cruiseracer

Just back from an 8-day on the Vista and wanted to share a great experience. We booked 2 weeks before sailing on a last minute casino deal, which was great, however the late date caused limited excursion choices. All golf carts were fully booked on Bonaire. When looking for a golf cart by email, Hans from Roadrunner explained that no carts were available, but suggested the Twizy tour. Being a car-guy, I checked out the Twizy (made by Renault) and it looked appealing. (It's an EV with 2 inline seats, not side by side.) We booked a week prior to sailing and the entire process was seamless. We met Hans & his wife, Mandy at the dock, as per their instructions. Hans had another tour to tend to and Mandy was our guide for the day. Mandy is very pleasant, knowledgeable, professional and quite fun. She took us by van to their house, which has a connected workshop. (5-minutes from the ship) The Twizy's were lined up, charged up, clean and ready to go. My girl got in the back seat, I got in behind the wheel and after a briefing by Mandy, we were off. Mandy led and we followed. We stopped at 1000 steps, the flamingo bay, a bluff overlooking the ocean, the oil tanks, a distillery, a small but interesting museum and Mandy offered to take us to a beach or 2. (We got plenty of beach-time the day before in Aruba, so declined the beach trip.) We then returned to their residence and Mandy drove us right back to the ship-walkway, where we exchanged goodbyes and walked back onto the ship.

Had we been able to book a golf cart - we never would have known about this tour. Now that we know about it - we will definitely do it again. Highly recommended... 

16 hours ago, weezal said:

with high rake, nobody wins.

if you're playing for recreation, then it doesn't really matter.

Not exactly true. I've walked off ships with a net profit at the pokerpro machines. Have walked away at a loss too. Just like land based casino's.    

To the exceptional or elite players - help me understand the "rake is too much" thought process. I'm a rec player and enjoy playing whenever I can. Yes - the rake is a bit high compared to most land-bound card rooms, but you're on a ship with the ocean, excursions, good food & drinks and you walk to your cabin when done. The land-based rooms require drive time and more. I don't get it. Walk me through the mindset... 

TIA

How about the Vista and Horizon? 

Looking for reliable information on the ships that have either Pokerpro electronic tables or live cash games. I've 'heard' that Carnival is moving away from the Pokerpro tables and back to live dealer games. I've also heard that all player to player games are being eliminated. Can anyone provide 1st-hand info? Thanks! 

On 5/1/2023 at 2:49 PM, surfergirl15 said:

There was a holdem table on Celebration in February 2023

Where was the holdem table located surfergirl?

Just received this email from NCL and I'm a little confused. Booked a 10-day a few weeks ago and prepaid the Bev Srv Charge, Din Srv Charge and Prepaid Service Charge.

Today's email speaks of a 'Daily Service Charge' increase of $20/$25 pp/pd, depending on cabin.

Is the "Daily Service Charge' the same as the Prepaid Service Charge?

TIA

Service Charge Increase Letter.pdf

Thanks to everyone who replied to my earlier thread concerning whether or not to sail with MSC. Excellent information was shared by knowledgeable folks. We've already completed the status match and are ready to begin choosing a sailing. We're an active middle-aged couple, experienced cruisers, who enjoy sunny, salty, sandy vacations. We (mostly she 😉) enjoys dressing up and enjoying the elegance of a nice ship. We have kids & grandkids that we spend much time with, however unless they're sailing with us, we tend to shy away from kid-filled cruises.

Balcony is a minimum-must for us and always enjoyed. A suite would be considered, however the value-added must be there for us to consider.

Looking to book an 8+ night cruise on either the Divina or Seashore. We live in Central Florida and Pt. Canaveral is an hour away while Miami is a few hours away. We enjoy sailing into & out of Miami, but hate getting & leaving there by car. (If that makes sense...) Really - either location works for us.  

Due to our location and similar itineraries to places that we enjoy - Divina or Seashore makes the most sense.

Which do you recommend and why? TIA...

4 hours ago, unrealHeather said:

If you are a Bourbon drinker you want to at least get the middle grade drink package.  See: https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/dining-drinks/drink-comparison-chart

Woodford Reserve! 👍 Thank you...

Status match process was smooth & seamless. Awarded gold status within 25 hours of submission. Hope our future experience with MSC goes so well.

2 hours ago, phissy said:

We always use TA  for MSC.
We cannot give name of agencies here but there are a few in Florida that regularly do business with MSC.

