PyrHeaven

9 hours ago, dexddd said:

Are you sailing Mera?  We checked in same time as couple with a baby and some confusion as if they could go in regular entrance or off to left for area for unvaxxed.  Apparently that had been happening but in this case they let the family go in regular entrance.  Just be prepared for another hoop.

Divina. Thanks for the heads up!

I have a similar situation. Our original embarkation time was 2pm. It got moved to 12:30pm a few weeks ago, and today I just got a text saying it is now 10:30am (but it still shows 12:30pm on the website).

When do I show up!? Lol I have 3 kids which includes a 6month old, so I don't want to show up at 10:30 and have to wait around for 2 more hours.

I think I'm just going to show at 10:30 and hope for the best! Will show the text if they give any grief.

I'm so excited following along with your review! Can you come back on Divina for the Oct 10th cruise? You seem like so much fun. 😊

Sorry to hear about all the pain you're experiencing getting around. All those road blocks sure didn't help!

After 5 phone calls, I was finally able to get our stateroom changed. Wahoo!! In case anyone reads this with the same issue, the phone rep needs to contact the lead, who still won't be able to change it. The lead will then need to put in a request to "a higher power", who made it happen in less than 24 hours. Hallelujah! Let the good times roll.

1 hour ago, smplybcause said:

FYI they're very heavy on the QR codes for menus. Though the pool bar have gave me a printed version when my phone wasn't working.

That's a bummer! We don't pay for wifi on the ship. It's detox for the whole family. Lol They will need to be getting out the paper menus for us.

Thank you for your live review! We will be on the 10/10 sailing.

15 minutes ago, cruiseguyinorl said:

 

I received this from MSC Operations today:

Unfortunately this is not negotiable, everyone must bring a negative test with them to the pier taken no more than 2 days prior to sailing. There are certain regulations we must follow and this is one.

 

So no, "documentation of recovery" will not be accepted. You must have a negative test.

Bret

 

 You are awesome! This is exactly the answer to my question. Thanks so much for the follow up, and good to know for anyone that may be in a similar situation. I hope your clients test negative so they can still sail. 🤞

Goodness! I should have known this would open a can of worms. In no way am I trying to skirt the system and get on a cruise to infect 1000s of people. I'm not stupid nor inconsiderate of other people.. So for those of you that thought I may be, that is not the case at all.

This is also a hypothetical question. I do not have Covid, nor does anyone in my immediate family.

I was referring to exactly what cruiseguyinorl stated below, since it's possible to test positive for the infection up to 90 days after you've recovered. I do think it's rare, but possible. @cruiseguyinorl - please let us know what MSC has to say. I'm genuinely curious. Thank you!! 

On 9/12/2021 at 7:24 PM, cruiseguyinorl said:

 

The CDC has a policy in place recommending no testing for 3 months after a positive test. Am currently waiting for confirmation for a client that MSC will accept the "documentation of recovery" mentioned below and is found here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-3/coronavirus-cruise-ship
 

Information for people who recently recovered from COVID-19

• If you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 3 months and met criteria to end isolation, you do NOT need to get tested before or after cruise travel unless you have symptoms. CDC has found that people can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after they had COVID-19 and not be infectious to others.
• Travel with a copy of your positive test result and a letter from your healthcare or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as “documentation of recovery.” If you are asked by officials in a foreign country, you may be required to show this documentation.
• You also do NOT need to self-quarantine after cruise travel if you have recently recovered from COVID-19, even if you are not fully vaccinated.
  
   

 

Does MSC have any sort of policy on place if you were to test positive for Covid-19 after having the virus? For example: if I were to contract covid 4 weeks before my cruise, am free of symptoms by time of sailing, but still test positive for covid 2 days prior to my cruise from the prior infection, am I denied boarding?

Do they have any sort of exception with proof of positive covid test within x amount of days? I know this is accepted for international air travel when flying back to the US and/or Canada.

It sure would be a bummer to come down with covid, recover, and not be allowed to go due to a positive test from previous infection.

4 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

From reading posts like this over the past few months, it seems that phoning on the weekend is not the way to go.  Weekday calls usually seem much more successful.

Thank you! I'll try again on Monday. I am thinking you're right. I've made 3 calls so far, and no one can help. The first call was on Friday but right at closing time, so I'm sure she just wanted to get rid of me.

This same rep also told me it will "take 3 weeks to get approval for a pack n play/crib in our room". 3 weeks? What!? I'm guessing not many will be cruising with infants in October, so we will take our chances. 😉

6 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

It's possible that the ship has reached lifeboat capacity for that section of the ship. Even though the stateroom may sleep 4, if the surrounding staterooms assigned to the same lifeboat are at capacity, MSC cannot put you there. 

 

However, I doubt that lifeboat capacity is the problem. More than likely, it is just phone rep/IT issue with MSC....

Good thought. I didn't think of that! Though, I agree I don't think that's the issue. The ship is wiiiide open. We are on the October 10th sailing. I even asked the person to try moving us to a different cabin on a completely different deck, and she said the same thing was occuring.

1 hour ago, Morgsmom said:

It's MSC; there's always a glitch with their computer system....🤪

That is what I'm learning. LOL 

I just called again and this person told me it is stating there is an occupancy restriction on the room. Well MSC moved us yesterday to a 3 person cabin when we have 4 people in it (one is a baby). The room I'm asking to move to is a 4 person cabin. Makes no sense!

