carlmm

Indeed you should identify yourself to MSC as being in need of help (as in unable to walk stairs even if this means you will drown or be burned in a real emergency) There will be dedicated staff assigned to the task of getting you out of the cabin and to safe you.

Sad but also proven by many other shortcuts and downgrades.

I am with you @OmegaSeamaster about the sales pitch. Totally unnecessary. But than probably to be expected part of the way things are done there. We would rather have had more time in the vibrant atmospheric alleys of the mdina. Otherwise our full day tour was overall good: An interesting view of more modern history at the beys' palace, the ancient history at Catharge and the lovely if touristy village of Sidi Bou Said, where we spent some time in a cafe with fresh juices and a great view and some time roaming around. The food served at lunch time was okay, nothing special, we got served some Tunesian wine. A warning to everybody interested in history: There is not much left from phoenician times, a few graves, the basic structure of the harbour. Sad, but well more than two thousands years have past.

Well, I hate lanyards. We just had the cards in our pockets.

Exciting to read your report. We were on the same cruise, thus I am looking forward to read more. Regarding you had to queue at the photo Service, maybe it was just a bad timing. We went there to inquire about a photo, had no wait time at all, and were proactively offered the wrist bands. Yet we declined as I see no point in spendimg money on a tracking device.

Interesting. On all of my QE2 crossings and cruises the QG lounge was open to all Grill guests.

Randomly? One thing I found is that they like to group guests by nationality. Already twice I got an assignment for a dinning time other than requested "because that one is what Germans like". Sorry not this one. "But there won't be other Germans in that restaurant at that time." Fine, just give me a table as I like it.

Currently on the Grandiosa in the Mediterranean the times are 18.00, 18.30, 20.00, 21.00 and 22.00 h.

Well, actually it is neither. MSC calls them "gala nights". In my experience with MSC in Europe that is indeed "formal = tuxedo" for a minority, but far above smart casual for the vast majority (suits resp. dresses both long gowns and cocktail dresses).

Depending on your Status you get a different card.

If you prearrange the water taxi, you can ask the company for porter service. Some (all?) offer this for an extra fee.

Yes, they do. The compliance is normally very high, almost everybody.

You might like to carefully check the size of the scooter and the width of the door of the cabin you want. MSC gives the details, varying by ship, on its homepage.

In March/April it was like this: A selection of small dishes like sandwiches and soups was offered all day for a price of $ 3 for one dish and $ 5 for two dishes. The dinner menu from 6 pm to 10 pm included more items like burger, salmon and steak. The charge was $ 7.95 for up to three orders per person.

The list of benefits or "privileges" is long but if any are really of value to you is really an individual question. Examples for what someone might value or not: Welcome back party and MSC Voyagers club diamond party (Members + 1 Guest) - Do you enjoy them? Talking to other guests and officers, maybe the captain? Dancing class (Members only) - Do you like that? Picture discount 40 % - Do you buy any? Late cabin check-out disembarkation (Extendable to cabin occupants) - Do you enjoy to stay on? Discount on laundry 15 % - Do you use it? One further point to remember: You cannot status match again, thus you will loose all the benefits not only for one cruise but many.

Does anybody know what MSC currently charges for the transfer from Genoa to MXP (Airport Milan Malpensa)?

For a snack you can use the buffet or, depending on the ship, another venue that offers small something.

I used it last year. It worked very well. If it is convenient for you, depends on were you want to go in Rome. The bus stop in Rome at Via Crescenzio is relatively close to the Vatican, Prati, castel Sant'Angelo and some parts of the city centre. The second stop is stazione termini yet obviously you can get there by train, too.

Looks like time for a balancing perspective. In my experience MSC is much better than RCCL and compared to Celebrity overall at least at par and better in some aspects. All this in "standard" class, i.e. what more than 95 % of passengers sail in. For example my experience on the Divina, less than two month ago, were different from those of the above poster. No issues with customer service. Long queus at the bar? At the pool during peak times, yes. Otherwise no. Anyway I prefer table service and this was much prompter at night than on my last Celebrity cruises. Foodwise much more real food instead of fast food. Indeed more Mediterranean than American, which in my eyes is a positive for an Italian line. Oh, and table cloths and real napkins (in contrast to Carnival and such). Eg. great fish dishes even at the buffet for lunch. Talented, professional singers and dancers in shows of various kind. Beides this a lot of live music until late (in contrast eg. to Celebrity which is dead far too early and does not offer a lot of live music, mit to mention good one.) On the private island I got a drink at 4 pm even at the further away bar. Later they indeed close areas and concentrate life at the beach closest to the pier. On my cruise maybe until 9.30.

The same person, who produced this, also made sinking videos of other ships including the QM2. Thus be careful whether you stay with MSC or move to Cunard 😉

On the current ships there is only one "special" restaurant. No packages. Not stuffy but elegant.

My first answers as somebody who has sailed Cunard regularly for many years, MSC in the last couple of years and others in the past: They are very different. You must go with the wish to appreciate what is special about Cunard. My first and prefered line is certainly Cunard and I am sure many people who live Cunard would not enjoy eg. MSC. I do, but because I treat them as two different types of vacation. You, @Stockjock, are coming the other way around, new to Cunard, but that is may basic advice. I pack differently, the demography is different, expectations are different. Some details: Cunard is much more formal. In many regards. Dinner service. Passengers are adressed with surname and proper titles. Dress Code. Jeans will not do. Many people wear jackets and ties on non formal nights, tuxedos are the norm on the gala nights. There is drink package offered but only very few people use it. Very different to the the other lines where almost everybody has one. Thus eg. much more eine by the bottle is drunken, and Cunard has an excellent extensive wine list.

No, other lines do not do this. Alcohol is served on other ships, thus it cannot be due to "local laws" as NCL claims. Just like stated by previous posters NCL is notorious for not serving drinks in many ports where other lines do. Why? Good question and up to speculation. Anyway a reason to avoid this NCL which puts customer service at the back.

I am sorry for the OP to have felt so many bads and uglys. Thank you for balancing with the goods. My experience has been different or I just had a different approach. Anyway to assist potential passengers to make their informed decision, here is part of my perspective: The terminal was mentioned in my paper work, somewhere hidden at the end but still there black on white. From reports here it seems to be (almost?) always to be terminal E for the Divina in Miami. Anyway your driver should get you to the right terminal as there are signs he hopefully might read. Do not bother with linking you credit card befor the cruise. There are many machines and you have all the time to do so. There is a lunch buffet on Ocean Cay not only food trucks ( yet often with long lines). Normally there is a soap pump next to the sink. Easily overlooked but there. (Still I'd prefer individually sized Soap and shampoo.) The app is not needed to check the menus. Just scan the QR code for the dinning room menu once and safe the link. The link does not change but you can access the individual menus each day. Unfortunately MSC is just one of many lines charging for special seats on deck.

Good to hear from a local. I would like to ask the question just the other way around: Where can I (solo) go later in the evening, like after 10.30 pm, and stay far beyond midnight?