Cruiseforever11

1 hour ago, Flymia said:

Hampton Inn Brickell is a fantastic location. Unless you are one person a shuttle is usually more expensive than a tax/uber as the port is very close to Brickell. 

 

 

I'm pleased Its a good area. I wanted to be as near to the port as possible so I don't have to rush around in the morning. I don't know how strict msc are with their check in times in America but here on the other side of the pond they don't seem that bothered and at the moment my check in is a 2pm (but that could change nearer the time!)

Thank you for your information.

13 minutes ago, ConnieTact said:

@Cruiseforever11I know!!! It’s such a shame! I’ll miss it but won’t pay for it in the speciality unless it’s cheap as I feel it’s been ‘taken away’ from us! We are back on Virtuosa in October and I will report back on if they are still serving it on there. Maybe they will on the U.K. cruises? It’s a British thing so maybe MSC will keep it for Southampton sailings? 🤔 I hope so!

@Nikodemos Im enjoying your report so far too! Thank you! 

Hi ya @ConnieTact i hope your both well. Yes I guess it's a British thing but it was so good the afternoon tea in Yc, it was a highlight for daughter and i when we got back from an excursion after we worked up an appetite. (Not every day of course!) I was going to do the  tea speciality on the Europa anyway as I like my teas.

I don't think I will be going back on the Virtuosa for a while now as I'm Virtuosa out as they say as sailed on her 7 times. I've got Europa Oct and Seascape Dec and then back to a small ship the Orchestra (which we did many moons agos) next June. I am though really looking forward to the Europa, I think she looks stunning and very beautiful! 😊

No yc high tea 😔 we are going on the Europa in October. Its my hubby's 1st time ever in yc and I've been going on about how you can have afternoon tea etc and how amazing it is. (Well it was on the Virtuosa). It's a shame they dont serve it on the Europa in yc. The tea house was somewhere I wanted to check out anyway so afternoon tea in there instead.

Thank you so far for your review on board @Nikodemos We've booked a tour round the Pompeii site and hopefully end of October it shouldn't be too warm to walk around and enjoy. 

We are looking forward to getting on board this ship.

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Some hotels in Brickell area  have a shuttle service to the port 

We were at Hampton Inn pre covid & I think the shuttle was $8 pp  at the time

If it was the Hampton Inn and Suites hotel by Hilton then i hope its a good hotel as that's where I'm staying. I didn't see it had a shuttle bus but bonus if it has. It was one of the few hotels that did breakfast as well which was what I wanted. Really looking forward to my stay and cruise.

Thank you so much everyone is being so helpful. The information so far has been really useful. 

Am I right in thinking MSC are building a new terminal which will be ready by the end of the year?

1 hour ago, skrufy said:

I would taxi or Uber to Brickell. Cost around $30.00 without tip. Then take a taxi or Uber to the port, around $12.00 or so. The taxi drivers will know where your ship is.docked. When you cross over the bridge to Dodge Island you will see the ships lined up. Brickell is a nice area. If you go to Bayside by train at night, be aware of your surroundings, Miami Beach is not for everyone. I think the shopping, restaurants, and art decor buildings are worth seeing.  

Thank you.

How much do you tip taxi drivers in Miami and do you pay by card or cash. Sorry for the questions as I have never been to main land America so a newbie but not to cruising. I think I will struggle to stay awake miami night time especially after a 9-10hr flight so I doubt very much I will venturing out after dark. 

The trolley info that's really useful for when we've checked in etc at the hotel thank you.

I think taxi will be the way to go from the airport with luggage, in a place I dont know. Thank you again.

Ok thank you I will have a look. Thank you for the heads up @Morgsmom 😊

Hi we are on the Seascape in December from Miami and would just like some travel advice as never been to Miami before.

What is the best way to get from Miami airport to Downtown/Brickell and cost roughly?

Is the MSC Terminal easy to find and easy to get to from Downtown/Brickell? 

Any other useful advise about Miami that i need to know. 

I think by the time we land it will be around late morning/lunchtime American time.

Thank you in advance.

Just back from a 3 nighter out of Southampton last week and we had an Abba party,  White night which included silent disco, and a themed space night. No Gala nights. 

Sidari has posted a load of drinks menus in pounds on the msc uk bit.

Hi Sidari thank you for all the drink menus. You don't happen to have the pub drinks menu? Apologies if you have added it and I've missed it!

Thanks

11 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

Is your cruise showing as being in £?

 

As far as I can tell the changeover from € is to be 21st with new bar prices happening then.

 

Zeebrugge is available 26th.

As far as I am aware it's in pounds yes. I booked knowing the changeover would be around mid April as there is 6 of us 3 who have never cruised so trying to keep it simple for them. It was the same last year.

To be honest I'd rather go to Zeebrugge and go to Bruges. We were going to hirer a six seater out if in le Harve but not going to bother now due to all uncertainty. Even if we end up with a sea day I'm still on a cruise even if it's up and down the English channel! Plus the 3 will get to experience a sea day if that happens.

I called msc yesterday as I'm on the 24th 3 nighter which stops in le Harve and asked them what would they do. They said if Le Harve was shut then they would try for Zeebrugge as closer to Southampton but couldn't definitely tell me yes or no as they don't know either and or if they can get in to Zeebrugge.

