thecruisers6

13 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

It may be ... but it's also called valuing those on US-based ships above others!  Our experience on Armonia was an eye-opener.  The Hotel department went above and beyond to ensure we had the time of our lives (and they sure succeeded).  We've never had so many 'extras' sent to our cabin in all our sailings (though it helped significantly that we knew the Director of Hotel Services from a previous cruise.  That being said, it was very noticeable at both the CC and Black Card events how different we were treated than when on ships in other regions).

You are right Bea. It was even said recently on another site, that if MSC regular guests make the effort and cost to travel to the US they deserve the little extras. Depends which way you spin it I guess. I’m just glad our next 2 cruises are stateside 😀

So venchi is included on Seaside (US based)  and not on Seaview (EU based) 

Is that called chasing the American Dream? 

1 hour ago, harv2015 said:

Have a 2020 sailing on Armonia.  MSC have given me until 13 June 2019 to determine whether I stay on Armonia accepting the $400 OBC or avail of option to change to different ship/sailing date transferring deposit.  In order for me to make an informed decision as whether I still cruise and pay for a transatlantic airfares from Ireland to Miami I need to know which of the alternative ports will be used on my revised itinerary? I'm aware that up until end of August 2019 the Ocho Rios, George Town itinerary which I'm on has Cozumel and Costa Maya as alternative ports.  Really like to know before by 13 June 2019 if Cozumel and Costa Maya are still the planned alternative ports on my 2020 cruise?  

 

Have tried contacting MSC by telephone and email and still haven't an answer.   Ordinarily I wouldn't book a cruise without knowing the full itinerary!  

Harv have a look at Bea’s review of the ship. There’s a link on this thread previously. 

Go by the Armonia  + $400 obc or another ship, rather than the ports. 

Don’t forget it wouldn’t take much for the administration to ban Mexico travel next, although the tension seems to be calming down a bit now. 

6 minutes ago, Jellyfish21 said:

MSC didn’t officially notify me of cancelling Cuba until last thurs night , three days before the sale date?

MSC didn’t cancel Cuba - The US authorities snatched it away from everyone. Even non-US citizens. 

10 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

I remember the hurricane incident differently.  Can you please provide a reference indicating where "MSC did better for their guests than anyone else?"  I believe others were offering full refund and 50% future cruise credit while MSC only offered 25%.  Here is the press release: 

 

"MSC Cruises cancelled the September 9 sailing from Miami aboard the MSC Divina, citing Hurricane Irma in a prepared statement. Guests will receive a full refund and 25 percent discount voucher on a future sailing.... “Guests who disembark on Thursday will receive a refund for the two days shortening of their cruise vacation and, in addition, will also get a voucher for a 25% discount on the price of a future MSC Cruises vacation. Guests who will continue the cruise after Thursday’s call to Miami will also receive the same voucher.”

 

I'm truly not a MSC hater. I consider myself a realist, with realistic expectations of MSC.  As a budget cruise line, MSC provides a very nice product. When we (consumers) pay more, we expect more customer care when things go sideways. As long as MSC offers reduced pricing it's only fair for consumers to expect reduced customer care. 

 

 

It is a difference in culture to some extent BB. 

We remember Divina escaping the path of the hurricane to Cozumel as stated above. The extra days were free of charge for passengers. What also happened is that MSC also invited any family members of staff onboard in Florida along with ground staff there to escape the danger. 

My other memory (obviously apart from the heartbreaking devastation and loss of life) are of the news clips of stranded passengers from another line. Where they had been dumped in the storms path before their cruise should even have finished. The cruise line was saying everyone was sorted, yet the news channel saw hundreds  stranded at the airport worried about their lives. 

I guess its more a case of financial motivation over there. 

After all it was the US that invented ‘where there’s blame, there’s a claim’ 

it’s just a shame citizens are too scared to dare say that it’s this US administration where the blame lies. 

1 minute ago, Wyoming2010 said:

 

You misread my post.  I was referring to what NCL did on our last cruise.  I've never taken MSC nor am I booked with them for Cuba.  So yes, I was stating my facts.  

Silly me 🙄

i thought this was the MSC section

3 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Totally agree, many US consumers are solely price driven and would never even consider a BBB rating. However; the current stance by MSC regarding imposing cancellation fees for Havanna supports the BBB "F" rating (since this rating is more about a companies integrity and willingness to resolve conflict). I think we all can agree that MSC often has an "our way or the highway" philosophy. As mentioned, I thought the failure rating was perhaps because MSC is an Italian line, but Costa has managed to pull out an A rating from the BBB.

 

I hypothesize, that in order to fill 4 ships from Miami this Winter, MSC will need to price themselves at the bottom of the barrel. Time will tell. 

Time will indeed tell BB. 

Don’t forget though there is an ever increasing demand for cruise holidays this side of the pond. Especially from mainland Europe, with ever increasing amounts of people looking for a bit of warmth in the winter or like us, a bit of cold out of New York 🙄

And although it’s hard to believe for a lot of people your side, they want to go with a cruise line they know and trust - MSC. 

Wow MSC are offering $300 more OBC than another line. The MSC cruises were cheaper to begin with as well than that line. 

Well done MSC, paying compensation when you didn’t have to for unilateral action taken against Cuba by the US administration and even a complete U-turn in US policy. 

13 minutes ago, sidari said:

MSC could choose to go to Cuba from a different base but I believe pressure has been put on them not to go at all because of their sailings out of Miami, coupled with a new terminal. You scratch our back and we scratch yours.

