we are 4 pensioners aged between 65 and 72,my husband and i are seasoned cruisers travelling with most of the major companies,gold card members with cunard,for our friends it was their first cruise.after reading mixed reviews on msc opera,we decided to go with an open mind as we had a bargain,we have paid moer per night for band b in a pub!wel i can honestly say we were very pleasantly surprised.it is a beautiful midsize ship,spotlessy clean,how they keep all the brass and mirrors clean i do not know.

the food was really good ,we had breakfast and lunch in the buffet and dinner in the restaurant.it did get busy in the buffet restaurant but believe that is the same on all the cruise ships.there were 7 courses at dinner with choices,we ony ever managed 4/5.apart from the menu,plain steak,chicken or fish with chips or vegetables was always availabe.also one night was the buffet magnifico ,which it was,served just before midnight,with fruit and ice carving decoratiosn,and every evening at about 11-30 trays of sandwiches,cakes and savouries were brought round the entertainment lounges.

the entertainment was also very good varying from family fun to opera and classical music,we tended to go to the cotton club,to listen and dance to the husband and wife duo ,just our sort of thing.i cant forget to mention the boys and girls of the animation team ,they were briiant,day and night and worked so hard to make sure you enjoyed yourself,never patronising to the older clientele,also our wonderful waiter djon from brazil he was lovely.we were disappointed not to get into amsterdam,but that was the weather,but the fjords and norway were lovely.all in all a good experience and woud not hesitate to travel with msc again,take no notice of the whingeing poms!!!