NYHartChapp

On 2/25/2022 at 4:03 PM, mz-s said:

You're the second person I've read on here today that said the Sunshine is dirty/in poor repair. It's disappointing to hear because she just came out of a drydock in November.

 

Although I do think we'll disagree on the food, but I'll see on Monday when I embark for a 7-day cruise. I've never found Carnival's food to be lacking - and I don't expect any different next week.

 

The thing is the Sunshine is pretty much the best ship that Carnival can put in Charleston with their current agreement with the city.

Please do report back, as we are on Sunshine the following week.  

12 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

This comes in an envelope in ones suite cabin on first day on board, newspaper list to choose. Placed every morning outside ones cabin door.

A great perk, but on our cruise last week, there was a problem with the printing press, resulting in a black vertical bar in the center of all pages.  Has that been fixed?

8 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

Do you have to wear a mask in the gym?

No.  Only coming and going to the gym.  The only issue I have is that the Aurea Spa (adjacent to the gym) doesn’t open until 9:00 am.  I’d have liked to workout early, have a sauna and shower and go up to to the pool for outdoor breakfast.  I know, I know first world problems.  

52 minutes ago, JAGR said:

I think Fogfog is incorrect.  Mask indoors, except eating or drinking, but I don't think they are restricting outdoor masks.  Just encouraging social distancing, and limitations on number of people in the pool.  There are recent reports of failure to comply with seating limitations and masking in the theater.

JAGR is correct. 

On 2/15/2022 at 4:07 PM, heidikay said:

Are there spin bikes in the gym?  I was recently on a carnival cruise and they had them but they were in a special room and only used during classes.  I would bring my spin shoes if they were for everyday use in the Seashore gym.  I will pre download spin classes on my Peloton app and bring them with me.  I don't think I'll be taking anymore classes for a fee because they weren't very good on Carnival.   If anyone has had experience with the fitness classes, I would be interested in your experience.

We were aboard last week.  Gym is fantastic.  Treadmills, bikes, stairmasters, free weights, and individual muscle stations.  I think there were three spin bikes available, plus sign-up sheets for classes.  Have a great cruise.  

On 2/12/2022 at 5:22 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

Okay, all logged in sitting in my cabin with some tips I learned today. First, Mapquest did a great job, typed in the Port of Miami and that was it. Saw the sign on left for MSC check-in, with cars pulling up unloading baggage, immediately said to DW where are the white tents? They were 500 ft further down on this one-way thoroughfare.  Backed out and proceeded to white tent. Porter immediately greeted us and we tipped him $40 to make sure all 11 suitcases were 'properly' handled. My question to the YC tent persons was were do you advise we park? He said Parking Garage G (Seashore is docked at F) about 1000 ft down this one-way street. I further asked the YC attendants what happens should the Seashore return at the end of cruise to Terminal C (1 1/4 miles away from Garage G). He stated we will be definitely be  coming back to Terminal F and the walk will be even shorter. Walk back to tents from parking garage G was 20 minutes.

11 suitcases??  How did you get to port…U-Haul?😉

Thanks!   Very helpful.

On 2/10/2022 at 7:58 PM, Hobby3333 said:

Do the butlers in YC still unpack your luggage?   The did on our last two Seaside cruises.  Did a great job and freed up time for us to enjoy our cruise faster.

She offered, but we declined…one of those things we like to do once on board and where we know where everything is.   

On 2/11/2022 at 5:11 PM, AngryBirdah said:

@TrinaLC - it sounds like you're having a great cruise!  

 

I was wondering... how many formal/elegant nights were on your cruise?  Do they also have a bunch of studio scene photographers out?  Not saying that we will definitely dress up and go to dinner, but if we do, and we buy that all-inclusive digital photos package, then we might as well get some nice family pictures  😁

 

If you have a chance to post another of the Daily Activities sheets, that would be awesome!  

 

Enjoy!

Elegant night was first sea day evening.  Will post some daily sheets when I get back home.  

9 hours ago, RICHARD@SEA said:

I applaud any measures MSC takes to stop the spread of COVID..... GUEST SERVICES is open for all passengers & the concierge in Yacht Club can take care of any issues that arise,  I guess for some its important to get that 8x10 glossy w the Captain to show all back home.

 

As far as pizza you go to the chef, ask for a pizza w thicker crust & they make it for you, nice & hot....done!

 

Its a MSC ship...... not the DRAMA Department!!!!

Not exactly sure what a pic with with the captain has to do with pizza…maybe it’s a Scarsdale thing.

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

And now, the question is, "What constitutes a cabin assignment?"  I got a new booking confirmation for the Mar. 5th cruise, showing my original room now back under my name and guarantee gone.  However, if I go online with MSCcruisesusa.com, it shows my room as not assigned yet.  Close to final payment, and I will not pay for a guarantee room.

Hey John,

Same here.  Online account still shows cabin as a "guarantee", but got an email today showing a new cabin assignment (not starboard, as we had originally booked) and an "opportunity" to upgrade by submitting an offer.  Not gonna happen...suggested upgrade prices are outrageous, they're not going to get those.  Whatever happened to the "Upgrade Fairy"?

