alohayall

Yep.  Rebooked Jan 16 Meraviglia yesterday to sail Seashore in a October. Still wondering if I should have held out for MSC to cancel cruise.  I’m not a gambler, so I couldn’t handle to wait and wonder.  We got a decent rate with the 15+5 and the New Year’s sale.  … Still so much cheaper than Disney!

17 hours ago, Lovestotravel81 said:

We have just disembarked from seaview we had pretty much all our ports canclled last week unless on an msc excursion due to an outbreak of covid. It was tough and go as to whether the Barbadian government were going to let us disembark yesterday.

Does this mean you actually docked at your scheduled ports (so not cancelled?). Requiring ship excursions is not the same as cancelling a call - although it might make you chose to stay onboard.

Trying to clarify to keep reporting factual, please.

Just rebooked a Jan 2022 Meraviglia cruise, so had to call to change dates.

I moved to the Seashore in October 2022.  The agent looked for discounts in addition to the New Year’s sale (Easy Plus Drinks, Internet, OBC).  The Voyager’s 15+5 rate was applicable (although I couldn’t find it online).  She found it and saved me another $160.

And the call rang through about 10 seconds after a much briefer round of push-number commands.

Happy to report a positive interaction with Guest Services.

Good luck, everyone.

I took leftovers from Butcher’s Cut on the Seashore in December.  They had to-go packaging and a large gift-style paper bag.  This doesn’t mean they have containers in the MDRs.  Seems likely they could use a room service cover for your food.  Or pack your own re-usable plastic containers from home.  

5 hours ago, juancarlosgarciasanchez said:

I'm confused and I apologize as English is not my primary language. 

Understanding that no one here can proffer the future, will MSC dock at their private Island in the coming weeks and if not, what will MSC cruises replace the missed stop with ? Thanks 

I believe all the cruise lines are trying to keep sailing, instead of having to shutdown (even if only for a short while).  
 

It seems that they are willing to trade on long-term cruisers’ being willing to miss ports and enjoy being at sea.  As long as the reason for missing ports is COVID related.  It’s a fine line to balance - the company has to have taken adequate care to keep the infection rate down.

We will only know if this has worked in retrospect. They are counting on the love of cruising and forgiveness of passengers to sustain sailing to nowhere (and the acceptance of authorities to waive US Maritime laws regarding “cruises to nowhere.”)

…As to your specific question, it will be on an individual basis for each planned stop at Ocean Cay.  If they offload ill or isolating crew each time they return to home port and only board passengers who have tested negative, the idea is they should have a low number of cases any cruise.  But somehow, the cases have been numerous enough (on different cruise lines, even), that several countries’ authorities have not allowed docking.

(And housing crew on land during isolation / recovery) is another way to cut into profits.

If your ship has too many cases of Covid to visit the  planned ports, which other countries should be willing to receive them? Hopefully, none.  Caribbean countries don’t have the medical facilities to handle a surge in medical needs if the local population is infected by tourists.

(I use the terms believe and seem because we are not privy to cruise line plans and often find out changes to itineraries and daily events in the moment, often without the opportunity to cancel ahead of time without loss of money).

…Are you still trying to decide what to do with an upcoming planned cruise?

Lots of family or friends groups.  No matter the language.  But still plenty of friendly people.  - Seashore the week following Thanksgiving.  And, yes, lots of people who self-identified as Cuban, Colombian, or Argentinian.  I was solo and not lonely.

For my Nov 27 Seashore cruise, the 20-day mark came and went.  A few days later, it finally let me finalize check-in.  
 

I’m now 19 days before a cruise and am not sweating it.  I already received my e-ticket / health questionnaire / luggage tags in an attachment to an email.  If necessary, I’ll use the machine onboard to register my credit card.  But I expect to finalize online check-in in the next two weeks.

Cruising with MSC is trying to relax my desire for things to done on schedule / as promised.

Computer glitches seem pretty usual for MSC.  I’d give it an overnight and try again.

