Toofarfromthesea

We very much enjoyed the piano bar guy on a Holland America Alaska cruise and I tried to buy him a few drinks, but while the bartender gave me the drink for him, and knew the drink was for him, they wouldn't charge my account.  I told them that I was happy to pay for his drink, but they just said, "You have the package.

1 hour ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

 

When I book, the first selection after "Passengers" is "Stateroom Type" (First, select your preferred stateroom).

Next is "Experience" (Next, choose your experience and services) with non-applicable experiences unable to be selected.

Then after "Confirm", "Choose Your Stateroom".

 

Maybe different parts of the site do things differently? (wouldn't surprise me with MSC's website 🥴)

This is what I see, as well.  I suspect you are right about different parts of the website working differently.

Yes, and if you select one of the Yacht Club cabins 

2 hours ago, SirWolf said:

It is the other way around. You select ‘Experience’ first , confirm and select ‘Stateroom’ second. You are right, with MSC the ‘Experience’ dictates the stateroom selection. No mix-and-match of ‘Stateroom’ and ‘Experience’ selection possible.

You must get that via a different route into their booking.  Here is what I am doing, with a specific example.  And though I have an account on their website I am not logging in.

1 - go to the home page

2 - select parameters for cruise:  I'm using 2 people, January 2021, Caribbean, Miami

3 - the first cruise that come up, from the search is 1/2/21 on Seaside.

4 - I click Select

5 - Part-way down the resulting page is a horizontally scrolling section: FIRST, SELECT YOUR PREFERRED STATEROOM

6 - Here is where it can be a little confusing for the unwary.  You click the right arrow to cycle through the different cabin types (you COULD click the left arrow and go backwards and that would actually find the YC cabins quicker, but I think most people will click the right arrow).  And you get some pretty fancy high-end suites before you ever get to the Yacht Club cabins, like Grand Suite, Suite with Whirlpool, etc. up to Super Family Plus.  It is only AFTER this that you see Yacht Club Interior, Yacht Club Deluxe Suite, and Yacht Cul Royal Suite.  

7 - click on, say, Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

8 - Now it moves you to the NEXT, CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND SERVICES horizontal scroll - but Yacht Club is already selected because we picked a YC cabin

9 - Below that it tells you your total fare and invites you to Confirm

My message was intended to help at step 6, where scrolling through these high-end suites without hitting any yacht club cabins might lead someone to think YC was all sold out when they just may not have scrolled far enough.  

22 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

That’s awful we certainly wouldn’t have been happy either.

As you say cooking a steak correctly isn’t exactly rocket science.

Yeah, I was kind of shocked.  My local Texas Roadhouse gets it right every time and yet they couldn't get it right anywhere I went on the ship.  And I order it the most common way good steak is ordered - medium rare.  The only steak I had that was properly cooked the first time was in the Teppanyaki restaurant, which we though was very good.

Hoping for better on Seaside next Nov.  Still on the MSC Yacht Club train - this didn't change that.

3 hours ago, niko40 said:

Ah thanks thought so just couldn't see the option on the cruise we were looking at apparently all sold out so not an issue know.

Think we will book a fantastica balcony and see what msc is all about. 

We only done RCI previously D+ so could be an eye opener.

Just to clarify, it is not some kind of option you add on.  You have to book a yacht Club cabin to get the yacht club 'experience'.  And on the MSC website the Yacht Club cabins are pretty deep in the cycle of cabins MSC presents.  Make sure you cycle through all of the cabin choices before concluding Yacht Club is sold out on that cruise.

21 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

Sorry to read your meal was sub standard our Butchers Cut meal was excellent.

We had the Filet Mignon and the NY Sirloin.

The whole time we were on Meraviglia every steak we got was cooked poorly - never to the desired doneness - whether in the Butcher's Cut or the YC restaurant.  I was very surprised because as one who loves to cook I know it just isn't that hard to get a steak's doneness correct.  And if the line cook can't do it by feel, then they should make them use instant read thermometers to check.

OTOH, at the Divina YC restaurant our food was always pretty much perfectly prepared, so I am hoping it was just a Meraviglia issue and Sesside will be more like Divina, in this regard.

On 12/30/2019 at 7:13 AM, Aquahound said:

 

There's no way to put a number on it right now.  Cruise lines only recently starting reporting their crime stats to the FBI and they're still not very good at it.  I don't see it a whole lot in my current location but when I was in Key West, we saw it maybe 2-3 times a week.  Solved?  I'd say about 30%, but that's just a guess.  

If it is not solved, how do you know something was really stolen, as compared to lost, or setting up an insurance scam?

