Bluewake

I've posted a similar message on the Panama Canal forum but am thinking the general MSC forum might be more expedient. A small group of us sailing on the April 7, 2024 Divina (Ocho Rios, Aruba, Cartagena, Colon, Limon, Ocean Cay) are in the process of planning excursions. One of the places we are interested in visiting is Panama City - the historic section to be more precise - so we were pleased when we saw an excursion to the "Panama Old Quarter". However, the description of the excursion on the MSC website is somewhat vague. Essentially, it states that it's a trip to Casco Viejo or OId Quarter and mentions some things located there but doesn't note the mode of transportation (of course, we assume it's a bus), whether it includes an opportunity to get off and explore the city, etc. Since our group is hesitant to purchase it until we know more about what it involves, I decided to call MSC to ask for information about the excursion. However, that effort was futile. The rep said she knew nothing about the excursion and was unable to refer me to anyone who could provide information. She advised me to wait until we are aboard the ship and ask at the Shore Excursions desk. Thinking I might have better luck today, I tried again. While the rep I reached this morning was very nice, she also had no knowledge of the excursion. Her suggestion was to ask the driver (she said she assumed it's on a bus) where we are going when we board it for the excursion. I am not being facetious...that was her actual advice. Obviously, we don't want to wait until we are aboard the ship to start booking excursions and we certainly don't want to wait until we step onboard a bus to find out where we'll be going. My guess is that these reps are third party and don't work directly for MSC. We are hoping that there might be a dedicated number for some sort of MSC excursions office or adviser who would be more knowledgeable but, thus far, we've been unable to find anything. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Yes. That is what we are assuming. In 2019, we sailed into Lake Gatun where we boarded a small boat that went through the canal to the Pacific and then took a bus back to Colon. The traffic was bad and it took a couple of hours to get back to Colon. That is what makes us wonder if this "Panama Old Quarter"excursion will include any time in the historical section. Is 4 1/2 hours enough, time especially if it starts in Colon? I just wish MSC had someone with whom we could speak about the excursion.

Did you have time to get out and walk around or was it a "Drive By"?

I am hoping we can get some advice from someone who has taken the MSC "Panama Old Quarter" excursion. Four of us will be on MSC Divina in April 2024 and are looking at excursions. We all are interested in the Panama Old Quarter excursion which we believe is a tour of the historical part of Panama City. The excursion is 4 and 1/2 hrs. Our specific questions are: Does the ship stop at Colon or does it go on into Lake Gatun where passengers on excursions can disembark? We assume the excursion "Panama Old Quarter" involves taking a bus to the old section of Panama City...do we catch that bus in Colon or at Lake Gatun? Will we have any time to get off the bus and explore the old section of Panama City before we return? I called MSC and tried to ask these questions but the rep was unable to answer them. She had no idea if the ship goes into Lake Gatun. When I asked about the excursion, she just kept repeating the time the ship arrives and leaves and saying we needed to take an excursion that got us back to the ship on time. When I said it was a ship's excursion and I was aware of timing issue, she kept repeating the same thing. Then, she said I should ask my other questions when I get on the ship. Any info would be greatly appreciated

Reserving a cart was wise. We were in Bimini last fall and, after reading posts on CC, decided that we didn't need to reserve a cart....thought we'd get a better deal just walking up and asking. We took the tram to the last stop where there is a large parking lot full of carts. Based on the website, we expected to pay $90 for the day but were told it was $120 because we were there early in the day and would have the cart longer. I think if we'd reserved the cart and showed the paperwork, they probably would have stuck with the $90 price. Not a huge deal but a lesson learned.

Just to be clear… So, am I correct in understanding that if I wait until the second day of my cruise to attempt to log on the internet, I will see the “offer to upgrade” that your above screen shots illustrated? Then, instead of hitting the button redeeming my 150 minutes, all I have to do is click on the upgrade option and I will be upgraded to the unlimited package and a credit of $100 will be added to my onboard account. Is that correct? Or do I have to see someone at the Internet desk to get this offer? I am Platinum, a few points short of Sapphire, but that will not matter…correct? Thanks a lot for confirming!

