elbarney

Hello! I'll be checkin in in Civitavecchia soon, and for the vaccination certificate I have the european one.

It doesn't include the dates of all the vaccinations, only states the last one and 3/3 as we are boosted.

I have submitted this to the app and it says it's ok, has anyone checked in with that?

I'm a little bit worried because I can't prove the dates of the initial and second vaccine, as they are not written in the certificate.

I hope some other european has experience with this?

Thanks

On 5/10/2022 at 4:52 AM, lasnev said:

Booked an excursion in Copenhagen and then realized that it said "Shooting videos and/or taking pictures is not allowed or subject to fee."

 

What does this actually mean? I can't imagine them stopping you from taking photos on a city tour...

 

Thanks!

I have seen that also on excursions where you visit a place where you need an extra ticket for taking photographs. The excursion includes the entrances tickets but not the extra fees for photographs. 

This was in La Goulette IIRC.

6 hours ago, Xcelsior said:

May I ask what cabin you were in?

 

8020

45 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

I am curious about your experience in inside cabin now in times from COVID. I am asking you because traveling solo often before COVID, I would have spent little time on my room and I have booked sometimes an inside cabin due to the prices. For my next cruise, I was attracted by the prices for the inside cabin and originally I had booked one. Days later I have got second thoughts of being in a cabin with no possibility to get fresh air and I have changed my booking to a balcony cabin paying much more. 
Ivi

It was fine. The room was bigger than I expected, the location nice.

We only stayed at the room for shower, changing and sleeping, so perfectly fine in an interior.

Other ships we have stayed had smaller insides, but this seemed like a balcony-without-the-balcony, which is nice. I don't know if this is for all the insides or there are different sizes.

Hello, I asked onboard for a paid upgrade on my cruise, they asked more than the bids were.

I was in an interior, they quoted me 1000$ to balcony, so I kept my money.

I don't understand their revenue management. I could upgrade from interior to balcony choosing the cabin for 850$ before the cruise, then they "allowed" me to bid at least 450$pp to get a random balcony and then they wanted 500$ pp onboard, when its less convenient for me to move and they aren't getting anything from the room. I would have spent around 500$ total max, which was direct benefit as I imagine the costs are the same for them, but I spent them on land instead.....

We were 276 people on the ship, so plenty of space available.... 

For the flowflex I was looking at this:

https://www.azova.com/testing/flowflex/

I'm Spanish so I can't order the emed kits, as they aren't delivered outside USA.

It seems I can buy a flowflex test locally and then purchase the proctoring service, does anybody know if Celebrity accepts this tests?

Thanks in advance.

Hello, is there any information about B2B?

What happens if up to date? Do you need a new test?

Thanks

On 11/13/2021 at 11:58 PM, zekekelso said:

I just booked my excursions for that itinerary. Not saying these are right for you, but wanted to share my choices. 
 

Marseilles: e-bike tour. Saw a couple reviews that said the e-bike tours were fun and wanted to try one. 
 

Genoa: Aquarium. I love aquariums and wanted a break from “city” tours. 
 

Civitavecchia: Dying town of Bagnoregio. Since I’m being forced to take ship tours, I figured I’d go someplace I’d never go on a self tour. 
 

Sicily: Cefalu tour. Looked like an interesting city

 

Malta: Harbor tour. Really annoyed that there’s no way to walk around Malta - but I believe that’s Malta’s choice, not MSC’s. 

Of these, I would strongly recommend you to consider other options in Palermo.

I did the Cefalu excursion this summer and I found it underwhelming; you visit  church and a small walk on the village. IMHO not enough for the length of the bus trip. This could be much better if you were allowed to wander on your own, but that's not the case in MSC Covid times. For this December I'll try Monreale, I loved it when we did by ourselves, and if you have never visited the cathedral is incredible.

On the other hand, this summer we visited Civita of Bagnoreggio and I loved it. It's also far away from the ship, but IMHO this is worthy of the trip. Take into account that you have to go down to cross the bridge to go up, so it requires some physical fitness.

NCL didn't require mask even inside.

They politely told on PA system, but I think that only twice I saw specific calling to someone maskless, and one was totaly ignored by the passenger.....

You could see some people maskless even on elevators and nobody batted an eye.

What I think they mean to wear masks outside is you should wear them when moving even outside, as you can't distance, but many people didn't.

