eyern1

On 11/25/2023 at 8:13 PM, doxiegal said:

Without reading the MSC contract, I assumed it was like any other cruise lines I’ve been on, and had a 12pk of Pepsi in my carry on and no one at the scanners said a word about it, on my cruise a couple months back. I also had a bunch of candy bars, sour patch kids and flights snacks in the backpack as well. 

And now that we’re back, I ran into a couple of people who brought their own sodas and had no problem 

On 11/11/2023 at 8:10 PM, DaKahuna said:

 

You seem to forget that theree are other ships that are involved in this process as well.  The departures of cruise ships as well as cargo ships from a major port is a carefully orchestrated process and a delay by one or more ships is not as inconsequential as you may believe. 

 

 Once you have watched the video in your room and dialed the number, you are free to go watch anything.  The worst thing that could happen is if you have to be in your room when the actual launch occurs and your room does not face toward the launch area. 

 

Which was my concern and what actually happened 

3 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

After the muster video you then have to go in PERSON to your emergency station and have your card scanned.  Did you do that part?

Yes

12 hours ago, Homosassa said:

Were  you locked in your cabin?

 

There is plenty of open public deck space on both sides of the ship.

That was my initial point. It was held exactly during the launch time. Had our balcony been on the other side, we could have seen the video and the launch. I immediately bugged out after dialing the obligatory muster code number but it was too late by the time I got to an open deck area. To add insult to injury, they sent us a letter saying we didn’t complete the muster drill despite performing all required steps. 

No. Identical situation to ^^^^

I just realized I never followed up here after we stayed at the Hotel at the Waldorf.  I wrote a review on trip advisor or something similar so you can look for a more detailed review there.  For here, I will briefly say that it was very small and oldish but remodeled and clean, which was the biggest thing. I would stay there again.

2 hours ago, Homosassa said:

There are times when I read a post and I am not sure if it is a serious question or if the poster is being provocative, or is travel naive or entitled.

 

This is one of them, especially in light of some of the previous posts by this member....

I assure you the post is serious due to the fact of having muster drills occur at various times on my cruises and even having one delayed for several hours so there is no hard and fast rule on exactly when it should occur. As well, it’s a very simple procedure on many ships now whereas it’s a drawn out pain in the butt on others. This is something in this instance that if possibly adjusted 15-30 minutes, it would potentially make a lot of people’s day and probably get some good pr out of it. I guarantee you would never forget the cruise where you saw the rocket launch when someone mentioned it. And no, I don’t feel entitled thank you!

4 hours ago, Stocksy82 said:

In answer to another part of your original question you are likely to be in the minority, others may well think "oh that's cool" but certainly wouldn't be thinking this far ahead or even know a launch is happening.

True. I highly doubt that anyone has ever tried to schedule a cruise that’s in port at the exact time a rocket launch is scheduled and most have never even thought about it. Apparently this one wasn’t even announced until Friday, which was when I received an email from Cape Canaveral about it and I had looked for a possible launch just a few days prior to no avail. I’m willing to bet that if it does happen while we’re here though that essentially everyone who didn’t actually see it will be saying they sure wish they had. 

3 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

On Seaside the video was on a loop.  But only the loop at 4pm ended with the number to dial to get credit for watching it.  I watched so many times, then asked someone for the code.  I went back to my cabin and dialed it, and the recording said I was credited, but I still got a naughty letter the next day saying I hadn’t completed that requirement.  I tried to check into the muster station early but there was no one there.  EM

Yep. I just watched the loop and wondered about that. The paper they handed us says muster about 4pm. Sure hope it’s a little earlier especially since our balcony is on the opposite side of the launch pad 

7 hours ago, gizfish said:

MSC is a real stickler for rules.  They won't be changing anything on their schedule unless there is a valid reason to do so.  This certainly does not fall in that category.  When the ship decides it is time for muster drill you will need to go to your cabin and watch the video at that time.  Then you call a phone number to verify the completion of the video.  Then they call deck by deck to go to their muster station. Staff scans your card at the entrance of your station, and you walk through and are free to go.  There is some leeway as to when you go to your station.  They want people to go at the assigned times, but not everyone does.  So you will hear repeated announcements, and ships services will remain closed until a certain percent of passengers have complied.

