moomoocow

The price is set and whether they can only do London or will doe a regional airport but they don't always tell you the flight. For example I didn't find out for the Musica Venice to rio trip that the Venice leg was going to be with Swiss airlines via Zurich until 3 or 4 months before. However return flight was BA. Wasn't happy with Swiss because I wanted to be able to take an extra bag which is affordable with BA but with Swiss would have cost around €400. They would not give me an alternative, so I said I'd make my own arrangements for the flight to Venice as it would be cheaper. Turns out if I'd spoken to Rachel green or the Flight Manager, they would have arranged something different.

 

I almost never do fly/cruise to the Med now as you haven't a clue if you Re flying to Milan! nice or have struck lucky and get Genoa. I either pay BA fares which are reasonable if bought in advance or even better use Avios.

Amo do you know the name of the flight manager so I can drop it in the morning when I book.

They are quite laissez faire with the whole "we may or may not do flights" situation. I have no issues with booking cabin only and arranging my own flights but would prefer all in one. Multi city BA flights MCR RIO and MIA MCR are expensive but I'd like to sort this rather than meander along waiting for them to make a choice :)

All Aboard?,

 

I either dreamt it or there was a more recent post from you with all sorts of clues from Marcelo. I was just about to try to reconcile them with the predictions for repositioning cruises 2014/5 but the post has gone. Did I dream it?

Not a post. An email....

Pretty new i hear to MSC, thoughts anyone??

 

thanks

I was on her in October. What do you wish to know specifically?

There is a chat feature on the Traveler Web App that allows you to chat and connect with others onboard.

 

Hope this helps!

What an excellent idea. Let's hope the app is adopted by other ships. All of them :p

Yes I had flight back from rio with MSC. It was originally with BA on disembarkation day, then very close to the cruise date I changed my mond and asked if I could have 2 nights in Rio (I organised my own hotel as their package was a ridiculous price) and the BA flight was full for that day, so they got me a TAP flight instead. Have also had them fly me out to Buenos Aires for a repo back to Southampton - that was BA too. Both were just from LHR but for the last one they let me pay £50 extra to get the add on of a Edinburgh return flight.

 

They rarely can tell you the flight arrangements at booking, it usually follows 3-4 months before sailing (and if they don't tell you then - I hassle them saying I need to know if I need an extra day off work)

If you book further out do they just quote a ballpark figure for flights? Or do they give assurance that it'll be a certain airline or a certain airport?

I sailed on the 11/30/2013 sailing to the Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Great Stirrup Cay.

 

I have previously sailed on NCL, Royal, Carnival and Princess. I went into this cruise with an open mind about MSC and did a lot of reading about the line before cruising.

 

The check-in at the port of Miami was quick and easy. No Issues.

 

The staff welcomed us on the ship and from the first moment I was in awe of the ship’s beauty. She is certainly the most beautiful ship I have ever been on and she sparkled. The mirrors everywhere took some getting used to, but by the end of the cruise I got used to staring at that handsome guy looking at back at me. :-)

 

Cabin - I had a category 6 balcony stateroom which is the smallest balcony cabin (no couch or chair), but was plenty of space for me. I found the décor to be pleasant, dark woods with white, red and black accents. The bed was comfortable, and the balcony contained two chairs and a foot rest. The bathroom was very standard cruise bathroom. I found there to be enough space, outlets and storage. I did miss not being able to check my account on the television, but I was told that it will be available in the future. My steward was efficient and unseen; my kind of steward.

 

Food – I liked the food. The dining room service was spot on. We were sat at table 904, a table of 8 in the Villa Rosa dining room. We had Rennga and Putu, both from Indoneisa. They were personable and efficient. We did not wait long for food at all, and in fact, some nights felt rushed. They actually turn up the lights in the dining room at 10:30PM which we found a tad odd. I did found something tasty to eat each night, and never left hungry. I really enjoyed the buffet for lunch; fresh pasta and a carving station every day. A very extensive selection of cheeses, breads and freshly sliced deli meats (there is a person slicing all day). There is a children’s section for things like chicken nuggets, hot dogs and chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast).

