perakcruiser

4 hours ago, Europeantraveler1 said:

Prior to the cruise, we have a couple of nights apartment reservations in Rome with many tours booked there then two nights in Naples with tour of Capri and Pompeii.

Excellent choice. But keep in mind that Capri is only the end of one of the best trips on this planet. The main thing is the trip from Naples to Capri along the Amalfi coast. If you love pasta, a stop in Gragnano is a MUST. And you need to go at least a small part of the Path of the Gods ( https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentiero_degli_Dei ), the views are out of this world and only matched by Cinque Terre in the North. 

4 hours ago, Europeantraveler1 said:

We are cruising with our two, teenage grandsons (who never have cruised or visited Europe) and my daughter and son-in-law.   

Great, it will be the experience of a lifetime for all generations 🙂

4 hours ago, Europeantraveler1 said:

So,…we went ahead and reserved a Princess-Alaskan cruise for the same time period-TOTALLY different kind of cruise and of course, totally different location.

OK, I don´t understand your logic here. Here´s my point. Basically it needs a TOTAL ESCALATION of the Ukraine war so that Italy, France and Spain are effected. This is only possible if the US attack Russia. And IF the US attacks Russia then whole Alaska as former Russian territory with the Russian-US-sea border will be completly off limits immediately for sure. You really think you can (and want) cruise around the Russian and US military bases and war ships in the Bering Strait? 

I could understand if the situation in Europe is too unstable for you, so you go to the boring Carribean (and miss the trip of a lifetime), but Alaska actually would be the very last place to bring my grandsons. Cruise-able place 🙂

So I would also highly recommend you to go on with your Italy plans. Keep in mind, if the escalation is really coming both cruises will be canceled anyway. But Alaska or Baltic sea certainly first and Western Med or Carribean much much later. 

Not 

11 hours ago, keeven2 said:

I booked a MSC cruise at end of a school holiday, now it looks like we need to disembark one day earlier and go home due to other arrangement. So is it ok that when we are onboard we inform the ship reception to clear the bills and walk off one day earlier? 

TIA.

Not a problem in the Western Med with two Schengen ports, just need to do exactly what you write. You can ignore all the info about cases outside Schengen where early disembarkation was not granted, not relevant for you. 

41 minutes ago, ChattTenn said:

We had been cruised outside USA with other lines (NCL, Princess) not a single time got charged with exchange rate service for the onboard expenses and for the ship sailing from USA while the deposit did not have that charge just try to figure out. It was not much to break the bank just different with MSC.

Actually I was talking about travel in general, not just cruises. Only MasterCard is using the "real" exchange rate, all others using their own fantasy exchange rates.

10 hours ago, ChattTenn said:

Thank you.  Will keep that in mind for a future cruise with MSC.

Actually if you travel a lot a MasterCard without foreign transaction fee is an absolute must that will save you a small fortune over the years. But not easy to get at least in some countries. 

On 3/7/2022 at 5:58 AM, dlbosfo said:

I tried this and it did not work for me.

* Began with 2 people

* Selected YC1 cabin say 18009, had quote for 2 at the bottom

* Now clicked on the change occupants

* Changed 2 adults to 2 adults + 1 child

* Boom YC1 went away and now I can only book Duplex

 

Hmmm, wonder MSC would change occupancy on these cabins to higher than 2 at some point.

Yes, I see that this trick does not work for YC cabins.

Probably really only a phonecall helps. 

9 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Did the Future cruise manager in January on the Mera for 2 other issues with no results as well as a b2b on Seashore in December.

🤪

The future cruise manager cannot even decide about a MSC lanyard worth 2 € for Gold member. 

14 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Doesn't the crew represent the company?  The same company that is doing another screw job on me?

I don´t know if this is the same at the US cruise companies, but the "normal" crew is not employed by MSC. The cruise director certainly represents the company, but he will say "Nothing happened off that boat is my business". 

