Hlitner

The dirty secret about MSC is that the food/cuisine is nothing special. Other than the pizza, there is no cuisine on their ships that we would buy on land! MSC food fits into what I call "mass market cruise ship food" which is certainly adequate, but nothing special. In the Yacht Club, the dedicated restaurant is certainly of higher quality than the other ship venues, but still not up to the quality we find on luxury lines (Seabourn, Explora Journeys, etc). On the other hand, there are luxury lines where the cost per passenger day (in a basic suite) is over $1000 a passenger day (about 2 1/2 times the cost of the yacht club) and the food on those lines is far superior. The reality of cruising is that you are seldom going to get 5* gourmet cuisine on ships that only charge a few hundred dollars per person day. Just go out and shop for prime beef, Maine lobster, caviar, etc. and you will quickly realize there is not reasonable way a mass market ship can provide that kind of food. Hank

We routinely do all kinds/sizes of ships ranging from 450 passenger luxury vessels to the large 3000+ mega ships. Every ship has its pros/cons. If you want a larger choice of things to do, during the lazy seadays, than you might want to opt for a larger ship that offers a large array of activities (i,e, Queen Mary 2). If you are happy to do your own thing or just playing Bridge or more basic things, than you might prefer a small ship that has very personalized service and luxury quality. There is also the issue of cuisine, and there are many differences between the various lines/vessels. We agree with the posts that there is no one solution for all. Tnis is all about your own preferences, wants, desires. As to the cabin/suite, that is another personal kind of thing. DW and I have little use for a huge suite since we spend very little "waking time" in our cabin/suite. We prefer to be out and about the ship, whether we are in a lounge or in a comfy deck chair. Sitting in our cabin/suite is just not something we do. But there are others who are happy to start their day with room service breakfast and spend most of the day in their suite. For these folks, the extra cost of a large suite might be worth the price. For us, it would be a terrible waste of money. We do appreciate a nice suite bathroom, decent shower, and some sitting space. But having 800+ square feet would be meaningless since most of that space would go unused. A few years ago, we were on a long (2 month) HAL cruise and became friendly with a couple who had the largest suite on the ship. Like us, they spent every evening in the piano bar (from opening until close. The reality was that although they had the largest most expensive suite on the ship, they were seldom in that suite except to sleep, get dressed, and use their bath. They told us they booked those large suites, "because the money had little meaning" so, for them, it made sense. They would invite us for cocktails, but we only visited them once since we preferred to be "out and about" where there was more socializing and live music. Hank

On sea days we spend all of our time on the Yacht Club's sun deck. But when the ship is in port, we will sometimes use the loungers in the shady area near the main pool. We also like to go into the regular lido buffet (in port days) and grab some of their pizza :). The Yacht Club restaurant and buffets do not have pizza. In case you are wondering why anyone would stay aboard while in port, we often just stay on the ship. We only do MSC in the Caribbean, and most of the Caribbean ports hold little interest since we have been going to that area for about 50 years. When most folks are ashore, we think the ship is often the best destination :). Hank

We love the long transpacifics, such as when we did Seattle to Sydney. To us it is about the lovely seadays and you get more sea days on the Pacific then the Atlantic :). Hank

No, the prize would go to the Seabourn Spirit. Back in 2005, while off the coast of Somalia, that ship was attacked by pirates who fired two ss rocket propelled granades (RPG) one of which smashed through a cabin window. Fortunately, the RPG did not explode and was later removed by US Navy ordinance experts. It is a dangerous world. Hank

Been there, done that, and did not need any Visas. That being said, countries do change their entry requirements so we agree with the posts that folks should always check the current entry requirements for each country on any cruise. One warning. These days it is always wise to make sure you have at least 6 months validity on your Passport. Various countries, around the world, have different requirements which do range up to 6 months. Hank

Having access to that sundeck (or the Yacht Club's sundeck) can be a very good thing on a nice sea day. It can get very crowded on deck (except in the YC or Aurea). DW and I do enjoy spending lots of time in deck loungers which is one reason (among several) why we appreciate the Yacht Club. The big downside to the Yacht Club is the lack of shade on their expansive sundeck. In fact, shade is at a premium on a hot sea day...in any Experience. Even though we are in the Yacht Club, DW and I have been known to sit in loungers near the main pool (outside the YC) on port days when it is not difficult to get a lounger in the shade and the ship is relatively empty (most are ashore). Hank

