Topic: MSC Opera - what's she like?

We'll be on the Opera in July heading for the Baltic; It's our first cruise with MSC line so don't know their ropes. Can anyone help with the any following please?
1. Do they confiscate any booze you take on board (we have a celebration coming up)?
2. Does their tap water taste awful?
3. What are their drinks packages or where can I find details of them?
4. How much wardrobe space do they provide (approximate number of hangers will give us a clue).
5. What sorts of entertainment are there (shows, cinemas, concerts etc)

all help gratefully received - thank you

Hi Rosemary ~

1) They can be pretty strict from the research I've done myself.

2) Don't know been looking into sailing on her for a while and have booked for next summer.

3)
ALL INCLUSIVE CRUISES FOR FAMILIES
We probably don’t need to tell you how expensive it can be buying food and drinks for your entire family throughout your holiday. And that’s exactly why we think all inclusive cruises are a real winner with families. You pay up front and you won’t see a bill for anything you buy within the limits of the all inclusive offer: no need to start running up a bill on soft drinks, designer water, glasses of wine or the majority of cocktails from the bars. Non premium brand spirits are included too, so that gin and tonic or pre dinner sherry is covered - as is a postprandial brandy!
Better still, the price you pay for either the standard or the premium all inclusive package includes your service charge too so, at the end of your cruise, there’s even less to pay!
ALL INCLUSIVEFOR ADULTS PRICE PER NIGHT 7 NIGHTS 11 NIGHTS
All Inclusive Adults Package £33.30 £233.10 £366.30
ALL INCLUSIVE FOR KIDS PRICE PER NIGHT 7 NIGHTS 11 NIGHTS
All Inclusive Kids Package £18.90 £132.30 £207.90

WHAT YOU GET
All Inclusive From The Restaurant: Wine by the bottle – white DOC Trebiano or Verduzzo / red DOC Montepulciano or Cabernet (wine brands might be subject to change) mineral water, soft drinks, beer. All Inclusive From The Buffet: Wine by the glass – white DOC Trebiano or Verduzzo / red DOC Montepulciano or Cabernet (wine brands might be subject to change) mineral water, soft drinks, beer. All Inclusive From Your Mini Bar: All items except Champagne All Inclusive From The Bars: All cocktails from the bar list except premium mixes, alcohol by shot (Smirnoff vodka, Beefeater gin, Bacardi and Myers rum, Cuervo tequila, Vecchia Romagna brandy Nonino grappa) all brands of blended whiskey up to 5 years old, liqueurs, aperitifs, bitters, all beer brands from the bar list, wine and sparkling wine from the bar list by the glass, coolers, energizers, soft drinks, juices, cafeteria, take-away ice cream in cone or cup, hot chocolates from the chocolate bar menu.

All Inclusive Upgrade – Premium Package
Get even more for your money with our All Inclusive Premium Package. For another £4.50 per day you get everything that the standard package offers plus all brands of alcohol by shot – the only exception here being XO Cognac and 21 year old whiskey – plus premium cocktails.

All Inclusive – Excluded Items

Premium spirits not mentioned above (included in premium package), premium cocktails (included in premium package), cigars, wines from the wine list, drinks served in souvenir glasses, food and beverages from speciality restaurants i.e. pizza a la carte, food from Chinese restaurant, Tex Mex, L’Etoile, LOvivo, Obelisco, Il Gardiano, 4 Stagioni, food from the Sports Bar menu, food and wine from the Wine Bar menu, food from the Room Service menu, chocolate fondue from the chocolate bar menu, ice cream cups from Gelateria, pastry from Piazzeta aboard Fantasia and Splendida.
Note: the all inclusive package is not charged for children up to the age of 3.

Please note that prices may vary according to season. Please re-confirm with MSC Cruises Reservations and Admin' Department.

