stuart2468

If the cruise had gone up in price after you booked, and they came to you asking for more money, would you agree to pay more? Or would you shout about the contracted price you signed for? I can't understand, why you can't understand, why they won't give you anything. I never understand the logic behind these posts.

Does anyone know if MSC show the Eurovision song contest final onboard? Looking at a cruise within Europe and wondered if I'd still get to see it. Thanks

MSC, or any other company for that matter, shouldnt be any more sensititve to you as a heterosexual couple, than B&D as a homosexual couple. To suggest otherwise goes completely against anti discrimination laws. The majority of the LGBTQ+ want equal rights, not special rights/treatment. From the evidence presented to us, it seems this is the case here.

Which tells me straight away that neither B&D actually suspect any discrimination against them based upon them being a same sex couple. The problem here lies in the fact that B&D didnt release the reaction and reply from MSC in their video. So we will never know for sure if there was any hint of homophobia. But the fact the B&D aren't pushing it as so, that they have reacted to your question in almost a dismissive way, and that MSC have countered the video with it being due to other guests onboard, then its very safe to say, the probibility of it being homophobic based, is low. So can we please stop being offended on behalf of the gay guys, who aren't offended by MSC because they happen to be gay.

Because the evidence suggest that it was either due to a previous negative review by B&D and/or it was due to complaints within the very place they were filming. Nowhere, that we know or can hear of, does it mention anything about being a gay couple. The irony here is that B&D censored MSCs response from the incident by muting and blocking the video feed. Why? Nothing I heard or saw was homophobic. Not from staff not from guests. So why is the suggestion even here? Now if the muted conversation was homophobic abuse, why censor it? As that would really dent the brand and would make headlines in far greater places than SM. But it hasn't. Why? Because it probably wasn't a factor. I subscribe entirely to the position that it's their house, and they can control who films what and where. In this case they have tried to mute B&D. Has it backfired a little? Of course. Was it a dumb move? Probably. Was it homophobic induced? Not that I can see of.

So no evidence then? And that's why it's virtue signalling. Defending a demographic that hasn't asked to be defended. All because of a feeling. Sadly this position doesn't help the community I am part of. It actually hinders it.

Absolutely not. You can defend whoever you so wish. But in this instance people are defending them against suspected homophobic abuse, of which there is no evidence to suggest is the case. So what are you defending? and why? Interesting though how you say you'd step in everytime. Because in the event, very few people actually do. So its commendable that you say you would.

Correct. Because the two 'victims' in question haven't said a word about discrimination based upon them being a gay married couple, so why should you? I wasn't attacking you. Because up until this post, you had maintained that you didn't suspect discrimination based upon their sexual orientation. Now that you have, and I still wont 'attack' you for it, but i will ask for the supporting evidence to back up your statement? Absolutely it does, so here we can agree. However if you're suggesting im ignoring potential discrimination based upon the info/evidence provided, and that my actions are unhelpful to ridding the world of such narrow mindedness, then I think it might be a good time for me to declare I am an openly gay guy, that has in the past been subjected to homophobic slurs and abuse. To cap off though, I see no evidence here of any discrimination based upon B&D being a gay married couple. Nor have B&D, up until this point, suggested this themselves, which is far more telling than mine and your's opinion.

And i'd wage a small fortune that those who tried to paint that stance, aren't even in the LGBTQ+ camp. Just virtue signallers thinking they're doing right by jumping to defend something that doesn't need or want defending.

London is very much 'in' England, however London is not England, nor is it very representative of the rest of England/UK. So, making the comment about almost all restaurants add the service charge, and that it's obligatory, completely incorrect. I'd highly advise expanding the destinations within the UK, and visit places outside of London. Far nicer, far friendlier, far cheaper and better still, you decide what your service charge is. Win win 😜

You have either not ventured outside of the London area, or have visited high end restaurants or with a party size greater than 8. Because outside of these stipulations, nowhere in the UK puts a non optional 'service fee' onto any bill. It simply isnt the culture here in the UK to be paying tips, and certianly wouldnt be accepted England wide, even UK wide for that matter. If a service charge is added to any bill, it should be stated on the menu, but even then it cannot be enforced. Thats not to say cheeky restaurants dont try, but as soon as they do this with me, it is removed and they are given a verbal bashing about how we are not the US and we will not be going to a compulsary tipping regime. Do not assume you gave me good service. You will wait until i confirm it with what ever monetary value i deem acceptable. Now, when im abroad, i take a softer stance on this dependant upon the country I visit. But i will not hesitate to remove or deny a tip if i consider the service to have been poor. My money, my choice. And thats how we all should be.

