FIREFIGHTERCRUISER

Just off the Escape today. No more Viva Vino. They said they have discontinued it. Bringing on your own is still a good option though.

Thanks for the info everyone. We do not have the beverage package so we will be buying a la carte. My wife literally does not drink alcohol at all so it doesn't really benefit us to get a full blown bev package. 

I will be on Escape in a few hours, we will update as to what we find.

Sounds like a decent deal. Leaving on Escape tomorrow. Anyone have a recent list or know if this is still being offered ?? Can't find anything on NCL site. 

Thanks in advance .

Thanks all for the feedback.

I did recheck the invoice from the cruise site I booked through, no mention of HIA. However, I did go on the navigator app and fill in all my pre cruise check in info. Most was already in there from previous cruises. Shortly after finishing up that I was sent an email from HAL. I assume its an auto email once you fill out your info, or the timing was just perfect otherwise. 

That email did state the benefits and that we in fact had the Have it all package. 

So I guess we are good to go. 

It is odd that the app only shows the dining and shore credit. That is something HAL should tweak so that it lists all the items you have either purchased or were credited, to include OBC, etc.. 

Thanks again and happy cruising...

Thx first timer. I'm still a ways from our sailing. It states my docs wont be available till Oct. I will have to see when they get emailed or come up on the website.

I did speak with some friends, who are sailing with us, and they said that their booking looks similar and that they see no mention of the drink packages or WIFI either.

I booked the have it all promotion. However, I do not see it expressly listed or mentioned anywhere in navigator. It does show that I have the shore excursion credit and 1 specialty meal. However, I am not able to see the drink package portion mentioned anywhere in the app or on my invoices. I would think if the other perks show up then I also have the drink package. I kinda like to see it in writing though to be sure.

Does anyone know how to see if you have it or a location to look? Either on the app or on the desktop cruise planner.

Worst case is I call and ask Holland directly, but that wait time has been long lately.

Thanks in advance for any help.

21 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Presently seated on my balcony/veranda on a cruise out of Port Everglades, Florida. No masks, fully vaccinated, wearing bracelet tracers. This is our second cruise out of Port Everglades. Our first was the second sailing of the Edge July 3, 2021. Our next is in 3 weeks on the Edge again followed by the Edge for a third time Oct 2021 (God-willing). Making up for 'lost' time. Best time to cruise, no lines, no lounge chair hogs, more attentive service staffers, no need for reservations and priority seating. Get the shots/jabs and join us !

Morph...

What cruise are you on now? Allure?

They offered all the packages. Usual first day stuff, where the crew is making the rounds pushing the food and drink packages. They push the packaged pretty hard, not sure why they wouldnt let people just buy them prior to the cruise like the 4+ night ones.

1 hour ago, ToplessPony said:

 

Thanks for the B2B info!  We are doing the 4/3 nighters starting Labor Day and we're curious about it.

 

Have you noticed if there is any availability to purchase a drink package on the 3-night portion?

 

Thanks again!  🙂

Yes, you can purchase it once you get on board. Or if you're doing the back back once the three-day starts. We also called and tried everything online to purchase it for our 3 day but were not able to prior to the cruise. 

3 hours ago, bones774 said:

Did you stay in same cabin and left your stuff throughout room or did you switch cabins and you're stuff was all packed to be moved?

Did you see anyone from YC also hanging about for 2 hours?

thanks

Yes. We were in the same cabin and left all our stuff. YC was in the same room with the steerage members. 

We got back on the ship and new cruisers were about 2 minutes behind us once we finally got back on.

1 hour ago, FIREFIGHTERCRUISER said:

The process today for the B2B was pretty straightforward. We left all items in our room and were told to meet at a certain restaurant this morning at 8:45 am. Last night we received our PCR test and our packet with back-to-back information. I'm guessing they're still trying to get the Kinks worked out. At least that's the excuse they gave us, even though they have been doing it for years now . We ended up sitting in the restaurant this morning for over 2 hours waiting. Once we finally got moving the process was relatively quick, just a pain in the butt to walk all the way off the boat go through customs then walk all the way back on. 

The wait wouldn't have been bad, but the fact that no one from MSC even came to the restaurant to let us know was frustrating. Everyone doing the back-to-back was getting upset because we were just sitting there receiving no information.

Sadly, that's becoming par for the course with MSC. You can call it a difference of cultures or what not, but this was just flat-out lack of customer service. There were over a hundred people doing back-to-back this Cruise.

Several of us eventually called down to guest relations or went to guest relations to ask what was going on. Even after doing that it took another 45 minutes for someone to ever show up and give us any actual information.

Sure would have been nice to sleep in an extra two hours and not to rush to get to the restaurant to sit there and do nothing.

13 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Did you have 1 or 2 booking numbers?

Steve

We had 2 seperate numbers.

The process today for the B2B was pretty straightforward. We left all items in our room and were told to meet at a certain restaurant this morning at 8:45 am. Last night we received our PCR test and our packet with back-to-back information. I'm guessing they're still trying to get the Kinks worked out. At least that's the excuse they gave us, even though they have been doing it for years now . We ended up sitting in the restaurant this morning for over 2 hours waiting. Once we finally got moving the process was relatively quick, just a pain in the butt to walk all the way off the boat go through customs then walk all the way back on. 

