We chose this cruise for its Baltic itinerary and decided to indulge in the Aurea experience. MSC ships (as seen on AWE Dream Cruises) are beautifully decorated and quite well maintained. Cabins were clean and well attended to. Most of the nightly shows were entertaining but there are few other interesting activities offered and the handful of movies available in your cabin cost 7e each.
If you don't buy a drinking package, your only option is tap water after breakfast.
We have been on MANY cruises with Holland America, Princess and NCL and we enjoyed the food offered at the buffets or restaurants until this MSC cruise. The chef should be shot or, better yet, forced to eat the low quality concoctions he prepared 3 meals a day for 11 days. How many folks eat pork necks, ox tails or venison stew? Pasta and pizza on this Italian line were disgraceful.
Cabin was clean and spacious.
We left the ship at our leisure and wandered around the town browsing in shop windows and enjoyed sampling "the original thuringer sausage" on a fresh roll. Town was only semi functional being it was Sunday.
We walked into town which turned out to be quite a hike. Not much to see or do. Returned somewhat disappointed.
We caught the Hop On bus and meandered into Old Town which we thought was charming and impressed by how well preserved. We expected to catch a 2:30 pm bus back to the port but after waiting over half an hour at the bus stop, the bus arrived full. We we're informed that the next bus would arrive in an hour and too late to catch our ship's boarding. A kind citizen called a taxi for us and we arrived at port just prior to final boarding. Future travelers should ck Red Bus Hop On schedule. It does not have back up buses in peak hours or run every 15 or 30 mins as in other cities.