lovelights

It seems everyone would be better served if MSC used the Deck 16 buffet as the overflow venue instead of the Deck 8 buffet. It would more closely match the expected number of overflow seats needed, as well as leave the larger buffet open for those who prefer casual dining while providing a greater number of food selections.

I was thinking the same thing. I don't understand why they would use their main buffet dining, when they have the other one on deck 16. We're Bella and I didn't read the fine print, that you need binoculars to see, that indicated about the overflow. Not that it would have mattered because we don't eat in the MDR, and actually prefer the buffet. Finding out a few days before we go on our cruise that our only option of food at dinner is a small buffet that serves limited food, such as hot dogs, pizza, and hamburgers, has sure taken the excitement out of it.

How does a person get served in a buffet? Are you to walk around and see what food they have first, and then try to remember everything, and then someone comes to your table and asks you what you want? That has to be the most bizarre set up, of any buffet dining I've ever heard of.

Seaside may be a new design for MSC, but the waterfront promenade has been a staple on Carnival and Norwegian for a while now.

 

About the only real differentiation on the Seaside class is the “Miami condo” design on the aft facing staterooms. While it was never built, Fincantieri had proposed building a ship for Carnival with the aft facing elevators back in the mid-2000s. Fincantieri, of course, is builidng the Seaside class ships. They are also building “Project Leonardo” for Norwegian, which is based on the same design as MSC Seaside, what Fincantieri refers to as “Project Mille”.

Which Carnival and Norwegian ships have what you consider a waterfront promenade that looks like Seaside? Just curious.

Wait till you get on the ship! People running into mirrors and glass doors all the time. Quite comical, but not good design.

 

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I, for sure, know what you mean. We experienced it on Divina. We were standing in front of the "secret" elevator, and for those that aren't sure what I'm speaking of, it's a single elevator shaft that is like hidden behind a wall, but close to the atrium, and when you first approach it, there is a large mirror on the wall, which actually makes you feel like you can go completely across from one side of the ship to the other.

I still laugh, when I think of the day that my husband and I were waiting for the elevator, and my husband looked at the mirror and asked me to walk through it to catch the other elevator that was on the other side. (and he was very serious). The remainder of the day, we'd be somewhere on the ship, whether it be eating, or just lounging on our balcony, and I would think about him and that mirror, and would bust out laughing.

I actually took a photo of the mirror, and you'll see that it looks like you could walk right through it, when in actuality, you're looking at an image of what's behind you. Can't get the link to work, so hoping that you can just view it from here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kri85mYgvXD9lFa62

When we went on Divina, we didn't know about the no water allowed, and we took 6 bottles of Aquafina in my husband's check-in luggage, and 6 bottles in mine, and didn't have any issues. Our stateroom attendant even emptied out some of our mini-fridge so we could put some bottles in it, and also brought us an extra bucket of ice for our water bottles. :O They also say no food, but they allow it as long as it's pre-packaged and manufactured sealed. I took Hazelnut creamers for my coffee, and had no problem with that either.

We cruised on Divina last year and there was no smoking at all allowed in the casino, and the only bar was an outside bar at the rear of the ship on the top deck. One side of the promenade deck had smoking allowed, but there was barely anyone out there smoking most of the time. I don't think people knew they were allowed to smoke out there, but there were ashtrays everywhere on the promenade deck on the starboard side. There was no smoking at all allowed on the pool deck. But remember, this was on the Divina sailing out of Miami, Florida.

I've also booked, then saw a sale and called and got the sale price and they just rebooked me in the same room (at the lower price).

I see that this was posted awhile back, but just wanted everyone to know that now in 2017 - 2018, if you find a sale that is less than what you originally paid, MSC will only match it, if the cruise you're going on, is not less than 90 days of leaving. In other words, if your ship is sailing within the next 90 days, then they will not match. I just got off the phone with them, because I had a question about it.

Going to Ocho Ríos in Nov. Any thoughts on the Sky Explorer Tour?? Is it worth the price??

(Not interested in Bobsled or Zipline)

 

 

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We're going in January 2018, and we were also interested in just the Sky Explorer, but not going on the zip line or bobsleds. I think I found a website online where it said that just the Sky Explorer was $46.20 per person, but it included an infinity pool area, a Butterfly Tour, and a Hummingbird Tour and a lookout tower. We thought that was a little expensive, considering that it didn't include the price of what it would cost to get to the place, and return back to where you came from. So, I'll follow this post, in hopes that someone would have more info.

Where did you see that the 1/13-20 itinerary has changed from western to eastern? I have seen port stops as 1/15 Jamaica, 1/16 Caymans 1/17 Cozumel 1/19 Nassau.

