Just back from The Seaside

[mvh]

4 minutes ago, kiminey65 said:

I have sailed on Carnival as well as a small handful of NCL lines. I've been on Seaside once and liked it enough to have her booked for early March for its Western sailing. I liked it a lot! I did miss some of the silly games we played on NCL. But I may have just missed it. Loved the pools, especially Deck 7 Southbeach (which could be why I perceive it being subdued LOL). We were Bella OV last time with an upgrade to a Fantastica balcony. It definitely heightened our excitement. We outright booked a Fantastica balcony this time.

 

The only thing I find myself wanting to advise if you are coming from a Norwegian "Freestyle" sailing is that you may miss the Freesestyle aspect or lack thereof. You basically get rewarded the better the experience you book! Don't misunderstand me please, but Bella experience seems to draw the less desirable dining slots be it very earlt or very late. Neither of which I was impressed with. I prefer the most desirable slots at or near 7:00. It wasn't a deal breaker in any way, just an observation. I was treated just as good as anyone else, just feel that a Bella bookings have a lower pecking order with a desired dining slot. If that is super important to you (for me it isn't) then I have to recommend booking an Aurea experience. I myself will pocket that savings to other things.

 

Also, i really enjoyed MSC entertainment in theater. I miss and wish there were comedians, but oh well...

You are correct about Bella getting the worse dining slots, but we had no problem changing from 5:30 to 7:30 with the Matre D. Then we had no problem doing My Time with our friends who had the Aurea Experience.  Although, that is probably not the norm.

[kiminey65]

1 minute ago, mvh said:

You are correct about Bella getting the worse dining slots, but we had no problem changing from 5:30 to 7:30 with the Matre D. Then we had no problem doing My Time with our friends who had the Aurea Experience.  Although, that is probably not the norm.

That is good to know! I was worried my last sailing (we requested early dining) we'd draw the 5:15 slot. We arrived at port and were awarded the 9:15 slot in Ipanema!!!  We made changing that our #1 priority, got in line quickly and did get reassigned to 5:15 in Ipanema. All of a sudden I wasn't so adamant against that very early reservation. Lol. I am again hoping for 6:30 or 7:00 dinner reservations. And also some friends of ours just booked our sailing last minute at the Bella experience and we are linking our reservations in hopes of getting assigned the same table. If it doesn't happen, it will again be our top priority upon embarking onto Seaside!

[cruiser man 60]

If it's mainly European cruisers then they mostly go for later dining slots as they rarely eat before 9pm at home. 

The early slots tend be requested by Americans and older British people who eat early.

[miataman19]

We are recently off Divina and had an ok cruise. Nothing really wowed us but we did have a good time. Sailing on Seaside in August and everyone we talked too on Divina that sailed on Seaside loved the ship. This will be our second MSC cruise. Sail mostly on NCL 25ish and Princes 15ish with a smattering of other lines sprinkled in. Seaside will be # 50. Booked an inside Fantastica. One of those square cabins on deck 14. Looking forward to it.

[TandK0826]

On ‎1‎/‎29‎/‎2019 at 3:19 PM, mvh said:

I honestly felt that those who did not like it had already predetermined that they would not like it and found things to complain about.  Is not enough storage really something to complain about and ruin your cruise?  Portions too small, really? Order another one.  Oh yea, I also thought the deep pools were great.  Never too crowded and easy to hang by the side.  One of my favorite ships.  Although, I could have done with a few less Speedos.

Few less speedos....that made me laugh out loud.    Love it

[janetz]

Just booked the Seaside for January

Bella balcony, deck 10; with the drink package 

Looking forward to planning! 😁

[Rascalli]

On 2/1/2019 at 10:31 AM, cruiser man 60 said:

If it's mainly European cruisers then they mostly go for later dining slots as they rarely eat before 9pm at home. 

The early slots tend be requested by Americans and older British people who eat early.

Not true, mainly South European countries eat late.

North Europeans normally eat around 6pm

 

 

[blueeyes_two1]

So we will be first time crusiers on the MSC Seaside this july and i would like to thank you for all your informaton so far - -i love to do research and all your information has been so amazing! Thank you - -so Question: if we upgrade to Premium Plus, Vechni is NOT included?? even though the menu photo above that say "All coffee and chocolate based drinks included" ??

 

can someone confirm?  

[Happy Hols 2018]

Great information, thanks a million.  There are 8 of us travelling, booked separately but with the same experiences - do we have to 'link' our dinner reservations (how do you do that?) before we board in order to be able to sit together or can we do it once boarded? 

[Happy Hols 2018]

6 hours ago, blueeyes_two1 said:

So we will be first time crusiers on the MSC Seaside this july and i would like to thank you for all your informaton so far - -i love to do research and all your information has been so amazing! Thank you - -so Question: if we upgrade to Premium Plus, Vechni is NOT included?? even though the menu photo above that say "All coffee and chocolate based drinks included" ??

 

can someone confirm?  

Would also love to know the answer to this as we have the Deluxe Champagne package and thought that all ice cream and Vechni was incuded ??

[Epos Man]

@Beamafar can you clarify I can't remember RE Venchi and Ice Cream for Happy Hols 2018 and blueeyes

 

 

[Mattnvick]

20 minutes ago, ikea logistics said:

@Beamafar can you clarify I can't remember RE Venchi and Ice Cream for Happy Hols 2018 and blueeyes

 

 

 

I think the Venchi not being included is a very new thing.

 

There is a thread going on at the moment "Venchi is now on the banned list" that should bring you up to speed.

 

That being said its MSC and all could change again by next week 😝

[Epos Man]

That's what I thought with all new packages Venchi is no longer included

[rosie2018]

Love the inside Bella post.! So far mostly YC, hoping someone will post their inside Fantastica experience. I prefer inside cabins. Cozy! TIA

Edited April 9, 2019 by rosie2018

[Beamafar]

4 hours ago, ikea logistics said:

That's what I thought with all new packages Venchi is no longer included

 

Here's the latest inclusions (Venchi not included in any packages is indicated on the bottom left):

 

 

The problem is that Venchi is only on Seaside-class ships;  specialist coffees and hot chocolates are covered in Premium on OTHER ships, hence the wording. Also, they may be available at another venue on Seaside.  I haven't sailed on her, so I can't comment.  On Fantasia-class (eg Divina) the specialist coffees and chocolates covered in Deluxe/Premium are available in the coffee bar on deck 7.

Also, gelato at the gelato stations (which is a Venchi product) is covered in the old packages, but not the new.  So, until the old packages are no longer around, there's going to be lots of confusion on this.

Edited April 9, 2019 by Beamafar