I think you are exactly right. Will be interesting to see if Virgin roll over as well!

9 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

Hi Mark ... I wonder if CruisingFox has heard about this.   She booked Armonia for the week after she disembarks our cruise on Meraviglia (mainly for the Havana stop).  I know she's on a Baltics cruise at the moment and has been incommunicado.

Hi Bea, 

After just reading your post I just messaged CF on social media. Hopefully they will have enough time to decide etc. 

46 minutes ago, welwyngirl said:

It's almost impossible for us to cancel as we would lose all our monies. Flights from the UK,  booked accommodation prior and following, car hire etc.   The UK have just forked out 40 million quid of taxpayers' hard-earned cash to host the Donald and now this!  Gutted. 

 

Sorry to hear this and I’ve not seen anything,  anywhere, warning non-US citizens that it would be a case of ‘go to Cuba and the cruise line would be banned from the US’. 

I wonder if in the future MSC will pull out of the US completely. There must be a cut-off point especially if China is next in line for restrictions  after Cuba, with the escalating trade war. 

9 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

Opera's sailings in Cuba have nothing to do with the US government's decision as it didn't operate from the US.

 

I was implying that MSC may have taken a political position regarding Cuba's 'involvement' in the Venezuala situation.

Or dare I say it, not wanting to jeopardise the new Miami terminal and drive into the US market?

if they follow US foreign policy there will be plenty of extra sea days on the next world cruise 🙄

9 minutes ago, nikkiw60 said:

THe odd one! He has also been offered a rum one...

btw he didn’t try it but he was offered a whiskey with lemoncillo?

Haha don’t blame him. 

Do you think it would have a citrus nose 🙄

26 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

It'll be a whisky-tasting as there is no whiskey in the top shelf offerings.  😡 😪 (I just have a difficulty in spelling whiskey whisky even where I know I should 🙄)

Well Captain and Bea as a guardian of the Glenlivet I should know better. 

Predictive texting - off

Thanks all that has made me feel a bit better. With baggage allowances and the YIN wardrobe I was starting to panic 😂

Has Matt been able to stomach another whisky Nikki? 

Laundry packages now contain the wording....

“Item allowance must be used all together in a single delivery. Multiple deliveries are not accepted.”

Another change that does not enhance the passengers cruise experience but diminishes it. 

Downgraded now to the same as other lines. Might as well provide a cheap bag to ram as much as you can in. 

Whats next - Heated up pre-cooked frozen pizza?

You are an absolute legend Captain. 

Thank you very much indeed. 

Can’t wait for Bea’s and CF’s reaction!

The videos are great on my iPhone and I think even after a whiskey tasting, I could make it back ok the long way round 😂😂😂😂

Fantastic review and thank you for all the effort you have put in. Loved the photos and commentary of the food and snacks. 

Its ok to say “only in the Yacht Club”. It even backs up what I picked up from Bea’s review when she sailed on Meraviglia. I certainly wouldn’t want to sail on her outside of the YC. May think differently when I can leave my business for more than once a year though, also with the prices going up in YC so much. 

Just to say Captain, this is the best review since ‘everything’s going splendidly on Splendida’. 

If the adjudicators ever stumble across the MSC site...... you’ll win a prize 😀

Thanks for that Captain 🙄

I’ve just had my own version of the ‘wellness salad’ but..... you reminded me why I did 😂😂

1 hour ago, nikkiw60 said:

A funny each time I ask for a glass of Chablis they keep bringing Champagne instead... complain ? Moi!

customer service desk I am on my way! How dare you give me champagne!

Don’t forget to start your stopwatch as you enter the queue. 

Tell everyone in the queue what the problem is very LOUDLY. 

SHOUT as loud as you can at the crew.

Demand to see the supervisor’s supervisor’s Manager. 

You don’t want a ‘poxy’ bottle of champagne as a gesture of goodwill. 

Let them know if it happens again you will be straight back. 

Tell everyone on CC your never going on MSC again....... (Until your next 2 cruises shhhh don’t tell anyone)

Loving your review Nikki but feel sorry for Matt with them proper Whiskey measures... Sláinte 😀

Please let me know what Matt thinks of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label if it’s an option 😀

43 minutes ago, Acadie said:

true

43 minutes ago, Acadie said:

Sailed with him on the Divina and the Seaside - very kind, always walking around the ship and very accessible.  As others have said, a true gentleman.

On seaside was he surrounded by security guards?

Only by reading this site, you would think he would have to either hide away or have armed protection.  

So the captain is always walking around the ship - the truth is out there 😀

1 hour ago, Beamafar said:

Nikki had paid for the Deluxe package, so, if there were a code on her card, it would be 421.

 

There's only one bar that does the molecular cocktails - while they're "different" I didn't find the ones that I had memorable.

I’ve never forgotten the bright blue one with flavour pods in the bottom- tasted like diesel 🤢

I looked through someone’s previous posts a few weeks back. The particular poster keeps saying that their next cruise with MSC had better be better than their last etc...

They have several thousand posts on the NCL board. I got the feeling that it’s all show, as that poster would not look ‘cool’ in front of their mates on that forum if they told the truth. Funnily that poster has 2 MSC Cruises booked but not a mentioned of that on The NCL board lol. Would anyone that didn’t enjoy an MSC cruise book another 2.... I think not!!!!!! 

You really should have reviews verified before appearing on here. Fortunately I have the common sense to know what to believe 😀

Yippee 🍾🥂🍻