Nunagoras

As stated above, MSC's website is extremely poor, and IMHO, perhaps their weakest product point, sadly. Even though I can be considered an MSC's "cheerleader", I don't like their website and tend to avoid it whatsoever Here in continental Europe from where they capture most of their clientele, MSC still lives out of their very long TA's partner list bookings, some of them with a far better online presence, others not so much. And they'll happily to live like that as far as they can. The day their clients will move direct online bookings in droves, MSC will move with them, but as far as I can see, that day is far away from today, so...

I didn't know you can't to chose your cabin anymore with Bella (maybe this might to be a temporary measure covid restrictions related). I did know you can't to chose your dining time with Bella, I know pretty much all the 2+ passenger cabins are Fantastica cabins, and I know that from where I live, pretty much all the single room cabins are Bella cabins. As far as I'm understanding, Bella has remained in the structure just to sell the leftovers for either way, first comers or last minute bookings with no extra demands, like such a "no frills cruise". Either way the price difference seems to be reasonable. Here where I live they're quoting such an average of some EUR 80-100 per person per cruise difference between Bella and Fantastica, sometimes even less. Again: No need for the "confusing" differentiation. Oh: And Fantastica and above cabins will in many cases to have an Easy Plus drinks package built in the deal from where I live... They can to make all the cabins to the same class and give special promos if demand is low at a certain point. So now; Aurea is another thing. They should have retained such a more expensive product for the ones that want flexibility and all inclusiveness. Understand ships are short-staffed right now. Understand not all want a full body massage at sea. Understand they need to be more profitable at this point to cope with the pandemic and the European war losses. But a slightly premium product like that should to be a real slightly premium product. Not just a fake one. If they want to retain that product they'll need to rethink it, to hold those ones that want some extra features, but are out of the YC price tag. Either way: Even though a tad overpriced I'd more likely to pay the difference between a Fantastica balcony and an YC inside than such the difference frrom Fantastica to Aurea even if with a larger cabin with better furniture these days. The real added value on Aurea is not there anymore, JIMHO.

Oh, guys!... What else? Bella/Fantastica/Aurea experiences are now so equal one another that I con't really justify why they retained them instead of the more normal Inside/outside/balcony categories we usually find out elsewhere on the cruise industry!... That said; for the OP: Only you can decide if at this price difference it is worth or not. IMHO; considering that the added value is not that great on Aurea now than what it was before the changes; it can't justify such an as big or even bigger price difference than the ones they had before the changes! Aurea is now somewhat overpriced for the real product benefit. And again: As someone has noted before me: MSC is making some promos, either way direct or with the help of their partner TA's that makes your travel basically all inclusive. In most sailings here where I live, the best or the unique way is to go, at least with Easy Plus drinks package as part of your deal for Fantastica/Aurea cabins and Easy for Bella ones. If you search carefully you'll to find them elsewhere.

OK, I'm a very low vision individual at the point of being considered legally blind, and to date on all cruises I've done no matter the line, such a thing that is common standard is that the buffet host/hostess will always ask me if I need special assistance. Of course RCI's host/hostess did exactly the same. Sometimes I need it, sometimes not, depending on whether I'm alone or with my travel partners. Before the pandemic they used to have some of those random servers devoted to special assistance on their buffets. Now things maybe more difficult due to short staff on ships. Please, tell special needs department you need that service and they'll to direct you accordingly.

And to turn things more complex, the MSC's covid regulations are now each time more focused on the ports of call measures mandatory on said destination legislation rather than on MSC's proper protocols. If a port on your cruise demands said protocol, then MSC will apply it. If not, common protocol seems now to be minimal. Some websites might to be out of date, but you can usually to see the main protocols in English form wherever you're in the world.

1st of it all: Welcome aboard the MSC's CC boards. Taste is certainly subjective, on that only you can rate if it's good or not. General sense of quality is objective and can be measured by the ones whom have the skills to do so. Having been a market analyst for several years, I think I have some skills to do so, IMHO. So, here it goes my humble analysis: MSC; like Carnival, RCI, and even Princess to an extent is part of what we can consider the baseline mainstream cruise market, or if you prefer, on European Hotel Industry words, it is something like a 4 star land hotel in Europe. Food on those ships will follow most likely the 4 star hotel industry included breakfast or other meals European standards for 4 star venues, with the obvious needed adaptations due to the confines a ship demands from the providers. That said, and as per my personal experience, both MSC and RCI the unique lines I've travelled follow mostly the same standards (bear in mind I'm comparing Europe sailings only; not Europe vs US sailings). There are obviously some details that are different: MSC tends to the "Mediterranean comfort food" dishes, while RCI tends more to the American ones. And of course nobody wins against an Oasis class ships due to the amount of space available there... Oh, well: MSC will compete at that league from late this year on with the World ship class... That said; and taking an Oasis class ship as example; I'd say: Breakfast and lunch buffet: Similar quality. Oasis has some more options, but it is larger ship. Dinner buffet: By design MSC buffet is far inferior because Europeans want a served dinner as a social event more than just a meal to be had. Buffet is seen as a "last opportunity to eat" if one fails its allocated time slot at MDR or elsewhere. MDR Breakfast and lunch: Similar quality. MSC is somewhat more refined on the options. Portions are also smaller at MSC but that is OK on me, so I give a slight edge to MSC. MDR dinner: Similar quality even though desserts tend to be far better at MSC. You'll find less entertainment from the waiter or other crew members at MSC. Dinner is held like a family dinner that can last for 2 hours. Maybe they have that sorted out to a faster pace on US sailings. Portions are smaller, but you can ask for more food, that's OK on me. I'll give a slight edge to MSC due to the desserts, the not on your face service, and the usually quieter ambience during the dinner time. Hope to have helped a bit and have a nice day!...

