ken_ll

pbi, you will make your flight.  Just off Seascape on Nov 25, put bags out night before.  After breakfast in dining room, butler escorted off us by 8:00 am, picked up bags in terminal.  Although we had number 71 on bags, there was no numeric signs for this but just the Yacht Club signage in the last room just before you exit.  At MIA by 9:00 am.  Tried Uber, but just could not connect.  Many Sprinter van types offering rides for $10/person, that’s what we took.  We were travelling with infant in stroller, otherwise we could have got to airport an hour earlier.

Hint, if there is a lineup exiting, use Porter and tell him/her you are taking an Uber and tip.  You will be taken to island for a pickup point unless you have arranged something else. If it is your first time exiting in Miami, it maybe overwhelming.

Facial recognition technology used by US Immigration speeds up process.

On 9/4/2023 at 11:48 AM, blueslily said:

Hello All,

 

We have a sailing booked on the Seascape. My friend's young adult daughter is booked as a solo in a cabin by herself. …………
 

How has Guest Services responded to requests like this? 

 

Thanks!

The wristband solution has been commented on.  We just got off a Princess cruise with a similar situation involving two cabins.  While I had the infant’s ship card to access the adjoining cabin, I wanted her mom to have access to our cabin.  The solution was Guest Services, they added our cabin to her medallion (card) so she had access to both cabins.  That was a logical solution.

Just off the CP today in Quebec City, ship was about 95% full, no issues with bar or dining room staff.  Drink orders while seated or at bar had responsive service and no delays.  From various accounts I read, I was expecting challenges getting a drink, it was the opposite.  No issues on cruise.

stoddaj1. I went back and looked at the email, as much as it was signed by Ian Patterson, the message was sent from "Canada Reservations" <Reservations@msccruises.ca>.  
It seems one can’t do PM’s on CC, if you send me an email to ken_ll@yahoo.com, I have a suggestion for you that might work.

My experience with Celebrity is to take their offer, there will be no other offers.  Booking through Celebrity Air, their guarantee is to get you to the ship which you acknowledge they did. There’s no more to it, cruise is over.  There was nothing more for Celebrity to do than to get you to the ship.

Consider the financial impact if you had not booked Celebrity Air. It 

Your issue is with Westjet.  You may try filing a claim with Westjet for a delayed arrival, $1,000 per person.   I think you would need your Westjet booking/locator number to start.  Don’t let Westjet weasel out of a claim by telling you their mechanical issues are safety related when they are actually maintenance issues.

Sounds to me you had a good cruise, you booked another one.  Time to think of the memories and move on.
 

On a Seaside cruise October/22, I had filled out the form re CPAP/distilled water.  Onboard, notified the butler.  He brought an 8 oz plastic glass with water, no cover.  Need more, just let him- butler know.  Taking a gallon onboard maybe more reliable.

On October, 2022 Seaside cruise in YC requested distilled water for CPAP.  I received an 8 oz. plastic glass with purported distilled water, used tap water after that.

gmdhardy. On the Oct 15/22 Seashore right now in YC.  All is well, service is friendly and great for the most part.  I seem to gravitate to the beef tenderloins for dinner, extremely tender.

Some quirks - Last night asked for Singapore Sling in YC lounge.  Bartender indicates missing two ingredients at bar, one being liquor.  So he made me something else.  Twenty minutes later, he was going to make a second same drink.  After a half hour, I ordered a rye and ginger thinking bartender forgotten.  The two drinks appear immediately.

Tonight waited in lounge to be escorted to gangway here in San Juan.  Pre-arranged with butler who was no show in lounge.  Asked at concierge desk on 16 as to what deck to disembark.  The attendant (Italian) was quite indignant that we would go to gangway without butler.  He directs us back to lounge and expects us to go.  That would solve his problem-us but not address the issue.  I explain butler no show in lounge.  He rounds up another butler.

Bottle of sparking wine chilling in room on Oct 15, another on Oct 16 as well as two chocolate ships (both Diamonds) and macaroons.  Today,  no more wine, fridge full.

Embarked Saturday at 11:30 am our given time.  Seemed like the whole ship had the same time.  The hall in Miami was full, no one moving and line ups everywhere, people sitting on floor.  The YC was slow, took 45 minutes but at least we boarded with relative ease and went past lines not moving.  We don’t venture into the chaos.

22 hours ago, movinout said:

Can anyone shed light on this?
 Thanks and I hope this makes sense!

I had that situation on a booked cruise, Caribbean Princess, Aug 31/22, 10 day, New York-Quebec City. Without signing into Princess, I got a lower price (dollars only) than when I was signed into my account.  I questioned a Princess rep. and she was able to locate the price but it was for new bookings only.

Twice this happened, so I would make the new booking, cancel the old one and have the deposits transferred to the new booking.  A bit of work for Princess, but they would not apply the lower price to my existing booking.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances we had to cancel the cruise and use the Cruise with Confidence option.

My S/D got the BCC offer to my email.  It allows to enter up to 4 names for the cruise.  We will take up the offer.  DW and I wonder why we never get this offer.  Celebrity probably feels the S/D will spend more with them over her lifetime than we will.  We were planning a cruise with S/D and her infant, this will fit the bill.  Only upgrade we would we be interested in is a suite which I suspect is unlikely.  DW and I are Elite Plus, so the drinks/internet package are not a concern.  Thanks Celebrity and BCC.

Just called Princess to cancel under the Cruise with Confidence policy.  I had a number of questions beyond that as well as Kids Sail Free, but we never got there, complete lack of confidence in random agent at a call centre.

My cruise is 34 days out and I wanted to cancel and receive amounts paid as a FCC.  The agent insisted I had to cancel only at 30 days and not before.  I asked if he had a supervisor, and he indicated that he would check.  He says I could cancel today, perhaps he learned something.

