Oceans 818

Hi, we're booked on the Seascape for Feb/26. Looking forward to it as we've only sailed from Miami or Port Canaveral. We've yet to sail YC but have found we like MSC and have found the food decent and service excellent with the exception of the 3 night portion of a 10 day out of Canaveral. That part of the cruise was unpleasant due to fellow passengers. Many were rude, abrassive and demanding. Had that been our first, it would have been the last...

Sorry, what does this mean???? I know who bilge is but the rest....??

You should screenshot the OBC on your phone incase you need it on the ship if it doesn't show up on your web browser booking. Have your friend email MSCExistingReservations@msccruisesusa.com to get his information straightened out. You could try that as well and explain the discrepancy between App & Web. I keep any email pretaining to any issues incase I need to show it on board.

Hi Nancy, I'm wondering if the OBC turned up when you look at your booking? And the other I'm wondering, did you make your booking at least 9 months out in order to qualify for the OBC? Asking as have friends that just booked for 2026 and they have no status as yet and MSC said as long as they did a match before final payment the 5%+5%.

Hi, I heardd MSC was going to just paying the difference; but wasn't sure if it had started or not. Glad to hear they have! Thanks

Hi, The following is cut & paste from our upcoming booking. "Includes all beverages priced up to 9 euro / 10 dollars: choice of frozen and classic cocktails, fresh fruit cocktails, protein shakes, well spirits, liqueurs and cordials, draught and bottled beers, non-alcoholic cocktails, bottled mineral water, hot drinks, 10% discount on bottles of wine purchased on board, wines by the glass and beverage gratuity." If you bought the Drinks & Wi-fi package or if you pre-purchase it includes all taxes & gratuities. It is good for Ocean Cay & in any specialty restaraunts if you book one. Most frozen drinks are included as well, like frozen Marguritas & Pina Colada etc. I tried to check how much it would be to purchase as an add on but my bookings aren't showing any additional items right now. I don't know why as they were last week. Hope this helps

Hi, I get seasick and use the 72hr patches. You can put them behind your ears or about an inch or so below the belly button. I recommend below the belly button as I've seen them on people behind the ears and they look kind of foolish, in my opinion. You can get them on amazon or at some drug stores. I tried the bands and they didn't work for me. The patches are herbal. I try to avoid chemicals as I have liver issues and the herbal is easier on it. But others are correct in that big ships are not like what others are. We have been in gale force winds and barely felt it in the ships motion. Remember when looking out to sea to gaze at the horizon as experts say that will help to stabilize you.

In December last year we had 8 family members on a cruise and ourselves on a different cruise. We all ended up flying into FLL as it was $$$ cheaper than MIA. We rented a car at FLL and dropped it in Miami near the port. Some family ubered it and some took taxi's to port. In December up til the 23rd they had direct flights to YYZ for $25. It was crazy! We flew Delta booked through Westjet. But the actual planes were WJ. Some family flew Delta -WJ down and Flair back to YYZ. Flair was major expensive but they had booked the return flight way in advance of the flight down as it was important to be back by a specific time on the day the ship docked. So not much flexability. Hi, our December cruise we used the ship shuttle from POM to FLL. it was only $27pp and booked it on the ship. While waiting for our bus to FLL there were several shuttle services that pulled up to p/u passengers and one couple would ask them how much to get to FLL . The one driver offered $10 to anyone who wanted to go and the most expensive was $50. There were hundreds in the line for the MIA shuttles and when the FLL shuttle finally showed up, they didn't even ask for proof of payment to get on the bus, which surprised me. We had never booked through the ship before. An Uber was $50 as I had looked into costs in advance. I would definitely do a walk off. If the ship docks ontime and you walk off, you know you'll be there ontime. If you have to wait and then find your luggage, if the people in front of you are slow have an issue it can cause a long delay. We usually walk off but they told us to do the luggage drop the night before if we were taking the shuttle. It was a mess in the luggage area, and people blocking the doors as it was raining so it held up the hundreds of people behind them, everytime a family would stop and have a conversation in front of you.

