‘Live from Orchestra’ Christmas 2017 Cruise Review

[Beamafar]

Yesterday's daily program and specials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

I couldn't face the MDR for dinner so we went to the buffet. I was surprised at the limited choices, though it didn't matter much to me as I could only face a few fries to much on. There was chicken drumsticks (DH ate several and declared them delicious), some fried fish and pork ribs. I'm not a regular buffet goer so I can't say if this is the norm. Of course there was an ample salad bar and other stations so probably more choice than the impression I'm giving.

 

We did go to the MDR to get a photo of the posted dinner menu

 

 

It was back to the cabin for me for a short rest before I decided to chance my luck in the casino again. I really couldn't face traipsing up and down the ship trying to find a venue where I'd enjoy the music - my tolerance levels are quite low at the moment! I'll discuss our (limited) experiences of the entertainment later on when I give an overall view of the cruise.

 

Well, I should have stayed in bed, for 2 reasons

 

1. Luck was not on my side

 

2. I stayed longer than I should have and got a severe chill when I went back to bed. I couldn't get the heat into me despite being bundled up in a jumper and big fleece jacket with hood, under the duvet with a towelling robe thrown over for good measure. The medication I'm taking didn't seem to help at all.

 

DH had left to spend the rest of the night with his new-found buddies in the cigar lounge where, apparently, he had a whale of time (which I was delighted about - it can't be much fun for him with me being in bed most of the time). He didn't get back 'til 1.30am and I was still cold despite the thermostat being full on. I eventually warmed up with him (my radiator!) in the bed beside me and I slowly shed the layers of clothes over the course of the night.

 

I'm beginning to think I may need to visit the doctor - though I'd really rather not. If it's flu there's nothing much he/she can do. However, if it's a chest infection (which I rather suspect it is) I may need an anti-biotic.

 

 

 

 

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[CruiseIreland]

Bea, I'm really sorry your illness is worse and impacting so much on your cruise. I'm sure you looked forward to it very much. You're a trooper to keep posting despite feeling rotten. If it's any consolation, it's all ice and snow warnings here so at least you have better weather, even if it's not typical Med weather. You might be right to go get a doctor's opinion. Please get well soon and have a Happy New Year celebration onboard. Ken

[Beamafar]

Thanks so much Ken.

 

I've been so lost in posting this morning (so good to be able to get everything to "send"!) that I lost track of the time. In fact, reporting has really helped pass the time in the last couple of days.

 

It's a glorious day in Genoa though quite cold. We had no plans to get off here so I'm happy enough to be comfortably ensconced in the warmth of the cabin.

 

Anyway, I realised it was lunchtime and decided to chance going to the MDR for lunch. There was nothing on the menu that appealed so I went over to the buffet section where they had mahi-mahi, lamb curry and carvery Boston round roast. I got a nice small slice of the beef and had some peas&carrots with a little mash. The slice of beef on my plate is doubled over in the photo

 

 

I managed to eat most of it (though it was almost cold - a common complaint I'm afraid to say!). I might have managed to enjoy It had it been hot.

 

I again chose my dessert of choc chip cheesecake from the buffet. It probably would have been better presented if I'd ordered it from the menu

 

 

It was a nice small piece and I was able to finish it! Looks like I'm on the mend. It's our second-last day onboard so I'm hoping to be able to enjoy what's left of our time here.

 

Here's today's lunch menu

 

 

 

Of course, being in Genoa and it being the busiest port of embarkation, the atmosphere has changed. The crew are assuming we're newcomers and are pitching the sale of drink packages to us. I queried why the price of €26 for classic and €50 for premium is still showing on their listings and was told that they are "offering" a discounted price of €21 for the all-inclusive. How ridiculous is that! No indication otherwise that there is a "discount" on the prices.

 

Another thing I learned last night in the casino is that you now have to accumulate 2000 points to qualify for the 30% discount voucher off a future cruise - up from 1200. I was nearing the 1200 when I asked DH to find one of the casino crew and ask them if 1200 was still the amount required. I'd had a funny feeling that the required number of points had changed when I read on the machines that 9999 points earns you a free cruise for 2 - that's up from 7500.

 

I haven't photo-d today's daily planner yet. I'll do that later and post the pics of I have a signal.

 

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[Beamafar]

If it's any consolation, it's all ice and snow warnings here so at least you have better weather, even if it's not typical Med weather. ......have a Happy New Year celebration onboard. Ken

 

I've seen the forecast and I have to say I'd rather be here than at home at the moment.

 

Tomorrow is our last day. We'll be in Marseille so we'll stay onboard and I can spend the day packing. We'll be overnighting in Barcelona the following day and fly home New Year's Eve morning. It looks like the weather will be a little milder so hopefully no icy roads when driving home.

 

You've been getting most of the bad weather lately. We never even saw a flurry of snow recently when most of the country was covered.

 

 

 

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[Kateann61414]

Oh, can you grab a picture of the room service menu?

[Beamafar]

Here you go

 

 

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[Kateann61414]

Thank you!

[GOLDENBONNY]

OMG I am so jealous :hearteyes: can not wait till my next cruise with MSC in May.

[CruisingFox27]

So sorry to hear that you've been ill during your cruise Bea, so frustating, hope you start to feel better soon. Thank you for the reviews and posts. Looking forward to our trip on Orchestra next year even more now.

[Beamafar]

It is extremely cold in Marseille today, -2° being reported. Some people had ice on their balconies.

 

I was feeling a good bit better yesterday but, unfortunately it hasn't lasted and I'm back in bed at the moment, having managed to pack my case and go to the MDR for some lunch. I'm going to rest for the afternoon and it may be a day or two before I post again.

