Proseccoandsun

We're booked on Seaside next summer but it was about $120 per person for 4 ports. I'd have them double check that for sure...

Hi Everybody,

We just signed up for the SEASIDE cruise of Feb 24 and were surprised to find what I thought was an unusually high Gov't/Port tax of over $500 for 2 people (4 ports).

Anyone have similar experience. Previous charges were never more than $240 for 4 stops in the Caribbean.

Joe O

I love that! If they're not exposed to it, how will you ever know their thoughts on it? I feel like anything live for 45 minutes with music, dancing, and usually a bit of acrobats keeps the kids very interested in the shows.

Its funny you say that about young kids and opera. When on board Divina recently I went to see the 'Love Me' opera based on La Traviata, and noticed that four boys (aged around 10-13) had nabbed the four prime seats on the front row centre stage. I thought to myself 'well they won't appreciate that!'.

 

I've never seen four people look so enthralled and enthusiastic! That'll teach me to judge...!

I love that cruising allows for all of these fantastic opportunities to open the world to everyone, including children! New foods, cultures, music, shows, languages, and people.

Dinner is two hours if you want it to be. If you order an entree for you and a kids meal for your child, you'll be done in no time. No worries. The buffet also has a kids only section and there's a family buffet on Seaside. But they also offer a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts along with very nice wine pairings so that you can order a 3, 4, or 5 course meal and linger over dinner as many enjoy doing. You make it your own vacation.

quote=stournillon;54549217]Opera, classical music, violins, Gala/Formal nights, 2 hour dinners....have I booked the wrong cruise for an 11 year old?? I'm worried. My kid loves Taylor Swift, YouTube prank videos, swimming and eating plain noodles with butter.

We loved the food in Le Muse. Some nights the menu appealed more than others, but there was always something I wanted to try. And I'm glad I did! One of our favorite meals was swordfish wrapped around provola cheese with a zucchini cream for my husband. I had duck with a marsala sauce with caramelized figs and roasted pumpkins...absolutely delicious! Something I'd never make and probably not order at a restaurant. I love trying new foods on a cruise. Their pastas and risottos are wonderful. Always try whatever pasta or speciality the Maitre D' is preparing in the dining room. Their beef is also so tender and good. The only dishes I didn't care for personally were the ceaser salad, French onion soup (tasty but not oozing with cheese on top), and a beautifully prepared timbale of polenta but I found it to be plain.

There are actually 6 entrees each night - the 3 that change include a vegetarian dish.

We're sailing on Seaside next month and I'm very much looking forward to the food! Lol.

Luckily for me, I like what's on the "regular" menu of cocktails and beverages. As you can tell from my name, Prosecco usually suits me just fine :)

Your plan for 2019 sounds wonderful! I'd love to try a TA one day.

No, we're doing Divina - 11 nights Caribbean/Central America, then the 20 nights repo back to the Med.

 

I can imagine your excitement at trying out the new ship next month, P. I was in a similar position last May anticipating our June, Meraviglia cruise.

 

As to the premium drinks included for YC - all items with 1 asterisk (as well as non-asterisked items) are included. These are referred to as premium. MSC has only recently intoduced the 'Super Premium' level of items which have 2 asterisks and they aren't included in any packages, so I suppose you're right in a way that 'Top Shelf' items aren't included. The bit that bugs me about this is that there are some items that were 'Top Shelf' that were once included in the premium package. Like a lot of other things with MSC, more costs with less value.

Premium for YC still has top shelf not included though, correct? We only drank what was included, lol.

But as far as the pastries - when we sailed on the Divina 3 years ago in the Caribbean with the classic all inclusive package, pastries in the pastry shop were included. I'm on a lot of Divina forums and people have mentioned getting them free more recently as well with the all in package, but didn't specify if it was the premium or not.

Seaside in March 2019 Bea? We're on next month...can't wait!

Yacht Club guests do get the premium all-inclusive package, P. I can't comment on the pastries being included in the basic package on Divina when she homeports in Miami as I haven't experienced it (yet! - Looking forward to the US experience in March 2019 ;p).

Glad you had a great cruise! We love the Divina.

MSC is trying to appeal to more of the North American market and will have a comedy club on Seaside.

A wonderful week, from a new Yorker who is tough to please. Service top notch, food very good.

Choices for dinner could have been greater.

Another interesting observation, no comedian , many musical shows, concerts, piano player, opera etc.

All good but I did miss a comedy show.

probably due to English speaking passengers not being a majority.

But I do look forward to another trip on YC class.

 

any questions, please ask

I believe pastries are included for anyone with an all inclusive package on the Divina. (I'm 99% sure of it) They're definitely included for YC passengers (and that's not premium). I think it differs in the Med

I've never sailed with NCL but I've heard the biggest difference are the cabins - more options and bigger suites with NCL. But every review I've heard is that YC is doing a great job of bringing Haven passengers over to MSC. We're going on our 3rd MSC cruise next month (on the Seaside), 2nd in YC and can highly recommend it. Amazing service, a lot of dedicated space to YC passengers, all inclusive drinks throughout the ship (including your mini-fridge) and we love the variety and cuisine offered in the YC dining room. They'll also status match you to your highest level with any other cruise line which offers some nice perks. Happy sailings!

