MSC Opera Review

[Shelledpea]

I have posted my review elsewhere on the web but thought I'd also publish it here for those of you who are interested:

 

 

We arrived at Southampton at approximately 12pm after dropping our bags with the attendants we parked the car and jumped onto the shuttle bus to the terminal. Check in was quick and efficent and we were onboard 10minutes later and being shown to our cabin.

 

We picked the cheapest inside cabin available as all the cabins inside & out are the same size bar the suites on deck 12. The room was clean and had all the usual amenities although the shower is rather small (I must have cracked my elbow on the glass panel to the side at least 3 times every time I washed my hair!) Shower caps are provided along with Shampoo and Body wash in a dispenser in the shower.

 

There is double wardrobe with a shelf above, 7 narrow but deep drawers, 2 more shelves above. Plenty of mirrors gave a feeling of space. Behind the mirror above the dressing table there was more shelving along with the incabin safe, a long narrow drawer in the dressing table along with cabinets to each side. The bedside cabinets have 2 shelves each and a lamp attached to each one. Under the bed there is plenty of space for large cases.

 

After checking out our cabins we made our way up onto the deck and grabbed a coffee and some lunch in the buffet. When we returned to our cabin all our cases had been delivered.

 

We enjoyed the sailaway from Southampton and the weather was glorious.

 

Dining

We ate every night in L'Approdo where we had a table for 4 near the windows at the back of the dining room. As we sat down the assistant waiter automatically poured jugged iced water and brought round a selection of rolls and breads. We were on the early sitting at 6.30 and were rather glad seeing as the late sitting was not until 9.30pm and your average length of service was around 1.5hours

 

Our Waiter explained about the always available menu and the fact that a childrens menu was available if required. Each evening the choices were excellent and I sampled around 6 courses each night, my 11 year old daughter also did very well her choices whereas my son who is slightly more reserved in his eating habits generally opted for a margherita pizza to start with followed by steak or chicken with potatoes of the day.

 

The portions are quite small but this gives you balance when you are eating a starter, salad, soup, pasta or risotto, main course and a sweet. If you asked it was possible to have a larger portion and also extra potatoes with your main course. Coffee was brought at the end of the meal (tea was available upon request).

.

Through out the day you have a choice of eating in the main restaurant (la carvella), the buffet or at the pizza or Grill counters ~ the grill counter is also the place to get freshly cooked fried eggs of a morning.

 

Delivery of the Continental breakfast was good with plenty of coffee and hot milk provided along with croissants, Jams and rolls

 

Entertainment

Of an afternoon around the pool (or in one of the lounges depending upon the weather) at about 4pm each the entertainment team would organise silly games ~ throwing a ball into a bucket to win a lanyard, rolling giant dice and winning a lanyard if you got doubles etc, etc followed by a quiz at around 5pm (yes in 5 languages but English was always the first language)

 

Of an evening there were various artists in the bars La Cabbala had an excellent classical duo, whereas Sotto Vento had the atrocious Sebastiano and his guitar, the Via Condotti usually had a duo singing sometimes good, sometimes bad.

 

Given the reports about the number of smokers onboard I didn't actuallly think that many bars allowed smoking only the Sotto Vento pub and the casino of an evening.

 

The entertainment in the theatre lasted around 45 to 50 minutes but as drinks are not allowed in the theatre this was long enough. The resident dancers are really just stepping in time (but not with each other!) whereas the flamenco dancers and the acrobats are simply fantastic.

 

There was other entertainment provided in the Caruso lounge later in the evening.

 

The dealers in the casino were never really busy which wasn't unusual when you think the table minimums were €5 and to sign up for a poker tournament the buy in was €100. On sea days they dropped the table limits to €2 and this made a real difference to the number of players.

 

Ports

 

Important ~ Make sure you book all your shuttle buses when you board in Southampton!

