korpo024

On 4/11/2019 at 1:36 AM, missemo12345 said:

 

The Premium Package is ALSO valid in the Speciality restaurants

1 hour ago, lizinvan said:

Styles27: only my second MSC cruise and both European and no tap water served at meals. Get your own from buffet machines 24 hours 

 

Korpo024 That explains some of the odour and why toilet flushed on it’s own!:). You posting from the cocktail party? Your fruit basket show up and invitation to Voyager club cocktail reception?  Any experience with MSC andCC in Europe?  Hardly anyone posted or was interested in private tours. Enjoy the trip. Are there English speakers at your dinner table?

They try English...But a Chinese waiter is just like Manuel from Fawlty Towers....He understands nothing....Sigh...But we have a good holiday....It is still what you pay for at MSC....And we did not pay a lot....Lol

And there are great waiters! Especially at the Sports bar!

We are on Fantasia and we can use the fantastica drink coupons of last year's cruise! Then we had an All Inclusive drink package and we didn't need the coupons, but now with the Easy Package (with fewer choice) we use the coupons for Frozen Pina Colada and also for Gelato! 

Now I don't know if this is how it should be....The personnel really do not now what to do with it...But they do not care....Hahaha

Just like on any subject...They Really do not care....

Two nights ago 70% of the ship lost the flush capacity of the toilets....Public and cabins! This was from 23 hr to 7 in the morning. We had a rough sea that night...So you can imagine what the cleaning personnel had to do....

1 hour ago, jean87510 said:

Just out of curiosity isnt anyone vaccinated at her school? I work as a school nurse in USA and we are stickers about the vaccines. Regardless of that, it wouldn't be fair to her or to others if she has it. I'd get her tested for it and talk to her doctor about going on a cruise ship with chicken pox. You also have to consider there could be people on the ship who are immune compromised (recent chemo, leukemia) who it would be dangerous for them to be exposed to someone with a contagious disease. Good luck. It isnt an easy decision.

In the Netherlands you don't get vaccinated for Chicken pox. Because it's harmless to normal people. She, and her school are vaccinated for all other serious deseases 

My child has had it several years a go..but now there's an outbreak at her school...so we are a little bit worried she might catch it...but normally you don't get it twice....and Yes we won't go on a cruise then....if it is still contagious....

yes

What is the MSC policy on chrildren with smallpox? I can't find it anywhere?!

12 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Nothing Irish about my name, I'm afraid.  In fact, it has its origins in European royal houses (Beatrice).

 

Your description of the view you enjoy from the balcony is very poetic, Jim.  Can I be bold and say that you two look perfectly huggable in that photo!  😊

 

Bea

So you are Dutch?

We were on the Seaview in July 2018 in the Med. It was wonderful. In May we were on the Divina, and both ships are great, but completely different!

Seaview:

Very big outside spaces! If you can't get a sunbed...it is your own fault!

For our 5 year old there was a GREAT splash waterworld with lots of waterslides! 

The main pool was too crowded, but the covered pool (which had NO roof all the holiday because of the beautiful weather) was better, because there was more shade (we needed that in the long hot summer of 2018!)

The Sportsbar is GREAT! It is large, cold, and always sports on! We liked it a lot!

The MDR is just okay. The food is gooed, the waiters were very good. 

The shows were good....

We had a balcony cabin...but beware....because of the lower walkaround deck...people are smoking everywhere...also under the balconies....especially the lower balconies (deck 9) had this problem....Smoking is still a big problem in the Med with all Italians, Spanish people and Germans....

We liked the Seaview a lot, because is was brand new, and it looked different from other ships....BUT we liked the Divina just a little bit more...

On 3/15/2019 at 6:09 PM, sidari said:

You will not be covered by ABTA if you have issues with your booking.

Yes you are

On 3/16/2019 at 12:34 PM, nayuval said:

I did order via US TA, I did get the booking number and confirmation.

I did paid the deposit with non-US credit card so from this point no issues.

The problem I am facing are several:

1. Login to my booking is only via the US website and not the local one.

2. When trying to registet to the status match or even the voyager, Iam in trouble, the local office tells me I can only do it with my TA, they only handle those booking directly in Israel, either with them or Israeli TA, the US website requires US address/phone for online registration, customer care telling me I need to approqch the local office....

My TA did try to contact MSC, tehy told her I have a number but wouldn't let her know what it is(strange)...and theybkind of been "angry" that she booked me.

I will try to call them directly and ask...

 

I must admit that this is my second cruise booked, last one was again with the same TA, last September on the Symphony, had no issues at all. I really don't know why MSC is giving hard time, having each country different website and cannot log to the booking with each site.

I didn't try to add anything to the cruise yet , cruise is only on September, I do plan to add some items, photos, laundry etc. 

 

Hope this will be fine. I did ask in local forum, and got feedback about people booking via non Israeli TA (not US though) and had no issue, they booked and cruised last year.

 

Thanks

 

I booked 4 cruises via AmDiscountCrui$e$ and they gave me a bookingnumber to book everything else via MSC USA. The only thing I can not do, is use my login....but you can login via your booking number and familyname and purchase everything, and also chek-in....perfect! It is so much cheaper for us to book in the US. Even now the Dollar is not so good for us...the prices are much cheaper than in Holland...cruising in Holland is not very popular yet (we are a camping nation)

On 3/15/2019 at 5:34 PM, weejasser said:

Unless things have changed since last summer, be aware that whilst you can book via a US TA (I’m from the UK and booked with a US TA) you won’t be able to purchase anything via the planner or via your TA  that is chargeable unless you have a cc with a US billing address. I was on Seaside last year and had this issue.

