Med Cruise on Seaview in May-Tips and Tricks and Advice Requested

[mnpurple]

Hoping for input from experienced Med cruisers. Our family of six will be departing from Naples at the end of May on the Seaview.  It's been 30 years since my husband and I were in Europe and it's a bit daunting, especially with the Covid rules, etc.  I welcome any tips or advice more seasoned travelers may have, but here are a few specifics:

1.  Is MSC testing during the check in at port (plus the required test 48 hours before). We ordered Emed tests which I believe meet their requirements.
2. Excursions - First, can I wait to book on board? I am not getting much help from my co-travelers (my kids and husbands), so not sure what I should plan.  We will be stopping in Messina, Valetta, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa. I will probably book a private tour through an operator in Barcelona and will use on-board credits for one through MSC.  I'm thinking we can explore on our own, but maybe Marseille it would be good to have an excursion to Aix En Provence??
3. We purchased travel insurance when booking the cruise and I can't figure out if it included Covid insurance. It is CSA Travel Protection – Generali Global Assistance.  I'll make my husband call on that!

 

I have watch many, many videos, vlogs and read a lot. I have books piled up all over!  We are also ending the trip with a visit to Rome and then onto Madrid.  There is so much planning. This was a twice rebooked cruise and I am on a third travel agent. The second agent just went missing and now someone new picked up, but very hard to get responses.  We had to change a passenger and miraculously that was done after I messaged the new travel agent and MSC, so I'm not even sure who did it! 

Thanks so much!

 

 

Edited April 24, 2022 by mnpurple

[perakcruiser]

18 hours ago, mnpurple said:

Our family of six will be departing from Naples at the end of May on the Seaview. 

Make sure you visit the "Sentiero degli Dei". Google helps.

If you are pasta lovers you MUST visit the village of Gragnano.

 

18 hours ago, mnpurple said:

Excursions - First, can I wait to book on board? I'm thinking we can explore on our own, but maybe Marseille it would be good to have an excursion to Aix En Provence??

You can book on board, but not the very few extremely popular excursions. They will be sold out. Aix is exactly one of these very few. I have to admit that visiting Aix also in my opinion is the best thing to do here. Which seems not to be a secret tip 😄 The only other one you better think now and not two days before is Taormina (from Messina). 

 

Starting the cruise from Naples is in many ways the perfect choice, congratulations.

[mnpurple]

@perakcruiser Thanks for the response! That helps. I wasn't initially intending to leave from Naples because we fly in and out of Madrid from the US, but weren't able to get the itinerary we wanted from Barcelona, so changed. We won't really be in Naples very long, but I've learned a lot of interesting things about Naples with my planning.

 

I think I'll book the Aix excursion. I did just realize we get more OBC than what I thought because of having a previous cruise cancelled, so I can plan for more too.  Although I have no way to verify MSC shows it for us. I have the Email from the cancellation and if needed, I'll deal with the Concierge. I'm hoping it won't be too difficult, especially because we're in YC.

 

I was also looking at Taormina, so your information is helpful!

[rusky123]

Hi mnpurple, I sailed week before last and we were Covid tested but I think they dropped the testing now. 
We were in the YC and the service is amazing as always. Our restaurant staff were brilliant as usual and the food was wonderful.

Taormina is amazing and a must see, there will be loads of taxis and minibuses at the port gates offering trips at a third or quarter of the price of the ships prices. I usually go with the port entry taxis since the advent of trip advisor , lol word gets around these days x

Have a wonderful cruise xx

[TRUEBLUE66]

Currently on Seaview and port testing has stopped. At embarkation you will need to show your covid Insurance, covid vaccinations and Antigen test taken up to 48 hours before your boarding time. Great ship and cruise so far!

 

[hamrag]

On 4/25/2022 at 6:25 PM, mnpurple said:

....I think I'll book the Aix excursion. I did just realize we get more OBC than what I thought because of having a previous cruise cancelled, so I can plan for more too.  Although I have no way to verify MSC shows it for us. I have the Email from the cancellation and if needed, I'll deal with the Concierge. I'm hoping it won't be too difficult, especially because we're in YC.

 

I was also looking at Taormina, so your information is helpful!

