sidari

Since our first MSC cruise way back in 2012 we have sailed in Inside, outside, balcony and Suite cabins long before MSC brought in their so called experiences (Bella,Fantastica,Aurea and YC) when cabins were Inside (I) 1and 2, Outside (O) 1 and 2 and Balcony (B) 1,2 and 3 and YC.

Like others we chose not to sail in the YC because we were sailing sometimes 2, 3 or 4 times a year with land holidays in-between when we only sailed twice, had we done so then we would likely have sailed somewhat less than we have done and not been to as many countries as we have done. Instead in the later years we have sailed in Aurea cabins and Suites for the private sun deck (Especially the Seaside class twice, which has the best Top 19 of all the Newer ships) Anytime dining, free massage and drink package of which those last two are alas no more. We were given the chance of a YC sailing on Seascape later this year and have decided to try it out although we won't need a Butler to unpack our cases or to take us to the Theatre. Many years ago we sailed on a R.C ship in the Med and were seated with a couple from the USA who owned a lock making business and were as we would say "well heeled" and very well dressed, in fact the guy looked like Burt Reynolds.

This couple were two of the best people we have ever met on a cruise with no airs and graces and were very easy going, I think they were in the Royal suite or whatever RC call them these days, not everyone who sails in the YC or the high end cabins on other lines are snobs.

On 5/9/2024 at 8:29 AM, notley-cruise said:

 

Yes, my wife and I discussed the American purchasing power thing after our last cruise. I'm British, she's European, and we both have colleagues in USA.  We both take something like eight weeks holiday per year, whilst US takes way less. 

For myself Europe now feels quite expensive, but the Americans don't seem to flinch at the prices.  Is the USA equally expensive ?  Do Europeans visiting the US find it expensive ?

 

As regards experiences, after selecting the cruise and drinks package, your cabin selection determines your experience, it should be the same Bella, Fantastica, Aurea experience maybe just described differently.

 

There are some interesting naunces with booking in UK, Europe, RoW vs. USA. i.e. UK bookers always have gratuities included and are offered Premium Plus drinks package at 60% discount, where France sees the gratuity listed separately, and US gets offered the Easy Plus drinks package by default. 

 

 

 

UK bookings have only had the daily Hotel charge/ Gratuity included for about three years now.

16 minutes ago, phissy said:

The distance is approximately 4 miles. Not really walkable. I am attaching a map.  Pier 91 is in an area known as Magnolia. Pier 66 is city of Seattle. Ride shares readily available.

Happy Cruising!

Phissy ... Thanks for that, just checked out hotel and it is about 3 miles from 91 and a short walk to the space needle.

On 2/24/2024 at 2:29 AM, phissy said:

Seattle has two cruise ports.
Pier 66 is exclusively for NCL and Oceania.  Recently, NCL renovated this pier to be able to accommodate the newer mega ships they were bringing for Alaska Cruises.

This terminal has direct access ( walkable) to Pike Place Market and the city.

 

Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 serves as homeport for Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean.

Currently, there are no plans for a new cruise terminal.

Is there much distance from 66 to 91 in terms of mileage? We are sailing again with Princess next year to Alaska.

1 minute ago, KimPossible1 said:

I agree but that is very overwhelming ☹️

But at least it would hold MSC to account for their terms and conditions.

Kim,

The legal rout may be worth looking at due to MSC failing to follow their own written down conditions of carriage.

We have one of the forward cabins booked on Discovery for Alaska in May 2025, our cabin is one of the two centre ones L102 on the lido deck which are slightly wider than those either side of !01 and 102. We had the same forward Suite L106 on two sailings in 2008 and 2009 on Ruby and the views were great being just behind the top of the bridge.

We booked L102 on Discovery for the views and the metal superstructure is not an issue to us, on the Ruby the access to the curved balcony is on the Port side and even on sea days if you sat mid centre of the balcony against the cabin wall there was little to no wind.

On 3/4/2024 at 10:49 AM, Beamafar said:

Totally agree.  Each person has to earn their points to reach Diamond;  yet one person is effectively being denied ‘their’ perk, if sharing a cabin with another Diamond level member.  Just one more downgrading of the Diamond perks over the years.  Status Match is the sole reason for the erosion of benefits. 

No longer a real loyalty club as it used to be.

Poesia, Opera, Divina x 3, Orchestra, Preziosa, Seaside x 2, Meraviglia, virtuosa and Seascape booked for this year. Nothing less than 7 nights and three x 20 nights.

On 2/23/2024 at 2:15 PM, Eglesbrech said:

Brilliant news. Thanks for posting @sidari.

 

I hated even walking through there to get to the show lounge as you ended up stinking of stale smoke even in that short space of time. Good move by MSC. There are more non smokers than smokers nowadays.