Also there were only 2 spaces for smokers, so it was impossible to social distance in an activity that by design is impossible to use a mask.... Smokers were sharing ashtrays and tables by necessity.

On 9/11/2021 at 10:58 PM, Ms02 said:

Am i really stupid for thinking an excursion called "escorted Pompeii" describing a visit to the archeological site would actually include enterance to the site?

My issue is only with the "Definitely indicating that it is."

I'm not saying that you are stupid, just that you are reading something that in normal circumstances would be logical but in this particular case its not what it is.

My opinion on covid management.

-Some people refuse to wear masks and were ignored by the crew.

-They make much more effort to stop recording on the shows than monitoring mask usage. I think this is wrong, but it is only opinion. Other people seemed confortable to wear the mask on their elbows or top of the head at the same time the cruise director asked to be put inmediately after drinking.

-A lot of people doesn't understand mask usage, for example, in the excursions they mask to go to the street, where is less needed as it is usually possible to keep social distancing on the exterior, but removed the masks just after entering the bus, where it's impossible to keep social distancing. Nothing was said by the guides in the 4 excursions I took, so I suppose this is a trend, not an outlier.

-They were scrambling with covid bubbles, on one excursion the operator provided packed lunches and a stop in a park to eat(perfect), in Pompeii it what you like were you like to another excursion where all the people have to stop at the same restaurant, decided on the spot, where they were not prepared to handle a group. It seemed very improvised.

In any case, the rest of the cruise was fantastic.

-

If anybody finds it useful, I have the dailies in pdf in Spanish, and some of the menus in pdf in English.

The daylies are only available in the app, that knew I'm Spanish and only provided the files on my language. 

2 hours ago, Ms02 said:

Seems that's the one people were on this week. I do get that €33 seems a bit cheap to be including the entrance, but as it's not informed it should be included. Definitely indicating that it is.

Escorted Pompeii doesn't include the tickets.

The tickets alone are 16€.... 33$ is just enough to cover the bus there and back.

I would suggest not saying definitely about an excursion that was created 2 weeks ago and probably doesn't have a full description yet, unless definitely says something it's included.

I was yesterday on the same excursion.

Before the cruise it was Pompeii on you own, and it said that you would need to get your own ticket. I think the new one says the same.

It was supposed to be a bubble tour, but the bubble finishes at Porta Marina. I'm not sure this is ok and it will continue to be this way, but that is what happened.

We were required to see a cameo demonstration before entering Pompeii, took about 10 minutes and half of that was bathroom time, so mostly ok.

After that, 2:45 hours of free time to enter Pompeii(or not). Show greenpass/cdc card, buy tickets, enter and enjoy.

We really enjoyed the semi freedom, it felt like 2 years gobut with masks.

1 hour ago, ScratchTheRat said:

The guidance changes on a daily basis and they are a huge organisation. Cut them some slack.

 

If people don't wanna sail at a time when things are likely to change on a whim, don't book! There's been plenty of chances to cancel/rebook if people want to . Fact is, a cruise can change any ports, rules, itineraries etc at any time by cruise contract so only book if you're happy to have things change.

 

 

To be fair, most of the changes have not been recent, just they didn't want to communicate them before.

I got a very good price, but by far this is the worst I have seen for information in a cruise post covid

I feel for the people that have to travel with so much uncertainty, most of it because NCL doesn't want to be clear.

Examples:

-3day almost quite but not fully mandatory test. Will they return my money or not if I don't take it and test positive? This is 100% NCL, why do I have to accept this, why is this not clear if I'll get my money back as they promised when I booked?

-Spanish test to disembark and schedule change. This is law from may.

-Italian excursions. Same.

I understand the situation with Uk quarantine, as this was really new, but everything else I disagree.

3 hours ago, LeCommandant said:

Hi all,

 

I will be cruising in September on the MSC Seaside in Yacht Club. In the details of my booking, it is written that 2 devices Browse Internet Package is included. Does anyone know if I can upgrade the package to the "Browse and Stream" by paying the difference between Browse and Browse and Stream pkg ?

 

I will create a specific new topic to share my WiFi experience aboard MSC Seaside once I will be on the ship!

 

Kind regards

I think you can upgrade to more devices or better package. The first I'm sure, the second almost.

