just erica

Just out of curiosity, which cruise line did you book for the Med - if you is not something like Oceania or Silver Seas, Regent - then most of the main stream cruises will have up charges for something - not unless say you have a 2 perk deal with NCL where you can also use the a la carte restaurants for a couple of nights - all cruise lines will charge you otherwise these dining venues and most cruise lines now have up charges in the main dining room say if you want surf/turf....

 

also - if you have something almost all inclusive in the Med, i am sure it is considerably more $$ than what you spent on your cabin aboard the Seaside - on the Seaside, if you want everything pretty much to be included, then the Yacht Club is the way to go.....(but even with the Yacht Club u will still pay for Zip/pool/Bowling - but the other thinks like Venchi and Speciality coffees are all included....)

I am booked with Pullmantur cruise line. It was considerably less expensive than what I paid for Seaside.

What New York do people live in who say the msc pizza looks like NY pizza? No way. Looks like cheap frozen pizza.

If you see it in person it doesn't look like frozen pizza. It looks amazing! I would say one of the best parts of the Seaside cruise is this pizza. Super super authentic!

It depends on the base cruise price. Personally I would rather pay MSC prices and enhance my cruise by paying for the extra facilities that I would enjoy, rather than pay the much more expensive prices for the likes of Royal Caribbean, where access to (almost everything) is included in the price, regardless of whether I use them or not. Nothing is "free" on ships - some lines build the cost into the cruise price, which leaves one with no control over discretionary spending.

Yes, I see your point. I am only 5 cruises in so I am still learning what works for me and what doesn't. My first cruise was with RC and perhaps I am influenced by that experience. Cruising has changed quite a bit since then.

We sail next Sunday the 18th and have not had any documents sent yet have you had yours? I was wondering if we needed to check in on line but couldnt see a link to do that on the Pullmantur UK website and have not been informed as to whether we need to do this

I just booked for this November through a large online agency and I was told to check in online 30 days before sail date. Usually with most cruise lines you can check in online up to a few days before sailing. Is there anyone you can call about this? Perhaps that is why you haven't received your docs yet because you have yet to check in?

I didn’t pay any up charges. I just choose not to have or do the things that weren’t covered by my cruise fare.

It was annoying for me and others in my group that so many things were not covered. Just my opinion though...

Went to play pool one night and you had to pay, wanted a coffee in the Venchi and had to pay, wanted an ice cream and had to pay, etc etc, uncharges for food in the MDR, the zip line etc etc

I personally found it annoying. Just wanted to hear others perspectives on it.

I was in an Oceanview Fantastica

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/fees.html

 

According to that site $110 US + 25 execution fee. Renewal costs the same but no added fee. Passport is good for 10 years. Amortization- $11-13.50 per year.

 

Pretty cheap compared to the overall cost of a cruise. Waiting for someone to complain they could buy X number of drinks at the Sunset bar for that. But if some Americans are happy to restricting their international travels to only closed loop cruises from US ports, that's their prerogative.

That is a really good price! Ours costs $160 for a 10 year passport.

Hello, I have just recently returned from the Seaside and I was not impressed that pretty much everything had an upcharge. It seems like most cruise lines are going in this direction with having everything a la carte. I guess I like knowing that I can enjoy almost everything on the cruise without having to pay an extra charge.

I just booked a Mediterrean cruise on a cruise line that includes everything at payment which I like. It means I wont have any extra charges on a bill at the end of the cruise.

What are your thoughts?

how much does it cost for a US passport?

When the Seaside docks at George Town, Grand Cayman we will have tenders due to there being no dock deep enough for large cruise ships. Where do we get tickets? Or do we just line up? I looked at copies of the Daily Planner and Program from when the ship did the same Ochi-George Town-Cozumel-Nassau cruise and I don't see anything about this listed. Also what floor do you go to in order to board the tenders?

You have to go to a location to pick up a ticket (I believe it was on the deck where the Sports Bar is) that will have a number on it.

Then you go to the lounge and wait for the number on your ticket to be called. You will then proceed down the stairs to the lower decks to exit the ship onto the tenders. The tenders are very large and can hold about 250 people. It is quick. It only takes about 5 minutes or so to reach the dock in Georgetown.

When are “Gala” or Formal Nights on Seaside (Western Itinerary)?

