The port of Amsterdam (Dutch: Haven van Amsterdam) is an inland seaport in Amsterdam in North Holland, Netherlands. It is the 14th busiest port in Europe by total cargo tonnage.
▸Getting ashore in Amsterdam
Day 3Zeebrugge
About the MSC Opera
Rated 4.2 out of 5. Sample score from the demo catalog, not a guest rating — reviews written on Sail Away are listed, counted and credited separately.★★★★★★★★★★4.2· sample score
MSC Opera is a cruise ship operated by MSC Cruises, 65,591 GT. Specifications sourced from Wikidata (CC0).
Nobody has reviewed this sailing here yet. We only show reviews written by real travellers — we don't generate them, and we don't score a sailing until at least 3 people have had their say.
Zeebrugge (Dutch pronunciation: [zeːˈbrʏɣə] ; from Brugge aan zee [ˌbrʏɣə ʔaːn ˈzeː], meaning "Bruges-on-Sea"; French: Zeebruges, pronounced [zebʁyʒ]) is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.
▸Getting ashore in Zeebrugge
Day 4Dover· United Kingdom
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
The Port of Dover is a cross-channel ferry, cruise terminal, maritime cargo and marina facility situated in Dover, Kent, south-east England. It is the nearest English port to France, at just 34 kilometres (21 mi) away, and is one of the world's busiest maritime passenger ports, with 11.7 million passengers, 2.6 million lorries, 2.2 million cars and motorcycles and 80,000 coaches passing through it in 2017, and with an annual turnover of £58.5 million a year.
▸Getting ashore in Dover
Day 5Southampton· United Kingdom
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
The Port of Southampton is a passenger and cargo port in the central part of the south coast of England. The modern era in the history of the Port of Southampton began when the first dock was inaugurated in 1843.
▸Getting ashore in Southampton
Day 6Le Havre· France
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the river Seine on the English Channel southwest of the Pays de Caux, very close to the Prime Meridian.
▸Getting ashore in Le Havre
Day 7At Sea
Day 8Hamburg· Germany
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
The Port of Hamburg (German: Hamburger Hafen, pronounced [ˈhambʊʁɡɐ ˈhaːfn̩] ) is a seaport on the river Elbe in Hamburg, Germany, 110 kilometres (68 mi; 59 nmi) from its mouth on the North Sea.
Known as Germany's "Gateway to the World" (Tor zur Welt), it is the country's largest seaport by volume.
▸Getting ashore in Hamburg
Day 9Kiel· Germany
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
The Port of Kiel (German: Kieler Hafen) is a port for passenger and cargo shipping located in Kiel, Germany. It occupies the inner part of the Baltic Sea inlet Kieler Förde and includes the approach to the locks at the eastern end of Kiel Canal.
What the fare covers, what it doesn't, and how this itinerary actually runs.
2 sea days
The pool loungers and the shaded spots go early on a sea day — by eight in the morning on a full ship, and this one carries several thousand guests. Reserving one and leaving it is against the rules on most lines and crew do clear them, so send someone early rather than at ten.
6 port days back to back
Early tenders and late returns, several days running, with no sea day to recover in. Pick the two ports you actually care about and let one of the others be a lie-in — the itinerary is not a checklist.
Day one and the last day are half-days
A 11-night cruise is really 10 full days. Boarding runs into the afternoon and you are off the ship early on the last morning.
Money on board · MSC Cruises
Already in the fare
Meals in the main dining rooms for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.Access to the buffet for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks.Basic beverages like water, coffee, tea, and juice available at specified times and locations in the buffet.Use of the main pools, hot tubs, and the ship's fitness center.Most onboard entertainment, including theatrical shows, live music, and basic activities.Kids' clubs and supervised activities for various age groups.
The drinks package
Typically around $50-65 USD per person, per day, including service charge, for a mid-tier package like Easy Plus.
Break-even: This package usually pays for itself with about 5-7 drinks a day, counting cocktails, glasses of wine or beer, and specialty coffees.
It suits those who plan to have several alcoholic or specialty non-alcoholic drinks daily; light drinkers may find it does not provide value for their habits.
Gratuities
An automatic daily service charge, usually about $14.50-16 USD per adult per day, and a lower rate for children, is added to your onboard account; it can often be prepaid or adjusted at Guest Services.
Wifi
Internet packages vary in price and speed; a basic browse package, typically around $10-25 USD per day or more for a cruise-long plan, usually supports email and messaging but not streaming video or high-bandwidth activities.
Costs that surprise people
◆Specialty Dining. Restaurants beyond the main dining rooms and buffet, such as steakhouses or sushi bars, incur an additional per-person charge or à la carte pricing.
◆Shore Excursions. Guided tours and activities in port booked through MSC will be charged to your onboard account.
◆Spa and Thermal Area Access. Individual spa treatments, massages, and access to the dedicated thermal suite (saunas, steam rooms) typically come with an extra cost.
◆Professional Photos. Any photos taken by the ship's photographers, whether posed portraits or candid shots, must be purchased separately.
◆Room Service. While some breakfast items may be complimentary, a delivery fee usually applies for room service orders, especially late at night, and certain menu items carry a charge.
◆Minibar Items. Drinks and snacks consumed from the minibar in your cabin are charged to your account.
Ways to spend less
◆Pre-book packages. Purchasing drinks, internet, or specialty dining packages before your cruise often results in a lower price than buying them on board.
◆Dine at included venues. Enjoy all your meals in the main dining rooms or the extensive buffet, where food costs are covered by your fare.
AI-written guidance, not a quote. Prices and policies change and vary by sailing — confirm anything that matters with the cruise line before you book.
◆Bring permitted beverages. Check MSC's current policy, as some lines allow guests to bring a limited amount of non-alcoholic beverages or a bottle of wine on board.
◆Explore independently in port. Instead of booking MSC's excursions, research local transportation and attractions to visit destinations on your own, which can be more economical.
◆Utilize free drinks. Take advantage of complimentary water, basic coffee, tea, and juice available in the buffet and main dining rooms throughout the day.
◆Check the daily program. The ship's daily schedule lists numerous free activities and entertainment options, from trivia to live music.