 

Amsterdam ~ really easy to walk into town, make sure if you wish to visit the Anne Frank House you book your ticket online well before you are due to travel. If you don't you will find that the queue is around 4-5hrs long and is wrapped around the Westekerke, whereas online priority tickets have their own entrance with a buzzer where you are admitted immeadiately.

 

We wandered around the town in the rain and hoped that the weather would break ~ it didn't unfortunately.

 

The weather was atrocious as we left Amsterdam and the sea was quite rough (even with Stugeron the children took themselves off to bed after dinner!)

 

La Rochelle ~ You are not allowed by the port authorities to walk through the port so you either have to take a taxi at a cost of €20 each way or pay for the shuttle bus €9 per adult, €6 children aged 2 - 13. Tickets are given out in order from bus A to bus O we were offered tickets for M which was leaving the ship at 4.30pm for a half hour ride into town and the last shuttle was returning at 6pm. I did not take up the option and stayed onboard, the children disappeared to the childrens club and my husband and I sat and played cards.

 

Bilbao ~ It was raining heavily again. Shuttle buses were offered into town at a cost of €12 adults and €8 for children. The first bus was at 9am and the last bus returning was at 3.45pm again we were offered tickets on the bus at around 1pm. This is where my being an independant traveller fell apart I had forgotten the information regarding the route to the metro station and the route numbers required! Instead we wandered around Getxo which was interesting away from the port.

 

La Coruna ~ The day started off overcast but was reasonably warm. We walked from the ship to the Opera house then across to the beach before walking around the headland past the aquarium (you can see the seals in the pools outside) to the Tower of Hercules. All of the beaches which we passed were clean and had white pebbly sand. We came back to the ship through the centre of town where there were numerous small Tapas bars and Jamon shops. Maire Pita Square infront of the palace is good place to sit and take in the atmosphere. By the time we returned to the ship the weather was fantastic so after having a light late lunch we headed up on deck. When we came to sail out of the harbour we were escorted by a large pod of Dolphins to both sides of the ship.

 

We were told that during the evening of our following sea day that the ship would be stopping at Guernsey from 7.30pm till 12am, obviously not a lot would be open at that time apart from restaurants and bars. Limited numbers of tender tickets were available at €12 per person. The view from the restaurant that evening was stunning and numerous small boats came out of the harbour and buzzed around us. It is interesting to note that after having spoken to the staff that this stop is being offered on each sailing depending on the weather conditions and it has been added to the itinerary for next year.

 

Cherbourg ~ Disembarkation was effortless through the restored and very elegant terminal that brings to mind the days of the great liners. In the exit hallway there was an information booth and we pciked up a leaflet that enabled us to claim a small (€1 per person discount) for entry to la Cite del mer which is directly facing the terminal exit. Make sure that you pop in here as the entrance hall is free of charge and there are various submarines and Bathyscapes on display.

 

This was the one place the children really wanted to go to and I am so glad we did. We bought the full attraction ticket with entry to the Aquarium, the Submarine but also to the underwater adventure where you join in in training for an underwater adventure ~ UK guests are given an automated headset for this. The displays were well set out and had signage in French and English, the aquarium has a tactile tank where you can feel shark and rays. At the entrance to the Redoubtable nuclear submarine we were given headsets again which offered a guided tour in the slightly cramped spaces. An excellent day out and the tickets allowed for multiple entry to the aquarium meaning that we could pop back to the ship for lunch. This was the best €60 that we spent the entire time we were away and the children were most impressed.

 

 

General

Pool and beach towels have to be collected and your card is swiped a charge of €20 is levied for each towel not returned ~ so make sure your card is swiped upon returning!

 

Childrens clubs were good and well structured for children under 13 but non existant except from on sea days for the older ones apart from a disco at 11pm each night. My son who was 13 was allowed to join in with the younger children. They did a great show for the parents involving all the children and took them to more interesting shows each evening. The only extra charge was €2 for a t-shirt for the children to decorate one afternoon.

 

Space around the pools was good on the rare occassions when the sun was out and pool attendants were happy to bring extra loungers if you needed them.

