MSC OPERA --GGC2006--01/28/2006--02/04/2006

"Charles" wrote in message
d...

Thanks for the review Jean. Whenever anyone says you have to go with an
open mind or something to that effect that sets off warning bells to
me. After reading all the reviews posted so far of this cruise I get
the impression that people are falling all over themselves to
understate the negatives. It sounds like it is pretty much a budget
cruise line that I probably would not care for.

You're welcome, Charles.
I don't know why such a statement should set off warning bells, Charles. I
go on every cruise with an open mind...I do not like preconceived notions to
govern what I really will feel about what is ahead..I want to *live* those
experiences as they occur...
This was an Italian ship run by mostly Italian officers and crew (some from
eastern Europe) with a European style and flair..although they have changed
a few things to accommodate the North American tastes of some of the
passengers that cruise on them. The ship was beautiful in decor and
spotless...The service crew needed some polishing as far as social graces
went...the rest of the staff, who probably had more of an education and
worldly experience, were great...The entertainment was absolutely the best
of any on the now 33 ships that I have been on. I haven't understated the
negatives... Not all of the food was to my liking..some I would not even
try...but then I am not an escargot lover, either....but there was always
enough to please me ...Sure I would have enjoyed softer rolls and bread
instead of the hard and crusty ones...no big deal...I didn't like the short
buffet hours, but I sure did not starve! Most of the Italian dishes were
very good and some were outstanding.I got to taste some dishes that I had
never eaten..I lived onboard with a mixture of Italians, Germans, Hispanics,
French, Finnish, Russian, Czech and Greek people for seven days...that was a
pleasant experience in itself...I experienced no rudeness in any of the
passengers..there was no loud or rowdy behavior. Every one seemed to enjoy
each other or at least made an effort to do so...

One other thing that pleased me were all the signs about washing your hands
in public places..They had hand sanitizers before entering the buffet and
dining areas and even in the casino exit...They purposefully placed
wastebaskets in the public bathrooms to the left of the door when exiting,
with a sign saying to wash your hands well, dispose of your paper towel and
take a fresh one to open the door and drop it into the basket nearby.
There was no pushing of drinks...ever...No one approached you unless you
motioned to them...Granted the drinks were higher than on other cruise
lines, but it was so nice not to be hassled for drinks..even at sail off
time on deck.

What makes you say it sounds as a *budget* cruise line? It's decor and the
quality of furnishings and carpeting surely did not reflect that. The dining
room tables had more crystal and silverware than you could possibly
use..some was constantly being removed and replaced.

--Jean

"Marsha L" wrote in message
...
One more thing... it seems to me that all of us said that we'd cruise with
them again... do you think we'd say that if it was so "below average"?


Lots of people repeatedly go on cruise lines that I would rate "below
average".

--Tom

"Jean O'Boyle" wrote in message
om...

"Charles" wrote in message
d...

Thanks for the review Jean. Whenever anyone says you have to go with an
open mind or something to that effect that sets off warning bells to
me. After reading all the reviews posted so far of this cruise I get
the impression that people are falling all over themselves to
understate the negatives. It sounds like it is pretty much a budget
cruise line that I probably would not care for.

You're welcome, Charles.
I don't know why such a statement should set off warning bells, Charles.


Every time I hear that line... I get the same warning bells.

I never heard anyone say "go with an open mind" when they're going on
Crystal, Silversea or Radisson.

When I hear it for MSC, Costa or Carnival... Bell Tower...

--Tom

In article , Jean
O'Boyle wrote:

What makes you say it sounds as a *budget* cruise line? It's decor and the
quality of furnishings and carpeting surely did not reflect that. The dining
room tables had more crystal and silverware than you could possibly
use..some was constantly being removed and replaced.

Perhaps saying it sounds below average would be more accurate.

--
Charles

"Tom K" wrote in message
...
Every time I hear that line... I get the same warning bells.

You and Charles are getting to sound like Siamese twins!! ;-)

I never heard anyone say "go with an open mind" when they're going on
Crystal, Silversea or Radisson.

Of course not....you pretty much know what is ahead and the stress and
desire of keeping up with the Jones' has never appealed to me and never
will..
I've stood in too many reception lines in the military, greeting all sorts
of people to know that artificiality is not my cup of tea...I know many
people on those ships probably are down to earth and unpretentious...but I'm
happy and comfortable with the choices that I now make and plan to make...

I must stop using that expression if it causes such a reaction....I live
each day with an open mind...one never knows what is ahead...to worry is to
waste time as it changes nothing...to have preconceived opinions takes the
joy and anticipation out of life.

When I hear it for MSC, Costa or Carnival... Bell Tower...

Tom, not having been on Costa, I can't comment...but I have enjoyed my
cruises on Carnival and the one I just took on MSC. You have to admit that
you have a knee jerk reaction every time Carnival is mentioned, though...you
can't deny that! ;-)

--Jean


--Tom

"Charles" wrote in message
d...
Perhaps saying it sounds below average would be more accurate.

OK..I'll bite...what precisely makes you think that it sounds below average?
;-)

--Jean

Jean,

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your posts on this cruise. Thanks for
sharing so many details! I won't even mention those four letter words "open
mind," LOL, but whether laden with euphemism or simply a reflection of a
glass half-full outlook, on balance, what you, Marsha and others have
described continues to intrigue me and sounds worth a try.

Glad you and Ed had a great time...will enjoy reading about the second week.

Diana

In article , Jean
O'Boyle wrote:

OK..I'll bite...what precisely makes you think that it sounds below average?
;-)

You said some of the food was mediocre.

The desserts don't sound too good.

The restaurant hours.

Rude waiters.

Sounds like the service was not that good.

What would you say was the average age of the passengers? Was there a
nightclub? A piano bar? Karoake?

--
Charles

Our next is Alaska on the summit, July 8, 2006. We've nothing planned
beyond that yet, but I can say our travel budget for 2006 is used up.... :-)

AG


"Jean O'Boyle" wrote in message
. com...

"grossbea" wrote in message
...
Hey Jean, thanks for the neat review. You may not remember, but you've
helped me with info several times. Anyway, great review and thanks
again. Hope we meet onboard someday!

AG in MD


How nice of you...Thank you! I sure hope that we meet onboard one day
soon!
Are you planning a cruise in the near future? We will be on the SGC2006
to Bermuda and Turks and Caicos on August 25th on the new Crown Princess
and then again on the Carnival Conquest over Halloween...both group
cruises...any chances that they may fit in your schedule?

--Jean

Jean wrote, "Before I go on with my review, we went on the MSC Opera
anticipating it to
be an entirely different experience and came away experiencing just that.
You have to go on with an open mind to really enjoy yourself and that we
did." Your interpretation of that is your interpretation. I apparently read
it entirely differently... if I were going on, for example, Silversea, the
same paragraph could apply.

MSC is most certainly different from what many here expect... and for some
that's good, very good. For others? Stay away.

Marsha


"Charles" wrote in message
d...
In article
, Marsha L
wrote:

One more thing... it seems to me that all of us said that we'd cruise
with
them again... do you think we'd say that if it was so "below average"?

I read Jean's review and my impression was that she loved the group. I
did not perceive that she is going to run out and book MSC again
anytime soon. Her review of the ship after the open mind opening
remarks pretty much said what the other reviews did not say. It said
something! I was not impressed by that "something".

--
Charles