roberttz

• 7 hours ago, MonsterJoe said:

  Just to close the loop on this - I remembered to look, and our YIN tv at least, did indeed have an HDMI connection in it.
  
  I didn't use it or try to - but it's there.

   

Yes there is a HDMI input on the side of the TV.

Unfortunately that HDMI connection is of no use.

The TV has it's own software which disables the access to HDMI port.
I even called the guest services and she said that port is not usable.

Well I am the OP and didn't expect this thread to take off like this 🙂
All I wanted to know was how the tipping/service fee is handled on MSC (prepaid or at the end of a cruise).
It was fun reading the diversion!
In any case I got my answer thank you all. 
Off to Merviglia in 2 days (at least COVID test is green 🙂 )

Tapi thank you for clarifying.

14 minutes ago, Tapi said:

The NAAT test offered at Walgreens is called IDNOW and, according to their website, you can expect results within 24 hours. However, both times I’ve taken this test (in July and September) the results were back in about an hour. IDNOW tests are processed in store which allows for a quick turnaround time. 
 

Even though I had both PCR and NAAT results with me, I showed the NAAT results at check in to make sure that MSC would accept them, and they did. 

Is the Walgreen IDNOW test acceptable to MSC?
I have an appointment for Antigen test at CVS which is 1/2 hour from my house.
However CVS is 5 min.

I will find out soon but based on this statement, I should be able to change the timing...
 

• This is what it says on the web site...
  Doesn't say much about timing options...
• 

Also found this, which implies I should be above to change online to flexi eary or flexi-late. I could not figure out how to do on their website.

Hi,

 Going on Meraviglia in few days...
We are in Fantastica experience which allows to change dinning time.

 6 people (3 couples) booked for early dining.

 
I have done anyTime /yourTime flexible time option on other cruises and we like it.
With only 1 ppl the wait was never longer than 5-15 min.

With 6 people it may be little longer, on the other hand sailings at less capacity this may not be an issue.

BTW: we have marked 3 cabins bookings as travel with.

What are our options on MSC?

Thank you.

Thank you both. We are going this Saturday and it's good to know food quality is good.

Kathy,
 We are also in Fantastica balcony.

 Unfortunately my minimum bid amount is $995 pp.
 I assume your was $565 pp.
 There are still YC deluxe balcony 30+ cabins left.
 

1 hour ago, Kruizin'Kath said:

We are super happy about our upgrade, but we are traveling with another couple and our cabins are now on opposite sides of the ship. 14002 and 14003. Our reservations are connected and I'm wondering if someone thought those cabins were side by side like the ones we booked?!?! When I called, they told me I might lose the upgrade if we tried to move cabins, as we both had an empty adjacent cabin! Oh well, we can deal!

Small price to pay I guess 🙂
BTW: How much are YC balcony cabin upgrade they accepted?
I am not paying another 2K !
$995 is the lowest they would accept in the email offer I got.

14 hours ago, Kruizin'Kath said:

We got our email this morning for upgrade to YC for 9/25 Meraviglia sailing

😀

We also got email 2 days ago for 2/25 Mera sailing.
YC Interior is $380/pp 
YC Balcony is $955. (At additional $2K it would triple what we paid for 2 🙂 )
I did notice 35+ YC balcony still available 🙂
Since we have 3 cabins I want to upgrade them all at the same time.
I might try at check-in and see what they offer.

Ok thanks, that makes it easy...

What are the norms for tipping?
My last few cruises were Carnival and Princess.
On both of these I always picked recommended daily $11-13 range/night/person PREPAID while booking.
MSC did not give me such option (I booked on their website).
I kind of like that so I don't have to arrange cash on the last day.

 
What's the average rate per person/night total (for all staff, room and dinning room)

Thanks

Thanks everyone. I will take the cable with me and update after Sep 25.

HI,

 I asked this earlier but let me ask a direct question to someone who recently took MSC cruise.
 What are the prices for below if you bought it on the ship?

•  8x10 print picture taken on studio backgrounds...
•  Online they have digital only (no prints but all digital pictures taken by their photographers) is $150.

