rhiannon35

We will be departing on the Seaside on 3/10, and 3/11 is Daylight Saving Time. I just had the owner of an excursion I'm trying to book for 3/14 on Grand Cayman ask me what time we'll be on. Well, I told her, I really don't know.

During the same time frame on NCL last year there was mass confusion as to when/if we'd set the clocks ahead. Staff members either had no idea what we were talking about (giving us a blank stare or smile) or gave us different answers ("today," "tomorrow," "never"). Our fellow passengers were just as perplexed, until finally it was announced we'd be setting the clocks ahead the day before disembarking.

Does anyone have any idea how MSC handles this? I'd call but I'm afraid I'd be given the wrong information.

Thanks for the help! Hurray! I can finally wear that dress again. It's been in the closet since our RC cruise.

We've never cruised MSC before, so I'm wondering how formal the formal night is, as I have a very nice black sequined dress I hardly ever get to wear. I've seen women dress to the nines on RC formal nights, but NCL and Carnival are far less formal, and I think the dress would be too much.

So, where does MSC lie on the spectrum? I'd really like to get that dress out of the closet!

I had the same issue for my March cruise. in fact, at one point, all cabins were showing up as sold out. I kept checking and was able to snag a suite. SInce then, I've seen a couple Oceanviews open up, too. Keep checking, people cancel all the time

Where do you see that? This is from the MSC confirmation I just received the other day when I made final payment:

 

 

INCL − EXP2USA−FANTASTICA: Superior cabin & benefits

− 01/27/18 0.00

INCL − ISUSTD−Surfer Cruise Plus − 01/27/18 0.00

INCL − SB150USD−Shipboard credit 150 usd − 01/27/18 0.00

After the questions I had regarding my booking, my TA sent a 6-pg. doc from MSC with booking details. It is much more detailed than what you get from the cruiseline, pg. 1 is an overview of cruise, than a separate page for each of us who are sailing, then detailed pages on the Wellness exp.

At the top of the pages for each of us it says:

Price description: 2 for 1 Onboard CreditPlus Your experience: Wellness, powered by Technogym

Category: S2 − Suite

FANTASTICA

Underneath that there is a listing of our cabin fare plus taxes followed by:

INCL − 734PRW17−MEALTIME RESTAURANT DRINK

PACKAGE A. − 0.00

INCL − ISUPRO−Internet Promo − Surfer − 0.00

INCL − EXPWEL−Wellness, powered by Technogym −

0.00

So, we do have the Mealtime Drink Package with a Fantastica suite, and I know by looking at the Experience descriptions this isn't supposed to occur, but as you can see, it did. My 14 year old daughter actually has mealtime drink package A (alcoholic) and C (nonalcoholic) listed, so I guess she will be tipping back a few. (just kidding.)

I also see when looking at the descriptions that the Wellness exp. includes everything that comes with the Fantastica exp., so I would think I'd get the 12 drink vouchers. I'm not sure if anyone here knows if that's correct, I may have to make a new thread.

Either way, although I'm OK with all this, I"m just stumped.

To be fair, I like having a Techonogym in my cabin, but MSC went a little too far. If you take advantage of every Wellness related activity, you would get 1 gym class per day, at least 2 fitness themed shore excursions, and at least 2 health check-ups (one by the trainer and the second by the ship's doctor) over a 7 day cruise. That to me is more like a rehab than a relaxing cruise.

With you on that! I eat healthy during a cruise (for the most part) and hit the gym a few times, but I'm not going for a darn check-up when I can be sunning by the pool! Not going to do a class a day either, esp on port days.

Also, I have yet to get anything about what these fitness shore excursions actually entail. Have you? I might be up for a beach bike ride, but I saw one labeled as a "triathlon " in some literature. No thanks. And, if it's adults only, it's useless to us as we are traveling with our teenage daughter.

FYI, Fantastica Suites do NOT include the mealtime drink package, at least not as part of the Seaside deal they've had forever. Balcony does. It's almost like someone thought that suites had free drinks included so they didn't need to give you the drink package.

 

I booked a Fantastica Suite and I'm fine with the 12 drinks per person. The mealtime package would be pretty useless for us.

Actually, MisterBill, our Fantastica Suite DOES include the mealtime drink package. My TA sent over all the paperwork when I asked him why if we booked a Fantastica suite with the Fantastica exp. did my online account indicate a Wellness exp and Mealtime drink package.

He sent over six pages of detailed paperwork from MSC, and it's right there in black and white. I really think someone goofed at MSC because my 14-yr-old daughter has both the non-alcoholic and alcoholic mealtime drink package listed under her name, too.

My TA called MSC and they told him, well she will have to decide if she wants the Fantastica or Wellness exp. But, yes, we definitely have the Mealtime drink package, which is also pretty useless to us.

Imagine if it were a fasting blood test! :eek:

Ha! The sheer horror!!

I haven't sailed with MSC yet (Seaside in January, 2018)!, but something I've gleaned from my research is how low the prices are in generally for everything in comparison to other US based mainstream lines. Not just cruise fares, but cocktails, specialty restaurants, spa treatments, shopping, etc - the prices I've seen via pictures from reviews are considerably less than most other lines. Perhaps they are slowly going to raise prices and/or remove options to come more in line with their competitors? I agree that removing the 18 pack vouchers is a dissapoiment...it did seem like an excellent value for those whose comnsumption level made the all inclusive package a waste of $.

I just looked quickly at spa prices yesterday, and I agree. I couldn't believe how much lower they were than other cruises we've taken. Hoping the drink prices are in line. I wouldn't doubt they'll start to raise prices once they are more established in the market. I did see somewhere where 18 vouchers were $89 when they were available. I would've taken that in a minute.

