tnt10

Thank you everyone, for the suggestions and advice.

Just to be clear, I am not looking for airfare to be included.  The price I have been quoted, in writing, is $2,000 below the non-airfare Regent quote.

I have sent an email to the TA asking if the pre-cruise one night free hotel is included, (thanks for this suggestion!).

Even if the hotel is not included, $2,000 less than the non-air cruise fare quoted by Regent is still a win-win for me.

Will keep you informed....

Happy Cruising

Good info to know...Is this possible in all embarkation ports, or just some?

Thanks again!!

Hello Everyone,

We are booked on a 15 night transatlantic cruise out of Barcelona next September.  We booked through an online TA due to the fantastic price for a Penthouse Suite, which was $2,000 less than my regular TA could quote.  Question is: How do I book the free 1 night pre-cruise hotel in my debarkation city?  Is that done through the online TA or do I call RSSC myself?

Thank you!

Thanks for the comments and reassurances everyone!  Has helped to allay many of my fears.  Guess this all started with a review where the writer booked an indoor on floor 9 to use as a closet/dressing room!!

Would have been nice to include a little more hanging space since these are the second highest priced cabins on the ship.  This will also be the smallest "Suite" we have ever booked, so, you know how over-active minds can get to working!!

Thanks again everyone for your help/suggestions..

Happy cruising.

Thanks for the video link jvsnana!

However, for a 3+ week cruise/vacation in many different climates, still not a lot of room for coats, jackets, etc.  Also, didn't see in this video any socks or undergarments.  Big difference between a 7 day Caribbean cruise and a 27 day European cruise/vacation.

Anyone else any suggestions?

Since I have been unable to find much information on this, I'm asking you cruisers with experience on the Meraviglia:

How do you deal with the lack of storage space in these suites?

Is there room, someplace in the suites, to place an additional hanging clothes rack?

Just for background, we will be on a 17 night sailing, with 10 days touring prior.  We can only go so light without having to clean clothes every other day or so.....  Thanks for any suggestions!

13 hours ago, lcpagejr said:

We are not big show/theater fans.... But since we took our adult daughter this time. The one show we went to was the Michael Jackson show on Thursday evening. Our family all agreed it was amazing. We went to the middle show and my daughter stayed for the late show as well and said it was even better with different Michael Jackson songs! I cannot recall the shows from our March 2018 cruise... But here are the shows from the cruise we were just on. 

Sunday - The Wizard

Monday - My Life in Music

Tuesday - Fly

Wednesday - Peter Punk

Thursday - Starwalker (Michael Jackson)

Friday - The Dream

 

Lastly being a YC passenger...They had a whole section of Theatre dedicated to YC passengers.. Our Butler escorted us to our seats

Does anyone know if this is done on the Meraviglia as well?

Thanks!

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Ok, you  are owed an explanation.  I can only comment based on 21 days in the Divina YC about 1 year ago (we will be back next week).  On the Divina the dedicated YC restaurant is called Le Muse.  Le Muse is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner...even when in port.  Breakfast menus are pretty normal with amazing service.  Everything is cooked to order and good.  Lunch is also quite good and even DW loved their burger (she does not normally like a burger).  Dinner was a mixed bag and I did think that the wines were not up to a standard one would expect in the YC.  One night I told our waiter to bring us a decent Cab and he brought some Robert Mondavi Woodbridge.  I was not a happy cruiser and made it clear to our waiter (with whom we had already bonded) that I would not drink that stuff in the MDR much less Le Muse.  It was quickly changed for something slightly better.  

 

But the YC restaurant does have a menu.  Sure, you can ask for some kind of modification but the reality is that you are going to get the products on the menu (although the chef might accommodate a slightly different preparation).  No, you cannot simply say you want Lobster Thermidor.  If they happen to have lobster on the menu then perhaps the chef can make you Thermidor...but I would not hold my breath. Probably the best dinner entrees we saw in Le Muse were the Risottos and I did have an excellent veal entrée.  The food was OK, but nothing great and a little disappointing.  On the other hand, we have cruised on 16 cruise lines and none of them had great food in their MDR.

 

Hank

So I'm a little confused:  Are you saying the YC restaurant food is comparable to the MDR on the other (16) cruise lines you have been on?  I would expect the presentation AND the food to be of at least a higher caliber considering the higher price point in the YC.

I have not seen a male massage therapist for the past 10+ years or so on any cruise line.  For this reason, I have opted for a massage immediately prior to and following my cruises...

Have been told that the reason for this is:  Females and males prefer a female therapists, whereas only homosexual males prefer male therapists-which is absolute Bull***t!