Now I’m confused. Based on your post, it seems that 18% of the overall cost of the Cheers package is placed in the tips pool. Okay, makes sense. However, the phrase “for each drink” sounds like every time one uses their Cheers package to order a drink, an additional 18% for a tip is automatically added to the bill for that particular drink. For instance, if I have the Cheers package and order a beer that is listed as costing $8, is it that there would be no charge for the beer because I have the Cheers package but $1.44 would be added to the bill to cover an 18% tip and my onboard account would be charged that $1.44? Is that correct or have I misunderstood?

Thank you. We will be sailing Carnival for the first time in a few years and couldn't recall how the Cheers program worked. Much appreciated.

Hope I can pose a somewhat related Cheers question. When you order a drink using Cheers, is the standard tip included? Or, must one add the tip?

Thanks for the very informative post. We fall into the category you described so an annual policy seems to work for us. Our trips are all less than 10 days, are in the Caribbean, are not especially expensive because we stick to traditional inside/oceanview/balcony cabins as opposed to being in a Haven, Yacht Club, or Retreat, we are assuming/gambling we wouldn't need to cancel multiple cruises before final payment (fingers crossed!), and we have refundable deposits so we can cancel up to final payment. As you noted, however, an annual policy probably would not work for those whose travels and accommodations are more extensive or "luxurious". The only thing I'd add is that the medical coverage amounts for our Nationwide annual plus policy are a little bit higher than you suggested. Ours are as follows: * Emergency Medical Expense $20,000 per person/per trip (secondary) * Emergency Dental Expense $750 (included in Medical) per person/per trip (secondary) * Emergency Medical Evacuation Emergency Medical Evacuation $250,000 per person/per trip (secondary) * Repatriation of Remains $250,000 per person/per trip (secondary) Thanks for the great information you've offered.

Check out Nationwide Travel Plus/Pro. You can pay more to increase the amount of aggregate cancellation coverage. However, it is not a “cancel for any reason” policy. There are designated circumstances that must exist. I think Allianz may also have an annual policy that has a cancellation feature.

Since we are taking 5 cruises between Feb 2023 and Feb 2024, we decided to go with an annual travel policy rather than purchase separate insurance for each cruise. We are fortunate to be able to drive to the ports from which we sail and take our time getting there (of course, not to say an accident couldn't happen) so our primary concerns are medical and evacuation. Most carriers seem to allow upgrades to the policy to increase coverage amounts as one wishes. I'd suggest anyone who is taking multiple trips in a 12 month period to at least investigate an annual policy for it's considerably less expensive than "a' la carte".

I share the sentiments in your initial post. Since I first began cruising many years ago, it seems to me that NCL's rates have risen disproportionately. However, that seems to have been an intentional decision based on both practical need and marketing for, if I am correctly recalling, when Frank Del Rio took over from Kevin Sheehan several years ago, one of his first pronouncements was in regard to his intention to raise base prices on NCL. His stated rationale for doing so was two-fold: (1) the obvious goal of generating more revenue and (2) he implied that low pricing sends a message...pricing something at a discount rate suggests it's a "bargain basement" line and he wanted to nullify any such perception that NCL was in the same class as some other cruise lines. At the risk of repeating what others have noted, we've found ways to sail NCL, or any line, without breaking the bank but it always comes down to personal choice in class, cabin, amenities, etc. Also, if one has flexibility in timing and itinerary, I've noticed that the rates for some NCL cruises tend to drop significantly a few weeks prior to the sailing date. Of course, others rise so waiting is always a bit of a mystery and gamble. In reading through this thread, I was a bit surprised (although I probably should not have been!) by the condescension and snarkiness of some posts. Is that a reflection of our current socio-political divide where ad hominens instead of polite discourse seems to have become the norm or is CC inevitably heading the way of other social media? CC still remains a tremendous resource where those less experienced in cruising can pose questions that may seem obvious to the more seasoned cruisers and where even those of us who've cruised numerous times can seek guidance and information. It would be a shame to regress to the level of some other social media site where one must expect to be mocked or ridiculed for asking a question...

