🛳️MSC Lirica: Genoa, Italy.

Today, the ship arrived in Genoa, Italy, and I took an escorted tour of the city.

This morning, I woke before my alarm at around 7:30 am. I had a shower and got ready for my trip ashore in Genoa, where we had docked in port.

Deciding not to try the always crowded breakfast buffet, I went to the Beverly Hills bar, where people on excursions were to collect instructions for departure. I was early, so I got a ginseng coffee and waited for my departure instructions. The girls' reading instructions were very unclear, both in their instructions and their speech. Eventually, one of the men read the instructions perfectly, and the different groups started leaving the ship for their excursions.

My original Segway tour had been cancelled, so I booked a panoramic coach tour of Genoa. The guide saw me walking with some difficulty and made room for me on one of the reserved seats in the front of the coach. We were soon driven through various areas of Genoa, past the port, where we saw some fantastic architecture and a replica of a pirate ship used in the original Pirates of the Caribbean film. We then drove through more affluent areas before stopping at a small fishing village for a short time.

The village and coast looked beautiful, even on a cold, overcast morning. I was glad I had brought my heated body warmer and had it on under my coat. After a short walk and taking some photos, we drove back to Genoa and stopped at a point above the City, where we took advantage of the photo opportunities and admired the great view of the city and the port below us, from which we could see the cruise ships docked.

When we left the viewpoint, we were dropped off at Raffaele De Ferrari Square in Genoa, where we were given an hour of free time to explore. Our guide provided us with simple instructions to follow as we walked past the Cathedral and onto an old city gate. I took many photos as I walked a circuitous route past the cathedral, museum, and city gates and then turned to walk through some winding streets back to our meeting point.

Photos: Genoa.

While docked in Genoa aboard the MSC Lirica, I ventured into one of Italy’s most historic port cities. This photo album captures the essence of Genoa, from its winding alleys and grand architecture to the vibrant street scenes that define its character. Each image reflects the charm and complexity of a city shaped by centuries of maritime heritage and cultural richness.

Click on any image to see a larger version of the image with a description. 

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I arrived with time to grab a roll at a local cafe for lunch. Sitting outside, I noticed a monument and walked over to it to take photos before getting back on the coach for the journey back to the ship. When leaving, I gave the guide and driver €5 each for a tip. I'm sorry to say I appeared to be the only one who did. Some ladies never stopped moaning the whole trip, and when we got back to the ship, they thought that pressing the lift buttons constantly would make it arrive quicker. When it arrived, they pushed in front of a disabled lady in a wheelchair. It saddened me that people like this lack the time and compassion for others.

When I got back on board, I was too late for lunch in the dining room, so I purchased a takeaway burger from one of the food bars near the pool and ate it back inside, where it was warmer. Whilst eating, I had a beer and briefly talked with a lovely Scottish lady called Helen, whom I met on board yesterday. Then, I returned to my cabin to lie down and rest my legs.

At 18:30, I went to the dining room for dinner. As I walked towards the dining room, one of the Spanish ladies I had been sitting with for dinner on the previous evenings saw me and escorted me to the dining room. It is nice to know that when you are friendly and pleasant to others, they respond with friendship, no matter what language you speak or whether you understand each other completely.

I had tomato soup with mozzarella and basil for dinner, followed by a grilled chimichurri ribeye steak with sautéed potatoes, green beans, and peppers. The steak wasn´t a nice thick steak, but rather sliced steak meat; it did, however, taste beautiful, and I washed it down with a couple of glasses of red wine. The dessert was a small mixed fruit salad, and I did glance at my Spanish companion's mango and pistachio ice creams, wishing I had a half-gallon of both more than once.

After dinner, I got myself a Long Island Iced Tea and headed to see tonight's entertainment in the theatre. When I arrived at the door, I was told that drinks weren't allowed in the theatre, and I was forced to finish my drink in one go and leave the empty glass on the floor outside. Once inside, I sat at the end of a row of seats, where every other chair had an 'out-of-order' notice. This did not stop many people from climbing over me, kicking my walking stick to get past, walking the entire row of chairs, and then moving further down anyway.

This seemed to continue for the first twenty minutes of the show. If you are going to see a show, arrive early. The show, called Access All Areas, was atrocious. The dancers were out of synch, none of the singers were good, and their interpretation of some beautiful rock anthems destroyed them. For the second show I have seen in the theatre, I left halfway through because it was so bad.

I walked to one of the shows in a smaller bar, and to inject some excitement back into my evening, I ordered a pint of beer with a Pina Colada chaser. I began to relax and enjoyed my own company until the act for the evening arrived. Once again, they couldn't sing a note and sounded terrible. I finished my cocktail and took my pint back to my cabin, where we could be alone to enjoy each other's company.

I was in bed and asleep by 22:30. Unfortunately, my cabin was located next to a service corridor, and at just after midnight, I was no longer able to sleep due to the noise. I got up and went to reception to ask to be moved to a new cabin that wouldn't be so noisy. I know the crew have to work long hours, and it is not their fault that they create noise at night when passengers are asleep, but at least soundproof cabins near their work areas. I was told they could move me tonight until the morning staff came on for their shift. I would then have to return and let the morning manager find me a room. Not wanting to wake other passengers by moving in the early morning hours, I returned to my cabin. I eventually fell asleep around 3:00.