LIVE: MSC Fantasia 17 night repositioning cruise Santos Brazil to Venice 5 March 2013

[lady peacock]

Really enjoyed your journey.....

 

Would welcome you back to Yorkshire, but our home time is expecting 40cms of snow tomorrow.......

 

Have a great cruise Amo... please look after the Atlantica, we are aboard very soon......

 

Mel:D

[AmoMondo]

Really enjoyed your journey.....

 

Would welcome you back to Yorkshire, but our home time is expecting 40cms of snow tomorrow.......

 

Have a great cruise Amo... please look after the Atlantica, we are aboard very soon......

 

Mel:D

 

Hi Mel,

 

Heard about all the snow due I was waiting for my flight yesterday. Sounds like it's going to be grim. The only snow where am I now as the ski slope in Mall of the Emirates! I'm going to head over to the Atlantica in about 4 hours and try my luck at getting on her before the stated 8pm check in. I'll do my best to leave her in a good state for you, although I may have depleted the stock of red wine a tad!

 

Tim, I was almost born on the 20th, poor mum was in labour all day and I wasn't born until the wee hours of the 21st, but still a bit spooky that we were so close to sharing a birthday and have such similar opinions on cruising and wine!

 

Anyway, safe trip home Tim and Duane. It was a joy reading this thread each day. I would miss it, were it not that my little adventure is already underway

[Skipper Tim]

Good afternoon from the Marco Polo lounge, Venice Marco Polo airport. Yes, it is all over and the Cruise Critics roll call members have finally gone their separate directions. Angela, Keith and Duane were the first off with a fast car to get on their morning flights to London.

 

Lady Peacock, many thanks. I am a little shocked by the reports of heavy snow. Here in Venice it is a cloudless sunny and warm day. And yes, Mairi, I find it very odd indeed. Duane and I are both very keen to meet you on some cruise sometime. I have discovered that any cruise with Duane aboard will be entertaining.

 

After dinner last night, the 13 had a farewell meet in La Cantina Toscana (a.k.a. as the Cruise Critics Club House). I can't really remember how it all ended but pretty much as we started in Santos and continued at all points between.

 

I woke a little after 7 this morning as we were arriving in Venice to read the disembarkation instructions to be out of the cabin by 7. I had barely started packing! Packing to go home is easy except for carefully folding all the fresh from the laundry to use up the laundry package.

 

I made a buffet breakfast by around 8 with luggage and dressed in my lounge suit as I found that my jeans had shrunk in the wardrobe. The buffet was absolutely packed but Joanne and Keith report that the Golden Circle MDR was deserted.

 

On deck after for a final orange juice and Moroccino chaser, a gentleman called Ricardo from Brazil and I conversed on the subjects of politics and religion. I pointed out that they say "Never talk about ....". He said, "And in Brazil they add Soccer". As he was leaving, Chung arrived and then Michael. We were in danger of the party starting up again but Michel was keen to wander around Venice and I decided to forgo a stowaway lunch and join him.

 

Disembarkation was quick and painless. It was a 10 minute walk to the monorail "people mover" and a 2 minute ride (€1) sardine-style to Piazale Roma where we met Joanne and Keith with the news that there was no public transport, no Vaporettos and no airport busses, until 12 due to a strike. I was glad I hadn't gone for the earlier flight. It was ironic that the journey home was ending like the journey out 18 days before - with the threat of travel disruption due to industrial action. We were on foot! Venice was beautiful in the Spring sunshine.

 

The mystery of the nightly presents, the undeserved invitations and generally special treatment of the Cruise Critics group was never solved. Perhaps it was a combination of factors: John's press pass, three Yacht Club guests, Duane's MSC connections from school and perhaps the daily reports here. At the time of writing there have been almost 4,100 hits to this thread.

 

Thank you for reading and joining us on our journey.

 

Until the next one!

 

Tim.

(Links to a photo album and videos to follow.)

[Kelownabccan]

Loved your "off the cuff" comments about MSC and the trip.....boy you had a great time....we are booked on an 18 day repo on the Divina which is just like the one you were on....hope we have a fantastic Cruise Critic group like you did.....but probably will not hang out in the Yacht Club...lol......can not even imagine your bar bill if you were not up in the stratosphere on the top deck with all those perks.....we only have a lowly aft cabin balcony...the steerage as one would say....you should write a story for the newspapers or a magazine as would be a hoot to read.....stay healthy...and thanks for the fun reading...

