Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Eleteace

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    694

  • Joined

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Eleteace

    MSC Status Matching

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    Yep I agree with hawkeyetlse. It'll be classic status which is better than nothing! Certainly worth having.

     

    The way you apply is slightly different in the UK from the US (still very easy). I've done my best to explain it all here: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2017/03/21/msc-status-match/

     

    It was a really easy process, I managed to change my NCL platinum status to MSC black which gets me tons of perks. I'm really excited to try them! I just sent them a screenshot of the 'my NCL' page on the NCL website along with my latitudes number.

     

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Question - MSC Divina and Food Allergies

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    I haven't been on the Diivina but in general I find it easier eating with a food intolerance on a ship than on land!

     

    I'm intolerant to dairy and have never had any problems when cruising on MSC (opera) or any other cruise lines. Please try not to worry!

     

    If you are really worried you can let the staff know before your cruise, although I have never done this. At each meal I simply let the waiter know (if they don't remember me).

     

    More about this here: (I could talk about this for days!) http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/12/19/cruising-with-a-food-intolerance/

     

    Hope that helps, you'll have no problems at all [emoji16]

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Have you sailed NCL Spirit and Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I haven't cruised on the vision so I can't comment on that but I'm 100% in love with the spirit!

     

    She's a little older but don't let that put you off, she's got so much space which the newer ships have and she's got a gorgeous atrium. Photos here: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/10/15/ncls-norwegian-spirit-my-favourite-cruise-ship/

     

    As far as experience onboard goes I love the spirit, but it doesn't have the gimmicks of the newer ships (no water slides etc, but a proper sized pool!)

     

    Anyway I could go on forever. 1 vote for spirit. Haha.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Greek Isles on the Spirit or Northern Europe on the Getaway? Hmmmmmmm

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Don't sell the Spirit short because she is "small", It is a beautiful Ship, we done the Grand Med on it in 2015 and had a blast.

     

     

    Completely agree! I LOVE the spirit.

     

    I've cruised on the getaway too but think I would chose the spirit. She's so grand and spacious compared to the newer ships which feel more 'crammed'. I could talk about the spirit forever, I love that pub!

     

    I've been on both itinerarys too and agree it depends on the time of the year.

     

    Both ships and both itinerarys sound amazing, such a good problem to have!

     

    I have written more about the spirit here and why I love her so much, may be of interest to you. Tons of photos/getaway information too. http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/10/15/ncls-norwegian-spirit-my-favourite-cruise-ship/

     

    You'll have a brilliant time no matter which you pick :-)

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    WiFi in Bermuda

    in Bermuda

    Posted

    Yep there are tons of cafes and places around, I managed to get free wifi and check my emails etc.

     

    Not sure if any of it would be good enough for making phone calls.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Can I get a quick comparison between Cunard and either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity?

    in Cunard Line

    Posted

    I read your post and I am surprised you did not know:

     

     

     

    1) You have a set meal time and a set table

     

    2) The dress code for formal nights is strict and informal nights are still pretty formal.

     

    3) The dress code includes most public places after 6pm

     

     

     

    These things are clearly spelled out on Cunard's website and are probably the things that people either love or hate about Cunard.

     

     

     

    Your next 2 items are not as obvious:

     

     

     

    4) 24 hour room service – and its free!!

     

    5) There is a laundry on board – and its free!!

     

     

     

    Your next item is absolutely true, but impossible to know (or believe), until you experience Cunard.

     

     

     

    6) Cunard ships are quiet

     

     

     

    I do not agree with item 7:

     

     

     

    7) Mostly aimed at the older generation

     

     

     

    Although it is probably true that a higher percentage of Baby Boomers might prefer Cunard over the Millennials, Cunard will appeal to anyone who likes the manners and culture demonstrated in Downton Abbey and similar productions.

     

     

     

    Your last item is not quite correct:

     

     

     

    8) No corkage fee

     

     

     

    In my experience you can bring as much wine on as you can carry (I routinely start a voyage with six bottles), but if you want to drink that wine at dinner there is a corkage fee ($20, I think). But even that is sometimes waived. After purchasing wine for several days in the dinning room I brought a bottle to dinner one night. Our waiter discreetly took the bottle from me before we got to out table. The sommelier served it as if it was from the Cunard cellar, but the corkage fee never appeared on our bill.I assume that was because we only did it once and bought wine from him at every other meal.

     

     

     

    My new TA is a cruise expert, but she had never booked on Cunard before. She was impressed with the pre-voyage documentation and asked me what we like about Cunard. It is probably the culture of sophistication and gentleness that is so lacking in today's culture.

     

     

     

    One last thing about the dress code... I will never forget the night my wife and saw Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theater in London. A friend had arranged for us to sit in the first row. We were dressed up and started the evening in the bar under the stage area. Everything was great until we found our seats. Sitting next to us were Americans wearing ball caps, t-shirts and jeans. Yes, their attire downgraded our experience.

     

     

    Thanks for such a detailed reply! I cruised with family so I didn't book the cruise, I knew that Cunard would be 'fancy' but nethertheless coming from a mainly NCL background it was a surprise! I probably wouldn't have picked Cunard if I was cruising alone.

