Nunagoras

Sadly, I must admit that, by the norm, MSC shows are just entertaining, but nothing really worth to write home about. Some of the more recent shows will have a "cirque du soleil" style show that maybe of value, but other than that, the main theater show will be such a 35-45 minutes, mostly music and acrobatics sort of thing. They'll have some nice music round the ship though, and if you want to stay away from alcohol, they have a quite nice virgin cocktails page on the menu!

While this is such a subjective issue, count me one more to the no, it isn't too big ship and not really that crowder, other than when it is supposed to be like after shows or at port's gangway opening time. As some of others pointed out, the main concern from my experience is that there is rarely a place where you can relate to the sea once you're deep onboard, except maybe the pool decks. But that's sort of ok on me, once my unique experience was on a quite port intensive cruise in Europe, with only a sea day, and I was most of the day touring the ports. At night really it is for some entertainment followed by bed time.

And that is not a bad quote by any means. The problem seems to rely more on the suites and above, plus the excess of 3+ cabins available compared to the lack of doubles. To each their own. Back in the day a few years ago, when Allure went Europe, fares were just relatively lower than that. I believe said time fares plus inflation from there onward makes this a nice deal, lately.

And have a nice day!...

Yes, I added that for OP's consideration exactly. No; I don't know what the price per item of those things purchased separately; but they're very, very likely far more expensive; to let alone that if purchased onboard there'd to be a 15% service charge added and MSC doesn't permit those purchases onboard on less than 4 nights cruises. Obviously the deal would be less desirable in the event of a 3+ guests in same stateroom, but even then not by a large margine. I'd go for it!

A few bottles of water plus a coffee drink after meal time plus a nice cappuccino with breakfast and perhaps a hot chocolate before bed time mostly pays for a drinks package discounted at that level while bundled in the cruise fare. To each their own.

3+ need to pay catalog prices for both drinks and internet packages. Minors will have the minors nonalcoholic drinks package, no internet.

Better to keep this deal, really. If I had deals like that from where I live to Barcelona, I'd just to pick the less desirable inside of all ship and snag some 2 or 3 consecutive 3-4 nights cruises just to be out of my routine!... Meanwhile; I believe you're talking about the Divina, sure? Classy ship for a quiet cruise. Wonderful!... The deal is clearly for 2 devices.

Surely; school breaks are to be avoided as much as possible for nice mainstream cruise lines experiences. Regarding the shuttles vs "on your own" shore excursions; things works like follows: If you purchase an MSC "on your own" shore excursion, that will be provided with a bus and a guide; you'll be given a ticket, a meet point inside the ship, you'll be escorted to your actual bus and your guide will give you information on your options during your free time, usually a map of the city, an emergency contact and you'll be given a time to come back for return travel. Pick up places use to be as near as possible to the main attractions and are rarely on public transportation places. You can purchase an "on your own" excursion beforehand, and they'll be done generally on modern tourism buses. More expensive, but generally better value than a regular shuttle. MSC may or may not offer a shuttle bus service from your ports of call to the main attractions, depending on whether the ports authorities manage their owns exclusive ones (they'll tell you the business port model for each port of call on the dailies or by shore excursions desk). Either way normally you can only to purchase said shuttle onboard or at the port's proprietary shuttle services desk. They'll have a meet point usually in the port's bus parking lot and you'll be completely on your own from time you left ship. Those shuttles will usually to be done on regular urban commuter buses and will usually take you from port to the main transportation hub on the main location, which may need a connecting public bus ride to the main attractions.

Only RCI knows, but certainly not like some here think. Most cabins maybe held for TA's blocks, while there is that new doubles/triples/quads out there. Let the hype to fade a little bit and sooner rather than later we'll to know.

Ah, I understand!... I don't know the exact quote. It may be dynamic these days, but €40 pppd for Premium Xtra is quite pleasant these days. Maybe a special bonus offer from TA. According to what I can gather online the current onboard prices are on €60-€65 plus 15% service charge and possible plus Spanish VAT, so a nice quote.

