Nunagoras

OK, I'm a very low vision individual at the point of being considered legally blind, and to date on all cruises I've done no matter the line, such a thing that is common standard is that the buffet host/hostess will always ask me if I need special assistance. Of course RCI's host/hostess did exactly the same. Sometimes I need it, sometimes not, depending on whether I'm alone or with my travel partners. Before the pandemic they used to have some of those random servers devoted to special assistance on their buffets. Now things maybe more difficult due to short staff on ships. Please, tell special needs department you need that service and they'll to direct you accordingly.

And to turn things more complex, the MSC's covid regulations are now each time more focused on the ports of call measures mandatory on said destination legislation rather than on MSC's proper protocols. If a port on your cruise demands said protocol, then MSC will apply it. If not, common protocol seems now to be minimal. Some websites might to be out of date, but you can usually to see the main protocols in English form wherever you're in the world.

1st of it all: Welcome aboard the MSC's CC boards. Taste is certainly subjective, on that only you can rate if it's good or not. General sense of quality is objective and can be measured by the ones whom have the skills to do so. Having been a market analyst for several years, I think I have some skills to do so, IMHO. So, here it goes my humble analysis: MSC; like Carnival, RCI, and even Princess to an extent is part of what we can consider the baseline mainstream cruise market, or if you prefer, on European Hotel Industry words, it is something like a 4 star land hotel in Europe. Food on those ships will follow most likely the 4 star hotel industry included breakfast or other meals European standards for 4 star venues, with the obvious needed adaptations due to the confines a ship demands from the providers. That said, and as per my personal experience, both MSC and RCI the unique lines I've travelled follow mostly the same standards (bear in mind I'm comparing Europe sailings only; not Europe vs US sailings). There are obviously some details that are different: MSC tends to the "Mediterranean comfort food" dishes, while RCI tends more to the American ones. And of course nobody wins against an Oasis class ships due to the amount of space available there... Oh, well: MSC will compete at that league from late this year on with the World ship class... That said; and taking an Oasis class ship as example; I'd say: Breakfast and lunch buffet: Similar quality. Oasis has some more options, but it is larger ship. Dinner buffet: By design MSC buffet is far inferior because Europeans want a served dinner as a social event more than just a meal to be had. Buffet is seen as a "last opportunity to eat" if one fails its allocated time slot at MDR or elsewhere. MDR Breakfast and lunch: Similar quality. MSC is somewhat more refined on the options. Portions are also smaller at MSC but that is OK on me, so I give a slight edge to MSC. MDR dinner: Similar quality even though desserts tend to be far better at MSC. You'll find less entertainment from the waiter or other crew members at MSC. Dinner is held like a family dinner that can last for 2 hours. Maybe they have that sorted out to a faster pace on US sailings. Portions are smaller, but you can ask for more food, that's OK on me. I'll give a slight edge to MSC due to the desserts, the not on your face service, and the usually quieter ambience during the dinner time. Hope to have helped a bit and have a nice day!...

Actually those "catering coffee urns" MSC uses for included coffee are the same Lavazza "machines" RCI used on the Oasis class in Europe (bear in mind I'm comparing Europe to Europe; not Europe to US). That kind of coffee is pretty much usual on most mainstream breakfast buffet on land hotels Europe wise. Some hotels will have the newer machines that makes pretty much every "specialty coffee" drink out there. That included coffee is usually decent if available. MSC's paid coffee is usually great though.

This is why, I usually go by the MSC's partnered charter groups with a tour leader. Yeah: Those bookings do have some out of regular terms and conditions, but in general you'll get exactly what the partner TA has purchased into. It is OK on me to have different classes of guests with different prices and service levels. What isn't OK with me is to have some differentiation on same level same terms and conditions guests. @StolidCruiser has more than well stated how things should work on a structured product. Thanks. More: If you have for example an 18:30 time slot you're given 15 minutes tolerance to arrive. Some ships go the 30 minutes time tolerance, especially if you're on a port of call with a late departure. This is why, in most of those cruises in such situations the official dinner time will change for those days. As for people whom have never had dinner time options on MSC: Bella cabins cannot to chose their dinner time. It will to be fixed by them at embarkation time. Some Fantastica cabins might to fall on same issue, depending on whether those are the terms and conditions of a particular TA's block. Have a nice day!

That's a great option nonetheless, but the unique ships category on where I've seen similar offers has been the Meraviglia ones though!... Hope they expand that fleet wide. It makes far more sense to carry on an USB pen than a paper envelope, to say the least!...

