Georgia_Peaches

Go with your original boarding time. If an error bubbles up when you arrive, act like you are clueless and let them figure it out. I think you will be fine. Furthermore, your time will likely change again. We started with 3 PM and then it changed to 10 AM. Go figure.

Really appreciate your feedback. We are new to MSC having completed 1 caribbean cruise on Seashore and having another on the books next month...again, to the Caribbean. We are ready to venture back over seas in 2023 and will likely do so on MSC because we really enjoyed our trial experience. We were in the Yacht Club and will definitely try to book this category again if it's cost effective. One thing we are considering is going a less expensive route because of a port heavy itinerary...meaning less time on the ship. Your experience helps with making this decision. Thanks for posting!

What's the rationale for the US market, I wonder?

My body loses all sense of regularity when I cruise (I know, TMI) so any weight gain I incur while cruising I chalk up to water retention because it's hot and, well, being irregular. I'm sticking with that excuse even if other factors may come into play 😎.

Just checked ours and it went from 3PM to 10AM. Our check in time for Seashore was also 10 AM but we didn't board until almost noon. Not sure the reason for the delay but some said it was because they couldn't get to zero count. We will probably arrive somewhere between 10:30-11:00 but I don't fancy waiting in a packed holding area again.

I’d have the car pick you up at 10. By the time you get to the port from Orlando you’d be pretty close to being allowed to board. If you arrive too early you may end up hanging out in the waiting room while the ship gets to zero count.

Sounds like small claims court may be in your future. What a mess...so sorry you're dealing with this. Has your TA been any help?

I only recently learned what ROFL means. I thought it meant the person was sick...as in rolfing their brains out...my DD helped me see the light...I feel certain it would have been next to never before I learned the meaning of YMMV... Anyway...all good things to now.

Most of the OP's list is news to me. I thought bringing wine on board was limited to 2 bottles per stateroom, not person. The discounts on 6 packs of beers seems like a good deal. Someone mentioned that liquor purchased in port was allowed to be carried back to the room. In the past, it was collected and returned the evening before disembarkation. Sounds like X has changed some of its policies. Before the days of drinks packages, I used to drag DH to the art auction for the free sparkling...

It's like riding a bicycle! Find a cruise deal and jump back in! As with most things post pandemic, you may have to make room for some changes and differences. I'm about to take my 2nd cruise since the restart. We waited for the masking and social distancing requirements to be dropped before diving back in. And now that the vaccine mandate has been dropped, we have some friends who will join us on the next one!

Yep...definitely missed those! Rest assured, I will not make that mistake again 😁

Now’s a good time to buy if you’re looking to get in while it’s “cheap”. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride tho.

Just watched this documentary over the weekend! Wow! What an operation. I will never again take for granted waste management of any kind.

Would love to see a pic of these donuts… I think I missed these somehow.

You could be on to something. I think I'd rather the ships slow their roll at sea than raise fare prices even more in order to cover the increased cost of fuel. The down side I guess is a net loss of time in ports of call. This could be a challenge for those visiting a port for the first time who may require longer to complete a tour. Reduced port time in the Caribbean would not impact me much as we have been there, done that many times. But the Mediterranean would be much different for us as we have only cruised in that part of the world one time and still have much to see and do.

We continued to test positive with the antigen test even though we had recovered. Finally washed our nostrils out with Myers’s rum and low and behold, we tested negative. Not sure if there is a positive correlation or not but we needed a negative test to return home back in a May before the negative test requirement had been lifted. Best use of Myers’s rum to date IMO.

While we haven’t arrived as late as you, more like 1 pm, we felt the same way….what to do?! We explored some foodie excursions but at the end of the day, we ended walking through town and up to the fort. Toured it, took some pics, and headed back to the ship. You may get some more insight by visiting the ports of call page but were in your boat, I’d probably stay on board or at the very least, walk around a bit and then head back to the ship.

Honestly, I'm without words. You have prompted me to check my booking. Perhaps our YC inside suite has been taken away in favor of a deluxe balcony...but thankfully, it has not. Actually, like you, I'd be upset if they took our inside suite away. I booked it specifically because it doesn't have a balcony door...which means my neighbors can't sleep with their balcony door open, thus making my room hot. But truly, the fact that MSC engages in such tactics is alarming.

Oh how I can relate 😊.

Ohhhh, this makes me so happy! Annalisa is the BEST! As Seashore is repositioning, we will be on Seascape in the coming months as well. I am happy that we will get to see her again. Please pass along our excitement for her happy news.

Most people struggle with when it's appropriate to use the "and me" phrase...as an editor, it's like nails on a chalkboard for me as well.

So I just watched a video for our upcoming cruise on the Meraviglia that was uploaded 3 weeks ago. In the video, none of the crew are shown wearing masks yet, they were all wearing them in early September when we were on Seashore. Are the crew masking on your sailing or did MSC finally drop this requirement for everyone?

We uploaded pics before boarding and they did not retake our pictures when we checked in. The attendant said that they only retake if the pic that has been uploaded doesn't show enough of one's facial features. As for the state not being on your docs, if you have a TA, I would mention it to them. When we checked in on line my state of birth defaulted to my DH's state instead. My TA called them and it was corrected. I didn't think it was going to be a big deal but apparently it is a big deal. If no TA, I'd give MSC a call.

I don't understand how they can resell a cabin or block of cabins that are already booked? How does this happen?

After doing much research and taking all the comments from this thread into consideration, we opted to book our own flights directly with the airline. We did this for a couple of reasons...first, since it's a domestic flight, we found only a slight difference in the fare price and not having to call FBC to select seats was one less thing to worry about. Second, we are past final payment so deferring didn't help us in this case. Third, we are flying in a day ahead so we didn't really think we needed the "wait for us" safety net. However, we will most definitely use FBC when we next cruise over seas. This seems like the no brainer option.