Perhaps we should have been more "port specific" :). Many first time visitors to Barcelona, especially those who have a limited amount of time, will generally focus on the Ramblas, adjacent Gothic Quarter, Sagrada Familia, and perhaps Parc Guell. The Ramblas/Gothic Quarter area is best enjoyed on foot as much of this area is about the street atmosphere, cafes, the indoor La Boquria Market (enter right off the Ramblas), the Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter, etc. For somebody coming from the port it makes sense to grab transportation from the port to the base of the Ramblas (near the Columbus Statue) and start walking. A large bus is worthless for this section of Barcelona. The cost from the port to the Ramblas varies from free (if you walk or your ship has a free shuttle) to a few Euros. To visit Sagrada Familia, we often suggest just grabbing a taxi although it can be done by public transit. The other big issue is that many sites (i.e. Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, etc) now work with timed entree tickets which should generally be purchased in advance. Otherwise, you may face a long queue to buy tickets at the site and may not be able to get entree for hours (it could even be sold-out for the day). There are also companies that sell skip the line tickets which also involve timed entrance. Using HoHo buses does not normally work well with timed entrance since one cannot always time those buses. While HoHos are nice if one wants to simply ride around some of the streets of town, they may not be very helpful for those who actually want to visit the most popular sites. For those with more time we also suggest visiting one or more the Gaudi houses (and no, you cannot see the inside of these interesting houses from a bus). Hank

We would advise the OP that there are multiple choices for food/snacks of which the lido buffet is just one option. There are other places such as the sports bar, gelato counters (this does have a small fee) pizza place, room service, etc. Some options do involve a small cost, but that is your choice. As to the Yacht Club (the only way we cruise on MSC) it is pricey and not for everyone...especially those on a tight budget. Most of us in the YC, also enjoy plenty of time out and about the rest of the ship. For those not in the YC, it is simply a small part of the ship for which you do not have access (other than on a tour). As to the other "Experiences," folks should carefully evaluate the various perks (that come for an extra price) and decide what works best for them and their own budget. With the exception of the Yacht Club's own lounge, all the entertainment venues, on the ship, are open to everyone. The entertainers that do work in the YC's lounge do also perform elsewhere on the ship where they can be enjoyed by all. Hank

When you want to "maximize" what you see/do, a HoHo bus may not be the best option. Consider how much time you will spend just waiting for the next HoHo bus at each stop where you decide to hop off. Barcelona has a decent public transportation system (Metro and buses) which is relatively inexpensive. Rather than spending the money on a HoHo, you might be better-off using a combination of the Metro, local buses, and your feet. While HoHo's are certainly a great option for those who are too lazy to do their own homework (on how to get from point A to point B) the reward for planning your own transport will be to save substantial time (it can be hours) waiting for buses. Hank

As on any cruise, the use of one's balcony is often weather dependent. Doing a crossing in late March into April will often find the weather warm enough to use the balcony on some days. We do a lot of those kind of crossings (will be on an O ship this March) and have often used our balcony for breakfast and relaxing in the late afternoon. If you get a little lucky, it will be warm for the entire crossing from Florida to Lisbon, They normally take a pretty direct route (staying south of Bermuda) which varies from warm/balmy to nasty-chilly. We love those spring crossings (have done it dozens of times) and normally do it (on various ships/lines) every year. Hank

Agree with you which is why we never rely on Chase or Amex coverage for medical. There are quite a few folks here on CC (including me) who do rely on a combination of credit card cancellation/interruption coverage combined with a decent travel medical policy such as GeoBlue. Annual travel medical policies are reasonably priced and and generally offer a lot more coverage than the oft inadequate medical coverage offered by the various cruise line policies. We always urge those, not comfortable with assessing their own insurance needs to contact a real travel insurance broker, such as the folks at the tripinsurancestore, to get advice and have a choice among multiple third party policies Hank Hank

Both Chase Sapphire Cards (Preferred and Reserve) provide cancellation/interruption coverage (up to $10,000 per person-$20,000 total) Keep in mind that this insurance is very specific on what it covers and is NOT cancel for any reason. Like any insurance, the customer needs to carefully read and understand their policy. Hank

We actually tested that theory and saw the charge hit our credit card account, As I have said (in multiple posts) this has been confirmed by the Princess folks (twice) who have no solution. The mistake some make (here) is to assume that because something works for them it will work for all. With Princess, app issues seem to be hit/miss with each specific reservation. One would think that Princess has an easy fix, but that is contrary to what we hear from the Princess folks.

