‘Live from Orchestra’ Christmas 2017 Cruise Review

[CruiseIreland]

Safe sailing Bea. Be very interested to see how you get on with a Christmas cruise. Ken

[Nunagoras]

Nice review so far! Congrats!

 

The ship was effectively refurbished from what I can remember from my journey on her a few years ago. Musica class Fantastica balconies decks 8-11 used to have blue carpets, blue sofas, blue bed covers with soft old pink decorations as well as bed pillows and curtains, a black phone and an old fashioned safe!... Unfortunately the unique big thing that I can remember being the same on the cabin... is that ugly far outdated cheap TV set!... Why???... Ah, hey!... MSC sometimes is the home for some "small mysteries", isn't it?... The Savannah bar is also unrecognisable from what I can remember!...

 

Keep those good news coming and have a wonderful sailing!... :)

[kathleen21]

Thank you so much for doing this! I have looked forward to this review for months:D We will be on the Orchestra, leaving from Genoa, in April, and there is just not much recent information on the ship. I am appreciative of everything!

[Skier52]

Bea ... looks like the carpet has been changed in the Savannah bar, I seem to recall the hallways had a Red carpet with a rectangle motif, looks like they have the same carpet in your cabin as the Seaside!

THis was the savannah bar in apr 2016

 

same carpet as now

 

 

[Beamafar]

We returned to our cabin to get some much-needed rest and found our bags outside the cabin @ 3.10pm. We missed the safety drill (held @ 5.15pm) as a result.

 

 

 

We were at dinner as we left Barcelona when the Captain announced a change of itinerary. We were now going to Messina instead of Valletta - apparently due to weather. DH was not happy - he was looking forward to getting some duty-free cigarettes in Malta, the only place he could as we are not leaving the EU area so no other duty-free opportunities. Sea conditions were quite rough on our first night.

 

 

 

Here's our first night's dinner menu and pics of what we ordered:

 

 

 

 

 

I ordered the trout for a starter

 

 

And DH had the pork in tuna sauce which he enjoyed

 

 

 

We both had the braised beef - it was very nice

 

 

To finish, we had Black Forest cherry gateau

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

(contd)

 

Here is the dessert menu

 

 

and the after-dinner liqueur list

 

 

Our second day (yesterday) was a sea day (and also Gala Night). We had breakfast in Villa Borghese MDR then went to Guest Services to set up the social internet package on our phones. We then went to the safety drill @ 10am in the theatre.

 

Breakfast menu

 

 

 

A couple of images from the buffet area in the MDR

 

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately the internet social package doesn't allow access to CruiseCritic so I can only post when in port. As there are only 2 sea days, I will be able to post most days.

 

We didn't go to either of the 2 shows so far in the theatre. The first night was Flamenco which I'm not a fan of and We've seen last night's show before. I'll post yesterday and today's daily planner later.

 

Dave .......... We haven't met Mark yet but he sent a bottle of prosecco and plate of choc strawberries to the cabin last night so that's 2 of each we received yesterday as our Black Card ones were delivered yesterday afternoon

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Bea ... looks like the carpet has been changed in the Savannah bar, I seem to recall the hallways had a Red carpet with a rectangle motif, looks like they have the same carpet in your cabin as the Seaside!

The colour scheme throughout the ship is lovely, including the cabin; very nice cerise pink almost everywhere. A passenger told me this morning that Orchestra was in dry dock very recently. That explains why everything looks so new.

 

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[Beamafar]

Yesterday's lunch menu

 

 

 

We had the spring rolls

 

 

followed by devilled chicken and swai fillet (type of fish) in batter from the buffet area for me; DH had the sandwich from the menu. (No pics). I'd had a hot chocolate with Baileys for elevenses so I passed on dessert.

 

The day was overcast and the ship felt very crowded as everyone was indoors, so we spent some of the afternoon in our cabin where I watched a film on my iPad then went to the casino (where I lost a few bob) before going back to the cabin to get ready for Gala night. Speaking of the casino, smoking is allowed on one side.

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Last night's dinner menu

 

 

 

 

I had the salad and DH had the soup

 

 

 

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[sidari]

Hi Bea ... Mark said he will try and catch up with you soon, I seem to recall Orchestra went to France recently for the drydock along with others, one in there now not sure which one but could be Fantasia.

Heard you are missing Malta due to the weather.

[Beamafar]

For the main course I had the lamb and DH had the beef which he said reminded him of steak & kidney pie due to the combination of gravy and the puff pastry that accompanied it.

 

 

 

For dessert I had the lemon sponge (with a glass of limoncello) and DH had the royal cake which he enjoyed so much he ordered a second helping. I tried some - it really was scrumptious. I don't remember ever having it before

 

 

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Hi Bea ... Mark said he will try and catch up with you soon, I seem to recall Orchestra went to France recently for the drydock along with others, one in there now not sure which one but could be Fantasia.

