Any hints, secrets and/or suggestions for our first time on MSC?

[geospyder]

Long time cruisers but this will be our first time on MSC. We just booked the Grand Voyage cruise from Durban to Venice, Jan 23, 2019 on the Musica. Any hints, secrets and/or suggestions for MSC in general and the Musica specifically?

[Cruise2it]

Long time cruisers but this will be our first time on MSC. We just booked the Grand Voyage cruise from Durban to Venice, Jan 23, 2019 on the Musica. Any hints, secrets and/or suggestions for MSC in general and the Musica specifically?

 

 

 

2019!! I'm just looking at 14 October 2018 from Venice to Durban. If we book I'll keep in touch.

[geospyder]

Just noticed I said Jan 23 - it is April 26, 2019 - too dates to remember :D

[lifeasme123]

Do you have status with any airline, hotel or cruise line? If so, then have you gotten that matched by MSC?

 

Did you sign up for their voyager club? If no, then do that. You get 5% off your price. For a Grand Voyage, that is a good amount reduction.

[FTLcruisers]

Keep an open mind - things may not be done the same on MSC as you've experienced on other cruiselines. My friends' main complaint was that it was too "European" but MSC is a European cruiseline!! But their entertainment outshines any other cruiseline and their food is great (especially the pizza and pasta). We are long-time Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruisers and are going on our 4th Divina cruise at the end of the month and are booked on the Grand Voyage of the brand new Seaside on Dec 1st. We already know that when the Seaside is in Europe, it may be more European than we like (i.e. allowing smoking in the casino, lack of English TV channels) but we do not plan on letting that in any way spoil the overall experience.

 

And, as mentioned, definitely look up the info on 'loyalty matching' - some of the perks are pretty nice!

 

Enjoy!

 

Marianne

[xcell]

it was too "European"

 

What does that mean????

[lifeasme123]

Keep an open mind - things may not be done the same on MSC as you've experienced on other cruiselines. My friends' main complaint was that it was too "European" but MSC is a European cruiseline!! But their entertainment outshines any other cruiseline and their food is great (especially the pizza and pasta). We are long-time Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruisers and are going on our 4th Divina cruise at the end of the month and are booked on the Grand Voyage of the brand new Seaside on Dec 1st. We already know that when the Seaside is in Europe, it may be more European than we like (i.e. allowing smoking in the casino, lack of English TV channels) but we do not plan on letting that in any way spoil the overall experience.

 

And, as mentioned, definitely look up the info on 'loyalty matching' - some of the perks are pretty nice!

 

Enjoy!

 

Marianne

 

There is a grand voyage on Seaside? What are the dates?

 

Also, I recall people smoking in the casino on RCCL. We were just on Meravigilia and honestly I do not recall walking into thick clouds of smoke in the casino as I had experienced on other cruiselines. The channels on TV were in other language, but the news were English speaking. I recall one children channel that our daughter watched was in English as well.

Edited July 16, 2017 by lifeasme123

[Beamafar]

There is a grand voyage on Seaside? What are the dates?

 

Also, I recall people smoking in the casino on RCCL. We were just on Meravigilia and honestly I do not recall walking into thick clouds of smoke in the casino as I had experienced on other cruiselines. The channels on TV were in other language, but the news were English speaking. I recall one children channel that our daughter watched was in English as well.

 

Seaside is leaving from Trieste, Italy on December 1st, L, to her homeport in Miami. I think this link will take you to the info on the Ireland website:

 

http://www.msccruises.ie/en-ie/Plan-Book/Cruise-Detail.aspx?cruiseid=SE20171201TRSMIA&pid=SEC01569IR711BE

 

No, it's not working now. It did when I tried it first, before posting here! :mad:

 

PS: I've tried it again and the page came up.

 

There is a no smoking policy in the casino on Meraviglia hence no thick clouds of smoke! :)

Edited July 16, 2017 by Beamafar

[ljandgb]

They give a military discount and I believe government service discount also. 5% I think.

[edspec]

Military discount is 10% :)

[Aulanis]

Long time cruisers but this will be our first time on MSC. We just booked the Grand Voyage cruise from Durban to Venice, Jan 23, 2019 on the Musica. Any hints, secrets and/or suggestions for MSC in general and the Musica specifically?

 

We are booked on Sinfonia April 2018 roll call is here.

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2420077

You will gather from that and one other encounter with MSC I am not over impressed however you may do better as they tend to favour US bookings.

Main difficulty is getting information about anything from MSC on our previous cruise it was a Caribbean B2B but eemed to pick up on several islands. The daily paper seemed to vary from the itinerary we had for the second week. Went to reception and pointed this out and asked "where will this ship be next Tuesday" - couldnot or wouldnot tell me!!!.

I have a saying on MSC - ask 5 MSC customer service people the same question and you are likely to get 5 different answers and none of them necessarily correct.

 

I also see there is an Oct18 roll cal for Musica so you will be able to ask them what it was like

Maybe try and pal up with someone on that before they go who will report when they get back.