perakcruiser

11 hours ago, Gray Lady said:

We just want to avoid the main summer rush. 

That is the most important thing, never go in July or August, late June is already problematic. The cruise lines help you to avoid this by double or triple prices at these times. 

For a classic trip in Western Med I would recommend MSC for the real experience, not an American line. 

6 hours ago, Louisfry said:

I have been instructed again, in no uncertain terms, by my TA not to contact MSC again and to just sit and wait - Period.

I am very familiar to this. Unfortunately I had booked with a TA not with the airlines flights that were cancelled because of COVID. Both (very prominent) airlines involved refused to talk with me, because they had no business with me as I used an agent. The agent of cause said he will not refund anything before he gets all settled by the airlines. One case took 11 months, the other 13 months. Just wasted time to make calls or write e-mails, it is just wait and see. For a long time. 

32 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Perhaps it is a race to the bottom ?

https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2009/10/articles/crime/cruise-ship-brawls-a-problem-that-will-get-bigger-with-bigger-ships/

That is not correct from my view. 

Other then in America and Asia the cruise business in Europe always (OK, in the last 20 years, not always) was much more "democratic". Americans and Asians cannot believe this, but especially MSC had quite a huge number of "poor" guests, unemployed people with their families. And these days also a lot of Ukraine refugees. 

The main problem maker is definitely the all you can drink packages. 

19 hours ago, volk904 said:

We had planned an Oct cruise on the Harmony with by granddaughter (4) and daughters. And their husbands but right now I not happy that Royal advertisement says kids sail free but then charges $1000 more for the cabin. It looks like MSC charges just a small fare for port fees so I am interested. We have sailed on Royal 6 times and NCL twice.  Just wondered about positives and negatives compared to what we know.  We can get the drinks and Wi-Fi for less than the Royal Cruise. 

My simple recommendation is don´t go with the liars and the cheaters, go with MSC. Since we have kids we only choose kids friendly lines where kids really sail free or almost free. 

24 minutes ago, Gray Lady said:

Is it true that you are nickel and die ‘d for everything?

I don´t know where this rumor comes from, but it is absolutely not true. If you have no drinks included, then you have to pay for the drinks (normal prices) plus a 15% service charge. For many this is the only stuff on the final bill. 

15 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

Depends where you cruise. MSC is sending all it's large ships to the Americas. Smaller ships in Europe. So, that might affect pricing.

In Europe the prices have EXPLODED. Especially for the mighty MSC World Europe, looks like everyone want to be on board in the inaugural season. 

7 hours ago, michelle028 said:

Can you walk to these attractions from the cruise port or you have to take public transport?

Yes, no problem to walk. Not sure about public transport, probably you need to walk over the Galata bridge first.

It is the same thing and indeed you would pay twice. 

31 minutes ago, styles27 said:

Exactly what we all say lol 

The room we had chosen could accommodate 4 people so I’m thinking maybe they needed it for a new booking 

Most probably. If you book a Fantastica Inside for 4 with only 2 people the chances for upgrade are very high as they need these rooms desperately when the ship gets full 😄 

On 1/27/2023 at 4:13 PM, styles27 said:

So it’s all inclusive on your reservation. I didn’t know that. 
I cruised in Europe and was charged the extra fees separately but I did book on the US site so maybe that is why. 

Exactly, most convinient is MSC UK. They have everything included and even water bottles and coffee. You see just one prices and this is the real price. 

21 hours ago, Sancho_proudfoot said:

Walked into the city in Hamburg  about an hour each way.

You walked across the Elbe tunnel to the "real" city or just to the quarter of Hamburg that is nearest to the cruise port? The latter is more like visiting Istanbul, but unfortunately without interesting places to see 😄 

14 hours ago, adam7392 said:

How much was the Careem ?

We went to the Louvre (about 30 AED) and then back to the Corniche.

1 hour ago, adam7392 said:

Thanks for the reply.  The Abu Dhabi bus website shows bus 9 going from right opposite the terminal to the palace - so if you have the prepaid card its a very cheap way to get there.

 

Oh, this looks great and is probably new. Also a second line (44) to the mosque!

Last year we just took a Careem.

14 hours ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

OMG no way MSC starting doing this NCL crap now. 

MSC started it and many others also. I dont remember any of my last cruises (with different lines) did not have these things. 

17 hours ago, sidari said:

Is that just a USA thing? 

I think at least in Europe MSC (and the others) NEVER allowed TA to give discounts. Probably until now MSC just tolerated it in the US. Many of the Europeans cruise lines also don´t allow any other incentives for the customers like OBC. There are some loopholes, but a TA definitely is not allowed to offer a cruise cheaper than the cruise line. 

Totally outdated. All is open again long long time already.

@little britain The Dubai desert classics now finish on Monday because of the bad weather. Maybe you can go, we totally enjoyed it one year before.

12 hours ago, no1talks said:

For example, on cruises of 7-days or longer, during a sea day, they would have a one-off matinee show of a truncated opera. To my knowledge, no MSC cruise from the US has continued this custom since the restart. (If anyone has cruised from the US and seen an abbreviated opera, please advise.)

Sounds ugly. In 2022 the Virtuosa had the La Traviata in Dubai in January and also in northern Europe in November. Different singers, the ones in Dubai were good, the ones in Europe absolutely gorgeous.

And MSC praised themselves intensively for being the only cruise company that still offers this to their customers 🙂

4 minutes ago, styles27 said:

I’m thinking the poster means port fees?

I am cruising with MSC since 2009 or 2010 and only have heard about these "port fees" or "taxes" from this forum because the Americans have to pay. In most markets it is illegal to separate these fees, taxes, whatever, from the cruise price.

Edit: Also RCCL or Carnival do not collect port fees in European markets. Because they can´t 🙂

2 hours ago, sealynx said:

Yes, the taxes, you do have to pay them. But you are kind of right, because indeed you also have to pay half the gratuities you would pay for an adult.

I am unfamiliar with MSC in the Netherlands, but on all European markets I know the taxes are not payable for anyone, no matter if adult or kid. I sailed many times with my kids and never paid anything else except 50% of the gratuities.

10 hours ago, Rahmi said:

1. I saw that mocktails are included for free (without purchasing any drinks package)? Is this correct? So this will be available at the bars?

2. MDR - is there a seating for two option, or do we have to join a larger table?

3. We are doing a November sailing, will the ship be full? If we want some quiet, where would we go?

1. No, never have been, never will be.

2. Have to discuss with Maitre d if you are unhappy with your assigned table. 

3.  Never full in November, easy to find quiet zones. 

That really sounds like fun. Looking forward to the "report". 

35 minutes ago, sealynx said:

In Europe is kind of an ongoing promotion: for kids sailing in the same cabin as their parents you only pay taxes.

The gratuities (50%), not the taxes.

17 hours ago, GetMeToTheSpa said:

It looks like there are options in Barcelona, Genoa, Marseille?  which is best or most practical?   This will be my first Mediterranean/European cruise ever, and I'm very intimidated by all this.

I think I can find good reasons for all three equally. And bad reasons also. At the end it depends on what flights you can get for what price. TAP is a preferable choice, highly recommended to make a stopover in Lisbon what maybe could be called a better destination than all ports on your cruise 🙂

1 hour ago, nbsjcruiser said:

Is this normal?

Yes, all countries have different prices.