moomoocow

I’ve used Bags and Co multiple times from airport to ship and ship to airport. 
 

The last time I used it was September 2023. They are available outside every berth as soon as you pass Passport Control and customs. 
 

You can pre-book on their website if you wish which allows you to drop and go rather than queue. 
 

The cost is 12 euro for the first bag and 10 euro for each subsequent bag. They will take your bags to the lower level of Terminal 1 for you to pick up (irrespective of which terminal you depart from). The latest pick up is approx 7pm so you will need to get your bags by then. 
 

It’s a fantastic service - I’ve used them and recommended them so much I’m going to ask for a freebie when I’m at Barcelona port in May! 😀

On 12/31/2023 at 6:58 PM, AlyssaJames said:

I think people are mixing up 2024 and 2025 a lot in this thread.

 

(I have one of the insanely good deals for late summer 2024, before fares were tripled, and I keep waiting for them to cancel it on some pretense so they can resell it at a higher rate …)

Same. Especially as they have another ship doing the almost identical itinerary a few days later. 

On 12/21/2023 at 9:26 AM, Lustate said:

 

The Barcelona to Athens in 2024 has also been paused / not available for a while but shows on some of the documentation they share with agents. We have booked on that one (suite) and are waiting to see what happens. If it's just paused for sales, then it's not the end of the world; even if they cancel, it's not too bad, as there's plenty of notice. We don't want them to pull the voyage and offer a straight refund, as there is no way that, with the price increase, we could get the same cabin and duration for nearly the same price. I would hope for a charter they would offer "same cabin on any other voyage" type deal. 

I’m booked on this - it’s also not showing on the cruise port timetables. It “stops” in Barcelona (from Portsmouth) then the next time Resilient is visible is 20th October in Athens where it continues on to Dubai. 

I’m getting worried. 

I concur it’s the best steak on VL. It was tied for me on the April TA with the Pink Agave steak but when I revisited VL in September the entire meal at Extra Virgin was great - with the steak being the best course. 

Just a small thing to note - disembarkation on this cruise is 20th not 21st.  

Yes. There was a lot of Pickleball action on the Miami-Med TA. I don’t think there’s official ship led Pickleball activities but it seemed the players on board had their own gear and had got together to form daily league matches and also invited bystanders to have a go. 

On 4/27/2023 at 3:12 PM, Tyler414 said:

Someone on FB is whining about this too, they said they snitched as well.

By your language I assume you think it’s ok to smoke pot on your balcony - despite clear instructions from VV that this is not allowed. Consideration for your fellow sailors would be nice. 

On 4/12/2023 at 3:36 PM, CruisingWalter said:

 

HA! That's awesome! Typically bourbon, some simple syrup or dissolved sugar, a few dashes of bitters. At home I add a few dashes of Aztec Chocolate Bitters. Have an AMAZING journey! 

On 4/12/2023 at 3:36 PM, CruisingWalter said:

 

HA! That's awesome! Typically bourbon, some simple syrup or dissolved sugar, a few dashes of bitters. At home I add a few dashes of Aztec Chocolate Bitters. Have an AMAZING journey! 

Hey Walter! Look - currently in Test Kitchen and we have the cocktail pairing. 

Hi Walter

Good to know. Just been showing my in-laws your VV food and drink YouTube (they’ve come to stay from Spain and they’re house sitting for us while we do the TA from next week) and they now want to know what’s in an Old Fashioned. 😉

Anyone got a recent price list for manicures and pedicures please? Wondering if I should get my nails did on the first morning in Bimini (Sunday) or at home before I fly out (Wednesday) 

Many thanks.

 

 

 

Today's question! We have booked Fantastica and have selected second seating.

 

 

 

Do we have to do something to confirm this once we board?

 

 

 

I keep seeing mentions of 'anytime' dining being implemented from April 2016 for Fantastica, is this only on selected ships?

 

 

 

What time is second seating in general?

 

 

 

Oops, just realised that's 3 questions! But they are all related to the same subject! :D

My choice dining is only available to Aurea Spa guests at present. The theory is you pick a time you want to eat each night (instead of first or second) and that's the time you turn up.

The downside to my time is that the show times are built around first and second seating so if you choose a time between those you might not get to see the show any night.

I'm on the Fantasia in six days so I'll give you more updates as to how My Time is run.

From my ipad

We will be staying at the Grand Hotel Savioa on the 24th March based on the recommendation of this board and also Trip Advisor reviews. I will pop back here and give a quick review the day after if it helps you make a decision?

From my ipad

Wishing you and Jules a great cruise ;-)

I've been looking forward to this too! I'm on the cruise with Jules and co.

I did this itinerary on Splendida in October 2015 so it's also interesting to compare.

From my ipad

Hi! I just desembarked today, miss msc fantasia already!!!! You will love it, there were around 10 Americans but plenty if Canadians in this sailing although the vast majority were German. That meant the buffet was always crowded and the mdr blissfully empty :-)

I'm on her in just under five weeks so hoping for a review!

From my ipad

Booked myself on the MSC Preziosa 29 – 6 Dec Western Mediterranean Trip. Travelling with my grandparents which are 80 years old and would love this trip to be perfect. Booked it cause it was really good value, but after reading multiple positive and negatives reviews, I’m getting slightly concerned.

