alohayall

As I understand it, if you have paid for the Fantastica experience; that goes with you if you upgrade.  Conversely, a Bella reservation does not get Fantastica benefits if the company upgrades your cabin location.

I would make the bid for a balcony, unless you found an ocean view with a great location.  I don’t book a lot of balcony cabins because I don’t sit outside enough to justify the price differential on most cruises.  But for $170 on a 12 night, I might take the gamble (or alternately, know that helps cover gratuities and stick with the booked cabin).

The biggest complaint I read about being on an MSC cruise is the food.  But good reviews for their specialty restaurants. And for-fee dining is the growing trend in cruising.  Look at the restaurant menus for those in the offer and make sure they are offering a meal at a good price for your preferences.  It’s not the entire menu available, either; they have a selection from which you chose.  I’ve read some of the MDR menus for the Meraviglia and have found complete meals that should satisfy me.  I pretty much do this with any cruiseline.  
 

Happy cruising and congratulations.

Overplanner and new MSC cruiser here; thanks for details. Plus, planning is really half the fun - it makes the vacation last longer.

(I’ll repeat a question I posed on another thread) is there a terminal at Port C that MSC uses - or do they float among several?

Have a great cruise!  
 

Does MSC have a dedicated (even if shared) terminal at Port C? If so, which one?

22 hours ago, karmamule said:

We've been on the Meraviglia and the Seaside (smaller sister ship to the Seashore) and as an overall way to distinguish them I'd say that Meraviglia-class ships are a little more inward focused, with really large inside spaces and less of an emphasis on exterior decks and such. On the other hand the Seaside ships emphasize outdoor spaces and connecting with the ocean more. 

 

The Meraviglia's central galleria with its LCD arched ceiling is the heart of the ship. I'd recommend watching a video and if you love the look of it, then maybe go for that. Otherwise I'd lean towards the Seashore just because it's their newest ship and it looks wonderful.

 

We loved our time on the Meraviglia, but we're really looking forward to being on the Seashore in January and seeing it for ourselves. And, by the way we love trying out different cruise lines too. We've also been on NCL and RCL, and in addition to the Seashore our cruises after that will be 2 more on NCL, one on Carnival Mardi Gras, then one on Virgin Voyages. It'll be interesting to see if we have a clear favorite after doing all those.

 

MSC describes Seashore as following the sun, focused on the outside, while Meraviglia is interior-focused.  From your description, it sounds like that really came through to the cruiser.

I thought I liked the smaller ships (Disney’s first two), but I have certainly enjoyed some larger ones - most recently NCL Encore.  I’m not sure if it’s the bigger size or the newness of these ships.

…. And I totally agree about Disney pricing; it has gone so far beyond outpacing inflation.  And currently, MSC has no penalty for cruising solo.  And my January Meraviglia sailing is about 1/6 the price of my Sep Disney Dream sailing - both with two days at private islands.

Your cruise history indicates you don’t just stick with one ship or cruise line.  Based on that, I’d say Meraviglia.

Otherwise, I’d say save the money and try a ship similar to one the kids previously enjoyed.

I see we both sailed the WBTA on the Magic on 2011 - hello, fellow cruiser.

I’m sailing the Seashore in 2 weeks and the Meraviglia in January. Never sailed MSC before.  
 

Bon Voyage

Coke or Pepsi? 

I’d like to see a menu / pricing for the crepes at the crepe + gelato counters.  Thanks.

Boo to the inaccessibility to the pools.

Paddle boards, jet skis, kayaks.  Read a book.  Sit back and do nothing while watching or playing in beautiful Bahamian water.  As stated, no zip line.  Just the slides and pools on the ship.

Yes, this sounds like a ship day for you.  Glad to hear you have an alternate to a beach day.

For fully vaccinated, you have 3 choices for test type.  The one that has the fastest turn around (and lowest cost) would be the antigen.  It is a point of care test - meaning it does not have to be sent to a lab - like a rapid strep test done in a doctor’s office. Or a pregnancy test on a stick.  Results are available in 15 minutes.

Any time delay for these would be in getting the results to you in a usable form.

MSC is allowing telemedicine testing.  You order the test kit ahead of time.  You schedule a time to do the test from any location (hotel room would be fine).  You use an app and your phone/ pad/ computer and perform the test while the observer watches through the computer feed.

I have done the at-home test part before.  If you can open a box and a few packets, add some drops of solution, wiggle a swab in your nose and insert it in a cardboard card, you can handle that aspect.

And be able to download an app and follow directions.

After you do your sample, you wait 15 minutes and a second observer comes online.  You check the results and they give you a way to access your documentation.

(I just watched this being done on a YouTube video by a cruiser).

Finding a drug store while out of town and then wondering when you will get your results can be a bit stressful.  The telemedicine option seems to put more control in your hands.  I plan to do it for my January sailing to the Bahamas.

This is not an option for Southern Caribbean sailings, but is okay for Bahamas & Caribbean itineraries.

You do pay for these kits.  I saw a pack of 3 for ~$99.  Order online.

CVS, Walgreen’s… do not charge those with insurance for in-store testing.  Wal-Mart is the location for one of the drug stores.  Some stores only allow booking 2 days in advance.

I used a private lab last month for a pre-cruise test.  $100 for antigen with results that day.  Or $150 for the PCR test (not a requirement by MSC per the website as of today).

Best of luck.  It doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as most of us make it to be; again, it’s something that’s out of our control in some ways - and could possibly derail a vacation at the last moment.  And for probably >99% of us, likely to just be validation of what know.

You have the bonus of time - and the foresight to look into your test options.  Don’t let this test derail your travel plans.

