firstcarib

 

 

 

Very well stated LAM,

 

I believe in rewarding excellence and I will continue to tip beyond the DSC whenever I feel it is well deserved. The people who advocate that the DSC should be included in the cruise fare do not realize that policy will lead to mediocrity...and we have enough of that in he world today. Again I repeat, the reward system at sea has been around for hundreds of years. It might not be the best system...but it works and nobody has come up with anything better.

 

 

 

Including the gratuity (or service charge??) certainly does not lead to mediocrity...try sailing with the likes of Silversea or Crystal! Certainly the 6* cruise lines have come up with something better, & their service was exemplary. Yes they are top end prices, but when you factor in the drinks, possibly the

excursions & the dreaded gratuities , then actually they come out pretty darned good. Even ncl & p &o & marella , not top end lines, have now added in the gratuities to final pricing. Enforced Tipping is Archaic. Voluntary tipping is a great idea.

 

 

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What is included at Venchi if you have the Deluxe Beverage package? What is NOT included at Venchi with the Deluxe Beverage package?

 

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Is anything at all included at Venchi with the Classic package? Where do we get the cappuccinos & espressos if we just have this package?

I am still thinking of upgrading to Deluxe, if only to get real champagne!

I know the Grandes Marques Champers are not inc in any package but the $13 per glass Nicolas Feuillatte will do us fine, it's one we often buy & enjoy in France.

Best of luck! Stuart Chalmers usually responds to emails at that address and I've always found him very reliable.

Finally the phone was answered - but I was told I had to request this upgrade on drinks packages through my travel agent. Hey ho, wish Id done that first as I have just wasted 20 mins of my life on the phone to MSC in UK.

But...On a previous RCCL cruise I asked my t/a to book me a drinks package ( as I saw on my RCCL planner there was an offer on) & she told me she couldn't and I had to book it on-line myself on my planner.

Guess what...the web site crashed each time I tried, so eventually I had to call RCCL direct & they added it over the phone.

Sometimes I just think cruise companies deliberately try to make my life difficult...I think I need a holiday;p;);)

Ta Bea...just lost the will to live waiting on hold to UK office, so I will try the enail address you have. Thanks

Really sorry if I'm being a bit dense here, but how do I upgrade our drinks package? We have the Classic package, as it was included in our Fantastica booking on Divina over Christmas & New Year, made in UK.

If I look on my personalizer it just offers me the opportunity to purchase either package from " scratch"-as if I have no package at all, despite all my info showing the Classic is already added. Thanks.

No, it would not be helpful for me, it would only be helpful for you as it would just save you from the time and effort of locating the information yourself.

 

 

 

Nobody spoon fed me, and nobody should spoon feed you either. As an adult, I see the two different terms used. I realize there must be a business or legal reason to use two terms instead of just one (which would seem to be easier). I took it upon myself to research and LEARN the difference. Once I understood, then I was able to see the issue in a whole new light from an informed perspective. I had the information, I wasn't guessing or relying on the guesses of others.

 

 

 

I think you (and everyone else) should do the same. Or not. It is up to you on whether you want to know, or if you want to be ignorant on the relevant facts.

 

 

 

Perhaps if you had done the research, you would be able to comment from an informed perspective instead of just trying to be snarky.

You sound a rather rude aggressive poster! Perhaps this is reflected in your name of SeaSHARK. No need for snarkiness or even sharkiness from anyone on this forum, its meant to be a source of sharing information & communication.

I am with the majority of Aussies & Brits on this " gratuity/service charge" issue. I will pay my way, but I really believe that the cruise ship companies should pay their crew-all of them-a decent hourly rate as a living wage, as is done by law for workers in countries like Australia & Britain. Hopefully if this was done then the old thorny question should be put to bed. It's archaic anyway...

Yes, the bottom line price for a cruise would rise, but when you add in the " gratuities/service charges" on the lower end cruise lines, plus the extras such as drinks etc, you would probably be just as well to book with one of the 6* lines where all is included. One presumes their staff are paid a better rate.

