mildew1951

On 5/4/2020 at 4:45 AM, soloadventurer said:

https://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/369822/royal-caribbean-boss-says-numbers-likely-to-be-restricted-when-cruising-restarts

 

This will be interesting for their share price tomorrow 

Share price went up marginally.

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

They are creative as they're trying to attract millennials so we have to give them more credit than that 😄

 

 

"For your convenience, all non-reserved sun-loungers remain COMPLIMENTARY!  Please see the staff to reserve your sun-loungers by the hour!"

  

 

"For your convenience, we have expanded our menu to include COMPLIMENTARY selections such as meatloaf, hot dogs, pizza and burgers!  We still offer the classics you enjoy, please ask your server for the current market pricing!"

 

 

"For your convenience, all NON-reserved theater shows seats remain COMPLIMENTARY!  To reserve your theater seat for the show, please contact NCL reservations at 125 days out!"

Wash your mouth out. You'll give them ideas:)

3 minutes ago, CaribbeanJen said:

I'll be the unpopular one here.  It's ok- I have enough friends. 

I save up to pay for my vacations.  We automatically have money added to our vacation account with each paycheck.  

We paid for our cruise.  We don't miss that money.  It was just money in an account. 

NCL said, "We will give you a refund or 150% FCC." 

We struggled to decide.  We don't "need" the refund because, it was money we already spent.  Offering the extra FFC is tempting.  

 

So, after a lot of thinking we booked a cruise for January - an 11 day cruise!  

 

And- I know it's all a risk.  It's a guessing game.  Maybe this will be awesome and in January we will take an 11 day cruise which we booked using a lot of FREE money.   Or maybe the company will tank and we lose it all.  

But- the thing is, we had already spent that money.  If someone is so upset about waiting for money that they already spent then maybe it's about the way you're looking at things.  NCL is trying to figure out how to sustain themselves.  I hope they manage to do it.  I don't want this company to tank over something that isn't even their fault.  They are not trying to screw anyone.  They are trying to survive.  Do you really NEED your refund right away?  If so...there are other questions.  

 

So let the stoning begin

Interesting point of view. You are correct we had already spent the money and never expected to get it back because it was for the cruise fare. So using your analogy all we have lost is the enjoyment of our cruise, not money. Bizarre way to look at it but true.

Oh NO! not drinks again. :o

 

Yes , I have another question. For the cruise I have booked for a year on the only drinks packages available are 18 vouchers for alcohol and 12 for non alcohol. No xx$ per day ones.

Plus the usual wine packages 4 bottles 7 bottles etc.are available

Question is if I book the voucher packs now, if at a later date they decide to provide the

xx$ per day packages, can the voucher packs be cancelled as with any other add ons. It does say they can only be used on that ship on that voyage and UN USED ones are forfeit but I am hoping that only means after you get on board and receive them.

Pete can probably answer this but he is missing in action. Probably on another cruise. ;p

Hi Pete

I know I asked this several months ago but was wondering if you had any information/photos on suite cabin number 1126 category S2 on the revamped Sinfonia please.

Forgive me if this has already been answered. I did try to read through all the post, but my 12 yr old kept saying, "Hey mom ......." LOL Yes, I have had divided attention while reading. I was curious about the loyalty program. I did not see a breakdown as to when you would move into the next category. When would you move into silver, gold, etc? Thank you for your answer.

This might help https://www.msccruises.com.au/en-au/MSC-Voyagers-Club/Voyagers-Club.aspx

Interesting since our Sinfonia cruise begins on 5 May 2017. We already have the mealtime drinks package as a booking perk. Wondering if the 12 drinks is additional to this as part of our Fantastica fare?

I guess we'll find out soon.

I was on the Divina (Caribbean) in December, and had obtained the Forfait Mealtime Package as part of a free promotion (no charge to me). Once aboard the ship, I asked if I could upgrade the package, but was told no (you may want to ask anyway - it cannot hurt). Gratuities are included in prepaid and complimentary drink packages (at least they are on the Divina in the Caribbean).

 

As previously mentioned, beverages are available from the buffet and Main Dining Room (MDR) during published lunch and dinner times. What that means is, if lunch is listed in the Daily Planner as 12 Noon - 3PM, you can get beverages in the buffet between Noon and 3PM. If you opt for lunch in the MDR at 1PM, you are able to get beverages at the buffet before lunch in the MDR. You are also able to get more beverages at the buffet after enjoying your MDR lunch, provided you do so by the stated time (in this case, 3PM).