 

 

Not true (we are from Holland) via the MSC USA site we can book everything in advance

On 3/1/2019 at 7:20 PM, Beamafar said:

Looks like I'll be booking on the German site from now on (they were cheaper than MSC UK/Ireland, anyway!)

MSC USA is much cheaper

Does anyone have pics of the sports bar menu on MSC Fantasia? Especially the food?

And if not...what are the prices? Does anybody have a photo of the menu?

On 3/7/2019 at 8:39 PM, smile145 said:

When I click to login to my account on the USA page, instead of bringing up a place to enter name and password, it just redirects back to the home page.  So there is no way for me to login to my account currently.  I tried IE and Chrome browsers.  Any ideas?

Are you American or from another country? I am from the Netherlands, and have the same problem. I can only use the Dutch MSC website

We've been on MSC Magnifica, Divina and Seaview. Bella inside and balcony. And though the customer service is not always helpful (because the problem is too difficult to solve for them) they are always very correct and friendly. The customer service in the USA is very friendly, but not always helpful, but the customer service in Holland is very helpful, and very friendly!

I have an issue with my Voyager club points. Because I book in the Netherlands AND in the USA, the customer services in each country can only look at my bookings made in the specific country...and my Voyager club account is from the Netherlands...so my points that I earned with previous bookings in the USA, are missing. Well the customer service is getting out of their way to search for these points! They even are contacting headquarters in Genua! So they are VERY helpful! 

3 hours ago, xcell said:

"troll"???

Watch your language...the snowflake police are on this forum. You can NOT say someone is a troll...although the OP is! LOL

4 hours ago, Beamafar said:

I've just received the following in an email from MSC:

 

Each day, MSC Cruises will debit the Service Charge to your onboard account. The charge covers the onboard hospitality services actually enjoyed and is calculated according to the itinerary chosen and the number of nights.

However, should you wish to adjust or cancel any of the daily hotel service charges in the unlikely event that you did not receive  a satisfactory service, you may do so on board.

 

So, not just for the UK?  I've emailed back to get clarification about it.

As I have said before...it is the logical thing to do...and legal...

8 minutes ago, 8420PR said:

If you were in Miami before a cruise would you also remove the tip/service charge from a restaurant bill? When in Rome etc?  It's part of the staffs wages and I can't see why a cruise ship would be any different.

 

But I agree with most posters - for cultures where tipping is uncomfortable MSC should have just increased fares and included the DSC in the fare (following the lead of NCL and P&O). This would save both the DCS payers and non-payers a lot of hassle.  

 

 

 

In 2016 we were in Miami, and we did not remove the gratuity (we found it very strange to see all pricing on the menu, and get a whole different bill, but...it's US culture...). But in Rome, where I have been a lot, I only give tips when I get good service...and as anybody who have been to Rome knows, the service is not always good...Italian waiters (as France, Dutch, Spanish) are sometimes rude, and they walk around as they don't give a sh!t. So no, they will not get any tips...is very logical...

BUT in the US we never ever experienced bad service. People get out of their way to give you a good time! Although it's very artificial, it works really well....

Wow, this was a fun thread! All the 'gutmenschen' that constantly point out that they always pay their DSC, and all the discussing and all the feelings getting hurt...I was really enjoying all the problems people do have....lol. My god this is a cruise forum! If people in Africa read these threads, they think we are all drowning in our money, and do have way too much spare time! 

If they read this, they will come with thousands to our shores....oh...right...that is happening allready...

well I guess MSC did read the EU law, and saw that it is illegal to make tips (or DSC) mandatory...so the more transparant way is that future bookings will get a slightly higher price...that's the normal thing to do...and legal...

And on my three cruises this year I will give tips, only when I get good service, like the most of us do...especially in Europe.

10 minutes ago, thetaro said:

 

Nobody is telling you what to do. People are just calling them out and their feelings are hurt. Some people are defensive because of the fact that they know they are part of the reason MSC made DSC mandatory. Maybe it's also part of the reason UK/ EU fare is higher than the US. 

 

DSC is part of the fare and you had the option to remove it if you find the service is bad. They made it clear on the website. People abuse this option to save money so MSC takes it away now it hurts every other customer. It's okay to just admit that people do it to save money cause otherwise, we wouldn't be sailing MSC. But when these people make all kinds of nonsense reasons about why they do it, your feelings are going to be hurt a bit when people call you out for having other customers subsidizing you.

 

I am out of here. I apologize for not being able to sugarcoat what I have to say. I don't personally know any of you, and I have no intention to accuse you of anything. My opinion was solely about the people who abused DSC refund by making false claims.

 

Still not mandatory in the USA and Holland though....

29 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

Apologizing without Apologizing. There is a way of apologizing that isn’t an apology at all but is meant to look like an apology and is done out of duty. Generally this happens when people say, “I’m sorry if I hurt you.” The key word in this sentence is “if”. What the person is saying is, “I don’t think I really did anything to hurt you but if you think I hurt you then I will dutifully apologize.”

This kind of apology is, in a sense, the minimum kind of apology one can make. It is an apology, but one that is qualified by the “if.” Hence it is meaningless.

 

OMG....hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

An EU passport! with a 15% service charge to be added on

7 minutes ago, Magnelasagne said:

Still no changes here. Probably just the Italians punishing uk for brexit. 

Why punish? They do that themselves....lol