thesnoopster2

I took my 20 month old toddler in 2021.  He was known by staff as the boy in the cart.  We put a car seat in the back of this canvas wagon thing, gave him a tablet with wifi, and at the front was his diaper bag.  It had more room than a stroller and the bigger wheels made it easy to wheel on the beach.  Sometimes he walked, but he knew that was his safe space

Anyone have any info about the healthcare discount recently?

It says it is combinable with other promotional rates, just wondering how quickly they respond and how it all works out.  I'm looking at taking 2 adults and 2 kids.  The sailing has a free balcony upgrade, kids free, + $200 credit OR free drinks and wifi.  I'm hoping to do the free drinks and wifi plus free kids that comes with the healthcare discount.  The second rate is $250 higher with the kids fee removed, but I figure the value of the free drinks and wifi is better deal overall since I was going to buy those packages anyways.

Anyone deal with this discount recently and/or combine it with other discounts/promotions?

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/cruise-deals/promo-terms-and-conditions  

• Up to 10% OFF ALL Cruises (except World Cruises)
• 5% for Inside and Oceanview categories, 10% for Balcony, Suite, and Yacht Club categories.  Subject to availability.  See Terms & Conditions for details. 
• Must call to book: 833-774-3239
• Eligible healthcare workers: All doctors, nurses, front line and back office workers employed in hospital facilities, other related hospital services (ie. cleaning staff - only if directly hired by the hospital, excluding private companies), family doctors, pharmacists (operating during pandemic), private doctors and medical figures not employed in hospital facilities ONLY if specializing in directly related COVID-19 diseases (doctors who specialize in pneumology, virologists), healthcare volunteers (ambulance, social services) who offered their support during COVID-19 emergency, firefighters, retired doctors who were called back to service to give support during pandemic, research lab employees (only if you've specifically performed COVID-19 tests)
• Guests will be required to provide a certification to show proof of eligibility at time of booking as well as at embarkation
• Is combinable with promotional rates and MSC Club discount (excluding brochure and group rates)
• Kids 17 and under sail free on select cruises when sailing as 3rd/4th guest
• Healthcare worker must be booked and must cruise (If two or more staterooms are booked, the discount will only be applied to the stateroom the healthcare worker occupies)
• Healthcare worker can book more than one cruise
• Single supplement will apply if traveling alone

Ask for "Healthcare Heroes" when booking.

On my cruise last year I took my 1.5 year old.  I had him in swimming diapers and shorts and he was just fine.  No accidents.  No one asked or said anything.  Maybe I was a jerk for it or just lucky nothing happened, but he was in the water at least 10 times on board during our week cruise.

On 11/1/2022 at 1:56 PM, JAGR said:

After last week, I can add clarification. On the App, you sign to messaging, and then can designate who you would like to chat with.  They also must be signed in and show as willing to communicate with the others in your group.  Just did it with DW and I (I tend to roam the ship, and she tends to stay put on the sun deck), and it worked well for messaging IM style. 

I was on the Meraviglia a year ago today.  The Msc for Me app was worthless on an Android phone and there was no texting.  I was told that functionality was only on Apple phones.  It has been a year so unknown if that has changed.  Can anyone confirm texting is available on Android or is it still an Apple only thing?

19 hours ago, Ryan82 said:

Looking on wayback machine this was the offer last November for US market.

So not much different then what's currently going on.  Right now selected sailings have kids go free, I'm assuming this may be all kids are free?  I have a 3.5 year old sailing and maybe a 13 year old so that matters to me.  Would love free drinks and especially wifi too

Trying to decide on which one to do, the circle around Cuba with Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, OR the east side route Dominican Republic, Pueto Rico, Virgin Islands.  I've been to Cozumel before, but didn't do much there, but at the same time I'm not sure about going to US destinations, even though they are not US states.  I will be traveling with a 4 year old and one other adult. 

What's the pro/cons of each itinerary??

On 11/1/2022 at 7:18 PM, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Yes, they always run a Black Friday / Cyber Monday special.

It might be an extra discount or free drink package or something else.

