moomoocow

Hi MTV.

This question has been asked before.

The answer is no.

High probability of fog will delay docking and it is highly likely you won't be leaving the ship until around the time your plane is leaving.

Even if you miraculously leave the ship at 8am you won't get to airport until about 9.15.

Please note the “Allegrissimo Carnet” drink package is no longer available.

There are still many packages designed to be purchased by individual guests (those not part of a group). One of the most popular packages is the Allegrissimo Escape, which offers 15 vouchers for use during the entire length of the cruise at a flat cost of $72. You can use the vouchers any day of the cruise and is not mandatory for all guests traveling in the same stateroom or travelling together to purchase the package.

 

For more information, call your travel advisor or MSC Cruises at 1-877-665-4655. (When the ship is chartered, it is up to the charterer to determine if they want to offer packages.)

 

Regards,

Thanks. Allegrisimo classic it is then.

Check out this thread were UK prices are 30% CHEAPER than US prices

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1964066

 

Here are some quotes from it

done last week the botom one is mine. the US prices are for a 7 day cruise 22 - 29th mar 2014

This is really illuminating. Plus it shows that you need to apply maths and diligence to work out how to get the best deal.

Again, not very equitable. :)

Hi

On your Facebook page and during the Q&A with Mr Sasso the following drinks package was mentioned:

All-Inclusive Beverage Carnet – New (Caribbean Only)

Available for individuals and groups is the ALL-INCLUSIVE CARNET for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including wine by the glass (white, red, rosé and sparkling chosen from the “Allegrissimo Selection”), draft beer, soft drinks, mineral water, hot drinks and a wide selection of drinks and cocktails from the bar list, as well as take away ice-cream in a cone or cup. Unlimited drinks included can be consumed in all bars and restaurants, including à la carte restaurants and themed venues. Guests travelling under a group code can utilize this package without the required purchase by all group members. Minibar consumption and in cabin mineral water are excluded from this package.

Price: Adult package is $44.00 per day; kid package is $21.00 per day (15 vouchers per day).

Please can you confirm if you have to be in a group booking of a certain size to be able to book this and also if it will be available on the Grand Voyage from Rio/Miami?

Thanks

Looks like a good deal for some!

 

http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/limited-time-offer-gives-up-to-50-savings-on-msc-divina-cruises.html

Indeed. You know my thoughts on the aggressive marketing policy for the Divina not being available for Europeans. :p

The only saving grace is, I think, this doesn't include port taxes which brings it more in line with our pricing.

But with website and management programmes disparate and antiquated uniformity is just a wish that won't ever be granted. :rolleyes:

Ask and ye shall receive....menus from the bar and coffee/chocolate bar....

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_144620_507_zps39e7de4c.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_144644_904_zps19fb7fd4.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_144725_240_zpsf45dfb84.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_144733_906_zps2e5f727a.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_144745_284_zps04bb2f00.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_144750_905_zps36f09188.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_122521_030_zps1c35aef8.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131128_122607_149_zps2ffd25a5.jpg

Holy moly that's some potent additions to the European beverage menus. Loving the liberal use of Absolut which is outside the Allegrisimo in Europe.

Ima gonna get so drunk during those three weeks from Rio to Miami. :D

Thank you very much for these Steel. This is rapidly turning into one of the best reviews ever!

I also made it out to what has become known as something of pock mark on the beauty of MSC ... the now infamous "improper Promenade Deck"

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131125_094323_555_zpsc34ec424.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131125_094337_361_zps781a066e.jpg

While it almost ruined my cruise, I decided that I would overcome this design flaw and persevere, Stay strong and live to cruise another day!

Steel I am enjoying this review immensely. It's good to know you soldiered on in the face of adversity. I doubt I could have stayed calm faced with the lack of deck as described above.

Why, when I was on the Preziosa in October I broke down when I realised I couldn't promenade around the entire ship. The only way I could recover was to go to a bar and drink a cocktail. The feeling passed soon. :D

Oh thats different. On that day you will be watching Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United. :D

On all the MSC cruises I've been on they have never once shown an EPL game.

Mores the pity. :(

On voyages departing from a US port, there is no charge for menu items; however, a small late delivery charge usually applies after 11:00pm

 

Regards,

Hi MSC US

Can you elaborate on this in respect of the Rio to Miami repo cruise? As the ship will be departing from So Am to North America will there be a change in charges? Or will standard existing charges apply as current for the Divina?

We like to try as many lines as possible. Been on several lines that are no longer around . Do you just sail on one line.? I'd say you are a little critical and hostile. We are part of several loyalty programs and some lines we have never been back on but doesn't mean we won't. So sorry to up set you so much over nothing.

 

Diane

You may call me critical and hostile for not agreeing with your expectation.

Despite your name calling you haven't upset me in the slightest.

That's because I'm a realist and the opinion of random people means nothing to me.

Enjoy your day.

Just went to sign up for this and see that you have to sail after 2006. Seems unfair to me . We sailed on the Lirica 2004. As long as you have sailed this line you should qualify.Was looking forward to maybe a better discount or perk. I will keep looking

 

Diane:confused::confused:

You sailed 10 years ago on a cruise and expect to join their loyalty scheme off the back of it?

Weren't you the lady who was disappointed that they didn't receive special offers from MSC because you'd cruised with them before?

I don't think you've fully grasped how a loyalty scheme works......

Along these lines, do the new fare category benefits only go to Europeans? I've emailed the question to msc but haven't gotten a response.

http://www.msccruises.com.lb/lb_en/New-Experience-Categories.aspx

WJ - I've seen a lot of this mentioned but it's nowhere to be seen on the UK website and therefore is not available for UK based cruisers for the Summer 2014 season.

Perhaps it's available to Germans on a Tuesday booking a Balcony cabin on a ship with an I in its name and in conjunction with a Choose Today Cruise Tomorrow voucher? :p

Hi,

 

Any information would be appreciated. This is my first cruise in March '14 and we are trying to get all the final details sorted however the drink packages have us confused. We keep reading about Allegro Classic at $44 but when i log onto my booking on msc website I can not see it anywhere within the options. I have also read that it needs booked before we get onboard. All i can see is i button that says add Allegro but no price and i do not want to press it until i know how much incase it automatically charges me before i have decided. I have asked virgin and emailed Msc with either no help or no reply. Any help or advice would be much appreciated

 

:)

Hi Nicole.

You are right that the package you describe is the one for Divina Carribean cruises.

Add Allergo means it will add it to your "shopping basket" but you won't actually pay for it until the last night of your cruise through your on-board account.

All the people in your booking will have to take it (including any children at the kids price) if you book it. And it's best to do it now, online, rather than at boarding as you will pay an extra 15% service charge on that 44$ pp

Just saw that - but go on ur roll call and asked when they booked? Ur never know - maybe booked sometime back and just discovered the roll call

Hopefully this is true.

On a side note will you be blogging your cruise Marco? I'd value your feedback and will give us some indication of what to expect on the return journey.

Our roll call is pretty thin on the ground and information re: excursions, menus etc will be invaluable.

Someone has just added themselves to the cruise roll call after booking YC.

Excuse me while I go and break something :mad:

i see what u are seeing, however, try to book it now and it will come back with no availability - honestly it doesnt work - it gives you details, yes, but you cannot book it as there are non available - - - try... (i just want to let you know, i am saying this kindly) - - - -

 

i have friends on the southbound cruise who wanted to come, but only in yacht club, so we waitlisted them --- hmmmm. one day, i saw a YC cabin opened up and so i grabbed it - but, really, it should have went to the person on the waitlist, but it did not - - -

 

i would check everyday about the YC, but you need to go on the booking engine and look it at that way, not in the Detail Section.

 

When i was playing around yesterday on the Australian Site, it gives details, but once i check try availability, it bumps me out, as i am not a resident of Australia, so i cannot check try availability - - - -

 

hope this helps....

I see what you're saying but the whole system stinks. You have the advantage of being a TA and being able to view availability where I do not. Also you are viewing availability for your territory and not ship availability.

IF the YC cabins are completely sold out then that's fine. I'm told there is no such thing as a wait list (at least for UK customers) so the only option I have is to physically check for availability by telephoning MSC UK and asking them. This is a process I shouldn't have to endure. Also, I'll grow tired of it, as will the poor people I'm hassling on the phone.

If there is no availability then they need to label it as sold out on the website.

It's enough to put anyone in a grump. :(

I've been watching this sailing for quite some time and there has been no YC cabins and still none on the USA site - not sure of the Australian. And I don't believe the sailing was offered on the uk site -

 

But it is very confusing with soooo many sites

Thirty seconds ago.

How hard would it be for someone at the UK office to let you know if and when a YC cabin became available? return customers are being treated like second class citizens in favour of new ones!