15 hours ago, Hlitner said:

 I think you are a bit naïve about what can happen in foreign lands.  For example, when my DW was injured in Asia we had to take her to a hospital in Osaka, Japan.  Although we had excellent travel medical insurance ($250,000 in med and $500,000 of medical evacuation) I had to pay hospital bills of many thousands just to get her out of the hospital.  The tab on the cruise ship was another couple of thousand and the cost of getting her home was about $20,000 (for the two of us).  And this is nothing when you consider she was never admitted as an inpatient (her surgery was outpatient).  An inpatient admission would have resulted in far higher bills which would need to be settled before discharge.  Most travel insurers do not pay foreign hospitals or physicians directly so the patient needs to have the credit card limits to handle the big bucks.  With decent insurance you will eventually get most of your money back, but that can take many weeks or even months.

 

Speaking of Medical Evacuation, if one of you were to become seriously ill or injured the cost of medical evacuation aircraft could easily cost $50 - $100,000.  In our case it was ONLY $20,000 because DW was cleared to fly commercial (in a lay flat seat).  Even Delta Airlines had no problem charging us about $10,000 per person for last minute Business Class.  If Delta has refused to take DW (this does happen and is the ultimate decision of the pilot) our cost to get her home would have likely exceeded $100,000.

 

Hank

 

 

A comprehensive rebuttal to the "I don't need insurance because I am young and healthy' position.  Well done.

We were very disappointed in Butcher's Cut on our Meraviglia Baltic cruise earlier this year.  The service was obsequious, rather than good (I don't need to be told, at least a dozen times, 'thank you for coming') and neither of our steaks were cooked to the doneness we requested.  To the degree that I had to send something back for the first time in my life.

We may or may not try it on our Seaside cruise next November.  I'll be watching reviews between now and then.

OTOH, we very much enjoyed the Teppanyaki restaurant on that cruise.  So much so we went back a second time.

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:

 

That presupposes that common sense is a general human trait.

 

DON

Increasingly it is becoming an oxymoron.

53 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

I need to find a better TA

we are looking at a World Voyage if we like YC

We are B2B in early 2020... want to see how it goes before we commit

I use one of the sites that lets TAs quote you their deals on your selected cruise/cabin, etc.  I don't need or expect much handholding so I look for the best deal from a TA that has reasonable bona fides, in terms of reviews and Better Business ratings.  This has led me to different TAs for different cruises on different cruiselines.  And, knock on wood, the different TAs I've found and used haven't caused me any disappointments.

On 12/18/2019 at 9:23 PM, Cruzaholic41 said:

I recommend filing a lawsuit against the cruise line. What line is it?  It’ll need to be filed in federal court. Depending on the line, it’ll depend on where the suit needs to be filed. 

A case in federal court for a broken bone in her foot?  No atty will take that case on contingency, and if the case is pursued legal fees will be one or more orders of magnitude higher than any potential awardable damages.

20 hours ago, Fogfog said:

11% discount on top of the 5%!  WOW

I need a better TA..

We paid rack rate that we see on MSC through a big box-- got the VC discount and will get  a cash back card/shopping from the TA... we got Cirque + dinner... 

 

They don't like us to talk about specific prices, but on my recent YC booking for a 7 day Carib on Seaside next Nov, between my 5% Voyagers discount, the TA's discount, and the TA's OBC, I ended up paying 85.75% of the nominal fare I would have paid if I booked directly with MSC, before the 5% Voyager discount

A modicum of Common Sense is helpful.  If elusive.

On 12/22/2019 at 1:47 PM, JohnJayJotaJames said:

@Toofarfromthesea did they ask you to go and change? We seem to have different experiences on different ships or itineraries. I wouldn't want to wear shorts for dinner but would definitely object if someone insisted i go and change if i had chosen to wear shorts. It's my vacation. 

Well, it was my Son-in-law, and yes they did.  And others have reported the same many times, on this board.

21 minutes ago, Firepath said:

I see a lot of people say to choose an itinerary first, then cruise line and ship secondary. I wonder, does anyone love a particular ship so much that they always start there? Such as look to see where she's sailing, then choose from those options? If so, which ship and what makes it stand out for you?

I don't look for a specific ship, but I do look for a specific experience - the MSC Yacht Club.

1 hour ago, JohnJayJotaJames said:

Confirmed last night in YC on Seaview that if I choose to wear shorts I will NOT be turned away. I prefer to wear pants but will put on my shorts for dinner to take a photo to proove that dress code is only a suggestion. 

Good for you, but that would do nothing to change my experience.

26 minutes ago, qwerty11 said:

All,

 

I have attached some info you may find useful.

Note, we were unable to dock at Ocean Cay due to high winds. They revised and reissued a new daily planner for that day. Both are attached. 

 

Msc seaside daily planner - Dec 14 2019 - 9-24 PM.pdf 31.64 MB · 0 downloads

MSC Bar Menu - Dec 17 2019 - 9-56 PM.pdf 6.29 MB · 0 downloads

Great info, thanks.

