Kaibigan Posted January 9, 2005 #1 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Up till now, I've loved going on RCI. And now I have the opportunity to go on the Opera on March 26, (I believe the Easter sailing). My questions are, does anyone know what the children's program is like? (My son is 7.) And how many formal nights on a 7 night cruise? And I've heard there is a dress code that is ship-wide after a certain time in the evenings. Anyone know for sure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czechmate Posted January 10, 2005 #2 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Have no young children myself but a friend with an 8 year old son said he had a ball. Normally 2 formal nights on a 7 day cruise. Have NEVER encountered a ship-wide dress code and think it would be completely un-enforcable so would certainly not worry on that score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire O'Brien Posted January 14, 2005 #3 Share Posted January 14, 2005 On Lirica the kids were looked after at the "Pirates" kids club most of the day from what I could see, they were kept busy and happy by some of the entertainment team. There was no dress code enforced in the evenings after dinner, and at dinner I saw no-one turned away for improper attire - but also I saw no-one try to wear denim on Formal Night. If you don't want to dress up for Formal dinner then you have to have a club sandwich and a salad or whatever from a fairly limited room service menu, you cannot have dinner served in your room, at least on Lirica, and the buffet is NOT open for dinner. One of the Friends of Dorothy thought a studded dog collar was OK instead of a bow tie to wear with a tux on Formal Night - and no one complained. Unusual! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaibigan Posted January 15, 2005 Author #4 Share Posted January 15, 2005 I love formal nights, so there's no problem with dressing up. (But I think it might be time to buy my son a new tux!) I was just wondering if there was a problem wearing jeans on other nights when going to dance. I don't normally wear them, just wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jknezek Posted January 16, 2005 #5 Share Posted January 16, 2005 Having just got off the Opera this a.m. (very sad to have had it end) I can say you will not be out of place after dinner wearing jeans to the lounges on all nights but formal nights. However, for the shows I saw, people tended to stay in their dinner clothes which, with very few exceptions, did not include jeans. The lounges were a different story. Good luck and enjoy the cruise! She's a beautiful ship with a wonderful crew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webdesigner Posted January 20, 2005 #6 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Up till now, I've loved going on RCI. And now I have the opportunity to go on the Opera on March 26, (I believe the Easter sailing). My questions are, does anyone know what the children's program is like? (My son is 7.) And I've heard there is a dress code that is ship-wide after a certain time in the evenings. Anyone know for sure? Experience from Lirica Transatlantic cruise: kids were taken care of in the 11th. floor "i pirati" club on sea from: 10 am - 12 am 3 pm - 6 pm 9 pm - 11 pm Do not know if Opera in Carribbean will do the same. There was no 'dress code' for after dinner as far I know. Plus it's a 'european' minded' ship where it is less formal anyway. I felt a little more easy and less pressured to look 'at my best' every evening. and thats good so since there is no other dining possiblity for dinner besides the dining room. have fun, I'll meet the Opera in April 05 going from Lauderdale back to Genova, leave us something to drink ;-) and..... go with the flow....it helps ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaibigan Posted January 20, 2005 Author #7 Share Posted January 20, 2005 I'm going with my friend & her 3 daughters, and my cousin and her daughter. My son will be the youngest. The girls are all older teens & 20. My guess is since I'll have to be sober enough to go pick up my son, I won't be drinking that much, but my cousin, Peggy who runs the Reggae Report and her photographer-daughter know how to do the Caribbean party thing pretty well, and my friend and her oldest are ready to party, too. But we'll try to leave you something to drink!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane&4girls Posted January 25, 2005 #8 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Speaking of party.... what type of music is played by the pool?? Is it Caribbean-style? Opera :-)? Also, how much is the Internet Cafe? I'll be doing some work from the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaibigan Posted January 28, 2005 Author #9 Share Posted January 28, 2005 You're going to be working?! I guess you won't mind if I bring my laptop & do a little writing, then, huh? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benitad Posted January 28, 2005 #10 Share Posted January 28, 2005 Diane, I believe Internet access is about 60 cents a minute -- not cheap, and no frequent user discount yet either. Some call it excessive; I'd say it's about in the middle of the range among the cruise ships. I'd say check e-mail but don't linger in a chat room ... unless, of course, it's to tell us what a spectacular time you're having! Most of the ports do have internet cafes targeting cruise passengers; you can probably use a search engine to find their locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane&4girls Posted January 28, 2005 #11 Share Posted January 28, 2005 Yep, WORKING! Money still needs to be made even though I'm on vacation! Actually, I'll just need to pop in and check email and voicemail, but no actually working. I only use the internet cafes on the islands if the ship's putas are running excessively slow but 60 cents a minute seems pretty cheap compared to the other cruiselines. I was told MSC doesn't have in-room internet hook-up so my laptop is useless. I won't be chatting with anyone, I hate chatrooms and this is the only message board I frequent now, however, you guys will have to wait until I return to get my mini-review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hialeah Couple Posted February 7, 2005 #12 Share Posted February 7, 2005 Hi, there: My hubby and I will be celebrating our 30th anniversary on the Lirica. Does anyone know if it's 2 or 3 formal nights? Also if anyone is on the same sailing, we found a tour in St. Lucia for only $35 per person which includes the water fall, volcano, botanicval garden, Marigot Bay, fishing villages, banana plantation, shopping and either snorkling or swimming. Can anyone recommend a tour in Antigua or Grenada? Hialeah couple!