jaapstam

Hello everybody,

I just finished my one week "Blaue Reise" cruise with TUI Cruises "Mein Schiff 2" from and to Hamburg.

Our disembarkation slot was from 8:30 to 9:00. We actually left the ship, which was docked at Steinwerder Cruise Terminal at around 8:40 - and managed to catch a train from Hamburg Central Station at 9:24 (!). As perfectly as the disembarkation and transfer process was organised, so was the whole cruise. We definitely enjoyed it - it was our first cruise with TUI Cruises after already knowing Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and MSC.

Of course we would have liked it to sail to the norwegian fjords. This had not been possible due to well-known circumstances. The alternate programme with Sweden's "Schären" and the short visit to Stockholm's "old harbour" and through Finland's "Schären" next to Turku have been very nice - as has been the whole time on the ship.

We met with TUI Cruises "Mein Schiff 1" in Stockholm and again near Turku.

I don't want to write a full cruise report but I am open to answer all of your questions - as far as I can. 🙂

Hey Markus,

I booked the cruise now as well - nearly. I switched to the one on Mein Schiff 2 from and to Hamburg. I thought this may be slightly more interesting as sailing from the North Sea into the Baltic Sea around Denmark.

Although we might not see anything at all from the shore we get to see the sailing out of Hamburg and maybe the crossing under one of the Great Belt bridges if it doesn't happen in the middle of the night 🙂

Please enjoy your cruise as much as we will do - and wave over from Mein Schiff 1 in Stockholm 😉

47 minutes ago, MarkusToe said:

at least on booked passengers its done

 

Blaue Reise - Panoramafahrt 2 vom 28.08. bis 04.09.2020 (

 

 

Fr., 28.08.

Kiel

• Sie haben noch nichts vor.
• 19:00 UhrAbfahrt

Sa., 29.08.

Seetag

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So., 30.08.

Seetag

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Mo., 31.08.

Stockholm (Technischer Stopp)

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• 14:30 UhrAnkunft
• 15:30 UhrAbfahrt

Di., 01.09.

Fahrt durch die Schären

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• 10:00 UhrAnkunft
• 10:30 UhrAbfahrt

Mi., 02.09.

Seetag

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Do., 03.09.

Seetag

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Fr., 04.09.

Kiel

• Sie haben noch nichts vor.
• 06:30 UhrAnkunft
• 19:00 UhrAbfahrt

 

 

Thank you Markus!

Let's see if we are on board as well!

8 minutes ago, MarkusToe said:

so,  decision from TUIC

Norway is out. Route goes to Stockholm and Schären

 

Schären are some small islands, some trees on it, that's it.

By far not comparable with Norway

 

Looks like we will go…..

I wonder when TUIC will update their website...

5 hours ago, MarkusToe said:

yep on this cruise to ???? nobody knows actually….

direct message is disabled….

Not finally decided yet but probably yes.

Having holidays and already on my way to Kiel.

And simply missing cruise ship holidays.

But also unsure whether seven days without a stop won't become too boring - Norway would have brought at least some scenic views. Are Stockholm's "Schären" really comparable?

Apart from that never have been on a MeinSchiff and eager to explore them. Thought it might be a good possibility now while they don't sail with full capacity.

Hi @MarkusToe,

would you mind, dropping me a direct message? The feature is disabled for me but I hope I could reply to yours.

You are writing you have booked a MeinSchiff 1 cruise at the end of August. Is this the "Blaue Reise" from Kiel on August 28th? I am thinking of the same trip, but still waiting where exactly it will cruise to.

Yes!

I can understand this to a certain extent. But aren't Americans even more frightened about terrorist attacks? Is something like that also done on ships of Royal Caribbean, Carnival or NCL?

And what happens if you do not understan English or notice the banner and come closer than 50 metres? Shot immediately???:eek:

When I was last on Oceana in 2012 they had acoustic disruptors on the promenade deck as well as the banner (Morocco).

What are they worrying about? Terrorist attacks?

Wow! Although Strawberry field's reason made quite much sense to me, it seems they actually do it because of security concerns. I am not concerned about it at all, but quite heavy times we have, don't we?

Thank you all for your quick replies (Millers, for your funny reply as well of course :-) ).

When arriving on MSC Splendida into Barcelona a few days ago, we passed along P&O's Oceana. I was wondering about a warning banner stating "Security warning keep 50 metres away".

