RudiRatlos

MSC drink packages did change in the past (every few years). Since the last change is only a few month ago, I wouldn't expect any in the near future. When starting yacht club, drinks for YC guest were only included within the yacht club. A drink package valid throughout the whole ship was added about 6 years ago, and it was always like the highest available drink package ("Premium Extra" for now) since then.

No chairs or loungers on the promenade deck (also not much watching the sea there because of the lifeboats - sorry, have to correct myself: looking at my photos from 2019 I remember the life boats hanging above the promenade deck, obstructing the cabin views on deck 8). In addition to the pool deck, there is the "Top 16" sundeck for aurea guests (often bella/fantastica guests have access for a daily fee). Some seatings with a view can be found at zebra bar (deck 6) and pigalle lounge (deck 7) - if you´re lucky, there won´t be too many events there at daytime (but it´s possible that they have dancing courses or something like that there). Extra hint: the front-facing balconies on some decks ar accessible from the corridors (no seating there and of course windy when on sea).

So your question has been answered above. You will be assigned to one of the main dining rooms (the two you mentioned or the panorama restaurant), no charge and no reservations. Fixed dining times (two seatings) for Bella and Fantastica, anytime dining for Aurea in a designated area of the panorama restaurant.

Which ship are you talking about? L'olivo d'oro and L'olive doree are main dining rooms on Meraviglia (I do not think there is any relevant difference between them), L'olivo is the yacht club restaurant on splendida. To each of these you will be assigned based on your cabin number.

Yes, cruise deposits (as any package tours/holidays) are usually non-refundable in most european countries. In contrast, ordinary hotel accomodations or flight/train tickets are usually changeable and refundable, provided they were booked at normal price. Of course people travelling for non-business reasons often tend to book the cheaper non-flexible rates... Knowing that itinerary or date changes are always possible with cruises (and have always occured for different reasons, not only since covid-19), I would only book a non-flexible flight or hotel in connection with a cruise if it is really cheap, so the loss won't hurt in case of changes not covered by travel insurance.

The package is called "Alcohol-free package" @Bobbiegentry are you looking at your reservation just with the booking number or are logged in with a MSC account? Sometimes the latter gives you more options. If booked through a TA, ask your TA to add the alcohol-free package to your cruise. 15% service charge do not apply when pre-booking the package. ALCOHOL-FREE PACKAGE Includes: A wide choice of alcohol-free cocktails Soft drinks Energy drinks Mineral water Flavored water Fruit juices Coffee drinks (latte, espresso, cappuccino, etc.) Hot chocolate and hot teas Soft-serve ice cream The Alcohol-free package can be enjoyed in our bars, self-service buffet, casual and main restaurants, Ocean Cay and other exclusive destinations. Does not apply to our signature venues including Venchi 1878 establishments, Lavazza Coffee Shop and Jean Philippe Chocolate, Coffee, Crepes & Gelato.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, face masks are mandatory in public transport and some facilities like hospitals and medical practices (I would not consider this a "restriction", as no one is excluded from using public transport or visiting certain places). Covid tests are easily available in all german cities - just google "coronatest" or "covid-test" and the name of the city.

While there are no more covid restrictions in germany, this does not apply to embarkation, where MSC sets the rules. @SoDifficult To my understanding (just looked up at german MSC website) two doses of Sputnik V (which is a non-EMA approved vaccine) together with one dose of Johnson & Johnson plus negative antigen test should qualify for boarding Preziosa. This may also be the only possible option. I doubt that an EU digital covid certificate would be given to that person - at least not in germany, because this would require a booster with a mRNA-vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) after two doses of a non-EMA approved vaccine. We did a cruise with Preziosa from Kiel 3 weeks ago, everything covid-related was checked at embarkation.

Good decision, will make it easier for you! Kiel - Warnemuende by public transport would take about 6 hrs. For Hamburg to Kiel as well as Kiel to Hamburg, you may be able to book a shuttle through MSC. This is is usually offered for passengers cruising from/to Kiel.

As I've read here from others and experienced myself 3 weeks ago on Preziosa, the old system, where you put your YC card to get priority, only worked in maybe one of three or four rides (as reliable as MSC land-based service, one may think...) No big issue with 1.600 pax on a fantasia class ship, but also not really helpful. The new system, avoiding elevators stopping at each deck in a row or going empty from deck 4 to 14, may improve the situation for all passengers.