 

The All Inclusive package made for an amazing saving but I also feel that we would have been more moderated in our drinking if we hadn't have had it! But with the children it meant that they had a large measure of freedom and could stuff themselves with ice cream all day between 10am and 6pm. It also covered all items in the mini bar including crisps and nuts.

 

If you are travelling with children and they are going to purchase from the shops whether it be a logo item or sweets and chocolates the it is worth getting the a Teen Card. If you place €30 of credit on it you get €5 free or if you place €50 on it you get €10 free this represented quite a large saving, we purchased one between the children and they bought various logo items and spent the remainder on chocolate (as if there wasn't enough food around!)

 

A massive choice of boardgames can be hired from reception (a charge of €26 is levied on your account but removed when you return the items), Golf clubs for the mini golf course are also available at the same rate but children are not allowed to hire these items themselves you have to accompany them ~ the mini golf was an interesting diversion in gale force wind and the rain.

 

All in all we had an excellent time and I would sail with MSC again although not on this itinerary. We paid the service charge at €7 per adult per day and also the Unicef fund of €1 per passenger and though this very fair as the ship was kept spotlessly clean, the staff were friendly and efficient, the food was excellent ~ where the moaners get their ammunition from I doo not know.

 

The staff speak English between themselves and all their information is in English so there are no language difficulties.

 

The reception staff were pleasant and efficent each time I dealt with them and would happily supply taxi prices and the nearest rank information. Basic maps were available for each port from the excursion desk but better ones were always available in the terminals.

 

The disco was not for adults shall we say as the music was more thump thump techno than music you could enjoy yourself to, the evening that was advertised as 70s and 80s turned out to be about 4 tracks and then a return to the techno.

[Mousehound]

I sailed on the Opera in June & my conclusions were the same as yours. I also loved the food & cannot for the life of me understand why many had complained. It's good to see that others are of the same opinion as me.

To that end I have since booked an 11 night cruise on the MSC Fantasia for next February.:cool:

[pmacher61]

I... cannot for the life of me understand why many had complained. It's good to see that others are of the same opinion as me.

It's simple. Although you are indubitably entitled to your opinion, many other cruisers complained because they had an opinion different than yours. Does the fact the OP shares your opinion cause you to truly believe that the many contrary opinions are invalid? Perhaps it is your opinion and that of the OP that is suspect. After all, most people give MSC lower grades for food (and service) than other cruise lines? What is the depth of your experience?

[Mousehound]

My experience is quite wide. My partner & I have cruised at least 3 times a year for the last 12 years. Travelling with RCCL, Celebrity, Princess, Star Line, Cunard, Island, Holland American & various river cruises.

I agree with you that food is a very subjective. We are both very adventurous with our food & will try anything. I am also a very fair person being a member of the judiciary. My opinion still remains the same. I found the food on MSC very good & the majority of complaints I heard from fellow Brits were along the lines of ' The food is all Italian!!!' My response was politely to point out that if you travel on an Italian line, expect Italian food. I must say when I booked my MSC cruise I was a little concerned about the food as I had read a lot of reviews.

In conclusion I agree that all people have opinions & I will defend their right to express it, even if it is not the same as mine.

[Rassa]

Thanks Shelledpea for your review.

 

We will be on Opera mid September and the Opera breakdown and negative reports are a concern, especially for us when we are coming from so far away.

 

Glad to hear they serve water and coffee with dinner. Also happy to hear the food was not that bad. We don't focus on the food (we watch our weight for health reasons).

 

Rosie

[Deckhandoug]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=355

 

77 reviews, 40% loved it.

 

Food rated a solid 2.9 ~ 3 stars

 

It's clear that it's not for everybody, that's for sure.

 

Thanks for the review, I'm glad you had a good cruise.

[clydecruiser]

Shelledpea

 

We have pre-booked the drinks packages for our Opera cruise at the end of August, can I ask what the mini bar was stocked with and also if your card had a sticker on it showing that you had the drinks package? Where you able to use the card in the Aroma Coffee Bar?

