Beamafar

Have to say I’m surprised at that. Maybe it’s different on these newer ships (ones that came after Fantasia class) or things have changed since the time we were upgraded. We’ve booked Bella (first time) for our October sailing on Musica. Figured it was worth taking a risk (for once).

My favourite bar on the newer ships. 🥂. I’ll sorely miss the PremiumPlus drinks package. We enjoyed many a glass of Veuve Cliquot there. Have you been assigned to the Aurea dining room?

Following, CT. Bon Voyage.

Thanks. We’re embarking World Europa in Abu Dhabi for a 16 night repositioning to the Med.

I only wish they did. It’s €4.90 per item for DH’s shirts (he usually has at least 5 to be done, plus trousers - and dresses for me).

Butlers do not iron clothes - this is a service for charge.

Here’s hoping 🤞. Perhaps you’ll let us know. Either way, hope you have a wonderful cruise. Ours is just 11 days away, now.

I’ve just booked a great value cruise on Musica for next October - grats and PremXtra included - for a similar price to what I would have paid for a similar booking 3-4 years ago. Fabulous itinerary, too, with 3 POCs we haven’t been to, yet. That’s saying something for a Med cruise, of which we’ve done many!

We’ve sailed in YC on numerous occasions, but we’ve also been in steerage (balcony cabins either Fantastica or Aurea). We’ve enjoyed our time onboard no matter which ‘Experience’ we booked. Even when in YC, we spend quite a bit of time around the rest of the ship, so we don’t always miss the enclave when not booked there.

You should get anytime dining (though none of the other Aurea perks) as it’s the cabin that comes under the Aurea dining room purview, not the ‘Experience’ booked.

Would be lovely to see you again👍. We disembark in Genoa.

Yes, Marco, we certainly did. Couldn’t get YC for this one, possibly due to us embarking in Abu Dhabi.

Spring rolls from the MDR and rack of lamb in YC. 😆

Nor me.

Lest there be any doubt in people’s minds regarding requirements around Covid, I just received the following text from MSC:

Only bid what you feel the upgrade would be worth to you. In our case I wasn’t very optimistic - the cost to upgrade would have cost an extra $5000 - we bid $1000 total cos that’s all the value we saw for the extras we were gaining.

It would depend on availability, demand for lower level cabins, how many others bid on your particular cruise and how much stronger their bids are. We were successful with a very low bid on Azamara last year as sales were slow, with fewer bookings on suites. Currently we don’t get to bid with MSC.

UK (and Ireland) can’t get refunds for cancelling. For cruises in that region, it’s very unlikely that cruise prices will drop (for UK bookings); they’re more likely to increase. Mind you, MSC could make a liar out of me on this one.

I found the following on a well-known German TA site for our cruise.

MSC is generally lax about check-in times. We’ve embarked in Dubai a couple of times and arrived earlier than our allotted time without any problems.

We’re hoping MSC will offer a transfer to MM from Genoa on our disembarkation day next month.

Best of luck, Ivi. Hope you have a wonderful cruise (likewise to the OP). We did that crossing on Preziosa a few years back. Great cruise but predominantly Brazilians onboard.

The only thing I can think of, so, is Google? Any luck there?

Is there a roll call for your cruise? Perhaps you could ask there. Or the Ports of Call forum?

My advice would be for only one of you to collect points for onboard spend - especially if you always travel together. I reached the top tier well before my husband but he benefited by me receiving the perks - priority boarding, robes & slippers, etc. For most perks (at Diamond level) only one person gets them, even if both are Diamond - complimentary meal in speciality restaurants, bottle of Prosecco, etc.