archer_310

Thanks!  I'm going to write it down this time!

I should know this from other cruises we've done, but the mind gets blurry with age.  I've searched the forum but can't find any topic that matches.  Our check-in date is this Wednesday.  What time does check-in start?  Is it 6 or 7am?

We've booked our first cruise with MSC, then did a status match with Disney and were awarded Diamond.  We booked the current offer which gives free drinks, wifi and $50 OBC.  My question is this:  Reading the perks you get with Voyagers Club, it says that if you book a cruise that departs between 12 months and 9 months, you get the 5% discount, plus double points, plus a $50 OBC.  I know we got the discount, but should I qualify for an extra $50 OBC - or do I only get it once from the offer?

Also, regarding points.  If I'm now Diamond even though I haven't even sailed MSC yet, is there any advantage to further collecting points as Diamond seems to be the highest you can attain with MSC?

1 hour ago, hawkeyetlse said:

Each person gets an individual Voyagers Club membership, so each Status Match is for one person, not for a whole family. If there are people in your group with no status on another cruise line (or eligible hotel/airline), then of course they can't Status Match. Or if they have low status and don't plan to cruise MSC regularly from now on, it's also probably not worth it to match, because it can only be done once and the matched status expires after 3 years if they don't cruise with MSC again.

 

If you give us more details about your family we can give you more specific advice.

OK, I can do that.  Two of us are Platinum on Disney, our son I think is still Gold.

Thanks - that helps!

I took a screenshot of my number and status, so hopefully that will do.  Anyone know if I have to do this for each person in my party, or just me?

I don't have a booking, that's why I'm asking what the price is.

Do I need to submit a status match sheet for each person in my family, or do I just do it once?  Also, it seems that I need to attach a picture of my membership card from the cruise line I'm trying to match.  I don't have a membership card, so what do I submit?  Is it necessary for the submission, or is the number good enough?

Ignore the second half of my question.  I found the small print - no videos.  Still would like to know the cost per day.

Just wondering if anyone knows the daily cost of this plan with MSC?  Also, does this level allow any videos, or is it just social media, email, etc. checking?

Does the Seashore have a mini golf course on one of the decks?  I can't seem to find a definitive answer on this question.

12 hours ago, titangas said:

For my upcoming 7 night cruise, it says $182 per adult for alcohol free package.

Wow - that's expensive!  That would be $26/day/person.  That's a lot of pop to drink to make that worthwhile.  RC is less than $10/day and everyone doesn't have to purchase the plan.

I guess my original questions didn’t get addressed:

1) Does anyone know what it costs to add a basic package that includes pop?

2) Can one person buy it in the cabin, or does everyone have to buy it if 1 person does?

Thanks

Thank you for the replies - they were helpful.

We've mostly sailed Disney and RC, but are looking to maybe do an MSC cruise with friends next December.  I've been pricing some cruises, but for the life of me can't find some info on the website.  My wife and I are not really drinkers, so buying the alcohol package doesn't make sense.  However, we may like to have the package which includes pop.  There are descriptions on the site, but no prices.  As I haven't booked a cruise yet, how do I find out how much it would cost to add this?  Do I have to add this for everyone in the cabin, or can I just choose 1 person?

Other questions:

1) Not sure what the deposit is for MSC cruises, but if I were to cancel before final payment, is the deposit refunded?

2) Friends were just on an MSC cruise and said it would have cost $18 to attend entertainment.  From what I read on the website, entertainment is included.  Which is true?

3) I've also been told that once you book a cruise you can't get a partial refund if you see the price has decreased.  Should I wait for one of their sales before booking?

4) If we don't purchase a pop package, what does MSC provide free?

5) Are you allowed to bring pop/water, etc. onboard at embarkation?

That's all I can think of for now.

