Janet&Carl

Pictures didnt attach sorry

I bet this was a truly moving experience. Well done MSC Orchestra.

Here is a link to bigger pictures

its open most of the day - starting from early birds breakfast through to when the pools close at night.

google images MSC ice cream - I don't know how to get a big picture on here

It is perfectly easy to PRE-ORDER and NOT PRE-PAY online using your MSC booking number and going in via the "On Board Services" tab on the home page of the MSC web site.

 

Not sure if you can do it by phone, I suspect they will ask you to prepay if you use that method.

 

 

Pete

Yes, you are right Pete, I book by phone because I can never get the web site to work for me and I need the reassurance that my order is taken ;)

I have always had my MSC booking confirmation updated with a new amount added and a date to pay the additional amount. This is then sent to me by email.

I am trying to find out my MSC club number. Any suggestion on how to do this.

ring them they will tell you - i got mine by phone and then emailed it to myself - I can find it easily now ;)

I fail to understand the attraction of these new classes of ship. As far as I can see, they follow the 'block of flats' principle - maximising the number of balcony cabins at the expense of sea-going properties and asthetically pleasing lines.

 

The only innovations relate to maximising revenue: adding an extra deck of balconies compared to other cruiseliners of a similar size, making them fatter and shorter to access more ports (hence more embarkation/disembarkation and tour opportunities) and slower to save on fuel costs (fuel costs rise in proportion to the cube of the speed, approximately). In other words, they just exude 'rip-off'.

 

The one thing I like about these new ships is that they will add huge extra capacity to MSC and hopefully the people that like uly mega ships will be drawn to them and away from the older, more modest and elegant ships in the MSC fleet. This should mean better deals for me.

 

Sorry to be a party-pooper.

YES !!!! perfectly said - suits me too

Yes, all the drinks without the asterisk are available on the classic package - as well as others like the cocktail of the day. In every bar around the ship and on deck this drink menu is available - there are bars in the buffet cafeteria as well so you can get your specialty coffees and teas there as well as bottled fruit juices etc. with breakfast.

WE are also sailing the Fjords on MSC Orchestra in June.

When I want a fix for the places we have already been I flick through your pictures again. It brings back many happy memories.

Well done on such a fantastic review I'll certainly be watching out for the Fjords review in June.

I have booked two inside guarantee cabins for my mother and aunt on MSC. On each occasion they were upgraded to balcony so I think they got a very good deal. I have heard of many more getting balcony on their first cruise so its not a loyalty thing its more like an availability thing so will depend on how full the ship is. You will get the best cabin available and it won't necessarily be under or over or next to noisy areas.

Your "experience" package ie Bella Fantastica or Aurea will remain the same no matter what your cabin category.

More appropriate to post this pic here

A dawn photo of MSC Orchestra pulling into Sydney

Abosolutely spectacular.

https://www.facebook.com/BlueSkyAerialFilming/photos/o.339352912367/808990035846916/?type=1&theater

I don't really get why that Spanish couple had to be found by MSC employees instead of some kind of authority from Tunisia :confused: Anyway, they are safe and that's what it counts. Unfortunately another elderly Spanish couple died :( They attacked an Spanish speaking group it seems.

 

On the other hand the Costa ship is now crossing the Mediterranean sea and will reach Mallorca by tomorrow. I guess press will be waiting to interview passengers.

Maybe they needed to be told everything was OK in Spanish - if they didnt know what was being said by anyone else they would have stayed in hiding.

A change in docking time is very unlikely but they will be disembarking passengers and I don't know if they will want to get them off first.

If I was you I'd stick with the car. Picked up and dropped of at the port gates - and Olympia is a long drive away. The last time we were in Katakolon MSC was charging $85 (Australian) each - there were 4 of us and I got a private car (a limo turned up) for $80 for the 4 of us.

Excellent value.

I'm not sure if this is allowed so if not just let me know and I'll delete - here is a link to the bigger sized picture which is just spectacular

https://www.facebook.com/BlueSkyAerialFilming/photos/o.339352912367/808990035846916/?type=1&theater

Im not sure how to attach photos but I came across this one which is beautiful. This is the Orchestra pulling into Sydney this morning. its a fabulous photo its a pity I don't know how to post a bigger one

 

We are thinking of booking the Orchestra Grand Voyage from Genoa to Barbados Nov 15 and wonder if you saw the Aurea sun area? Any info? Does it have single sunbeds and double cocoon-type beds, hot tub and bar? Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Hello :) we are also looking for info on the Aurea package sun area ? I will start a thread and see how that goes.

thanks for the replies - Sidari did they have a hot tub etc... or just the sun loungers ?

yes, it includes all the top shelf drinks ;) and all the sundaes in the icecream bar and lots of things in the cafe and all the liquor coffees you can manage - enjoy ;)

The menus will more or less identical on Musica and Magnifica. The basically feature different Italian regions each night. It will be different from the Divina, there won't be a Stars and Stripes side and all the other things they change for the US passengers will pretty much be absent. They will give you vouchers for a bottle of water to use at dinner each night. There won't be pitchers of iced water readily available as or Iced Tea.

On our recent ex Venice to Genoa cruise we noticed an "Americanisation" to the food. We enjoyed the food on this cruise much less than before and found that there were burgers and fries and hot dogs in the buffet which we had only seen on the US and Caribbean cruises we had done. the fries were even served in little boxes and the burgers in paper wrappings :(

Has anyone used it ???

What facilities are available ?

Thanks :)

We booked the Aurea package - I like the idea of anytime dining as well as the sun deck. From the deck plans it doesnt look like there is a hot tub or anything . I'd be happy to hear from anyone who as used this area also.

HI

I havent cruised on the Divina but I have taken pre teens and teenagers on many MSC cruises. They are treated like treasures by all the staff. They have a ball and we don't see them (except when we insist they have dinner with us) from when we step on until when we step off.

They love it and so do we - we get to relax. Honestly, I wouldnt hesitate. Our kids even stay on board while we go on day trips on land.

Hi

We are going on a cruise on the Orchestra out of Kiel. The nearest airport is Hamburg which it 1 1/2 hours away approximately. We are tempted to book a Transfer with MSC from the airport to the port. These have to be pre booked before departure. Given the information on here that sometimes pre booked excursions have had difficulties I wondered if we would be collected or maybe forgotten and left at the airport with no transport?

Has anyone had a pre booked transfer ? What was your experience ?

I have had fabulous service on every cruise from my table waiters and from m cabin stewards. I am Australian and tipping is really foreign to us. I have never tipped other than paying the gratuities and have never had to. I have enjoyed excellent service always.

:rolleyes:

make sure you order a birthday cake - it will be delivered to your table with a bevvy of singing waiters - very special.