Janet&Carl

Thanks - both for a very entertaining blog about your cruise but also for the information ;)

Hi all.

 

We booked an inside cabin for Preziosa for both of us and our almost 3 years old daughter.

We got assigned a Wheelchair Accessible one that I found that has a Pullman bed for the 3 rd passenger... Do you know if MSC provides rail protections or if it is possible to request a cot bed for her?

 

Just one other question: do you know if the soup the usually serve during meals is cream soup or is it one of those watery soups?

 

 

Thank you all.

I'm sorry I havent had the experience of ordering a cot but I have had an extra bed twice. I have an autistic daughter and want her to be comfortable, its easier for everyone if she sleeps well. I have never had any problems having another single bed put in our room. We have always had a big enough suite to fit one in.

The soup will change daily. From my memory of the menus most were watery type - but you will have a choice of two each meal and it could include both. I use google a lot and I'''m sure you'll see menus posted somewhere.

I asked the 2nd seating at the MDR. If I find this too late, can I change it to first seating?

Yes, of course, the Maitre de will be in a room changing dining options on boarding day - find out which room he is in and ask.

In my experience the later dining option has always been more popular on MSC - don't know why but it seems the Europeans like to eat later - I've never had a problem changing to first seating.

I haven't been on here for a couple of years - I got disillusioned with people banging on who had never sailed on MSC. I don't visit other pages and bad mouth their brand - I have no right to do that as I have never sailed on them. The only other pages I post on are ones where I ask questions for my up coming cruise - like port information etc.

There used to be a poster a couple of years ago who was here all day singing the praises of HAL disguised as a well travelled, across the board companies, cruiser. His moniker was pmacher61. I guess things do not change.

 

 

BTW by design the Divina is the closest to Celebrity S-Class.

Service concept and space per person make them different.

 

and price makes them much different. And the friendly family atmosphere counts as well.

 

For me I choose MSC because I cruise with my family. They offer a lot more benefits for the younger members and I don't pay for them to cruise with us so its cheaper.

 

I have looked at many HAL cruises in the past - but I don't think my younger family memeber would enjoy it. I have personal friends who we have swapped cruising stories with - none have enjoyed HAL most have said that you have to have a walking frame to fit in !! On MSC you can party all day and night if you wish (our older kids) or find a quiet spot to chill out and read like we do.

Hi Mike - you will be assigned a table in the MDR (main dining room) at either first or second sitting. This table will be yours for the duration of the cruise and you will have the same staff serving you each evening. You are welcome to go to another restaurant instead of MDR - they are not usually full. You book directly and if you want to ensure your table you can book at the very start of your cruise. Our experience was that the themed restaurants were not as good as MDR so why pay more?

The menus for MDR are posted outside the MDR so you can see if you fancy it before you book a specialty one.

Dont stress. Voucher books are always available for purchase at check in before you get on the boat. They are even available if you run out while you are cruising. We have never pre purchased drink vouchers. I have never seen any disadvantage in it. The drinks "packages" are only available prior to sailing but the voucher system is always available.

;)

I have booked and S3 suite for my upcoming cruise on Fantasia:confused:. Initially I booked 9009, I want to be port side leaving Venice. Then I saw close up pictures of the balcony and wanted to change. I rang MSC and changed to 11009. The operator asked if I was sure as she said to me that there is a difference of 2m in size between them (11009 being the smaller).

Has anyone sailed in these cabins and can they tell me if 11009 still has the seperate bedroom ? On the deck plans it doesn't have a line drawn to indicate a separate bedroom (but nor does the royal suite) however 9009, 9010 and 10007 and 10008 do.

Sorry but you are wrong cat 11 is a B3. B1 is the smaller balcony rooms.

yes but we are talking about inside cabins not 11 but the letter I so I am right. Categories have changed 10 through 12 do not exist any more they are balconies and are called B1 B2 B3. Inside has two categories and they are now called I1 and I2.

"I" (pronounced eye) the letter not the number 1 (one).

