CTP

We love aft cabins too but this is our first MSC cruise so can't say specifically.  

We booked Bella interior for this coming trip, and ended up with a fantastica cabin .. altho' still inside cabin I think that's an upgrade 🙂

Thanks for asking this I was wondering the same thing. 

Will be our first MSC cruise March 16 on Meraviglia - very excited  I'm so used to the RCCL system I'm stumbling a little figuring things out with MSC but I'm getting there.  I figured out how to log in last night and saw my cabin allocation and details YIPPY, excursions available etc! 

Very excited to try something new especially after our last 2 experiences with RCCL ... I think it's time to move on

I booked our Air through RCCL and they asked if I wanted the transfer, I thought sure that will make things easy.  Problem, our flight arrives at FLL at 6 AM, just got our vacation documents that say .... Transfers from Fort Lauderdale International Airport to the Port of Miami are scheduled approximately every 60 minutes, starting at approximately 12:00 PM on the day you are scheduled to board the ship .... OMG I didn't even think to ask the time of the transfer I just assumed it would be earlier ..  we would have a breakfast at the airport get sorted get the transfer and be at the ship by 10:30 AM in time for our wellness check

I looked for an RCCL pre-cruise excursion however nothing is listed on the planner 😞 

Any suggestions?

16 hours ago, bc_redhead said:

Thanks everyone for the info. We did Switch Health on Friday night for the 4 of us and boarded Serenade of the Seas a few hours ago. Paperwork was all good and now to cruise...first one since 2019!

Was this test accepted at boarding?  We just got back from Radiance of the seas cruise but will have another cruise soon with RCCL.
 

I called RCCL they said for the online tests they have to be fda approved , when I called switch health they said they are not fda approved. I opted to just go to a clinic for this cruise  … cost me $60 more for the 3 of us to be tested. 

On 3/14/2022 at 1:03 PM, tottenhamfc said:

So if we are using Switch to fly and it is rejected at the port, will they have provisions for testing at check in? I am RCL not Celebrity.

I emailed RCCL to ask them if they will accept the SwitchHealth monitored at home tests but no reply.  On RCCL website I see only the at home testing FAQ has the FDA requirement approval. If you have your testing done at a clinic for travel it will be fine.  I found a clinic up the road from me that is the same price and will be acceptable, so we will go with that rather than muck around with the possibility of having to test again at the cruise terminal my luck I would probably end up with a false positive and miss my cruise LOL

It seems so odd to me that CDC approves the use of SwitchHealth to fly into the USA, but not to get on a cruise ship ... oversight maybe? Who knows

Following. 
we are currently booked on a cruise out of Galveston USA on RCCL in March but I’m looking to cancel and book something closer to home. Alaska out of Vancouver orbHawaii. Apparently the April Hawaii cruise is not currently taking anymore bookings for now RCCL rep says reason unknown. Maybe because they don’t know the answer yet on the testing. I can however book aAlaska in the summer 

10 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

The antigen test is not FDA approved but the LAMP test is. While all cruise lines require that self testing  be proctored, not all specify that the test must also be FDA approved.

Thanks Just looked yesterday RCCL says it needs to be FDA approved. It started to feeel like a little bite of a merry go round yesterday trying to figure out if switch was or wasn’t 😂 

im leaning more and more towards cancelling that trip for now, and just sailing in and out of our hometown Vancouver this summer 

On 1/16/2022 at 12:48 PM, LouTheGlue said:

Ok, guess I may as well give up. What a Cluster...

I purchase the box of 2 Antigen tests from Switch Health thinking I would be able to use them to enter the US and board Anthem of the Seas in March. I also purchased 2 RT-LAMP tests to get back home. Now it seems all these tests are not valid. These Antigen Tests are not FDA approved, and now it sounds like I may not get back by using the RT-LAMP tests.

 

I bought them early for two reasons, not sure about supply/demand in March. Plus for the RT-LAMP test I was thinking I could use them not only for the return to Canada after our cruise (now that seems to be questionable). But also because we cannot get PCR tests in Ontario, I thought if we happened to catch covid in the next few weeks, I could use them to get official documentation that we actually had Covid.

Ive been trying to determine if the switch tests were FDA approved I was hopi g to take them down with us to use to get on the ship in Galveston …. This feels so complicated I might just cancel our Spring Break cruise.
 

Thought things might be simpler cruising Alaska out of Vancouver  however more I try to get testing answers there is also proving to be a waiting game as apparently Canada gov hasn’t yet decided on how that will look 

Where do you see the promo codes, Facebook page?

On 1/19/2020 at 8:10 AM, canadian girl 77 said:

We were on the Oasis the summer of 2018. We have another cruise on the Oasis booked for March 2020. DH and I had the Deluxe Beverage Package. We paid $489 CDN each for the trip. We bought DD to Refreshment package for $188 CDN.

 

I'm having sticker shock. The prices have increased so much. The Deluxe Beverage Package is $714 CDN each now. Refreshment package for DD is $308 CDN.

 

I get inflation. It has been almost two years. But in the case, the refreshment package has increased 64%. The Deluxe Beverage Package has increased 46%.

 

I'm pretty sure DH is going to want to get the Deluxe package regardless but there is no way DD will drink $308 worth of beverages.

We are looking at the refreshment package too mine continues to be $240 cdn each (total with grat) For our LOS cruise March 2020. They added a banner that says “30% off on-board prices”. The package isn’t changing in price ... so not really on sale just stating it’s cheaper than on-board? I’ve been watching every day and the price doesn’t seem to change. Not sure I can drink enough pop, non alcoholic cocktails and coffee to cover this. I tried to google some menus but the focus seems to be on the alcohol. What does a moctail cost?

We do have a 10 yrs old and considering Jewel Runaway Bay Beach Resort booked through this company, anyone been there or have any comments about it? The reviews I see seem pretty good for families that stay at the resort, but I'm not sure all the food/bars available for the day pass option. 

Would be interested in hearing what others have done and enjoyed.  And how the transportation portion worked out.

On 6/26/2017 at 10:12 AM, BoBandy said:

We were looking at booking Mystic Mountain through Jaital tours. Has anyone used them lately?

I've read on other blogs that they are cheaper than other tour operators and do a good job.  Was looking at booking them for March 2020

THX I did some searching and found some of the above threads ... looks well enjoyed :)

THX for the pic, I thought a pullman meant that the sofa opened up LOL but I'm guessing she will probably not sleep up there and I'm sure she will be right in between hubby and I in our bed :)

Would you say the "sludge" served on board (not in a package) would be better than having a Starbucks Via?

Anyone have a picture of the pullman bed? I believe I read that our balcony cabin has one (AOS aft cabin 8690)

We have a 4 yr old that sleeps in an upper bunk at home

Fantastic great info THX. My daughter is 4.5 years old and I know she's going to love this!

We are going July 6 on AOS

We are on the July 6 sailing AOS with a 4 year old ... we've booked the Barbie Experience for her ... has anyone experienced this package?