day visit to the MSC Opera

#1

We've just returned home from our ship's visit yesterday and have uploaded some piccies to http://www.cruise-community.me.uk/galle ... bum_id=108

We found the opportunity to book this on the MSC website a few weeks ago, for £20 pp, so myself, the Lady C and my mother presented ourselves at Dock 10 yesterday morning. We were amazed to get an email on Friday enclosing a complimentary car parking ticket, and the attendant yesterday was anxious to stop us from paying as this would have cost £10.

We were very early, as the Southampton Boat Show was on and we didn't want to get caught up in traffic and, for late-comers, there wasn't enough seating in the terminal lobby. We had to report to the staff check-in to hand over our passports and be issued with a special pass. Once we'd passed through security, we had to wait in the departure lounge with the regular passengers until our guides called us forward. We finally boarded just after 11.00.

After being shown the casino, we were taken to the pub, where smoking is allowed. Unfortunately, the stench triggered off my mum's cough and she was hacking away for some time afterwards. The guide said that this one place where smoking is permitted is at the front of the ship so that it can be easily avoided by those who need/want to.

We noticed many areas, including little alcoves between the shops, where you could sit quietly. The standard of decor and seating was excellent.

There is a large buffet area on the Lido deck with indoor and al-fresco seating - this seems to be much better appointed than our beloved Oceana.

We were shown a balcony cabin, outside cabin and an inside cabin. The first looked to be of a good size, the outside comparable with the inside cabins we've had on other ships but the inside cabin seemed to be very small. The Italians have some health-and-safety policy which means that there is no hospitality tray in the cabin.

The guide said that the ship is never full because they pick up and drop off passengers at each port of call.

There is a 15% surcharge on all drinks, including soft/hot (coffee apparently is €4 a cup) but if you buy their most expensive drinks package (€30), the surcharge is "wiped out" (the guide's words).

After going up and down decks, we were finally taken to the restaurant for lunch. We were offered a full 7-course meal with wine (the chap at the next table had four glasses that I saw and was a little the worse for wear when we retired to a lounge for coffee after the meal). There was a choice of two starters, salad, soup, pasta, five choices of main, four choices of dessert, and a cheeseboard.

We finally left the ship at 14.00.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable three hours and well worth the money (which will be refunded if we book a cruise).

#2

A friend of my mum's is a regular entertainer on P&O and he's appeared on the Opera. He said it is a very rowdy ship and the Italians allow their children to run all over the place and even to climb the various artworks... Perhaps we'll give this line a miss.

#3

Thank you for your detailed interesting information on the MSC Opera.

#4

I think the day trips to ships are a really good idea.

Apart from being a nice day out, it gives a flavour of a line that may be new to you.

I visited the Marco Polo at Tilbury in December, which I enjoyed very much.

Cruise Community Forum