I booked a Wellness Grand Suite for my Seaside cruise next November. I am not a gym rat, and I chose this cabin because I needed the extra space but doesn't want to spend the extra money on an Aurea GS (no one in my family drinks expect my wife). My guess is MSC will eventually convert the 2 Wellness GS into Aurea GS so they can make more money.

Yes, the Wellness experience must be a bust. Like I said, we booked a Fantastica suite with matching experience. I can't figure out why we were then just given a Wellness experience, but I guess I'll take it. I like the healthy eating options and MY CHOICE dining. I don't like not getting my 12 drink vouchers. Oh, and although I like to go to the gym, I sure as heck won't be going for any dr. check-up onboard. I do that when needed at home, and I can think of better ways to spend a cruise than in a dr.'s office having blood drawn.

Most excursions leave soon after the ship docks:

 

1. To maximise use of a full day tour - especially if the main tourist sites are a good distance away. E.g. we did a tour where it took 5 hours to return to the ship!
   
2. For half-day tours, it gives people the opportunity to get back to have lunch onboard and/or explore the port/town.
   

We have always been able to find tours around 10 a.m. or later on our other cruises, which is much better for us than 8 a.m. I realize that might limit us to shorter tours, which I'm fine with, I just would like to know what time I'm leaving before I decide to book. I'll never get my teenage daughter up for 8 a.m. And my hubby will never get me up that early either :')

I'm just stumped as to why MSC can't have times up when we're booking, never encountered this before and we've cruised with four other lines.

From my MSC experience which is substantial, if the ship is scheduled to dock at 8.00, the meeting point times (usually in the theatre) for the morning excursions will be 8.00 or 8.30. The buses will already be lined up and ready to go. If the ship will be in port all day, there may be afternoon excursions as well.

 

To be fair with MSC, it's usually the local tour operators that establish excursion start times based on their knowledge of how long it takes to adequately conduct individual excursions considering known traffic patterns, site opening times, etc.

Thanks for the info, Charles. I realize local tour operators set the times, my complaint is not being able to see the time we leave prior to booking. We are usually able to find a good selection of tours that leave around 10 a.m., which is more to our liking, but with MSC I have no idea when I'm looking at the site.

Not surprised at all.

By the upgrades or the screw-ups?

MSC says drinks are supposed to be consumed in the dining room or buffet, but I doubt anyone is going to grab you and stop you from walking out with a drink. If they try with me, I'll out run them!

Not sure about prices, I'd like to know that too.

especially in lower class cabins. ... :o

 

This is not Cunard ... Ate.

And especially for moderate drinkers. I'd buy the vouchers but don't drink enough to justify the AI package.;p

I agree with you. I don't like to book excursions when I don't know the time for them but on MSC it seems to be impossible to find out before booking. Maybe they can help you if you wait until you are onboard.

I'm not cruising until March, but I will see and report back. I might book the one excursion we really want, and then cancel if I find out it's too early. But again, if you don't find out until the night before is it too late to cancel?

I canceled an excursion the night before on NCL due to a bad weather forecast, but not sure of MSC's policy.

The show times for the day's excursions you won't get until the daily bulletin is distributed the evening before.

Thank you. That is insane! To not know if you're leaving at 8 a.m. or 2 p.m. until the night before?

I guess I'll just wait until we get onboard and see if the excursion desk has the times.

I'm new to cruising on MSC. We've cruised many other lines and when I look at shore excursions through my account, there's always a drop-down menu where you can see times.

But, when I look on MSC, also through my account, there are no times anywhere that I can find.

Does anyone know if they're there? We are NOT morning people, and I don't want to book an excursion and then find out it leaves at 8 a.m.

My cousin booked a Fantastica Oceanview but was upgraded to bella Balcony. Bella Balcony cabin locations are not as desirable as say, Fantastica Balcony. He did keep the Fantastica experience, just as Bea stated. In your case, you get a better balcony location but will get the Bella experience instead of Wellness.

So then why was she given the Wellness questionnaire? That would indicate she's getting the Wellness experience.

And why, if I booked a Fantastica suite/experience, does my reservation say Wellness experience? I've also received the questionnaire.

I realize these are questions that may not have an answer...but I'm stumped.

Well, it's funny you mention this, because I had an odd experience with the booking I made this weekend.

Booked a Seaside Fantastica suite, and my TA indicated this (obviously) included Fantastica experience. Got my paperwork and it says I have a Fantastica Suite with a Wellness Experience!?!?

Price we paid was in-line with Fantastica, not Wellness, which was going for $800 more than what we paid. TA called MSC today to see what was happening, and they told him I'd have to choose which experience I want between the two.

I might start a new thread to see if anyone else has had this happen, but now I'm wondering if they threw the Wellness exp. on because no one was getting it? Not sure which I'll take, but might stick with Wellness so we can have My Choice Dining and the healthy eating options, which we'd definitely enjoy (we still get mealtime drinks, although that's not as good as the 12 vouchers).

One more question: Can I add on the soda package at the port check-in desk, and, if so, would that come off my OBC?

It's easier than you think. Can use it on drink taxes in port, anything excluded by UBP (tastings, bottles of wine, drink amounts over $15, specialty coffee, bottled water), spa treatments, and anything leftover you can buy yourself something from the shops or play bingo.

 

 

 

I agree! I won't have any trouble spending it and I love to shop. If there's a big chunk left towards Day 6, spa, here I come!

well..

non refundable OBC can be retrieved through casino for small %%.

And cash can be used for anything :)

SunnyKitty, how would I go about doing this? I don't usually gamble in the casinos. Would I put it on a casino card, play a small amount, then cash out?

thanks everyone! We have pre-paid gratuities, so I will just wait and get on the ship to order.

I can only answer the boarding time question. The times are not enforced, we always just arrive whenever we want. Never had a problem.