jajsmom

Thanks. Travel agent has linked us for dinner, but we will head towards the back of the buffet for embarkation.

Thank you!

This will be our 25th cruise, but the first on MSC (on Seaside.) On other lines, we generally eat in the dining room for the first day lunch, but we are not in YC, and it does not appear that there are any dining rooms open for breakfast or lunch. We are also traveling with a large group (14). It looks like there are two different buffets on the ship. Is one preferable over the other? And will we have better luck finding seating for a large group? We do not all have to be at the same table, but close to each other would be great. Also, our group has all different loyalty levels, ranging from no loyalty up to Diamond. Will everyone have very different boarding times, even though we will all be arriving together? And what time are staterooms generally open? Thanks!

Thank you all! I told you this always confuses me, even using the correct letters! So I can book a 2025 cruise then, as long as I book it by next December. Thank you!

This always confuses me. We purchased FCCs in December 2022. Do these need to be used and sailed by December 2024, or do they just have to be applied to a cruise by then. Thanks!

Along the same lines, are hair dryers in the staterooms? We will be on Seaside, and someone recently told me that the MSC ship they went on did not have hairdryers. Thanks.

Thank you!

Thanks. It looks like we're up to 14 people now.

We are sailing MSC for the first time with a large group. We're currently at 12, and may be adding a few more couples. Will we all be seated together (reservations linked) or will we be divided into smaller tables. Thanks.

Thanks! I am a distance runner (minimum 5 miles on a trip) so running on a treadmill is just painful! I will try to run on the island, even if I have to make multiple laps.

Thanks for your responses! I did not see any designated areas. I've been cruising for years, and prefer the older ships that had dedicated walking and running areas. the newer ships seem to have forgotten about them. How are we supposed to manage our food intake on a cruise? 😂

I did a search and could not find any information. Will be on MSC Seaside. Other than a treadmill, is there any place to run on deck? It does not appear to have a promenade deck, and I do not see a running path up top. Also, is there any path on Ocean Cay to run? And if there is, does anyone know the milage? Thanks in advance.

Thank you. It's good to see actual tour recommendations. I do not see as many specific companies recommended as I do for other cruise ports around the world.

Thank you both! I'm learning so much here.

Once again, helpful. That's good to know.

Thanks! It's sounds like a port adventure to GBR from Airlie Beach is looking good. We live in Florida, so we have our own resident alligators in the pond behind our house. But wandering around Port douglas does not sound so bad either.

DH is a big Lord of the Rings Fan, so Hobbiton is a must visit for us. Our cruise has three different ports that have excursions there (Christchurch/Lyttleton, Wellington, and Tauranga.) Which is the preferred port to do this excursion? Can we do this privately, or must we do it through the cruise line? And tour recommendations please if we can do this on our own. Thank you!

Thank you. I was thinking of the rainforest in Cains, but still not sure which of the other two ports (I know they are tenders) would be better to leave from. I think we have to go with the ship excursions. What would you do in either Airlie Beach or Port Douglas if you did not go to the reef?

Our first cruise stops At Airlie Beach, Yorkey Knob (Cains) and Port Douglas. Which of these ports is best for seeing the great barrier reef, and why? And is mandatory to do it through the cruise line, or is possible to do private excursions for this? I know that times in port are limited, and it seems like in this particular case, it may be better to go through the cruiseline. Also, what excursions would you recommend in the ports that you do not go to the GBR on, or would you visit more than one time? Thanks for all responses.

Wow, a lot taken out of context. I just meant that I had never spend so much on airline tickets before. I have certainly spent more on cruises. Just shocking as we will be spending 23 days in a balcony cabin, and the airfare still costs more than that.

I bit the bullet this week and purchased Premium Select seats on Delta. We're paying more for airfare than for the two cruises. The day after I purchased, the fares went up $1000 pp. I did delay our departure by a day to get the early flight. I also randomly searched flights every month leading up to our flights. Only one set of flights was sold out in Premium Select. And the fares were all over the place. But I did not see any fares as low as what I purchased, so I am somewhat satisfied. Also, I had looked into Princess EZ Air, as I was told the fares are usually pretty good for international flights. Not in this particular case. At the same exact time I purchased, the cruise line airfares were significantly higher than buying directly through the airline.

Definitely something to thing bout in the future, but it would not work out for us at this time.

Business class is only a few hundred dollars less than first class, so way out of our price range. Would consider the round the world tickets at another time, but we're already gone for a month, and we'll just want to get home.

Thanks! I don't even like long trips in the car, so I'm scared about being in a plane so long. I think we've decided on premium economy. Prices were "great" yesterday, up $1000 today. And I'm realizing that even though our cruise fare is pretty good, everything else is going to be much more expensive than on other cruises.

Thank you both. I've put in a google flights reminder to check for airfare on both dates. I guess we'll be leaning towards staying an extra day. Flights seem to connect in LAX for Delta. Another question. Is there a best time to book airfare to Australia? I know for domestic US flights, there is a sweet spot, and I noticed that for flights to Europe too. We're 9-10 months out from travel each way right now, so I'll wait, but I noticed more seats being sold over the last few days.