|
|
Bahamas
Deck |
Accommodation
Only. |
|
Restaurant
Deck |
Galaxy
Restaurant, Ship's Doctor/Infirmary. |
|
Continental
Deck |
Mercury
Theater [Cinema]. |
|
Premier
Deck |
Children's
Recreation Centre & Pool, Purser's Office, Hotel Desk, Cruise
& Tour Desk, Main Foyer. |
|
Lounge
Deck
Deck |
Junkanoo
Club, Junkanoo Bar, Starlight Disco, Shops, Photo Gallery, Casino,
Club Universe [Theatre]. |
|
Pool
Deck |
Calypso
Pool, Calypso Bar, Blue Riband Bar, Massage Room, Beauty Salon,
Seasport Fitness & Health Centre, Riviera Pool, Riviera Terrace,
Goombay Bar, Satellite Café [Port & Starboard], Sunrise Terrace. |
|
Sun
Deck |
Jogging
Track. |
|
 View
My Photos of MSC Melody
|
MSC
Melody's Stern
See
External View Photos |
MSC
Melody
entered service on 17 April 1982 as m/v Atlantic, the 2nd new ship
for Home Lines. Built at C.N.I.M.
in France, for $100m, her interiors were designed by the famous Greek
Katzourakis. In 1988 when Holland America Line acquired Home Lines,
she was sold to Premier Cruise Lines. After undergoing a complete
renovation she emerged in 1989 as the "Big Red Boat"
Starship Atlantic.
m/v
Melody took her Maiden Voyage under the MSC Flag on 1 May 1997, to
Genoa from Durban, where she had undergone further renovations, after
having been purchased for $70m.
At
35,143 grt, 18 knots, 204.7m long, 30.15m wide, 47.76m from the
water to top of the mast and with a draft
of 7.8m, she is considered 'small' amongst today's cruise ships.
She
is brightly decorated and attractive internally, retaining the
original decor to many of her cabins. Externally she can appear quite
ungainly from certain angles, with a short bow & 'ferry-like'
forward superstructure, but has a nice rounded stern with large Poop
Deck. A sturdy, very stable ship. |
MSC
Melody's Funnel
See
More Funnel Photos |
|
MSC
Melody |
Top
MSC
Melody
carries 1,076 passengers [double], maximum occupancy of 1,600 and 535
multinational crew members. The Officers, Hotel Department Team &
Entertainment Staff were all Italian. The Hotel Director was Anna
D'Ambrosio, the Cruise Director Ketty Tacerbi with a remarkable
command of many languages, and the English/International Hostess was
Nicky Wright, available at the Hospitality Desk for any queries.
|
MSC
Melody at Kusadasi |
The
cruise was chosen due to the interesting itinerary and it fell
during the first week of the UK summer holidays. We flew to Milan,
Malpensa, on a very early morning flight from London, so spent the
previous night at the London Heathrow Marriot Hotel, where you can
leave your car whilst away, working out cheaper in some instances
than paying the exorbitant car parking fees at Heathrow.
From
Milan we caught another flight to Venice, arriving on time at 2pm,
with glorious views of the city and the awaiting cruise ships. The
MSC Rep was there to meet us, the final group of the day. By the time
we had waited for everyone to collect their bags and driven the 15
minutes or so to the cruise terminal, it was nearly 3.30pm - we are
sailing at 4pm! The terminal was deserted; just the check-in clerks
awaiting the last coach load. |
|
Sat
at the rear of the coach we had the dubious acclaim to being the
last passengers to check-in. Jumped on the bus awaiting outside the
door and proceeded to Melody along the quay, picking up other
hurrying passengers along the way. It was only about 500 yards, with
Melody being berthed behind Golden Princess & it would probably
have been quicker to walk. No sooner were we up the gangway, than it
was lifted, and we were pulling away before we reached the cabin.
As
we made our way through the Grand Canal, past St. Mark's Square, to
the exit, the Cruise Director pointed out and described all the
sights. It was a beautiful sailaway on a lovely sunny afternoon. We
passed by many other cruise ships; Golden
Princess, Costa
Atlantica, European
Vision, Olympia
Explorer, Seabourn
Spirit and P&O's
Oriana. |
European
Vision, Costa Atlantica & Golden Princess
in
Venice |
|
Why is a Ship a She?
Click
here for a Readable Version |
In
command, with a great sense of humour, as indicated by the picture [left]
on the Bridge, was
Captain Michele De Gregorio.
