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Essiesmom

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  1. Zeroing the ship is a US thing, not done in Europe.  Look for the threads from those sailing Euribia and World Europa as they might have posted menus.  EM

  2. 17 minutes ago, RichYak said:

    Someone mentioned that daily muster drill activity and announcements could get tiresome. 

    It’s probably going to happen while you are off touring, you won’t even know it is happening.  EM

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  3. 6 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

     

    The referenced YouTubers returned several times to their site to follow up on their MSC experience.  They were able to do a zoom conference call with corporate who apologized profusely for the misunderstanding.  The YouTubers have put this aside and all has been cleared.

     

    I am not defending MSC for this latest delay.  It was something that was completely out of their control.  As stated, the port staff that allowed the Bolivian guests to board is a good place to start.  MSC could have required guests on board to clear required documents before the ship arrived (but then it would still have been too late). 

     

    This reminds me of the long long lines of people trying to clear Covid forms before arriving in Hawaii post pandemic.  Or Japan that made us fill out immigration forms for Korea before we got there.  

     

    This is not as bad as Princess cancelling Sun "inaugural cruiseS" at the last minute.  MSC was held up by Spain. 

     

    On cruises from the US, the manifest that is submitted before departure is checked by CBP or some agency while the ship is at sea.  Any irregularities found, the guest is met when the ship returns and sometimes escorted off in handcuffs.  Outstanding warrants, etc.  I suspect the same thing happens with all ships.  The manifest was submitted, and while Armonia was at sea, either Spain or some EU agency checked the manifest.  And perhaps one of the Bolivians popped up as someone whose visa application would have been denied.  And since the visas were faked, there was no record of a visa application.  That triggered an examination of all of the Bolivians, and there was no record of visa application.  MSC would have been informed and likely spent a great deal of time trying to find a solution without having to cancel the embarkation in Rome.  But they were not given the choice.  What puzzles me is why MSC didn’t offer those guests the option of boarding at the next port, Messina.  EM

  4. We have a section for Panama Canal in the Ports of Call boards.  I have a thread going there called Look Who’s in the Canal Today.  If you go and look at the pics, most from the Panama Canal cams, and some from the bridge cams of the ships.  You will soon see the difference between the old and new locks.  EM

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  5. Pure speculation on my part, but I suspect this TA has done this before, perhaps for not so large a group, but the visas were so good they have never been questioned.  Maybe some have been legit.  But I’m betting that somewhere within the group was someone whose visa application would not have been approved.  And just as from the US the manifest is submitted before departure, and further examined while the ship,is sailing.  That’s why in the US the occasional guest is escorted off in handcuffs upon return to port.

       But the scrutiny of the manifest, probably bu Spain or EU officials, picked up this individual who should have been denied.  Which led them to examine the others, and make the grand discovery.  And I’m betting also that MSC was informed midway in the cruise that these people could not be debarked, and were working feverishly for some resolution that would have avoided canceling the Rome departure.  
       And I would also bet that the people left stranded in Civitavecchia could have boarded downline in Messina, where she will be tomorrow.  EM

  6. They are actually quite different.  I have been on Seaside twice, last in August 2023.  What I liked most about Seaside is the second buffet on deck 16.  It is modest, and only open for breakfast and lunch…but it is much less crowded than the one on 8.  I really felt Seashore was larger…there seemed to be more venues.  I think some of them might have been on Seaside but I didn’t find them.  I think you should do them both, but do Seaside first.  The sticky buns were much better on Seaside.  EM

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  7. It’s possible that your itinerary may get a slight alteration.  Right. Ow I am watching the Viking Octantis docked in Fuerte Amador.  Her schedule was to transit April 4 and dock in Colon April 5.  Fuerte Amador was not on her itinerary.  But she was there April 4, I expect her to transit eastbound today and skip Colon.  So maybe your itinerary will change to transit a day early and spend the original transit at Fuerte Amador.  EM

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