kathleen21

I’m considering prebooking a haircut and color on my next cruise. I don’t quite understand what I should do about tipping. Because it’s a prebooked service is the tip included, like bar drinks? If not, what is customary? Also, does having a haircut appointment give me access to the spa before or after the appointment? I’m on the Orchestra if that makes a difference. Thank you!

We were in Malta on a Sunday so were able to go to a beautiful High Mass at St John's Co Cathedral. They do kick you out immediately so there was no opportunity to really enjoy the artwork of the church. We also went to The Church of St Paul's Shipwreck which is very close by. We loved the charm of this church and the friendliness of the parishioners. The Co Cathedral had the glitz and glitter but the Shipwreck church won our hearts. We took a cab to Mdina - If you go to the cab stand you can get a cab for the number of hours you want. We loved roaming around Malta and would love to go back one day.

We are in Malta on a Sunday also. Which Mass time is considered “high Mass”? I’m hoping we will have time to go to mass, take the bus to Mdina and back and not be too rushed.

 

No problem! I appreciate any information I get. I am curious, what did you do on the sea days? I assume we will be pretty tired and want to rest, but I’m wondering if there were other interesting options.

Kaetlyncrna- did you get a chance to go to the spa? We are on this same cruise in April and I am wondering if that would be a good place to get away from the kids? But not sure if there Is time with so many ports to enjoy.

Also, how is room service? On the last cruise we were on, we got in the habit of ordering room service immediately when we got back on board. That way we had a snack while we were getting ready for the night without having to fight the buffet crowds. Would that trick work on this ship?

And lastly, can we bring food back on board from the ports?

Thank you.

Kathleen

You need to go into your account and order it. Scroll down a bit to find the right one.

Thanks, all! I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t find any such cruises on the MSC website- until I unclicked the “show only available cruises” button at the top! I was shopping cruises that include Russia, and they are all sold out for 2018. At least I know they exist. But I’m seems I will have to plan far ahead...

Does anyone know if MSC has had Baltic cruises in the past? I’m daydreaming about 2019...:')

Does a “thermal area cruise pass” allow you in the hot tubs and whole spa area? Or is the thermal area something separate? That pass for our 11 night cruise is only $65...

I’m so sorry you aren’t feeling well! I think a live review must be a challenge when a person is well rested and healthy, so I very much appreciate your continued efforts. Thank you! I am enjoying all the details.

Thank you so much for doing this! I have looked forward to this review for months:D We will be on the Orchestra, leaving from Genoa, in April, and there is just not much recent information on the ship. I am appreciative of everything!

Thanks for everyone's input! I think we have decided to do an electric bike tour. Picks up at the cruise port and tours around Cassis & the Calanques (Port Pin & Port Miou) with time to shop, eat and swim! :) Booking through Viator.

How was the bike tour?

Yeah ............. our next 2 cruises are on Musica class ships this year - Magnifica and Orchestra. So, no Yacht Club. Which is just as well as we couldn't afford it on both, anyway! I won't feel so bad in our lowly balcony cabins knowing there isn't a special area onboard that we're not in LOL. After our YC experience on Meraviglia, it's difficult to contemplate anything less! However, as long as I'm on an MSC ship, I'm happy! ;p

I am wondering if you have any reviews on the Orchestra that you have enjoyed reading? We are on that ship next April and there just is not that much information out there about this ship. Plus, we’ll, I’m just excited :D It’s our first time on MSC

That was the look on my face when I realized that I had caught up on your review!

I have really enjoyed the details, and the honesty and enthusiasm you have shared with us. We are going on a different cruise line (gasp! 😱) but to many of these same ports, and your experiences have been very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

I have a question about Marseille- we would like to do the free walking tour of the city that meets in the old port area about 1030. Do you have any insight regarding taking the port bus or local transportation? What time would you say we should leave the ship to make it to town if we took a taxi? Thank you!

I did do exactly as the previous post said because I chose to do two private tours but not here. Taxi was inexpensive but we were late so we took a taxi in both directions so in some way it would be smarter we took the tour here :( Anyway the place is nice and we are happy we had a chance to explore it. By the way, we decided to take a private tour with "Mont travelers" in Kotor and "Travelco" in Corfu. This was more relaxing than exploring the town on our own :D

I’m interested in knowing more about Corfu. We are only there from 2-8pm, so I figured we have no choice but to explore on our own? What was your tour like?