            How much is this package on the ship?

 If price difference is not significant I would just wait to buy it on the ship.
I am hesitant to purchase online in case either of us fail the COVID test...

Thanks

Robert

Is there a HDMI input for the TV in the cabin?
Is it easily accessible?

This is for Meraviglia to be specific....

Thanks

11 hours ago, miataman19 said:

Just checked and Meraviglia is back to Green Status on the CDC website..

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html#cruise-table

Great news.
Now keep it green till I get onboard on 9/25 🙂

33 minutes ago, NRWPA said:

This is from their website:

 

The following requirements are for sailings from a United States port:

 

United States Citizens:

 

A valid passport that expires at least 6 months after your cruise departure. For additional United States passport information visit the United States Department of State travel information.

 

- OR -

An original birth certificate AND government ID. Visit the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) for a list of all approved documents.

Exceptions: United States citizens on cruises that begin and end at the same port in the United States can use a original government-issued picture ID (i.e. driver's license) AND an original government-issued birth certificate or original Naturalization Certificate.

 

 

Thank you for posting that.
Makes me feel much better.
That means I need to carry my naturalization certificate and driver license.
I will carry the passport anyways...

Hi,

  I am US citizen.

 Booked on Meraviglia on Sep 25th.

 My passport expires Dec 2021.
 I know that passport has to be valid several months (3 or 6) AFTER return date for flights.
 However in the case of a cruise I am not sure.
 Anyone know for sure?
I did not bother to renew because due to COVID US Passport service has a backlog.

Thanks

In my cruise ticket the state field is missing.
Rest of the information is correct, including zip code.
So I am not worried 🙂

On 9/3/2021 at 7:00 PM, SeaBrz said:

Go to CVS.com’s COVID section and find the test scheduling page. Use Port Miami (or your hotel) as location. I know a lot of the state was low on test supplies, but many areas were restocked over the past week. My Cocoa Beach CVS has plenty now. Walgreens.com may have the same.

Yes I am going to use CVS for this and get rapid antigen test (acceptable to MSC)
They allow booking of up to 2 weeks in advance.
This will allow me to schedule a test a day before my flight to Miami.
These spots do fill up fast but I see enough options at this time 2 weeks out.
My target is Thursday evening Sep 23, fly Friday afternoon Sep 24.

The tests are FREE.
Thanks everyone for airport testing links, that will be my back up plan.

BTW: I doubt MSC changed pier testing for the cost

. It was the embarkation time it was taking that killed the plan 🙂

For USA sailing, some COVID insurance is provided free of charge...

6 hours ago, Shippy said:

   Do not know if they are holding any cabins back or not for our 9/25 cruise.

But, just looking at what is available to book, there seems to be a lot of vacancies left especially in the yacht club.

I am also on the same cruise.
Is there a CruiseCritic meet/greet? I filled out something on roll call but did not hear anything.

If they offer dirt cheap upgrade I would consider YC, we have 3 cabins 🙂

Interesting thread.
Related question...
We have 3 cabins with 2 ppl each.
If I look at the various internet packages, we would like to get browse+stream package because it would give better performance overall.

Just the browse+stream package for 1 device is $100.
BTW: Why does it say Per Person ? Do they charge you $200 per cabin?

However browse+Stream package for 3 device is $251.

So in our case one of the cabin can book 3 device package and then we could pick one device from each family/cabin and register that... Unless they somehow enforce that devices has to be from the same cabin (I doubt it).
Granted price difference is not significant, but if it works why not ? 😀

Looks like MSC works differently than other cruise lines.

I have experience with Carnival and they have BX category for guaranteed Balcony.
In that category (slightly lower priced) you DO NOT get to pick exact cabin.
They actually never assign cabin till 24-48 hours before the cruise.

On the other hand all other category guarantees you exact cabin you picked (I never had it change on me).
I have done guaranteed cabin few times on Carnival and pleasantly surprised with the good locations but that's no guarantee in this category.

PS: I have fantastica on Sep 25th Meraviglia and picked a cabin with two other families next to each other. Hope it stays that way 🙂