That way, Aurea is becoming way overpriced for the real benefit. Larger cabins, anytime dining, and a dedicated priority embarkation at embarkation day are the main benefits, plus a few more discounts and the likes here and there. My suggestion: If a good TA can offer you a combo of both a same category suite you're envisioning and a drinks package at roughly the same price, go for it!... Difficult? Maybe depending on from where you are... But it is not to be impossible!... Here in Portugal pretty much everyone is receiving at least an Easy plus package with Fantastica and above cabins, except if you're part of a charter or your cruise coincides with either way Portuguese public holiday days or Christmas, new year or Easter week cruises, as part of the deal. Maybe they'll to have something similar from where you live?

That's not that bad quote these days, considering you're solo. Again for a 16 days it may be then worth it. I thought Aurea would indeed to get basic Easy drinks package. Either way; if you can find a good promo that will give you same cabin with it at a bearable price tag, good luck!

If ever MSC sells a grand suite for a solo. They used to not be so solo friendly before the pandemic. Things might have changed a lot now that there's no demand for full ships... By and large only you will know if a GS is worth the price or not. By the way, and just IMHO, there is such a thing to consider on that choice named the experience grade. If you're coming from a Fantastica/Aurea experience to an Yacht Club one with such a bearable difference, then I'd say: Yes, it compensates the cost. So; now, if you're considering coming from such a Fantastica/Aurea experience to a similar one with the same, even if bearable, difference, I'd say: No; it doesn't compensate. Aurea these days is no more than a glorified Fantastica cabin by the terms and conditions. Unless more real estate space is really important for you, pretty much an Aurea cabin doesn't make sense IMHO these days. Anytime dining and some priority boarding plus very basic drinks package can be easily surpassed by any good promo you'll find out there for regular fantastica cabins... Have a nice day!...

Nice review of an unusual topic. Congrats. Hope you have had a nice time! Can you report a little bit more? Were you in YC? It surprises me that they remain selling paper photos in 2022, really! How I understand your 2 very sensitive caveats on that. It would to be easy for them to have some digital kiosks for guests to see the photos and to print only the ones they want, or simply to deliver them on a personalised USB pen. Have a nice day!

As stated above they may have a theme nights scheme for some stations in the WJ, apart the regular fare. At least they had them on Allure in Europe, but that was years ago. As I remember it was advertised at the daily newspaper near the dinner opening hours.

I know, you're asking for public transportation, but considering lots of connections, that might not even to be the easiest and the most economically efficient way to go. From Hamburg to Kiel and return, MSC used to have a shuttle bus running, at least from ship to center city. Then a taxi may suffix to the next port. For the other leg to Warnemunde I don't really know if they have a shuttle or not. Considering long distances, a transfer service may be worth to consider. Taxis in Germany use to be on the expensive side of the pound.

Maybe the Portuguese website is outdated or they work differently here... Nothing to be surprised with on MSC...

Here where I live a basic MSC insurance package is being bundled onto your base fare with Covid coverage under their "safe travel" initiative, unless you're on a charter group with 3rd party insurance bundled on their base fare. On top of that I always purchase 3rd party insurance because the MSC's package is really very basic and sort of "out of touch" in their terms and conditions and MSC's premium insurance packages sold apart are always worse and more expensive than reliable 3rd party ones. Covid coverage is now mandatory to go on an MSC cruise.

Very interesting review!... Congrats!... Yes, the newer ships YC are far better than the Fantasia class ones. No reason to stress that most over Covid right now. I'm not arguing the whole thing is out, but at least we know how to deal with this nowadays. It is here to stay, and ways to deal with it will only to improve! Have a nice day and a nice sailing!...

Quite likely!... Promos are just for pax 1 and 2 pretty much everywhere. If you have a drinks package, teen will need to pay for the teens non alcoholic version, even if it's a "teens sails free" promo, and port fees are bundled on your base fare.

Northern Europe and UAE cruises follow the same Mediterranean menus. Sodas will be a Pepsi product. North America, South America, South Africa and some Southampton based ships will follow the American menu. Most notable difference: On the American menu sodas will be a Coke product instead of Pepsi. Some alcohol trademarks may change as well.