He always gives us discount on cruise fare and makes sure our OBC are posted correctly. 
We have had issues with cruises cancelled ( Covid)  cruises changed to another ship, date and itinerary, and cabins changed without notice.

He has handled all of these. In the first two, received refunds ( YC) and he had them change cabin back and get us further discount.

MSC can be very trying to deal with landslide, as you can tell from post.

Onboard, we really enjoy sailing with them.

 

As far as the repositioning cruises ( Miami and Port Canaveral) we did this in November and doing one again in October. 
We fly one ways , so no issue. 
Some on our cruise this year ( port Canaveral ending Miami) are driving to Miami and leaving cars in long term parking. Taking rental car to Port Canaveral and then rental car shuttle to cruise ship.

When we were at car rental last year, there were those who cruised with us getting cars to drive back to Miami or Fort Lauderdale homes. We got car just to drive from port to Orlando airport area and stayed a few days to avoid Thanksgiving air traffic.

Lots to consider, good luck.

 

We're located in Florida. It's a shame TA's cannot be recommended. Perhaps a conflict... We'll look into the rental car option. Thanks!

6 hours ago, JAGR said:

Morgsmom and Nunagoras have given you the most accurate information.  I have not been on Divina  since eight years ago, but recently sailed on Seashore on a B2B.  Seashore is newer and glitzier and would be my preference between your two choices.. I've added my thoughts on your questions where I think clarification is in order.

Good tip on using a TA after booking. I didn't know this could be done. Thanks for the detail...

6 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Use a TA!!!!!

 

I have had my share of issues and then some.

Worst IT and customer service in the industry.

I like the product but if you have an issue they will outright lie to you. A manager will call in 48-72 hours. Lol.

 

If you need to call for any reason they most likely will screw up your booking.

 

I have 5 booked all with a TA and in the last month have had 2 issues already.

Still have an issue from 2020 that we expect to settle this month and one from 2021 that has no end in sight except for me to keep poking till they have had enough and finally do something.

 

Wow. That's awful! Look like a TA is in our future... Thanks.

7 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

If anytime dining is important to you, then as noted above, Aurea is the way to go.

If you have a good loyalty level with another cruise line, it could be worth your while to apply for Status Match with MSC.  If they match you to a nice MSC level, there could be some benefits for you.  We have only sailed Bella level (we only want fixed dining), but we had a nice cabin, as well as some additional benefits, due to our match.

We loved our MSC cruises; we were very pleased that we took the chance on them.

Just signed up for Status Match. Thanks for the tip and advice!

57 minutes ago, Nunagoras said:

By the way, like on a "legacy" airline with tickets ranging from "discount" to "executive" classes: Just my advice: Unless you're very last minute, try to avoid the Bella category. It's just like a "no frills" low cost airline ticket. You have a right to go, a cabin chosen by them, a slot on the MDR chosen by them, etc. usually among the leftovers on close sailing's selling day... So, now: At a slightly higher rate they are offering Fantastica category which is just your typical mainstream cruise ticket with fixed at your choice cabin and MDR dinner slot. In most places they are offering a basic drinks package and possibly an internet package with that deal. Then there is Aurea. It used to be a great value for the buck due to the inclusions. Not anymore, unless a special promo gives some of those inclusions back at an affordable price tag, IMHO. Yeah: Priority boarding, anytime dining and a dedicated exclusive bar and sundeck plus a few discounts here and there plus the larger better placed cabins might to be interesting... But it is somewhat overpriced right now for the real benefits. And then there is the so acclaimed Yacht club. It is a ship inside the ship concept with a premium suite level service, exclusive dedicated areas, exclusive dedicated restaurant, etc. While there are some nice deals on that, prices have escalated lately, to a point of being clearly overpriced for the value, IMHO, unless being outside the crowds is really that important for you. Though, in some sailings it is quite possible to find some nice deals on Yacht Club insides that are unique on the whole industry and which nobody can really beat. Search carefully and book if one appears to you!... Hope to have helped a bit!...

Yes, thank you for your detailed reply. Priority boarding is not a big deal for us. In fact, we usually wait until a couple of hours before sailing to board in order to miss the mad rush. Anytime dining has become our thing as we like the convenience. We can go with the flow on other benefits too. Time to do some more research... This information helps - thank you!

