Thread: MSC Lirica Cruise from the Middle East

We have booked this morning a cruise from the United Arab Republic to the UK.

We spend a couple of days in Abu Dhabi and cruise from there. We visit Muscat, Salalah, Aqaba, Barcelona and Lisbon before we arrive in Southampton. Hopefully we will get to see Petra whilst we are in Jordon. We also have 12 sea days, and also cruise through the Suez Canal.

We are sailing on one of our favourite medium sized ships, MSC Lirica. This will be our fourth time aboard.

Offer came for this three week cruise, with air charges included, and the overall price was cheaper than most 12 day cruises in the Med.

Sounds great, Norman. I've toured the Lirica here in Ft Lauderdale about 3 years ago or there about. Very nice ship. We have the Poesia here now seasonally.

We have cruised three times with MSC, all being at least six years ago. Rang up MSC in the UK and they had no record of our cruises only the one we had just booked.

I explained all our previous booking was in the USA, and the MSC nobody would accept us, they did not like us booking in the States at the time..

They now want custom from anywhere, and they checked our records in USA, I received a Silver award and Diane a Bronze one. Will try to sort it out on the ship, as we both have done the same cruises.

We get priority boarding, fresh fruit in the cabin, Meal for two free in a specialised restaurant.

We have now got our flight number, seats numbers on Etihad airways flight to Abu Dhabi from London Heathrow on the evening of March 8th.

The flight to Abu Dhabi is just over seven hours.

We have two nights in the Radisson Blu Hotel at Abu Dhabi.

Cabin on the ship is where we wished, an inside cabins three up from the stern. MSC Lirica at the end of every deck is a large area with loungers so we have a rear balcony close by. Diane has now received a silver MSC card.

As we are having proper tickets for everything, I paid a little extra and had real train tickets, so with a bit of luck no e - tickets at all. We are using the train home from Southampton.

Just have to book the coach to Heathrow airport.

Apart from the cruise we wish to have a cruise on a Dhow whist in the UAE and visit Petra whilst we are in Jordon.

Originally Posted by Norman

We have now got our flight number, seats numbers on Etihad airways flight to Abu Dhabi from London Heathrow on the evening of March 8th.

The flight to Abu Dhabi is just over seven hours.

We have two nights in the Radisson Blu Hotel at Abu Dhabi.

Cabin on the ship is where we wished, an inside cabins three up from the stern. MSC Lirica at the end of every deck is a large area with loungers so we have a rear balcony close by. Diane has now received a silver MSC card.

As we are having proper tickets for everything, I paid a little extra and had real train tickets, so with a bit of luck no e - tickets at all. We are using the train home from Southampton.

Just have to book the coach to Heathrow airport.

Apart from the cruise we wish to have a cruise on a Dhow whist in the UAE and visit Petra whilst we are in Jordon.

I'm glad they bumped Diane's level up. Can I ask who you booked through this time? A UK provider?

I'm excited to hear your reports on the MSC Lirica and the amazing ports you'll soon see. Coming along quite quickly now!

Thanks Norman.

The UK cruise Company is:

Cruise Club UK


We now look for deals incorporating air and hotel charges. If we did this cruise independantly it would cost us twice as much.

Originally Posted by Norman

The UK cruise Company is:

Cruise Club UK


We now look for deals incorporating air and hotel charges. If we did this cruise independantly it would cost us twice as much.

Yes, that's a great idea. I'm also familiar with the back office team at Cruise Club UK. Should you run into any troubles don't hesitate to reach out to me or them directly, of course.

Where did you see they're advertisement?

Tim we receive an awful lot of junk mail from all companies, also emails. The one from Cruise Club UK was a brochure.

Originally Posted by Norman

Tim we receive an awful lot of junk mail from all companies, also emails. The one from Cruise Club UK was a brochure.

They've got some excellent MSC offers running and I'm sure you're going to have an excellent voyage.

I'll do some research on those cruise/shore excursions and post some of my findings.

Cheers!