He conducted the Bridge Tours himself. These can
be requested at reception, and at a later date you will receive an
'invitation' to visit, for a time when the ship is at sea. All same
language speaking guests are grouped together. See the Bridge
Tour Handout, outlining the equipment and technical
specifications of MSC Melody. Photos
on the Bridge.
Captain
Michele De Gregorio & Myself |
Top
|
Riviera
Pool
There
are two main pools on MSC Melody, both on Pool Deck & filled
with heated sea water. A paddling pool forms part of the Children's
Recreation Centre. The Riviera Pool [1.3m to 2.4m deep, 4.2 - 7.8ft]
is under the Magrodome; fully tiled around, surrounded by the white
plastic tables [clothed at meal times] & chairs of the
Cafeteria's eating area known as Riviera Terrace. The Goombay Bar is
fwd, with a small stage area to starboard, where the Animation Team
conduct various activities, including Bingo.
Riviera
Terrace
The
Calypso Pool, aft on the "Great Teak Poop", is again 1.3m
to 2.4m deep, and has 2 Hot Tubs fwd. The pools are closed at 5pm,
which seems a bit early, but with many other activities no-one seemed
to want to use them after this time. See more Pool
Area Photos.
Calypso
Pool & Poop
 |
MSC
Melody
has 532 cabins, of which 151 are inside. There are no balcony cabins.
The ship was sailing full, but there was plenty of room for everyone.
The lounges were usually empty during the day, with most activities
taking place outdoors or on the Riviera Terrace underneath the
sliding Magrodome. Around the pools there was always plenty of space
and free loungers, which had shades to pull down over your head,
enabling one to be able to read a book without the glare of the sun.
The weather was hot and sunny most days, so both pools were well
used. See photos On
Deck in the Early Morning Glow.
Jogging
Track Becoming Quite Narrow Aft
Open
deck area for wandering about is limited. There is no wrap around
Prom, or even a Promenade Deck. One can however walk all the way
around on the blue Astroturfed Jogging Track, Sun Deck, but this is
narrow with barely room for two people to pass in places and only
extends from behind the funnel to forward of the Magrodome roof. See
more Photos.
Forward
Viewing Pool Deck
|
Under
the Bridge, Pool Deck |
There
is a small forward viewing area on Pool Deck in front of the Sunrise
Terrace, where again the deck is covered in blue Astroturf, &
extends a short way down each side under the Bridge. Access is
limited as one can only either descend from fwd on Sun Deck, where it
can be very windy, or through the doors on both sides of the
Satellite Cafe, which are often locked. If you make it here, it's quiet:) |
Alcohol
taken aboard from ports of call is not 'confiscated'. All items
carried aboard are subject to security searches, x-ray, & a walk
through metal detector. Two security personnel constantly roam the
ship together, in contact by radio with each other and their base.
Rather obvious as whatever the weather, they always wore a suit with tie. |
Top
|
Sunning
Area Around the Mast
Above
the Bridge, around the mast, is another good sized sunning area with
all around views. But windy when underway and access gated. Aft on
Lounge Deck is a smaller shaded deck area, which extends along the
length of the Junkanoo Club both sides, with Shuffleboard to starboard. |
Lounge
Deck Aft
 |
|
Hotel
Desk
The
staff were pleasant and helpful, speaking English quite well. There
are only 4 slow lifts in 2 banks; but not a problem as there is never
far to go on this ship. Leave the lifts to those that require them.
View
More Photos |
MSC
Melody does not have an Atrium, nor Cybercafe. The Reception Area
[Hotel Desk], Cruise & Tour Desk and Purser's Office are all on
Premier Deck along from the Main Foyer. Both areas are in the same
deep blues, with lots of chrome & lighting everywhere.
Melody's
Main Foyer |
Top
|
Dining:-
We were assigned 1st sitting, 7pm, in the Galaxy
Restaurant,
Restaurant Deck, midship. A large airy, but noisy at times, room
decorated in oranges, peaches, pinks & blues. This is the only
restaurant, with 2nd sitting at 9.15pm. Doors close 15 minutes after
each sitting starts.
