Dorset Cruiser
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Posts posted by Dorset Cruiser
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We booked last minute last year on Poesia - inside guarantee - and were allocated a handicapped cabin. We queried it and were told it was not needed by anyone else. It was huge and once we had got used to the wetroom, we realky enjoyed it.
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Hello Friends . . .
I am excited about my upcoming Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Norwegian Bliss. The stateroom booked is a Mid-Ship Mini-Suite (Category MC) with a total size of 249 sq. ft. and a 42-sq. ft. balcony.
When I received my eDocuments, the assigned stateroom is described exactly as what I booked. However, when I located my room on the deck plan, I was surprised that the colour (orange) is different from Category MC (light blue). On further inspection, I discovered that orange translates to a Sail Away Mini-Suite (Category MX) with a total size of 308-361 sq. ft. and an 84-101-sq. ft. balcony. In addition, the "square" symbol indicates our room to be accessible, even though no one in our party has special needs. Here is a link to the deck plan, where you can see the two orange rooms located aft: https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/bliss/deck-plans#dsr5.
It appears there are only four (4) MX staterooms on the entire ship: two on Deck 10 (accessible) and two on Deck 8 (not accessible). The photos use the same stock images as the MC suites, although I would assume the layout might be different.
Are there any downsides to my room assignment, or should I just be happy that the space is larger than expected? Would appreciate your thoughts!
Thank you!
We have had accessible cabins allocated on two recent cruises - one with MSC and one with Princess. We were pleased with both of them - huge cabins but the bathrooms took a little getting used to as did the balcony door which had a wheelchair ‘ramp’. On the first cruise we felt a little self conscious when entering or leaving the cabin as we did not require an accessible cabin but were assured that no-one else needed the cabins.
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I dont know how you do it. I had about 3 crepes and 7 gelato over 14 days and gained 12 lbs. If I had a gelato a day I would have gained 15lbs at least!
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I only gained a couple of pounds but I try and eat healthily on cruises with no bread, few cakes and not too much alcohol. I do like my gelato though [emoji6]
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Hi, I do have the same problem! ;)
Will do a cruise next on MSC, ending in Southampton. Unfortunately, looking for MSC shore excursion, it seems not possible to book a transfer from the port to Heathrow airport after the cruise... :(
Any previous experience with MSC - maybe the transport is only available to buy on-board? If not, any recommendation to get from the port to the airport (public transport)?
Thank You!!
Coach or train both go to the airports. Do not believe MSC lay on transport like Cunard or P&O. We have the same problem but we live an hour from Southampton' so we are parking at the port and getting the train to Gatwick for our flight to Barbados to join the ship.
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This is what is showing on my MSC account. It states Wellness experience for our upgraded cabin. Are MSC likely to honour this on the ship?
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Just found out that we have been ‘upgraded’ from our carefully chosen starboard Fantastica balcony on Preziosa to a portside Wellness balcony, even though we had asked for no upgrade. Not only that but we do not get any of the Wellness benefits. Only check our account infrequently as we do not sail until next April. TA is trying to get us our cabin back but we are not at all hopeful [emoji853]
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I’m elite on Princess and sailing Seaside in YC on MSC for the 1st time in about 12 weeks. So I cannot speak from experience but have been reading the MSC board for about a year. I’ll do my best and certain others will correct as needed!
We got internet basic package but it was a perk when we booked, as was some OBC.
We both matched black: in addition to the specialty dining tasting, there will be a party for black cards that seems ‘better’ than Princess Captain’s Circle party as you not only get drinks/appetizers but a gift in your cabin, MSC chocolate ship, and I think your photo with the captain is free.
DH uses the elite laundry perk but I do not. MSC won’t have laundries like Princess does either. I’ve read on this board that MSC does a very nice job with the laundry if you send it out; it’s a better price to pre-purchase a package than buy onboard. For the highest priced package, if I remember correctly, it works out to ~$.50-.75 per item...much cheaper than paid laundry on Princess.
