GeoHack

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 I think it varies by ship.  I've read that what @morpheusofthesea posted is valid for Seascape but may not be on Seashore. 

 

I was on the Seashore 4/21-4/28 in the yacht club and they we're making everyone go at the same time which is just silly. May have changed since then though. Honestly they can easily just have 1-2 people with the scanners at each station and let you scan as you board vs having 4 people at each station for the 2 hours when they make everyone come down. Doesn't cost them anything more in worker hours and makes it more enjoyable for the cruiser.

7 hours ago, cruiseguyinorl said:

 

On a recent sailing of the Meraviglia, I was told onboard by the person taking dining reservations that this was incorrect. He said Butcher's Cut wasn't unlimited but certainly you could go more than once.

 

As with all things MSC, this may not be your experience once onboard.

 

Bret

Thanks - yeah MSC is YMMV. I was just hoping that lunch wasn't included in the limit. I can live with the once for dinner, but primarily was looking at this for lunch options as from what I've been reading the buffet is a madhouse right now on Grandiosa (Mediterranean cruise) with little to no respect/common courtesy from cruise passengers. I've been on quite a few cruises and never had an issue finding something to eat in the buffet or MDR, but this will be my first with MSC. 

On 9/1/2022 at 2:18 PM, Itochen33 said:

Just chiming in.

 

An automatic reservation will be made for you for the first dinner in one of the speciality restaurants. You just choose the time. You can change that as soon as you are on board though. I would HIGHLY recommend you to Reservate for the rest of your cruise as soon as you are on board. They DO accommodate walk ins but it’s first come first serve… if it’s full it’s full and sometimes they are booked exclusively even for lunch. 
 

it’s also not the full menu you choose from but a ‘dinner experience’ menu. Has everything important on it though. You can still order from the full menu with a 50% discount. For example at the steakhouse: you want the T-bone but that’s not on the sample menu. It usually costs 24 $. With the unlimited package you just pay 12$ if you order it. 
 

I hope that helped!

 

greeting from Germany!

Is the limit on Butchers Cut just for dinner or does it include lunch also? So if I went there for lunch than that would be my 1 visit (Grandiosa is limited to 1 time)?

Book the ultimate package! Take a culinary trip around the world with this UNLIMITED package of deliciously different exclusive meals in the Speciality Restaurants of your choice.

Unlimited speciality dining to exceed your culinary dreams in our Speciality Restaurants:

• Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse
• Hola! Tacos Bar & Cantina
• Kaito Sushi Bar
• French L'Atelier Bistrot
• Kaito Teppanyaki

Experience every one of our Speciality Restaurants and enjoy a discount of 20% off bottles of wine above €100 while dining. This flexible package is valid in all our Speciality Restaurants (1 lunch and/or 1 dinner per day). A €10 surcharge per meal is applied to the Teppanyaki experience only (paid on board). This package includes food only and is valid for a maximum of 1 time in the Butcher's Cut.

Found on a Grandiosa forum but I would think the Virtousa would be the same?

QR_S_COFFEE-AND-BAR-LIST-GENERIC_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1628341552 (1) (1).pdf

There are US plugs on the counter and then in the bathroom. I do bring a couple of the below to have more plugs. For example there are normally 2 EU plugs for the nightstand lights and I replace one with my adapter and can plug in the nightstand lamp and my CPAP. As others have stated they are limited. For some reason I want to say there are only 2 US on the counter in the room (but think there are 2 EU also) and 1 in the bathroom, but I'm old and senile and really haven't paid too much attention since I've been bringing the adapters for years. 

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JCVF0U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Yes you can plug in nightlights or just leave the bathroom light on with the door almost closed. We have a outlet we plug in that has a nightlight that comes on when the lights are turned off. 

Do you happen to know if the pasta place on 11 aft is still there during lunch?

They had the 5 bottle package on our 2021 October cruise. Can't remember the actual price but it was only a small percentage less than buying per bottle pre-cruise. It's normally offered at the entrance to the pool area where they have the SPA people set up on embarkment day. You can also ask your waiter in the MDR for it which are the same people in the lido buffet who can also get you the package. You get 5 certificates and just redeem them as you need them. If redeeming in the dining room they will keep it for you and have it there the next evening when you dine.

Haven't sailed the elation but recently did Horizon, Breeze, Dream and all 3 have a euro plug the desk lights plug into at the head board. I just plugged my travel adapter in and was able to use it for both the lamp and my CPAP. It was one of these: travel adapter

I'm a little confused since you state you just checked in and your cruise is on the 20th which would be 13 days out? If you really did just check in - you missed the early platinum check in?

