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Its basically a choice between the west coast and east coast lines. West Coast served by Avanti, leaves from London Euston, more stops and takes longer (about 5 and half hours) East Coast served by LNER and Lumo, Leaves from London Kings Cross, fewer stops and takes about 4 and half hours. Note Euston and Kings Cross are very near to each other. Having travelled on both Avanti and LNER their isn't really much difference. Livery will be different but the service supplied is pretty much the same. Reliability is similar as well. Lumo is fairly new and I haven't tried it so can't comment on that. Having just had a quick look at prices and they also don't really favour one provider over another. Sorry I haven't really narrowed your choices, but hope you have some more info to make a choice.

I see this a lot for all cruise ships, but I very much doubt any cruise ship will hit 100% capacity. The capacity is based on every single berth in every single cabin being filled, as most cabins can take 3 or 4 and most people book cabins with a occupancy of 2, its never going to happen. Yes there will be 3's and 4's but also singles only, and I still believe the most common occupancy will be 2. I have no proof to back this up! However I would say the true capacity is about 2/3rds of the actual capacity and is what the cruise line will base its staffing level upon. I guess school holidays would be the time when more cabins are filled to capacity but every single one? surely a rare occurrence.

HaHa people are gonna be disappointed when they realise what your title actually means! MSC do offer testing on board, whether that's free I'm not sure. Technically that's not a B2B (that's same ship in succession), Side 2 Side (S2S, different ships in succession) is what your doing.

The British Isles doesn't really have a tipping culture, its neither expected or needed. But I know the Americans will still want to tip, so a fiver (£5) for each trip would be what I would say.

Was on the Grandiosa around the western Med , from 3rd of April for a week, we could get off on our own, as restrictions were lifted on the 1st of April

In the UK no requirement to tip luggage handlers

I'm sure the OP is aware of that, but it doesn't answer their question, they know they get a complimentary gift as listed where you say, they are asking what its likely to be which your post and the directions within doesn't help with.

Which port and where are you going, it can depend a lot on this. As US cruises can have different requirements to European

Debit cards, the pandemic basically accelerated the movement to contactless payment using either debit or credit card. Most transactions under a £100 in the UK are now conducted this way. As for visitors, I'm not sure but in the UK its fairly easy to get credit or debit cards that have little to no charges for foreign transactions

You'll need to upgrade, the included package in YC is only the browse package, you will need to get the stream package. As to reliability, I will leave that to others as it depends on where you are in the world.

If its Horizon, it is a simple walk, you can walk right thru the car park in basically a straight line from the terminal to reach the roundabout at Dock Gate 10, its 10 minutes , at most, from there to the train station Did this last September.

Yes it will be fine as long as they give you a certificate (email is fine). You will do the test at home then upload the result and they will confirm the result and give you a certificate. EDIT: Just to make it clear for others who read this, this test is ok for Sailing on MSC from the UK or Europe, I don't know the requirements for USA.

Just click the heart when you hover over it, its giving you three options, the heart (like) is still an option as well as the other two popping out

Always best to check here: https://www.msccruises.co.uk/health-and-safety-measures/ So at moment yes ok for Venice.

The Bellisima and then Grandiosa, Virtuosa and the new Euriba (launch next year) are Meraviglia plus, same layout just slightly bigger.

Randox is fine for the current sailings out of the UK. Self test antigen with certificate is what they want.

What is the actual itinerary ? And early/late October ? I'm booked on a Virtuosa sailing out of the UK which is heading to France and Spain in October. Might be a better option ? Not saying it will be warm but more chance heading south than north to Germany/Holland/Scandinavia.

Nope Randox and others are fine : Antigen self-tests are accepted as long as they’re accompanied by an official certificate/email (some of the suppliers that are accepted: Randox, Expresstest, Collinsons, ect.). NHS certificates not accepted. From the uk website: Travel Requirements Northern Europe & cruises from UK | MSC Cruises Plus can personally testify as used a self test with certificate for Boarding both the Virtuosa and the Grandiosa recently.

For the Premium drinks package its £13

I'm also on this cruise, may well see you in YC. Travelling Solo, bit of a trek for me to Southampton, so setting off shortly to stop overnight at Oxford, then finish the journey to the port in the morning.

Yep its pretty ridiculous at the moment, I have the Premier Beverage Package listed as complimentary from Princess (old Plus package) but do I have the Premier Beverage Package or the Premier Beverage Package ? 🙂

Up until MSC reclassified the drinks packages last year. YC was a bit nebulous as to what was included in the drinks package (outside of YC), they have made it much clearer now by stating the YC guests get the Premium extra package.

You've been able to disembark independently since 1st of April, I was on MSC Grandiosa round the med from the 5th of April

items forbidden on board Port Security has the duty to search Guests and luggage to confiscate any article internationally known as dangerous for the safety and security of Guests, Crew and ship. Such items will be confiscated and not returned. Alcohol, firearms, sharp objects such as blades and scissors, flammable and explosive material, items with heating elements or open flames (e.g. clothing irons, hair irons. kettles, hotplates, candles, incense), drones. If explosive material, guns or illegal drugs are detected, law enforcement will be immediately alerted. MSC MSC Cruises will be forced to deny access to any guests not complying with these mandated regulations. In the interest of health and safety, beverages and food (including partially eaten or home cooked items) may not be brought on board either. Exception: dry, packaged and commercially produced foods. Cruises will be forced to deny access to any guests not complying with these mandated regulations. In the interest of health and safety, beverages and food (including partially eaten or home cooked items) may not be brought on board either. Exception: dry, packaged and commercially produced foods.

Yes the Schengen area, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Principality of Monaco is a list of what a excepted state has to be outside of. Not any state outside of shengen area only and then UK, NI and Monaco are part of the original list.