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Just back from the 1/24-1/31 Orchestra Sailing...

VA_CRUISERS

By VA_CRUISERS,
in MSC Cruises

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greenrose

greenrose

Posted
Posted

:)Overall it was a very pleasant week. rank and file crew was very helpful and polite. Perhaps there was a slight air of superiority conveyed by the Italian staff at the reception and accounting offices. It did take several visits to get someone to check with the Ft. Lauderdale office to eventually receive shipboard credit for the $112.00 for the fuel surcharge. Likewise, it took several calls and visits to reception to get the in cabin safe problem replaced rather than just reset. Yes, the elevators were slow and having two out of service compounds the problem. Overall the ship is beautiful, clean and most of the staff are pleasant and helpful. The food compares favorably with COSTA. One area that MSC could improve is to have riper fruit. Melons, pineapple, etc. tended to be hard and flavorless in contrast to excellent fresh fruit served on COSTA. The bands in tghe various lounges were excellent. Drink prices and packages were reasonable. Main show room does not offer much leg room in the balacony seats on deck seven. A larger person would find very cramped. The Spa area is fantastic. They could use many more chairs on the the various sun decks. There were plently of lounge chairs for those wanting to lie down, but very few chairs those that just wanted to sit and read. On the Opera a few years back you were comtinually being asked tp purchase something: Tours, Wine packages, drink packages, soft drinks, sangria, etc.. It was a pleasant change to be able to relax on deck without being continually asked to purchase something. The Cigar and Wine Bar were very comfortable.

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lovetexas

lovetexas

Posted
Posted

My main pet peeve are the picture takers!! We are older parents with an only child. They see us and come running!! Every where we go. I always tell my dh it is because our dd is just sooo beautiful! But, I do know the truth..

 

Are there picture takers everywhere? Boarding and getting off at ports are one thing, but when they follow you around on the ship is entirely different!:eek:

 

Of couse, we need to learn to just say NO! Then I know we would have more space at home........

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VA_CRUISERS

VA_CRUISERS

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My main pet peeve are the picture takers!! We are older parents with an only child. They see us and come running!! Every where we go. I always tell my dh it is because our dd is just sooo beautiful! But, I do know the truth..

 

Are there picture takers everywhere? Boarding and getting off at ports are one thing, but when they follow you around on the ship is entirely different!:eek:

 

Of couse, we need to learn to just say NO! Then I know we would have more space at home........

 

I would say the picture takers were the least intrusive I've experienced. There were some pictures on the formal nights at dinner, but that was it. Otherwise, you had to go to them to get your picture taken.

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boca7

boca7

Posted
Posted

I was on the Jan 10 sailing deck 10 midship & it was very smooth while my niece was in 9212 aft & it did vibrate quite a bit, mostly docking & leaving, I was on the Costa fortuna aft & that did the same but Costa Atlantic Suite aft was calmer. It could be the different type ships. I recommend changing to midship, we had a great cabin. On deck 13 rear buffet there are tables aft outside that is a great place to eat & or relax. All positive statements are accurate. There were complainers also on my cruise who very quite obnoxious & annoying. One was carrying on her meat was tough, so order something else.

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agentgirl

agentgirl

Posted
Posted
http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=51633

It took over 2 weeks, but they finally posted my review, I was told the person who proofs the reviews was unavailable for some time and I guess they've returned to work. So it's there for anyone interested.

 

Thank you very much for the time and effort you put into your review. I look forward to my cruise in April and know what to expect because of your honest reporting! Thanks again!

~Debbie

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Baronvt1

Baronvt1

Posted
Posted

We arre due to cruise on the MSC Orchestra Feb, 28, 2009.

We are a bit nervous about the ship. We are Carnival Cruise junkies and this will only be the third cruise line we have tried. I was wondering what the dress code was like in the dinning room? Is there a need for ties every night? In addition, if you would tell us if there are hair dryers in the cabins?:D

Thanks

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VA_CRUISERS

VA_CRUISERS

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We arre due to cruise on the MSC Orchestra Feb, 28, 2009.