Elites get 1 non-refillable mini bar. YC gets liquor, water, sodas, snacks, coffee in the cabin with no limits and unlimited refills of mini bar. YC drinks are free (some limitations which are noted) throughout the ship to also include gelato and crepes. Specialty coffee (though flavors not done on MSC, like the salted caramel strata on Princess) is included.
YC has its own pool and hot tubs; Sanctuary does not. Butlers in YC will bring you drinks and snacks at no cost but in Sanctuary, there can be charges for some food items. YC has some cabanas for additional charge but it seems most loungers are in the Sun most of the time.
Hope this helps a bit!
One glass of cheap fizz at Captains party. It was on gala night but hardly anyone dressed up and in fact my husband went and changed before dinner. They forgot our gift but understand it is something like a baseball cap. Chocolate ship (we ended up with 4) is not nice chocolate [emoji853]. We enjoyed the sparkling wine and strawberries. Think you also get an hour in the Spa. The only free speciality dining on our ship Poesia was a sushi type restaurant which we don't care for. We don't think MSC Black is anywhere near to the quality of Princess Elite but we were pleased to be given it on our first MSC cruise. We sail on Preziosa next year again at Black so hope for a better speciality dining experience. We are not in YC though [emoji853]
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I do know YC gets you the higher (better) drink package which includes gelato (yum) and crepes as well as anything in your minibar.
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You get gelato on the standard drinks package as well.
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When we were in Caribbean on Poesia we had an evening flight and were allowed to keep our room until around 2pm when we were taken to the airport. Although our entire flight group were allowed to keep our cabins, I think that it is also Black status perk.
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Water I pre-purchased for our Baltics cruise on Regal was spring water. Not worried about the quality of the ship water at all. Its the quality of the pipework to our bathroom tap which worries me more. Had some awful discoloured water pour out of those taps on various cruises. Prefer it from a bottle in my cabin, even if it is only purified.
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I'm considering booking one of the Scandinavian cruises including St Petersburg, but there are issues around St Petersburg that I don't fully understand.
I'm not at all keen on organised tours, partly because of the high cost and partly for other reasons, but am I right in saying that it's pretty much unavoidable here because of visa issues?
Does anyone have experience of the cost of the P&O tours, what they're like, and whether there are any other realistic alternatives please?
Private tours are cheaper than ship tours. Alla Tours have a great reputation and use small minibuses - there is a lot of getting on and off buses. No other way - only ship or private tours as they get a block visa. You can get your own visa but it is a lengthy and costly process I believe.
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Has anyone had the red wines in the Drinks on Us package on the Divina? I am okay with descent Italian wines, but if they are undrinkable, I would like to know in advance. The liquor options are very reasonable.
We are getting Black status due to matching status with RCCL. Does anyone know what the real benefits are?
I would appreciate any information on this.
Thanks!
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Weymouth is certainly not reknowned for its shopping opportunities [emoji23]
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Does anyone know where Fred docks in Boulogne? We have an overnight stay during our WW1. Centenary cruise in November and we are hiring a car and need to get to the carhire office. Also has anyone parked a car near the ship?
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If you take a day bus tour, you will probably go to the wildlife park also. So if you aren't interested in the wildlife park, save yourself the $89 and DIY by train. It's easy and cheaper than a tour.
You just need to get yourself to the Central Train station and use your Opal card to tag in and get you into the track area. Find the platform where the Blue Mountain Train line runs to Katoomba and board that train. They are on the West side of the station, (platforms 1-9) opposite from where the train from CQ stops. Trains to Katoomba run on a regular schedule as it's a commuter line. Try to get an express, rather than a local train, if you don't want to stop at every station. The train is a double decker, so I recommend going upstairs and sitting on the left side for the views. When the train gets to Katoomba, use your opal card to tag out. (At Katoomba, there is no gate, so you have to remember to find the tag out machine at the exit on the platform and tag out.) Total cost was around $6 one way (non-commute times)
Walk across the street (about 100 feet) to where the 686 Express bus stop is in front of the Carrington Hotel. Use your opal card to tag in and tag out on the bus. That bus takes you to Echo Point for the views ( worth at most about an hour) and you can walk along the Prince Henry Cliff walk (45 minutes) to the Scenic World skyway and take that over to Scenic world, if you are interested in doing that. You pay on the other side, ($15 if you just ride the skyway. Otherwise $33 to do all the rides, including the steep railway and cableway back up. From Scenic world, you catch the 686X bus in front of the entrance back to the train station. This can all be done in one day if you leave early from Sydney.