Galaxy
Restaurant |
Elena
There
is no other alternative dining in the evening; only the Midnight
Buffet held at 00.15 in the Riviera Terrace/Satellite Cafe, along
various themes such as Country, Gourmet, Italian Pastry, Pizza &
Ice Cream and the Gran Buffet Magnifique on Gala Night. Breakfast
& Lunch are open seating. Our waiter was Guiseppe & Wine
Stewardess, Elena. Both were excellent. |
|
The
food was very good; Italian with lots of seafood dishes. See
the Menus. Some non-Europeans may find that sometimes
the choice of dishes available is not to their liking, but Broiled
Salmon, Grilled Turkey Paillard & Grilled Beef Steak all served
with Fries are available every night. Ask for the steak to be cooked
a shade rarer than you normally do. There is a choice of 3
Appetisers, 2 Soups, 2 Rice or Pasta Dishes, 4 or 5 Main Courses
[inc. a Vegetarian Choice], Cheeseboard, Fresh Fruit & 2
Desserts. Dessert is a choice of 'cake' or ice cream. No big deal is
made of gooey chocolate puddings etc and one will be asked for one's
selection of dessert when choosing the main course. There was a good
selection of reasonably priced wine. |
Guiseppe
with Beverley & Friend Katie |
Top
"Gala
Night" is the more formal of the 2 formal nights on a 7
night cruise. Italians always dress very well, Tuxes aplenty,
whatever the weather or itinerary. The other 5 nights were classed as
"Casual", with one designated "Tropical". It is
not permitted to enter the restaurant wearing shorts or tank-top
T-shirts. One can have lunch around the Pool in swimwear.
See
More Photos of the Dining Rooms
|
We
never have much of a lunch, especially wiith such a port intensive
itinerary and only one full day at sea. The Satellite Cafe has
serving stations both port & starboard, serving a variety of hot
& cold dishes with plenty of seafood & salads. For the
children there are the Burgers, Hot-Dogs, Fries or Pizza and a
separate serving area for the 'cakes' which are somewhat different to
those that Americans & Brits alike are used to, but tasty all the
same and do try them! There was no ice cream bar in the afternoons,
though one could purchase a lolly, choc ice, cone in the Calypso Bar.
There are Croissants served in the Calypso Pool Bar between 8 &
11am and Afternoon Tea & 'Cookies' between 4 & 5pm in the
Riviera Terrace [self-service]. |
Satellite
Cafe - Starboard |
|
|
|
|
Sunrise
Terrace
Breakfast
is "Open Seating" in the Galaxy Restaurant and begins at
7am. We ate in the Satellite Cafe mainly, and the girls had Room
Service one morning, which when it eventually arrived was missing
half the order. |
The
breakfast choices in the buffet are the usual cereals, fruit, rolls,
toast, cakes. cheeses and cold meats. There is also a wide variety of
hot food; bacon [European style], boiled eggs, hash browns, sausages,
cooked tomatoes, and many Italian items.
One
drawback of the Satellite Cafe is that it can become very humid
underneath the Magrodome, even when it's open & Melody is
sailing. The only air-conditioned eating area is forward of the cafe
in the Sunrise Terrace. This room is delightful, and a complete waste
being used as such. It's Melody's only forward 'observation lounge'
and should be a bar. A small room, attractively decorated, used only
for eating from the cafe & during afternoon tea there is a Duo
playing classical music. The solid bulkhead railing obstructs the
lower half of the view through the windows, but sit up straight or
stand and you can see over. |
Top
There
are specific areas designated for smokers and non-smokers. Smoking
is permitted only on the starboard side of most lounges and bars.
Smoking is not permitted in the Galaxy Restaurant, Sunrise Terrace,
the Cinema, or the elevators. Strongly discouraged in any corridors
or stairway areas, and cigars & pipes may only be used on the
open decks. People abided by the 'rules'.
|
Coffee
& tea are free & available most of the time from the
Satellite Cafe, Room Service,
and in the main restaurants. Speciality coffee is served and charged
for in the various Bars. Juices are free at breakfast, but chargeable
at any other time and also sodas, cokes etc are chargeable. |
Italians
do not tip as much as in other countries. There is no
additional service charge added to drinks. One leaves a tip with your
waiter & room steward in an envelope on the final evening, in the
established traditional way. The tips are shared with the assistants.
Tips for the Pool Buffet Staff may be left with the Satellite Cafe Supervisor. |
Room
Service is 24hr, BUT only free for
Breakfast and the choice for that is limited to rolls, croissants,
bread, jams, juice, coffee/tea/choc etc, no cereal. Beverages
[tea,coffee] throughout the day are free too. At all other times room
service is limited to club sandwiches and salads, all e2.50 each. |
Top
Melody
Review Part II
The
Itinerary
View
My Photos of MSC Melody |
|
MSC
Splendida Photologue