We are a bit nervous about the ship. We are Carnival Cruise junkies and this will only be the third cruise line we have tried. I was wondering what the dress code was like in the dinning room? Is there a need for ties every night? In addition, if you would tell us if there are hair dryers in the cabins?:D

Thanks

 

Here is a link to info. on the dress code:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=18135923&highlight=#post18135923

 

And, Yes, there are hairdryers in the room.

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ScttSki04

ScttSki04

Posted
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As you've heard, there are hairdryers, top drawer of the desk. The dress code is pretty standard, look good and you should have no issue, I wore a suit and tie for the 2 formal nights and a nice collared shirt the rest of the evenings and never felt out of place. Many didn't even bother with the suit, but to each their own. If you can, try the 4 Seasons specialty restaurant at least 1 evening. I was unable to get reservations, but everyone I spoke to who did, just LOVED IT!!! It has to be better than the hit or miss in the main dining. You being a Carnival cruiser, don't expect the same style experience. Keep your schedule with you as they won't announce every activity all day long. You get a morning overview and not much more. Catch the evening shows, I found them very good, not the usual fare. If you like to drink, buy the coupon book, you get 12 drinks for the price of 10. Any other questions you have I'll be happy to try and answer. Say Hi to Maria in the Amber Bar for me!!

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Inshape

Inshape

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Posted

If you were to read the reviews you would get either love or hate. I discovered the hate people are those who could not let go of what the ship did not have as compared to the american lines. These were the main complaints from those who hated the cruise:

 

The ship does not have a huge casino, although I thought it was plenty big and it was beautiful.

The ship did not have california wine...well it had italian since it is an ITALIAN cruise line. (and boy were the prices great..nothing like the american lines that make 300% profit per bottle)

The ship did not have drinking in the main theater. Well we loved that too since we could watch the most fantastic shows ever seen on a cruise(or in the city in the met, or anywhere)without the interference of the wait staff walking around.

The ship did not have constant bar service people bothering you all day at the pool asking if you wanted a drink. The drinks were made fresh to order as you ordered them and the waitstaff follows European etiiquite that says do not bother guests. They walk around the outside of the pool area or you get up and go the the 2 bars on the pool deck.

The ship did not have enough food all night long. Well I never ate so well on a cruise and never felt stuffed. I discovered wonderfl flavors and wonderful food and enjoyed every morsel and did not care that the food was not all night long. They did have 11:30 pm snakcs int he lounges which were hand served to guests who were enjoying the music , the bands, dancing.... We had crepes made to order with liquors and ice cream, little sandwiches, savory and sweet croissants...

The ship did not have toga parties.... Well thank goodness it was not CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE.

 

This ship was the most gorgous ship we ever saw. Marble and granite and wood. Statues and rotundas and sitting areas and lights and mirrors.... Oh there was a lucite piano in the main atrium where a string quartet would perform, where a classical pianist would perform

 

The nightly shows were beyond description. Something we have never seen before in all 12 other cruises we have done. Standing ovations, and goosebumps. DH even cried after the opera one and the dance one.... When the lights came up there were other men wiping tears away from their faces too.

 

The shows did not have a funny comedian, well this line caters to all nationalities and to translate jokes into 6 languages would not be funny at all. Instead we got a feast for the senses of all the shows in the theater. Each one got better and better and more unbelievable to see such a sight on a crusie ship. The talent is like no other line we have seen. the costumes were just beautiful. The singing.... goosebumps. WHo needed the bathroom is too small jokes anymore ...been there heard that...time to enjoy real fine art shows.

 

Embrace the differences and stop comparing to the other lines. What they do have far outweighs what they do not have. go with an open mind and smile. Be nice and you get nice back.

 

Oh I forgot, eat the fruit left in your cabin and the cabin steward refills it each day.

And ask for the fruit in the morning in the dining room you get papaya. Never had that on any cruise ship.

