perakcruiser

12 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I was on Seaview at the end of September on an itinerary that I chose because it featured Ajaccio, Corsica.  Seaview had been going to that port all summer long, every 7 days.  But for 'operational reasons' my particular cruise couldn't go there.  I only found out because @WonderMan3 got the notice while he was on the prior sailing.  We went to Toulon instead – which a French couple we met on board was very distressed about, because they consider Toulon the least interesting port in the Med.  And MSC never updated the map or website for that sailing.  BUT I didn't come here to ***** and moan about it – I made lemonade by paying (a lot) for a taxi to take us to Aix-en-Provence.  We had a lovely day, and it didn't ruin our cruise.

 

I was on this cruise two weeks later, like many of the people now in the Carribean with OC, we booked this cruise mainly because of Ajaccio. Actually most ports we stayed on board. I would have cried many tears if they would have cancelled Ajaccio and can absolutely understand that people go mad for being shipped to Toulon. MSC should have given them a very, very, very good reason at least. 

That is a little bit different than the OC case. You have to expect that MSC cannot hold the opening date, but you cannot expect that they are not able to sail to Ajaccia after they did this all the months before. 

46 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

Has anyone been on either a Fjords or Iceland cruise on MSC?

Yes, not just with MSC, the Norwegian fjords cruise is a must. MSC is doing it for ages already and they doing it very good. 

But Norway is not the Antartica, the size of the ship does not affect the route. Some changes are expected in the future, better don´t wait with this cruise.  

48 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

Will we be out of place as Americans?  

No, you will be the 10th or 15th strongest nationality group of 50 :D

1 hour ago, Beamafar said:

The only future cruise credit vouchers I remember were the ones that you purchased for €10 and they gave an OBC value which differed depending on cabin type you booked.  One of ours gave us €400 OBC for a YC booking.  😜

Yes, that is what I am talking. They sold ONE product on board, but that T&C did not match there billions of local products. It should be valid for "Last Minute" bookings, but this Last Minute offers had a different name in different markets and at the end we were told "only Italy MSC last minute". Some endless discussions on board with unhappy customers and disappearing Service Charges later, MSC cancelled it. 

13 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Very clever on MSC's part not to offer a clear-cut 20% off a future cruise, thereby controlling the value of the offer.

Otherwise I woud expect them to exclude some offers like MSC Specials or Holiday Breaks. This future cruise credit has brought a lot of unhappiness to us in the past (the one you bought on the ship for your next cruise). 

1 hour ago, hamrag said:

The local authorities may prevent ships from coming into Venice, so an alternative port may be the way MSC go....being an Italian line, they should have some kudos with the powers that be, and secure an alternative at short notice.

They will not go to another city, but there is always the chance that the ship will dock at the ugly industrial port of Venice and you will tender to and from there. 

10 hours ago, jimmyjackson said:

Thank you for the info.  Sounds like we really can't go wrong with either ship. 

In the end you will probably anyway cruise both classes. And it looks like MSC will always have a Seaside- and Mera-Class ship in America in the upcoming years. 

So the best start to your MSC career would be the good olde Armonia, where I started mine many years before 

Close Call, but Meraviglia. 

5 hours ago, tnt10 said:

So, bottom line:  The DSC covers all tipping in the YC.  Tipping is at the sole descretion of the passenger.  Correct, or am I missing something??

This is all MSC has to say about it: MSC Cruises does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

About the DSC things are not so easy of cause.

UK: 

SERVICE CHARGES / GRATUITIES
Service Charge / Gratuities are included in the cruise fare.

Tips
MSC Cruises does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

US: 

The Hotel Service charge serves to ensure we maintain the highest quality standards of service to our guests. The daily amounts below have been calculated with this in mind and cannot be modified. However, should you wish to remove any of the daily Hotel Service Charge in the unlikely event that you do not receive satisfactory service, you may do so by contacting the Guest Relations Manager onboard. If you wish, the daily Service Charge for your cruise can be added to the price of your cruise at the time of booking, rather than added to your onboard account during the cruise. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to add the Service Charge to your cruise price.

Tips: MSC Cruises does not recommend tipping individual members of staff. 

And to make things more complicated, in most other markets passengers can modify the daily amounts as the want. 

On 11/8/2019 at 10:58 PM, JP82 said:

 

Cabins 13092 and 13103 are ours! Sadly not that close, but close enough

That is closer than we ever could get with two cabins.

On Deck 13 of the Mera my mom could not properly find her way from 12282 to 12230 until the last day of the cruise 

Anyway since then she complains with every other ship that it is not as good as the Meraviglia. So I guess the main "risk" is that your travel companions with refuse other ships in the future. Even the Seaview could not change my moms mind. 