[Skipper Tim]

Loved your "off the cuff" comments about MSC and the trip.....boy you had a great time....we are booked on an 18 day repo on the Divina which is just like the one you were on....hope we have a fantastic Cruise Critic group like you did.....but probably will not hang out in the Yacht Club...lol......can not even imagine your bar bill if you were not up in the stratosphere on the top deck with all those perks.....we only have a lowly aft cabin balcony...the steerage as one would say....you should write a story for the newspapers or a magazine as would be a hoot to read.....stay healthy...and thanks for the fun reading...

 

I had the lowliest of aft balcony cabins - at least in terms of category. Mine was officially an outside, i.e. non-balcony, category 5 cabin but with a Juliette balcony all the way up on deck 13. I discovered it was a superb choice, value-wise and for location handy for almost everything except the theatre. I loved using the 'private' staircase in the starboard-aft corner to get to the quieter rear section of the buffet one deck above and to the quieter pool, jacuzzi and bar area on the stern of deck 15. Both MDRs are either side of the lift just a few paces further away. I would certainly stay in one of these again on the Fantasia or her immediate younger sister ship which also has them.

 

Secondly, for reasons which are extremely hard to explain, my final on board account was actually positive. Despite individual members of the group having each been told in advance that Allegrissimo was not available for this cruise, it became available to pre-book online just days before. Five of us did. Due to a probable IT glitch, the amount to pay was shown as zero. MSC management on board were surprised and shocked to say the least but to their immense credit eventually honoured the zero price for each of us that had booked it. Further they apologised for their mistake with an extra plate of sugar-coated fruit delivered to our respective cabins. To say I cannot fault MSC customer service would not be true but give credit where credit is due.

 

There had been a special offer of £100 on board credit at the time I booked which I calculated would just cover the daily $9 hotel charge. On top, I booked five hours internet ($75) and a 20-item laundry package ($25). Also I had paid my spare Reals into my account. I expected to to have my card charged a very modest $90 this morning. For some unknown reason, and without any request or suggestion from me, the final account slipped under my door in the night had one final entry - a total refund of the daily hotel charge. So my account was around $55 in credit. I practice this means I had nothing to pay whatsoever. I felt apallingly guilty so I left all my Euros bar bus fare for my cabin attendant and his assistant.

 

This cruise has been the best value and most fun of any I have taken or am ever likely to take. I always try to get good value but the divine intervention this time took it beyond limits of decency. A very sincere thank you MSC and long may it continue :) I just wish someone, once had said why. Overtones of Great Expectations?

Edited March 22, 2013 by Skipper Tim

[Kelownabccan]

There is a term they say over here..."the luck of the Irish"..!!!!....boy did you ever..although I do not think you are Irish......for some reason I thought you had one of those Yacht Club suites as you seemed to be up there all the time..lol.....friends in the right places....eh....we originally had one of those cabins booked that you were in but found out there is not much of a balcony and could not sit out easily unless you were a midget....so we went down a couple of decks to get a larger area...I imagine the secret staircase to the stars is there for us to use.....thanks again for the laughs....I must get my wife to read your blog....have a great trip home

[papcx]

I had the lowliest of aft balcony cabins - at least in terms of category. Mine was officially an outside, i.e. non-balcony, category 5 cabin but with a Juliette balcony all the way up on deck 13. I discovered it was a superb choice, value-wise and for location handy for almost everything except the theatre. I loved using the 'private' staircase in the starboard-aft corner to get to the quieter rear section of the buffet one deck above and to the quieter pool, jacuzzi and bar area on the stern of deck 15. Both MDRs are either side of the lift just a few paces further away. I would certainly stay in one of these again on the Fantasia or her immediate younger sister ship which also has them.

 

Secondly, for reasons which are extremely hard to explain, my final on board account was actually positive. Despite individual members of the group having each been told in advance that Allegrissimo was not available for this cruise, it became available to pre-book online just days before. Five of us did. Due to a probable IT glitch, the amount to pay was shown as zero. MSC management on board were surprised and shocked to say the least but to their immense credit eventually honoured the zero price for each of us that had booked it. Further they apologised for their mistake with an extra plate of sugar-coated fruit delivered to our respective cabins. To say I cannot fault MSC customer service would not be true but give credit where credit is due.

