Faye G

Hi Ate'

I've already booked and the drinks are not included but I have got a great deal for a 25 day cruise so over all I'm pretty happy.  I'm not able to see the packages yet even though we go in 8 weeks (as I've only booked it in last 24 hours).

Thank you for the links on my 2 questions - I appreciate your efforts to help me

Regards

Faye

Thanks Ate'

I don't mind paying this of course but its important to know if I need to or not and even reading their brochures are not clear.

Much appreciate your reply.

 I wondered if drinks packages are the same price regardless of the number of nights on the cruise - sounds like a silly question maybe but our cruise is 25 days so works out quite a lot as opposed to a 7 or 14 day cruise so wondered if they reduce them slightly when over a certain number of days?  I'm only asking as I've seen different prices mentioned by different people.

I'm yet to see my booking on the MSC website as only just booked it today so the packages etc cannot be seen just yet.

Thank you for any help.

Hi there,

Booked my first MSC cruise today via a travel agent, so I don't have all the info through yet... 

I'm UK but sail from Durban South Africa in April 20.

I asked about gratuities and they say there was none but still talked about a daily charge added to room that can be removed (which I wouldn't do) as if she wasn't actually sure... so I'm confused.

Their website says:

SERVICE CHARGES / GRATUITIES
Service Charge / Gratuities are included in the cruise fare.

Tips
MSC Cruises does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

So, I'm still unsure!

Are my grats included in the price I paid, or not.

When I google I see the grats are included for UK sailings or something but although we are from the UK we sail from SA....  or... do sailings for all countries now include grats in the price - I hope so but I'm so so confused... and googling is confusing me even more.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

Faye

To everyone on this cruise tomorrow
Looking forward to meeting you all over the next 2 weeks - hope you are all packed and ready to go.... I think it's going to be fab! 
Just one more sleep! 😁

21 hours ago, myolite said:

We were on a Best of Cuba with 3 Cuban stops but it turned into two cuba stops and one Grand Cayman. We paid more per night due to the best of cuba status, but ended up with what I'd call a more "average" itinerary. These things happen and it was still a nice cruise, but I wouldn't have paid as much if I'd known upfront that was where we'd go.

Myolite.... could I ask to what extent the Cuban ports was affected - e.g. did you still have a Havana overnight, which is the thing I am mostly going for?

31 minutes ago, Bookish Angel said:

You might be dealing with more restrictive travel to Cuba.

Glad we went in January as we suspected this would happen.

Would I be able to find out in advance if the journey would change. I love Cuba, its a fabulous country.  

Me and my sister are on the October 17th 2019 Cuba from Miami - 4 stops over 8 days with an overnight in Havana, looks like a really nice one.  It's also called The Best of Cuba.  

Hi twangster - its from the UK ... 15th June Indy - Italian Med cruise.... thank you for the info.

Norwich cruiser... that's reassuring, hopefully it will be the same.   Thank you for replying.

Regards

Faye x

Hi all,

Just want to ensure I know in advance.... I've bought the deluxe drinks package.  Am I right to assume that there is also 18% additional gratuities charged to the room each time I get a drink?  I have paid the standard gratuities within the booking (around £320-ish for 2) but I don't think this covers drinks grats, does it?

Also, apart from any obvious charges like room service or similar are there any other charges I should be aware of that I might not expect.   This is my first cruise so I don't really know what to expect.

Thank you

Faye

Wow!  Amazing replies - thank you all so much - they are all really useful to me.

My hubby said book the 10:17 rather than wait over an hour later for the next, saying it'll be fine... like he knows, you know 😉

If there is one thing I definitely know - newbie or not, is that cruisers are all really nice people... thank you all again

Regards

Faye 

Hi njkruzer,

Thank you for your reply.  The cruise starts and ends in Southampton.  I'm not too worried about getting there as we have no choice but to get our 4.5 hour train on the day, so have geared to arrive by 12. 

Apparently I used the wrong word... it's disembarkation - hope it still made sense though.

It's the return day that is worrying me a little simply because it seems necessary to book a train and the direct trains are non-transferable (so if we miss it we can't get the next one), so I need to try to work out a time and then maybe add an hour or so, just to be sure.  But sounds like 10 or 11 might just be okay... perhaps 11 is better and the worse thing would be that we'd need to pass some time having a coffee. 

