It was with some trepidation that we boarded the MSC Opera at Southampton. A lot of reviews of this ship are not very favourable, but I will try and be as objective as possible.

We embarked after await of about 2 hours, our fault for arriving early. On entering our first impressions was of the pleasing bright Italian art deco style. Our cabin was smallish but with plenty of storage space.

I had been told by others that you can eat yourselves stupid on cruises and this is certainly true of the Opera with seven course lunches and dinners a choice to eat more informally in the self service buffets pizza seemed to be on tap then there were the afternoon teas and midnight buffets,. For somebody who has spent a lifetime in the catering industry apart from a couple of duff dishes I found the food absolutely excellent, very Italian and this seemed to be a bone of contention with some of the Brits who would have probably been happier in MacDonald's. Read more