cruiseguyinorl

Can someone tell me how a simple thread about the exciting news of an MSC return to service in the US turned into a hot mess mask debate? This is exactly why I left Cruise Critic for awhile. Unbelievable....

On 3/31/2021 at 1:36 PM, DSJ28 said:

I do hope Divina added the app during dry dock

Hopefully so, as they would have to do so in order to comply with their own new safety protocols to issue everyone a sea band for contact tracing.

Bret

If you can hang on for a few days, I just reached out today to Senior Management in Marine Operations to ask that very question for our group sailing in October. I will let you know what they say. I would think that the Divina would have to have it for contact tracing for the new safety protocols.

Bret

On 3/3/2021 at 10:07 PM, mmbcater said:

Just found a MSC Seashore Technical "DRAFT". Not responsible for alterations!! Thats totally up to MSC 😂

SEASHORE_2020_techsheet_draft.pdf 2.61 MB · 17 downloads

 I haven't compared the two to see if there are differences, but here is another tech sheet draft I posted in January. I encourage folks to see if they are the same or if Seashore is a work in progress. 🙂

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2769050-seashoredeck-20/?tab=comments#comment-60678462

@mmbcater Thanks for bringing this subject up again! Lots of questions beginning to circulate about the Seashore.

Bret

I spoke this week with upper management in the Operations department regarding B2B. They are developing protocols for this and are not aware of CDC disallowing B2B. They're questioning right now the retesting for COVID for the B2B folks before getting back on for the 2nd voyage and other ways to maintain "the bubble". This is only for the Florida sailings and through the US office. The caveat is that the HQ office in Geneva may be aware of something they are not. Communication at MSC is not their forté. That being said, at the moment, they are proceeding as if B2B will be allowed but that could change at any time.

Bret 

6 hours ago, dexddd said:

If it is 10% that would be the same as the normal civil servant discount (not complaining since not many other lines give one) or is it combinable?

 Not combinable with the Civil Servant discount but is combinable with a 5% Voyager Club discount. At least that's what is supposed to happen. With MSC, you never know. 😉

Bret

3 hours ago, hamrag said:

 

You think repatriation points to a July start....each to their own!

I think you missed my point of it not being any earlier than July. And yes, sending crew home now and recalling them at the end of May rather keeping them on an empty ship for another few months does make sense to me. But as you say...to each their own!

Bret

Just saw an article yesterday, but I don't recall where, that the Director of Port Facilities at Port Canaveral is tentatively planning/hoping on a July restart. Though he didn't say which cruise lines.

Another cruise line I know has suites blacked out through June (as an educated guess - to limit the 125% FCC dollar amounts). And Celebrity just announced they plan on starting the Celebrity Edge here in the US (instead of Europe) in July.

To me, all signs point to July before even an attempt is made. Oh and NCL is now repatriating crew they had recalled for service. 😢

Bret 

Have sailed on her 11 times. Most of my time was spent in the Black & White Lounge (good Wifi there) and the Sports Bar. I totally agree with @cellfree about the food there. One of the previous Bar Managers onboard had mentioned they wanted to start charging for the food. I hope not. Guess we will see when she returns. I'll be back on her October 3rd myself.

Bret

Grand Cayman and Cozumel was the original itinerary for the Divina. However, due to the pandemic and questionable entry into Grand Cayman, the itinerary was changed to Cozumel and Costa Maya some time ago. I think the place you mention just has not updated the itinerary in their system. We have a large group on the October 3rd sailing, so I have been keeping a close contact with MSC even before the itineraries were published.

Bret 

Not sure if you are looking for complimentary items or items for you to purchase. If complimentary, the only thing you may get is the waiters singing to them in the dining room. Not saying this to be derogatory at all, just factual. I pulled up that sailing (as I happened to be booked on that date as well) and as @Até mentioned, there are plenty of things that can be purchased. I have attached that as a PDF below. Hope this helps.

Bret

Onboard Items.pdf

18 minutes ago, Até said:

Are you allowed to share?  I'd be interested in seeing how they lay out the specialty restaurants and if you can spot the Aurea restaurant.  Additionally, since Seashore deck 16 buffet is much larger than Seaside, are they keeping a deck 8 buffet?

The old Deck 8 buffet area on the Seaside is now the Specialty Restaurant area. Also shows the Aurea guest restaurant as the Manhattan Restaurant on Deck 7 aft. I wasn't directed that this was confidential so I suppose I can share. Please keep in mind it does say draft so things could change by the time she is done. In fact, some things are in red that I think were tentative and not decided on when this was published.

