mscdivina2016

15 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

I've done the smaller and the larger Sea**** ships and I've not experienced any of what you've described. I've sailed in summer and over Christmas/New Year's (full sailings) and never had to wait to sit and eat. Elevator waits can be a problem even for YC guests so I'd like to see an improvement to the elevator hijack system.

 

We aren't 100% sure if changes will be made to Ocean House during the closure. Time will tell and I'll see for myself if World America YC is too much for the area...but I've already booked my cabana, just in case...😉

Was told yesterday that they are adding to ocean house. Basically roof structures to cover guests for sun and rain and to allow for better furniture.

Another interesting thing was there is going to be a new channel cut so ships can sail in one way and out the other.

 I asked if they will be able to dock two ships at the same time and was told. We will see.

Currently on Seascape, was on Seashore last month. Both a YCGS cabin.

This is just my observation and my opinion.

Older class of ships had 80 cabins and beautiful top sail lounge, restaurant and sun deck.

New class has about 130 cabins but no additional space.

The issues have been people are needing to wait to eat dinner till a table is available. Was not as bad on Seashore.

Top sail lounge has not had enough seats available in the evening to accommodate everyone and drink service has been slower.

The private island restaurant does not have enough space either so plastic tables and chairs are all around.

 Shaded areas on the sundeck are hard to find.

Simply put, when you add 60% more capacity to the same space, you create your own problems.

Now they are shutting down the island to allow the new mega World America to be able to dock.

More YC cabins and more YC passengers.

Next there won't be enough loungers on YC island.

22 hours ago, Linda W. said:

I am in LOVE with the Yacht Club that now I would never book anything but the YC on MSC!!  Also having a problem thinking about any other cruise line that would offer anything close to this!  Simply the best!  It's like a four seasons resort only better!

I used to agree but now I am having second thoughts.

 Currently on Seascape in YC and it's been not as good as before.

 I was on Seashore last month and it started going down then.

I will post a new thread on it.

Problem is too many people and not enough space.

11 hours ago, Luvcruisin76 said:

Hi! I'm looking for some experienced people that can help answer a few questions. We are seriously looking at booking our first MSC cruise, we've been on multiple Royal, Celebrity and Carnival cruises which are all run pretty similar but I know MSC is somewhat different and want to be able to make an informed decision. It will be 3 passengers, myself, my husband and our 12 yr old daughter. We were going to do Celebrity beyond but was afraid she would be bored without the ropes course/waterslides. She has never been interested in kids club so that's a no go.

My main questions are...(and for reference I'm looking at a balcony room but no frills as we don't drink so upgrading to the next step up including the drink package doesn't help us) if I choose the early dining it shows a range of time.. how does that work. We always choose late dining but 9:30 is really late but 5:30 is way too early!

Also are there many places to get food during the middle of the day not at traditional meal times like on other cruise lines.  

2. How do the shows work is their only 1 show per night and you have to have the correct dinner time to catch the shows as well? We ran into that problem at times on carnival, we would have to leave the show early to get to dinner.  I think that's my main questions for now..

This would be out of Miami on Seascape I believe.

On Seascape right now.

If you take longer than 75 minutes to eat than the shows could be can issue.

7:30 and 9:30.

So eat at 6 and catch 9:30 show.

If you book MSC, use a TA! Doesn't cost you nothing but gives you a safety net.

On 2/29/2024 at 12:46 AM, Stockjock said:

Recently, we've discussed the fact that MSC will apparently soon be sailing out Los Angeles.  I was engaged in a conversation here and elsewhere (Facebook) about this.  I was contacted by a social media spy (my term) from MSC, who asked that I delete my comments on the topic, as they haven't yet announced that they'll be sailing from L.A.  I didn't do so, as the cat is pretty much already out of the bag, in my view.

Now if they offered me a free drink package, everyone has their price, right?

How did they get your contact info?

10 hours ago, nhtravels said:

So silly (or maybe not) question.  I have the NCL BOA card.  We only sail Haven, so we typically just use it to book and take a statement credit... and repeat and repeat.  I don't use the card for anything else other than NCL purchases, as I'm not doing upgrades or anything of real value.

 

This month we've needed to use the card for $15k in business purchases ( will be paid in 15 days), but may need to be a repeat order every 45 days.  That means the card will earn more points than normal.   What is the points per $ for non NCL purchases?  If I were putting $15,000 on every 45 days (paid off with 30 days), would that equate to 15,000 points? (Is it 1 point per $1?). We do have other business cards we use (Amex, Chase Sapphire), but for budgeting, the dates work best with this card.  Just trying to maxize our points. 

 

Our thoughts are even if it takes 8-10 months, we could end up with a Haven cruise every year - 18 months!

You will get 15,000 points each time which is worth $150.

