CampNCruise74

Just thought I would open up if anyone has questions because I think that experiences on MSC ships right now are very unique to ship and even sail date right now.  I also have been on Seaside cruises in 2018 and 2019 of the same length out of Miami, so I  have a decent frame of reference to compare to.    We had ports of Ocean Cay 2x, Ocho Rios, and Nassau.  Cheers,

5 hours ago, dmccadden said:

Back on topic!!  How full have the last couple of 7day cruises been?

thanks

Last Saturday for the Meraviglia at the front gate they told me 2000.  Forty five minutes later at the ticket counter, they told me 1800; and finally at the reception desk on board at about 3 pm that day they said about 1580. 

2 minutes ago, styles27 said:

Do you have a link to the FAQ you posted I can’t find it

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

37 minutes ago, styles27 said:

No we didn’t read the policy differently the difference is I’m reading the policy and it looks like you’re reading  a FAQ page which is most likely not updated. 
 

It really doesn’t matter at this point you got off the ship as you wanted to but know that has not been the case for others in your exact situation traveling with kids under age 12.

No, but we both read these things on their web site, and how do you know it's not updated?   FAQ's arise from the implementation of policies.  Obviously what I read and interpreted in the FAQ is being implemented and its important for other people to know that.   

25 minutes ago, styles27 said:

No we didn’t read the policy differently the difference is I’m reading the policy and it looks like you’re reading  a FAQ page which is most likely not updated. 
 

It really doesn’t matter at this point you got off the ship as you wanted to but know that has not been the case for others in your exact situation traveling with kids under age 12.

Things are changing rapidly.  I also assume that since Bahamas current law of the land is that you can come into the country if you are fully vaccinated, and also given they are the leaseholder of Ocean Cay, they probably don't want to restrict people from coming onshore to spend money within the country.  If I was the Bahama's Minister of Tourism, I would instruct MSC to let vaccinated people off the ship with that kind of leverage.  It was quite a sad bit with half of Nassau still closed.

9 hours ago, Virga said:

 

So wait, if you're vaccinated, do you have to wear the wristband the whole trip?  Or is that only if you want to get off the ship?  I'd gladly stay on the ship if I didn't have to wear a wristband, but I don't want to be limited in what I do onboard.  I hate wristbands!!  I totally understand why it has to be the vaxxed folks and not the unvaxxed, but...  What would I give up if I skipped the wristband?

Yes, everybody  is issued a black wristband, at least on my 7 day cruise.  It looks like a fitbit charge.  Not very cumbersome.  It helps them know where people have been for close contact reasons and also allows you to charge drinks and stuff... You can also use your card for charging too though.  Don't lose them though, they are 35 bucks if you don't return them when getting off.  

2 hours ago, styles27 said:

Dual color bands? Never said that.
 

Our BIL and SIL weren’t given ANY wristband even though they were both vaccinated. Their small kids were not vaccinated obviously they can’t be. They’re under 12
 

Consider yourself lucky that you were able to get off the ship on your own because that is not what MSC’s current policy is and not what happened on my BIL’s cruise (and what I’ve read on CC has happened to other families)

Sounds like the security on your cruise was lax. 

So what you’re telling us is that MSC didn’t enforce their own Covid policy I posted above. Not exactly comforting because now it makes me question what other safety practices they’re letting slide. 

 

Styles, you read it one way, I read it another.  The stuff you mentioned specifically talked about "shore excursions" as in like a shore excursion desk.  You left out some other tidbits too.  I read it different.  I don't take shore excursions.  I simply went ashore as a fully vaccinated person...  Facts.   If you perceive them as lax apparently after not being on one of their boats recently, then by all means you shouldn't cruise. 

No white colored bands.  Black only, issued as trackers for all your movements on the ship. 

left out stuff like this...

>>Fully vaccinated are free to go ashore in each port of call, including our exclusive private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, or enjoy one of our many offered shore excursions.

>>>>

Just following up on this like I promised, and both styles and Maureen were both wrong on what was mentioned in this thread. 

