riddle

I am going solo on the MSC Seaside in two weeks.  I have cruised about 35 times, mostly on NCL (which is an industry standard for solo cruising.  For the record, I am married, do not always cruise solo, but I love to cruise and my DH not so much.  So off I go!

I am through URComped where MSC has comped my cruise due to my casino history from NCL  I made a small downpayment refundable to me through OBC once onboard.

Questions:

1.  I am accustomed to freestyle dining so interested how planned seating will work for a solo.  I have the early dining but may want to change that.  Can I?

2.  I am Bella but was upgraded to a balcony but am still Bella experience.

3.  I get free drinks in the casino.  Taking into account that the casino is not open unless you are at sea, would it be advisable for me to purchase the lower cost drink package.  I probably average about 4 drinks a day.  If I drink 2 of those in the casino, approximately what will the other 2 cost me and would it be better just to pay for them?

4.  Will I seem like a fish totally out of water as a solo on this line?

5.  I don't dress up for dinner so are nice slacks, top ok?  I would not call them flip flops but I wear nice sandals that slip on as I have foot problems.  Is this ok?

Hoping anyone who has gone solo can help.  Others as well.  Thanks

Just talked last nite with a travel agent and her friend who have been on many cruises including Seaside.  They both raved about how wonderful the shows were, loved the ship in general.  They were not YC.  One even won a cruise while in the casino.  They have cruised many lines and had nothing but good to say about MSC.  

Update:  I did get one on the last night but there are casino service fees that do not get waived until the wee hours of the morning of departure.  I am in the casino class where those get waived.

However, this morning, after being transferred 4 times to different people and put on hold for almost an hour I did get an emailed copy of my bill.  Once they got me to the right person (customer relations desk) it took seconds.  And, yes, the charges had been removed.

All is well that ends well.

We disembarked Miami off the Jade.  We did not have a bill over our room slot as usual.  Most doors did not.  We did not have time to wait in the long line at guest services.  I will call NCL tomorrow to see if I can get a copy of the bill.  Has anyone ever had this happen to them?

21 hours ago, wmwmarmstrong said:

Hi All

 

I have recently signed up for URComped. I can only sign up for RC and HAL. I was wondering why MSC wasn't included. Do they have a higher player limit?

I would much perfer MSC then the other two cruise lines.

I can only say to email your URComped representative.  Mine is Tyler and he is very prompt with answers even if he has to contact the cruise line.  I have not found anything not to like about URComped.

On ‎11‎/‎12‎/‎2018 at 11:21 AM, clcjdn said:

Thanks for dropping back in and providing the post cruise feedback.  I haven't done RCCL, only NCL and Carnival for me so far, but appreciate the background.  I find myself wanting to play only certain video poker machines based on payback %s as well, so I get that feeling of waiting for the one you need to be opened.  Luckily for me, NCL usually has about 12 machines that fit my profile on each ship and Carnival has 3, so not quite as rare as your single zero, but not as common as the rest of the slots.  Good luck in your future gambling adventures!

Are you saying that you actually find video poker machines on NCL which have a better payback than others?   I have never found them to differ so maybe I need to look harder at the machines.

You will need to apply to URComped.  What lines will depend on their specific offers to you.  I am Platinum Plus with NCL therefore I receive no URComped offers from NCL as I already am established with them.  The point is to get you to try new lines and continue to use them.  

I am cruising URComped on MSC in January.  I have to pay $200 x 2 but that amount is refunded back to me as I use it on the ship (including casino).  It is a win/win to me.  Yes, I pay the $200 for the second person who isn't in the cabin but I will get it back.

I am going on the MSC Seaside next month as a solo.  I have gone solo on NCL many times and enjoy.  I know the MSC experience will be different but that is fine.  I have a few questions from those who have cruised the Seaside recently.  I am a guest of URComped so I am a gamble who will spend considerable time in the casino.

1.  I will get free drinks in the casino.  I am not a huge drinker and don't drink much during the day so I have held off on another drink plan.  Is the casino generally open after you hit open waters and therefore available for alcoholic drinks?

2.  I have "heard" that plain tap water is not available in the main dining rooms.  Is this correct?  If so, what beverages are available?

3.  I have "heard"  there is no soap in the bathroom except in the shower.  Is this true?

4.  I know the casino is on the small side.  If you have cruised this ship and are a gambler (slots) are there enough games that will allow me to have reasonable assurance of getting a future comp if I play daily for several hours or will the size limit me?

5.  Can I access my room account for cash for the casino and if so is there a fee to do so?

6.  Is video poker available?

Just as an aside.  We were on a Panama Canal cruise last two weeks.  We took a ship's excursion (I don't always) and it was over 30 minutes past return time getting back to the ship.  The tour operator told us they had contacted the ship and of course the ship waited.  We were an entire busload of people.  My husband did not take the tour and had made several inquiries to Guest Services and the last one they told him that all tours were back.  That was obviously erroneous and  he told them so.  He was worried and upset but since it was a ship tour I had not been too concerned about it.