 So after 50 months you would have enough points for a cash out to pay for the Haven.

But after you cashed all the points in for $7500 and pay the Haven you would get triple points for that which would be worth $200.

If not doing upgrades it's lousy.

7 hours ago, texangal39 said:

Read this whole thread and many others and I have a couple of questions about our upcoming sailing on the Seascape:

 

1. The website, the app, and our confirmation all say Aurea has priority check-in and boarding. I’m leaving from Miami and all of the threads I’ve read only mention YC. Our bag tags don’t say Aurea. Are they going by the color on the bag tag? Is there a designated Aurea check-in and boarding area? I’m wondering how this will go and if anyone can provide their experience.

2. Do we have to book our dinner time each day or can we just show up?

3. I’ve read many threads that say Aurea has a different MDR but I’ve checked the MSC site, our confirmation, and the app and this isn’t mentioned. Has this been disconfirmed?

4. I tried booking shows on the app, but wasn’t able to. There’s a small lock showing on each day so I suppose that means I can only book it on the ship. Is this correct?

5. Does the chat feature in the app show after boarding?

 

Any help you all can give with my questions would be greatly appreciated!!

Have a great day!😀

 

 

Currently on Seascape.

Only YC has designated bag drop.

Cannot comment on checkin but our friends who are Diamond and get priority boarding were checked in quick but had to wait an hour for their group to be called.

We were on in less than 15 for YC.

Cannot comment on restaurant

App works once on board 

Currently on Seascape.

Prime rib night one

Lobster night two

6 hours ago, craigtompkins said:

We were on the first sailing back from the US in November after the Seashore had been in Europe.  On that trip they seemed to have Coke, Pepsi and Keurig DrPepper brands on board.  I'm assuming some were left over from Europe and some were new for the us sailing as I don't see neither Coke nor Pepsi giving them a good deal if they sell both.

So, does anyone who has sailed on the Seashore since then know what brand they have in the US and more specifically, what diet soda options they have?

Was on Seashore last month. In Haven mini bar we had coke zero and Sprite diet.

On 1/17/2024 at 12:02 PM, yoolykeme said:

So I'm doing a New York to Southampton, London in a couple of months. 

 

My mom just called me and said that she doesn't want to go to London, and would rather get off the stop before the last, which is le Harve, Paris.

From what it seems, I should email guest services and ask if I can disembark one-stop early, correct? 

 

I'd appreciate any current insight, if available. thanks in advance.

Yes,

 Have done it a few times. We wanted to get off in Barcelona.

Yes notify in advance once on board 

9 hours ago, gizfish said:

 Also, does vaping cause such violent coughing?

Yes both are the same.

Family owns a vaping manufacturing company so we have a little more insight than others on the topic.

2 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

Fingers pointed at me I presume, as I'm one of those notorious 'drunks' hogging the seats in the regular Haven bar. 🙄 We've never had a problem walking up the Haven bar and getting a drink, even when it was 2 people deep. 

 

The Prima Haven bar and lounge is just a different experience than the other ships. My biggest gripe with it was that the photo with the xmas tree was the "library" quiet zone. It is literally next to the bar with no walls to block noise, and on our trip we were told in the evening hours there was no loud talking permitted at the bar and no frozen drinks to be made so as not to disturb the guests sleeping below or the guests sitting in the library. 

 

Bar itself is large, but not conducive to making friends. A fun part of being in the Haven on the breakaway plus ships is stepping into that lounge/bar area and seeing a ton of people and striking up a conversation. You couldn't do that on Prima - everyone was in their little tiny pockets and closed off, and practically whispering. There's no fun in that to me at all.

 

And what Bird failed to mention about the concierge desk is that when all those fancy seats are filled, it's a massive long line of folks just standing in that peaceful quiet lounge getting grumpy. Our trip was particularly bad the first few days for a number of reasons, and the line was easily 6+ people deep wrapping in front of the couches and chairs in the lounge so that you couldn't sit and chat because there was someone standing in front of you.

 

Need to look at photos when those spaces are actually in use to really see the vibe, not at 6am before anyone wakes up. 

We too were drunk chair hoggers at the Haven bar.

 After reading your reply, which I think is spot on, we probably would have been best friends.😁

8 hours ago, Contentry said:

I've had similar experiences on cruises before. It's a relief knowing what's causing the coughing fits, especially these days.

On 9/21/2023 at 12:52 AM, gizfish said:

We smelled it every day from our standard balcony on Meraviglia last week.  I was actually comforted by the stench, knowing that the violent coughing we heard was most likely due to that and not covid. 🙃

Are you sure they were smoking weed or vaping THC oil?  They both smell the same and both emit smoke like clouds.

 I can see the vape getting through security or in a checked bag but other stuff?

