Wanting To Cruise MSC But Have Some Major Concerns....

[AmoMondo]

Thanks AmoMondo,

Learning a new language will be fun and challenging. I take my Kindle loaded with books so I will stay out of the casino. ;)

 

 

Do they play bingo???? Anyone know the cost?

 

Always and multiple languages, so you'll soon learn your numbers in many languages if you play regularly.

 

On my cruise last week the Mega Bingo had a super jackpot of €25000 (within first 40 numbers drawn) and jackpot of €10000 (within 44 numbers drawn). On port days just in the evenings, on sea days 2 sessions, one during the day and the other in the evening.

 

I didn't play so don't know the cost. Prices aren't quoted in the dailies I brought back with me. They used to be €10, I think, with discounts for buying more cards.

[AmoMondo]

Cruise is much more than a set of dry facts. Every well traveled cruiser knows this. :)

 

So true.

 

In any case as humans we are swamped daily with so much information that we are all physically incapable of consciously taking it all in, our minds unconsciously apply a filter streaming out most and only allowing us to be consciously aware of the stuff that matters to us.

 

This explains why I can tell you all about the classical musicians and their performances and repertoires from my cruise last week but haven't a clue how much the mega bingo cost. I love classical music so wanted to go to all the performances (and did) but have no interest in playing Bingo, so whilst I was aware it was happening, never discovered the "fact" of the cost of playing. No idea what times kids club opened either (was travelling solo) but will happily dig out the daily programmes and tell anyone that asks what the published times on my various sailings were. So I can give those facts but would not dream of giving an opinion on the quality of the care or range of activities provided in the club.

 

We all have different "facts" that are important for us to know when choosing a cruise. Some cruisers almost don't really care too much about the ship itself but only care about the itinerary, for others the ship seems to be the destination itself. The reason why we cruise and enjoy cruising are as varied as we all are as individuals and that is absolutely fine. All our opinions and recollections of facts are still valid, but not necessarily useful to everyone. It doesn't make posters competent or incompetent., after all we are going on our cruises to enjoy ourselves and do what we want to do. We are not professional travel writers or critics going onboard specifically to review the experience for a travel publication.

[sthelder]

So true.

 

In any case as humans we are swamped daily with so much information that we are all physically incapable of consciously taking it all in, our minds unconsciously apply a filter streaming out most and only allowing us to be consciously aware of the stuff that matters to us.

 

This explains why I can tell you all about the classical musicians and their performances and repertoires from my cruise last week but haven't a clue how much the mega bingo cost. I love classical music so wanted to go to all the performances (and did) but have no interest in playing Bingo, so whilst I was aware it was happening, never discovered the "fact" of the cost of playing. No idea what times kids club opened either (was travelling solo) but will happily dig out the daily programmes and tell anyone that asks what the published times on my various sailings were. So I can give those facts but would not dream of giving an opinion on the quality of the care or range of activities provided in the club.

 

We all have different "facts" that are important for us to know when choosing a cruise. Some cruisers almost don't really care too much about the ship itself but only care about the itinerary, for others the ship seems to be the destination itself. The reason why we cruise and enjoy cruising are as varied as we all are as individuals and that is absolutely fine. All our opinions and recollections of facts are still valid, but not necessarily useful to everyone. It doesn't make posters competent or incompetent., after all we are going on our cruises to enjoy ourselves and do what we want to do. We are not professional travel writers or critics going onboard specifically to review the experience for a travel publication.

 

Where is the Big Thumb Up icon when you need one?

[Tatka]

I agree. Very nicely put, but I am afraid this won't work. :(

[pmacher61]

Cruise is much more than a set of dry facts. Every well traveled cruiser knows this. :)

What does this mean? What is a "dry fact" in this context? Are you trying to say that because tastes and preferences are subjective one can't rate their opinion of the quality of the food, service, accommodations, entertainment, or overall value of a cruise experience (and that therefor the ratings found in a poll of over 120,000 cruisers are of no value)? If so, I disagree.

 

Of course, people have different preferences and tastes. Nevertheless, the compiled opinions of a significant number of people are useful to a person trying to decide if they might like a particular cruise line. Do you dispute that?

 

I'm an experienced cruiser. If I rate the food on X ship as excellent and the food on Y ship as poor, it may not mean a lot to someone asking how the food is on either X or Y. However, if 1500 people who sailed on X say the food is excellent and 1500 people who sailed on Y say the food is poor, that says something about the quality of the food on these ships. That seems pretty self-evident to me whether you call it a dry fact or not.

 

So true.

In any case as humans we are swamped daily with so much information that we are all physically incapable of consciously taking it all in, our minds unconsciously apply a filter streaming out most and only allowing us to be consciously aware of the stuff that matters to us.

