CruisingFox27

Dining room and seating time are only confirmed after boarding (assuming you've booked Bella or Fantastica experience).

The daily service/gratuity charge is added daily to your cabin account and is paid at the end of your cruise. You'll be asked to register a credit card on embarkation and the charge is added to this bill. The drinks package has the service charge added into the price of the package, yes.

Out of interest I retained all of our drinks receipts for a couple of our cruises and actually did the maths. Totalled the spend for every day. We definitely get value from a drinks package. We had days where we'd used the package cost before we even went out in the evening. And the majority of those daytime drinks weren't alcohol.

The October half term in my area is 16th to 20th October. It does vary across the UK.

It's rarer for a ship to dock significantly late than it is to arrive at its scheduled time. Yes, it does happen, weather or issues in port. Thousands of ships dock everyday, a few will undoubtedly be late. Experienced excursion companies will be aware of your arrival. On our recent European sailing with multiple embarkation ports there were separate gangways for embarkation passengers. On our final day we didn't disembark until 1pm. We needed to vacate the cabin at the assigned time in the morning and our luggage went out the night before. We just collected it from the collection point in the terminal once we'd disembarked.

Our first YIN was on Meraviglia, sailing from NYC. We definitely wouldn't have used the balcony. We just utilised the TSL instead.

The ships do not have an ATM on board. At least no ship I've sailed on has had one. We've always taken any required currency with us.

We received our bottle of bubbly and macaroons on day one. The gifts and chocolate were about day 7, of our 10 night cruise.

Although the website does appear to work differently depending on which countries version you access. I can only comment on my countries experience. If I chose an item to add to cruise, it's not actually added until the next page where I'd enter payment details, followed by a booking confirmed message. Then it'll show as already purchased. So, if you haven't added your card payment info you've probably not purchased anything. Hopefully.

If you still have 2 weeks to your sailing it maybe that your TA doesn't have them yet. We booked our last cruise through a TA and although I was able to print them from the MSC website myself, our TA version didn't arrive until a few days before the cruise. Either keep trying your TA or contact MSC. As said, it's not a problem if you don't have them at the port but you do still have 2 weeks to obtain them.

Yes, is the short answer. On our previous 11 night cruises, which were pre covid, I'm sure we had 3 Gala nights. We've just been on a 10 night cruise and we had 2 Gala nights.

Likewise. I've never considered using a wash cloth to remove make up. I have eye make up removal liquid to use with cotton wool and soft make up removal sheets for my face. Soap, water and a wash cloth would be far to harsh for my face. I have wondered on why everyone was so invested in wash cloths, it's make up removal primarily?

We had wash cloths on our sailing, clean ones delivered everyday work fresh towels. European sailing in April.

The Aurea restaurant usually opens at 6.30pm, you could get a snack in the buffet and join your party in the restaurant at 8pm. I've never heard from passengers who've been to the restaurant at one time to eat and returned again later, so no idea if it's possible.

I don't understand what you mean by reenter the dining room. If you have an allocated dining time, i.e. an early or late time, that is assigned for the duration of your cruise and you all need to dine together at that time. The doors are closed 15 minutes after the seating time.

You can order however many dishes you wish from the menu, no extra charge. 2 appetiser, 2 deserts, whatever you wish to have.

I'd highly recommended the Fjords trip in Khasab. And high tea at the Burj Khalifa.

Only you can judge what it's worth to you. There was a previous thread which discussed this recently regarding the new Aurea experience. Many said they didn't feel it was. We were uncertain if it was still worth it and booked Fantastica for our last cruise. After a few days sailing, we decided that it is worth paying the extra for Aurea.

We've also done both, 11 night Baltics in 2018 and same duration to the Fjords in 2019. Two of my favourite cruises. The Baltic itinerary for us was pretty intense as we'd long day trips every day to maximise our time there. The scenery in the Fjords is stunning. Whichever you chose will be a fantastic choice.

More central space so the cabin feels longer, I think.

Yes.

You don't need to make a reservation. Once on board and you've dined the first evening at your preferred time, just let them know that you'll be dining at that time each evening and they'll accommodate you at that time each evening.

When you booked the cabins did you have a choice of Fantastica or Aurea experience? If so, it may be possible without moving, although will depend on availability. If your cabin is in the bella or Fantastica only sections, then it's unlikely. Try doing a mock booking for a cabin near yours and see if there's Aurea available. But contacting MSC or your TA is advisable.

Officially, the rules are that, yes, it will be taken and held until the end of your cruise. However, in the onboard real world, it maybe taken or it may not.

It was played every evening on our April cruise in the med.