panamapd

Thanks for clearing my query on membership, guys!

You right about cruising losing its lustre.  After the last Costa ship my husband is refusing to go onto another cruise!  I have managed to persuade another family to do the MSC Grandiosa in November with me and my son; after I think it will just be me and my son for the foreseeable future unless I can persuade hubby to set sail again!!   

For me the value for money is still just about there and my son really enjoys the kids clubs.  I still enjoy the theatres/shows but what with the flights, pre-hotel stays, cost of the excursions, short time in ports, no real sail in/out wow ports, lack of free films on MSC and Costa - I too am thinking about easing up. 

I agree with Beamafar in that there are just far too many ships and dull itineraries.  With the ships they do have, the cutbacks are becoming ever evident. 

The only comparable of this "ever popular" (!!!) itinerary is the Norwegian Epic.  Considering the Epic will be about 13 years old by then, the Seashore seems a bargain but compared to P&O's Iona- not so.  A week on her, over Easter, is around £1200 for 2 adults & 1 child no fly.  The Seashore is coming out at £1900 for an inside bella cabin!!!!!!!!  I'm going to wait hope that a 2 or 3 nighter will emerge at a "reasonable" amount.

By the way, I am now a gold member.  My husband and son, who have been on the same amount of cruises are still only normal members, which I don't understand!

Thanks for your responses, which have led me NOT to book!!  You're right about the hassle in getting to Hamburg.  We would need to fly out the day before and the times of the flights and trains to London airports or Manchester just wasn't worth the effort.  From Southampton back to Hull would be a breeze in comparison!

Beamafar - I agree, the build-up to Meraviglia was immense.  The lack of for Grandiosa is due in part to it no longer being a new concept?  When the news first came out about the first Grandiosa sailing, I  was interested, as I wasn't able to sail the Belissimma.  I then saw the prices and itinerary!  November sailings to the Med, for 10 nights,  for approx £2100 for an inside cabin.  We have sailed in November before, for a similar price, but that was to the Caribbean!

I totally with your statement about the Med.  We too are getting fed-up with the same Med ports.  We managed to do MSC to Tunis.  We were were on her the month before the terrorirst attacks but I don't know if I would be brave enough to return if MSC ever offered it.

We are going to stick with Costa for October but are sailing on the Fortuna (dates coincide with our son's birthday) added to that, on 27th October in Barcelona LOADS of ships are departing from there, including the new Sky Princess, hoping she'll set off some fireworks!.  We were then going to jump ship and embark Costa Smeralda's for her christening but we have changed that to New Year's eve next year.  We will just disembark in Genoa, go to Savona and watch the Costa Smeralda christening from the dock side/hotel.  I also agree about lack of interest in new ships.  Again, I used to be interested and followed all the latest info but now there are just FAR too many ship launches for me to keep up!!

Re Virtuosa - we have booked her for Christmas next year, before joining the Smeralda.  The only way we can do the Med now is over the festive or Easter period.  Have you thought of doing that to alleviate some of the Med fatigue?!! At least the shops/vibe/ship is set up for Christmas.  

Have a great time on the Seaview.

Forgot to add - we too have done RCCI inaugurals and received loads of free goodies.  When we did Majestic Princess we received absolutely nothing!

Hi Beamafar!!  I am seriously tempted to do the MSC Grandiosa, sailing from Hamburg for 3 nights.  I have seen it for £400 (without flights) for 2.  Is it worth doing considering my 10yr old will miss 3 days of school??!! 

I just hope we will receive the commemorative gift LB received on Belissimma!

Anyone else doing this sailing?

So funny and apt, tenpin!!

We really liked Costa and got really good deals so didn't mind paying the service charge at the end. I know they have really changed their club rules but when we were on fascin ocas 2 days ago we had a free bottle of cabin water, tote bag and invitation to a private party. I am only at aquamarine level! We got a really good deal via a germa n website. We paid 600 pounds for basic inside for one week for 2 adults and one child with service charge included. Although we enjoyed it we won,t miss the  buffet scrum and endless white bread sandwiches! We are going to reserve hope by sailing on the new costs emeralda for the ship's christening and take it from there!!

Someone was asking about Costa for 14 nights and , in good faith I suggested celebrity as I don't know about you but 14 nights on costa, even the lovely costa med would be a bridge too far. I just think they have cut back too much.

