MSC Grand Voyages (Repositioning Cruises) October 2014 - April 2015

[Skipper Tim]

Tim ... Divina will stay until 2015 in Miami when it will be replaced by one of the two New builds.

 

What do you know about new builds? Please spill the beans.

[sidari]

First one will be ready or should be in 2015 to replace Divina in Miami, size around 170,000 tons and a new class, info came from New cruise Director face to face.

[Skipper Tim]

First one will be ready or should be in 2015 to replace Divina in Miami, size around 170,000 tons and a new class, info came from New cruise Director face to face.

 

Many thanks. Compared to the Fantasia class, which are just short of 140,000 GT, that is a significant increase. I thought something was afoot when the Preziosa was announced as the "last" rather than the "latest" of the Fantasia class. The Fantasia was already a bit too big for me. Miami is probably the best place - bigger is always better over there and all the Caribbean ports are already geared up for huge cruise ships.

 

2015 is shaping up to be an excellent year for repo cruises.

[sidari]

We also heard stories of the ships being bigger than Oasis with more than 6,000 passengers but Andre says only 170,000 tons but did not mention passenger numbers.

 

Divina is a big ship but sadly has less room in many areas.

[Willow1686]

The Divina certainly looks pretty on the photograph of it being escorted into Miami, but I find it exceedingly difficult to get worked up about its possession of a bowling alley; on the other hand, I find it impossible to get worked up about ice bars, climbing walls or water chutes, which I suppose demonstrates that trying to rank ships by their facilities only works if the facilities are actually desirable.

 

So, are there likely to be any MSC repo mega bargains next year? It has occurred to me that my aversion to large ships because I get lost on them would be mitigated by the presence of other CC travellers; I can volunteer to do things like sewing buttons back on in exchange for search parties being despatched should I fail to appear in one or more bars for more than a couple of days...

[Skipper Tim]

So, are there likely to be any MSC repo mega bargains next year? It has occurred to me that my aversion to large ships because I get lost on them would be mitigated by the presence of other CC travellers; I can volunteer to do things like sewing buttons back on in exchange for search parties being despatched should I fail to appear in one or more bars for more than a couple of days...

 

Losing buttons occurs for me about as often as getting lost on a cruise ship - you have offered the perfect bargain. Yes. The deal is done.

 

I am on the case for mega-bargains all the time and will share them here as and when.

[Willow1686]

Skipper Tim,

 

I wan't sure whether I should say thank you for this; I had visions of us exchanging gracious thanks, each one outdoing the next, until we arrived at the sort of etiquette which only a mother could love.

 

But then I acquired insomnia, and since the web seems to have run out of supplies of cute pictures of kittens I thought 'Screw Etiquette', and posted anyway...

[Skipper Tim]

Skipper Tim,

 

I wan't sure whether I should say thank you for this; I had visions of us exchanging gracious thanks, each one outdoing the next, until we arrived at the sort of etiquette which only a mother could love.

 

But then I acquired insomnia, and since the web seems to have run out of supplies of cute pictures of kittens I thought 'Screw Etiquette', and posted anyway...

 

 

 

 

 

These are the cats that now visit me when I am at my house in Greece.

 

I find alcohol helps control my insomnia.

 

Tim.

Edited November 24, 2013 by Skipper Tim

[Willow1686]

Ok, I have an industrial strength gin and tonic in my hand, and delightful cute kitten pictures to look at; simple pleasures are so often an improvement on complicated ones, and there's more gin.

 

And if that does not suffice then there are lots of pictures of Stoupa, which are also delightful but not cute; it really is beautiful and I may well give way to envy, particularly after my second glass...

[Willow1686]

Skipper Tim

 

Sadly the Grand Plan didn't work; I am still awake.

 

And envious.

 

However, Cruisecritic is my friend; Grand Plan B is reading the thousands of posts today on the Celebrity revamping of it's 'loyalty' programme.

 

Admittedly, there may be overkill on that, and as a result my iPad may have to be prised from my cold, dead fingers, but it's probably preferable to attempting to cosh myself behind the ear with a sock full of sand.

 

I do hope that you and the cats are sleeping soundly...

[Skipper Tim]

Here is an update with three later dates now included from the ‘general English’ MSC website. In particular:

 

the Musica is now listed to do a 2-night round trip to Monte Carlo 15th November putting back in Genoa for a repo cruise 17th November;

 

the Sinfonia has had one more regular 11 night cruise added delaying her repo cruise until 27th November; and

 

the Splendida, which was expected to stay in the Med anyway, now has regular itineraries through to March 2015 listed but not yet on sale.