Ask for different cheese and they will bring you the better cheeses. It was wonderful beyond words. So great that we are booked on our second MSC cruise because I did not want to miss out on this finery at sea. We are doing Poesia for 11 day , nov 30 , 2009.

Anyone wanting more info on that or orchestra can email me: Picard2117@cox.net

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VA_CRUISERS

VA_CRUISERS

Posted
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Posted
If you were to read the reviews you would get either love or hate. I discovered the hate people are those who could not let go of what the ship did not have as compared to the american lines. These were the main complaints from those who hated the cruise:

 

The ship does not have a huge casino, although I thought it was plenty big and it was beautiful.

The ship did not have california wine...well it had italian since it is an ITALIAN cruise line. (and boy were the prices great..nothing like the american lines that make 300% profit per bottle)

The ship did not have drinking in the main theater. Well we loved that too since we could watch the most fantastic shows ever seen on a cruise(or in the city in the met, or anywhere)without the interference of the wait staff walking around.

The ship did not have constant bar service people bothering you all day at the pool asking if you wanted a drink. The drinks were made fresh to order as you ordered them and the waitstaff follows European etiiquite that says do not bother guests. They walk around the outside of the pool area or you get up and go the the 2 bars on the pool deck.

The ship did not have enough food all night long. Well I never ate so well on a cruise and never felt stuffed. I discovered wonderfl flavors and wonderful food and enjoyed every morsel and did not care that the food was not all night long. They did have 11:30 pm snakcs int he lounges which were hand served to guests who were enjoying the music , the bands, dancing.... We had crepes made to order with liquors and ice cream, little sandwiches, savory and sweet croissants...

The ship did not have toga parties.... Well thank goodness it was not CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE.

 

This ship was the most gorgous ship we ever saw. Marble and granite and wood. Statues and rotundas and sitting areas and lights and mirrors.... Oh there was a lucite piano in the main atrium where a string quartet would perform, where a classical pianist would perform

 

The nightly shows were beyond description. Something we have never seen before in all 12 other cruises we have done. Standing ovations, and goosebumps. DH even cried after the opera one and the dance one.... When the lights came up there were other men wiping tears away from their faces too.

 

The shows did not have a funny comedian, well this line caters to all nationalities and to translate jokes into 6 languages would not be funny at all. Instead we got a feast for the senses of all the shows in the theater. Each one got better and better and more unbelievable to see such a sight on a crusie ship. The talent is like no other line we have seen. the costumes were just beautiful. The singing.... goosebumps. WHo needed the bathroom is too small jokes anymore ...been there heard that...time to enjoy real fine art shows.

 

Embrace the differences and stop comparing to the other lines. What they do have far outweighs what they do not have. go with an open mind and smile. Be nice and you get nice back.

 

Oh I forgot, eat the fruit left in your cabin and the cabin steward refills it each day.

And ask for the fruit in the morning in the dining room you get papaya. Never had that on any cruise ship.

Ask for different cheese and they will bring you the better cheeses. It was wonderful beyond words. So great that we are booked on our second MSC cruise because I did not want to miss out on this finery at sea. We are doing Poesia for 11 day , nov 30 , 2009.

Anyone wanting more info on that or orchestra can email me: Picard2117@cox.net

 

Excellent review & observations. It looks as though we have very similar cruising backgrounds & a very similar take on our experience with MSC. We will definitely do it again!!

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TNGALOHA

TNGALOHA

Posted
Posted

Inshape, It sounds like you had the same kind of time on the Orchestra as Tom and I had. We just loved it.. We especially liked the last show with the dancing and the singing, we were some of the ones leaving the auditorium with tears in our eyes.

It just sickens me to think that some people had such low respect and regard for the ship to do the distruction of the ship, that has been put on these boards.

This is by far the most beautiful ship that I have ever cruised on and yes we have been on HAL. We have our least favorite cruise line but for the sake of arguments I won't post it.

Hopefully we will be able to swing the Poesia 10 day cruise in November along with the Dec. cruise. Hope to see you there.

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