On 10/7/2021 at 10:35 PM, seachelt said:

We wil be on Oceania Riviera in 11 days. No sign yet of "blue book" or luggage tags. I requested our TA to ask for tags today from O, who said we should have got them some time ago with our Booklet.

What are we missing besides our luggage tags? Our TA isn't any help, doesn't seem to know Oceania. (I have booked our next cruise through an O specialist), but that doesn't help me today!

Should I try to pursue my booklet through O, or is it not worth it anyway?

Thanks for any information!

Seachelt

First time Oceania cruiser here and I also am a bit confused about the Blue Book...on all of our other cruises, I've been able to print out boarding passes, luggage tags, itinerary, specialty restaurant reservations, etc. directly from the cruise line's website.  That's not the case with Oceania?  We're on Riviera 12/3, less than a month out.

On 10/26/2021 at 2:11 PM, zekekelso said:

Q: I just want to confirm my vaccine counts. Who needs to approve of the vaccine?

MSC: That’s correct

Q: Who?

MSC: Exactly

Q: Grrr. Let’s try this another way. What is the name of the organization that needs to approve the vaccine? 
MSC: WHO

Q: What are you asking me for!?!

Who's on first!

On 9/19/2021 at 3:45 PM, ronrick1943 said:

The food is good, but the “finest Cuisine at Sea” it is not.

Thanks, ever so much, for the encouraging words.

7 hours ago, Muushka said:

Being a newbie myself, same cruise with exact same question.  Thank you for asking it!

You're welcome!  Will see you on board!

Thanks to all...looks like a late night for me Sunday 😴.

6 minutes ago, Robjame said:

If you have preferred dates and specialty restaurants, do the 12:01 thing.

Thanks, Rob.

OK, Oceania newbie here...we're scheduled for the 12/3/12021 cruise out of Miami (can't wait to cruise the "Finest Cuisine at Sea"!).  When pre-cruise reservations open up 75 days prior, does one need to jump on the Oceania website at 12:01 a.m. to get preferred reservations, or is it OK to sleep into the a.m. and then book?

On 8/23/2021 at 12:44 PM, Beamafar said:

Was that the guy that complained he couldn’t fit in the walk-in wardrobe to dress at the same time as his wife, or am I confusing him with someone else, GB?

Yep.  Same guy.

12 hours ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

lol I remember this review . He showed some terrible picture and called it real Pizza. lol I booked a WP cabin on Seaside after his review and it was the best cruise ever.

Yeah, that was Jim Zim.  He basically didn't like it because of the thinner crust...he likes the real thick, almost deep-dish pizza.  Personally, I loved the pizza on Divina and Seaside.

12 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

If you go to Oceania’s web site and FAQ, you’ll find that dependent upon cruise length and ship PH and above have varying guaranteed reservations.

 

As far as I know, no new bar price menus have been released. There are several references to the preiseman’s web site, but it is now over two (2) years old. I can think of little that hasn’t increased in price in the past couple of years. Even Privee has increased $50/ night!

 

Best bet is to plead for those on the early Marina cruises to post new bar prices.

Thanks, PinotLover.  So, I've been to the "Manage This Cruise" and it states that I have one reservation at the four specialty restaurants (I'm assuming that a reservation includes each person in the cabin).  So I'm guessing that the difference is that higher categories of cabins have an earlier booking window and I can book depending on what higher classes of cabins than me have already booked?

Yes, I've been to the preiseman site, and it's great, but as you say, two years old.  No doubt, you're right that the only way prices go is up!

On 7/22/2021 at 4:14 PM, GrammieK said:

I think this has been covered before....

the quick answer is no, but you may be able to once on board or through your butler. 

Oceania newbie on 12/3/21 (hopefully).  Did try to search, but couldn't find info on what was on my mind:  OP mentioned (or I inferred) that different classes of cabins receive different numbers of pre-cruise reservations for the specialty restaurants.  Is my inference correct, or do I receive just the one pre-cruise reservation, regardless of cabin class?  Also, and I know this a bit off topic, but are there current drink menus (with prices) out there?  Thanks.  Really looking forward to "The Best Cuisine at Sea" aboard the Riviera!

On 8/5/2021 at 6:37 AM, dexddd said:

When someone is asking about MSC Arthur, there is just one.

Ditto!

Apologies to OP for kinda hijacking this thread.

3 hours ago, JAGR said:

Very nice!  We're not cruising until February 26th.  Booked Seashore as well for a B2B with March 5th.  Are you sailing on Oceania Riviera?  Food probably won't be as good as Marmalade was for you in San Juan, but Oceania is a food lovers' paradise.

Nuts!  We're going to miss you by about two weeks.  And yes, we are booked on the Riviera.  Have heard great things about the food!  We were talking about Marmalade just last night, as the Seashore makes port in San Juan on our cruise.  We would definitely go again, but was it you who was telling me that there's an almost-equally fine restaurant in San Juan not to be missed.