alohayall

Tired?  Maybe yes. Maybe no.  I find the typical 3- or 4-night cruises to be relaxing.  Especially if you are not visiting ports.  (A day at Castaway Cay just seems like a day at the beach - literally and figuratively.)

It will really depend on how go-go-go you are with the parks. With a long visit, perhaps do some partial days at the parks.  It will be the overall feel of the vacation, not doing everything available, that will be the long-term memory. 
 

Wilderness Lodge does have that lovely large pool, a nice break from the heat of the parks.  And the boat ride from the MK is a fun transport.

Inside v balcony?  On the Wish cruise dates I have checked, the price difference is not as wide as on many of the specialty cruises. I sailed a balcony on the Dream last fall - and I routinely book inside for the price.  If you are used to a balcony, look at videos of both categories and make sure you are okay with the size, layout, bathrooms. All interior cabins have the single bathroom. Will you need storage space?  Reports are that all cabins have reduced storage, especially so in interiors.

Best Wishes on your decisions. 
 

@Homosassa Thank you for that explanation.  Clear and informative.  

Did your family have any Covid issues? Are you able to share any answers to the questions you asked?

My nieces were not that interested in the clubs (not a surprise).  But they knew how to entertain themselves.  Books, shows, movies on TV or on the Jumbotron, pools, trivia or other ship-sponsored activities.  Eating with the family.  It’s a great way for them to be independent and make own choices. 
 

Christmas - more kids on board (as is any time school is out).  Often more people in general. The Christmas decorations are nice. I think there are some holiday-themed activities, but they just don’t stand out in my memory.

Did she find out?  Was it Preview, meaning anywhere they wanted to put her?

I did the Med on Disney in 2011.  It felt like any other Disney cruise - passengers, staff, menus. 
 

I sailed MSC last December out of Miami.  Yep, different experience. Mainly the passengers. Lots of Cubans, Columbians, and Argentinians.  Lots of family generational interaction (fun to see) and better dress.  
 

I don’t find a lot of difference in service between cruise lines. It’s been pointed out that room stewards on Disney are encouraged to interact with the guests, whereas European lines expect them to be more invisible.  I hadn’t consciously noticed, but I think that’s a good description.

On our cruise to the Med, I felt the Disney touches (that you are paying extra for in any DCL cruise) were lost/wasted, as the focus was on the port days (which tend to be long).  We were used to Disney, so it was comforting coming back to something familiar, but any number of cruise lines could have served to transport us between the ports.

The Concierge Lounge on the original ships, Magic and Wonder, we’re an afterthought. The cabins and lounge are not together in a controlled-access area.

(I have sailed in Concierge on the Magic and Dream).

There is not a special restaurant for Concierge.  Disney offers their unique MDR rotation (your waiter goes with you to each venue) with special theming and dinner show.

I utilized the Dream’s Concierge Lounge for light meals.  I loved the deconstructed Caesar Salad.  Not a large variety, but it beat burgers on the pool deck.

As for dining, you should have a better chance at Specialty Fining as a first-time cruiser by being in Concierge.

Magic and Wonder have one Specialty Restaurant: Pablo’s, a northern-Italian menu, offering brunch (Sea Days and Nassau) and dinner.

Dream and Fantasy offer Palo and also Remy, a more “chef-y” French dinner.

The new Wish has changed Pablo’s theme to steak house.  No Remy.  A new venue by a Michelin-recognized chef. (I think he is the chef behind Victoria & Albert at WDW).

I would recommend you do not choose a port-intensive itinerary (like summer in the Med), as long port days tend to cause you to miss dinner or shows.

Any itinerary I would recommend is on the Magic or Wonder (Panama Canal, Norwegian Fjords, Alaska, Iceland).  
 

The Fantasy has been doing the 7-night cruises, while the Dream sails 3- and 4- nights to the Bahamas (to include Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay).

If they offer a unique itinerary, such as a Southern Caribbean to the ABC islands, you will find the passengers to often be top-level loyalty members with fewer children.  (And harder to get Specialty Dining - as most of them get a complimentary meal at Palo).

Bon Voyage! 

On 7/5/2022 at 3:55 PM, Shmoo here said:

Yes, you can bring soda onboard.  At least you used to, don't know if COVID killed that option.  You could bring whatever non-alcoholic beverages onboard then.

 

You may be assigned to a table with others, depending on your party size.  Unless you're concierge, then the default is to give you your own table.  You can make a request (not guaranteed) for your own table, if that's what you want (or, conversely, request to be seated with others if you're concierge).  

Someone posted this photo of available fountain sodas (complimentary 24/7 on pool deck).  They are also available with meals in dining rooms.

Canned sodas are available for a fee.

You need to carry on any drinks you bring - and they need to fit an airline-style scanner.

There are a few 3-nights that have a day at sea and a visit to Castaway Cay.  
 

The disadvantage is basically just a shorter cruise; many just don’t get into vacation mode before they have to leave. And there’s the cost of travel to cruise cost ratio.

But there is the unknown of how anyone will react to cruising.  An extra 24 hours if someone is sick, grumpy, upset by new surroundings is a miserable day.

Three nights are typically weekends, F-M. Four nights, M-F.  Depends on work schedules.

Disney weekend cruises do not typically have the same party atmosphere you find on other carriers.

Time of year really is more of a determining factor as to demographics. We sailed late April and saw very few school age kids-teens.  The children were mainly pre-school.  Makes for a very peaceful vacation.

As stated above, you will dine in each of the three Main Dining Rooms (MDR) on any cruise.  Each restaurant has its own menu that everyone gets when they eat there. For the 4-night, you will repeat one of the venues, but will have a Pirate-themed menu (the entire ship has the same offering).