Is the video on loop repeat?  By them calling to go to muster station deck by deck, do you mean an overhead announcement and therefore as soon as we have watched the video we can make our phone call and immediately go on deck to await our call to report with our card?  How long is the video? About 5 minutes or less?

10 minutes ago, Tierun said:

I’ve sailed MSC twice from PC (Divina and Meraviglia), both had muster at 4.

Sure would be nice if it were 3:30

37 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

I took your comment regarding only 250 miles to travel as meaning to delay departure from port. 

 

You are not mistaken, everyone does have to proceed to their assembly station.  However, you can go outside and wait for your deck to be called to proceed to your assembly station. It's a matter of going there, having your pass scanned and then you are free to do as you please.  I would not be in any rush to fight the crowds going back up the stairs. 

 

As others have said, the time of the muster drill is arranged based on a large number of activities that have to take place to get the ship ready to go to sea.  While it may seem like a trivial thing to change, I can assure you it is not. 

I forgot I said that. You’re right. I did insinuate a late shove off or at least a slow roll out but if we do truly leave at 6, the launch window will have already closed. 

30 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

You seem to forget that theree are other ships that are involved in this process as well.  The departures of cruise ships as well as cargo ships from a major port is a carefully orchestrated process and a delay by one or more ships is not as inconsequential as you may believe. 

 

 Once you have watched the video in your room and dialed the number, you are free to go watch anything.  The worst thing that could happen is if you have to be in your room when the actual launch occurs and your room does not face toward the launch area. 

 

I wasn’t figuring the ship would alter it’s time of departure but did think they could alter the muster time without any great difficulty. I may be mistaken but I thought I watched a video where we all had to assemble after the phone call on MSC. 

Never thought I’d ever see Rocket Science get this passé 

32 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Why not try to get the launch rescheduled? 

They never seem to go off when scheduled anyway so that’s probably a better option. Where’s Barbara Eden when I need her?

32 minutes ago, Mark_T said:

No, they have a lot to do to get the ship ready for sea, and a narrow window to do it all in, but I also don't think it will be a problem.

 

There is a reasonable amount of latitude exactly when you need to go down, so if you just want to watch the actual launch you are probably fine. 

 

Odds are you will have completed it before the launch anyway.

I understand that but I’ve also seen muster drills occur at different times from before sail away to late that night. Most ships seem to leave home port right around 4 but ours doesn’t until 6pm which probably increases the chances that the muster will be happening at the same time. Also, our first port is their private island which is only about a 250 mile leg to make and we will actually be there for a day and a half so there’s certainly leeway available due to that. 

A launch is scheduled tomorrow with a window of 4:08pm-5:36pm. I believe the Seaside leaves at 6pm if on schedule. When have the muster drills been occurring on MSC in relation to departure or scheduled departure?  Do you think they would reschedule the drill a little bit to accommodate us being able to watch it. I’m betting MSC isn’t even aware of this event which would probably be a bucket lister for many people or do you think I’m in the minority and that most people don’t give a rip?  Whom should I try to contact once onboard?  I think telling the agents up front probably won’t do much good but I’ll at least start there. I figure there’s little chance of getting to speak with the captain and of course it will be crowded at the purser’s desk on embarkation day but I’ll have to try as I don’t know of any other options. What do y’all think and what would you suggest?

Thanks all.  There were no worries. I was just wondering.

7 hours ago, Brighton Line said:

At embarkation in the United States security is not handled by the ship. Scanning is done by port contractors.Since Port Carnavial is an embarkcation port even though the ship might be calling as a port of call they use the contractors. Different contracting/ports enforce the rules differently so always when someone asks can I bring chocolate milk or Titos on board it is Your Mileage May Vary YMMV type of answer other than the official MSC Contract of Carriage "NO".  

