Live from MSC Grandiosa Yacht Club on January 13-20th 2023 Spain, France. Italy & Malta.

[ConnieTact]

We are presently sailing out of Civitavecchia into a rather choppy Mediterranean Sea! 
We stayed onboard today as have seem this port and Rome many times so chose to have a day of relaxation. This worked well and we are both completely chilled out! We enjoyed a Balinese Couples massage this afternoon. We felt well cared for and both therapists were skilled and attentive to our needs.

we decided to pop in the Thermal Suite afterwards to continue to relax but it was so full we walked back out again! I suggested we took a windy dip into the Hot tub in the YC Top deck and to my surprise husband agreed! It was freezing up there and nobody else was up there! We stayed for just ten minutes and decided that was enough! 
there was rather too much vibration in the hot tub and I noticed it yesterday. It was so bad when we tried to speak our voices sounded like robots! 
I reported this to our concierge, explained it was not a usual vibration, and he told me he would pass this on to the relevant team to investigate. 
The concierge team are very good and have helped us daily with various requests such as bookings, helping us get connected to internet on each of our devices and they mostly answer the phone for room service ordering too. 
 

[ConnieTact]

In the Top Sail Lounge now there is live piano music, during the sail out, and also pre dinner snacks. 

 

Edited January 16, 2023 by ConnieTact

[magnetique]

Thank you four your live report.

 

Could you please take a picture of what MSC offers if booking next cruise onboard? I open this thread a few days ago but nobody seems to know.

[heatherb1958]

Great review so far.

Is the YC pool deck bar open at all ? What about the grill ? I imagine the answer will be no if it is too chilly .

We have only ever cruised with MSC out of BCN in the Winter and have been blessed so far with sunny clear days and have managed to lay out in it . So long as you were out of the wind it was lovely. Keeping my fingers crossed our luck continues for 27th ! 

[ConnieTact]

Last nights show was Wonderworld & was very good. Costumes stunning and talented dancers. I loved it! 
It was White night- so lots of white outfits in the audience. 

[ConnieTact]

17 hours ago, heatherb1958 said:

Great review so far.

Is the YC pool deck bar open at all ? What about the grill ? I imagine the answer will be no if it is too chilly .

We have only ever cruised with MSC out of BCN in the Winter and have been blessed so far with sunny clear days and have managed to lay out in it . So long as you were out of the wind it was lovely. Keeping my fingers crossed our luck continues for 27th ! 

Yes! We had lunch upstairs yesterday despite the wind! It was brilliant but also nice to them escape back into the warmth of the Top Sail lounge for sweet treats. So I think they keep it open unless it’s pouring down! 
Hopefully the weather will be even better for you.

it’s lovely here to day in Palermo! 
Just having pizza slice in a fab cafe called ‘Spinnato’ established in 1860! We’ll, it IS World Pizza Day! 😂🍕

[ConnieTact]

Sadly, our booked MSC trip was cancelled so we decided to just walk around the town ourselves. Although some of the streets seemed like they needed a good clean, we walked further into the town and found some good shops and a few points of interest.

Here’s some snaps of our walk.

[ConnieTact]

Just waiting for a sunny sailout from Sicily!

 

[ConnieTact]

The White Party was great yesterday with ticker-tape finale! 

 

[heatherb1958]

Lovely photos . 

We have been to Palermo but haven't left the ships on our last couple of visits,  must go for another explore . 

Looks like they are building a proper cruise terminal finally . 

Enjoy sail away, frosty and snowy here today .

Edited January 17, 2023 by heatherb1958

[ConnieTact]

What’s not to love about an afternoon high tea? 😂

Especially when served with a developing sunset view. Another good thing about YC is this privileged ‘captain’s’ view of the front of the ship. 
 

[ConnieTact]

I’m not sure i @claireruthstill wants these menus but here is the offering in the TV Studio & Bar. We popped in there last night to see what the Karaoke Superstar was like but didn’t last more than four songs! 😅 I did screenshot your menu info though! 

[ConnieTact]

I’m not sure if anyone wants to see the ‘daily program’ but here is today’s.

[claireruth]

Thank you so much for the drink menus!!  Life has gotten in the way, so I haven't been on the boards to follow along on your trip!!  I saved the pictures to show my husband so we can figure out which package to get.  Looks like you're having a great time!

[ConnieTact]

16 minutes ago, claireruth said:

Thank you so much for the drink menus!!  Life has gotten in the way, so I haven't been on the boards to follow along on your trip!!  I saved the pictures to show my husband so we can figure out which package to get.  Looks like you're having a great time!

I’ll try and get around a few more bars before we go! I must admit as a champagne drinker, I get a better offering in YC but, the same one from all the other bars outside YC apart from the Champagne bar! Having said that, I’m enjoying going around the ship with a task and picking up on the ambience of each different area.-All quite unique in their ways! 