ALL INCLUSIVE NOT YOUR CUP OF TEA? TRY OUR UNLIMITED DRINKS PACKAGES!
If you like a drink at meal times this could be the offer for you. Choose from unlimited bottled wine, mineral water, beer and soft drinks. The wine selection includes: White DOC Trbiano and Verduzzo and red DOC Montepulciano and Cabernet Veneto
UNLIMITED DRINKS PACKAGES
PRICE PER NIGHT 7 NIGHTS 11 NIGHTS
Unlimited Drinks (beer, wine, water and soft drinks)
£13.50 £94.50 £148.50
Unlimited Soft Drinks + mineral water
£7.20 £50.40 £79.20
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The Drinks unlimited package only covers meals in the buffet and restaurant where as the all inclusive covers all times that the bars are open plus your in room mini bar. We received the AI upgrade for free with our early booking which has saved us a small fortune!

The best way to work out whether it would be worth it for you is write a list of what you would drink in an average day then price it up from the MSC bar prices on here and add the 15% service charge. If it adds up to the same or more then buy it, if it is slightly less have a think if there are any times when when you may drink more (~ remember to figure tea and coffee into your sums as outside of breakfast & afternoon tea they are chargable) and see if this would make it worthwhile. If it is a lot less then don't bother.

Everyone in your group has to buy the package.
4) Not masses of storage space two slimline wardrobes (about 20 hangers) with a wardrobe with shelves in it ~ The cabin layouts dimensions & fittings seem very similar to those on the Costa Concordia
5) MSC seem to have reports of various artist mainly musical & visual even on the UK sailings as comedians are not suitable to multinationality ships.

Here are some pictures:

Lots of info; very useful. Thank you.

QUOTE:

We'll be on the Opera in July heading for the Baltic; It's our first cruise with MSC line so don't know their ropes. Can anyone help with the any following please?
1. Do they confiscate any booze you take on board (we have a celebration coming up)?
2. Does their tap water taste awful?
3. What are their drinks packages or where can I find details of them?
4. How much wardrobe space do they provide (approximate number of hangers will give us a clue).
5. What sorts of entertainment are there (shows, cinemas, concerts etc)

all help gratefully received - thank you

I have been the sister ship to Opera plus one other MSC cruise

1) Yes they confiscate your booze and were very vigilant when reboarding at ports of call.

2) I don't drink water so I can't help there as all water tastes awful to me.

3) The drinks packages look mighty expensive to me, and bear in mind EVERYONE IN THE GROUP has to purchase a package, but the "buy a book of tickets" deals worked out OK i.e. pay for 10 beers get 12 or buy 6 cocktails get 8......They may not be the exact numbers but you get the gist! Just ask the first waiter who serves you for a book of tickets.

4) Coat hangers? Just ask the cabin steward for more.

5) Entertainment I won't comment on ........unless you want me to.

Here's a link to the MSC bar tariffs on here ~ you need to open the thumb nail then click it twice more to bring it up to full size

http://www.cruises.co.uk/697-drinks_...ks_prices.html

Shelley

Just to make you aware of a few quirks to the MSC line.

Tea, coffee and water is only freely available at breakfast and lunch. You cannot help yourself from the dispensers, it has to be handed out by the waiters. Tea and coffee after dinner is chargeable and also at all other times. You cannot get FOC Jugs of water with your evening meal - chargeable by the bottle only.

No alternative evening Dining options - the Buffet becomes a chargeable Bistro.

Theatre entertainment is mainly mime/circus/acrobatic type to cater for all languages. They do party type games between dance bands in the lounges which are good fun but can take a while as they announce everything in five different languages.

They serve hot canapes and lite bites in the evening in the main dance areas and bars.

Good value for money if you can live with the 'quirks'

We had four in a cabin and although the cabins are a little compact, we did not have a storage problem and you can ask for as many spare coathangers as you need.

If you e-mail MSC they will send you a copy of their drinks packages etc. They have been really helpfull. We are also going on the 'Opera' in July.