The wait wouldn't have been bad, but the fact that no one from MSC even came to the restaurant to let us know was frustrating. Everyone doing the back-to-back was getting upset because we were just sitting there receiving no information.

Sadly, that's becoming par for the course with MSC. You can call it a difference of cultures or what not, but this was just flat-out lack of customer service. There were over a hundred people doing back-to-back this Cruise.

Several of us eventually called down to guest relations or went to guest relations to ask what was going on. Even after doing that it took another 45 minutes for someone to ever show up and give us any actual information.

Sure would have been nice to sleep in an extra two hours and not to rush to get to the restaurant to sit there and do nothing.

Sailing on a B2B now, doing the 4 day then 3. Mainly looking forward to getting to Ocean Cay. We were schedule for the Meraviglia last year but got canceled one week out right around spring break when they stopped cruising. Sailed on the Divina and Seaside multiple times,  and many other Cruise Lines. Not very impressed with the Meraviglia yet. Maybe I started off with a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth from all the pre-cruise drama and getting on board but the ship does not seem as nice or well put together as some of the other ones. The kids splash park and slide area is completely dysfunctional. It's way on the top aft portion of the ship. Nowhere up there has seats setup and the entire area is covered with debris falling from the stacks of the ship. Bar service has also been lackluster in the main areas of the pool. The bar staff is running their butts off. I think it's the managers don't have enough Staffing or don't have the bars set up properly. The Pool opened at 11 and at 12 the bar at the pool was still bringing out supplies. That is something that should be done well before the pool area opens. I'm sure it will take them a little while to get back in the groove but when the ship is sailing with only half capacity you would think everything would be top notch. We are steerage class also, IE. No Yacht Club.

Just my opinion.

19 minutes ago, Margaretealexander said:

Just received my embarkation time of 1:40. Since it’s only 4 days that kind of negates the first day. What time do they actually start the process? Curious.

We had an 1130 slot but showed up at about 1030. We weren't actually trying to get on early, just arrived sooner than anticipated. We asked where we should wait and the lady said if you're ready to go we will take you. Sounded like they were ahead of the process at that point. Then the process took about 2.5 hours though. Didn't get on the ship till a little after 1pm. Was told by another cruiser that they started taking people at 8. Don't know how they will be able to do that if they have people to offload as well. Since this was the first cruise they didn't have to worry about that.

On Meraviglia currently. There are certain sections designated as vaccinated only. Haven't made it through the entire ship but I have noticed a couple of them up to this point.

We found a place in Miami called body K. Did the 30-minute test which cost us $175. We were told by a MSC on the phone that we would get credited for the test on board. Everything went fine and we are on the ship currently. Purser's desk gave us a little bit of guff when we tried to get reimbursed but we told them, no way were we going to go without it, since we were told by several people that we would be reimbursed.

They were adamant about that and vaccination cards and everything else. Total check-in time took quite a while. Maybe two and a half hours. 

Thanks again Brad. 

We are signed up for a 10 a.m. test in the morning. I still think it's crazy and ridiculous for them

to drop this on everyone the day before.

Thanks Lowman

2 we are going to give that a try Brad. Thanks for the information we will just have to plan to get to Miami about an hour or two earlier than we were anticipating. Luckily we are in Orlando so should be about a four-hour drive in the morning. Did you use the body k location? Just want to make sure where I go has the right test.

Agreed

Does anyone have a copy or screencap of the previous policy 2 days ago for fully vaccinated versus unvaccinated. My son is 11 and the previous policy stated that anyone 11 and under traveling with fully vaccinated people would be considered fully vaccinated. Sometime within the last day or two it has been changed on Msc's website and now says Travelers 11 and under are considered non-vaccinated. They also now have to have a PCR test done within 72 hours of their Cruise. My problem is my cruise is tomorrow and I just got notified of this via text from MSC  today. I just want to have a copy of the old policy so that I can show them what we were going by up until yesterday. At the doctor's office now and the test that MSC is requiring me to get by tomorrow takes 3 days to get results, it's impossible for me to accomplish that. 

Of course I have been trying to get ahold msc since getting the text but I'm on constant hold.

At the doctors office and told this is a 3 day test to get results. So impossible for me to get my child tested today for a cruise tomorrow. Of course i cannot get a hold of anyone at MSC. This is crazy.

We leave tomorrow and just got a text saying this is required now for my 10 y/o. Total BS. On hold with MSC now. 

Up until yesterday he was considered fully vaccinated because everyone else was vaccinated. Now in scramble mode.

Booked a B2B starting Aug 2 on Mera. Initially were assigned 130pm check in.

 Just got a text and email saying our time had been changed to 1115. Bonus for us. I always like getting on as early as possible. I hope people respect the time slots to avoid major log jamming, however i doubt they will. 

Very glad to hear that we may have the option to get the package onboard. I still don't understand why they will not allow the purchase pre boarding as with all other cruises.

 I do not believe MSC allows any carry on beverages Ortech, wine or sodas. 

I will try to remember to post any findings after the cruise.