KINGBOBOFTHENORTH

I did the "My Choice Dining" once on my last MSC cruise last month and the wait to get seated was less than 5 minutes. I had been scheduled for the early dining but couldn't make it one night. The ship was pretty full too.

I did the Fort de France 7-nt cruise back in 2019 and it was a great cruise to see the southern Caribbean islands such as Trinidad, St. Vincent and Grenada that other cruises are unable to reach. But airfare was a problem. There just isn't much "lift" from the USA to the French Caribbean islands. We were lucky that Norwegian had a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Fort de France on the date of the sailing for the relatively cheap fare of $175ow. But the return flight one week later departed FDF too early in the morning to get to it off the cruise so we had to fly American to Miami for $373ow, a huge difference. So MSC has to offer really low cruise fares to temp people to spend big $$$/€€€ to get to it.

So I found out!

Last month at Port Canaveral for a MSC cruise I had my power strip confiscated by terminal security. They gave me a receipt and told me there would be a table after Customs upon my return to the port where I could retrieve it. In reality, my room stewardess returned it to me on the last evening of the cruise. That was my 10th cruise with MSC and the first time any confiscation had ever happened.

They certainly could have changed their method of operation but I just pulled my folder from that cruise on MSC Preziosa, 7nts from Fort De France. I did not save the onboard account reconciliation but in looking through the daily programs, everything quoted is in Euros. An ad from the casino: "Over €40,000 in jackpots paid out in our slot machines on our last cruise." From the Effy store: "Prices start at €95." From the spa: "50 min Bali Massage €83 instead of €139". And so on. So again, they could have switched to dollars now but I doubt it. All other Caribbean cruises originate in the U.S. and they are in USD. But this one never does. Very few Americans on board too. Do let us know the answer.

That's a valid question.

There is also a ferry that operates from the port to downtown Hamilton and it holds a lot more passengers than the bus.

If you're able to purchase a flex or open ticket from Southhampton to London, that would be the safest bet. That way you can get on the next train no matter what time it departs. (I don't know if they sell such a ticket though. I know DB in Germany and NS in Netherlands does for their trains.)

Anyone know where MSC docks in Rotterdam?

Wait, I was on Splendida earlier this year and the shower had a door. I think.

I hear they have cheese in Gouda!

I think someone said the new ship would not fit into the Port of Palm Beach. I'm concerned MAS is going to ditch Palm Beach and just operate the new ship out of Tampa. This ship is actually pretty huge and they're going to have to compete there with the other ships that operate 4-nt cruises to Cozumel. Will be interesting.

If you're renewing a U.S. passport, you DO need to send your current passport in along with the application form and money. But keep in mind that if you're sailing on a closed loop cruise (a cruise that begins and ends at the same U.S. port), you just need your original birth certificate and government-issued ID to sail. So if you don't get the new passport back in time, you can use this as a backup plan.

Thanks! Here's the link: https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-confirms-spirit-class-ship-sale-and-fleet-exit/

Smart move. You don't want to be adjacent public restrooms.

Just go with the garage since it's covered (except for the rooftop spots). If you snag a spot on the bottom two levels, you can easily just roll your suitcases to the check-in area. But there are elevators too if you need them.

Correct. Our MSC cruise out of Martinique had all prices and charges onboard in €.

I would also add that one passenger only has to pay gratuities x 1 while the typical double occupancy cabin is paying gratuities x 2. Your room steward relies on tips as part of his/her wages so he/she will earn less on that cruise if you're alone. Restaurant staff pool tips and then get their share and the total is less if there are a lot of solo cruisers onboard. NCL is the leader in offering Single studio cabins that are priced at around 150% of the double occupancy per person rate.

Thanks! Am aware most things in Hamburg will be closed and had considered taking a train to Berlin where it's one of their "Shopping Sundays". In the end, taking a train to Kiel where we discovered an awesome German restaurant a couple years ago and will return there for a nice lunch. It is open on Sundays.

I'm taking this cruise during the first week of December. I think you're going to find it's going to be COLD. But in late March there's always the possibility of a sunny day or two; more likely for you in March than for me in December. But wow, what a great set of ports!

National Express coach service has relatively cheap bus service from Southampton Harbour Parade coach terminal direct to Heathrow. At Heathrow it makes stops at T5, T4 and then the Central Bus Terminal for T2/T3. Link: https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

I don't think you can make it. If the ship docks at 7:00am, disembarkation likely won't begin until around 8am and you have to clear Customs & Border Protection. Orlando Sanford International is much farther than Orlando International. You'd be taking a real chance.

Well that's new to me. They didn't have that for the two times I've sailed with them.

I've not experienced boarding or check-in by class and floor. Once you're in the terminal, you get in the queue for the next Rep. Once boarding begins, you get in line and in you go. I do believe disembarkation is by floor but I've always stayed on the deck where the gangway is located so I just go to the door and leave. The ship is old and has few bells and whistles that the other lines have, even on their older ships. But I've thought the ship was very clean and maintained. It's only two nights. You have a fun evening the first night on the ship, whether it's their Ship Show, the casino, lounge show or disco. You're in Grand Bahama one full day and then you're headed home. It goes quick. I don't stay out late the second night since I will want to be up early to disembark the ship. I've never eaten in the restaurant; buffet only on all cruises. It's small but decent enough. Even a picky eater like me has not gone hungry. And the buffet reopens from 11:30p-12:30a for Late Night Snacks. For what they charge, you can't go wrong and it's actually cheaper than a beach weekend at a Quality Inn.

The Doubletree by Hilton hotel is not IN the airport but it is ON the airport grounds and a short hotel shuttle ride away. You could then Uber/Lyft/Taxi ride it to the Port.