rrraydon

29 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Consider yourself lucky. 

 I have some horrendous issues over the years. The company treats you like cargo overall.

 Great YC product and I continue to sail with them but only with a TA.

If only I knew a good TA for MSC cruises. 😩

On 9/12/2024 at 12:04 PM, Gordoncruickshank said:

I had this issue as well. The way I got round it was to log in using the booking number rather than using the msc log in process.

Yes, this is what I did as well.

18 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

The one bottle of liquor is a YC amenity for each YC suite except the Royal and Owners suites.  If you are sailing in a Royal or Owners Suite in the YC I believe you receive six bottles of alcohol with those rooms. 

 

 If you look at the list of Spirits in the mini-bar menu photo above, I believe you get your choice of one of those six selections.  You just tell your Butler which one you would like. 

 

 

 I had to check my confirmation booking because I wasn't sure what I booked in the YC for either of them.

Seaside is an inside and World is a balcony, but not a Royal or Owner... One bottle of booze then. Sounds good!😁

Thanks for the info.

23 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

Day 1 - Embarkation Day in Miami continues…

 

Our room was ready just about 11:30am. We chose to finish our drinks and then went to our stateroom at 12:11pm. We met our Butler Jeetoo and Assistant Butler Yogesh right away as they were hovering in the corridor awaiting guests to arrive.

 

We reviewed our pillow choices (2 Oxygen), our newspaper (Wall Street Journal) and liquor choice (Bombay Sapphire). Then we asked for a standing order of coffee and Baileys for 8:30am every morning, some extra bath towels daily, and Heineken and Coke Zero in the fridge.

 

We thanked him and told him we were expecting 4 suitcases and would soon be going up to the restaurant for lunch.

 

We took a few minutes to explore our cabin. It was a bit different than the one on the Seascape's sister ship Seaside, though it still had the 2 cabinets for clothes storage vs. the walk-in closet we love on Divina. This cabin is wider than either of those though and wide enough for a little bench at the foot of the bed and an extra chair across from the love seat. The width of the room extends to the balcony. I think two loungers could easily fit out there, if one desired to have them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More about our first day coming up…

I'm new to MSC so still learning the ropes. I have two sailings booked YC, one on Seaside and one on World. You mentioned a choice of a bottle of liquor, does this amenity come with booking YC or is this amenity as a result of a loyalty status (Diamond)?

14 days with the inside, for sure!

4 hours ago, Lukaj said:

We are thinking about booking this sailing, but i havent decided yet

I am really looking forward to sailing on this new ship!

Plus, I booked the YC. I've never sailed YC on MSC before so this will be a treat.

I hope you book this one!

I just thought I put my experience out there to save others from a hassle.

I have been receiving emails from MSC for casino comped cruises this last 4 weeks or so. Two of them were a short list of a specific set of cruises...specific ships, specific dates. My third email offer gave 3 options with a link to click on each different offer. The email stated you could book all 3 comped cruises if you wanted to, one out of each offer. The first was a link for cruises with various sailings only in August. The second was a link with various sailings only in September and the third was a link with various sailings that went all the way out until June 2025. They each included some amount of OBC as well. For me, at whatever my "level" of casino spending gets me, the comped cabin offer on each of those was a guaranteed Bella of their choice and at the least an Ocean View. There was an option to upgrade to a specific cabin/level of my choice and the amount for each level was listed...I felt the prices to upgrade were in line with what the cruise cost on their webpage pretty much...not interested in that, I like free.

The first two offers I received I was not able to use, I already have cruises booked during those months and all the way out to the beginning of April. But, I was interested in the last offer which had sailings listed all the way until June. I clicked the link and scrolled through at least 2 or 3 dozen cruises offered until I came across one that jumped out at me. It was a 6 night to Bermuda (3 overnights in port) on Meraviglia in April out of NY.... SOLD! I can get off of work at 7a and drive to the port, 3 or 4 hr drive and park right at the port. I clicked on "book it" and filled out the booking right there online. I immediately received a confirmation email with a booking number. I read through the confirmation, everything looked good, even a $75 OBC was on there, zero charges and zero balance. Good deal, I'm going to Bermuda!

Now, I've booked comped cruises from MSC before, cruises as a result of the number of points I racked up on a particular sailing in the casino. You get a certificate in an email within a week after your cruise if you reached the point level for a free cruise. You book on MSC website, find any cruise within the number of days the certificate allows, you call the provided casino number on your certificate, and book it. MSC requires you put $400 down when booking a comped cruise. That $400 goes onto your ship account for that booking, you do not pay port fees or taxes.

Now, when I received the confirmation from my comped Bermuda cruise, I did notice there was a zero balance owed, which I thought was strange. I was thinking...hmm, that's cool...they're not charging the $400 bucks for these email offers, great! I went on MSC webpage under my account and clicked "my bookings" to link my new booking number and to see what shows up there. It did say the booking number was now linked but the booking still wasn't showing...no biggie, it was just booked so it would be a day or two, I'm sure.

