missalexandra

$60 for a steak? LMAO. You can go to the best steakhouse in New York at those prices.

3 hours ago, 40yearcruiser said:

We'll be on the Mera the week after you--for Christmas. We booked two Bella balcony cabins, side by side, so are anxiously waiting to see what we will be assigned now that they have made us a guarantee. It appears they are waiting until the last minute to let you know what you have been assigned so you don't have time to complain. Being a holiday week we paid a premium rate for the cabins so it better be good.

That isn't the way I looked at it. I think a lot of people will get upgrades because the ship is so empty and it makes sense to consolidate passengers to be serviced by a small staff rather than scattering them across the ship. It costs no more to put someone in a balcony cabin than it does to put them in an inside cabin, so if the ship is empty, why not encourage loyalty? I think MSC is waiting until the last possible minute in the hope that some people will agree to pay for the upgrades and so they are sure they know what they are working with. 

Of course, this was 100% beneficial for me because I paid a rock bottom price and I am getting dramatically more than I paid for. You paid a premium and they can't offer you anything that will be as big a boost as what I got. You might even end up with cabins you like less than your original ones. +You will probably end up dissatisfied as people who paid a lot less get big rewards. At least with low passenger numbers it should be possible to change your assignment if you don't like it.

Just got another email. I've now been moved to a balcony on deck 14 which is also listed as "partial view."  More central location though. I bet the ship is going to be really empty.

1 hour ago, styles27 said:

That’s awesome! Nothing like a balcony in my opinion! Enjoy!

What ship will you be on?

Meraviglia. I didn't think it was worth doubling the cost of the cruise to book it outright and I had a feeling they might do something like this. 

I may have to book another cruise before the world rights itself.

I had a Bella inside cabin and email came this morning, giving me a free upgrade to an obstructed view balcony on deck 8. I already had a single occupancy cabin with two-device internet, drink package and $150 OBC for under $600 all in so I'm pretty happy.

Don't pay a high price for upgrades, they are giving 'em away.

Cozumel has some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean but it's not nearly as good for snorkeling. Best place for that is probably Chankanab park. Renting a scooter to drive around the island is absolutely the right choice. I've done it many times and it's easy and enjoyable. You should be able to get it for under $30. There are lovely beaches on the east side of the island, although most are too rough for swimming (not all). 

If you want to go to Chaccoben ruins you do NOT need to pay to be herded onto a bus. For the same price as booking two people on a tour (or less) you can simply exit the tourist trap port area and negotiate with the local taxi drivers to take you right there and wait to take you back. It is about a 90 minute drive each way and if you go with a taxi you will have plenty of time to find a spot on the beach afterward. No need for a "club." The beach in Mahahual (the name of the town; "Costa Maya" is a fictional name) is lined with restaurants where you can enjoy the beach for the price of a drink.

I will be on the same cruise, but I'm going diving in both places.

11 hours ago, bstel said:

Cozumel, we do the Cozumel Bar Hop tour.  They take you the "wild" side of the island (east side) which is pretty much undeveloped other than a few beach bars.  Even though it is a bar hop it is very low key and i think you can bring kids. Also in Covid times it is nice to be away from the crowds and all the bars are basically an open palapa on the beach so lots of fresh air.

 

Costa Maya, i second Native Tours.  We did the under water river tour a few years back.  Not real kid friendly, especially for a small kid.  But if not a tour through them i would recomend taking a cab to Mahahual and walk the malecon (board walk) and find a place to eat, drink, and swim.

I've driven around Cozumel many times. No need to pay for a tour when you can rent a scooter for $25.

On 10/25/2021 at 8:18 AM, Megraz said:

Do you have any recommendations on who to book dives with in Coz? Im there from 8am to 4 and would like to get a half day dive in but my ship isn't offering it as an excursion 

I didn't see this until now. Unfortunately the very best dive operations won't work on a cruise as you can't get there early enough. I can recommend Scuba with Allison or Deep Blue. They leave at 9. What ship will you be on? I'll be diving in Cozumel on Dec. 17.

On 10/23/2021 at 4:39 PM, cdel71 said:

I sailed on the 10/9 cruise.  Internet was solid.   No issues with email, text or even FaceTime.   I also tested MS Teams and a Zoom call, again no issues.  I did not do video on Zoom or Teams but I was able to do an hour meeting without any problems.   
 