 

Can I also ask what the dress code was for your cruise (how many formal/informal/casual) and did people follow it?

 

Thanks for the tip re shuttle buses we will make sure we book them on boarding. I had assumed they would run continuously through the day rather than you having set times.

 

By stopping in Guernsey was the Opera then selling Duty Free on board?

 

I will need to consider whether to change to first sitting as I think 9.30pm may be too late for my mum.

 

Many Thanks

[Shelledpea]

Shelledpea

 

We have pre-booked the drinks packages for our Opera cruise at the end of August, can I ask what the mini bar was stocked with and also if your card had a sticker on it showing that you had the drinks package? Where you able to use the card in the Aroma Coffee Bar?

 

Can I also ask what the dress code was for your cruise (how many formal/informal/casual) and did people follow it?

 

Thanks for the tip re shuttle buses we will make sure we book them on boarding. I had assumed they would run continuously through the day rather than you having set times.

 

By stopping in Guernsey was the Opera then selling Duty Free on board?

 

I will need to consider whether to change to first sitting as I think 9.30pm may be too late for my mum.

 

Many Thanks

 

Your card states that you have the all inclusive package (ours said ALL 412 ~ which is premium all Inclusive). I didn't use it in the aroma bar unfortunately so I can't answer that.

 

We had two formal nights (1st night at sea after Amsterdam and last night Cherbourg) Then the rest were informal bar 1 which was casual. Even on Informal nights you still saw gents in jeans and a shirt, a few wore blazers. Most women wore "going out" clothes every night i.e. summery dresses, the odd cocktail dress etc. Maxi dresses were very much in eveidence.

 

Duty free was sold onboard we got 800 fortuna cigarettes for €56.70 which was a good deal.

 

There are 2 gents from the restaurant seated to the side of reception when you embark who were dealing with changes to dining arrangements.

 

Hope this helps

[Worm61]

Thanks for all the information of the places & about buses etc i haven't seen any information about things like that ..i'm actually writing every thing down ( sad i know ) but i will have good knowledge of the more unusual things ..well i hate surprises of costs :)

[Janet&Carl]

Hi - I too am a MSC fan and think their cruises are fantastic - going on my third soon :D. I am interested in finding out about the all inclusive drinks package - did you pay each person including children... I read that you had to pay per person and thought it wouldnt be worth it for the kids.

 

Thanks Janet

 

ohh and for the doubters MSC has won awards

MSC Cruises Receives ‘Best Big-Ship Luxury Enclave,’

‘Best Kept Secret’ Honors in 2009 Cruise Critic

Editors’ Pick Awards

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (October 21, 2009)– MSC Cruises received “Best Big-Ship Luxury Enclave for MSC Yacht Club” and “Best Kept Secret,” honors in the 2009 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. The awards honor the world’s top cruise lines and highlight the best of the best in cruising.

MSC Yacht Club is like a “ship within a ship,” with dedicated VIP areas available onboard the MSC Fantasiaand MSC Splendida. The MSC Yacht Club allows guests to experience the best of both worlds –personalized service and a private, intimate space while also enjoying the full benefits of all the magnificent vessel has to offer.

"Cruise lines continue to maintain exceptional standards and provide a fantastic vacation experience for travelers," said editor-in-chief Carolyn Spencer Brown. "Cruise lines should be justifiably proud of their staff, crew, partners and agencies that have made such achievement possible.”

[Zambezi]

Hi - I too am a MSC fan and think their cruises are fantastic - going on my third soon :D. I am interested in finding out about the all inclusive drinks package - did you pay each person including children... I read that you had to pay per person and thought it wouldnt be worth it for the kids.

 

Thanks Janet

 

ohh and for the doubters MSC has won awards

MSC Cruises Receives ‘Best Big-Ship Luxury Enclave,’

‘Best Kept Secret’ Honors in 2009 Cruise Critic

Editors’ Pick Awards

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (October 21, 2009)– MSC Cruises received “Best Big-Ship Luxury Enclave for MSC Yacht Club” and “Best Kept Secret,” honors in the 2009 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. The awards honor the world’s top cruise lines and highlight the best of the best in cruising.

