ConnieTact

Thanks @YVRteacher for an interesting and beautifully visual report. I’ve enjoyed following along. I love reading reports during the ‘in between times’ when I’m not on a cruise myself!

What is the latest? Are things improved now? We’re onboard 3/9. Thanks

I see you already mentioned this in your review of the ship four weeks ago…. I presume it’s still upsetting you a month later! If you were going to leave the tea bags in the cabin anyway, you didn’t lose out on anything. Strange incident and strange thing to post about! 😅

That’s great news. I’ll be the one sitting having this! 😅☕️🫖

Just caught up with your posts as we’ve been away to Ireland for a few days. Congratulations on your wedding. Beautiful photographs. I’m also enjoying your review. I’d love to know about any entertainment onboard too.

Sounds like a great day! I’d love the Elton John performer -I hope he is on when we are onboard in January! 🤞

@Cruiseforever11I know!!! It’s such a shame! I’ll miss it but won’t pay for it in the speciality unless it’s cheap as I feel it’s been ‘taken away’ from us! We are back on Virtuosa in October and I will report back on if they are still serving it on there. Maybe they will on the U.K. cruises? It’s a British thing so maybe MSC will keep it for Southampton sailings? 🤔 I hope so! @Nikodemos Im enjoying your report so far too! Thank you!

Thanks Nikodemos, although that is really bad news! It seems YC is not as good as it was! What a shame. This was a perk I really enjoyed….without paying extra! how much is the afternoon tea at Ray Polo please? thanks again for your information.

Thanks for doing this live review. We are on this ship in January also in YC. is the high tea you mention a replacement for the afternoon tea they usually serve in YC lounge? I just wondered if the butlers still serve it in the afternoons exclusively in YC. If not, do you pay extra in the other bar? Thanks

I’ve enjoyed reading your live review. We are in Alaska next May and loved looking at your photos. Thanks for sharing them. All the best for your disembarkation and have a safe journey home.

All the best for your special day! How exciting! Yes! Please post wedding pictures. Always a joy to see. I’ll be following along, as we haven’t been on Meraviglia before although we have stayed in YC inside, balcony and also duplex suites on other MSC ships.

We fancy the south Africa itinerary too! 👍

Just caught up with your whole report. You were away at the same time as us! We went on NCL Star around Ireland from 11-21 May so I didn’t notice you had a live report going too! We arrived a little later after midday at Horizon and our Uber driver told us it was crowded earlier. Now I know why! Great report. We can’t wait to board Virtuosa again in October and your report has made me look forward to it all the more! 👍

That’s sounds great! I loved Iceland when we went last year and would like to explore the island further. Greenland sounds exciting too. Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks so much for adding this. That’s so helpful.

Thank you! I enjoy writing them but also they make a great ‘aide memoire’ for me! There’s plenty of opportunity to meet people while playing games, and on the dance floor! I can’t remember about any organised get togethers. I should have kept hold of one of the daily sheets! Some people asked to sit alone, but often we were asked if we wanted to share a table in the main restaurant so, that was a good opportunity to meet others. Also if there is a Roll Call for your trip, there may be a meet up. I’m sure you’ll have a good cruise. Where is your itinerary taking you?

The announcements started at 6.45 am so I am sure you will have time to get to the airport and check in, with good time to spare. You can make sure the ship knows you want an early start. If you take all your luggage with you, you can get off first.

I wonder which MSC cruise ship you sailed on and which itinerary? We have found other guests vary from where they are from. Also a newer ship is usually won’t look old. we’ve tried P&O before but didn’t like the clientele and moved on. It’s great there is a good choice out there so, something for everyone!

Thanks for your positive words. the tender process works by the night before, everyone who wants to disembark the next day, goes to the Bliss lounge and just outside the entrance there is a table giving out tickets with numbers to guests. I guess the later you go along, the higher the number. Anyone who is gold status and above doesn’t need a tender ticket. They just work their way to exit and board the tender.p when they are ready. (see post #67 for letter that explains it.) We often went off after the rush even though we have Sapphire status. We just prefer it less busy and like a leisurely start to our days. I hope this helps. Have a fabulous cruise!

Thanks for your kind words. See post #96 and post #105. We got off later in the day in the early afternoon and got straight onto a tender. On the way back there was a queue and we waited 23 minutes to get on a tender. I think the crossing was only around 10-15 minutes. You can just see the ship in the distance from the port. I hope this helps! Also, alcohol issue is all sorted now so have no fears- you will be able to have a toast as you sail out from Southampton! 🥂

GLWN05 THE BURREN AND THE AILLWEE CAVES from Galway. It was the lack of time at the actual caves or Burren mainly. Most of the time we were in the coach. Also, the owner of the coach company stood in, (I think!), and the commentary was the worst we have ever heard! On the way, we mostly didn’t hear him as he kept putting the microphone between his knees as he sat down so it wasn’t picking up sound! I yelled down the coach a few times ‘We can’t hear you,’ but he couldn’t hear me either! 😂 We were also freezing in the coach. When we got to the destination, after 90 minutes, I told him we were freezing and he just said, ‘why didn’t you tell me?!’ 😅 The caves were worth the visit and the guide was very good. We were only there for 45 minutes and stood outside the coach for another 15 waiting to get in. The cave gift shop was closed so there was no access to water, food or gifts. The trip was 3 3/4hrs, but if you are up to it, I would recommend another private tour that is longer. We had friends who did this and they enjoyed it.

Thanks Hallux. Hopefully someone from U.K. may be along with some advice. I was very happy to receive the FCC after full payment on my last cruise but just wondered how likely this is to happen if I booked in a non direct way. I know the phone lines say if you booked through a TA you need to go through them. Whereas I got through straight away on the phone, when I booked directly. they said they would have to write a request to the correct department and I would hear the result in around a week. I did hear from the EU Helpdesk, just a few days later.

I am about to book another NCL cruise, partly because I have the FCC to spend! I wonder if anyone has been successful in asking for price drop difference, if they booked through a travel agent and not directly with NCL? I am quite keen on what my travel agent has on offer, in the way of a package, and they have agreed to ask NCL once regarding this but I just wanted to check if anyone has experience of this and what the outcome was.

I couldn’t agree more. I can’t bear to look at them! The thought someone could buy one not knowing they can never get it serviced by Rolex or an accredited watchmaker makes me sick! I have to say though, I have never seen the written disclaimer before so that is some improvement. At least someone may notice before they buy!

At least Norwegian now has a notice explaining the service is not with Rolex. I noticed this on my recent cruise on The Star. I feel this is more honest. It used to bug me before that people didn’t know what they were buying.