There were no dual color bands there was only one kind and even though I was traveling with my unvaxinated 6 year old I walked right off the ship by myself in Nassau and then when I got back my wife and daughter 

also got off while I watched my 6 year old.  No problemo.  So as a result I went and got my conch fritters, my guava Duff, and then also my rum cakes!  Woohoo.  

8 hours ago, phissy said:

With Covid restrictions, MSC has limited the Spa and fitness facilities.

Reduced capacity and must be pre- booked.
For our Meraviglia cruise in November, visit to thermal area must be pre-booked by phone.

The following will be closed: Saunas, steam rooms, heat bath whirlpools and Ice and Snow experiences. 
Salt relax room, experience showers and heated loungers will remain open for guests.

None of this is true, for the exception of restrictive numbers which is the only thing that's up for debate. 

Everything was open 3 days ago when I was on board. Also I didn't get services until I got on board. I got a week pass in the thermal area.  I went everyday and everything was open.  

5 hours ago, maureencruiser said:

 

According to MSC policy, your whole party is considered not vaccinated because of the 7 year old,    

• PLEASE NOTE: Fully vaccinated guests in the same traveling party with a not fully vaccinated guest or a child 11 years old or younger are considered not fully vaccinated for the purposes of shore excursions.
• Then, because of that, these are your options for going ashore- 
• On our exclusive private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, you can spend the day as you wish or you may purchase one of our many offered shore excursions.
   
• On all other ports of call, you will not be allowed to go ashore unless you purchase a shore excursion through MSC Cruises. This is to help ensure everyone is following the same health and safety protocol

You can still cancel if this is unacceptable to you.  Sorry.

Actually, I am not sure about this.  I could not find this bolded phrase in the page.  I do know that I don't pay to do excursions, and don't see where going ashore as a vaccinated person automatically disqualifies me from doing that because I stay with an unvaccinated minor on board.  Let me know what you find?

5 hours ago, maureencruiser said:

 

 

Yes, the current sailing is reporting 670 passengers. 

 

Yes, that makes sense, when looked at through that lens.  I wonder if they've been catching that, but I won't be cancelling.  Thanks for the heads up!  

5 hours ago, Happygcruiser said:

It’s a closed off part of ship.

We experienced it, my wife was just considered contact (with the watch they tracked). So all four of us (with2 kids) were moved during the night to a closed part of the boat. Not allowed to leave, and anything we ordered were delivered in hazmat suites to us…

Then we were escorted down the ship with priority at our original disembarkation port. We had to wear hazmat suites also…

Now that's a family cruise portrait for the ages!  Frame that puppy and put it on the wall!

Did you pass on the extra insurance ?  Was everybody in your party vaccinated, meaning nobody in your party wasunderage?

57 minutes ago, kelikea said:

I would love to hear about 7-day sailings. I’m on the October 16 sailing on the Meraviglia and wondering how busy (or not) it will be. I was on the Seaside with my husband and in-laws back in March 2020 right before the world shut down. It was so packed. You could never find a pool lounger. 

I will try to remember to post back here when I head out

this coming Saturday on the Mera for a week.   I'm hoping that I can get all the stars to line up so I can actually get on the boat, because I don't think I'll believe it until I actually am.  I'm anticipating my 7-year-old being confined to the ship and only getting to enjoy the Ocean Cay with us all together.  I do think I'm going to try to get off the ship and go to Goldie's in Nassau or the Rum Cake Factory with my 13 year old though and leave my wife with the young one.

31 minutes ago, Geobugs said:

"Five Guys" is a hamburger joint.

Like your style Geobugs.  That's exactly what I would have said!  Cheers to all.   I'll be checking the quarter out in two weeks time and report back!

3 hours ago, bundtkate said:

Same, actually. I actually booked 9/18 originally and super early on, but the itinerary changed and I swapped to 9/25 because it was more appealing. Still did get quite the deal, though, and actually saved some money with the date swap so I can understand being suspicious. What deck were you on, if you don't mind my asking?