Hi again Raj! We have disembarked the Costs fascinoca today. We had a great time but all of our family agreed that out of all the Costs the costa med is our fave.  We have sailed on her a couple of times and really enjoyed the vibe.  That being said, celebrity would be our choice for a 14 night cruise.  At the moment not a bad itinerary out of Southampton but for aug. No fly and drinks included. We found celeb fantastic a couple of years ago but it was the fjords and iceland, this one is Ireland and island but would still do it as even a basic basic basic cabin on celeb wou!d be enjoyable!!

Hi Mickey89 - are you able to book through a US travel agency? Lots of UK folks are doing that now.  Typically the cost is less than the UK, smaller (refundable deposits, roughly $198 for 3 people rather than £100 per person) and usually some on-board credit as well.  We are not able to say who these agents are but they are on the net.  I have used them before, and European agents, with no problems whatsoever.

Worth exploring the net?!

You will be fine!  We are embarking the Costa Smeralda for her christening on 2nd November for 4 nights, so she will be even "newer" than your sailing.

We have done maiden cruises before - Quantum of the Seas (TA to New York), Ovation of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas,  Majestic Princess and Harmony of the Seas.  Apart from the "disaster" that was inaugural Harmony, they have all been great and I can honestly say, did not experience any problems that tainted the cruise itself.

You state that it is the maiden but I am sure that is 21st October 2019 from Hamburg to Savona so am sure that by the time you sail on her, any wrinkles will be ironed out!

Hi - I think you may have misunderstood my post.  It was a compliment.  I was wishing that the other forums had someone has diligent who was able to post almost daily updates.  It was not about new Royal Caribbean ships in particular.  I stated Costa.  Costa Smeralda is due to sail this October and I was just lamenting the fact that there was not as much info as on this board.  I have already subscribed to the Odyssey thread.  I referenced the Odyssey in case there was a query as to why I was posting on this board re Costa.  I could also have been talking about the new P&O Iona as there is not much info there either!

I can't be the only one to wish this but Lloyd555 why can't you post on other new ships as well?!!!  The new one for Costa averages monthly updates - so frustrating!  

Looking forward to more Odyssey news!

Hi -  So frustrating!!  I hate flying into Rome for Civitavechhia and also Genoa as the flight times are never suitable or the cost prohibitive.  By chance, a couple of years ago, we wanted to do the Norwegian Epic for 4 nights but it was sailing from Civi.  I then thought wouldn't it be great if I could do a 3 or 4 nighter on MSC or Costa from Barcelona, that disembarked in Civi.  Lo and behold, I managed to do it and the cost was not prohibitive.  Added to that we got to do 2 cruises and a couple of more ports! How about flight to Barcelona then do a one, or 2 night sailing that disembarks you into Genoa?  I don't know when you are planning to sail.

For our upcoming Meraviglia cruise next week (which we have sailed on before) we are sailing from Barcelona to Genoa.  We will be in Genoa for 3 nights.  As we have been to Genoa before, we do some sightseeing around the region and hopefully make it into Milan for a daytrip.  We are then re-embarking the Meraviglia for 2 nights back to Barcelona, the flying back to the UK.

Further ahead - we are sailing from Barcelona in October on the Costa Fortuna for 7 nights, but we are deviating/disembarking 1 day early in  Marseille to embark the new Costa Smeralda for 4 nights for the christening and celebrations!  After that cruise we disembark in Marseilles and fly back to the UK.  We have manged to book the Fortuna for 798 euros for a basic inside (2 adults and 1 child). but it includes the service charge.  (On UK website it is £982 service charge not included).  For the Costa Smeralda, we are paying 757 euros, a lot, but it is an one off event!  

Could a pre-mini cruise be an option?!!

ps - Hi Beamafar!

Tenpin - would you be able to sail from the UK so you don't have to fly and miss out completely on cruising?  I must say, we have a child and the Costa prices are nigh on impossible to beat; particularly as we use a European travel agent.  The price is way cheaper than the UK and the tips are included!!

I have been looking online to see what changes they have made to the Fortuna.  It does seem to be more than just a brush up.  I just searched costa fortuna genoa 2019 for videos.

I must say the Costa cruises website doesn't seem to provide much information, in comparison to the other cruise lines.  Nothing on the Fortuna "new look" and no update on their new Costa Smeralda.  Luckily I have this forum!

Hi - I don't know if any of you are aware,  the Costa Fortuna is getting a "new look" and is now on her way back from Singapore to Genoa.  We are sailing on her in October, before embarking on the new Costa Smeralda.  Information is so scarce for Costa so I thought I would just add this bit of information.  I only stumbled upon the news by chance!!

Hi Underwatr - yes, strange choice of word as it is not obvious to me at all.  I expect to be sailing later this year!

