jkgourmet

15 hours ago, Seadweller001 said:

As far as food, I can only speak for the food served to us.  Two nights the Italian Chef made delicious lasagna, two nights in the specialty restaurants which best Tuscan, Sushi on 5 and Murano.  A bit more expensive ala carte menu but excellent.

 

The portions were huge as witnessed by the posted pictures.  The eight huge shrimp were great.  The pastry chef made my apple into a rabbit.

 

Food is subjective but IMO our meals were far superior to Luminae both food quality, presentation and great service.

Are those photos from the MDR, YC or speciality restaurants?

17 hours ago, heatherb1958 said:

Thanks for your review Seadweller , we are converts to MSC from many cruises with RCI and have also done a few with Celebrity though we travel in the cheap seats , 😆. 
 

jkgourmet- which ship are you on ? We have done Bella inside on Meraviglia, Bellissima and Grandiosa plus Bella balcony on Magnifica .  We only usually pay for the next level when MSC do the promotion ‘free Premium drinks package for Fantastica and above ‘  The only main thing you have to remember is no free room service with Bella other than that there is not much difference to the next level Fantastica. 
Love MSC ships and have booked  to go on Preziosa again in September . 
 

 

Mera.  We have only ordered room service once or twice on 25+ cruises,  so that's no worry.  However, I admit that I screwed up and didn't do proper research on the easy package.  Had known about it's inadequacies, we very likely would not have booked.  (No, we are not going to pay the daily charge to upgrade. )

4 hours ago, emmas gran said:

Hi Dubai boarding Bellissima today  was good,no actual temperature check just the health questionnaire . We arrived at port around 9 am an d on the ship by 10 am in YC.

I'm sorry but it's  GOOD that no health checks  were done????????

8 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Latest press release from Anthem....... more use of my pesky 'conclusive' word:

 

 

 

I'm not sure I understand why folks are concerned about the word "conclusive."  Merriam Webster dictionary definition  is "putting an end to debate or question especially by reason of irrefutability".

Why is that indecisive? 

It will be interesting to compare our 5 cruiseswith X in OV and inside cabins (usually GTY) with our upcoming MSC Bella Inside.

I already know that the Easy Package is WAY less inclusive than than what X offers.   

And we'll miss anytime dining.  

6 minutes ago, SirWolf said:

Agree, but at least they can monitor patients in a controlled environment other than risking patients at home infecting more people. A major factor of prevention is to identify suspected patients and quarantine for the time required.

Absolutley true.  CruisinCow is spot on.  In Wuhan (and I believe throughout China), there's little opportunity for treatment for those already infected.  But quarantine is essential - and I commend china for taking that action (and agree with the cruise ships that have done the same - pre-board or after boarding.

May I point out something related to mortality rates that seems to be ignored here and in many (most?) Media reports (including the reliable sources)?

Obviously,  the mortality rates will be higher in certain areas; specifically, areas with minimal or inadequate health care.  Wuhan is one of those areas - in fact, I'd suggest that the entire country of china has healthcare below US and European standards. 

Those areas will have higher mortality rates due to TWO issues:

1. Inadequate medical personnel,  medical facilities, etc for treating those who have become infected.

2.  A less healthy population before this epidemic even began.

13 hours ago, AviationInScale said:

If any of you actually believe the casualty numbers being released by the CCP,  you are incredibly naive. There are over 25,000 dead right now. In a little over a month's time. There's a reason the Chinese Police are welding peoples' doors shut.

Umm. Those numbers were leaked from a company called Tencent, which is the largest online gaming company.  The also own social media and chat sites in china.  I'm inclined to believe Tenant's reports about as much as most of the crap I read on facebook.  

6 minutes ago, CruisinCrow said:

 

We're supposed to sail on the 18th and I've got my fingers crossed that's things are much more under control by then.  But if they aren't, it is my decision whether or not to cancel based on my calculations of the risk.

I agree with you 100%.  I just don't think that a business is responsible to give you a refund.

2 hours ago, renatops said:

 

 

But it just surprises me the 11 month decision when we have so many unkowns.