Ok, I went back and re-read, and you're right. I misunderstood. So, I guess that means that those that decided to go on a 14 day cruise, is going to the same ports twice? Like two 7 day Westerns? I'm actually glad that we transferred over to the Western, because I was not looking forward to going to St. Thomas with the condition that it's in. I've seen videos of that place and I did not want to take a tour up to Mountain Top to see the devastation there. It's so sad. We seen it when it was beautiful, and wasn't looking forward to seeing it all torn up.

This is so strange. So, now the eastern itinerary changed to a western, and the western itinerary that was suppose to be on the ship the week behind the Jan. 6th sailing, is going to be eastern? Why didn't they just keep the Eastern on Eastern and the Western on Western. We were just told that we were going to Antigua to replace St. Maarten, and St. Thomas to replace San Juan, and now they did a complete switch-a-roo?

I think there will be more changes once they realize, that Barbuda is devastated. No guarantees about Puerto Rico.

It doesn't matter if Barbuda is available. It's called "Antigua and Barbuda". I read somewhere that Old San Juan and the port wasn't as bad as the remainder of the island.

Did everyone see the newest update on the itinerary for Seaside today? I was for sure they were going to change us to a western itinerary, but I guess they aren't. Here's what they have to say about the updated changes so far.

MSC Seaside: December 23 – March 17, 2018

On her Eastern Caribbean itineraries departing from Miami, MSC Seaside will now call at St John (Antigua and Barbuda), instead of at Philipsburg (St Maarten).

Mine is in 21 days I think that is getting a little confusing but I am not even thinking of cancelling so it is funny someone who booked for a cruise that is 4 months away is thinking of cancelling ... WHAT? Really? just go and plan around it, no big deal . I planned trips one month ahead before (such as a Nicaragua trip one my own alone and didnt know a thing about the place. Best rip ever!!!)and didnt sweat it how can someone take a cruise and want to cancel for things happening months before? I do not get it.

I don't think you're understanding that some people would be interested in canceling for several reasons. Maybe they paid more to go on a specific itinerary, compared to another itinerary that was offered, and now if they are being told that they are going on the itinerary that was offered for less money, but there will be no compensation, then they would cancel because they don't want to pay extra for an itinerary that they weren't interested in to begin with.

Maybe they're going on a 14 day cruise where the eastern and western were B2B, and they're not interested in going to the same places twice.

Maybe they've already been to some of the places on the changed itinerary a dozen times, and don't want to go again.

I can understand if the cruise line had to change due to weather, or a malfunction with the ship, and they had to switch some places around. However, this isn't the case. It's a very unfortunate situation for the islands that are suppose to be on the original itinerary, and I know the fine print indicates that the cruise line has the right to make adjustments, but this is an entirely different cruise. It's like saying you paid to go to the Southern Caribbean, but you're going to go to the Bahamas and sit at Nassau for a few days, and this is suppose to be acceptable.

I'm going on my cruise mainly for the ship, and this isn't something we normally do. We usually go for the itinerary, but that's not the case this time. My husband is looking forward to this vacation so badly, that he said he doesn't care if we just spin around in the Atlantic for 7 days, but either way, I'm sure MSC is going to do the best thing for their passengers.

Some cruise lines are doing two stops in the Bahamas which I wouldn't love, but our next cruise (on Seaside) is more about the ship than the destinations. But I agree...5 sea days is a bit much.

 

I think they're going to find alternative islands/ports that will work in the eastern Caribbean. I can't see a lot of people going on back to back cruises if they stay in the west week after week unless they alternate ports there, too.

If they do with Seaside, what they presently seem to be doing with Divina, then the San Juan, St. Maarten, Nassau itinerary, will be changed to Georgetown (Cayman Islands), Montego Bay (Jamaica), Costa Maya (Mexico), and Nassau. If they swap it for a western, it's going to have to be different than the western before or after it that they're doing for the 14 day cruisers (two 7 day cruises), or it's going to result in the 14 day cruisers going to same place twice.

They're western is already Cayman Islands (but in Grand Cayman), Jamaica (but in Ocho Rios), and Mexico (but in Cozumel), right?

oops... I just noticed that the info was already posted about the itinerary. It's good to hear though that they won't keep our penalty amount, and will allow us to use it as a credit on a future cruise.

Please.... I am sure both ports will be open in a month max. By December for sure they will be open to cruise ships.

A month max? I doubt that. There is no way either of those ports will be ready in a month. They're not going to be ready in 3 or 4 months. We leave the beginning of January, and San Juan and St. Maarten are both on our itinerary. I pray for these islands, however, I'm from SW Florida, and if I want to see devastation on my vacation, I can see that right here at home.

People are curious as to what's going on, because many have final payments coming due, and don't want to be penalized if they decide to cancel, because they're not interested in going to the itinerary that the ship is offering. I would also like to know where we will be going before-hand, for if they're taking us somewhere like Cozumel, I can go on a ship going out at a port more local to me, on a 4 day cruise to go there, and save thousands of dollars doing so.

