Other (Asia/Africa/Middle East) cruise guide

Like many people, I did not want to take this cruise due to coronavirus concerns. RC was unwilling to budge to allow people get credit for a different cruise - unless they were from China or Hong Kong since they were not allowed to sail. TOTALLY UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICE!!! Look at the cruise ships that were quarantined - that could have been the Quantum! Thankfully, it was not. Overall, we thought the Quantum was a nice, modern ship. The passengers formed a real melting pot, with people from ALL over the world. The crew was doing all they could to make passengers feel comfortable and safe. They can only do so much, after all. The cruise itself was not the highlight of our trip, but the destinations were - especially Singapore and Phuket. Willing to give RC another chance in the future, but might invest extra cash in one of those "cancel for any reason" travel insurance plans just in case chaos ensues.

As mentioned earlier, celebrity cancelled the ports of Thailand and Singapore due to the coronavirus. The manner in which they handled this needs to be commended. They assisted in changing the passengers travel arrangements at their expense. The phone lines and internet were open for the remainder of the cruise (4 days) and everyone was provided with an onboard credit for the day that was missed in Thailand. The staff went out of their way to make the balance of the cruise as enjoyable as the beginning of the cruise. No complaints. Now have a reason to fly back to see Singapore another time ;)

Ship is new and clean, however staffs (except dining room staff) are not passenger friendly. Just ignore your existence.

The MSC Lirica is not a top-end ship - it may be best categorized as lower mid-end. With that in mind, the fares are excellent for the ship's amenities and itinerary. The food is decent, the service is varied but generally friendly, the entertainment (especially if you love to dance and your concert tastes lean towards classical music) excellent. Much of the clientele are European. I would recommended it if this is what your budget allows for. Great cruising experience on a budget.

One of our best cruises! My wife, who was hesitant about signing up for this cruise, said she would do it again in a heartbeat!