Lots of people win.  Unfortunately, more lose than win from my experience.  But...it does happen.

One thing I always think about is bet size versus number of bonus rounds.  Many of the machines I play have an $8.80 max and a $.88 minimum.  I know I can win a jackpot either way and I know that my other wins will be larger on the larger bets.  But my question is "should one expect a significantly larger number of bonus rounds if betting a higher amount, up to the max?

NCL should know if this is a dry dock or wet dock repair.  If future cruises are impacted, they should be making announcements. 

This is if the case is that the ship definitely cannot sail next week or in the near future.

However, I understand the current passengers are their tops concerns now as it should be.

One thing I forgot.  I wonder why it is so imperative to get passengers off the ship?  You could have used it as a "hotel" for the duration of the cruise and came and went as you wished.  

So very sorry for the cancellation of your cruise.  I would probably not be as positive as you all.

We are booked on the Jade  Nov. 26 to Panama Canal also.  Since we are driving down from Ohio I hope we get info soon as to whether or not this cruise will go.  I was going to use today to pack but will probably wait now.

I guess there is little concrete information what is really wrong with the ship, length of time to fix, get parts, etc.  This is my 36th cruise and it has never happened before.  I have been lucky.

Be safe on your travels home and book those replacement cruises soon so you can put this behind you.

Not having much luck on the Panama Canal thread so I thought I would ask it here.  We are taking a partial transit through Panama Canal on Jade soon.  We want to see more of the canal so are taking the ferry.  I had heard pretty good reviews of it but have one question which is very important to us.  My husband has bladder cancer (which is well controlled) but I am concerned if the bus to the ferry has a bathroom.  Also, (I know I said one question) I have read varying times for the bus trip to the ferry from one to three hours.  I know it can vary due to traffic but anyone who has done this, approximately how long is this bus ride?

We are booked on a partial transit on the Jade in a week to Panama Canal.  We have booked the ferry after we get off the ship in the lake to take us through the rest (I think) of the canal.  I am concerned as I have read that the bus ride to the ferry is 3 hours and then a wait for the ferry.  I have also read no bathrooms.  Is this correct?  My husband has bladder cancer and while well controlled could not go 3-4 hours without a bathroom.  Anyone who has done this tour if you could explain more about it to us it would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

I was told No while on the ship.

Cruising solo on NCL is easy because it caters to the solo crowd on the newer ships with studio cabins and solo get togethers. It also has several spots where you do not feel conspicuous as a solo while dining. I am not afraid of meeting new people but I do sometimes feel like a fish out of water if I am seated with all couples or families. That is my only real concern with the solo aspect.

URComped will not comp me on NCL since I have cruised them almost exclusively. Therefore, it was my choice to pick another line. The MSC ships I have seen in Miami just look so awesome that I wanted to try them.

"Foreigners" (??) do not concern me. I am a foreigner when I leave the U.S. I want to be able to communicate but I do not see this as a problem.

I have been wanting to try MSC for some time now. I have about 35 NCL cruises under my belt and am looking to shake things up a bit.

I qualify for URComped on MSC but just for an inside cabin so Yacht Club is out of my reach. I would be able to status match to black I believe and I am Platinum Plus on NCL.

I will be travelling solo. I have started reading through CC info on MSC to become better informed.

Would I be comfortable as a solo on MSC having done it many times on NCL? What types of things will I find significantly different/better/worse on MSC versus NCL. Will I have a set dining time with the same table mates each night?

Basically, I just want to be sure I will have a good time as I have had on NCL. Opinions/thoughts?

Thanks

Cruising is my happy, relaxing place. I don't have to worry about things at home. I can't do anything about them. There is so little planning involved. I enjoy the ship. Most ports I can take or leave but it doesn't matter.

I did it a few years ago. Had one cooler day and the rest was pool weather with smooth glassy seas. Wonderful!

Loved the family oceanview. It was very large, had a tub, and best of all a curtain separating the bed from the hidebed. Gave everyone a little privacy. I don't remember if it had 2 TV's. Going in one on the Escape in 4 weeks. It is on deck 5 and very close to the kids club so that is nice.

My husband and I want to do a Panama Canal cruise. I admit I find it difficult to see which cruises do a full transit and which only turn around and go back. Can those in the know enlighten me please?

Beware both terminals used for the Getaway do not necessarily board at the same time. I was waiting in the Platinum area so I could board early and get a Vibe pass. My terminal was boarding "assistance needed" folks. Then I discovered the other terminal was boarding up to Group 1. I ran to that terminal and showed the Ncl employee that I was platinum plus and he let me in line. I was one of the last to get a Vibe pass. I felt that was totally unfair way to board. I was unable to hear the announcement in the other terminal and had just happened to see people walking on.

I look upon this the same as tipping at home. I would not tip the restaurant manager but would tip the server/bartender. I don't tip heavily on hand pay because I seldom get them and am usually pretty much in the hole. I do tip them though as I feel appropriate. I guess I am wondering why one would tip the host?