1kaper

I have never sailed RC but I hear they nickel and dime you to death. My sister hated her cruise with them and cited that as one reason. She did not find MSC did that. Nor do I. Everything I have experienced on MSC I have experienced on Carnival. And my friend who I travel with on NCL experienced the same. I find far less announcement about sales on MSC. I can’t even recall one. Carnival is constant. The RD is much quieter than on Carnival. the one exception I found was the first day where the staff try to sell drink packages or dinners. But I just say no thanks and keep going.

I have been to HMC twice in the past year and a half and rented one both times. Where it is located all depends on when you get there. We were first off the ship in November and could pretty much pick our spot. The time before that we got off later and had to go all the way to the end of the beach. I preferred it down there because it wasn’t as crowded but it was a long walk. we put a shoe or a rock or something under the back of it to prop it up and get some air circulation. It helped.

I was just going to add that as well. Same food stations at the back were much less crowded. I learned this pretty quick. Even on disembarkation day when everyone was trying to eat.

I never used to gamble on cruises. In 2014 we did a cruise and I was pregnant. I would go to bed and my husband would play at the casino. He earned enough for free drinks in the casino. He started getting free balcony rooms a few years ago. We've done a couple cruises on those offers and I started to play. We now go with a budget and both play. I only get inside room offers. His have been downgraded to oceanview room offers now. We both get pretty much the same offers except for the room type so I don't see the value in spreading it across both cards unless you may decide to book two rooms in the future. ETA - I log in to both of our accounts regularly to check offers so I know what he is getting and what I am getting.

Part of why I decided against it.

I went in May with my sister, niece, mother and two friends. My sister had planned to book a cabana but waited until it was too late. I looked and saw the YC ones were available. I almost went for it before I realized they were YC. I also considered booking just to see if it would work but I wouldn't have been mad if it was cancelled either.

There was a post on here from someone who was not YC but the website let them book a YC cabana. It was cancelled before their cruise. I'm assuming because they were not YC. Just an FYI that just because the website will let you book it doesn't mean you'll get it.

In Sydney there are a number of shops right at the cruise pavillion. The downtown area is a very short walk away. There are shops but it is a small downtown, one main street. There are also restaurants around. The very best of Cape Breton is outside of Sydney unfortunately but there is still stuff to do downtown. They usually have a walking tour of the historic North end (right where the cruise terminal is).

We were on the same cruise. No one in our party did. I was talking to one lady in the elevator and she said to me “there must be a wedding on board”. She saw a lady wearing a white dress. Then a group of women in white got on the elevator and she assumed it was the bridal party. Then she saw a little girl in a pretty white dress and figured she was the flower girl. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was White Night.

Exactly. If it is for others in the cabin it specifically states “for you and a companion”. If it does not say that it is for the person receiving the offer only. OP stated it didn’t say and the clip of the offer they posted confirms that. The people saying it is for the OP only is correct - in this situation. They aren’t saying that’s always the answer.

You know RCL also sailed through the same storm, right? As did MSC.

I had fantastic booked. I was told by one agent we couldn't change it. Another said we could change it to any cruise. Another said to only the same itinerary. We got it changed to a different itinerary. We had to change again and were told we'd have to pay a fee. We were told we couldn't. We eventually changed it with no fee. (we were ok paying the fee, it was my issue that we had to change) For both changes we never had to cancel and put new deposit down, they just changed the reservation. We still have same booking number. 1000% this.

I never pay attention but I know for sure there was a white night.

I’m not American. I’ve been to Italy. I LOVE authentic Italian food. This was not it for me. as mentioned the calamari was way over cooked. Just rubber. I had the carbonara and it was completely tasteless. My mother didn’t care for the lasagna but I do believe that was because she isn’t used to real Italian lasagna. She didn’t care for the bechemel.

but that’s my point it wasn’t. I know that’s how it’s supposed to work. And other times I’ve seen this system used you put in the number of people getting on so it knows when it’s full. This doesn’t. I never once saw someone going the same way but different floor get a different number. I watched. Like I said. If someone was going up they all got elevator A1. If someone was going down they got A2. Didn’t matter what floor. that was exactly my point in saying how do they save time.

and then it opens up and it’s full. So you wait for it to leave and hit the button again. It’s crowded waiting for the elevator and you are assigned a new elevator. But you are not standing in front of it because it’s one of the other 3. That one arrives and if you are lucky and it isn’t totally full, people who are closer to it (who arrived to get an elevator after you) get on it. But that doesn’t explain how it’s faster. even at the best of times when it isn’t crowded, and you are going up, you pick floor 10. You get elevator A1 (or whatever). Next person comes behind you and is going to 12. They get elevator A1. Any person going up gets elevator A1. We all get on when it stops and we stop at each of the floors. It is the exact same thing as pressing the up button and all of us going up get on the elevator and choose our floor. Zero time saving and more frustration when it’s packed.

How so? we were on the same cruise. I found there was zero difference. If you were going up, you got assigned one elevator. if you were going down you got another. I never saw one person get a different elevator going in the same direction. I spent a lot of time watching because we needed to use the elevators most times and I spent a lot of time waiting. It was no different than the old way of hitting the up button and we all get on and pick our floor. I often got on where we stopped on almost every floor (or on really busy days did stop in every floor). it was actually worse because you put in the floor you were going to and when the elevator came by and it was full you’d have to select again. More often than not the elevator was at a different spot and the people in front of it got on first meaning you get to hit the button again and wait for another full elevator.

We were maybe two sailings before yours and you are 100% right about Italian night. I was going to skip dinner that night but my friend reminded me it was Italian night. I couldn’t skip. So I went. I love it last year on Divina. This year was a disappointment. the calamari was also terrible for us (we tried to order one to split and ended up with a dish each. Both terrible). the elevators also made me very angry. I know they are supposed to be more efficient but it felt like any but efficient. Full elevator after full elevator and the only thing you could do was call another one.

Next to the Seaview bar? I’m pretty sure almost every single one in our group almost did that.

I agree with this. We have also been travelling with our son since he was an infant as well but you never know. I’d at least book something that is flexible to change if things don’t work out. In my experience, that isn’t MSC. After ending up with a very unexpected health issue this year I got to see firsthand just how inflexible MSC can be with their policies. In the end it sort of worked out for me but you don’t want to be making numerous phone calls and stress over trying not to lose all your money or end up paying twice as much.

I saw a couple a few weeks ago for the TA I would have loved to jump on. I joked if my surgery date fell after the cruise I was going. But it didn’t. Unfortunately I’m in the same boat as your mother.

Apparently they used to be free but now there is a $5 charge. At least that’s what it was on Divina last year

We stopped in for a drink there last week and a couple was eating nachos and wings that definitely didn’t come from the buffet

There is a light show on the light house. They also have several bonfires and a dance party. as for the next day, nothing that I was aware of.

Last year on Divina - any card. Last week on Seaside - only MSC card.