sidari

The new prices came in yesterday 21st April, now that Virtuosa is homeported from Southampton for the Summer months and is doing 3 x 3 night cruises before the 12 night Canary Islands sailing.

The UK website now says two cases pp at 23kgs.

The P.E was included in our fare for the sailing on the 30th April, sure we will get our monies worth with all the other drinks included. Have heard that there is Only one Champagne included at the £14 price.

Inside Cabin ... Thanks for that ... 😁

12 minutes ago, Nunagoras said:

Now; more seriously: I've seen an image about it on another social media outfit. It seems that they have at least dealt with it rightly.

 

Meanwhile; industry wise there have been a few events of this type on new ships lately. Hope the shipyard closures of the pandemic aren't influencing final quality of the whole product. those events were rare, if any.

Not rare at all, in 2008 the Ruby Princess suffered a serious flooding prior to the christening ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, there have been numerous other types of these kind of incidents.

Inside Cabin ... If you are passing or nearby to the Spa would it be possible for you to ask how much the Hot Stone Massage is currently?

Thanks.

Heard that there was a flooding issue on the Europa in the Atrium caused by a faulty sprinkler head that held up Embarkation.

I wonder if it was a leaving gift from Bea ... 😂

20 minutes ago, RBrowny said:

I am still confused, so places like Coffee Emporium is no longer included in the Premium Drinks Package? Seems a little odd.

It says wide selection of classic and speciality hot drinks. Ex UK sailings revert to pound sterling on April 21st.

5 hours ago, RBrowny said:

Ours is the same, on the website. Under booking details, it's showing what we have.

On ours the only thing now showing under Premium Drink package is our names and details about Saudi Arabia even though we are not going there. So glad I printed out a copy of the inclusions.

Explorer 1 is likely to head to Alaska at some point.

29 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Just heard a story from a passenger - will be interested to hear if it’s true.   
 

He was having coffee in the Emporium and a waiter there told him that, when the ship begins its Med sailings, drinks packages will no longer cover the coffees.  This is (apparently) because so many Italians - who drink a lot of coffee - are expected to be onboard.  What he was told was that only YC guests will be covered.  

Will that be the same for ex UK sailings Bea ? Ten days ago MSC removed all mention of drink packages from bookings online and on the app.

30 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

We did get caps before;  not great quality.   Mr B was gifted even better ones by a very obliging CC member on our Mera New York cruise.   He loves them.  😆

The ones we got on the inaugural Seaside sailing out of Miami were really good.

On 4/8/2023 at 2:39 PM, Beamafar said:

Something to note: if you’re walking along deck 8 from the aft (promenade area) you need to walk along the Fizz side as it’s a dead end at the Garden Kitchen. 
 

The weather has turned colder since we entered the Med.  Everyone is in jumpers, jackets etc and we had a spot of rain earlier.  As a result, all indoor spaces are packed.  We went to have Afternoon Tea in the Raj Polo and there wasn’t a table to be had. 

Hope the weather has improved for you Bea.

5 hours ago, hamrag said:

Their ships, their rules! 🙄

Their Stupidity also.

On 4/6/2023 at 12:22 PM, Belgian cruiser1 said:

My wife and I have been on many MSC Cruises, but always booked the Yacht Club - but it seems that people who don't book this level, often have a long list of complaints. Have to add that - no matter the ship - it will always be the crew that make the biggest difference. Because our upcoming sailing on World Europa is one of 4 cruises we're doing this year (each with a different company), we decided it would be our first sailing that is NOT in the YC. Like the infinity verandas in Aurea, especially now that Aurea has it's own restaurant Les Dunes ... so we'll soon find out how many of the often heard complaints ring a bell with our upcoming experience this june. Fingers crossed, but for half the price of the same sailing in YC ... I am willing to "experiment" (and having free access to the thermal area is always a good idea if you sail in Europe 😉

Did you Aurea Infinite Ocean view cabin ? If so the Dining room is Bubbles, Le Dunes is for Aurea Suite guests only.