I saw a post a day or so ago from someone claiming to be onboard Virtuosa in Dubai that said people were smoking in the Casino! Cannot confirm that though.

On 2/20/2024 at 5:46 PM, GPPhilly said:

I wonder if this will start fleet wide.  Do we know is it a test or permanent policy? 

Seascape is no smoking and it seems some others are also 

Listen to the English one and then switch off, it's not difficult.

Also started on Euribia.

18 minutes ago, showingdiva said:

 

Tried it, wouldn't do it again.    It wasn't any fault of Euribia, I loved the ship, just not as much as Virtuosa.   But the multiple port turnaround  made for a bit of a strangely disjointed atmosphere compared to a cruise that starts - sails - ends in the same port.    

When we did one many years ago in the Med it was very disjointed, every other night was a formal night and as you say didn't give a good vibe.

5 hours ago, devonuk said:

The constant embarkation/disembarkation at each port with all of the relevant tannoy announcements etc. 

Attending the evening shows and having to watch the Senior Officers introductions again and again. 

The having to listen to messages in all of the differing languages. 
The horrendous Market Place. 
The overworked waiting staff who unfortunately have no time to chat. 
The disregard for rules such as too many in the pools and jacuzzi’s. 
The dollar and dime feel. 
The pissed up passengers acting a tw@t and very loud. 
Too many passengers for me. 
The poor/overcrowded spa. 
The very limited stateroom storage with 4 coat hangers 🤷‍♂️

The evening turndown service where the towels that have just been used are not changed, thus leaving them wet until the morning. 
Having to pay to watch in room movies. 
Overpriced wine/spirits. 
The stupid situation re onboard payments if using cash or debit cards. 
Im bored now so I’ll leave it there. 
Of course there was a lot good aspects but I’ll stick with the cruise lines I like whilst continuing to try other lines I haven’t had the pleasure of yet. All have their idiosyncrasies but some are more tolerable than others. 
I’m trying out Seabourn next for the first time so that’ll be interesting but in the meantime I have 4 Princess and 1 P&O to hopefully enjoy 🙏

Just remember though that it’s your opinion that is relevant to you 👍

 

And sadly there was your mistake, sailing on a bus stop cruise and not sailing on an MSC cruise that has no stops where others get on and off. totally different kettle of fish.

1 hour ago, devonuk said:

Back from my first ever MSC Cruise (Euribia) after some 30 cruises on a variety of differing lines. My overall impression is not good and when asked I use an analogy that a Travelodge is good in that it provides a decent bed, en-suite, coffee maker etc. and if that’s all you’ve experienced you’d think it was pretty good. However, if you’ve stayed in the Hilton, Intercontinental etc. you’d probably think the Travelodge was not so great and that folks is where I will leave it. 
The ship itself is fantastic but overall for me the good was far out weighed by the very bad. 
It’s cheap for a reason and it shows 😬

We've sailed on Cunard, stayed at a Hilton and Intercontinental, sailed around 25 cruises, 11 of which have been with MSC in various parts of the globe, prefer MSC to the other lines we have sailed on. 

Never had an issue with the cabins above, the cabins above have much smaller balconies than those on deck 9.

We had a Deck 9 forward Aurea balcony on Seaside on our second sailing on the ship having had an Aft wrap Suite previously, the balcony is longer than those higher up and have sun loungers and chairs while those higher up only had chairs The balcony on Seaside is above the Spa and was a quiet area of the ship, the Spa is still included with Aurea. 

On 1/29/2024 at 1:09 PM, JTor said:

Thanks. I was shocked. Regardless of other discounts the message being sent is disrespectful 

 

its not about the money more the sense that one’s business is not valued 

As MSC proved to all of those who held Black card status in the Loyalty Club and were Royally shafted when they brought in the Voyagers club. Business not valued.

I must be lucky having three signed by three different Captains... 😁

Hopefully it won't be a disaster like it was the last time MSC tried it in Fantastica ... 🤔

Just now, Beamafar said:

 

😁

 

I brought up the subject, on our October sailing, at the Diamond Event, of a higher tier having not materialised, despite promises over the years.  Later that day I received a gift of a model of the ship (Musica) signed by the captain.  Was told I was the first one to ever receive a signed one.

But still no response to your question... 😂

1 minute ago, Beamafar said:

No.  We actually were given a few extra points on a couple of occasions that we couldn’t account for.  Otherwise, his are about right. 

Mind you these days it is hard to understand whether anyone at MSC actually knows what is going on at any given time.

Just now, Beamafar said:

Hi Dave.  True, but that doesn’t explain the discrepancy between mine and DH’s. 

Bea ... Very true, unless some of his are missing?

3 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

Once you are both diamond, do points really matter anymore anyway?

Not currently.