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Question: when a pre cruise spa package ( ie nails or massage) is bought is the tip included in the price?

We are going to a recommended restaurant, Coal Pot, for a light lunch and good wine! Weather has cleared some. 

We are having a great lunch at Holland House with an incredible Pouilly Fumé! 
love St Maarten! 

We did the Flavors of Curaçao tour. About 3 hours. The guide was VERY informative. Learned a lot about the island the people 9am to Noon. Went to the curaçao liquor factory, an Aloe farm and a store in a mall that had natural made lip balm and scrubs. Sounds boring but it really wasn’t and the free samples of booze were nice! Back in time to enjoy downtown and then get back on ship and play scrabble! Also signed up for a 5k walk supporting Ukraine refugees for this Thursday! $25 donation and a HAL t-shirt!

4 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

We got a pop up notification that NFL games will be shown in the Gallery bar.  There are about 10 seats there.   I don't know if they will put chairs in the aisle between the slot machines that are in the former Gallery seating area. 

Just left the Gallery Bar… not much room or chairs!

2 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

Last night's dinner in the PG.  We are on several B2BS but many people are preparing to disembark tomorrow.  Only drudgery for us is meeting in Main Stage tomorrow morning to  clear customs and since this is a Collectors cruise I imagine the group will be substantial.  I am going to ask to sit away from the bunched up passengers.  One more respiratory illness for me will probably take me off the ship. 

Overall this itinerary was wonderful.  Varied ports, nice with the addition of Dominica and St. John.   

Love the French red wine! 1995!! Where did you get it?

11 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

Our Canalletto dinner last night.  John had Tiger Prawns (lukewarm but probably first plate out of the kitchen) and the Tretelle with three seafoods but at the end we couldn't be sure there was a third.  I had the Veal Meatballs, pretty good and the osso bucco on a plate that wasn't generous enough for it.  

Thanks as usual for the honest reviews! We have the All In package but it doesn't include Canalletto. So... in your view is, it worth paying the extra to go to this restaurant or just stay with the MDR?

PS: We hope to see you next week when we board! Hope we get to meet you!

4 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

Company in port including the Celebrity Apex. Glad we got the pretty view earlier.  Obviously we are not going ashore I get breathless and then start coughing when we walked to the Ocean bar.  MSC Seaside, Nieuw Amsterdam and a small forgotten one. 

Nice, we are coming home to the US on 30 October after staying in Barcelona for 3 months this fall. (America's Cup will be in Barcelona from Aug. to Oct. 2024.) It's a really nice ship and we like MSC. Just as we like HAL as well!

ottahand7 Thanks so much for all the info. We have been away for a few pages and nice to get caught up! Boarding day of 1/24 is getting closer. Not crazy about the 'in transit' or 'turn around' day info. Sitting around  with a bunch of hackers doesn't sound like fun. We will bring our N95's, just for a little added protection. The dinners at the specialty restaurants don't look to appealing. We have scheduled all of ours that we get with the all in. As foodies and lover's of good wine we have realized you don't take a cruise for 'fine dining', ...at least not anymore! But we will still enjoy! Or we wouldn't be cruising! Keep up the nice writing and hope you are well soon!

2 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

We were caught. Go early and divide in multiple bags may help, just saying 

Really nice wine! You're our kind of 'Wino's! 😎 Will most likely bring a couple nice bottles from home ourselves! 

3 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

@iluvzbeach we booked this 10 day segment after the original 42 days (2 Collector) cruises and the 4 deck cabin was already sold. 

Let us know how the transfer goes. Will the room steward move your bags, etc to your new room? Did you pack everything all up or do they just bring a luggage cart and the hanging things etc stay out of bags... How will they be handling the B2B cruisers between the cruise etc.

We are 3 segments with a different room on each! (We booked all 3 at different times that's why.)

(PS: We have done B2B before but always with the same room.)

Thanks! B&E

Thanks for all of the info! We board on 23 Jan and will be on until 24 Feb. Looking forward to 'warmth'! We have a pretty big snow storm coming through tonight! The menu pics of the specialty restaurants are very helpful. Are they doing any 'Gala' or dressy nights? We also love the Spa Area on HAL!

See everyone soon!

