Georgia_Peaches

What is a price worth paying? My first cruise was in 1992. I didn’t have a cell phone and I had never heard of the internet. My pictures were taken on a Kodak disposable camera (some of which are in a box in the attic still waiting to be taken to Walgreens for 1 hour development) and all my memories of the trip were relayed to anyone who cared once I got back home. How ever do we manage now a days and what I wouldn’t give to go back to that simpler time.

I won't feel bad either way. I condition myself weeks before an upcoming cruise so that I can eat and drink with reckless abandon...and worry about the few extra pounds when I get back. Currently, DH and I are on a diet of proteins and veggies...no alcohol at all...in prep for our cruise to Alaska at the end of May. I've gotten to where I can make a mean mocktail, tho. It's the only way I know how to counter the cruising weight that never seems to plague the cruise models on TV.

It may also be helpful to know that you can carry on soda and water on embarkation day. You could allow each of your children to pick out and carry on a 6 pack (or more) of their choice to help off set cost on board. According to Celebrity's fine print, they are allowed to bring whatever they can carry (non-alcoholic, of course) on embarkation day.

Their advertising also features very fit and trim fashion plates who, quite frankly, need to eat a sandwich...or two! Just like the age demographic of their advertising is a tad off, the physique of the average guest (me included) is nowhere near what the advertisement department portrays.

Not sure if you’ve booked Meraviglia again for your May cruise but if so, check out the pergolas on the pool deck. There are three, I think. Two are reserved for upper suites but the third is available for rent. I was shocked at the price of $40 for the day! It could be more now. Anyway, the pool staff set it up with ice, waters, drinks of any kind, towels and waited on us hand and foot all day. The shade was great and so were the views. It was the best 40 bucks we spent! You can reserve with the concierge.

Welcome to MSC! My prediction is you will be left wondering what took you so long to jump ship and join the yacht club! Looking forward to following along. Bon voyage 🛳️!

I feel like the Celebrity product falls under two different umbrellas: Hip and trendy E class and Quiet and refined S/M class. They set out to appeal to a younger demographic with their E class ships and then decided to try and have some of that E class vibe spill over into the other classes. I wish they would have just left S and M classes alone and allowed all the products to flourish in their own right. I agree that there is an identity issue within the branding but by and large I still enjoy the product. I'm 56 years young...

what is an Edge verandah?

Just checked my May 31 Alaska sailing and it’s still there.

Which cruise? Ship/date? Have you checked a TA site to see if it’s there? Could be something with Celebrity’s website.

Safe travels! Looking forward to another of your live reviews!

If you book the Premium Access pass, which upgrades your WIFI and includes other perks as well, you get an embarkation lunch in the MDR (along with Concierge class, B2Bers and Zenith). After the comments here, I might also be tempted to try Le Grand Bistro. The venue is really nice but it turns into Le Petit Chef at night. I'm not interested in a gimmicky dining experience, so lunch it would have to be.

The norm is 2 passengers. Not all cabins are set up to accommodate 3 or 4 but all are set up for two... and even those set up to accommodate three or four will let you book for just two. I would try a TA site and see if you get the same results for your sailing.

We found Ascent to have an abundance of places to sit. We aren’t big pool loungers and the pool deck is quite lively so we would likely opt for a more quiet, shady place to lounge…of which we found plenty. Having said that, if you like to people watch and being a part of the action, the cabanas are definitely a good option. And it includes lunch, fruit, cold towels.

Your post prompted me to do a little more research. While Aponte was born and raised in Italy, he later became a Swiss citizen and moved his MSC shipping empire (founded in Italy), to Switzerland as well. I learned something new, so thank you! Just to bring this full circle, the comment that started this was regarding the omission of a 17th floor on MSC ships, not unlike the 13th deck on Eclipse (and many others), the number 17 is apparently bad luck in Italian culture. I think it's safe to say that while MSC my now be a Swiss company, the lack of a 17th deck may take root in the fact the Aponte was originally from Italy. Anyway, thanks for being a good sport!

Wow! That's really interesting. Is it the over all vibe of the ship, or something else?

Thank you for this review! Interesting, to say the least. I think I would have been disappointed with a 2 pm embarkation. For the most part, I've sort of dismissed Virgin because the itins are very limited, IMO and I like the idea of a drinks package. And having the drinks package is really just a mental thing...we sailed for years without one! Bottom line, I'm afraid that Virgin is maybe a little too progressive for my traditional taste but I really appreciate reading about your experience...

Yes, quite right. Please pardon my failed attempt at humor 😄.

An oxymoron...like the buffet serving jumbo shrimp. ☺️...While I make myself laugh, I won't quite my day job. Serious question...do they have glass return trays/bins for used glassware and dishes?

Thanks for this information. A few follow up questions if I may... If I recall correctly, the cabanas face the pool and people can walk the aisle separating the pool from the cabanas. Did you feel like you were in a fish bowl...or did you have any means for privacy? What was the cost for a 2 person cabana? Thanks so much!

Dining on eclass is anytime dining. You can show up whenever you want despite what your "assigned time" may be. And I believe the first show starts at 7:30...I may be wrong. There are traditional balconies in the suite categories and also the sunset verandah categories. The enclosed balcony rooms, AKA Deluxe Porthole also feature a traditional balcony door. We had one of these cabins and it was great! Lots of people rave about the infinite verandah and I'm sure it definitely has some advantages, like the feel of a more spacious room...but they aren't for me.

Just wondering how this worked...did you make all your reservations once you boarded? And unlimited specialty dining includes all the specialty dining venues? Just for dinner, or lunch too?

This is good news! I'm guessing they did this to alleviate back up in some dining rooms vs others based on popularity of the exclusive items in one MDR over another. On our Ascent cruise, the Tuscan dining room was very popular with a wait at the door while Cypress had immediate seating.

I can't speak for the other lines you've mentioned but this is simply not true regarding MSC.

From the “about” page on MSC… Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A, branded as MSC is an international shipping line founded by Gianluigi Aponte in Italy in 1970. The company is owned by the Aponte family with its headquarters in Switzerland since 1978. My guess is there must be some financial benefit to headquartering in Switzerland but they are definitely Italian.