greg_atlanta

I'm guessing the daytime temp will be 60-70 F (16-21 C) most of the trip, maybe a little colder at sea?  If the sun's out I'll be at the pool!

There should be a Dorothy/LGBTQ+ meeting on the daily schedule before dinner, though on my last NCL Alaska cruise participation was sporadic (but that cruise only half full).

I'm traveling solo and looking for dinner dates to use my two free premium restaurant vouchers that come with the drinks package (and other nights in main dining room).  Most interested in Brazilian and French specialty restaurants.  If you want to join me just mention it at Dorothy/LGBTQ+ meeting!  I'm OK with late dinner if the reservations are tight.

On 9/26/2023 at 10:30 AM, bookie54 said:

Anyone planning to use the steam room on Jade?

Hope it's still there.  I see it on the deck plan.  But general trend as ships get renovated is to get rid of the free amenities and move it to the thermal suite.  I was on Pearl (same family) about 10 years ago and it had a small steam room which worked pretty well.

18 hours ago, zackarykeef said:

This is the most active I’ve seen for an LGBTQ roll call. Y’all are really persuading me to book. I was nervous about going solo on this long of a trip, but seems like it’ll be fun!

I know how to throw a party!  😁

First TA for me but I've heard for years they tend to attract a fun crowd.  I'm sure the drink package pricing on a less trendy ship helps.

8 hours ago, zackarykeef said:

it would be my first solo sailing.

There was zero solo supplement for me on this cruise (I booked inside but may upgrade to outside), and getting the package with the drinks came to about $25/day (which is a great deal because NCL drink prices are shockingly high).  For all the other NCL TA cruises (on newer ships) the solo supplement was close to the typical 200%.  Yay for older smaller ships!

Taking this cruise solo and looking for dinner and sea day friends!  Will try to attend the LGBTQ daily event but I realize it may not be reliable.

Greg

10 hours ago, knawest8 said:

 

My issue is that I am going on a TWO night cruise next month and they still want $130 for the spa pass. Shouldn't it be priced according to the number of days you are cruising? That's insane to me!

Just say no.  It's barely worth $20 a day.

one of the two dividers on my balcony rattled badly in high winds after maintenance did some painting.  asked room steward to look at it, but ended up doing a temporary fix by wedging a washcloth in the gap.

The hosted Meraviglia solo meetup (Nov 6-13) had around 50 people, I was surprised.

It was terminal 10 for Nov 6-13 sailing (departure and return) but I think this terminal is typically used by NCL, so always subject to change.

There is very little to see other than fish and if you swim out far enough to see anything the jet ski will come after you and say you're too far out.  Please don't pay for it.  If you have your own snorkel gear, find out for yourself (like me).

I was surprised the smoking area is so centrally located by the main pool, on other ships you're banished to obscure areas.   So I guess MSC is a little more smoker friendly.  Could be a turnoff to some if you don't remember which side of the pool is non-smoking.

Yes but not accepted at the chocolate shop on Meraviglia (but they warn you in advance if they see you have the package).

I generally drink black coffee but got cafe latte every morning since the americano tasted a bit weird (i don't like espresso dark roast).

I did the $130 pass for the week and generally pleased, but would not pay more than that on a future cruise.  There are no windows so it feels a little claustrophobic.

It was irritating checking in for the first time since they don't have an electronic record of you purchasing the package in advance.  I had to pull up the pdf booking doc and show them and get a sticker placed on my key card.  (No such problem with drinks/internet package).

Two steam rooms are great, one mild and one hot.  Two saunas are great too, one a little cooler but not much difference.   The two hot tubs are a little weird and are lightly chlorinated compared to the hot tubs by the pool.  There are only 3 heated lounge chairs.  The showers are mostly cold and didn't impress me.  The cold room is GREAT after sauna/steam.   There are 3 rooms with padded lounge chairs and chill/EDM music, one is a "salt" room but honestly couldn't tell if it did anything.  There are two "Mediterranean baths" which i didn't quite understand, kind of like steam rooms without the steam -- you're supposed to get wet then let the heated walls do their thing....  didn't have the patience for that. 

I meant to try to free sauna in the gym (for comparison) but didn't get around to it.  

It was never crowded but my cruise was only about 1/3 capacity (Nov 6-13).

I briefly went snorkeling at sunset beach.  Visibility was great but nothing to see other than fish.  I swam out beyond the buoys to see if the dark area was coral (or just sea grass) but was quickly intercepted by a staff member on a jet ski saying I couldn't go out that far.  I looked around elsewhere but didn't see anything worthwhile.

Sunset beach is quieter but there is a LOT of rocks/coral when entering the water.  BRING WATER SHOES.  (I did but left them on the ship). 