4 devices could be connected at the same time with the top package. It was about $79 for the week.

Thanks for the feedback and the tip regarding the 15% add on. The internet package you purchased is it for one device or multiple devices?

We bought the top internet package online in advance and don't pay the 15% gratuities assessed on all onboard purchases, plus we got something like 20% more data.

There are perks for Black Card level - speciality dining meal for two, welcome back party, I think a fruit basket and a chocolate ship. I'm not black card, so not sure of all of it. Someone else can answer that part better than I can, I'm sure...

How about purchasing Internet wifi and to be able to use your phone? Also like other Cruise Lines, do they have coupon booklets or discounts for Black Card holder? RCI for example offers various stuff depending on your Loyalty level or Cabin category. Thanks for any feedback you can share.

Agreed 100%!

Even in our case with "supervised" children it was the mothers/aunts who should have stayed home.

 

Plus the kids in diapers swimming in the pool.

Wow, thanks for the tip! Lol. Glad I bring wrinkle free clothes for the most part :')

Just don't hang clothes and try to spray a wrinkle releaser while using a hair dryer to dry the clothes. ;p

 

In case you all have missed it, there was a thread on this forum a while ago by a woman whose husband did just that and caused the fire sprinkler to go off. She was incensed that MSC would not pay her damages for ruined electronics, clothes and other items and would not comp her a meal in a speciality restaurant for her inconvenience.:rolleyes:

This conversation gets to me at times...if you want a child free vacation, book one. There are resorts and cruise lines that are available. MSC is family friendly. Expect to see children everywhere you go. I think the issue for some isn't so much chidden - it's unsupervised children. That's a different story...and the children aren't to blame for that.

I absolutely agree! There were some previous posts in this forum where people were actually pretty hostile--even going so far as say 6 years old and younger should be kept at home. For me, a big part of vacation is giving my kids new experiences, so why would I leave them at home??? It's as if people like that aren't aware there are lots of adults-only options out there....

I book my excursions with MSC online and have never had a problem. They email you a confirmation. If you ever encounter a problem, you have the email as backup. We're going on our third MSC cruise next month and I've never seen their excursion prices go "on sale". I have seen photo packages increase as you get closer to the sailing date, but nothing else that I've noticed that fluctuates in price. I book as much in advance of the cruise as possible - 1 because I love to research it all and 2 some services are more expensive onboard (massages).

I had a positive experience purchasing the options online last year (internet and laundry service). I purchased the options online again this year and the prices were the same. - Dan

I love this! Next they'll be making pizza! :)

The crew are onboard today and captain scala has just had the first piece of bread baked onboard [emoji23]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We were told the doors are magnetic on Seaside and I sure hope they are - I just ordered magnetic Christmas decorations online not 5 minutes ago...

I was on the Divina in July and I can say for sure the cabin entry door is not magnetic , nor is the bathroom door . I brought birthday decorations to hang up and the only magnetic surface I could find was the frame around the balcony sliding door. I never tried the ceiling , so I can't say anything about it .

No, me neither, lol. That would be cutting it way too close for me. Check-in luggage wouldn't have been accepted for the 8:30 flight that close to departure. They'd put it on the next flight. And hopefully no one would be in line for security with such a close window. I get nervous getting to the airport with less than an hour to spare.

Sailed MSc twice. First time I wAs at the airport by 7:50. Could have easily made an 8:30 flight (not that I would recommend that).

As others have said above, it's definitely different in the US than the Med. The ship has to be zeroed out (no passengers) for customs. The next sailing begins boarding (ideally) at 11am. I've not heard of anyone staying onboard past 9:30, maybe 9:45. We were in YC in August and asked to be out of our cabin by 8.

Enjoy! We love the Divina.

No back on Divina December 16 Busy next several weeks with trips and holidays

Ha! I didn't try the bathroom OR the ceiling. Good to know.

Actually. The ceiling IS magnetic, but the walls were NOT when we went on the Divina in June. ( they may be metal, but whatever type it is. It was not magnetic )

We used magnetic hooks on the ceiling to hang a make shift projector screen ( ya we are nerds ;) ) so they can def hold clothes on a hanger if needed.

 

I hope this helps some.

I understand that! Are you on Seaside next? We're on next month and it's all I think about!

Thanks for the ship correction I’m so excited about our cruise that Seaside is on my brain😊

I heard this as well and brought two magnetic hooks with me on the Divina...I only found the door to be magnetic. I didn't try the bathroom.

Another vote for anything after 11-12. We were at FLL airport before 9 on our August cruise and were still sipping cappuccino onboard at 8:15.

It kind of makes the "Welcome Back" party a bit out of place - many have never been there in the first place! I'm not a black card holder on any line, but I agree there should be certain perks given to the true loyal customers that are different than status match. They're two different things.

Tatka ... Yes that is it, and another reason it makes the handing out of Black cards like Confetti a farce because those who status match have nothing to lose!