Hi Rosemary. I am due to go on the OPERA in August also the Musica in July. Find below details of drinks packages.
PACKAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL PAX - ANNUAL PROGRAM

Code N° PACKAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL PAX "TOUCH OF CLASS"FOR ALL OPERATION AREAS
Selling price
2008/2009 –
2009/2010

501 ROMANTIC SUNSET 1 bottle of Champagne Moet & Chandon brut 75cl 2 fluts MSC (souvenir to take home) Tray of chocolate covered strawberries (10 pieces) £57.00/£80.00

502 ROMANTIC SUNRISE1 bottle of Champagne Moet & Chandon brut 75cl 2 fluts MSC (souvenir to take home) 2 freshly squeezed orange juices Tray of selected croissanteries £57.00/£80.00
503 CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRIES Tray of chocolate covered strawberries (10 pieces) £7.00/£11.00
504 SWEET TEMPTATION Tray of Petit Fours (10 pieces) £7.00/£11.00
505 BON BOYAGE PACKAGE DELUXE 1 bottle of Ferrari Perlé cl.75 + 1 tray of cold canapé (10 pieces) £35.00/£49.00
506 BON BOYAGE PACKAGE CLASSIC-SWEET 1 bottle of Asti spumante cl.75 + 1 tray of cold canapé (10 pieces) £14.00/£20.00
507 BON BOYAGE PACKAGE CLASSIC-DRY 1 bottle of Prosecco cl.75 + 1 tray of cold canapé (10 pieces) £14.00/20.00
508 BON BOYAGE PACKAGE KOSHER1 bottle of spumante kosher cl.75 + 1 tray of cold canapé (10 pieces) £20.00/£27.00
599 BON BOYAGE PACKAGE MSC RESERVE1 bottle of MSC Reserve wine (white Arneis or red Nebbiolo) cl.75 + 1 tray of cold canapé (10 pieces) £20.00
525 HOUSE-BRAND SPUMANTE IN CABIN 1 bottle of house-brand spumante £14.00
564 SPARKLING WINE D.O.C. IN CABIN1 bottle of Asti spumante sweet or Prosecco dry £13.00/£18.00
562 SPUMANTE & STRAWBERRIES IN CABIN 1 bottle of Asti spumante sweet or Prosecco dry Tray of chocolate covered strawberries (10 pieces) £20.00/£27.00
563 MSC RESERVE WINE IN CABIN 1 bottle of Langhe Arneis (white) or Nebbiolo d'Alba (red) £11.00/£16.00
526 VIP TREATMENTS / HONEYMOONERS TREATMENT1 bottle of Asti spumante special fruit basket (7 kinds of season fruits) “£18.00/£25.00
280 FRUIT BASKET STANDARD 5 kinds of season fruits (2 kg) £5.00/£7.00
281 FRUIT BASKET SPECIAL 7 kinds of season fruits (3 kg) £11.00
527 STANDARD CAKE "pan di spagna" with filling and decoration 900 gr. £7.00/£11.00
530 ANNIVERSARY PACKAGE 1 bottle of Asti spumante + standard cake (served in restaurant) £26.00
598 WELCOME PACKAGE 1 bottle of Ferrari Perlé cl.75 + 1 tray of chocolate strawberries (10 pieces) £49.00

Code N° TREATMENTS FOR KOSHER PASSENGERS FOR ALL OPERATION AREAS Selling price
528 BOTTLE OF KOSHER WINE chardonnay / merlot of similar type £17.00/£23.00
529 BOTTLE OF KOSHER SPARKLING WINE dry / sweet £17.00/£23.00
558 BOTTLE OF KIDUS WINE £12.00/£17.00

Code N° BAR & RESTAURANT PACKAGES FOR ALL OPERATION AREAS Selling price
512 SOFT DRINK PACKAGE 14 soft drinks in cans and/or fruit juices (on vessels where fountain sodas are available, instead of cans may be served large glasses of sodas)vouchers can be consumed at any bar, restaurant and buffet £21.00/£29.00
513 BEER PACKAGE 14 local beers in bottle or can 33cl vouchers can be consumed at any bar, restaurant and buffet £25.00/£35.00




