RBrowny

19 minutes ago, sidari said:

Further Update ... 

A Bea boo boo I'm afraid, the Old drink package is still in use on Europa until the ship reaches Genoa and the top price is still 13 Euros for the P.E package.

Does this mean, when in Europe and reaches Genoa it will go to 13 euros, or will it stay at 14?

I'm really looking forward to this, as the ship gets closer to the EU sailings. I hope you have an amazing time, and can't wait to follow this post all the way through.

I am still annoyed we pre-booked the premium extra drinks package and we can't get drinks that are now 14 euro without paying extra, however, looking at that menu, it doesn't look like much we can't get. Considering there's about 50 cocktails we can get.

Just now, hamrag said:

This is MSC customer services/corporate office, right.....mibbes aye, maybes naw....

Guess I will find out when onboard, but got to be optimistic. 

4 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

If they’re updated on our sailing and the WiFi plays nice, I’ll post them. 

Thank you, really appreciate that.

Just now, Beamafar said:

Yeah - I feel the same way.  I’d considered cancelling the upgrade but it’s too close to sail date, now. Had this arisen last week, I may have done so.  But I’m not convinced that we’d be able to pay the price difference for a drink outside our original included Easy package.  Also, I’ve never had to keep an eye on onboard spend for drinks (we’ve always had the top package) and I don’t want to have to spend the next 2 weeks doing so.  I’m just going to roll with whatever happens and not let it spoil our cruise.  

Yeah, don't let it spoil your cruise. It's just a shame they've done this. Our sailing is in Europe, and I assume that's where they will change the prices. I just need to see updated menus.

2 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Totally agree!   Though, actually, this has happened in a slightly different way before.  The package prices would increase and then I’d find that items were removed from the menus.  For example:  the top package was known as Deluxe.  When it was first introduced, Remy Martin XO @ €12 a glass was included.  The price increased and RMXO disappeared off the menu. Janneau XO became the top cognac @ €9    That was removed and I was left with Martell @€6.75 (or thereabouts) as the best available covered by Deluxe.  

I would contact MSC directly, but I am unsure what they will say that is any different. I don't quite understand why I've paid for a package, but items will be missing, otherwise I'd have held out until it updates.

My Travel Agent has contacted me, and confirmed that whatever we have booked with is what we will get and this has been confirmed by MSC. So the 13 Euros drinks is what we will get, despite the drinks going up to 13 Euros. I think this is a disgrace if you ask me, especially given we've paid the extra money for the Premium Extra.

I would love to see the menu to see what we have to pay extra for now.

5 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

We have one booked for next week.  Really looking forward to it.  Love the big window view of the sea.  We don’t use a balcony much, so this really suits us. 

Was this through an upgrade, or just usual purchasing this room?

14 hours ago, SirJackDaniels said:

If I could put a bid in for you I would

14 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Aaahh, thanks, JD. 🤗 😁

Is that you offering to pay for the upgrade too 😏

We put an upgrade in for an infinite window, as we were happy to pay a "good" price for that, so hopefully we get it.

1 minute ago, Beamafar said:

 

We’re embarking Europa on Monday next. Someone currently onboard has posted that they could purchase a drink outside of their package and just pay the difference in price between it and the limit.  Someone onboard another ship said they can’t do that, so there’s a lot of confusion with these new package/drinks prices which I’m hoping won’t impact us negatively on our cruise. 
 

Also, a booking we made on 13 February last is indicating that we won’t be able to use the beverage package in the SRs.  The drinks package prices are the new ones with the increased limits. 

I don't see the point in why I've paid for the Premium Extra, if everything I'm going to get is going to cost me extra 😄

Just now, CruisingFox27 said:

 

The packages have different codes, when your card is scanned it shows the crew what you are entitles too.
Will it be increased is currently under discussion on other threads. At present, no one knows. Very much in a transition phase at present with old and new menus etc.

 

I'll find out what we can have in 10 days 😀

I've contacted our TA, to see what they say. But you will probably know when on board

5 minutes ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Identical to ours, which is the old package with drinks up to 13E. It appears to be the new packages, sold after 27th Feb(?) with drinks to 14E, which now excludes the SR restaurants.

 

@diesel1973 It was once the case that the Black Complimentary dinner was per person, however, it was then amended to one per cabin, circa 2018. The implementation of that was slightly haphazard too...

Really strange, I wonder how it updates. We are onboard in about 42 days, so would need to know. Will this be changed to €14? Or not, it seems all a bit strange now.

