Rare Beamafar Posted October 22, 2021 #1 Share Posted October 22, 2021 Hi folks. Kicking off this thread with the following (Guess what’s the most important thing for me??!! 🤣 I’ve got choc peanuts - to go with my g&t - from the minibar. 😁😁😁😁 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamrag Posted October 22, 2021 #2 Share Posted October 22, 2021 Oh no, not that Royal Club stuff it's awful. So glad about the choco nuts, which us regulars know you just love! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 22, 2021 Author #3 Share Posted October 22, 2021 8 minutes ago, hamrag said: Oh no, not that Royal Club stuff it's awful. So glad about the choco nuts, which us regulars know you just love! Beggars can’t be choosers, G (regarding RC). Couldn’t find the blinking’ thread where it was discussed lol 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 22, 2021 Author #4 Share Posted October 22, 2021 So … here goes: I booked this cruise as a cheapy due to having a voucher from a previous cruise that had to be used this year. I’d already booked 2 other cruises for this year - Aurea and YC, using FCCs from cancelled cruises - so just booked a Bella inside. Well, the Aurea booking was cancelled and the ship was switched out on the YC one so we cancelled and that left us with this one to look forward to. However, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding it, too, as MSC was not allowing non-Schengen residents onboard - a restriction that was only recently lifted. In the meantime, with the frustration of not knowing if we’d get to do this cruise, I saw a very nice offer for a September cruise on NCL’s Epic and decided to book it, 9 days out from sailing, with a similar West Med itinerary. We always said that some day we’d do the cheapest cruise we could find on an alternative cruise line to MSC to experience, compare and contrast it. Again, I booked an inside. I was then offered a chance to bid for a higher category cabin and made the lowest bid possible of €260 for a Club balcony suite which was accepted. Having returned from that cruise, we decided to upgrade to a Bella balcony for our Seashore cruise. Cost to upgrade was €801 - no bidding system from MSC for us. So, this review will, maybe, progress as a comparison between NCL and MSC as the 2 cruises ended up costing a similar amount. We upgraded the included drinks packages on both to PremiumPlus, so that may feature, too. The Epic booking was through a TA and included flights, OBC of $100 and with a charge of €99 pp to upgrade to a drinks package inclusion and 2 evenings in a Specialty restaurant. The upgraded cabin gave us a complimentary bag of laundry, a bottle of bubbly and a couple of treats to the room during the cruise. This cruise was booked direct with MSC and included flights, transfers, €100 OBC, gratuities and Premium drinks package. Nothing extra for the upgrade to a balcony. As we’re Diamond, we’ll receive a bottle of bubbly, a plate of treats, a fruit bowl and one evening in a Speciality restaurant. Note, these items, apart from the fruit bowl, were included with NCL without needing to be in the top tier of their loyalty club. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamrag Posted October 22, 2021 #5 Share Posted October 22, 2021 10 minutes ago, Beamafar said: Beggars can’t be choosers, G (regarding RC). Whit....you are not begging, rather fully paid up passengers! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamrag Posted October 22, 2021 #6 Share Posted October 22, 2021 You're only letting them away with the RC because they're gonna give you a shed load of choco nuts! 😂 Following with significant interest, thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Morgsmom Posted October 22, 2021 #7 Share Posted October 22, 2021 Looking forward to this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 22, 2021 Author #8 Share Posted October 22, 2021 8 minutes ago, Morgsmom said: Looking forward to this! I wouldn’t if I were you. 🤣🤣🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 22, 2021 Author #9 Share Posted October 22, 2021 We’re just departing Barcelona now so won’t have internet til tomorrow, when I’ll share our embarkation and first day’s experience, which has been really good. 👍 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted October 22, 2021 #10 Share Posted October 22, 2021 Pringles? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidari Posted October 22, 2021 #11 Share Posted October 22, 2021 Hi Bea ... Hope the trials of the last two weeks are soon forgotten, friend got off today who had been in YC and enjoyed the cruise but not the ship and prefers Seaside and Seaview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingFox27 Posted October 22, 2021 #12 Share Posted October 22, 2021 After so much uncertainty, delighted you're on board and away. Especially delighted that you've the choco nuts to accompany you on your trip 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted October 22, 2021 #13 Share Posted October 22, 2021 With that combo how can you go wrong!! Bon Voyage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigblue1952 Posted October 23, 2021 #14 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Looking forward to your review. Hopefully, we will be on Seashore in April. