MSC, Surprise Charges?

[SouthernMainer]

About to book my first MSC cruise.  

What other costs will pop up beyond the cruise cost, tax and port charges?  Thanks!

[Best Cat Mom]

Depends on your passport country and booking site.  Please share.

[Selion]

Looks like you are in the US.  Onboard gratuities, if you don't prepay it before the cruise.

[SouthernMainer]

1 hour ago, Best Cat Mom said:

Depends on your passport country and booking site.  Please share.

Can you talk about this more?  

[Best Cat Mom]

You may have to pay resort fees/gratuities if they were not included in your original fare, which depends on which website you used for your reservation.

[notley-cruise]

5 hours ago, SouthernMainer said:

Can you talk about this more?  

 

Beyond the USA, gratuities, taxes and fees tend to be baked into the cruise price. 

UK the cruise price includes everything except drinks package and charity donation.  And we get the Premium Plus drinks package at 60% off by default, which covers bar gratuities therein.

Whilst in Europe the gratuities are listed separately and can be prepaid, and they get offered Easy Plus drinks package by default.

MSC are quite clear that cash tipping isn't required, and they would prefer you name outstanding employees in the feedback survey. (The employees get rewards and promotions from that )

[alserrod]

35 minutes ago, notley-cruise said:

 

Beyond the USA, gratuities, taxes and fees tend to be baked into the cruise price. 

UK the cruise price includes everything except drinks package and charity donation.  And we get the Premium Plus drinks package at 60% off by default, which covers bar gratuities therein.

Whilst in Europe the gratuities are listed separately and can be prepaid, and they get offered Easy Plus drinks package by default.

MSC are quite clear that cash tipping isn't required, and they would prefer you name outstanding employees in the feedback survey. (The employees get rewards and promotions from that )

 

 

Correct, for Europe, in the budget they include, by default

- cruise price

- ports fees

- gratuities

- Easy pack for drinks

 

It is enough to check the four concepts are included.

 

After, in the cruise, consider (or not)

- amusement (arcades, fun pass)

- drinks not included in your pack (you will pay difference and gratuities, not the full price)

- speciality restaurants

- casino

- shops

- photos

- ...

 

 

that can increase your budget or remain as it is 

 

[actuarian]

On 5/10/2024 at 4:03 AM, notley-cruise said:

 

MSC are quite clear that cash tipping isn't required, and they would prefer you name outstanding employees in the feedback survey. (The employees get rewards and promotions from that )

Is this also true in the Yacht Club? Do the butlers usually receive cash tips?

[Mark_T]

16 minutes ago, actuarian said:

Is this also true in the Yacht Club? Do the butlers usually receive cash tips?

Yes, and Yes.

 

I defy most people to stay in YC and not feel a strong desire to leave an additional tip for your Butler and his assistant.

Edited May 12 by Mark_T

[sollyman]

Well Mark_ T we did!

 

Virtuosa last October from Southampton to the Med. Our first MSC Experience, we were disappointed Celebrity Retreat customers trying something different.

 

Overall I would rate the cruise "OK". The food in YC was nowhere near what we were led to believe and the service was laughable at times. The "sommeliere" left the ship in, i think, Cadiz and was not replaced for the rest of the cruise. Long story i wont go into where for the first 2 nights he insisted we could only choose from 2 red wines. Eventually, he ended up giving us all 14 nights menus and saying you can pick from any of these. This was only after asking him if he wanted me to walk downstairs to get the wine i wanted from the YC Bar.

 

The butler was fine but did absolutely nothing above what was expected of him. Same goes for the assistant. The room was kept clean and usually made up while we were at breakfast. Other than that we asked for and received nothing over what would be deemed expected.

 

We were escorted the first night to the theatre and shown to the reserved area. After that we were happy to make our own way there.

 

In ports we were escorted off the ship by whichever butler was free at the the time. As it happens i dont think was ever "ours". At a few ports this definitely bypassed queues. Unfortunately YC passengers had no priority getting back onboard.

 

After a couple of days the YC bar ran out of Fevertree tonic and i ended up bringing a bottle each night from the mini bar in our room. We never drank in the room but these bottles were replaced each day although mysteriously it took a week to restock the YC bar, so i took my own each night.

 

We had one room service delivery. A pizza for lunch one day. Probably the best thing we ate on the ship. It was delivered by somebody who i had never seen in YC who left quickly without looking for a tip. Incidently, despite hearing otherwise the pizzas in the buffet were awful.

 

On the final night as we left the YC restaurant we "bumped into" our assistant and a friend who were clearly only there touting for additional tips. We were escorted off the ship on the last day by our own butler. I thanked him and shook his hand.

 

Maybe it is just me but what if anything deserved additional gratuities.

 

I would not say never again but we have not been drawn back.

 

Happy to elaborate if anybody is interested.

[JamieLogical]

If you book through the US, the daily service charge/hotel fee/gratuities are $14.50/person/day.

[Mark_T]

1 hour ago, sollyman said:

Well Mark_ T we did!

... I did say 'most' ... 🙂

[sollyman]

I did notice that Mark. 😀

[oceans.calling]

We not only extra tip butlers but also concierge, waiters, maitre'd, sommelier, jr butlers and any lounge butlers that serve us. I rather give my money to the hard working staff than

to the casino. Just my opinion. 

[sverigecruiser]

7 hours ago, sollyman said:

Unfortunately YC passengers had no priority getting back onboard.

 

 

 

 

Where and when was that?

 

We have only been on three MSC cruises so far, two from Barcelona and one from Miami, but we got priority getting back onboard. (Always cut the line at security and most of the time a dedicated door for YC to enter the ship.)

[sverigecruiser]

11 hours ago, sollyman said:

The butler was fine but did absolutely nothing above what was expected of him. Same goes for the assistant. The room was kept clean and usually made up while we were at breakfast. Other than that we asked for and received nothing over what would be deemed expected.

 

I think that is exactly what the butler shall do!

 

He/She shall do what is expected of them. If you ask for nothing, they shall do nothing extra.