I share the sentiments in your initial post. Since I first began cruising many years ago, it seems to me that NCL's rates have risen disproportionately. However, that seems to have been an intentional decision based on both practical need and marketing for, if I am correctly recalling, when Frank Del Rio took over from Kevin Sheehan several years ago, one of his first pronouncements was in regard to his intention to raise base prices on NCL. His stated rationale for doing so was two-fold: (1) the obvious goal of generating more revenue and (2) he implied that low pricing sends a message...pricing something at a discount rate suggests it's a "bargain basement" line and he wanted to nullify any such perception that NCL was in the same class as some other cruise lines. At the risk of repeating what others have noted, we've found ways to sail NCL, or any line, without breaking the bank but it always comes down to personal choice in class, cabin, amenities, etc. Also, if one has flexibility in timing and itinerary, I've noticed that the rates for some NCL cruises tend to drop significantly a few weeks prior to the sailing date. Of course, others rise so waiting is always a bit of a mystery and gamble. In reading through this thread, I was a bit surprised (although I probably should not have been!) by the condescension and snarkiness of some posts. Is that a reflection of our current socio-political divide where ad hominens instead of polite discourse seems to have become the norm or is CC inevitably heading the way of other social media? CC still remains a tremendous resource where those less experienced in cruising can pose questions that may seem obvious to the more seasoned cruisers and where even those of us who've cruised numerous times can seek guidance and information. It would be a shame to regress to the level of some other social media site where one must expect to be mocked or ridiculed for asking a question...

I share the sentiments in your initial post. Since I first began cruising many years ago, it seems to me that NCL's rates have risen disproportionately. However, that seems to have been an intentional decision based on both practical need and marketing for, if I am correctly recalling, when Frank Del Rio took over from Kevin Sheehan several years ago, one of his first pronouncements was in regard to his intention to raise base prices on NCL. His stated rationale for doing so was two-fold: (1) the obvious goal of generating more revenue and (2) he implied that low pricing sends a message...pricing something at a discount rate suggests it's a "bargain basement" line and he wanted to nullify any such perception that NCL was in the same class as some other cruise lines. As others have noted, we've found ways to sail NCL, or any line, without breaking the bank but it always comes down to personal choice in class, cabin, amenities, etc. Also, if one has flexibility in timing and itinerary, I've noticed that the rates for some NCL cruises tend to drop significantly a few weeks prior to the sailing date. Of course, others rise so waiting is always a bit of a mystery and gamble. In reading through this thread, I was a bit surprised (although I probably should not have been!) by the condescension and snarkiness of some posts. Is that a reflection of our current socio-political divide where ad hominens instead of polite discourse seems to have become the norm or is CC inevitably heading the way of other social media? It's unfortunate...

We were in Bimini in October 2022...our first and only time there. Yes, there is not a lot to do or see beyond spending a day at a beach. However, the fact that it's not a fully developed tourist destination is somewhat part of the charm. The area nearest the pier is Resorts World where you can spend the day at one of their beach areas, with or without an all-inclusive format. There is a small outdoor shopping area (I use that term for lack of a better one because there are only a couple of open stores and one or two places to get a drink). There is a casino in a nearby Hilton. Since it was our first time in Bimini, we decided to rent a golf cart and tour around the island for a couple of hours. Nothing spectacular to do or see but it was interesting just to travel around the island and watch daily life going on in Bimini. There is a small straw market (maybe 4-5 "stalls"), we saw an occasional convenience store, and there were a few places to eat and drink....very local flavor, we are not talking "fancy". A few people from our cruise went to Radio Beach, which is about a 10-15 cab ride from the cruise pier. Very basic amenities and a place to get a drink and (I think) some conch. You and your wife probably can take the tram and stay on it until you get back to the port area but you aren't going to see very much of the island because it doesn't really leave the Resort World area. You will pass by a couple of hotels and several bungalows that may be vacation homes, and will stop at Paradise beach to drop off some passengers...not much else. If your wife is able to get into a golf cart and you want to "see" the island, it might be worth considering. Many people take the tram to the last stop where there is a huge lot filled with carts to rent but there are also a couple of closer golf cart rental places (Elite and Sue & Joys) not far from the cruise pier. Just be aware that prices posted online may not apply when you get there! We expected to pay $90 for the day but were quoted $120 when we arrived. Honestly, since there isn't a lot to do, simply driving around the island becomes an excursion itself. Hope you find something enjoyable to do.

I've written before on CC that we encountered the same thing on one of our NCL cruises. Although the main NCL website continued to advertise the same itinerary right through the final payment deadline, the opportunity to book excursions for 3 of the ports disappeared from the "manage your cruise" page. Calls to NCL were met with "there are no changes of which we are aware". About 3-4 weeks after final payment, an itinerary change was announced. One port (probably the main one most people wanted) was dropped entirely and the dates the ship would be stopping at the other two were adjusted. A day or so later, the opportunity to book excursions reappeared.