We have an upcoming cruise (in less than 2 weeks) with the Premiere Package and our very familiar with the Princess app and policies. We are unable to book any specialty restaurant unless we are willing to have the charge immediately put against our credit card. The two free meals (included in the Premiere Package) are not accessible from the app (on our phone or PC) and Princess policy does not allow the use of On Board Credit (OBC) for the restaurants until after boarding the ship. While some may be able to access the free (included meals), some of us cannot! We have talked to Princess (twice) and their folks say "there is nothing we can do" other than to elevate the software issue. The only suggestion (from two different Princess staff) is to pay for alternative restaurants and try to seek reimbursement once aboard (which would likely be added to our already generous OBC). As a long time cruiser (more then 50 years of extensive cruising) we view this kind of issue as "small stuff" and, at worst, an inconvenience. Unlike a majority of Princess cruisers, DW and I enjoy dining late and it is usually possible to get onboard reservations in the various venues for those of us happy to dine at 8:30 or even 9. That being said, a majority of Princess cruisers are early diners and many of them are going to be unhappy because we already see, that on our 14 day cruise, most of the early dining slots are gone. In fact, on Princess a majority of the complaints we have heard, on past cruisers, is from the early diners because of hassles in the MDRs, difficulty getting reservations in the alternate restaurants, and the crowded conditions in the main theater for the shows attended by early diners. One lesson we have learned, from far more than 1000 days on ships, is to "roll with the waves." For those willing (and able) to alter their personal habits, it is usually possible to find the "sweet spot" (in terms of timing) on most cruises. Folks that are unyielding i their desire to dine at 6-7 are generally going to spend more time in queues, dealing with crowded shows, etc. Folks that are willing to adapt and dine late (usually after eight) will usually have a completely different kind of experience. That is just the way it is on mass market lines. Hank

The focaccia and other bread products were always good :).

One negative for those who cruise the same lines over and over again is that the menus (all courses) remain essentially the same...sometimes for several years. Like most cruise lines, Princess works from a library of home office developed menu items, does their purchasing based on those items, and does not encourage the onboard chefs to deviate. In theory, the onion soup you get on the Ruby will be the same on the Enchanted...a year later. We are "equal opportunity cruisers" and cruise on many different lines. For us this means we get completely different menus, different entertainment, etc. For what its worth, there are plenty of folks who seem to prefer the sameness they find on one particular cruise line. You will find cruisers who like the dessert "crisps" on HAL, souffles on Princess, etc. In some ways it's like the person who goes to McDonalds every few days and orders the same meal. Although we are long time fans of Princess, I would imagine that when we board the Sky in a few weeks we will find some of the same Production Shows and menus we had on the Enchanted two years ago! I will admit that we do not want Princess to ever change their pizza :). Hank

I cannot help but wonder would a teen enjoy being in a small youth venue with 6 year olds, or would they rather be on a large ship with water slides, wave pools, climbing walls, high tech video game rooms, etc. Given the reaction of the pizza chef (in the Emporium) when we asked if he would mind putting some pepperoni on a slice of margarita (NO! that has not one of our menu items) how they will react to kids who have specific dietary requests. Hank

Like most cruise lines, Princess is all about selling their overpriced (and profitable) shore excursions, Accordingly, they do very little to promote or even inform folks about port shuttles. If there are shuttles, they are either provided by the port (sometimes free such as in Civitavecchia) or for a fee (sold by Princess). Most port lectures onboard are designed to sell the overpriced excursions, and in the past, we have even heard some port lectures that discouraged folks doing their own thing. My strong suggestion is to do your own pre-cruise homework (the Ports of Call blog here on CC is a good starting place) and know your options. In some ports you might be able to get free shuttles provided by the port or even walk out of the port. In other ports you might find that sharing a taxi is the best option. Hank

