| MSC LIRICA REVIEW |
| MSC Lirica **** Large ship: 58600 tons Lifestyle: Standard Cruise Line: MSC Italy Original cost:$266 million Entered service: April 2003 Registry: Italy Length: 251,25 m Beam: 28,8 m Draft: 6,85 m Passenger decks: 8 Total crew: 760 Navigation officers: Italian Cabins: 763 Elevators: 9 |
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| Accommodation There are cabins in all different price levels: many of the outside cabins have huge square panorama windows. The interior of the cabins features soft green carpet, light coloured wooden wardrobes offering plenty space for clothes, a sitting-corner with a mirror, and a corner with integrated mini-bar and satellite television. The extensive use of mirrors enlarges the cabins; this is pleasant because the regular cabins arent't that big. The television has an extra channel, showing ship-information about the position, weather and things like live views from different public area's onboard. The beds were wonderful; great soft beds, which had almost never been slept before because this was Lirica's third official cruise. They are made of light material, just like the two small chests, which makes it easy to relocate them. For example, to unite two beds to get one, big bed. The bathroom is really tiny, but it offers all the standard things you can expect. The toilet is quite noisy, and instead of other MSC vessels it offers a shower instead of a bath in the normal class cabins. Furthermore, all the cabins have 24-hour room service and personal safe. Cabinstewards are extremely friendly; just like the other personal onboard. Cabins are cleaned in every corner and the cabinsteward helped with every question or request. Extra towels, ship information; the cabinsteward, from Bali, helped us with everything on a friendly, professional way.A great plus is the possibility to sit on one of the 5 decks at the aft of the ship; every gangway has a door to both the front and the back of the ship where you can find great open area's to sit an relax. This is ideal for people who don't like the busy activities on Vivaldi Deck (pool deck). And besides that these decks provide a beautiful view! Especially the two decks in the nose of the ship (the bow), offer a undescribing feeling when you visit them by night.. no lights are on and all you see is the bow of the ship cutting through the water. It's a bit windy saometimes, when at full sea for example, but actually it's one of the most romantic places the ship has to offer. As long you don't mind the wind playing with your hair! My rating: Possible Achieved 500 410 |
| Dining & Food There are two main dining rooms: La Bussola on Verdi-Deck 5, and L'Ippocampo on Deck 6, Puccini. In my opinion, the Bussola restaurant has a better interior: salmon coloured and extensive use of wooden accents. L'Ippocampo has green colours, almost the same as in the cabins. That's why I preferred La Bussola. Chairs are convenient and fork, knifes and spoons are of a good quality. I have cruised with MSC quite some times and the high standards of Lirica aren't comparable with the old-fashioned ships Rhapsody, Melody and Monterey, except the food; this is just as tasty as aboard their other ships. Their delicious pasta's are a welknown speciality of them and the fish courses are of a standard you would expect aboard ships in a higher class! The meat was a bit flawless with to much fat on it. The salads were fresh and tasty, just like the deserts. Menu choice offers lot of variety and also vegetarians are welcome. The service from our waiter Tony was of a extremely high level. He kept an eye on everything and asking for something was rarely necessary; this guy knew what he was doing! Really tremendous!! My rating: Possible Achieved 400 290 From which 40 points are really the credits to our waiter |
| Ship The ship has everything you may expect from a modern cruiseship. Facilities include two swimming pools and two whirpools, a fitness- and healthcenter, a impressive relaxationarea (at the leftcorner, high above the bow. The view overthere, tru continiousbig glasswindows, is absolutely stunning and relaxing enough, you actually don't need the sofa's standing there anymore), furthermore a cafetaria, Le Bistrot. Standing in lines was in many the case, but getting food went very fast. There are many sitting places so finding a place isn't very hard. You can also take your food with you to La Pergola, the open restaurant. The teak-wooden tables and comfortable chairs in combination with a bar and wind-protection by glass along the sides of the ship offer you one of the most enjoyable eating areas on board, especially