MSC Offers.

It's either not both but they will tell you which to use. I agree re not booking long ahead, our cruises are usually booked in the last 3 months max, often 4 weeks prior, depends on DH work availability of leave. This one was different as we booked the river cruise last July to sail this October but only a $300 deposit each to lose if we had to cancel. As we got such a great deal we took the gamble. One couple had to pull out but the rest of us 8 travellers are all going. In the meantime we picked up a good deal to San Fran on Aurora for a month. Not much housework gets done in my part of Aus, too much time on travel. Have had a bit of a hiccup with train Brussels to Amsterdam, was to book it last thursday as 4 months prior and discovered that no thalys trains going due to maintenance. Stress attack for a short while but worked it all out, just instead of a 1 hr 50 mins its going to be 3 + hours. thems the breaks and as we all say, go with the flow!!!!:)

Not done MSC, but surely, plenty Spaget and Garlic? :D Not forgetting the Chianti and Spumante !!!

Oh yeah, pasta is a menu option every night - plus a feature with pizza in the buffet.

Oh yeah, pasta is a menu option every night - plus a feature with pizza in the buffet.

I could handle that for a week or so.

Re MSC drinks packages, we also got the mealtime drinks package included when we booked (as well as three free shore excursions). What we didn't realise until we got on board was that the mealtime bit just meant when the buffet was serving lunch or dinner, not that you actually had to be eating there, so on our cruise that meant we could get a wine or beer any time from 12-3pm and 6-10pm, so it was so easy to go in to the bar at the buffet from the pool or to grab a drink before or after dinner, it was nearly like an all inclusive deal. Then we could also get wine or beer in the dining room with dinner. The range was pretty limited but we still thought it was a great deal especially considering what we paid for the cruise.

We tried to upgrade to the more expensive drinks package, which included cocktails, before we sailed but they would not let us pay the difference we had to buy the whole package so we stuck with the included one and just bought a book of 20 vouchers for cocktails for a daily poolside cocktail. Worked out really well.

Re MSC drinks packages, we also got the mealtime drinks package included when we booked (as well as three free shore excursions). What we didn't realise until we got on board was that the mealtime bit just meant when the buffet was serving lunch or dinner, not that you actually had to be eating there, so on our cruise that meant we could get a wine or beer any time from 12-3pm and 6-10pm, so it was so easy to go in to the bar at the buffet from the pool or to grab a drink before or after dinner, it was nearly like an all inclusive deal. Then we could also get wine or beer in the dining room with dinner. The range was pretty limited but we still thought it was a great deal especially considering what we paid for the cruise.

 

We tried to upgrade to the more expensive drinks package, which included cocktails, before we sailed but they would not let us pay the difference we had to buy the whole package so we stuck with the included one and just bought a book of 20 vouchers for cocktails for a daily poolside cocktail. Worked out really well.

That are good deals.

Agree, Tara Jane, that sounds amazing.......I can only dream:hearteyes:

We were fortunate enough to leave our jobs and travel around Australia for a couple of years and do a few longer cruises, but now it's work and planning around the annual leave:rolleyes:

There are some things one never regrets, and one is taking a year off work without pay to travel. I managed to take four years off work and left work without a day's recreation/lsl leave left! My American friends just can't understand how many Aussies work to live, not live to work.

Oh yeah, pasta is a menu option every night - plus a feature with pizza in the buffet.

And hopefully some GF Pasta and Pizza for Uncle Les and co from ye olde Coeliac Club.:'):o As other cruise lines provide.

As for work, I am in my 14th year of the retirement club, forgot what work is. Out of the workforce @ the grand old age of 55.

 

 

As for work, I am in my 14th year of the retirement club, forgot what work is. Out of the workforce @ the grand old age of 55.

Good on you, Rub IT in.:p

Good on you, Rub IT in.:p

Sorry Uncle Mic, I can hear your cries of anguish coming from over ye old Clyde Mountain.:p Your day will come old son, nearly Christmas already.:')

As for work, I am in my 14th year of the retirement club, forgot what work is. Out of the workforce @ the grand old age of 55.