20 hours ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

Hello Everyone!

This status match topic caught my attention. I haven’t read through 17 pages of this but was wondering we are platinum with IHG hotels and are planning on booking a cruise with MSC. Should we bring that upto them while we are booking. We don’t have Voyager numbers yet because we have never sailed with MSC.

We also are on the classic level with Celebrity. Just curious if there is anything we should do prior to calling MSC.

Our January sailing was discounted by 5% + 15% off that with a $50 onboard credit.  Both my Diamond match and sister’s Gold match earned that.  (I think even the lowest match would get to use that, as it is for all Voyagers members).  And it can be combined with free Balcony upgrade, too.

Disney Cruise Line Platinum = MSC Diamond.  October 2021.

That is Disney’s top tier; they only have three.

Sent in a screenshot from the Disney Cruise Line’s page that showed my name, loyalty #, and the date from the computer for my proof of status.  Just after midnight on a Thursday; the confirmation email was sent around 8 am.

And then I booked my first MSC cruise.  I did not enroll in the Voyagers program and get a newbie’s number.

As for alcohol, welcome to the world of those who aren’t fans - or who were too big of fans.

There are a lot of high calorie, sugary drinks out there; seems a handle of go-to standards would be useful.  (Does AA material have any suggestions?) I’ve never been in settings where having a drink was the thing to do; it is just the liquid to accompany food - coffee or milk for sweets, coke, tea or water for savories and juices for breakfasts or picnics.

Perhaps tea or coffee drinks from Starbucks.  Put it in a bar glass and just blend right into the crowd.

Cagney’s has a bunch of vegetables on its menu - asparagus, creamed leeks, sautéed spinach, creamed corn, potatoes lots of ways.  Tomato soup (unless it’s meat broth based) and a salad.  And dessert.  There’s probably bread at the table.

Cruising is going to be that fine balance of assertiveness without apologizing or accepting bleh.  Everything I listed is being prepared, perhaps as a part of a plate, but not having to be defrosted (I certainly hope).

And go in believing that 4 sides (basically a vegetable plate) are about the same price as an entree - and expect that to be in addition to soup, salad, potato.  “I’m a vegetarian and would like to order a vegetable plate as my entree.”  I believe that would work.  You are not ordering anything they have to “make special;” it’s just a different plating. 

On 8/31/2021 at 11:31 AM, SteveH2508 said:

"Virgin Long Island Iced Tea" - posh name for cola with sweet and sour mix.

and it’s only a “splash” of Coke to give it the tea color.  Really, just order lemonade.  Add seltzer if you want to be exotic.

On 7/9/2019 at 1:19 PM, timf2001 said:

Starbucks has been appearing on an increasing number of ships.  It would not surprise me if ultimately every NCL ship has one.

Keep that glass ball.  You could see the future.

What is the source of this Spa credit?

To address the question of fare refund:  Isn’t this why we have trip insurance?  I see you can cancel up to 15 days pre-cruise and get a FCC per NCL’s “Peace of Mind” policy, but I am not seeing anything about testing positive at the port and getting cruise fare back.

In your case (or those within driving distance), this latest extra testing step seems a waste of time, effort, money - and testing resources.  If you can go home, you have no expense for them to cover.

Anyone remember reading that you get refunded for cruise fare if you are denied boarding?  (they have to refund taxes / port fees).

Flow charts can be a great (and an easy read).  It doesn’t take much to lose green status.  As pointed out by another poster, it only takes missing daily submission of data.

On 8/26/2021 at 10:32 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

@aubreyc1988 I've read that from the CDC but I still have questions. First: I would think the crew would be least likely to test positive since the crew is currently not being allowed off the ship ever, so they are the only ones truly in the bubble. Second: Are you of the belief that if a ship is yellow Covid has been confirmed? I thought it meant that it was only suspected and it could turn out to be a CLI? Although I just read that there were people in hazmat suits on deck 10 of Encore yesterday, so I suppose that is leading us to believe a confirmed case in a passenger? 

(I reread what I wrote; it is not meant to sound condescending. Just some PSA info.)

The crew is exposed to people all day.  And new people every week from all across the country.  A pretty permeable bubble.

COVID vaccinations:  they don’t keep you from being exposed to the virus.  They don’t keep you from having symptoms.

The goal is to reduce your viral load and to keep your body from being overwhelmed when exposed. >> Less severity of illness and less risk of death. And no guarantee of either protection - everybody’s immune system functions / responds differently.

And if fully vaccinated = fully protected were true,  we wouldn’t have to be tested at the port (or this new 36-hour pre-cruise test.  I’m pretty sure it’s not because they think we faked our vaccine records).

On 8/27/2021 at 1:57 PM, PhillyTravelBug said:

I think it’s around $299. Worth every dollar.

For the Sep 4 sailing on the Encore, it is $249 pp if booked pre- cruise.  I believe it is an additional $20 if booked onboard (that would jive with the quotes of $269).

Pre-booking is done by phone call; not available online.

10 hours ago, Old & Retired said:

So you had less stress because you cut the line.

Nope.  They had less stress because they have an easy-going, positive outlook on life.  You can read it in their words and responses to other people.  
 

They still waited 40 minutes for their group’s turn to use the gondola. 

Saw that. Working on plans to get it done in the middle of traveling to Seattle.  Very sly on their part.

Can you get a lemon drop martini with Grey Goose?  I haven’t seen it in any of the posted menu pics.

It’s 11:45 am in Juneau (3:45 ET).  Probably waiting to get off the ship.  We can cut him a little slack before his project resumes?  And then he can collapse from all our requests.