MSC Yacht Club is like a “ship within a ship,” with dedicated VIP areas available onboard the MSC Fantasiaand MSC Splendida. The MSC Yacht Club allows guests to experience the best of both worlds –personalized service and a private, intimate space while also enjoying the full benefits of all the magnificent vessel has to offer.

"Cruise lines continue to maintain exceptional standards and provide a fantastic vacation experience for travelers," said editor-in-chief Carolyn Spencer Brown. "Cruise lines should be justifiably proud of their staff, crew, partners and agencies that have made such achievement possible.”

 

Most of us including me haven't had the opportunity to partake in MSC's Yacht club, I hope it lives up to the hype for you.

 

How does MSC compare to your experiences on other lines?

[Shelledpea]

Hi - I too am a MSC fan and think their cruises are fantastic - going on my third soon :D. I am interested in finding out about the all inclusive drinks package - did you pay each person including children... I read that you had to pay per person and thought it wouldnt be worth it for the kids.

 

Thanks Janet

 

Yes you have to pay per person including children but we received the AI as an early booking promotion.

 

When we worked out what we had drank we came in above what the AI would have cost us, when we took off the cost of the childrens AI packages and the cost of their drinks then we miles and miles in front.

 

Make the most of it whilst it is available as from Spring 2012 it is being discontinued and replaced with Allegro packages

 

Shell

[Millands Green]

Shelledpea

 

We have pre-booked the drinks packages for our Opera cruise at the end of August, can I ask what the mini bar was stocked with and also if your card had a sticker on it showing that you had the drinks package? Where you able to use the card in the Aroma Coffee Bar?

 

Can I also ask what the dress code was for your cruise (how many formal/informal/casual) and did people follow it?

 

Thanks for the tip re shuttle buses we will make sure we book them on boarding. I had assumed they would run continuously through the day rather than you having set times.

 

By stopping in Guernsey was the Opera then selling Duty Free on board?

 

I will need to consider whether to change to first sitting as I think 9.30pm may be too late for my mum.

 

Many Thanks

 

Clydecruiser

 

Are you on the Opera departing from Southampton on 23rd August? We are making our cruise debut on this one and both very much looking forward to it.

 

I too, am a little concerned about dress codes - unlike the other half, I am not a fan of dressing up so pleased to read that it is not too formal.

[AmoMondo]

Yes you have to pay per person including children but we received the AI as an early booking promotion.

 

When we worked out what we had drank we came in above what the AI would have cost us, when we took off the cost of the childrens AI packages and the cost of their drinks then we miles and miles in front.

 

Make the most of it whilst it is available as from Spring 2012 it is being discontinued and replaced with Allegro packages

 

Shell

 

Hi Shelledpea

 

Haven't heard about the Allegro package for 2012, do you know what it is and how it works or is it basically another version of the AI with a different price and rules?

 

Thanks

[4nlalaland]

Thanks Shelledpea for posting ... I wish it had been available before we took our cruise.. I will add our experience.. as we too enjoyed our cruise.

 

As this was our first time cruising on MSC.. I too was very apprehensive since some of the reviews were not very good.. Well I am happy to post that we had a very nice cruise. The Opera is a very nice ship, well kept up and very clean.

Yes there are some differences..

There are very few passengers from the US or UK.. most are from non-english speaking counties and as others have mentioned... all announcements are made in 5 different languages but all employees spoke english.. You definitely get the feeling that you are in Europe, which we loved..

The entertainment is not as elaborate as on other cruiselines... music selection in the bars/disco and karaoke - very interesting : ) although my kids(young adults) really enjoyed themselves at night.. we enjoyed having an after dinner drink at the Caruso Lounge which had nightly entertainment(audience participation) and dancing.

