AT8500

Hello,

My parents are going on cruse this summer on Mediterranean , and they are considering Allegrisimo premium package and they asks me are those drinks that are marked with red "*" included in it. On bar list they say "not included in Allegrisimo", but are they included in "Allegrisimo premium"?

They ask me and I don't know because I used only "regular" Allegrisimo.... So please help me with this question.

Hi, where I can find more info about those coupons? I don't really understand what is it...

tnx, that was very useful informations ;)

After my good experience with MSC, my parents decided to try it for themselves and they booked cruse in June from La Spezia.

But I don't see much information on internet for that port but what I want to know is where would be best to leave car for 7 days?

Also where exactly ship docks in La Spezia?

When I was planing cruse from Genova all those information were easy to find but for La Spezia I can't find it ...

Also if you have some suggestions for that port I would appreciate those information.

I was in Tunis on MSC Splendida in January, and as I can remember we didn't pay any tax, but we took MSC excursion so maybe it was included in price...

No problem, if you have some other questions feel free to ask.

We are far from experts but lot of thinks are now much clear to us.

One question for others:

How those lady that make up our room knows when we are not in it. She visit room at least 3-4 times per day and in 7 days I never saw it in our room when we come in. Is it just "luck" or do they really know when you are not in your room.

I would not mind to come to my room and find it in it but just asking this.

By the way, Annik is name of lady that made our room (deck 13) and she was really nice (I met her in coridor but never in our room) and did her job perfectly.

Last week we returned from our cruse on MSC Splendida and that was for sure one of the nicest seven days in my life. I just can't imagne what cruse looks like on other more "luxury" ships when it was that nice on Splendida.

Only mistake I made was embarkation in Genova and traveling by car to there, that was 1200Km from Bosnia in one way, and road to Genova is just crazy. I never saw motorway with so many curves :). But ok it was part of holiday so i don't complain.

Genova is strange same time I like it and hate it :)

Rome was grate. We did it on our own because our guided excursion was canceled. And I sugest to do it on your own always. We wasn't prepared for it but we bought turistic map and it was enough.

Palermo also exceeded my expectations. I was planing to stay on ship but I am glead that I took excursion and saw that nice place. Driving is different story but that is bus driver problem :)

Tunis. OMG that was greatest disappointment. I don't know how on the earth there is so much garbage on the street. Also everything looks strange and filthy there. I would not go to Tunis never ever again. (Probably it is nice in those all included hotels but outside is terrible).

Barcelona as expected was grate. Again did it on our own. That was mistake because we didn't see much and we freezed on Hop-on hop-off bus, but we will go there again for few days. La Rambla and everything else is great and I really liked it.

Marseill, same as Palermo. I planned to stay on ship but that is one really nice city. Because of weather got worse we stayed there shorter so we didn't see much but what we saw is really nice.

So this Genova-Rome-Palermo-Tunis-Barca-Marseill-Genova is really nice for first time cruisers as we were.

Also, upgrade which I mention before was because of our honeymoon. We met there one couple on their honeymoon and they booked balcony cabina and was upgraded to MSC yaht club. (we were upgraded to balcony from inside cabin). That is really nice from MSC.

Also in our cabin we got bottle of champain and fruits with their greeting card. Nice touch. I know it is nothing special and that they do it routinely but it is really nice to feel little special in that way.

We bouth allegrisimo and we did not used it well. In seven days we never drink more than 53€ (which was our allegrsimo per day 2*26€). So even we bought drinks for our friends that didn't had allegrisimo it was still below 53€. I was ill and took antibiotics for first two days so I didn't drink bear just water so that was maybe one of the reasons of our small drinking.

But from the other side if I didn't have allegrismo I would not try all coctails because I would feel sorry to give 6,7€ for something I don't know if I like.

One think that could be better is crew. There are some nice crew but lot of them are just too arrogant and ignorant. It didn't bother me much, because I understand that they are at work and not on vacation as I am but I just mention it as one and probably only bad think on whole trip.

I just get off splendida this morning but didn't see your post before. I know for sure that there is mohito in zero alcohol and i think five or six more but don't know which.

About those baggage tags. I have only two (from mail) and I see that they asks not to print more than those two,but what if I have 3 bags? And can I have more than two bags? Is there any limitations on that?