 

The changes are marked in the table in bold.

 

Removed from the search results are the two Orchestra repos: Venice to Dubai in November 2014 and Dubai to Fremantle in March 2015. These are likely to served by the Poesia, starting in Genoa instead of Venice. Their removal supports the previous best-guesses.

 

key: known facts (best guess itinerary in brackets)

 

Repositioning Cruises start dates/ports by ship

MSC Armonia, 17th October 2014, from Venice (to Gran Canaria or Sharm el-Sheikh, either 10-11 nights)

MSC Armonia 27th April 2015, from Istanbul (to Venice, 3-4 nights or 1 night without passengers)

MSC Divina, 4th April 2015, year-round Miami

MSC Fantasia, 2nd November 2014, year-round Genoa/Venice

MSC Lirica, 7th November 2014, from Civitavecchia (to Gran Canaria or Sharm el Sheikh, either 10-11 nights)

MSC Magnifica, 19th October 2014, from Hamburg (to Santos, 17-18 nights)

MSC Musica, 17th November 2014, from Genoa (to Santo Domingo, Caribbean, 13-15 nights)

MSC Opera, 7th October 2014, from Southampton (to Durban, 18-19 nights)

MSC Orchestra, 5th November 2014, from Venice (to Rio de Janeiro or Santos, 16-17 nights)

MSC Poesia, 17th November 2014, from Genoa (to Dubai, 16-18 nights)

MSC Poesia, (21st February, 2015, from Dubai to Fremantle, Australia, 33 nights)

MSC Preziosa, 8th November 2014, from Venice (to Santos, 16-18 nights)

MSC Sinfonia, 27th November 2014, from Genoa (to Durban or Cape Town, 18-19 nights)

MSC Splendida, 29th March 2015, year-round Genoa

 

Repositioning Cruises end dates/ports by ship

MSC Poesia ending 23rd March 2015 at Fremantle, Australia (from Dubai, starting 21st February 2015, 33 nights)

MSC Armonia ending 18th April 2015 at Istanbul (from Gran Canaria or Sharm el Sheikh, 6-9 nights)

 

If anyone has any further repositioning cruise information, please to post it here.

 

Tim.

[sidari]

Tim ... some of those itinerarys look good if they come off for late next year and early 2015.

 

I see MSC have begun altering the club benefits already and have removed the preferential check in for all categories, although the priority boarding remains for Black card holders.

[travelberlin]

I really hope there is at least one ship repositioning to South America the latest in October. Otherwise I will take Royal Caribbean in November or Cunard to New York in September.

[MM42]

Here is an update with three later dates now included from the ‘general English’ MSC website. In particular:

 

the Musica is now listed to do a 2-night round trip to Monte Carlo 15th November putting back in Genoa for a repo cruise 17th November;

 

the Sinfonia has had one more regular 11 night cruise added delaying her repo cruise until 27th November; and

 

the Splendida, which was expected to stay in the Med anyway, now has regular itineraries through to March 2015 listed but not yet on sale.

 

The changes are marked in the table in bold.

 

Removed from the search results are the two Orchestra repos: Venice to Dubai in November 2014 and Dubai to Fremantle in March 2015. These are likely to served by the Poesia, starting in Genoa instead of Venice. Their removal supports the previous best-guesses.

 

key: known facts (best guess itinerary in brackets)

 

Repositioning Cruises start dates/ports by ship

MSC Armonia, 17th October 2014, from Venice (to Gran Canaria or Sharm el-Sheikh, either 10-11 nights)

MSC Armonia 27th April 2015, from Istanbul (to Venice, 3-4 nights or 1 night without passengers)

MSC Divina, 4th April 2015, year-round Miami

MSC Fantasia, 2nd November 2014, year-round Genoa/Venice

MSC Lirica, 7th November 2014, from Civitavecchia (to Gran Canaria or Sharm el Sheikh, either 10-11 nights)

MSC Magnifica, 19th October 2014, from Hamburg (to Santos, 17-18 nights)

MSC Musica, 17th November 2014, from Genoa (to Santo Domingo, Caribbean, 13-15 nights)

MSC Opera, 7th October 2014, from Southampton (to Durban, 18-19 nights)

MSC Orchestra, 5th November 2014, from Venice (to Rio de Janeiro or Santos, 16-17 nights)

MSC Poesia, 17th November 2014, from Genoa (to Dubai, 16-18 nights)

