eastender

I suppose we all hate the muster drill, but on the smaller ships you are where you would want to be in an emergency, standing in lines outside, ready to board a lifeboat if necessary. I know it's not the only meeting point but I cannot imagine in a real emergency being herded into a crowded low deck restaurant where exits from it seem minimal. It's quite claustrophobic in a drill and feels like the last place I would want to go in a real emergency.

No idea why people can't just worry about themselves an mind their own business.

Oh dear, I do apologize, obviously hit a raw nerve there.

OK, I'm obviously not talking about cruise critic members because we all tip $1 min.per drink right? It's all those others and it's a lot of people, where nothings happening, some are hard pushed to say thank you. That's what my wife says and believe me, she's always right. These are cruises out of Florida.

If my memory (no pun) serves me, there's a hint of the Memory song at the end of act 1 but the full version is in act 2.

We always tip at least $2 for 2 drinks received without fail but let's face it, we're not blind and I would guess 50% or more of people are not tipping and I don't see any difference on the last night. I'd love to say different and I'm happy to read the replies to this thread from the people who do tip. Cruising out of Florida, we were sitting with a couple once saying we were quite new to Diamond. First drink, when I got my $2 out, the guy covered my hand with his and said "no, just give them a couple of bucks on the last night". Bit embarrassing really.

I hate getting shuttles so like parking at the port. What I don't like is for 3 night cruisers followed by 4 night cruisers (not b2b), they're taking 9 days money. That's just wrong.

Obvious what's going on here, posting negative review hoping to keep MSC to themselves. Last MSC cruise we did, the food was better than Royal, yes, shows are different because of different nationalities on board and there are some negatives like hardly any dinner tables for 2. we found more entertainment going on in lounges, on Royal you get that time before dinner around 18:00 when it seems nothing is going on at all. Having said all that, I'm still loyal to Royal but do stray!

I've never had the screw cap removed on miller or coors lite which have the wide neck. Sometimes they will just crack it. Shame the beer inside's not great.

Close to the going price in Europe. Barcelona, a few years ago when the euro was about 1.75 to the dollar, it was 3.5 eros for a 33 liter bottle.

Now days with the Euro almost even it would be around $3.5.

a 33 liter bottle (1116 fl ozs), that I would like to see!

On our Oasis cruise in Dec. it was set up in 'On Air' near Starbucks. First day, lines at guest services were horrendous. Don't understand why the comedy club room is so small on a ship of that size. We got in line for standby one night, the line wasn't long but we didn't get in. From what I saw people were just pushing in at the front, not worth the hassle.

We recently did an MSC Med cruise. Drinks package (everyone in cabin) was £20 ($25) pppd. Included everything you could really want, beers, wines, cocktails, spirits, mixed drinks, fruit juices, specialty coffees, sodas, ice creams, milk shakes etc. NO premium brands. I'm guessing they make a healthy profit from it, so although RCI's package includes more choice, the $65 pppd is very high. Maybe they are already factoring in the cheaters.

Doing Oasis 18-23rd Dec. Trying to book Cats, sold out so we'll have to book on-board but there is only one show, 1st night. How is that going to work with so many pax.

While doing the booking process, if you click on 'compare msc experiences', my choice dining only appears in the Aurea experience so you can understand the confusion but it is disappointing that some MSC staff who are employed to do customer service are not aware of what's in their own brochure.

Booked a balcony cabin on Opera, sailing from Genoa on 1st November 2016. I have downloaded the current brochure (msccruises.co.uk). It clearly states under the Fantastica experience -- "Dinner in a reserved area of the restaurant with flexible "My Choice Dining" (for fantastica balcony guests only)". Phoned MSC as that option didn't come up at booking. Was told by customer service that my choice dining option is only available for Aurea experience guests, and wouldn't listen to any debate on it.

It seems either customer service is wrong or the brochure is wrong?

I'm always rushing out of the theater after the show to get a couple of drinks to take into dinner before the cut off deadline. How strict are they on those cut off times?

Lots of sea days, not a round trip, not a megaship, inside stateroom.

 

We have a 14-night TA next year where the insides are starting at $736.

Also I think that a lot of people would think twice before cruising in that region right now.

"No, I have to open them" is all I get when I ask for the top to stay on! If the bottle's glass, at the pool they'll pour it into a cup.

O'Douls was definitely available in DL on Freedom recently.

It's one thing leaving the lounge with a drink but one thing I don't like to see is people using the DL as a free bar where they just walk in, ask for whatever and walk out. Recently on Freedom a young guy walks in to DL, we're seated 2 yards away and he seriously didn't look old enough to drink, card in hand, asked for 2 Coronas and 1 Bud, got them no problem, walked out no thanks no tip. Who knows where those beers were going? That's just wrong.

On the Enchantment, just after turning Diamond and before the vouchers were introduced, we knew drinks were to be consumed in the lounge but noticed drinks being taken out regularly. So we're having a nice relaxing time enjoying this new experience when a woman appeared on duty, looked like an assistant to the concierge who was on adefinite mission to stop this thievery! Anyone leaving with a drink was stopped and drinks taken from them in a very enthusiastic manner, the drinks were then tipped away. One couple seeing what was going on, timely exited into an elevator only to be foiled by a foot between the doors and drinks were taken! I'm not making this up, the shock horror looks on faces were priceless, some making a point of writing this woman's name down before leaving in disgust. Since then, I've not seen anyone blink at anyone leaving with a drink but that experience has scarred me and have never had the courage to leave with anything.

Thanks for the info, I'll look for something else!

We wanted to do this 4 day cruise but it doesn't show anywhere, although there seems to be a roll call for it and no mention of a charter. I would have thought if it was completely sold out it would show as such on TA's?

Booked an April cruise on Brilliance and chose the traditional late dining, fine!

Just booked a December cruise on Brilliance and no choice, it says 'open seating' and on rci website it only says 'flexible dining - dine anytime the main dining room is open'. I know about 'mytime', is this different? It seems like there is/was no other option.

Also some confusion with Diamond free drinks loaded onto seapass. No notice in cabin and was told at Guest Services they will be loaded on, only to be told later at the bars "NOT ON A 2 DAY CRUISE". Couldn't understand the logic in that as it's on a daily basis and it would have been nice to get the info beforehand. We had a good time but as said embarkation was a nightmare, time in Nassau was very short and disembarkation was also very slow.

We asked for a table for 2 but regretted it. The table was out in the open, squashed in surrounded by large tables, waiters pushing by all the time so be careful what you ask for.