carlmm

8 hours ago, fizzy1 said:

... have to leave ship by about 10am with hours and hours to wait till a late night flight home thd next day .. If Cunard  will let us extend our stay on board longer than normal disembarkation time , for a fee of course, like Celebrity, then we would do that   

 Fortunately Cunard does not charge you like the mentioned and maybe other lesser lines.

To my, maybe limited, knowledge it rather depends on the local laws (eg not in the US) and the number of guests needing a late transfer to get to the airport late. I have seen transfers scheduleded as late as 5 pm. One was allowed to stay until this time to stay onboard and use the facilities. Albeit this extended stay way only available in connection with a Cunard organized transfer.

Regarding Singapore you might also think about a day room. There are a number of hotels with nice pool areas, bars and restaurants that offer such and might be ideal for your purpose.

Thank you for this excellent voyage report.

Now I am looking forward to join the Queen Victoria next month and to meet you there even more.

Thank you everybody for your response.

On 1/16/2020 at 2:54 PM, bluemarble said:

 Since the restriction is stated in the terms and conditions of each of the packages it is not confined to only alcoholic beverages.

Hm.

Do the 10 minutes apply to alcoholic beverages only or to all drinks including water?

Eg. can one order a glass of wine and a bottle of water at the same time?

Does anbody know?

Has anybody recent experience or can provide some information about getting from Manta port to Montechristi and back for independent exploration?

Eg.

Are the local buses easy to find and to use? Where and how?

Are taxis reliable and easy to get in both cities? How much?

Thanks for help.

1 hour ago, markgpearse said:

Only one drink at a time may be ordered (minimum 10 minutes between orders).
 

Thank you for all the information!

Do you (or does anybody) know if these 10 minutes apply to alcoholic beverages only or to all drinks?

Eg. can one order a glass of wine and a bottle of water at the same time?

1 hour ago, Se1lad said:

I don't however have a problem with the change, and don't see how it impacts on the overall experience for those who prefer to dress more formally - The change doesn't prevent people from dressing more smartly if they choose to. 

But for those who do care it does impact the experience. I do not constantly look in a mirror thinking how smartly I am dressed.

What sets the overall experience is the overall attire, the decor, the behaviour and dress of the stewards, the music and, yes, of course the attire or clothes of the people around.

Again, the overall experience is different in a room filled with guests in suits and dresses and a room full of casualy dressed people.

OP,  I share your impression that many posters share their YC experience and a huge number of these make it sound like YC would be they only way they could bear to cruise with MSC.

Yet the vast majority of passengers (95% ?) is not in the top end suites but in normal cabins - just like on any other line.

If the small "perks" that differentiate the "experiences" are important is up to individual judgement. Otherwise, food, bars, pools, entertainment, service is all the same - just like it makes no difference if you have an inside, outsie or balcony regarding everything outside the cabin.

If you accept that you ate sailing an Italian ship you most probably will have a good time 

10 hours ago, Bell Boy said:

 No Jacket required 'for every evening'.

How disgusting.

One can sail any of the many casual, no style cruise lines for that.

14 hours ago, MJC said:

Should I sign up for Voyager Club now or wait until I get my match? 

You should wait, you will get your member ship number with the match.

If you sign up you risk to mess up the process and get stucked with being a new member.

From all the reports the time it takes can vary a lot. It is a courtesy by MSC.

You can exchange money right at the airport. There is a small and somewhat hidden branch of a major bank close to the arrival hall.

Here is what I did, somewhat taking care of taxi and money at the same time:

After collecting ones luggage and walking through all the formalities, one passes a number of booths where one can arrange a taxi and pay with credit card. The assigned taxi driver meets you immediatly after the door.  I told mine that I needed to exchange money and asked him for guidance. He took me to the bank, waited for me and took care of my luggage while I was standing in line.

15 hours ago, lissie said:

... Saw one thread where it was seriously suggested that cocktail  dresses were appropriate wear on smart casual nights!  A... It seems to  me based on CC that people on Cunard do care what others wear! 

Well, yes, cocktail dress are indeed appropriate wear on smart casual nights. Of course. (Even though a number of people are constantly working on dumping the standards as low as possible there are others, too.)

And yes, many people do care what others wear. They do so for many reasons, one of these: The whole atmosphere and ambiance changes. A room with people dressed in suits and nice dresses does have a different atmosphere than the same room with people in rugby shirts and jeans.

Handing over your luggage at the port is actually not the same as "checking in" for a flight.

You merely Hand it over to the porters and will find it again in your cabin.

This is for your conveniences.

But also it is for the convenience and safety of ALL passengers. 

The thousands of pieces of luggage are not to be dragged around by thousands of individual passengers, clogging the gangway, using up the scarce space on the elevators etc.

18 hours ago, lissie said:

I see a lot of people talking about printing out etickets and luggage labels? I can't recall the last time I printed out an airline ticket - but I doubt it was in the last 10 years. Surely the booking reference is enough? 

Also if you are not over packing do you actually need to check luggage - we will have one checked bag for the airline between the 2 of us  - but I'm sure we can manage to drag it on ourselves without checking it. 

 

We are boarding in Sydney if that makes a difference. 

Bring the tux!

Cunard is dress wise quite different from other cruise lines and mantains at least a minimum of style.

19 minutes ago, hamrag said:

You will require to vacate cabin at normal time, and store your luggage with the concierge....do NOT put it out the prior evening, no matter what the disembarking instructions say! 

I would encourage the OP to carefully check this point on board as it might be different from port to port,

When we dissembarked late in Palma we had to put out our luggage. Once reaching  the terminal building after a rather long walk there was a small guarded area in the building with the luggage of late disemabrking black and YC guests.

