Absolutely true. If you want to thrive in the Caribbean, you better serve what Americans expect.
In Europe, as an American, I have no such expectations. Europe be Europe. I would expect nothing less.
I have no information to dispute this. But cash is cash. If it's available in one company, it's available to a subsidiary.
MSC is pushing very hard. Time will tell.
We are on the same page, Black. Unfortunately, we are not privy to the algorithms that show what is most beneficial to HAL. I have to assume, for now, that smoking in the casino is their best option.
As a smoker, I agree with your concerns. I don't want you to be exposed to my habit.
However, as a smoker, I would not spend nearly as much money in the casino as I do now if it was all non-smoking. So, there you go.
Haven't gone there yet, but when I hit Platinum with NCL next April, I may try them if they're still "matching" status.
From what I've heard, read, seen, MSC doesn't quite yet "get" the American market. But they've got a shipload of money. They will get there eventually.
What's amazing is the CC posters who have a TA that can't/won't/unable to answer the simplest questions or get an obvious price drop. Then, they call NCL and NCL says "sorry, call your TA".
But hey, it's worth that cheap bottle of wine your TA gives you, right?
"Hassle" is a subjective term. We have had no problems with Uber.
If I recall from our last Seattle cruise, Port Valet is only available for flights after 12:00, so that's not an option.