 

There had been a special offer of £100 on board credit at the time I booked which I calculated would just cover the daily $9 hotel charge. On top, I booked five hours internet ($75) and a 20-item laundry package ($25). Also I had paid my spare Reals into my account. I expected to to have my card charged a very modest $90 this morning. For some unknown reason, and without any request or suggestion from me, the final account slipped under my door in the night had one final entry - a total refund of the daily hotel charge. So my account was around $55 in credit. I practice this means I had nothing to pay whatsoever. I felt apallingly guilty so I left all my Euros bar bus fare for my cabin attendant and his assistant.

 

This cruise has been the best value and most fun of any I have taken or am ever likely to take. I always try to get good value but the divine intervention this time took it beyond limits of decency. A very sincere thank you MSC and long may it continue :) I just wish someone, once had said why. Overtones of Great Expectations?

 

Tim - Am I reading this right?

 

The charge for the drinks package (which should have been 17 x £20 = £340) was 0 and they honored it?

 

And then they gave you choc covered fruit!

 

And wavered the hotel service charge!

[sidari]

Tim ... someone was looking over you on the final night and morning with a bill like that .... :D

[treesah]

Happy belated birthday wishes for Tim and Mairi. And many, many more.

[Skipper Tim]

Tim - Am I reading this right?

 

The charge for the drinks package (which should have been 17 x £20 = £340) was 0 and they honored it?

 

And then they gave you choc covered fruit!

 

And wavered the hotel service charge!

 

Yes, I am afraid so. I was almost too embarrassed to mention the extent of special favours and treatment here but I ought in the name of transparency. It is not exactly as if I have been overly-kind about MSC in my musings. The removal of the AI charge was in fact brought about not by me but by Cruise Critic Mysterious Lady who set a precedant from which I and others benefited. The nightly presents and unwarranted invitations were and are a mystery while the removal of the hotel charge was completely unexpected and out of the blue.

 

Tim ... someone was looking over you on the final night and morning with a bill like that .... :D

 

I agree but who and why?

 

There is a term they say over here..."the luck of the Irish"..!!!!....boy did you ever..although I do not think you are Irish......

 

I am two eighths Irish!

 

we originally had one of those cabins booked that you were in but found out there is not much of a balcony and could not sit out easily unless you were a midget....

 

No there is standing room only on the Juliettes but that suited me for what I paid.

 

thanks again for the laughs....I must get my wife to read your blog....have a great trip home

 

Your welcome, as you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoyed writing them.

 

As for getting home, the car was totally snowed in and unable to collect me from the train station last night. I diverted to a friend's house in Glossop who just happens to be having a party today. The merriment will just have to continue for one more day!

 

Happy belated birthday wishes for Tim and Mairi. And many, many more.

 

Many, many thanks!

 

Tim.

[AmoMondo]

Wow Tim, what a great final present with you final bill! You certainly lucked out by the sounds of things.

 

Hope the snow melts soon. Normality is going to be a bit of climb down for you - nos special cocktails, no little mysterious presents....definitely wish I'd done that cruise. Mind you, not to miserable here in the Arabian Gulf on the rival Costa! Right enough Internet time, need ro head upstairs and bake in the sun for a wee while!

[travelberlin]

I had the lowliest of aft balcony cabins - at least in terms of category. Mine was officially an outside, i.e. non-balcony, category 5 cabin but with a Juliette balcony all the way up on deck 13. I discovered it was a superb choice, value-wise and for location handy for almost everything except the theatre. I loved using the 'private' staircase in the starboard-aft corner to get to the quieter rear section of the buffet one deck above and to the quieter pool, jacuzzi and bar area on the stern of deck 15. Both MDRs are either side of the lift just a few paces further away. I would certainly stay in one of these again on the Fantasia or her immediate younger sister ship which also has them.

 

Secondly, for reasons which are extremely hard to explain, my final on board account was actually positive. Despite individual members of the group having each been told in advance that Allegrissimo was not available for this cruise, it became available to pre-book online just days before. Five of us did. Due to a probable IT glitch, the amount to pay was shown as zero. MSC management on board were surprised and shocked to say the least but to their immense credit eventually honoured the zero price for each of us that had booked it. Further they apologised for their mistake with an extra plate of sugar-coated fruit delivered to our respective cabins. To say I cannot fault MSC customer service would not be true but give credit where credit is due.