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Hi everyone, we are looking for some advice here, as we are newbies on MSC.

We booked a transatlantic to NYC in Sept 2019, joining the ship in Southampton England. We have now also just booked another cruise ..on the same ship....leaving NYC on the same day we arrive there, going on to Quebec/Canada as we have always wanted to see this part of Canada. We have a Fantastica deal balcony on deck 11 when sailing over The Pond, but the Aurea deal was good as it was on the Voyages offer, so we will be on deck 13 for the Canadian part of our trip. Therefore we will have to change cabins. Anyone know how much bother this causes? Do we pack & have to lug off all our " stuff" & re-embark as if it was 2 separate cruises, or can we get the ship staff to move our cases to our new cabin? Our first USA port of call from the transatlantic will be New York, so we do realise we will have to clear Immigration etc, its just the luggage/cabin change query I need to find out about.

There was a little white fluffy dog sitting on a banquette in the SL on Oasis last week.

OMG! I would have thrown a fit if I had seen that:mad:

Hopefully on my next cruise there will be a serious absence of anything Fluffy. It's a transatlantic from UK to Boston, NYC then FL & I really hope the quarantine laws will ensure a total lack of Fluffiness on board.

You have the pay the full price - plus 15% service charge.

 

It depends on the region you'll be sailing as to what wines will be on offer. There is a better selection when sailing from the US than there is on a Med cruise.

Thanks, that really seems most unfair! Looks like I will "Learn to Love Plonk" then, or "Cocktails of the Day", or ......anything at all that is on the Classic list.:champagne-toast::tropical-drink::cocktail::wine-glass:

$364 for 2 for the week if done in advance. We did it for our sailing (tomorrow!); I'll report back

Hi ...I don't think we really want to upgrade our whole Classic package for our 2 week Divina cruise, but can anyone tell me what wines by the glass are inc in the Classic package please. If there is a particular wine I like that is priced at over the $7.50( is that the benchmark for Classic?) then can I pay the extra difference for that one glass, or do I get charged the whole amount? Thanks

Don't give Little Fluffy's owners any ideas of excuses for why they brought her onboard.

See the Chair Hog/ Chair Dog post in the Chair Hog thread! 😝😜 Is this the same Fluffy? Bet she/he is Diamond plus by now😝

Too bad all you are basing your decision on only the drink package. So much more to a Royal cruise to consider. Have done both NCL & RCCl. NCL would have to be free before I chose over RCCL any destination any ship. No comparison!

It would be helpful to know why you feel this way? Was it just one bad ncl cruise? I've sailed with both several times & think they are equally good & bad in parts, but if I was offered a free ncl cruise or asked to pay for rccl I would choose ncl in a heartbeat!

Do you know how long it takes to get from terminal 1 to terminal 2 please

 

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Would suggest you give yourself at least 30 mins to travel from T1 to T2...all depends on getting a shuttle bus quickly or having to wait for one.

Thanks for all of your responses! I'm just looking for good brewed coffee to go with my dessert in the MDR. :D:D Would only consider the coffee card if coffee made from syrup is served.

Coffee in MDR & Jammer is vile, viler than vile. Like watery brown gravy, no coffee taste at all. Really confused as to what " coffee made from syrup " is??? 😱😱😷Coffee comes from coffee beans, syrup comes from sugar😜

Aren't the gratuities part of the advertised price on the UK site? The $39/day US price is really $39/day + 18%, or $46.02/day. £37.13 is roughly $47.97 at today's exchange rate, for comparison purposes.

Yep...the price you see on the UK site is the price you pay, the gratuities are part of the price. And so they should be, IMHO😜

Seen on UK site...Navigator transatlantic Southampton to Miami...5th Nov. Basic alcoholic drinks package just come down in price a little from £41.95 pp per day to £37.13. Also a drinks package with Voom is a bit cheaper than it was last week. Not as good perhaps as other posts on the US site....but....Every little helps.

Your welcome, we have used this service a few times, would use them again if needed.

