Heartgrove

When we were on the MSC Splendida last year in YC, the waiters for our table learned of DW's slight problem with gluten. Once we mentioned that she had special attention - even including the maitre d'. Fortunately she can tolerate a bit of gluten so was able to try certain items, but it took a lot of convincing them that her intolerance was not that bad. Having the three as our waiters made dining a real treat!

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Today's port is famous for being the backdrop of the Icelandic thriller "Trapped." Sue and I visited while aboard the Viking Sky as cruising resumed in July 2021. For that cruise we had a daily PCR test, carried a proximity monitor, and were masked except when in our stateroom. It is a small remote town that sees the weekly ferry to Denmark. The airport is over a pass and approximately 25km away. Our included VO excursion consisted of a walk along three blocks of the town. I do recommend watching watching "Trapped" and it's sequel. A very picturesque country that is worthy of a visit although I would recommend a driving trip to really pemetrate the natural wonders. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Glad to see that you are onboard. Following with great interest! We are on the November 2024 MSC Divina Transatlantic that begins in Genoa.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

I guess that it depends on the the market you are sailing in and the ship. We were on the MSC Preziosa from Hamburg in September and had those mentioned in the Buffet line.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Bruce, that is good news! The alternative is what I have which is a plate 15cm and eight screws from when I broke the right one eight years ago. - Jack

I think that I know the difference. I should have also stated that just rear of midships will be subject to less rising and falling of the bow.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Well after being bothered all week with feeling uncomfortable, Sue tested positive over the weekend. Hopefully we have distanced ourselveves from DSIL that she won't feel the effects. I seem to have run into a wall with mine as I just tested negative again but still have a lot of drainage and restless nights. This morning I am going to my Ortho to get the first of three Hyaluronic Acid injections into my knees. I use to get the single shot but the office stopped offering that so only the series of three shots seven days apart. A bit inconvenient but probably less painful as the single shot was a big bore needle and very viscous fluid. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

We stayed in a SS stateroom onetime. It was SS6099 on the starboard side of the Zuiderdam right next to one of the Neptines on that deck. Good spot as it is aft of the stabilizers - although the Baltic was like glass the whole time.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! We have been to today's port twice but by land. Plans are to go to Australia first to visit my friend in Melbourne before our 2025 Japan Collector. Also trying to decide between a HAL Auckland-to-Sydney cruise or a RCCL Sydney RT to South Island, NZ before our visit. My case of Covid just keeps hanging on, although I have now tested negative. The biggest problem I have is sleeping pas 4:00 am. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

We have not sailed on the Meriviglia-class or Seaside-class. But were in YC aboard the MSC Spendida in October 2022 sailing to Sicily and the heel of Italy. This year we have booked YC again on the MSC Spendida for October 2024 to Italy, Greece, and Turkey. That was while on a 10 night cruise in "Fantastica Experience" on the sister ship, MSC Preziosa. The Fantasia-class are the right size for us while in YC. Having the YC restaurant at the rear of the ship doesn't bother us as we like walking after eating. It is easier to use Deck 13 instead of Deck 7 like the butler originally showed us with less crowding. Of course if the weather is nice just walk across on Deck 15. The food in the YC restaurant was without flaw. If you can afford it, YC is very nice. However sailing on the Preziosa in "Fantastica" was almost as nice, just more crowded. There were three of us sailing in connecting rooms that we paid for so cost were double. I would do either experience without a problem.

Sharing what I am especially grateful for on this Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I won't see Lily today with me having Covid. She was enjoying a cinnamon roll eallier this morning. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! We were in Tallin in 2017 on our Baltic Sea cruise, when you could still visit St. Petersburg. I'll post some of my photos shortly. Happy Thanksgiving! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Call and request a MSC Concierge to work with you. Single point of contact within the MSC organization and they will continue to work with you for future bookings. I use one and had booked a future cruise for 2024 while onboard a MSC cruise in September. When I returned home, I transferred the booking to him.

We had dinner twice on Deck 4 on our 11 night cruise last week and the rest on Deck 3. IMHO Deck 3 is nicer.

Sharon, thanks for asking. No, we didn't have a problem because I guess they were able to contain it quickly. If not, it would have been about a sixty mile detour as the interstate and US highway both travel through the same gap in the mountain. - Jack

Just off the Carnival Venezia and the restaurant layout is less than ideal. We had Anytime Dining so either Deck 3 or Deck 4 Aft. The Aft elevators and stairways need to be used. But we would wait on our deck by the Aft elevators for our table assignment to be posted as it could be either Deck 3 or Deck 4. That saved choosing the wrong deck and having to go up or down when assigned.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! No delays getting home with Amtrak and all went smoothly. I am glad our travel home was earlier in the week. It seems that the Venezia has a chronic problem at disembarkation with the moving gangway to the terminal. Disembarkation seemed to be going smoothly when the cruise director all of a sudden called for a "Full Stop" that lasted about 20 minutes. I have read similar comments on the Carnival forum by other passengers's sailings with even longer pauses. I have been isolating myself at home as I tested positive with Covid. It is my second time but doesn't seem to be as bad as last year. So far Sue has been negative and hopefully stays that way. Vax'ed and triple boosted but not with the newest booster as it wasn't available before our September cruise. Thank God all it feels like is a head cold. Still trying to get use to our I Phone 15 Pro with transferring photos. I will say that it was easier than lugging my Mirrorless kit with. For some reason though I have trouble loading photos on CC into the Daily.. It just wants to insert a black rectangle. I have a feeling that the photo file is too large. But photo quality is really good! Happy Thanksgiving! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Our last day at sea and guess what a topic of conversation is? Another cruise, of course! We have three booked for 2024, and a B2B Japan/Japan to Vancouver in 2025. Right before that we are in Australia to see my friend in Melbourne. Trying to decide between a HAL Auckland to Sydney or a RCCL Sydney RT to the South Island of NZ. RCCL is about half the cost and would also shorten the overall trip by about nine days. Sue and I have enjoyed the Venezia but could do more for their tagline “Carnival Italian Style.” I think that our cruise on MSC this past September scored higher. Of course that was a European market cruise and this was geared towards Americans. Different crowd to as we went to the Captain’s Q&A here on the Venezia with a bit more than a handful compared to a HAL Captain’s Q&A that was close to being full. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Currently onboard and attended the Bridge officers Q&A yesterday. The Venezia will be going into drydock sometime in 2025. The issues that have been identified since beginning sailing for Carnival may be addressed at that time.

Currently on the Carnival Venezia and the HAL corporate partner uses a small hole punched in the lower corner.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack