Lirica 2/4/05 Sailing

[Lilabell]

Hi everyone!

 

Hopefully, now that my overbooking issue seems to be resolved I can really get down to planning. Any rock 'n rollers out there for this cruise? Would love to hear from you. We will arrive in Ft Lauderdale the day before so we can get a fresh start on the 4th and get out of the snow.

 

Since this is an oldies cruise, we inquired with our agent about special functions. She said they are planning a sock hop and special Valentine's dinner/dance. I'm debating whether to bring something special for the sock hop (pink ladies/T-Birds shirts). Heard Leslie Gore will be on board. Also I noticed we will be on board for Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras). Anyone hear if anything will be going on for that? While I know this cruise line isn't the "Carnival" type ship, I would like to be prepared and not be the odd man out.

 

Also, what items are in the suites? We're on the Bellini deck and heard something about robes? ? anything else I can leave behind in the snow?

 

Any comments would be great appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Lilabell

[webdesigner]

Hi everyone!

Also, what items are in the suites? We're on the Bellini deck and heard something about robes? ? anything else I can leave behind in the snow?

 

Any comments would be great appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Lilabell

 

 

Hello Lila

 

we had been on deck 10 in a so called 'suite' for the Lirica's transatlantic cruise and will compare it to the Opera when we sail her from Lauderdale back to Genova on April 2nd. 05.

 

Yes - you will get a bath robe (each), tip your cabin stewart a little at the beginning of the cruise and he (she) will get you fresh ones every day.

 

Cabin stewarts for suites had only 10 units to attend, so expect better service than outside/inside cabins. Others from our group were on the 8th. floor outside and their cabin stewart has 24 ! cabins to attend. Wow - what a difference ;-)

Ours explained us from the beginning that he had 'only' 10 cabins and that he therefore will try to provide better service - and he really did.

24/7 (besides from noon - til 3 pm) he was there for us. Great guy, always friendly and respectful, and the best almost not visible. Our daily changing routine was surely not easy for him, sometimes we slept til noon, the other day we got up at 6 am, but no matter what whenever we got back to the cabin it was magically 'back in shape' and cleaned and fixed up very well.

Oh - and thank good, no chocolate chips on pillow. I always used to forget about them. So the next morning you wonder what stuff is 'glewed' and stucked in your hair and the pillows looks like ....hmmm. So, this did happen omn the Lirica, what was in my eyes a Big Plus - not for my girl though ;-)

 

 

 

The first afternoon already Rene (cabin stewart) realized my 'smuggled' Campari bottle and me having a Campari Orange in the cabin. From that point on I found every day 4 x orange juices at noon, another 4 x before dinner and another 4 when I came back from the casino at night, in my cabin.

I did never even ask for it - wow, what a guy.

I could go on with compliments for our cabin stewart but let me tell you that this guy was one of the few highlights of this ship and I would wish that other would have had the same mentality and professionality. Thanks buddy - you made the cruise worthwhile !

Unfortunately other experiences were not so delightful - in my eyes,

but that's another subject and does nto answer your 'suite question'.

 

The suite size is more like a regular HAL/Celibrity/RCCL veranda cabin and not a kind of 'suite' you know from the US lines.

However, you will have a small walk-in closet what comes handy to 'hide' your personals when you have guests.

You will have a midsized bath tub with nice hot water and the little extras to make your afternoon bath 'foamy' etc. well just like in any other cabin. There is a hair dryer, a small couch with small table.....etc. Nothing fancy like on HAL suites. No extra lounge or whirl pool etc...

Unfortunately your mini bar is housed in a uncooled box and not in a real fridge. But then, there is plenty of ice if you want.

 

The veranda (approx. 10 x 5 foot) is equipped with 2 'straw chairs' and a midsized round glass table. We just moved our inside 'lounge chair' outside what made the veranda way more compfortable. We used the veranda more than anything else on the ship and were more than happy to have it after we have seen what happens during the day midships at the pool areas. You will love your own little world = your Veranda !

 

Nothing else to report from the Lirica 'suites', if you have any particular question feel free to contact me. I might post some pictures on one of our sites soon, email me for the URL.

 

We enjoyed the cruise even if it's a little 'different' to that what we were used to, but hey - we just love to cruise...what ever cruiser or waters ;-)

 

have fun - enjoy ~ !

[czechmate]

Please see below

[czechmate]

Lilabell

Scroll down the threads and find that posted by eroller regarding MSC Opera pics. There you will find a lead to 2 pics of the "suite" in Opera- amongst many others. Lirica is identical except in a red and gold/yellow colour scheme.

You can find pics of our balcony cabin 10060 on Lirica if you can do a search and find "Magwa" - That is Pams brilliant web site with plenty of Lirica pics. If you cannot find and are interested then e-mail me and I will send to you.

[Moundite]

Hi Lilabell- My friend and I are also excited about this cruise. Wonder if we are supposed to bring SOCKS for the sockhop? Doubt it. From what I've read, they will probably have one or two more formal dinners and the rest are moderately formal. My friend says she isn't bring much but I'm probably going to bring more...some sweaters for evening in case it gets cold.

 

One other person said bring lots of your own sunscreen. I'm a lilly white Minnesotan so I've been doing a little tanning at the electric beach. When it's minus 12 degrees or so there isn't much of an alternative! Also, I've been wondering how my swimsuit shrunk just sitting in my drawer.

 

We are arriving at Ft. Lauderdale just around 3:00pm the day of departure...I guess we can board as early as 4:00.

 

Jeana:D

[Lilabell]

Thanks everyone for the info! I really don't have much to compare this ship to. Only have 2 under my belt. RCCL (outside cabin) and Celebrity (inside).

 

What's the deal with midship around the pool? I'm trying to go with little expectations except courteous staff, clean room and edible food. I don't care what lines or ship your on, you should have all three. I'm not looking for choclates on the pillows! It amazed me how many negative reviews I've read just because there were no choclates or flaming baked Alaska. But I guess those items are important to some people, which is fine too.

 

We picked this cruise because of the countries it visits. Our agent gave us MSC, Tauck, and Holland to pick from. Tauck "private yacht" was too small for my husband, Holland too big for me so we ended up with MSC.

 

As with all things in life, there are positives and negatives.

 

If anyone wants to share life on board Lirica, I'm love to hear good and bad.

 

Thanks,

 

Lilabell