FWIW, my TA said they have identical cabins on higher decks (which are actually better cabins because the aft balconies on 10-12 are deeper than those on 9) so hopefully I'm not really getting screwed out of anything. Without them being able to assign me the new room, though, who knows what's happening. I told my TA that I'm trying to keep positive by pretending they're planning to give all us poor, displaced deck 9ers upgrades. Probably not the case, but a girl can dream, right? Fingers crossed for us all!

Yes!  Fingers crossed! I was on 12245 but they moved me to 11257.   The first lady told me it might be because of covid but that doesn't make any sense. I feel pretty sure that those people aren't going to be visiting the buffet or restaurants hence they be the furthest away from food at deck nine ish.  All the pictures to me indicate that the room change means I will now have a fully blocked view below the deck railing of my room now versus a half blocked viewing that would include half glass.  Complicating things, my six-year-old son now is going to want to stand on top of the furniture to see over the edge.  Yikes.  I did go Bella class this time, but people pick rooms for a reason, and all the people that work for MSC should realize that.  Tomorrow I will send an email to MSC reservations and see where it goes from there. What ports of call do you visit since your itinerary is different?

40 minutes ago, bundtkate said:

So my TA got back to me today and said that deck 9 had been set aside as the quarantine deck. MSC hasn't informed affected passengers nor their TAs and seemingly has no specific plan for reassigning passengers in an equitable fashion. I paid extra for my aft balcony and it really looks like they were just going to wing it. I get changes and upheavals are to be expected. I've been through a few and have taken them in stride. But doing this less than 30 days out seems a bit ridiculous to begin with. Add in that Meraviglia has sailed many times already which means they should probably have standardized this and dealt with it for all sailings near the beginning of the restart and it's hard not to slam your head against the desk. To make matters more irritating, they aren't able to reassign me to another aft balcony because my eticket has already been issued which means the first level CSRs essentially can't do anything at all.

So I have an explanation in my case. I'm not sure how trustworthy that explanation is, but TA did say he called twice and got the same answer so that's something. Still no fix, however. TA has a call back scheduled with a supervisor for Monday (apparently corporate is closed on the weekends) so I guess I'll know more then. Unless they're closed for Labor Day, too, and the CSR didn't realize that was a thing, but I'm thinking positive thoughts.

I'm in a similar situation, they screwed me out of my chosen room as well.  As I found out, the time that I paid for the cruise in full back in june, is when they made the room switch on me.  Needless to say I got a very good rate because I booked this in February, and I feel like they're screwing me because of that  I salil on September 18th.

1 hour ago, phissy said:

YEA!!!  

 Thank you to all who submitted request to MSC to accept Telehealth monitored at home Antigen tests!  (Binax NOW Ag Card Covid test) Video monitored at home covid rapid test.

This has just been posted . on MSC, as being acceptable for fully vaccinated cruisers.  There is one test type that has been excluded.

Looks like MSC has agreed with the other cruise lines that this is acceptable for fully vaxed passengers sailing from November 1 ,going forward.

Do tell.  Link Please?  

Hello, does anyone out there know if at the back of the boat if the stairwells there are for passengers to go up and down inside?  

I was wondering if I could take the stairs up to the buffet from deck 11; it seems they come out right there on the corners.   The deck plans don't seem to make it out too well from what I can find. 

Thanks crew!

6 hours ago, kearney said:

I have mixed feelings about vaccinating young children and too a lesser extent healthy young adults. But it is a tough choice... it was easy for me... being in the target age group for serious complications and worse.. it was an easy choice. But hearing about heart inflammation and the emergency meeting scheduled to discuss this... makes me still wonder. I am sure that it is healthy for the vast majority..it would be nice to have data so those at risk of side effects could be identified before... but it is still amazing that scientists were able to develop such a highly effective vaccine so quickly..so some side effects should not surprise us. Despite some concerns... I do not regret getting it.

Myocarditis (Heart Inflammation) For all this stuff about the shot possibly giving you this inflammation, I hope people please remember.  Before there was even a shot people were getting this. 