Does anybody know the reason that lies behind this banner?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nmwxjtrau2136m5/IMG_20161022_110614.jpg?dl=0

I hope the image link does work...

Thank you very much, NLH Arizona and hawkeyetlse, for your quick responses!

Kind regards

Jaap Stam

Dear experts,

when cruising on NCL's Norwegian Sun back in 2009, I remember there was a 24hrs room service right to your cabin free completely free of charge.

When browsing NCL's website now, I do not find this service anymore. Was it abandoned with introduction of the "Premium All Inclusive concept"?

Or is it still available and I just don't find it?

Kind regards

Jaap Stam

I think in your case, perhaps purchasing the 12 or 18 coupons/vouchers would work better for you.

 

We're not big drinkers either, so I ran the numbers and it'll be cheaper to buy 4 books (2 sets for each of us) vs. the drink package. Plus we'll drink the cheap stuff. 2 high-potency drinks for me and I'm passed out. LOL

Thank you for your recommendations mjonis! It's hard to decide for me. On the one hand I like just walking up into bars and restaurants and simply order as I am having an all inclusive-package, on the other hand I don't want to pay for too much I do not really need.

To be decided...

I seem to remember that a can of Pepsi etc is somewhere around the 2euro to 2,5 euro plus the 15% gratuity. A cappuccino was 2,50 ish too and water about 1,50

 

On the same cruise as Pete so I'm sure one of us will remember :)

 

Also with the package you can have alcohol free cocktails too.

 

One thing to bear in mind is that there are no free juices etc available in the buffet during the day, just tea, coffee and water if I remember correctly

Thank you very much 1fifthavenue.

I must admit, the package gets more and more interesting ;-)

Have a great cruise!

When are you going?

i'm on her next week so can give you an answer on 13th oct if you can wait that long

Tightly too late. I'm on my way to Marseilles on October 13th where I board the Splendida on the 14th. :-)

Enjoy your cruise!

The €26pppd is worth it for the water, soft drinks, coffees and ice-cream (they soon add up, you only have to spend €22pd to break even because of the 15% service charge) and the peace of mind that you won't blow your budget and saving 15% service charge.

 

I don't think €44pppd is worth it for you, so maybe compromise and both have the €26 pppd and your OH buys individual drinks from the premium range out of the

€36pd total saving for the two of you

Okay, okay all of you cruise lines help-representatives, convinced! ;-)

I think about it again, there are still some days left before getting on board.

Does anybody know how much a "typical softdrink", a "typical tea" or a "typical cocktail" costs on board MSC Splendida?

Depends how much you drink.

Good summary! :-)

What I don't like is that all people of a cabin need to book the same package (although I can imagine the reasons behind).

I do not drink any alcohol at all so all of these packages are not really worth much for me. If the person I am travelling with wants to use it, I need to book it as well although not making much use of it...

The premium package is €44 which is terrific value as per the following:

 

 

 

If you wait to purchase onboard you will incur a 15% service charge. It depends on how much you have to pay in $ which will be the more beneficial to you.

Is this really "terrific value"? I find it quite expensive as the 44 Euros are per person and per day!

Allegrissimo is €26 pppd + 15% (€3.90) service charge if purchased onboard. By prebooking/prepaying you save the €3.90 pppd extra. Can't answer re internet packages as I don't use them.

Thank you very much for your helpful replies Beamafar and goody1!

Can somebody explain how big the price difference is for drink and internet packages if you book them on board compared to pre booking them?

Another question to you, Disneylover please, as you have just returned from MSC Splendida:

Can you recommend to pre-book things like drink packages or internet data before the cruise? Are they much more expensive if you only book them when on board?

Kind regards

Jaap Stam

Only the buffet and main dining room are included. Even snacks at other locations (like the piaza, which is similar to the little snacks on the promendae on larger RCI ships) come at an extra cost (though the extra cost is not all that much---80 cents for a cupcake, for example)

Thank you very much for your quick reply Disneylover. I'd like to get in touch again should there be more questions arising :-)

Kind regards

Jaap Stam

Thank you very much for your review Disneylover!

I have been on Royal Caribbean and NCL, in October I will experience MSC for the first time and cruise on the Splendida (unfortunately not in the Yacht Club).

I am wondering about one thing you might be able to help with: which of the restaurants are included in the cruise price? Is it only the main dining rooms and the buffet restaurant? Or others like for example the Sports Bar as well?

Kind Regards

Jaap Stam