I was on the Horizon the week of Oct 24th and there was no happy hour only drink special which wasn't a deal. They have the Guys Pig and Anchor pub.

On 10/19/2021 at 4:30 PM, knicks05 said:

I have an outstanding balance right now of more than $500 if I use my Amex can I still redeem the offer? I booked my cruise last week. 

Yes paying for cruise or pre-paid grats will work even for existing booking. I was nervous because my charge changed from RSVR to LINEMIAMI but saw the following this morning in "Activity":

41 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

You get an email with a password protected PDF. I think you can also access the results via the app

Correct the Navica app also shows the results.

2 minutes ago, knicks05 said:

I have an outstanding balance right now of more than $500 if I use my Amex can I still redeem the offer? I booked my cruise last week. 

You need to add the offer first (needs to be the $150/$500 offer unless you have $1500 still outstanding) and then pay. In the past when paying for cruises and/or pre-paid grats it had always worked even if already booked. Unfortunately fun shop, gift cards, etc. will not as they are charged differently. Unfortunately I just paid for all 3 of my cruises a couple week ago as final payment was due 😞 

5 hours ago, Glads77 said:

 

The way I understood it is if I already paid for the cruise, then I couldn't now pay for gratuities or the drink package for example to get the $150 off. It all had to be done at once. Does that seem correct? I was looking for one of these offers last week.. how convenient it comes up after I've already booked 😞 .

No - it can be done in multiple purchases like most Amex offers. When pre-paying grats it made me do each state room individually and keep paying each time (UGH). So I had 4 state room pre-pay grats charges and the $150 credit was there today.

There is also a carnival spend $500 get $150. 3 accounts got the $1500 and 2 accounts got the $500 offer. Already pre-paid grats to get $150. Unfortunately all 3 cruises had been paid for but I purposely waited to pre-pay grats knowing they would qualify.

18 minutes ago, tw67 said:

I am traveling the night before I am to take the test and will arrive home after midnight.   I am thinking that I can take the test at that point and maybe it will be easier to get through.   I also have back up tests scheduled for that afternoon.  

Just an FYI - this test was originally primarily used for people returning to the US via flight. So people all over the world are doing this at all hours.

In the late June/July time frame there were reports of 3 hour wait times but that is when the Delta variant was first starting and created work shortages in the Philippines where this is proctored. By August it seemed to be resolved and I waited 1 minute and the wife waited 3 minutes to get someone on to administer the test. Of course that was Spain time and was about 2:00AM EST. From reading many forums, threads, etc. it doesn't seem like there is any crazy wait times lately (knock on wood) but with both flights and cruise people using it now - who knows.

If it were me I would probably book an all-inclusive in the Cancun area. You don't say when your cruise is or if you have the exemption letter already? With both kids younger and not a lot of kids on the ships, not sure how much they'll enjoy it and the added costs would push me to something different.

3 minutes ago, gotscrapz said:

Do we test again on the ship for re-entry to the US? I just booked a last minute cruise and trying to get up to date.

 

we are vaccinated.

 

Thank you! 

No need for additional testing for vaccinated other than 48 hour pre-cruise test (embarkment). https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols?icid=advisory_cruisehealth_072821

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/return-to-service-faqs

21 hours ago, VaTech8912 said:

It wasn't a skipped step, but instead the card was upside down on the table, so the drops were added to the incorrect hole and when it was time to insert Q-tip to card, the holes were on top vs bottom, so invalidated test.  If they were monitoring closely, they should have noted that prior to the drops, etc. being added.  Thankfully, we had a spare test and learned a valuable lesson and all turned out fine in the end.

Thanks! We've done the test twice for return to US travel and I was just wanting to make sure we don't have the same situation. I think I'm going to jot down the steps with "Warnings" and have it next to us to double check the proctor. I think we just always do what they tell us and don't really think about it.

I've travelled twice with 4 kits and not a problem in my carry-on. I always bring an extra for the wife and I.

6 hours ago, eileen11 said:

My husband's proctor skipped one instruction and his test was then invalid.  It was their fault, but nothing we could do about it.

Interested to know what step?

47 minutes ago, VaTech8912 said:

Same happened to us.  

Could you let me know what step they skipped?

Just saw on my Amex they have a spend $1500 get $500 but its for Royal. Then I also got a spend $1000 get $350 RCI offer on a different card. Hopefully this encourages Carnival to start putting their offers back with Amex. I actually may have to do a RCI cruise again since those are cheap and with the Amex offer makes them even better.

I miss the Amex $150 off $500 type offer for Carnival. 🤕

Didn't receive it on any of my 8 Chase cards and wife didn't have it on any of her 7 chase cards.