ksmommy5

5 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

I had a different problem. When I added our passports, MSC website automatically changed the day of issuance by one day. Let's say I was entering August 4, 2023. It ended up being August 5, 2023. I changed it back, saved. It's back to being one day off... Sigh.

When I checked in, the docs showed the correct day of issuance.

This is what shows on safari but not on chrome! 

16 minutes ago, Selion said:

I don't think MSC cares either way.  See my screenshot...

 

right, bc there is not a 25th month lol lets hope all goes well then and the Americans at the port read it correctly lol

I just got me docs for my sailing on Sunday, which were inputted as m/d/y on webcheck in but are now showing inverted on edocs. the lady on the phone assured me that they are correct (passport dates would be 1/4/19 as example but showing 4/1/19 on edocs). Anyone else experiencing this? she has sent me 3 copies of the tickets and they are all the inverted dates to which she said its like that because its an Italian company.

8 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

MSC requires guests to comply with government travel requirements so I went to ...

 

https://www.usa.gov/travel-documents-children

 

...which should satisfy MSC's requirements. That's why I put "might" as I'm not 100% sure that MSC won't give you a problem in the future.

Thank you. Yeah I travel with custody docs when crossing the border just found it very weird that a cruise line would also ask for this as well. 

1 minute ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

 

I see you're from Toronto so if you're talking about the Niagara land borders, they most certainly asked me on my first trip post separation into Canada from the USA as US citizens.  I was so caught off guard as I hadn't considered it.  We were both okay with wherever the other wanted to take the kids. We were pulled out of the line of cars at the Rainbow Bridge and directed to an administration building and each of my 3  children were interviewed separately as to the purpose and length of the trip before they were satisfied that I wasn't planning a kidnapping across borders. The kids were upset, naturally.   I never made that mistake again and never ever traveled, even across a state line,  without a notarized permission letter from my ex or from parents of any minor  friends that I was taking along.

 

This was about 20 years ago and, if anything, things have only become more strict. I'm surprised that the OP was caught off guard and that you have not been asked, but, it sounds like you have sole legal custody by status quo and you should speak to a lawyer about formalizing it to avoid being questioned or to present to border agents, cruiselines and airlines that require it.

Im sorry that happened to you. We travel about 3x a year across land and air to take cruises and visit our vacation property in the US, and while I carry the custody papers on me every time, I have only been asked when he was a toddler (he is now 12). Our passports have the same surname. I understand being asked to show proof at border crossings but find it weird to be asked on cruise especially on our Canadian passports where they can assume Ive already been asked to provide the proof upon entering the country. I guess we have just been lucky. I did just called MSC and they told me that custody paperwork is sufficient and the affadavit is specially for when the child is not travelling with a custodial parent. We've been cursing for 8 years and have never been asked upon embarkation so I just found this piece of information very weird. 

3 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

You might fall under the following....

 

If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.

Where did you find this? Ive searched everywhere on the site. ty! 

I have never had this in all our years travelling on cruises with my child. How does this work for sole support parents? They expect me to track down this individual whom I haven't spoken to nor even know where he lives in about 10 years to ask him permission to take my son on a cruise? They don't even ask me at the border for the custody paperwork....

On 7/23/2023 at 6:29 PM, Mark_T said:

Your purchases should appear as soon as the payment is processed.

 

Your OBC cannot be used before you board but should be shown on your invoice and in the booking details online, unless it is the type that only gets credited once you board the ship, in which case you will not see it until then...

Yes my purchases finally showed up. Thanks! I booked through a TA so under payments on the site nothing is showing. I am not getting any emails with invoices either. All I have is the booking email through the TA (cruises dot com)

Would this one allow to check Facebook? Also, how is the chat feature on the MSC and Me app? I bought my son wifi but realized I need to be able to communicate with him but I don't need the bells and whistles (jut Facebook and iMessage if the chat in the app is garbage)

First time on MSC. I have 40$ OBC and just made 2 pre-purchases for my upcoming cruise and do not see anywhere on the app or website my OBC nor under purchases it says I have not made any (they are currently pending on my credit card). Is this normal? 

I got status matched to silver. Is the obc for this tier only when you’ve booked directly or within 6months etc? 

Thank you for your updates! I am loyal to Royal and just booked on the Seaside for September. After doing some research I was having buyers remorse (Booked Bella) but the more reviews I read and videos I watch Im starting to change my perspective.

I had a question about the Fun Pass. Ive seen in videos of the "buy more play more" but in my planner there is just the option for 70$ and says nothing that buying this will give extra. Was your experience the same with prepurchasing? Thanks!!

8 hours ago, smeesme said:

You can definitely status match as a Canadian.  We're Canadian as well and status matched years ago.  Here's the webpage for MSC Canada:

Frequent traveller status: enroll the form | MSC Cruises

 

Hope this helps.

