TomC21

I’ve asked this in the Florida Departures, but thought I’d get some good answers here.

having never sailed out of Port Miami, I have a feeling it’s going to be very busy and hectic parking there.

is the MSC parking garage close to the terminal? 

Is there easy to follow signage directing you to the garage?

would it be better to drop off the luggage then park, or park then carry(wheel) your luggage to the drop off point?

thank you

Tom

Having never cruised out of Miami, I’m sure it can be confusing when you get to the port. A few questions for those that sail MSC.

Is the parking garage for MSC close by to the terminal?

Is there easy signage directing you to the proper garage?

Would you park first, then wheel your luggage from the garage to the drop off? Or drop off luggage first in the controlled chaos, then park?

Thank you for your replies 

Tom

Agree,

just current or after October 2018

My wife and I status matched RCCL Diamond to MSC Black last October.

Others mentioned above are Diamond Plus, but only matched to Gold on MSC

 if they offer the drink package at a later time closer to the departure, the price may go up to offset the cost of the package.

when I booked my cruise in January for a November departure, the Easy drink package and free internet were include. Once the promotion ended for my particular cruise in March, the price for the basic cruise without the drink and internet packages dropped several hundred dollars. So I’m sure it’s factored in.

After receiving a status match of Black in January, I booked a cruise and received  5% off the booking. After learning of the military discount of 10%, I emailed a copy of my military DD214 discharge paper. A few days after submitting, I was given an additional 5% off. I was surprised how quickly it was processed. So yes you can combine a status match and military, firefighter, EMT, and others for up to 10% off. So if you got a total of 15% off, more power to you! Congrats. Knowing how MSC likes to change things, they probably changed the rule to a total combined discount of up to 10%

And FYI, we booked a Bella balcony on Seaside that included the “Easy” package and free basic internet. So I was very happy with the 5% status discount and additional 5% military discount. We did not get the full 10% military, but still got 10% off the booking. When I inquired, I was told by customer service it was a total combined discount of 10%

Tom

The drink selection menu pictured differs from my included Easy Package for my Western Caribbean cruise in November. Unless MSC recently changed the selections, It may be a European version, versus an American version. The photos of my drink package below were printed when I booked my cruise in January of this year.

1 hour ago, Stateroom_Sailor said:

 

I just looked, and we got 5% off on our booking as well.  I didn't know about the veteran discount, will have to send my wife's DD214 in.  Looks like 10% off verandas as well?  If the price of our cruise follows 2019 patters, I'm sure we'll be upgrading anyways!

Yes, you can add the military active duty or veteran discount of 5%. I believe the total combined discount can’t go above 10%. I don’t remember who I emailed it to, but I remember reading it somewhere on their website terms and conditions

My wife and I are Diamond on Royal Caribbean. When we applied for the status match program back in December, we were given Black card on MSC. Shortly after we received our Black card status, we booked a cruise for November on the Seaside. When we logged into our newly created account on the MSC website, it showed our Black card status and were automatically  given a 5% discount for the cruise. We were also given an additional 5% discount a few days later after I scanned and emailed my DD214 form for being a veteran. So yes, we were given a 10% total discount off the rate when I booked. At the time, the promotion included was  the “Easy Drink Package” and free internet. We booked the basic Bella experience, but I remember at that time hearing that the Fantastica experience that included the 12 drink coupons would be given the Easy package instead. If that isn’t the case, then I would call MSC.

I thought I read a while back that the drink coupons were being substituted with one of the lower tier drink packages (drinks on us or easy)? I don’t want to give wrong information here, but I would contact MSC again to verify. 

We've never sailed MSC. Our first will be a western in November on the Seaside. We’ve sailed mainly on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. We were given Black as a status match from our Diamond status on Royal. Having said all that, when I booked the Seaside a few months ago, the promotion included the Easy drink package with the Bella or higher experience. We could have chosen higher deck cabins on the 13th deck fore and aft, but chose a center hump cabin on deck 10. Also you will get a 5% discount when booking if you are a black member, and an additional 5% discount for military veterans. I’ve price checked our cruise recently, and found the Easy package is no longer offered on our cruise, but the price has dropped indicating to me how they factor in the drink packages.

