skeldergate

I'm due to travel on Iona in one months time to Norway.

Reading other threads in this Forum, there seems to be a high probability that she may miss out one or two ports.

If that does happen I am able to claim £150pp on my travel insurance.  What sort of proof should I provide to my travel insurance company.

I'm asking now as a pre-emptive action.  I don't want to disembark only to find out that I should have obtained something whilst onbard

In October I decided to book my first ever MSC cruise for September 2022.

It was a one way cruise on "Fantasia" from Trieste to Genoa.

I decided to go online earlier this week to have a look at excursions etc.  I was horrified to discover that MSC has changed my cruise!

It's no longer going from Trieste to Genoa but a round trip (2 days longer) from Trieste to Trieste and leaving a week earlier !

Suffice to say that I've contacted MSC about this.  Their call centre couldn't help and suggested I email them.  Three days later I'm still waiting and I'm interested to hear their rsponse...

Hi

we did our first costa cruise last year and opted to go on a costa arranged shore excursion each time.

Some of them were a little rushed - one was a complete waste of money.

This was our first ever cruise so we thought we would do the shIpswich excursions to get the hang of it.

Be warned if you decide to do your own thing. In port they would give priority to those guests who had booked shore excursions through costa. Other guests were allowed off the ship last.

Hypothetically you could be due to dock in port at 0800 and arrange your own private tour for 0900 - only to find that you can't get off until 1000...

I can’t comment on the ships you mention but before sailing for the first time on Costa I wish I’d have known that most reviews didn’t reflect how good it was

Four weeks to go until our first ever cruise. Hopefully we will just be leaving Venice at this point....

We are departing on Costa Luminosa. I have a question about food.

I know that the restaurant is open 7am-9am, 12pm-2pm, 7pm-9pm (or thereabouts).

Is food available (within the cost of the cruise) outside of these times ?

So, for example, on day one, we board at 2pm. Our evening meal is 7pm. Can we expect free food (of some sort) before the evening meal?

I' just wondering if we ought to eat in Venice before boarding.

Thanks in advance

We are counting down the days to our first ever cruise on Costa Luminosa - but have more questions....

We have the Brindiamo drinks package - which we understand will get us free drinks by the glass on board.

At each port we have a shore excursion planned. However we would like to take a bottle of water with us.

I assume that bottles of water are not available as part of the Brindiamo package ?

Am I right in understanding that a water dispenser is available ? If so, is this in the buffet area only ? Is it frowned upon to fill bottles of water up with this ?

I understand that at check-in there are checks to see if you are bringing food and drink on board. Is this for alcohol only ? Could we bring bottles of water on board ? Also, are there checks at the end of shore excursions to see if you are bringing food and drink (water) on board ?

Does anyone have any tips, suggestions, ideas for aquiring bottled water (I assume those that Costa see will be expensive) and taking it on shore excursions ?

Thank you

I’m sure this question may apply to any cruise ship but seeing as though our first cruise is with Costa....

Are we able to take hair straighteners on board - even if these are not mains but USB or battery powered ?

We’ve just booked with Costa and we’re excited about the £500 in vouchers.

Of all the shore excursions listed, only one qualifies for the vouchers - and that is one that doesn’t appeal to us...

Costa Cruises advertise the following two drinks packages :-

PRANZA

This is the right package at the right price for anyone who likes a glass of wine or a cold beer with their meals! You can enjoy a selection of unlimited wines, beers and soft drinks by the glass every day at both lunchtime and dinnertime.

BRINDIAMO

The perfect package for guests who want to relax and have their favourite drinks available by the glass at any time of the day. Coffee and cappuccinos for when you want an energy boost, refreshing soft drinks and beers to enjoy by the pool, the most popular aperitifs, and a good selection of wines and liqueurs. Prices vary depending on the season and the ship.

We have the BRINDIAMO package. Hopefully a simple question....are drinks at meal times in the main dining room and buffet also included with the BRINDIAMO package ?