 

Thank you neighbour! (From Oshawa lol)

28 minutes ago, Brighton Line said:

You do know MSC will status match your RCL Diamond Status, or match many hotel programs if you have a higher status. Only cruise line I know that will match status, this match is only done once so if you are close to a higher tier on another company probably better to wait until you get that higher tier. Though there have been posts of people getting more than one time match, just quoting the rule.

Yeah except we are Canadian—only for US residents. 

1 hour ago, Winnigirl said:

We have booked our first MSC cruise on the Seaside for this August and I, too, am already regretting it.  A little voice in my brain keeps saying "buyer beware"! And I guess I didn't listen.   We normally cruise on Celebrity or Holland-America.  A balcony room, because that is what we prefer.  I knew nothing about MSC, but I was intrigued by their "Island" and recovering from knee surgery, the thought of 3 days sitting on the beach, plus a beach day at Costa Maya, seemed relaxing.  I knew nothing of their "class system", mostly because in everything I read and everything we asked, this didn't come up.  Then I started reading these posts!  No, we are not going to be in the "YC".  God forbid that I am called an "interloper" if I look at an elevator I shouldn't be near!" And on the other end of the stick, I wouldn't be caught on a Carnival cruise.  I am not loud, I am not rude. I have good manners.   Are these my choices?  

Come and report back to me about your experience. Im watching videos and the ship looks beautiful so Im just going to go with that aspect and enjoy a new experience lol

Thanks to all for your responses. I knew booking this that it was going to be hard to compare to RCL (travel group has diamond status members so we are seasoned cruisers). I told myself I was going to go into it with an open mind and just wanted to be mentally prepared beforehand knowing what was and wasn't included. We wanted to try a new line and so here we are. Vacations are what you make of it and I will just be happy to have the privilege to be on a cruise (just got off of Anthem TA in May and Allure in October) so soon again. 

I appreciate all your responses which allowed me to change my perspective on this upcoming cruise. I look forward to trying something new 🙂

Just booked a cruise out of Port Canaveral on the Seaside bc the price was too good to pass up. I am having buyers remorse the more research I do into this line: Im sorry, but there are certain shows that are an additional cost?! A whole billiard room that has a COST? Coming from RCL which offers a variety of family friendly options included (zipline, bumper cars, ice skating etc) I guess we will be spending our time in the waterpark area. I am going into this cruise with an open mind but some of these amenities additional costs are a bit much. Anything else that will shock me when I board? I already see that bc I booked Bella I can't choose my dining time or preference of table size until I board.

How’s the “engine issues”? We are heading in a TA in a few weeks and getting anxious about our ports. Any changes to your itinerary? 

Heading on Anthem for a TA in a few weeks. Anyone currently on Anthem who can update us on these engine issues? I read an article that made changes to a 2024 sailing shes taking which makes me worried about our ports. 
 

thanks!! 

9 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Anthem doesn't have any pullmans - sofa for third/fourth passenger. Crusiedeckplans is usually a good resource for this.

Ty. I checked there and there’s 2 categories, 1C and 2C (quad and double). How do I know which I’m in? My edocs still say gty. There’s only 2 of us but I’m hoping to steal the bed and put the kiddo on the sofa. 
 

edit: nm I checked on Royal site and the * indicates up to 4 so it must be a sofa bed 🙂 ty! 

I have this room for a cruise in a few weeks: I can’t find a clear answer online—is the sofa a bed? Some sites say the room accommodates 3 so I’m wondering if it’s a bed or a pull man in the room. 

Putting there here bc there is no port of call for Azores 🙂

I am looking for recos for ATV/Buggy tours in Azores that allow 12 year olds. 

Thanks! 

8 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

If you have a teen who doesn't have their own NFC-enabled device, then I take my hat off to you as a parent.

lol well he has a phone data only but we are not bringing it and I’m am Most definitely NOT putting any of my credit or debit cards on it lol 

1 minute ago, Globaliser said:

 

Each person needs to use a separate device or payment card.

 

Always remember to touch out using the same device/card that you used to touch in for that journey. Always use the same device/card during any single day to get the maximum benefit from fare capping. If you must use a battery-powered device, rather than a physical card, remember to make sure its battery has enough charge.

 

And at Tube station gates, always remember to touch on the reader to the right of the gate. The green arrow on the display will show you which gate is opened by its reader. (It's very funny when someone who wears their "smart" watch on their left wrist touches it on the reader to their left.)

Thank you! Sounds like it’s just easiest to get us (or at least one of us) oyster card and the other uses Apple Pay. 

Just now, DarrenM said:

Sorry, what does TA stand for?

transatlantic.