doones2

Does anyone have experience with waiting to the last minute to book a cruise?  I often wonder if I can get a better price if I wait. Looking at a 3 day cruise out of Los Angeles in April or May

We also found that the jet lag was experienced when we arrived home.  Took me almost a week to feel human again

The day we were there on a tour, it was raining so just about everyone had an umbrella and there were people with backpacks.

On 6/22/2023 at 7:15 AM, JamieLogical said:

 

I don't know anything about why you are deserving of a $3500 refund or why you haven't received it yet, but I was onboard the Meraviglia for 18 days in April and I don't remember even once being spoken to by a photographer or any announcements about spending more money onboard...

I was on World Europa and not once did I ever have a photographer pester me to purchase and I don’t remember announcements about spending money on anything in the shops.  Sometimes I think people complain about any and everything.  Stop the stressing and enjoy your cruise.  And I would never do business with a travel agent that picked and chose only cruise lines that are easy to deal with for them

On my cruise last month, I purchased a bottle of wine for our room and the cabin steward opened it for us, brought us two wine glasses and always had our bucket full of ice.  Also, on our Mediterranean cruise we could purchase wine in port and bring it back to our cabin.

When we booked last year it was only $100 more to get the drink package and Wi-Fi.

30 minutes ago, Crown Vic said:

Just off the Meraviglia. Our paper health questionnaire was never collected. Cheers!

Ours was never collected or looked at on World Europa 2 weeks ago.

2 hours ago, ssb said:

Continental is exceptional with the balcony for morning coffees , afternoon early happy hours and late night night caps . Free deli 24/7 with complementary beer wine coffees ice cream etc . 

Picture at Sercotel Rosellon and balcony at The Continental 

On 1/14/2023 at 12:25 PM, ssb said:

Yes I agree >

In middle of everything .

Stay at Hotel Continental in a balcony overlooking Las Ramblas . 

Morning coffee and evening happy hour and late night cap on balcony.

24/7 free deli ,breakfast, lunch, dinner items.

Free Beer wine ice cream coffee . 

Security .

Sitting areas for meeting other cruisers .

This is a cruisers hotel . 

One half block from major transportation center to entire city .  

We stayed at the Sercotel Rosellon the night before the cruise.  They have a great rooftop deck with a bar overlooking the Segrada Familia.  We stayed at the Continental on La Ramblas after the cruise. It’s in a great spot with balconies.  We loved both hotels

Just returned and formal night was the night of Malta.  There was also a white night and silent disco on the same night.  Only other one was a 70’s night but very few people dressed for it.

My experience is there are no rules for smoking.  Was just on a Mediterranean cruise and people smoked wherever they wanted on the outside of the ship.  Only place inside was the casino 

We just returned from a cruise on the World Europa and we had no problem with the usb fans.

13 hours ago, KKB said:

Day 2 a bit of a mess.

 

No daily planner in my room. 
No English planners out; settled for French (took in HS)

 

Excursion desk. No rhyme or reason to lines, reps take 3rd person in line, people just jump to front. Form to fill out behind desk. Wait to find out the ones I want are sold out—perhaps use the screens to show available ones?

 

Miserable out so EXTREMELY crowded EVERYWHERE. Large Safari Lounge being used for UK “face to face” with each passenger so that does not help.

 

Is what it is—weather & local requirements cannot be helped.
 

But simply having papers out so people need not wait in line to get them & posting available excursions would alleviate much frustration.

Also, create a line  at excursion desk as they do at guest services so people are waited on in the order they came. 
 

Now: buffet for coffee—no seats/crazy lines at coffee shops!

 

On plus side my interior cabin is spacious & I forgot how well I sleep in those dark rooms!

Wasn’t  the daily planner on the MSC for me app?  I believe any cruise ship becomes very crowded if the weather is bad.  I’m sorry but most of your complaints are no different than on most ships.  Not sure what you expected on a huge ship when everyone was inside.

1 hour ago, B_A_H said:

MSC feels like a totally different cruise line in Europe vs. the U.S.  The MSC conglomerate is an 800lb guerilla and Europe is their base.  I find the service, quality of the food, provisions, staff availability and attitude, all better in Europe. 

 

You most likely took a 3 or 4 night out of Miami on Divina.  Better you than me. The passenger mix on any short cruise out of Florida, especially those over weekends, is just too much, at least for me.  You have the folks who look like it's the first time they've worn shoes, the drinkers that start at 6:00AM and go until they can't stand up, and in general people trying to squeeze a week's worth of cruise in to 3 or 4 days.  Just too chaotic and, no snobbery intended, course.  

 

In Europe MSC is usually 80+% EU and 20% other.  I was on the Celebrity Apex last June and it was 80+% American.  A lot of Americans complain about sailing with Europeans.  They aren't behaving any differently than they would at home in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, etc. If I'm in Europe I want a European experience.  You get that with MSC. 

 

Hopefully you'll enjoy the difference sailing with MSC in Europe and I hope you post more of your experiences. 

I loved reading this.  I too am looking forward to sailing with Europeans.  It’s the whole experience of not sailing in the Caribbean or Bermuda that is exciting.  We leave on Wednesday flying to Barcelona and cruising on Friday.  

7 minutes ago, marazul said:

We usually walk around and look at the menus which are always posted outside.  Look at the outside tables to see what the people are eating and the ambiance, and then pick a place.  The best deal (quality and price) at any restaurant, especially in tourist areas, is to order the daily special or "plat du jour."   It will be posted on a blackboard outside.  Order a carafe of the house wine.  Rosés are the specialty of the area.  Also, order a carafe of water, otherwise they will bring you an overpriced bottle of mineral water. 

And enjoy.  It is difficult to get a bad meal in France.

Thank you.  Love your ideas. ❤️

Since we will be tourists eating in a tourist area is not a problem.  But thanks for your help

9 hours ago, salabc said:

in Genoa close to the old port/cruise terminal and  close to the aquarium  i would suggest "eataly" another place could be "Rosmarino"  the addres is salita del fondaco  ( one the narrow street of the old town) almost on the corner with  the main square of genoa ( Piazza de Ferrari) a more upscale restaurant  is "zeffirino"  in the main street of genoa  (Via XX settermbre)

Thank you to everyone who gave me constructive suggestions. I now have  some idea where we will possibly eat.   I originally did not elaborate on what kind of restaurant we were looking for, because we had no restrictions only that it needed to be good Italian food.  I have also seen other sarcastic and rude remarks from this site.  Not to me but to others.  If I see what I consider to be a silly question , I just move on.  Thank you again

2 hours ago, mdepsmom said:

May I suggest that you also list the port name in your thread title?  I notice you've posted this topic on several boards, and since each board covers multiple cities/ports, that'd be helpful info to include.  

Valletta is the name of the port.  It’s in Malta

2 hours ago, Senga said:

I see you have posted the same question on various ports.  Check TripAdvisor.

Ok  thank you.  

I’m looking for a good place to have lunch near the old port of Marseille.  

Best place for lunch in Valletta 

Best places for lunch in Marseille 

What are the best places to have lunch in Genoa, Naples and Taormina.  We want authentic Italian.

On 4/14/2023 at 12:53 PM, misztercruizer said:

Can anyone suggest a good spot for the Sail-Away on the Europa from Barcelona?

Maybe we could meet everyone on this list at Sail-away for some bubbly.

We leave for a Florida, Transatlantic on Reflection April 23rd and then 6 days in Barcelona prior to the Europa on May 12

 

 

Will there be a sail away party on the pool deck?  If not, then I think the very back of the ship I think on deck 8.  Not sure

I have looked to see what the estimated temperature will be but we all know that isn’t necessarily the truth.  I live in Massachusetts and we had a day last week that reached 90 degrees and then the next day it was in the 50’s.   I am packing lightweight pants and jacket and hope I don’t need them.  Thank you