unrealHeather

If you are a Bourbon drinker you want to at least get the middle grade drink package.  See: https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/dining-drinks/drink-comparison-chart

I strongly recommend you print out any and all documentation in advance.  Don't rely on your wifi and electronic records as MSC's IT systems are wonky.  You might need receipts to prove you prepaid for extras.

Try this reference https://www.msccruisesusa.com/on-board/dining-drinks/drink-comparison-chart

On 5/11/2022 at 9:39 PM, 1025cruise said:

If you select a guaranteed cabin, you can be placed in any cabin of that category or better. If you have a preference of where your cabin will be, you shouldn't book a guarantee.

This because worst case you are assigned a room below the disco.  I have read complaints on room assignment that make me want to book a guaranteed room.

It is probably easier and would save time to pack some dri fit clothes for the canoe trip, a plastic bag and a change of clothes.  What if the canoe trip is 1 hour away from the port ?

5 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Well, I'm dumb. 

Yeah I need to walk 10-20,000 steps a day to stay off blood pressure medication stay alive for my kids.  So I walk a lot.  At first I didn't enjoy it but now I listen to podcasts while walking and learn something new everyday and it's been a lovely change.  I really need a step counter on a cruise to make sure I get enough exercise and not lose my fitness.

On 7/11/2022 at 9:28 AM, Mum2Mercury said:

Okay, that was a big "ick" story, and I get that once something odd like that happens to you, you're paranoid about it -- but why not bring just one new toothbrush?  Surely such an oddity wouldn't happen to multiple family members on the same trip.  

I don't mind washing out a blouse here and there, but I don't bring detergent -- that's what hotel shampoo is for!  

Good answer.  We take very little "extra stuff".  

Yes, that's a good idea.  

A note of warning:  Years ago -- might've been our second or third cruise -- I went to the the bank and picked up a bunch of gold Sacagawea dollars, and I set them aside for tips.  Crew members were visibly disappointed at receiving them, and I realized too late that they mistook them for quarters.  

Take-away:  If you're doing something unusual, be sure it's OBVIOUS to the staff.  Now we like to wrap our tips around bite-sized candy bars.  Everyone knows chocolate.  

Very good idea. 

I got into trouble a couple years ago:  My husband went on a business trip to Florida, and my youngest daughter and I went along.  On the first night we all went to a grocery store.  He needed to buy some candies to give out as a part of the conference, while I picked up sodas, beer and snacks for family use.  He needed a receipt for reimbursement, so he went through one line and I went through another to pay for our personal items.  He checked out first using our Discover card, and I checked out within minutes with the same Discover card.  I was declined /our card was locked.

It wasn't hard to fix:  Discover texted me, saying they thought my card was being mis-used /instructing me to call a number.  I called, answered the security questions, explained our situation, and my card was "up and running" again in minutes.  BUT I was in America and had use of a cell phone.  This could be different on a ship or an island.  

Note on the Sacagawea coins.  Most staff on the cruise ships are not American and unless you're cruising in and out of USA, they will need to exchange this money to their home currency. It is difficult to exchange coins into another currency.  I would stick to USD or Euro bills.  It's a lovely idea but it may make not be as received as warmly as you think given the extra work it will take the recipient to undertake.  

10 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Cold air conditioning doesn't exist - it's never cold enough, ever!

Go bag....this is my luggage bag too. 

Dressing up doesn't happen on a cruise, ever!

Pedometer? I'm a fat a$$ and don't care about health, especially on a cruise - that's just dumb

Meh to charging cables - the rooms I've been in have all had one. It's just my husband's phone and mine.

You know you pay for shampoo and conditioner, right? 

Ok I'll give ya the water bottle

Definitely not the lanyard - unless you like looking like an 80 year old 

Phones have alarm clocks...

Yea - I'd hate to see your luggage...actually, I'd probably laugh as you struggle with it on the escalators.

To each their own but my hair would look like the Bride of Frankenstein and full of tangles if I didn't bring sufficient conditioner to tame it.  I'm glad you've found a packing system that works for you but everyone has different priorities.  

10 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

You could just manually change it. Then again, who the heck needs an alarm on a cruise anyway. It's vacation!

Because you need to wakeup in time to make your paid for shore excursion and might be in your normal time zone to wakeup naturally, or stayed up late the night before. 

We've done adjoining cabins and also 2 cabins next door.  We book with 1 adult in each cabin and then "switch" when we get on board, but people end up sleeping where they are comfortable.  Kids are tweens now and our next cruise they may end up bunking together.  

19 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

You aren't truly booking a private tour with those companies. You are booking with a middle- man. With a little research, you can usually find the private operator they contract with.

By private tour I mean my own tour as opposed to a tour bus with 50-100 other people.  I get your point that I am paying an aggregator but it's still a useful service that has helped me find tours at 25% of the cost of a cruise line and with smaller groups so we can accomplish more sight seeing during the short time available.  

