Esv104

Was there a special email address you used?

50 minutes ago, cruisin'a said:

@Esv104 No worries! Go with an open mind. You and your family will enjoy spending time the together.  
 

Embarkation and disembarkation was a breeze for us.  They do want you out of the room by 7:30a on disembarkation day. 😁 One restaurant and the buffet were open for breakfast on disembarkation day. The Tiger Bar was open for waiting to get off the ship at last call for everyone off.

 

The ship is older and small, but beautifully maintained.  The layout and locations of some of the venues are weird and disjointed.  Some are way too small to hold the activities they plan for the venue.  People were leaving because there was not enough seating or could not hear because of all the noise or people walking through.  This happened in the Tiger Bar and Amethyst Bar.  Great bars, not so great for bingo or well attended activities.  Advice: For any activities you want to do, get to the venue early and a have a drink before the activity. Most activities were held in one of the bars.

 

Rooms:  We had adjoining rooms 10128 and 10130.  Vijay the cabin steward was excellent.  No complaints.  The rooms were a little smaller than usual which was no problem. Just not a lot of extra space. A positive note…plenty of clothes hangers were provided! First time that has ever happened on a cruise!! 
 

Dining:  No restaurants were open on embarkation day, only the buffet. The selection was good, but it does not ever change.  For us, this became tiresome after lunch on the second day. They have the potential to do so much better, even if it is just rotating a few things every other day.  The main dining room did not live up to expectations.  Food is subjective I know, but I am here to tell you the NY strip they serve is not like any NY strip I have ever had and not in a good way.  Caution: Do NOT order the NY strip. Stick with the seafood or chicken options, they seemed better, imho.  The appetizers were hit and miss. Those dinner menus need a major overhaul and I am not a picky eater.  No complaints regarding the staff serving dinner. Always attentive, enough if just stopping by to apologize for the slow service.  First night, service was super fast.  Second night, service was super slow. 

 

Bars:  Did not ever have a problem getting a drink in any bar. No wait over a few minutes. The buffet and sports bar were the longest waits for us during super busy times. 

 

Officers and Senior Staff:  Practically nonexistent.  I did not see or meet a one of them the entire time.  I cannot tell you the names of any of them. There was no voyagers club party or diamond party.  It was almost like they did not want to mingle with the passengers and they did not.  
 

Customer Service: Lacking on all fronts, imho. The initial answer to every question or issue was no.  😁 It took some discussion and usually going to 2-3 different locations before any resolution occurred because guest services could not take care of it.  It was like they had no power to do anything or did not want to.  I was consistently told we could take care of that tomorrow.  You know, there are only so many tomorrows on a 3 day cruise. 

Shows:  Most excellent!!  Go to every show. The performers were some of the best I have ever seen on a cruise. Even the comedian…he was hilarious!!

 

We had a wonderful few days making memories with our kids, but Magnifica is probably not a ship we will choose again.

 

If you have specific questions about anything, ask and I will try to answer.

Wow thanks so much for that detailed review.  We will definitely have an open mind.  We’re not picky also- seafood and chicken it is!!   Hopefully weather will be nice and it should be fine.  How bad could a strip steak really be after 4 or 5 vodka sodas beforehand?? Right??  Thanks again!   

15 minutes ago, AstoriaPreppy said:

 

The weird thing is that when I log in using my booking number, it only shows excursions… nothing else for the trip. And notably, at least one of the ports has all the excursions listed, but an error code pops up each time you attempt to book any of them, saying there’s no availability. 

 

Just to make sure, I did a password reset, and it still doesn’t work on the website or app. Same “wrong country” error code. But I am able to log into the app using my booking number. This happens across platforms (desktop, iPad, iPhone) and browsers (safari, chrome). 

Exactly the same for me! Hope it fixes eventually.   

Ugh.  Going on Friday for a short trip with older parents on their first cruise.  Was it that bad?   Do they really have no half and half for coffee?   Charge $5 for extra entree?  Are bar tenders really that terrible?   Is food that bad overall?   Thanks for insight (and tips). 

2 minutes ago, AstoriaPreppy said:

I have been getting the same message for weeks, and there doesn’t seem to be any resolution. The MSC website is spectacularly awful.

 

We’re sailing on the Meraviglia on Monday. Had zero issues with the MSC website until I tried to do check in using my phone, which has somehow paralyzed my account at msccruisesusa … but I was still emailed my check-in docs? The whole thing makes no sense. 