True true. I was just wondering what the "Official" word was, hoping it would have been a YES from the start.  Might could always slip someone some bills and see what happens lol.

7 hours ago, Fla Mike said:

 

Funny thing.

When I looked at the latest upgrade email, it was early yesterday morning, about 3 AM, (Just couldn't sleep).

I went online to see what YC cabins were open, just to see. There were seven YCP's and one YC1.

There were tons of Aurea Jr. Suites left, and I mean lots. A few Standard balconies, and nothing else, OV or Insides.

 

Right after I posted yesterday morning, I checked again, ship sold out.

A few have posted that they have won bid offers to Jr's.

I'm guessing you were looking on the MSC site? I'm saying this because any of the typical cruise sale sites never mention different levels within one of the 4 basic categories, inside, oceanview, oceanview and suite.  Or is that because it was already showing as sold out and it would have given the YC and other choices had they not been sold out? I've never tried to look for a higher level in the higher priced categories.

7 hours ago, Fla Mike said:

Congrats!!!

 

On social media for our Nov Seashore cruise, people have been reporting the same, and I have been getting non- stop emails to upgrade our aft wrap Aurea Suite to YC.

 

One couple, as you, went from Bella Interior, to assigned a Balcony, then put a min bid on a YIN and got it.

No idea what they paid originally.

 

My minimum bid for a YCP would put me in for less then I paid for a Deluxe Veranda on Celebrity next year...Lovey would shot me if I did, and I'd hate to give up the aft room, but it is tempting.

You described the situation we're in right now except we are waiting to see if we get the YC upgrade with 6 days left before sailing.  Kind of a 2 edged sword for us since it's nice to have the balcony we hardly ever buy, but we probably will never end up with yacht club unless we go for it like this. I'm thinking of bumping the bid up slightly like I saw someone else do and actually got superbumped into the balcony as you described  but I'd possibly have buyer's regret it if it just secured us into the YC interior.  Decisions, decisions....  BTW, no cabins show as bookable on our cruise right now anyway.

2 hours ago, showingdiva said:

 

Do you have the option to buy a non-alcoholic drink package?   Apologies if that's a stupid question, as I only know what is available here in the UK, which works out at £21 a day (which I think is around $26).   And again, more apologies if this sounds flippant, but that would break even if you only drink a couple of specialty coffees, a mocktail and a few cans of soda a day.

Thank you. Yes I do and if I drank coffee or the mocktails it wouldn’t be too bad but as bad of a soda habit I have, it’s still not a $175+ a week habit lol. I’ll just bring some powders to put In water and drink them. WTH, I’m still on a ship for a week. It’s all good. If they had a program for soda only I might go for it. Been a while since I’ve bought one of those packages. Maybe no one offers them anymore. 

19 hours ago, RD64 said:

Can we not just pay for the soda / pop while on board instead of stressing precruise over what (I feel) is a minor issue?

Yes and with the prices they charge I will choose not too. I’ll just drink something else and spend the money on something that seems more worthwhile. I’m sorry this seems to stress you. 

36 minutes ago, nferr said:

 Yeah but it was $71 for three meals gratuities included.  Just got off Royal Caribbean and it was $132 for the three meal package plus 18% prepaid gratuities or $156. For $71on MSC it was a great deal. Now they've upped it to $110 and they pick the three restaurants, one of which is Hola where it's $18 for all you can eat anyway. So you're now paying $92 for the other two meals which is not a great deal.  Thankfully I already bought  the package for $71 on my upcoming January cruise, and you don't have to use Hola as one of them. 

That was a good deal. Too bad it’s gone like the steak off your plate 

We're scheduled to be cruising from Port Canaveral Nov 12-19, and as such, the government funding deadline falls on the 15th I think. Has anyone ever returned from a cruise during a government shutdown? If so, what were the effects? If they do, I'm anticipating very slow disembarcation times due to few if any TSA and customs employees working. I'm certainly glad we are not flying as we would be worried about catching our plane on time and also the hassle involved with TSA at the airport. How about it?