Cadiz, Spain

Aloha Everyone,

Familiar place. Took a free shuttle bus that dropped us off just outside of the cruise terminal. From there, historical section of Cadiz is less than 5 minutes away. Tourist information booths where once you could get a free city map now charges one euro.

Walking tour of Cadiz which supposed to last 2.5 hours seemed very popular with families with older children. Their charges are £37 for an adult and £26 for a child. We were able to see nearly all of the suggested venues including a stop at a local supermarket to purchase several items. So far, the noontime heat is tolerable. Tried to walk on the shaded sidewalk and chose streets that are narrow to maintain pleasant walking experience.

Ceramic murals depicting historical buildings and events of Cadiz. It gave glimpses of what city’s tourism board considers as important.

Aloha -- Cathi

Sea Day Activities

Aloha Everyone,

Misty foggy morning. Sunrise from the Lido deck was beautiful.

Today is a sea day followed by 6 ports of calls in Spain. Cadiz, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca Barcelona and Madrid

This morning, we received two invitations. One is to attend a MSC Voyagers welcome back cocktail event. The second one is advertising to purchase jewelry. Actually, the MSC Voyagers event was nothing more than a chance for MSC to make sales pitch. We were handed a glass of sweet red juice or white wine. Shared a table with a couple from Scotland near Edinburgh with their 4 children. They take MSC cruise once a year to enjoy the weather, swimming pool activities and food. 

Tonight is a Gala Night. Lots of sparkling dresses and Disney Princess dresses among crowds of people. Without the daily equivalent of Princess Patter, we weren’t even aware of it. I believe there are 4 specialty restaurants but so far, we only spotted 3. Trying to eat healthy on MSC is challenging. Here’s J.J, and my selections for today.

Aloha -- Cathi

La Coruña, Spain

Aloha Everyone,

Located on the Atlantic Ocean, history of La Coruña traces back to its ancient fishing and trading port. The Old Town, 15-minute walk from the cruise terminal is a fun place to get lost and meander. J.J. and I enjoyed squares, churches and Romanesque collections of medieval streets.

La Coruña, once a Celtic settlement became greater historical importance in Roman times when the port became a key location in navigation routes.

We were able to see 5 of the top 10 places to visit in the city by La Coruña tourism board:

- Plaza de Maria Pita
- Avenido de Mariña
- Paseo Marítimo
- Colegiato de Santa Maria de Compo
- Monte de San Pedro

An easy walking sightseeing day. By the time we returned to MSC Virtuosa I have walked 4.7 miles or 16,266 steps.

Aloha -- Cathi

Fresh Marketplace on the 14th Floor

Aloha Everyone,

Everything has a price tag. We learned that we get a bottle of still water for free at our dinner table. However, anything else is you pay as you go. We were given a plastic card to use while on board. 

Our stateroom attendant, Sam is from South Africa. She’s been in and out of our room twice since yesterday.  Probably, it would be better not to expect the same level of service as in the Princess Elite class.

The news channels have a wide selection. Especially current coverage of Paris Summer Olympic Games. Movies are very limited and there is a charge of 8 pounds per film. We also learned that evening show in the MSC Theatre comes with a charge per person.

One notable feature is the elevators. You choose your desired floor using an outside touch pad. Individual elevator is spacious. It can accommodate 24 persons. 

Here’s some photos taken up at the Fresh Market Place on the 14th Floor.

Aloha -- Cathi