Sitting Together and Excursions Not Possible?

[godwheel]

So, i just called MSC Cruises to link family member bookings to ours so we could purchase excursions and sit together during dinners, but I was told this was impossible because we all had different drinking packages. Did the customer service representative make a mistake?

 

Are you really unable to go on the same bus/ excursion and/or dinner table because you have a different drink package? It never even occurred to me that would be a thing as I've never experienced that in other cruise lines. 

 

Is it possible to do it once on the ship?

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

 

Edited March 6, 2023 by godwheel

[CruisingFox27]

Your certainly able to go on excursions together, although the same bus isn't guaranteed. It is however correct that only diners with the same drink package are seated at the same table. Unfortunately, you won't be able to link your bookings, as far as I know. There was a copy of the T&C's posted here recently which outlined that policy. 

[godwheel]

Ack! Never in a million years would I have thought this would be an issue. So frustrating. :(

 

Thanks for your help.

[mvh]

As soon as you get on board, ask someone where to go for dinner reservations. Just talk to the Matre' D and he will take care of you. We had no problem on the Seaside and Meriviglia with different drink packages. Don't stress, they will seat you together. I know it's ridiculous that you can't do it ahead of time, but it's just an MSC annoyance.  

[Illbcruzn4life]

6 minutes ago, mvh said:

As soon as you get on board, ask someone where to go for dinner reservations. Just talk to the Matre' D and he will take care of you. We had no problem on the Seaside and Meriviglia with different drink packages. Don't stress, they will seat you together. I know it's ridiculous that you can't do it ahead of time, but it's just an MSC annoyance.  

haven't even gone on my first MSC cruise and I can say they certainly do things like the mainstream cruise lines.

 

Just told my daughter in law earlier today that MSC is a little wonky with their rules.

 

My son, DIL, and drand daughter booked today to join us.

[JT1962]

3 hours ago, godwheel said:

So, i just called MSC Cruises to link family member bookings to ours so we could purchase excursions and sit together during dinners, but I was told this was impossible because we all had different drinking packages. Did the customer service representative make a mistake?

 

Are you really unable to go on the same bus/ excursion and/or dinner table because you have a different drink package? It never even occurred to me that would be a thing as I've never experienced that in other cruise lines. 

 

Is it possible to do it once on the ship?

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

 

Is your cruise from the US?  I have been on a total of 4 MSC cruises from the US in the past year and was always seated at tables where some had the drink package and some did not. It was never an issue or even mentioned. I can’t imagine why the drink package would ever be a consideration on excursions.

[smokeykat]

We will be traveling with friends and are sitting together for all dining. We have the drink package and they do not. It all depends on what MSC rep you speak to. It appears that US based reps are easier to get answers from and will place you together at the same table. The foreign reps...no

[Gatordad1967]

your TA should be able to fix that.

 

[Morgsmom]

1 hour ago, Gatordad1967 said:

your TA should be able to fix that.

 

Fix what?  MSC's wonky rules?  or Linking the Reservations? 🙂

 

[JAGR]

41 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

Fix MSC's wonky rules?

Oh, to dream the impossible dream!🤭

[perakcruiser]

If they seat people with and without drinks packages together that obviously means free drinks for the ones without 😄
 

The waiter just brings a bottle of water and does not care which guests card to swipe.

[Gatordad1967]

3 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

Fix what?  MSC's wonky rules?  or Linking the Reservations? 🙂

 

the seating arrangements.

[NCMtnBoys]

We're traveling with friends on Meraviglia in May. They're on a completely separate reservation and in a different cabin. They have the drink package, we do not, and don't want it. Our reservations are linked for dining (we were able to do that when the second reservation was made, no problem). After seeing the discussion the last few days about possibly not being able to sit together, we called MSC today for clarification. It seems it does not affect those who have booked a promotion that includes the drink package (our friends did), so we were told we should not have an issue sitting together. Only affects those who add the drink package after booking.