Wow! An upgrade!! Does your new cabin have a number or is it to be allocated on boarding? How exciting :)

 

 

 

 

 

I tried booking the Allegrissimo package last week and the week before but the MSC website just reloaded back to the beginning every time. I emailed MSC and they sent me a web link to follow to confirm and pay. So all sorted ready for next week :D

In my boarding documents there is cabin number and when I check deck plan it is cabin with balcony. But strange thing is that there is no single word about upgrade butevery thing looks like we booked balcony cabin as our choice. I asked my TA and she was also suprised and told me not to ask anything MSC because it could be mistake but also it could be upgrade but she is also finds strange that there is ni mention about that upgrade. So we will be ready for inside cabin but if they really gave use balcony then we will be great.

Also is it imoprtant that we will be newlywed and we stated that when booked. Also we got discount off 10% because of that but am not sure if thatdiscount was from our TA or MSC.

Thanks CruiseIreland & AmoMondo for your answers. Now I understand better all those things.

I see that this premium allegrisimo is expensive and with drinking habits of my wife and me I think that we would have "work" really hard to justify daily price, so Allegrisimo (not premium) is looking much better but only if we don't loose some drinks that we like. Also what about icecreams? Are there limitations on them if we choose allegrissimo over allegrisimo premium? There have been some changes in allegrisimo as I can see from posts on forum and one thing that I know is not included is fresh orange juice.

I know main difference (bottled beer vs only draft beer, more vs. few vines, not included mini bar and premium drinks), but is there other things that were in allegrisimo and now not available anymore (for example I would like to try all coctails or at least most of them, etc)

Hehe seems that nobody likes my stupid questions but I have one more (real stupid):

Do I have to print those boarding documents in colour or black and white. I am sure it is not important but who knows..:confused::)

Also, I tryed to book allegrisimo via web, I can log in with my booking number but when I click "book" on something it just returns me to first page and now I am not sure if I booked it or not? Where I should see what I booked?

Also is there some kind of confirmations before you book allegrisimo or excursion? I ask this because I maybe clicked twice on one package and would not like to get two packages of something I don't want and just because web page is broken and can't show me what I booked.

When i log in windows looks like this one in attachment

Hi,

I just recived my boarding instructions on mail and I see that it says that I have cabin with balcony on dock piero dela francesca or something like that... So now is it mistake or what? They didnt say anything about upgrade or something in those papers

Tnx

Now, again about this Allegrisimo...

I see that there are Allegrissimo and Allegrisimo classic. I would go for Allegrisimo classic because it includes beer in bottle but when I look at screen shots of ship bar menu I see that beers in bottles are marked with red "*", meaning they are not included in allegrissimo.

I am bear drinker and would like to try as many as possible types of beer so if those beers (or at least most of them) are included in "classic" variation of allegrissimo I would take it.

As other described, vignettes are replacement for paying toll for using Slovenian highways. Replacement does not means you can choose how you will pay it but you MUST BUY vignettes and I suggest you to buy it in Italy maybe on last gas station before entering Slovenia. Slovenians are very strict about their control of that vignettes and you will pay 350€ if you are caught without it.

That happen to me last year, I entered Slovenia from Croatia (I do it all year round, and I am well familiar with it) and by mistake forgot to take turn to first gas station to buy vignet, in next 10km I run into vignette check and got penalty.

Also pay attention on height of your car because cleaver Slovenians introduced special vignettes for vans and other "high" cars so you have to mesure it :)... but more you can find on their web site http://www.dars.si/

One more question:

Are those hop on hop off buses practical in case of rain? Do they have roof? I am planing excursion in Barcelona to do with those buses but I am worried will that be good idea if it is rainy day?

Is there anywhere to find prices of drinks that are effective at the moment for MSC SPLENDIDA? I can find some older menus but I am not sure are those prices relevant. Or at least some orientation prices...

Also do we pay all water and coffee or there are some for free?

Where can be found price for massage packages? On MSC web site, I can find list of packages but not prices for them. I am not planing to do it every day, but one day (maybe that one on sea) my wife and I could try some relaxing massage.

I see that some blogs and posts suggest that daily budget should be around 100USD, so I am planing to make it 90-100€, per person, so is it realistic or should be increased.

