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I haven't checked the Terrace Café for the icecream yet. I was hoping for the new flavor Allura. But so far it wasn't offered. steamboats

Yes, it definitely is smaller. steamboats

Jacques is the same layout as Ember on Vista with an open kitchen. The Crêperie replaced the Library which moved into the Conference Room between the cigar lounge and the Lynch Center. Less bookshelves and more open area with chairs and tables. steamboats

We just had the Pure Amalfi Spritz and the Passion Fruit Colada in the Aquamar Kitchen in Allura. steamboats

It's available on Allura right now. They have one flavor at the Waves Grill and one in the Grand Dining Room (for lunch and dinner). The flavor is changing daily. Seems like they have one flavor in the GDR one day and the same one next day at Waves. My DHL had Elvis the Fat Years yesterday at lunch in the GDR, I had it today at Waves. steamboats

Not really... it´s not an electronic visa!! You can travel without a visa but you need the electronic travel authorization (or electronic pre registration). steamboats

Yes, we hardly use any ice in beverages unless it´s a cocktail ;-). Try out MSC and you will experience smoking at its best ;-). The buffets used to be open for more or less all day. But with the free drinks offered only in the buffet restaurants the folk grabbed a table and sat there for hours - not to eat but to drink! So they changed to "time slots". Depending on the ship there are at least two slots for dinner. For breakfast the time slot should be a bit more extended. There´s a pause until lunch. In the afternoon you have the tea time with cakes and more. And yes, you have to get used to line up at 5:30 pm to wait for the restaurant to open at 6 pm 🤣. steamboats

Same for a cruise line. steamboats

There´s a saying here in Germany: Exemptions confirm the rule 😉 Some airlines do ask for a proof, some don´t (maybe some do have access to the UK database and some don´t). I have multiple reads that the cruise line didn´t ask in Southampton when boarding. steamboats

@BirdTravels seems like a lot has changed since January. Now you definitely only get an E-Mail and no PDF. And newer reports say that the airlines do now have access in some kind and you don't need to show anything. BTW, the NCL E-Mail was/is talking about a visa requirement but ETA is no visa at all but just an electronic pre-registration for those who can participate in a visa waiver program. steamboats

Airlines can access the database. Unfortunately cruise lines don't have access so far. Of course this may change in the future. As you can see with the ETA E-Mail the UK government might not really have thought about cruises when they put ETA into place. BTW that's one of the problems with eTIAS for the EU. They talked with the cruise lines and literally got them into the boat. Even more funny is that obviously they UK immigration officers working on the cruise ships don't even have computers to check the passengers and whether the so have ETA. steamboats

They definitely should clarify that you need some kind of proof - either the E-Mail on your phone or a print out of this E-Mail. The main problem is that this E-Mail sent by ETA says you don´t need anything than your passport. Yes, technically that´s correct - when you fly into the UK. Because when you fly in you go through passport control and the system knows that you have ETA. The E-Mail is not geared to cruise passengers. That´s where the cruise line should jump in and tell you specifically that you do need that ETA E-Mail (as a print out or on your phone). But I´ve never had this kind of E-Mail with ESTA either and despite that I´ve been always asked (by various cruise lines). steamboats

There should be a bus transfer offered by MSC from Milan airport to Genova. Genova has an aiport but it´s pretty small. So most people who have to fly use Milan. steamboats

I just copy and paste what I just answered on the NCL board: "I highly recommend having a print out of the ETA confirmation E-Mail for your cruise (or the original E-Mail on your phone - I prefer paper for this). As mentioned several times the cruise lines do not have access to the UK database (as the airlines have). So they can´t check whether you do have a valid ETA. I read various reports from different cruise lines - like MSC is doing a weekly cruise out of Hamburg visiting Southampton. Passengers were denied boarding when they weren´t able to present ETA (print our or E-Mail). Some did apply for it for a second time prior to check-in. Another report from a Costa cruise visiting Southampton: The UK immigration officers which did the face to face onboard do not have any access to the UK database. So all passenger had to show either the print our or the E-Mail to the officers (yes, this is really sounding weird but it happend!). So far I always have been asked whether I do have ESTA when boarding in Miami or Port Everglades. And I had to show a print out. Why did they ask me although I´m already in the country?? I may give you an example. I´ve been on a 2 weeks Panama Canal cruise from Port Everglades to San Diego. I had a vaid ESTA but when I checked the dates I saw it expired mid cruise. So I could have flown into the US with that ESTA but it wouldn´t have been valid for the cruise and re-entry in San Diego. So of course I applied for a new ESTA for this trip. You may ask, why don´t they ask for ETA in Southampton then... Simple... ETA is pretty new and started by the beginning of this year. It´s valid for two years. So it simply can´t expire during your cruise out of Southampton right now and it has been checked when you´ve flown in already. The cruise lines may ask you in about two years unless they can access the UK database by then." Actually right now in your case you can simply ignore this E-Mail when you are boarding in Southampton. BTW, I´ve been on the Norwegian Aqua pre inaugural from Lisbon to Southampton. This cruise was supposed to have a stop in Rotterdam where a lot of people wanted to disembark. Due to weather we weren´t able to leave Lisbon for two days. So Rotterdam was skipped and the ship went directly to Southampton. Some people decided to stay on but needed ETA and had to apply for it. Others did only travel with their ID card and had no passport. They were the ones lucked out and had to leave the ship after two nights in Lisbon (others did because they didn´t have the extra time for the trip to Southampton). Anyway for this trip I received numerous E-Mails telling me I do need ETA. As a EU citizen this didn´t appy to me by that time (started April, but the cruise was in March). Non-EU citizens already needed ETA. So when boarding in Southampton nobody will ask your for ETA as you already have been checked at the airport (and it couldn´t have expired right now). steamboats

I highly recommend having a print out of the ETA confirmation E-Mail for your cruise (or the original E-Mail on your phone - I prefer paper for this). As mentioned several times the cruise lines do not have access to the UK database (as the airlines have). So they can´t check whether you do have a valid ETA. I read various reports from different cruise lines - like MSC is doing a weekly cruise out of Hamburg visiting Southampton. Passengers were denied boarding when they weren´t able to present ETA (print our or E-Mail). Some did apply for it for a second time prior to check-in. Another report from a Costa cruise visiting Southampton: The UK immigration officers which did the face to face onboard do not have any access to the UK database. So all passenger had to show either the print our or the E-Mail to the officers (yes, this is really sounding weird but it happend!). So far I always have been asked whether I do have ESTA when boarding in Miami or Port Everglades. And I had to show a print out. Why did they ask me although I´m already in the country?? I may give you an example. I´ve been on a 2 weeks Panama Canal cruise from Port Everglades to San Diego. I had a vaid ESTA but when I checked the dates I saw it expired mid cruise. So I could have flown into the US with that ESTA but it wouldn´t have been valid for the cruise and re-entry in San Diego. So of course I applied for a new ESTA for this trip. You may ask, why don´t they ask for ETA in Southampton then... Simple... ETA is pretty new and started by the beginning of this year. It´s valid for two years. So it simply can´t expire during your cruise out of Southampton right now and it has been checked when you´ve flown in already. The cruise lines may ask you in about two years unless they can access the UK database by then. steamboats