I'd be very satisfied with that change. We have only been to Nassau on that itinerary, so that would be 3 places we have never been. Would Cayman Islands be at Georgetown? Usually it's Ocho Rios, but figured that area would already be filled with the original western itinerary.

I am being patient over this. There change in statement eliminating the subbing of Antigua. We know that Nassau is still ok. I think they are waiting to see what happens there. I think those two ports (Nassau and Antigua) will be our ports. So, IMO they just need to change San Juan. The good idea for me is to have another day at sea.

I hope they can at least let us know before final payment is due, what is going on, because if I was to get another day at sea, it would be a total of 5 days at sea on a 7 day cruise. I would have never booked a cruise like that.

What is a typical refund on a cruise that may get less ports of call than scheduled? What if my sailing does not go to all 8?

In the past, when we missed ports, due to tendering problems because of the weather, all they did was refund the difference of the port fees back to our account. One time we missed Grand Cayman, and we got $17.00 back per person, and a day at sea. :O

We took 6 bottles of Aquafina water in my suitcase, and 6 bottles in my husband's suitcase, and they arrived in our room fine on Divina. The stateroom attendant even took out what was in the mini-bar so we'd have room to put some of our water in it. :O

Thank you so much for posting this but .... Sweet Petunias!

 

Someone's got a lot of work to do in the next 4 and 1/2 months!!!

I've been thinking the same thing. Sure has a lot of work to still be done, in just 4 1/2 months. Looks like they'll still be working on it, even on the way over to Miami. :o

I've been on both ships, and if I had to choose one to go back on, it definitely would be Divina. Plus I like the itinerary for Divina that you posted, better than the itinerary on Navigator.

Why are people calling this a sale? It's not a sale. The prices are no different now, than they were weeks ago. You put a $1.00 deposit down, and where does that get you? $1.00 closer to paying the cruise off? And what if you have to cancel for some strange reason? Are you ready to pay that $100 per person cancellation fee? If all I could afford was a buck to put down on my cruise, that's telling me that I'm not ready to book yet.

Your review was absolutely wonderful. We've already cruised on Divina, and we loved it. We're now booked on Seaside and can't wait to cruise with MSC again. I'm so glad that you had a wonderful time.

Telling me to just call was not helpful at all. I have seen that response several times on this board. In fact someone was just raked over the coals for not coming back and thanking the people who had answered her questions. If you don't want to help people then just don't post but telling people to call or do a search is not helpful or very welcoming.

Maybe MSC is to elite for me, I should just stick with the down to earth Carnival people.

I can understand your questions because we had them, as well. With MSC not being familiar to the U.S., we were skeptical about booking our first cruise with them. We've been on several cruise lines and several different ships, and Carnival was our worse, so far. Maybe we need to choose the newer ships or something, because I could show you photos of our dirty cabin on Carnival Paradise that would make you think twice about ever stepping foot on that ship. Maybe we just had a stateroom attendant that didn't want to do his job.

We've learned not to past judgement on cruise lines until we've had experience with that particular cruise line. We went on Divina, we're booked on Seaside, and waiting to book on Meraviglia when it becomes available in Miami. If it wasn't for us trying MSC, my next several years of cruising wouldn't be with them. You can't pick your cruises with a closed mind.

I believe YOU were the one that said you would just search Google, because this board wasn't helpful enough for you. You didn't give us 24 hours before it seemed that you were putting MSC cruisers down for not answering your question fast enough.

There is not as many people over here, because a lot of people aren't even familiar with the cruise line yet. Better for us MSC cruisers. It keeps the prices low, while still giving us a fantastic cruise.

As far as asking you to call. I think it was more about not telling you to call, but asking why you hadn't called yet. You didn't indicate in your post that you had called and got no answers. I've dealt with MSC cruise representatives on the phone several times now for my bookings or to ask questions, and I've always had my questions answered. Seems to me that you might be looking for excuses to convince yourself, as to why it's better for you to choose Carnival. You appear to feel more confident with Carnival.

I asked some questions over on a Holland America forum, because I wasn't sure if I wanted to book my next cruise on MSC, or if I wanted to try Holland America, which is a cruise line we've never been on before. It was more about the itinerary with Holland America though. I got blasted about how Holland America was not for me, and I'd be better going with MSC. I actually believe that I was hoping that's what they would say over there, because I was looking for excuses not to go with Holland America to begin with. LOL

I wonder who is first worst one? :*

I was wondering the same thing. lol If MSC is the 2nd worse, then Princess should be the 1st, because both of them are top in my book. We've been on many cruises with a variety of cruise lines and MSC is one of the best we've ever been on. We were on Divina, booked on Seaside, and plan on booking on Meraviglia when it becomes available to book in Miami.