There are plenty of menus that show what’s included in the $9 easy plus package.  If you check MSC’s site there is a spreadsheet that shows exactly what is covered in the easy plus package.  

Thank you! That is exactly what I needed to know. Internet came with the deal I got and if I can count on it I won't have to take the week off from the gig that's portable. 

I applied for Voyagers Club membership in June 2021, without booking anything. Attached a screen shot from my IHG account showing platinum status. MSC replied within two hours and gave me silver status. That got me a $70 discount on the cruise I later booked plus $50 in OBC. Not bad for 10 minutes of my time.

Yet another reason not to pay inflated prices to get on a bus. Cozumel has many "beach clubs." You can take a taxi and walk into almost all of them with no reservation of any kind. If there is no taxi when you want to leave they will call you one. It is really that simple. At Mahahual (that is the name of the town, "Costa Maya" is a fictitious name the cruise lines made up), there is a very long beachfront lined with shops and restaurants. Get in a taxi for a few dollars and pick an establishment that looks good to you, order a drink and you have your beach. When you want to leave, if there isn't a taxi in view, the restaurant will summon one. I suggest you pack one of those little sun shelters for kids that roll up small, and a foldable stroller. No Mexican beach is going to have facilities for babies. 

I am a scuba diver and have been to Cozumel many times, know the island well. The excursions are all ripoffs, don't bother. The "ruins" on this island are a total joke. If you want to go to the beach, get in a taxi and go to the beach of your choice. Some of them do charge but not nearly as much as the ship will take from you. The best option is to rent a scooter and drive it around the island at your own pace. Walk to a rental place and it will cost half as much as doing it through the cruise, if that. There are beautiful beaches on the undeveloped side of the island. It's perfectly safe and you can't get lost unless you are brain dead. No, you can't do that with a toddler.

The ruins near Costa Maya are better than on Cozumel but don't remotely compare to something like Chichen Itza or Uxmal. If you want to go there negotiate with a taxi driver and they will take you for much less than being herded onto a bus. To get to the beach, either walk (not with a toddler for sure) or wend your way through the tourist trap maze and find the local taxis, which will only charge you a couple of dollars. Plenty of places to hang out for just the price of buying a few drinks. 

I am booked in December and would like to hear from anyone with recent experience about how reliable the internet is. Can I count on working for a couple of hours in the morning on some days or will that plan get me fired from my gig?

My second question is which liquors are under the $9 limit for the "easy plus" package.

Thank you in advance.

I canceled a Mediterranean cruise I had booked on MSC and booked on Norwegian instead specifically because they are requiring vaccination. I do not want to wear masks and be limited to canned shore excursions because of unvaccinated people on board, nor do I want to risk being denied docking at a port or other such issues. Cruises are a particular no brainer but I will go out of my way to patronize any business that only allows vaccinated people in the door.

Thank you for posting the link to that form. I avoided a phone call and got exactly what I wanted with zero annoyance.

I booked a cruise for November because it was ridiculously cheap. Whether I go will depend on what I am able to do in the ports. The islands I am supposed to go to have very effectively protected their people by closing their borders, so I am not worried for myself; the question is whether they think we pose too much danger to them. If the port visits are too limited, I'm out. I always wear a mask when in public indoor places even though it is very uncomfortable for me. I am OK with masks in corridors and theaters on a ship (as well as museums and such on land) and will spend little time in bars. I would be cool with that on this cruise as I will be solo and planned to spend most of my shipboard time reading. TBH, a cruise with low numbers of people who are keeping their distance from me sounds kinda great this particular time. If the pools are closed, is that a dealbreaker? Dunno.

I have a charter cruise booked in 2021 that is a very different animal. The onboard entertainment and parties are the whole point and it simply can’t work with social distancing, nor can the promoter pay the talent with a severely restricted number of passengers. I would not dance shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of others today even with masks, and it would suck severely to wear one. If they are allowed to go forward as “normal,” perhaps requiring everyone to be tested, I will make a decision based on the virus situation at the time I have to make the call. I don’t think it’s going to be difficult, as I think the event will be canceled if the situation does not radically improve. In other words, I expect the judgement of the promoters and the talent will be similar to mine anyway.

If what you want from a cruise is the kind of social experience I am expecting from my charter, I don’t think you are going to get that soon, possibly not until there is a vaccine.