The food situation.. if you are one of those people that enjoys eating heavily and frequently on a cruise.. then this cruise is not for you. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at specific times and then the kitchen is closed. No 24 hr anything except for water and coffee dispensers that were not filled up at night so sometimes were empty.... be aware that if you stay out late.. let's say dancing... and get a little hungry, well nothing to eat will be available. we put a few yogurts in our refrigerator just incase.. The food in the buffet is limited in comparison to other cruiselines.. but sufficient. My suggestion would be to eat in the dinning room for breakfast, lunch and dinner.. as I found the food there very good. You are not served plates over-flowing with food but instead many courses with portions as you would receive at a nice restaurant. The food choices are very european. We very much enjoyed the food selections and were very satisfied with the quality of the food and the portions. I also ordered the complimentary breakfast room service every morning as a wake-up call.(juice, coffee and toast)

There were 2 formal nights and the rest were informal.. on formal nights there were few people dressed in formal gowns and tuxedos.. most were not so formal(ladies in dresses or pants and nice tops and men in shirt and tie)..

We had late dining (9pm) which was perfect for us since it gave us time to have a drink and be on deck for sail-away..after visiting ports.. then plenty of time to get ready for dinner.

As far as the ports...there are city representatives at each port with maps of the city and very willing to give you suggestions and instructions on how to get around.

Amsterdam.. we walked into town(15-20 minutes) and used the map and tour route suggested to walk around.

La Rochelle.. you have to pay for the bus trip into town 9euros per person round trip.. again the town is very easy to walk around and see the sights.

Bilbao.. again a bus trip 12euros.. it drops you off in the center of town near the museum.. we walked to the museum and then around the town then took the metro to the old part of town.

La Coruna.. the port is in town so you can walk into town and explore.. we took a train to Santiago de Compostella for the day.

Cherbourg.. again the port is in town.. there is a bus that will take you into town 7euros.. but I suggest you just walk since it is only about 15-20 minute walk.

We did not pre-book the bus trips at each port, we just walked out to the boarding area about an hour after we were allowed to get off the ship... and put our names on a list (tickets were charged to our onboard acct) and got in line for the bus. We were able to get on the bus within 15-20 minutes.

The ship employees are not as fake-happy and friendly as on other cruiselines.. but nice enough and efficient.

We were also worried about smoking being a problem as we are non-smokers but happy to post it wasn't.

Another thing that was a little different was that the people on the ship change daily since there are passengers getting on and off at each port.

The weather in most ports was a little on the cool side, which was fine since we did so much walking. We did get a little rain in 2 of the ports but only for a short time. It was cold on our 2 sea days which was disappointing since my daughter was looking forward to tanning by the pool.

Also we experienced quite a bit of movement on a couple of nights on the ship, it ruined some people's dinner... Don't know if this is typical in that area or if it was because it is a smaller ship? It wasn't a problem for us.. They do offer dramamine at the reception desk.

 

We enjoyed our cruise and would definitely cruise again on MSC if the itinerary and price was right.

[Shelledpea]

Hi Shelledpea

 

Haven't heard about the Allegro package for 2012, do you know what it is and how it works or is it basically another version of the AI with a different price and rules?

 

Thanks

 

It's more similar to the cheers package. Here's the info from the 2012 brochure ~

Put a smile on your face with our Allegro package, the quick and easy way to pay for your mealtime drinks before you even set sail. For Beer, Wine, Mineral water, and Soft Drinks, allegro offers mouth-watering value for money!

 

Allegro Adult £62

4 bottles of wine & 7 bottles of mineral water

OR

14 draught beers (40cl) & 7 bottles of mineral water

 

Allegro Child £31

14 Soft drinks or fruit juices

 

On the child pack if your child drinks cans of soda then the saving is around £12, on beer you will save around £14 excluding the mineral water.

[AmoMondo]

It's more similar to the cheers package. Here's the info from the 2012 brochure ~

 

 

On the child pack if your child drinks cans of soda then the saving is around £12, on beer you will save around £14 excluding the mineral water.

