Nunagoras

This exactly! I'd just to add that currently cruise ships are far understaffed to what should to be the bare minimum necessary to provide before Covid time service, to let alone ideal service!... And they aren't understaffed because companies want to cut on services so that they become more profitable. They are understaffed because companies aren't able to hire more than what they're hiring right now! Once cruising is one of my favorite interests; I'm receiving most of the cruising industry's advertising on my social media's feeds. All kinds of adverts from cruises on sale to financial market adverts, to crew hiring ones. It amazes me the huge number of adverts for hiring cruise crew members they're all doing lately!... I've never seen those numbers before. I receive adverts for pretty much all positions that maybe, except for Captains!... I could fill several entire Oasis Class ship's crews out of just a day of adverts I see there! Some are specific for some of the usual cruise labor markets you can find aboard the ships, but a growing number of positions are now being offered in the first world as well, and not only for machine engineers and the likes. cooks, pastry chefs, whatever else one can imagine! Directly from cruise lines headquarters!... Like you, I believe that the mainstream market will come to normal during 2023, perhaps late summer, IMHO, when all those FCC's now "distorting" the market would to be over and the current economic crisis effects becomes more visible than now. But that won't change the crew shortage scenario. Measures to at least control the talent shortage at middle to higher positions will continue to be prevalent. It's not cruise lines desire; it is what the market is devolving into. This will endure, at least for the next 3 to 5 years... Reduced menus? Fact of life. Upcharge for certain items? Possibly. Venue changing? Time will tell... Have a nice day!...

Well: Actually I worked on the financial frame as well, but things don't go this way... Let's see: Back in the "good ole days" when cruising was a rare event for a "handful of them"; I say the last century's mid 80's, pretty much all cruise lines were basically the same; more or less similar to what are now the likes of Silversea/Seaborne/Hapag/Regent/Viking/Oceania/Explora, with the possibly the odd ones running older smaller ships for some more party like ships. Then came the 90's... And with them a huge transformation on the cruise industry arrived: Segmentation! Sadly there are many (sometimes me think most?) individuals here that are "unable" to understand what market segmentation is about. Now we have contemporary mainstream trademarks following megaships on what I can to describe as European Union 4* land hotel standards: Those trademarks are basically Carnival (in Europe operating as Costa), Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company. Then there is a segment that I can call as upper-mainstream that stands for 4*+ EU land hotel standards. Those ones are basically Disney Cruise Lines; Celebrity Cruises; and Princess Cruises. Then there is the traditional small ship that runs from 5* to 6* EU land hotel experience. To simplify I'll join pretty much all the other well-known lines in this segment. You know: From Viking/Oceania/Explora onwards. Price wise: In general: The smaller the ship, the higher the price. Oh, boy: X prices are now cheaper than RCI ones S***!... Well: Keep calm and think a bit: The ones actually sailing with higher oil prices are the ones whom booked from 2019 to 2021 in average. Those huge amounts of FCC's are now being redeemed, so they need to compensate the higher costs elsewhere. Come the end of those FCC's and the market will likely to normalize. Oh, boy and why those so nice X deals? Smaller company with perhaps a different crowd that came with less FCC's, plus sort of a strategic change under the hood: X is now going after the ones whom may be discontent with the ultimate change on the mainstream lines. They are not only are following the EU 4* land hotel standards, but they want to do so at the young family market target point, and they'll succeed. So where will all the 45+YO's go now that they have the kids on their own? They'll go the X way, but not at traditional X prices; then X started to sell regular tickets without the All Inclusive again to fill their cabins!... In summary: Don't expect prices to jump too more on the mainstream. They're cruises for everyone. The day all the current market distortion caused by the FCC's is gone, the markets will likely to normalize. Till there; there are choices. X being one of those under the RCI's umbrella. Out of it you can have either way; MSC Yacht Club; Princess; HAL; or whatever jumps with a great deal out there. Cruising is changing as is everything else elsewhere. I believe it will be entirely different in 10-15 years term. Better? Worse? I'm not sure. 200k GT ships will be the norm on "hard-rock" mainstream cruising. Regular 100k-150k will take the place of traditional upper-mainstream cruises as we knew the mainstream ones from Voyager class onward... Nobody will sell an Oasis/Icon ship at Regent/Hapag prices, other than the odd excessively overpriced Owners Suite on occasion due to the FCC's market distortion. That won't endure. And for the ones wishing something more, there are options. Have a nice day!...