Just now, Cruzaholic41 said:

So rather than admit you’re wrong, you’d rather move your own goalposts and now just call enforcement a waste of time. You really need to just walk away from this thread because your hole keeps getting deeper. 
 

And by the way, you won’t see DEA in port because the ports are DHS territory. 

 

I have not "moved the goalposts." Nor was I wrong. I specifically said earlier that federal authorities have explicit control over federal facilities. I never questioned that.  I do question *why they would have any motivation to use it* to look for vacationers with CBD in their luggage. I have attempted to discuss not only who has authority over drug enforcement but also the reality of ACTUAL enforcement and how it relates to cruise lines' policies. I understand if that is too nuanced for you, or if the thought of evil marijuana users evading prosecution simply upsets your authoritarian heart.

I do think enforcing possession laws is a waste of time, especially for federal agencies who have real, serious threats to deal with. Do you want them searching people's luggage for joints or fighting cartels and terrorists? That is a separate question entirely from who has the authority to enforce laws and the motivation behind practical policies, the two issues I addressed earlier. Choosing to address a third point in addition to the other two is not "moving the goalposts." 

11 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

International waters isn't lawlessness.  If it was all those domestic violence murderers  would simply toss their spouse overboard once out at sea.

Federal wins over state.

Federal over state is true as a general rule but the constitution provides areas where state law dominates and the courts have recognized other exceptions. And in practical terms, it is usually in the interest of both sides to avoid conflict.

I actually looked this up and learned something I didn't know: in international waters, laws of the country a ship is flagged under DO apply. So my interpretation of that point was wrong.

However, "domestic violence murderers" do indeed toss their spouses overboard. Sometimes they even do it on cruise ships, which are notoriously reluctant to do anything about it.

If you want to kill someone, getting rid of them at sea is still a great choice, especially if your vessel is under the jurisdiction of a country that doesn't have the resources or motivation to care.

11 hours ago, ColeThornton said:

 

It would be interesting to read the articles you wrote, could you link them please.

 

Thanks.

I don't want my professional identity linked to anything I say in a forum like this. Bad idea. However, I will refer you to a really good, comprehensive article I did not write: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/01/16/five-things-you-should-know-about-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws

14 hours ago, Aquahound said:

 

If you're a journalist, you really need to work on the reading part of your job.  I NEVER said the ship's flag was the "controlling question."  Go back and read post #60 again.  I used the flag as ONLY ONE factor considered in reference to cruises that do not embark in the US.  If you were following along, you'd see it was in response to your comment "you are, I assume, aware that there are countries other than the United States."

 

Here are some facts that you should consider in the future when reporting on this issue. Cruise ships embark and debark in the US in MTSA (Maritime Transportation Security Act) regulated facilities.  They are also called Ports of Entry.  That means they are federally regulated.  Federally prohibited drugs are not permitted in Ports of Entry or in MTSA regulated facilities, and all workers are subject to random drug and alcohol testing.  So one more time, as an educated, subject matter expert in this field, it does not matter what the state says.  As long as it is illegal federally, it will NEVER be allowed on cruise ships in US ports.  Period.  Exclamation Point. 

Yes, the ports of entry in the US are federally controlled. Just like airports and customs facilities, two examples I specifically mentioned. Same concept. If they chose to, federal authorities could certainly enforce drug laws there. However, it is a low-profit prospect for them. Federal drug enforcement focuses on distribution networks. Policing cruise passengers is a waste of time for them. It would disrupt commerce in a way that would cause friction with business interests and the public with little potential upside. The cruise lines promulgate official policies that keep all authorities happy and take action when they are forced to because someone is too "public." Neither side has any motivation to upset that copacetic, lucrative situation.  You will not see the DEA in a cruise terminal unless they are investigating something much larger than Sally's package of edibles. As someone who helps pay their salaries, I sure hope they have better uses for their time. 

1 minute ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

Wow. If this is the sort of thing you’re reporting as a journalist, I have serious concerns about your quest for accuracy. You’re doing a lot of people an injustice if you’re reporting this as true. 

Show me where I am wrong. Supply citations. I'll wait. 

1 minute ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

You’re arguing with a CG investigator who obviously knows the law much better than you. He is right - the fact it’s illegal at the federal level is what makes it illegal on board. Oh, and I’m a retired Customs agent, so I also know the law quite well. 