Surely: Pro videos are rare for WE to date!... The concept is incredible! Even though the obvious RCI Oasis comparison, I believe this as being an entirely different beast for the better design wise. Let's to see if MSC is ready yet for a beast this caliber she is logistically speaking. I'd give them such an year or an year and a half till I'm comfortable to book, because, I've some doubts about it these days. If successful; I'm in for going on her one day!...

If you're under a specific promo that includes Easy, or Easy Plus drinks packages, that might to be the upgrade price linked to the special offer, or a special offer itself for a new booking under a certain time frame which would be a great deal these days. Either way; online bookings are exempt from paying the service charge.

Well: Actually; the Icon is not sold out. TA's have blocked most of it, and RCI doesn't want the classic doubles to stay there. Let the hype to cool down a little bit and we'll see. Regarding the World Europa; I believe that it is megaship done right. New generations oriented? Yes, but with a classy twist of itself, and with kids and teens venues relegated to its clear spaces, against the Icon where they are anywhere. Some of the main complains on most MSC ships is that there isn't enough gym and buffet space. On World Europe, only the buffet more than doubles the Oasis of the Seas one, for example. Bear in mind the ship is being finished during the travel to Qatar. Some today's photos of the YC areas do give an entirely different perspective from what was shown a few days ago on the first videos wave. There are more chairs, more tables, complete carpeting, etc. Same might to be said for the Aurea venues. One thing is indeed true on your concerns: Lack of bar/lounge space for the ship's size. I hope, at least, MSC to use the tea place in such a liberal way. Premium breakfast at morning, tea house by the late afternoon and just turn it on a classical music with bar venue from 6:30PM onward. That would help. It won't solve the issue, but helps solving it. The "secret location" seems a pick from MSC catering to the Virgin crowd, eventually. It's a truly 18+ venue for the very adult activities to take part on. Again: Something for everyone in such a balanced way.

And/or; maybe; even RCI works differently with European partners rather than the US. Common hotel/cruise/general tourism places here in Europe procedures are generally what I stated on my post. Thanks to your contribution though. I'll need to live years or my entire life to see any Portuguese or either way EU TA to have an "Immediately Available" note behind a triple/quad room/cabin elsewhere other than Disney cruises and perhaps the odd land hotel family room elsewhere that falls to a group booking business.

Industry wise and not RCI specific. When a TA needs a triple/quad stateroom, either way 1 double will be transformed on said triple/quad, or cruise line will exchange one of the doubles in TA's inventory with one of the triple/quads if available. This is why on most sites, at least here in Europe, each time you choose a triple/quad stateroom you'll to be prompted with an advise saying something like "Availability subject to request". I went on Allure in Europe in a triple on a TA's block under those conditions. There are very few exceptions for that: Disney cruise lines, and now apparently the RCI's Icon class are the most notable, or elsewhere when a ship has a "family" cabin category of sorts on inventory. If RCI notes there's a large amount of staterooms not selling at triple/quad like they intended they'll just to make the adjustment. As I say: Let the hype to cool down a little bit.

Thanks to the review. This is not the MSC I know. Surely school breaks coupled with understaffed ships pave the way for bad service elsewhere (not only but including MSC). How can I understand you on whether the cruise lines will to "receive it" in return: Less bookings one day. The industry is changing as a whole, MSC also. Not for the better most of the times lately, despite some wonderful new designs popping up here and there. Either way; there are just a few options now: 1) Pay above the premium to go on a mainstream flagship, and endure the early bird bugs. 2) Pay premium to go on 2000-3500 guests per ship oriented company. 3) Pay discount to travel like cargo on a gigantic barge. There are sadly little alternatives, unless one travels less times to go once in a long time on a small vessel oriented luxury line. Wonderful if you can find a mainstream older/smaller ship doing a nice itinerary near you. Forget: They're doing the Premium Lite more "exotic" itineraries. I'd like to be optimistic, but I need to be realistic. Cruise lines are desperate to make "easy" money to recover from the last 2 years break. We had one of the MSC Fantasia class vessels linked to the airbridge here on Lisbon's main terminal for most of 2020. That will be paid elsewhere from anyone... Meanwhile, for the ones flexible enough on their planning: Try to avoid school break weeks. At least with less kids, there'll to be an at least a far better environment!... Have a nice day and at least try to have the best of it. The seas are calling! I'd to be on that "mess" in a second if I could, instead of sitting right now on this not so pleasant cloudy rainy Lisbon's day!