Pretty metaphysical or as we used to say in the smokey daze of the 60s, "it's so heavy, it's light." If you mean to say we all have likes and dislikes and often have to select how we spend our time whether on board a ship or otherwise, I agree.

 

This explains why I can tell you all about the classical musicians and their performances and repertoires from my cruise last week but haven't a clue how much the mega bingo cost. I love classical music so wanted to go to all the performances (and did) but have no interest in playing Bingo, so whilst I was aware it was happening, never discovered the "fact" of the cost of playing. No idea what times kids club opened either (was travelling solo) but will happily dig out the daily programmes and tell anyone that asks what the published times on my various sailings were. So I can give those facts but would not dream of giving an opinion on the quality of the care or range of activities provided in the club.

And if you had spent time observing the activities in the kids club and asked other parents and kids how they liked it, you would have an opinion on the quality of the care or range of activities in the club. Just as you probably do have an opinion on the quality of the music on board the ship. So?

 

We all have different "facts" that are important for us to know when choosing a cruise. Some cruisers almost don't really care too much about the ship itself but only care about the itinerary, for others the ship seems to be the destination itself. The reason why we cruise and enjoy cruising are as varied as we all are as individuals and that is absolutely fine. All our opinions and recollections of facts are still valid, but not necessarily useful to everyone. It doesn't make posters competent or incompetent., after all we are going on our cruises to enjoy ourselves and do what we want to do. We are not professional travel writers or critics going onboard specifically to review the experience for a travel publication.

I'm not sure what your point is other than people have different preferences when it comes to cruising. That's not debatable. Further, a single person's opinions are not particularly helpful to another person who is trying to ascertain whether they would enjoy a particular ship or line. We both agree on that.

However, when the opinions (ratings) of 1500 people are compiled by mathematical calculation then the resulting compiled opinion/rating is a fact which will be helpful to a person trying to decide whether a particular ship or line is a good value. Ditto for service, accommodations, entertainment, overall value for the money, etc. I hope you would not dispute that.

People trying to ascertain whether a ship or line is right for them would look to see how the things that are important to them are rated by the universe of past cruisers whether it be food or service or entertainment or ship ports excursions or overall value or any other "of the stuff that matters to" that person.

[Tatka]

Thing about dry facts... poster who demands them has a tendency to pick very specific ones, interesting for him and make them to be an axiom for a good cruise. They might not be of any importance for a majority who picked particular ship/line. But he insists that without them present cruise will not be enjoyable.

 

As an experienced cruiser I cannot agree with this. I can list what is important to me, but will not try to judge other cruisers "facts".

 

I might pick a ship which better matches my preferences, but why should I listen about it being a lesser cruise. It is not a lesser value for me. I am looking for a different "facts" and see more value in them.

[sidari]

a poll of over 120,000 cruisers

 

So just taking MSC how many of the respondents were North American and how many were European and how many from the rest of the world ?

 

It is likely that the number from Europe and the rest of the world will be lower than those from North America given that this is a site founded there, hence a somewhat skewed representation of MSC based on minimal numbers of those from North America who will have traveled with MSC compared to cruise lines based in the USA.

[phider]

Thing about dry facts... poster who demands them has a tendency to pick very specific ones, interesting for him and make them to be an axiom for a good cruise. They might not be of any importance for a majority who picked particular ship/line. But he insists that without them present cruise will not be enjoyable.

 

As an experienced cruiser I cannot agree with this. I can list what is important to me, but will not try to judge other cruisers "facts".

 

I might pick a ship which better matches my preferences, but why should I listen about it being a lesser cruise. It is not a lesser value for me. I am looking for a different "facts" and see more value in them.

 

Thanks Tatka, I could not have said it better myself.

 

Philip

[AmoMondo]

What does this mean? What is a "dry fact" in this context? Are you trying to say that because tastes and preferences are subjective one can't rate their opinion of the quality of the food, service, accommodations, entertainment, or overall value of a cruise experience (and that therefor the ratings found in a poll of over 120,000 cruisers are of no value)? If so, I disagree.

 

Of course, people have different preferences and tastes. Nevertheless, the compiled opinions of a significant number of people are useful to a person trying to decide if they might like a particular cruise line. Do you dispute that?

 

I'm an experienced cruiser. If I rate the food on X ship as excellent and the food on Y ship as poor, it may not mean a lot to someone asking how the food is on either X or Y. However, if 1500 people who sailed on X say the food is excellent and 1500 people who sailed on Y say the food is poor, that says something about the quality of the food on these ships. That seems pretty self-evident to me whether you call it a dry fact or not.

