tymike

My cruise in October, 2020 leaves OC at 7:00 p.m. according the website.  Guess no light show/parade etc. for the passengers on that voyage.  I wonder how early you have to be on board to leave at 7:00?  Perhaps 6:00?

Definitely no availability for the late night attractions MSC advertises with that timing.  I was interested in the stargazing 'excursion'.  Ugh.

10 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

 

We were there on a very sunny day and rented an umbrella, cost us $12 as we booked it in advance online.  The umbrellas are nice in that they can be moved or you can move your chair if need be since the loungers are not sitting on top of each other.  If wanting to just stay out of the sun I would rent a couple of umbrellas.  You do have to pick it up at the rental station (in a bag) and set it up yourself but it comes with instructions and very easy to set up. 

Great information!  Thank you.

  Hmmm...$12 ( or free for YC) for shade and a lounger vs. the very high cost of a cabana...

Food for thought!  Glad I don't have to decide tonight!

I'd love to hear from anyone what has actually used a cabana to find out how much a difference (if any) having a cabana made for the days' enjoyment.

Thanks all again for your responses.  So, if cabanas close at 5:00 and we don't get on the island til about 10:00 a.m. (if lucky!) then it may be a bad bet to spend the money.  I might hang onto it for a while (we don't cruise til 10/20) to see if MSC ups the benefits/perks with a cabana...but I am definitely considering cancelling.   

Thank you CRAustin for following up after your upcoming cruise!  I hope you have a great voyage!

Thank you so much for all your answers!  I'm feeling less 'needy' of a cabana, but I will take the advice to hang onto it until closer to departure to see what (if anything) changes about actual time on the island and what is available during that time.

As it stands now the extra money for the cabana seems unnecessary but I'll see what the future holds.

Thanks again for all the thoughts and observations.  Very helpful!

Hi all,

So...some of you may remember my struggle to book an Ocean Cay cabana for my October, 2020 sailing on the Meraviglia.  Well, now I have one, but after reading that different sailings have different departure times I checked mine and we sail at 7:00 P.M.    I'm guessing that means no light show/parade etc.  I'm a little disappointed about those things but mostly wondering if it's still worth it to keep the cabana.

I definitely want it for shade in the day, but we seem to be losing at least 4-5 hours on the island that day.

Thoughts as to whether I should keep it...or if anyone has had a cabana, please feel free to chime in as to the value vs. the cost.

Thanks as always!

Thank you Sir Wolf. 

 I get tired of any and all unexpected changes to seemingly everything these days on  MSC, NCL and Celebrity.  When I saw the 'new' deck plan plans with no furniture in the TSL I just figured they would put more staterooms in there...like NCL did with the Spinnaker Lounge on the Dawn etc.

Thanks again....

Hi all...

I'm booked on the Meraviglia in October, 2020, and I checked the deckplan to make sure our room in on the starboard side so we can see Ocean Cay and the light show.  On the website there is a link that says something like "To view deckplans after summer, 2020, please use this link".    The staterooms look the same but is the TSL moving?  The deck plan no longer labels it or has any furniture drawn into it!

Does anyone have any information about this?

Thank you !!

1 hour ago, cherylnj said:

I was able to book a cabana today, online. Before today, they were not showing up. 

Thank you for this information!!!   I too was able to book today!!!!!

Very thankful and relieved.   I booked a YC ocean view (not ocean front) based on information in other CC threads.  

Thanks again everyone! 🙂

Thank you Hank, for the above information on the cabanas.  I just booked the ocean view vs. ocean front based on your description.  Much appreciated!

Hi again...

I just called MSC again and shared that folks on CC have reported that their cruise is in September and they have been able to book a cabana.  I was told (again) that the policy is that reservations for cabanas can only be made six months out. She 'checked around' for me and spoke to a co-worker  but could find nothing.  She didn't understand why my "Manage My Bookings/Excursions" was only showing two excursions available.

She guessed that people may have been able to book prior to six months due to IT issues....

Long story shorter, I couldn't book a cabana and was advised to keep checking the website.  She also suggested I reach out to the casino department as  the booking began with them.

Hmmm.....will do....

It gets tiring what with all the hold time etc.  All I'm trying to do is give MSC more $$ and I'm not being allowed to do that!  🙂

Thank you Shippy...

I was afraid of this. 

I feel like the cabanas are a fixed 'excursion' on Ocean Cay and there's no reason they shouldn't be listed under 'Manage Your Cruise" on the website.  I'm only offered the wave runners and the lighthouse climb as of today and I'm paid in full.  And that's under "Manage My Cruise".  

I guess I'll call again and be more firm that others have booked cabanas in advance and ask how to secure one.

Or...I can be very happy with an umbrella for $13 !  Whatever happens will be great!  It's a vacation....right?

Hi all...

Just off the phone with MSC (the phone prompt for YC reservations).  The rep stated that reservations can only be made six months in advance.  Does anyone have a different experience with when they could book a cabana?

He also said he had "no idea" what the jibberish on my "manage my booking" meant.