 

When it comes to dinner, depending on the itinerary, the buffet can often start serving dinner earlier than the MDR, and can also end dinner earlier, as well. During our December cruise, dinner in the buffet was 5:30PM - 9:30PM, while dinner in the MDR was listed as 6PM for 1st seating and 8:30 for 2nd seating (myChoice was listed as 6PM - 9:30PM). We were in 2nd seating, which enabled us to obtain beverages from the buffet (beginning at 5:30PM) prior to our schedule MDR seating, as well as beverages in the MDR during our 2nd dinner seating. We were also able to obtain beverages after 9:30PM during our 2nd MDR seating, but I am not sure if there was a specific cut-off time, or "last call."

 

The Forfait Mealtime Package (to become "Cheers" in the Caribbean later this year) indicates that beverages are available in the buffet and MDR's (but not in specialty dining venues). During our cruise, we opted for dining at three specialty dining restaurants. While at one restaurant, we asked if we could utilize our beverage package, and was told, "of course," which seems to go against what is stated in the package.

 

While on the subject of beverages, we had obtained Black Card loyalty match, which provided us with two bottles of Prosecco. Shoreside Customer Service had told us that we were not permitted to take the Prosecco outside of our stateroom. We opted to bring a bottle to a different specialty dining restaurant, which was quickly chilled and served to us without issue, and without surcharge or gratuity. We brought the second bottle to the MDR on another night, which was also quickly chilled and served to us without issue, and without surcharge or gratuity.

Thanks for the info Steven & Donna

Does anyone have any experience with the forbidden hair straightener? I am travelling on MSC Splendida for 7 days as a part of a 5 week holiday, would very much like to bring my straightener. I respect that it cannot be used on the ship, however would like to be able to take it with me for the remainder of my land based travels. Does anyone have an experience to share? Perhaps I can have it 'stowed' by staff until I disembark?

 

Thanks,

I don't have any experience with this but I'm sure if you check it when you board they will stow it for you during the cruise.

It'll be even more well known once Perth becomes a transit hub for non-stop Qantas flights to UK that has just been announced.

Here's hoping. 17 hours non stop from Perth to London is a huge improvement. Commences March 2018 I believe.

You have the equivalent of the cheers package, its limited to published lunch and diner times not 20 hrs in the buffet

 

THis is what was available on our cruise, in oct 16, but only after boarding which means 15% grats

 

 

 

see the bottom offer

 

Pete

Thanks Pete

Yes I had seen that. I guess it depends on whether they treat a complimentary Cheers package as prepaid in which case I would hope we could upgrade. Having said what I did about the 15%, this is less important to us than having anytime drinks so I guess we will wait til we get on board and see what they say. On our cruise booking account it only shows drink vouchers which we can purchase, not the packages.

In any case the MSC packages are significantly cheaper than other cruise lines we have traveled.

Your comment about the 20 hours might be the clincher for us to purchase the full Alegrissimo even if we can't upgrade.

After all, a man is not a camel:D:D:D

We have a cruise coming up on Sinfonia next May from Cape Town to Venice (Grand Voyage).

One of the perks we got for booking is the Forfait mealtimes drinks package. This entitles us to drinks of our choice during meal times in both the dining room and buffet area. Obviously we want to take advantage of this as much as possible. I heard they serve meals for up to 20 hours a day so we could theoretically sit in the buffet and drink, nibbling on food:D:D:D Not sure if there are restrictions on how long we can be in the buffet.

I rang MSC in Australia to see if we could upgrade to Allegrissimo as we wanted total flexibility on when and where we have a drink. The answer was no, we have to pay full price to purchase Allegrissimo:(

Is it worth pursuing this or have I been given the correct information. Really wanted to sort this before we board to avoid the additional 15%.

Am I right in assuming the streamer plus allowance of 3gb is for the duration of the cruise? If so this would appear to penalise people on longer cruises. e.g. we have a 21 day cruise booked on Sinfonia next May.:confused:

All cruise lines do this. There is no such thing as true 2 for 1 or a free lunch.:mad:

Never mind Sydney. Get over to the other side of the country to the most isolated capital city in the world.....Perth and the west coast. Some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere and down south at Margaret River as well as the Swan Valley, world class wines. Lots of cruises coming through Perth nowadays and this is set to increase.

Sorry to hijack this thread but I never miss the opportunity to promote my home city.:D:D:D

I have been "intending to" fill out the matching status form for MSC and finally got around to getting it done.

 

If you also have cruised with Celebrity and/or Royal Caribbean how would you compare them to MSC?