Damn pre '88ers;p

Damn pre '88ers;p

Hope you are going ok with your payout.:loudcry:

Anyway sorry for thread hijack, might try MSC one day. Viva Italia !!!

 

Hope you are going ok with your payout.:loudcry:

 

Anyway sorry for thread hijack, might try MSC one day. Viva Italia !!!

All done and dusted, I am truly retired now;)

Yes, back on topic, might try them one day too, but they smoke at a lot of venues onboard I think?

Sorry Uncle Mic, I can hear your cries of anguish coming from over ye old Clyde Mountain.:p Your day will come old son, nearly Christmas already.:')

Yes, but not for a few years yet.

All done and dusted, I am truly retired now;)

Yes, back on topic, might try them one day too, but they smoke at a lot of venues onboard I think?

Not really. Venues themselves are non-smoking, just a bit more open space has it allowed. But wasn't significantly worse than other cruises.

Not really. Venues themselves are non-smoking, just a bit more open space has it allowed. But wasn't significantly worse than other cruises.

Thats good news:D

Didn't notice much too smoke on our cruise, my husband said he noticed it a bit but it didn't bother him. Certainly wasn't any smoking inside other than the casino I think. And our cruise would have had a lot of smokers as it left from Brazil and finished in Europe.

I would go with MSC again - IF - we got another amazing deal (the generosity of the drinks package and some other great offers on board were just bonuses on top of the great price we got booking where second person went free and kids paid only port fees) but it was definitely a different experience to other lines. Generally more chaotic, organisation poor, but beautiful ship, and their itineraries are great. We had fun but I understand how it's not for everyone.

Penny

I suppose for the itinerary and pricing, giving up some of the nicer cruise aspects would make it worthwhile.

My daughter who is half Italian and her Italian husband did MSC for their honeymoon, and she had also done Costa with her Nonna back in 2004.

They have done P&O and Princess as well, but being Italian enjoyed the food and coffee on MSC, although as stated above just about each port was a turnaround day, so there were people getting on and off all the time.

As long as MSC make announcements in Italian AND English. BTW what is 'abandon ship' in Italiano:*.

I reckon the coffee would be good, some of the best coffee I have tasted was in Italia.

As long as MSC make announcements in Italian AND English. BTW what is 'abandon ship' in Italiano:*.

 

I reckon the coffee would be good, some of the best coffee I have tasted was in Italia.

On our cruises all announcements were in Italian, English, Spanish, French and German. Even bingo, hilarious.

As for abandon ship, watch for Captain leaving.

As for smoking one night we saw two men in Casino smoking right beside the no smoking sign. It was obviously for everyone else.

Loved our two MSC cruises, but they were certainly not Princess or Celebrity, just different

BTW what is 'abandon ship' in Italiano:*.

 

Unofficially it is 7 short blasts of the horn and one long one followed by the words 'Schettino, Schettino, Schettino'.

As for abandon ship, watch for Captain leaving.

:'):')

Not much extra comes with Bella on MSC, but we only paid about $600 each, including insurance and tips, for 7 days in a very obstructed view balcony room with a military discount during off-season. It's a great line. Kids sail free with parents. Some of the food was great, some not so much. They have shareable drink coupon books.

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Where do you sign up ?

 

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Cruising is wonderful. We're new to MSC but I've heard really good things so far. But any cruise is only what you make of it[emoji41]

 

 

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On our cruises all announcements were in Italian, English, Spanish, French and German. Even bingo, hilarious.

As for abandon ship, watch for Captain leaving.

As for smoking one night we saw two men in Casino smoking right beside the no smoking sign. It was obviously for everyone else.

Loved our two MSC cruises, but they were certainly not Princess or Celebrity, just different

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Considering the prices in Europe when traveling. It really makes cruising a great and often cheaper and easier way of doing it.

I am watching MSC for cruises from Barcelona.

The guests on the ships sound like great fun.

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