Hi, we didn't have our passports checked on one cruise and when I said something, the response was "facial recognition is a wonderful thing!" We were doing a B2B; same cruise line, different ships. Our last cruise, the agent actually asked us a lot of questions about our travel habits. We live on the New York/ Ontario border and cross at least once a week. He said it was the first time he'd seen so many crossings. He was young and we cross alot. Family & shopping on both sides, the best of both worlds!

Hi, we use cruise time parking. book on line. They refund if you call and cancel before the date and it's only $80. including tax for a 7 night cruise. They have a minimum of $50 for short cruises. It's quick to the port and usually quick pickup after disembarkation.

Hi, thanks for the review. Prices are definitely up. I've been able to find a couple great deals but they are hidden in with all the other bookings. Not sure if you've looked at booking through a US travel agent. After factoring in a 40% currency conversion rate (hopefully it's less at final payment!) we're saving over $800 per couple CAD on our upcoming bookings. I've only booked through a Canadian TA site once and it wasn't fun to deal with. It's worth checking out the $ differences in bookings. Our Dec/23 sailing we saved a couple thousand (yes thousand) by booking in US. That's been our experience so far. We sailed the Seaside in May/23 as well and honestly, weren't fans of the experience. Husband wanted to kill the elevators! Glad to hear they may have figured out the issues with them as I've just booked the Seaside for Dec/24, 7 nights! Like you said the price was right We try to avoid the 3/4 nighters as it seems the people are trying to pack a week into a couple days and it isn't pretty!

Reading this post and some of the visous responses is not making me want to sail NCL anytime soon. As many of these customers seem to be very aggresively judgemental towards their fellow cruisers. At an average of $100 per day for a drink package, I'm inclined to think the cruiseline has factored in package sharing into the equation along with a healthy profit. OP said the odd glass of wine, or mocktail. Honestly I doubt the cruiselines are as concerned about this as they are about those who load the plates so full, you couldn't put another olive on it and then leave the plates behind and head for the desert bar. Or in the MDR have several appetizers and mains and only eat parts, leaving the senseless waste behind. Restaurants push alcohol sales as the profit margin is much higher than food margins. But that is my opinon and I find the food waste the more offensive.

Thanks for the great pictures and review. We sailed the Meraviglia out of Port Canavaral, Dec./22. I absolutely agree with you on the public areas are quite loud. That ceiling though is something to behold! We've been looking at sailing out of New York, so I appreciate your review. Just an FYI the market area in Miami with the ferris wheel is called Bayside Market. Bayside is where all the boat tours of Millionaires Row etc sail from. You can purchase those tours right there or book them in advance.Definitely interesting to wander around. We took the free trolley from the port to it and back when we were doing a B2B in December. The trolley stop was quite a hike from where MSC docks but it was worth it. It runs every 15-30 minutes. I believe it stops near the Carnival docks. Sorry you missed visiting Ocean Cay, it's a beautiful island, with nice beaches to relax for a day.

No extra fees imposed on Canadian travelers arriving by cruise ship as of December 21,2023. No additional forms to fill out either.

Yes it is clear that they are imposing any entry tax on Canadians. It is also clear on the travel.gc.ca site that a check mig form is required. What isn't clear is how to fill out a check mig if the only information it accepts is if you are entering by Air. The other 3 choices do NOT work. I have tried many times to see if they are updated and as of 2 minutes ago, they are not. OP said his cruise line HAL; advised that there is no form or fee but that could change at any time. I could care less if Colombia wishes to impose an $85 fee to enter their country; along with an electronic form. I DO care it doesn't interfere with our being able to board the ship and have the choice of paying and getting off in port or foregoing and staying aboard if we haven't filled out the form or do not wish to pay the fee. I'd just like my paperwork in order and clear indication of what is required of us. What I would appreciate is any Canadian Passport holder who has traveled to Colombia via cruiseship since November 14, 2023 posting what their entry/exit experience was. per travel.gc.ca website You must complete a free electronic immigration form (Check-Mig) within 72 hours to 1 hour before: boarding a flight to or from Colombia entering into Colombia via land, maritime or river crossings