when the sun is shining ofcourse. On Rossini-deck you can find a 8-holes minigolf court. Sticks and balls are free of charge and can be picked up at the Information Desk, just like balls for pin pong tables and soccertables. The Broadway Theatre, with seats for sevenhundred persons offers a good view from every place and is well equipped. Shows are pretty boring, some people even fell asleep during the performances. The casino isn't very big, but has several roulette- and poker tables and slot machines. There are many pubs and lounges on board. For every single person iit offers something; the Lord Nelson's pub or the library for a conversation, several pianobars, a karaoke bar, the Blue discotheque located in top of the ship..all with enough space for everybody. MSC is the onlyest company offering that true Italian style. As I hoped before, this Italian atmosphere is kept remained onboard Lirica. Once you love MSC you will sail with them for several times, as to see at the high level of repeaters. The Lirica, and from 2004 the MSC OPERA, her sistership (but with a higher grade of balconies) are the future of this company, now sailing with older ships like Monterey, Rhapsody and Melody. MSC has invested extremely in this cruise product and it packed out very, very well. My rating: Possible Achieved 500 390 |
| This review has rated subjects on the well known "Berlitz"-way. |
| Service Nowadays, it seems as if outstanding service aboard cruiseships is something you can determine by the companys, like as we all know that Seabourn offers much more than Carnival. But, just like Costa in the old days, the Italians know how to give a passenger a good time and their knowledge reflects on the non-Italian personnel. A negative aspect I heard about is that some waiters aren't very good in English and if you can't speak Italian...then there is a small problem. But the price/service ratio can be called tremendous. My rating: Possible Achieved 400 300 |
| Entertainment onboard Compared with the show-facilities aboard the other tree MSC vessels, the "Broadway-Lounge" (see full picture on this site) offers a great ambiance, sound and clear vision from every angle. This is the kind of theatre you may expect onboard new cruiseships. Shows are professional, but too long-winded and every night offers a bit of the same genre. Flamenco-dancers are there 2 or 3 times a week and believe me, or as you already might know, one time is really enough! But the entertainment team is of an OUTSTANDING class. Especially Marzia (if you ever get the chance to see/speak with her, please say hi for me (Rob from Holland!) They give attention to every single passenger but know as no other who likes and dislikes it. So, passengers who aren't interested do not have to fear anything. My rating: Possible Achieved 100 80 |
| Cruise The Lirica makes the same trip during whole 2003: at the end of this year she will make two 'special' trips to the Canary Islands, before leaving the Mediterranean and going Transatlantic to the Carribbean. The offered itinerary (Genova-Naples-Palermo-Tunis-Mallorca-Barcelona-Marseille-Genova) has many hours in port- a dislike for real sealovers like me. But the itinerary is nice with some real hotspots (Naples, Barcelona), where you have all the time to explore and to relax. Passengers should be careful at all times for pickpockets, especially in Naples and Palermo. I ahve done this same itinerary for tree times (1xLirica, 2x Melody, and also from Mallorca to Barcelona by Lirica again), and I really have 'enough' of it now. Fortunately, next year Lirica is going to sail from Venice to Greece, but:.... then the new Opera will make this same trip! And ofcourse, I have to be aboard as well...;) My rating: Possible Achieved 400 300 |
| SHIP 390/500 ACCOMMODATION 180/200 FOOD 290/400 SERVICE 300/400 ENTERTAINMENT 80/100 CRUISE 300/400 OVERALL SCORE: 1540 (out of a possible 2000 points) Comments: Great, stable cruiseship with a very well thought-out layout. Outstanding service; crew will make you feel at home immediatly. Part of MSC, the onliest real Italian company in the cruiseworld. Interesting itineraries in both Europe (summer) and Caribbean (winter). Shows are a bit long winded. Reasonable prices in the lounges and onboard shopping centre. Many European passengers in the summer; Americans in the winter. Popular by young families. Food is from good level with outstanding Italian cuisine. For more information, please leave a message in the guestbook; I'm pleased to answer! |
| What to expect when boarding the Lirica? Read this full review and find out. |
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