Because they know passengers are not going to visit Asia for awhile.    Like any other business,  NCL has to make a profit.  That means they need to fill those cabins.  Smart business decision to move the ship and do itineraries that people will book.

I've no doubt that other cruiselines will do the same.

Beardface gets it again.  See his post #45

1 hour ago, Beardface said:

 

With all due respect, this is the kind of paranoia that doesn't help at all.

 

Neither MSC nor any of the other major cruise lines are going to cancel cruises in the coming weeks in the Caribbean because of a disease that is going on in China and Asia.  They're not, and they're not going to honor people who have no connection to those regions who are trying to back out at the last minute.  You knew what you signed up for when you booked.  You knew the rules, and you should have understood what it meant by "non-refundable final payment".

 

There are just over 31k people globally who have contraced this virus.  The number could be higher, but that's what we know right now..  The number of people who have contracted this and aren't living in China?  About 300.  The number of people who have contracted this and haven't recently been to China?  Less than 10, officially.

 

Right now, you have a greater chance of getting into a car accident and dying on the way to the ship than you do of actually having to worry about this on your vacation.  And with MSC stepping up and outright barring anyone who has a recent China stamp on their passport, or any Chinese national who has the sniffles, or anyone who has associated with someone who fits in that description, the chances you'll be impacted are even lower.  So at this point, there is nothing stopping you from going outside of your own fear and paranoia over something that has yet to come to fruition.  And the cruise line doesn't have to reimburse you for your own paranoia.

Finally.  Somebody who gets it. 

Y'all should be more frightened of the annual flu season we get in the USA,  whivh statistically kills more than double the numbers that die from corona.   BTW how many of you didn't bother getting an annual flu shot???

We sail out of miami on feb 16th.  We've got our fingers crossed that lots of people cancel, especially those with kids.  

2 hours ago, MrMike45 said:

NCL just posted that all sailings on the Spirit (which is currently in China/Singapore/Hong Kong) have been cancelled thru December 2020.  Cancelling 10 months worth of cruises (and refunding all those passengers) plus giving them all a credit for a future booking is likely costing them millions of dollars.  Which they would not do at a whim.  So leads me to believe that the cruise lines fear this might be a long ongoing issue.  

It would be so much better if people posted the actual facts.

NCL has cancelled all ASIA itineraries on the Spirit through 2020.  No doubt they will simply move the ship to another part of the world and book new passengers.  They will not leave cabins empty or  lose "10 months worth if cruises."

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/22418-norwegian-cancels-spirit-s-2020-asia-program.html

14 hours ago, renatops said:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2020/02/04/coronavirus-cases-down-from-weekend-levels-as-china-predicts-fall-in-mortality-rates/

 

"fatality rate was 2.1% with the majority of deaths at the epicenter of the outbreak in Hubei province.
The average fatality rate was only of 0.16% outside of Hubei, with around 80% of those who died being over 60 years old. At least 75% of confirmed deaths were people who had underlying health problem such as diabetes"

 

0.16%?

Isn't this less than the regular flu?

Correct.  See post #45 in this thread.

My standard advice to a first time cruiser:

Arrive the day before the cruise debates (exceptions if you drive from a location maybe less than 6 hours away.)

Pack one-half of what you think you need.  

Kids?  Be aware of the extra cost items - certain beverages and activities. 

18 minutes ago, fishin' musician said:

Thank you all, I appreciate the commentary.  As for the the Yacht Club, I don't think I'm the Ivory Tower type.  The Windstar cruises we've taken have all been on the formerly Seaborne power yachts (212 pax/150 crew), and while I wouldn't call it luxury, it is all suites and the food and service have been ridiculously good.  And due to the size of the vessels they call on many tiny ports that are off the beaten path.

Umm, if you're used to and want or expect the same quality of food, service, luxury, etc as Windstar,   MSC and Costa should definitely NOT be on your radar.

11 hours ago, fdpevey said:

Call? Is there a telephone number for the Voyagers Club?