Indeed. It's not as if I can check the .co.uk web page for availability as, surprise, the cruise doesn't feature on there at all. Clearly they have their full allocation of British people for this cruise :p

I understand flights not bring available as they need a one off flight to Rio which is not during their repo times (April and November) and will no doubt be astronomical due to World Cup price hikes.

Cruising with MSC is great value and for the most part enjoyable and a fantastic holiday. But I've said it before and I'll say it again - the before and after is frustrating. I truly believe that the citizens of this board could between us run the customer service, website et al and do a far better job. :D

What sailing date are u looking at?

Hi Marco

It's in my sig. The return leg of your cruise.

I'm quite annoyed with MSC.

Just before Christmas I booked my fourth MSC cruise. It's a big one - 19 nights and I've been planning it for months prior.

When I booked it over the phone I was advised that the YC cabins are all sold out. So I booked an inside because the US Allegrissimo is a lot more expensive than Europe and 19 nights x 2 is a Kings ransom.

Imagine my surprise to discover that YC cabins for this sailing are freely available for US and Australian customers to book through their respective websites.

I called MSC today to ask to book a YC cabin to be told the "allocation" is sold out and there is nothing they can do.

I find this unfathomable. I'm not asking for them to price match different territories. I'm merely asking them to take my money to put me in a cabin that they have available. It is dulling planning a fantastic trip to be told to call back sporadically to check availability in the vain hope they get more cabin availability.

This board contains similar examples. Ideally I'd like a person from MSC management to address this or at least provide a reason and a realistic plan for change.

I logged into 'My Reservation' today to pay the balance of our forthcoming cruise. I filled in the form with all the card and address details and clicked on the 'submit' button next to the warning not to click it more than once or go back in the browser - just wait. Instead I was taken to a page headed "payment processing" and beneath it, one of MSC's notorious 'Doremi' error messages.

 

I emailed MSC Direct to tell them what happened and asking that they check to see if the payment went through and, if not, to email me a payment link as they have done before.

 

30 minutes later I had a phone call from them telling me that they could no longer email payment link and it would have to be done over the telephone. "OK, fine", I said.

 

I waited on hold for 10 minutes to be put through to the accounts office. For several minutes, the person I spoke to claimed there was no recording of our booking on the system - searching either by booking number or names and departure dates! This slack setup really does not evoke any feeling of confidence in MSC.

 

"Hold on", she said "I'll try logging out and in again". That did the trick and I was able to pay the balance. What if she hadn't tried logging out and in again?

 

I note that the MSC website has not been replaced by the end of 2013 as promised by Pierfrancesco Vago:

 

"In fact, in 2013 our number one priority is to enhance and upgrade all of our online platforms, in particular our consumer websites which we know are not currently performing as they should be in today’s internet driven era. You should understand that we have grown incredibly quickly- building ten new ships over the last ten years- and have focused most of our energy on providing the best possible on board product. We now recognise that technology and our online services should have followed suit and for the past couple of years have been constantly improving our website based on the latest technologies available and on our guests’ feedback." [http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1802651]

Mr Vago did promise us that back in March. I think he thinks he's delivered with the apparently improved travel agent section.

What a wonderfully detailed and objective review.

I enjoyed reading it very much. Thank you for the time and effort it took to write. It's appreciated.

We arrive back on the Divina I presume around 6-7 am. What do you think the chances are of making a 10:15 am flight out of Fort Lauderdale?

I know it is about 45 min to FLL from the port.

Thoughts?

No chance whatsoever.

Thank you! This made us feel SO much better! We were so worried this would deny us boarding.

 

We don't have a recommended time. That's what started all this mess. The Internet itinerary says the ship departs at 1800. That's all we know.

All you really need is a copy of your invoice and your cabin number.

When you get to Barcelona port there will be porters. Explain to them that you do not have luggage labels, give them your cabin number and they will label your luggage and whisk it off for transportation to cabin.

Then queue for embarktion and present the person with the invoice. That'll have all the details you need. You'll be fine!

Go out and enjoy Barcelona. Have some tapas and Feliz Navidad. :):)

Hello

We have recently booked the return leg of the World Cup Divina repo from Rio to Miami. I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with as the UK office cannot answer them.

1) What will be the currency on the ship for this voyage? MSC UK think it will be Euros

2) What drinks packages are available to book? We are assuming if the ship currency will be Euros then Allegrisimo is available. However, the info on the website suggests Allegrisimo Classic.

I'm also hoping that the transatlantic repo guys can summarise what options were available to them and prices. It's quite confusing and we need to be aware of what to book, how to book and what to budget.

Thanks in advance.