Kizzabel

Loved it, will do it again!

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Hi, so we were looking at doing a private excursion from Ocho Rios to Rose Hall - priced with Marvyn Tours - is this too far to travel from Ocho Rios?

I've had a couple of people advise it may be too far and we would be risking missing our ship!

The tour company have assured me we would be back but I thought I'd ask you guys' opinion please?

We are docked 9am to 5pm, sailing on MSC Seaside.

When you first register your debit card it gives you an option of amounts to authorise, in multiples of €100. You can just do €100, and if your balance exceeds that they won't cut your cruise card off. At the end of the cruise they will give you a bill showing your balance and if you owe more than the initial deposit just use the kiosk again to pay it off- it will come up with the exact amount.

 

The initial €100 does debit from your account immediately so that's worth keeping in mind. Its a deposit more than a hold.

 

If you spend less than your deposit and they owe you, you must queue at guest services for a refund in cash which will be in €. Not ideal so spend at least the initial €100 on board! Not difficult if you have the service charge to pay every day. If I had any excess I'd probably have just spent it in the chocolate shop rather than join the endless queue at guest services lol.

 

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Do you mean when you 1st register the DC at home or on the cruise?

We were just debating our options for deposit!

Thanks

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In my experience restaurant wait staff in England are happy to receive a cash tip.

 

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Well, I do tip on every cruise and because it may be a "custom" on MSC or discouraged (I don't believe that) doesn't mean I won't or others shouldn't. We weren't in Europe ......... I saw plenty of cash given last year and the year before. The bar staff wasn't "European" most of the time and they deserve tips like other bartenders on other lines. Perhaps the staff will quit and go elsewhere once they realize they aren't getting any extras. You can call it a "custom" , I'll call it being cheap. This was Miami, Jamaica, Mexico, and Caymens ...... not Europe. Perhaps some need to realize American customs here.

It is a difference in culture - it just isn't the done thing in Europe. Talking about and offering money can be really offensive in some places (it is a pride thing - like not needing charity).

I don't think it fair to make sweeping implications that other cultures are cheap. I know it is something I will be prepared for as a difference when we visit Miami later this year but it is not something that will come naturally because it just isn't done here!

To add: I do double-tip for exceptional service, Dodi and Eddie who were our MDR servers were absolutely fantastic - welcoming, accommodating and engaging. They were a real standout from our Western Med cruise on Splendida last year but I don't believe in tipping everyone and well, I have paid my grats after all!

Taxi/Uber to MIA and pay to store your bags there -- then had to the mall or wherever for the day. Return in the afternoon, collect your bags, and check-in for your flight home.

 

There is also the Luggage Lounge in South beach, where you can store your bags while you enjoy SB, dining, art-deco architecture, people watching, etc. Collect your bags and ride the Airport Flyer bus (#150) from SB to MIA for about $3 each ;)

 

If any of this helps you owe me a pint of Guinness from your favorite local :cool:

Lol I suggest a local grocery / hardware store / pub that does a cracking pint in you're ever in my neck of the woods!

I had thought of this and had ruled it out as it means a little bit of to-ing and fro-ing but it may actually be easier than using a 3rd party company. At least we would be sure of where our luggage was at all times and the mall is so close to the airport. Good suggestion!

Hoping to get SB seen on our few days prior. Looking forward to soaking up in sun, especially with the dull weather here at present.

Thanks again :-)

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Hi, we are looking into options for what to do with our bags between disembarking MSC Seaside and our evening flight home to Ireland.

MSC offer a sightseeing / shopping excursion with drop off which is approx $50 but I've come across BagBoys who picked up luggage at the port and we can collect luggage from afterwards at MIA.

Has anyone used them or a similar company? Looking for feedback or suggestions please?

MSCs option is an easy one but I don't think sightseeing will be necessary as we have 3 days to explore Miami pre cruise.

Our plan for disembarkation day is to spend time at Dolphin Mall

Thanks

Kiz

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Kids are totally allowed, it's just a restaurant on the beach. Not fancy, kind of laid back and tropical. You can sit at picnic tables or lounge chairs and they'll bring you drinks and food and the kids can play in the ocean or sand while you sit back and relax.. If you google them and look up their website you can look at pics of the place and get a better idea. It's really a lovely place!

Thanks so much for the info. It's going in my sacred book of trip planning! It was the guac that sold it if I'm being honest :')

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Hi, rookie question: are kids welcomed/allowed? Is there anything that may be of interest to them there?

We have excursions planned for other POCs so Costa Maya we had planned to be a less structured day. Totally sold on the massages & good guac, so long as the kids are allowed in!