 

TIA

Yet to travel with MSC but we have a cruise on their Sinfonia coming up in May 2017. As Diamond members with RCL and Elite with Celebrity we have obtained the status match to MSC Black. However IMHO the offerings for this status with MSC are slim compared to the other two cruise lines.

There's a story here about it. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86416304/live-north-canterbury-quake

Hi, I have just joined Cruise Critics, this is my first post. We will be sailing on the MSC Divina, our first time on MSC but my 8th cruise. We leave Miami December 23, looking forward to this ship and trying MSC!

Hi there and welcome to Cruise Critic. Congratulations on your first post. If you go here http://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=969 and search for your sailing you will find your roll call and can talk to people on your sailing.

If you mean cabins 0n Sinfonia there are no cabins on deck 11 so cabins 1126 and 1128 don't exist.

 

However if you mean cabins 1226 and 1228 (Aurea Suites) here are some images of cabin 1223 (12023)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where the safe is

Behind the mirror

 

 

Pete

Thanks for this Pete. We are in fact on deck 10 and the cabin numbers are correct. When Sinfonia was refurbished in 2015 some changes were made. These cabins were originally Fantastica Oceanview and were further back on the starboard side. I wouldn't expect you to have any info on the new cabins although I guess an S2 Suite is an S2 Suite so I assume it hasn't changed considerably.

Jeff

TA has confirmed we can't upgrade our drinks package on this cruise as they aren't available for Fantastica guests. Will wait til we get on board and see what is on offer.

 

MSC web site is broken when trying to add a drinks package so will see what is on offer on board as I said above. (too much vodka) :D

 

Anyway suite prices are down so we decided to book (upgrade) and got cabins 1126 and 1128. Any info (photos) on these cabins would be appreciated.

Anybody got any information on these cabins please.

Thank you for this information. Very informative. It was late last night when I read this thread and my tired old eyes missed the upgrade options. OK off to my TA to see what she can arrange:D:D:D

TA has confirmed we can't upgrade our drinks package on this cruise as they aren't available for Fantastica guests. Will wait til we get on board and see what is on offer.

MSC web site is broken when trying to add a drinks package so will see what is on offer on board as I said above. (too much vodka) :D

Anyway suite prices are down so we decided to book (upgrade) and got cabins 1126 and 1128. Any info (photos) on these cabins would be appreciated.

If you look at post#5 of this thread you will see that upgrades of AI packages are shown on the drinks packages menu.

 

Although this is for the med I'm sure that there will be an equivalent for SA cruises

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2413060

 

the meal time package is probably the cheers package which in the med can be upgraded for €9.5 pd

 

 

the lifeboats are all inboard on Sinfonia so nobody overlooks them you may have seen a post about Divinas cabins 8144 and 8148

Thank you for this information. Very informative. It was late last night when I read this thread and my tired old eyes missed the upgrade options. OK off to my TA to see what she can arrange:D:D:D

One of the best threads I have been involved in on CC. Well done and thanks for all the great information.

 

We are on our first MSC cruise on Sinfonia out of Cape Town to Venice (grand voyage) in May 2017. Do these drinks packages and prices apply to this cruise please? We have been given the mealtime drinks package as a perk along with complimentary tours in 3 ports. Wondering if we are able to upgrade drinks package to an all inclusive anytime one.

 

We have OV cabins 8144 and 8148 with Fantastica experience. Any info on these cabins would be appreciated. I believe they may overlook the life boats from an earlier post.

 

Thanks

Edited my own post. If someone knows the answer I would appreciate it please. Having a TA just makes it awkward when you need to ask the cruise line questions.

Any sailings beginning April 1 or later qualify for the "new" Fantastica packages. And yes, it is 12 drinks per person.

 

Fantastica Drink Package*

*The drink package consists of 12 beverage vouchers in bars, restaurants and buffet and includes wines by the glass, beers, non-premium spirits and cocktails, soft drinks, mineral water and hot drinks. Child version without alcohol.

 

I am finding more and more agents at MSC have no idea what they are talking about. Recently one had no clue what a dry dock was and another couldn't read the deck plans and tried giving me forward cabins thinking they were aft. Not to mention the ones that are convinced all the Aurea Suites have balconies. Sad that folks have to get the correct info here.

 

Bret

Interesting since our Sinfonia cruise begins on 5 May 2017. We already have the mealtime drinks package as a booking perk. Wondering if the 12 drinks is additional to this as part of our Fantastica fare?

Hi, thanks very much for doing this. Does anyone know how you can upgrade your package. Do you have to wait till on board. We got the cheers package free and looks fantastic value to upgrade.

Thanks :)

Same here. I'd like to know if this is possible too.