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bepsf Posted February 11, 2005 #13 Share Posted February 11, 2005 As posted above there are apparently 2 formal nights. I'm wondering how disembarcation works w/ MSC - is one allowed to remain in their stateroom until their group number is called? Are room-service breakfasts delivered on the last morning? I'm not an early riser, and I'd be very displeased w/ anyone trying to pry me out of my stateroom any earlier than 9.30-10am...:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaibigan Posted February 11, 2005 Author #14 Share Posted February 11, 2005 On RCI, they try to have everyone off the ship by that time. Not sure how it is here, but I know the crew has to strip and sterilize the cabin & set it up for the next group of passengers, so they do kind of like to shoo people out of there as early as they can. Maybe when you first board you can make buddies with your cabin steward & see if they can do your cabin last & find out what time that would be. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianne828 Posted February 11, 2005 #15 Share Posted February 11, 2005 You have to be out of your room by 7:30am. and if you want breakfast in your room that morning, you have to place the order the night before. Breakfast is served in La Vele from 6am-10 am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bepsf Posted February 13, 2005 #16 Share Posted February 13, 2005 You have to be out of your room by 7:30am. What do they do if you dont comply? Drag you out kicking and screaming? ;) (visions of Doris Day and Rock Hudson in "Pillow Talk"...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trdltli Posted February 13, 2005 #17 Share Posted February 13, 2005 We were on the opera 1/22-1/29 You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire with your post cruise travel arrangements. The day before departure you receive your luggage tags. Whatever color they are will determine where you are supposed to wait for departure.The Disco,one of the lounges .... ,wherever. Our flight was at 10:05 , so we were some of the first passengers to leave. It seems that 'orange 'was one of the first colors to depart. I'm sure ,that if we wanted to sleep in ! our steward ' Dewa' would have been able to take care of some other cabins first .Especially since he got his ENVELOPE - the evening before. Have a great time ! We sure did ! Leonie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXBRIT Posted February 13, 2005 #18 Share Posted February 13, 2005 Kids program on opera Buffalo bills is for ages 3 -8, hours are: 9-12 3-6 8-11 My son is 4 and had a great time. My daughter is 9 and had a terrible time. Once you are over 8 there is not much to do. The group for her age meets about 1hour to 2 1/2 hrs a day. The arcade had no machines. The pool was also a dud for her. The pool had two ends, one end was 10" to 12" and the other end started at just over 5' so there was nothing in between. no shallow end for kids who can't swim. So unless the kids can go to Buffalo Bills, there is not much for them to do. Debarkation: Out of cabin by 7:30. No roomservice on last morning. Wait in a louge with more people than chairs until your colour is called. collect your suit cases. If your US, customs takes 5 - 15 minutes. If your not US you will be in line for at least 1 hour. taking a taxi - another line for about 1/2 hour. Now your at the airport. Guess what, another 1 hour line for check in (too many cruise passangers at once.) The customs line and taxi line are not necessary. this is caused by msc calling your colour when your bags are out instead of letting you sit in a lounge (possibly on the floor) until the customs line is shorter. Their attitude is if the line dosen't reach the door call the next colour. Disembarkation is a nightmare, especially for kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotterdam Posted February 13, 2005 #19 Share Posted February 13, 2005 Does MSC allow those with just carry off luggage to disembark before the other passengers??? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted February 14, 2005 #20 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Does MSC allow those with just carry off luggage to disembark before the other passengers??? Thanks On the OPERA, I didn't notice a "self-help" disembarkation group such as Cunard and Carnival offer. No matter, you can just walk off with the first group. No one actually checks for your color when you disembark, so as long as you don't have any luggage to claim you should be able to walk off with whatever group you want. Ernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magwa Posted February 16, 2005 #21 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Kids program on operaThe pool had two ends, one end was 10" to 12" and the other end started at just over 5' so there was nothing in between. no shallow end for kids who can't swim. There isn't on a lot of ships. I was recently on Westerdam; not even a 'baby' end. Kids are also confined to the magrodome covered pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomahawk Posted February 26, 2005 #22 Share Posted February 26, 2005 Hi, there:My hubby and I will be celebrating our 30th anniversary on the Lirica. Does anyone know if it's 2 or 3 formal nights? Also if anyone is on the same sailing, we found a tour in St. Lucia for only $35 per person which includes the water fall, volcano, botanicval garden, Marigot Bay, fishing villages, banana plantation, shopping and either snorkling or swimming. Can anyone recommend a tour in Antigua or Grenada? Hialeah couple!! When my wife and I stopped on Grenada, we caught a tour bus at the end of the dock and explored the rain forest and hiked back a hiking trail to a couple of falls where locals were jumping from cliffs into a pool close to the falls. We also had time to swim on a beach when we got back. there are a lot of those buses trying to get a group together at each port. Check out the offers and see what you can negotiate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beardie91 Posted February 28, 2005 #23 Share Posted February 28, 2005 We just left the opera on Saturday, Feb 26. We had brown tags and were the second last to be called even with a 12:00 flight. Once called we were out in a flash, picked up our bags in the terminal, went through customs, and hailed a cab. We were at the airport before 9:30. Actually we had no lineups anywhere at all and managed to get a seat in the aircraft in row 6. We had a nice breakfast in la vele before we assembled in the theatre to await our call. Do not sweat the small stuff and if you are concerned, tell them your flight is much earlier than it really is. They have no way of checking. Enjoy the ride. It's a good one g courtney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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