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Enjoying your updates Bea.

What? No Kerrygold & Taytos in YC? Heathens!

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I am loving this review! Keep it coming!

You're cheering up a dreary, grey Monday.

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We switched out the Asian market for the French no problem in the regular trio. We were told you can repeat restaurants but we did not. We ate at butchers cut, ocean cay, and bistrot la boheme, as the Asian market kitchen didn't appeal to us

. Teppanyaki is not included in the regular trio we were told

Not sure about kids menu

 

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Oh thanks so much! This is great to know. Any idea if there's a kids menu in Roys or Butchers Cut? I had seen one for La Bonhome

So to be sure, if we bought the Trio we could eat at Butchers Cut three times? How do they know which restaurants you attend? Is their vouchers or something? I believe you but so many answers MSC give seem to vary by the person you talk to. Thanks in advance ....

Interested to know this too.

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I saw prices on the UK site for 2019. It sounds like a fab cruise. Definately on my bucket list.

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I must say my opinion probably counts for little due to the fact we have only sailed with MSC and in the Med at that but we thoroughly enjoyed our cruises and made the most of the things which weren't "just like home".

I work in a TA and we always advise clients in regard to reviews: its more likely for a disgruntled traveller to come home and post a poor review than a satisfied guest to come home and write a glowing one.

What we expect is subjective, you need to book your experiences accordingly. There there are definitely some people that have their holiday ruined prior to even departing by being hung up on the what ifs, poor reviews and worry. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I've been lurking a while and don't participate enough but have gotten insightful info on CC and am glad to see improving reviews for Seaside as they iron out the teething problems.

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Hi,

So I'm looking at speciality dining options and can see two which may be of interest but none completely fit what I'm looking for so I'm hoping some can help guide us.

For the trio option (Butchers Cut, Asian & Ocean Cay) could we substitute out Ocean Cay in place of one of the others? It doesn't fully appeal to me having looked at menus. Also on the Asian trio - is it possible to do the Teppanaki or Asian restaurant twice in place of sushi?

Is there a kids menu for the specialty restaurants? My older kid would definitely eat at Butchers Cut and the Teppanaki but the younger may not find anything that appeals if they dine from the adult menu.

Is the La Bonhome restaurant included in the speciality options? I haven't read much on it.

Thanks for reading, hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on this for me.

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They aren't open for sale on the Irish travel agents system yet for April.

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Me too..heard of it ok..must try it next time im in waterford..heard its great without butter[emoji37][emoji37][emoji51]🤣⚓️

 

 

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Sacrilege! Everything must be smothered in Kerrygold.

Maybe a rustic turnover in place of Brennans.

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How did you discover this? I would much rather go to Costa Maya (again) versus Nassau (again). Did they email you?

 

 

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It was on the itinerary from when I looked at changing my booking (October 2017) and I then moved my booking from its original July 14th date to November 17th.

I'd originally booked last June for July 2018 and that booking included Nassau so I'm not sure if Costa Maya was always scheduled or if its a change.

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🤣🤣🤣..up limerick..i love kerrygold..[emoji1184]

 

 

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I'll throw in a snakey UP THE CATS!

I'll need to watch this thread's progression to see if I need to pack a block of Kerrygold. May need to bring a loaf of Brennans too 🤔

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Nassau is scrapped on our Nov 17th cruise, replaced by Costa Maya

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The way the word European is thrown about on this site you would think we are all the same. The same as all Americans are the same.

 

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Indeed! Lets stop with the sweeping generalisations about Europeans.

I can assure any doubters, we've gotten the hang of the whole "food" thing on this side of the Atlantic.

Margarine on bread, Jesus wept.

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Great review. I've been eagerly following and now I'm very excited. In 300 days we leave Ireland for Miami... I can almost taste that gelato!

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Thanks so much for your review. We are in an Aurea whirlpool balcony on a western itinerary in Nov. I've learned lots from this review. Thanks again

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If you want any info on Splendida I'm happy to help. We did Western Med on her last year so I'm not so much use from an itinerary POV but happy to help if you have any questions on the ship. We loved it. Preferred her to Fantasia.

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The link in the original post works fine for me. It's 8 pages of PDF. What are you getting? Try right mousing and select "Save Link As" if it doesn't open properly. Or try not opening it from the app.

 

https://www.msccruises.com/en-gl/Assets/Chef_Roy_Yamaguchi_ENG.PDF

Thanks so much - that worked perfect for me. Maybe it was because I was looking at it from my phone last night.

Thanks again