According to the MSC website, you cannot use your drink package in Hola!  This applies to Easy, Easy Plus, and Premium Extra for cruises beginning in Winter 2022 (now).  I am assuming you are looking at Bahamas / Caribbean cruises.

”*Package can be enjoyed in our bars, buffet, restaurants, speciality restaurants, Ocean Cay Island and other exclusive destinations. Cannot be consumed signature venues (Venchi 1878 establishments, Lavazza Coffee Shop, Jean Philippe Chocolate, Coffee, Crepes & Gelato,Starship Club, Hola! Tacos & Cantina). On board currency applies.”

Reporting from the ship…

MSC Seashore has bumped its arrival time in Miami from 8 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

We were notified Thursday morning, Dec 2, that we were returning to San Juan to disembark two guests for medical emergencies.  

Subsequently, our scheduled stop in Nassau is cancelled, port fees credited.  And arrival time in Miami was pushed back.

We have been given 24 hours of internet access to make alternate travel arrangements.

… Our boarding last week involved nearly 3 hour queues for many guests, but we did disembark at 6:15 for our scheduled 5 pm departure.

It was Terminal F on Saturday, Nov 27.  My Lyft driver didn’t speak English, but we communicated well enough to get me to the port with no problems. I never saw a sign as we came into the Port that indicated ships / terminals.  We made a good guess where to drop the bags.

Then the nearly 3 hour boarding line began.  Half of it in the sun.   At the nearly 1.5 hour mark, as we neared the door, they called out for Diamond members.  Then it was upstairs to join the crowds for more.  Passports got photographed on a smart phone at various angles - supposedly because they were in a terminal under construction.  
 

Whew! My own processing took less than 5 minutes; I had paper copies of my health questionnaire and test results.  That seemed to speed up the process. 
 

Our arrival time on Saturday has been pushed from 8 am until 1 pm due to a return to San Juan for medical emergencies. Now I understand why the universe gave me a 4:40 pm flight. 

On the phone, scroll to the bottom. Select the orange box “View Deals.”  It’s there, too.  Again, Page 1 just offers Cruise Only.

I got the same options as Fla Mike.  I’m on an iPad.  
 

But the options didn’t show up on the usual first page - that only showed the option of “Cruise Only.”  The next page had the All In offer.

One hour gives you a taste of a cruise spa area.  You can try the various rooms - salt, snow, dry sauna, wet sauna, cold / hot / scented shower areas, and water therapy pool or hot tubs.  Plus heated stone loungers and a regular lounge area.

There won’t be a massage or treatments performed by spa personnel.

Specifics vary by ship within cruise companies.  
 

If you need details, just post.  

Seashore, November 27.

Booked online October 31.  Unable to pick cabin # - to be assigned

Nov 2.  Got upgrade offers.  Declined.

Nov 10.  Got e-ticket, health questionnaire, and luggage tags in an email.  Never have been available through website or app - always an error message.

Room assignment is on e-ticket.

A few days later than the 2-day mark.

7 hours ago, tunaman2011 said:

Greetings

 

Sometimes the IT Department doesn't get the information updated in the published data.  This is true for many of the lines not just MSC.  This morning Seashore is berthed at Terminal C.  She leaves tomorrow on her first paid US cruise.  Will she move to Terminal F between today and tomorrow?  Will she leave from Terminal C and return to Terminal F (this makes a huge mess for the passengers)?  It's always best to double check the day of the cruise.

 

Good Sailing

Tom 

I will just treat it as an adventure into the unknown at this point 🙂. And hope my rideshare driver has the same sense of adventure.  

Thanks for the heads up. 

On my upcoming Nov 27 cruise, rental for 1 hour w 20% off if booked before cruise:

Kayak $29

SUP $29

They also have tours.

I finally found it.  On page 11 of 17 in e-ticket.  I was expecting it to be more upfront - and possibly in bold.

