JT1962

MSC has been limiting the number of solo cruisers on sailings in the past year or so. Some have reported booking a second person (real or fictitious) and having them be a no show at check in as an option. You can still find solo options, but you usually have to book well in advance. The longer cruises / Grand Voyages also seem to have more openings for solos.

We went to Cinque Terre from Genoa on our own by train in October and it was very easy. You should be able to do the same from Livorno. I would recommend a ticket from Livorno to Levanto, then use a 5 Terre Express ticket to travel between the villages, then a ticket from La Spezia to Livorno for your return. The trains run often and are very economical. You can book online, or use the app, which will save time instead of booking at the stations. Book a ticket for your return from La Spezia that allows changes in times, in case you decide to return earlier or later than originally planned. https://www.thetrainline.com/ https://www.trenitalia.com/en/services/travel-around-5-terre.html

I’m glad you had no issues. It’s frustrating when the cruise website conflicts with the official government website. The customer service reps are rarely any help and a check-in agent with bad / outdated information can deny boarding.

That appears to be where they are headed. The Seashore main casino is smoke free and they opened a small casino for smokers next to the sports bar.

I believe they would be if they had never joined the Voyagers Club or had not previously asked for a status match.

Their IT systems are definitely the worst I have seen in the cruise industry.

The MSCforMe app does have messaging. You have to enter those you want to chat with once you board. I had to log out and log back in a few times a day to get all the messages to come through. It seems to disconnect then reconnect when you go to different areas of the ship and the messaging portion didn’t always reconnect. As an FYI, if you have an iPhone, you can usually send / receive iMessages to other to other iPhones without the WiFi package, as long as you are connected to the WiFi network to use your MSCforMe app. It doesn’t work for Androids.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I was just in the Seashore and got the Health Questionnaire in my documents, but others did not. The agent just asked those with no completed form the questions at check in.

Did they add a smaller smoking casino like they did on the Seashore? That seems to be the direction they are heading.

MSC will match your status, although the perks may not be exactly the same. https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/msc-voyagers-club/status-match Just curious as to where the free offer was from. Was it directly from MSC?

Last week on the Seashore was the first time they did not re-take my picture at check in. They just used the one I uploaded, which looked terrible, lol. They also asked for the completed health questionnaire for the first time in at least a year. The check-in agent even reminded another agent that they had gotten a notice to start collecting the questionnaire or asking the health questions.

I’ve taken 9 cruises on MSC in the last 2 years and have never had them even look at my boarding time. On the Seashore last week, I had my boarding time changed by MSC from 2:00 PM originally, to 11:30 on the eTicket and finally 4:00 PM via text the day before the cruise. I kept my original booked shuttle time, arrived at 10:30, dropped my luggage and was onboard by 10:50.

Realize that there will be some differences between MSC & Carnival - MSC has fewer complimentary dining options (usually just the buffet or main dining room on most ships), MSC has passengers boarding and debarking at each port on the Mediterranean itineraries, wash cloths & top sheets on the beds are usually not provided (but can be requested), the menus will feature more seafood & pasta and less red meat & potatoes than Carnival, MSC does not have a separate comedy club and may not have a comedian on any night in the theater. These aren’t meant as negatives, just pointing out differences to expect so you aren’t surprised / disappointed.

I was just on the Seashore for consecutive 3, 7 & 4 night cruises, all booked separately. I received a Specialty Restaurant Dinner, bottle of Prosecco, macaroons and one hour in the Thermal Spa on each of the 3 segments. I only received the Diamond Reception invitation and dance class invitation on the 7 night portion. I got no Voyagers Club gift on any segment. I asked at reception and they said “It’s not included on the 3 & 4 night cruises” & “We are out of the free gift” on the 7 night portion.

The Seashore opened a smoking casino area in a small room next to the Sports Bar in November. It is completely enclosed, so only a minor smoking smell if you happen to walk by when someone is entering or leaving. There is no smoking allowed now in the main casino, that I have seen.

I have had MSC give an estimate on port charges on longer cruises that were higher than what we actually incurred. They refunded the difference back to my credit card during the sailing once the actual charges were known.

I walked to Junkanoo Beach and the Fish Fry last week and felt safe and had no issues. I didn’t wander off the main road.

I believe that policy is only for Yacht Club. Unless something has changed, you get a full refund on non-Yacht Club bookings as long as you cancel prior to the final payment date.

From my experience the MSC Muster Dril is only better than what most ships did prior to Covid. It is definitely not better than what Carnival and many others do now where are you watch the video at home or on your phone before you board the ship, then just check in at your muster station as soon as you board. MSC has everyone watch the video in their cabin, then go to the Muster Location all at once or in groups by floor. MSC is much more chaotic than the process on other lines, with hundreds of people crowding the stairways to all go to their muster station at the same time.

Yes. I have found that as well. I think their system will put a hold on a cabin for a certain amount of time, if you go far enough through a booking, but don’t finalize it. I was looking at one booking to see what cabins were available, then went back in later, to actually book the cruise and it said solos were not available. The following day I tried again and was able to book in the cabin I had chosen originally. It seems they sometimes they release more solo cabins closer to the sail date, if the sailing isn’t selling well. So always keep checking.

I had similar concerns before trying MSC in January 2022. I have found it to be perfect for me traveling solo and will be boarding the Seashore on Thursday for my 8th MSC cruise. There are differences as compared to Carnival, Royal Caribbean & NCL, but there are more similarities than differences, from my experience. Outside of their website and Customer Service issues prior to boarding, I have enjoyed my cruises. I have found the food to be equivalent to or better than the other lines, although there are probably a few less choices on the menus in the dining room compared to other lines. Unless someone has some very restrictive dietary requirements, or is very choosy, finding something good to eat at each meal should not be a problem. The pizza is the best I have had on any cruise line. I have found that some travel agents refuse to book with MSC. The agency I had used for years refuses to book with MSC due to the Customer Service issues they experienced in the past. I did find a travel agent who was able to book me on an MSC cruise last year, but she said she would never book anyone on MSC again after she had to spend three hours on the phone over multiple calls trying to resolve one minor issue. I now book directly with MSC, but make sure I choose the cabin / experience I want and try to never contact them after booking. My advice is to try it and see. People either seem to love or hate MSC. If you go with an open mind and don’t compare every difference to what you’ve experienced on other lines, I think you will enjoy it.

The only place I ever saw ice cream on MSC was on the Divina in 2022 and early 2023. They had a soft serve machine near the pool each afternoon from approx. 2 - 4 PM. It was free. On the May 2023 transatlantic cruise, they did not have it, and I have not seen that offered on Meraviglia, Seascape or Seashore.

Soot is common on most ships I have been on in the last 35 years. Open air train excursions as well. Cruising isn’t for everyone.

I know you can call and cancel an excursion that has been paid for. I have not seen or used an online option. My refunds have taken 3-4 weeks to be credited back to my credit card.

I could be off on the flight times. I have taken the Everglades and City Tour in the past year after MSC Cruises. Domestic flights may have been 3:00 and International 5:00 or 6:00.