Morgsmom

I was on hold for 40 minutes earlier (never got through) and another 30 minutes as of now (thought I could get through at the end of their day)... I'm trying to upgrade my drink package (hello, MSC, I want to give you more money), yet I can't get through.

Yes, I entered my Voyager's #... but that doesn't seem to help.

Does anyone have a better phone number to call to get an actual person!! Thanks in advance.

(PS - we sail Next Saturday so I'm trying to get this done)

Yes, they have it in the MDR. In the buffet you have to ask and they will go get you some. WARNING, however, they will bring it to you in the tiniest of little glasses so if you want more than 4 ounces either ask for a large, or several of the small.

We have done several sailings over holidays (though not on MSC). On other lines they have had Christian services (lead by a traveling priest or minister) on Christmas, as well as Jewish services if Hannukah overlapped.

I'm interested in a Southwest flight, FLL 11:10am, we will be booking our own shuttle or UBER, doing walk off, we do have a black status match if that makes a difference, anyone here to speculate if this is do-able? There is another 2:15 flight, just puts us in at a later time. Thanks

It depends on your risk tolerance. You would have to self debark and hope that customs is not backed up (we encountered that there were only 2 lines open when we were in MIA very early) and get through and out quickly. You would then want to Uber to FLL. I think it is doable if the ship starts letting folks off early, but you never really know. The 2:15 is obviously safer but leaves a lot of hang time as MSC does "kick" you off the ship much earlier than other lines that will allow you to hang out until 9:30 or 10:00 (in public spaces).

Ah, yes, I see. I have been looking at a January cruise. Thanks for letting us know!

Undrinkable? Where did you even get that idea from?

Hubby and I considered the red wine on the Mealtime Drinks Package on the Divina to be "undrinkable." What they were offering was a sub $3 bottle of nasty wine. We had to "upgrade" to get the Robert Mondavi ($6.99 bottle..) So, yes, there are different levels of "'drinkability", at least in my case :wine-glass:

All the LIRICA class MSC ships (Lirica, Opera, Armonia, and Sinfonia) have 2 "Family Cabins" . Cabin Nos 9003 and 9006 (on all four ships). THese cabins are designated as 4 berth cabins, but you may be able to fit a family of 5 if the children are young and as such small. Although it may mean 3 children on pull out sofas

 

here is the floor plan of a Family Cabin

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps

 

 

 

pete

So I was looking at an upcoming sailing on the Armonia for 2 guests and was given the option of selecting either 9003 or 9006 for the two of us.... (on the MSC website)... If I book online do you think that they are going to "cancel" our reservation as the room is designed to hold 4 guests?

I also tried the reservation with 3 guests and got the same result - these two cabins showed available for booking. Seems to be a no-brainer if so.

We both drink 3-5 bottles each of the 0.5L/16oz per day times 7 days.

Also bring several with us on shore excursions, drink some and gift some. We don’t buy from mini-bar in cabin and have the steward empty it, se we can load with bottled water/ packaged drinks like juice we get from our package.

Hydration with sun, salt water, thermal area, and many adult beverages is key for us to have fun/feel good.

 

Drink plenty of water, enjoy your cruise!

Rock on! And you do you! I can easily see how you can -- and should -- drink that much water :p

We're sailing on the Seaside and doing a B2B . We were told we could get the drink promotion if we booked 2 7days but not a straight 14 day . Because of when we wanted to sail our cabin was available both legs so no change and basically it's a 14 day with the drink promotion .

That makes no sense. Oh, wait, this is the MSC board. Of course it makes no sense. It's just something we get used to ;)

But if the person there get offended for the money?

What is the better way to get an upgrade, I can pay for it, just ask how much?

First of all, don't worry about the haters. You had a question and the answer is that $20 is not going to get you an upgrade. First, most ships sail full. They will do everything in their power to fill a ship vs leaving a berth empty.

If you want to upgrade your cabin you can see what the current availability is. If you booked through a Travel Agent (TA) you could see if it is possible to change your cabin for the difference in price, but that is doubtful (as everyone would do that in the case last minute price reductions.) If you are past final payment there is likely a huge "cancel and rebook" penalty.

In short, $20 isn't going to do it. $20 can get your assigned table changed in the Main Dining Room, but not a cabin.

When I was talking to a rep directly about YC she also indicated that for $56/pp (not per day, but cruise) we could upgrade to the premium package. Lots of reps are saying/doing this. (PS - we didn't book YC :)

Per the experience of others, Upsells are offered on some sailings 30 days out. Upgrades happen randomly, especially from Bella Category Balconies to Fantastica Balconies, but when that happens you "keep" the Bella experience. It's all a matter of chance, really.

My TA on my upcoming cruise knew a "certain amount" about MSC and is trying to up his volume however he says the wait times for calls for TAs are horrible. And he had never heard of MSC doing any upsells (which is not correct.)

Anyone know how it works with Bella and Deluxe Drinks? The drinks package says it includes "room service menu" and "drinks ordered through room service" does that mean the food and drinks are free but I pay for delivery because I'm in Bella?

 

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I have the same question - does anyone know the answer to this?

Hahahahah -- so true! We are both still working but now happily empty nesters. The youngest graduates college next weekend (only 1 semester "late" so that's better than a full 5th year). That should ease up the financial situation but then there is always the chance that one - or both - move back in :eek:

My opinion only but I have been on lots of the cruiselines and my husband is an Exec Chef (yay me!) As such we eat stupidly well at home. Which makes us a wee bit more critical of sub-par food. Our goal when on the ships is to look for highest quality least amount of prep foods so as to try to avoid disappointment.

