Cruise Talk: MSC Lirica Mini Review

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Topic: MSC Lirica Mini Review

cruisecluestoo
First Class Passenger
Member # 3906

posted 02-15-2004 02:51 PM

This is just a mini review. We are working on a very extensive one on our site that we hope to have finished soon. We will tell the good and the bad.
First let me say the four of us had a wonderful time. I am not saying everything was perfect and nothing went wrong. I am just saying we made sure we were going to have fun. We did our homework before we booked this cruise so we pretty much knew what to expect. Actually it was better than we expected. We knew this was a value cruise. We paid a value price. I researched the ports and kind of knew what to expect. We chose this cruise because it would be a different experience. On the way to the ship we were talking to the other passengers going on the same cruise. We all said we didn't know what to expect and knew that it was going to be different. I guess that is why they enjoyed their cruise, too. Everyone in the van back to the hotel said they enjoyed it but one couple.
I guess first impressions are very important. The first impression of this ship is poor. I am not talking about the looks because this is truly a beautiful ship. I am talking about the welcome aboard snack they had in the buffet. It was probably the worst we have ever had. We were truly beginning to worry,and so was everyone else. At dinner that night wasn't a lot better, as things were hectic & rushed, so that made things even worse. I must say the next day things did improve. We had a wonderful waiter, Sebastiano. I can only say he got better every day. We felt like we were leaving a friend behind. We ate at second sitting so he had plenty time for us. A lot of times we didn't need to ask him for things he already knew what we liked and wanted . Best waiter we have ever had in our 19 cruises. We dined in the L'Ippocampo. I am sure he helped to make this a wonderful experience. We looked forward to having dinner with him every night. We enjoyed the food that most passengers complained about. I did eat a lot of pasta, risotto, and fish. Most of the beef wasn't that great but some was. There are separate kitchens for the restaurants . Maybe we were lucky to have the better one but I must say I likes most of what I got to the surprise of many other passengers. I do like to try different foods so that may help.
Cartagena
We had a wonderful time in all of the ports. We only took one tour from the ship . I think they did a poor job in presenting the tours so they didn't look appealing . We knew before we went that Cartagena was not visited by many ships and knew it was dangerous. Again we did our homework ahead before we booked. We had a wonderful time even though there was a little too much shopping for me.
Montego Bay
We went to an all inclusive resort for the day so had a wonderful time . The ship was late getting in so that did cut us a little short. We were on the first tender, too, but didn't feel in danger at any time. The tender came in a little fast and made waves. It went back out and came in very slow and we made it fine. After the Carnival ship left our ship docked so we didn't need to tender back.
San Blas
I thought San Blas was a wonderful stop. The island was very small and like a huge flea market, mostly hand made goods by the Kuna Indians. We took a separate trip to the island where they live. What a wonderful experience. I have never seen anything like it. They are very kind soft spoken tiny little people. We also spent time on the beach.
Panama Canal
We did not take a tour in Panama. We had a wonderful time just enjoying the ship . I think we may have taken the trip to the country club had they made it sound more inviting. Everyone that went seem to enjoy it. I think every tour started and ended at the country club. They served food and drinks (open bar I think). They also had a show and the Kuna Indians were there to sell their molas .
Puerto Limon
We had a wonderful day in Puerto Limon. We took a tour from a taxi on the dock. We did just about everything. The river tour, banana plantation, in town to a grocery store to buy coffee, and then to a wonderful restaurant for the best red snapper I have ever had. What a view from the restaurant and to top it off wonderful music, and then to the beach. What a wonderful day.
Key West
Bad day for everyone . 6:45am is just a little too early for me when I am on vacation . This started out to be a bad day and didn't get much better since we didn't get to go ashore . We didn't let it spoil our day and just spent the day at the pool. That day MSC did a very poor job getting activities together and had very little to do. They did add a few more bingo sessions that day. What a joke. They need a back up system in place for days when they can't get into port. Bad planning. They could have at least given everyone a free drink, as other cruise lines do, to make everyone feel a little better. More on this in our other review.
We have so much more to say and I did say this was going to be a mini review but got a little carried away. Hope to have our extensive review up soon on our site.

Diane, Cruiseclues

Posts: 16 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 02-15-2004 02:59 PM

Nice review Diane! Thanks for sharing. Very balanced which is great. Nothing is ever perfect, but nothing is all bad either.... especially a cruise!

Best,
Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

RobHolland
First Class Passenger
Member # 3779

posted 02-17-2004 06:11 AM

I see that Buil & Diane have just uploaded loads of photo's of their Lirica cruise! See their site www.cruiseclues.com .Worth visiting!!

Posts: 762 | From: ms Rotterdam | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Czechmate
First Class Passenger
Member # 4498

posted 02-24-2004 03:32 AM

I am extremely grateful to Buil and Diane for the wealth of information on their superb website. They also take the trouble to reply to e-mails sent to them seeking advice and recommendations and that is really kind of them.
I am sailing on Lirica on 10th March and lookf orward to the trip very much. I am determined to make the best of things and have a great time.
If any other passengers would like to share their experience or advice with me then I would be happy to hear from you.
I am not expecting anything near prfection. Last year I did te East Caribbean cruise with !Melody" so I am well aware of MSC and just what to expect. Like many things in liife the cruise will be what I make of it.
On Melody I found the stateroom and dining staff polite and friendly and willing to do everything they could to help. The same could not be said of the senior, travel and reception staff. The only thing they were capable of organising was chaos!!
When making a few suggestion to the Purser/Hotel Manage she informed me "If you do not like how MSC do things then do not sail with us again. There are millons more people who will be happy to do so". Blunt but honest and rather Italian!!!
OH!!...............and I LOVE BROWN EGGS!!

Posts: 27 | From: Czech Republic | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-24-2004 08:59 AM

Welcome Czechmate. I hope you enjoy your forthcoming trip, will be interested to hear your thoughts on your return. I sailed MSC Lirica back at the end of Oct and thoroughly enjoyed the week. Buil & Diane have done a great job, and all those photos! You can read my review over on the left under Ship Reviews, or on my own site with more photos here.
I have also been on MSC Melody, an entirely different experience. But both in the Med, so not the same as sailing in the Caribbean. I will do a review on her too, once I get a new monitor [ Ernie 'above', killed miine yesterday

]
Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

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