I had a similar problem a few months ago when I submitted for the status match on their website. I submitted copies of my wife’s and my diamond status on Royal Caribbean. My wife received an email about a week later confirming her black status and was given a identification number. I gave it another week before I called about my status match. They had no record of my submission and was told to resubmit. I did this again and waited another week. After not hearing, I called again and was put on hold for about 10 minutes while it was being researched. The service agent said she saw it in the computer, but didn’t know why I hadn’t received notification. She ended up giving me my identification number over the phone. I promptly entered the identification number it into my MSC account and it showed up. They obviously have kinks in the system. So I would keep calling and maybe ask for a supervisor if problems keep happening.

I just saw a post that the non alcoholic drinks are from a bar list. So I guess I answered my own question😊

Do they provide a list of “ non alcoholic cocktails” ?  Something perhaps not listed on the Easy Drink Package that you could order a shot of alcohol to add to it?

Thanks

Tom

2 hours ago, sparks53 said:

Below is a photo of the easy package description we took on our Divina Caribbean Cruise form Miami

on the 10/01/19

It clearly states in the cocktails section mixed drinks with house spirit brands, so that leaves things pretty

wide open. We had no problem getting Pina Colada's. It is also not the case that the system is programmed

so the waiters swipe your card and it tells them if your drink is included in your package. It is up to them to 

decide.

i don’t have any paperwork that shows the Easy Package including “mixed drinks with house spirit brands). So I hope it’s also included for our Caribbean sailing on the Seaside in November.

thanks!

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Manage-Your-Booking/All-Inclusive-Packages.aspx

On 1/15/2019 at 4:47 PM, Bubbaloo311 said:

Thank you for posting this - although I am still utterly confused.  We just booked for June on the Seaside with the All In promo with WiFi.  My mom likes things like Cosmos - can be made with well brand spirits - but can you get a mixed drink.  Things like a pina colada or frozen daquiri.

 

If not what is the cost to upgrade?  But also where can I find current drink prices to know if it's worth upgrading or are we better off just buying a few drinks a la carte?

 

The Seaside looks beautiful with lots of cool bells and whistles I think my kids will like - but I am starting to feel like maybe we should cancel between bad reviews (which I take with a grain of salt) and just feeling like it's pulling teeth to get accurate info.  Sorry for the vent - but I am honestly just so confused about things it has left a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach ...  Thanks for any clarification.

 

 

 

type in your browser   msccruisesusa.com

once you’re on MSC’s home page, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the (all inclusive cruises) link

Once that page loads, scroll down to the (all inclusive alcoholic beverage package) and click on that link.

this brings up all of the drink packages. They indicate if you bought the package prior to the cruise, the 15% service charge is already included. If you buy on board you’re subject to the 15% service charge. When I booked my cruise, it included the Easy Package and standard internet. It’s no longer available for my cruise, but the prices dropped significantly. So they factor the package into the price of the cruise.

 

There’s some YouTube videos on the Seaside sail away. I believe it’s the Miami pool area with the large screen tv.

CoupleUK,

Thank you!

Can this benefit for Black members be used at any of the specialty restaurants on board the Seaside? Is it basically a small bites type of dinner? Do you have a choice off the tasting menu?

thank you

Tom

Thank you everybody. This helped a lot!

Tom

Thanks for the information. I figured MSC wouldn’t make it too complicated for those of us that don’t regularly use a PIN. CVV yes, but PIN no!

Yah not widely used here. At least not by my wife and I. They mainly ask for the 3 digit CVV number on the back of the card

Thanks. I don’t remember my pin so I guess I’ll have to get one from my credit card company

Thanks

Are we talking the 3 digit CVV number on the back of the card. Or do you need to get an actual PIN number from your credit card company?

thanks again

Tom

Having never sailed MSC I have a question about the cruise card activation kiasks. Reading the onboard payment section on their web site, it says to activate your cruise card then a credit card tied to that card. It then says you will be asked to enter a PIN number. Is this PIN furnished to you at check in? Or are they asking for a PIN related to your credit card?

thanks

Tom