11 hours ago, Gatrcruzer said:

So, here is my take on MSC: they have beautiful ships, comfortable rooms, good entertainment and kids club, and the crew are lovely. The food - well, it can be hit or miss, but I really like their pizza. And if everything goes right for you along the way, you can have an excellent cruise at great value. However, sometimes you are unlucky, and something that is totally not your fault happens that is a screw up on their end, or the website's end, or the people in customer service screw up and give faulty information.

This is exactly the point. What I have learnt is to keep things simple with them. This lesson costed me only 10 or 15 Euro when I bought 100 Euro "future cruise credit" on board for my next cruise with them. Certainly they did not accept and did not give me the credit. Why? I made a booking from the "Last Minute" section. But on the voucher was written "Valid for .... Last Minute". So why not? Typical MSC answer from Italy "Yes, the voucher is totally valid for "Last Minute" bookings. But not for "Last Minute" bookings from this Last Minute section on the web site. 

Lots of complaints about this "future cruise credit" vouchers, one year later the stopped it. Yes, was only 10 or 15 Euro, but since then I am sure that I will not accept any "credit" refund for my next booking, no matter how wonderful and easy and friendly the conditions are. I book my cruise, I pay it full, I don´t want to have anything to do with them before I board. 

On 3/6/2022 at 8:22 PM, mscdivina2016 said:

If they make me do that, I will not be happy and I am one who will not let it go once I am on board and that's just my personality.

Well, your enemy sits in Napoli thousands of kilometers away. Apart from the captain problably no staff on board the ship or at the port has the financial capabilities to solve this problem for you. And the captain will not care about, thats for sure😄

Better enjoy and save the fighting spirit for the court action, that would be my way. But you certainly know best what is best for your state of mind. 

2 hours ago, dlbosfo said:

Why would MSC do this, I do know that these cabins can hold our family, I have done it before half a dozen times.

 

Totally normal with MSC, you need to start with 2 adults only, then you see the cabins, then you need to add the child. Bingo, cabins still here. So easy 😉 

4 hours ago, McHaggis69 said:

what are the best bits about Aurea

the spa and my choice dining. 

4 hours ago, McHaggis69 said:

I just wish there was some place I could see the whole deal and what we have already included.

will all be on your eticket MSC will send as pdf

7 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

I should  start a new thread and get people's opinions on what to do once I arrive

I don´t think there is someone from MSC on St. Martin that can make a $1800+ plus decision. 

Actually I don´t think there is someone from MSC in Fort Lauderdale that can make a $1800+ plus decision. 

I am cruising with MSC for 15 years or so and never got another answer than this: "We totally understand and support your case. We will send a request to Italy and then call you back with the result". Had this two times, the answer was two times a plain NO without any reason given. Presented to me with a lot of love and understanding from the local MSC office🤪

No matter which country and local MSC office. I never booked in Italy, that maybe would be the easiest way to get along with them😄

In your case you maybe have to make a rational decision not emotional. Pay them off and enjoy your holiday and fight for your money after coming back. 1800 from 6300 makes 28% "surcharge", sounds better to me than standing at a port in a foreign country with denied boarding. 

On 3/3/2022 at 12:07 AM, Saab4444 said:

They are in and from Switzerland not Italy.

While the MSC tax relevant HQ is in Switzerland, it has been many times clarified that everything relevant for the consumer has to go through the MSC Cruises HQ in Napoli. 

On 3/1/2022 at 8:50 PM, Outofofficeon said:

Spoke with mSC. Landing at Dubai you can take the free pCR (I arrive on 16th) then board ship on 19th.  PCR is also required for Abu Dhabi but they said if you buy an excursion the cost of the ship pCR is included.  Otherwise you have to pay for a pCR on ship to wander off on your own.   This was accurate as of yesterday.  

So many lies 😄

And it is ridiculous that MSC tells you you can take a free PCR test at the airport on March 16. They don´t even know if this still exists today. I doubt it, why should they offer the free test with the new entry regulations? Just for MSC? 

Anyway, as you land on 16 and board on 19, you can easily do the very cheap PCR test in Dubai or even the free test at the EXPO. 

