MSC Seaside, Just got off the boat -Post your Questions -we have the answers!

[jeepfan2006]

Can you tell me the name of the pre-hotel that you recommend?

[psmarkle]

35 minutes ago, jeepfan2006 said:

Can you tell me the name of the pre-hotel that you recommend?

We just sailed Seaside last week and when we were driving from the Port to MIA airport, I noticed the Intercontinental not too far away.  Others have posted about staying there pre-cruise...might be worth a look, FWIW.

Edited August 8, 2019 by psmarkle

[jeepfan2006]

Thank you. I forgot about the Intercontinental. I stayed there back in the 80's when I went on either the Carnival Jubilee or Fantasy. 

 

Or more likely, it was the early 90's.

Edited August 8, 2019 by jeepfan2006

[rattanchair]

On 8/8/2019 at 6:02 PM, psmarkle said:

We just sailed Seaside last week and when we were driving from the Port to MIA airport, I noticed the Intercontinental not too far away.  Others have posted about staying there pre-cruise...might be worth a look, FWIW.

Dear PS,  Do tell !! us something of your cruise. How were you treated by Vishnu ? Pins and needles, old chum. Have been waiting for you to post something.  Built you up on board, as prolific CC poster. Do Tell !

[psmarkle]

13 hours ago, rattanchair said:

Dear PS,  Do tell !! us something of your cruise. How were you treated by Vishnu ? Pins and needles, old chum. Have been waiting for you to post something.  Built you up on board, as prolific CC poster. Do Tell !

Yes, my good sir, I do still owe my review to all of you!  I have been enjoying my last week of summer vacation before going back to work next week.  I am drafting my trip review in a separate document first, my DW has downloaded our pics for me to include, and I am already starting on page 3 and I'm only through getting on board LOL But, bottom line, another amazing cruise and we booked again while onboard! I hope to finish this weekend before work starts back up again 😥

[CRUISEDEALER]

What time could you disembark? Can you walk off with your luggage? We have an 11:00 am flight. 

[rattanchair]

8 hours ago, CRUISEDEALER said:

What time could you disembark? Can you walk off with your luggage? We have an 11:00 am flight. 

Dear CD,  If all your luggage is carry-on; you are first off and through customs with a photo screening and a dog sniffing your nether regions. Those of us in YC can leave with you all, but if we have to collect luggage we will be held back in the terminal. Reason cited was that no luggage has been unloaded yet from ship. Disembarkation took place at 7:00 AM. When we were finally allowed to go down the escalator and through photo screening, the only luggage in the terminal were the gold tagged YC. The other passenger luggage was yet to be unloaded from the ship. A host of porters to help you out of terminal. Depending on where you are in the long line of carry-on passengers, I would say your debarkation took about 10 minutes from ship to taxi.

[psmarkle]

11 hours ago, CRUISEDEALER said:

What time could you disembark? Can you walk off with your luggage? We have an 11:00 am flight. 

Our butler escorted us from our room in the YC at 8am.  By 8:30am we were pulling out of the Terminal G parking garage...one of the easiest disembarkations we've experienced!

[CruiseLand]

Anyone know how much cost $ of each activity like Bowling, Formula one SIM, zip line? What is available on Seaside and can use fun pass? I try to justify that I should get the fun pass or not at $100 for $180 credit. We will sail on Seaside August 24th. 

Any recommendation for excursion for port of calls

Jamaica

Cozumel

Cayman

Nassau

[Jules Vacations]

5 hours ago, rattanchair said:

Dear CD,  If all your luggage is carry-on; you are first off and through customs with a photo screening and a dog sniffing your nether regions. Those of us in YC can leave with you all, but if we have to collect luggage we will be held back in the terminal. Reason cited was that no luggage has been unloaded yet from ship. Disembarkation took place at 7:00 AM. When we were finally allowed to go down the escalator and through photo screening, the only luggage in the terminal were the gold tagged YC. The other passenger luggage was yet to be unloaded from the ship. A host of porters to help you out of terminal. Depending on where you are in the long line of carry-on passengers, I would say your debarkation took about 10 minutes from ship to taxi.

I am also wanting to catch a flight (out of FLL) at 11:30 but dont know that I can fit a whole week into a carry on.  For those not in YC, how early can we start to get off the ship?  Thank you!

[rattanchair]

33 minutes ago, Jules Vacations said:

I am also wanting to catch a flight (out of FLL) at 11:30 but dont know that I can fit a whole week into a carry on.  For those not in YC, how early can we start to get off the ship?  Thank you!

Dear JV,   I have no experience of being a passenger not in Yacht Club. Perhaps another CC poster would be kind enough to post their experience.  I can tell you that our butler took us (prearranged the night before, skipping breakfast that morning) at 7:00 am  down the elevator to a special set of closed  doors. Another couple of passengers tried to follow us but the butler directed them in the other direction. He proceeded to open the one door and we found ourselves at the gangway behind a red velvet rope at the head of the debarkation line. We were first off the ship, but were stopped by terminal attendants because we lacked our luggage, which was just being unloaded from the ship. We waited and watched as everyone passed us by with all their carry-on luggage to the escalator down. A lot of this carry-on luggage were huge suitcases with wheels that could not be lifted easily over ones head. Many of these passengers were directed to take the elevator and stopped from taking the escalator because the luggage easily escaped ones grasp and tumbled down the escalator prompting the attendants to hit the emergency escalator switch off. Adding to a wait of those still exiting the ship. So if you can handle your own luggage you were first off the ship.

[rattanchair]

I do not recall which ship provided its suite class guests with the special luggage service of placing your luggage outside your cabin the night before and you pick it up when you reach your hometown destination. It was either the Haven, the Retreat or the Yacht club, I did not pay attention because the port is our destination. Perhaps they extend this service to all passengers?

[momofdsc]

"CruiseLand", we are also sailing the Seaside, on September 7 and I asked those same questions!

I was told that bowling is $25 per half hour, plus $2 shoe rental!  The other things are $15 each.

You purchase it under one person and all in THAT CABIN can share.  I ended up purchasing 2 of the $100 deals.

Hope this helps.

[K and S]

We are usually in the fantastica section of the ship. We have to get off fairly quickly to get to the airport for flight home. When everyone else is putting their luggage in front of their cabin door the night before disembarking, we keep ours with us in the room. 

This eliminates waiting for our luggage at the pier. 

Our heavy luggage is on wheels and I like to keep small items in a light ikea backpack to keep my hands free to be able to pull luggage. 

The night before, I will take something non perishable from the buffet (for breakfast) to eat while in the long lineup of passengers disembarking. The lines have usually moved surprisingly fast. Hope this info is of help to someone. 

[Guest moe46]

Please tell me about outside venues. I like to feel like I'm on a ship.