MSC MUSICA Rendering and MSC OPERA Photos!

I've uploaded a rendering of MSC MUSICA at the following link:

http://public.fotki.com/eroller/msc_opera/

It's interesting to note that MSC MUSICA will share the same hull platform as CORAL PRINCESS. You can actually see the resemblance in the bow and stern. Also note the large amount of balconies.

At the same link I've uploaded some professional photos of MSC OPERA provided by MSC Cruises. I think she looks pretty nice. Colorful and interesting but not over the top. I just LOVE the deck chairs. Very interesting design complete with a "head-shade". Look's very Italian! ;-) I'm looking forward to seeing OPERA in person.

MSC OPERA will arrive in Ft. Lauderdale this morning to many events and festivities. It's her maiden visit to North America. Larry King Live will televise live from the OPERA tonight when he conducts a rare interview with the ship's godmother, Sophia Loren. Should be interesting.

Ernie

Ernie - Thank you I for one am very grateful.

You have whetted the appetite no end - and 2nd April simply cannot come soon enough.

On the pro. pics the colours are not quite as dramatic as I had anticipated.

Will be back to them many many times in the coming months dreaming and wishing!!

Guess for us - we will have to watch Larry King Live tomorrow morning on our CNN !!

Glad to see that her arrival is being made into a real celebration - Full marks to Sasso on that one!

Must say was also pleased to see that you finally did opt for an MSC trial and hope that you will be contented and satisfied - and wanting more MSC!!

Ernie, thank you very much! Those photos are just great. I can't wait till my husband gets home from hunting so that he can see them too. I will be watching Larry King tonight..it should be an interesting show.

Best collection of Opera photos so far Ernie, they certainly brought back some happy memories for me.

I watched the interview with Sophia, live from the Opera on the Larry King Live show tonight. Great PR for MSC with the logo on the backdrop the entire 1 hour show, and it didn't hurt that Sophia Loren still looks lovely.

Yes, I watched it too and I'm so glad I caught this posting yesterday because I don't usually watch Larry King and I'd have hated to miss this show. Yes, she still looks great and she is just a class act. My husband - who just doesn't do talk shows - was home in time to see it and enjoyed it too!

Ernie - Great photos! Thanks for sharing!

Claudia

Thanks for the photos! ... We're an Atlanta groups of girlfriends doing the Feb. 26 cruise, and that certainly whet the appetite!

Here's a pic of MSC OPERA in the distance. It was captured in Ft. Lauderdale just a few minutes ago from the CARIBBEAN PRINCESS bridge cam during her departure. Looks like a beautiful evening in South Florida to depart on a cruise.

Ernie

Thanks for the photos! ... We're an Atlanta groups of girlfriends doing the Feb. 26 cruise, and that certainly whet the appetite!

Too bad we're not on the same sailing. Would have been fun! Have a great time girls!

Ernie

Ernie, come back and regale us. And yes, too bad you're not on our cruise!

Ernie - just thought we should get these pictures of beautiful Opera back at the top of the pile!!

Revived for georgiapeaches who expressed an interest in Category 10 cabin. Pic. 41.

Thanky again Ernie - you did a brilliant job with these pics and feel sure that they are enjoyed by many.

A critique of our cruise on the MSC “Opera” January 8th to 15th 2005

The interior décor of the ship is executed in extremely good taste. There are at least seven different bar/lounge areas, each done in a different color on color theme and there are two dining rooms; each done in a different color on color theme. The only negative to the décor of the ship is the height of most all the ceilings being at less than 7 feet.

The halls on the cabin decks and the walking space in the public areas are extremely narrow causing lots of bottle necks.

When we arrived at our cabin we were very disappointed in the size. It is said to be approximately 160 square feet including the entry, bathroom and closet space. The balcony adds an additional 50 square feet. We were told that all the cabins except for the luxury suites were the same size and configuration.

In our case with two twin beds (which could have been a queen bed if shoved together) one of the twin beds had to be positioned directly in front of the sliding glass door going out to the balcony. It was necessary to climb over the bed (or shove it at an angle) to get out the door.

The storage space consisted of two 18” wide closets and a stack of six drawers, plus two night stands each 18” wide with shelves in them, no additional drawer space. There was writing/vanity area which the single chair had to be slid under the opening in order to move about in the cabin.

There was a mini bar refrigerator and the usual TV and hair dryer.

The biggest thing to adjust to even more than the size of the cabin was the fact that the showers on board are (at the most) 24” square with 6’6” of head room. Everyone complained about the shower space.

The positive amenities on board are:

1: The cabin staff was excellent and we never heard a complaint from anyone about the service they received. Our stewardess was excellent.