By the way, in Yatch it is 2 devices for each passenger, and it remembers the device, so you can't logout with one device and login with another.

1 hour ago, MarkusToe said:

Money back to card.... Hmmmm, they told me they need at least 120 days until i've my Money back.... 

My last cancellation took around 40days... 120 seems too long, but probably it will be autumn. by then...

15 minutes ago, LeCommandant said:

Thanks for your replies @elbarneyand @bafinegan. When pre-booking excursions prior to departure, is it possible to cancel them once on board ? 

At least in Spain, theoretically yes. Up to 48hrs before cruise, you cancel in the web and get money back on your credit card, after that and up to 48hrs before excursion you can cancel onboard, and you get refundable credit(money back if you don't spend it).

You should check you booking conditions for your country, but I think this is standard on all of them.

6 hours ago, steamboats said:

From the Harmony of the Seas  - which was in La Spezia as first Italian port on the current cruise yesterday - all guests had to be tested (altough the requirement has only been extended to US - plus UK). All guests on shore tours had to wear KN95/FFP2 masks. All guests had to fill in the online PLF form for Italy.

 

I have done 2 cruises with MSC stopping in Italy and they never required PLF, maybe they are erring on the side of caution? Or is this a new requirement?

On the plf web site it says "Passengers travelling to one of the below countries (as their final destination) should complete a passenger locator form via the European Digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF)"

This shouldn't apply, unless you embark in Italy.

46 minutes ago, Trimone said:

I haven’t a clue, I started doing the Italian health forms and thought to myself why am I doing this! In my opinion it’s down to NCL to do, in all my cruises except a disaster with RCL in China I’ve never known nothing like it.

 

I have cruised from Barcelona to Italy 2 times this summer with MSC, not PLF needed for guided shore excursions.

I suppose Epic will be the same.

As  I understand it, PLF is only for disembarking, not for stops.

On the second one, Italy passed the law requiring green pass for visiting many places. As MSC doesn't require vaccination, they did antigen test every 2 days for those that didn't have the pass. I don't know what the protocol will be for those vaccinated but without an euro covid pass, but I suppose it will be handled the same way, if Italy recognises the vaccination cards directly you will use that, and if not, they will test onboard and make certificates for those people.

14 hours ago, LeCommandant said:

and I would like to know if it was better (or not) to book excursions before the cruise. If I don’t book anything yet, will I be able to book it at the excursion desk ? I am asking that because I am not used to “official” excursions in non-COVID times…

mixed feelings on this.

Better selection before cruise, some better price also, most of them just 0.99€, but some of them have better discounts.

On the other hand, Malta is a joke, only 3 excursions allowed on two cruises(july and august, don't know situation on september). Before cruise they sell you one of many, but then you go to the cruise and they are not available(Malta regulations only allow panoramic excursions), and you have to fight to get your money back.

Not really a lot of shade.... the cabanas have bar-like ceiling, it is open, so the sun gets through... Some enterprising people used towels to create shadow on them.

You may have luck on the aft section of the yatch deck, depending on the port.

51 minutes ago, LeCommandant said:

Hi all!

I searched for 15 minutes the current YC Bar List (+ Wine selection at the YC Restaurant), but I cannot find it. Does anyone have an idea? I plan to cruise in Mediterranean sea on the MSC Seaside. 

 

And thanks a lot @elbarneyfor sharing the YC Lunch/Dinner lists. Great job!!

 

Bests

Grandiosa July, Seashore is the same, I imagine Seaside will be.

QR_V_YC-BAR-LIST_OTHER_DAYX_EN_1624735625.pdf

1 hour ago, sealynx said:

"A change to the cruises that have been operating in Europe is that vaccinated guests can go ashore when they please."

I read this as applying to the US cruises, something like "differently to the cruises that have been operating in Europes, vaccinated guest on the US cruises can go ashore when they please." 

17 minutes ago, zdcatc12 said:

Yeah, that was the original time, but for a hoho, those are running continuously so I'm not sure why they couldn't just change the time.

 

No, I mean the hoho is not a ship exclusive, is an external company, and it starts at 11, it's very unlikely that they start at 7am just for the cruise.

The all aboard will be around 15:00-15:30, so you have a very short window to use it, so it might be the reason is no longer offered.

With the old arrival time, you had almost double usefull time.