Hi Cathy

I have always found the drinks to be reasonably priced and have never bought a package. We have always bought the vouchers and used them just like paper tickets. They do not have a room number or name on them and are interchangeable between passengers. You get a package of 10 - 14 vouchers depending on what you buy. You can't buy them for mixed packages but an individual type e.g. for water - wine - beer - soft drinks - cocktails etc.. We usually buy a couple of cocktail ones, a water one and a couple of soft drink ones. You are able to buy them in the lounge area as you check in and you can buy them onboard if you run out.

My understanding is if you want a drink package it has to be bought by everyone travelling together including the children (there are particular all inclusive packages for kids) those in your cabin and those in other cabins that may be on the same booking.

I will not be buying a package because the next cruise we are taking my mum and my mother in law are going with us. Both are non drinkers but because I booked for them and we will eat at the same table - even though they are in separate rooms they still have to buy the package too.

CC has the wrong listed price for classic for Divina. It is NOT $31

Hi Bosjoe, thanks for all that information - can you tell me are the prices you quoted in American $'s or in Australian $'s. I thought it was much dearer than that.

Hi,

On the MSC web site there is a great run down of what is included in the drinks packages. Click on onboard services and then choose packages or click on already booked then beverage packages - both take you to the same place. Cruise critic has also looked into this and have an excellent article that I read today. I think I just searched for "drinks packages" in the search area. The Cruise critic one gives you prices too. http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1470

From what I can gather so far - the premium all inclusive package includes gellato, cafe items, snacks and more premium drinks and the standard package is take away ice cream but still includes beer, wine, hot and cool drinks all over the ship. Both include cocktails.

Can you tell me more about the lift?? - last time I was in Malta we caught a local bus up to the town for 1 Euro - but the wait for the bus to come back down was painful. I would like to know how to find the lift and not have to wait for the bus. I will be In Malta again in November with my elderly mother.

I know of only two people who have booked inside guarentee cabins on MSC. They were both booked through a US travel agency. Both of these passengers were placed in a balcony cabin when the cabins were finalised. Which I think is about two to three weeks before the cruise.

If you book direct with MSC - and we can only do that in Australia through our local MSC Australia - guarantee cabins do not exist - I have just tried to book one for my mother to accompany us on our next cruise. I was able to book an I1 cabin or I2 cabin and I was given the cabin number straight away.

So, as far as I can tell, in answering your question. I1 does not mean I gty.

There is one glaring error in the two pictures posted above - the MSC one and I think the HAL one. On MSC Yacht club is only the decks at the top of the ship - so you need to include the space under Yacht club. For example on the ship we were on Yacht club was on decks 15, 16 and 18 (pool deck) at the front of the ship as indicated. However,the lower decks also had user space for all other passengers at the front of the ship. Your description is therefore deceptive.

Hi Skier 52 - the Royal Suite Yacht Club YC3- it is more comparable in price and size to the RCL cruise you posted - here is is only $300 difference between YC1 and YC3 so brings you closer to your price and much better accommodations. So far more favourable on MSC in my book :rolleyes:

3rd cruise this year will be:

 

6th December, Rhapsody of the Seas, Queensland.

 

Hubby said we will need to cut back on cruises next year. Ha, we'll see about that!

hahahah I'm with you - send him to the page about "how do you save for a cruise" then tell him all his little luxuries are gone now that your going to save for your next years cruise. love it.

wow great job David -thanks for all your work on the list

Hiya

I just read through the last couple of pages on this thread - don't know what the list is or how to see it so some advice needed there please.

And you can add us to the list too :) we are sailing the MSC Poesia out of New York - going to Canada, Down the Eastern Coast of America, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico ;)

Has anyone seen or heard of any good airline deals to the USA or UK?

I think those routes fares have increased considerably over the past year.

 

Jilly:)

Hi Gold Coast Cruisers we booked our airfare for 1800 return to new york a couple of months ago - last week they brought out a special $1400 return with Virgin (now called VAustralia). Cheapest I've been able to find besides flying the china air stuff.:eek: