deniseatnycs

 We booked inside Cabin initially,  then paid for upgrade to Mini Suite  Guarantee  late  last month (Epic transatlantic November 2020).  Cabin assigned last week!

Denise

29 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

These errors cause such needless anxiety and build animosity toward the line. MSC should consider prescribing two Xanax and one tincture of CBD oil with each booking (joke of course). 

Totally agree, but I may need a double dosage 

Thank you both I think I will sleep tonight now.  Its been a up and downer of a booking. 

First no Havana, then no deposit refund, then flight times changed and now this.  Think we will need a cruise after all the changes.

Denise

Earlier this morning I was looking at some excursions for our January 13th 2020 cruise on the Armonia.

Couldn't work out the day change and then realised our cruise has changed from the 13th to the 12th!  We were due to arrive in Miami really early on the 12th but American Airlines changed the times and we now don't arrive until 7 p.m which would be after the ship has sailed if they really have changed the date.  MSC U.K. say its probably a website glich  blimey we hope so.   Anyone else on this sailing or the one before or after which have also changed on the U.K. site?

49 minutes ago, Dgshooter said:

Too bad Aperol Sprits is not on the easy package. Love those!

We found the Europe choices very disappointing, setting a limit of 6 euro when most drinks were 6.10 was a big let down for most of our fellow travellers .

Luckily it was not too much to upgrade for the two of us.  Our next cruise on MSC Armonia we have gone premium  but its out of Miami so will be interesting to see the difference

On ‎7‎/‎13‎/‎2019 at 4:03 AM, ocbaylady said:

I was wondering if Bacardi Rum is one of the drinks included on the Easy Package. Any info would be appreciated.

 

Thank you!

Wasn't available on our March/April 2019 Med cruise on the MSC Opera.  Just Morgan's Spiced Rum.  With that and only one beer available under 6 euro we upgraded our package onboard.  It wasn't much and was well worth the cost.

hth 

Denise

7 hours ago, Touringmom said:

 It seems there are no excursions at all available to purchase for our December Armonia cruise. Since they re-organized the ports and added Costa Maya, they have not  made excursions available for the new ports/dates. Any idea when this will be done?    When I call on the phone, the people are not useful at all.  One just told me everything was sold out, which wasn’t true.  When she realized what the problem was, she told me that I could just book the excursions on board. But I can’t imagine a cruise where not one passenger has anything pre-booked. The shore excursions desk would be a madhouse. 

Hi  Touringmum

We have the same on our January 2020 sailing.  They were there before they took Cuba out but all there is now is a three excursion package with no details just the ports of call and the price. (just checked and now these have been removed!) 

I emailed MSC U.K. and got an instant and very polite reply.  I was informed that it was too early for excursions to be added to our cruise (strange as they were there before Cuba six months ago) and they will be added later.  I was asked to email back in a couple of months if they still did not appear.

Denise

We also are new to MSC (NCL is our line of choice) but have sailed on the MSC Divina and recently on the MSC Opera.   For the price we paid we can say that we certainly got our monies worth but would we sail her again then the answer is sadly no.

The crew to a man/woman were fantastic and the itinerary, like yours the main reason to sail to such fantastic places at a really low cost.  It is a really old ship and it shows, the food in the main was passable but not really cruise food (just in our opinion).

The dining room staff will sort you a table with no problem at all.  We started with a request for a table for 2 then met some friends so changed to 4 then again to six and the staff could not have been more helpful.

Our Fantasia cabin was  small but then again we could have paid the extra to upgrade.  Our main gripe was the entertainment which was the worse we have come across and one of the joys of cruising for us.  We had bubble blowers, sand sculptures and other poor efforts in the theatre but admit the Dirty Dancing show was well worth the effort of going.  Most bars/areas had dance lessons (we would go to bed with 1,2,3, 1,2,3, 1,2,3 still in our heads lol.  

If your just interested in a ship to take you to fantastic places, with an amazing crew at a really low price then like us take it.   If you are looking at 4/5 star luxury cruising then I would look at another of MSC ships  

We are booked on this T/A.  When booking our NCL C/C  (U.K)  told us that it is the first sailing for the Epic after dry dock.  Lets hope there is no delay, really looking forward to it

We are on the T/A Barcelona to Puerto Rico embarking on the 23rd November 2020.  Our C/C mentioned that its straight over dry dock for the Epic.

Denise

4 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Yes and no. We moved our booking to a sailing on Seaside, sailing Saturday instead of Monday though. Like most, we'd only booked for Cuba so we decided we'd try Seaside as the itinerary now becomes very similar. 

I was looking at changing to  the Seaside on Sunday the 12th but its the day we fly in and we are scheduled to land around 2 p.m. on an Esta  so really tight time wise when we have to take immigration into consideration. 

I just went on MSC U.K. to check on the disembarkation time for the 12th and wow there is the sailing for the 13th on the Armonia!    I contacted them as late as Friday and they had no idea, never mind at least we know now.  Sticking with Armonia as there is no other option for us other than cancelling altogether and booking with another cruise line for the 12 but we would loose our deposit.