A few days go by and I receive an email from the casino and in the title it says "your cruise is cancelled". I'm like WHAT?. The body of the email did not state why it was cancelled, just that it was. I email the casino asking why my cruise had been cancelled. They replied back within a few hours. Apparently, once you book a sailing from the link on the email and receive your email confirmation you are supposed to call the casino and make a $400 payment, if you do not do that within 48hrs your cruise automatically gets cancelled. No where on the initial email nor anywhere on the confirmation booking did it say that. In fact, the confirmation email showed zero balance owed. 

The email asked if I wanted to reinstate the booking? Absolutely! The rep reinstated and informed me I now needed to call the casino and give them a $400 payment which would be placed on my ship account for that sailing.

I'm new to MSC casino, within this past year, so I'm just learning the ropes. Also, MSC is just starting with sending out emails with multiple comps listed on them and allowing you to book multiple cruises off of one email. So, this is a learning experience for me.

So, my reason for this post is for others who are also new to MSC casino and their cruise comps and to avoid this hassle I just went through and to also avoid a possible missed cruise. Those comps had a deadline and the deadline was the day following my phone call to make payment. Had I missed the email showing the cancelation, the comp would have expired and I would not have been able to reinstate the booking. I would have lost the free cruise. 😩

You must call the casino, no matter how you book your comped sailing, and pay the $400... and you can't pay it online.

22 minutes ago, 3smithboys said:

We had to call to get everything. We got our status match from Marriott/Carnival. Both gave us the same Silver level. If your friend had anything listed on the website that can be used to match, they can fill out the form online and can get the status match as well. 

I don't know why I keep saying I matched to their Elite+..LOL, it's Gold that I matched to.

I matched to Elite + on Celebrity.

23 minutes ago, 3smithboys said:

I’m not exactly sure the best way to explain this. I’m sure someone else with more experience can help! I also don’t know if both people need to have the status match because we both did…sorry! 

I'm pretty sure you get 5% discount for booking so far out and a 5% discount for being a Voyager club member... I don't see on either of my invoices that I received either of those discounts. I will be calling about this tomorrow.

I do see a $50 OBC on my Dec cruise (that one is a solo), but I only see one $50 OBC on my Nov cruise on World America. That one is not a solo and my friend has never sailed MSC before so has no status at this time.

On 9/13/2024 at 9:43 AM, cellfree said:

We have never had any problems using MSC agents or with the website. But have read about people who do. @3smithboys make sure you get your 5%+5% off and $50 per person OBC now that you have matched and are booking far out. Perhaps you have already done this, just wouldn’t want you to miss out.

I matched Elite+ (my bookings are Nov and Dec 2025). What is 5%+5%? And do both people in the cabin have to have a status level to get $50 OBC each?

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Are these direct flights? it makes HUGE difference. If I could take a direct flight, I might risk it far more often, but direct flights aren't an option for me.

 

Yes, I only fly direct. Luckily, there are a lot of direct flights out of BWI.

I sail out of Miami or FLL twice a month, from BWI.

I fly in the morning of for every cruise. I take an Uber to the port of Miami for about $25, it's usually a 30-40 min ride, depending on traffic. The Uber ride to FLL port from FLL airport is usually about 20-30 min.

45 min to 1 hour Uber from MIA to port in FLL.

I wouldn't try to board any later than 4p for a 6p sail away.

I carry my bag off the ship and get off with the first group. I book my return flight for around 10a or 10:30a. I take an Uber from the port to whichever airport I'm flying out of.

50 minutes ago, kayjay76 said:

I haven't checked from the app, just my home computer. I'll def look 72-48 hours out, Thank you!!

You're welcome. Have a fantastic cruise!

Have you checked on the app? Most times it's not available to fill out until 72 to 48 hrs before the cruise. It usually asks you questions like "have you been ill in the last 48 hrs?".

Thanks for a great review!

3 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Financially whole....nope...flights to SJU cost on average more than $200 pp and I'm sure most guests planning to board tomorrow arrived in SjU today.   Average hotels near port are $250 and up.

Funny you should say that, I was thinking the same thing.

I am booked on Rhapsody in Feb. My RT flight currently is over a thousand US dollars.

On 9/12/2024 at 5:13 PM, asctony said:

Thank you. I knew that.

 

My point which apparently people miss is:

NON-YC CABINS in YC area & YC CABINS on Deck 15 & 16 whereas YC area is on Deck 21, above Decks 15 & 16.

I booked cabin 15024, deck 15. I probably should have booked on 21?

8 hours ago, h20skibum said:

I thought it was alphabetical.  At least that is the way it worked for us. My wife and I are D+, and we had cabins with our lower tier family members with different last names.  Luggage tags all had D+.  
 