Deleted response...

If it walks and quacks like a duck.....

The main sponsor of the "this is gov't overreach" campaign was the owner of the largest private cruise pier in Key West. Interesting how, shortly after he donated $1 million to the governor's campaign/party, the Florida legislature passed a law restricting the rights of the local community to regulate cruise ship traffic. Read the story here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article250934164.html

I realize that circumstances change and cruise lines are unable to stop at scheduled ports. However, I have sympathy for the OP because we experienced something similar that caused to wonder the same thing. The itinerary is a primary factor in the cruises we book. In 2019 (pre-covid) we booked an NCL cruise specifically because it was stopping at Cartagena. A few weeks later, we attempted to pre-book excursions but nothing was listed for Cartegena and one other stop....all the other scheduled stops were still available for excursion booking. Over the next few weeks the situation remained the same. We finally called the excursions office to ask why only Cartagena and the other port were unavailable for booking excursions and were told that this wasn't unusual because it requires coordination with local vendors and this can sometimes be challenging...we were told to be patient. Then, a couple of weeks before the final payment date, we happened to check a website which has port schedules and saw that neither Cartagena nor the other port were listing our ship as stopping at those respective ports on the scheduled dates. We checked the NCL website and saw that the cruise still was being advertised/ sold as including Cartagena and the other port. We placed another call to NCL to double check and were told that they were unaware of any changes having been made to the itinerary. Based on that information, we elected to make the final payment. About a month after final payment, we suddenly received a notice that Cartagena had been dropped with no replacement and the other port about which we had been wondering was now scheduled for a different day. Since we were now in the penalty phase, it didn't make sense to cancel so we stuck with the cruise despite the fact that the main reason for booking it was now gone. I like NCL, just returned from a NCL cruise last week and will be on another on in 3 months..so I am not "hating NCL". However, given the fact pattern, it's sure seems that NCL (at least the schedulers) had known for quite some time that they were not going to be stopping at Cartagena but had continued to advertise the cruise as though nothing had changed in the itinerary. I understand that things happen at the last minute but this wasn't the case in this situation. And, I suppose it's possible there was a problem and NCL was still "hoping" to stop there. But, something just didn't "smell right" about our experience.

That's very encouraging and informative. Much appreciated!

So....please tolerate another texting question from a non-technical person. We will be sailing on NCL Dawn but would like to be able to text a family member back home when we are onboard. We do have an internet package but it's not unlimited and we don't want to have to burn minutes for texts. We all have iphones and iMessage is enabled. From reading some of the posts on this thread, it seems that we will able to connect to the ship's free wifi to use the NCL app for various services and "may" also be able to use the iMessage feature ion our iPhones to communicate with our family back home...but that seems to depend on whether the NCL "GAP" is open at that moment. Does this seem correct? Or will we be able to use IMessage without any difficulty when we are onboard? Thanks for any advice.

Wow...unexpectedly tough responses to what I thought was a fairly benign question. Thanks for the supportive post! As you noted, I posted the question because of the significant cutbacks Celebrity has implemented in buffet service fleet-wide and, since Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are "sister companies", whether there was any indication the same thing might be occurring on Royal. I thought that was a reasonable inquiry. I am re-posting the link already supplied by another poster to avoid any accusations of failing to provide supportive citations. We are lukewarm on the MDR and it's not unusual for us to eat dinner in the buffet 3-4 times during a cruise. We were in the process of making dining and other reservations for our upcoming Mariner cruise and thought that if these changes were being implemented on Royal, we might want to book additional specialty restaurants in lieu of eating in the Windjammer. Alas, I had no ulterior motive nor was my post a covert effort to incite some sort of social media virtual uproar. I did, however, erroneously assume most CC readers would be aware of the changes on Celebrity. Mea culpa for that egregious error.

Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere on CC. Given the reductions in the offerings in the buffet - particularly for the dinner hours - that are being implement by Celebrity, we've been wondering if Royal Caribbean is following suit in regard to the Windjammer. We were last on Royal (Independence) in February 2022 and the Windjammer was pretty much "as always". However, as we make plans for a Fall cruise on Mariner, it would be helpful to know if Royal also has "cut back". Much appreciated.