Wish I had better/different/feeling more reliable news!

I just spoke with someone at MSC regarding reserving cabanas.  He stated that they can only be booked six months in advance.  Does that match or fly in the face of  anyone else's experience with booking a cabana?

1 hour ago, CUontheC said:

 

B,

 

Oh how cool!!

 

Did you find out why you only had two excursions listed for the October sailing?

 

Mary

Hi!  Looking forward to meeting the 'group' in October!!

Is there a chance the excursions aren't showing up due to a portion of my fare being part of a casino promotion?  

It is odd that there are only two available on the website!  I meant to call today but the day got away from me!

Hi all...

I am cruising in October and am hoping to reserve a cabana.  I can't seem to do it online.  Is calling MSC the only way to make the reservation?

Thanks!

Although I'm a new cruiser on MSC (one cruise to date and another in the fall) I do love being optimistic that their product will outdo what I've seen happening on NCL over the last nine years since my first cruise on the Dawn.  The cutbacks in service, offerings on board included, and the crazy increases in prices with NCL has been nothing less than totally disappointing and frustrating.

We truly enjoyed our cruise on the Armonia last summer (Aurea Experience) even though we were prevented from visiting Cuba.  I think that says a lot about what MSC offers, especially because we booked that cruise in order to visit Cuba.  I'm very excited to be in the YC  next fall!

I plan to call MSC tomorrow to see when I might be able to book a cabana on Ocean Cay.  I'll let everyone know what I find out...

Thanks so much for the information for the MSC  PCC info.

 I too have an excellent PCC with NCL and have had the same one since our second NCL cruise.  I'm sorry for him that I may not book again with things being what they are with NCL.

Lovemycruisetoo....how do you get a PCC at MSC?  I don't have one, most likely because I've only been on one MSC cruise to date.

I also have multiple NCL cruises behind me.  All in suites and two in Haven (one in the DOS which I booked after being laid off for almost two years and getting my job back...and I booked it before the ship was finished!  Crazy!!)  But I feel like NCL has changed so much in the nine years since my first ever cruise (NCL Dawn from Boston to Bermuda) and it's disappointing when I see how they have upcharged everything.

Can your PCC book the cabanas for you?

So, I now need some help figuring out some jibberish that is listed at the bottom of the excursion page of "Manage My Booking".  There are lots of numbers/letters and then a line that reads:  "???MXC--PREPAID--RESTRICTION__YCMCO???"

Any insight what this means??  It literally reads like that.

FWIW: my booking is through the casino department.  I upgraded to YC and paid totally full price for the final four days of the cruise as the casino booking only 'covered' an inside cabin for a seven day cruise.  So paid the difference between an inside for the first seven days then full price for the remainder of the cruise.

Could how we booked affect the timing to secure excursions?

Thanks again....

8 hours ago, lovemycruisetoo said:

Tymike, that is exactly what I see. Our cruise is 10/22/20 and we’re in the YC and haven’t received any email about excursions.  I just got off a Mera Canada cruise October and had all my excursions booked early. 
 

Shippy, we also have Mera booked for 9/6/20 and only Sydney,  Halifax and New York have excursions listed.  Nothing for Reykjavik, Belfast, Southampton which I’m waiting for. 
 

I’ll just keep checking. 

Yes!  We are cruising together and also in the YC!  Truly excited!

We are paid in full so I'm keeping an eye out for any emails and will be checking the website regularly.

Does anyone know how many cabanas there are  or if you can book by calling MSC?  I know that means being on hold forever  but it may be worth it?

Any specific phone number for excursions?

Thanks everyone....as always!

4 hours ago, dexddd said:

Hey tymike, you skipping out on NCL too?

Hi there!   Well....only sort of!  We have two cruises booked on NCL (because I had two certificates to use in a hurry!).  We sailed on MSC for the first time last summer and really enjoyed it.  Our upcoming cruise in October is in the YC for the first time and I think we will be so hooked based on what I've read.

Prices on NCL have gone insane, so there's that as well.  🙂

Hi lovemycruisetoo!

The only excursions that show for Ocean Cay are wave riders and a climb to the top of the lighthouse.

It seems strange that booking cabanas isn't available.  Perhaps we have to have been paid in full to book?  Just a guess....

Thank you so much Sid!

I have two NCL cruises booked and I'm off to Atlanta in April so I've also loved o all the way cool places to see/eat in/photograph in Atlanta that you have highlighted!

Again, my thanks!

Hi all,

I am booked on the Meraviglia in October, 2020 and am hoping to book a cabana on Ocean Cay.  

When does MSC open up bookings for 'excursions' like the cabana?

I looked in excursion T & C and searched CC to no avail.

Thanks so much!

FWIW I think paying $15 fee per bottle is way more economical than paying for the upcharge for bottles in the restaurant...

or paying for the bottles of wine through the "Gifts and More" section of the website.  I bring the wines/champagnes I want for the room without feeling fleeced and  I use the drinks package for the rest.

Whatever anyone decides to do with respect to the drinks on board....have a great cruise!!