 

TBH, each time I see some Zenith-plus cruiser who only stays in suites on Celebrity complaining about abysmal X’s website is, I just laugh knowing how uniformed they actually are… 

Funny I literally posted same thing as you were writing that!!  

Same thing with me.  I found it happened after checking in for cruise on app.  Interestingly, logged into parents account, worked fine.  Then checked them in on app, checked login on website and sure enough, got country error message on their account.  Been several weeks.  No fix. No IT number to call.  Was hoping it would fix itself.  Not yet.  

Any good entree recommendations you want to share??

Same cabin

It only says that under the FAQ for pregnant or recovering alcoholic- not the basic “does everyone need a drink package?”  I tried to call but wait was 45-60 minutes.  Maybe later today.  Thanks.  

Hello.  My wife and I just purchased a drink package for a summer 24 cruise.  My kids (over age 12) were not forced to buy the zero proof package. Has anybody had experience with this recently?  Will celebrity add this charge on later? People seem to state kids need to get zero proof package, but it’s not stated anywhere as a requirement.  Only that those drinking age need to purchase. I would hate to be charged almost $600 for my kids to have a few waters and maybe a soda or two.  Any input would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

On Seascape now.  Yacht club.  Cruise is great. Fantastic Mardi Gras party in atrium. Crazy!!   Just finished legit Lobster Tail Pizza in Marketplace Buffet! Oh, and gelato is included in yacht club!   Got it once today, no scan of card,  son got it with a scan, no charge!   They all insist it is included, yet YC concierge say it is not. All great on Seascape!!  Morpheus, still trying to figure out who you are 😉. Have a great night!!

Adults in Yacht Club get Premium Extra Drink Package.  Will kids officially get the “minors package”, and if so will that include soft serve ice cream as stated in the package terms?   https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/dining-drinks/drinks-packages

I have heard many complain of lack of free soft serve aside from a small window of time  in buffet.  Have any changes been noted in recent sailings on Seascape? 
 

Just curious. 

Thanks!

Hello.  I know the Wi-Fi can be upgraded from browse to stream in yacht club.  My question is, what is the cost for this upgrade, and can it be upgraded for only one day- or are you required to pay one full cruise fee regardless of when you upgrade? Also, does yacht club get two devices total in cabin or two per person in the cabin.    Thanks. 

Thanks!!

Hi. Can anyone confirm if the food menu in the sports bar has a charge or is complimentary?  Thanks

4 hours ago, ggTexasGal said:

Have you tried logging into "your" account to test it in the "Explore and Plan" section of MY NCL, then "Beverage Packages and Venues" to test that for yourself?  You don't "have to commit" to selection, since you can just sign-out without paying!  (Ultimately, it might work-out for you.)

Yes, but the two reservations have different numbers.  So, it's not an option to see my wife's name within my reservation. Don't know I they will hit her up with the charge automatically on the other reservation.  Is it the same price on the ship to upgrade? 

Good to know thanks. 

Need to bring a test starting March 1st, but not now.  Curious if everyone is bro going a test or opting to just get the test at pier. 

Are people who have recently cruised AND we insurance bothering to bring a test to pier? It's "encouraged" but not required.  Just wondering if it's even worth the hassle since we will get one at pier next week and could just do our own rapid for peace of mind.  Thanks. 

We have two cabins, with me in one, wife in other (need adult in each with kids).  Reservations are linked, but in each of our names. Am I able to get the upgrade individually, or will they ultimately charge my wife as well? 

Thanks

Johnny Walker Blue:  some have spoken of drinking it on a ship with Premium Plus.  Is it included with premium plus, or is it an additional charge? 

I just posted a similar thread a little while ago. If you have no insurance, then NCL would pay quarantine expenses.  But I you do have an insurance plan, I agree, what's the point of going through the trouble of an official test. You would get refunded with a positive test at pier. 

Am I wrong in thinking that a positive test at the pier would result in a refund of cruise cost and quarantine requirement somewhere.  Bringing an "encouraged" official negative test would not change anything unless the insurance didn't cover the quarantine costs etc. But if insurance does, then there really is no benefit.  Correct? I have insurance, and wondering if it's worth getting a certified test instead of just an at home, un-monitored test (for my own knowledge).  Anybody else not bother with bringing a test to pier? Appreciate any thoughts or input. 

16 hours ago, Esv104 said:

Does anybody know if NCL would provide a formal certificate of test results at the pier? (to be used to upload onto the Puerto Rico site for entry into the territory?) 

Thanks!