Code N° WINE PACKAGES ONLY FOR VESSELS IN MEDITERANEAN AND NORD EUROPE Selling price
520 WINE PACKAGE CLASSIC 4 bottles of wine selected by our sommelier: 1 white + 2 red + 1 rosé wine + 7 bt of mineral water in glass bottles 75cl vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants £52.00/£72.00
521 WINE PACKAGE SUPERIOR 7 bottles of wine selected by our sommelier: 3 white + 3 red + 1 rosé wine + 7 bt of mineral water in glass bottles 75cl vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants £82.00/£114.00
523 WINE PACKAGE "ONLY WHITE" 6 bottles of white wine selected by our sommelier + 7 bt of mineral water in glass bottles 75cl vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants £104.0/£146.00
524 WINE PACKAGE "ONLY RED" 6 bottles of red wine selected by our sommelier + 7 bt of mineral water in glass bottles 75cl vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants £104.00/£146.00
514 WATER PACKAGE 14 bottles of mineral water 75cl / 100cl vouchers can be consumed at any bar, restaurant and buffet £19.00/£26.00

Code N° PERSONALIZED WINE PACKAGES ONLY FOR VESSELS IN UNITED STATES AND CARRIBEAN Selling price
551 WINE PACKAGE "SEVEN D.O.C. WINES"to chose from our sommelier's suggestion list of d.o.c. wines (Soave Classico, Verdicchio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Negroamaro, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chiaretto)vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants per package
552 WINE PACKAGE "TEN D.O.C. WINES"to chose from our sommelier's suggestion list of d.o.c. wines (Soave Classico, Cortese, Verdicchio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chianti, Lambrusco, Negroamaro, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chiaretto)vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants per package
556 WINE PACKAGE "DINNER WINE - 7 BOTTLES"7 bottles of house-brand wine to accompany your dinner in restaurant vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants per package
557 WINE PACKAGE "DINNER WINE - 10 BOTTLES"10 bottles of house-brand wine to accompany your dinner in restaurant vouchers can be consumed only at the restaurants per package

Code N° PERSONALIZED WINE PACKAGES ONLY FOR VESSELS IN BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA Selling price
553 WINE PACKAGE CLASSIC-4 4 bottles 75cl of wine + 7 bottles of mineral water 50cl vouchers can be used only at the restaurants per package
554 WINE PACKAGE SUPERIOR-7 7 bottles 75cl of wine + 7 bottles of mineral water 50cl vouchers can be used only at the restaurants per package
555 WINE PACKAGE SIX RED6 bottles 75cl of red wine + 7 bottles of mineral water 50cl vouchers can be used only at the restaurants per package
559 WATER PACKAGE 14 bottles of mineral water 50clvouchers can be consumed at any bar, restaurant and buffet £19.00/£26.00
901 ONLY FOR ARGENTINEAN GROUPS OF TEENAGERS TEENAGE PACKAGE 6 soft drinks + 1 virgin cocktail per dayregulated by the use of vouchers. This product is streectly reserved only to ARGENTINA ' market per person / day

704 – UNLIMITED DRINKS PACKAGE - £98 per person (7 day cruises only, with meals)
Inclusive of unlimited wine, mineral water, beer and soft drinks
Selection between following wines: - Cabernet Veneto – Trebbiano – Verduzzo Veneto Red - Montepulciano
709 – UNLIMITED SOFT DRINKS PACKAGE - £49 per person (7 day cruises only, with meals)
Unlimited Soft Drinks and Mineral Water at Main Meals

Thank you to all of you who have been so kind as to help me with my first MSC cruise experience. I do appreciate the time you have taken to post your advice and suggestions.

XXXX

MSCs entertainment often has ex-olympic east european gymnasts doing various balancing, tumbling, ropework type acts which is much in the vein of "cirque soleil". jugglers and magicians seem to abound and occasionally some excellent italian tenors ,Enrico Scotto was brilliant. The shows last about 30 minutes with a 10-15 minute 5 language introduction. Entertainmant around the boat includes well known acts like "Los Paraguayos" and an a excellent string quartet "Delicia Quartet"

On two of our cruises British Dance schools were given subsidised cruises on the understanding they would give two 15 minute performances. They were very good. THe shows are relativly short and use acts where no knowledge of languages is equired.