NOTHING is needed to go off the ship in Abu Dhabi and SBY, just your cruise card. Download and set up the Careem app before your trip, you probably will need it in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 

16 hours ago, Homosassa said:

accompanied by the contorno 

 

Of course, they do now have the oversized pasta dishes

Ah, that would be a lenghty discussion about secondi with contorni yes, no, maybe 😄 

Oversized pasta at MSC? Yes, very simple pasta they sometimes do bigger, but mostly the size is the typically small portion. When the word "Gragnano" appears on the menu for sure. Which does only one time a week now outside the YC. 

And especially with filled pasta. Where even at the buffet now they are not keen to give you a full plate. They will ask "two?", you answer "no, no, more", they "OK, three"🤪

While I was OK with being served at the buffet on Virtuosa in January this fight for every ravioli annoyed me totally. Ridiculous. The filled pasta is one of the things MSC makes a better line than others, don´t throw all your advantages over board like you did with the entertainmane already.

5 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Took me into my college years to eat pizza because of the red sauce on it.

Good news, MSC offers also the white pizza with no tomatoes. I have to say I prefer it also, with a lot of cheese and on board I usually put nice "parma" ham on top by myself. 

5 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I do love salads and most veggies. Give me a big salad and I'm good. Some sliced fruit for dessert. Potatoes of course. Baked potato would do me for dinner. I di that one night on rcl when nothing else sounded good. I usually go to the buffet where I can pick and choose.

OK, I guess you will really not be happy in the MDR. Actually I am sure you will not. But the buffet with it´s huge salad selection called "Wellness" 😄 should fit you good. I think they have roast potatoes also always (I don´t eat potatoes so I am not sure). The veggies selection in the buffet is also nothing to complain. At the ethnic corner you should find meat and fish that is acceptable for you. Thankfully this changes every day, because 14 days with buffet is quite some time. 

"authentic italian" unfortunately (for you) means first a round of of pasta, risotto or soup and then a round of protein to get full which is very simple cooked meat, chicken or fish with no veggies or potatoes. 

But MSC long time changed for a more international approach. 

9 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I'm more worried about the food that how people dress. 

Very true. And I have seen perfectly dressed guests on Gala night with unfortunately not perfectly matching abilities to sit at the eating table and holding the cutlery set. I don´t care as I am in the MDR for enjoying good food not for watching people. 

On 2/26/2022 at 3:06 AM, LuckyStar said:

We are experienced cruisers, aged 61 for both of us.   We have cruised most of the major lines and like them fine but looking for a bit more refinement if possible and maybe older crowds.  

 

Is this a line we should consider?  We're not big on night life but the 11 day we are considering in the Caribbean is port intensive. 

Basically you should consider MSC because you miss something if you not try them. Maybe the old MSC ten years before would have fitted you better than the new americanized MSC, but the chances that you will be disappointed are very small. 

Certainly you have to avoid the US school holidays for a Caribbean cruise and the Italy / Germany school holidays for a European cruise if you want to have "maybe older crowds".

Please follow the MSC rule to keep things simple. Book, pay, go on board, enjoy. Try to avoid any discussions with them. 

On 2/26/2022 at 3:18 AM, firefly333 said:

Following. Similar age and want some unusual ports when I'm in miami but I'm a picky eater.

 

Sorry I am just asking the same question. .. have no idea about msc. I've done princess, celebrity, ncl, rcl, and carnival .. never msc. I'm not picky about much else other than food lol. 

"Picky eater" is a little bit to unspecified. Food on MSC basically is good, but there are things that MSC - in my opinion - fails to deliver. You want a nice steak every night? Forget it or pay for it. Fancy seafood? No have. A decent egg benedict for breakfast as Celebrity does? MSC has it on the breakfast menu on every ships menu since they started business, so amazing it is still the worst egg benedict on sea and land. The fast food from MSC is not what I would eat, but I also don´t like a Burger from McDonalds. 

But food on MSC still is good. You are familiar to Italian food? Pizza, pasta, risotto, all is up to decent Restaurant standard. And better than other cruise companies for sure. Also at the buffet where there is anyway such a big selection that makes everyone happy. 

