psosebee

Are gratuities included when you purchase a spa package that includes a service?

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Is it common practice to tip on excursions? Say for instance you do a snorkel/swim with turtles boat trip. Do you tip the boat over & above the cost of the excursion?

Trying to figure out where the fine line is on tipping everyone.

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I tried as well to use my credit to pay for spa package. I agree, no way to use it as payment. Even if they don't allow, from what I'm reading you can go to casino & move it to your card, then cash out. So you are basically being refunded for the items you prepaid. I might not wait until on board. If everything follows suit of the spa prices, you will pay at least 40% more on board.

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They honored my military discount after final payment. It was as OBC, but it spends all the same

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If you want frozen cocktails or want premium liquor then I would upgrade your drink package to the classic or deluxe (if you prefer not to worry about drinks at all). There is a drink comparison chart floating around somewhere. I've seen it posted many times. Or can find it on the MSC website

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Please tell me how this works if we all decided that queueing (lines) do not work for us.

Is it just a free for all?...../quote]

 

Yes, that is exactly how it works....survival of the fittest!

Well, I will pull out my Army fatigues then. This is what I needed to know. [emoji23]

 

 

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Firstly, it is an Italian line so will be much different from any USA cruise experiences!

There will be many foreign languages amongst your fellow passengers.

Italians will abound, and they do NOT do queueing (lines) preferring to barge to the front from all angles.

The MDR food is unmemorable, but the new ships are incredible.

Drinks packages are affordable, unlike NCL pricing!

Embarkation is done in most of the ports, so there will be passengers coming and going at those ports.

Is it just a free for all? I'm being totally serious. Sailing Seaside in a couple of weeks & need to know how to deal with this.

As well as the elevator issues. Trying to get off the lift & people pushing in @ the same time?

Thanks!

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Can someone who has recently been aboard tell me if the relaxing wave spa package (30 minute massage & facial + daily pass to thermal spa) on the seaside is for access to the thermal area for the duration of the cruise or only 1 day access.

 

Seems a little misleading because they have another package for $189 that says for massage & access to thermal area for duration of cruise.

 

So not understanding the price difference if they both have a massage & access to thermal area daily for duration of cruise.

 

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MSC has since changed the packages. My daughter procrastinated & just this week purchased her spa package. She called MSC because of the confusion. They confirmed that the relaxing wave package was now for access to the thermal area for 1 day only. She had to purchase the $189 package to have access for the duration of the cruise.

This is not to say that if you call MSC that you will get the same answer. The wording is different on each of those packages now as well.

So just a heads up......

P. Sosebee

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There is a military discount. I had to submit my DD214. I'm not clear on the amount of discount because my TA handled it for me. Someone posted that it is a 10% discount but my discount was more than that. So I'm not really sure if I received only the military discount or that plus another discount.

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Can someone who has recently been aboard tell me if the relaxing wave spa package (30 minute massage & facial + daily pass to thermal spa) on the seaside is for access to the thermal area for the duration of the cruise or only 1 day access.

Seems a little misleading because they have another package for $189 that says for massage & access to thermal area for duration of cruise.

So not understanding the price difference if they both have a massage & access to thermal area daily for duration of cruise.

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While I feel terrible for your wife, I don't think the end result is going to be what you hope.

I don't even disrobe in my private bedroom with my curtains open. No way I'm going to on a cruise.

The cruise lines have legal representation on retainer. Hopefully you have very deep pockets.

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I found if using my phone I have to scroll to bottom & click go to full site

Sign in there & have no issues

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I want to upgrade to deluxe drink pkg.

MSC is stating that would be better to upgrade to Aureal experience.

We have already bought the relaxing wave spa pkg @ $129 ea. To upgrade to deluxe drink pkg , it would be $385 ea.

To just upgrade our experience would be right at $400 ea.

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Currently in a balcony with fantastica experience on the Seaside in August. We booked prior to MSC offering the drinks on us PKG.

So we currently have the vouchers.

I have seen several post about being able to upgrade the drink PKG for $18 pppd for classic or $26 pppd deluxe.

When we called MSC they told us the regular web site price for the drink pkgs.

When I questioned about the cost of the vouchers being accounted , I was told that this was part of that experience.

I have already paid extra for the spa. If I have to pay full price for the drink PKG, I would be better just upgrading to Aureal experience & getting the spa pkg refunded.

How are some able to upgrade their drink pkg & some aren't ? I feel like I'm contacting the IRS in the US. If you call & get an answer to your question, hang up & call back, you will get a totally different answer.

Thanks!

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Oh my, I didn't even think about this when I posted that. I apologize!

I was thinking more of Slumdog Millionaire type nastiness. The garbage & filth depicted in the film, not of people.

Thank you for the response & for understanding that I really didn't think before posting that.

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Obviously my attempt @ humor did not relay very well via text.

I would think that the previous line "Satan's daughter" would imply the intended humor.

In no way was there any intent of hurting any feelings. No intention of bashing anyone including our President.

All I would like is some first hand experience of the area. My eyes are tired & reviews are either 5 stars or 1 star.

Thank you for your response.

Cruise in August & trying to book a room for night before. Looking @ Double tree grand Hilton Biscayne Bay or Best Western Premier.

Reviews of Hilton say it's old, and other not so great reviews. BW says location not safe to walk @ night & I can't even remember the other reviews. I've read so many reviews on different sites that I can't even recall which hotel is Satan's daughter or what hotels promise to make you sleep like a cherub.

It's myself & sister so would prefer a somewhat safe environment. Comfortable beds, clean room & not have to worry about 3rd world diseases from nastiness. While also not paying through the nose for 1 night.

Ease of getting from airport & to the port via shuttle or Uber would be nice. We also would like to explore a little & eat a decent meal the night before embarking. We will take Uber or taxi somewhere fairly close to hotel. It will be a Friday night so I will also need to keep that in mind.

If I'm looking @ wrong places please advise & will look elsewhere.

Thank you in advance for guidance.

Psosebee

Wondering how many people get vaccinations for the Caribbean? Worried about Hepatitis.

 

 

Posted this under another board but should have posted here...my apologies.

I don't eat any of that so I did not get the vaccine.

Your Dr may recommend different, but would definitely get an appointment prior to your cruise to make sure.

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Keep checking for updates. Not sailing until August, but you make it (almost) seem like we are there.

Love the review!

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