Jetlagged787

After a bitterly disappointing experience with MSC earlier this year, we decided to give Pullmantur a try with a one-night cruise before booking anything longer. We sailed on Zenith from Lisbon to Vigo as she made her way to the Baltic and left reluctantly, wishing we could carry on further North. This was despite the sea being rough enough for the entertainment to be cancelled. 

Consequently, we have since booked on Horizon from Athens to Venice and Trieste with stops in Croatia. Don't expect all the glitz and glamour of the larger lines and you'll be fine. 

Fantastic news thanks Cardex. This just gets better and better. 

On 9/20/2019 at 3:41 AM, carolmacey said:

This is very helpful.  We can see what is free and what items are available for an extra price.  Thanks!

 

Very helpful indeed. What really excites me is the fact that Heineken is extra charge meaning that it is not the beer in the inclusive package. 

Does anyone know which beer they offer in the inclusive package please?

What cruise survey? :mad:

We sailed with MSC earlier this year and both completed the card requesting a survey, but neither of us has received one.

Customer service with MSC seems non-existent, so I wouldn't expect them to take any notice. Two emails to the UK CEO remain unanswered and without an acknowledgement even. If that is the example set at the top of the food chain, it's not surprising that others lower down cannot be bothered

Why bother changing it? I never do. You still get your sleep hours listed and how many steps you take every day.

I don't bother changing mine either, but I think the OP was planning to use the Fitbit as a watch too.

Nice to see a fellow Yellowbelly on CC

:D(y)

Lincoln calling!

Jetlagged, thank you. I will look closely at those times and destination. I didn’t notice the Pisa destination. Worst case we would just get on the next regional to Firenze out of Pisa.

The routing via Pisa is a longer journey on the regional; 4h17 over 2h35, but with more countryside to see at a slower pace and 5 euro cheaper. You will also find the change at Pisa less hectic than in Termini.

I live in Portugal now but came from BaWBarmy's home county of Lincolnshire. Feel free to drop me an email if I can help with Spain & Portugal, or Civi.

Click here to email me

Thank you, Kochleffel and KeithJenner.

 

We plan to self disembark. Our next destination is Florence and we planned to take the train from Civitavecchia to Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station. I was considering the 11:15am train out of Civitavecchia.

 

 

I am surprised that disembarkation is a non event. I was concerned with long lines through customs and then lines for the bus to the port gate.

 

 

You mentioned taking the bus at the Civitavecchia port gate for €2 each to Civitavecchia train Station. I assume you can pay in cash euros when boarding. The larger cities prefer you buy bus tickets at tobacco stores. We were considering walking to the train station as it less than a mile if we are rested.

 

 

Thank you for the quick responses. This is our first cruise leaving from an international port.

We took a slow walk to the train station, It is on level ground and easy to do.

The 11.15 from Civi actually goes via Pisa. It is the 11.16 to go via Roma so be careful which you board!

Just a thought but have you considered a private transfer? Cost looks to be around 120 euros for two people, suitcases and bags to either airport direct from the cruise terminal. That is in a private car. You can probably get a minibus if you can find others who are in the same position

 

Although the cost may be more the advantages are that you don't have to lug your suitcases on and off various shuttle buses trains etc. and you may not have to be in such a rush to disembark.

 

I just typed in "shuttle from Civitavecchia to" into Google and it brought up the two airports and quite a few companies serving the cruise ships.

 

Hope this helps

That's very useful, but LifeTimeTraveller is catching a train to Florence not a flight. We just don't know at this stage if the train is from Civi or Rome.

Jetlagged: we are traveling on NCL out of Civi in September 2018. I have similar concerns on disembarkation when the ship returns and docks at 6 am. We are U.S. citizens and not sure how much time to allow for disembarkation. How was your experience! I wanted to book an 11:00 train to Florence. Thank you in advance for sharing.

As others have already said, opt for self-disembarkation and make your way to the station by bus or taxi depending on the time available. From the Trenitalia timetable, I cannot find a train at exactly 11.00 to Florence so maybe you mean 11.15 from Civi. You will have more than enough time for that.

Thanks for asking about our experience. As our airline had moved the flight more than four hours, they gave us the option to rebook for another flight/day. We elected to stay another night so checked into a hotel close to the airport and spent the extra day in the wonderful city of Rome.