Ray66 - I know this thread is about Cunard but how accurate is the PDF?  Its just that we are booked on the Costa Smeralda, sailing due to be this October, but the document says delivery will now be in 2020!!  

Not as impressed as I am!!  We have other cruises booked but couldn't resist booking Ventura for 4 days 30 March 2021 @ £718 for 3 in an outside cabin.

We also have Iona booked for the October 2020 half-term @ ?1167 again for 3 in an inside.

Keep up the good work P&O!  I also appreciate the low deposits and free obc!!

Thanks Rotjeknor for your review and for taking the "brave" step of trying Aida.  So many people don't want to come out of their comfort zone and try different lines so we salute you!!

I'm sorry your experience of Aidanova was not the same of ours.  However, for the money, (1098 euros for 2 adults and 1 child in an inside basic cabin), we all thought it was an excellent cruise.  We have tried most of the other lines now and would, like Steff79, state that AIDA is more akin to NCL and not HAL, Celebrity, Cunard or RCCI (all of which we have sailed on).

Regarding food.  We found the buffets to be of the highest quality.  There was all types of fish dishes, beef and even lobster and a great selection of other foods.  We ate in Fuego, East, the Yatch Club and Bella Nova, all of which were buffet restaurants and included in the cruise fare.  We didn't try the speciality restaurants but agree with you that apart from French Kiss and Time Machine, they were more or less situated in the passageways!  Not special at all!

For drinks we just had the drinks that were included - wine, cava, mineral water, pepsi, fanta and sprite.  We had a couple of cocktails, which we thought were fine.  With entertainment, I don't what you mean that it was "German".  All the shows we saw were in English with a couple of songs in German and we were entertained.  We had wanted to see Yellow, which is definitely German but it was cancelled on our sailing of 16.2.19.  

Steff79 stated what I was going to state - that Enya and sailaway made for a welcome change for us.  It was refreshing to see a cruise line make an effort with sailaway.  Whenever we have sailed with other cruise lines, apart from Cunard and P&O, we have just slipped out of port without much ado.  In fact, often times sailaway has coincided with the mandatory fire drill!

We would defintely sail again with AIDA; not for a special occasion perhaps, but for an affordable family holiday, in the school holidays- yes.  

After your upcoming HAL cruises, I don't know what country you are from, but I would urge you to try some of the other lines and then you might re-think AIDA!!

Just come off the AIDAnova, which is the same class as Mardi Gras, Costa Smeralda and Iona.  (Am booked on the Costa Smeralda's christening in November).  Really enjoyed the AIDAnova and there is lots of info on the AIDA board! 

Cruising used to be so simple but with all the differing information from the same cruise lines but in different markets it makes finding the "best" deal almost impossible!!  I don't mind paying the service charge but agree that the UK market draws a particular short straw as others have mentioned before!! 

For many reasons I have chosen MSC over Costa as I really didn't want to have to have huge service charge bill at the end.  At the time, even including the service charge MSC was still slightly cheaper than Costa.  However, I have now a few bookings upcoming with Costa, as I have booked through a european travel agent.  For example, for 2 adults and 1 child a week with Costa on the UK site is £1047, service charge not included.  I have booked the same cruise, via a european website and it is 798 euros, for one week, with the service charge included!! How is that possible or fair? 

I have just come back with a sailing on the AIDAnova and again the price compared to a similar sailing with MSC was nautical miles cheaper.  It also included the service charge and drinks.

It would be so much easier if the cruise just all included the service charge but without inflating the prices.  If it can be done in one European country, I don't see why we have to pay so much more here.  Fairness is all I seek in my quest for a good family cruise!!

I have a short cruise with MSC in April and August then will be just sailing with other lines over the next couple of years.

On a side note - is anyone attending the christening of Belissimma next week?  Again, it was easy to book the Costa Smeralda christening but for the Belissimma, it is, as far as I can tell, only for invited guests and travel agents.  What about their customers.  Or how about a short sailing to nowhere as NCL used to do from Southampton?!!

First day back from the amazing AIDAnova.  I must admit to a bit of trepidation at first but from embarkation to disembarkation it was fun, sophisticated and exceeded all expectations.  No wonder AIDA is a well kept secret from the UK market!!  Where do I begin?  Drinks - included red or white wine or lager at meal times.  Pepsi, Sprite, natural still and sparkling water all day.  REALLY good choice of food at all mealtimes.  English was spoken by the crew and some other guests, once they knew we were English.  The daily programme was in German but around the ship they have interactive notice boards, where you can select English.