On 9/19/2019 at 12:24 AM, cameljockey said:

I guess we've done about 14 cruises with various Cruise Lines. And I have to say we have never come back from any excursion saying that was worth the money. Look for safe alternatives, like Viator. 

Same same.  I have generally been able to prebook my own private tour via Get My Guide, Klook or Viator, sometimes Trip Advisor.  I think you should book with the ship if you can't find any alternative.  

On 4/12/2022 at 4:12 PM, cruiser3775 said:

I've read all the good advice about not flying to the cruise embarkation port on the same day as the cruise departs, so I have booked into a local hotel for the night before.  But no-one seems to give the same advice about flying home after the cruise. I have a three hour flight home. My cruise is scheduled to dock at 7am.  It's 15 minutes to the airport.   I was planning on buying flights that allow changes to later flights without penalty. Would it be too risky to book a mid or late afternoon flight on the last day, or would all you experienced cruisers recommend that I pay for another hotel night once I get off the ship? 

Honestly it would be fine to fly home same day.  They tend to kick you off in early morning so anything in the afternoon will give you plenty of time to arrive.  For peace of mind you might want to arrange a car and driver to fetch you but otherwise I wouldn't stress.

They are both good but for same ports of call I would pick NCL in terms of overall experience, authenticity of customer service, food and amenities.  That being said I also really like Costa for value for money and ports of call.  It's not an American cruise line but we like it that way.  

Men need long pants for dinner.  Make sure you pack at least jeans or you will be confined to the buffet.  Which might not be a bad thing depending on your style.

Men need long pants for dinner.  Make sure you pack at least jeans or you will be confined to the buffet.  Which might not be a bad thing depending on your style.

Go bag for embarkation day (pack swimsuit and coverup, sunscreen), can use this for daypack on shore excursions

Light sweater or jacket for cold aircon
 

Comfortable dress up shoes 

Pedometer or fitbit, watch for everyone (for meetups)

Charging cables and extensions cords, travel adaptors

Hair conditioner and deodorant of choice 

Refillable water bottle

Lanyard for cruise card

Alarm clock (for DIY wakeup calls)



 

1 minute ago, unrealHeather said:

IDK we have done a few Costa cruises and enjoyed the experience.  The Italians stay up late and are a bit exuberant but it's nothing like a Caribbean cruise on Carnival.  Just Saying.

Also as a family we still count down using Italian "uno, due, tre" (instead of 1,2,3) with some irony and sentimentality from the past Costa cruises.  

On 6/9/2022 at 7:28 PM, hallasm said:

Not really - for a Mediterranean cruise I would avoid MSC and Costa - tend to be a bit ‘too local’ - all announcements made at many language and Italian might be most spoken language. 

IDK we have done a few Costa cruises and enjoyed the experience.  The Italians stay up late and are a bit exuberant but it's nothing like a Caribbean cruise on Carnival.  Just Saying.

My travel agent was told by MSC that it's only available to the Aurea class cabins.  Let's hope that's not the case. Just put down my deposit last night.

I've cruised Costa and MSC as well as RC and Norwegian.  I prefer Costa in terms of value for money.  Their customer service seems more authentic and friendly.  It's subtle the the crew on the MSC boat we experienced were edging on apathy and going through the bare minimum motions.  

MSC was the only cruise line that has screwed up our prebooked drink package and where my youngest got food poisoning.  My sense is MSC has really terrible IT systems to support their staff.  People complain about food on Costa but we enjoyed.  

I was on a shore excursion with an American woman who complained she didn't like the food on Costa because they didn't have "good salads" and yet they were making comments about finding a McDonald's while they were off the ship.  So take that for what you will.  

As I recall MSC and Costa are a bit annoying in having food available during off meal hours.  But once you get used to that it's fine.  

On 3/28/2022 at 5:48 PM, Alex71 said:

Does Costa have formal / gala nights? If yes, what do people typically wear? I was thinking of bringing a light blue summer suit and wearing that with a white shirt and without tie. Would this be too informal?

I've cruised Costa a few times and honestly, anything goes as long as you wear long pants for men.  You will see people in jeans to evening gowns.  It's eclectic.  

5 minutes ago, Kevin79 said:

You buy a seperate thermal suite pass. For a 7 night cruise booked on UK site, thats circa £82 per person. They don't do a couples pass.

That's fine I just want to add on thermal suite not get the Aurea level cabin.  Glad to know they will offer it.  

What's the likelihood MSC will offer a couple's pass to the thermal spa to non Aurea cabins?  We are in Fantistica and I don't want to upgrade since the features don't appeal to us other than the spa.  

On 1/27/2020 at 3:42 AM, woldridge said:

Do you know if taxi's take credit cards?

Not all taxis take credit cards.  The blue & yellow taxis that are Comfort del Grove brand take Visa, Mastercard and American Express.  https://www.cdgtaxi.com.sg/ride-with-us/fares

But you're probably better off to download the Grab taxi app on your smartphone.  Then you can pay by credit card and book directly.