iloveglee

Mark T. I'm not entirely sure what manner of trip this is. The cruise agent were selling a cruise, with a flight, which is a plane that is chartered by MSC and is a BA flight. They also include free parking at Gatwick. So I don't know how this will work, never having been on this type of trip before. Emmas Gran thanks for this. The cruise club did warn us that the details are subject to change. I'd have no problem if they changed us from gatwick to heathrow, as that is a slightly shorter journey from our home. I doubt this will happen though, although the times might be subject to change. We have booked a hotel for the night before so that wouldn't be a problem. This package also includes free car parking. We know where the car park is they have allocated as we have parked there before in the past, so if that doesn't change we'll be happy with that. They did tell me that on the date of departure, msc give you the departure time, probably the day before, but that they transport the whole plane load to the airport at the same time. So no wonder the bag check in is challenging. They're not able to tell us how long the cruise line will allow us to stay on board, as we dock at 7 am and don't fly until 8 pm. So that in itself could be challenging. We are considering booking the lounge at the airport, and will have to think of something so that myself and one of the others in the group won't have to stand in line for a long time to check in the bags. I have looked into assistance at the airport, but normally this is airside. We rarely travel with checked bags these days, last time we did it was on a package holiday, but the party being deposited at the airport consisted of only one coach of about 50 people. Not a whole planeload!! I am very open to any and all comments anyone wants to make about this. Very grateful for them actually. Knowledge is power as they say.

I went back to the cruise agent, and indeed they had given me incorrect times for the return flight. plus i hadn't realised that barbados don't change their clocks, so by the time we go the time difference will only be 4 hours not 5. so that issue solved!! The issue about what the cruise line does with a plane load of passengers, after docking at 7 am, and the return flight being 13 hours later they don't seem to be able to tell me. From what has been said already on here, it seems they may keep passengers onboard for longer than usual. Then, apparently they transport them all, wholesale, to the airport. So the bag check being like a scrum seems very likely. I am given the impression that the staffing of a charter flight applies only to onboard, and not ground staff. So it won't be BA staff doing the check in. I think it's likely to be a 777, with a 3/4/3 configuration, rather than what we have experienced before on a scheduled flight, a 3/3/3, so a bit squashed. We are 4 travelling together so hopefully they'll put us together but 4 in a row is definitely a squeeze. We have no choice about that though, so will have to just suck it up. Booking a package longhaul is not something we have ever done, cyprus was the longest flight we ever did in this kind of situation. The deal with so good though, it seemed a shame to pass it up and go independently. Let's hope it hasn't turned out to be too good to be true.

Mark T. Thanks for the info. It’s kind of what I thought but explained it clearly. Bgwest. This cruise we booked through a cruise travel agent. It’s an exceptional deal, cruise, flight, airport parking, transportation, for little more than cruise only on Msc’s website. It doesn’t explain why outbound takes an hour more than the scheduled flight, inbound 2 hours more. I think they may have given me incorrect flight times. I wanted to check for myself due to its being a charter so not showing in the regular schedule. I’m going to check back with the agent.

Mark-T. Thanks for the response. I’m not sure what it means though. What is an ETOPS rating?

Thanks Emma’s gran for the info. It’s really useful and much appreciated. I believe virgin is a better airline than BA generally. I think the plane may be a 777 which are quite old planes. I’m bemused still why it takes longer than the scheduled one, unless they have to go the polar route, which we have experienced travelling to florida. Something about never being too far from land. I was assuming the actual cruise would be pretty busy but we do at least have a balcony to get away from things. It’s definitely the flight aspect that seems challenging. We May certainly have to consider upgrading if we can do it at this stage.

Emmas Gran - there's a bit more information I'd like if you can provide it and don't mind. Was the plane used a wide body jet with two aisles. What was the seat configuration 3/3/3 or 3/4/3. And how was the leg room. We have flown many times to Florida with BA, although scheduled not charter and the space was always very good, but this is quite a long time ago, and things have changed a lot, especially since covid. This is information I would have liked to have before we took the plunge and booked, I did put a query on Trip Advisor in the Cruises threads but didn't get a response. I should have thought to ask on here where there are more people likely to know. We did contemplate upgrading to premium economy, but it was an extra £600 per person, and I had no idea whether you'd get the same amount of space as you would on a scheduled flight. I do know for sure that no matter what type of place you fly on, they have the facility to get in extra rows and and extra seat across the width of the plane so as to squeeze in more people. I am really hoping we didn't make a mistake booking this before we were fully aware of all the snags there might be. When we were younger we'd have taken any kind of flight, in fact we have taken many flights where we were squeezed in like sardines, but when you're younger you don't have the creaky joints that you have as you get older. Last question, was the trip worth it.

They don’t only kick you off in US ports. We were kicked off two ncl cruises, once in Athens and in Trieste. Way before we wanted to leave. And on a costa cruise in tarragona we hung around for ages as we had a late flight. When they realised we hadn’t got off they put an announcement out for us and sent people to find us

We only just got our flight details. We’re under the impression it’s a direct flight. They could change though, it’s a while to end November. seems as though the airport experience is going to be challenging. Although lately when hasn’t it been. I think we might look into assistance at the airport. My friend is not able to walk quickly if it becomes necessary, along with us not being able to stand for long.