 

That's not a bad price. Looking at the wine one, it looks like you are getting the water free and the wine for slightly cheaper than the cost of their house wine. presume they'll let you leave some of the wine at dinner for the next night and I do get through quite a lot of water onboard. may well consider getting a couple of them for my 2012 cruise.

[janneke]

The Original message was :

 

"We were told that during the evening of our following sea day that the ship would be stopping at Guernsey from 7.30pm till 12am, obviously not a lot would be open at that time apart from restaurants and bars. Limited numbers of tender tickets were available at €12 per person." .

 

 

"Pool and beach towels have to be collected and your card is swiped a charge of €20 is levied for each towel not returned ~ so make sure your card is swiped upon returning!"

 

" The only extra charge was €2 for a t-shirt for the children to decorate one afternoon."

 

My reaction to that message is :

 

Please note that on the Costa ships ALL these items are free of charge : tenders, beach towels and t-shirts or base ball caps to decorate in the youth club. I have done or seen all these items and i can prove this statement. Newly since this year the cappucino coffees at the breakfast are extra at 2 eur , before they were also free of charge. Perhaps this is a new trend to have everything at extra charge!

JP

[AmoMondo]

The Original message was :

 

"We were told that during the evening of our following sea day that the ship would be stopping at Guernsey from 7.30pm till 12am, obviously not a lot would be open at that time apart from restaurants and bars. Limited numbers of tender tickets were available at €12 per person." .

 

 

"Pool and beach towels have to be collected and your card is swiped a charge of €20 is levied for each towel not returned ~ so make sure your card is swiped upon returning!"

 

" The only extra charge was €2 for a t-shirt for the children to decorate one afternoon."

 

My reaction to that message is :

 

Please note that on the Costa ships ALL these items are free of charge : tenders, beach towels and t-shirts or base ball caps to decorate in the youth club. I have done or seen all these items and i can prove this statement. Newly since this year the cappucino coffees at the breakfast are extra at 2 eur , before they were also free of charge. Perhaps this is a new trend to have everything at extra charge!

JP

 

You only get charged 20 euros for beach towels if you keep them. They are free otherwise.

 

Normally tenders are free on MSC too but this is a peculiar situation in that it is an adiitional port being made available over and above the original itinerary.

[Croissant]

We just came back this afternoon, having boarded in Amsterdam.

 

In comparison to the cruises we have taken with Celebrity, the food is not as good or as well prepared. The selections are more limited, for one. On Celebrity, you can order anything you like, as long as you do it a day in advance. On the Opera, the portion sizes were ok, and I agree that the best choice is to take meals in the restaurant.

I missed having my water glass refilled regularly, and being offered tea or coffee after the meals. For the rest, it was fine, although my vegetarian husband found better choices in the buffet.

We did not do any of the planned excursions, but took the shuttle bus in, in La Rochelle and in Bilbao. In La Coruna, Cherbourg and Southampton, we walked into town. In Southampton, my husband walked the 10 minutes to the train station, took a 15 minute train ride to Winchester on his own.

La Rochelle had an aquarium, but the line was rather long. Looking back I am sorry we missed it, as the attraction at Cherbourg, is more about submarines, interesting in itself, but one daughter was looking forward to seeing fish, and there weren't that many.

 

The show on board had an interesting flamenco group, and good acrobats. We didn't think too highly of the singer/dancers.

 

The cabin was fine, and everything was kept very clean. The light for reading in bed could have been better.

There is a library on board in the card playing room, and there was the usual paperbacks and thrillers in English. Also good for leaving books I brought and finished behind.

 

The weather was better than at home, and there were a few days warm enough to swim, and sun around the pool.

There wasn't any real attempt at having interesting speakers, and there is no cinema. There were recent films on the television, the same group rotated times each day. There were two sea days, and most ports gave you 4-8 hours to do things in.

We had no problems onboard as English speakers.

 

If anyone wants more information on things to do in Amsterdam, I would be pleased to help.

 

Croissant