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Actually, I believe we opted for the Champagne. The prosecco was from the Diamond status.

@luckyinpa posted this list from May. I can't explain the ones with prices on the spirits, perhaps it's for a second bottle?. Last cruise I just got the prosecco - about a $15 value.

* $59 plus a 15% gratuity because of purchasing on the ship. But hopefully you were going to tip anyway. Has anyone been offered to pre-purchase an individual restaurant meal lately?

Actually I can see some pricing now through the TA booking site excursion pdf generator. It does say "Not Be Used" and they come up under the "Something Special" category. https://www.mscbook.com/shop/TAPortalExternalView?storeId=10757&catalogId=10001&langId=&taportalIframeKey=MENU_EXCURSIONS&hideSideBar=true

There's a MSC webpage devoted to this. US site redirects over to UK site. https://www.msccruises.co.uk/cruises/excursions/msc-yacht-club-excursions ETA: I believe they haven't yet populated in the MSC booking site so I haven't seen prices.

I probably should have been more specific and asked - compared to a US Summer sailing on Princess or HA. Not sure of your sailing history. I'd be interested to hear a comparison if you book a Summer trip on one of the Seaside/+ class. I was hoping Magnifica would be less of a draw to families than the newer ships with more kid oriented features. But the short itineraries and low prices are likely going to be their main booking driver.

My guess is it will be used as temporary worker housing. It's a small cruise ship with about 100 double cabins, a restaurant and social areas. MSC knows how to run it as temporary lodging.

...

You mention a two story balcony. On Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa and Euribia they have forward facing Duplex suites with private hot tub but there is only one balcony connected to the lower level. These Duplex cabins are on lower decks and were originally not part of the Yacht Club and thus are not physically connected to the Yacht Club public areas. On the Newest World class ships there are two types of Duplex cabins, one type is forward facing with a two deck balcony with private hot tub and the other type is side facing with a one level balcony and no hot tub. Both are within the Yacht Club complex.

Do you think the ship was anywhere near full capacity? Did you notice a large number of children compared to Princess and HA? How about the fellow passenger nationality demographics?

Understood. Subtlety doesn't seem to keep those comments at bay. My apologies if you didn't appreciate the sarcasm. Thanks again for a value minded review.

A good summation of MSC. Now awaiting responses suggesting that you look at Yacht Club for your next sailing. /s

I really try not to change a MSC booking once made. It's quite possible they make you cancel and rebook for something as simple as removing a 3rd passenger, thus having to book at the going rates and promotions. Look at the booking Terms and Conditions to see the latest cancel dates and penalties. If you suspect mother is likely to cancel then put her as the 3rd guest, that might make canceling her more easy. Canadian Terms& Conditions.pdf

@ all the posters pushing for TAs. It seems to me the OP's question is specifically asking between booking online and calling MSC directly, and not asking about whether travel agents are better. OP is free to correct this.

On my past Meraviglia sailings they moved 90% of the acrobatic type performers you would typically see in the other MSC ship classes theater over to the extra fee Carousel shows. But at least they filled the void with other type shows like ventriloquist, juggler, magician or similar. Were there only singers and dancers in the main theater?

Anyone out there that has recently had the Easy, not Easy Plus, package? Since MSC has removed the up to dollar/euro limits from the description? Prior to it's removal I believe it was about $6. I'm interested to know whether MSC still treats it like the higher packages in regards to offering a discount towards more expensive drinks. The below still appears in the FAQ: If I choose a drink not included in the package, do I pay a full price? No. Guests who purchase alcoholic all-inclusive beverage packages Easy, Easy Plus, or Premium Extra, and who want to enjoy cocktails, spirits and/or wines by the glass that are not included in their package, will pay only the price difference between the package allowance and the à la carte price of ordered drinks. But now without any monetary "package allowance" associated with Easy on the main MSC website I'm unsure how it works. Once in the booked cruise area I can get slightly different package descriptions, my package limit amounts have odd typo errors. But again Easy has no "package allowance".

There's been a lot of discussion about the overall passenger makeup on the New York sailings. I've been on Meraviglia twice from NY but what I consider off season, i.e. shools were in session. Any issues with passenger behavior on your Summer sailing? I did late Summer once on NCL and haven't been willing to do that time of year again.

The MSC website used to be near impossible to book through if you wanted to use Voyagers Club or other discounts but lately it's much more functional. The only difficulty would be claiming special discounts like military or medical worker where it requires calling an phone agent. I've booked my last two online with no issues. Personally I've tried multiple agents and find since I'm willing to search out sailings where MSC has already heavily discounted the price the travel agents can barely offer a hundred dollars OBC on a $3000 sailing. Not worth it to me for giving up control of the booking. Now if you're booking a holiday sailing where MSC is charging a premium rate the TA can do more and it might be worthwhile. On a $800 booking TA's don't want to know you. I've had just as incompetent service from TA's as new MSC booking agents. The best you can do is get familiar with the product yourself, you can be your own best advocate. I also prefer owning the booking myself, without some third party getting in the way. On the MSC Cruise Critic board I'm in the minority on this subject.

You were lucky the email wasn't in Italian.

I haven't paid attention to the regular passenger sequence on my last couple sailings. Have they dropped using the color tags for your luggage? All I see is group numbers by deck.

The times I've used it we met in a lounge or theater. Once the walk off line gets small enough they gather the group to leave. A few times Aurea was gathered at the same time. They escorted the group to the back of the remaining line. Technically you go ahead of the other colors, at least the ones that follow the instructions.

It's pretty unusual for MSC to move you from a selected cabin. Back when MSC first started the upgrade bidding process it wasn't clear that Aurea and Yacht Club bids got the associated perks but pretty quickly they amended the Terms to clarify you do get all the perks. It's the complimentary upgrades like you received that usually don't, with exceptions for YC. Here's the current T&C's that may be of use. https://upg.plusgrade.com/terms/partner/9Ck2Ks4MSC

NCL also heavily pushes diners to the specialty restaurants, a large percentage of passengers book the inclusive rate that includes meal(s) at specialty restaurants. I see way fewer people in MSC's specialty restaurants.

Does the matrix chart ever change based on the length of the sailing you are currently on? It's much easier to get 5000 points on an 11 day sailing than on a four day. Yet based on earning 5000 points I could select the certificate for free inside on a four day sailing regardless of which sailing I was currently on? I suppose that does makes some sense.

Some fall under Worldwide up to 10 nights. I also don't remember about "Over 10 nights". They're likely based on a per day play. ETA: But I don't know if my interpretation of the rules is correct.