 

 

Pretty metaphysical or as we used to say in the smokey daze of the 60s, "it's so heavy, it's light." If you mean to say we all have likes and dislikes and often have to select how we spend our time whether on board a ship or otherwise, I agree.

 

 

And if you had spent time observing the activities in the kids club and asked other parents and kids how they liked it, you would have an opinion on the quality of the care or range of activities in the club. Just as you probably do have an opinion on the quality of the music on board the ship. So?

 

 

I'm not sure what your point is other than people have different preferences when it comes to cruising. That's not debatable. Further, a single person's opinions are not particularly helpful to another person who is trying to ascertain whether they would enjoy a particular ship or line. We both agree on that.

However, when the opinions (ratings) of 1500 people are compiled by mathematical calculation then the resulting compiled opinion/rating is a fact which will be helpful to a person trying to decide whether a particular ship or line is a good value. Ditto for service, accommodations, entertainment, overall value for the money, etc. I hope you would not dispute that.

People trying to ascertain whether a ship or line is right for them would look to see how the things that are important to them are rated by the universe of past cruisers whether it be food or service or entertainment or ship ports excursions or overall value or any other "of the stuff that matters to" that person.

 

Hi pmacher,

 

My post was not directed at anything you'd posted but to another specifically talking about the competence of cruisers with experience of having cruised a line to express an opinion, based on them not being able to answer questions about "facts" that are obviously very important to said poster. Just trying to make the point, that the facts that are important are not the same for each of us.

 

I shall forever "owe" you for your recommendation of the Mio in Buenos Aires - the on tap Malbec and mahogany bath have yet to be rivalled. A truly memorable experience, for all the right reasons!

[AmoMondo]

Where is the Big Thumb Up icon when you need one?

 

Like this one.

?

[pmacher61]

Hi pmacher,

 

My post was not directed at anything you'd posted but to another specifically talking about the competence of cruisers with experience of having cruised a line to express an opinion, based on them not being able to answer questions about "facts" that are obviously very important to said poster. Just trying to make the point, that the facts that are important are not the same for each of us.

 

I shall forever "owe" you for your recommendation of the Mio in Buenos Aires - the on tap Malbec and mahogany bath have yet to be rivalled. A truly memorable experience, for all the right reasons!

You are more than welcome Amo. We may disagree, but you have generally expressed yourself in a most reasonable and polite manner.

As for the other to whom you directed your prior post, all I can say is that "with friends like that, who needs enemies?"

[cruisingcanadian]

LOL. We were "almost" neighbors over there and we are neighbors here. I am from Ukraine (FSU) and I live here for almost 1/2 of my life.

 

I absolutely agree with your comments about different cultures in Europe. And I am not saying one is more polite than another, but difference is huge.

 

P.S. Our first cruise was on ship, called Komarno. I believe this ship was built in Czechoslovakia, and name was from there too.

 

Hi Tatka,yes,I read many of your posts,and made an assumption that you are either Ukrainean or Russian. It was interesting to compare your and my opinions on some topics:D.

The Komarno ship was named after south Slovakian(former Czechoslovakian) city of Komarno.

 

I am glad you like different cruise lines like me...I do not stick to just one line,find it more interesting to try different ones. And I am always happy to be on a ship,even though some cruises are slightly better than others;).

 

Have wonderful cruises!:)

[Tatka]

Thank you! We enjoy different lines, and had a great time on international MSC. Made many friends from different countries!

 

Enjoy your cruises too!

[cruisingcanadian]

As usual, you have stated it clearly, yet respectfully.

Hope others follow suit.

Thank you,I am glad we are on the same page:).

[beachluver9]

We sailed on the Musica through the Baltic last summer.

 

We chose the cruise based on price and itinerary. MSC saved us almost $400 per day between the two of us, so we considered the ship to be our transport vessel and looked forward to having the extra $ to spend in port. Having read so many negative reviews and preparing for the worst, we were pleasantly surprised.

 

The staff were all professional (except for Daniela in the dress shop - she was so awful it was almost funny!). Most spoke very good English and if they didn't understand what we needed, they found someone who could help us.

 

Our room was clean and our room attendant was great! We had a couple of small issues that needed addressing and he had them fixed promptly.

 

The food was good, although "cruise ship bland". Pretty much like the food on RCCL. The only negative was no after-dinner cup of coffee, but we knew about that ahead of time. MSC provided us with bottled water since we were Americans.

 

We bought the Allegrismo drink package which was an excellent value.

 

The only thing a little strange about our fellow passengers were the very rotund men in Speedos and thongs by the pool. It was pretty gross to say the least. Everybody was very friendly and it was a lot of fun making new friends with people from around the world!