 

Entertainment – Second to none. I loved the MSC production shows and the Pantheon Theater is the nicest theater at sea. We saw the Witches of Paris, Pirate Show, Wonderland and the Michael Jackson show. All were modern, fresh and unlike anything I’ve seen on another cruise lines. I thought the entertainment was better than I’ve seen on the Epic and Breakaway.

 

General Observations –

 

The very best coffee I have had on any cruise line. I usually spend a good amount at the coffee bar on board. I didn’t spend a dime this cruise. The coffee was strong, dark and always served with hot milk. Awesome.

 

The very best pizza I’ve had on any cruise line. Starting at lunch they will have one freshly baked focaccia, one white pizza, a cheese pizza, a pepperoni pizza and a couple specialty pizzas out. Thin crust, great sauce and spices and perfectly cooked.

 

There were many complaints from fellow passengers about the service, mostly from the bar areas. I purchased very few drinks on this cruise except at dinner, but the cocktail service at dinner was great.

 

The tender process for both Grand Cayman and GSC worked very well.

 

Staff ratio – In regards to staffing; I felt that the staffing was lacking in some areas and overstaffed in others. For example; a scheduled open bar cocktail party for 500 was only staffed with three bartenders and two cocktail waitresses. While up in the buffet, there were four or five servers milling around a section of 20 or so tables at each meal. I will give MSC credit though; when a supervisor came in and saw what a mess the party was, she immediately got on her walkie talkie and in about 5 minutes streams of staff appeared to help out. Nice service.

 

VERY, VERY few announcements which was quite refreshing. NO activity announcements like bingo, art auctions and the like.

 

Very little sales pressure on this cruise. No in your face cocktail waiters shouting at you on the pool deck; though there was always a server around.

 

I didn’t get any soft serve on this cruise. Machines were only open 2-5PM and that was usually my nap time. Oh well, I guess I’ll live. :-)

 

All around, I had a great cruise. Never had a bad one, and never will.

 

Thanks for reading and I'd be happy to answer any questions, if I can.

 

Rich

Please accept the standing ovation that my husband and I (and our cats) are giving you from blustery, cold Lancashire.

Your review was concise, full of information, objective and a delight to read.

It speaks volumes that you noted the waiters names in the dining room as opposed to their scent.

Thank you again.

We have been told by MSK UK that February is when the next season, 2014/5 will go on sale. There is little reason to disbelieve them.

 

Given that I should gain 'Gold' MSC Club status on the Armonia in March, I will be tempted to hold off any future booking until after.

 

I will try to keep this thread updated with any new information until it becomes obsolescent with the eventual release of repo cruises and prices.

 

T.

I'm certain we are all waiting with bated breath not least to check if there are solo supplements :D

As an aside a travel agent told me today the MSC don't plan any flights for one off/repos until four months before sail date if at all. This is why I'm finding it difficult to book flights with them. Apparently I should try new year.

Has anyone flown in or out of Rio/Santos from/to the UK as part of an MSC package? Or have they book flights separate.

Tim, I've mailed you.

That is somewhat perturbing.

 

Was looking at flights to Rio to, just out of interest to price up the TA from SA back to Europe. There were no direct flights from the UK to Rio which was a bit of a pain.

 

Saying that though, if you're flying that far you need to be flying in at least the day before and staying in a hotel the night before, or maybe 2. This should cut down on the massive need for booking flights with the cruiseline to be safe.

 

You would enjoy the ability to receive price reductions and various other perks if you booked with a US travel agent rather than a UK based one.

 

We book several of our last cruises with them as it has worked out a much better deal (RCI & Carnival).

 

It may be MSC though, Poesia was roughly the same price UK vs US TA's and comparing for next August Divina was actually much more expensive booking in the US than in the UK for us (believe because kids free is not an expectation there where it is normal here).

 

They obviously aren't ABTA so if they go bust you do not have the same protection, but as I say millions of Americans book and have no problems and neither have we (yet). It might make it cheaper and more doable for you.

 

Get a 'compete quote for your cruise' or google that and it may or may not help you.

Hi Nath(an?)

Thanks for this. There are a couple small flies in the ointment here though.