B&E

1. Would you please tell us how MSC does their Muster Drill?

2. What time do they do it after boarding? 

3. Is everyone involved at a specific time or can you just go to your muster station after you board and check in and that is it?

Thanks! Have a great cruise!

My favorite: Pilsner Urquell - Brewed only in Plzeñ, Czech Republic - The Original Pilsner.

It is sometimes hard to find on Royal but I find it easier on the Med cruises, or the TA's back to the US from the Med.

Thanks for asking!

NCTribe Fan:

Have you taken Strawberry before? What is a typical 'tip' for a free tour?

Will you be on Armonia on 4-8-19 to Cuba. We are thinking of the doing the strawberry tours as well.

We were also thinking of just going into town all day Sunday and wing it.

We would appreciate your input!

EngIceDave: If I could buy you a drink I would! Great reviews and tips! Have never had reviews or commentary on any ship done quite so succinctly yet very informative - especially great pics. The Cuba info is great - what a cramp having to stay by room waiting for VISA though! I will do like your wife and wait in hallway! I can't wait to find out if we can get off easily without having to do a ship or local tour. I'm happy to hear that the Armonia is better than what seems to come across on other cruisers reviews. Again, thanks for taking the time!

Just like you EngIceDave. We are on a Casino comp on this cruise. In fact we just received another invite for another MSC Cruise comp! We will also be in Spain in the fall so we are taking an MSC cruise out of Venice in September that was also a comp!

How about 'special nights' on this cruise? Anything special going on?  Very dressy or more casual?

EngIceDave - Great PICS!!! We are on same cruise as 'travelingtink'.

(Like you we eat alone and Coffee on the balcony is a must! We must belong to the same anti-social club:)

Where did you get the Internet ID to enter? I have purchased Premium Internet Package.

Would you please let me know what you checked off on the Cuba Affidavit? "Support for the Cuban People"?

And most important, we did a tour on the 1st day but want to just walk off and walk around on our own the 2nd full day in Cuba. Please let me know if that is easy enough to do!

Like everyone else your reports are GREAT!

Cruiser933,

What did you check off on the GUEST CERTIFICATION FOR AUTHORIZED U.S. TRAVEL TO CUBA

for your reason to visit Cuba?

Support for the Cuban people (31 C.F.R. § 515.574) ?

Cruiser you're the best! I have  been able to get a better understanding of MSC and especially Cuba, from your posts than anyone else I have heard from or read a post from! Clear, concise and to the point.

We are fully retiring this summer and will be living in Barcelona for a few months. We will be taking another MSC cruise out of Venice in September on MSC Musica. (Greek Islands, Albania and Croatia). Your review has helped me understand MSC a little better. Then in November a TransAtlantic on Rhapsody of the Seas, RCL, from Barcelona back to Tampa.

Thanks so much!

Cruiser933 Thanks so much! The Ship review was great! We are truly hoping NOT to have to take a tour on our 'full day' in Cuba. Hopefully we can just walk off and go into town. The Cruise line makes it makes it sound difficult to do but in 'talking' with people like you and others they all have said they just got off the ship and went out on their own with no problem. I have Euros (from European travel) that I will bring for exchanging for CUC. Like you we are not planning to spend much, maybe a local food sample or a drink at a bar. As to the other stops we aren't planning any excursions. Just getting off and walk around or maybe have some local 'lunch'.

If anything else comes to mind that we should be aware of PLEASE continue to update. It is most useful!

Cruiser933 Thanks so much! The Ship review was great! We are truly hoping NOT to have to take a tour on our 'full day' in Cuba. Hopefully we can just walk off and go into town. The Cruise line makes it makes it sound difficult to do but in 'talking' with people like you and others they all have said they just got off the ship and went out on their own with no problem. I have Euros (from European travel) that I will bring for exchanging for CUC. Like you we are not planning to spend much, maybe a local food sample or a drink at a bar. As to the other stops we aren't planning any excursions. Just getting off and walk around or maybe have some local 'lunch'.

If anything else comes to mind that we should be aware of PLEASE continue to update. It is most useful!

Liked your review so far! We go on 4/8. Any more ship info? Special nights etc? How dressy are ‘formal’ nights, or are there any?

Also really want to know about Cuba process. We have a tour on the first day but not on second day. Any problem going out on our own without taking a ship tour?

How much Cuban cash did you need for the 2 days total.