sealynx

I'm not very impressed by this swing thing. Although I'm very much into theme park like attractions, but this one just seems booooring. I believe cruise ships just aren't the place for really good attractions. Not impressed by Robotron or Bolt (on Carnival) either. I'd rather see MSC (or any other cruise line) offer rock climbing walls, rope courses and/or even more waterslides. Those things might not be innovative or unique, but they are proven providers of ever repeating fun.

I did not mean to say all 4 ships offer just one loop, I mean the four loops they sail are reused for a different ship every year.

Thank you for this overview. You mentioned Seascape twice. One should be Seashore, right? 4 in 2024 to 4 in 2025 right? In both years I see Euribia, Virtuosa, Poesia and Preziosa in your list. I am a bit disappointed in their mediterranean itineraries. MSC seems to recycle them a bit to much for my taste. World Europa, Seaview, Seaside + one seem to be offering the same loop every year. Only they change ship. For example, last year Opera, this year Grandiosa, next year Seaside do the same loop Genua, Marseille, Barcelona, Tunis, Palermo and Napoli. Also they seem to always offer Armonia, Lirica, Sinfonia and Opera on the Adriatic. Me wanting to change both itinerary AND ship every time I cruise, is left with limited choice.

They are basically the same, but Opera was the only one fitted with external balconies during construction. The other 3 MSC ships of the kind only got them during the stretching process. So Lirica and Opera are closer sisters to each other than to the other 3, but still were 'born' with differences. Although she has never been lengthened indeed, she did get additional cabins on her stern superstructure, where the other 4 still have several decks of out door space. Also her night club was changed into cabins. I believe it happened when she transferred to Ibero, but I'm not sure. I'm really glad she ended up with MSC. For more than one reason, but I'll stick to the cruise ship related one: I don't like sister ships to be spread over several companies or even brands. I makes the lines less unique.

In Rotterdam they had a tram (streetcar) beautifully decorated in their ships livery (maybe even still). Even though Dutch (Nederlands) and German (Deutsch) is kind of similar (both Germanic languages), not too many Dutch people speak German. So apparently they are actively trying to get non German speaking passengers onboard as well. Rotterdam is not just a embarkation port for Germans from the south of the country (for whom Rotterdam might be closer to home than Hamburg).

It wasn't just a missed port of call I understand, but a shortened cruise. If so, than I agree they should compensate the whole day/night, not just the port tax. In Europe that is even the law, but I don't know about the US-law.

I was on the Opera May last year, because they swapped her with Fantasia after I booked. We did get € 200 OBC as compensation, but still I was hesitant. I was actually the OBC that got me to keep my booking, and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. Of course she has fewer amenities and smaller cabins, but I had a great week.

Don't worry about overhang on this ship, it doesn't have any. All balconies stick out from the ships superstructure (MSC Opera was the only ship of this class to have this type of balcony at time of built, so also well before the lengthening). Your balcony will only be covered by the balcony above. The deck below doesn't have balconies, so you can look freely down to the water. The deck above is also cabins, so no risk of being woken up early by crew setting up deck chairs.

What do you wear in the sauna and steam baths? Go European and wear just your birthday suit, of do you have to cover up with a bathing suit? Or does it differ to where the ship is sailing?

I always fill my own bottle at the buffet (via a cup, since they don't want you to hold your own bottle under the machine for hygiene reasons), this has never been a problem and nothing was ever charged.

You can really recognize some elements of existing cruise ships. I see Costa Diadema, AIDAnova, Silver Shadow, Celebrity Edge, Celestyal Crystal and Viking Cinderella. Does anyone see another? I laughed at the curved one. A never ending cruise, forever going in circles. That would be a little too much even for me.

They'll check you in, no Ryanair/Frontier-like charges, at the terminal. They'll take a photo of you there. Only draw back is that it'll take a little more time (which for 1 passenger is surely not a problem, but might become a problem if a shipload of passengers didn't check in online).

Probably not, but it can be a reason for a full refund of the cruise far when you cancel. But then you're still stuck with your flight to Athens.

Shade is indeed something MSC seems to be forgetting in designing their new ships. I've seen similar complaints about YC pool decks, with hardly any shade. I think you have the best chance around the indoor pool.

I've been on several cruises to Genua. Although is a nice city, after visiting it two times, you've seen about everything there is. Therefore I started looking for something else to do when in Genua, and I've found a great alternative for active people who like nature. We took the Funicolare from Zecca (25 min walk from the ship) to Righi and walked all around the city westward to the Granarolo rack tramway at Via B. Bianco. This walk will take you 3-4 hours incl. rest stops. You'll see the old city wall, several ancient outposts and fortresses and you can have a great view over the valley north of the city. A great way to get a way from the crowds, and above all: completely free of charge (incl. the funicolare and the tramway)