We found the buffet on Princess (Royal/Regal) to be the best by far in terms of variety and quality. Amazing cheese/charcuterie presentations. And the pizza - don't get me started it is sooooo good.

I have also enjoyed the pastas on Costa very much. Royal does a nice job with breakfast & brunch buffets with a great variety of savory and sweet.

It's all subjective and all lines are cutting back to make food costs. Some people cruise to try escargot or osso bucco for the first time and that's cool, but these are not the highest quality expressions of the dish so we usually avoid. (See also, I live with a chef so he usually says "I could make this better" and I have to nod and say, "yes, dear...")

Celebrity's food is fine, MSC's food is fine, it's really a matter (in my opinion) of choosing well.

yes, and without starting a flaming discussion is that the reason many lines limit sailings to at least a year (or more) is because an infant can go from healthy to very ill very quickly, especially in the case of an intestinal illness. As you know from your 14 cruises a ship is the perfect breeding ground for Norovirus, or other viruses. While an adult with a more mature immune system can handle, a baby cannot as easily. Medical services onboard are meant to stabilize for transfer, but not provide acute care.

MSC might allow it, and you certainly have your right to take your grandbaby. Yes, planning will be in order but I am sure you can do it. I remember reading about a company that you can arrange to ship baby food, formula, diapers etc to a place near the port (it was for Port Everglades, not MIA, but still) for families flying in.

if you look up "complete guide to cruising with a baby" there is some great advice from a mother who has been there & done it (succesfully). Good luck and have fun with the littles.

I have a few questions. I’m travelling with my grandsons 8 months and 3 years.

When travelling from airport to cruise port does MSC provide a bus or vans? Do the children need car seats?

Also can we get a folding cot of some sort for infant to sleep in on board ship?

Does MSC provide baby food and milk either free or to purchase for infant?

Thank you for your replies. Any tips or advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

wow... you've got your hands full. Yes, you can arrange transfers but I would think a private taxi/uber would be easier. You will need car seats for both kids which you would have to provide. You will also want a stroller (or 2) for movement on and off the ship.

There might be pack & play cots; cannot comment on that. MSC does not provide baby food; you can bring your own. Milk is always available however if it needs to be heated it will have to be done by setting baby bottle in hot water in a container as they will not microwave it.

You will need to bring all of your own diapers, wipes, etc, and I'd recommend garbage liners for the cabin as those are not provided (to sack up the nappies!)

Make sure you get a NOTARIZED statement from the children's parents that from x to y date they are in your care and you are authorized to make medical decisions on their behalf. MSC might have separate forms that will also need to fill out as you are taking small children out of the country. They will both need ID's, passports recommended.

You are a better person then I am; when I have grandchildren some day the earliest I would consider taking them would be 6 or 7 when they can carry a small roller bag on their own.

YC inside has a very small shower, only the balconies have the shower with the bench so the HC shower would be bigger. My friend and I decided to upgrade from a Fantastica corner balcony to YC inside last April since we were leaving the husbands home and although we had the same concerns about not having an outdoor space we never regretted it, the experience was wonderful, so wonderful that we booked another YC inside on a future sailing with our husbands. I can honestly say we did not miss the balcony.

Thank you for your first hand experience; that is great to know! As indicted, there is a choice right now of handicapped or "regular" inside YC cabin (due to the close proximity of the sailing the HC has opened up for booking). Decisions, decisions :confused:

What is the total price difference, and can you make it work or would it make life really difficult?

It's not just the price difference it's the matter of losing the balcony, too which is my refuge.

So it'd be 2 cruises in a Balcony or ONE in a YC Inside. There is a choice of YC Inside "regular" or YC Inside "hancicapped" which are both open for booking, but most of the HC space is taken up by the bathroom (which lacks the nice shower in the regular room.)

Book it! You only live once and don't bring your money with you when you are gone! We did it in June and already booked another one for March! JUST DO IT! lol

LOL!! but that means we'd do ONE YC cruise vs 2 "regular" people balcony cruises... decisions, decisions... (and we are not even retired yet so we have to stretch our money out while we have it ;p)

For anyone who has received the opportunity to receive a Yacht Club upsell how far in advance of sailing was it? I keep saying silent prayers to the upsell powers that be but wondering how far out that is done... (Yes, there are still plenty of YC cabins on the upcoming Sept sailing).

I'm trying to decide if I should stick with our Bella Balcony (was just assigned a Fantastica location) or bit the bullet and buy up to an Inside YC on the Seaside. After seeing so many awesome trip reviews and noting that for our January cruise the YC is full I can't decide.... Wish that money were no object, but, alas, it is

Wow! Thank you for clarifying!

I believe the rules say that everyone in the STATEROOM must have the same package level; not whomever you choose to dine with. Yes, it will be a bit more challenging for your servers as the Drinks on us package folks will have to be rung in and have their cards swiped to pay the gratuity, but they will figure it out.

As others have said many times, thank you for such a fun & detailed review. I am debating now moving up from our Bella Balcony Gty to an Inside YC. But I am torn as we do enjoy a lot of quiet time in our room and on the balcony and the inside YC cabins look smaller than regular balconies.... Oh, decisions, decisions.