KKB

Glad to here! 1st MSC cruise next week. Celebrity, RCCL, NCL & DCL aren’t good. But once was in room with seasickness…another time I was sick of noise & crowds so watched a couple movies been wanting to see. Glad those were both Princess!

Our 3 teens sailed the Constellation--and they say that EVERY cruise they have done was GREAT (DCL, RCCL, Princess & Celebrity). And that cruise was 2/3 FSU students. But it was a 5 day. Our kids like cruise activities & like to hand with us a lot. We bring card games to play too. On a 10 day I would recommend S class or E class ships--bigger, more activities.

OOPS...forgot to mention...TV on ANY ship SUCKS. Princess is the best--they have lots of free movies & numerous old series you can watch.

Dress is more casual overall on all mainstream lines...friend wore dark jeans to dinner on Edge, but they did not let sons in w/ shorts. Regarding the drink packages: Classic alcohol $81 plus 2 soda packages ($27+27)/day plus 20% gratuity is $1620 for 10 days. (my planner shows these prices...discounted pre-cruise) Internet is $17pp/day--tho cheaper the more devices you have. 3 devices priced at $10/day/device--seems it may be cheaper for ONE person to book 3 devices than each to book 1 device! So wifi: $300-500 (tho u could cut that to $170 if you get one plan to share between the 3 of you) Gratuities: $525 Honestly, it may be just as cheap to book the All-inclusive price. Looking, it is about $800 more pp, so $2400. To pay for 1 alcohol package, 2 zero proof packages, gratuities & wifi for ONE device to SHARE is $2315.... I'd just book AI so everyone gets their own unlimited internet & it's simplified. Plus no need to worry about getting a doc note. DO double check how much more the AI is, as occasionally I see it higher than $80/pp/day...not sure why.

Got to know bartenders well on the Getaway. There was little opportunity on the Encore last month...lines several people deep most of the time. DH did chat up the casino bartender (yes, usually just one) early some mornings.

On the Getaway Ocean Blue was THE BOMB & Cagney's was very good; Le Bistro was OK. (August) On the Encore last month... Ocean Blue was NOT as good as Getaway--it was OK. (and I ordered virtually the same things I did on the Getaway as they were THAT GOOD) We felt Cagney's was better than Ocean Blue, tho still not as good as on the Getaway.

Curious how drink service is in general--both by servers & at bars. On the Encore last month servers were virtually non-existent & getting drinks at bars often required a wait of 10-15 min (more during peak times) The ship felt understaffed, so I don't blame the crew. I am hearing similar reports from the Prima. Hoping it is a staffing shortage issue & not a deliberate cost cutting attempt.

Sometimes it is nice to dine with others when I sail solo. Does MSC give that option to solo guests (or even couples; DS is joining me the 2nd leg of the trip)

OK, I recommend trying a sailing out of the west coast since this is your tester cruise. Princess has a number of well priced cruises out of CA. We did the Discovery Princess to AK last Sept. Our 1st to AK--FANTASTIC. A very different feel than a Caribbean or MX Riv cruise. It was very casual, low key. Quieter at night. I agree that you might start with a smaller ship as well. 2000-3500 passenger capacity is my rec to start. I am sailing my 1st MSC next week so I cannot comment specifically...but there are some reports of a lot of kids (cheap prices). And it does seem MSC cruises takes a bit more of a European POV on service--more reserved. Other lines in America nearly step over themselves to serve you. Not better or worse, just different. But until I sail I am just going on what I've read here. (now, Yacht Club gets excellent reviews--tho not quite as good on the larger ships--but if you start there, word of warning, you will struggle to every sail in "steerage" again!) Cabins are a bit smaller than a hotel room, but other than an interior on NCL's Breakaway class (we are fine with interiors on other lines), we have never found rooms to be TOO small. They are generally well designed with plenty of storage. A balcony makes it feel even bigger. Nickeled & dimed? Every ship is trying to get more $ out of you. YOU get to choose what you spend it on. The only thing you HAVE to pay for on the ship is daily gratuities above & beyond your fare & taxes. BUT if you want fancy coffees, sodas, alcohol--that costs. You can play bingo, gamble in the casino, shop in the shops, dine in specialty dining, buy photos--BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO. Up to you what you pay for. All-inclusive vs cruising: AI's are pretty much about the beach. If you plan to spend everyday out on the beach, relaxing or doing outdoor beach activities, an AI is for you. If you like to stop at different ports, have more daily activity options, (you can still relax & do little), a cruise is a better fit.

No almond or soy milk??!! Glad you told me!

No tissue in the bathroom???!!

NCL did SOMETHING like that. We bid on Haven for our Dec. cruise & we got an email saying X number of people are bidding... We knew at that point we were OUT.

Not true for all of us. Cruising with DH is my fav...but sometimes he has other obligations. I've loved cruising with family & friends--tho admittedly I wouldn't want to anytime. But cruising solo is lovely too. Each has a different flavor.

Yeah, I TRIED spraying my back with my spray suncreen... Thought I did a good job. I DIDN'T.

We sailed Apex in March; I think we were about 2/3 full. We did not encounter any service issues so they must have resolved it. (1/3 full Edge in July/Aug 2021 was AMAZING--tough to go back to full ships) Equinox in Nov was fantastic too. Captain Kate usually prides herself on a tight run ship; I do suspect labor supply issues are to blame. (I just pray it isn't another cost cutting measure. Don't get me wrong, I GET the cutting back of the buffet at dinner. Any time we have gone, there are VERY few people there)

I realize it is handled by a 3rd party. Prices are about as low as when I booked in Oct. I have seen min prices DROP with a 2nd email but never rise!

I got an email several weeks ago to upgrade my deluxe balcony...to premium, Aurea or a closed window suite. (naw, thx anyway). Today I got another one. The min prices are HIGHER than the 1st email! Uh, usually prices go DOWN if you aren't selling those cabins as the sailing gets closer... And if they weren't selling you wouldn't need to send me another email... Kinda made me giggle!

It’s my sweetener of choice! Thx

I do realize now that the one on deck 13 is right below the pool deck...had that this month on Carnival. Didn't bother me until the last couple nights I was under the weather & in bed early...those deck parties aren't much fun right underneath! Guess I better plan on attending all deck parties...or be somewhere else on the ship.😉

I booked Bella balcony for my upcoming Divina cruise. Both are midship deluxe balconies, partial view. One deck 8, one deck 13. Not too bad. Prices were unbelievable.

@Jayo1 I look forward to hearing about your experience. Our son, 27, loves to cruise but has only done it with family & friends. I'd like to see how it goes for you & perhaps I can encourage him.

Interesting...so the Americans were, or all the passengers in general? It isn't often I get a sense of anyone's political POV, but I can recall a few moments.

Have you ever sailed in an interior room? Honestly those of us who do regularly typically see a room as a place to store our stuff, sleep & shower--not much else. Plenty of places to be on the ship, both for activities or quiet time.

Welcome! This thread is a great one to check out: Also check out Cruise Plum https://www.cruiseplum.com/solo-supplement-deals Not a TA but it lists best deals for solos.

I've done 7-14 days solo--did my 1st solo cruise last year & I'm hooked! (OK, I'm just hooked on cruising...and I love to cruise w/ DH but he can't go as often as I) I am doing the Ruby March 26 on a casino offer.