We found scenic world to be packed full of tourists and buses, but we are glad we did it.
We highly recommend taking the train and doing it yourself.
We did the train and the HOHO bus. Would have used the express bus if I had known about it. Train was great - inexpensive and clean, good trip.
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If I am paying for so many nights, I would definitely like to see a show every night, cos I paid for it. (Just like we expect gourmet food every day)
Long cruises are not discounted, in fact they are disproportionately more expensive.
If an inside cabin in a 7 night cruise is $500, an inside cabin in a 112 night cruise is MUCH MORE than $8000 (16 times). Do the math.
Pardon me, but I think that a world cruise is certainly NOT value for money.
They are ridiculously overpriced, cos the cruise lines know that only rich retirees can afford so much time and money.
You will get fed up with the same food and daily activities for 112 days.
Also the numerous visas required are a nuisance. (Please don't take it personally, it's just my opinion!)
Can say that we did a half world cruise - Southampton to Sydney - 47 nights - and certainly did not get bored. Varied acts came and went and we had some amazing ports of call. Would certainly do it again, or even a world cruise if we could afford it, and we only needed Estas and Etas. A world cruise is certainly worth doing and not just by rich retirees - everyone spends their money how they see fit and 'value for money' is very subjective.
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Sorry, but when I see reasonably young people jogging round the deck and playing tennis on the court, I think that is a good enough reason to surmise that they can walk up one flight of stairs. Selbourne is right, there is bone idleness and there is also very overweight, maybe that's a disability as well?
Our friend with the knee problem is 82 and still walks down 6 flights of stairs and up two, so I do think some people are really just very lazy.
How do you know all the young people playing tennis, jogging etc use the lifts [emoji848]. People might well be overweight, bone idle and very lazy but thats none of your business. Lifts are there for everyone to use.
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You’d be amazed. It happens all the time!
But no-one can tell if someone has a hidden disability [emoji848]
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We enjoyed our cruise on Epic a couple of years ago but the odd room layout is a deal breaker for any future NCL cruises. Would gladly sail on any of their standard ships and in fact we are looking at a cruise on Spirit for next January.
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Its just a reference number so your laundry gets back to you.
Its not because you are "special"
Whatever adhesive they use when they iron these labels on is very strong, I have damaged clothes trying to remove them before now, have to very careful with delicate fabrics.
By the way the 'loyalty club" is called the Captain's Circle
Did you get Elite by way of past P and O cruises?
Why are you so snippy? The joke was in the reference number. No-one was bragging that they were special. We are Elite thanks to P&O getting us down the final furlong before we qualified, but we have sailed a lot with Princess anyway. How someone gets to Elite is their business - no-one qualifies unless they are entitled to.
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I cannot believe the number of able-bodied people who use the lift for 2 floors or even 1 floor. If they walked up or down, it might do them some good. We are 79 and 71 and use the stairs when we can unless it's more than 4 floors up and even then my OH usually walks.
Often you cannot see a disability. I appear perfectly fit but suffer very severe knee pain when going up and down stairs so I use the lifts. Not going to apologise for that - lifts are there for everyone to use.
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Had one every day for 14 days - its delicious [emoji6]
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Just off Regal. Complimentary free unlimited internet at present for Elite and Suites.
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Princess would not help me out, even with a letter, they said the cruise agency would find that out when they booked. So I went into my account and did a scree shot and copied and sent that into MSC. Hope this helps, Peace and Aloha, Jim
We also just sent screenshots of our Princess cruise history from their Captains Circle and TA did everything else. So easy and Elite got us to Black.
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Spirit for 10 nights at end of october
in Norwegian Cruise Line
Posted
Your steward will bring you as many hangers as you like but they will be wire ones as used in the laundry. Inside cabins can be a bit snug so not sure about the cot?
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