I booked a cruise the week between Christmas and New Years in December 2020 for a Nov 2021 sailing and I got a really good deal. I'm trying to decide should I book a Black Friday deal or wait for the after Christmas, I didn't get what I really wanted for Christmas deals.... Right now they are offering free kids deals OR free wifi and drinks.  It would be nice if I could get both 😁

I'll be on board too.  I have a baby and its the GFs first time on a cruise for the two of them.  We should be easy to find as we have a collapsible blue wagon we got from Walmart.  We tried to decide between the wagon and a stroller and figured the wagon would give us more autonomy in ports.  It can hold a car seat incase we do an excursion or take a taxi so the baby is safe and it has wide wheels so it can handle beach sand.  The stroller seems to get bogged down in the sand.

Question:  If there is truly really low capacity, will they do on board upgrades cheaper than the email offers we got??

To anyone not on this sailing, is there anything you would like us to check into for you?  

Things I'm interested in is Duty Free Pricing on some items and I'm going to see if we can hotspot or bluetooth tether share the internet connections.

18 hours ago, capriccio said:

It's a slog but this CBP website might help:  https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/customs-duty-info

 

Here's a shorter synopsis:  https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-246?language=en_US

 

Addressing tobacco specifically:  https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-53?language=en_US

 

Addressing alcohol specifically:  https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-190?language=en_US

 

Here's the form:  https://www.cbp.gov/document/forms/form-6059b-customs-declaration-english-fillable

I saw these as well.  Just didn't see where it said how much it was past the allowance.  The other thing I was curious about is you can come back and not have to pay the duty on the first $800 you bring back, but you get one carton dirty free.  Just wondering if the two are the same or separate.  Like the first carton doesn't count towards the $800, but the rest do and then you pay duty once you hit that $800, or you pay for the second carton on?  Same with the alcohol.  

5 hours ago, zounds said:

We returned to Miami from Mexico on Oct.16 and were surprised that there appeared to be no Customs check, altho it took us 45 minutes to get through the terminal.  I bought one carton of cigs aboard ($43.) 

I wonder if it's different if I have something to declare? Like with your one box you don't have to really declare that so you're able to fly through, but if I come back through with 10 cartons I wonder if that would be different.  We have four different family members that smoke four different types of cigarettes and cartons are right about $90 to $100 a piece so I'd like to save as much money as possible

2 hours ago, kelleherdl said:

Customs duty to the US is only one part of the issue.  Interstate transport of cigarettes to Oregon from Florida is another factor. I believe most states with high cigarette taxes also have a limit on how many can be brought into their state.

 

Dennis

I'm not too worried about bringing them into Oregon since they are for private consumption not for sale I don't think anyone's going to care.  I was thinking about that though so is a good point to bring up. The only issue is who would slap my hand on something like that?

Anyone have any insight or copies of forms that state or show what the duty is for cigarettes, cigars, alcohol, perfumes, ect from Bahamas and Mexico into the port of Miami?  I know the limits for cigarettes is a carton plus 100 cigars, but what is the duty/taxes/fees once those have been exceeded?  I'm planning to save some money for myself and get some Christmas gifts while on my cruise.  Cigs here in Oregon are $100 a carton.

On 10/22/2021 at 3:21 AM, MonsterJoe said:

Now, at least,  there is one set of photos and you can turn the borders on or off before downloading them.

Thanks for your info and your sample.  I pre-ordered the package thanks to you

11 hours ago, cdel71 said:

I sailed on the 10/9 cruise.  Internet was solid.   No issues with email, text or even FaceTime.   I also tested MS Teams and a Zoom call, again no issues.  I did not do video on Zoom or Teams but I was able to do an hour meeting without any problems.   
 

There are plenty of menus that show what’s included in the $9 easy plus package.  If you check MSC’s site there is a spreadsheet that shows exactly what is covered in the easy plus package.  

Which internet package did you get?  The cheaper one or the stream one?  I'm thinking about bringing my fire stick and watching it to the television and watch Netflix

I'm seeing all these wonderful ideas, but again, I have a little 20 month old so I need ideas that would be baby friendly.  The long trips, 5 hours, to the beach clubs sounds great, but what if baby needs to sleep in the middle or he freaks and need to go back to the boat?  Do those beach recordings have drivers to take you back or are you 'stuck' there till the bus comes back 5 hours later? 