So you don´t need to worry about being a picky eater, maybe sometimes you will order the wrong dish as MSC first timer, but thats all. 

5 hours ago, adam7392 said:

MSC say you need to show this result to board but that wasn't the case, we just showed our UK PCR result along

I emailed them before the cruise because the stupid wording on their webpage. They confirmed that any PCR test is ok if it is in the time frame, the one you did at home or one from Dubai. We did the free PCR tests at the EXPO.

Four things for the thread opener:

1. Download and set up the Careem app already before the trip.

2. There is a free EXPO bus just outside the terminal entrance.

3. If you need a PCR test for the flight back, you can do this when you visit the EXPO on Saturday. Even if you buy another EXPO day pass it is much cheaper than do it on the ship.

4. The museum of the future opened this week, we were very said that we have been in Dubai a few weeks too early.

2 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

Is there priority boarding for Diamond?

Yes. The "old" sequence: YC then Diamond then Aurea then others. And after these first batches YC, Diamond and Aurea can board with the next number.

Depending on the port families with small kids also get priority, especially at Italian ports. 

Eataly is gone on all ships as far as I know. And every speciality restaurant has a "Diamond" "experience", at least I would not know one that has not. 

18 hours ago, Wannacruise81 said:

If you are traveling in a Suite (not yacht club, Suite with whirl pool-Aurera exp). Do you get priority boarding and can show up at any time on embarkation day?

Yes, Aurea has priority boarding. You can show up at any time and can board with the next "number". But during the pandemic with the half empty ships all this may not happen depending on the ship and the port. There was no priority boarding on the Virtuosa in January. As usual these days, everything can change every day.

2 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

The only time we've ordered pizza from YC room service, I ordered one with pepperoni and received one with peppers 🤦‍♀️ They managed to get this wrong twice before we gave up 🙄

You are from England, not USA?

The "pepperoni" you are talking is something 100% US, it is a US version of something the rest of the world knows as "salami". In the rest of the world "Peperoni" is just an italian word for bell pepper that is commonly used also outside Italy when talking about Italian cousine. So if you order a pizza with "peperoni" you will practically everywhere on this planet outside the US get one with bell pepper. If you want a pizza with salami, just say it 😉 Works in Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Delhi, Tokyo and anywhere else. 

13 hours ago, TnoP said:

In particular, we have read that you need to have a COVID test at the end of the cruise to disembark (as well as the 2 pre-boarding) Is this correct?

No. Only one Covid test, that is the one you need to show at embarkation. 

In Doha we were not allowed to leave the ship even we completed all the procedures with the pre registration. Only MSC bubble tours were available. Abu Dhabi was no problem, we just went off the ship and took a Careem to the Louvre. 

On 2/5/2022 at 11:20 PM, Miss_Confused said:

Looking at doing a Eastern Med cruise with MSC Lirica and considering what package to choose. From what I have seen from some older posts the wine list by the glass is pretty short so wondering what is the best option?

Unfortunately the Easy Package is more or less useless, you probably will not like the cheap house wines. In the MDR every day there are wine recommendations by the glass ranging from 6,50 to about 10 €. These change daily, there is a Chablis and other nice options. I guess you also can get the Chablis if it is not on the daily menu. So the Easy Plus helps but also makes many choices unavailable as the limit is tight with 8 €. On the other hand the price for Premium package is too expensive, so for wine drinkers like us all the options are not too attractive. Overall I would still recommend you the Easy Plus, if you bring a little bit flexibility you will enjoy nice wines. 

On 2/5/2022 at 11:20 PM, Miss_Confused said:

Also key question, what is the best way to have wine in the cabin?

You have to buy a (very expensive) bottle. The bottles are not included in any package. Or with a drinks package choose a cabin that is as close to a bar as possible and grab a glass 🙂

4 hours ago, adam7392 said:

When were the elegant/dress up nights and did people make an effort ?

As always, Italians oh yes, Germans and Russians not so much 😚

Having said that, we also failed a little bit, but we this time were a men only group without our wifes, so what to do🤪