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September 29, 2023

On August 18th, a group of followers from my Cruzeiros Lisboa page headed to Venice for a 7-night adventure on board MSC Sinfonia, traveling through Italy, Greece, and Croatia.

Departing from Lisbon at 8:00 AM, our group arrived in Venice at 2:00 PM local time. After a brief stop at the hotel, we headed to the center of Venice, enjoying all the splendor that this city has to offer. Among canals and streets, the group visited the main tourist sites, including St. Mark’s Square, Campanile, Bridge of Sighs, and a tour of the Grand Canal by Vaporetto. It was very hot, but the beauty of this city enchanted us. Unfortunately, there were many pickpockets, which, if not careful, can make the visit less enjoyable. On August 19th, at 10 AM, we headed to the Ficantieri shipyards (Venice) to embark on MSC Sinfonia, as this type of ship is not allowed to dock at the old cruise terminal in the city.

Boarding was fast, although the group was separated. Some were transported to the ship by boat, and others by bus, which was not very pleasant. This happened due to the maximum capacity reached in the boat transfer. Once on board, we were welcomed with a rich buffet on the 11th floor next to the pool, with drinks and an excellent meal.

For this trip, we purchased the Easy Pack (Drinks included up to a value of 6 euros), and each person decided on the type of cabin to stay in—some had cabins with balconies, others had external windows, and some stayed in interior cabins.

Both the boarding and the group’s accommodation went very well and were in line with what is expected from a cruise trip. There were some minor hiccups, such as a slight delay in the delivery of some luggage and one of the rooms’ air conditioning not allowing temperature adjustment. These minor inconveniences were reported but promptly resolved, and the affected passengers received a bottle of champagne and some sweets in their rooms as compensation for the inconvenience. Speaking a bit about the group, they are followers of my Facebook page Cruzeiros Lisboa, who, together with friends and family, gathered 60 people for this trip. They are cruise enthusiasts who discovered their taste for this type of tourism through this page.

Since most of these people had never been on a cruise, I thought MSC Sinfonia was the perfect ship for a first experience. Speaking a bit about the ship, MSC Sinfonia was a very pleasant surprise for the group. Four restaurants, including 2 buffets, delighted the passengers, and the quality of meals, service, and the elegance of the rooms surprised everyone positively.

Regarding the ship’s service, overall, it was exemplary. Excellent service and attention to passengers. Our group dined at the Il Galeone restaurant during the second seating, so every night, we went to see the show at the San Carlo Theater. A very comfortable room with excellent acoustics and adequately equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting. A very professional dance troupe with fabulous performances every day. On our last night on board, the show was wonderful, and in the end, we received a farewell from the captain and the rest of the crew. An emotional farewell that will remain in the memory of all of us.

Our 7-day journey included 2 days of navigation. On those days, the group chose to stay mainly on deck 11 next to the pool, enjoying a wide variety of cocktails and having fun with the various entertainments by the pool. In the same area, themed parties were always held in the evenings. White Party and 80’s Night were the most successful ones. It’s also important to mention the gala evenings. The commander’s night and the last night on the ship with greetings from the Il Galeone restaurant’s kitchen staff were 2 memorable evenings.

MSC Sinfonia received the highest ratings from us in an overall evaluation, which includes on-board service, ship elegance, restaurants, shows, crew professionalism, cleanliness, room service, and ship services available to passengers. There is nothing this group needs to report as a suggestion for improvement. The satisfaction was total.

During our journey, we visited 4 cities. Starting from Venice, we immediately headed to Brindisi (Italy). An Italian town of just over 85,000 inhabitants, with a port located in the city, which allowed passengers to disembark from the ship directly on foot without the need for a transfer to visit it. After the first day of navigation, we arrived in Mykonos. One of the stops that our group was looking forward to visiting. In this case, the ship remained anchored offshore, and the connection between land and ship was made via tenders.

Mykonos continues to be a highlight for anyone taking a cruise in the Mediterranean. With its immaculate white houses and streets, highlighting the vibrant colors of doors, shutters, and balconies, and crystal-clear azure sea merging with the sky in a celebration of tones, it leaves everyone enchanted. During this stop, there were continuous transfers, as the ship was very close to the port, allowing passengers to visit the city in the morning, return on board for lunch, and take another walk in the afternoon. Some also went to the beach, enjoying the sensation of diving into that magnificent sea. We left Mykonos at the end of the afternoon, where on one side, we could contemplate the sunset, and on the other, a magnificent moon illuminated the island. A perfect frame, worthy of a tourist postcard. It was a moment of great beauty and deep contemplation.

The next stop was Athens, a majestic city with a unique historical wealth. We chose to purchase an on-board excursion that took us to the Acropolis, followed by a city tour. Since we were a group of 60 people, the MSC Boarding team booked a bus just for us with a guide. It was very hot, but undoubtedly, after Mykonos, it was another highlight of this trip. The history, the architectural beauty of all the monuments and iconic buildings in this city made this stop a dream visit that transported us to the past. The guide who accompanied us was extraordinarily sensitive, knowledgeable, and friendly. It was a 5-hour tour of enormous involvement and charm. The ship was docked at the Port of Piraeus, which allowed us to see part of this Greek area as well. We left in the late afternoon for the second day of navigation to the final stop of this journey. Split, Croatia.

The port of Split, like Brindisi in Italy, is very close to the city center. Although excursions were available for purchase, we chose to walk. We were surprised by a city rich in history, with streets and iconic buildings built within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. With a marina full of boats and a beautiful beach, Split was a great surprise. No one in the group knew this city, and it was nice to experience this stop together. Finally, we returned to Venice, where disembarkation occurred normally and without any issues to report. In fact, it is worth noting that the day before disembarkation, as well as on the boarding day, the MSC team held two meetings in the theater explaining to first-time passengers what life is like on board, the available services, excursions, and how to proceed with disembarkation.

This allowed all members of our group who had never been on a cruise to integrate easily. Finally, I can say that both this itinerary and MSC Sinfonia are perfect for an 8-day vacation in the Mediterranean. The ship is excellent, and the route is perfectly suited for a dream vacation.

Stay tuned for further news, updates, Msc Sinfonia departures and reviews of MSC Cruises on Cruising Journal with photos, videos, and special cruise offers.

Rui Minas

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