 

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[thecruisers6]

Hope you feel better soon Bea, 16C tomorrow afternoon in Barcelona a lot better than Marseille. All the very best to you and your husband for 2018.

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Thank you so much, Mark. And many happy returns to you and yours for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. Great to know what to expect in Barcelona tomorrow, too. TBH, the way I'm feeling, I was dreading getting off in cold weather.

 

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[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

Thank you very much for your live review and great photos of the food as well as the daily programs from the MSC Orchestra. Very nice work . I was really looking forward to your live review and it's very appreciated. Get well soon and have a safe journey home :D

 

Happy new year and all the best from the Norwegians:)

[Beamafar]

Thanks so much, NC.

 

We arrived safely home on New Year's Eve and were very fortunate with the weather as there's been a storm blowing since yesterday. I've been staying wrapped up and cozy warm in the hope that I'll soon be rid of this virus.

 

I see I just have a couple more days of menus and dailies to post, so I'll get that done today and then I'll share some final thoughts about the cruise.

[Beamafar]

So ........ Our second-last night onboard, we went to the MDR for dinner.

 

 

 

DH had the soup which he enjoyed

 

 

and we both ordered the cod

 

 

It was not good. The tomato sauce was sharp and the potatoes could not be cut with a knife. I pointed this out to our waiter who said that's the way they're supposed to be! I said "Raw?" He offered to get a replacement but I thought " What's the point? If that's the way they're supposed to be, then I'll only get more of the same!" I barely had an appetite as it was and this didn't help. DH also agreed that his meal was as bad, so it wasn't just my lack of appetite that made it unappealing.

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

Dessert menu

 

 

DH had the Apple crumble and declared it was a lot nicer than it looked

 

 

I had the coconut pistachio cake

 

 

 

 

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[Beamafar]

We spent the evening in the casino as I had about 1500 points at this stage, so I decided to aim for the 2000 required points for the 30% discount voucher to add to the 10% future cruise discount we'd been given for missing 2 ports. Anyway, I made it to 1950 before calling it a night. It was going to be a doddle on the last night to attain the 2000.

 

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[perakcruiser]

So for dinner.

 

 

I totally loved this pasta on our cruise in November and had to order a second serving :)

[Beamafar]

I totally loved this pasta on our cruise in November and had to order a second serving :)

 

I tried to convince DH to have more of the pasta dishes as the mains were very poor.

[Captain-John]

I tried to convince DH to have more of the pasta dishes as the mains were very poor.

 

Oh dear! I thought the food was generally quite good (menus and dishes looked OK), apart from the odd exception you noted.

[Beamafar]

Oh dear! I thought the food was generally quite good (menus and dishes looked OK), apart from the odd exception you noted.

 

I wasn't going to comment 'til I'd finished posting the final day's menus, but, I'm sorry to say the food was really bad onboard. DH wanted to go to the buffet for dinner on our last night - that is unheard of! He has never before wanted to go to the buffet for dinner. I convinced him otherwise. Boy, was I sorry. The menu was poor (Mediterranean Night). We were practically ignored at the table, which hadn't been the case earlier on in the cruise, when we were fussed over because we had complained about the food being cold one night. That was on the evening that DH had purchased the T-Bone and had to send it back. The m'D used to always say hello or nod over as he would pass our table regularly. We may as well have been invisible on the last night - the atmosphere was so bad, I'm sorry we didn't just get up and leave!

[Captain-John]

Oh dear - I will console myself with the thought I only booked Orchestra for the sunny itinerary, and I have an NCL cruise in July to get my gastronomic fix this year. :(

 

I resent going out for meals ashore when food is all paid for on the ship but I may resort to that if it's still as bad in 8 week's time. Sorry to hurry you along, I'll let you compose your final thoughts on the cruise overall in peace.

 

I have just had a set-to with my T/A regarding an upgrade to an S3 Aurea suite (from a B3), my final decision on this matter may well be based on your final thoughts and summary (no pressure!) - I won't be giving MSC more money for a declining product (if that's the case) on Orchestra.

[Beamafar]

Our final day's menus, lunch first

 

 

 

DH had the soup - he enjoyed all the soups he had onboard and they were always hot

 

 

We both opted for the cottage pie. This had been really good on Magnifica back in October, so I was really looking forward to it and thought that I'd missed it when I'd been ill in bed. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the wait. The "meat" was nothing but gristle which we spent the time removing from our mouths and there was no flavour to the gravy. We had a wonderful trainee waitress named Jackie from the Philippines (watch out for her at breakfast and lunch at the back of the left-hand side of the MDR - she's a star!) She told us that others were making the same complaint and that she would speak to the chef.

 

 

I had the mille-feuille for dessert (without the icecream), which is one of my very favourites

 

 

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[Beamafar]

It was only when we went to dinner in the MDR and saw the green runners on the tables that we discovered that it was Mediterranean Night - no mention in the daily planner. So I had an idea what to expect as far as the menu was concerned

 

 

 

DH ordered the salad

 

 

There was nothing on the mains that appealed to him so he asked the waiter for an alternative. He was directed to the cards with the ads for lobster and T-bone. He declined and asked if there were other alternatives to which the waiter replied "Chicken". So DH opted for that while I ordered the cous cous which I always have on Med Night.

 

 

 

This cous cous dish was vile! The lamb pieces were black which indicates the absolute cheapest cut of meat and the "sauce" tasted like the cheapest, saltiest gravy you could ever imagine. I called the waiter over to point this out to him. He offered to get something else, but there was nothing else on that I would eat, so I declined the offer.

 

 

 

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