help with cruising on MSC Opera

[Danix91]

Hi everyone, I will be going on my first cruise in Feb next year (15th -18th it's a cruise to nowhere). Was just wondering how much money I should bring with for my cruise card (don't have a credit card), won't be using the spa, buying photo's or going to the casino but will try a cocktail or three (not a big drinker at all) and am interested in getting the DVD (any idea how much it costs?).

 

Will be going with my best gal pal (girl's trip) and will be in an inside cabin. Any particular location that is better or that we should avoid?

 

How does the safe work? I've read that people use their credit card to use it? :confused:

 

Our ages are 19 and 21. Will there be people in our age group or only older?

 

We are both first time cruisers so Any and All advice or insight will be greatly appreciated. If you need any other info I'll be glad to give it.

Thanks Stax in advance :)

[AmoMondo]

Hi everyone, I will be going on my first cruise in Feb next year (15th -18th it's a cruise to nowhere). Was just wondering how much money I should bring with for my cruise card (don't have a credit card), won't be using the spa, buying photo's or going to the casino but will try a cocktail or three (not a big drinker at all) and am interested in getting the DVD (any idea how much it costs?).

 

Will be going with my best gal pal (girl's trip) and will be in an inside cabin. Any particular location that is better or that we should avoid?

 

How does the safe work? I've read that people use their credit card to use it? :confused:

 

Our ages are 19 and 21. Will there be people in our age group or only older?

 

We are both first time cruisers so Any and All advice or insight will be greatly appreciated. If you need any other info I'll be glad to give it.

Thanks Stax in advance :)

 

3 cocktails will cost just over €20 on European sailings you'll have a €7 per day per person service charge added to your account.

 

The safe is not operated by credit card. You have to set your own code on it (just like a lot of hotel safes)

 

Don't know what the age group will be on a cruise that short as I've never been on one under 7 nights. MSC usually has a fairly mixed age group, with the average being 40-50s. On week cruises you getba lot of younger couples and families with children as well as middle aged and older.

 

Not sure what the prices and currency will be though when this ship is sailing out of South Africa when you are going, though.

[Skier52]

Hi everyone, I will be going on my first cruise in Feb next year (15th -18th it's a cruise to nowhere). Was just wondering how much money I should bring with for my cruise card (don't have a credit card), won't be using the spa, buying photo's or going to the casino but will try a cocktail or three (not a big drinker at all) and am interested in getting the DVD (any idea how much it costs?).

 

Will be going with my best gal pal (girl's trip) and will be in an inside cabin. Any particular location that is better or that we should avoid?

 

How does the safe work? I've read that people use their credit card to use it? :confused:

 

Our ages are 19 and 21. Will there be people in our age group or only older?

 

We are both first time cruisers so Any and All advice or insight will be greatly appreciated. If you need any other info I'll be glad to give it.

Thanks Stax in advance :)

I'm guessing the dates of your cruise are actually 15 - 17 of Feb 2013 as another cruise starts on the 17th shown in the image below

 

 

Here is a link to a slideshow of the MSC drinks menu for Feb this year. The prices are in euros and you have to add on 15% gratuities to the price.

 

 

http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc410/skier6666/SPLENDIDA%20DRINKS/?albumview=slideshow

 

 

The currency in use in South African waters is US dollars amd the daily rate for gratuities in S.Africa is $6 per person per day

 

 

 

If I had to choose a cabin I'd go for deck 9 as there are only cabins above and below, all other decks have either the pool deck or ship's services below and they could be anything which may make some noise at odd hours of the day and night.

 

The forward and rearward cabins of deck 10 have areas above that should not make too much noise in the early morning.

 

The rear cabins of deck 8 have cabins below so would also be a good choice.

 

Cabins on deck 7 , all at the rear are above the restaurant which may not be too bad but may have some noise as they set up for breakfast.

 

Some people think that being near the lifts is a good idea as there is not too much walking to get to them , personally I prefer to be away from the lifts so that you don't get lots of people walking past your cabin to/from the lifts which may involve them making a noise and disturbing you.

 

Have a look at the deck plans on this link to see what I mean

 

 

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/5e6fca68#/5e6fca68/100

 

Hope this is of use

 

Pete

[Skier52]

one of the images appears to be subject to a broken link in my first reply so here it is again it is the daily addition to your account for gratuities

 

 

 

[Danix91]

I'm guessing the dates of your cruise are actually 15 - 17 of Feb 2013 as another cruise starts on the 17th shown in the image below

 

 

Here is a link to a slideshow of the MSC drinks menu for Feb this year. The prices are in euros and you have to add on 15% gratuities to the price.

