Cruise Talk: MSC OPERA - January 22, 2005

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»	Cruise Talk » ShipMates » MSC OPERA - January 22, 2005

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Topic: MSC OPERA - January 22, 2005

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 11-28-2004 04:30 PM

Anyone booked on this sailing? It's a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale.

I'm looking forward to trying a line other than the "big boys" like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess. MSC is relatively new to North America and I'm hoping the Italian atmosphere they promote is really true.

Please reply if you will be sailing as well.

Best,
Ernie

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

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 11-28-2004 10:02 PM

Ernie, I hope you will have a great time onboard the MSC OPERA!

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 11-29-2004 01:33 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Keitaro:
Ernie, I hope you will have a great time onboard the MSC OPERA!

Thanks Wayne. I appreciate it!

Ernie

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

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 12-01-2004 12:29 AM

I am starting to be attracted to MSC Cruises. The newbuilds looks splendid and the refit on the RHAPSODY was nice. I can't wait for your comments when you come back because I really want to cruise on MSC!

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 01-15-2005 04:33 PM

One week to go. Any CruiseTalker's decide to come along?

Ernie

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

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 01-15-2005 04:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by eroller:
One week to go. Any CruiseTalker's decide to come along?
Ernie

Mec1 has scared us off! (Although it's a different ship!)

You will probably have a great time, as you may not have very high expectations of the food and entertainment, now?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 01-15-2005 05:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Mec1 has scared us off! (Although it's a different ship!)
You will probably have a great time, as you may not have very high expectations of the food and entertainment, now?

No one can scare me off from a ship. In fact it's usually just the opposite. The more mixed reviews I read the more I become intrigued and want to try the product for myself. I read most reviews with a grain of salt unless I know the reviewer personally. There are simply too many variables involved to take one persons experience as an indicator to how an entire ship or cruise line performs.

MSC OPERA is a brand new ship, how bad can she be? Give me warm weather, some cocktails, a lounger by the pool, a nice gym and spa, edible food, air conditioning, and I'm happy! I think MSC OPERA will meet these basic requirements and then some! I really don't care much about the entertainment as I make my own anyway. Give me some friends at the bar over the stage show anyday. Food is subjective and some say it's excellent and others say it's horrible. The truth usually lies somewhere in between.

I think MSC OPERA is the perfect size ship, and one thing that seems universal from every review I have read is that the ship is stunning. Not the way Royal Caribbean ship's are stunning (in your face kind of way), but in a toned down, and very tasteful manner.

I'm not paying a lot for this cruise and I'm not expecting Celebrity or Silversea. I have every confidence that MSC will deliver an acceptable product for the rates they are charging ... maybe even better.

Ernie

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

robyn
First Class Passenger
Member # 3981

posted 01-15-2005 06:26 PM

Well said Ernie! You have the right attitude in approaching a new cruiseline and have obviously done your research.

I like cruising MSC in Europe (when in Italy etc) !I've been told it is a whole different product, to that being offered to the Caribbean market. I'll look forward to reading your usual balanced report.

Enjoy and have a wonderful cruise

Posts: 112 | From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

mec1
First Class Passenger
Member # 4287

posted 01-16-2005 12:15 PM

Ernie -

I think you will absolutely adore the ship and if the crew is even half as good as LIRICA's you'll have a blast.

Just to make things clear, I would sail MSC again immediately - I wasn't expecting Silversea!!! But the reason I found the food so disappointing is that it doesn't compare to even basic American targetted lines like Carnival, let alone Holland America.... And I REALLY want MSC to do well!!!!!

Please let me know how your trip goes - and Bon Voyage!

Mike

Posts: 1675 | From: London, England | Registered: Nov 2003 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 01-16-2005 10:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mec1:
Ernie -

Please let me know how your trip goes - and Bon Voyage!
Mike

Thanks for the good wishes Mike. I'll be sure to put my impressions down in writing when I return.

Ernie

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

DOWNDIE
First Class Passenger
Member # 1517

posted 01-17-2005 07:15 PM

Hi Ernie:
I think Mike's review just shows that everybody has different preferences when it comes to cuisine. He appears to prefer British style as served on Thomson and Sun cruises. If you sail on an Italian ship you should expect continental or Italian cuisine.
On my Opera cruise in October out of Genoa the food was very good in my opinion, especially the appetizers,soups,pastas and risottos. The main courses varied but some were exceptional, desserts were less so but the gelatos, cheese and fresh fruit plates made up for it.
Our British tablemates,one of whom was a qualified chef were delighted with the food and service. However a group of older Brits we came across at the lunch buffet were less so, eskewing the great selection of salads, and complaining that there was no roast beef, potatoes and 2 veg, or any decent British style puddings.
Funny enough, on a previous cruise on the venerable old Stella Solaris, which had a good reputation for it's cuisine, the only ones I heard complaining about the food were Brits as well.
All this, made me wonder if the food had improved that much in the UK, believe me it hasn't unless you want to pay an arm and a leg, as I found out while there in October before travelling on to Italy.
In case you think I'm putting Brits down Mike, I'm an ex Brit who still loves steak and kidney pies, steamed puds and yes roast beef and all the trimmings etc.

Posts: 70 | From: Penticton, BC, Canada. | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

mikiebaccarat
First Class Passenger
Member # 1026

posted 01-19-2005 06:02 PM

When you are getting off the Opera on the 29th. My son and I will be getting on

Posts: 53 | From: Kingston,ON,Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

mec1
First Class Passenger
Member # 4287

posted 01-20-2005 11:27 AM

Downdie,

Don't think you are putting Brits down. IMHO the food on P&O, Celebrity, Seadream, Seabourn, Windstar, Cunard and RCI is better than that on MSC, whereas the food on NCL and the now-defunct Epirotiki is worse.

Posts: 1675 | From: London, England | Registered: Nov 2003 | IP: Logged

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