1kaper

It's not always on MSC's end. In my case I had a completely unexpected medical issue where I had to move a cruise. Dealing with MSC was TORTURE. From the hour wait (calling from Canada) every time I had to call. And I had to call numerous times because there was an issue with the phone line and I got frequently disconnected. Even though they asked for my number to phone back if we got disconnected, not one person called. To the conflicting information I got on almost every call. I eventually did get it changed. But on two other cruises, my friend I was cruising with had to deal with them for our reservation. I can't remember the issue the first time. The second time she didn't get the discount price. And when she got that fixed, it changed the room she had picked. It took a number of calls to sort it out and we never did get the original room.

I agree that the staff isn't the over the top/best your best friend/always around greeting you by name type friendly that you see on other lines and people consider that rude. I don't. I actually prefer it. I haven't had overtly rude service. I often say you get what you pay for on MSC. The cruises I have done with drink packages are still a better deal than I get on another line with "free room" ($100 pp and $100 on board credit per person). By that I mean, I can always find something to eat. The last two I didn't love the buffet and found it repetitive but still managed to eat. The food in the dining room has been fine to very good. The drinks again are fine. I truly enjoy the Alchemy Bar on Carnival and prefer their cocktails to MSC. But again, there is alway something to drink. I have had a lot of trouble with customer service over a couple issues and they are a HUGE PITA to deal with. But again, cheap rate so I book knowing I risk having a PITA. I don't find they have a ton of options for Caribbean cruises. But again, the price is good. I also hate the beds on MSC. Again, something I put up with because of the cost although after my last cruise it may not be worth it anymore for me. My room is always clean, I can always find something to eat or drink and I can get service.

That's what I get for referencing MSC's own page. Haha.

The app doesn't work for all ships. Divina is one of the ships it doesn't work for. Or at least it didn't when I sailed and a quick search says it still doesn't. You can also log into your reservation on the website and look at excursions there to purchase before hand.l

That's what we did the last time on HMC. That was November 2022.

I forgot, the Old Triangle would also have local beer on tap. Also walkable from the port.

Depending on when you'll be there. There is usually a lobster roll hut at the port but that is seasonal. If you are early in the season it may not be open. Flavour on the Water is right in the port as well and open year round. They have a lobster roll and good food. I've not had the roll but I've heard good things. But it is a bit pricier. Governors is also within walking distance and would have a decent seafood menu and good food. I'm not sure about a lobster roll though.

None within walking distance. As the poster above mentioned Governors will have local beers on tap and in the tourist season they open an outdoor tap room. It is a nice spot to have a drink. I just don't like they don't serve Breton Brewing. However, they do not carry Breton Brewing beer which is the closest local beer (they are planning to open a space downtown but not sure when). The restaurant in the Port, Flavour on the Water, would have the local beer. The nearby Holiday Inn also has a decent pub. There is a cidery that is within walking distance. Island Folk.

Not me but when I sailed with my sister she booked a Bella inside and got an inside accessible cabin. The extra space was nice.

I have had success with them giving me unopened beer at different times during the cruise but I found the day before and day of HMC they will absolutely open it every time.

Honestly, so is calling. You can get a different answer every time you call in my experience.

That's what I thought but Canada has also issued a warning to use a high degree of caution and states "There has been a decrease in violent crime since the beginning of 2018. Crime, however, including violent crime, still occurs, mainly on the islands of Grand Bahama and New Providence. Armed robberies, burglaries, purse snatchings, theft, fraud and sexual assaults are the most common crimes committed against travellers in Freeport and Nassau. Incidents of robbery also take place in cruise ship terminals and in and around popular resort areas, even in daylight hours. Crime increases during the holidays. Avoid Nassau’s “over the hill” (south of Shirley Street) and Fish Fry (Arawak Cay) areas, especially at night" and " Women’s safety Sexual assault occurs frequently in The Bahamas, particularly near hotels, in hotel rooms, in casinos, on cruise ships and on the beach. Reported incidents are on the rise in Nassau, including on Paradise Island. In some cases, the victim was drugged. Be wary when embarking on jet-ski rides with licensed or unlicensed operators, as several incidents of sexual assault have been reported Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and avoid using drugs Don't accept rides from strangers or from unlicensed taxi drivers" https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/bahamas

I don't know if they "allow" it but they don't check when you are getting off. We carried a smaller cooler off with beer. If you have a drink package, a lot of the time on Carnival you can get cans of beer unopened. I noticed that the day we were on HMC they were super strict about opening them so you may want to collect a few before hand.

