POESIA: considering it but need some info

[jordans mom]

I have been a long time NCL cruiser with Disney and Carnival in my travels - but some friends want to go on the MSC Poesia

 

So I have a few questions and would very much appreciate input on these areas of interest:):

 

Suites: used to having special services such as embarkation/debarkation priority; reserved seating at shows; special sit down dining area for breakfast/lunch

 

Spa/Gym: I love my gym time and use of the spa (tubs, steam, sauna) - NCL charges extra for the use of the spa equipment , not the gym (exc for some special programs)

 

NO SMOKING: most of the ships are great about segregating smoking areas to distinct parts of the ship - also NO SMOKING in cabins - I am extremely uncomfortable around smoke -

 

Timed Dining: I love freestyle - and am on the reserved side with strangers - not a problem since friends will probably fill a table -

[AmoMondo]

I have been a long time NCL cruiser with Disney and Carnival in my travels - but some friends want to go on the MSC Poesia

 

So I have a few questions and would very much appreciate input on these areas of interest:):

 

Suites: used to having special services such as embarkation/debarkation priority; reserved seating at shows; special sit down dining area for breakfast/lunch

no they don't have any of that. Suite passengers just getballocated to the smaller and better of the 2 MDRs. Thenonly privileges for suites are where younare in a Yacht Club one on the Fantasia class ships. (Poesia is Musica class)

Spa/Gym: I love my gym time and use of the spa (tubs, steam, sauna) - NCL charges extra for the use of the spa equipment , not the gym (exc for some special programs)

use of spa is free on US sailings but chargeable on all other areas. Gym is always free

 

NO SMOKING: most of the ships are great about segregating smoking areas to distinct parts of the ship - also NO SMOKING in cabins - I am extremely uncomfortable around smoke -

 

No there aren't any no smoking cabins. It's forbidden on balconies but just discouraged in cabins. I'm a non smoker and asthmatic who can have an attack triggered by smoke. I've never smelt smoke in any cabin I've had. No idea how they clean them, but seems to work or my sense of smell may not be as acute as some! They do have segregated smoking areas. Casino is an absolute no no for me as is the bar where smoking is freely allowed. On pool and open decks, it's permitted on one side. Depending on where you're intending cruising, there may be more smokers onboard than you're used to. Spanish and Italians seem to have a high percentage of smokers.

 

Timed Dining: I love freestyle - and am on the reserved side with strangers - not a problem since friends will probably fill a table

It's traditional fixed, 2 sitting dining. They have been trialling some freestyle on a ship in the Med, but it's not freely available yet. Table sizes are 2, 4, 6 & 8 usually.a-

I've answered your questions above.

[jordans mom]

I appreciate you taking the time to fill in some of those blanks for me!

[Deckhandoug]

Smokey, very smokey. The clientele the line attracts still smoke a great deal, and the rules are not enforced by MSC.

 

The pools are usually overridden by children, even the adult one, as MSC Poesia often runs very inexpensive promotions including children sail free.

[bjcanady]

I have been a long time NCL cruiser with Disney and Carnival in my travels - but some friends want to go on the MSC Poesia

 

So I have a few questions and would very much appreciate input on these areas of interest:):

 

Suites: used to having special services such as embarkation/debarkation priority; reserved seating at shows; special sit down dining area for breakfast/lunch

 

Spa/Gym: I love my gym time and use of the spa (tubs, steam, sauna) - NCL charges extra for the use of the spa equipment , not the gym (exc for some special programs)

 

NO SMOKING: most of the ships are great about segregating smoking areas to distinct parts of the ship - also NO SMOKING in cabins - I am extremely uncomfortable around smoke -

 

Timed Dining: I love freestyle - and am on the reserved side with strangers - not a problem since friends will probably fill a table -

 

We are boarding the Poesia in a few weeks for the 4th time in 2 years...........i can't answer most of your questions but i can answer the smoking one..........there is smoking in one area of the pool deck (deck 13) , i don't know about the casino as we don't use it, there is no smoking in staterooms or balconys, there is a small section that smoking is allowed in the bar del poeti but it is so well vented that we never smelled the smoke., we loved the ship, the crew, the musicans (particulary the musicans), and were very well pleased with the buffet, we no longer use the dining rooms but eat in the buffet on all ships...........and now that they have upgraded and extended the buffet i am sure that most will love it.

