La Bussola Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Continental, Italian
Dress Code: 2 formal nights, others neat casual attire after 6 p.m.
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: Yes
Seats: 618
Hours:
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 p.m – 1:00 p.m.
Dinner: Early – 7:00 p.m., Late – 9:15 p.m.
L’Ippocampo Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Continental, Italian
Dress Code: 2 formal nights, others neat casual attire after 6 p.m.
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: Yes
Seats: 380
Hours:
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 p.m – 1:00 p.m.
Dinner: Early – 7:00 p.m., Late – 9:15 p.m.
Le Bistro Cafeteria
Cuisine: Assorted Buffet
Dress Code: Casual
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No
Seats: 318
Hours:
Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
La Pergola Restaurant
Cuisine: Grill
Dress Code: Casual (Outdoor Restaurant)
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No
Seats: 402
Hours: Check onboard for hours
***La Pergola is set aside for suite passengers, while others need to make a reservation. The food is better here, naturally.
Grill
Cuisine: Grill
Dress Code: Casual
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No
Hours: Check onboard for hours
Pizzeria
Cuisine: Pizza
Dress Code: Casual
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No
Hours: Check onboard for hours
In addition to the restaurants mentioned above, the Lirica also features 24-hour room service and celebrations for special occasions, celebrated with a cake, champagne and an Italian serenade.
***Please note: there is no food service available between the hours of 8:00pm and the midnight buffet, with the exception of room service.
Attire
The dress code is resort casual with two formal nights on ten-night, three on 11-night, and four on 17- and 18-night cruises. In the Caribbean, dress on formal nights is varied, with women wearing dressy pantsuits, cocktail dresses, or evening gowns, and men in either dark suits or tuxedo.
Dining Times
There is a welcome buffet from 12:30 to 4:30 PM on the disembarkation day
Breakfast
Breakfast begins with the Early Birds’ Coffee and Danish at 6:00 am
The full breakfast buffet runs from 6:30 to 9:30 am. Fresh eggs made to order and omelettes are offered at a station located in the grill, La Pergola Restaurant, just outside of,Le Bistro Cafeteria, the buffet restaurant. Piping hot coffee is served in cups and saucers by wait staff at the drink stations. No oversized mugs are available, or large sized drink glasses either for that matter. Juice is offered in the morning, replaced by tea during the day.
The dining rooms, La Bussola Restaurant & L’Ippocampo Restaurant, served breakfast open seating style, from 7:00 to 9:30 am.
A continental breakfast is available through Room Service from 7:30 to 11:00 am.
Lunch
Freshly made pasta and risotto dishes are available for Lunch. The dining rooms, La Bussola Restaurant & L’Ippocampo Restaurant, serve open seating lunch from 12:00 to 2:00 pm.
Entrees in the Le Bistrot Cafeteria during the lunch time of 12:00 to 2:30 pm ranged from the unusual octopus stew towards more American meal staples such as broiled fish and chicken. A carving station serving of either beef or poultry is available here everyday, along with the ever tempting huge selection of rolls, breads, and crispy breadsticks.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken breasts and pizza are available in the poolside grill areas from 12:00 to 3:30 pm and then again from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The freshly made pizza is hot and delicious. The all-American favorite pepperoni is present, along with a few other not so ordinary varieties.
Tea
Afternoon tea from 4:00 to 5:00 pm consists of finger sandwiches, cakes, and cookies, and is usually served in the Le Bistro Cafeteria and out on the adjacent deck area.
Dinner
Freshly made pasta and risotto dishes are available for dinner as well as a specialty dish from a different region of Italy each night. Grilled chicken, steak, and fish are always available as an option for more traditional fare. The menu lists appetizers, soup, salads, pasta, main courses and garnishes, as well as vegetarian and healthy choice selections. The dessert menu includes cakes, pastries, ice cream and sorbet, along with after-dinner drinks. Second helpings are yours for the asking, and portion sizes are above average.
The buffet, Le Bistro Cafeteria, is closed in the evening, so the dining room, grill and pizza stations, or room service are your choices for an evening meal.
Midnight Buffet
The MSC Lirica still hosts the traditional “midnight” buffet every night at 11:45 pm. On “gala” nights in the buffet areas, passengers are treated to Crepes Flambe and other delicious specialties artfully presented and served. On other nights, simpler snacks of sandwiches and sweets are served, usually by strolling waiters in the lounges and other public areas of the ship.
Ice Cream Bar
The Ice Cream and Vitamin bar, not complimentary, located on lido deck is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Room Service
A variety of club sandwiches, chicken Caesar salads, cheese and fruit platters, along with ice cream and dessert of the day is offered on the 24 hour room service menu. The food is good, and delivered within 20 minutes.
Coffee Bar
A coffee and tea station is available at the casual dining area after hours, but the best coffee onboard is at The Coffee Bar. Authentic Italian Espresso ($1.60) and cappuccino are available at most of the bars onboard.
Alcohol
A glass of house wine is available for just over $4.00, a draft beer for $3.00, and a soda for $2.20. Signature cocktails are $7.95 and mixed drinks $7.25. Reasonable wine, beer, and soda packages are available for purchase. A $28.00 MSC Junior Card would bring a grin to your little one as they ordered their own special 5 virgin drinks and 5 soft drinks. Bar wait staff did not hawk drinks in the public areas, but servers are never very far away to take your order.
Water, ice cream and alcohol are all items you must pay for.