 

[marktwothousand]

Any updates on this policy? I am travelling with family (we are two solo passengers in separate cabins and unlinked bookings) and we want to eat together in the MDR. in fact, we don’t mind sharing a table of 6 or 8 but we are also fine alone. Will it be possible to get a table together once we are on board?

 

we are doing a Southampton virtuosa sailing if that makes any difference. I have the drinks package and the other person does not. (The person does not drink alcohol)

 

I would love to know what people’s recent experiences have been like as solo’s eating in the MDR. how have your assignments been and have you been able to tweak them? (At least at the beginning of the cruise. If it was later in the cruise, even better but not counting on it)

[JamieLogical]

13 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

Any updates on this policy? I am travelling with family (we are two solo passengers in separate cabins and unlinked bookings) and we want to eat together in the MDR. in fact, we don’t mind sharing a table of 6 or 8 but we are also fine alone. Will it be possible to get a table together once we are on board?

 

we are doing a Southampton virtuosa sailing if that makes any difference. I have the drinks package and the other person does not. (The person does not drink alcohol)

 

I would love to know what people’s recent experiences have been like as solo’s eating in the MDR. how have your assignments been and have you been able to tweak them? (At least at the beginning of the cruise. If it was later in the cruise, even better but not counting on it)

 

I have only had experience with this one time. We were 6 solos, one of whom did not have the drink package. I was able to link the 5 bookings prior to sailing and then once onboard, we were able to get the 6th person added to our table and actually change our dining room/time as well.

[jcollin]

What about adding a solo who is not Aurea?  We have three Aurea cabins, all with drink package if that makes any difference.  A solo wants to join the fun but will not be in Aurea or have the drink package.  We all want to dine together.  Can this be confirmed before we get on board?  

[JamieLogical]

Just now, jcollin said:

What about adding a solo who is not Aurea?  We have three Aurea cabins, all with drink package if that makes any difference.  A solo wants to join the fun but will not be in Aurea or have the drink package.  We all want to dine together.  Can this be confirmed before we get on board?  

 

I just asked about something like this on another thread. My parents are sailing with us on a cruise in January. We are Aurea and they are Fantastica. I would NEVER presume that my parents would be allowed to do the anytime dining and eat in the Aurea section without paying for it, but I was asking whether it would be possible to get my husband and me assigned to a set dining time/table with my parents once onboard in one of the normal dining rooms. It seems that people have had mixed experiences with that. It sounds like we will have to just wait until we are onboard and see what can be worked out.

[jcollin]

Thanks, the 7 of us want to keep anytime dining but were hoping to add the solo traveler as well versus getting a fixed time for the 8 of us.  I thought on Seaside its all in the same dining room.  We were just on Seashore and Aurea had their own room.  It would have been harder to di it there but Seaside aren't we all together anyway?

 

[JamieLogical]

19 minutes ago, jcollin said:

Thanks, the 7 of us want to keep anytime dining but were hoping to add the solo traveler as well versus getting a fixed time for the 8 of us.  I thought on Seaside its all in the same dining room.  We were just on Seashore and Aurea had their own room.  It would have been harder to di it there but Seaside aren't we all together anyway?

 

 

Right, but do you see how it is unfair to paying Aurea customers to have someone who has not paid for Aurea benefits to get them for free? Anytime dining and seating in a special area/dining room is a benefit of PAYING for the Aurea experience. If someone in your party was unwilling to pay extra for Aurea benefits, then why should they be entitled to them for free by association?

 

Edit: I am not saying they for sure won't accommodate you, I am just saying it is unreasonable to EXPECT them to do so.

Edited July 29 by JamieLogical

[jcollin]

Good point, we can try I guess but we should be prepared to have him eat alone.  Maybe we can wave from the exclusive Aurea area.

[Illbcruzn4life]

21 minutes ago, jcollin said:

Good point, we can try I guess but we should be prepared to have him eat alone.  Maybe we can wave from the exclusive Aurea area.

maybe you can all chip in and pay for his upgrade

[jcollin]

I don't need to wat with him that bad😀

[Illbcruzn4life]

13 hours ago, jcollin said:

I don't need to wat with him that bad😀

Just spitballing 🤪