Homosassa

The ship was chartered as a salsa cruise after he booked. Notification was sent out and options for rebooking and refunds given. He refused all options and insisted on a cabin. He was given one as shown above (still wasn't happy). All the information was slowly offered in posts over several threads, including information offered by others on the same sailing. By the way, how often does a cruise line get pushed to the point that a passenger is threatened with detention from law enforcement if they attempt to board the ship? I am sure the moderator will remove my posts and his.

Cringe worthy advice. Four hours at room temperature is the limit at which food should be thrown out. A half hour should safely bring the meat to room temperature.

We have never had any problems with our MSC bookings. The problems seem to occur when someone attempts to change the reservation and not being aware of the change and cancellation policy of MSC. And be aware of the story about being downgraded from Yacht Club. There is way more to the story and MSC was not at fault. Instead it was a passenger who did not want to follow instructions when the ship was chartered.

Read the MSC policy that you posted. You lose the deposit. No refund. Whether is just $199 or $597 depends on the MSC policy on when changes are considered are cancellation. You need to look at the terms and conditions for your specific booking.

I eat anything I want in moderation....

OP, there is a great deal more to this story than this rhetorical question and, in many of our opinions, is not MSC's fault.

As a result of misbehavior by those who considered the short cruises a booze cruise, MSC tighten restrictions several years ago. The restriction include not having drink packages available on certain itineraries from some ports on certain embarkation dates. There is also a MSC Code of Passenger Conduct and a section on alcohol use in their ticket contract on their website. MSC is not an alcohol centric line and many are surprised at some of the areas on the ship where alcohol is not permitted. As any crew member is empowered to deal with those who are overserving themselves, there can be subtle controls, or not so subtle controls, placed on the passenger of which the passenger may not be aware. Anyone who has posted a review in which they complain of the lack of or difficulty obtaining a drink has been managed by the crew.

The idea that it is going to be quite a while before cruising resumes from Baltimore is not a big surprise to those of us who know the area well and can understand the implications of the many official statements from those involved in the removal of the bridge wreckage and opening a channel for the more important cargo port.

Looks like Essiesmom and I were typing at the same time. In any case, no matter what fare churning game you may devise to receive $400 back, it isn't going to fly.

OP, you are confusing the actual cost of the first cabin ($1200 total for the double passenger occupancy rate plus the third "free" passenger) vs the equal division of the $1200 among three adults (may or may not be related). It appears the actual cost for the first two passengers was $1,100 with the third passenger added in for $100 to cover port fees and taxes. Unless the fare you booked actually stated the daily service charge was included, it probably isn't and all of you will be charged daily to your on board account. Remove the third passenger (doesn't matter if listed as number one, two or three) means the original fare is cancelled, and the cabin rate for a double occupancy cabin applies (no more "free" third passenger).

Read the MSC Guest Conduct Policy on MSC website. The guitar falls under one of the policy prohibitions.

I suggest you find and read the MSC Guest Conduct Policy on the MSC website. It will help you understand why your personal balcony furniture may be denied at security before boarding the ship.

For all of you who do not understand that what you want is not always available: The Captain of the ship determines what is a safety issue and what is not. That decision can vary from ship to ship or from embarkation date to embarkation date. Factors that may influence the decision is weather (i.e.; wind speed), sea conditions, the location of the cabin, and past experience. Even if loungers and other balcony furniture is provided in certain locations or category rooms, it may not be available for use depending on the factors listed above.

On many of the lines that I cruise on, the buffet opens a half hour after the start of the early fixed seating.

In the "You can't make this stuff up" category: I have a cousin from Kansas that spent two weeks touring various regions of Italy. Her main complaint was that she could find any good Italian food, especially pizza, that matched what she eats in Kansas (Lol - DeFazio's and Pizza Hut are her standards for excellence).

Try and find the British breakfast section in the buffet. There will be excellent corned beef hash that matches that available at home in New England.

Coffee plantations in Costa Rica and Guatemala are also an education. One thing that will be learned is why the coffee growers snigger when labeling coffee beans as "organic."

Unfortunately, many confuse the well thought out price structure of MSC with its attendant control of the fare games so dear to so many passengers hearts with being "cheap" or "budget." Many also do not realize that it is not their favorite low end US cruise line and instead is an Italian line that serves an international clientele that expects a consistent on board experience no matter where the embarkation port. The bad reviews come from those who can not appreciate the quality of the food being served because of lack of exposure to Italian cuisine or other international menu offerings for the passenger groups on board or are unuse to receiving professional and courteous guest service in line with travel outside the US. A good indication of whether one will be happy on MSC is to judge one's travel sophistication as to being aware that standards often higher, but different than the lower tier US mass market lines (Carnival, NCL, Royal Caribbean) are being offered and the one's ability to learn from the experience.

What were the posted dinner hours for the buffet (easily available to find on the app, printed schedule in your cabin, or outside the buffet doors)? If the buffet was not scheduled to be open until 6 PM, then I am confused why one expect it to be open at 5PM?

LOL - I recently cancelled a cruise with Celebrity ten days before embarkation and received back every penny of the cruise fare, taxes, fees and purchased excursions. However, without the specific details of the situation, my experience is of no value to anyone unless the exact same conditions of the cancellation exist.

Again, unclear as to the details on how the cruise was booked and any booking conditions for the booking. Again, we can not give any advice based on what you may "believe" for the conditions under which she booked.

Love the "asking for a friend" post that lacks information but seems to want a response based on the unknown facts. Your friend needs to check with whoever she booked the trip with and check the details on any contract she may have agreed to with the booking agent.

What is not "Genuine?" Do you think I am an AI bot? My knowledge of Italian cuisine ( preparation? regional differences?)? My experience on MSC with fellow cruisers who are not experienced in different cultures? By the way, your pasta dish looks identical to the linguine I served the other day with shrimp. Made the dish as I learned from one of the straight off boat relatives from Naples. I'm sorry (not) that my answer to your request to explain the dish you received doesn't meet your preconceived idea of what you ordered.

Your assigned dining time is "fixed" and not an "open dining period. One is expected to be at the dining room within a certain amount of time of the start time of the seating or one will be turned away.

Are you familiar with the ice cream Standards of Identity (21 CFR 135.110) as currently written as opposed to what was originally recognized as the standard for ice cream ingredients? Celebrity's ice cream is ice cream and may just contain less of the "junk" ingredients, such as gums and milk solids, which are now allowed to give artificially the mouth feed of an ice cream made with the original ingredients of cream and sugar. Breyer's ice cream was a true ice cream (no gums or other emulsifiers, milk solids, etc) but had to chance their formulation to compete with the artificially induced mouth feel of brands such as Edy's and other brands regarded as "premium." Many people wouldn't recognize a quality ice cream (no or minimal use of the emulsifiers and milk derivatives used to boost the milk fat content) because they have never had real ice cream.