Yes, even waiting for a taxi will be something I should consider... it's amazing isn't it how the most obvious things slip right through your mind 😕   

Thank you.

Hi all,

Hope this question isn't too silly - it's my first cruise so I really don't know exactly how to plan everything for my return....

The itinerary says home to Southampton at end of cruise approx 5am....  I appreciate that can change somewhat and it takes time to get off board. 

To ensure I don't make my return train booking too early.... could I ask what you would assume is a safe time.  Initially I assumed booking my return train for around 10:30 should be okay - now I'm not sure. As I've never done this before, perhaps you can give me the benefit of your experience. 

The reason I'm asking is that some trains have 3 changes etc but a few are direct and that's what we'd like to book.  I'd rather sit around in Southampton than be on and off train changes.  The direct trains can get booked up so I want to try to book it if possible for a safe time, if that's possible.

Also, again, apologies if this also seems rather a silly question, but, on debarkation day I have read there can be lengthy queues for getting off.... what are the options for waiting a little and taking your time getting off?    
 

Thank you in advance of any help.   I totally understand things can go wrong, times can change etc - but it's just a vague idea so I can try to play safe. 

Faye x

Oh thank you all so much - I am even more excited than ever now.... 

Cindivan's suggestion would be fun eh Vickiw, but either way it will be lovely and it's great to know you're in there before us so will look forward to your review if you do one.

minikiss & kernow I'll defiitely look forward to the formal nights.  My hubby perhaps isn't quite the tux chap I'd like at times but he definitely will enjoy suiting up - I, on the other hand love any excuse to glam up.   I've gone for the My dining minikiss and I was a bit worried about sharing but as this seems to be a thing I've seen said before I assume cruising is a bit different in so many respects so I'll definitely stay open minded to that.

Thanks shopaholic6 - so glad you think so too... it seems to get an overall good review and I'm now believing that for a first cruise I've done something right.

Someone said to me "once you go cruising you'll be hooked' and I can see why if this is the kind of community it evokes.  
 

Thank you all again so much 

Faye x

Oh my goodness... these boards are full of amazing people. I didn't expect so many replies from such lovely helpful people. Thank you all so much.

Yes bonsai3s I knew about the walk in closet and never having been on a cruise I'm only just realising that rooms can be small so this is quite a treat. Lol, I know, I am excited - I'm so transparent and un-cool!   The aft views was hubby's idea but I can't wait to enjoy the views.  Thank you

Vickiw0318 - I can't believe someone here has the same room the month before - they look nice don't they.

missymo... hi ... Thats fantastic.  Hope Indy is the same. I'd always take my toiletries of course and thought the superior brand for a JS was a bit ambitious but I live in hope as L'occitane is so nice.  Thank you.  

This board is brilliant...  least I know a little more now.   Thank you all x
 

Thank you Clarea...  Ahhh, okay, I'll maybe have to have a re-think on that. Appreciated.

Well, I'm 61 and going on my first cruise in June this year... and I'm bursting with excitement.

Cruise is RC - Southampton UK - Italian Mediterranean cruise 14 nights 15th June on Independence of the Seas.   Junior aft suit 7714 

I'll probably have a dozen questions before I go but my first one is about carrying things on separately on embarkation day.   In general would you expect I'm likely to get suitcases to the cabin within hours or unlikely?  The reason I'm asking is because I'm carrying a nice sized slouch bag with a few necessities but that was going to be it... just hand wipes, tissues etc rather than additional clothing.  I'm making my way to Southampton UK early by train on the day and will wear something that I'd be able to wear (if necessary) for the remainder of the day and, if necessary, into the early evening if I had to.  I know this can vary but I was just wondering if there was an average wait time for them in your experience.

My next question is not important, but just curious:  Provided toiletries.... RC seem to say one thing on one page and something else on another.  I'm taking all my own, naturally, but on one page I saw it stated that Junior Suites toiletries are upgraded to L'occitane (which I really like)...on another, it doesn't (so I assume its just the more expensive suites maybe).  Has anyone else stayed in a Junior suite recently?  I really like their stuff so it's just something I'd like to know.

I'm so looking forward to going on a holiday where getting properly dressed up in the evening is not only okay but required some nights.... to looking over the deck and being in the ocean instead of looking at more hotels... to the food.... the whole thing.. I just can't wait! 

Thank you for any help

Faye x