2 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Most US-based cruise lines have stated from the outset that RATs have to have an FDA EUA, but inspire of your Twitter response, the lines have consistently accepted tests kits authorized and sold/given out in Canada. When you check in, the test result and its date are the sole focus, and given the plethora of tests available globally, no effort is made to verify if each RAT has an FDA EUA. That's reality, no matter what someone sitting behind a desk a RCI HQ may tweet.

 

If you are still concerned that you will be challenged, either get tested in Canada by SDM, Costco, etc., before heading to the US, if your itinerary permits; or purchase a US RAT; or get tested in the US.

We'll already be in the US.  I was going to purchase some US tests, but of course free is better!  I just got off the phone with RC and they said the same, but they also seemed to agree that they're more concerned with the "type" of test, not the name.  I just don't want to get to the port and have my results turned down -- that's my worry.  I'm checking with WM Life Centres to see if they even list the name of the test on the results, or just the type.

Under the Canadian cruiser's section?  I saw one saying that people used them for Celebrity (I think), but I'm asking about Royal.  I just got a Twitter response from them and they still say they have to be FDA approved, even though they've removed that wording from their requirements.

I have an upcoming cruise with RC in the next couple of weeks.  Up until I checked again today, RC was requiring any proctored RAT to be FDA approved or emergency use authorized.  I can no longer find this wording on their site.  My question is - have any Canadians recently sailed RC and used the free green tests to get onto their cruise?  Were there any issues?

Wow.  4mbps is NOT streaming speed.  Thanks for the info.

If I purchase a single internet connection, do you have to specify which device is going to be used, or can you vary devices as long as it's only 1 device at a time that's using the internet?  Further question for those who have done this:  The streaming package says that you can stream shows.  Does anyone know what the general speed of this type of internet on the ship comes in as (i.e. 10 mbps, 15 mbps, etc)?

23 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Not available in February for our B2B.  

 

Whether you realized it or not, there were four different lines at the buffet to get an omelette.  Two located in the aft and mid sections.

Yes, I realized.

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

 

Your review was doing well until you posted this. This basically said nothing was good, and everything was a problem. Most of us take these claims with a massive grain of salt.

 

The breakfast comment baffles me the most. What are you looking for with variation in breakfast? Did you also just visit the buffet for that everyday? There definitely are some slight variations to that. There are also breakfast burgers at Guy's, breakfast burritos/arepas at BlueIguana, brunch on SeaDays, chicken and biscuits at Shaqs, and not to mention the paid options. What would you add?

 

You sound to me like the kind of person who goes to the buffet everyday for scrambled eggs. Then complains about how bland it is.

I'll just say that compared to other cruise buffets, they had more options to choose from than the 5 or 6 that they laid out each day on the MG.  For a big ship, I would have expected more options.  I actually did try a breakfast option from Big Chicken one day - sausage and egg on biscuit - thinking it might be like what you get at McDonalds.  One bite was enough to see that the sausage was still very pink inside.  Needless to say I didn't eat it.

BTW - I do like scrambled eggs - what's wrong with that?  I also like the omelets that they made, just a very long line to get one.

7 minutes ago, Hutcha said:

I don't see where that 2nd bed would fold down

I found a video of this cabin and it VERY briefly shows the fold down bed comes from the ceiling just above the sofa.  That's what I had originally figured and it confirms that this won't be a problem for us as we won't even know it's there.  Thanks for the help on this!

9 hours ago, topnole said:

And with 4 in that room the bed on the wall would probably make it even slightly tighter.  Id avoid those cabins.  If there is availability on the end (aft), that would give you the best views of the aqua shows and the water.  But it is a longer walk to the elevator/stairs.  Pros and cons to all of them.  I’d shoot for deck 10 or 11 though.  

I ended up booking 12327 which is basically an end cabin, so hopefully should have a good view.  Can't find any pictures of these 5-person cabins.  If anyone can help finding one, I'd love to see it.  If the extra bed detracts from the room, I can always switch to another cabin.

No, there's just 4 of us.  Just wondered about the layout, but I guess there's a bed on the wall if there's a 5th person.  At least that's what the CS rep told me when I was booking the cabin.