 

There had been a special offer of £100 on board credit at the time I booked which I calculated would just cover the daily $9 hotel charge. On top, I booked five hours internet ($75) and a 20-item laundry package ($25). Also I had paid my spare Reals into my account. I expected to to have my card charged a very modest $90 this morning. For some unknown reason, and without any request or suggestion from me, the final account slipped under my door in the night had one final entry - a total refund of the daily hotel charge. So my account was around $55 in credit. I practice this means I had nothing to pay whatsoever. I felt apallingly guilty so I left all my Euros bar bus fare for my cabin attendant and his assistant.

 

This cruise has been the best value and most fun of any I have taken or am ever likely to take. I always try to get good value but the divine intervention this time took it beyond limits of decency. A very sincere thank you MSC and long may it continue :) I just wish someone, once had said why. Overtones of Great Expectations?

 

Wow! I am very glad for you Skipper Tim!

[Skipper Tim]

Having diverted to Glossop on Friday, I finally arrived home from the cruise a short time ago, two days late. The road we live on remains impassable by vehicle and pretty difficult on foot. The forecast for tomorrow is more heavy snow so I had to seize the best chance I had.

 

It was a military manoeuvre. I called from Glossop with my ETA at Slaithwaite. My brother and David set off on foot to meet me at the station. In the shelter of Slaithwate train station I changed from Panama to wooly hat, from my 'dance shoes' to sea boots and donned my winter coat all of which they had brought.

 

Before ascending the mountain, we called at a convenience store that was doing extraordinary business due to the weather. David then carried a sack of coal on his back, my brother wine and me my luggage through snow drifts and blizzards home. It was challenging but I am finally back from our cruise!

 

I will post photos & videos as soon as I can. Watch this thread.

 

Tim.

 

Arriving at Slaithwaite train station, having just changed.

 

Arriving home - the view out of the door.

[AmoMondo]

Not exactly the welcome home anyone would want Tim but great to hear you made it with humour and help from family.

 

I'm definitely hoping not to be facing the same when I get back on the 1st. Surely it will have thawed by April? One can only hope.

 

Just in case it is still freezing, I'd better make the most of the sunshine here. Sitting out on the aft pool deck aft having my morning routine of fresh cooked omelette and cappuccino. Seems not many favour this oasis of calm away from the buffet or don't know it's here. Long may that remain the case!

Edited March 25, 2013 by AmoMondo

[sidari]

Tim ... Good to see you made it home through the snow... :)

 

Mairi ... Online news say the snow will be here over Easter! well for those that have it that is.

[Lady Angela]

Hi everybody,

 

I am home (no snow here in France) it was am amazing cruise:D

 

My brother Keith lives quite near to Tim and although he got home on the right day and had a few problems it was nothing compared to Tim's experience.:)

 

I have now been able to read the daily (sometimes Duanne!) posts and they made me laugh out loud. I realised that we were having fun but reading about it brought it all back so thank you to Tim and Duanne. Duanne told me that although he is stuck in Funchal (not literally) he will do his best to complete his version of events soon.

 

Also thanks to Duanne for arranging priority disembarkation for me and my brother Keith it was a lovely end to our trip. Waiting in the Topsail Lounge was so peaceful compared to my previous trips.Having the Hotel Manager wish us Bon Voyage and being escorted ashore by Donny and the Head Butler was quite an experience.

 

I look forward to more photos being posted, and hope everyone else had a troublefree journey home.

[Skipper Tim]

Here are a selection of photos from our cruise.

 

 

This was the view from the bus on the way down the mountain towards Santos. The road seen here was clearly not the one we took as ours was gridlocked.

 

My cabin, 13206, as I found it and before unpacking. Although is is category 5 ('Outside' or porthole grade) it is a standard balcony cabin but with a small balcony.

 

Immediately after unpacking it was time to head to the opposite end of the ship to find Duane's suite. Here the Cruise Critics roll call members met for the first time. Missing from this photo are Elizabeth and Stan (did they arrive late?) and myself (behind the camera). Duane's first butler, 'Mr V.', keeps us well watered and fed. Afterwards he lead us in his tails through the ship to our reserved table in the 'Golden Cirle' MDR. Many thanks to Duane for his courageous and generous hospitality.

