included dining - MDR and buffet. On Divina, the Sports bar offerings have no charge, but I don't think that's the case on Fantasia, unless they've changed policy since last I cruised on her.

No adult only pool onboard.

There are more smoking venues on MSC ships when they're not in US/Caribbean. Smoking is permitted in an area in the casino on Fantasia, though not in any of the bars and lounges, contrary to some reports here. The only time I ever saw smoking allowed in a lounge was when the weather was so bad that they roped off an area in the Aft lounge for smokers as it was too dangerous for them to be outside. That was a few years ago when smoking was allowed on balconies. I've sailed in rough seas since and never saw it happen again - they've tightened up their policy re smoking since. I'm always amazed at comments by people who claim that they experienced smoking outside of the dedicated zones - I've done 14 MSC cruises and have yet to see that.

I hope we make it as well on the 27th, looks to be a highlight in my plans as we don't take beach holidays now we go cruising!

I wouldn't mind missing it at all on tomorrow week's trip. I'm not a beach person and have already experienced Portugese island last November so will probably stay onboard and enjoy the peace and quiet of a near-deserted ship instead :D