What makes something "illegal" on board a ship is the law where it is docked at that moment.  You can use any drug you want in international waters. In the US, cruise ships go by federal law as far as official policies because the cruise line wants to make all authorities happy and does not want to be involved in a state/federal controversy.

As far as reality, federal law is relevant if you are passing through customs or airport security, or if you are a business large enough for federal authorities to care about you. Otherwise, state law determines whether the police will bother you because they work for state and local governments, not the federal government. Whether or not they will be arrested is what individuals care about and that is mostly a function of state and local law.

It is not certain what would happen if the clash between state and federal marijuana laws were litigated. It is in almost everyone's interest not to litigate it and so I doubt it will happen before marijuana is legalized nationally, which it almost certainly will be in my lifetime. It will take just a little longer for the prohibition states to realize how much revenue they are losing and for older politicians to be replaced. Support for legalization is overwhelming among younger people.

I'm a journalist and have written about this issue. I know the law quite well. I certainly know it better than someone who thinks where a ship is flagged is the controlling question for cases of drug possession. If I have Florida license plates, smoking marijuana in my (stationary) car is still legal in Seattle. And having Colorado plates does not make it legal in Georgia.

5 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

I'm starting to get the impression you are set in your opinions and facts don't matter.  Oh well; I'll try anyways.  First, in the States, it makes no difference if it is legal in the state where the ship is docked.  Zero whatsoever.  What matters is that it's illegal federally.  Period. 

 

Next, internationally.  In order for THC to be legal on board, it must be legal in the country of the ship's flag, and all countries on the ship's itinerary. 

 

Three.  Zero Tolerance.  Yes, it does exist.  Dogs do exist.  Do people who stupidly take marijuana on board also exist? Yep.  Do many get away with it? Yep.  But that does not mean it isn't heavily enforced.  And room attendants are notorious for not reporting things because it means a hit to their pocketbook.  That's just common sense. 

Federal law matters for the convenience of the cruise line. State law is what determines if an individual will be harassed.

If the laws of the country where the ship is flagged was the controlling question, then US law would be irrelevant. What matters is where a ship is currently docked, not where it is registered. Do you seriously think foreign ships are not subject to US law when they are docked in New Jersey or California? A cruise line has to set policies that keep them out of trouble with all the jurisdictions they deal with. 

If I have seen no enforcement on any cruise and stewards are not punished for failing to report guests, then the real policy is not "zero tolerance." THAT is common sense. The stated policy may be "zero tolerance," but the REAL policy is "do the minimum amount required to mollify authorities and keep disasters from occurring while bothering as few guests as possible." If believing that people will be punished for using substances you disapprove of makes you warm inside, don't let me interfere with your contentment.

Just now, Aquahound said:

 

I understand there is much confusion about CBD capsules but you went on to ref MJ and other THC products.  It does not matter if those were legal in all 50 states.  The fact it's still federally illegal makes it illegal to possess on cruise ships, and when crossing state lines.  Period.  The cruise lines do not have the option of allowing it.  Zero Tolerance is strictly enforced on ships.   

You are wrong again. What is illegal depends on where the ship is docked. You are, I assume, aware that there are countries other than the United States? They have their own laws and different things are legal in different places. 

Zero tolerance is NOT "strictly enforced" on all ships, all the time. I have seen a fair amount of marijuana used on ships, especially on charter cruises. I know many, many people who carry CBD, edibles and marijuana on ships routinely. Including someone who has been my roommate on cruises and was not as careful as should be the case. If there were "zero tolerance" on those cruises the steward would have reported it. I have never seen a drug dog on or near a cruise ship. I am sure this does indeed happen sometimes, but the situation is a long way from "zero tolerance."

3 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

Sorry, but you're wrong. 

No, I am not wrong. You do not understand either what I am saying or the practical reality of this situation. The laws on specific substances are many and varied. They vary between states and between countries. The practical reality of what is actually enforced is even more nuanced. Trying to set more lenient policies that consider all those permutations would be impractical. That is why the cruise lines do not do it. They care only about what makes them the most money and keeps them in the good graces of all the countries they do business with. They know perfectly well that almost no jurisdictions really care about CBD capsules, but stating openly that they are allowed can only cause grief with no profit.