20 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

No email here, either.  But then, I've never been given a card either, other than the cruise card.  EM

No need to worry.

In the fine print it says that your cruise card given on embarkation day is your membership card.

7 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

The point here is that MSc is FORCING guests (in a royal suite no less) to carry on distilled water.

 

 

 It's even worse: MSC is forcing me, no: all cruise lines I have sailed are forcing me to carry on my prescription drugs, to carry my medical equipment, to carry all the applications and to carry all the accessory parts. Almost all of my carry-on is for medical purposes. They really should provide this - NOT.

(Just using capital letters as others choose to shout out far over the top expressions like "disgusted", "shocked" and "forcing".)

Imho, a "special service" should be regarded as that, "special", something to be happy about, something to appreciate. Something that, when it is important to you, might induce you to think better about the company or might influence your decision.

But nothing one is entitled to. Not to receive special treatment is nothing to flame the company for.

Different cruise lines can have different rules. When asking about oxygen a couple of years ago the answers varied significantly: the cruiseline provides oxygen; the cruiseline does not provide it but allows one to order some via a specific company; the cruiseline does not provide it but allows one to bring one's own (to carry on ...); the cruiseline does not allow it at all. Having gotten the answers, we made our plans accordingly. Some answers might have been disappointing but: No reason to be "disgusted".

Some ships have facilities for dialysis, some have not. The rules vary a lot.

7 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Well, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and I can see your point. I just disagree with it. Many passengers onboard cruise ships have any number of medical issues to deal with, and I think (just my opinion, of course) that it is unreasonable to expect them to foresee every eventuality and have supplies on the ship to deal with them. It’s not as if distilled water were the only thing. As a frequent reader of posts on cruise critic, I have heard of people
expecting them to supply (for free, in many cases)
1. Epipens
2. Curling irons
3. CPAP machines
4. Glucose meters
5. Diapers
6. All manner of painkillers and prescription medicines
7. Extension cords
And other things that escape me at 11:53 pm.
My point is that there has to be a reasonable limit on what cruise lines can be expected to have on hand and still keep pricing reasonable. Royal Suite or not, I feel it’s not MSC’s job to fully stock every possible piece of medical equipment or jug of water. If you need it, bring your own. A friendly word with the butler may well get the OP what he/she needs. Writing on Cruise Critic about being disgusted and trashing the company, likely won’t. Just my opinion.

... canes, walking frames ....

... reading glasses ....

... of course all kind of specific diets ....

 I am very much with you, DCGuy64.

It is sad if you cannot travel the ship or the place you want due to medical restrictions of whatever kind. Be happy if the situation can be resolved by preplanning.

20 hours ago, Shaco said:

My DH and I will land at Heathrow at 8:30am on the day of embarkation from Southampton.... Can we make the cruise under this timeline?

Of course you can.

Even many flights booked through cruise lines arrive much later.

If you need some peace of mind you might book your airport transfer (common coach/bus or individual car) through Celebrity and let them worry.

Last time I sailed out of Southampton, albeit with a different cruise line, they accepted incoming flights schedulded up to 2 pm.

(Actually I had some luggage issues, was the last one to meet the smiling lady with the sign, was handed over to my driver and taken in all calm to Southampton.)

30 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

MSC has replaced the Tex Mex restaurant on Splendida with Butcher's Cut and, I imagine, they'll do the same on Fantasia (if they haven't already done so).

Actually in August it was the Butcher's Cut on the MSC Fantasia.

The choice on this European Cruise was slightly different from the one on the menu given in post 28 but still nice.

Appetizer for the "Dining Experience" included e. warm goat cheeese and ceasar salad, main dishes were similiar to the ones posted.

We enjoyed most items, only the cheesecake was very simple and not even as descriped.

Contrary to the posters who expect all items to be included in a dinner package for €25, I do not expect eg caviar as starter (€ 45) or a 680 gr steak (€ 54) to be included but are rather happy that additional, higher value choices are given.

What a lovely exclusion - not: "these fares do not apply to singles" ...

Which ports are you interested in?

Places I know about:
Livorno MSC €5 to the city centre, free shuttle to the port exit

Marseille: MSC €15,99, free shuttle but very inconvenient, terrible port location

Palma: MSC offers shuttle to city centre, no free shuttle but once you leave the terminal you are already at the promenade, it is possible to walk or take a public bus

Ibiza: MSC shuttle available, no free shuttle but public bus and ferry available

Comparing a Celebrity Cruise in February with an MSC cruise earlier this month, I would say the food is (IMHO) not bad, but indeed choice, value of ingrediences and presentation were in general a bit lower on MSC than on Celebrity. Yet again, not bad, you might say good Italian in same cases home cooking, in some cases nice restaurants. 

I am not sure what defines "taste in food is a lot more American than European" - there were burgers, hot dogs and such every day in the buffet. For a daily steak you need to go the steakhouse speciality restaurant. 

The entertainment options were much broader on MSC. There was live music of various styles every night in several bars until far past midnight. The whole atmosphere was much more lively.

14 hours ago, Chrissi3010 said:

We were notified today by our TA (German cruise Website) that our booking Nov. 19 th, 2020 from Athens to Dubai was cancelled. Very disappointing. And does Celebrity think a cruise from Tampa to the Caribbean is an option for those who wanted to go to the middle east? 😞

And well, another cruise ship in the Caribbean now. How boring is that?

 Thank you for this information. I have written an email to my TA but did not receive any reply so far.

Tatsächlich enttäuschend.

Beste Grüße.

10 hours ago, Cruise Junky said:

I've seen a few posts on another group from Brits that were notified.

Thank you very much.

So it looks like some people were notified others not but anway Celebrity's offer is meager.

Well, I'll wait some more time.