2: There are many lounges with lots of good entertainment. The shows were extremely well received with positive complements heard from almost everyone.

The negative comments were many: but most are precipitated by the fact that “MSC is a cruise company catering to European passengers”. For this reason we could not in good conscience book anyone aboard.

1: There was a language problem with nearly every staff person on board starting with the pursers and shipboard entertainment staff not being fluent or in command of English. Many people found the use of five languages for every announcement annoying. That is truly the necessity of multi national cruises and should not have been a problem to anyone.

2: The casino is designed for European Travelers with only three black jack tables, three roulette tables and two poker tables and some 30-40 slot machines. On days at sea the casino was only open from 2:30 pm until 6:30 pm and then again from 8:30 pm until late in the morning. On days in port the opening depended on our departure time.

When we were in Cozumel the casino never opened since we did not depart until midnight. There is no reason to be in Cozumel from 8:00 AM to midnight either.

The hours for the casino are rather absurd when there were many people who would have played earlier in the day (on sea days) and certainly the tables would have been busy between dining sittings.

The casino staff left much to be desired as their English was very limited and they did not show any enthusiasm or interest in their job. Due to the language problem there were many times when an error was made and one could not communicate it to anyone in charge. There were a number of errors on the dealer’s part both in counting and in payouts.

(At the seminar held by MSC staff, we were informed that their ships definitely would not be to everyone’s taste. Especially on the European sailings since it was even less “American” friendly.)

3: Our personal experience in the dining room was nothing outstanding but certainly acceptable. Our waiter was from Bali and the busboy was from Sri Lanka. Both served us with excellence and definitely made the dinner much better. This was not the feeling or experience of many fellow passengers.

We found the food to be eatable but certainly not great, probably a 5 out of 10 rating. What was offered was diversified and sounded appealing, but the menu itself was very difficult to read from the standpoint of type set and lack of separation between items.

4: This same layout problem also existed in the daily program. It was very difficult to pick out individual items, times and places. One major complaint was the fact that the time change notices were put on page three in small print. With four time changes necessary this was important to lots of people.

5: Morning “Coffee” was a problem for many people since it was never ready before 6:00 AM or available after 1:00 AM, and more than once there were complaints about not being able to get it 24 hours a day. The room service menus were very lacking in variety.

6: The buffets were lovely to look at, yet the food was certainly not any better than eating in the dining room. The hamburgers and hot dogs on the Il Patio deck were delicious though.

7: Service from every wait person outside the dining rooms was deplorable. You could go all day and night and never be asked if you would like a drink. One person said that this was because “the ship did not want people to think they were being forced to drink”. This no one understood.

8: Smoking is, as always, a problem and none less evident than on the “Opera”. The areas where it was allowed was perfect with one side of the ship being smoking and the other non-smoking. The thing which was difficult was the number of lounges where “NO” smoking was allowed at all.

Two places which we found strange were the “disco” and the “Caruso” lounge. In our humble opinion; where there is music and dancing there should be someplace to smoke.

In closing; the major problems on the ship are in the size of the cabins and showers, the height of the ceilings and the narrow passageways and the “European” attitude. It is also interesting that there is no place on deck which is completely dry when it rains. Nothing can be done about these things now so we feel that with all the ships to choose from there is no reason to subject clients to this ship.

 

In closing; the major problems on the ship are in the size of the cabins and showers, the height of the ceilings and the narrow passageways and the “European” attitude. It is also interesting that there is no place on deck which is completely dry when it rains. Nothing can be done about these things now so we feel that with all the ships to choose from there is no reason to subject clients to this ship.

 

Maybe some of your clients would actually prefer a "European" experience, as opposed to the canned and homogenized experience that HAL, Princess, and Royal Caribbean offer. I've sailed on almost 60 cruises and I certainly wouldn't want my travel agent to rule out ANY possibilities based on my requirements and desires. If they did, they wouldn't be my travel agent for very long. Too many travel agents qualify a cruise line and experience based on *their* personal tastes rather than that of their clients.

I would also never want a travel agent that would make such a broad statement as to say they would not subject "any" of their clients to a particular product. That is certainly making a lot of assumptions about your clients.

Ernie

Viva la difference!

Viva la difference!

Exactly THE point - and a good reason why MSC should NOT change - although do not understand WHAT your posting has to do with the thread!

Ernie you summed up the situation perfectly - congratulations!

Viva la difference!

Rob - thanks for the rundown on MSC!

Considering a jaunt on Opera and this gives a good breakdown for folks unfamiliar with the line of what to expect...