MSC Poesia, (21st February, 2015, from Dubai to Fremantle, Australia, 33 nights)

MSC Preziosa, 8th November 2014, from Venice (to Santos, 16-18 nights)

MSC Sinfonia, 27th November 2014, from Genoa (to Durban or Cape Town, 18-19 nights)

MSC Splendida, 29th March 2015, year-round Genoa

 

Repositioning Cruises end dates/ports by ship

MSC Poesia ending 23rd March 2015 at Fremantle, Australia (from Dubai, starting 21st February 2015, 33 nights)

MSC Armonia ending 18th April 2015 at Istanbul (from Gran Canaria or Sharm el Sheikh, 6-9 nights)

 

If anyone has any further repositioning cruise information, please to post it here.

 

Tim.

 

Just booked the Musica for November 8th and will book the repo as soon as it is available :)

[anniegb]

We heard on the Lirica that all the vessels in that class will be 'lengthened' - however no timescale was released.

 

I do not know how that will impact on any repos.

 

Annie

[Skipper Tim]

We heard on the Lirica that all the vessels in that class will be 'lengthened' - however no timescale was released.

 

I do not know how that will impact on any repos.

 

Annie

 

As far as I know, there is only one rumour suggesting the Lirica class would be stretched. If true, this would take each ship out for 4-8 weeks. A stretch and refit would make sense in order to tweak the ships for current and future MSC directions. However, the same article says there would be no new ships for 3 years yet there are multiple reports from MSC onboard staff of new ships arriving in 2015 and 2016.

 

Without any official press-release, it is impossible to know or even guess at the impact on repo cruises. I imagine we will get a flurry of press releases early in the New Year to encourage all to book.

 

Tim.

[anniegb]

As far as I know, there is only one rumour suggesting the Lirica class would be stretched. If true, this would take each ship out for 4-8 weeks. A stretch and refit would make sense in order to tweak the ships for current and future MSC directions. However, the same article says there would be no new ships for 3 years yet there are multiple reports from MSC onboard staff of new ships arriving in 2015 and 2016.

 

Without any official press-release, it is impossible to know or even guess at the impact on repo cruises. I imagine we will get a flurry of press releases early in the New Year to encourage all to book.

 

Tim.

 

Hi Tim

 

We heard this via an official MSC lecture - just no timescale given. I did ask some friendly staff but no-one had any idea of a time-line.

 

Annie

[Skipper Tim]

Hi Tim

 

We heard this via an official MSC lecture - just no timescale given. I did ask some friendly staff but no-one had any idea of a time-line.

 

Annie

 

You go to those lectures too ? :)

[anniegb]

You go to those lectures too ? :)

 

No :) - I sent another cc member who reported back :)

 

Annie

[Frode]

As far as I know, there is only one rumour suggesting the Lirica class would be stretched.

Tim.

 

Hi!

MSC Lirica will be streched according to this information (which I received last evening - Scandinavian time - from Cruise Industry News).

 

There is some interesing news about MSC Orchestra as well...which will cruise from Dubai next winter (2014/2015) - and then continue to Australia:

 

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/10309-msc-lirica-to-be-lengthened-msc-set-for-asiaaustralia-with-orchestra.html

 

If you should have problems in opening it; here comes the info:

 

MSC Lirica to be Lengthened, MSC Set for Asia/Australia with Orchestra

 

on 26 November 2013.

MSC Cruises has announced that the MSC Lirica will be lengthened to the tune of 200 staterooms.

 

At a press conference in Brazil celebrating the arrival of the MSC Preziosa to the market, MSC confirmed they will add 200 rooms to the Lirica, which was the first newbuild to enter service for MSC when it launched in 2003.

 

The refurbishment will be completed before the 2014/2015 South America season, which will feature the Preziosa, Poesia, Magnifica and Lirica.

 

Furthermore, the line said the MSC Orchestra was set to sail in the Red Sea from Dubai, and then head to Asia and Australia in early 2015.

[MM42]

Hi!

MSC Lirica will be streched according to this information (which I received last evening - Scandinavian time - from Cruise Industry News).

 

There is some interesing news about MSC Orchestra as well...which will cruise from Dubai next winter (2014/2015) - and then continue to Australia:

 

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/10309-msc-lirica-to-be-lengthened-msc-set-for-asiaaustralia-with-orchestra.html

 

If you should have problems in opening it; here comes the info:

 

MSC Lirica to be Lengthened, MSC Set for Asia/Australia with Orchestra

 

on 26 November 2013.

MSC Cruises has announced that the MSC Lirica will be lengthened to the tune of 200 staterooms.