[ConnieTact]

Last nights gala night was good although, it ended differently than we had planned.

I ordered the black truffle risotto but sent it back as it was not to my taste and was swiftly brought another dish of my choice. All the while the sommelier who is knowledgeable and friendly, suggested wines we may like. It’s a great opportunity for us to taste different wines that we may not usually try. His accessible style means we can ask questions and he is happy to share his expertise. It’s really adding to our evenings in the restaurant.

Desserts were a highlight as always and we are having these as well as petit fours and a cheese plate between us. Last night the seas were rough and husband declined to join in with the shared plates. He said he was feeling a little fragile.

[ConnieTact]

We went to the Masters of the Sea Pub and had drinks in there. Unfortunately Roberto the singer was on a break so we didn’t hear him. Then we went back to YC to be escorted to the show in the Carousel Lounge but were told it was cancelled due to the rocking ship. Obviously, they needed to take care of the performers so we transferred our pre-booked tickets to the the early show on the last night. The carousel shows are shown twice on alternate evenings. We already had a meal at Butchers Cut booked for that night but we’re flexible and changed this for a lunchtime meal. I’m looking forward to the 70s 8Os party that night so it should be a good final sea day onboard!

[heatherb1958]

What time have you been eating in the YC at night? We like to eat early then enjoy the middle timed show then go for a drink afterwards at Masters of the sea outside  on the mezzanine watching the  goings on on the Galleria below. 

[ConnieTact]

3 hours ago, heatherb1958 said:

What time have you been eating in the YC at night? We like to eat early then enjoy the middle timed show then go for a drink afterwards at Masters of the sea outside  on the mezzanine watching the  goings on on the Galleria below. 

We have been enjoying just going when we feel like it! Mostly around 7.30 and finish in time for Masters of the Sea then go to the later show & join in with the fun in the Galleria.It’s great not having set restaurant times. Much more easy going to fit in just when it suits us. Masters of the Sea never seems packed and I think it’s because there are so few English onboard. We are very rare in the YC!

The ship is 80% full at around 5000 and the YC is at 75%. 

[ConnieTact]

We prebooked the Rabat, Mosta & Mdina excursion in Valletta and highly recommend it. 
First we stopped at Mosta before it got busy and to avoid other tours. This worked well and our English speaking tour guide Cynthia, who was Maltese, gave us an interesting commentary about the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady. We saw a copy of the unexplored bomb which miraculously did not explode after it dropped through the dome of the church during a service.

 

[ConnieTact]

Next we boarded the coach again and Cynthia continues to tell us facts about Malta and the Maltese. She swapped the microphone with her fellow tour guide Ophelia who is also Maltese but spoke the commentary in German.

Next, we were dropped off in Rabat to be picked up later in nearby Mdina.

Rabat was a small town and we walked through a few pretty streets. It was colder in the shade of these narrow streets and I wish I’d brought my shawl with me but managed to find sunny spots to stand in and could still here Cynthia speak. She had a gorgeous English Accent when she spoke and sounded almost regal! It was pleasant listening to her. 
then, it was a short walk across the road through a little park, where we saw horses and carriages, and to the imposing walls of Mdina. Some Games of Thrones fans were happy to see one the filming sites of the series. 

[ConnieTact]

Mdina was interesting and pretty to look around. We had 15 minutes free time and we stopped and got a delicious ice-cream each as figured there wouldn’t be time for hot drinks. We looked over the city walls and Cynthia told us it wasn’t as clear as it usually is. 
We then met the bus outside the Roman Villa and saw the outside remains of a 1800 year old Roman house.p but in,y from the outside looking in the railings. No time to explore this on this tour as we were now off to a glass blowing factory.

[ConnieTact]

We visited the Ta’ Qali Handicraft village to see glass factory. I bought a beautiful glass bowl and once it’s home (in one piece I hope!) I will load a picture. Maybe on the new table cloth I bought in the market in Aix! Husband even congratulated me on my purchase and said I always find such lovely things! 😍

We love buying items for daily use so we can remember our trips abroad when life is perhaps a bit harder!

The Christmas tree below is made of blown glass and our guide told us the factory gifted a smaller version to Queen consort Camilla when she visited with our new King Charles.

she was delighted and then bought a glass coach and horses.

[ConnieTact]

We went back to the ship for lunch outside on the Top deck and enjoyed it.

otheres could go into Valletta and explore the city easily by using the lift which costs €1 return. The lift is very close to the ship and a two minute walk away.

We have already seen Valetta so didn’t go again. We admired the sight of it though from the front of the ship.

[ConnieTact]

Just sailed out from Malta to the sounds of "Con te partirò" It was beautiful!