dshroyer

Yes, I just think it is misleading for HAL to say "priority boarding" when you are assigned to a group that is in the afternoon. At MSC Diamond members board first, or anytime they get there. That seems to me more like priority boarding. This is priority boarding within your group, which doesn't really mean much to me.

I have posted but not officially joined. I may go do that now.

Awesome. that is about the time we were thinking. Thank you.

We are on the same cruise. We check out of our hotel at 10:00. So an 11:00 AM time seems reasonable to me. I get not getting there super early with the crowds. So much for "priority" boarding. I agree with you. I would not wait that long. That seems crazy. Especially for such a small ship.

I noticed that the prices went from $50 to $55 with the crew appreciation. If you wait until Black Friday they usually add the crew appreciation in for the $50 a day. That is what we have secured. But oil is going up, along with food, labor, etc. So the prices increase do not surprise me that much.

We have just become 4 star which means "priority check in". We just got our "time" to board the Zaandam and it is Group H at 1:20 PM. I was expecting an earlier time since we are 4 star. Does the 4 star priority boarding mean that you have priority boarding as long as you wait until 2 or 3 hours for the crowds to clear? In the past these times have not really been enforced. Has anyone out there boarded in Montreal of late and can let me know if people are turned away if they show up earlier?

The benefits for Diamond level no longer show the bottle of champagne and macaroons. We were on the Divina, at a Diamond event and were told that they are going to add another level above Diamond. Not sure what it would be called or how many points necessary. Does this mean that they are pulling the champagne and macaroons so they can add it to the "new" higher level? Has anyone heard anything about this?

When I got on the ship I told our cabin steward. He had it in the cabin after dinner. No charge.

You can buy buckets of beer at the daily happy hour. Almost half price. Take it to your room.

Thank you Morgsmom. If we do not all match THEN we go to the dining room?

We have 3 couples going on a Carib cruise in October. We have linked our reservations so we can dine together. On other cruise ships we first head to the dining room to confirm our reservations. Is that the same procedure on the msc meraviglia? How do you find out what your dining time is?

I just heard back from MSC. Wow, that was quick. Good day, In response to your email, all passengers in the same cabin must have the drink package. As long as the party you are traveling with are not in the same cabin than they do not need to purchase a drink package and you may add them as your travel with to be seated together in the main dining room. We look forward to welcoming you on board. Kind regards, MSC Existing reservations

We have friends that we are cruising with in October. We are both "Fantastica". Our reservations are linked on the web. Question: I have read that "linked reservations for dinner" mean that both couples need to have the same drink package? Is that true? If they do not have the package and we do is that an issue? Seems crazy that it would be.

Trying to decide if we want the "Have it all". I do not want to book it only to find out that all of the shore excursions are full. Is there any way to see what is still available without formally booking the cruise? Thanks

The Pioneer Inn is where the tenders dock. I would use that.