 

At a press conference in Brazil celebrating the arrival of the MSC Preziosa to the market, MSC confirmed they will add 200 rooms to the Lirica, which was the first newbuild to enter service for MSC when it launched in 2003.

 

The refurbishment will be completed before the 2014/2015 South America season, which will feature the Preziosa, Poesia, Magnifica and Lirica.

 

Furthermore, the line said the MSC Orchestra was set to sail in the Red Sea from Dubai, and then head to Asia and Australia in early 2015.

 

MSC Orchestra from Dubai to Fremantle. http://www.msccruises.com/gl_en/Crui...E&ship_code=OR

 

And then from Fremantle to Rome (charter Gallipoli cruise). http://www.cruising.com.au/gallipoli...ome/2015-03-26

[AmoMondo]

Here is an update with three later dates now included from the ‘general English’ MSC website. In particular:

 

the Musica is now listed to do a 2-night round trip to Monte Carlo 15th November putting back in Genoa for a repo cruise 17th November;

 

the Sinfonia has had one more regular 11 night cruise added delaying her repo cruise until 27th November; and

 

the Splendida, which was expected to stay in the Med anyway, now has regular itineraries through to March 2015 listed but not yet on sale.

 

The changes are marked in the table in bold.

 

Removed from the search results are the two Orchestra repos: Venice to Dubai in November 2014 and Dubai to Fremantle in March 2015. These are likely to served by the Poesia, starting in Genoa instead of Venice. Their removal supports the previous best-guesses.

 

key: known facts (best guess itinerary in brackets)

 

Repositioning Cruises start dates/ports by ship

MSC Armonia, 17th October 2014, from Venice (to Gran Canaria or Sharm el-Sheikh, either 10-11 nights)

MSC Armonia 27th April 2015, from Istanbul (to Venice, 3-4 nights or 1 night without passengers)

MSC Divina, 4th April 2015, year-round Miami

MSC Fantasia, 2nd November 2014, year-round Genoa/Venice

MSC Lirica, 7th November 2014, from Civitavecchia (to Gran Canaria or Sharm el Sheikh, either 10-11 nights)

MSC Magnifica, 19th October 2014, from Hamburg (to Santos, 17-18 nights)

MSC Musica, 17th November 2014, from Genoa (to Santo Domingo, Caribbean, 13-15 nights)

MSC Opera, 7th October 2014, from Southampton (to Durban, 18-19 nights)

MSC Orchestra, 5th November 2014, from Venice (to Rio de Janeiro or Santos, 16-17 nights)

MSC Poesia, 17th November 2014, from Genoa (to Dubai, 16-18 nights)

MSC Poesia, (21st February, 2015, from Dubai to Fremantle, Australia, 33 nights)

MSC Preziosa, 8th November 2014, from Venice (to Santos, 16-18 nights)

MSC Sinfonia, 27th November 2014, from Genoa (to Durban or Cape Town, 18-19 nights)

MSC Splendida, 29th March 2015, year-round Genoa

 

Repositioning Cruises end dates/ports by ship

MSC Poesia ending 23rd March 2015 at Fremantle, Australia (from Dubai, starting 21st February 2015, 33 nights)

MSC Armonia ending 18th April 2015 at Istanbul (from Gran Canaria or Sharm el Sheikh, 6-9 nights)

 

If anyone has any further repositioning cruise information, please to post it here.

 

Tim.

 

So we now know that you were spot on about Preziosa and Magnifica going to be SA bound, joined by Poesia and the to be stretched Lirica. Have to say the latter was a real surprise. Beginning to look like Sharm won't be back in winter 2014, unless they use the Armonia. Fantasia or Splendida could cover the canaries have they have done in the past with 11 night sailings out of genoa.

 

Orchestra also confirmed by MSC as the ship doing the Dubai to Fremantle sailing.

Edited November 28, 2013 by AmoMondo

[Skipper Tim]

So we now know that you were spot on about Preziosa and Magnifica going to be SA bound, joined by Poesia and the to be stretched Lirica. Have to say the latter was a real surprise. Beginning to look like Sharm won't be back in winter 2014, unless they use the Armonia. Fantasia or Splendida could cover the canaries have they have done in the past with 11 night sailings out of genoa.

 

Orchestra also confirmed by MSC as the ship doing the Dubai to Fremantle sailing.

 

Update to follow once the latest jigsaw pieces can be slotted in.....

[Skipper Tim]

Here is an update with the latest information from the Preziosa season launch ceremony in Santos yesterday (thanks to msclover and Frode).

