CruisingFox27

Usually, you can pay per day to access the solarium. It was €20 per day on our last sailing. Google informs me that is approx $23. Although, the access is subject to availability.

For Fantastica the breakfast and the delivery is free*. For all other room service items, you pay for the food but the delivery is free. On our sailing last week ( not Seaside) we had a card with a QR code in the cabin which linked to the room service menu. *One additional note about breakfast, I believe on US sailings there's a choice of hot and cold food. And the hot breakfast items may be charged. I've only ordered coffee and cold items, which were free.

We've just sailed to Malaga, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa. The average temperature was 70 - 75F. Which as a UK resident, that's most definitely shorts and sun wear weather. We did note lots of people still in coats though. I'd always prefer capri trousers and having a wrap when visiting a city, as you may need to cover up in places or if there's a sea breeze. Generally the temperature in May will increase but it obviously depends on what you're acclimatised too.

We've just returned our first Fantastica experience cruise, we've previously been Aurea or YC. We'll be returning to Aurea next time. We thought we'd try it given the reduction in benefits of the Aurea experience but, we'll not choose Fantastica again.

We booked through a TA but could still access the email option. I'd give it a couple of days and try again. Or contact your TA.

Is there a button which says 'email tickets'? I had a similar screen with no apparent option to check in and the web check in tab did nothing. However, when I selected email tickets, it did.

We received our gifts tonight. Tote bags 😂 So since you kindly donated 2 of yours to us on Mera, as we'd never received a bag. We've had them as our gifts on every cruise... We've relented and bought some WiFi but now I've days of your trip to catch up on 😊 Hoping its been wonderful 😊

Trying to catch up on the updates but only have limited connectivity this cruise. Main items to report, we're on the old drinks menu and a champagne of some description is included. So far received our correct diamond treats and we have butter 😀

After our experience at BC on Meraviglia, no bad reports surprise me. The strawberry cheesecake wasn't even the worst bit! Ah, dear old Pepe, he'd try to convince an Eskimo that they needed his special ice cubes, if the mood took him 😂 Hopefully you're both feeling better now.

The tea, coffee and water are all available 24/7. And I think a few snacks. As stated above there's just a few early morning hours without a full buffet selection available.

Hope you and Mr B feel better and were able to enjoy BC. We had the pirate warning and security for our Splendida 2020 repo not from Shanghai but from Singapore to Dubai. Aside from a few menacing looking security fellows around and deck closures we really didn't notice. No blokes with patches and parrots made an appearance either 😀 If you're paying for something or entitled then it's absolutely your right to be asking.

The always available selection has a plain steak and chicken. However, anything on the main section of the menu could be ordered without sauce. The Yacht Club Maitre'd is always accommodating and an early conversation with them would definitely get your friends requirements covered. I'm sure they'd be happy to prepare specific meals, with sufficient notice.

Boarding documents now appear to have a window for your check in. They were being strict on this for Covid reasons but that does seem to have been relaxed now. However, check in will close a minimum of 2 hours before your sailing time. Personally, I wouldn't look to be any later than 3pm.

I'm genuinely slightly intimidated by that soap dispenser, it looks like Sidari's darlek, and they scared me as a child 😳 I've always encountered the flush issue on every ship 🙈 I'll add that to my list of things to look forward to next week ☺️

MSC don't know how MSC determine things so, they're really not going to know how a 3rd party does it 😂🤣😂

Delighted to hear they've arrived and all is well. By well, that the appropriate drinks are included 😉 Looking forward to hearing updates.

That statement is usually just a coded way for rude and inconsiderate people to disrespect others, unfortunately.

Early sitting will apply to the evening meal in the MDR only. You can eat in the buffet anytime you like. The time doesn't change on any evening, regardless of the port location or departure time from port. On Magnifica there will only be an early and late (on the new large ships sometimes there are 3 sittings). Different ships have different meal times, I don't know for sure what your times will be but an example would be early 6.30pm and late 8.30pm or 7.15pm and 9.15pm. Once you're assigned and accept that sitting, you can't alternate on different evenings.

Check in will be in the main terminal building, when you arrive there, it will be signed where to report to check in and there will be staff on hand to assist. Ships don't always use the same piers, so do not worry about the multiple piers, just go to the passenger terminal. The attached map should help https://www.valenciaport.com/en/passengers/cruises/terminals/

We would always take water off the ship and never confiscated on our return. Equally, if we'd bought small bottles of soft drinks whilst in port, these wouldn't be confiscated either. They're not interested in your half empty bottle of warm 7UP 😂 Large bottles or cases of water or soda (I assume this is like Coke/Fanta etc) aren't permitted.

I need a drink 🍹😂

Slightly confused with a description on that list - at the top, it states "Premium Extra All drinks up to €13" but then in the Champagne and Wine section it states "Wine by the glass up to €10".

Fingers crossed in hope but not expectation. Guess, I'll find out in 12 days and report back 😀 The crew must absolutely dread any level of change 😳

Disappointing, but not surprising. Although, as mentioned what is said shoreside and what happens ship side, often vary... Thanks, Bea. Another issue, of course, is each ship is doing a different thing at a different time depending on its schedule. Our ship is currently on 10 night West Med circuits, she'll reposition to do 7 night circuits of the East Med on April 15th. It's possible the winter prices are still applicable and package changes will be implemented for that sailing. Or, they've done it already, and possibly you can pay the difference. Our tickets say drinks to 13E, but until we board I'll have no idea what prices apply to our ship and therefore what is included. It's very wrong that last week a drink was included and next week it won't be! Drinks which are 13E exactly are included, I presume? Edit: looking at a menu from Jan, only 1 item was 13E.

Have a great cruise!