The US TA's don't seem to want to provide a quote if the flights do not originate out of the US. Plus the ones I've looked at advise in a disclaimer that they won't book MSC for non-US citizens as they are requested not to by MSC.

All I want is to book a legitimate fly/overnight stay/cruise package for this repo (preferably from MCR) at a reasonable price. A price that doesn't go up by £600 per person when a website registers my interest. And also with someone that will recognise and apply my meagre MSC Club discount.

I can't understand why this is so difficult for me to do.......:confused:

It`s that uneven playing field once again! i wonder if those who live elsewhere in Europe can book flights and cruise for this one ?

 

The one goal did not improve my mood .... :mad: if that was the game you were watching.

It was. I can't remember a time I felt so deflated about the team. Well I can. I think it was when Millwall beat us 5-1 or something similar and I was about 6 :rolleyes:

I for one can't wait for your opinion of MSC.

Have a great time Barbra!

On Sunday my husband gave me permission to book the 19 day repo in July 2014 from Rio to Miami. :D

I was exceptionally excited and immediately emailed MSC to get a quote.

I then went on a well known MSC approved website where the price was displayed at a very reasonable rate including flights which I naively assumed I would use as a guide price. The only downside was it didn't illustrate who the flights would be with. Myself and husband prefer BA for a few different reasons.

Yesterday I was dismayed to see that the cruise had increased a further £300 per person in price.

Today I was perturbed to learn that:

a) MSC UK can only book this as cruise only and can't/won't let me book flights through them and;

b) Aforementioned TA has added a further £300 onto the original Sunday price. An increase of £600 - possibly due to me having the temerity to enquire about the package they are providing. Which they haven't got back to me about despite promising to. Plus they played dumb about a MSC Club discount being applied.

All in all I'm not happy. I doubt the football I am currently watching will improve my mood.

PS For our American brethren we do not enjoy the ability to receive reductions from our TA's if cruise prices lower between booking and sail away.

I found this link by mistake... or just luck. Those cruises are not available yet. Once the main office pushes the 'release season 2014-2015' button, they will become available for booking. That's why when you press the 'book now' button you are redirected to different cruises. I guess they haven't finished working on the maps but the dates are correct.

That's the thing - they aren't correct. The August and October dates all say 2013. And it's backed up with the Opera being in service up to the end Sep 2014 out of S'ton.

I'm sure they will rehash this and slot the correct dates in. At least we know that the Venice Dubai is a go and the dates. There are quite a few that are up for this one. We are torn between this and the Rio to Miami in July. Whichever we choose it will be the only other holiday we will have in 2014 so we should choose wisely.

All the Grand Voyages until April 2015 are all open for booking on MSC Australia. http://www.msccruises.com.au/au_en/Msc/MSC-Cruises-Grand-Voyages.aspx

That is an exceptionally confusing web page.

Some of the the dates say 2013 not 2014.

The maps aren't correct (the repo for Dubai appears multiple times)

The place names are incorrect

The Opera repo in 2014 from S'ton is right in the middle of a bookable cruise on the UK site.

I'm hoping all these are cosmetic errors otherwise whoever is playing chess with these ships probably does need until February to sort out the mess!

When we arrive in Venice next April (with Tim, Amo, Papcx et al) our flight home isn't until the following evening.

With that in mind we (as in husband and I) have decided upon a hotel opposite the train station. Close enough to the people mover terminus that we only have to cross one bridge. Opposite a vaporetto stop and right on the Grand Canal.

Plan is to dump bags, get on a circular route and see where the mood takes us. When we get hungry we will go to Alfredo's for pasta to go near St Marks and then walk our way back to the hotel where we will drink Prosecco.

The next day will be similar until it's time to leave for the airport. A quick trot back to Piazzle Roma and then on to the airport bus.

Just need to find recommendations for a good evening risotto around the area of the train station.

Now MooMoo, you can't complain of the price of our next cruise.

 

I know Caribbean cruises are very cheap in comparison but do you really want... sorry I am not allowed to say it.

 

Keep in touch and we will always get the best deals.

 

Tim.

Indeed Waldorf.

Typed from my iPad. :p

I embrace the cultural differences.

I chuckle at the sometimes inept management.

