voyager89

In 2015 I went to Orlando - West Palm Beach - Miami. for WPM- MIA I took a Greyhound bus and it was only 10 dollars. Took me 2.5 hours and it was all very smooth. I think you can take tha Amtrak train as well and it will be faster, but the station is all the way in Hialeah, then you would need to take a cab / uber to Miami beach. The Greyhound station is just a few blocks away from the port which would be convenient for him. For Amtrack, I don´t know how much would it be, but trains tend to be a bit more comfortable.

MSC unfortunately does not offer any transportation from WPM or even FLL.

They DO care if you remove them. Disgruntled crew is hardly good for business. On every trip I’ve ever been I’ve seen customer service pushing back in a major way against requests to remove.

 

 

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I haven´t seen any pushback, but then again I haven´t sailed as many cruises as you.

I agree unhappy crew is not good. But then it would be up to cruise lines to raise their wages, not to rely on passengers who might or might not pay the service charge knowing it might upset their staff.

You apparently don't know the difference in the two. It would be helpful for you to educate yourself on the topic.

It would be helpful for you to educate us who apparently do not know the difference. That would be helpful, unlike your comment.

I would take the 9:45 seating. Most Latinos eat dinner late - we usually do 8 or 9 PM but I mean I´m on vacation, I could do 9:45. 5:30 is extreeeeeeeeeemely early for us as probably we were probably just done with lunch by 5 lol. 7:30 is also early for us. 9:45 again is a bit late but the ¨least worse¨option of the 3. Specially since we are Bella, if we get to eat at the MDR, it will be at that time as it seems to be the least requested. My only concern with 9:45 is not to find all of the options on the menu available as thousands of people already ate before us.

Now here is another question that I don´t think I´ve seen anyone ask, Will the buffet overflow be anytime dining style? I really hope it is, or it would be totally ridiculous to not only assign someone to the buffet, but also a time to go.

There is NO info re Bella possibly being seated in the Buffet on the Australia Website

Same for the Mexico website. Also, the Fantastica experience does not list the 12 drink coupons, the US one does.

Even better, MSC is applying a Service Charge, this is not a tip. This is money that you pay the cruise line for services received on a flat-rate, per day basis. It is not a variable amount you are voluntarily giving to a specific person as a reward. As a matter of fact, MSC even asks that you don't tip individual staff members.

They can call it what the want, service charge, gratuities, we all know what it is. Money to cover / compensate the low wages cruise lines pay to their employees. Thats why they don´t really care if you remove them. If it was really a service charge, then it would be included on the initial cruise fare, and there would be no way around it.

Anybody knows why was Ocean Cay delayed?

I am thinking, and this is solely my personal opinion, but could it possible be that they are waiting to see how their US ships do? I know MSC has a contract with PortMiami for several years, and then the new ship going to NY and all but that doesn´t mean people will actually go th MSC over other established lines. A lot of us are willing to try, but I think this will be 50/50. Half will return, half will not repeat. I somehow have that feeling.

I was looking forward to it. It was not a deal breaker however it was definetly an added value to the cruise. I booked my Jan 27, 2018 cruise in May, and I know it was still on the itinerary, and there was no notification.

Formula 1 is $10

XD cinema is $10

Billiard is $10

Bowling is $25 / $45

Spend 60 you get 100

Spend 70 get 30

Spend 50 get 15

Spend 25 get 5

Zipline is $10 per ride or $50 unlimited for all passengers on the same cabin. But I do not know if you can use the same offers above for the zipline, I honestly don´t think so as the zip line was initially free and was not considered withing the arcade packages.

You can go to guest services and have the service charge removed, they might ask why or may not, but they will do it for you if you wish.

They service all the rooms twice daily already. How about they charge for it?

Is this an MSC thing? My cabins on NCL and RCCL have been serviced only once a day, if requested.

What comes next? Charges for twice daily room cleaning?

I am curious. When could this possibly be needed?

Didn´t know it called in Honduras. There was a huge earthquake there last night followed by a Tsunami advisory for everything around including Mexico, Grand Cayman, PR, Jamaica, etc.

We are doing GC - Ocho Rios - Cozumel - Costa Maya on 17 days.

Anybody knows if this happens in other MSC ships?

As for the experiences, I unfortunately did not know. Booked through an online agency and all I got to choose (as I knew it was, at least in other cruise lines) was the stateroom type. I didnt know that within stateroom types came these experience thing. It was not until I received the confirmation when I saw INTERIOR BELLA and went online to find out what it was. However that fine print is not on the Mexican website, it even says Bella passengers can chose what time they wish to have dinner, doesnt mention a thing about the possibility of having dinner at the buffet.

The fact that they build smaller MDRs knowing that there might be the slightest possibility that passengers might not all fit in is beyond me. I have only done 5 cruises but I haven´t seen that anywhere else. Its a bit ridiculous if you ask me. Why build a +5000 pax ship if you know you won´t be able to accomodate them all for diner? If they wanted to go that way then they should have at least added one more complimentary venue. NCL and RCL have several. Seaside has only either buffet or MDR. or even worse, buffet MDR...

Oaktown girl kindly posted them on this other thread from yesterday

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2583009

It is all on the same menu, but with the trio you must order from the dining experience section, you are allowed to get one appetizer, one entree and one desert, and swap dishes between the regular menu ones for 50% off from the a la carte prices, also get any other dish for full price.