Sunday and Thursday

I've sailed on both the Seaside and the Vista but not the Harmony. I would choose the Harmony. The service on Royal Caribbean ships is amazing compared to the other two! Have fun no matter what you choose!

Are beverages served in the theater on Seaside?

 

Can you bring them in with you?

 

I know on Divina you couldn't, just wondered if it was the same on Seaside.

Yes there is no bar and no beverage service in the theater. Not sure if they would stop you from bringing in a drink...I didn't see anyone holding a drink when I was in there.

unfortunately our budget wont stretch to a suite , A free upgrade would be amazing though it will be our Honeymoon :D

I'll be sending you good thoughts for both your honeymoon and a free upgrade!!! Have an amazing time and please report back when you have come back.

Can someone please clarify if this is indeed the case? It's one of my main reasons for sailing MSC repeatedly - on the Divina my wife and I would regularly buy 3 18-drink voucher books between the two of us, and it was just a bit more alcohol than we could consume in the entire trip. It cost a lot less than "all you can drink", and a lot less than if we were to purchase 54 cocktails at face value. Thinking of booking Seaside for later this year, but with expensive alcohol, that will change my decision.

Oh I was speaking of the 12 drink booklet you get when you are Fantastica level. Not sure about the 18 drink package.

In any case, I found the drink prices to be quite reasonable compared to other cruise lines.

Does anyone know where you pick up the 12 drink coupon books on Seaside? Thanks

You get them from your room steward. That is, when you get to your cabin they will be waiting there for you.

Erica, I was talking about myself!

My apologies! I read it differently. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Although, I don't think you should be speaking about yourself in those terms either! Please have a wonderful time on whatever cruise you decide.

I've cruised a few times with my wife, and managed to get reasonable deals by searching and researching on the internet, but never with kids.

 

Next December we would like to take our children and grand children on a cruise out of Sydney, either to the South Pacific or around NZ. There are 11 of us, 7 adults and 4 grandchildren between 3 and 8 years of age. Cruise duration around 9 - 12 days.

 

I'm not confident of making the right decisions, both cost wise, and to ensure the kids have a great time without disturbing other cruisers.

 

What cruise lines can we realistically look at?

Can we negotiate the cost, based on the number of travellers in our package? Is it best to deal through an agent, or directly with the cruise line? Do the children pay full fare or is there a reduction?

Will the kids parents be driven nuts if they are to share a balcony stateroom with their children (2 each) or is there a better alternative?

We have never used the ships pool facilities when cruising (there are enough fat porpoises in the ocean to look at) but the kids will love the pools (under supervision). Will it be too cold for them to enjoy in NZ waters in December?

 

Any suggestions from the battle hardened would be greatly appreciated.

Fat porpoises?? Really??

Does This Ship STINK?

 

There has been a whole lot said on social media about a foul sewage smell on the MSC Seaside. It's a hot topic on CruiseCritic, on Facebook groups about the MSC Seaside, and even on YouTube. For example, take a look at this YouTube video featuring Amy Donoho:

 

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Amy sailed on the January 6th sailing, and I was on the next week... the January 13th sailing. I can say without any hesitation that we did not smell anywhere near the kind of thing that Amy refers to in her video. Whatever happened on that January 6th cruise to cause that foul odor that Amy described... it certainly didn't happen on the January 13th cruise. Amy specifically mentioned that she could clearly smell the odor in the Piazza. We walked through the Piazza numerous times during the week, and very definitely did not smell the overwhelming horrible smell that she described. She also said she smelled it in the buffet area, another place that we spent quite a bit of time in. There was no such odor in the buffet the week of January 13th.

 

I should also add that while I do not have a particularly sensitive nose, my wife definitely does. She can smell odors long before I do, and can even detect faint odors that I never detect at all. My wife definitely did not smell the overwhelming horrible odor that Amy describes in her video.

 

I don't think Amy is lying about what she experienced. What I'm saying is that one week later, that situation did not exist. I also want to say that I know the kind of odor she's talking about... we've occasionally smelled it on other cruises we've been on. In walking around the ship, Kellyn and I did very rarely catch a very brief and very faint foul smell in random locations... but this is something we've experienced on other cruise ships... and it was nowhere close to the horrible overwhelming smell that Amy described in her video.