There were two hiccups - one was that we were meant to be in Madeira all day but only managed to be there for about 3 hours!!  No explanation given.  We have only ever had a port change once before and again that was in the Canaries so we just had to assume it was to do with the weather.  Secondly, our first cabin on deck 4 was incredibly noisy with the turning over the engines.  I phoned guest services at 1.00am and was expecting to be given earplugs.  However, we were told we could change cabin in the morning.  It was from an inside to a better grade of inside.  We were also given free drinks vochures, so got cocktails with those.

All in all it was a very wise decision and we will definitely sail with AIDA again.

The price differential is huge between the two options!  We have enjoyed the Epic, Jade and Breakaway and I think on this occasion I would do MSC.  However, you may want to have a look at the length of time in ports.  On one occasion we had 07.00am to 1.30pm in Naples with MSC.  With the Epic it was 08.00am to 8.00pm.  We are from the UK and our 9yr old son has not had any problems with sailing with MSC.  We have done most of their ships now.  One suggestion would be to fly into Italy (if that is cheaper than direct into Venice), I would then try to get a train into Venice.  Other posters might be able to let you know if this is doable!  

We recently did the MSC Opera and thought the ship was terrible.  In fact the only good thing was the kids club!  Our son loves all the activities and the family disco is second to none!  Also he is always placed with another English speaking child.  There were also Italian lessons, which he loved!

Beamafar - you may remember me posting about MSC switching from Armonia to the Opera.  MSC said they were sister ships but disappointment in the Opera doesn't cover it!!

Captain Ron - only 4 days now the the AIDAnova!!

Hi there - depends on your budget!!  We too have sailed on most lines.  In terms of MSC or Royal Caribbean - we have sailed on the Meraviglia (sister ship of Belisimma) and loved their LED ceiling.  We also sailed on the Seaview but much preferred Mera....  Last year, we were on the Symphony of the Seas and have also sailed on Harmony (we have also sailed Quantum and Ovation).  In general I find Royal Caribbean to be a lot more expensive than MSC for a family.  So much so that my husband and I will sail on Royal and leave our son at home; alternatively I will just sail with my son!  We also tend to avoid the med in summer as it is generally much more expensive whoever you sail with (but I'm sure that you know that already!).  In my opinion for the same grade of cabin, length of cruise, similar itinerary and if the price were the same; I would opt for Royal.  I just think there is much more to do than with MSC.

In terms of your question, I did a mock booking.  I looked at the end of summer ("cooler" summer med temperatures, less crowding(?).  Marseille to Marseille for 7 nights 31 August 2019 MSC Belissima bella balcony 3,177 euros. approx per cabin.  On Oasis balcony 5036 euros per cabin, departing on 1.1.19 for similar itinerary. 

If you could wait until next year(!) - Allure (sister of Oasis) - Bcn to Bcn, 7 nights inside cabin = 3,362 euros on 30.8.20.  MSC Grandiosa (sister of Belissima) inside cabin = 2,377 euros for inside cabin on 29.8.20.

Hope this helps!

I too have sailed on most of the other lines now and between MSC and Costa, I also prefer the "vibe" on the Costa ships.  There just seems to be more happening in terms of activities/music/dancing/crew & passenger "satisfaction"! 

As another poster stated, there is embarkation in most of the ports for both MSC and Costa.  If I were you, I would book a 3 nighter with MSC.  I would then "jump ship" and embark on of the Costa ships for 3 or 4 nights.  (We have done this several times).  You then don't have to decide on one proposition and get the best of both worlds!!  

I obviously don't know your budget/cabin requirements but if you have two weeks free - then one week on an MSC ship (inside fantastica) and a week with Costa (for 2 adults and 1 child in my case) in an inside classica (inc alcoholic mealtime drinks);  this option often works out a lot more affordable than say NCL or Princess.  You also get to see a more variety of European ports in one hit.  In terms of port, Barcelona (Spain) or Genoa (Italy) are easy  to and fro.  I don't know what the other posters think, but Rome (Civitavecchia)and Marseilles are more of a hassle - in my opinion.  Having a quick look on line, my choice for MSC would be the Belissima (the newest ship with the amazing LED ceiling/cirque du soleil) and any of the Costa ships preferably the new Costa Smeralda if you are able to make the dates work for you.

Hope this is helpful!!

Hi there - is anyone else booked?  We managed to book from Marseilles, Savona, Savona then back to Marseille.  It should be fun and really looking forward to comparing her with her "sister" ship - AIDAnova