Av8tor

Never used it, but this news release says they started offering testing at the airport in Dec 2021.

https://webapps6.broward.org/newsrelease/View.aspx?intMessageId=12456

I'd check with the stated provider for details...

Pretty sure the ship's store has cold meds you can buy.  Probably pricy, but as a last resort could be an option.

On 5/27/2022 at 1:26 PM, defbref said:

The Bellisima and then Grandiosa, Virtuosa and the new Euriba (launch next year) are Meraviglia plus, same layout just slightly bigger.

On 5/27/2022 at 2:51 PM, JAGR said:

Hate to offer a correction, so please treat it as a qualifying statement.  Ships in the Meraviglia class include Meraviglia, then Bellissima, Grandiosa, and MSC Virtuosa.  Seaside is a different class ship, and includes her, Seaview, and then the larger Seashore and Seascape.  Just wanted to clarify the question on Meraviglia-class ships.

Thanks for filling me in and the clarification!  It's appreciated.

58 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We also like the Yacht Club enclave secluded form the rest of the ship on the 'Meraviglis' class ships. Key card to get in. There is a sense of being in a 'castle' surrounded by a moat and drawbridge.

What other MSC ships are in the Meraviglia class?

Thanks all!

Does anybody know if MSC or any other vendor offers scuba diving while at Ocean Cay?

Thanks

OR, if you don't want to just kill time at LAX, get there from the ship and check-in and check your bags (if you have big ones) but don't go through security.  Take a free hotel shuttle to a nearby nice hotel and hang out in their lobby or pool/patio until you need to get back to the airport with enough time to clear security & get to the gate.

4 hours ago, pamwigs said:

Stories like this are why we book on our own. Too many nightmare stories. Who wants the stress and extra work? Going on a cruise should be fun.

Why are stories like this why you book your own transportation?  The airline cancelled their flight at the "last minute" and they needed to get rebooked in a hurry.  In their case EZ Air should have immediately done it for them if the airline couldn't or wouldn't.  If you were in that situation, wouldn't you have to do all the work yourself and have all the stress anyway?

I, too, make all my air arrangements, but last minute changes or cancellations by the carrier can be a HUGE problem, regardless of who booked the reservation

Thanks for the info.  I'm glad they fixed it and at least now I know how it SHOULD work.

15 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Yes,

The Armonia which was fully chartered Salsa cruise, did not make it to the USA, so they gave them the ship with us on it.

Then rather than follow the T&C they made us all miserable.and forced us to cancel.

 

I told them they can put me on any USA sailing of their choice from October thru February and just honor the category and price.

Nope!

Ouch! That hurts (I guess I don't really have to tell you that, do I?)

On 3/24/2022 at 8:25 PM, Two Wheels Only said:

 

So far, I've been able to add it to every cruise that was eligible. Even if it wasn't 5%+15% when I booked, I was able to add it later when it did become 5%+15% and it wasn't a cancel/rebook. The 15% discount was added to my already lower price. Sometimes, booking early will give a lower price but not the 15% discount. If the date is later added to the 15% discount dates, the deal might not be as good if the base fare has also gone up. 

 

If the new fare is higher, I keep what I have and add the 15% discount.

 

If the new fare is lower, I cancel/rebook and take the 15% discount. 

 

It's best to know your numbers before you call. 

If you do that with a YC booking, wouldn't the deposit be forfitted?

10 hours ago, phissy said:

This feature is not working on USA MSC site currently.

Only discount shown is 5%

. Even if it appears you are on 5+15 voyages section.

Voyagers Selections cruises not loading.

I guess calling is the only option.

Thanks for that.

In your experience, If the cruise is shown on the USA 5+15 webpage, will an agent be able to give the extra +15% or are the listings on each 5+10 or 5+15 not even accurate?

6 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

As one who has actually went after them let me enlighten you.

 

They took my YC GS and put me in a regular balcony at no reduction in fare.

 

Did they ever give a reason for the switch?

I'm just looking for now and trying to find out how to "see" the extra 15% discount if that's even possible without actually making a real booking.

As I test, I was looking at Mera - 11 nights - Dec 4, 2022

We status matched to Diamond (Black) just before covid hit.  Now, we're finally ready to actually cruise again and I'm not sure how the voyager discounts work.  On the US website, I can search for them (such as 5%+15%) and see a bunch of cruises without logging in.  Selecting one and starting a mock booking, I found an 11 night caribbean cruise Dec 2022 in Yacht Club for $3229pp.  