This, plus perspective for high fuel costs, and higher labor costs to fill the ship's crew seats. One thing that some perhaps underestimate is that the industry is now serving the... 2020-2021 guests, by the most part. Surely there are the last minute ones, but those are at inflated prices. The remaining ones are exactly those ones whose cruises were by the most part cancelled and whom are rescheduling now and then. Obviously this, the need to recover some profitability and the need to cope with higher fuel and labor costs is leading to massive raising prices. Come mid-2023 onward, when all those FCC's are over upon such a recessive global economy and I'm more than sure, some sailings will actually run at a discount...

It was port fees and taxes. They had 2 delays, one in Barcelona, one in Civitavecchia, as far as I remember. The ship came late both times in the morning for reasons I'm not aware of. They refunded both instances. They advised by letter we would to be delayed both times. There were individuals losing flights both times once both were embarkation ports. For us it was mostly uneventful and we received a small refund of some USD 10 for those unused port fees and taxes.

It is law of the land here at this side of the pond. Timed port stay not used money belongs to the ones whom paid them: Passengers. All the companies are very efficient on doing it, otherwise they'd face national court rooms here. And, as far as I understand consumer protection acts are higher here as well. Prices might to reflect those higher protections on our side, sure, but at least we have them and wonderful we have them. Basically services not provided equal full refund on them here.

Interesting thread, certainly; but... I don't know if it is for the cultural barriers from yours on the US and mine on the EU; but generally, here where I live we don't go by the compensation culture. We never did... We'll never do... Another subject is to get refunded what one has actually paid out to the service provider, in this case the cruise line. It's sad to see both subjects joint together on a single thread with no realistic distinction. Here in the EU we make that distinction very clearly; even by the law of the land. 8 cruises under my belt, only one RCI. Never received compensation for a port cancellation or something else. But RCI refunded me state taxes for some port delays on my unique Allure cruise here in Europe. Other companies did the same. Services not provided, always refunded. Regarding the extra day; my stance is the following: The company is mandated to give you freely whatever else is mandatory over your contract: Your cabin, meals, etc. They may offer you something out of the facultative add-ons like drinks packages. Internet is becoming another subject, but the international maritime laws have not been adjusted to consider it a first need, so built in your basic fare and part of your passengers rights act. TBHH: RCI might not have done all well, but they were fair enough to all the affected. For items not RCI specific, please purchase reliable 3rd party insurance. They're there for something.

True! Not on your photo, but at least here in Europe they also have some cold cereals among them some wonderful chocolate crispies that are somewhat addictive as well!...

I'm not interested on such rules TBHH... Heard that on AIDA for the German market they're allowed to go nude pretty much elsewhere. On Costa I believe they're more restrictive, to at least swimsuit on the restaurants and shows... It's possible that those nude cruises may be overpriced. they fit a specific community to say the least...

Wonderful review, congrats!... Ocean Cay is becoming to be one of the best private islands industry wise. Hope they retain it as it is right now. MSC's version of "Arroz com Leche", in Portuguese "Arroz-Doce" or "sweet rice" in direct English translation falls under the category of "no sugar added dessert" and as you described it's not sweet enough to make justice to the recipe. I had it once and it was enough. It's a Spanish recipe with many versions here in Portugal as well, so I have far better than that elsewhere. Me thinks, it's as just rice, milk cream and cinnamon mixed with no "linking element" to the base. Sometimes I enjoy their no sugar added desserts for sugar intake control, but that one could have been dropped away from menus for years!... Have a nice day!...

Bear in mind the World Europa don't have decks 13 and 17, either way unlucky numbers for the US and Italy. That said the WE has actually 20 decks instead of 22!... Yeah; two more decks and the absence of Central Park, being all that area a huge inside block on WE may explain the ship's tonnage similarities between WE and OoS!

