TVanTuyl

I paid Monday my final payment for my November cruise, the last day that I could pay for it is this Saturday but I was hoping by paying it earlier I may get my room assignment sooner (I booked a balcony guarantee), but its been a few days ... what is the typical timeframe for room assignments? After the (roughly) 60 day prior to cruise date final pay date time frame? Does that make sense lol

Richstowe my comments were aimed at the person who said "If someone is having that hard of a time financially how can they afford a cruise?" but she herself said "maybe I am naive" ... I was too, before my problems.

To your comment, just because you (or your cat :D ) are sent a credit card offer, it does not mean that they will be approved.

I had not thought about a credit union, thank you for that suggestion

My 21 year old is learning this now... he has the attitude that he can see his bank statement online and doesn't write checks so he keeps track without balancing his checkbook... $385 in fees later was a rude awakening!

I always rent from Enterprise, each location states different rules, but every one that I have inquired to just takes a $350 to $500 hold on your debit card, and then they credit or charge the card with the amount between the deposit and the actual cost. I love Enterprise! Oh also no credit check, but they do want a couple of utility bills to prove your address.

Anyone who "can't understand bad credit" is very lucky indeed.

well said. 3 years ago I went through something similar (remove medical and insert divorce), and I cannot even get a secured credit card. What I think is patently unfair is that someone who declared bankruptcy and walks away from most of their obligations can start getting credit cards within months of "clearing" those debts ... my coworker is one such person. Here I am, happily working like a dog at a job that I love, keeping current on ALL payments, healthy savings and even (gasp!) a cruise or two a year, and I STILL cannot get even a secured card. It is disheartening to say the least (which is why I enjoy my cruises so much :D )

so it is easy to make comments like what I have read on here when someone may not have a clue what they are talking about.

Thank you very much Gerry, the reason I started looking in to MSC is because they offer the itinerary that I want for a future cruise, and it is reviews like the OP and yours that continue to remove the doubts from my mind. To be fair, my TA books a lot of Crystal, Azamara etc, so she is comparing MSC to the top lines, which is not really fair. Thank you again!

The company she works for deals with "higher end" lines and she doesn't have a say in which companies they sell. The biggest common complaints she hears from clients of hers who are past passengers of MSC and Costa is that the Italian staff is not as polite and attentive as the other lines, and the heavily smoking passengers are a problem if you are a non smoker.

excellent review, it inspires me to bite the bullet and get serious about booking a solo cruise! And on MSC! I have a friend who is a TA and she said NOT to travel on MSC (she doesn't book Costa, Carnival, MSC etc), but I may just have to ignore her advice!

LoveIICruise what didn't you like about Argentina?

we did the combination Casino (Riviera del Pacifico) and winery tour (Bodegas de Santo Tomas), our tourguide was a lovely woman named Belen, she was amazing and made a nice tour simply amazing!

I've never been to most of the places described, but I just saw a short documentary about the McAfee/Belize drama, and a lot of the focus was how safe Belize is ... have things changed, or are there different areas from the cruise ports that they were saying were safe?

we have a client who is a sous chef there (Tom Colicchio's place), I just hope other places follow suit! Do you have Chipotle's in FL? They have started to label the GMO products on their menu, I haven't been since they implemented that rule, so I don't know how the menu looks, but I may take a stroll in and see?

drat, I assumed that would be the case but am relatively new to cruising and don't read the boards religiously so I thought I'd check. Thanks for your info! And yes, it is very sad!!

I am learning a lot about GMO foods and understand that most European countries have banned GMO foods ... is anyone aware if any CRUISE lines provide non-GMO foods? I assume ships purchase what is available in the ports that they visit so it may be a case by case thing and not a "rule", but I was just curious if anyone here has heard anything about it?

wow I'm surprised to see Santa Barbara on the list, I grew up there and I STILL like going to see the different sights. Also the best ice cream on the planet (McConnell's) is made there, so it is always a required stop :D

Thanks to those posters who said "why" certain ports are no-go's, it helps explain to newbies like me why the same ports show on the 'no' lists.

I am looking for a 7(ish) day Middle Eastern cruise and am having problems! I don't want MSC or Costa, but the few other itineraries I've found are out of my pricerange ... any suggestions where to look would be gratefully appreciated!

 

I had a chance to spend time there alone as a solo female traveler,

 

I am looking at going on a middle eastern cruise as a solo female traveler, did you find anything about it difficult? I have traveled extensively on my own but never to the ME.

One last question (because I forgot this sister was born in England on a Military base so she is a US Citizen and had a US Passport), is her having a NON US BC a problem? I of course am encouraging her to get a passport which would alleviate all of our concerns!

it was probably clear but I am new and I guess just confused in general. I understand now that regardless of whether or not we get off the boat, that has no bearing on the passport requirements.

I just want to make sure: if she has those two documents (her US birth certificate and a US Drivers license) she can board the ship without any problems, correct? She is looking for her passport but we are only 3 months away so if she needs to get a new one we need to know soon which is why I am asking now.

Thanks again!

I re-read what you said and will contact my TA again, thank you!

The Princess phone rep told me my sister would be fine with a BC and ID as long as she didn't get off the ship in Mexico, my TA was correct when she told me the same that you told me.

Thank you for your answer, now I need to nag my sister!

Are you required to have a passport on all cruises with international stops, even if you do NOT get off the ship? I got one answer from Princess and one from my Travel Agent. We are going on a California Coastal cruise in April and my sister can't find her passport. We aren't getting off the ship at the only stop in Mexico so we didn't think it was a problem, but since we've gotten conflicting answers I am nervous!