I rue the fact the cruise itineraries aren't as far in advance as competitors.

I'm resigned to "flights included" involving a 500 mile round trek to Gatwick.

I marvel at the shoddiness of the websites

But one thing that really gets my goat about MSC is the marked difference in pricing and promotions. You really need a degree in investigation work and/or contacts in high places to get a similar deal to our brethren across the pond.

That's inequitable and misguided. I know that US citizens usually get cheaper cruises and preferential booking options on most cruises but at least MSC could offer the same promotions at the same time for all countries. Even if the standard price differs.

Put a "very" in front of strange. Not someone i would like to meet on a cruise because we like to have FUN and are FRIENDLY.

You misconstrue. We are not saying we don't have fun. And as for friendly there are 30 of us on a rollcall for a cruise in March who will attest to that.

It took me about six weeks.

Thanks got answering this - I did get my cad from Lee about a month after my cruise finished. After my next one we will be silver.

Could not agree more

Motion carried!

Admins - is it possible to arrange all the Divina posts in their own folder for ease of location?

Do they seriously have hp sauce? Dont suppose they have marmite and pg tips too?? Might reduce the weight of my luggage!!!

Can confirm HP sauce available in bottles in the Preziosa buffet.

If you ask nicely then a lovely waiter will bring some to the MDR for breakfast.

Sharecruises-----thanks so much for your reply.:} It is that I have gotten such little information about this cruise from my TA at MSC USA. And for the other nasty comments. I am trying to take my family on a cruise. We cruise once every 2 years...SO YES INFORMATION AND PICTURES ARE IMPORTANT!. All the cruise lines have menus and can be either seen searching the CC thread OR looking on their home websites for sample menus. There is another site that does the same but we are not allowed to mention names of other websites. I will be happy to return to RCI.

I'm sure they'll be happy to have you back.

Why did you book before having this info or researching? Why ever did you book without knowing all the things that you are demanding to see now?

Between myself, Amo and Skipper Tim we have hundreds of days MSC sailing under our collective belts. If we exhort you to cancel and change cruise lines then we really do mean it. You will not like MSC. So take our advice. Do what you were threatening to do.

Having looked into the flights and especially Avios situation regarding a number of these increasingly likely repo cruises, the Orchestra's from Venice to Dubai is looking particularly attractive to me.

 

1) Venice is cheap, fast and convenient to reach from the UK unlike Genoa which would have involved (for me) two flights and possibly two train journeys: one in the UK and one in Italy from Milan. It is also beautiful and possibly the most attractive port to leave from or arrive at in the World. This is a good start!

 

2) Going East is good! Things get more interesting in the Eastern Med. I hope they spice up the itinerary with some ports of call in Greece and Turkey before Suez.

 

3) Suez! I have done a Suez transit once before and look forward to doing it again. Apart from the startling imagery of a huge ship passing through a narrow canal cut into the desert, I remember groups of soldiers who were deployed near the banks of the canal in the middle of nowhere coming out to wave at us as we slowly passed. I gather they don't get that many cruise ships passing through - it must be mostly freight.

 

4) The excitement of the Gulf of Aden - will pirates attempt to board? Will the guests and crew fight them off?

 

5) I would like to visit Muscat when it is under 140 degrees C. I feel I couldn't do it justice on the one previous occasion.

 

Dubai, I can take or leave. I am not one for large air-conditioned shopping malls full of over-priced designer wear.

 

6) Instead, I will return business class on one of the luxurious Middle-Eastern airlines that include a limousine pickup from anywhere in the UAE free of charge. I can be met off the ship by my private chauffeur and rushed to the executive lounge, completely spoilt there and on the flight back. A very good use of my hard-earned Avios, I believe and an excellent end to the trip. (See my thread about free flights for repo cruises).

 

I am therefore committing myself to this repo on the proviso that MSC come out with their regular UK repo pricing. Hence I thought I would get the roll call off to an early start.

 

Anyone thinking about joining me?

 

Tim.

I think if the price is right we're with you on this one........

Will not have enough Avios to get near a flight from Dubai but we will give it a go...

I can never make those "dress shorts" work. Unless you have a body and legs like Daniel Craig you just end up looking like a potato in polyester.