 

Note that the charterer of of the Gallipoli 100th Anniversary Cruise continues to advertise the Poesia on their website but as the last news update was September, I will now assume that MSC are correct! Apologies to Daffydd for not believing him.

 

The changes are marked in the table in bold.

 

For clarity, I have now separated those ships which are not scheduled reposition 2014/15.

 

 

key: known facts (best guess itinerary in round brackets) [reason for change in square brackets]

 

Repositioning Cruises start dates/ports by ship

MSC Armonia, 17th October 2014, from Venice (probably to Gran Canaria, possibly to Sharm el-Sheikh, either 10-11 nights)

MSC Armonia 27th April 2015, from Istanbul (to Venice, 3-4 nights or 1 night without passengers)

MSC Lirica, current itineraries end 7th November 2014 at Civitavecchia. To be stretched (4-8 weeks) before repositioning to Rio de Janeiro [announced]

MSC Magnifica, 19th October 2014, from Hamburg (to Buenos Aires, 17-18 nights) [base to be confirmed]

MSC Musica, 17th November 2014, from Genoa (to Santo Domingo, Caribbean, 13-15 nights)

MSC Opera, 7th October 2014, from Southampton (to Durban, 18-19 nights)

MSC Orchestra, 5th November 2014, from Venice to Dubai, (16-18 nights) [switched with Poesia, Dubai announced]

MSC Orchestra, 21st February, 2015, from Dubai to Fremantle, Australia, 33 nights [announced in overlapping pieces]

MSC Poesia, 17th November 2014, from Genoa to Santos, (16-17 nights) [switched with Orchestra, Santos announced]

MSC Preziosa, 8th November 2014, from Venice to Santos, 16-18 nights) [santos announced]

MSC Sinfonia, 27th November 2014, from Genoa (to Durban or Cape Town, 18-19 nights)

 

Repositioning Cruises end dates/ports by ship

MSC Orchestra ending 23rd March 2015 at Fremantle, Australia (from Dubai, starting 21st February 2015, 33 nights) [switched with Poesia]

MSC Armonia ending 18th April 2015 at Istanbul (probably from Gran Canaria, possibly from Sharm el Sheikh, 6-12 nights)

 

'Stationary’ Ships

MSC Divina, 4th April 2015, year-round Miami

MSC Fantasia, 2nd November 2014, year-round Genoa/Venice

MSC Splendida, 29th March 2015, year-round Genoa

 

 

If anyone has any further repositioning cruise information, please to post it here.

 

Tim.

Edited November 28, 2013 by Skipper Tim

[Skipper Tim]

Having looked into the flights and especially Avios situation regarding a number of these increasingly likely repo cruises, the Orchestra's from Venice to Dubai is looking particularly attractive to me.

 

1) Venice is cheap, fast and convenient to reach from the UK unlike Genoa which would have involved (for me) two flights and possibly two train journeys: one in the UK and one in Italy from Milan. It is also beautiful and possibly the most attractive port to leave from or arrive at in the World. This is a good start!

 

2) Going East is good! Things get more interesting in the Eastern Med. I hope they spice up the itinerary with some ports of call in Greece and Turkey before Suez.

 

3) Suez! I have done a Suez transit once before and look forward to doing it again. Apart from the startling imagery of a huge ship passing through a narrow canal cut into the desert, I remember groups of soldiers who were deployed near the banks of the canal in the middle of nowhere coming out to wave at us as we slowly passed. I gather they don't get that many cruise ships passing through - it must be mostly freight.

 

4) The excitement of the Gulf of Aden - will pirates attempt to board? Will the guests and crew fight them off?

 

5) I would like to visit Muscat when it is under 140 degrees C. I feel I couldn't do it justice on the one previous occasion.

 

Dubai, I can take or leave. I am not one for large air-conditioned shopping malls full of over-priced designer wear.

 

6) Instead, I will return business class on one of the luxurious Middle-Eastern airlines that include a limousine pickup from anywhere in the UAE free of charge. I can be met off the ship by my private chauffeur and rushed to the executive lounge, completely spoilt there and on the flight back. A very good use of my hard-earned Avios, I believe and an excellent end to the trip. (See my thread about free flights for repo cruises).

 

I am therefore committing myself to this repo on the proviso that MSC come out with their regular UK repo pricing. Hence I thought I would get the roll call off to an early start.

 

Anyone thinking about joining me?

 

Tim.

Edited November 28, 2013 by Skipper Tim