Don't worry so much. Pretty much every other of these ports are easily doable on your own, except for Rome. If you have never been to Rome, at least book a ship sponsored shore excursion there. Some one and half hour or more driving each way from port to city center requires insurance that only a ship sponsored shore excursion will 100% guarantee. Barcelona: They have at least 2 companies running a HOHO and at least one of them has a stop at the terminals themselves. If you want to go inside Sagrada Família Church, book in advance once they're now using a time scheduled entry system. Marseilles: The best way to do it is by going with the ships sponsored shuttle bus and then use the tourist little train that will lead you to the Cathedral. There is a HOHO as well. La Spezia: I used it for Cinque Terre, once I had been previously to Florence and Pizza. Doable perfectly on your own. Don't forget to validate the train tickets on the validation machines each time you catch a train from village to village. Rome: If it is your first time go for the full day excursion. It's tiring, but it will give you just a small approach to what the city is about!... If it is your 2nd time there; either way go with the smaller 5 hour excursion to at least have a little time at the St. Peter square and just a nice drive in the city, or simply skip the port and make it another sea day. Palma: Pick either way the port shuttle bus or the HOHO and go to the Cathedral and a nice run of the city. Easy. Naples: I went to Pompeii. If historical places are your sort of thing go for it, it is a half a day option. Otherwise the ship docks near the city center, so, another easy place to find something to do. Have a nice day!...

TBHH: Bear in mind that those are the minimums. If there's not a big leftover inventory, chances are that you wont win on a minimum. That said the unique minimum out of those on which I would bet would be the YC interior. Chances are the demand for those cabins is not that big for your particular sailing, because that price difference considering the inclusions seems pretty nice these days!... All the others are way overpriced for the really minimal advantage, or similar cabin with YC. Actually those offers are nuts IMHO... Aurea is now just a slightly glorified Fantastica category with some minimal perks. If your promotion gives you Easy Plus or Premium Extra packages, Aurea only gives you baseline Easy. Priority embarkation might to mean nothing depending on your embarkation port and Covid restrictions, anytime dining is also available with YC, on the Spa you will now just have discounts, and I could to go on... YC gets Premium Extra drinks package and WiFi though. So; unless you really valuate more the balcony than the extra YC perks, try for the YC inside. European cruises use to be very port intensive. I don't feel the need for a balcony anymore for those cruises. Yes, they're a must have on a TA, or UAE cruise. Not on most European loops. Usually bids for upgrade will be applied upon your initial booking with same rights, but read the fine print on that one. Special promotion benefits might to be cut off. Have a nice day!

As pretty much everything MSC related, sadly. My "main" complain with them is exactly this, despite my generally great appreciation to their service: They're resisting to have a global thought on what their product should look like. Understand that if you're on the UAE or China, you need to adapt to some local regulations, but that's it. So, now, mini fridge offerings, drinks packages, fleet wise specialty restaurants, among others should to be harmonized, to say the least, if not for any other reason, for trademark service recognition... But again: They won't change this sort of "disorganised" puzzle!...

That seems to be the logic, but don't panic... Sometimes they can "counteract" that logic... Either way, I also find it strange, as a strong coffee appreciator I'm really...

In many markets like mine here in Portugal, gratuities are now part of your basic fare (here it is even because of our tax system, another subject), so, if you happen to have some OBC, you can cash it out on the casino, but I would use it for some interesting extras. Maybe a wonderful gelato Sunday at the gelato parlor, or some purchases in the logo shop. As stated their Lego ship replicas are a nice Christmas or birth day offer for the kids and even for adults. I use also to purchase some shirts with the MSC logo on them as well, even if I don't have OBC. They used to be very beautiful...

That on MSC's terminology is set to be a "coffee delight" drink, so, sadly, not a regular one. Some bartenders might to serve you such a "sort of" drink with what they've available to work with, but generally those drinks are only offered, either way on places like Brooklyn Cafe on Seashore (included only on Premium Extra package and the non alcoholic one) or outside of any package on the 3rd party coffee and chocolate vendor spot. In some ships they serve those drinks both at the MDR or the buffet during breakfast time, but that is a ship by ship, perhaps sailing by saiiing sort of thing.

On MSC ships pretty much every bar serves regular espresso coffee drinks (simple espresso, machiato, cappuccino, latte, etc.) There will be a dedicated bar, usually on one of the atrium decks corner that will serve some more "exotic" coffee drinks, similar to the ones served by the 3rd party vendor aboard. As per what I have seen on other posts, on the Seashore, that place is called Brooklyn Cafe.

Sure! I was talking in a normal market day. There are obviously some specific promos or selling points when that couldn't be the case. Thanks!