This is on my booking: 

ALL BEVERAGES PRICED UP TO €13! THE PREMIUM CHOICE TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST. OUR PREMIUM EXTRA PACKAGE INCLUDES AN EXTENSIVE VARIETY OF FROZEN AND CLASSIC COCKTAILS, PREMIUM BRAND SPIRITS, LIQUORS AND CORDIALS. THEN THERES A VARIED SELECTION OF WINES AND CHAMPAGNE BY THE GLASS, A 25% DISCOUNT ON BOTTLES OF WINE AND CHAMPAGNE PURCHASED ON BOARD, AND OUR ENTIRE SELECTION OF DRAFT, CRAFT AND BOTTLED BEERS, SODAS, FRUIT JUICES, MINERAL WATER, ENERGY DRINKS, COFFEE (LATTE, ESPRESSO, CAPPUCCINO, ETC.), HOT CHOCOLATE AND TEAS. THE PREMIUM EXTRA PACKAGE CAN BE ENJOYED IN OUR BARS, BUFFET, MAIN RESTAURANT AND SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS AS WELL AS OCEAN CAY AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE DESTINATIONS, BUT DOES NOT COVER OUR SIGNATURE VENUES, INCLUDING VENCHI 1878 ESTABLISHMENTS, LAVAZZA COFFEE SHOP, JEAN-PHILIPPE CHOCOLATE, COFFEE, CREPES & GELATO. 

So looks like mine covers speciality, assuming that the Taco place is speciality.

37 minutes ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

Is there a website on which you can make bids directly, like RCI & X, or do you have to wait to be invited by MSC first?

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

I made a final payment and the day after doing the check in, apart from Credit Card, I got an email from MSC to upgrade.

Just now, UKCruiser2022 said:

If you buy a drink and pay the difference, do you know if you get charged a tip on the difference paid? Thanks

You will, yes

Just now, Beamafar said:

Our October booking is through a TA.  The MSC confirmation (which I always request from a TA, apart from their confirmation invoice) shows the inclusions  - gratuities/ drinks package etc, so I know they’ll be shown when I log in.  I would have your TA check into it. 

Yeah, I'll have to check with the TA. On the app it's showing no package, but press on beverages and it only shows me options to buy cakes so assume something back end isn't working

2 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Is the limit indicated where you log into your booking?  Ours for next week shows the limit as €13;  our October Med cruise shows it as €14.   PE was included in the fare so I can’t say whether we’re paying the old or new drinks package price.

 

As the changeover hasn’t rolled over across the fleet, yet, the situation is still unclear.  

We booked through a TA, but upon logging in it's displaying as no packages or anything, but on our booking it displays we have it. So, I am really unsure

Just now, Beamafar said:

That’s the equivalent of €13 for cruises in the Med, which is the old limit.  The new limit will be €14, reflecting the increased drinks prices.  Seems that there’s gonna be a lot of confusion around this issue. 

But we booked with the €13, so will we now be  €14?

We travel in May on the World Europa, and on the website it's displaying as drinks up to $15, but we booked and I'm sure ours was a dollar less. Will be automatically be updated to drinks up to this value, or will we not be updated? I don't get it.

8 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Is there any chance you could post a photo of any of the bar menus outside of YC?  I’m curious to see if the prices have increased and what the PremExtra will cover. 

Very good question. I'm intrigued too, as we're Premium Extra when we go!

3 minutes ago, trintrav said:

Everyone has access to that area.  Haven’t been back there during the day to see how crowded it is 

Oh, okay. I was under the impression it was an adults only area, but could be wrong

Oh, I Can I ask who is able to access this area please? To me, it looks the best location for me and my partner away from the main pool, and just offers a fantastic all round view. Thank you

We travel the beginning of May and apparently we have to wait until we're on board to know when our dining time is.

Just now, trintrav said:

I’ve heard mixed reviews about the food in the buffet and main dining room. So far the yacht club food has been fantastic. we are eating at Teppanyaki tonight. 
 

Regardless, the ship, facilities and entertainment has been superb. And we are picky.  You'll Have a great time. 

Yeah, I've heard mixed reviews. I am not a fussy eater, but my partner is. I don't think we will have a problem at all.

Very interesting about stuff costing over 13 and only paying the difference, that's quite good.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

4 hours ago, trintrav said:

Honestly when we were first walking around the ship it felt empty.  I’m not sure what the occupancy is currently but it’s never felt crowded at all. We’ve not wait for anything really. 
 

FYI there is no more reserved seating for YC in the shows. However we got there 5 mins before show time and got decent seats on row 2
 

Demographics, I’d say mostly Russians.  Very few Arabs this week as a Ramadan starts in a couple of days. 

Thank you for getting back to me! That's brilliant. I think it will all depend on capacity, as we're going to Europe.

Hope you have an amazing time. I really can't wait to get on board, for what it's worth we're not in the Yacht Club. It's our first time on MSC as well.

What a brilliant and insightful post.

I'm curious about the capacity and how well spread out all the passengers are so there's enough space for everyone, where it doesn't feel over crowded?