COVID CAUSES THIS, and it's probably worse with covid!  Since a vaccine invokes an immune response, this seems legitimate.

Remember Eduardo Rodriguez of the Boston Red Sox pitcher.  He had myocarditis in July of 2020 as a result of getting covid before there was a vaccine.

https://www.mlb.com/news/eduardo-rodriguez-diagnosed-with-myocarditis

Remember Keyontae Johnson from UF bball? He had myocarditis in December of 2020 and collapsed on the court in the middle of a basketball game against FSU.  He had covid before there was a vaccine.

https://www.gatorsports.com/story/basketball/2020/12/22/florida-gators-keyontae-johnson-has-season-ending-heart-issue/4006117001/

So covid will get you myocarditis, and probably worse than any vaccine would give to you and with probably a much slimmer chance.

So, so, many people are neglecting to remember these cases.

Here you go Sidari:

This is what a vaccine does, not your definition.  From Webster's.

7 hours ago, sidari said:

Can you prove any of what you say about people having bought certain cards online ? The cruise line tested people who were all negative prior to sailing so your assumption about bought items is pure speculation on your part.

As for all the items you mentioned yes they were all vaccines unlike the current magic liquid worldwide medical experiment that will go on until the end of 2023.

A true vaccine prevents a person from getting and passing on an illness as those that you mention did, clearly the current stuff doesn't do that and is still under Emergency use laws.

Uh, Can you prove that vaccines don't work???   That in and of itself is a completely asinine thing to say.  I know what a vaccine does pal, my wife works in a hospital and has taken care of covid patients all along during this dilemma.    She would come home and complain about how much oxygen she'd be pumping into these people when they be sick and it just does nothing for them.   It's only a matter of time when the g7s talk about making a vaccine credential requirement for international travel.   Go get your jab Sadari!   What are you afraid of a little needle? By the way were you vaccinated as a child with your mmrs?  Do you have kids they get theirs too?  Are you 75 or older maybe you even got your polio vaccine?

14 hours ago, Geobugs said:

Fully vaccinated cruise ship, Celebrity Millennium, two passengers tested positive for Covid.  All guests were required to show vaccination proof and a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours before from St. Maarten Saturday.  Can we just let it go now?  Vaccinations don't work.  Let people cruise. 

Those two people probably bought their vaccine cards on eBay  or pinterest and fillled them out themselves!  Get the shot people and don't be wusses.  All these incidents are just drops in the bucket toward all cruises having to have a verified vaccine credentialed system.   Just about all these freedom tutors on here that are anti-vax all had their MMR vaccines as kids and probably had all of their kids vaccinated as well just like their pediatrician suggested.  Oh and if you're one of the more elderly folks on here that probably cruises a lot you probably had your polio vaccine so you didn't end up crippled like many kids of that time did.  In fact Mitch McConnell had polio that's why he walks with a problem, and if you noticed he was one of the first and most fervent people to wear a mask.

This is so weird.  Right now I can go on the msc Cruise website and still book the Divina for July 4th it appears.  Canceled cruises on their website still show April 15th.  

3 minutes ago, HarpHarp said:

Here's what's going to happen. The vaccines will have full FDA approval soon. At that point, the Feds can require immunization to enter the country, or testing & quarantine.  The cruise lines, all of them, will not let you board if you don't have the proper clearnce to return.  
You don't have to get the vaccine, but you probably aren't going to be leaving the U.S.

Your exactly right. Ding ding ding.   Big winner. 

9 minutes ago, CI66774 said:

Sorry but this is a bigger issue of medical privacy. IMHO, you have no right to know whether I’m HIV-positive, whether I’ve had the flu shot, or whether I’ve had a COVID shot if I’m buying a good or receiving a service from you. You can take precautions. You may test me to see if I’m sick with it or make me wear a mask, etc., but you’re not entitled to exclude me from your PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION if I decline to be vaccinated.

IMHO you're right.  I do not.  But the cruises do because they own private businesses.  You can stay at home if you're not vaccinated and not be able to engage because no one wants to engage with you.