Jetlagged787

...MSC's policy of treating countries differently regarding info and offers can be very confusing and frustrating. :mad:

Not just info and offers, how about prices? I am in Portugal and just priced up a 7 night cruise for friends on Musica departing Kiel on 21 May. As I do not speak Portuguese very well, I worked on the UK version of the MSC website where the cruise in an inside Bella is listed for £839 or, at today's exchange rate, €1175.

Anyone want to have a guess how much it costs to buy this same cruise in Portugal?

€379!!!!!!! Rip off Britain or what!

UK here

Portugal here

Well, this should generate a comment or two! :) :D

Go on then; I'll jump in with a couple of questions.

First, "Jackets and ties no longer will be required..." but then, "...one couple might feel most glamorous in a tuxedo and gown, another might feel more elegant in a sport jacket..." suggests to me that a jacket will still be required. But maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Second, "...nor will shorts and t-shirts be permitted in the dining room on evening chic nights." Surely they are not suggesting that shorts and t-shirts will be permitted on non formal nights.

I would check Joyce's Maho page on Thursday, the 22nd, one week ahead of your visit, to get a good idea of what the schedule will look like.

 

Be sure to look at the different time periods for the schedule that they offer.

 

gary

Thanks for introducing me to that website Gary. Not one I had come across and it's very informative.

That flight info is taken from Flightstats.com and this link will take you direct to the site where details for 22nd are already available. Full details for 29th should be there from 26th.

Same proviso to check both arrivals and departures and different time periods.

Enjoy yourvisit NR CRUISERS. I can't wait for April!

I think that you mean the Sunset Bar & Grill. We're off there in April. Enjoy the experience. :)

Sometimes, when you use a card in some European countries you will be asked if you want the charge to be in the local currency (Euros) or your home currency be it US $, GBP, etc.

You should always ask for the charge to be in Euros as the conversion rate used at the point of transaction will leave you seriously out of pocket.

Thanks everybody for the detailed responses.

I did realise that we would have to be off early. As we have no pressing need to hit the dock running, it does mean that our exit will be more relaxed and we can stand aside to make way for others whose need to disembark is more urgent.

That's another item crossed off the 'To do' list but this newbie will be back with more questions. Thank goodness for the Internet and forums populated with such helpful folk as are found here. :)

Thanks Essiesmom. Option one for us then as we're in no hurry to get off as we don't fly until late afternoon.

I have just read on a thread the term, "self disembark."

For a newbie, can someone explain this term please and tell me what the alternative way is to disembark?

Ever take a Celebrity cruise out of Southampton?

What are you saying Banjo? Do they actually enforce the dress code on sailings from there?

Thanks for the really informative and useful replies everyone. :)

Thanks for all the replies. The only reason I was going to hire a tux was because I thought it was a requirement for formal nights.

It is a 7 night Caribbean jolly and I'll be a lot more comfortable in slacks and open necked shirt.

Thanks Cheese heads. My bad as I didn't make it clear that I actually hired it onboard Grandeur.

Just wondering if that facility was available onboard Summit.

It's over 20 years since my last cruise on RCL and then I was able to hire a tux for formal nights.

Is that going to be possible on Summit please?

We will be cruising on Summit from San Juan.

What is the earliest that we can embark please? We have to check out of our hotel at 10 and do not want to be standing around with our luggage any longer than possible.

Likewise, at the end of the cruise we have a late departure from SJU and we would prefer to spend any spare time on board rather than at the airport. With that in mind, what is the latest we can disembark please.