MSC Sinfonia Review
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I had previously been on 2 Royal Caribbean (RC) cruises as company incentives & relished the idea of spending the December holidays with my family on a return cruise from Durban to Reunion & Mauritius. NO COMPARISON aboard the MSC Sinfonia! What a pity! My kids, 7 & 9, swam all day in the small & crowded 2 pools, played soccer, attended the excuse for a kiddies disco and spent a fortune on the Foosball and other coin machines for kids. No respectable soft drinks- package i.e. Pay upfront, get a plastic 500 ml cup and refill as often as you like, a la Royal Caribbean.
My hubby purchased a couples massage special ($499) which comprised 1 x 45 minute dual massage, 2 x facials and 4 x entries to the often crowded thermal suite, open to both males & females. Unlike RC cruises, that offer surprise spa specials on an almost daily basis, the MSC Aurea Spa offered the same " specials" every day for the duration of the cruise. Ho hum! The spa massage rooms are fully lit (no dim lighting to set the relaxation mood). My husband & I also had the displeasure of our 2 Balinese therapists chatting to one another throughout the session. The sentiment is that these ladies were going through the motion of the massage without giving any consideration to the needs of the clients i.e. Asking where they should concentrate more effort, if we had any medical conditions or injuries etc. The session ended with both therapists trying to sell us products, with mine even venturing to sell me the answer to my cellulite! Thanks a million! My cellulite is the last thing I wanted to think about on my cruise! That issue should remain the concern of the other 353 days of the year! Needless to say, I was super- conscious of this "problem" around the pool area for the rest of the cruise :-)! As I did not enjoy this massage, I gave the spa another opportunity to redeem themselves by booking a second massage for the princely sum of $84 for a 45 minute session. I took the liberty of guiding the therapist to the knots on my back, neck & shoulders and found this experience more rewarding. The sales pitch at the end of the session was the only damper.
Hubby found the gym a good place to vent and reported the facility adequate.
Cabin Review
Tiny outside cabin with port-hole. Springy double bed that needs a thorough cleaning. Old bedding. 2 pull- down bunk- beds with ladders that give little room to move in the cramped cabin. Minute shower in tiny bathroom with basin and toilet. Adequate packing space for family of 4 (2 young children). Inadequate hairdryer in the bathroom ( wallhanging, pool- pipe type). Soap dispenser at the basin was never filled. Only soap and shampoo in shower which has a shower curtain. Hot water always available with good shower pressure. Floor carpets need a good wash. Excellent room service although limited range of breakfast selection. In - room movies, 3 per day on rotation, were adequate. Reception staff very helpful to answer any queries via the room telephone.