Review - "Lirica" - March 20 to March 31, 2006

Yo-

Well - here goes - again-

Back from our second MSC 'Lirica' cruise - last one 03/31/2005 to 04/11/2005 to Southern Caribbean and this one 03/20/2006 to 03/31/2006 to Western Caribbean-

Ship still extremely clean - but there have been some changes and not all are for the better - but overall - it was still an excellent cruise-

As has been stated before - the biggest changes are the:

Addition of the Art Auctions - Bingo - Inch of Gold and the accompaning announcements (in 5 languages)

The other changes noted are as follows:

Food quality still very good - however they have cut back on the more premium main entrees in the dining room - (Buffet for breakfast and lunch still very good - fresh and tasty-)

Drink prices - slightly higher - quality and quanity still very good-

Wine package for 7 bottles now $44 more than last year (but the half caraf only up to $8 from $7 last year for Italian house red or white wine)

No more free ice cream out by the pool - but still free with lunch or dinner in the dining rooms and with cabin room service-

Tipping policy changed from cash out of pocket directly to room stewards and dining room waitstaff to $12 per day for a broader range of targeted receivers-

Laundry notably higher than last year-

The incredible thing is that we paid only $20 pp more than last year for the cruise fare - for the same eleven days - and last year were given a 3 catagory upgrade - and still an inside cabin - and this year - a 7 catagory upgrade to an outside cabin!!

The Entertainment Team were still the spark plugs that drove the enjoyment engine - though a little more controlled than last year (a good thing)-

The shows were done in a commendable manner - though not as lavash nor high level of talent as last year (except the magician - who was totally amazing)-

The level of service is at least equal if not better than last year with a notable shift in the dining room away from all Italian waiters to more of an international mix-

There was never a situation with any public service person - where english communication was a problem- including the Reception Desk, bar service staff, room service, cabin service staff and the buffet and dining room room staff - and all officers and management staff were extremely cordial and receptive to our wants and needs-

All in all - it was not as good as last years cruise - but still a very good cruise - and still superior to some of the other brand names that we have sailed on in the past-

Would we sail with MSC again?

You Better Believe it!!!

Would we recommend it to our family and friends?

Absolutely!!

Mike

Yo-

 

Well - here goes - again-

 

Back from our second MSC 'Lirica' cruise - last one 03/31/2005 to 04/11/2005 to Southern Caribbean and this one 03/20/2006 to 03/31/2006 to Western Caribbean-

 

Ship still extremely clean - but there have been some changes and not all are for the better - but overall - it was still an excellent cruise-

 

As has been stated before - the biggest changes are the:

 

Addition of the Art Auctions - Bingo - Inch of Gold and the accompaning announcements (in 5 languages)

 

The other changes noted are as follows:

 

Food quality still very good - however they have cut back on the more premium main entrees in the dining room - (Buffet for breakfast and lunch still very good - fresh and tasty-)

 

Drink prices - slightly higher - quality and quanity still very good-

 

Wine package for 7 bottles now $44 more than last year (but the half caraf only up to $8 from $7 last year for Italian house red or white wine)

 

No more free ice cream out by the pool - but still free with lunch or dinner in the dining rooms and with cabin room service-

 

Tipping policy changed from cash out of pocket directly to room stewards and dining room waitstaff to $12 per day for a broader range of targeted receivers-

 

Laundry notably higher than last year-

 

The incredible thing is that we paid only $20 pp more than last year for the cruise fare - for the same eleven days - and last year were given a 3 catagory upgrade - and still an inside cabin - and this year - a 7 catagory upgrade to an outside cabin!!

 

The Entertainment Team were still the spark plugs that drove the enjoyment engine - though a little more controlled than last year (a good thing)-

 

The shows were done in a commendable manner - though not as lavash nor high level of talent as last year (except the magician - who was totally amazing)-

 

The level of service is at least equal if not better than last year with a notable shift in the dining room away from all Italian waiters to more of an international mix-

 

There was never a situation with any public service person - where english communication was a problem- including the Reception Desk, bar service staff, room service, cabin service staff and the buffet and dining room room staff - and all officers and management staff were extremely cordial and receptive to our wants and needs-

 

All in all - it was not as good as last years cruise - but still a very good cruise - and still superior to some of the other brand names that we have sailed on in the past-

 

Would we sail with MSC again?

 

You Better Believe it!!!

 

Would we recommend it to our family and friends?

 

Absolutely!!

 

Mike

Welcome back our 4/22/06 cruise will be here,before we know it. You answered alot of questions I had. Saw similar changes on 3/4/06 Opera.

Big Mike...

Welcome back...

was waiting to hear of your second MSC experience.

Glad you were able to get a huge upgrade...

(though we were quite content with inside since we enjoy the dark)

Did you have the ventriloquist as entertainer?

Carolyn

Yo Carolyn-

Yup - we got a huge upgrade - but wanna know what - it was much noisier than the inside we had the year before - and only six cabins aft from the inside last year-

Yes we had the ventriloquist - but did not go to that show for some reason I cannot remember-

Was still an excellent cruise with good food and service-

Hated the shower curtain though!!

How is your foot?

Better I hope-

Mike

bigmike7: What were the 3 best dinner meals that you had on the Lirica this time? Please discount the Lobster as we don't like Lobster. Thank you!

Yo asctony-

The prime rib - a tenderloin and a pork cutlett were the three best - all that I had were very good - these were excellent IMO

Those that had the lobster said that it wasn't all that good-

Mike