As far as I understand, the Fantasia is now doing some part-to-full charter cruises for something I don't really know what is, if a TA or a local cultural event promotion venue. Those procedures are not regular MSC fare. I believe part of your experience would have been due to the charter, other part due to the ongoing crew shortage. Either way; a full ship with different rules paves the way for less than stellar cruise experience. I've also had an experience like that on another line. Have a nice day!

While; on one hand, price commands the crowd; on the other hand, from time to time, Costa is known to host some naturalist specialty full charter cruises where, other than for shore excursions and women on their menstrual period, all guests are supposed to be "as they are" in public areas inside ship. My best bet is that you might have had one of those cruises near you. I feel sad for the crews involved, of course, but things are what they are.

Interesting thread no doubt. I don't know if I've put it earlier in the thread or on another food thread on the MSC boards, but there is a thing one must consider on this discussion. Currently ships are understaffed, not only on the lower end employees, but perhaps even more so on the middle to high positions one can imagine. On some other general social media I'm currently in, and once cruising is one of my favorite advertising subjects, I'm now receiving adverts for crew membership hiring for pretty much every positions imaginable except Captains!... Most cruise lines are asking for experienced crews, some for experienced crews whom wish to become land training personnel, some are asking for trainees to just enroll some training system for an year or 2 and then enroll as ship employees... It is a diverse material quite interesting to follow, even though I'm not particularly interested on any one of those. TBHH; while I've seen ship employment adverts before, I've never seen this level of ship adverts. There was a cruise line that made an advert that made me to think they were hiring a full new ship from base to 1st official, once they only had a captain there!... In no way will all those positions to be filled on the next months to come. So; what will be the outcomes of all of this ordeal? MSC is relying on shorter, even though improving, menus and cutting capacity on some ships. NCL is going the unique menu with a few items changing daily, Carnival is going with portion control measures, RCI is going with a mix of those all, and I'm only talking about the big 4 on the mainstream cruise industry! What would I do if I was a cruise line's CEO? Perhaps something in between MSC and NCL approaches: Let us to have a fixed menu with some 4 mains changing daily for distinctiveness, and if needed; reduce ship capacities here or there. Oh: And I'd to do something that is not being fully experienced right now: Let most of those basic soda and coffee drinks to fall out of the regular bars to full automated machines. Some basic beer and wine dispensing could pass to full automated as well. Cocktails are more complex, who knows they'll find a correct way to do so on the next years to come, and I'd to do what both NCL and Virgin are doing with those informal food courts with pretty much everything one could imagine. With those solutions there will be less labor force demanding. Cruise lines can't compete with the Middle East for tourism personnel these days. Training new personnel requires time as well. A compromise must to be done, not in our favor, sadly, but it must to be done, no doubts on that.

Actually current MSC schedule, post pandemic, is more Brazil centric than anything else... While SP and even Santos from where the ships depart have really nothing to be appreciated there, Rio and Salvador da Baía do have some wonderful places to visit. Christ the Redeemer and "Pão de Açúcar" ride, more than justifies a stop in Rio. And St. Francis Assisi Church in Salvador da Baía more than justifies a visit there. That said for such a newcomer or someone wishing to visit again the places, that paves the way for such a wonderful holiday time. And don't forget. From December to March it is hot summer there while it is freezing winter here in Europe, for example. While not really cheap by any means, at least it is perhaps one of the cheapest ways for us here to have such a winter escape for a week, and with good look they may have such a beach time opportunity island on your itinerary as well! The middle East is becoming too expensive right now, so, a cruise in Brazil may be an affordable way to go on. Agree with you on the "rough edges" safety wise on Brazil, but again; as you say; we have some ones one or the other way here in the first world as well. Follow the basic rules and one will be fine!... The cruises I've taken were 2 out of 3 segments of an "MSC Grand Voyage" from Brazil to Copenhagen I believe. I made the Brazilian coastal run (also the last of their regular summer season) and the transatlantic crossing from Salvador da Baía onward to Leixões (Portugal). 2 very different crowds aboard. From Santos to Salvador it was what I think to be the regular Brazilian fare on the MSC Magnifica that time: 80% Brazilian crowd with lots of families enjoying their holiday time, and such a Pentecostal Christian Church (on the likes of IURD if you know what the thing is about) doing some sort of conference with some 250 members aboard (they blocked the theater for their activities at late afternoon these days. A public prayer time offered from them as well at Sunday). Now the transatlantic crossing was different. Brazilians the majority as well at a 60% capacity, but most were doing their definitive transit to live in Europe, more specifically in Portugal. They carried a very high luggage volume for free, so they found that way a cheap way to do the transit. As far as I know MSC started luggage weight control on transatlantic crossings in line with current air travel industry by 2019, one year after my crossing, so those "abuses" won't go round anymore and crowds will be different on said cruises. Regarding the remaining 40% crowd, some half of them were Germans, and the other 20% divided on some other 10 nationalities, including my group of 26 Portuguese individuals. Have a nice day!

