tactic

Hi - let MSC know via email before you go of your plans and let the reception staff know, complete a break voyage form - no port fees etc refunded, and you will be told when and where to meet staff on day. We have done it many times, either immigration purser will travel with you on tender if a tender port or front desk staff will escort to gangway. No problem for us, we have had help with luggage etc. Can’t be faulted. Never done it in Le Havre but don’t worry they will take care of you.

We had duplex next door. Amazing views from the hot tub in that cabin but every time they wash windows on bridge the dirty water runs onto balcony, only downside

Right now first sitting is 5.45 and second sitting is 8.15pm in the mdr. Breakfast is from 6am - 11 in buffet and 7am - 9am in mdr and lunch in mdr 12-2pm. Aurea is any time dining.

In the daily program. We've had a production of the mask, Italian music, opera mini version, singing / dancing / jugglers. Keep an open mind and enjoy :) all shows about half hour

On preziosa right now :)

Galaxy - didn't impress us the other night- but that was us!

Eataly - great

Mdr - same menus as there has been for a while - starters, pasta / risotto, mains, dessert.

No idea about sun deck - we've not used a sun deck this cruise :)

Always taxis outside crowne plaza no need to book or anything just jump in one :)

Mixture of dress as always on msc as long as long trousers on men anything goes for formal night in mdr- the dress code is only a suggestion and I'm sorry if this upsets people but... each to their own I personally don't care what people wear and those who do it's their problem. We go on holiday to have a good time and relax so I'm sure you guys will too whatever you do.

Allegedly next cruise is like this one formal night are all seadays...

Seemingly there are over 500 Brits on next cruise I was telephoned the other day and asked for some feedback being British!!! - interesting bit of market research!!!!

Happy cruising - hope I managed to share and help you guys :)

Loads of choice! Get booked as a veggie it's not an issue :)

So here goes..... we got here about 1.30pm avoid queue at luggage drop (as black), priority boarding straight to front of queue, checked in, security and on the ship!!! They had started boarding at 12.30. Were very rigid with numbers for boarding. There is a shop and a cafe in Hamburg terminal. €25 for taxi from Crowne Plaza to ship.

They have no list for formal nights for next cruise yet. Hope this helps you guys!!!

Give me Chance to get on ship on Thursday and I will make it my business to ask for you. Btw the cruise starts in Hamburg we are jumping ship 2 days before the end on 1st in Southampton. So think it's fair to say there may well be a formal night - but will ask and let you know x

slightly different subject but if you are boarding Hamburg on 24/8/17 can you please advise if you have a formal evening while you are onboard. We booked a 3 night cruise embarking in Hamburg on 3rd September and have assumed that there will not be one as the official information says not - however, I found out after booking that we are joining part way through a 7 night cruise and usually the formal nights are on sea days so I'm now wondering if I need to pack a glitzy frock for Monday 4th - any info you can give will be greatly appreciated. I realise that Preziosa is not really doing a particular circuit at the moment (probably why we got such an amazing deal on 3 nights) :cool:

Absolutely - plus anything else just ask x

Thanks tactic, that is useful info (as is all information here). We are on the same ship and same port, so will be useful to know your experiences.

 

Oh dear I have obviously posted this question twice on different threads. That memory loss must be worse than I thought - perhaps I need a holiday :)

 

We are in an IHG hotel in Hamburg and can have a late checkout with them (if available) due to our loyalty club level, so may be able to stay in our room until about 2pm. Will be useful if it looks like we will not get on the ship much before our embarkation time of 15.45.

 

We embark on a Sunday, so the ferries will not be going across to near the Steinwerder Terminal, so seems we may need a taxi direct from our hotel, (or a bus, then a train to Veddel and a taxi from Veddel). So looks like it may be better to get a taxi straight from our hotel (the Crowne Plaza). Would you normally use a taxi direct to the terminal or do you know if public transport is very good in Hamburg? Taxi from Veddel would be a lot nearer than from the hotel and we will have very little luggage.

We staying in alster crowne plaza too.... we will just get a taxi from cp as much easier . Will keep you posted with what it's like, timings etc x

Tring just posted on other thread, will let you know next week x

Ps there is always somewhere to get something to eat when you get on no matter what time, buffet, pizza, room service etc...