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marielco Posted October 23, 2021 #15 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Looking forward to your review @Beamafar I mostly enjoyed my recent cruise on Seashore. Many pros but a couple of cons were the lengthy wait for lifts due to the new call system and so much of the ship “off limits” because of the YC. I love to walk around the deck on a promenade deck but you can not access the front of the ship on any deck unless you are a YC guest on Seashore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deliver42 Posted October 23, 2021 #16 Share Posted October 23, 2021 We're booked on her next May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 23, 2021 Author #17 Share Posted October 23, 2021 So … We landed in Barcelona at 9.40am and saw someone from MSC in the terminal waiting for people for the transfer bus. We asked if she was waiting for passengers from other flights and, if so, what time she thought the bus might leave. When she said 10.30am we decided to get a taxi and head to the port, rather than wait around. The embarkation process was quite straightforward. We arrived at the port at 10am. We were directed to the first tent for our Covid certs and antigen test results to be checked against our passports and boarding tickets, then went to a second tent where people were seated, waiting to get the Covid test done. We were in Group 3 and there was only Group 2 ahead of us. Our boarding passes, certs and results were checked here again. When our group was called, we were led to the terminal where we checked in and waited for our results. We were given a regular cruisecard and told that we would have to go to GS for Diamond ones. 🙄 Anyway, the group was then called again and we were all directed to go onboard. I assume we’d all tested negative. (We heard that the embarkation by 12pm and the buffet lunch later were a nightmare). We were sitting down in the Shine bar with our first glass of champers by 11.05am. 😁🥂 Of course, it was only NF as the Champagne Bar wasn’t open yet. 🤣 Lunch was in Manhattan MDR (for one hour only!!) served between 12pm and 1pm. Now, embarkees must go to the buffet, but we’ve always preferred to lunch in the MDR. Well, we were refused entry. “It is the rules, madam”! In this case, the rules could go get stuffed, so I persisted. The (asst) m’D was called. I explained that we have always been able to have lunch in the MDR on embarkation day as we don’t like the buffet. He relented and said he would make an exception for us. I was so glad he did as one of my favourite lunch dishes, fishn’chips, was on. An announcement was made at 1pm that the cabins were ready, so we headed off to find ours. It is a very nice Bella balcony, so I’m really glad we didn’t pay the extra for Fantastica. The only issue I would have with it is the configuration. The bed is next to the balcony. I prefer the sofa to be. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 23, 2021 Author #18 Share Posted October 23, 2021 (edited) I forgot to mention that they never looked for Covid insurance at embarkation. Edited October 23, 2021 by Beamafar 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Morgsmom Posted October 23, 2021 #19 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Oh, what a pretty stateroom. I, too, prefer sofa next to balcony. I wish there was a way to figure this out when looking at the deckplan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 23, 2021 Author #20 Share Posted October 23, 2021 3 hours ago, marielco said: Looking forward to your review @Beamafar I mostly enjoyed my recent cruise on Seashore. Many pros but a couple of cons were the lengthy wait for lifts due to the new call system and so much of the ship “off limits” because of the YC. I love to walk around the deck on a promenade deck but you can not access the front of the ship on any deck unless you are a YC guest on Seashore. I agree totally on the lifts issue. OMG, we were waiting forever for one after lunch today. DH wanted to take the stairs, but, unfortunately, my knees weren’t having it! We walked further on to the next lift shaft (though we ended up at the dead end, where we had to take a flight of stairs to the next level 🙄). Anyway, there was no-one using these lifts, thankfully. The crowds were gathered at the busy ones and everyone was being directed to the same lettered lift. So much for social distancing! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 23, 2021 Author #21 Share Posted October 23, 2021 5 minutes ago, Morgsmom said: Oh, what a pretty stateroom. I, too, prefer sofa next to balcony. I wish there was a way to figure this out when looking at the deckplan. The bathroom is small, with a bathtub (🥴 my poor knees do not like this), but it’s fine, otherwise. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted October 23, 2021 #22 Share Posted October 23, 2021 9 minutes ago, Beamafar said: The bathroom is small, with a bathtub (🥴 my poor knees do not like this), but it’s fine, otherwise. I wonder if you could get moved to a handicap accessible room if available. Please be careful…I slipped and fell getting out of the tub/shower one morning on Divina (pre cocktails so I can’t even blame that) the ship was rocking and I went down. Ouch! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 23, 2021 Author #23 Share Posted October 23, 2021 I’m having problems posting. Been having it for a few weeks now. I have to keep clearing my cache and reloading the site constantly. It’s even worse since I’ve come onboard. I’ve just written a lengthy reply to someone and the whole lot was lost when I tried to insert a photo. 😡 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Beamafar Posted October 23, 2021 Author #24 Share Posted October 23, 2021 57 minutes ago, deliver42 said: We're booked on her next May. We’re on again in March - in YC. TBH, the experience we’re having in steerage now, I’d be more than happy to only be “down below” again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwegian Cruiser 73 Posted October 23, 2021 #25 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Thank you for your live review @Beamafar, excellent 👍😀 BTW, very nice cabin. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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