I just came back from my 8 night Christma's Cruise and i have to say it was my worse cruises in more than 17 i already have done. I will make a complete review in a few days and will post here. The ship was very beautifull but i really don't know what happened with MSC, everything onbord really SU**S! I have made some movies (Costa Romantica departing from Rio, Costa Fortuna on front of "Corcovado" and the Grand Mistral at night) but i don't know yet how to upload. The pictures i will be posting in a few days too.

Italianliners

[ 12-29-2006: Message edited by: Italianliners ]

I put a readers revies of the MSC Sinfonia but i cannot find, if Malcom or Joe could give me a hand i would be thankful.

Italianliners

Thanks for sharing your experience Italianliners.

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
It ceretainly seems that MSC are having problems in successfully moving their product to places other Europe.

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It’s interesting that Carnival (for example) realise that the whole world are not going to appreciate the ‘Fun Ship’ product , hence that’s why they have purchased all of those brands.

However RCI tailor their product for the different markets. I’ve cruise RCI in The Carib, in the Med and from the UK. I must say that each experience was very different and clearly adapted for the different clientele. For example, it the Med they pick up a lot of Italian and Spanish guests.

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I am surprised with your experience in terms of food and entertainment. I have never sailed with MSC, but I heard good things about their food.

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For another cruiser maybe it would not be so bad because in my others 3 cruises in MSC (in South America too) the service and food were really different. I was disapointed because i entered in the ship expecting as it was in the previous years and then i saw that MSC had been a little bit lazy this season. I read what Malcom writed about his Thomsom cruise and it was the the opposite of my cruise. He was not expecting too much of the cruise but then he was surprised for the good servie and the food. I'm glad that he enjoyed his cruise!

Some people told me that i could not expect too much of a "Mass Market Cruise Line" so seeing by this point they are right. Next year i'm planing a Caribbean cruise for the first time and i'm trying to convince my dad to experience HAL or Celebrity. The right thing is that will be very diferent of my latest cruises on Costa and MSC.

I enjoyed the food, as did most but some complained bitterly. Picking fault, I had salmon, which was dry, and some very tough veal (which I should have sent back). Otherwise I can't complain except that I have developed a very expensive taste for truffle and truffle oil. The selection at the buffet and al fresco restaurants was impressive, always a roast, some very creative soups and salads and tasty pasta. The pizzas, when freshly served, are among the best I've had.
One very major complaint: the tea and coffee situation is not good. It is only available at breakfast and during afternoon tea. At other times the machines are drained and you are expected to pay at the bar for them.

Entertainment was very enjoyable and at time exceptional. There was a show practically every night and considering that on this voyage there were at least 6 languages to be catered for the entertainment team did a fantastic job. How could ventriloquism work under such conditions? It shouldn't, but it was hilarious. Contortionists, violinists, jugglers, magicians and comedians all helped pass many happy hours with only the Brazilian singer (obviously famous in Brazil) failing to entertain me. The animation team kept everyone going during the day effortlessly switching between the languages, always smiling and joking.

The service at first wasn't good, but it rapidly improved. Apparently this is due to ships in Brazilian waters being required to sail with at least 30% Brazilian staff. Hence it appeared the transatlantic crossing was being used for training. Being only two thirds full this was not too much of a problem and the extra staff led to exceptionally good service by the end of the voyage.

Armonia herself was alright. Having sailed on the Opera she wasn't anything like as stylish, looking in fact, quite ordinary. There was no wow factor (for me). She was reasonable well laid out and the pool deck was never over crowded but i certainly noticed the extra 400 passengers we took on in Salvador! Cabins were compact but perfectly formed, with the exception of those with fold down bunk beds. These were responsible for a few bruised temples. I am small and skinny, but even I was dancing with the shower curtain, larger people would be better using the entire bathroom as a wet-room.

Itinerary was near perfect for me. The ports were well intersperced with the sea-days and the 5 days in the middle, crossing the equator were ideal for relaxing in the sun.

link to Armonia pictures

[ 01-09-2007: Message edited by: goodclicks ]

I am one of those people Tom I detested the looks of the sterns of the Festival sisters and have said so many times. After having sailed Lirica, where the 'rounded bulkheads' make things look better, I realised what wonderful areas they are from a passenger's point of view. Then after Armonia, without the side views blocked, I realised they are even better that way, and loved having more or less my own private balcony out there with views in 3 directions.

I still think from afar they look like they have had a shunt up the rear end, but onboard they are better than traditional fantails.

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Originally posted by PamM:
I still think from afar they look like they have had a shunt up the rear end, but onboard they are better than traditional fantails.

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It's interesting how important the external appearance of a ship is to us ship-nuts, yet it has no real bearing on the cruise experience - apart from having to look at the ship during embarkation, ports of call (tendering) and disembarkation.

I suppose that why there are so many ugly ships built these days, it really is NOT important to the cruising public.

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goodclicks
i especially like the one of the stern fantail, but why is everyone looking at you taking a picture of them?

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Attractive as I am (!!!) I think it was the view of Salvador they were looking at!

Having sailed Opera with the enclosed tail and Armonia with the open fan tail, I can see the benefits of both. Opera's balcony was more sheltered and deeper - better for lying on the sunbed. Armonia's balconies couldn't hold many sunbeds but gave far better views.

Without question Opera & Lirica are the better looking of the quartet. Just a few strokes of the designer's pen made all the difference.