 

Armed with iPad and sitting in L'Africana - the rear part of the buffet - I write the first of my daily posts to this thread. The colour of the water and the mist gave the view an unreal quality.

 

Squid Ink Risotto. What can I say? It looked revolting but Michael ate it all like a man.

 

The 'consenting adults area' at the very top of the ship, deck 18.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Skipper Tim

[Skipper Tim]

A tanker comes alongside at Salvador to refuel us for the near week-long crossing to Funchal.

 

About to leave Salvador and the crazy pool area is busy.

 

All 13 of us meet at what became our regular meeting spot, La Cantina Toscana wine bar on deck 7. Sorry Duane, you didn't fit on this one.

 

More wine!

 

and yet more ....

 

... and then this happens.

[Skipper Tim]

Our first formal night, the night after leaving Salvador.

 

Elizabeth with a cocktail almost as big as her.

 

Our sea days and nights start to merge into an overlapping succession of impromptu social occasions.

 

Our evening waiter, Gede had a good smile. Michael and I happened to see him walking in Piazale Roma as we were on the bus to the airport and he was still smiling.

 

Look dolphins! By the commotion and screaming that preceded this shot, I thought there was someone overboard. (If you want to see dolphins, look here:

)

 

Duane camping it up for the camera.

[Skipper Tim]

The 13 of us were all invited to the exclusive Black Card event. Actually it was signed as "Black Card members and VIPs" so that makes us all VIPs as we didn't have a black card between us. It was weird introducing Michael to one of the senior officers, "It is is first time on MSC", at this event.

 

Duane with Donny, his second and longer-lasting butler.

 

Evening entertainment in the atrium.

 

Back at the wine bar.

 

In Funchal, Nelson (left) did this to my hair.

 

Smiling for the camera.

[Skipper Tim]

The Blandy's Madeira wine tour. "Wine? I thought we were here for Blandy".

 

This was the night I found two presents waiting for me in my cabin. The canapés were the regular 'VIP' present and the chocolate-covered fruit was to apologise for giving me Allegrissimo Premium free of charge by mistake !!!!!

 

The Daniel Show. I am still trying to comprehend its meaning.

 

Arriving at Malaga, early morning.

 

Adriana, one of our trusty bar staff, taking part in a drill.

 

Street entertainers, Malaga.

[Skipper Tim]

My preferred cafe Morocchino - like a cappuccino with half the water taken out and chocolate sauce added for good measure. It was not on the bar menus but all of the bar staff bar one (she accidentally made a vanilla sauce variation) I encountered knew how to make it.

 

Keith, Maureen, John and Michael.

 

This was the handbrake turn to get us into Palermo. The stern (pictured) skirts past the harbour wall too close for my comfort. It would probably have been better not to watch.

 

The Palermo tour party in the lift as they head off the ship.

 

Angela and Duane lead the way.

[Skipper Tim]

I told them I was their official photographer but really I wanted to make sure they were all off the ship. Ah peace! :)

 

The view from my balcony as we left Palermo. Just time to dress before ...

 

Another evening of pleasure. Chianti please....

 

Another night over and I am seeing at least double.

 

Angela, Keith and I pretend to be respectable in Valetta. It is my birthday and I need to Skype home.

[Skipper Tim]

One of the main streets of Valetta.

Only electric taxis are allowed in the pedestrianised centre of Valetta. We ride all the way to the ship's passerelle for €8.

 

The Fantasia is big and this was the closest I came to getting all of her in one photo from the dockside. (See the last photos for one of her from the air).

 

Birthday cards. The "Tu Sei Speciale" read inside "...but not as special as one of Max's caipirinhas!"

 

Keith, Angela, Elizabeth and Stan on the stern of deck 15 for our sail-away party.

 

At L'Etoile at Duane's invitation. I became rather blurry.

[Skipper Tim]

I also managed to soil my jacket and shirt so a quick change later and I am back with Corina, my favourite wine waitress.

 

The remains of the day at our regular night time perch - Bar della Fontane, port side of the pool deck.

 

We meet all together for the final time on the evening of our final sea day.

 

I had to finish with one last caipirinha.

 

A tug lends a hand docking us in Venice.

 

Michael and I have a wander around Venice and promptly get lost. Duane, Angela and Keith are already in the air.