Enjoy your cruise and whatever you have planned for your post cruise in Italy.

Thanks for all the replies. Only three weeks to go, so we'll soon know how MSC handles it and I will post back here on our return.

Roberto Whitaker <robtads2@hotmail.com> is the address I have been using for the past few months & Roberto has been responsive. I believe Robtad has 4 different tour groups going from our ship early in November, so yes, he is very much still in business.

Thanks for that, which at least confirms that I am using the correct email address. I'll give him another try.

Late seating is 8:30

Thanks. I've just checked our documents again and all it says is "late". I'll take whatever, so long as it's not 5.30! :)

This was my biggest worry about being a Bella, but happy to report that we got a table at 8:30 in the MDR just as requested.

 

 

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Good to know thanks. We're late sitting too but they haven't stated the time. I guess we get to know that once on board..

Hi

 

Here is a link to trip advisor for that beach. It is called the Ocho Rios Bay beach. You can see it from the ship. Looking towards land you can see it on the left hand side. It is just a short walk. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g147312-d538092-r533220122-Ocho_Rios_Bay_Beach-Ocho_Rios_Saint_Ann_Parish_Jamaica.html

 

The beach itself is in a fenced in area, so you don't get the vendors coming in selling their wares. The 10 min. walk to the beach is a safe area. You will have people approaching to sell things as well as shopkeepers along. No different than many other ports of call. Buy something with the money you didn't spend going to a resort. I would suggest shopping on the way back.

 

have a great cruise

Thanks Nic. Not long for you now. Have a good one.

If you're looking into a resort, Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort & Spa is absolutely fantastic. Transfers, food, drink, pool, swim up bar, beach, etc are all included. The resort itself is beautiful and adult only. Probably my favorite stop I've ever had

Sounds perfect. I'll take a look. Thanks. :)

Hi

 

For the people that choose to do that it is just a different venue for them to enjoy.

 

Just as you could choose to never get off the ship, why do you? Obviously the $50-$100 extra that they may spend is not an issue (not what they consider a large amount of money). Considering that in a port like Ocho Rios if all you wanted to do was sit on a nice beach for a few hours you just have to walk about 10 min. and spend about $5. Why would anyone spend more? Because that is their choice. :) Isn't nice to have choices?

 

hope this helps

Well it certainly helps us Nic. I've been struggling to find ideas for Ocho and this appeals. Can you tell me which beach you are referring to? I've had bad experiences in other parts of Jamaica. Is it safe to walk to this particular beach?

These are the only addresses I am aware of... give them a try.

 

robtads2@hotmail.com

 

robtads@hotmail.com

 

As far as taking the locks and Panama City, if you can get a hold of robtads and arrange something, I think your best option would be to book something from the ship. While it is possible to book something on the pier, I think you would get a superior product from the ship.

Thanks BillB. I have tried one of those email addresses. I'll give the other a go.

Thanks Riclop. :D

Same subject.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2554600

Thanks. I missed that one!

I have read good reviews of Rob Whitaker and Robtads Tours but I'm having difficulty finding what tours they offer. I cannot find a website and emails to the address given elsewhere on the boards go unanswered.

Are they still in business? Does anyone have a way to contact them please?

Alternatively I'm open to other ideas. We will be docked in Colón for a day and would like to see Panama City and the locks.

TIA for any help.

Do we need to book the specialty restaurants on Davina or are they walk up please?

Thanks for your replies everyone. I'll try to remember to update this thread with our experience when we get back in March.

This will be our first time with MSC so I've been trawling through the threads for info when I came across this,

"I had read sometimes guests on the cheaper packages can get allocated to the buffet instead of MDR in the evening but now I have done some more thorough research I see that this is only if you choose the Bella package."

That was posted back in 2016. Can anyone with more recent experience on Divina comment on whether this is accurate or not please?

Of course the title should read "sign" not "shock". Sometimes auto correct is more trouble than it's worth!

MSC have an excursion to Chukka Beach. That's it: From the ship to Chukka Beach and back to the ship 5 hours later. The description of the excursion ends with, "Guests will be required to sign a waiver which may only be available in English."

All very ominous and I'm left wondering waiver against what? I can slip and slide my way down Dunns River Falls without a waiver but to lay on the beach requires one! Are the beach traders such a danger or is this another MSC website mess up?