You might be right, I've never had D+ on my tags. It's always been something lower and my last name is toward the end of the alphabet.

7 hours ago, mandyleighflies said:

 

NAH 😂😂 

I'm dying laughing! 🤣

Bon voyage!

No, not at all.

They always have the luggage tags labeled with the lowest loyalty level in the cabin.

6 minutes ago, superoma said:

Well, for the first time in fall cleaning history in this house (54years) I have completed the kitchen first. I usually start in one of the bedrooms in the back and move forward because all paths lead thru the kitchen. But, by the time I get there I am so fed up with deep cleaning it doesn’t get its due. This time I got it, everything but the floor because, you know, that path thru the kitchen. Tomorrow I tackle the den and next week the bedrooms, bath, living/dining room and rec room downstairs. This Saturday will be mostly laundry since I am going to an abba tribute concert at night and don’t want to fall asleep in the middle of the concert! 
 

Our temps are warming up again and should last thru much of next week. A few leaves have started changing but you really have to look to find them. 
 

prayers for those that need them and a celebratory shout out to those celebrating. Have a great rest of the day everybody.

I want your stamina!

I hire my DIL to come and clean. 🤣

She's coming over tomorrow to shampoo all of the carpets and clean all of the bathrooms. I just can't do it anymore.

They need money and I need cleaning done. It's a win win.

2 hours ago, ellbelle said:

@marshhawk

 

My mom also could not fully close one eye due to paralysis on one side of her face (botched ear surgery many years ago). She used ophthamic ointment during the day for the dryness and pain and at night she taped that lid shut. You might have to try a few tapes but may be worth a shot.

 

Thanks to all of you for keeping this Daily going, I’ve had many things happen in my life the last few years and reading this thread in the early morning hours helped keep my sanity and also helped me feel not so alone as others were struggling with similar issues.  

Sorry to be jumping in... I agree with this also. I would use paper tape, it is easy to tear apart and doesn't stick too much, just enough.

I'm enjoying all of the pictures posted today! ☺️

On 9/10/2024 at 4:06 AM, CoffeeGoddess said:

It really didn't take long to get through the ship and exit once my group was called.  The line basically kept moving except for short stops. Same with getting into the building, finding luggage, then going through customs.  The next wait began in the port building since the buses for the Tokyo Station transfers had not yet arrived.  I took the opportunity to use the facilities which were blessedly opposite of the one in Otaru. I really do not want to run into a squat toilet again.

 

 

 

Let me tell you it was very moist in that building and just a little better waiting outside under a shade tent.  Finally though the buses arrived and they started loading us in for about an hour ride. They were nice buses and pretty comfortable for the length of the ride. Best part was the air conditioning with the vents blasting out cool air.

 

 

Once we got to the bus parking lot that was right next to the station they quickly unloaded the luggage and we were then on our own. It was once again into the heat and the humidity and the station itself wasn't much better. It took me a bit to get my bearings and figure out where to find my train which turned out to be in the subway station not the train station. That was a walk along with needing to get my luggage up a flight of stairs. While there was an elevator to get down to the station, and one to get up to the main area of my destination station there were more stairs waiting for me. There must have been some way to get to the exit Google Maps was telling me to use but I couldn't quite figure out the map. So I decided to go up the one closet to it. Now there was a up escalator for this one which I thought, great, but it fools you! It went up halfway and then you had a large flight of stairs. After getting up those stairs and over to my hotel the long way I was a sweaty mess.

 

Check in was at 3pm so with it being 12:30 there was a bit of time to kill. They did store my luggage so after sitting in the air conditioned lobby for a bit I decided to head to the 7-11 in the next building over. It was small but it did me good with a filling lunch.

 

 

I found a little area I could sit and eat outside which also was close to an entry to the Hie Shrine. After lunch I figured I might as well check it out so started climbing the many, many stairs. Almost to the top I could see people through the trees coming up another way, with escalators. The things I said are not allowed on this site but you can use your imagination. It was really a great place though.

 

 

 

 

That last picture has the back of my hotel in it. That's how close this Shrine is to it.

 

I decided to go down a flagged staircase when leaving and it had a little gate off it to a Moutain Tea Room. I thought about going down there but wasn't exactly sure where I would come out so went back to the main walk.

 

 

 

Turns out the main entry to the Tea Room was right by where the path I took eventually came out.

 

 

About that time I was done and it was now 2pm so I headed back towards the hotel to wait in the lobby until registration opened. A lot of other people had the same idea.

Happy to see you're taking us along!!

I had to crack up when I saw the squat toilet. It took me back to my trip to China where our squat toilets were the hole in the ground! lol

Fun times!!

Ocean Cay is by far better than both Half Moon Cay and Royal's CoCo Cay, IMO.