skittl1321

Yeah, I haven't asked previously because I assumed the chance of getting free soda package was 0, or they'd offer it. There are plenty of non drinkers out there, so they could... it's clear they have chosen not to. I could just get the FAS package and have some mocktails, but it isn't something I want to spend on. Thanks for the call out about my name. Didn't see that. Oops. But I've had this ID on the Internet for like 20+ years, so it's not really anonymous anyway. I've posted my photo to cruise critic too many times to be anonymous.

You can upgrade your alcohol package and the better one includes Starbucks, so that might be how people have alcoholic and Starbucks. But that would be way more expensive . (Starbucks + soda costs about the same as the tips on the lower alcohol package). It's no big deal if I just buy Starbucks ala carte. Just kind of annoying. I also wish there was a nonalcoholic FAS included option, because it's not really free, I know it was included in my booking and I declined it. But the tips on the included package are more than my drink bill ever is, so I'm glad declining is an option.

I have changed my dining reservations on the website. You chat with an agent and they quickly cancel what you don't want. Easy. Done it many times as I've been super indecisive about my dining times and booked at least 12 but only need 2. I also changed my room after booking. That took a phone call. No big deal. I'm not sure what you think cruise critic should be used for if not to ask questions. Some people here suggest it can be done on board, which is more than NCLs customer service has told me.

For the record:

No, I never even thought to ask if they would give them to me instead of the promo. That would be awesome to even just get the soda package! Maybe I should call and ask that... I just want to buy them both. Both online and when I called said no. Guess I will have to cross my fingers for onboard. (The cost of the starbucks package + soda package is the same as the cost of the tips with the FAS included package, which I declined. I am not interested in upgrading that and spending even more since I do not drink alcohol.)

When I made this post it was based on the website. I have since called and they have told me that you can get only one package per person. Maybe on board they can do something different, but I guess my starbucks will be ala carte.

That doesn't help. Unless you are indicating there is in fact a nonalcoholic package I missed, but since I missed it, linking me directly to it doesn't tell me anything. I know what packages are available, and when I go to add them to my cart, once I add a soda package it won't let me add the starbucks one.

NCL allows consumers to book directly. I can also modify my booking directly. I am not using a PCC or a TA. When I go to add a second package to my cart, it tells me one per person. I was just wondering, from those experienced with NCL, if there is a way to get starbucks and soda together. I do not want an alcoholic drink package. It seems like the only way to get the two, if I cannot purchase two packages, is to upgrade the free at sea option; which I don't want to do. I don't even want the FAS option, because it's tips are too expensive for what I would drink. It is much more cost effective to just get a soda package. I wanted to add starbucks as well, but the website doesn't allow it.

To clarify, the website will not let me add two packages. It says one beverage package per person when I try to add the second one to my cart. I am not working with a TA. I always book cruises direct myself.

So, if I want unlimited Starbucks and unlimited Soda, the only package available is the premium alcoholic one? I mean, obviously, I'll just go ala carte, but that's annoying. Is there a nonalcoholic package I'm missing?

They are pretty used to people asking, for sure. Fancier words maybe "What is your recommendation among the wines that are eligible for the discount that comes with my drinks package?"

But then people will get upset because they thought they were getting a free drinks package, because it was advertised as included; and then they didn't get it because they didn't check the option. As someone who unchecks the drink package- it was very clear that drinks were included in the cruise, and I would need to pay gratuities. I didn't want the drink package that was advertised as included, so it was up to me to get rid of it. I am super torn on whether I want to get a soda package or just pay ala carte. In the old days I'd bring a 12 pack onto a 7-day cruise; but now you can't do that. That was enough for me. But my most recent cruise on MSC included drinks, and man it was nice to just grab a soda whenever. But I feel like for the cost, I might go water only...

So, it seems that the only production show on Encore is Choir of Man; it looks like they used to have Kinky Boots but it was cancelled. Are there any other large shows that are just "cruise ship entertainment"? Or is choir of man the only production show, and everything else is just small venue entertainment? (I know there is the Beatles thing too, but in a small venue.) I just want to see some singing and dancing, doesn't need to be broadway...

