Cruising’s not just about the ship

Last Thursday, my colleague Marie and I were invited to have lunch on board MSC Orchestra in Dover.

It was the sort of English morning where really the only sensible thing to do is go back to bed but we battled through the torrential rain strong wind and thick fog to the port. Dover is a lovely port, generally very easy to use as you can see the ships docked upon your approach to the cruise terminal and the car parks are right beside the ships.

MSC Magnifica in Dover on my last visit

I needed sunglasses that day!

MSC Orchestra on Thursday in Dover

Needed this!!

This was my 4th time on board an MSC ship and I have always been very impressed with the hospitality and definitely with the food.

As we walked up to embarkation, we passed the rows of coaches and the crowds of tourists leaving the ship for their day in the UK. We don’t often think of somewhere like Dover as a tourist port of call as to us it is a point of embarkation. Sadly, the scenery of the stunning white cliffs with beautiful Dover castle perched on top was totally lost in the blanket of fog. I just hope the excursions to Canterbury and Leeds Castle were a bit dryer and clearer.

Dover castle and the famous White Cliffs

Unfortunately and for some still unexplained reason, we were not allowed to board until 12pm after checking in just before 10am. We sat for these 2 hours in the departure lounge at Dover with no updates apart from a mumble about port authority security checks.

Now I am a seasoned traveller. I can handle these delays, frustrating though they may be, but we were with potential clients that MSC had invited to get a glimpse of their ship. Many had left home before 7am to get there.

We finally boarded and thankfully were taken straight to lunch, a very generous 6 or 7 courses with a very good red or white wine selection.

Sadly, it was then 1.40 and we had to leave the ship at 2pm so we managed to rush around the atrium , theatre and  the Savannah Bar before once again braving the elements outside.

Many clients ask me which is my favourite cruise line/ ship/ itinerary/ place in the world.

I think Thursday is a good example of how impressions are made.

I am not blaming MSC for the delay if this was a security measure but the lack of communication became frustrating. Lunch was delicious but many were too busy moaning to appreciate it.

The day trippers from the ship were getting a very poor picture of the UK, maybe a first visit for many, due to the dreadful weather.

So…..if this had been my only experience of MSC, I was not impressed. Thankfully, it isn’t.

With fine weather and no delays, I think people would have been queuing up to book.

Would I cruise with MSC again? Yes definitely and I will be in October.