I am not saying that we will spend 100€ a day, every day, but I will allocate that amount of money. All that we don't spend is just bonuses. This is excluding excursions fees and spending on excursions, but just on board spending. We are not interested in buying all kind of stuff that are for sell, but we would like to take full advantage of this cruise and try something that will probably will not like to try (pay) on my regular holiday.

This forum really need "Thank you" button, but anyway thank you all for your posts ;)

Thank you all for helping me (and other). I am starting to get picture in my head much clear now about lot of things, but I still have questions :)

1)Right now I am trying to organize our excursions but I am not sure how it looks in reality when ship docks to port. So could someone explain what is exact situation and procedure after docking?

As some of you sugested HO HO buses in palermo and barcelona now looks really interested but I guess that after you exit ship you have to first find/walk to station etc... while on official excursions bus is waiting for you and returning you back to ship?

If we decide to go alone, beside preparations of what to see and how, what would be good time frame to be back on ship before departure. Are there any specific procedures that you have to do before you return to ship which could take some time?

I know that this will be much more obvious to me when I see it in real but right now I must ask all kind of those maybe stupid questions.

2) What do you suggest us to wear on this cruise and what temperatures to expect on ship and on shore. I think that only Rome could be suitable for some real winter outfit. I guess that on other destinations and on (inside) ship it will be like spring temperatures and probably windy. Is it correct or I am missing something.

Thank you all for answers. I will not qoute your answers because it will be huge post so I will answer and ask in genreal again.

Link that Babyeddiedog posted is great and I see that there are three parkings but not sure which is best choose and which is nearest to ship.

Now those excursions. I don't know how things are in reality in those ports but I just don't think that it will be safe for someone who never cruised before (not familiar with all procedures, timings etc) to go alone far away from ship.

OK it is cheaper but is it safer? I can manage self excursions but I am little affraid will I be able to return in time...

I am maybe wrong about this, so would like to heir more about your first time and excursions.

Also is it possible to get some sort of plans heir on forum with other who will be cruising at same ship and date, and maybe arrange something for those excursions.

Now, drinking. I just can't figure out do I need those or not. I am beer drinker and my wife don't drink alcohol at all. I drink beer but in normal quantities but I can't decide right now will I drink 2 or 6 or 16 (lol) a day....

Hi,

I am going on MSC Splendida on 18th of January 2015 and this is my first time cruise. Now I am intensively looking for all useful informations so I could spend great time on the ship, but it is little hard to learn everything from lot of text on from internet so I would need (again) your help. I asked before some question but they were general and now I have few specific ones:

1) I already asked this question (more heir http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=44889796#post44889796 ): Where is best to park my car in Genoa? I would like that parking is close to boarding area. I am not sure how much time I will have from arriving to Genoa to time of boarding. But I would like if it is possible to park my car and take keys with me.

2)I booked cruise yesterday and lady from agency told me that I will receive on my e-mail all I need to board the ship, including tickets, instructions, etc... She also told me that they sometimes send those things relatively late (few days before day of cruise). Is this normal way of getting those things?

I don't like it very much because I will be on ski holiday before cruise and I would have to find somewhere to print those things. But if it is standard procedure it is OK then.

2a) If I want to book drinking packages or other additional thing, MSC always asks for booking number, which I don't have at the moment. Can I buy those thing later or even on the ship or it must be done before?

3) I am going with my wife on this cruise and we are going alone. We are probably going on few excursions and will probably take official MSC excursions because as this is our first cruise and we don't want to be late back on ship or to take wrong private ones. I know that those official excursions are overpriced but do people at all goes on those excursions?

Do I have to book them earlier or on ship day before?

Maybe we will find some company on board and then go together but that is at the moment unlikely and I would like to have some backup plan.

4)At Gala night (or whatever it is called) what is minimum acceptable dress code. We are at our late 20 (29 and 28), and I just don't feel like wearing suit on my vacation and packing it to take it with me. Same goes for my wife.

I am ok with semi-formal look but that would be top.

I have some more questions but would leave them for later because I already wrote long post and nobody likes long posts to read.

P.S.

Please don't kill me if I am asking things that are answered million times before, but I just can't find all this in all kind of texts on internet.

Hi,

I just booked MSC Splendida on 18.01.2015.g, and I will arrive to Genoa by my car. This is my first cruise and I am not familiar with procedure before and after cruise. I will find out that on this forum but one specific question is parking.