Heard you are missing Malta due to the weather.

I've asked a member of Guest Services to send a thank-you note to Mark but hopefully we'll get to meet him and thank him directly.

 

It's a bit disappointing to have missed Valletta. We're here in Messina now and I don't know if we'll get off. The day is dull and overcast and I've no idea what to see or do here. We went to Taormina and Mt Etna in June but we haven't explored Messina before. Maybe we'll go ashore after lunch? I'm a little seedy this morning - overdid it a bit last night! We were in the aft lounge (name escapes me) for some of the evening but the band was playing a lot of music for couples' dancing so we left and went to the Savannah lounge where it was much better.

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Safe sailing Bea. Be very interested to see how you get on with a Christmas cruise. Ken

Hi Ken - glad to see you on the forum. Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!

 

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[Beamafar]

Nice review so far! Congrats!

 

Keep those good news coming and have a wonderful sailing!... :)

 

Thank you! We are enjoying the cruise so far. The ship is beautiful and the crew are a very friendly lot. Food has been really good, too. No negatives to report at all (save for the lousy slot machine money-robbing bandits! But, as they say, a fool and his money are easily parted).

 

 

 

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[Bra_BE2014]

So......... embarkation began @ 11.45am and we were onboard in the MDR for lunch when it opened @ 12pm. Here's today's lunch menu:

 

 

 

We both opted for the baked fillet of cod from the buffet

 

 

And the boneless chicken thighs from the menu (which were hot and delicious)

 

 

For dessert we had the apple pie; I had cream with mine as I don't eat icecream

 

 

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You don’t eat ice cream? Bea, I’m shocked, lol

Have a fabulous cruise!

 

 

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[Beamafar]

You don’t eat ice cream? Bea, I’m shocked, lol

Have a fabulous cruise!

 

 

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Hi Priscila.

 

Yeah - if it could be served warm it'd be fine LOL.

 

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[Beamafar]

Excited to follow this. Doing the same itinerary on the Orchestra in January.

Both you and Kathleen21, who's sailing on Orchestra in April, are one of the reasons why I decided early on to do a review. Since mentioning it, others have posted that they were also going to be on Orchestra, so it's good to know that there's interest in it. I thought I'd do it 'Live' as you're sailing so soon after I get home.

 

TupeloHoney - I have noted your question from before about the number of Gala nights and will wait 'til we actually experience them, rather than rely on the crew to tell us.

 

CaptainJohn, I've so far remembered to take pics of the menus. I hope to post each day's ones as I go.

 

Cruising Fox - hi! Happy Christmas!

 

Riclop & NC - thank you!

 

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[Beamafar]

Yesterday's daily program and specials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Today's program and specials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like we'll be giving the theatre a miss again tonight.

 

We're planning to eat in Shanghai speciality restaurant, the menu looks identical to the one in Oriental Plaza on Magnifica. Hopefully we can swap out the items on the Black Card menu like they allowed us to do a few weeks back in OP.

 

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[Beamafar]

Today's lunch menu didn't have much to offer us, nor did the buffet area, so we opted for the chef's burger. I do like the burgers on the ship! I had the lime cream tart for dessert and DH had gelato.

 

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

It brightened up in Messina, but it's quite cold and DH wanted a lie-down after lunch, so we've stayed onboard. It's given me a chance to catch up on posting, finish watching the film from yesterday and get some reading in, too.

 

We're losing an hour tonight as the clocks go forward; we get an extra hour in Corfu tomorrow on foot of the itinerary change.

 

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[Captain-John]

Glad you are having a good time and many thanks for the live review. I am pleased to see Orchestra is in good shape, and hope the murmurings about a dry dock are true so it's likely all the cabins have had a freshen up. Yes I've been paying close attention to the menus, if the they are the same in February I will be eating well (despite being fussier than a 2 year old!).

 

Odd you like the burgers - it's the one thing I really don't like, but I can't quite place my finger on exactly why. I do find NCL's burgers moreish though. Although MSC takes the pizza crown.

 

Enjoy Corfu tomorrow - it's a place that wasn't what I expected when I visited, although not necessarily in a bad way. :) It's a shame you missed Valletta - the harbour is stunning (as you will know).

[sidari]

Bea ... Enjoy Corfu and I hope the weather is kind to you ... :D

 

Looks like we are headed for 28c in Miami ... ;p

[girlguide]

Really enjoying following along. We are on the same cruise March 18.

 

First time on MSC & since we status matched to Black I booked a Bella balcony. Saved a few bucks!

 

Question about Bella room service - are we paying for food & delivery or just delivery? Also trying to decide between the drink packages - how is the beer & wine selection on the all inclusive restaurant & bar package?

 

Love seeing the menus - food looks great!