Bret

31792_MSC_SEASHORE_2020_techsheet_draft.pdf

4 hours ago, sidari said:

Decks 6,7 and 8 are also still missing for Seashore

My tech sheet shows decks 6, 7 and 8. Admittedly, the PDF still has the word draft in the title but the document was hard to get my hands on. 🙂

Bret

I do have a copy of the tech sheet for Seashore. It is still showing Deck 20 as the YC Sun Deck & Bar. Deck 19 is mostly YC Deluxe Grand Suites and 16 & 18 YC Deluxe Suites. Top Sail on 16 and the YC Restaurant on 18. For those that are new to MSC, MSC does not have a deck 17 just like most ships here do not have a deck 13.

Bret

On 11/23/2020 at 12:22 PM, Bgwest said:

Source, please.

Per a Manager in the Sales Department at MSC.

8 hours ago, Fogfog said:

Any idea what that itinerary includes. To do B2B again it sounds liked it has to be B2B2B for 14 days...

Take a look at what the Divina is doing in October 2021. I believe those will be the itineraries she is taking over.

Bret

On 11/21/2020 at 7:09 AM, sidari said:

I read somewhere that Meraviglia will move to Port Canaveral

Yes, the Meravigila will be moving to Port Canaveral in November of 2021 and staying at least through April of 2022 doing 3/4/7 night cruises per management at MSC that contacted me.

Bret

3 hours ago, monsterl said:

All departures from Miami are no longer bookable, the official announcement will follow shortly.

I think maybe the title meant to say from Port Canaveral? A little confused on this as my MSC rep called this morning and told me the Divina was moving to Miami (currently scheduled out of Port Canaveral in this time frame) in December of 2021 and doing 3, 7 and 11 night cruises through March of 2022. Additionally, the Meraveglia would be coming to Port Canaveral in November (I assume when Seashore arrives Miami) of 2021 and doing3, 4 and 7 night cruises from there through April of 2022.  This was also mentioned on a couple of social media forums.

Bret

7 hours ago, Fogfog said:

Anyone else hazard a guess on when we start sailing in the US?

I had a nice conversation with a friend in the Operations area for MSC Cruises USA. They are more optimistic right now than they have ever been about a restart. For the first time since this began, they are formulating very specific plans for embark/debark, onboard operations, etc. Such as calculating how many people can fit in a particular line with social distancing. How the terminals can be sectioned off for various protocols and how many people can be let into the terminal at a time based on those calculations.

The general safety protocols have been in place for a bit but it is encouraging to them (and me) that Geneva (operational headquarters) is asking for very specific plans. Seems like that is a good signal. The discouraging news was that last week Ken Muskat said the restart in the US was planned with only one ship and slowing incorporating the others. Hope that changes.

Bret

11 hours ago, reedprincess said:

Which lines supersede US law and requires  a passport on US closed loop departures to WHTI countries? Thanks.

 Virgin Voyages requires a passport. According to CBP, it is within their right to do so. Can speak from personal experience with this one. Can't speak for other lines.

On 9/27/2020 at 3:04 AM, crazyank said:

According to MSC customer service this morning, 27 September,  "MSC does not accept birth certificates as proof of identity for boarding"  To answer your other question about ID's,  many european countries provide national ID cards to citizens or residents. 

This may be true for European sailings. However, per the Director of USA Operations, MSC Cruises USA operating in the Caribbean does not supersede the CBP requirements which can be a Birth Certificate (plus photo ID if 16 or older), assuming it is a roundtrip sailing. BTW, this is the department that physically approves boarding documents at the pier and coordinates with CBP if not in compliance..

There is no way to pre-request any table configuration. You will have to speak with the Maitre 'd on embarkation day if you don't have the type of table you want. Just so you know, Divina's tables for two (at least pre-COVID) were not very desirable. Set very close to other tables and basically in the way of servers. Your best bet is to ask for a table for 4 with no other guests.

Bret

Yes. Fantastica provides complimentary room service between 6AM and 11PM. Otherwise, there is a $3.95 fee.

It appears they have removed Grand Cayman through the end of next year as our October 3rd, 2021 sailing now has Costa Maya instead. Still showing Cozumel though.

Bret

It's my understanding anything requiring video (i.e. YouTube) would require the Browse & Stream Package. But I could be wrong.

Bret

A blue screen in one of the lounge pictures says MSC Magnifica. Guess she won't be doing Alaska summer of '22. 🙁

Bret

This was put out by MSC last month indicating no Tampa departures for the Armonia:

• MSC Armonia: Guests booked on MSC Armonia 4-night departures from Tampa will move to MSC Seaside 4-night departures from Port Canaveral
• MSC Armonia: Guests booked on MSC Armonia 5-night departures from Tampa will move to MSC Seaside 7-night departures from Port Canaveral
• MSC Armonia:Guests booked on MSC Armonia 7-night departures from Tampa will move to MSC Seaside 7-night departures from Port Canaveral

Bret