ditmar2007

6 minutes ago, ditmar2007 said:

That is how it was worded on the Danish site last time I checked. Today: Not so.

It could be a question of timezones. We've been up the last 10 hours here - parts of Canada hasn't started work yet.

 

It may be an error: The Swedish page includes USA, but not Cyprus. There are no German, French, or Estonian pages.

"For cruises until the end of September 2021, we will initially only welcome guests who are residents in the 26 European ‘Schengen’ countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) and also Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and the USA."
 

6 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

That isn't correct. US citizens are allowed, as are people from Cyprus. I'm not sure why but the various MSC sites don't line up.

This is from the Canadian site:

*Cruises until September 30, 2021 are only available to guests who are residents in Schengen countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland) and in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania and USA.

That is how it was worded on the Danish site last time I checked. Today: Not so.

It could be a question of timezones. We've been up the last 10 hours here - parts of Canada hasn't started work yet.

Andplusalso: The Travel and Health Update on msccruises.dk says: 

"Cruises until the end of September 2021 are only available to guests who are residents in Schengen countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland) and in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania."

Presently no US citizens.

38 minutes ago, KeepSailing said:

FYI, I was just on hold with MSC on phone to resolve an different issue on my transatlantic sailing leaving Genoa on Oct 31 and their message while waiting now says that regardless of vax status, all passengers embarking on EU departing cruises must arrive at pier with a negative Covid test. 

Thank you. 

8 hours ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

My match took 8.5 weeks. 

Denmark here. Status match handled in Sweden. Took 12 days. I sent a bu**load of documentation.

19 minutes ago, JAGR said:

I think you meant not from Denmark, but I wouldn't be too hard on Ditmar. They did say they tip on US based cruises.

 

I do. Also: I wouldn't DREAM of removing the automatic gratuities. In fact I pay up front.

MSC is an Italian cruise line sailing (in my case) in the Baltic Sea. None of the countries around the BS (perhaps with Russia as an exception) have a tipping culture as in the US.
 

There is also a small practical problem: They use Euro. The smallest bill is 5 euro - around $5-6. That leaves you with coins if you want to tip an amount equivalent to a dollar or two for each drink. If you are a heavy drinker that's going to be a lot of weight to carry around 😄

1 hour ago, tallnthensome said:

Well, this is MSC Cruise where most people if any at all working on board are from Denmark . These people are relatively poor and should be tipped accordingly . I’m sure they would appreciate it and the chances of being insulted if they are would be virtually zero. 

I replied to a posting about Denmark 🙂

1 hour ago, shipgeeks said:

That's why I asked the OP to confirm that he would be sailing from the US.

Personally, I wish tipping did not exist, but I can't change things, so I go with the system we have.  Good to know about Denmark.

I found it was a very relevant question. I tip when I'm sailing on a US ship or if I travel to tipping countries. 

43 minutes ago, no1talks said:

Note to self...

 

Don't tip ANYONE in Denmark.

😉

Mostly we don't. Service is included in the price. At one time it was listet on the bill. I'm not sure it still is. Occasionally we round up - around 5-10 kr or such (apx $1) at restaurants and taxis. I could say: "Keep the change" when we used cash. Now with cards most machines at restaurants don't even have a tip-button. 

People in service jobs get a salary they can survive on. A waiter is probably paid around $25-30 an hour.

Hairdresser/massage - NEVER. 

If you tip in Denmark you'll be That American. 

ETA: Just checked the salaries: more like $20-25 per hour for both waiters and hairdressers.

 

8 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

It is rare that someone will get offended because you gave them money.

Tipping is a way of showing who's in command. Your pay is not a right, but something you get if you submit to the other person. That is why I prefer a system with a predictable salary.

How would you feel if we met and had a pleasant conversation and I said thanks for the time spent together and gave you five euro when I got up? Or if I left money if you invited my to dinner? Sometimes tipping IS offensive - in some situations or cultures.

15 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Pretty sure it is. We've only ordered pizza though.  They added a sausage pizza on it, curious what it will be.  When we were last on Seaside they did not list a sausage pizza so we asked for one.  They put breakfast sausage on it.

 

On Divinia not sure where pizza came from but on Seaside right from buffet pizza area as we saw Primus picking one up from there.

Where you hoping for Pepperoni?

I got my e-ticket today (for a september sailing). It said several times: Don't arrive earlier than your designated time. You will be asked to wait at the pier.

Absolutely nothing about arriving later.

Presently Tallinn in Estonia doesn't.

A confused Dane here: What is a Green Pass?

The same as our "EU Covid Certificate"? (Which is a proof of vaccination and/or test and/or previous infection)

Or is it the "EU Covid Certificate" that is the Green Pass?

On 8/13/2021 at 2:53 PM, twangster said:

 

For Florida based cruises guests who are vaccinated get a white wristband to denote being vaccinated.

 

 

I'm not sure what MSC will do in other regions.  

Someone mentioned that it is not the case in Europe. I presume it would violate GDPR.

I'm sewing quite a lot of accessories - by hand. And I bought a bit of jewelry. Not something very expensive.

NO solo supplement on MSC Seaview out of Kiel 18th September.

Also: for members of Voyagers Club with a level passed 'Welcome' this sailing has a 20% reduction in already reasonable prices. 

5 hours ago, Tapi said:

I’m just trying to give myself as much buffer as possible without exceeding the 72 hours. 

Got it. I misunderstood you.

3 hours ago, MarkusToe said:

Within EU cruises , nothing....vax and unvaxed, same treatment

Thank you. That was what I expected. GDPR and all that 🙂

1 hour ago, shoprat48092 said:

NO, you will not be able to see who is vaccinated and unvaccinated on the U.S. sailings you will only be able to see who has chosen to disclose the personal information and prove they were vaccinated.  If someone does not choose to show they are vaccinated, they can still go on the ship etc and will have to follow the unvaccinated protocols. It will depend on if they choose to disclose the personal information.  They do not force anyone to disclose anything they do not wish to.

I'm sailing out of Kiel Germany, but thanks anyhow.

Don't they mean not-more-than-72-hours and not precisely-72-hours?

19 hours ago, twangster said:

It's hard not to notice the large white vaccinated bands on other passengers but for me I didn't dwell on it or become fixated looking for wrist bands everywhere I went.  

I'm vaccinated and going on a cruise in the Baltic Sea in 5 weeks. Does the above mean that you as a passenger can see who is vaccinated/immune and who is not when on board?

On one hand it is personal information, on the other hand I would feel safer if I could try to steer clear of the un-vaccinated when on board.

On 7/27/2021 at 8:07 AM, MarkusToe said:

QR_I_BUFFET-BAR-LIST_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1627124126.pdf 351.4 kB · 31 downloads

Thank you!

Thank you very much. I'll be taking this tour in September. 

Could I ask you to post one of the bar cocktail menus? I need to figure out if a drink package is worth it for me. 

I certainly hope my Visby tour is not cancelled. I've been to Gottland before (during the Medieval Week), but I'd love one more walk through the town.

I'm looking at my upcoming cruise out of Kiel in September. The description of my drink package says: Everything up to 10 euro. 

I can only find drink prices in £ or $. 

Does anyone have the corresponding prices in Euro?