It did occur to me that possibly they’d not enforce embarkation early on passengers who would have hours to wait at the airport. It also occurred that checking bags in might be a nightmare. This is something we’re going to have to think about as neither myself nor one of the friends I’m travelling with are able to stand for any length of time. We have just been given our flight times. The flight length is considerably longer than the equivalent scheduled flight. Why would this be does anyone know. It’s the same distance whether scheduled or charter.

Thanks that’s useful to know. We’re sailing from Barbados but won’t have chance to see much of it as we go straight to the ship from the airport. A tour might be the answer, I’ll look into it.

We’ve booked a cruise flight package on msc seaside to Caribbean. I’m interested to hear from anyone who has been on one of these. Flying on BA charter from Gatwick. particularly interested to know how long you have to spend at the airport for the flight home, considering that cruises tend to dock early and flight home is likely to be late afternoon.

I have just upgrade to a club balcony suite from an inside cabin, there are four of us, all adults. Set aside the space issue 4 adults etc, this is not the issue for us, we have travelled in RV's before all together. In the UK. Where it rains and you have to be inside it much of the time. The inside has two single beds, and two pull down pullman beds. We've had this configuration before for four and found it OK. Manageable at least. I am beginning to panic now because of posts I have read elsewhere about the additional beds. Some say it's a sofa bed but is very uncomfortable. Some say it's a a sofa where the back cushion is removed to allow the width of a bed, and has a pullman also. On the photos, it looks like a decent size sofa, which I assumed pulled out into a sofa bed, but others say no it doesn't pull out and the cabin steward doesn't do it as they don't have evening service. I do hope I haven't made a mistake, and any insights from anyone who has a cabin of this type on this ship would be appreciated. Photos would be lovely if anyone has any.

Has anyone experienced a BA charter flight on a MSC package to the Caribbean. We have booked a 2 week cruise from Barbados on a package holiday using a charter flight. We’re not too sure what to expect of the flight. Is this the same experience that we’d get on a scheduled BA flight.

I wonder if anyone can provide me with the most up to date drink menu containing the prices, for the european market. I can find them online, but all of them in US dollars. I am wanting to look at the prices before I work out whether the free at sea offer is worth it. We hardly drink alcohol at all, and although the speciality restaurant looks nice, on a 5 day port intensive cruise, we could live without it. Speciality coffees are not included and these are what I like to drink mostly. Thanks in advance.

Can anyone please clarify for me exactly how you go about getting denied boarding due to your having been in close contact with a person with covid. The terms and conditions on ncl are fuzzy to say the least. On the terms and conditions, if you have had close contact with a person with covid, you will be denied boarding. The person with covid, and cabin companion can cancel. But, what are the fellow travellers, who have had close contact with you supposed to do. Go to the port, possibly incubating covid, for them to say you cannot get on. It seems that situation is not covered by cancellation, which the person with covid is. I have been on live chat, spoken to a cruise consultant, and obviously all they can tell me is what I can read for myself. Further than that they have no clue. Fine, to tell you what your responsibilities are relating to covid, but no clue whatsoever as to how to go about this. We are travelling as a group of 4, in 2 cabins, one of whom has developed some symptoms which could be covid, may not be, but I am wanting to get myself prepared for him to get a positive test. We have all been in close contact with one another over the past week or so, in which case the terms and conditions suggest we will be denied boarding. We are all booked to fly to athens on the same flight booking, and travel to the airport on the same train booking. By the time we have our result, the phone line which is office hours will be closed. So then what. I'd really love to hear from anyone who has actually been in this situation, and how they dealt with it. I cannot believe that this has not happened to quite a few people. Should say we are sailing from Athens, who do still require testing to be done.

Yes indeed the website does say that, so what this reviewer was on about I don't know. I have managed to find some information relating to Greece, relating to masks and they are only required on local public transport, taxis, and inside on the ferries. They are not required on any kind of transport where you have a numbered seat, intercity trains, planes etc. And yes, I have stressed, on any forum I can find, please please make sure you know the testing requirements for Greece, and understand what fully vaccinated means. Even now, there are people who think that fully vaccinated means your primary course. Which in some countries it probably does. Not in Greece!! Or Spain either.

Would like to hear from anyone who has sailed on the Jade on their Greek Islands cruise, since the beginning of August this year. I was under the impression that mandatory mask wearing had been removed from all of ncl's sailings. I have read a review of this cruise, apparently taken in early august, that says masks were mandatory in all public spaces, including the theatre. having looked at ncl's website, sail safe section, it does state that mask wearing is not mandatory on any sailing. the latest update was dated 8th august, and of course prior to that it may have been different. I did think though that mask wearing had been removed by the majority of countries before early august.

Useful information. I think we can work with that for now.