Sort of.  You call the regular number, and you'll get the automated answering service.  Do not punch the number for those who are already booked.  Wait for the number for the number given f iui r the voyagers club - I think it's number 5 or 6.  (They do a fine job of hiding it)

12 hours ago, renatops said:

(hope nobody is wearing masks).

Don't go to japan.  50% or more residents wear a mask ALL the time.  More in the cities in china.

4 hours ago, sfaaa said:

And some just rinse their hands for 5 seconds under the tap without using soap. Total waste of clean water.

Some?  Most are under 10 seconds or not at all.  Bring back the Purell.

16 minutes ago, SirWolf said:

I agree. Property hygiene is most important to prevent infection and the spread of viruses.

Unfortunately even (male) adults don’t wash their hands after using the restroom. Noticed it multiple times that men in tailored suits wearing expensive watches exited the stalls , brushed with one hand through their hair and went straight out the restroom. I felt sorry for the wife/gf to have such a ‘gentleman’ as partner.

The motto should be “washy washy after poopy poopy”.

 

1.  Personal hygiene is unrelated to economic success or social class.  (It's somewhere between weird and rude that you even refer to expensive suits and watches).

2.  It's not just "poopy-poopy".  🧐

1 hour ago, Liverzeb said:

This could be a great idea if guests are not using the sanitisers

A certain portion of the guests NEVER use sanitizers.   In fact, now that the washing stations are replacing the Purell washy-washy crew,  I'm guessing less than half wash up as they enter the buffet.  Even less wash enough to be adequate.   And what happened to the Purell when you LEAVE the buffet.

It's sad, but true.  

22 hours ago, onetimearoundtheworld said:

 

Isn't the point that you don't have to cancel because of medical reason but get refused boarding because you coughed at the wrong time without being sick in the sense of unable to travel in the insurance policy sense?

Apart from all the practical questions. Will the personal in the terminal give you anything in writing? Will that have a quality that the insurance accepts? If you are not sick and test show you don't have flu or corona virus, how to get a doctor to give you the proper documentation needed for the claim later? 

Good questions.  Might be worth an email to our travel insurance company.  (Note I said email; anything some agent tells me on the phone is potentially incorrect and legally useless.)

6 minutes ago, Liverzeb said:

I do have travel insurance but that won't help me book transatlantic flights or pay for accommodation - I will not get instantly reimbursed.

I guess I don't understand.  With a few exceptions for hospital expenses, travel covered items are reimbursements.  One uses a credit card for flights, meals, accommodations, etc and gets reimbursed from the insurance company.  

If the credit limit on the CC isn't enough to cover, call them.  They will almost certainly increase it temporarily.   You might consider calling them before you travel to get the increase organized  

Freeport:  Sorry to sound so negative, but honestly, it's a pit (IMHO).  My suggestion is to stay on the ship and enjoy the peace and quiet until the passengers that are in port realize it's awful and head back to the ship.

1 hour ago, Liverzeb said:

 

While this is a good step to take to protect guests on the cruise, it leads to the possibility of guests not being able to travel because they have a temperature (not necessarily caused by the new coronavirus or any contagious disease). I am more concerned about getting to Miami on Feb 15 and being refused boarding due to me or my wife having a temperature of 38 or above. This would leave us in Miami a week away from our scheduled flight home and with no accommodation.

 

Is there any precedent for this? If you booked through a tour operator like us and your cruise is part of a package where would you stand regarding a refund and also costs incurred by either staying in Miami for a week or rearranging your flight home?

You purchased insurance that would cover you if you had a health related cancellation, right?  

4 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

We were scheduled on the Splendida repositioning sailing from Shanghai on February 14th, we've received confirmation from MSC today we will now embark on 13th February in Singapore. Our stops in Japan and Hong Kong have been replaced with 3 in Malaysia and Vietnam. Expecting that well have a good number of passengers missing. 

With the virus escalating we feared it would be cancelled but now rapidly researching the new POC.

Just out of curiosity - did the offer a refund or credit if you didn't want to go to those ports?