Yes. It was right outside the Harley Davidson shop at the port. Most of the excursions picked up at the same spot.

On Divine one guy came to dinner in the MDR with a baseball shirt totally unbuttoned and nothing underneath.

I liked the fact I could print out the receipt and cash it out so I could get money without having to charge to my credit card or withdraw from a foreign atm. Now I didn’t love having a bunch of random vouchers. I also like when it goes back on my card. I mean - I don’t think they picked those machines for the sheer fact they can collect the extra vouchers. I don’t think MSC is any more or less greedy than any large cruise line.

Donations they make in their own name for both reputational and financial benefit. They claim the tax benefits of charitable donations.

I recently listened to a podcast that talked about how Starbucks uses its pre-loaded payment app to make money. To my point, a significant amount of pre-paid money, like gift cards or preloaded apps goes unused. https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/starbucks-devised-a-brilliant-plan-to-borrow-money-from-customers-without-getting-anybody-angry.html

I guess I’m not really sure what you point it. Sure it adds up for them. I’ve sat down at a machine once or twice with a few cents left on it. My last night I left one with money in it. what do you think happens when someone buys a gift card and loses it. Or you have those apps to pay at a certain coffee place and don’t have enough to buy a coffee. Companies do this all the time. I’m not mad. When I leave that money I know someone’s getting it. I don’t care who. If you left a large amount. Well. That’s on you.

I sailed Seaside in May for a 4 night on a full ship. And sailed Seaside last week for a 7 night. I heard it was a full ship but can’t confirm. They were two different experiences altogether. I found the May cruise too crowded. Hard to get a chair on the ship and on ocean cay. Crowded bars. It was so hard to get a drink that when we did we ordered multiple to avoid having to go back to the bar. The elevators were jammed. Last week we were able to get chairs in convenient places almost any time. The last sea day was the one time we found it hard. But we went in the afternoon. And that is not uncommon on any ship. No issues on Ocean Cay either. Bars generally weren’t too busy. I didn’t even order multiple drinks. Even the elevators were fine. I have a few thoughts - maybe it wasn’t a full ship last week. but I’ve also considered that shorter cruises tend to be booze cruises so you have a larger portion of the passengers looking to use the bar and pool areas. We did 2 days at Ocean Cay last week so maybe because we had so much time not everyone went all at once. I guess my point is it all depends. I do believe that summer tends to be the quieter time. And peak hurricane season (Sept/oct I believe). Last week seemed good but last year we sailed on Thanksgiving and I believe that ships tend to be full that week.

We were on last week and I don’t think I saw any itineraries. We sailed out of Port Canaveral so not sure if Europe is different. the first night it was open 9-11. We were told it’s usually open 9am-11pm. But I know on our last sea day it closed from 5pm-7pm. Our kid usually went after dinner around 9 until 11pm. He loved it though. They did post certain events on the day things to do. If the kid was in the club they would take them. If they weren’t, you could. Like the Master Chef Junior at Sea.

In this case I wouldn’t bid. The “upgraded” room isn’t worth the risk of moving to a noisier room. I cruised on MSC last week and our table mates booked Bella and were given a balcony. I cruised in May with my sister. She booked Bella and ended up with an accessible room. She didn’t need it for accessibility but the extra space was really nice.

Doesn’t the money go back to your room account on Carnival? I don’t recall having printed out vouchers.

I know on my last cruise we did both and got numerous calls saying we didn't. Even after I contacted Guest Services.

Will we sail MSC again? Maybe, if the price is right. We are willing to deal with certain things for the right price (by we I mean my family. I have a friend who I sail with who likes MSC so I'll go with her). Right now prices seem to be up so it's a no.