This "ACE" drink is quite common in germany and maybe some other european countries. ACE means enriched with (pro)vitamines A, C and E. Not half as healthy as it sounds, consisting mostly of water, sugar, some amount of real fruit juice (usually orange and carrots), artificial colouring and flavour. Same with the other juices available for free at the buffet, which are actually water-based drinks containing fruit juice (won't expect more than 50%), water, sugar, colouring and flavour. After trying these once on Splendida some years ago (I would be really surprised if they changed for better meanwhile) we were very happy with our drink package (included with aurea, the older ones may remember...) and had the waiters bring us each 2 cups of cappucino and 2 glasses of orange juice (used to be freshly squeezed in that good old times...) every morning.

Yes, MSC said something like "we have some good and some bad news for you" then: $50 OBC for all cruises, but no more VC selection cruises with more than 5% discount...

I thougt vencchi gelateria & creperie at seashore is actually some kind of takeaway?

Of course the only real way to enjoy crepes is to have them as dessert after a galette, to be eaten in a creperie in Brittany (or Rue Montparnasse in Paris), accompanied by a jug of cidre.... 😀

It´s the usual way to serve crepes at funfairs, foodtrucks etc all over europe - which may be the reason. Just as fish and chips are served in newspaper-style paper in the pub on meraviglia class.

In addition regarding drink packages: there is the "alcohol-free drink package" for adults, so you can book this for the adults and the "minors package" for the kids. Booking before cruise saves you 15% service charge. Free water (also some liquids they call "coffee" or "juice") is only available in the buffet restaurant, but is has been reported that passengers from some countries (where free water on the table is common practice) get also bottled water for free in MDR. afaik Butchers cut menu is the same on all MSC ships. There are pictures/videos about it available here and on youtube. We had a look at Galaxy menu 3 weeks ago on preziosa (seems to be little information about it in www) and found it less appealing then Kaito, so we stayed with the YC restaurant. Sofa bed made up every night or left out all time depends on the steward. We experienced both - as we like to have a sofa at daytime, a bit of tipping did the job in the latter case.

That used to be, but has been replaced by a new limitation: time of booking - VC silver and above now get $50 OBC for all bookings done more than 9 months before departure (which should be fulfilled with a booking for next april). This is from https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/msc-voyagers-club (should be applicable for @MsTabbyKats iirc): SILVER MEMBERSHIP 2,200 to 4,299 Points Voyagers Exclusives $50 Onboard Credit per person + Double Points on all bookings made more than 12 months before departure Voyagers Exclusives $50 Onboard Credit per person on all bookings made 9 to12 months before departure

You can use your travel insurance if it covers all things MSC wants.

$50 OBC for all cruises for VC silver and above is still valid. Mine also "disappeared" some weeks before the cruise started along with an unwanted change of cabin number - had my TA getting both back with no problem.

Steerage got Pepsi on this cruise, YC got the real thing. 😀

TSL_bar_list_Preziosa_baltic_2022.pdf This is the bar list from MSC Preziosa Top Sail Lounge from a baltic cruise this June. Should be quite similar, if not identical, to mediterranean cruises. Thinking about our past cruises, there is no big difference between mediterrenean and northern europe bar lists.

@Wor1dTrave11er There was a thread about transfer to Kiel some weeks ago. @ejtpa Good to hear you enjoyed the cruise, think I remember you from seeing there. We (a german couple travelling without kids) did only the first week (baltic sea). We did the behind-the-scenes tour together (of course we were in the "german" half of the group). Besides this tour, we explored all ports on our own: just walked to Tallinn and Visby, MSC shuttle in Helsinki (old market hall is worth a visit, had a delicious salmon soup there) and hop-on-hop-off in Stockholm (Vasa museum is impressive). As for food in YC restaurant, for us it was better than MDR on other MSC ships. Mostly quite good with a few really excellent dishes and also a few "misses". Despite of what we read in this forum, pizza was free for YC guests not only in room service, but also directly in "la locanda" - the waitress insisted that we had a try: if one likes "real" italian pizza (as we do) it was even better than the pizza from buffet.

$29 for one specialty restaurant seems reasonable. We did a 4-nighter from Warnemunde with calls in Gothenburg and Aarhus three years ago and really enjoyed the more intimate, calmer atmosphere vs. meraviglia (smaller bars, but iirc even more of them compared to the big and sometimes noisy bars on meraviglia). There was only Kaito Sushi as a specialty restaurant which is really good (went there without pre-booking so we chose and payed the items we wanted - there may be a fixed menu when pre-booked). Deluxe balcony cabins tend to be quite small (no sofa), have a close look at the deck plan and better go for a premium balcony.

Okay, seems they improved it on the new ships. To be honest, I don't remember exactly what is was like on meraviglia. May be the same as you described butI forgot about it. Older ships just have one simple light.

That may not the be the best idea. Did you ever notice a small light outside your cabin, slightly hidden above the cabin door? It's coupled with the power switch to indicate if someone is "home", so the butler or steward knows when to make up the room.