I think that's the full fare price before any discounts because when I log in with my Voyagers Club #, the same cruise shows $3067pp which just reflects the standard 5% discount.  

How/When does the extra 15% discount get added??

Thanks,

Paul

Thanks.  Great review!

Thanks for all the info!  So glad your $1800 fiasco was resolved and I hope you do manage to get the other $1000 and massage issues straightened out.  I sincerely hope the winds die down and that you can relax a bit finally and enjoy the rest of the cruise.  Keep the posts coming if you can spare the time...

Thanks Phissy & Morpheusofthesea

20 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Yes, TWO is one of the most helpful posters this board has. He has helped me numerous times just reading his posts to others. There are a number (8 ? ) of these cabanas/pergolas on the YC sun deck. 2 are reserved for OS and 2 for RS. Had one of the best times on a cruise ship ever.... hope to be back in a couple of weeks, same cabin, same cabana/pergola.

P.S. We try to rationalize our (too) many cruises by saying to ourselves "We should have done more cruises" (when it's too late).

I can't find anything on the website about this "perk." 

Is there anything about it in writing or is it up to the descretion of the YC staff?

Which ships offer this?

Thanks

Even when they do release it, with all their recent changes, you can never really rely on their schedules or itineraries.  It's never firm until it's been sailed!!

On 2/15/2022 at 4:29 AM, mscdivina2016 said:

 

No refund of any packages as that may be part of the equation that you won/win as far as total $$s is concerned.

 You might not find out you won till the day before so bid on many and hope.

  

On 2/17/2022 at 5:47 AM, IsanTom said:

Yes, you can call and they will cancel your drink and Internet packages

So we have two opposing answers here.  Which one is it really?  

44 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

You're lucky because that is an NAAT test, which they have omitted from the types of tests accepted. It's not PCR or antigen.

Just to set things straight (or maybe even confuse the issue more) RT-PCR tests are a type of NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test).  So both the RT-PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test and Rapid ID Now offered by Walgreens are NAAT tests which are MOLECULAR tests (along with RT-LAMP tests) versus the ANTIGEN tests.  Only molecular or antigen tests are for current DIAGNOISTIC use.  ANTIBODY (not antiGEN) tests just show if you've had the virus in the past.

Fron Walgreens:

Diagnostic Lab Test (PCR): The RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel Test - NAAT is used to detect genetic material (mRNA) of the coronavirus and will be sent to a laboratory to determine results in a variable amount of time†.

Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID NOW): The Rapid Point-of-Care (POC) - NAAT (ID NOW) test also detects genetic material of the virus. The test is performed on site with results available within 24 hours.

Rapid Antigen Test (BinaxNOW): Rapid Point-of-Care (POC) Test - Antigen (BinaxNOW) is an antigen test that detects the presence of a specific viral antigen. The test is performed on site, with results available the same day. These tests imply current viral infection and help determine if an individual is actively infected with COVID-19 and can spread it to others. A follow-up test with a diagnostic test may be required to confirm a positive result.

That's all technical jargo to most people, INCLUDING MSC reps so when dealing with them your mileage my vary...

7 hours ago, acecase2021 said:

Spoke to MSC on the phone and they were very understanding and moved our cruise to the first week of March with no extra cost (website was advertising the same prices as we had paid for sailings in early March) Luckily was able to amend all of our other transport and hotels fee free too, so all in all it was a good outcome. Hopefully we should all be well clear of Covid in another month's time! 

Don't forget to contact your travel insurance provider and have them revise your planned dates of travel

On 1/28/2022 at 1:59 PM, Cruising to Retirement said:

We have Abbott Supervised Telehealth tests we are going to do the day before we finish the 5 day cruise-  Thank you

Hopefully you'll be in a port somewhere the day before you end the 5-day or the ship's internet will have a good connection or the supervised tests won't be of much use...

I wonder if the PVSA and/or Jones Act applies if they reposition a cruise liner from Miami to Port Canaveral or FLL (or vice versa) with NO passengers aboard?  If not, there may be no need to go to a foreign port, distant or otherwise.  Those ports are so close that it could be done quickly and only delay the onward boarding of the follow on cruise with passengers by a few hours...