1 minute ago, BirdTravels said:

The Haven bar is the biggest in the fleet

 

 

With ample space for relaxing and drinking 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Far nicer than the cramped bars and lounges in all other Havens

 

Photos look great but for those that have not seen the layout each picture is basically a separate room/area  because of dividers. You cannot see the bar from each of those areas.

 Yes it's the biggest in the fleet but the Haven is also biggest in the fleet

1 hour ago, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

February 4th Meraviglia cruise out of Brooklyn in the Panorama MDR.  I didn’t think they looked unkept but they politely asked them to go change and return in proper attire.  The passenger didn’t seem offended.  The staff was very respectful and matter of fact about it.

Wow, glad they did that.

 Simple respect,that's all.

50 minutes ago, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

We did actually see someone denied entry into the MDR on elegant night because they had shorts and a non collared shirt.  I was surprised but also glad that they are attempting to keep the “cruise etiquette” dress code going.

When and what ship? Where they ridiculous looking, too short or ripped? Had to be real bad for them to say anything.

Last month on Seashore they were even letting shorte into the YC restaurant and not saying a word.

48 minutes ago, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

We booked on our own without a TA.  No issues other than at disembarkation over a billing issue but that would also have happened with a TA.  If you’ve cruised before and have booked on your own before you should be able to handle a direct booking.  Just book with an open mind and try to go with the flow.  They run things differently at MSC sometimes.

On any other cruise line yes. MSC no!

 I don't know how often you cruise with  them or what category you book , as well as length of sailing and which countries,but the issues I have been subject to are terrible and a TA is my safety net . It's costs nothing to have a TA.

 Every cruise it seems has an issue. I have a cruise this weekend coming and they moved my YCGS even though I originally booked it on another sailing and gave it to a TA. I got my room back.

  I have have ships changed, embarkation ports changed, disembarkation ports changed. Rooms taken away, days added to a cruise. OBC missing, on and on. This happens not just here in the US, but on sailings around the world .

5 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

Just wanted to verify that if I purchase various items for my cruise off of the NCL website - i.e. Specialty Dining Packages, Photo Packages, Pre-paid Service Charges, etc. - these all count towards the $1000 to be spent within the first 90 days for the 25,000 points? 

Yes. And you get triple points.

2 hours ago, jdevine said:

How dressy are these gala and fancy nights?

Not much than any other night 

Men shirt and slacks, will add a tie. A few a jacket.

Women, more fancy dresses.

I have done Europe, middle east, and Caribbean all in the last year with MSC 

10 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

You had lobster when not sailing in North America? That's surprisingly great!

Seashore was North America last month.

Last year on Splendida in the middle east, we did not have it.

4 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

OP did not state where they were sailing. If not in the Caribbean, lobster will likely not be on board the ship at all.

It was last month on Seashore one night in YC.

On Seascape in 6 days. Will see if it's served.

2 hours ago, jds2001 said:

Blergh. Inside is more than $1K more than I paid for a studio (and studio has gone up $300 from what I paid). Insanity. Is this the "new ship tax?" I wouldn't think that a TA would be this insanely priced.

That's the pre penalty price.

Once you hit 90 days pricing will drop depending on inventory.

Those who are currently booked will be screwed if it empty.

I took the Encore 21 night repo and I was able to get into Haven for half of every one else because I waited till 6 weeks out.

Did Prima this past September and got into Haven at a third of every one else. I again booked 6 weeks prior.

Watch inventory.  Just before final, you might want to cancel if there is allot of inventory.

29 minutes ago, jds2001 said:

Question that I haven't seen covered - for a cross-meta upgrade, is a studio concerned it's own meta, or is it non-upgradeable using points? I am on the Nov 7 Prima Transatlantic in a studio and the balconies are insanely priced. Wondering if I can do a double cross-meta upgrade for it? Just got the card and could manufacture enough points with excursions/paying for the cruise/etc.

Solo is excluded.  Book an inside and then double upgrade.

8 minutes ago, rdmyrick said:

My wife and I have been cruising in the Haven for the past few years.  One of the perks we like is to have a special order Lobster lunch on our first day.  Will MSC allow for special order lunch or dinner request?

 

Not on first day for lunch.

Dinner yes .  But keep in mind that unlike Haven, lobster and prime rib are served once during a week as a rule.

1 hour ago, Wanderlust83 said:

Hi all, I just received my BOA NCL MC so I have 0 points. There is a 10 day cruise in 2025 I would like to use my points (once earned) to upgrade from OA to BA. Can I put a deposit down on the BA cabin I'm wanting so it's reserved and cancel once I build up enough points? Then book an OA and then upgrade to the room I just canceled? 

No doesn't work that way.

You get the perks of the category you book then when you upgrade, you still only get the original category booked.