1 hour ago, Beamafar said:

Again, for research purposes, we ordered a glass outside of our package - Moët.  The server (who doesn’t normally work at this venue, but was drafted in to help out) originally said that the upcharge would be €3.45 - fine

 

 

 

However, she returned shortly after to inform us that you cannot pay the difference on drinks here. 

Yet more MSC stupidity.

Why not just cover the bottles up? Everything the hard way with MSC.

1 hour ago, Nunagoras said:

The WE works differently. They have no "grand atrium", instead they have what seems such a shopping mall promenade with shops, restaurants, bars and the likes. The calming piano bar seems to be Raj Polo, the tea house (I don't know how that would work here in Europe)... Badly compared the WE seems like a pizza place at Starbucks!... Some of the concepts are great... But the general feeling of the ship seems a clear departure from the whole brand's identity. MSC has never had a so big differentiation on their ship's identity, apart the atrium's use for rock bands on some Seaside class vessels, especially if they sail from the US, hence me to be on the fence regarding the actual full ship's concept success here in Europe. It will be a success the day they can put one of those in the US, on that I've no doubts!... Oh; and believe me: If I could to do a cruise this year, it would no doubt to be the WE!...

Copying oasis class but sadly second best, instead of doing their own thing as before.

1 hour ago, Nunagoras said:

The WE works differently. They have no "grand atrium", instead they have what seems such a shopping mall promenade with shops, restaurants, bars and the likes. The calming piano bar seems to be Raj Polo, the tea house (I don't know how that would work here in Europe)... Badly compared the WE seems like a pizza place at Starbucks!... Some of the concepts are great... But the general feeling of the ship seems a clear departure from the whole brand's identity. MSC has never had a so big differentiation on their ship's identity, apart the atrium's use for rock bands on some Seaside class vessels, especially if they sail from the US, hence me to be on the fence regarding the actual full ship's concept success here in Europe. It will be a success the day they can put one of those in the US, on that I've no doubts!... Oh; and believe me: If I could to do a cruise this year, it would no doubt to be the WE!...

Copying oasis class but sadly second best, instead of doing their own thing as before.

Our cruise is the end of April and believe the currency will be pounds sterling.

4 hours ago, Beamafar said:

We haven’t been to dinner in the MDR for the last few nights, so I decided to ring this afternoon to book the window table we’d had for the earlier nights, only to discover that the planner indicates La Foglia on deck 5, as the Aurea venue, for tonight. 
 

Never known them do that before.

Worse than politicians and a somewhat pointless thread.

Can MSC get any worse? The Crew clearly don't know the rules. Had this sent to me by a friend who is onboard Seascape this week.

On MSC Seascape this week two lots of people bid on the upgrade to AUREA they were told it didn’t include the perks ,but they stood their ground and ended up receiving any time dining and the deck access.

From the MSC Terms and Conditions. 17. The Upgrade does not include any additional promotions. Guests whose upgrade bid is accepted will receive the experience level included with their original reservation. "The exceptions will be in the case of a Winning Bid in “Aurea” or “Yacht Club” Experience. In these cases, the Guests will also be guaranteed all the benefits relative to the new experience"

18. All services that have been purchased and / or prepaid before the Winning Bid event for an upgrade in "Aurea" or "Yacht Club" experience will not be refunded if the same service, of the same or higher quality, is included in the new experience resulting from the Winning Bid.

3 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Similar security arrangements have just been announced by the captain.  We have armed security onboard. 
 

Bea ... It was the same on Orchestra plus all the Fire hoses were laid out ready.

3 hours ago, JAGR said:

Well, if I ever came across a darlek, I would be nervous.  If it's a run of the mill dalek, however, no  worries.  I always carry a can opener! 😉

Be careful or a Dalek might make an appearance on here ... 😱