I

Princess uses the Sheraton Airport Vancouver Hotel near YVR in Richmond, BC.  One would have had to be tested positive on ship prior to disembarkation for Princess to arrange.  Once off ship, you are on your own cruise is over.  Some folks take self test on cruise.

One could look at testing positive last day of cruise, you get an additional 10 days in Vancouver quarantined at hotel - no fun.

Preferred result is negative/no test and go home.

We got off Serenade of the Seas (Alaska, May 29-June5), there was Covid on ship, elevators packed, dining room/buffet full.  Lots of coughing, sneezing, minimal 5% folks sanitized hands before entering dining venues.  Expect Covid on ships, I would not be surprised to see a mask policy reinstated.

6 hours ago, dog said:

I read some passengers were bussed from ship to an airport hotel near YVR for quarantine.

Quarantine hotel for Princess in Vancouver is the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel near YVR in Richmond.

There is no advantage to early ticketing.  Early ticketing impacts the opportunity to change flights (price drops) up to the 45 days before cruise.

Rty

16 hours ago, JetJock_YHZ said:

As an FYI for any Canadians reading this, at no point was I asked to provide any proof of the insurance that I purchased for the cruise, as per the MSC website.

JetJock_YHZ in the last few days MSC appears to have made a change in that Covid insurance is no longer required for Canadians and others from US ports.  Thanks for your comments on the boarding process.

No Covid insurance requirement by MSC for Canadian residents.
 

Lately a number of fellow Canadians have been reporting that MSC did not ask to see the mandatory Covid insurance coverage when sailing from a US port.  We have an October cruise on MSC and while poking around today and doing a mock booking, it appears to have been an unannounced change for Canadian residents sailing from the US.

The pop-up with the insurance information seems to have changed in the bolded text (by MSC).  How I read it, if sailing from the US, recommended to have Covid insurance, anywhere else right now, it is mandatory.
 

20 hours ago, bigblue1952 said:

This is our second cruise with MSC.  We love food, so this review is heavily based on that fact.

Enjoyed your detailed review.  Thanks for the insurance comment.  I would gather you had a YC inside the first week and had to vacate and move into a balcony for the second week, if that was the case, I consider it a fair trade.

We have been on the Seaside before, food was good, chef made a lamb Korma one night for DW.  We’re on the Seashore YC in October. We got the last inside cabin.

45 minutes ago, Eddie Wilson said:

Did any staff ASK you to give a review,

or is it something like,

Did any staff ask for a positive review.

 

How are we supposed to answer, don’t want to get anyone in trouble.

 

Eddie

I never respond to that or similar question.  Answering yes may have negative implications to service staff as a group, it’s like big brother is watching.

Their job is hard enough without that question.

17 hours ago, oilsand said:

I purchased a policy offered at the dock and boarded my cruise

oilsand, thanks for the update using TUGO.

The policy at the dock, is this regularly offered by MSC through TUGO or a US insurer?  Would it be possible to comment on a price range for this at dock?

On 3/12/2022 at 6:48 PM, Mary229 said:

The last time we were there we were able to rent a car for $30 a day. 

The days of a $30 car rental are over.  In the last 2 years prices are up, availability is down.  In many places, $100/day is a bargain.

I am not local to Cape Breton Island but originally from NS and have been to Baddeck many times.  Baddeck is rural, population perhaps 1,000 with limited taxis.  Unless you will be sited in one place in Baddeck, you really should consider renting a car for the day - convenience.  Unless you have driven the route before, expect steep hills and 180 degree turns.

Other option, ship tour or hire a taxi driver to take you to Baddeck, show you around and bring you back to the ship.  Consider a tour on the Cabot Trail with stop in Baddeck.  Baddeck is scenic and touristy, your May 31 date is before the tourist season but the Alexander Graham Bell Museum will be open.  Cash is the norm for taxi in Cape Breton.

Consider ourselves lucky perhaps, no interviews.  Both DW and I renewed Nexus this year and new cards (and new card sleeves) within 3 weeks.  Her card was renewed exactly 1 year after her expiry and on her birthday, good for 6 years.  Mine was renewed after expiry but before birthday, good for 5 years.  Friends are also waiting for interviews.  Not sure what triggers the interview.

Canceled cruise 85 days ago, no response as to FCC.  Sent email on CWC contact form 10 days ago.  Contacted RCCL 4 days ago at.1-866-562-7625 , a request to Resolutions Department sent by agent with a 5 day response time.  Yesterday got FCC in email from Resolutions Dept.  Not sure if email or human contact provided desired response.

I had a similar situation with an existing booking a 10 night New York to Quebec City cruise in August.  The price dropped $410 for my cabin and I contacted Princess on Friday, the agent eventually found my pricing but could not adjust it.  The solution was to rebook online at the lower fare and call in to cancel prior booking and transfer payments.

On Sunday, like the OP I went to make the new booking while signed in, the price showing was $710 higher (the $410 drop reversed plus $300).  Went back into Princess without signing in, the lower price was reflected, then signed in and booked.  Just have to call Princess to cancel the higher priced booking and transfer payments.

This is the second time for this process, with the Princess Valentine promo in Feb. the price dropped significantly, I am now on the 3rd booking for the cruise to take advantage of price drops.

I think it is a MSC thing, there is no logic. After 7 weeks, you are too patient.  You have to get MSC to notice you.

I called 2 weeks ago, 5 calls, 4 calls dropped at 22 minutes, connected on the 5th call. The agent was pleasant/efficient.  I suspect staff are still working from home.

You have to let MSC know you like a reply, email them once a day.  I’m not into social media, but perhaps on Facebook raise a question.  Alternatively, get someone to call on your behalf, try calling just minutes before their opening time to get into the queue.