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It never showed up... They wanted to introduce the shows step by step but never got over step one which was the Price is Right... steamboats

BTW there are FAQs on the German website and there you find: Welche Getränkepakete gelten auch in den Spezialitätenrestaurants? Alle Pakete können in den Buffet-Restaurants, den Hauptrestaurants und den Bars genutzt werden. Aber nur die folgenden können auch in den Spezialitätenrestaurants genutzt werden: • All Inclusive Getränkepaket Easy Plus • All Inclusive Getränkepaket Premium Extra Das Getränkepaket All Inclusive Getränkepaket für Minderjährige kann auch in den Spezialitätenrestaurants konsumiert werden, wenn die Familie/Gruppe des Minderjährigen das All Inclusive Getränkepaket Easy Plus- oder Premium Extra erworben hat. Translation: Which beverage packages are also valid in specialty restaurants? All packages can be used in buffet restaurants, main dining rooms and bars. But only the following are also valid in specialty restaurants: - all inclusive beverage package Easy Plus - all inclusive beverage package Premium Extra The beverage package All Inclusive Beverage Package for Minors can also be used in specialty restaurants, when the family/group of the minor has purchased the all inclusive beverage package Easy Plus- or Premium Extra." steamboats

You have to read it properly... "specialty restaurants and signature venues" such as "Venchi 1878 establishments or Jean-Philippe Maury venues, MSC Virtuosa Starship Club". The "(...)" refers to both "specialty restaurants" and "signature venues". We asked MSC specifically. Originally on the German website it was the same wording and they changed it. Now it´s: "Das Paket gilt nicht in den Spezialitätenrestaurants und Bars von Venchi 1878, Lavazza sowie Jean Philippe Chocolate, Coffee, Crepes & Gelato und im MSC Starship Club. " which translates "The packate is not valid in the specialty restaurants and bars of Venchi 1878...". steamboats

Actually as a couple I give at least 5 Euro for the tour guide. Usually I give 5 Euro per person. And I´m German not American. 1 or 2 Euro may be o.k. for the driver. steamboats

@Steff79 no, no other game shows than the Prize is Right. I read somewhere that the Noise Boys are back. Seems like they are changing something on No. 3/4 which will be 10% larger and 5/6 which will be 20% larger (plus prepared for Methanol). steamboats

That´s just bad wording... The packages are still valid in specialty restaurants except for those venues specifically mentioned (Venchi, Jean Philipe...). But you still can use it in Butcher´s Cut or the Sushi restaurant or the seafood restaurant. @RudiRatlos you may check here for more explanations regarding the beverage package. There is no extra service charge on the packages neither online nor onboard. The price onboard is higher as it now includes the formerly extra charged service charge. Same for upgrades from a lower to a higher package. Cheaper online and more onboard (as it includes the service charge). steamboats

The service charge is 15% for Euro cruises and 18% for US Dollar cruises. steamboats

@icvjames the crew does speak English as this is their working language. But all announcement except for security announcements are made in German and all activities are in German. Of course you might find guests speaking English but the main reason to chose AIDA (or TUI Cruises) for a German native speaker is that German is the onboard language. Not all Germans do speak English very well. steamboats

O.k., let´s talk about this in April 2024... steamboats

Pretty common with ocean going vessels too. And on the Moscow - St. Petersburg itinerary they have to cross two very large lakes where it can get stormy. steamboats

It depends... Usually there will an amount show up in your check called "coperta" which covers the bread and also is a service charge. In more touristy places like Venice there may be also an automatic service charge on your chekc like in Miami or Fort Lauderdale. So better alway check your check! Nevertheless - even with a service charge on your check - the card machine always gives you the option to add an additional tip. steamboats

Even one of the ATMs onboard should be with Euro and the other one with US Dollar. steamboats

Here´s an article in German about the new build project in Russia. For Moscow - St. Petersburg two ships have been buildt but finished during the pandemic: Peter the Great and Mustai Karim. A third ship was buildt as a paddlewheeler "The Golden Ring" for a more flexible routing. steamboats

Yes, @Coral, I remember that there are some buildt in Austria, I think in Kornneuburg (the shipyard is not active anymore but a museum). steamboats

Gee, I finally finished the last two entries which will go online tomorrow and on Monday. steamboats

No need to worry about Euro for extra trips of the crew members. They are happy with US Dollar as that´s the currency they can send easily back home. Of course - when cruising in the Euro area - they are also happy to get Euro. steamboats

Actually most of the Russian river cruise ships were buildt in the former Democratic Republic of Germany (Eastern Germany) at Elbewerft Boizenburg GmbH. They buildt 28 river cruise ships in four different series between 1983 and 2003. Recently two Russian buildt newbuildts entered service. Putin did order those plus some ocean going vessels to build up a Russian cruise industry. steamboats

@Host Jazzbeau yes, Hurtigruten Expeditions owns 24.9 % of Metropolitan Touring. The Santa Cruz II is completely branded for Hurtigruten Expeditions although it´s of course operated by Metropolitan Touring. It´s a total of 3 itineraries (Western, Northern, Southern Galapagos) which can be combined to a total of 14 nights. The pre/post programs can also added very flexibel. Onboard there are no extra costs except for the shop and drinks which are not part of lunch or dinner. The excursions onboard and our pre cruise program in Quito were really led excellent. We did not expect a German guide but were welcomed at the airport in Quito in German. This went on til we went through security in Guayaquil. The guide there even stayed in line at the check-in counter with us. At the airport in Baltra and Guayaquil we had lounge access. All signs were Hurtigruten (and maybe a small Metropolitan Touring). It´s just that they have a different web app for the ship. BTW, more entries are online and I´m working on the last three ones. The first of those three will go online tomorrow. steamboats

The only way to get the ships out of Russia would have been a transport ship out of St. Petersburg for those on the St. Petersburg - Moscow itinerary. Yes, all the ships are Russian owned except for Viking. Those are Russian buildt as well. steamboats

I´d also suggest to get not more than 100 Euro. I hardly spend any cash money and I hit the ATM maybe every 6 weeks or so to retrieve 200 Euro and I´m living in Germany. But it´s the same for Italy. Tips in restaurants you can add to the check (and usually there is a "coperto" added to your check which covers tips) and pay with card. When you order Euro ask for small bills 20, 10 and 5. No 50, as you may only need it for smaller purchases like a bottle of water at a kiosk or so. steamboats

Civitatours is offering a bus transfer from Largo della Pace to Fiumicino at 9:30 am for 25 Euro pP. Then you only have to take the free shuttle bus from the ship to Largo della Pace. steamboats

We´ve done the Lower and Upper Mississippi by car and by boat (Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and American Queen). It is definitely different and I do recommend both. Yes, on the Lower Mississippi the views from the boat are not that exciting as they are on the Upper. But it´s definitely a different perspective from the boat than from the road. steamboats

@cruiselvr04 there are two more companies operating on the Mississippi river (American Queen Voyages and American Cruise Line). Both are running their boats for years now and they don´t ask you to pay the whole cruise fare at the time of the booking. steamboats

Ups, sorry, book a ticket in advance. steamboats

I never would as the ride over to Capri is depending on the weather. With a bumpy sea you don´t want to make that ride! And with even more bad weather the ferry service is disconnected. This can also happen during summer time. So always have a plan B for your stay in Naples. steamboats