We have a cruise, we have OBC and a drinks package so not complaining, now to planning excursions etc.

Thanks to everyone for your help  (new itinerary)

4 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Have you tried emailing the operations team dealing with the Armonia itinerary changes? We were booked for November and they were very helpful. 

Just doubled checked and that's the department I've been in contact with.  Are you still booked for November?

Hi Sidari yes a few times just get the same response which is they dont know.

I'm thinking it will be the same itinerary as 2019 but would really like confirmation a.s.a.p. 

Denise

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

They seem to be offering only one itinerary in Jan 2020;

 

https://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruisesonmscarmonia-jan2020.html

Thank you Esslesmom.    Its reading as the 17th to 20th at sea (unless I am reading it wrong) also strange that every stateroom is sold out which is a bit odd.  Looks like we will have to wait a while longer.

Denise

Hi all

We are booked on the Armonia on the 13th January 2020.   As we booked via the U.K. it was a long time before we got confirmation that the Cuba port stops would not be happening.

I have emailed a couple of times (MSC U.K.)  re new schedule for 2020 but nothing so far.  If anyone has any advance notice could they please let me know, we have flights into Miami booked so pretty stuck but we could sail the day before/after if we end up with 3 sea days or 2 and a port we really don't like to revisit.

Many thanks in advance

3 hours ago, SailorMan20 said:

Hello Y'all. 4 Days ago I booked My first ever cruise with the NCL Encore out of Miami. I am very pumped but it's 532 days away from Today. Do any of Y'all have future cruises booked on the NCL Encore out of Miami? I need hotel and attractions ideas?

Us too 532 days to go there is a roll call already.   Really looking forward to the Encore after our T.A. on the Epic and a few days in Puerto Rico 

Thank you Sidari   I have been trying to work it out but I suppose I will really have to wait until they contact us.   Booked through the U.K. so no refund of deposit if we cancel. 

Like most we have "done" the Caribbean, and having sailed  on the Opera in April we would prefer another ship than the Armonia now we are not going to Havana .

Although our flights are booked we could make the Mergavillia on the 12th January which we would prefer if the itinerary is similar. 

Hopefully, some news soon and thanks again

Denise

7 hours ago, sidari said:

Sounds like the T.A has maybe not contacted MSC at all, either that or MSC have said it has not been changed yet! There is no way that the cruise is going to Cuba.

Its all very odd!  I have told them there is absolutely no way MSC are to be able to continue  cruising to Cuba from Miami and the reply 

"I have just checked for you and there are still no changes to your sailing.  Not all Companies are having to cancel Cuba.  Some MSC ones that have been booked in the U.K. and Europe are okay to travel"

7 hours ago, sidari said:

Are you booked on Armonia or Opera ?

Hi Sidari we are booked on the Armonia 

16 hours ago, harv2015 said:

I booked with UK travel agent who have forwarded the MSC correspondence. Correspondence from MSC ends with

'We kindly ask you to let us know how you wish to proceed by June 13^th'.

We don't sail until January 2020.  To date we have not heard anything other than a email on the 2nd June informing us of an increase in Cuba Visa/travel cards.  Our booking both with our T/A and M.S.C (U.K.) is still showing Havana and listing excursions.

I have emailed both our T/A  (a large U.K. cruise agent) and MSC  several times.  Our T.A has replied today saying that M.S.C have confirmed that there is NO change in our itinerary for January 13th 2020!

I even have sent a screen shot of the MSC website news

Having explained several times, that we have none refundable flights and pre cruise hotel stays booked so need to know the alternatives offered.  They are still insisting no change.

16 hours ago, harv2015 said:

 

^{CruisingFox27 did you book through a UK travel agent?}

10 hours ago, 4774Papa said:

I wanted to check out Fall TransAtlantics from Europe to the USA on NCL's website.  Only one came up on a search!

 

Are all the TA cruises for 2020 not released?  

We are booked on the November 2020 Barcelona to Puerto Rica TA is that the one that came up?

Denise

On ‎3‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 8:03 PM, Roxxy said:

Has anyone cruised on her lately?  I am not finding ANY topics or discussion about her.  We are doing Eastern Mediterranean in September.

Just wondering about laundry options and the condition of her.

1st time on Opera embarking Alicante on Wednesday.  Will hopefully, post a favourable review when we return from Venice.

Denise

Just this morning has a response to our query over the ceremonies. As above it will be best to contact MSC direct if you are planning an event. Just for those curious of the price

SYMBOLIC WEDDINGS, ENGAGEMENTS, RENEWALS OF VOWS FOR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Silver € 520* Gold € 720* Platinum € 920* 

   

* The packages include up to 8 participants at the reception (the couple plus 6 guests; ages 3 and older count as guests, as sparkling wine can be substituted with fruit juice or punch). A supplement of € 5 shall be payable in advance for each participant above the total number of 8, with cake and sparkling wine for everybody to toast! Extra services available to enhance your ceremony package

Just come off the Divina (Thursday) First time on MSC, fabulous Michael Jackson Tribute show amongst other top class entertainment.

Lavazza on our October 2016 sailing