Actually those "catering coffee urns" MSC uses for included coffee are the same Lavazza "machines" RCI used on the Oasis class in Europe (bear in mind I'm comparing Europe to Europe; not Europe to US). That kind of coffee is pretty much usual on most mainstream breakfast buffet on land hotels Europe wise. Some hotels will have the newer machines that makes pretty much every "specialty coffee" drink out there. That included coffee is usually decent if available. MSC's paid coffee is usually great though.

This is why, I usually go by the MSC's partnered charter groups with a tour leader. Yeah: Those bookings do have some out of regular terms and conditions, but in general you'll get exactly what the partner TA has purchased into. It is OK on me to have different classes of guests with different prices and service levels. What isn't OK with me is to have some differentiation on same level same terms and conditions guests. @StolidCruiser has more than well stated how things should work on a structured product. Thanks. More: If you have for example an 18:30 time slot you're given 15 minutes tolerance to arrive. Some ships go the 30 minutes time tolerance, especially if you're on a port of call with a late departure. This is why, in most of those cruises in such situations the official dinner time will change for those days. As for people whom have never had dinner time options on MSC: Bella cabins cannot to chose their dinner time. It will to be fixed by them at embarkation time. Some Fantastica cabins might to fall on same issue, depending on whether those are the terms and conditions of a particular TA's block. Have a nice day!

That's a great option nonetheless, but the unique ships category on where I've seen similar offers has been the Meraviglia ones though!... Hope they expand that fleet wide. It makes far more sense to carry on an USB pen than a paper envelope, to say the least!...

That way, Aurea is becoming way overpriced for the real benefit. Larger cabins, anytime dining, and a dedicated priority embarkation at embarkation day are the main benefits, plus a few more discounts and the likes here and there. My suggestion: If a good TA can offer you a combo of both a same category suite you're envisioning and a drinks package at roughly the same price, go for it!... Difficult? Maybe depending on from where you are... But it is not to be impossible!... Here in Portugal pretty much everyone is receiving at least an Easy plus package with Fantastica and above cabins, except if you're part of a charter or your cruise coincides with either way Portuguese public holiday days or Christmas, new year or Easter week cruises, as part of the deal. Maybe they'll to have something similar from where you live?

That's not that bad quote these days, considering you're solo. Again for a 16 days it may be then worth it. I thought Aurea would indeed to get basic Easy drinks package. Either way; if you can find a good promo that will give you same cabin with it at a bearable price tag, good luck!

If ever MSC sells a grand suite for a solo. They used to not be so solo friendly before the pandemic. Things might have changed a lot now that there's no demand for full ships... By and large only you will know if a GS is worth the price or not. By the way, and just IMHO, there is such a thing to consider on that choice named the experience grade. If you're coming from a Fantastica/Aurea experience to an Yacht Club one with such a bearable difference, then I'd say: Yes, it compensates the cost. So; now, if you're considering coming from such a Fantastica/Aurea experience to a similar one with the same, even if bearable, difference, I'd say: No; it doesn't compensate. Aurea these days is no more than a glorified Fantastica cabin by the terms and conditions. Unless more real estate space is really important for you, pretty much an Aurea cabin doesn't make sense IMHO these days. Anytime dining and some priority boarding plus very basic drinks package can be easily surpassed by any good promo you'll find out there for regular fantastica cabins... Have a nice day!...

Nice review of an unusual topic. Congrats. Hope you have had a nice time! Can you report a little bit more? Were you in YC? It surprises me that they remain selling paper photos in 2022, really! How I understand your 2 very sensitive caveats on that. It would to be easy for them to have some digital kiosks for guests to see the photos and to print only the ones they want, or simply to deliver them on a personalised USB pen. Have a nice day!

As stated above they may have a theme nights scheme for some stations in the WJ, apart the regular fare. At least they had them on Allure in Europe, but that was years ago. As I remember it was advertised at the daily newspaper near the dinner opening hours.

I know, you're asking for public transportation, but considering lots of connections, that might not even to be the easiest and the most economically efficient way to go. From Hamburg to Kiel and return, MSC used to have a shuttle bus running, at least from ship to center city. Then a taxi may suffix to the next port. For the other leg to Warnemunde I don't really know if they have a shuttle or not. Considering long distances, a transfer service may be worth to consider. Taxis in Germany use to be on the expensive side of the pound.

Maybe the Portuguese website is outdated or they work differently here... Nothing to be surprised with on MSC...

Here where I live a basic MSC insurance package is being bundled onto your base fare with Covid coverage under their "safe travel" initiative, unless you're on a charter group with 3rd party insurance bundled on their base fare. On top of that I always purchase 3rd party insurance because the MSC's package is really very basic and sort of "out of touch" in their terms and conditions and MSC's premium insurance packages sold apart are always worse and more expensive than reliable 3rd party ones. Covid coverage is now mandatory to go on an MSC cruise.