The farthest beach was closed since our cruise was well below capacity (Bimini I think).

Overall the island is nice but it's big enough to discourage going back and forth to the ship.  The bars were a little chaotic and didn't have a big selection, but can use your drink package no problem.  If there was free food I missed it. 

Interesting that they have housing for the staff on the island.

How does MSC compare to Costa?  I did two Costa cruises (one from Rome, one from Venice) after the Concordia mess, the solo pricing was quite attractive!  Dinner was great, other meals not so much.   Loved the very generous 20 euro a day drink package.  Announcements in 5 languages but I didn't mind.

Is this sailing at capacity?  Sounds like the prior 3 night sailing was a mess, but ship was packed.

I'm on the 7 day sailing Nov 6.  Thanks in advance for getting the kinks out for us!  [fingers crossed]  😁

does anyone know if days passes are sold on board for the thermal area?  asking specifically for Meraviglia.  looks like i can book a pass for my upcoming 7 day cruise for $130 (which seems reasonable), but prefer to try before i buy!

I just booked my next cruise on MSC.   Looked at the 2022 MSC Divina drink menu and Bailey's is $8, so it's included in the mid-tier drink package which is anything under $9 (Easy Plus).   That package was only $20/day on my cruise (obviously discounted) and includes wifi (without video).  But....  if you go over the drink package limit you pay full price, not the difference...  so props to NCL for that.

Competition is a good thing.  😀

I just booked parking only for 7 day cruise Nov 6-13 for $40, will let you know how it goes.  The only downside I saw is that shuttles for departure end at 1 pm, but I'm planning to arrive well before then.

thanks for the GoPort suggestion!  I just booked parking for a 7 day cruise on MSC Meraviglia Nov 6-13 and it was $40 total.  also, the lot is further inland in case of freaky weather (still hurricane season until Nov 30).

1) is there a steamroom and/or sauna which is free to everyone in the fitness center?  or is this only available in the spa?  (on most ships the fitness center and spa are on the same deck, but different on this ship)

2) i booked a starboard-facing balcony closest to the bow, it looks like this has a solid railing (steel) instead of glass.  will i regret this since i won't be able to see out while lying down?  or do some prefer this?  (a little more privacy in port perhaps)

3) i'm assuming not many kids on transatlantic and not sure what to expect from Nov 6 sailing from port canaveral, but is there a mostly-adults pool/sun lounge area?  i read elsewhere there's not an official "adults only" part of the ship.

On 7/14/2022 at 6:50 AM, dexddd said:

NCL has studio cabins on some ships. Not double price as inside but still a premium.

I looked at the studio cabins on Meraviglia but each one had a sofa bed and wasn't sure it would be as comfortable as a normal bed.  It was only about $150 more to go from cheapest inside to choosing my own balcony, so decided to live it up and get the balcony.

Also I noticed that a lot of the studio cabins were connected to one or two other cabins (so they could be combined to a mini-suite) and I know from experience connecting cabins are a bad idea.

Just booked Meraviglia solo for Nov 6 sailing from Port Canaveral (driving distance for me).  Great to hear solos are paired together at dinner, and hoping for fewer kids (though with Orlando nearby who knows...).  

The single supplement was minimal (maybe 10%) and the pricing of Easy Plus drinks + wifi very attractive!  (about $20/day)  I usually book inside or cheap outside but decided to live it up and get a balcony at the front of the ship.

On my recent Spirit sailing a friend with the drink package wanted Bailey's after dinner but was told it would be $1 extra.  He was offered Maloneys as an alternative -- and waiter suggested a double (which is allowed).   So that worked out fine.  I'm not an irish creme person but tasted Maloneys and it was fine.

I do think the individual drink prices are ridiculous and not likely to sail NCL anytime soon unless there's attractive pricing of the drink package before the cruise.

[Also FYI....  considering an MSC cruise and they have very good pricing on drink package, but if you go over the limit of your package you have to pay the full price of the drink -- not just the difference.]

My point is that regardless of the rules of the cruise line and/or maritime/state/country laws, enforcement is probably lax, sporadic, or non-existent.  If it's low key, not discussed, for private use, and doesn't bother anyone else (which is true of edibles but NOT smoking) then the likelihood of being "busted" is low.  But like alcohol, if it's abused you can get in trouble for your behavior.

Neither the cruise line nor the ports has time to analyze everything in your luggage, they're just looking for obvious red flags like weapons and booze and hair dryers (which takes up a lot more space).  If they really stepped up enforcement, most cruises would leave 5+ hours late.

Maybe the situation is different in ports beyond the west coast.  I know there have been drug busts on gay charter cruises, but those targeted dealers not users.