4 hours ago, Stockjock said:

My girlfriend is from the Philippines and I've suggested that they should hire more Filipinos.  They are a hard working people and very naturally friendly, for the most part.  They did just that.

Interesting! I never saw such a little number of Pinoys and Indos on a MSC ship! But so many Brazilians (no surprise as the Seaside is going to her Brazilian winter holiday). I agree with you, that I highly prefer Pinoys and Indos. One night we had a Pinay as waitress in the MDR, that was quite a difference. 

7 hours ago, monza said:

I have done this other cruise lines, but can anyone confirm that can ask your cabin steward to remove all the drinks for the duration of the the cruise.

Yes. We sometimes do this to make space for our cheese shopping on Western Med cruises. 

TO was asking about a cruise that only stops at Schengen ports. Certainly things would be different if someone wants to disembark at a non-Schengen port. 

14 hours ago, thetaro said:

They could have easily implemented a call back feature on the website.

For some markets they have this. 

It is not a swimming jail, you can disembark whenever you want 

Just tell them in advance and not just leave. 

These are the advantages of Fantastica:
* Free delivery of continental breakfast to your cabin possible

* Free photo from 1 night at the MDR. You CANNOT choose the night, ask which night it is on your cruise, otherwise you will miss.

* Cabins on higher decks

* Some free extra activities in the kids club

* More Voyager Points

The priority for the time slot  at the MDR is questionable, in theory it exists. 

13 hours ago, MissyMoo68 said:

Well, we missed our train!  The ship only started disembarking at 9.30am and, thanks to MSC's typically inept organisational skills, we only got off at noon!

Oh, sad to hear this. But why you had to stay on board until noon? OK, the train was gone, but you could just get off at 9.30, couldn´t you? 

Oh that pasta looks absolutely great. Defintely would skip meat or fish and order double 😋

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

There are now several threads on various sites stating Ocean Cay won't be open until the Thanksgiving cruises based on this tweet. I don't think we can conclude that from what Ken states. He just says it will be open before Thanksgiving cruises arrive. That could mean as early as next week, who knows?

Thanksgiving is not like Christmas, it is celebrated on different dates throughout the world. Better don't use it to set something 😉

The official statement of MSC mentions the Seaside on 15th November as first ship to arrive at OC.

16 minutes ago, brandy3415 said:

What does the response "it depends on many things" mean?  And I seriously need to know if it is mineral water, spring water or just plain drinking water. 

 

It depends on your nationality or better said which MSC country site you made the booking and which route the ship is taking. Surely somebody who is on the Meraviglia right now can answer this, me not. When I sailed the Meraviglia in the Med US pax got free mineral water in bottles, but that was probably because there were only a handful of them.

21 minutes ago, brandy3415 said:

I know cruise lines discontinued wine packages when "drink packages" came to be, and they obviously sell well.  We drink only wine so a package does not make sense.

Yes, the game is lost, we are in the same situation as we drink only wine, water and coffee. All drinks packages - no matter if premium or not - are useless for people like us. 

17 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Tipping above and beyond the DSC is a personal choice.

Actually also the DSC is a personal choice. 

Yes, you can get all of this with the non-alc package.

By the way, I was totally annoyed last month on the Seaside about the coffee prices. First time without the discontinued coffee cuddle and what a suprise, all prices have been doubled (!) or so. 

12 hours ago, Invero said:

Drinks Package - I don't really drink alcohol, so I'd be looking at the non-alcoholic package. According to the MSC site, it's $29 per day ($116).  That seems crazy expensive for soda, juice, and water.

The main reasons to buy this are speciality coffees and non-alcoholic cocktails. If this is not important for you, just buy the drinks on board without a package. Automatic tipping of 15% will be added, this cannot be avoided. 

Q1- Breakfast no charge. No coffee or tea in the MDR for dinner unless you can convince your waiter to go to the next bar to get it for you. 

Q2- Depends on many things :)

Q3- The wine packages were great, but they have all been discontinued last year. 

Q4- Only continental. There is a delivery charge for you, not worth to use this service is my opinion. 

Yes, Cabin Design for Meraviglia- and Seaside-class is pretty samesame. 

For us two adults and two kids in one Cabin was always absolutely bearable. Actually many cabins at MSC are booked with four adults. 

Note that the 4 bed cabins sell faster than everything else, no chance to get one with a late booking. At least in Europe.

16 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

It won't be tonight, P, as we've already booked to dine with 2 other couples in the YC restaurant.

 

Enjoy 🙂