4 hours ago, mickey89 said:

 

We would never book direct with MSC as our TA's gives 11% discount on top of the Voyager's Discount.  

Maybe the lesson is to talk to your TA before you place the reservation.

I'm with you.  I haven't quite gotten 11%, but when I booked my 11/20 cruise on Seaside YC I got my 5% Voyager discount plus another 450 (which was 9%) which is usually given as OBC.  But the agent split the 450 between a 200 direct fare reduction and 250 in OBC.  I was concerned that the OBC is non-refundable on MSC, and sailing in YC there wouldn't be much I would spend it on.  This way the OBC will cover my grats with a little left over for a specialty restaurant or something.

The best way to truly know someone is to marry them.

The second best way is to vacation with them.

I completely empathize with the OP,  because there has been an in-law curse, for 3 generations, on people born with my last name.  

1 hour ago, NewOrleansLady71 said:

Thank you, most of you for your kind and helpful remarks. And those that pointed out repeatedly that I should have purchased the insurance, you’re absolutely correct.  If I cruise again, I certainly will. 

I have an awful lot to think about. 

Just remember that three different things end up being called travel insurance and you may not need all three.  The three types are health, med evac, and trip cancellation or interruption.  Some people opt for self-insuring, but IMO that is very risky because health and med evac are very open-ended potential costs. 

My own solution to this is a health insurance policy that covers me whenever I am outside the country and provides a high coverage for med evac.  It is an annual policy because we travel a fair amount, but you can also get them just for the duration of your particular trip, if you, say, only travel once a year. 

But it doesn't cover for trip cancellation or interruption.  I have some coverage for those things through my credit card and choose to self-insure the rest, because it is a very specific amount whose loss, while unpleasant, wouldn't cause me undue financial stress.

When you plan your next trip you should check out the insurance forum here.  Lots of knowledgeable folks hang out there.  I hope your foot is healing well.

21 hours ago, donaldsc said:

 

Maybe the supposed TA didn't know that.  The OP is really lucky that he did not get that TA.  Shame that he is not allowed to post the name of the TA on CC to protect other potential clients from the TA.  I know the rules however and recognize that that is not possible.

 

DON

No, that is a good rule, because the TA has no chance to rebut.  We only have one side of the story.

More than once I have read a complaint to BBB about a TA (I use that site that lets TAs bid on your cruise, so I check prospective TAs out every which way I can) and thought, "What a bum, how does a guy like that stay in business", only to read the response from the TA which puts a very different light on the matter.

18 hours ago, NewOrleansLady71 said:

Has anyone on here gotten hurt while cruising?  I suffered a broken bone after a piece of equipment fell on my foot on a water shuttle during my last cruise. The cruise line has basically denied all responsibility, and said I should have invested in travel insurance. They also maintain that they are not responsible for the water shuttle. Not sure if this is the appropriate platform for this, but I know there have to be others like me out there. I’ve written to corporate and got a generic “Sorry”.  Guess I’m looking for advice. This happened in the Caribbean. 

Have you re-read your cruiseline's term and conditions with this issue in mind?  That would be my first step.  

On 12/16/2019 at 10:22 PM, Ladyinflight said:

I usually book all my own cruises directly with the cruise line but decided to turn the responsibility of a family cruise over to a travel agent because I didn't want the responsibility of this big a task. I had used this TA before once for a cruise and had no problem. We wanted 13 balcony cabins on a RC ship.  I picked a date and the ship (Sensation) and let the agent know.     She notified me the next day that all the balconies were gone for our date so, I moved on to another date and another ship.  The next day she called and told me all the balconies on the Explorer were all gone.  Time wise we were at least 16 months until the cruise so, I could not believe that all the balconies could be booked already.  I decided to call RC to see for myself.  Well, I had no problem booking 13 rooms for our party and, they are all on the same side of the ship close to each other.  I can't understand where that TA was coming from.  I am sure she would have made a little money from our booking.  Why do you think she would do such a thing?

If you are still within the time for doing this you might think about transferring your booking to a (different, of course) travel agent.  With a group like that and balcony cabins I'd expect to get some pretty decent perks from a TA, that I wouldn't want to leave on the table.  Don't let your bad experience with the original TA put you off TAs completely.

23 hours ago, Fast_Camaro said:

Hi y’all. We’re going on the Escape February 1-8 2020 out of Miami. This will be our 4th cruise. 
 

We travel quite a bit. Been almost everywhere in Caribbean. My question to you - have you done a cruise with no excursions at all??

 

The wife and I just want to hit the beach, drink foo foo drinks and relax. Also bask in the warm weather since I personally hate the cold. Walking around town/window shopping too. 
 

So, anyone just did not do excursions??

On our first cruise, a 7-day Carib. on X, we not only didn't do any excursions we didn't even get off the ship.

A cruise is like Burger King - have it your way.