     

    I agree about 1, I did know that. About point 2 I honestly thought 'informal' meant 'informal' not 'nearly as formal but you may take off your bow tie'

     

    I'm really surprised you don't agree with number 7. The daily schedule was full of ballroom dancing and the dj was called 'dj graham' which summed up the whole thing to me ha ha.

     

    Interesting to know about the corkage fee! I only brought on wine to drink on my balcony so was not aware about the charge with dinner, I'll update the post. Thank you.

     

    That experience at theatre does sound dreadful!

     

    Good thing we all like different things really, thanks again for reading the article. I do like talking to people who think differently to me :-)

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Information on NCL Spirit

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Dated?! I never thought that the rooms were dated and I cruised a couple of years ago.

     

    My understanding is that they haven't changed a lot just freshened it up a bit :)

     

    The spirit is my favourite cruise ship by a million miles so I really hope that they haven't changed too much. Definitely wouldn't say that it ever was dated though. I know it was an older ship but I really loved the design of it. It is so much more spacious than some of the newer ships, that atrium is just gorgeous!

     

    I could talk about the spirit for ages but I won't fill up this box and bore you all! If you fancy learning a little about her history and seeing some photos (from pre dry dock, haven't been since sadly) then check this out http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/10/15/ncls-norwegian-spirit-my-favourite-cruise-ship/

     

    Hope thats of interest to you :)

    QE- Have we wasted money on formal attire ??

    in Cunard Line

    Posted

    In my experience the dress code for informal nights is still more formal than I would EVER wear in my normal life!

     

    I'm 23 and maybe not used to this formal dining thing just yet... I would say you have 100% not wasted money on formal clothes. The only really difference to me seemed that men could not wear a bow tie...

     

    You'll have a fantastic time and won't look out of place at all! I've written about my Cunard formal/informal experience here and have photos of what I wore if anybody is interested: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/11/08/cunard-dress-code/

     

    :)

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Can I get a quick comparison between Cunard and either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity?

    in Cunard Line

    Posted

    I've cruised with NCL/MSC and last summer I took my first Cunard cruise on the queen Victoria. Completely agree that they can't be compared!

     

    I am 23 so my the traditional Cunard passenger, I did really enjoy the cruise but there were so many things that nobody told me about and when I got back I was thinking 'why did nobody tell me those things'?

     

    Things like the fact that the room service is free and the dress code is ship wide after 6pm (not just in the restaurants).

     

    Although I really did enjoy my cruise I'm not sure that I would chose to cruise with Cunard again. I wrote a post here detailing the things I wish I had known before my first Cunard cruise; http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/11/06/8-things-you-should-know-before-cruising-with-cunard/

     

    Hope that's of help to you! :-)

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    NCL SPIRIT 10112 Balcony Cabin

    in Cabin Selection Tips

    Posted

    I have been on the spirit on deck 10 but honestly can't remember which number. Looking at the deck plan it does look like a good cabin though!

     

    I love the spirit, she's my favourite cruise ship by a mile. She might be a little old but she's got so much space and that atrium is so gorgeous!

     

    Make sure you sit out on the deck by the pub, that's my favourite spot. I could talk about the spirit forever but I won't bore you and fill up this box.

     

    (If you fancy getting more excited and reading more of my ramblings about this ship: http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/tag/norwegian-spirit/ )

     

    I see you've been on her before, I hope you love her as much as me!!

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    How do you carry your cruise card?

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    My daughter carries hers in her phone case. Last cruise 3 new cards, one before that 6! Apparently the phone demagnetises the strip and she gets locked out. Where did she carry hotel door card on latest trip? In her phone case. Did she get locked out? Yep, slow learner. Lol

     

     

    Ha ha!!! That has never happened to me and I do it on every cruise/hotel I stay in :-)

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Christmas and New Years Cruises (plus one stowaway question)?

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    I can figure out what White Night is and have a couple dresses that will work for that but what do people wear for Flower Power and Italian Nights?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    What MSC ship are you going on for Christmas this year? Thanks for all the info (and the link to all your details and pictures)!! :D I hope MSC is similar to NCL because it looks awesome there!! I've done a New Years cruise on NCL (on the Epic) but I've never been on a ship for Christmas. I love your comment about no in laws unless you bring them with you then it's your own fault. LOL!!!! :D Even though I'm to old to believe in Santa (I'm 32) I love the story and the magic and I've always wonder how he managed to find people on cruise ships. I'll be looking out for his boat for sure, that would be something not to forget!! About what time did he arrive? Just so I know when to be on deck and keeping an eye out in case they do the same thing on MSC.

     

     

    Ha ha!! Thank you :D

     

    I'm cruising on the Meraviglia!! So so so excited. I love cruising at Christmas, the in law thing is definitely a bonus ;)

     

    Not sure if 32 is too old to believe in santa, I saw him with my own eyes!!! Around 10am ;) he came onboard and gave presents to the children.

     

    (Please stay in touch I want to compare MSC Christmas cruises!!)

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

×
×
  • Create New...