Pics please Motown. :D

What cruise line would you compare MSC to? Celebrity? Carnival? RCI? Why are there no menus online for the caribbean voyage? No teen area reviews? There was so much written about the Allure and Oasis before they first sailed. It is very disappointing to see the lack of information available for this new cruise in the Caribbean. MSC! Surely, we should have more pictures on line regarding the changes of the restaurants. Still, the same tex-mex restaurant shows up. Come on! If things don't change or menus, shows, and children's/adult's activities aren't posted soon by MSC then I am canceling my cruise in April. Ridiculous!!!!

What on earth did people do before the internet? What happened once they booked a holiday at the local TA? One wonders how anyone enjoyed any holiday ever without minutely analysing every speck of information first.

As my mother would say "Wind ya neck in luv else it'll get tangled in your backwards feet"

Then immediately cancel your cruise and go with RCI. MSC is not for you my dear. Not. At. All.

MooMoo.

 

I know I'm late to the party, I've just read this thread from the beginning. You've been around the MSC threads long enough to know the cancelled port of call was an issue long before the Divina set sail. The fact is MSC lied about an "exciting extra day in Miami" and not being for TA promotion. Something that is now being questioned. We know MSC have a track record on being less than honest. Something our Armonia roll call has suspected regarding the Red Sea itineraries.

 

As for a business model that relies on gaining new customers over retaining existing customers. I can't see that working for long. If MSC think they can continue to grow at the current pace (a impressive pace it must be said) by annoying current passengers, there in for a shock.

 

You and I are both repeat passengers with MSC. If I missed a port of call I was looking forward to so a bunch of suits could be shown around, I'd question if I'd sail with them again.

Hiya Papcx!

Good to see you. Hope you're enjoying the "barmy" weather :p

I like to play devils avocado (as my mother would call it) a lot of the time. I asked Nowaysis some questions to try and understand the situation the repo guys found themselves in.

I was particularly interested in if they had been offered a cancellation. As explained in my post that should have been a de facto option irrespective of cancellation periods as the change/omission of port, planned before the cruise set sail (and that's the important bit) is an amendment to the root of the contact. Therefore the contract is voidable.

MSC's duties would then have been to refund monies paid and end of issue. However, I did note that if the guys had bought flights from anywhere other than MSC this would not be an option as they are not obliged to refund flights (as well we know :-)

I agree 100% that it's certainly not cricket what happened. Reading the reviews and posts, much of the issues aside from port changes and 'the Miami incident' appear to be down to taste (quality of food, decor, restaurants etc) previous cruiseline comparisons (CC meet and greets being lackluster, the dreaded water and ice, food again, entertainment) and ad-hoc staff training/language issues (the new staff were trained during the repo, the officers are exclusively Italian and were conspicuous by their absence)

Again, Miami port and missing Nassau aside, all the above would be handled by different people in different ways. I have enough understanding to assume the reason that repos are so cheap is because the staff are starting or finishing their contract and either need extensive training and familiarisation or are demob happy, can't wait to get off the damn boat and see their families, and are therefore relaxed and devil-may-care. Certainly a different experience to your standard 7 or 14 day cruise. And we all know MSC are a different kettle of risotto to other cruise lines anyway.

A repo is just that. Repositioning. A way to get a ship from one area to the next for it to start a new adventure. And when you start a new adventure there is preparation to be made, especially if the adventure is becoming a flagship cruiseliner based full-time in one of the worlds busiest ports for the worlds most discerning and fussy cruise market (REALLY sorry Americans! Please forgive me)

I certainly don't believe it's right. I would be asking questions and putting my thoughts down in writing. But as others have said, it seems fruitless and a tad mean spirited to haunt the MSC forum bringing the same issues up time after time. And some of the posters here are not above pointing that out.

We all ridicule and lambast a certain someone for their posts based on actual evidence and facts. We've been provided with evidence and facts from the Divina repo. We have read them and made our own assumptions. Some of us have responded. I think the best thing now is to maintain radio silence and wait for the Caribbean review to start. I have my opinions as to how they will read. But they're just opinions. And you know what the say about opinions.... :p