 

Hoping to get tips from well-seasoned travelers who have been on the same cruise ship.

 

1. 1. Will be boarding in Genoa, what is the best time to arrive and check-in in order to avoid the queues?

2. 2.Will it be better to tip the crew directly (to get better service) and later request the service/tipping charged be removed?

3. 3. We’re don’t really drink alcohol. But would like coffee/tea in our rooms or during meal times. So far from what I know buffet (coffee/tea/water is available), MDR (only water). Do we get water in our rooms. And are they bottled or tap water? Do we get a kettle in our rooms to boil hot water?

4. 4.Can you bring food onboard from the various ports? Or rather what kind of food is allowed? Is water even allowed?

1 - You will have a time to board on your tickets. Don't bother going any earlier than that time because everyone will be queuing and going early. If your tickets say 2.30pm then get there for 3pm and you'll be on with no queuing.

2 - The daily charge gets shared amongst all staff, not just wait staff. I have very strong opinions about this and think it's very churlish and mean to remove it and tip individually. I give tips to staff who have served me in the dining room, my room steward, specific bar staff who remember my drink order and/or make me illegal concoctions like Mudslides using Allegrisimo ingredients. I tip these people over and above the daily charge. The ship staff work damn hard. Most of them are conversational in three or four languages. Most all of them don't have English or Italian as their first language and I've lost count of the number of times on an MSC cruise where I've been embarrassed and ashamed of the way a passenger has spoke to or treated them.

So please, keep that daily charge on your ship account. Don't punish everyone just to please a few.

3 - As Amo said, you can get a "Coffee Cuddle" package which is good value. The coffee served in the bars is great quality and very reasonably priced including the speciality coffees. No kettle in room. Water in the room is chargeable. You will see two glass bottles of mineral water in your room when you embark. These are NOT free.

4 - Work on the proviso that ALL food and drink that you attempt to take on board will be confiscated and given back on the final morning of the cruise. That way you won't be disappointed if it happens and you'll be surprised and pleased if it doesn't.

From my ipad

We are sailing on the Poesia with an Allegrissimo drinks package.

 

 

 

I can see from the MSC website that champagne is excluded (no surprise there!)

 

but was wondering if you can get prosecco by the glass on this package?

 

 

 

I will celebrate a birthday whilst on board and am partial to a few bubbles!!

I got off the Splendida a week yesterday and I can assure you prosecco (both dry and sweet) was available everywhere by the glass on Allegrisimo.

Please have one (or three) for me!

From my ipad

Allegerisimo purchased on board/at port is subject to a 15% service charge so unless you are supremely confident that the exchange rate will shift that much in your favour in the interim then I suggest booking it now.

The only other benefit of buying on board is that the spend will contribute to points for your MSC Club status. So if you have joined the club then that's a way to get approx. 3 points in total per 2 people purchasing 7 days of Allegrisimo. Those points will only appear on the account of the person who puts the credit card against the room, not both parties.

Unfortunately it has a dreaded metal balcony and the balcony is smaller by being taperred; see the blue outline on the deckplan.

 

Any cabin further back than 12021, or the corresponding cabin on the starboard side, would be fine

I've included an image so you can see which cabins have plexi glass balconies

 

I've been on Splendida (twice) and each time stayed in a balcony suite , now called an aurea suite, They are 50% bigger, and a bigger balcony too, than the normal Aurea Balcony. Wel worth the small difference, there are only 8 of them 12204/12206/12222/12226/12231/12233/12247/12253

 

Hope this helps

 

pete

Thanks Pete! The price difference from the suite compared to what I've paid is so much more because I booked this last September when they had the early booking promotion - should have booked suite at the outset. I'll learn from that.

Managed to get 12021 and a note on the booking not to change that cabin. So result.

Thanks again!

Morning guys

Fresh off the Anthem of the Seas and now looking forward to my next two MSC cruises - one in October on the Splendida (lowly inside) and then March 2016 on the Fantasia in an Aurea Spa cabin (oooo get me!)

I would like to know what Aurea Spa cabins would be best for balcony etc on the Fantasia as this will be my first balcony cabin. I've been allocated 12003 but need to know if it has a dreaded metal balcony and if so, which cabin would be preferable in this class?

Thanks in advance!

My husband and I have shared an inside Divina cabin for 21 nights. He suggests you let your wife and mother holiday together without you. [emoji2]

Seriously I wouldn't have liked a third person in there with us. And which one of you will be taking the bunk bed if that is the extra berth?

From my ipad

Every single time I've tried to get a price online this year that message has come up.

I thought it was because I was looking at booking cheap deals or special offers but now I'm not so sure. I'm not in a financial position to book another cruise until July but when I do I will not be happy if I do not get the discount, irrespective of the original cruise price.

From my ipad

Me too! Want to book now!

From my ipad

We are on the 25th March 2016 trip so I look forward to your review. When I see it I'll know I'll have less than a month till my cruise.

It will be strange this year not having an MSC cruise after two a year for the past two years. But we are trying RCI instead. I hope we don't get hooked on them because they're so much more expensive!

From my ipad

I reckon they will still run a ship tour to Capri. A half day tour will give you a good three hours on the island which is more than sufficient to experience it and the advantage is if you are late back the ship will wait.

From my ipad

The reason the railings are unbolted is to give them a thorough cleaning and check for any repairs.

From my ipad