Been there, done that, plus the transatlantic crossing from Brazil to Portugal. As @Stockjock very well pointed out, stick with MSC sponsored shore excursions, don't use anything flashy, and don't go out of your group. Tour leaders will know where they'd direct you to the main attractions, they're generally very good on that even though some of them on the lush side of the pound. If MSC is offering you an hotel+transfers+cruise pack, please stick to it as well. I'd describe Brazil the following way: It is more than safe enough to international tourism if one is slightly more aware of their belongings than really we are on our first world urban areas. If that wasn't the case, no cruise line would sail out of there. Regarding MSC specific similarities and differences to the EU/US cruises they're as follows: 1) Currency aboard will be generally the USD. All prices quoted on USD. Europeans can opt to pay on EUR. 2) Menus aboard will be similar to the ones you see on the US sailings that are being shown here in CC boards, plus some Brazilian specific items; for example; coffee tends to be Santista brand, such a Brazilian coffee trademark. Some Brazilian specific cocktails or dishes here and there. 3) Brazilians tend to be the vast majority onboard; think 80% on most sailings, at least 60% on transatlantic crossings. You'll listen to Portuguese language pretty much everywhere. Crew will likely to be mainly from Brazil as well. Portuguese language will the "officious" ship language. All crew speaks bearable English. Just out of curiosity: As far as I understand from my own experience worldwide with MSC, Brazilians are by the most part the 3rd MSC main market nationality, just below the Italians and Germans. 4) Weather permitting, and on summer Brazilian sailings it permits most of the days, the usual theater show will to be replaced by vibrant pool parties. Some of their cruises tend to be at least part charters with specific Brazilian groups/bands aboard. I can to describe their sailings as "Brazilian party ship", but I haven't seen any drunken crowd, nor on the Brazilian itinerary, nor on the transatlantic part. They're there to enjoy the holiday family moment on a vibrant way, not specifically to drink. Lots of kids and teens aboard on the Brazilian itineraries; very few on the transatlantic crossing. 5) Sometimes their port's authorities don't facilitate things on people. Nothing on MSC hands to change away, but it runs mostly on such a "only we know how to manage this" mentality, sadly they aren't always certain. Be patient with them if they're on a bad day. Other than that it is mostly regular MSC fare. Hope to have helped a bit and have a nice day!...

Sadly the staffing issue is worldwide on the hospitality industry these days, and of course, even here in Portugal as well. Short staff, reduced opening hours or short menus is the norm now, even on the 4*/5* restaurant or whole hospitality industry here. That said; it is good that at least dinner menus are resuming more or less the before the pandemic era fare! It's an improvement that should to be noted from quite a while from the menus I'm watching here in CC. @sidari: Even though I can to be seen as an MSC's cheerleader of some sort because I enjoy the product by the most part, on the other hand, I have to be honest here on one thing: In certain ways I feel like MSC is more or less like Ryanair at seas in what labor conditions give respect, perhaps just a little bit better given guests are longer days with their crews... I wouldn't be surprised if they're seen as a career start-up business for many of their employees whom one or the other day will jump ship as far as they can. I have rarely seen an above 30 years old employee on MSC, other than for maritime officers, and some upper-middle to top level employees. That may tell something. On the opposite, on my RCI's Allure sailing most of the employees were on their late 20's to mid 30's years old.

