Homosassa

Funny how a snarky poster can bring up memories: I started thinking about my courses taught by Dr. Natale Colosi, long time chairman of the Interstate Sanitation Commission (NY/NJ/CT) and his lectures on water quality in the region. I really would like to learn more about mvh's training and background in water quality control and plant operation. It could be interesting....

LOL - Let's just put the industry poster in the category of those posters who try to correct the retired ship's engineer that posts information on ships' mechanical operations or the retired Princess cruise ship captain that sometimes posts on cruise ship operations or the retired public health person who started inspecting following the APHA guidelines for water quality and the subsequent codified regulations.

Here is MSC information on cruising with children: https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/cruise-for-kids While I can't find the on line information, I know in the past (pre Covid) that MSC has had equipment available in the on board Chicco store that could be borrowed (strollers, car seats, etc,;). I don't know if this is still available. Aa far as bringing a child into a bar or the theater, it will depend on your child. I had a daughter that as an infant could (and still can at forty) sleep soundly with a two hundred piece marching band performing in front of her.

MSC's drink package may be "unlimited," but one needs to read the fine print in the "Conditions of Carriage." A passenger can be refused service at the discretion of the crew. "13.3 The Carrier and/or its servants and/or agents may refuse to serve a Passenger alcohol or further alcohol where in their reasonable opinion the Passenger is likely to be a danger and/or nuisance to himself/herself, other passengers and/or the Vessel. Passenger shall be solely responsible to monitor their own alcohol consumption and Carrier shall have no liability to Passenger as a result of Passenger’s consumption of alcohol."

Here are the standards that I use for bottled drinking water: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-129 Besides being very late to the party, there is a good chance that not only did I inspect whatever bottling plant you may be associated with, I also probably reviewed the QA lab results. Did you have any idea of the process of how water is treated on board a ship?

Keep in mind that the "Hop on, Hop Off" feature is a crap shoot for usability when cruise ships are in Key West. The trolleys are so full with cruise ship passengers that no room is available at the various stops or is so limited that a loooooooong line develops to attempt to get one of the few spots left by passengers getting off at a trolley stop.

A real life definition of schadenfreude: Living in Florida and listening to the hurricane predictions about Hilary and reading the posts about cruises leaving from California....🥲

You are in the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on time of year and water temperature, there will be jellyfish (and sharks and other sea creatures).

Which country's Thanksgiving do you celebrate? At least nine countries celebrate Thanksgiving on different dates and with different traditions.

Isabella, we are talking about the same incident. I and many of the regular posters on the MSC forum know the story because it was an ongoing saga spread across several threads and post over a time period of months. It has gotten to the point that many of the regulars on the MSC forum will pull the poster up short and tell him to knock it off. Sorry you got sucked in.

As I advised in the MSC thread, the situation you are talking about is the result of a cruiser who, when advised far in advance of the cruise that that particular sailing had been chartered, refused to take the offers in the notice of a fare refund or moving the booking to a new date (OBC was also offered). Instead, he insisted that he still be allowed to retain his booking and after MSC then offered an alternate cabin on the chartered sailing, escalated his demands and threats to the point that the cruise line notified him in writing that he would be arrested at the pier if he attempted to board the ship. Somehow, all the facts of the story are never included when the poster shows up to routinely bad mouth MSC. More interesting is the fact that the poster continued to book numerous MSC Yacht Club and proceeds to harangue the on board crew about his grievance.

Glad you had your priorities straight. The child in your scenario fared better than the one who ran into me in the buffet while I was carrying two cups of coffee. The hot contents of both cups ended up being poured over the kid as I tried to catch myself (successfully) but sacrificed the contents of the coffee cups.

Don't be lead down the garden path by the often trotted out and extremely truncated version of all the facts behind the incident. It involved a full ship charter that occurred far out from the embarcation date and MSC's offer to rebook or cancel that was refused and fought to the bitter end.

The pasta is the prima course and the fish/ meat dish is the segunda. MSC is used to offering its pasta dishes as the smaller prima course for those who wish to eat traditionally. If the pasta is order as the prima, it shouldn't be considered a second entree (segunda).

The excursion time will either be changed to run within the port times or it will be cancelled.

Just be aware that cruising in Alaska may mean there will be times when there will be no cell phone coverage because of the surrounding mountains blocking signals. You will notice the same problem with satellite feeds, such as the TV programs in your cabin.

You do not say where you are cruising to. Some countries, Canada for example, requires this documentation for minors not traveling with both parents.

Look at the email you posted as giving instructions for check in and embarkation In bold print and underlined is the statement that check in and embarcation closed at 3 PM sharp. That means according to the US DHS requirements that the passenger manifest be submitted two hours before departure, departure must be at 5 PM or later.

No, your check in and embarkation closed at 3 PM. Your sailing time was at 5PM or later.

A wise move.

Why? Distance can be a good thing between traveling companions.

I agree. From growing up in the NYC metro area and living and working there as an adult, the only consistent thing you can say about traffic is that there will be some. Sometimes the traffic will be flowing and sometimes at a stand still. If the gods are smiling on you, it may take approximately a half hour to reach the cruise terminal from LaGuardia. If there is an accident, construction, or any other things that can be happen, settle in for a long period of time. There is a reason that if you ask someone that lives in the area the distance to a location, the answer will be in increments of time, not distance measurements.

Call your travel agent. It is the TA's job to find out the reason and resolve the problem if a change can be made.

Bella is strictly a guaranteed rate. You can not specify a cabin class, such as outside or balcony, when booking Bella.

You do not indicate in which country you are citizens. The MSC USA website contains the following clear language in the Terms and Conditions which one agrees to when booking. As the language is generic enough to cover any country, it is probably easily available to anyone who researches the cruise line's requirements before booking. "6. PASSPORT, VISAS AND MINORS Passengers must hold fully valid passports for the whole duration of the Cruise Package with a passport expiration date at least 6 months after the return date. Certain countries, including the USA and Russia, require machine-readable and digital photo passports. It is the sole responsibility of the Passenger to determine what visas, health certificates or other travel documents may be required for their specific itinerary, to obtain such required travel documents prior to commencing travel, and to present them upon embarkation onboard Carrier’s vessel. Passengers lacking required travel documents may be denied boarding and shall be entitled to no refund or compensation of any kind as a result of such denied boarding. Passenger agrees to indemnify and reimburse Carrier for any fine or other costs incurred by Carrier as a result of Passenger’s failure to have all required travel documentation or noncompliance with applicable regulations and Passenger authorizes Carrier to charge such amounts to Passenger’s stateroom account and/or credit card. Passengers are strongly advised to check all legal requirements for traveling abroad and at the various ports including the requirements relating to visas, immigration, customs and health. Passengers under the age of 21 (on voyages that include a port in the USA) or 18 (on voyages that do not include a port in the USA) must travel accompanied by their parents or a legal guardian. If one of the traveling minor’s parents is not cruising, then a signed authorization letter made in accordance with the laws of the country where the minor resides from the absent parent authorizing the minor to travel must be provided at the time of Booking. If the minor is traveling with Passengers that are not his/her parents or legal guardians, then a document signed by the parents or legal guardian authorizing the minor to travel with a chaperone or other designated individual must be provided at the time of Booking, in accordance with Company policies."