Thanks everyone.  This is the first time in 27 cruises that I am not getting a clear picture of my ground transportation plans.  And probably the first time I have been given the opportunity for transfers from the airport.  At least I have one rideshare experience under my belt if needed.

22 hours ago, joeyancho said:

Actually the cruise was very nice.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  I had a few criticisms but nothing big.  The thing that was odd was a total lack of port info.  Nothing in the daily planner, not even a shopping map. 

Glad to hear a good report.

I’m sailing on the Seashore at the end of this month.

I have no idea if I’m supposed to know which terminal MSC currently uses.

I’ve searched the internet, Cruise Critic, and MSC website. Seems a lot of new terminals are being built or remodeled - for the future.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? (Other than the Southeast edge of CONUS land mass).  Perhaps there are signs at the port indicating which terminal for which ship?  
 

Thanks.  One of those final pre-cruise details.

9 hours ago, lovetotravel16 said:

We have never booked on MSC and NOW after reading all the negative reviews I am sick to m y stomach that we made a bad decision. We have the Grand Suite with Tub on deck, but all the negative reviews about food, service and communication is freaking me out. Does anyone have any other input on MSC? We are booked for over Christmas.

Are you new to cruising or experienced?  I am new to MSC - booked and paid for 2 cruises.  
 

Yes, lots of complaints about customer service (are European cruisers really more go with the flow than we Americans?).  Maybe they just haven’t hired the right people yet.

I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos and have come to the conclusion that MSC is not for everyone - but more especially, it’s not for those who are brand-loyal to specific cruise lines (or types of lines) sailing for Americans.

I’ve sailed nearly 6 months worth of my life and have truly never had an awful cruise.  And I even sailed Carnival on a ship that got scrapped a few months after my cruise 🙂. 
 

I find Cruise food, as a whole, to be all over the place - even on the same ship.  But I have never been hungry!  They will do what they can to make you happy in the dining rooms.  Or go grab a slice of pizza.  
 

Your Grand Suite is in the Yacht Club?  Lots of positives about that.  
 

…I’m boarding the Seashore in 11 days (fingers crossed).  I’ll have a better answer in less than 3 weeks.  

21 hours ago, joeyancho said:

Yes it is boring with mediocre food.  Shade will set you back $13.00

An honest opinion.  Hoping your entire cruise wasn’t that way.  I’m going into my first MSC cruise with a little wariness.  So far, Ocean Cay sounds just up my alley. 

Why stop in Titusville?

The OP wanted somewhere close, but short of, the port.

(As you get older, you might find long drives just aren’t as easy.  Figure how far you want to go and plan your drive destination.  And driving in the dark may not be ideal.  My trip planning has changed.)

Keeping it budget friendly.  The high-end suggestions were not what the OP was looking for.  If Port C hotels have great rates for the night, I’d say consider one of them.

We come with our own rationales and preferences; and I throw my ideas out with some of them spelled out.  Personally, I pretty much stick with Hilton, Marriott - and more recently - Hyatt properties, to earn points and to have a fairly good idea of what I am getting.  And I read TripAdvisor and forums.  And look at Google maps a lot to get area information.  (And combined with personal experience).  I actually am not a fan of the Cocoa / Port Canaveral area; I’d rather just stay off I-95 sort of in the middle of nowhere.

And I take into consideration what posters say - and get some really good advice - and like that they may get me to consider other options 🙂. Thank you. 
 

If the OP hadn’t mentioned parking at the port, I probably would have suggested a Sleep and Park cruise package in Port Canaveral.

The cluster of hotels on I-95 near Titusville seem to offer reasonable prices.  They don’t seem to swing with cruise ship departures as much as the ones in Port Canaveral (when I have checked).  You have a choice of the entry-level hotels (Hampton Inn by Hilton, TownPlace by Marriott, Holiday Inn…). Cracker Barrel, Starbucks, … nearby.  Then, an easy 25 mile drive down to the port.