Time will tell. It seems not that premium, but it also seems quite incomplete, maybe there are more materials they'll only to receive in Spain...

According to a Brit video that popped up today, the indoor pool is definitely for all. The exclusive Aurea sundeck is on deck 20 above and beyond the indoor pool. And to say the least, it isn't the most beautiful area of the ship. It seems incomplete right now. Time will tell, but the ones paying those over inflated Aurea prices would deserve something better, just IMHO.

Never thought on that either. Perhaps a bit out of my budget for now, but nonetheless impressive. I'll take a better look later, many thanks!...

Well: Quite interesting. Price wise the YC is not the same it was a few years ago, touching now the other mainstream lines price tag, and even higher on occasions. Some corner's cut went away on lately as well. Me thinks the YC as a small enclave on an already big ship. An up-pemium service surrounded by such a baseline mainstream ambiance, while HAL would be up-premium elsewhere! Never gone on HAL really, even though there's a TA that arranges group sailings here where I live which from time to time would enter an Alaska itinerary that would be nice for me to do. Once MSC doesn't even consider Alaska as a destination for the times being, I'd go with that HAL sailing on the 2024-26 time frame if possible. TBHH; I'm on such a time on my life, I don't mind to pay a little more for such a classier cruise experience. Curious to see some classier service goers now enjoying such a different experience! If it is not much, can you tell me what really is HAL not doing right, please? Have a nice day!...

Maybe; and that confused me on these World Europa excitement days, we're currently. Either way; MSC Cruises USA is just their office's US branch to deal with the US market, not a cruise line by itself. If one asks me if it was any good for MSC to have a whole US division with its ships to tailor the US market; I may answer a yes, granted they so wished that business scenario. Either way; we have MSC as a mainline cruise lines. Thanks to the attention.

Hi!... Let me to have a break here!... You've made my day, sir!... HAL is a cruise line... World America is a cruise ship being built right now and set to sail by 2025!... The difference is so big that starts here!... 🙂 So now: If really available, prices for World America are that comparable to prices on HAL? Strange, but I wouldn't say anything about that. RCI's Icon of the seas suites are being billed at above Regent/Silversea/Seabourne and perhaps Hapag-Lloyd pricing lately, that means the most expensive suites at sea, and regular cabins at Viking/Oceania ones, and it seems there are people wishing to go on there!... Really: MSC is mainstream line. Do you like the RCI's Oasis class? The World class will be an Oasis size and design similar ship with an Italian twist, and at beginning sailing with all the bugs to work around. HAL is a very well stablished Premium to Mid-Luxury company with ships ranging on the 1500-3000 guests per ship. TBHH; if you just want a relaxed holiday time for a couple, and prices are that comparable, I'd just to go with HAL by the day, even if being me a huge MSC's cheerleader! I can't understand the current "luxury like" pricing schemes being applied to the megaships!... So; there is only an option: Let the hype to go on and the regular MSC discounted fare to eventually return and sail elsewhere during that period, or sailing an MSC's older ship at old MSC's pricing, if available. If Premium service is what you envision; then go HAL. Honestly!...

Perhaps, maybe: Either way; I went once on the Fantasia on what is now a "Premium Fantastica" room with a soft yellowish accent color that is not so far from the current designs. Far from Musica class, on that I agree; Musica class are warmer, and I'd prefer them than post Musica ones. Either way: I'd feel at home on each one of them all.

Yeah, classy and calming. Regular cabins with such an YC twist. Regular MSC fare upgraded to Europa. I feel at home here.