Agree! We always thought that Concierge Class was somewhat of a rip-off and not worth any extra money. We did like AQ. Hank

My goodness, we can agree to disagree. We have cruised on both MSC (always in their Yacht Club) and the new Explora Journeys (wholly owned by MSC) and they are anything but an afterthought. In fact, we were on the new EJ1 during its recent naming ceremony (in NYC) where there were plenty of representatives of both the Swiss-based company and the Aponte family (who own MSC). The Aponte family support of the cruise industry goes back several decades and they continue to expand both their brands at a steady pace. Unlike many in the cruise industry, the MSC folks are innovators (not followers) and do things their own way (for better or worse). There is a lot to like about MSC and EJ and plenty to not like. But make no mistake, they are now big players in the cruise industry with the Aponte family readily investing $Billions in the business. In fact, their ship within a ship model (found on the newer MSC vessels) has been a blueprint for other lines who are all gradually adopting their own ship within a ship models. I think of it as "forward to the past" in that the trend has been to move to a multi-class system (rather than the single class system known in the cruise industry) that had mostly disappeared except on Cunard. Many cruisers abhor a class system on cruise ships, but the reality is that it makes sense that those willing to pay more money (sometimes a lot more) should get more! Consider that on the MSC ships, folks who are on a tight budget can cruise for less than $100 per day while others, willing to pay over $400 per person day, can be on the same ship in the luxurious Yacht Club. DW and I spend a fair amount of time cruising on small ship luxury ships (we love it) but also love the Yacht Club (advantages of both small and large ship cruising). Other lines such as NCL, Celebrity, and RCI also have their own ship within a ship concepts. How does "O" fit into the current cruise line industry? I guess that is one reason we booked more than a month on the Vista....to find out for ourselves :). Hank

There is a big problem with the OP's position. In the travel world (not just cruises) everyone has cut-back (with the exception of Explora Journeys). DW and I have no "loyalty" to anything other than the cruise industry since we have nearly 50 years of cruise experience (17 cruise lines). Today's issue is the same as always which is about choices. Which cruise line or lines best fits your wants, needs, and budget? And if you decide to abandon cruising a perhaps go the All-Inclusive resort route (we also enjoy AIs) you will find cut-backs (and price increases) in that industry. So yes, we can all whine about cut-backs but the real question is where does one turn? In our case we have done a lot more luxury line cruises (i.e. Seabourn, Explora Journeys, Silverseas, etc) but that is a very expensive option ($700 per passenger day is not unusual). Among the mass market lines, one needs to consider some changes in their own habits. For example, MSC is a relatively low cost mass market line, but their upscale Yacht Club is an excellent option (at a price). Seabourn still has some pretty good deals (about $500 per passenger day) as does Silverseas, but one must shop around and look at different options. Keep in mind that while the luxury lines have an initial cost that can seem shocking, you should consider that those prices includes suites, tips, drinks, Internet, etc. We have cruised for weeks on Seabourn and debarked with an onboard account of zero! Another way for cruisers to reduce their own cost is to learn how to be independent travelers. Cruise line excursions and private tours can be outrageously expensive. In most cases, folks can do things on their own and actually enjoy themselves a lot more than when stuck on a large group tour. Hank

We have cruised both lines for decades (32 Princess cruises and several dozen on X). When LLP took over X and started her death by a thousand cut-backs, we completely abandoned X and have been cruising on Princess, HAL, Seabourn, and some others. When we look at the overall 'value" of bang for the buck, we find X to be a relatively poor value when compared to Princess. On Princess, we are quite happy in the lowest category mini-suite and would also be OK with their so-called deluxe balcony cabins (they have a place to sit). Hank

MSC is the one major cruise line/corporation without excess long term debt. They continue to add 1-2 new ships a year plus are expanding their new luxury line (Explora Journeys) with one new ship per year for the next 5 years. Hank

We have not been asked for our cruise tickets at either Port Everglades or Port of Miami, when entering the ports. The gate security folks will usually ask for some type of ID (such as a Passport). Hank