mnjcruiser

It will cost me $110 for the week for each person to use the thermal spa for the week on the Seaview.  The website does not offer me the option to book by the day.  I'll be on the Seaview Med. cruise in September with no sea days.  Is it still worth paying for the spa for the week when we will be at port all day?  Is it open in the evening to use?

I am booked for my first MSC cruise this September so can't comment on MSC yet but I've sailed HAL and was very disappointed.  Ships are small, decor was dated and a much older crowd on board.  I've also sailed Carnival, Princess, NCL and RCCL.  To date my favourite has been RCCL.  Large elegant ships with lots of activities on board.  IMO I think your age group will be board on HAL.

Thanks for the tip. I will check to see of an OV gty is available for our sailing.

A few days ago I booked two cabins on the MSC Seaview for September 28th sailing out of Barcelona.  At the time I booked one inside guarantee (only inside option available)  and a balcony (assigned room).  When I check available rooms, I usually use ***** website, I only see one inside cabin left.  Is it possible the ship is already sold out of inside cabins?  It's nine months before sailing.  Does this mean a good chance of upgrade?  I'm perfectly happy with my inside cabin if I don't get an upgrade, just wondering.

I'm looking to book the MSC Seaview out of Barcelona in September and it says it includes the drinks until the last winter sailing.  Does these mean we won't get it either? Makes no sense to spend the extra money then.

Thank you!

I was ready to book NCL Epic Med cruise in September and then noticed MSC had a similar itinerary with a brand new ship. I thought it would be nice to try something new. While researching I notice some of there ships have the Galleria which I love that concept with RCL. Does anyone know if the new Seaview will have the Galleria on their ship?

My husband and I will be sailing Emerald Princess Coastal cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles. We arrive in Los Angeles October 1st at 6:15 a.m. Our flight is not until 5:50 p.m. The cruise offers a Long Beach on your own excursion with transportation back to the airport. Just wondering are there any other options at the port we can book with other companies? I don't want to rent a car and get stuck in traffic. I would appreciate any recommendations? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go with the car rental. Alamo and Budget is 3x more expensive than other rental companies. Hertz is having a good deal for my dates, I think I will go with them and take a cab. Thanks for your advice. Just what I was looking for.

We are sailing from Vancouver to Los Angeles September 25th. We arrive in Vancouver 8:50 a.m. on September 23rd and booked 2 nights in Whistler. What would be easier taking a shuttle or renting a car? We don't want to waste too much time so I prefer to leave from Vancouver Airport and go directly to Whistler and then From Whistler to the Cruise options. Not sure what shuttle services or car rental agencies offer this option. Your suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

I will call the cruise line and post back tomorrow with the outcome.

I booked a 6 day cruise on the Emerald in September. I made a $200 deposit and the balance is due in July. I was told the deposit is non-refundable. If I decide to cancel the cruise, does Princess allow the deposit to be transferred to a different sailing date? I called Princess but unfortunately because I'm booked with an agent I need to go through the travel agent, and they are closed today. Just wondering if anyone has done this? Thanks.

So if the sales are not really sales and just a different way of advertising what is the best strategy to get the best price? Just book when I am ready and watch for price drops? or wait until closer to final payment?

Does anyone know what the next sale will be once WOW ends?

I think I have decided on the Gem. It's $1,000 less, leaving me more spending money and I can get my preferred date. Dawn Sept. 22nd sailing is sold out.

I am considering Canada/New England cruise in September and was wondering which is a nicer ship. I like the itinerary on both (I like Dawn itinerary slightly more). They are not offering Canada at Par on the Dawn so it would be $1,000 more expensive for the week. I read that the Dawn went through an extensive renovations and is quite impressive. Is it worth the extra $1,000? The ship is just important to us as the destination. I prefer more modern looking ships.

Based on this which would you recommend? Thanks!

I sailed on the Anthem last year with my daughter who has celiac disease. She had an amazing experience and the staff very accommodating. They made a note on our file about the special diet requirement and the head waiter came to the table every night to bring the next night's menu. It's easier for them to accommodate if you know where you are eating that way your daughter can pick her meal ahead of time. They would also allow her to pick from a different restaurant's menu if there was nothing she liked where we were eating.

She was also able to eat at the buffet. The buffet chef would come out and show her know what was safe and then would go to the kitchen to prepare her food so there was no risk of cross contamination. She had an amazing trip and didn't feel deprived at all. Actually, many nights her dishes were better than what the rest of the non-celiac family members were eating.

We were on the Bermuda/Boston cruise and we did have issues in Bermuda being able to find places where she could eat. We just made sure to have a hearty breakfast before leaving the ship and brought snacks with us.

I should mention my daughter is 22 and was diagnosed 3 years ago. When diagnosed she was very sick, she had complete villous atrophy and was not absorbing any nutrients. She was very anemic and always in stomach pain. She is doing so much better but is very hyper sensitive to gluten, so even small traces from cross contamination will make her very sick and can destroy her intestines. Having said that, she didn't get sick once on this trip. The wait staff did a great job at keeping her safe and never made her feel like a burden.

OP: wanted to be sure you've seen these:

 

http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

 

http://kaleidoscopicwandering.com/2011/08/03/freedom-trail-travel-tips-boston-massachusetts/

 

BTW: we were on the Anthem TA and had a great time (except for mediocre food, but that was months ago). Anthem is a stunningly beautiful ship; I hope you have a fabulous time! (In case it may be helpful to you, my detailed comments by subject, plus lots of photos, are linked in my signature below.)

Turtles06, thanks for the links. I am enjoying your review. Love the photos!

I will be on the Anthem of the Seas with my daughter and two adult children May 14th. The sailing stops in Boston for one day 9-9. I'm looking for suggestions for things to do in Boston. While researching I read about the Boston Freedom Trail. Is this an organized tour or can it be done on your own? Is it walkable from the ship.

This is my plan so far...

Get of the ship.

Walk the Boston Freedom Trail for a few hours

Stop for lunch at Quincy Market

Shop (my daughters are 21 and 22), this can't be missed. Where is the best place to shop?

I would love to also visit Beacon Hill area, is this part of the tour? Is it walkable from the ship?

Thanks for your help!

Thank you. Did they adjust the cost of the original cabin(s) you booked?

I will call RCI in the morning to inquire. However just wondering if anyone online now might know if this is possible. If there are 4 people booked in a cabin, can you move two of them to another cabin if there is a price drop after final payment? How does this work?

I was thinking Day 1 - head to St. George first thing, explore the town and then go to the caves and end at a beach (not sure which one).

Day 2 - start at Horseshoe Bay Beach and end in Hamilton.

Not sure how to make this work logistically with the busses and ferries?

I will be on the RCCL May 14th sailing to Bermuda with my sister and two adult daughters (21 and 22). Everyone is very mobile and love walking. We plan on buying the ferry/buss pass. Day 1 in Bermuda ship docks at 9 a.m. and leaves at 5 p.m on Day 2. Therefore, I prefer to be closer to ship on the second day, don't want to venture too far out.

This is what we would like to do. Visit Horseshoe Bay Beach, Warwick Beach or Tobacco Beach, downtown St. George, downtown Hamilton and the caves. How do you suggest I best organize the two days to maximize my time. My daughters would love to spend as much time on the beach as they can. We are also open to other beaches.

Thanks for your help.

Do they offer happy hour?

I was considering taking an overnight Greyhound bus from Toronto to Bayonne, NJ for our Anthem Cruise in May. How far is the station from the cruise port? What would be the best way to get there? Taxi? How much should I expect to pay?

Also is the station located in an industrial area or pedestrian friendly area?

Thanks for your help.