ConnieTact

Next we went to relax on deck 22 in the YC pool area. Fancied asking the captain to consider turning the ship around so we could get some more sun! 😅

We would recommend this excursion as we saw many places we have not seen ourselves when visiting the port on other occasions and ‘doing our own thing’. The commentary was informative and interesting too, although it was sometimes hard to hear the guide if you weren’t immediately near him as there was no microphones or headsets. It could be easy to be left behind. One man lost his wife but a helpful MSC woman found her. It was too late to go to YC restaurant on our return and we only just made ‘last orders’ for hot food in the YC grill and bar. For the second time, I requested roast potatoes but was served chips. I think the staff struggle to keep up in the area and it wasn’t the best meal I have had onboard.

We passed the Palazzina Cinese too.

Lots of flowers and fauna on the mountain too.

Next we went in the cathedral for a look around by ourselves.

Next was a walking tour and a food tasting! arancini followed by cannoli and a tiny shot of passito!

Right horses and one dog with a headless owner!

There are many means of transportation in Palermo- here are a selection I snapped!

Free time in the centre. Would you believe a busker was singing Paolo Nutini when we left the Opera house! Paolo’s song filled the air and made me feel quite at home- so I gave him some change and thanked him warmly.

Photos from our tour today. We were impressed by Teatro Massimo opera house.

The larger suites have cutlery. I’m sure your request will be met.

Last nights offering in the room. Mini lemon pies.

Last night, we received our tickets for our excursion today. I think they leave it until the last minute, just in case if last minute changes of time or cancellation. Expected timing information is available on the MSC app under ‘Your Personal Itinerary’. we meet in Top Sail Lounge ten minutes before at 9.50am.

Giulia just made my evening by singing two hits by my favourite Paolo Nutini. Mr CT requested a sing by him - he said ‘my wife loves him ‘ and she replied, ’So do I!’ I thought she had good taste! 😀

We are enjoying entertainment by Giulia. She just sang Purple Rain- one of my favourite Prince songs. Only three other groups of orally here - so not busy. The restaurant manager explained to me in detail that YC is full this week. He said every room is occupied. That is different from all the settees being used. Mostly couples this week but last week it was more groups of four or more. it has always felt comfortable and quiet and we have had no problem getting a table exactly when we decide to walk in and get one. I can imagine any shop gets busy during school holidays and this reflects on the experience of the cruise but I am certainly not put off. if we choose to fave the hubub of steerage, we have that choice but if booking an ordinary cabin you do not have the escape into serenity of YC.

Tonight’s dinner was delicious thanks to chef making ok my dishes without salt. I just added black pepper to my soup and enjoyed its natural flavours of asparagus. It was paired with a Chardonnay in a large tasting glass. I had the same wine for my main which was black cod with carrots.Mr CT had a Sauvignon with his champagne risotto. Lastly we enjoyed crepe Suzettes with a Gran Marnier. Actually, it was too much for me as the crepe already had some in there!

We’re now in Masters of the Sea again - our ‘go to’ place outside YC! We’re at the back on lower comfortable chairs. A bit far away from the singing but it vastly improved when a large group of loud older men vacated their seats and left!

Next we saw what was going on in the World Galeria- it was a seventies dance display. I think people were meant to join in but I suspect the age demographic on this ship doesn’t suit my favourite decade! This seems a much younger ship. How are they meant to know how to do the YMCA dance? 😅😂🕺🏻🪩

Just saw the Diva show with the hugely talented Bethzienna. Her voice is powerful so she easily handled the big songs by singers such as Tina Turner, Nina Simone and Any Winehouse. why do people go to a concert and then proceed to chat all the way through it only to clap the loudest between shows?! I just don’t get it! Stay in the bar! There was a sweet little audience member in front of us who loved the singing and clapped along. Bethzienna explained she had been in the IK TV show, ‘The Voice’ and footage was played as she sang one of the songs from that show. Ollie Murs looks suitably taken by her’ 😂

Went to have my hair washed and blow dry earlier. All went well. Really friendly hairdresser and I was delighted as there was no heavy sales pitch. What a difference it made! I really enjoyed the experience and this has restored my faith in MSC salons. I did still wait 5 minutes before my appointment began, so I am guessing that’s how relaxed the spa is!

Hi @kym05 I asked this at YC concierge and the woman I spoke to said she did the same to go to the Vatican but her opinion is don’t try to do it! At first, I doubted what she was saying but as she explained further I cloud see it could be risky. She said there could be traffic hold ups going into Rome which takes around 90 minutes. The excursion starts at 8am. Then you have to get to the Vatican and the queues are horrendous there. You can be waiting in line for a very long time. Next, when in the museum, you have to queue and wait for others for ages while they look at various things. You could easily spend a whole day there. Next you have to get back to the shuttle in time and get onboard. If you miss it, you will be trying to get the next port on your own! I guess the best advice for a long visit at Vatican would be to sail from Rime and have a few days in Rome beforehand, to enjoy the sights and spend a leisurely day at the Vatican. She said there is a small group excursion through MSC that goes to the Vatican, but these fill up very fast as there is only 20 in each group. I'm sorry this is not more positive but it’s what I found out from one onboard in the know!

The yacht club is certainly not overcrowded today! It’s Rome today so I guess a lot of people on longer excursions.

Next was lunch at the Yacht Club restaurant. Again, I sent back the dish I chose for my first course, vegetable noodles, as it was too salty. The soy sauce is enough, the noodles don’t need salting as well! 😅 So this was quickly swapped for a salad and luckily the wine choice was the same for both of our dishes. William offered excellent help again. I completely forgot to take a photo of our mains. I chose the pork chops and they were delicious and MrCT chose the burger. The rose was for my pork, I was corrected by William, it wasn’t sweet it was fruity! It went well with the pork. The white wine with the salads was a Chenin bland and we both could pick out the green apple taste. We finished with port with the cheese. It amused me that I went from white to rose to red.

This morning we rested then went to the Aurea Spa for a 12 noon couples massage appointment. We were surprised how busy it was and that we were quite abruptly told to sit and wait. One of our massage therapists was asked, I presume by a manager, to serve behind the receipt even though it was 12 noon and we were waiting! There was no explanation or appology. When it was 12.10 they called us and we made sure the delay wouldn’t mean we were getting 10 minutes less! 😀 They reassured us it was fine. I would advise you not to plan anything special for afterwards just in case of this kind of delay. In the U.K. if an appointment is 12 noon anything later is late! It didn’t seem to be how the spa operates! The massage was one of the best I had and it was helped that I requested the required pressures and certain areas of tension. This was all followed to the letter and I have nothing but praise for Florence from Kenya.