Do remember that you can cancel an already booked tour once on board, so if you're not certain my advice would be book it prior and keep your options open. We sail YC with MSC, and the Concierges are outstanding on all ships....any issue, no matter what, they are your first port of call. 😉

Edited May 9, 2022 by hamrag

[mnpurple]

Thanks so much everyone. That is a very good point @hamrag about cancelling. That way I can get the lower price now and see how we're feeling as the trip goes along.

 

Still nervous about our insurance being an issue because it doesn't specify Covid, although we called and their website does reference it.

 

I hope I can get the concierge to help with a few things. One is OBC we should be owed because MSC cancelled a cruise. It doesn't show on my documents and I've mentioned here already, I can't get a response from our TA and although I did get responses from MSC, they will only work with the TA.  I have my Email printed saying we get it. One thing I noticed is that it mentioned re-booking on either the Meraviglia or Divina and we aren't on either and switched from the Caribbean to the Med.  I think they should still give us the credit, it is $200 for 3 rooms.

 

I'm also hoping either Butler or concierge will help when we disembark to get us transportation to the train station. I imagine there will be cabs and we can figure it out, but might just be that much easier with someone who knows what they are doing! It's been 30 years since we've been to Europe and not all that familiar with grabbing cabs either.

 

Sorry about the long post. There are so many moving parts to a European trip!

[mnpurple]

@TRUEBLUE66 Any idea how many are on the ship?

[mackfam]

We are embarking the Seaview in Barcelona on May 20th after spending a week in Mallorca. I’m wondering if antigen tests are offered by any of the local pharmacies. Someone had mentioned getting a test close to their hotel for $15 a few weeks ago but didn’t specify where that was. I know tests are available at the airport and various sites but they are considerably more expensive. 
Also looking for suggestions for what to do in Malta.

[mnpurple]

@mackfam I ordered Covid tests to bring with us from Emed for both going and returning to US. I figured it would be less stressful not having to search for a place to test.  If you're in Mallorca a week though, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a place.

 

I don't really a firm plans for Malta. I was reading on the ports Board about someone who just hired a cab at the port to drive them around. I might consider that.  I also saw a cruise Blog and they hired a company that rents out golf carts and you use GPS to tour around.  That sounded interesting, but we did something in similar in San Diego last year and it was a little hard to enjoy the sights trying to figure out directions.

[TRUEBLUE66]

6 hours ago, mnpurple said:

@TRUEBLUE66 Any idea how many are on the ship?

Crew say 70% capacity but feels a lot less. Yacht Club fairly busy. No real queues for getting off each day.

[hamrag]

8 hours ago, mnpurple said:

....Still nervous about our insurance being an issue because it doesn't specify Covid, although we called and their website does reference it....

 

....I'm also hoping either Butler or concierge will help when we disembark to get us transportation to the train station. I imagine there will be cabs and we can figure it out, but might just be that much easier with someone who knows what they are doing! It's been 30 years since we've been to Europe and not all that familiar with grabbing cabs either....

You must provide something that references Covid cover for your travel insurance, that is not negotiable! Last year, when cruising recommenced we asked our travel insurer to send a letter to us by email confirming that Covid cover is included, stating the relevant paragraph for emergency cover and the maximum amount covered. They accepted that without question but, in the UK at least, Covid is now specified within the policy documentation.

 

At disembarkation, a butler will expedite the process and escort you to the cruise terminal exit and take you to the taxi rank. Incidentally in YC only, within reason, you can remain on board way beyond the given debarking times. Officially it's up to 2 hours prior to sailing, but in practice more like 3 hours. In Barcelona last month the ship was sailing at 10pm, and we stayed on until 6pm. We often use this facility as we tend to book later flights.

[mnpurple]

Still working out the insurance issue. What we purchased is the same exact insurance that MSC sells, only ours has more coverage.  Finally reached a TA with the company we booked through, but they can't discuss insurance coverage. We'll put in another call with the insurance company (I already called and messaged) and see if someone can provide more in writing.  They just say the clause that stipulates if you become sick includes Covid.

 

I *think* we will be getting the OBC that we were owed after MSC cancelled.  They said it would take 24-48 hours to show on our account. Where will I see this on my account? I've printed all of our boarding materials.