[zijlweg]

MSC is, I guess, deliberately very unclear about their smoking policies. Where on their website it states, that smoking is discouraged in the cabins, in their "daily" it will state that smoking is not allowed and in your cabin it often has a sticker stating: smoking is not allowed on the balcony, but ask for an ashtray if you want to smoke in your stateroom.

 

The good news is, that modern cruise ships have such an excellent exhaust systems that it is often not an issue. On MSC they seem often to recirculate the air (costs less!) and can be problem. On Costa where smoking in your cabin is allowed, 100% fresh air is put/pulled in and out from your stateroom and makes the cabins always be fresh and odour free.

[bjcanady]

Smokey, very smokey. The clientele the line attracts still smoke a great deal, and the rules are not enforced by MSC.

 

The pools are usually overridden by children, even the adult one, as MSC Poesia often runs very inexpensive promotions including children sail free.

 

As u have only sailed once on MSC i find that your statements may not be exactly correct.....we have not been overridden by children, the food has been quite satisfactory and have found no more smoking on board then other cruise lines, and their policys have changed in the past year regarding smoking, as has Princess and other lines.

 

We also enjoy the varied clientel...........many countries represented.

[Deckhandoug]

As u have only sailed once on MSC i find that your statements may not be exactly correct.....we have not been overridden by children, the food has been quite satisfactory and have found no more smoking on board then other cruise lines, and their policys have changed in the past year regarding smoking, as has Princess and other lines.

 

We also enjoy the varied clientel...........many countries represented.

 

Your statements are not correct to my experience, how's that?

 

I'll post my opinion of my experience and you do the same, fair enough?

 

Everyone perceives things differently, and to say my opinions are wrong is very rude of you.

[bjcanady]

Your statements are not correct to my experience, how's that?

 

I'll post my opinion of my experience and you do the same, fair enough?

 

Everyone perceives things differently, and to say my opinions are wrong is very rude of you.

 

Sorry, did not mean to be rude, just meant that since u cruised the ship once more than 2 years ago doesn't mean that it is always as u found it.......their smoking policy has changed as have many cruise lines...........didn't mean that u should like the ship simply because we do.

[jordans mom]

some of these things make my cruise vacations very enjoyable.

 

there are so many lines to choose from - and I would genuinely like to try another - but I hated CARNIVAL and DISNEY is awesome, but too regimented.

 

I will say that if Smoking is not something the cruise line chooses to manage - that is probably a deal breaker for me.

 

I would love to experience an Italian cruise line - but that would be the 1 thing that would make me miserable - being subjected to second hand smoke

 

While NCL disallows inside cabin smoking - they do allow balcony smoking and smoking in designated areas and passengers are very good at adhering to it - and I have been lucky not to be affected by anyone's balcony smoking -

 

so ,this kind of scares me off - I would have to think about it alot more

 

thanks to all

[GOLDENBONNY]

some of these things make my cruise vacations very enjoyable.

 

there are so many lines to choose from - and I would genuinely like to try another - but I hated CARNIVAL and DISNEY is awesome, but too regimented.

 

I will say that if Smoking is not something the cruise line chooses to manage - that is probably a deal breaker for me.

 

I would love to experience an Italian cruise line - but that would be the 1 thing that would make me miserable - being subjected to second hand smoke

 

While NCL disallows inside cabin smoking - they do allow balcony smoking and smoking in designated areas and passengers are very good at adhering to it - and I have been lucky not to be affected by anyone's balcony smoking -

 

so ,this kind of scares me off - I would have to think about it alot more

 

thanks to all

 

If you planning to go Caribbean smoking should not be an issue on MSC . Even my DH who hates smell of cigarettes did not complained . Even in the Casino ventilation was very good .Smoking on balcony i not allowed on MSC .

[monicajay]

Must vary from week to week.

 

Smoking was not a problem on our 2 MSC cruises out of FLL so we have booked a third. Pool was not over-run with children but again that was our experience.

 

The thing I don't like as much with MSC is the fixed dining but we can live with it. Also, I find that the port times are shorter than other lines. I wish we could leave Roatan at 5 pm rather than 2 pm. They have us leaving Falmouth at 3pm.... and it do think 5pm would be nicer (like all the other cruise lines) Again, the cruise is reasonably priced so it isn't a deal breaker.