I've tried looking everywhere to see when the next strike dates will be but the French don't seem to tell anyone till the last minute. 

Apart from port swaps I hope you are enjoying your cruise Lena11033.  

There is an adult only lounge on deck 16 which can get busy in the evenings but no kids.

The Virtuosa lounge deck 6 is the busiest place on the ship in the evening. The whole of the Galleria Virtuosa in the evening is where the main parties/discos take place on deck 6 and very busy if ship is full.

The pub also deck 7 can be busy in the evenings too. The t.v/studio bar on deck 7 they do karaoke in there but not till about 10ish but before that it can be ok for a drink but seating a bit hit and miss.

There are the outdoor spaces like the Horizon Bar at the aft of the ship and the main pool areas but this time of year a bit chilly. The inside pool area upstairs maybe OK. 

If your in Yacht Club then the yc lounge is the quietest place personally on the ship. 

It's going to be busy in the evenings if the ship is full at this time of year as weather not great for the outside unless you wrap up really warm. In the summer not so bad because they move some stuff like white night outside in the evening. 

I've pointed out the main areas others may agree or disagree and may have some other useful tips. I've been on the ship enough times and back on again in 13days time. Loved everytime busy or not busy.

4 hours ago, victory2020 said:

What basic hotel would you recommend in Southampton for the night before the cruise? I'm not picky, just a bed within (hopefully walking distance. Had my eye on the Star - it looked interesting but don't know about location

Hi we stay in a Premier Inn when cruising from Southampton but we have the car and stay slightly out of Southampton but there are premier inns in Central Southampton too. There is ibis budget hotel between the cruise terminal and railway station which is approximately 8 - 10 mins walk to the cruise terminal and 5 mins to the Railway station. There is also the Novotel which is in the same area near enough next to each other. Hope that helps.

The Virtuosa homeport will be Southampton from April till the end of October/November where it will be GBP.  Then the Euribia takes over where the homeport will be Hamburg and will be Euros till April 2024 and then the Virtuosa takes over and so on. I've been on the Virtuosa 6 times now all from Southampton and going again in 3weeks, i've been at different times of the year when it's been Euros and GBP. Hope that helps.

Any cruises leaving from Southampton on the Virtuosa April till beginning of Nov will be GBP on board. As now the summer season the official starting point is Southampton.

To confirm no transfers to LHR but there are trains from Southampton to London and then you will need to hop on to the underground to LHR and the tube line you need would be the Piccadilly line which takes you to all terminals at LHR. 

They did do some sort of solo get togethers when I was onboard in December.

The Ship docks at the Horizon Terminal dock gate 10 in Southampton. 

26 minutes ago, lindylooellalouise said:

Hi can anyone remember the discount code for AB parking in Southampton.

Hi last year i used ABPMSC22 don't know if they have a new one out. 

I can not wait for this cruise on this beautiful looking ship! Starting in Barcelona. Even though I have cruised this route before I'm still very excited and looking forward to seeing something different in each port again if I can drag myself off the ship!

Hi Connie glad to see you both looking well! I have been following your post in the background and glad your having a fab time! I am on board again in April for the 7th time then back on again May 2024 so really they should have a room permanently for me! 😂 like you got the yc bug all my other 3 cruises I have booked are in yc but our April one is in Aurea but there is a group of us travelling. I just wanted to ask when you checked in did they check your check in time when you arrived? The reason I ask is we are a group of 6 and each couple got a different check in time even though we are group all linked up etc. 10, 3 & 5. They don't normally check but just thought I'd ask. Anyway enjoy the rest of your cruise! 😊

3 minutes ago, yellow-submarine said:

South Caribbean sailings from Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados that was covered by MSC Seaside are now gone. They are not offered on any of the MSC websites and up-to-date TAs. They are not fully booked, two weeks ago the had hundreds of spaces. What has happened?

Glad I'm not the only one who has notice that have disappeared. I'm hoping they are just moving things about but I was waiting for winter 24/25 to come out as we were going to do the 2 weeks from Barbados. 

We got our embarkation time for 5 then 3 then 9 and now 12 for April we are in Aurea. Until I get my tickets I take the timings with a pinch of salt and then they never check your times anyway when checking in.

10 is the earliest. Was on a cruise in Dec and got we got to the yc tent at 9.45. They took our bags whisked us through security, took us upstairs and there was no one up there! Then one of the yc people came over and said 10am they should start checking in.

You could see what National Express offer although you may have to change either Birmingham or London Victoria. Then on to Southampton. A bit of a nightmare journey time and i would advise a hotel stop overnight somewhere incase of any delays.

Love msc because it's different. Your ships are stunning and very stylish and really clean. Yatch Club is amazing although have notice lately its got really expensive so may not be doing Yc all the time now as planned.

All of this is why I have done 12 cruises with you and another 2 booked this year Please don't loose that identity that is different from other cruise lines.

As many people have mentioned you need your sort the I.T side of things out and customer services. I've had it in the pass where my cruise has been changed online or i find out on forum's like this so you phone customer service and they have no idea and TAs have not been told. So your customers find out before your staff know. 

Cruises around Australia/New Zealand and that area would be good. (Not just on world cruises)

One more thing please can we have a different class of ship out of Southampton now. Seaside class in the summer season would great!