MSC Orchestra Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Embarked from Venice and I would not recommend leaving from this city for a cruise. We stayed at a hotel some distance from the People Mover, but decided to walk. We hired a porter to take our luggage, and watched him struggle over a bridge with steps. The streets were crowded which made it difficult to manoeuvre. The People Mover (train) is accessible and cheap, and takes you to a drop-off point next to the port. However, if your ship is berthed at a distant dock, then you can wait 45 minutes for a free shuttle bus, or you walk, which can be a kilometre.
During embarkation procedures, your sea-card is not provided, nor are your credit card details recorded. The sea-card is put in your cabin later and you have to go to a machine on the ship to register your credit card. My balcony cabin was "basic" category so there were no body products, dressing gowns or slippers and I had to ask for face washers. I had asked for twin beds but arrived to find a double bed, and I had to wait until the evening for it to be changed. The TV had a scratch and other marks, one lamp was broken and the bathroom floor was not cleaned during the trip. There were no movie channels in English, nor any other entertainment programmes. On my second last day, I returned from port to find my balcony had been painted and I was not to use it. The handrail had also been removed. The explanation for this gross inconvenience was, "maintenance".
Breakfast and lunch served in one of the main restaurants was a buffet and I was told where to sit. No consideration was made to seat me with other English speaking cruisers. On several occasions I had to waive to a waiter for attention for a coffee. The hours for breakfast changed daily for no apparent reason. Dinner had 2 sittings and we were told that 15 minutes after your allocated seating, the doors would be closed. The dining staff were excellent. Not so the food. The cafeteria and the restaurants only opened for dinner at 7pm. The cafeteria also closed during the day for 4 hours. At lunch in the cafeteria, I had to go to the bar to get a drink as there were so few waiters. Fruit juice at the beverage station was only available at breakfast and then closed off.
Cabin Review
Balcony Stateroom
My balcony cabin was "basic" category so there were no body products, dressing gowns or slippers and I had to ask for face washers. I had asked for twin beds but arrived to find a double bed, and I had to wait until the evening for it to be changed. The TV had a scratch and other marks, one lamp was broken and the bathroom floor was not cleaned during the trip. There were no movie channels in English, nor any other entertainment programmes. On my second last day, I returned from port to find my balcony had been painted and I was not to use it. The handrail had also been removed. The explanation for this gross inconvenience was, "maintenance".
Port Reviews
Athens (Piraeus)
I had already seen the Acropolis etc., but took a Hop-on-Hop off bus tour and got off at the main shopping mall. A city covered in graffiti.
Corfu
Hop-on-Hop off bus tour that I couldn't wait to get off and return to the ship. Nothing to see and a waste of time.
Kotor
Rented a taxi driver who took us all along the coast with photo stops and explanations in English. We visited a resort town, Budva, which was excellent - an old walled town with shops and restaurants.
Venice
The hop-on hop off boat is excellent. Hop off at the St Maria stop (large white dome) which is on the other side of the Grand Canal, and you can walk all along small streets by crossing small bridges. Fewer people and cheaper prices in the shops.