Yes, we've used this service too & all was fine ...but PLEASE do take note they only deliver your bags to T1 of the airport ...so if you are flying from T2 ( as many UK flights like Easyjet do) then you must allow quite a bit of extra time to pick up your bags from deep down in the bowels of T1 & then get back up to ground level to get the shuttle bus between the 2 terminals!

Your welcome, we have used this service a few times, would use them again if needed.

Yes, we've used this service too & all was fine ...but PLEASE do take note they only deliver your bags to T1 of the airport ...so if you are flying from T2 ( as many UK flights like Easyjet do) then you must allow quite a bit of extra time to pick up your bags from deep down in the bowels of T1 & then get back up to ground level to get the shuttle bus between the 2 terminals!

Is it permissible to combine the words 'British' and 'Cuisine'?

Before you make me rather cross, may I respectfully ask all of our Canadian & American " cousins". ...have you actually been here to Britain & tried our varied cuisine?

Nowadays we have some great restaurants with Michelin starred chefs plus many excellent gastro pubs...that's why the cruise lines are putting British food on their menus. The days of soggy cabbage & overcooked meat are long gone. Do come & judge for yourselves before making sweeping statements. Some of us Brits can actually cook quite well at home too...not just fry stuff up! Last time I was stateside I never found a meal with decent vegetables served as standard, just fries & more fries( or was this possibly the onset of poutine across the border?)

Anyone travel with box wine as there wine for a cruise?

 

Anyone spot any Sam's Octoberfest, maybe in an English pub! Sam's Larger for that matter![ATTACH]427521[/ATTACH]

 

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Why would Sams Octoberfest or Larger (sic)be in an English pub please. I am very worried if either ever cross The Pond;p

Is it permissible to combine the words 'British' and 'Cuisine'?

And this statement from a Canadian:eek:;p What is your national dish again...poutine??:'):');p Or from our friend across the pond, with the culinary delights of burgers & corndogs

I love the MDR sea day salads on RCCL ships, but dont like them to be "Chop chop"

On a recent short cruise on the revamped Indie there was the usual great choice( inc shrimp/prawns) plus hot cooked selections inc pasta, scallops, lobster & steak-Wow!!!

Not sure if this was because there were lots of travel agents onboard to check out the revamp but it was FAB

Its truly great that folks on here have been answering cabin questions for several years! Respect to you all! This will be our first time on any MSC ship & we have a Divina aft balcony 12260. It seems good, although I read that any deck 12 aft balcony is not as large as those on aft decks 11 & 10? Most folk say aft position is good, but is there going to be any issue with smoke, smuts or smell from the funnels please?

Do you pay VAT on cruise fares?

 

 

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Tax is included! We do not add taxes on afterwards, unlike the US. It always creases me when I see a product advertised for say 20$ in the USA & when I get to the cash till they tell me it’s more-cos of the state tax( & that varies enormously from state to state.)

The cruise price you see here in the UK is the price you pay👍( except for the gratuities & sometimes even they are included in the deal) No doubt there is VAT at our current rate of 20% but it is figured in the bottom line cost. No extra hidden things like port fees for us Brits either! All in!!

everyone speaks english in Europe. i would not concern yourself with a language barrier problem.

 

i agree wtih a PP, the son should disembark and fly back to meet his mom.

Everyone speaks English in Europe!!! Really!!!? If only that were true...but then, why should it be true? What a strange assumption! You must be American...although not everyone in America speaks English either, as I discovered in Florida recently...my Spanish came in very handy there😜

I feel deeply for anyone who is in a hospital where they dont understand the language. Yes, some doctors will speak English, but certainly not everyone. In a worryng scenario the lack of communication can make things seem much worse. This really underlines the importance of getting good travel insurance in addition to the basic EU reciprocal cover( EHIC/ E111) agreed between UK & Europe at present.

I'm sure our much maligned, fantastic but overstretched UK NHS will prove to be wonderful once the patient gets home & I wish you all the best & hope she recovers from this as quickly as possible.