I've now emailed them because apparently they have more power than the phone people. We will see!

I called MSC this morning to change 3 cabins (2 in one reservation and 1 in another) so we can be together (all Fantastica balconies on MSC Divina).

They were able to change the cabin on a separate reservation without any issue, and also the 2nd cabin on the second reservation, but said there was a glitch and the 1st cabin on the second ressrvation would not change and to call back later.

Has anyone had this happen before? Do you think I'll ever successfully get this cabin changed? MSC moved my cabin yesterday from starboard to port side, and I'm really hoping to get it changed.

Oh great. A second test at the terminal still. I have a 6 month old, 4 year old, and 10 year old. I was hoping the terminal test was out the window! Thanks for the heads up.

There were plenty of bars and restaurants open on the Breakaway from NYC when we sailed on her Mid-May to Bermuda. Definitely could have been the time of year for you.

I sure hope the Waterfront bars and restaurants are open on the Bliss in March. We are sailing on her at the end of March! You'll have to report back.

5 hours ago, Lou33 said:

 

So if NCL said that our tickets were issued with our first and last names only, but that our full names, including our middle names, were added to the "TSA line", is that the same thing as "DOCS"?

Yes! That is correct.

2 hours ago, Lou33 said:

...but our return flight on EVA Airlines does not show our middle names.  EVA says they cant guarantee that immigration will let us through,  and that they will charge $100 each to change the names on our tickets to add our middle names.  

 

I called NCL, to sort this out and they say that their air department needs to handle this when they open tomorrow.  And they say that the air department probably won't talk to me directly, but my travel agent may need to request this for me.  He won't be happy about that.  

 

To complicate this even further.  We purchased seat assignments on EVA for $80 so that we can sit together.  EVA says if we change the names on our tickets, then we lose our seat assignments.

I manage a travel agency and can tell you that, even if your middle name is on your Passport, it is not required to show on your ticket. It IS however, required to be entered in the Secure Flight Passenger Data (AKA DOCS in the TA world). This is an entry behind the scenes and can be updated at any time at no cost to reflect the correct information.

It is best practice for your name to match exactly, including your middle name, but if you will lose your seats/cost you paid for them (unfortunately this is not uncommon, especially with international carriers), and NCL is not willing to correct, I would ensure EVA has correct information in your DOCS and not worry about it. You'll be fine!

The gate price is about $60 with an Uber costing about $25 each way. That would be your best bet for saving some money on the excursion.

I know many are leery of booking outside the ship, but this is one I would feel confident doing on my own.

Ya'll are great! Thanks so much for answering my questions and giving some extra tips!!

Are you able to use the $50 excursion credit for a clamshell on GSC? I'll be traveling with a 3 year old, so most excursions on GSC are out due to age restrictions. I'd still like to use my "free money" on something though!

Also, are you able to put other loungers near the clamshell? For example, I'd stick my kids in the clamshell, but I'd like my lounger to be in the sun. All the pics I see are loungers under clamshells, then loungers without clamshell. They do not seem to mix together.

I agree! I booked the week before Black Friday, and I'm so glad I did. Our sailing is now $2,000 more than what we booked at for 2 adults/2 kids in a balcony cabin.

I'm hoping prices go back down so my in-laws can book on our sailing!

Breakaway

Epic

Pearl

Spirit

Star

Sky

Next cruise is on the Bliss in March. I'm hoping it ranks toward the top!! :)

We brought our then 13 month old on a cruise last year, and we all had a great time. I think as long as you level set your expectations, you will enjoy yourselves.

We did not use the nursery (this kid will not leave my side) and I never planned to. We ate in the dining room every night, and went to a show every night and brought him along. He loved it. If he started getting antsy, one or both of us were prepared to leave in the middle of the show or dinner.

We started cruising with my oldest (his is now 😎 when he was 2, and we have never looked back.

I think the main thing to remember is that this is not the partying cruise, where you drink yourself silly and stay up til the crack of dawn. This is a family cruise, and you may have to cut things short or miss certain acitivties, but overall you will enjoy being on vacation and spending time with family. 😊

One other thing to mention....you will see every person that said they did it, said they would do it again. 😉  We are headed on cruise #2 with our little guy who just turned 2 last month. We leave in 2 weeks - FTS out of San Juan!

7 hours ago, WisconsinFan said:

We are on the same cruise! Also, we aren't as worried as some. I have an very nice co-worker who is originally from the Island (now Milwaukee 🙂 ). Although he isn't "rowdy" at work the culture is one of family, friends and fun. If you get a large, extended family from anywhere on vacation you can find the same situation, I think a few years back people were complaining about a family who took over a different ship- and the men all were in black socks and tank tops . We are going in with an open mind and an opportunity to experience a new culture. PyrHeaven, look for us- our wardrobe is usually red & white or green & gold- although we also sport UWM black & gold.

 Wow! How cool --- Small world, isn't it? We do plan to have a blast, and will be watching for you guys!! :) 

I'm curious about the responses you will receive. I'm on the "it is what you make of it" bandwagon, and every cruise I have gone on, we make the best of and have a nice time, even if things aren't perfect. I'm not sure it will be as easy looking past the behavior of others of it is truly as described by some recent cruisers.

We are booked for the cruise departing on Easter (4/21/19) and are super excited!! Just a little leary of those few reviews.

I am also curious! My husband wants to parasail on our southern caribbean cruise but parasailing options see limited on this itinerary.