wolft927

173 MSC Seascape yacht club.

I never understand this. Why you already have set in your mind before you cruise that your going to reduce or eliminate DSC. If you cant afford the service charges do not go on a cruise! Would love to hear the reason for this but have a feeling we wont here anything.

So my wife and I (44,42) have cruised all the major lines multiple times. Comparing NCL to CCL I will say the difference really only comes down to a few things. 1 The Ships! What design and décor do you prefer? The Breakaway Plus class ships have a more elegant feel I believe vs Mardi Gras class. If you go a class smaller on CCL you are in the Dream Class and I believe the Breakaway class again still a bit more elegant but in size closer. 2 Dining! Now saying one lines food is better then other because opinions vary, but I do love all the free options for food on carnivals pool decks, Guy's Burger and the Mexican place stand out for us. Now specialty dining goes to NCL hands down. 3 Passengers! So, Carnival has a bit of a younger crowd. I have not sailed anything less then 7 days ever so cant judge on shorter sailings. I have never had any issues on either line, but i will say carnivals pool decks are a bit more of a party atmosphere then NCL. 4 Drink Packages! So this is a big one for me. So NCL you get the free at sea and the drink package for two for a 7 day cruise runs about $352.00, and is truly unlimited. Carnival is not included and runs approximately $989 for two including the gratuity, and only allows 15 alcohol drinks per day. Now it does include specialty drinks and water but its almost double. Don't get me started on RCCL drink package (last cruise was almost $1200 for the both of us) 5 Suites! Now I have stayed in the Ocean Suite on CCL and was a nice cabin but the perks are just not there. NCL our last 4 cruises have been in the Haven so hard to compare, and Haven is much more expensive then a CCL Ocean or even grand suite. I would say if you like CCL you will like NCL, now flip that around depending your taste you may not care for CCL. But, as for my wife and I, we will cruise any cruise line if the price is right. First MSC cruise coming up in September so we shall see.

When you fill out your check in documents 21 days out each person must list an emergency contact including phone number.

Following along as well, we will be on the Seascape in an inside YC suite as well. First MSC cruise usually NCL Haven, but wow, the inside YC suites are a steal compared to the cheapest Haven ususally. I know no window or balcony but we love the Haven and assume we will love the YC especially its much larger pool and pool deck then the Havens we have experienced.

No, we took the same shuttles as the passengers. But our shipboard crew cards had our pictures on it.

I am just confused how ALL cruise lines do not require a Passport for closed loop cruises. Also that would mean that all Crew would not be able to return to the ship as crew members passports are held by the cruise lines. Just wondering.

So, If I am on a closed loop cruise visiting Key West, which only requires Birth certificate and Phot ID, your telling me that if as an American Citizen, they will not let me back on board. I worked onboard cruise ships for years and have docked in the navy yard, you absolutely do not need a passport to go ashore and return to the ship. All the cruises i have been on and also worked on, I have never taken my passport ashore, it stays in my safe from the minute i get to my cabin.

This is done because if I was offered an unlimited drink package which i can order 2 drinks at a time, why would i order a second for my wife. Now, if you only plan on ordering maybe 1 virgin drink per day that is about $8 to $10 per day. But remember, soda is actually pricey on ships, i think it was almost $3 per can

You dont need a passport just a photo government issued ID. In Key west no need to bring your passport assure.

Following Along as we have been HAven loyal our last 4 cruises but trying MSC YC for first time in September mainly because of the price!

So Pre Cruise we typically would stay across from the Biscayne Marketplace, last time was at YVE. We are trying something different this time and decided on the Hilton Miami airport blue lagoon. We wanted a relaxing pre cruise stay instead of the busy streets of downtown Miami. Not to mention was able to get a 1 bedroom suite with large screened in balcony for less then a basic room downtown. We drive in so parking is always a factor and parking rates downtown Miami are anywhere from $40 to $60 per night.

We loved the Band in the Q last time we sailed on the Joy! American band that new all the country hits as well as some great classic Rock!

Last i seen he was on the MSC Seascape. I worked with Pedro many years ago on NCL as his Asst. Cruise Director.

So we are giving MSC a try and will be in the YC. We typically cruise in the Haven on NCL and the one thing i always liked was wearing nice resort style shorts and polo shirts to dinner in the Haven. Now, on MSC for Gala night i will wear a suit (no tie! Hate them). But hoping that nice shorts and polo shirts will be good for dinner. I am on vacation and do not want to have to wear slacks and button down shirts every night.

lol, That is the night we are staying as well. Boarding the MSC Seascape the 28th. 27th is also my birthday lol

Looks like tomorrows embarkation will be delayed a but as well...hopefully just guest full immagration and not crew as well.

Thanks! looking for a quite evening after our 10.5 hour drive from NC

So, Wife and I have stayed many times downtown Miami pre cruise and this time we are only coming in for one night precruise and honestly we are sick of paying $50 or more for parking by the Port. We wont be arriving until around 3 or 4pm (Driving from NC) so we chose the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon. We got the 1 bedroom suite with screened in balcony. Can anyone give me some insight on the hotel and maybe even the suite itself? We see there is a restaurant and bar which is great. Any info or comments o your stay would be great!

We sailed out of Terminal 10 in January and part of the covered walkway was damaged, so we actually ended up getting wet on embarkation and debarkation lol. Most of it is covered but there is about 50 yards that wasnt.

Looking at the Cruise Director Denny Anderson, I had the Privlage to work with him on the Norwegian Sea back in 2005 I believe. I was on the cruise directors staff during i belive my second contract. Would have loved to work onboard the Norway.

Aft Haven Suites are awesome! that would be our prefered cabin when cruising the Haven! Balcony is an amzing space not to mention on the BA+ ships they have a second full bathroom.

We have sailed the Haven Multiple times and our most recent was on the Escape in January. Once we got done with our check in documents, they were already doing general boarding and was asked to wait for a butler, we politly explained we know where we were going and they smiled and said welcome aboard and we went on our own. Now, have no issue when returning from a port day utilizing the front gangway and depending on the time there is a Butler waiting to escort you from the gangway to the crew elevators so you can bypass the general elevaters which are always crowded.

Love all the pictures, We are on the Seascape in September first MSC cruise, doing a YC Interior. I noticed that in your post with all the leadership on the Ship, Pedro Serra was listed as cruise director, but look like the cruise directors name is Ted. Do you know if Pedro is on board?

So I agree with everything said! I have sailed and worked onboard NCL all the way back to the Sea, Dream, Crown days ( Even worked onboard the Marco Polo when NCL owned Orient Lines). Entertainment I believe is the biggest area I have seen decline in the past few years. The one thing that used to be great was each ship had a Production cast that performed 3 different shows(the best was when NCL had the Jean Ann Ryan Company) throughout a 7 day cruise. Then the remaining nights would be filled with guest entertainers such as Vocalists, Comedians, Prop comedy etc..These entertainers would stay onboard for a week to sometimes a few months. This was perfect as if you cruise 3 or 4 times a year on the same ship at least you would have different guests entertainers. I understand the reasoning on budget cuts and removing high priced shows such as Blue Man Group, Jersey Boys etc. but its a little bit of a let down. I sailed RCCL Symphony of the seas about a year and a half ago and I much prefer NCL but RCCL entertainment on the Oasis Class ships was very impressive.