 

I can think of quite a few good reasons not to sail on the MSC Seaside, but an overwhelming sewage smell is not one of them. During the week we were aboard, that problem simply did not exist. Don't let yourself get freaked out by reports in social media that say otherwise. What caused the smell that people have reported seemed to have been fixed by January 13th, 2018.

 

I think that if you and your wife did not smell this odor, then fine, you did not smell it. But please don't say that it simply did not exist. I was on the January 13th sailing and I was on Deck 5 and I smelled it everyday and it was quite strong. In fact I could have filmed the exact same video as the lady above with the exception that I did not smell it strongly in our room.

there is not much info anywhere on any of the ships however there is a great review on here from a cruiser on board Horizon doing a Canaries Cruise, different ship and itinerary to yours but gives you an idea on cabins, menus activities etc as daily planners are included and drinks/ food menu

Thank you so much! I see that you are going for your honeymoon this month. How exciting!! Wish you all the best for your big day.

Hi,

 

We are family of 3 (Wife, Me & our little son) going on MSC Seaside in March. This is our first MSC cruise, been on 3 Carnival & 3 Royal Caribbean cruises.

 

Our booking is done using bella experience, will we get water in main dining room or we have to pay for water? Also same for buffet?

 

Internet has shown total of 1800mb - that means we can use maximum data of 1.8gb roughly? (I don't think that's alot, as on Royal Caribbean we probably used 2-3 times more than 1.8gb)

 

Also can we buy unlimited package for F1 simulator?

 

Also I read somewhere that you can buy photo package online before you board - couldn't find that option (there is option of video package or something)

 

Lastly which is the best place to have lunch on day you board the ship?

 

Thanks

You will get tap filtered water in the MDR. If you want bottled water then you will have to pay extra for that. There is a beverage station at the buffets with water, juices, lemonade and iced tea.

We had lunch in the Marketplace buffet on Deck 8. There is fantastic outdoor seating too. Please have a slice or two of the pizza! It is the most authentic Italian pizza and it is amazing!

I'm sorry, I cannot answer the other questions as I did not use them.

So... I'm on Seaside a had a discussion with the Bar Manager at the Cruise Critic event after bringing this to the attention of the captain, who then called over his hotel director (I had tried to use a coupon for a shake and been turned down). Bottom line is that the bar manager agreed that you should be able to get anything that is available on the regular drink package with a Fantastica coupon. I went to Venchi for a shake that night and had problems and eventually ended up speaking to the Venchi manager, Valentina (I believe that was her name). She agreed to give me my shakes and it appears that the staff has since been educated because I used coupons at two locations today for Gelato and a shake and had no problems.

 

Hopefully this will no longer be a problem for anyone going forward.

 

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Thank you for taking the time to look into this. We also tried to ask whoever we could about this and everyone insisted that the coupons could not be used eventhough no one could give a reasonaable explanation why. I am so glad that you were able to enjoy the shakes etc. I hope that going forward the information given to passengers is correct.

More and more it is seeming like our cruise was the "experiement".

Is there any fillable water bottle stations available on the ship?

Or water fountains?

Or would I need to purchase bottled water on the ship?

Yes there are ice and water stations at the buffet.

So I'm booked for my honeymoon in August..This s--t smell is really concerning. I just got off the phone with MSC customer service. They are obviously aware of the problem. They were informed that some machinery on the ship was not installed/connected properly and was venting exhaust fumes into the ship. It sounds like they have engineers and mechanics fixing the situation this week. Thats the story i got.

Yeah, it's not exhaust fume smell...it's a fecal/sewer smell and it's strong. Mostly I smelled it on Deck 5 in the Atrium area. It's the first thing that hits you when you embark. It was there all week and just as strong. I know others reported it on other cabin floors as well. My cabin was on Deck 5 so I had to walk in that area alot.

I really hope they fix it for future passengers. I wouldn't want anyone else to have that experience. It's the kind of smell that lingers in your nose. I was on the January 13th sailing and it still bugs me that I had to smell that horrid stench on a brand new ship. For those that say they didn't smell it....they must not have very good smell sense.

August is a long way off still. I am sure that they will fix it before then.

There is a menu on each table from which you can order a selection of cocktails, spirits, beer etc. Hopefully this link will take you to the menu.

 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/online.fliphtml5.com/tqui/hojf/index.html

 

This is unlimited but does not include room service

 

 

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Thank you so much for posting this!!