Be careful..... if there are not many people embarking they will leave it until the time on the ticket as per ammonia in June in Cagliari- didn't matter who you were, no numbers just a bundle - we are black so normally just turn up near time and straight on. If there are a number of people embarking they do stick to the numbers they allocate on arrival ridigly. ( black card, Aurea and yacht club are not given regular numbers)

Saying that they do often board slightly earlier than published in major change over ports and give you a letter to say they are doing you a big favour and allowing you on early - nice touch to make you feel like you have got something special. If you are seated in a terminal they will board black, Aurea and yacht club first)

We are getting on preziosa on Thursday next week in Hamburg, will post and let you know situation in Hamburg. Our allocated time is 14.05 for embarkation and ship departs at 19.00. We get off in Southampton on 1st.

If you stay in Messina make sure you see mid day clock tower extravaganza ;)

Ps ask for boarding assistance too so it doesn't stress her - they are good in that respect :)

Complete a special needs form and include this info on it and it WILL be honoured - that is speaking from experience as my husband has a medical condition too

You will get a note from cruise consultant to swing by future cruise desk to collect as previous poster said we have had a range of caps and bags

The letters have been around for a while. The others perks such as free dinner for two you will get voucher in cabin, chocolate ship on black party night etc... you don't get everything together as you board

hopefully you can help me with my question, I will be on the armonia this august 2017 arriving into port on august 26th at 9;00am at genoa port, my flight is at 12;20, will I make it, does the ship arrive earlier?, and how long was custom clearance?

 

this is my first MSC cruise, have done Royal Carribean and usually on the return we always seem to be into port earlier? so can you tell me your experience disembarking

As people embark / disembark at most ports the time scheduled for arrival is usually the arrival time. Tell guest services you want to be in the first group to get off. There will be people getting off for shore excursions and visiting Genoa too. They have a separate door and route through Genoa port for disembarking. If you are in first group your luggage will definitely be there when you are let off, otherwise they will still be offloading and sorting luggage for other colour labels. Straight out of port into a taxi flight should be absolutely fine. It's only 15 minutes from port to the airport and Genoa is great for having lines of taxis outside. Genoa airport is only very small, it is not a huge busy airport. There is a shop and a cafe airside.

Have sailed lots of msc cruises. Armonia...... Well we sailed on her June 2017 NEVER AGAIN!!! Too crowded, compared to Lirica and opera, appalling service, main dining was a joke, booking for the shows was yet another joke, miserable staff...... We were Aurea so thank god for private sun deck - was a must! If this had been our first msc cruise we would never have sailed MSC again, as it was we put it down to experience, were thankful every day was a port day and noted never to go on the Armonia again. We are not moany people, we do take everything in our stride but there were too many issues on the ship for us to want to sail on her again, such a shame. Positive... Spa staff were really good!!

Massive Christmas free and huge gingerbread house on splendida last Christmas but we got off on Christmas Eve - which was totally a normal day

Taxi port to airport 2 adults 2 large and 2 small suitcase €20 6 weeks ago. Plenty of taxis as you leave terminal.

Msc lounge at airport can be used by anyone. Small room upstairs, they will keep you luggage in their cupboard. Nice terrace area out back.

Allow you to take drinks in but no glasses, cups etc.

Nice idea but not a mega bonus when flights are so expensive to Genoa compared to other ports.

We did Aurea on splendida at Christmas. Just turn up to dining and they seat you straight away, not the same table every night - we found it easy and good, no waiting. The spa treatment we had a Balinese hot stone massage each and they were fab!. You can also use the thermal area in the spa whenever you want. Any questions just ask

Palermo was on our December Splendida, felt much safer than Messina did earlier last year. There were migrants (our guess) in Messina but never saw anyone who we thought was a migrant in Palermo. We did a shorexcursion which was good value - mount pellegrino, Montreal and city tour with stops at an artisan shopping mall and Catherdral. Downside to Palermo there were long queues to get through security cabins to get back on ship, would not have been fun if it had been raining......