[obxlover]

My travel insurance does not say "COVID" but does say this

 

"Epidemic Coverage Adds coverage for certain losses resulting from an epidemic or pandemic disease is included."

 

I think this should COVID.  But now I am wondering.

[mmt44]

The letter that was accepted was termed a "visa letter", issued by the insurance company and it said covid is treated like any other disease.  the boarding agent specifically circled the word "covid" and passed, for boarding

[perakcruiser]

20 hours ago, mnpurple said:

I *think* we will be getting the OBC that we were owed after MSC cancelled.  They said it would take 24-48 hours to show on our account. Where will I see this on my account? I've printed all of our boarding materials.

You will get a new travel document PDF with the OBC voucher. This voucher is the only way to claim the OBC on board if it is missing. The chance that they honour an e-mail on board is rather limited. The term "show on our account" is a little bit strange, but maybe they mean that your TA can see it. 

[jkhneuberfee]

I'm from germany and join Seaview on May 22th in Genoa. I found a Pharmacy with Covid test via Google here, because on 30th we'll be on Meraviglia, so we need A test. May be you find one in Naples via Google too. 

I read in much Boards that they are searching in Insurance Documents only for the Word covid or corona. So i don't know if its enough if pandemic is not excluded. Ask via Email, so you have it Black on White. 

Maybe It is enough when the documents say covid is excluded 😉 but i wouldn't try. 

[mnpurple]

I *think* my OBC credit is straightened out. I have receipts that show $200 shipboard credit for each booking.  Fingers crossed.

 

My insurance document does reference Covid, but refers to another clause on the website. I am comfortable that there is coverage in the event one of us has a bad result.

 

Now we only worry about multiple flights to get there and doing the pre-cruise testing.

[mnpurple]

I' m a little weird updating my own thread, but I say it because I need to hear it!  Four of six of us used Emed to do our Covid tests today and we're a go! The other two in our group are traveling separately, hopefully no issue. I received further documentation from the insurance company, so our butts are completely covered.  We have convoluted travel and leave shortly from JFK to Madrid, then later in the day on to Naples and board the Seaview there Monday! So happy to have cleared the "major" hurdles.

 

Persistence and patience I think are very important attributes traveling during Covid times and European!  Very excited now!

[texanaust]

On 5/22/2022 at 6:14 AM, mnpurple said:

I' m a little weird updating my own thread, but I say it because I need to hear it!  Four of six of us used Emed to do our Covid tests today and we're a go! The other two in our group are traveling separately, hopefully no issue. I received further documentation from the insurance company, so our butts are completely covered.  We have convoluted travel and leave shortly from JFK to Madrid, then later in the day on to Naples and board the Seaview there Monday! So happy to have cleared the "major" hurdles.

 

Persistence and patience I think are very important attributes traveling during Covid times and European!  Very excited now!

We are leaving from Naples on the 30th.  Let us know boarding goes.  I think they said 2pm to us, but the ship doesn't arrive until 1pm.  We are going to have to find a test site in Naples on Saturday afternoon.  Nothing much is open on Sunday...and I don't want to risk it Monday morning!

[mnpurple]

@texanaust I'll try to get back on after we board.  I'm planning on boarding early because we're in YC.  it is 8 AM and the ship hasn't docked. We'll see when we'll be able to get on.

 

It's an exciting day for us!

[8420PR]

MSC Seaview is only scheduled to arrive in Naples at 13:00, so I think 14:00 is probably the earliest boarding time.   Enjoy your cruise!

[Germancruiser]

Hi mnpurple- I wish you and your party a wonderful voyage. I am boarding the Seaview in Genua at June 19th. - just five more weeks to go. I so look forward to your little reports from the Ship. I loved my YC Seaside experience last year- so I did it again- on the sister ship- the Seaview.

The only question I really have is if they still test on the pier prior boarding.

Thanks you for all the help. Bon voyage!

 

[texanaust]

5 hours ago, mnpurple said:

@texanaust I'll try to get back on after we board.  I'm planning on boarding early because we're in YC.  it is 8 AM and the ship hasn't docked. We'll see when we'll be able to get on.

 

It's an exciting day for us!

Enjoy your trip.  We are going YC too, so don't drink all the prossecco before next week!

[mackfam]

They did not test us at the pier when we boarded in Barcelona last week.