Thanks for the advice all. Looks like we have some more research to do. The Aurea/Yacht Club/Fantastica concepts are new to us. I suspect it comes down to value to us specifically. Let me know if any more thoughts come to mind... Much appreciated!

Hi All,

We are active, middle-aged, experienced cruisers. She loves the sun and sand (wishes there was an onboard beach, maybe even a sandbox) and I've got salt in me veins... Have tried nearly all lines except for MSC and would like to give it a go. A balcony or better is a must and we'll probably go for a 7-night or more on the Divina or Seashore. I've reviewed the FAQ's, however input from past cruisers is always valued. Please forgive our long list of questions. We welcome all opinions and advice.  

In no particular order:

·         Concerning WIFI: DW and I will need to occasionally check in with work via Zoom. Should we upgrade to the best available wifi? How is reception in the cabins?

·         We are modest drinkers while on vacation, but enjoy nicer blends (wine & cocktails) and the convenience of using a drink package. It looks like the math comes out to about 6 drinks per day to break even and this is about our max. Please share your thoughts on purchasing a 'package' vs a la carte.

·         Along those same lines - I enjoy a good Old-Fashioned (bourbon) while sailing. Can anyone recommend an onboard bar that makes a can't miss OF?

·         If we book using the free wifi & drinks promo, but desire to upgrade either offer - would we just pay the difference between the promo and the upgraded price? How does this work?

·         If we purchase the lowest drink package, but occasionally desire a more expensive drink, do we pay full tilt for the expensive drink, or only the difference between the 2?

·         Another possible option would be to purchase a bottle of our favorite spill & mixers for the cabin and not get a drink package. It's nice to pour a glass or 2 while sitting on the balcony before dinner... Does MSC offer this?

·         Can we request anytime dining for the entire cruise?

·         Are the specialty-dining venues worth the added cost?

·         I've read that it's recommended to use a TA. I enjoy doing the research beforehand, then book online or through a PVP-type. Is this a recipe for disaster?

·         We heard from some friends that there is no craps-table in the casino. How about live Texas-hold-em? If yes, do they use live dealers or the poker-pro machines?

·         Is there a smoking policy in the casino?

·         Are there any must-do's that we should look into?

·         What's with the all-white themed dinner(s)? I told my DW about this and she just rolled her eyes. Is it a thing?

·         We noticed a couple of the longer cruises on the Divina begin at Pt. Canaveral and end in Miami. Seems strange. Do they offer transportation back to Pt. Canaveral?

Thanks in advance!

Following...

Unfortunately I agree with OP. Bought 4 ABNOW tests from emed for 2 of us. First test was a struggle with language barrier. Finally got it done through much trial and error. Second test was more than a struggle with language barrier. (We got through, only because we'd just completed the first test and knew the routine.) The second test was determined "invalid" with no explanation. Pulled out test #3, and doubled the number of recommended drops of solution. Passed this time. These tests should not be this difficult... 

Just need to vax & mask them cards. 😅

Add Incentives For Sensible Mask-Wearing

Effective Date: April 1, 2020

$25 OBC per-person/per-day for those wearing masks in your cabin (must always be worn).

An additional $25 pp/pd for each of the following:

• Mask worn on your balcony at all times (no exception)
• In your bathroom (wipe & cover, careful not to confuse with TP)
• While showering (lather & cover)
• When intimate, balcony not included (bite & cover)
• While eating anywhere on the ship (also bite & cover).

Additional $10 OBC per mask worn at the same time, up to 12 masks per person maximum.

The OBC's becomes effective each successive day after accepted video footage is submitted, analyzed and approved. Video's must be submitted (while masked) to guest services by no later than 6am each day.

11 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

LOL...how could you not notice that was already posted?   😉

On this thread? Don't see it. My account is probably restricted. 😉

16 hours ago, Dalton51 said:

Does my wife have to wear a mask if she is laying out in the sun? Thanks 

Nah, it's optional. 😉 

17 hours ago, CookieShip said:

They recommend having 2 kits per person, just in case there are issues. After hearing all the issues on no fluid, I would say least get the 3 pack to have a spare. Each kit is individual and not tied to any one person.

This. We purchased 4. One had issues and was invalid. Buy at least 4 packs for 2 people...

6 minutes ago, fsuali said:

Last time I cruised the Magic they had a ‘Sushi Bar’.  Have they converted anything to more of a Bonsai Sushi set up?  Thanks!!

Still a sushi bar. They also serve sashimi... Both were very good!