 

 

http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc410/skier6666/SPLENDIDA%20DRINKS/?albumview=slideshow

 

 

The currency in use in South African waters is US dollars amd the daily rate for gratuities in S.Africa is $6 per person per day

 

 

 

If I had to choose a cabin I'd go for deck 9 as there are only cabins above and below, all other decks have either the pool deck or ship's services below and they could be anything which may make some noise at odd hours of the day and night.

 

The forward and rearward cabins of deck 10 have areas above that should not make too much noise in the early morning.

 

The rear cabins of deck 8 have cabins below so would also be a good choice.

 

Cabins on deck 7 , all at the rear are above the restaurant which may not be too bad but may have some noise as they set up for breakfast.

 

Some people think that being near the lifts is a good idea as there is not too much walking to get to them , personally I prefer to be away from the lifts so that you don't get lots of people walking past your cabin to/from the lifts which may involve them making a noise and disturbing you.

 

Have a look at the deck plans on this link to see what I mean

 

 

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/5e6fca68#/5e6fca68/100

 

Hope this is of use

 

Pete

 

Hi Pete,

 

sorry yes I seem to have made a mistake re the dates thanks.

 

thanks for all you helpful advuce :)

[Dibles]

Hi everyone, I will be going on my first cruise in Feb next year (15th -18th it's a cruise to nowhere). Was just wondering how much money I should bring with for my cruise card (don't have a credit card), won't be using the spa, buying photo's or going to the casino but will try a cocktail or three (not a big drinker at all) and am interested in getting the DVD (any idea how much it costs?).

 

Will be going with my best gal pal (girl's trip) and will be in an inside cabin. Any particular location that is better or that we should avoid?

 

How does the safe work? I've read that people use their credit card to use it? :confused:

 

Our ages are 19 and 21. Will there be people in our age group or only older?

 

We are both first time cruisers so Any and All advice or insight will be greatly appreciated. If you need any other info I'll be glad to give it.

Thanks Stax in advance :)

 

Hi Danix91,

 

I was on the Cruise to Nowhere in Feb this year and am going again next year (same cruise as you).

 

The photos are about $15-20 per photo if I remember correctly. Everything is in US dollars. I know you're not interested in the spa but the prices aren't bad. I had my hair cut on the cruise and it cost me about R260 (one of the best haircuts I've had!). Massages were also decently priced. Cocktails vary in price but I think they were around $4-$5 per drink.

 

We had mid-ship inner cabins which are perfect if you're prone to seasickness as you don't feel as much movement. Last season there were plenty of cyclones in Feb so keep this in mind when choosing your cabin.

 

There are people of all ages on the cruise - plenty of young people - so you won't feel out of place.

 

Get to port early so that you have a seat while waiting to board. It took about an hour last time.

 

See you on the cruise! I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[All aboard??]

Hi everyone, I will be going on my first cruise in Feb next year (15th -18th it's a cruise to nowhere). Was just wondering how much money I should bring with for my cruise card (don't have a credit card), won't be using the spa, buying photo's or going to the casino but will try a cocktail or three (not a big drinker at all) and am interested in getting the DVD (any idea how much it costs?).

 

Will be going with my best gal pal (girl's trip) and will be in an inside cabin. Any particular location that is better or that we should avoid?

 

How does the safe work? I've read that people use their credit card to use it? :confused:

 

Our ages are 19 and 21. Will there be people in our age group or only older?

 

We are both first time cruisers so Any and All advice or insight will be greatly appreciated. If you need any other info I'll be glad to give it.

Thanks Stax in advance :)

 

Having had extensive experience with MSC in South Africa here are my advices:

 

I think it is safe to work on US$100 per person per day - what you don't spend you always get back.

 

MSC cruises in the South African Market covers all age groups - I am sure you will have a blast in the night club till the early hours - I have seen many a sunrise from the night clubs on both Melody and Sinfonia :o

 

As for cabin placement I can not help you but I would say anything on deck 8 or 9 should be good from a noise perspective, however deck 7 cabins disembark first.

 

Try and get Priority Boarding - if they still selling it.