Is anyone able to supply me with a) the drink package prices and b) a menu of drink prices. (MSC), I hope this post has gone onto the MSC specific section as I intended. I am looking to book a cruise with them, and I object strongly to not knowing how much it's going to cost me before I book. Booking then being able to see the prices isn't really good enough, when you are not able to cancel without penalty if you think it's going to be too expensive. We have cruised with many different lines, and I have never seen this before, always you know in advance of booking how much the add ons were going to be. It would be easy to think, don't cruise with them. They're not, admittedly my first choice, but they are the only line that sails from the port we want to sail from, at the time of year we want to travel.

Just read this update earlier in the day. So far so confused. For Greek departures. They have been more particular than other european ports for some time, both in terms of actually requiring a test anyway, but also the type of test. Must be administered by a third person etc, supervised self tests not accepted. They recently changed the timing prior to the cruise, and have again, so that you can get either type of test 72 hours before. Which is madness when you think of it. Why bother when you can test negative, and then in the intervening 3 days pick up covid and take it right onto the ship!! It's the type of test that there are no details. The requirement for it to be administered by a third person has gone, but what in its place? A supervised test in person, online, or what. Or just any old test you can buy from the chemist and do for yourself. These were being accepted for travel to the UK a while ago, but were obviously open to fraudulently using someone else's if yours turned out to be positive. Apparently this is from 3rd September. We sail on 10th and have a third party test booked, but could do without the hassle of having to go to a clinic for this if we can avoid it. But in the absence of any other detail, perhaps I should leave it where it is. For the moment anyway. No doubt this question will be asked and norwegian may find out more comprehensive information.

Yes I imagine it’s easy and straightforward unless you are one of the unfortunate ones now in an isolation hotel at their own expense. I’ve been communicating with one of these people and am told the hotel is 250 euros per night. No choice of hotel, just transported to the one where ncl have allocated rooms. I can’t imagine anything worse and having to find upwards of €1000 for the privilege. At least if you test positive before you leave home you can stay there.

I was under the impression that the drinks thing related to the gem due to a licence issue that hadn’t been sorted. But is now all ok. So many different interpretations of all this. between that and this total dogs breakfast of testing I really wish we hadn’t booked. Our cruise consultant said the only test we needed to do was the 3 days before one. Had I known that greece had a much stricter policy in place I’d have thought twice. too late now and all I can do is hope for the best. Covid is so rife its possible a significant number trying to board get denied.

I can't keep up with this. When we booked our cruise, via a cruise consultant, we asked what the testing requirements were. She told us a test within 3 days of embarkation for europe. I asked if that was it, and she said it was. Fair enough, as far as ncl are concerned it is. Then from various sources I discovered that greek ports required a test at the port. Which made me wonder why bother with the one 3 days before. We don't need it to actually get into Greece. Then, having taken another look at the ncl website, as I do pretty much weekly now, I discovered that the link to specific requirements for different countries, greece did indeed require a test at the port. Then greece scrapped all requirements, at least for entry into the country, and that specific country rule disappeared from the ncl website. Not immediately, after a week or so. Up to the latest update, when greece now apparently want a test within 24 hours prior to embarkation. Which again, makes me wonder why bothering with (and paying for), the one within 3 days. Fortunately for us, we are not cruising just yet, so I am hoping that things will change, for the better before then. I imagine all cruise lines will want to see a negative test at some stage before embarkation but I just wish greece could make its mind up what it does want and stick to it for more than a couple of weeks!! I imagine, though that ncl's requirement no more than 3 days before embarkation means that one taken 1 day before would do. Which, fortunately for us, we could do as we don't leave the UK until 8pm the night before we sail. Cancellations and delays excepted of course, but that's another issue............

Does anyone have any up to date information about the covid tests required at piraeus. The ncl website is pretty clear, test required within 3 days of embarkation. The link then to country specific requirements doesn't show anything extra for greece. I know that greece has suspended all of its covid regulations for entry, no tests, not even evidence of vaccination. I am reading various posts on a different platform that ncl are still requiring a covid test to be done at the port, and that greece is requiring a test the day before embarkation. I can't find anything official online about this at all. If there is anyone who has sailed in the past week or so from piraeus, is this happening. It seems to make no sense to me to do a test 2 or 3 days before and then have to do another one at the port. Up to a couple of weeks ago, the ncl website did link to specific requirements for piraeus, which was a test at the port. That has now disappeared from their website. We have already booked our test for the friday as we sail on the sunday, we are flying to athens on the saturday. If this is the case, I am wondering whether to cancel this, and wait until we arrive in athens and do one at the airport. The more I read about all this, the more confused I become

I think the issue with greece was that the requirements to enter the country were suspended from early May. This extra requirement for a test at the port didn’t filter through, whether it was to the port authorities or cruise lines not sure. It kind of seemed odd that ncl were showing this on their website, even after may updates. Cruise lines can have their own requirements so long as they are as good as, or better than a country’s. I don’t see cruise lines dropping testing any time soon. The value of antigen tests is uncertain due to their false negative rate. As far as Greece is concerned, their rules aren’t scrapped, only suspended. They’re to consider it again in September. When things could be better. Or worse!! Who knows.