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It's no problem - take your booking confirmation with you (either on your phone or printed) and when you leave your baggage the porters will write the bag tags manually and then MSC will check you in at the terminal. No idea about the $200 credit though...

If you have a dinner time preference, maybe send MSC an email and they can add it to your booking. Below is what I see in my booking confirmation, for a booking with Bella experience. One problem is you can only request early (1730) or late (1930? or 2130?) - so by requesting late it could be very late.

Nothing has changed on the UK website since last November. It still says Fantastica gets "Chance to request preferred dinner sitting (subject to availability)" and allows dining time selection during booking for both Bella and Fantastica (and in the past I have also changed it by contacting MSC): There were some posts last year that MSC were piloting "anytime dining" on the 3 night cruises from Orlando on MSC Seaside - perhaps what you are seeing is related to that (and cruise specific).

It's good to see the numbers are being recorded and published - thanks for sharing @Até. One thing I saw on my last 2 MSC cruises was a laminated notice in each cabin explaining how to report incidents to the FBI - I haven't seen this previously or on other cruise lines (e.g. 2 Celebrity cruises last year).

The reason is the ships currently in the Middle East (MSC Virtuosa and MSC Opera) cannot use the Suez Canal due to at attacks by the Houthi on shipping, so it looks like they are repositioning empty via Southern Africa. I think the compensation differs based on where you have booked - MSC in the UK and Germany typically offers a cruise move without any additional payments and an OBC if you rebook another MSC cruise. I haven't heard of MSC refunding flight or hotel costs.

I would give it a couple of days - my experience is the $50 OBC is added to the booking overnight after entering the voyagers club number and you will receive a new booking confirmation email that includes the OBC.

In my opinion, both food and service on Celebrity is significantly better than MSC and worth a 30% premium on the price, but I do note that wasn't your question: Evening & Late Night Entertainment: MSC is more lively in the evening, with a slightly younger crowd, multigenerational families etc, and better entertainment venues (in my opinion). But there is still nightlife on celebrity, just a bit smaller. The crowd: Celebrity will be largely older American guests, whereas MSC is more international and younger. MSC will be more crowded. The cocktails: Celebrity wins for the Martini Bar and World Class Bar - only if you have the premium drinks package or are willing to pay an upcharge. I still think it comes down to how much you are willing to pay, and if you enjoyed your MSC Euribia cruise you will enjoy both MSC Seascape and Celebrity Beyond.

And you will see the $50 credit per person on your booking confirmation (normally a few days after booking).

My experience: At Port Canaveral in November 2023: Exactly as you stated, the photo taken during web checkin was ignored and a new one taken in the port. At Miami in December 2023: The photo taken during web checkin was used, with no additional photo taken at the port. I find our photos taken during web checkin very very unflattering, no matter what you do with the phone or lighting. My husband went to guest services on the last cruise and took a new photo as he didn't want every bar staff or waiter looking at the ugly web-checkin photo when they swipe his card.

On Celebrity Reflection over Christmas there was always a greeter with a bottle of hand sanitizer at the buffet entrance, and while they always said hello to people entering the buffet they only offered the hand sanitizer when they were asked.

From your other thread you are going on a South Africa cruise, which as per CruisingFox27 has the "thirsty" drink packages new for this season. There is a different pricing structure for South Africa, e.g. below is the current bar prices for the equivalent of the easy package. I've been thinking about a South Africa cruise this year - would be interested to hear your feedback when you return.

Nothing has changed for me. Can you share a screenshot or link? $176 for the easy/thirsty package sounds like the same price for a 4 day cruise, when the drinks package is not included in the cruise.

Great post that factually demonstrates the difference between MSC and other cruise lines. I don't know why it is so controversial.. While the new ships are more efficient, it has always been MSC's unique selling point to offer lower prices by putting more cabins on smaller (but beautiful) ships with less crew. Below is a post of mine from 2018 trying to demonstrate the same point: One of the reasons I am a fan of MSC is because it offers good value (so I can take more vacations). .

MSC UK contract considers this change 'significant': "A significant change to the itinerary. i.e. when the itinerary has to be changed by more than 50% and may have to exclude an iconic highlight." So passengers have the below options: "a) Accepting the alteration; or b) Making another Booking from the brochure and/or from the Official Website of equivalent or superior quality, if available; or c) Making another Booking from the brochure and/or from the Official Website of lower quality, if available, with a refund of the difference in price; or d) Cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid." source: https://www.msccruises.co.uk/terms-conditions At least in this case MSC offered passengers the choice of a refund or taking the amended cruise.

I wonder if MSC Seaside has engine problems again - I took the repositioning from Port Canaveral to Fort-de-France and she never got over 15 knots (according to the navigational TV channel).

Here is their route: So it seems the choice was between lots of sea days at about 15C/59F or a couple of ports at about 6C/42F. Tough choice, but at least the passengers had a choice to go or not. I wonder if any OBC included for those that took the cruise?

It sounds like you have only received the port tax refunded. If I was in your position I would wait a couple more weeks before following up with the email. I would guess the customer service agents don't have a record of the compensation offer, so you have to explain it from the beginning each time? There is probably one person "in Italy" dealing with it, and they take their time. EU rules for delayed or cancelled cruises do not apply in cases of extraordinary circumstances - e.g. weather, strikes etc.

I'm glad to see your positive review as embarking on Friday, for the same 3 night cruise 🙂 Were there any theme parties on your cruise? E.g. was there a white night or elegant night?

My experience is it took about 2 weeks from learning here the cruise was cancelled to actually being notified by MSC. I suspect it just takes time for MSC HQ to inform local offices, and then each local office to inform customers.

what specifically did you think was missing?

On previous cruises it was always an Elegant night with a special menu and then a New Years Eve party.. Before covid there were always a couple of special dishes from a celebrity chef, but I haven't heard about that recently. e.g. from 2016: https://www.mscpressarea.com/en_INT/press-releases/483

As far as I can tell: - the designated check-in times seem random to me. Sometimes early, sometimes late, or sometimes in the middle. The same for Yacht Club. - we always aimed for the designated check-in time, but sometimes turn up early or late and it has never been a problem or even mentioned. I would recommend you decide when you want to check-in and do that, with the understanding that if you turn up the same time as everyone else it will be chaotic (though less so with YC check-in).

Tables are assigned in advance for passengers on Bella and Fantasia bookings, so you cannot just turn up at the dining room together. If you have booked Aurea or Yacht Club then you can just turn up together. When you complete the web check.in you can enter other bookings that you would like to be assigned to the same dining table. Alternatively when you board you can go to the restaurant and check with the maître de restaurant if it is possible to change your seating to be together.

I watched the video (without sound) and thought it was largely representative of an European Cruise on MSC. There will be lots of people of all ages enjoying their holiday in a relatively small place. For me this is a good thing. There are certainly quieter areas, but it will still be 5k passengers on a ship.

Black Friday deals are already loaded on the German website: https://www.msccruises.de/kreuzfahrt-angebote/black-friday Looks like roughly 10 - 20% discount on winter cruises, with no 5% voyagers discount possible.