Lisichka

But MSC quickly discovered most passengers arent willing to spend $150pp on a visa they only need for one day. And MSC is also not willing to pay the $150pp to hit that port when a $22 Visa should do the trick. So really the argument that the $150 visa is easy to get is a moot point. Unless the transit visa gets sorted out I doubt MSC is going to keep a SA port.

Yeah, that full price visa wasn’t the issue. But nobody needs that Visa plus it is expensive.

Did you get a transit visa or regular visa? I understand the regular visas are easy to get but upwards of $150pp

I would do your own research for your particular cruise. If you are on the next one I doubt it will go to SA. The Visa issues are just not being resolved in a timely manner.

The lWorld Cup is over. The first cruise on the Europa left today and was set to stop in Damman on 12/28. Because of Visa issues the stop in SA has been canceled. That screenshot is from MSC directly.

None of the transit visas are working. It is about $40 total and fairly easy to apply for but then you never hear back. Mine is still processing and calls to the embassy tell me not to bother.

The only time you get the upgraded experience is when you get upgraded to yacht club. It is all beautifully explained on their website. An upgrade from Bella room to Aurea room retains your Bella experience.

Yeah, it is weird. If you call and say you have Covid you can change your cruise any time before boarding, but for a stroke you can’t. Weird world we live in. see if your credit card offers any protection.

Aren’t you allowed one cruise change?

Europa March 25/27 (16-19 day cruise)

Yeah, I don’t see any details there at all?

Can you detail what happened and if you were able to get off in SA? I just have a hard time understanding what your experience was.

When was your cruise and what promise did MSC make? I do not see any promises by MSC.

I don’t know why you are confused. That is where my link came from too (MSC) and the UK is not on the list of countries not allowed to apply for this. You said you had previous experience with them though and didn’t want to fight them.

Why? What happened?

That isn’t right. The counties that do not qualify for a transit visa are listed and the UK isn’t one of them.

I have a group for my specific sailing and it seems all of us have a different payment due date. Some of us December 7 (110 days before cruise) where as others say their final payment is not until 30 days before the cruise. is this a difference between the US and Europe or what is going on?

This is directly from MSCs website (says required for cruises stopping in SA): https://www.msccruises.com//en-gl/Assets/Transit-Visa-online-application.pdf

Do you have a link to the English version? My Arabic is a tad rusty.

My question is about side-aft cabins in general.

My post was 6 years ago. 😃

I sailed the Divina last November and had an aft facing cabin on deck 9. I loved the views but the noise of the wake bothered me (also the depth of the balcony, but that’s a different story). I booked a Grand Suite on the Europa which is on the very back, facing to the side with a wrap around balcony also facing aft. My concern is the sound of the wake. Will it be as loud as an aft facing balcony or am so far enough away from the wake that it won’t be as loud? The Europa has a bit of a promenade deck below the aft facing part of the balcony, so am not sure if that helps any? will the side facing balcony be quieter?

I will never use a TA, not worth the few benefits for me. The GS comes with a $500 OBC, and I don’t drink more than 1-2 drinks a day (if that). This is in what new ship Europa, and GS are sold out, so am holding on to it until Indecide.

Yeah, they stopped giving the drink package with Aurea cabins.