When do you have to return the umbrella?  I have a two day stay and worrying if get the umbrellas both days or how that works?  What if you don't bring the umbrella back?  You can't really steal it.  Pretty sure they won't let you take it in the boat.

4 hours ago, MonsterJoe said:

We got the digital packages. We have 44 photos, which sounds to me about right for what I remember them taking.  I think you basically get everything the photographers deemed fit to upload.

I haven't printed any yet - but they look good on my PC.

The sizes are around 1 - 1.5MB and 2500X3500px - You're not going to make movie posters, but  4X6, 5X7 should look nice.

Don't need poster sized, but looking for 8x10s and smaller.  Would love to do scrapbook of the cruise.  Plus its my gf's first flight and cruise and we are taking are 20 month old baby with us so these will also go in a baby scrapbook too.

This link is what has me worried.  Especially the comment "Resolution is ~1000x~2000px but jpeg compression is very high with visible compression artifacts on color gradient backgrounds."

I know this link is 3 years old and I'm sure things have been upgraded since then, just worried.

4 hours ago, NMsunset said:

Hi, the digital images are not "downgraded"...seems some folks do not understand printer settings and processes.

 

The prints onboard are made using optimized settings with quality printers, paper, and inks.

 

Ordering prints at home via the web or local store, you need to understand their specific process and make setting & changes to get best results...Walgreens and others are not know to be high quality.

 

We buy some pics and ask others to take pics (with our phones or cameras) during meals, activities, while ship's photo pros are taking our pic on stairs, etc.

We get great pro shots and lots of snapshots.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

PS previously lived in Hillsboro...sure miss the area!

I moved from Hillsboro 3 or 4 years ago.  Went back and I can't tell you how much it has changed in such a short time period.  I barely recognize it.

I have an upcoming Cruise on the MSC Meraviglia and I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with a digital photo package since the relaunch.  I couldn't find any recent reviews but some of the old ones stated if you print them on board you get great quality but if you try and download them at home after the cruise they purposely downgrade the quality.  

The two things I'm curious about is: if you get the package how many pictures do you end up getting?  I don't want to pay $150 and end up with 10 pictures or less.  I want a lot of pictures.  

Secondly is, how is the quality when you get off the boat and go home and have them printed at Walgreens or something.

On 10/7/2021 at 6:54 PM, codeyell0 said:

I saw this video. renting a scooter and touring the island on your own. 
I enjoy scooters and would rent these in any port so I can zip around

 

I would love to do this, but afraid I got a bump and my baby goes flying

With Covid and all that crap, what are the best excursions currently available?  There are always some that are worth it and some that are not.  I'm looking for suggestions on ones I should consider and why, and which ones I should stay away from.  Like I had a tequila tour I did a few years ago.  It was $50 for 3 hours so I thought that was fun.

Also, I have a 20-month old I am taking on the cruise.  So, in addition, what ones are child friendly?  We may or may not leave the toddler on the boat in daycare, but if we take him with us, I would like to know what ones are child friendly.  Something that would keep him entertained and such.

On 10/4/2021 at 5:32 PM, roberttz said:

•  

Yes there is a HDMI input on the side of the TV.

Unfortunately that HDMI connection is of no use.

The TV has it's own software which disables the access to HDMI port.
I even called the guest services and she said that port is not usable.

That's sad.  I was hoping to bring my Amazon fire stick

On 10/2/2021 at 6:38 AM, publicpersona said:

 

Typically a personal hotspot share's a device's mobile cellular Internet service to another via wi-fi. I've not heard of a way to relay wi-fi to wi-fi on iOS phones at least.

You might be able to try this.  This is a quick article on connecting your one device through wifi, then using Bluetooth to share the wifi.  I would love feedback on this type of strategy.

https://www.nextpit.com/share-wifi-over-bluetooth

I'm taking my 20 month old with us.  Any recommendations on something I should bring or not bring?  

We have booked the fantastica experience.  What did you have?  I'm curious what's included with the included room service.

I'm also curious about the internet.  I'm planning to do a one device option and then use my mobile hotspot to connect tablets and maybe the Amazon stick.  Hoping that may work.  

MDR menus would be awesome to see.

Lastly, how did you do covid testing?  

Thanks in advance

On 9/20/2021 at 6:25 AM, Lisichka said:

What deck?

Deck #9

I've called but they won't do anything