MSC Orchestra Review
4.0 / 5.0
eileen108
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s
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Additional details
Sail Date: Apr 2016
Cabin: Balcony Stateroom
This was my first cruise ever and I was pleasantly surprised, especially after all the bad reviews of MSC (especially their food) which I had read!
It took us two hours from arriving at port until walking on the ship so that was the worst part of the trip, though the free drinks helped to ease the long wait.
The food was wonderful and especially impressive after all the worrying reviews I had read! Great variety at the buffets of hot, fresh food and the sit down restaurants had delicious food and great variety. Our waiter, Paul (from India) was very accommodating and had a constant positive attitude.
Cabin Review
Balcony Stateroom
Cabin B3
We originally booked B1, cabin 9166 but we were upgraded to 12124, right by the elevators and right under the pool deck. I couldn't hear the elevator and due to being a little distant from the deck chairs, there wasn't much noise, thank goodness.
The room was big and comfortable and the balcony great, only problem was nearby smokers so sometimes we smelled smoke while out on the deck. The room service was impeccable and our cabin boy, helpful and eager to please.
Port Reviews
Venice
We stayed in Venice two days before embarking on the ship and did sightseeing on our own. The Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries was worth the price!
It rained for most of that time so didn't explore as much as we wanted to. Warning: when it rains, Gondolas stop so though we paid 80 Euros for 30 minutes, we were dumped after only 13 minutes due to the downpour. Very disappointing!
Bari
It was raining for part of the time we were there. We decided to do it on our own but were only two people and the taxis offered at port had the same prices to the same places we would have paid if we had bought the ship excursion for both of us. So instead of a commentary on a bus ride and private tours, we paid a silent Italian-only speaking taxi driver to Matera Sassi caves. He just dropped us off to explore on our own and then drove us back to port after an hour, in silence. We wished we booked the Excursion instead!
The Sassi caves were amazing and well worth it, better than the pics and wished we had more time to explore!
13 Helpful Votes
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