MaisonRose

We were certainly nonplussed on our Queen Mary arrival in Brooklyn in Dec 2021 & I’d think twice about using that location again. It was about out of the way as an industrial port can get.

Last Spring we were really excited that the Rotterdam was sailing out of New York, an easy train ride from our Maryland home. Booked & ready to go and then emergency surgery stopped us in our tracks. I adore HAL & I am never as happy on other lines, and we…are high status. But as we advance in age the trip to Florida has become a big and expensive slog. The overnight hotels in Fort Lauderdale must be the worst value in the USA, and that’s after the flight: going to Florida pre-cruise adds over $500 to the cost. So missing the Rotterdam’s one-off New York-Rotterdam sailing was heartbreaking and I’m wondering if there are others out there who would welcome NYC or east coast departures? I looking forward to comments from fellow HAL fans. Thank you. Susan

Be sure to do some last minute checking just in case. I’m going to recheck at two weeks out and again at one week & again the day before my Nov 9 trip. in any case I have had five vaccinations and always keep the proof in my document case. Also a foreign country might suddenly decide that they want proof. Here in France I’m scheduled for a jab on Oct 20. The govt has just announced the new program.

My first MSC booking did the same thing. UNTIL I was looking at the confirmation from my TA and the booking number was a link to MSC. DONT know why, but you might try that.

Sorry to ask but what is Med by MSC?

Great idea. I got some on TEMU my new favorite on line store. Just got a set of AirTags for our upcoming trip to Egypt, too. Those cruise luggage tags with cable saved me: mine was still on the bag with my (French ) cell # which is how we got back together! i spent a ten day visit to London with the few things in my backpack plus the $200 worth of replacement meds. At least I learned that I can pack lighter. Susan BTW I normally watch my bag during a train stop, but my seatmate was sleeping at Lyon & I didn’t have the heart to waken a stranger.

Is there a Venchi on the ORCHESTRA? They have exquisite gelato!

You might be stuck unless the NCL plan includes a half day bus wander around Marseille. Sadly the sunny Marseille PROVENCE airport has very little to amuse you except some cafes and sandwich shops like Au Bon Pain. Technically your check in time might be 12:45 but you can’t choose the shuttle departure time, so take a good book. We’ll, you might see some famous people rush through on their way to their Villa in the hills. There is free public Wi-Fi. IF you weren’t booked on the Airporttransfer then the local shuttle to Les Terrassas du Port (shopping center, restaurants) could amuse you before catching a taxi to the airport. But then there’s pesky luggage involved.

There is a local train from St Charles to Aix. You’ll need to take the local shuttle port to train which has some iffy reports. You might try Uber (I just did and there is no pickup at the Port Croisières Marseilles) and trust me taxis around here are sometimes more expensive than airfares to London. You might be stuck with that bus shuttle. But read this… https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/organize-your-stay/practical-information/access-to-marseille-cruise-port/ This shuttle goes to Terrasses du Port, a shopping center. There is a city train there but I would use a taxi to the station. I’m leaving from that port in Nov. & it’s an awkward problem getting to/from the cruise port, 8 km from the Gare St Charles.

The TGV from Marseille St. Charles train station. Watch your luggage during stops ( someone mistakenly disembarked with my bag in July). Try the Trainline UK website or Rail Europe to compare fares with https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/tgv . The TGV stops at Gare de Lyon in Paris. Do pré book as fares go up or become unavailable the closer to your date. You can book 90 days out. If you use public transport allow three hours to TGV departure/ two hours by taxi. Bon Route, Susan

Some Orchestra questions tho w/ a short cruise you might not have noticed: we’re sailing Marseille to Luxor for 10 days. Is there a Library & a book exchange? I live near Marseille & could offer up lots of good English paperbacks & guide books. Also are there games: dominoes, decks of cards,etc? Can you tell that I’ve sailed HAL a lot with lots of the above? On Seascape last Nov there was a really good water boiler for tea. Did you notice that? ( it actually showed the temperature & produced a wonderful cup of tea). Thanks to anyone who knows the Orchestra who will join in.

Well: an update. No miracles but my agent got me back to 12133 which like you said, at least 12134 is through the Lift passage. It is still under the pool/buffet deck but as you pointed out, preferable to separate decks. Our holiday will be much more fun if I let go of my anxiety and go with the flow. Thanks to all of you for your support. Susan

Age, mobility. The last thing these 80 Something’s need is to spend energy looking for each other. Sadly that’s what it comes to eventually!

Well: my long term (11 yrs) agent managed to change our friends cabin back to the original 11191 and now we are 12133 on different decks. I’m Diamond, this is their second cruise ever. So obviously this is totally arbitrary. We would be best on the same deck, right?

MSC ORCHESTRA NOV 9 from Marseille. i just received my new invoice and in checking details my cabin # 11191 has been changed to cabin #12133. our travel companions have been moved from cabin #11189 #12134 …. I’m so we are now below the pool deck and we’re on port side and they are on starboard. I’m sure you all understand that I spent a long time researching cabin locations and booked our original assignment based on it’s availability. Advice, please We booked this cruise through our long time rep from an internet company. Also we are in our 80s. Thanks to all my fellow cruisers for your wisdom. Susan.

Here is what I learned, which only answers part of your question. My experience: Seascape in Dec, .22. Several times I walked off late, once just to the Pavillion to connect to Wi-Fi. Returning passengers had to get in the SAME LINE as the new arrivals in order to reboard the ship. Those passengers had carryons so the lines took quite awhile. AnAside about visiting Bermuda….the island does not have nearly enough public buses to handle a large passenger ship. If I ever go to the Kings Wharf again I would stay on the ship.

The App message says that my ship (Orchestra) is not a « smart » ship.

My very British friend would demur.

Preparing for my next MSC Cruise: I’m a recognized Diamond status. Do I need to re confirm my status or does it stay in my record? This is my second cruise within one year. t Thanks for indulging this side topic. Susan

Yes: on the Seaview we were staying a bit forward: a long walk from the dining venues. Surely MSC could put some kind of food in the forward part of the ship.

Get the date, time and agent’s name when you phone to cancel.

Although the Cunard cancellation was westbound, unlike Enchantment. (I had the same thought for my May 1 Anthem sailing to the UK). I feel very sorry for the QM2 passengers left abandoned in SOUTHAMPTON. Susan

I just received an email with very attractive RT fares to Europe on TAP.

My policy: never have a crab cake unless you are in Maryland. About G&M I find that their huge crab cakes have more mushy filler since their renovation. But it is wonderfully convenient to BWI. To Californians, I can report that I lucked into a very good crab cake in Sonoma back in the 90s.Also folks: read the label: there is a lot of crab meat coming in from Asia. And skip the Worchestershire sauce.