steamboats

@graphicguy that´s totally correct. When I buy a package online ahead of my cruise I don´t have to pay any taxes as I´m charged via Miami (and I don´t have to pay any additional US taxes as I´m from Europe and I get Euro pricing). When I buy the package onboard in Barcelona I have to pay the additional Spanish VAT. Same when I pay per drink on an EU cruise. That´s what all other US cruise lines are doing on EU cruises. But actually EU law also requires that all fees/taxes are already included in the marked prices. Therefore nowhere in the EU any taxes are added to the marked price - only on cruise ships in the Med... Neither MSC, Costa, AIDA or TUI Cruises (all Europe based cruise lines with AIDA and Costa being subsidiaries of Carnival Corp) do charge EU VAT on their Med cruises. They might add a service charge (MSC does). But that´s it. steamboats

There are two dishes by Giada in Toscana. You can see the menu here. We tried both of them: Capri-Inspired Lemon Spaghetti and Branzino Pomgrenate. steamboats

BTW your 16 yo is no problem at all. My DD was on her first European river cruise at the age of 5 y. The main problem is to find a river cruise ship with accomodations for 3. Otherwise you need to book 2 cabins. steamboats

There should have been a Schengen (EU) passport control on your TA cruise either onboard or at the first EU port (or the last which would have been Civitavecchia). Then you should have received your Schengen stamp (visa waiver program). The rest of your trip was all within Schengen countries. This can be compared to a domestic flight within the US. There is no passport control within the Schengen countries. Even your Baltic cruise should have been totally Schengen. The airline might want to see your passport but they usually don´t check your visa status. They only check your identity. Some countries like Spain also check your ID when boarding the plane. So I totally understand the border control agent in Sweden when she didn´t see any Schengen stamp in your passport. So legally you were traveling without a visa or a visa waiver program and you were an illegal alien. I was only on one Eastbound TA from Port Everglades to Barcelona and this cruise had only one stop in Malaga (Spain). Nevertheless the passport control was in Barcelona. As I´m EU citizen I could go to the EU line and only had a passport check. The non EU passengers had to use the other line where their passport got stamped with the Schengen "visa". Legally this should have taken place in Malaga as first port in the EU but it was moved to our last port Barcelona. steamboats

Usually short cruises are only done during the Advent season. During summer the ships are usually busy with 7 night cruises. But there might be some shorter ones but only with German based cruise lines. All US/CA/UK cruise lines don´t do any shorter cruises as the people usually have to fly over and want a 7 night or longer. steamboats

The review continues with part 6 covering our Fantastica Deluxe Balcony cabin 14255. steamboats

I have a couple of more names for you. My DH bought the 2022 edition of the Gambero Rosso Gelaterie d´Italia: Cremeria Buonafede Cremeria Sestri Gelatina Genovesi Massimiliano Chiumeo Gelateria Profumo Those are the ones mentioned for Genova. steamboats

According to Gambero Rosso (they have a yearly list of the best 100 gelaterias in Italy) it´s Gelateria Profumo in Genova. steamboats

Sorry, I haven´t been on Virtuosa. But as Bellissima and Grandiosa have the free sauna in the gym changing rooms too it´s pretty likely that Virtuosa has a free sauna. steamboats

Part 5 is covering the bars and lounges onboard MSC Euribia. steamboats

Part 4 is covering the restaurants on decks 15 to 19. steamboats

As Jacques Pepin has reached a certain age he´s not doing any new restaurants onboard. But regarding the fact how the announced Ember I was expecting a little bit more... steamboats

Part 3 is covering the restaurants on decks 5 to 7. steamboats

I had a little mixed emotions about Ember. Food was not up to par with the other specialty restaurants. I love Aquamar Kitchen. I even tried the vegan burger (although I´m not vegan) and it was delicious. The avocado toasts are great. For a lighter, healthier fare or a late lunch it´s a wonderful place. But they need to get the wind out of it. A great addition is also Waves as a pizza and burrata place for the evening. steamboats

Part 2 - covering decks 8 to 19 is online now. steamboats

The first part of my extense photo review covering the naming cruise of the MSC Euribia from Amsterdam to Kiel is online. There are more parts to follow. The text is in German but as it is a deck by deck description you don´t need to understand the writing (or you can use any online translation tool). The first part only covers decks 4 to 7 - leaving out the restaurants and bars and lounges. So there are many more parts to follow. For those you don´t want to wait. My DH made a video too (and you don´t need to understand the intro and end narration - nothing inbetween, just video). So enjoy reading and watching! steamboats

Transfers are only offered when a ship is in port. So no. steamboats

There are two different models in the logo shop. Both do feature the hull art. One is the regular "silver" one (49.50 Euro) and the other one has the hull art in colors (64 Euro). steamboats

Exactly, you have to sign up for the wine pairing lunches and they are 99 and 169 USD. steamboats

This is a completely different menu and the restaurant is just used for those lunches. steamboats

I only have photos of the new lunches menus (see here). steamboats

Privée is used for the La Reserve Dinners Odyssey and Dom Perignon Experience. Additionally both Polo Grill and Toscana have a private dining room which can be booked for groups. There´s a new wine pairing lunch (24 people) with two menus which is available on sea days in Ember (Cellar Master´s Classic 99 USD and Sommelier´s Choice 169 USD). steamboats

There are still Concierge Level cabins with a regular, not extended veranda... You have to ask Oceania why they did this or why they don´t offer any loungers. I can only repeat what was said onboard. steamboats

Perfect! steamboats

Sounded like a strict "No". Every Concierge Level cabin gets the same furniture. steamboats