Happy Cruising

On 11/13/2019 at 4:14 AM, welshy74 said:

Yes you can.. as long as this is done before 1500

Trust me, as one who has done it in the past, you do not want to enter/exit the port of Lisbon with inclement weather/storms.

The cruise we were on with the horrible weather out of SH (on the Independence of the Seas) proceeded onto Lisbon-big mistake!  When we finally did leave Lisbon port, the seas were so rough, the pilot was almost kept onboard, the seas were so rough!

Usually, the Captain can navigate the best weather options around the bad weather... all the best to everyone-try and enjoy the ride if possible!!

hi smilesntravels,

Just remember that Ocean Cay is now rescheduled to open for passengers December 5, 2019, (I think).  Date has been pushed back several times so far....  When are you travelling again?  Don't plan on Ocean Cay's opening as planned to weigh a decision.  Go with other factors.... and be sure to have a blast regardless!!

Thanks grandgeezer,

This is really good to know!!!

Thank you for sharing your experiences!!

Here is the link to the Service charge on MSC ships:

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Manage-Your-Booking/General-Information.aspx

Scroll down and open "Service Charge" tab.

Taking a quick look at this chart, it appears ALL Adults are charged $12.50 or €10,00

per day, with children charged 50%.

Hope this helps

So, bottom line:  The DSC covers all tipping in the YC.  Tipping is at the sole descretion of the passenger.  Correct, or am I missing something??

This is a concern at least.  As others have said, if this small change doesn't affect you, perhaps the next one will..... Or the one after that.... until the whole YC experience is diluted beyond recognition.

I, for one, have been watching this thread as a new MSC cruiser, and am concerned that I may not be getting the product as promised when I booked my cruise.  I also, posted, (after first hand communications with MSC),  regarding distilled water and extension cords for CPAP users-was basically told to furnish my own-even as a YC guest, MSC couldn't be bothered.  Is making think that the illusion of the promises and hype of the MSC YC may be just that....  Is the $3000-$4000 more for my cruise over the Area Experience really worth it?

Sadly, I will be watching for other cutbacks before deciding to pull the plug.....

Emailed the Special Requirements form to MSC yesterday, and today got the response.. in part:

"Due to the very limited supply, it is recommended for guests to bring their own distilled water and extension cords as needed. Please ensure the distilled water is in the original, unopened container in order to be accepted on board."

Unbelievably petty on MSC's part.  (Especially when booked in the YC). 

Every other cruise line does provide both if requested.

Was on the RCI Independence of the Seas several years ago, and experienced severe weather in the Bay of Biscay for 2 days.  Were told it was due to the ocean depth in that area, not unusual to have large waves and big seas.  Didn't really bother us too much, just had to hold on more when moving about the ship.  

Be sure to bring your favorite motion sickness meds-just in case!

Think positive, and have a great time!!

Hi everyone,

Was able to book a 4:00 PM flight from EWR on the second day out of New York.

Am very comfortable with this, and confident that there should be no  problem making this flight....

Thanks everyone!!

Thanks everyone for your input!

At this point, I'm actually only confident in reserving a later flight on the second day in New York.  Don't want to get into anything too involved or complicated, which could obviously go awry... 

Don't need the stress... LOL

Thanks again!

But don't you have to go through customs any time you leave the ship?

If the ship is cleared the first day, then when a passenger leaves the ship, whether to disembark or to sightsee, don't they have to go through customs?  In other words, won't passengers have to go through customs every time they leave the ship?

On 10/20/2019 at 8:59 AM, princeton123211 said:

Once the ship is cleared by Immigration you can leave it for good. A lot of people do get off when the ship docks a day early while some will use the extra night as a floating hotel. 

so, do you have to leave by a specific time the day earlier, or can you leave anytime after the ship is cleared by immigration, say 5 am to catch an early plane home?

thanks for the info....

We used a private Vaporetto shuttle  both from airport to hotel and hotel to cruise ship.  With all the luggage for a 30 day European holiday, we weren't about to schlep it up and down and across bridges.  There is a website that show hotels in Venice within walking distance to cabs/buses, without any bridges.  Very useful...

By the way, how do some people get off the cruise one day earlier?

Hope this helps, I'm booked on a TA next September, (2010).  I'm able to book excursions at maybe half of the ports on the itinerary.  I'm also able to book spa appts and specialty packages.  Hope this helps!  Oh, I'm also booked in the Yacht Club.

Happy Cruising!

3 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion and food tastes are subjective, but I confess I simply can’t understand someone swearing off an entire cruise line on the basis of lackluster food on one cruise. But that’s just me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I understand your feelings.  We were on a Royal Caribbean cruise where we both lost weight, (not on purpose), the food was really that bad.  Have been on other RCI cruises both before and after where the food was considerably better. 

Sorry to say, "it" happens!!