hummer2407

I was on mera in October.   My son left his wristband on the table in our room and we never noticed.   It was there for a day.   Ship security found the family at the pool and kindly asked us the make sure we had our bracelets.   We were told that they noticed his bracelet not moving for a day.   They were very nice and it was an honest mistake.   We were told that the contact tracing will only kick in if you spend significant time directly next another and not just passing by.

No biggie.   

The bracelet actually came in handy when i left my phone at the photo area and didn't realize it until ship security brought my phone to me while i was seated outside.   They said they found my phone and delivered it to me.   I believe they use these more for tracking and for marketing and passenger habit info more than the virus.

Believe it or not MSC's phone service is far better now than before the mess of the past 2 years.  Most of the travel industry is the opposite.  I have been on hold over 4 hours several times on a couple of different airlines.  I have had MSC pick up within 5 minutes the past 3 times I have called.  Keep in mind that you get different answers from every agent.  I called 2 days ago and told them that I couldnt move forward with my checkin because of the security photo.  They "pushed" the checkin and told me they would take care of the photo at checkin at the port.  I struggled with pictures in October but eventually got them accepted.  When I got to the port they took new pics.  MSC knows that their website sucks.  Dont worry about it.  Good luck  

Thats what kids and grand kids are for.   They can walk the 200 yards to the food and bring it back.   No need to tip them. 

You have to ask once on board.  I was told I couldnt request one, but after asking again I was able to do so.  If you are going on the March 27th Meraviglia cruise please dont take my cabana 26,  lol.  We liked it because it comes with a couch, couple of patio chairs, table, cooler, they were installing fans, beach/float mats, and shade.  My mother and others dont like sitting in the sun all day so this makes it nice.  Its a nice place to make home base for the day.  A nice place to store electronics out of the sand.  It was just more relaxing than lounge chairs in the sand all day.  I love lounging in the sun and sand and you can do that too in front of the cabana.  It just works well for families with older and or younger kids.  Im really cheap.  I agreed to do this once and then found it to be worth it for me.  To each their own.....but I was pleasantly surprised.  

I have never rented a cabana anywhere and never thought I would but I highly recommend the cabana.  Get number 26.  It is next to bar and food and bathrooms.  We enjoyed it so much we got it a second day and just got one for our cruise in 2 weeks.

I have no idea about the Virtuosa but I just got off of the Meraviglia.  Wonderful cruise.  I love this ship.  I have been on it 3 times.  This was my first time in an aft cabin.  Never again.  I was in 14213 and 14215.  Horrible cabins.  Balcony so small you had to step over the footstool and chair.  No breeze at all because of location and solid wall on one end.  The stairs you mention are not public access on this ship.  Crew only.  This sucked big time.  One of the reasons I booked this cabin was for the easy access to the buffet, one floor above.  I had read in a review that the stars did go to the buffet and this wouldve been nice for my elderly mother.  This was not the case.  This back of the ship location meant that everytime my mother wanted to leave the room she had to walk to the middle of the ship to use the lifts.  There are no stairs in the back on the Meraviglia.  I loved the cruise and the ship, just be aware of the aft cabins.

Glad you started this thread.  We booked the Family Suite on the Meraviglia and found out today that we have been assigned 14213 and 14215.  These are both Aft cabins.  I have never stayed in an Aft cabin.  I have mixed feelings.  Is it loud?  14213 is the last cabin in the row.  The balcony looks smaller than others.  I am thinking that these are just 2 sided by side cabins.  Do you know if this is the case.  I am a little worried that by being so high and under buffet overhang that I will not get any sun.  Your thoughts....

Easy plus package is not offered on my Oct 9 Meraviglia cruise.  Just goes from easy to premium.  The menu posted on an earlier post showed a whole list of mixed drinks listed on the drink menu under the title EASY    So I am really confused.

It doesnt have to be this difficult.  Although I love MSC, they try their hardest to make things difficult.  I saw a drink menu posted on an earlier thread for the Meraviglia.  It shows a whole list of mixed drinks including margaritas and daquiris listed under the Easy Package.  This is why I asked this question.  I was hoping someone that just came from the ship might be able to provide some insight.  

My las 2 cruises with MSC I had the easy package.  For some odd reason they wouldnt make a frozen drink with alcohol.  I would have to order a virgin drink plus a shot and mix it myself. Is this still the policy?  Im not talking anything fancy, just a daiquiri or a margarita.   

MSC Meraviglia out of Miami to Mexico and Ocean Cay.  In Indiana you get your health records from the county health department.  The county health department sends info to the state health department for COVID related info.  The county health department  in 2 different counties here in Indiana told me the same thing.  I was told to goto state health department for the new cards, which arent actually cards.  The local news stations and google searches instruct me to goto the special link that the state board of health has set up for replacement cards/proof of vaccination.  

If any of you have tried to deal with MSC customer service you now how hard it is to get anything done.  The lady I spoke with was sure my form would work.  I questioned her a couple of times about their strict no photocopy and original card only policy.  She was confident that my state form would work.  I am still hesitant and will try to get them to send me some form of written confirmation.  I am less confident I will get said written confirmation.  I was just hoping someone on here had some type of similar experience.

MSC just told me that anything from a state health department was sufficient for MSC as long as it has the info on the shots, location, dates, etc.

So I called out local county health department.  I was told that they do no replace the actual cards because you would need the actual nurses that gave the shots and signed the original cards to sign the replacement cards.  I was told that the only thing you can do is get the records from the state health department. which is what I described earlier.  I will call MSC again and try my luck.