And considering those itineraries done by the smaller ships in the med tend to be extremely port intensive with longer stays and rare, if any, sea days, the ships amenities are really not that important as well. One goes on said itineraries with what suits them the most in terms of ports of call.

Depending from where you book, chances are your only way to actually book an Aurea suite is under the "Easy Plus + WiFi" ever ongoing promo. Considering you'll embark from an Italian Port, I suggest that if Premium Xtra is very important for you, that you upgrade it at booking or at least before the sailing date, once onboard there'll be a 15% upcharge plus an Italian VAT state tax added to the account. No afternoon tea offered on the non YC ships, and only offered at a fee outside the YC on the brand new World Europa. They'll have some hot water, little tea packets and some small pastries at the buffet though. They might to sell premium teas, possibly with a pastry or something at one location that serves as coffee place. You'll see it on the dailies. Have a nice day!

You're welcome!...

It is pretty much clearly for repeat loyal MSC cruisers, no matter when one made their status match. In other words: This promotion is not valid for: First time cruisers. 2nd time cruisers if their first cruise was made with the status match program discount.

For the ones whom don't know me here, I'm more prevalent on the MSC boards, once it's my cruise line of choice for years, and TBHH, me thinks this ship would be more than handy in current MSC's development cycle; far more than on DCL's one where such a huge megaship doesn't fit well at a first glimpse, making me sort of shocked to see her there!... Of course, rumors stating this ship in MSC's fleet were more than false; MSC has never bid for it. If they wanted if would have been them in a instant!... Though; I'm interested on all cruise lines news and from time to time I come across these DCL boards to stay up to date to the news. Interesting times ahead! DCL might to have been offered un unpassable deal on this one as a business consideration for further future relationships. Basically nobody wished to keep the ship to themselves at regular market price and MW went away with a full settlement delivery model with their best clients in mind. DCL seemed to be the unique interested and negotiated the terms and conditions that better fitted them. As regarding to where they'll redeploy this ship, I believe it will be globally out of the US, especially on places where there isn't a Disney park at the nearby. The UK market, some Italy and part of the Med, Asia, South America, and the likes so that that doesn't "canibalize" the premium product they have on the US or near the parks. As regarding the maritime regulations, they're worldwide. Any ship build in the EU needs to conform them all, and from 5 to 5 years an inspection dry dock must be complete for every cruise ship worldwide to be sea worthy. Even China abides from those standards, mandatory. The problem with these ships is that they're designed with a specific market case in mind. MW will now need to "Disneysify" the Global Dream so that it meets, at least minimally DCL standards. They'll sell it at a premium wherever else a park is distant enough to make a cruise valuable enough.

Not only you're excluded cause of your sailing date, but you're simultaneously a welcome member (1st MSC cruise) and a status match program adherent. Understandably; this promo seems designed with the members that are earning status "the hard way", rather than the others.

Explora seems a great product with a rough start point. Beautiful ships made of the same Viking Oceans prototype with different insides, so viking like ships sometimes priced at Regent/Silversea/Seabourne/Hapag-Lloyd price tag, Worth to note that nobody pays brochure prices these days. Back when they started selling I received a promotion, don't remember if from one of my favorite TA's or direct from them due to MSC Voyagers Club membership with some nice deals for the "sample cruises", way below Viking, but that was before the ship delivery delays. There is consensus on the financial industry here that most hard industry sites in Europe are now cutting on one work shift, at least on certain departments to accomplish the, mostly mandatory, 15% winter energy savings because of the gas crisis over the Russian war in Ukraine. That, alongside the supply chain constraints coming from the persistent pandemic effects in Asia are set to make even further delays than the ones we now have as certain. I hope the best for this venture to come! Either way, now MSC has 3 things in the market: >A baseline mass market line. >A small premium product inside the mass market line. >An arguably top luxury line for the global markets. So; what does they need to feed all the market at Italian style? They need a mid-market tag classical cruising premium line on the likes of X/Princess for the 2,000-3,000 passengers segment, where JIMHO, most of the real cruise money really is from the 50-70 years old generation! Oh, guy: See HAL: They'll to die the day their oldster cruiser passes away. Don't worry: That day there will 10 individuals celebrating their 80th anniversary, more than ready to take his seat!...