Where is best to park in my case? I would like if it is possible to not give keys to anyone and not to leave it to parking staff. I just don't feel comfortable with it. Right now I am considering Autosiloport Genoa Cruise Parking and Park Torre Sud Genoa Port. First one looks grate because it seems close to docks, but other one lets me keep my keys...

But I am open for all suggestions from experienced cruisers.

Here is a link to the BAR list for Divina in Oct 2012, Remember the drinks or groups of drinks WITH a red * next to them are not included on the Alligressimo package,

Don't forget the package includes coffees and icecream.

 

 

In addition if you buy individual drinks they have a 15% service charge (SC)added on.

 

 

 

beers , draught only on alligresimo, are 40cl for €4.90 + 15% (€5.64) so 4 beers a day means you are in profit.

 

water is €2.30 for 1Lt (€2.65 with service charge)

fruit juice is €2.50 - 2.70 per glass + SC

coffee is €1.30 - 2.50 + SC and ice cream ( real italian ice-cream) is ~ 2.00 + SC.

 

 

So 2 waters (1 to take ashore , 1 to have with dinner) + 4 fruit juices + 2 coffee and an ice cream puts your partner into profit.

 

Bare in mind these prices are 2 years old .

 

It doesn't take much to get good value out of the package and even better if you drink wine with your evening meal

 

 

Bar menu link...............https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=1cdc327c72a4c6d9#cid=1CDC327C72A4C6D9&id=1CDC327C72A4C6D9%211189&v=3

 

Hope this helps

 

There is also the Alligressimo Premium which is a lot more expensive and would probably not suit you,

 

Pete

Yup, it is now more than obvious all advantages of ALLEGRISSIMO ;) Tnx for clearing it to me

I personally would never take another late year cruise in the southern Mediterranean again after my little brush with disaster.

 

The Med is well known for its languid conditions but I've seen first hand what she can do in late fall early winter. We were aboard the Brilliance of the Seas when she began to heel as we approached Alexandria. Now a weathered sailor will tell you that no matter how far over that vessel listed we could never have gone into the drink. But when it's you staring straight down at the sea with your feet on the balcony doorwall, and the ocean just feet below your feet it doesn't matter what "could" happen. It's scary.

 

We had 80 mph winds and swells 60 feet or higher as we made our way from Rhodes. We should have known this would have been a nasty week when we first flew into Barcelona. Flights were being delayed hours and days as a storm swept southward dropping snow in areas that normally never see such things. And the closer we got to Egypt the worse it got. Apparently we were forced to full stop because of some traffic clutter. That's when the stabalizers began to fail and we started to list. The heeling continued for what was probably only 5 minutes, but felt like an hour. And although we got an extra day in breath takingly beautiful Malta, we never even got to see Egypt, which was the highlight of the itinerary.

 

I will never take that part of the world for granted again.

 

Heck, you can't really rely on much of anything being the same anymore. But that's just a sore sport with me.

 

If I had a chunk of money to cruise that time of the year I'd go someplace nice and warm. Like S America.

How bad weather influence on life on ship? Are all bars, shops, place for fun and other things working normally so you don't have to sit in your room and wait for bad weather to pass?

If everything is working and only problem is motion of the ship while hits waves, then it is OK with me.

There is no doubt that it is not perfect but I am not afraid at all that something could happen to those modern ships, except some inconvenience because of ship going left-right.

What others thinks about this? Is it common to have problems with that late year cruises? One think that I find as advance on those late year cruises is that it is not too hot and not too cold for walking and visiting excursions.

Thank you all for your answers ;)

I am still learning and discoverying new things about crouises such as ALLEGRISSIMO package. So is this good or bad idea to take? What is price of drinks on ship when you pay for it? I am beer drinker, and my gf is poor alcohol drinker so she will probably not drink any (so just juices, water, etc...). I am mainly beer drinker and I would 99% of time beer or water (I don't like juices), except for those occasions where wine or other drinks would be more appropriate.

So we will not try to drink all drinks that we can and would probably consume drinks in some normal way and in normal amount...

For two of us, ALLEGRISSIMO would be additional 506€ (because I see that all passengers that travel together must buy package - it is logical because everyone would buy just one and whole family would use it :)). So how intensive should be drinking on board to drink 506€ by two people (if they are not drinking most expensive drinks) and is this package good value if we use it in way that I described above. :confused: