BLONDEDUDE59

Many thanks for the info cellfree!

Cruisers who do the upgrade bids must pay extra to receive the Aurea Experience Inclusions. Just bidding to change from a Fantastica Experience Cabin to an Aurea Experience Cabin just means a cruiser will now stay in an Aurea Level Cabin but only with Fantastica Experience Inclusions.

cellfree, my wife and I are set to sail on  Armonia in a Fwd Area Aurea Suite on 10/7/19.   how was the food & drink service overall?   How was the entertainment in the theater and lounges?  It is my understanding that after each passenger checks in for debarkation at the Port in Miami that you then have to add your credit card to your ship pass card at a kiosk somewhere in the Ship's Reception Area?

I don't mind the wind that much! If you move your chair very close to the glass barrier it is tolerable. Sunglasses, chapstick and skin moisturizer will take care of warding off any wind burn, or one can just go up to the Aurea Serenity Deck and hang out. Being in forward cabins like 1201 and 1204 are a lot like being in the Serenity Area of the Oasis Class Ships with the forward windows open.  Not that big a deal, unless it is raining.  If I'm mistaken about this please let me know as my Wife and I booked Cabin 1204 for the 10/7/19 Sailing back a few months ago.

On 9/16/2019 at 4:19 PM, cellfree said:

BTW had a great cruise on the Armonia. Will highlight a few things in a day or two. Any questions, happy to answer if I can. 

My Wife and I are seasoned cruisers, have mostly sailed Carnival and Royal Caribbean, and have been sailing since 1997.  We are set to sail on Armonia on 10/7/19.  Staying in one of the two very front, forward section aurea suites.  We are not "Foodies" so-to-speak, as we eat lite most of the time, but how was the overall food & drink quality and the food & drink service?  Is the Ship easy to maneuver getting from the forward to the aft area restaurants, etc.?  How is the entertainment overall in the theater and the lounges,  etc.?  Does the ship have decks in the aft area with tables and chairs where you can eat your meals and/or just watch the wake of the ship?  How is the relaxation experience in the pool and whirlpool area?  How were the ship sponsored shore excursions, and did you go on the Big French Key Excursion in Roatan?

Many thanks for the info chengkp75😊👍

Yeah, Bluewake got lucky!  Normally, with most mainstream cruise lines, just because a cruiser upgrades his or her cabin, they only rarely get to keep the amenities they had with the cabin they upgraded to, as their original booking is cancelled by the cruise line, and they receive a new booking with an upgraded cabin, such as in the so called upgrade bid program, and usually the amenities they had with their original cabin cost extra to be added to their upgraded cabin.

Apparently upgrading from a Bella, Fantastica or Aurea Experience Package in an inside, ocean view, balcony or suite to a YC Level Cabin on MSC includes the YC Experience Amenities as well.  

Cruising on MSC Armonia on 10/7/2019 in one of the forward aurea suite cabins on Deck 12.  Does anyone know how the air conditioning is in those suites, as I assume they are on the same system as the Spa and Gym located on Deck 11 below?

These are reasons why I never bid for cabin upgrades with any cruise line, and why I don't deal with booking yacht club level type rooms.

Booking an Aurea Level Suite or Aurea Level Balcony Room is a much better value for the money with MSC, and honestly unless one just prefers the mega size ships like Seaside and Meraviglia, Armonia and Divina are more intimate and quieter, very clean (Armonia just rated a CDC Score of 97; Seaside scored 91) , and the service is better on these smaller ships too.

Searching for Fellow Cruisers who will be sailing on Adventure of the Seas for the May 5, 2018 5-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from San Juan to Cape Liberty, NJ? Also wondering how Atlantic Ocean conditions normally are in early May along the East Coast on this type cruise or Cape Liberty to Bahamas Cruises?

Many thanks fellow cruisers for the info concerning typical weather and sea conditions on this repositioning cruise itinerary! It is all greatly appreciated, and helps me feel a lot more comfortable about the cruise region itinerary.

My Wife, some close friends and I are set to cruise on Adventure of the Seas on its 5/5/2018, 5 Night Eastern Caribbean/Repositioning Cruise to Cape Liberty, NJ.

We are seasoned Caribbean Island cruisers, but this is our first cruise north to the New York City Area.

Have any fellow cruisers traveled a similar cruise in early May, and I wondered what to expect of the weather and sea conditions in the Atlantic Ocean along this cruise route.

It is hard to beat the overall selection of food in the Windjammer Restaurants, and the dessert offerings are exceptional there. My Wife and I have loved eating at the Windjammer ever since our 2nd cruise, which was on Explorer of the Seas to Eastern Caribbean for July 4th Week in 2001; we are not foodies; we don't mind the lines we have to stand in to get served, and we really enjoy being able to dress more casual than is required or recommended for the MDR. Also, you can order most any meal in Windjammer that is served in the MDR.

The MDR is great also, and the food there is usually very good, and the dinning room staff very courteous and helpful, but the serving process is just too regimented for us.

We normally do not dine at the Specialty Restaurants with the exception of Johnny Rockets, which we both have loved to eat at for many years. Very happy that the Johnny Rockets on Allure serves breakfast!

We hope each and all our fellow cruisers a great cruise on Allure!!