I've just booked onto World Europa for Feb 25. I know you used to get full access to the thermal area for the duration of the cruise when booking a massage. Is that still the case or is it extra?

Monring All Apologies if this has been asked before. I did check the search but couldnt see anything. I'm looking at booking a last minute cruise that calls in France, Spain & Italy. I know i can fly to these countries with between 3 & 6 months left on my passport, but im not sure if Costa cruises will allow me to board, even though im not sailing outside countries mentioned above. The sailing im looking at wouldnt allow for a regular passport application to be issued and i dont really want to do an emergency application. So its either on my current passport or not cruise at all. I couldnt see anything specific to my question on Costa's website either. Has anyone from the UK sailed under the same terms with Costa? Thanks in advance.

Those pens are beautiful

Seems Seascape is the Ship of Choice to begin Galveston Cruises from 2025 https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/its-official-msc-cruises-expanding-galveston

Just to correct something, and its more because its quite interesting rather than an important correction. Rather than it being an armonia-class ship, it is infact a Lirica-class ship (to MSC), although both Armonia and Sinfonia are older ships than the Lirica. However, MSC ordered 2 ships origionally, first being Lirica, second being Opera. Armonia and Sinfonia, formally MS European Stars & European Vision, joined the fleet in 2004 when Festival Cruises went bust. There is also another sister ship (actually the very first 'Mistral Class') still operating for Ambassador Cruise Line. Sailing as MS Ambition. This ship was delivered origionally, as the Mistral, to Festival Cruises. I believe (open to correction on this) this ship is still the length as origionally ordered and hasn't been extended like her sister ships. Its just one of those intersting MSC fun facts that not many people know about. Another being the Magnifica, whilst being a different class of ship, is younger than both Fantasia & Splendida. This fact is a little less 'wow' now given the Seaside/Meriviglia/World class ships are older/younger than each other. But back in 2008-2010 MSC was not the player it now is.

I once had a cruise booked that my sister booked onto with a friend. 2 seperate bookings, 2 seperate rooms. We had expect to need to go to the dining room to change our tables to a joint table, only to find at check in that MSC had already put us together. (we could tell from our cruise cards). I could only assume that they recognised our same surname and were proactive about the situation.

I'm following this thread just for the comedy. Absolutely hilarious 🤣

I can't quite recall the correct price, but I bought Divina a few weeks back for either €44.95 or €49.95. certainly was more than €35

Its very interesting. I certainly noticed Divina wasn't up to the usual sparkling level i've become accusomed to with MSC ships, but i wouldnt go as far as to descibe her as dirty. A couple of the public toilets looked like they could have done with a clean, but maybe I caught them before they were about to be. There were some visual signs of wear which highlighed a dry dock was needed. The outside windows weren't as spotless as usual, and i didnt see the windows cleaned once...... but maybe i just missed it. Dirty - No, But a little bit of attention seems needed, would be how i'd discribe her. Didn't detract from a lovely weekend cruise though and would jump on board tomorrow given the chance.

I was on Divina just this past weekend. I wouldnt describe the beds as very hard at all. They are on the 'firmer' side, but not hard. It was definatly comfortable. Had a great night sleep in them. To note, i also have a fused spine to pelvis, so do experience back problems and Sciatica frequently.

I'm treating a good friend of mine to a 2 night stint on a this Divina. Boarding in Civitavecchia. She doesn't yet know she'll be on her first cruise. Now we having to pack lightly, and trying to figure out what evening attire to bring. 13/10 - Civittavecchia (board) 14/10 - Genoa 15/10 - Barcelone (home) Of the 2 evenings, are either likely to be a gala/formal night? Ideally i'd prefer not to pack formal/Smart attire. and just stick with a pair of jeans and shirt, and for her a couple of dresses. Would I be safe with this plan?

Thanks for the assistance everyone. Seems like the saving of a few pounds may not be worth the effort should things go wrong.

Voyagers club number seems to be accepted no problem. But I also seem to come up against a locked country of residency. I'm just unsure how important that might be later down the line. Would love to hear if anyone has done this and successfully embarked.

In my endeavor to find the best price, i was wondering if there would be any issue with me booking a cruise, Direct with MSC, via one of their websites that is not my home domain. I'm in the UK, and so msccruises.co.uk is my logical go to. But if there's a better price on the Italian, or US or other country's site, would i be prevented from boarding?