You say "considering you are not in your room that long"- but personally, I AM in my room. On my balcony. For me the people who say "you don't spend much time in your room" on a cruise ship are the people who aren't booking comfortable rooms. If I had an inside, I probably wouldn't spend much time in it; but I prefer to be away from crowded spaces, so I love a balcony, no matter the itinterary. An itinerary like Alaska where everything is about seeing outside, I absolutely want the balcony. For encore, I paid over double the cost of a studio to be able to have a balcony instead. I'm going in October so it will be COLD; that just means I need to bring the right clothes for it.

Knowing what it includes is helping me decide what to book... I am having a very hard time deciding!

The surf and turf was excellent on Seascape two weeks ago. Well, the filet was. I don't like lobster, but I had a delicious steak where my 4-year old got 2 lobster tails with his surf and turf! That might have also been the dish with the most amazing mashed potatoes.

They were required two weeks ago, and the 7:30 show was often full. There are screens around the ship, and it is very easy to use them to make a reservation, or sometimes you could do it through the app. We never had problems getting into a show when we booked in the morning; but by dinner time, there would be only 1-2 spots left. One person can book for your entire party.

I'm apt to agree with you. I don't want foie gras.

For Free at sea meals at Cagneys, I see it includes one appetizer course (either an appetizer or a soup/salad), a main course, and a dessert/ Are any side dishes included? Also, what are the desserts? The Cagney's menu right now that people are showing for 2023 doesn't show any at all. Still trying to decide between Cagneys and Le Bistro for where I'm getting my filet... The one at Le Bistro has an upcharge to the dining package though, since the steak au poirve is apparently not on the new menu. I stress too much about stuff, but thanks for the help!

Still waiting to get some more pictures before I update about ports. Man does life get in the way 😞 I want to go back to the cruise, it really was incredible.

Yeah, and that might be part of the difference, we booked RCCL a year out and MSC maybe 5 months out. I am happy with the price we paid, I think it was fine; I just hear so often that MSC is a bargain basement cruise line, and I don't necessarily think that is true. It is probably a bit cheaper overall than NCL/CCL/RCCL but it is right in line with them, I think. Depends on various promotions, and when you book. I just don't think people should assume MSC = super cheap. This wasn't a walmart of the seas party cruise environment, so I don't think it is attracting the people looking for only the lowest fares.

Hmmm, just realized some of my photos are broken now. Not sure what happened, and it doesn't look like I can edit, so I will just apologize.

Glad we didn't have that last week. We never ordered two things, but if we asked about two options, the waiter would often just bring the second one out "just in case".

They hadn't added this to seascape last week; maybe just this week? (The post I saw said it was on seaside.)

I was honestly so nervous about this cruise, as all I kept reading was that MSC is awful unless you are yacht club; after I booked it. That just was not the case at all for us. We had an amazing time and our expectations were far exceeded. Even though all the reviews seem to be nearly all for yacht club, and people say the rest of the ship is trash; they are sailing fully booked so clearly SOMEONE is sailing back there in steerage with me 🙂 A lot of people say MSC is super cheap, and that was not the case for us; it cost about the same as we pay on other lines ($3400ish for the four of us after military discount; by contrast we have paid $3800 for a junior suite on RCCL for a 7-day europe cruise; that had kids sail free, MSC did not when we booked); but I think that's an incredible value for what was offered. We had also heard a lot of people say that the people who sail MSC are really rude, and we didn't find that to be the case at all. Everyone we met was friendly and polite. There was always a bit of craziness in the buffet, and people would cut in and out of lines; but we've seen that on every cruise. There were more people whose first language was not English than was, as far as I could tell, and a few people who had no English at all, so my husband got a lot of practice with his French, Spanish, and Portugeuse. We had one tour with all Italians, and we talked to them through broken English and Spanish, since none of us speak Italian. Husband now wants to learn it before the next MSC cruise. I feel like Europeans in general are so much more patient with kids than Americans, and that was helpful for me, as I spent half the cruise apologizing for my 4-year old son walking straight into people, and everyone would always smile, say no worries, and rub his head...