I have been researching this city too. This article from The NY Times was an interesting read. We are definitely going up in the sideways elevator!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/25/travel/genoa-italy-charm-alternative-rome-florence-venice.html?hpw&rref=travel&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

kathleen21 thank you for your disposition to help and for your thoughts and prayers. It's definitely sad times, especially for those of us who visit these islands. Be it for a few hours on a port call or those who visit for a few days. Seeing the devastation in places like Barbuda and St. Martin especially (let's not forget the US VI as well) breaks my heart. Appreciated as it is, I urge you and those willing and able to help to turn your focus on those islands. Yes they have help from their respective governments (UK, France) but sometimes help it's about more than food and water and (re)construction materials (and not really about money either). They're going to need hygiene items, clothes, diapers, baby wipes, etc. Look around to see if there's a way you can make your help reach them.

 

Here in PR there's a major movement going from private boat owners who are collecting all sorts of stuff to take to the nearby, affected islands. Their money, their boats, their time. This was not a government summon or any effort by any agency. These are people that boat to these islands for pleasure from PR and now they're gladly giving back.

 

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Hey, StingerPR, so glad to here from you! What I have seen of the destruction on TV is terrible. Especially ST Martin. Such a loss. Will take your advice. Wish I was a local boat owner!😜

The cruise bus departs from the road between the Columbus Monument and the World Trade Centre approach, I've marked it with a red paddle on this satellite map. You'll see a bus at the stop.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/41.3746957,2.1778919/41.3746991,2.1778947/@41.3750914,2.1784879,274m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e2

Street view isn't available, street-view at that point is of another road in a tunnel underneath.

The World Trade Centre has a cruise ship (Crystal Serenity) berthed alongside, but that's not where most cruise ships berth.

 

Frequency depends on demand, you shouldn't have to wait more than about 10 minutes. Fare is about 2.5 euros.

 

Whether to take a taxi instead I guess depends how far you are up Las Ramblas, and whether you're on a port-of-call visit or you have luggage.

 

JB :)

John, there will be 3 ships in port the day we are there. Would you recommend the cruise bus to get to the Columbus statue? I don't mind walking, but I don't want to waste our time if the walk isn't interesting.

How can we help, Stinger-PR? What can we do?This hurricane is so devastating. I'm so very sad for all the people whose hospitality we recently enjoyed.

Now that you're a pro blogger, you must take more cruises to blog more! [emoji38] Thank you for sharing your family's adventures!

 

What a great idea!😜 Actually, this trip reminded us of how much we enjoy cruising - so we booked a Mediterranean cuties for next year. Woohoo! And now that I know how hard it is to remember names and places I an definitely going to make sure I take more explanatory pictures to set the scene.

We'll be on Orchestra in December. It's a different itinerary to yours but I'll post some photos when we get back.

Thank you! I've been reading a lot of cruise critic lately as I have been planning this trip. Your suggestions to others have me a lot. I really appreciate your no drama, common sense attitude :D

Thank you for taking the time to do a review. We are on the Orchestra next April, and I eagerly look forward to reading and seeing pictures about the ship. Glad you had such a good time!

They do go to all those places. On the day we were in port there was a big accident near the port, and they were able to go around and get us back in time. The official cruise line tours were all late getting back! It was stressful though. I did a review with pictures of our cruise in May. I'm not sure how to link it here... http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=53646690 Hopefully that works. Brenda and Franko are on page 3.

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When I look it up on Google maps it says it's 5k from St Johns Cocathedral to the Hypogeum. If people are allowing an hour to take the bus is there any reason we can't just walk it? That would take an hour and at least I would be doing something. ( I hate waiting :loudcry:)

Or can we get a taxi just to here, and have them come back later? It seems silly to pay the taxi guy to sit outside for a couple hours while we explore. Thanks for the help!

Kathleen21, What was the name of the beach you were at on Barbados? We were thinking of going to the Boartyard and use the beach there. The cost is like $20 pp a complimentory drink, they have water things out in the water play play on, a boat ride to snorkle and see the turtles.

 

 

 

Me and my sister aren't sure if we want to do this or just go out on our own to a beach. We will be sailing on the same trip on the Fascination Dec 3, 2017. Anyone any suggestions?

We did end up at the Boatyard beach, actually. Everything you describe was there, but because of timing and such we didn't do much of anything but laze around and enjoy the water.

If you look closely at this picture you can see the water toys to the left of the pier and the people boarding the boat for the snorkel tour.

We walked there, about a mile, easy to do. Unless it is hot!

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we are going on the Musica, April 2018 out of Venice.

We are on the Orchestra in April, leaving out of Genoa. If you booked through NSC USA you can get a free water package for lunch and dinner in the MDR. Go into your MSC account, click on customize my cruise, then scroll through the drink packages until you find the Mineral water in the dining room package for $0. You have to add it to your shopping cart and checkout. I actually had a problem with this part and called MSC. But they fixed it pretty quickly.

Good luck!