I’m also kinda nervous about the negative reviews. We are sailing with them for the first time in 2.5 weeks. However not to the point of considering cancelling, even if we still could lol. We are not picky, needy or uptight. I just don’t really love the fact that there are a lot of for fee things, some which have been free on other cruises. But we are also in for the experience and thats what madre us give them a try. We will take the European ambience/ vibe over the American one any day. No offense.

We have been home around 10 days now and still MSC have Failed to send the Feedback form that was requested onboard the Seaside!

The Voyagers club have also failed so far to respond to two emails sent to them regarding this and the issues surrounding the Black card perks mentioned in the review.

They will never win the "how to win friends and influence people" award .... :mad:

 

 

We were considering booking in April another cruise but my patience is wearing very very thin with MSC.

Same here... running out of patience. Sailing in almost 2 weeks and still no e-docs. The Request your tickets button never worked, it would just take me nowhere. Now it´s just gone altogether.

I really hope I get a fantastic experience on board, or it will be my first and last cruise with them.

I am so glad we booked the Trio Specialty dining! That looks marvelous and those oysters are going to make my husband very happy! Did you happen to notice if there was a non-seafood dish for my seafood hating daughter? (not sure who's genes she got ) Also, I pre-booked our dining and they told me I couldn't book the first night. Not sure why.

This is straight from the Ocean Cay menu:

If you do not eat fish or seafood, please tell your waiter who will be happyto arrange an alternative

So while there are no items listed on the menu as it is, you can certainly have something done for her (or probably brought from another venue). I´ve been thinking of getting the trio but my husband won´t eat ANY seafood at all as well, so even with that option I´m still unsure if it will be worth it.

How much is Johnny Rocket's charging and for what?? I only remember them charging for certain things above and beyond the Hamburgers/sanwiches and Fries which were always free? I'm think Milkshakes and such had a charge.

Last time I sailed with them (Allure on Nov 2015) it was a 5 dollar charge for all you could eat. Milkshakes were priced separately. We did the Oasis in 2013 and I'm almost sure they charged then as well.

Thank you all who answered my question on the specialty restaurants / trio

Now, at the MDR, can you get lets say 2 entrees or 2 appetizers instead of one appetizer and one entree? I know RCCL and NCL lets you. But MSC seems a bit more of the -no you can´t- type.

from Ashley’s thread

 

 

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It looks like the family soft drinks package is a better and cheaper option than the non alcoholic beverage, or am I wrong?

I´m unfortunately unable to see these packages online.

Cruised 10 times with them on numerous boats, I know what I am talking. Of cause the spa is not free, waterpark, rope walk, kids activities, even baby care, all free.

Thanks... but well there is no rope walk on the Seaside, spa - I could care less for it and I of course never expect it to be free. Kids activities and baby care, I might be a bit too old for that.

I really hope to change my mind but I´m thinking this wont be the line for us.

Of course this also factors in loyalty perks that many haven’t achieved yet, and cruising at times of year that many people with young kids (and teachers) can’t cruise!

 

 

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That's right. If we want the drinks package we have to pay for it and it really adds up, specially for our currency exhange.

Luckily we can cruise on any season, but still a long way to go for those loyalty perks. Still looking for our go to cruise line, just started cruising in 2013 (I'm 27) and have tried to do at least one each year, doing our 6th in 20 days. Right now no line will give us anything that we did not pay for -but MSC who upgraded us from interior to balcony out of the blue! Certainly didn't expect that on our first cruise with them. Their ships are beautiful and I really hope I love it with them. If not, Celebrity and Princess are up next :hearteyes:

Sorry if this has been asked / answered before:

Can you buy separate specialty restaurants or do you have to buy the trio? Since it's either buffet or MDR, I'm thinking of buying diner at the steakhouse.

Also, the food from the trio, is it the same menu or a smaller one than if you buy separate?

Thanks.

An example of Celebrity's and Princess Buffet in the evening. Been on Celebrity and Princess many times and there is no comparison between Celebrity, Princess and MSC buffets. Make your own decision.

 

I am not flaming MSC, just showing the difference between 3 cruise lines and the offerings.

That looks awesome. But then again, as you said there is no comparison. Even though I have not sailed Princess or X, I know they offer a superior product, of course with a higher cost. I don't expect the Princess experience at an MSC price.

Actually those 2 are next up on my list. Before booking the Seaside, I almost booked the Summit out of San Juan to Miami. I went with MSC because it was cheaper and have been in love with the Seaside since the first renderings came out.

So after looking into flights for our July Seaside cruise for the 4 of us I decided we are not flying. $2300 plus change( goes up and down a few $$). Then considered renting a mini van and driving until I factored in gas and tolls and parking. So looking at taking Amtrak from 30th St station in Philadelphia to Miami. Yes it is a 28 hour ride in coach seats. But driving would be the same minus maybe 3 hours. On the train however we can get up and move around, not have to beg the DH to make bathroom stops, and we can go into the cafe car to get a change of scenery. And for less then renting the van with all the gas and tolls and parking.

Does any one know how far the Amtrak station is from the cruise port? Does anyone know of a hotel close by the Amtrak station?

Thanks for any help.

PS. The train is 1/2 the price of flying so the extra long travel time is not a big deal.

 

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Answering to your question, the train station is in Hialeah, which is probably a 30 minute drive to the port. Sorry, dont know any hotel in the area, there's not a lot to do there. I would suggest you just take an uber and stay somewhere close to the port / bayside / AA Arena.

Good luck on your travel. 28 hours sound like a lot but at least the trains are much more comfortable than planes! I used to take the St Louis - Chicago Amtrak back and forth and it was alright. I would take that over the tedious flying process every day.