I have them open the partition every time.   It makes it very nice and convenient.  

I have lost my CDC Covid Card.  The State of Indiana has a link where you can download your Covid Card from their website.  The form you download has all of the same information that the 4X6 Covid Card has on it.  The form is on official state letterhead.  I got my vaccinations at the hospital where i work.  They printed off a form on their Hospital letterhead with the same information.  They dont have the small cards that are accepted as "Covid Vaccination Cards."  MSC states that they want the original Vaccination card, not even a photocopy.  Has anyone had any experience like this with MSC?

I am unable to purchase a drink package for any of my kids.  I can purchase a package for all of the adults, but none of the kids.  It will not give me the option.  I have been able to do this on previous cruises with MSC.  It doesnt highlight the kids name nor does it allow me to check their box next to their name.

My mother can not stand for very long and can not walk long distances.  I have noted that in my reservation.  How does this work?  Will she get a special line to board or will she be in line with the rest of us?  

Thank you    I always appreciate the help on the message boards

I have just status matched to Diamond and will be cruising with my wife and 2 kids on the Meraviglia December 29th.  I noticed that Diamond members get priority embarkation.  Does this include everyone in my cabin or just me?  I am the only one in my family with Diamond Status.  I would probably be kicked out of my room if I took advantage of this and left my family to hang out in line.

You are the best   Thanks for your help.  It is so nice being able to open up the divider and let the teenagers wander back and forth to grandmas room.  

Terry

I am worried about my cabin location.  We are on the Meraviglia and have been assigned 10014 and 10018.  We wanted cabins side by side so we could open the balcony divider.  Now I am worried we might not be able to do that.  I see that these arent normal balconies.  I do not like the steel balconies.  Are these more like the steel windows or bottom of rail steel and top of rail open?  Thanks for all you do.

Terry

I am from the US and just got back from the Med on the Splendida. I have cruised on Celebrity, Princess, Disney, and MSC. I had 2 10 year old boys, my wife, my 70 year old mother, and an aunt with me. We had balcony cabins. We ate in the main dining room 3 times and the buffet the rest. We only made it to one show because we were tired from the great ports of call. Cruising is all about expectations. I didnt go expecting the food from Celebrity and the kids activities from Disney. I knew from the Divina what MSC had as a product. It is very good for the money. The kids love the kids club and wanted to go everyday. The food in the main dining room isnt the best, but it was ok. Its not Ruth Chris, more like Ponderosa with flare. It is classy and service is good but the food isnt quite there. The buffet has enough choices to find something good. The pizza is always good. I wouldnt go on MSC for the food, but I wouldnt avoid it because of the food either. The rooms are very nice and always cleaned when we returned. The show we saw was good. We had the drink package which was worth it for us. Not only for the alcohol but for the water and softdrinks too. Your only free drink choice at meals is water. I posted a review last night describing our trip. There were plenty of english speakers on the boat, I even shared the hot tub with 2 couples from Toronto. Keep in mind that you are in another region of the world and cultures and practices are a little different but thats what makes it fun. Some people cut in line, didnt say thank you when you held a door, looked at you weird when you ordered a diet coke instead of a coke light. But that wasnt everyone. It was a little frustraiting, but we laughed about it and smiled and more often than not the people would end up saying have a nice day in whatever language they spoke. That was part of the fun. You have to roll with it, enjoy your vacation. It might take a day or two to figure out how to work your way through the buffet, but once you find out how to sneak in and grab what you want you are fine. I found that if you are quiet and sit back and wait in what you think is a line you will end up hungry or thirsty. You have to just dive in and get what you want. As for the bars....dont wait for the waitress or bartender to get your order without you grabbing their attention first. Post up next to the cash register and the waitress will get your order for you. Always post up by the cash register or you could be there for a while. This isnt a dig on MSC or even a "con," this is just how it is done in europe. You are lucky, you will know this in advance and not have to figure this out like I did. Again, we laughed about it and didnt let this ruin our trip.

This is an awesome cruise with amazing ports. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have told all my friends to do this cruise. Feel free to contact me I will show you some pictures and give you some more advice. I was nervous before the cruise myself, but loved it. This is an amazing cruise for the money. Dont go into the cruise thinking about what it should have been, go into the cruise thinking about how lucky you are to be able to cruise europe while someone else drives the ship, cooks the free food, and cleans up after you.

Relax You will have a great time

I just got off of the Splendida and spent time in the sports bar. The food there is free. Only burger, hotdog, cheesesticks and fries and salad. Thats it.

Just got back from Splendida. They had seperate lines and entrances for "in-Transit" and new passengers. It wasnt bad at all.

Just got off of Splendida a few days ago. Marseille is a dump. I was shocked how dumpy the place was. We actually saw a dead rat on a window ledge of a restaurant. We spent a night in Aix en Provence and loved it. I would definitely do that instead of Marseille. Palermo was a pleasant surprise. We took the "Little Train" which was a hour long and dropped you off somewhere if you wanted and picked you up later. Im not sure what the drop off point was, but it looked nice. We just stayed on the "train". The tour was supposed to be $10 a person but we convinced them to let our 2 11 year olds to ride for free. After the train ride I walded around the area by the port and ate in a small pizza place and shopped a little. The ship was nice, not as busy as the Divina. It was odd for me that the main meal in the buffet seemed to be lunch and not dinner. They had better and more choices at lunch.