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cublet

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Posts posted by cublet

    Is a 15% gratuity added to drinks on U.K. Sailings?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    On 5/7/2024 at 8:43 AM, Mark_T said:

    ... because for cruises that have the UK as their home port it is not legal to add a mandatory gratuity to the bar prices, so most lines use different prices for those cruises which already include the 15% and adjust package inclusions accordingly.<snip>

     

    </snip>

    Hello,

     

    I've been trying to convince RCI of this for months but the pond life that, post covid, have replaced those that knew/understood (and been let go), will not have it. 😢

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    Purchase of Wine at Cruise Stop

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Hello,

     

    It was quite a few years ago on Constellation but I did an 'Extensive Wine and Food' cruise to France and Spain. The menus on board were supposed to be indicative of our ports of call.

     

    It was officially stated by X that we could bring on-board wine from our various ports of call.

     

    Whilst I have many France and Spain cruises under my belt, none since have been called the above.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

     

     

    MSC Euribia Flaam arrival time 8AM accurate?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    52 minutes ago, Nikita4 said:

    There is no priority with Diamond on normal port days. YC can go out first, but its to early to catch the train.

    Hello,

     

    Agreed - Diamond Priority Disembarkation is only at the end of the cruise.

     

    If the ship arrives at 08:00 I very much doubt if Yacht Club priority disembarkation will do you much good either.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    MSC Euribia Flaam arrival time 8AM accurate?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    Hello,

     

    Yes, the train station is very close to the berth.

     

    I don't want to put a downer on your plans, but whilst the ship may arrive at 08:00, it has to be 'cleared' by the local authorities before anyone can disembark. The answer to how long that takes is 'how long is a piece of string?'. Not only that but, especially given the location, there might be a couple of thousand people wanting to do the same.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    • Like 2

    First cruise - questions about dining in the MDR

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    12 hours ago, MeTarzanYouJane said:

    My partner and I have just booked our first ever cruise, on the MSC Virtuosa, and having browsed various parts of this forum I have questions about eating in the MDR. I understand that we may well not be on a table for 2, rather we could be on a table for 4,6 or 8. We're both introverts so it's not ideal for us to be on a shared table trying to chat to the others, but we will manage. Go and see the Maitre d' in either Blue Danube (deck 5) or Minuetto (deck 6) ASAP and he will do his best to accommodate you.

     

    However I've been reading about general etiquette in cruise MDRs and have questions please! 

    Have i understood correctly that they won't start serving until all people at the table have arrived? So you are treated like a group of friends at a restaurant would be? Correct

     

    I read somewhere that it is etiquette to take turns buying a bottle of wine for the table each evening - I assume/hope we can opt out of this and just order our own non alcoholic drink, or single glass of wine? Never heard of that one before - probably started by someone that wanted somebody else to buy the drink!

     

    Apparently if we won't be eating in the MDR the next evening we must [must, no - should yes for the reason stated above] let our table mates know so they aren't waiting for us to arrive, but what if we don't know at that point that we won't be there the next day? What if we decide during the day that we'll eat at the buffet that evening? From watching cruise vlogs I had the impression that people happily move between eating at the MDR and buffet on different nights, making the decision on the day about where to eat, but it now seems you need to know in advance so you can tell your table? No, don't worry about it just do it. After about 15 minutes the waiter will have stopped waiting and take the orders from whoever's there.

     

    Are there shared tables for breakfast and lunch? And if so do you get given a fixed time to arrive and have the same rule about waiting for all the table to arrive before any orders are taken? Breakfast and lunch are open seating (a free-for-all) and you will most probably be at a table for 2 anyway.

     

    Thank you so much for any answers, and apologies if they are very basic questions! 

    Hello,

     

    See above in BLUE.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    • Thanks 1

    Grand Suite Anthem of Seas

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Chan50 said:

    Perfect, thank you for such a prompt response.

     

    Is soft drink and water available in the lounge through the day with the tea and coffee?

     

     

     

    Thank you

     

     

    Hello,

     

    No soft drinks. Water may be available from a glass water dispenser - but a great emphasis on the word 'may' as one is not regularly there.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    Grand Suite Anthem of Seas

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Hello,

     

    In the Concierge Club/Suite Lounge, tea and coffee are available throughout the day, temperament of the coffee machine permitting. Drinks are usually served from 17:00 - 20:00. The 20:00 is more 'fixed' than the 17:00 - if they are ready earlier then they will serve earlier. Suite grade doesn't come with a drinks package so you can't drink anywhere else 'on the house' (unless you are going to a 'presentation' and some cheap swill is offered to you as you enter).

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    Morning Coffee on Virtuosa

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    13 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

    Every bar can make cappucinos and lattes. There are espresso machines and coffee grinders at every bar on MSC.

    Hello,

     

    Not quite every - The Champagne Bar has no coffee machine but I did spot a jar of Nescafe instant coffee.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    • Haha 2

    MSC Virtuosa Mini Cruise

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted · Edited by cublet
    time of day

    Hello,

     

    You have to pay for WiFi but you can be assured you will receive umpteen fliers trying to persuade to buy a mini package. But you will probably be within range of a land transmitter for most of the daylight hours.

     

    If you do want to purchase on board then head for 'The Hub' on deck 6 at the Photo Gallery on the port side.

     

    Re alternative food venue: The Champagne Bar, deck starboard side, from 5.30pm has offers including oysters and other seafood delicacies (on longer cruises anyway) along with Champagne pairings (Lanson Black Label included in P+ package).

     

    A word of warning: The drinks' T&Cs currently say you only have to pay the excess cost on any drink you buy over over the level included in your package. However on Euribia earlier this month they were charging the whole whack. Whether the website T&Cs are out of date(*) or the ship was 'going native' I don't know but check before you order.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    (*): The current Bar Manager on Virtuosa is ex Royal Caribbean who are past masters in not keeping their website up to date.

    MSC Virtuosa Mini Cruise

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    Hello,

     

    From the T&Cs:

     

    Availability of Drink packages and prices may vary per sailing. Packages are sold on a per cruise basis and not a per day or any other basis. Pricing applies to each day of the cruise, except for disembarkation day.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

    MSC Virtuosa Mini Cruise

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    Hello,

     

    You can use the drinks package as soon as you are on board. You CANNOT use it on departure day. The Buffet will be open when you arrive - it is usually open most of the day (0630 onwards under a number of headings). The Buffet's 'coffee stations' are open 24 hours, whether they put out light nibbles at night I've never been to find out. Snacks and pastries are available around the ship from the various bars and lounges throughout the day eg Carousel Lounge, Atmosphere Bar, Sky Lounge and Infinity Bar. A daily paper will tell you what's open and when. You have to walk through the Casino to get to the Carousel lounge.

     

    You cannot use your drinks package for stuff in your mini bar or Jean-Philipe venues or the 'Starship' Bar - though this may be changed through lack of interest.

     

    See the maître d'hôtel in either Minuetto or Blue Danube on arrival to re-arrange dining sittings.

     

    'Self Assist' is towards the beginning of the departure process, after which it's done by grade of cabin, loyalty status and deck number.

     

    There are only two levels of dress - Casual and 'Chic'.

     

    Two nights aren't enough to get the most out of this - there are benefits to booking a cruise on board if you decide you like it. When looking forwards at Guest Services on deck 5, the Next Cruise office is on the left.

     

    Regards,

     

    Cublet

     

     

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