Oh, yeah - 4-night should have a Pirate  Night with fireworks.  That might be the significant difference.

Have a great time.  

On 7/13/2022 at 4:41 AM, BVILady said:

Similar happened to me with Costa, they changed the embarkation port to a city which had been impossible for me to reach and disembarkation also impossible for me to get back to Trieste in time to catch my non-refundable not changeable flight out of Trieste. I cancelled and got refund and actually that is how I ended up with a booking on MSC since they had a similar itinerary of our original dates. So Poster might take the refund and look for a different cruise fitting his dates out of his original port. Good luck - we actually ended up with a bargain.

Nice thinking outside the box.  

The wait can seem long for information

On our Roll Call for the Serenade OTS WBTA (Sep 2023), we started questioning its status around July 7. It was no longer available for booking - giving an Oops! Page on the Royal website.  (The sailing had been changed from Voyager OTS and offered at a very nice price in early May- so we thought maybe it was sold out.)
 

One of our members, a TA, contacted Royal and received word on July 12 that our sailing was indeed going to sail.

On July 13, some pax had received emails from Royal that the cruise was, indeed, cancelled and gave them options to shift to various TAs.  The offer allowed them to keep the cruise fare rate they had on Serenade.

Scuttlebutt at that point was that Brillance OTS would also be affected.

Good luck, everyone.

On 7/15/2022 at 11:54 AM, JT1962 said:

I thought the OPs original question was why MSC only went to Mexico and Ocean Cay, not about B2B cruises.  They do go other places and book longer cruises as one booking, even if it returns to the original port mid-cruise. 
 

…

And then the OP answered their own question. The rest is just people having fun.

5 hours ago, mafig said:

Did you get notified what benefits you were entitled to with your Diamond status?  How?

 

(Our last cruise on MSC we were Black, but I do not recall how we were made aware of our "freebies.")

I am pretty sure there was a letter in my cabin when I arrived (in case you don’t screenshot the VC info).  

Thanks for letting us cruise with you.  
 

Vacuuming jellyfish is an interesting concept - and a great relief for swimmers. 
 

Was your Diamond complimentary specialty dining a second free meal thIs week, or were you just not aware of this perk?  It’s one of the reasons I did a Status Match ☺️

Too bad about the Van Gogh shows. I was going to ask about times for them. In December, the times listed in the daily program didn’t give a completely understandable timetable of acts within a broader posted time.  TMI, probably, but thanks for the update.

Ah, yes, the nearly full moon. That should be lovely over the island.

Those GTY rates are seen as a discount. At least that’s what we have come to accept. And they typically aren’t offered until inventory goes down. 
 

You are trading control for a discount. Not everyone is willing.  
 

I am used to Disney pricing. Opening day is the lowest price you can get and pick your room.  After a predetermined number of cabins in a category are booked, they raise the price. Loyal cruisers get early booking (but get no % off like C&A).  If the cabins are not selling well, they will offer a GTY rate. But it is book now, pay now, and no change or cancellation.  I am pretty sure Royal also raises prices as it fills the ship, also, and then offers those deeply discounted GTY rates to get to a full boat.  (They also seem to drop rates and allow re-booking.)

As for needing two cabins in close proximity - you are not the intended consumer for GTY rates. It is for cruisers who are willing to be put anywhere on a ship.  

It is perception - what you see as being charged more, they offer as a savings opportunity. Or else, I have drunk too much of the cruise industry’s koolaid.

I am surprised that they would not just pack up the entire family and put you in quarantine. Definitely, they were in close contact with a Covid patient.  And I guess they weren’t told to avoid being out and about in the ship?
 

As for washy-washy, as annoying as that is, it certainly seems necessary to make people wash their hands.  Too long we have all heard about men’s rooms and the unused sinks.  Or Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. It doesn’t matter what we know, humans don’t think bad things will happen to them / rules don’t apply to me… or you are not the boss of me!

Hope everyone is feeling better. Sorry to hear what a sad way to experience what should have been a great vacation.

How much water are you expecting to need between meals?

Are you okay with filtered water? Or need Spring water (not Dasani or Aquafina - as they are just filtered city water)?  People report getting their water containers filled in the buffet.
 

On a week long Seashore cruise, I just bought Cokes and water on a pay-as you go  system.  
 

The non-alcohol package for my upcoming 7-night cruise is $175. That is more than double what I expect to spend.  If you want fresh squeezed juices or coffees all day, it may be to your benefit.

Canned soda was about $3.75 w/tax. 500 ml & 1 liter waters were about $3.50 - $5. The water was Spring water - Evian and Acqua Panna last fall.
 

I have not seen a water package, as offered on NCL. (I also wasn’t looking).

I’m in the more cruises camp.  Money is an issue - and I don’t utilize balconies or Concierge services enough to warrant them when I have paid more.

15 hours ago, wcook said:

No no no. Us normal folks sail Bella. The pampered and entitled said Fantastica 🙂

 

Confession time: I’ve booked Fantastica for my next cruise. I’m (cue music) Movin’ on Up. To the port side. To a deluxe apartm… er, to a inside cabin on the 10th deck. Yeah I’m movin’ on up

I thought Fantastica was a stretch when I put it, too!  But I left what I had typed, thinking most posters here are in YC. 
 

I had an inside cabin on Seashore Deck 14  - lots of floor space.  Just checked - it was Bella.  Maybe that’s why my request for Early dining wasn’t granted.

And the cabin categories change was about mid-November? and took away ability to pick your cabin for Bella.  
 

I am moving on up, too - to a Fantastica Balcony for a connecting room to my sister. We can’t believe we can each have our own cabin for such a good price!

This answer is not so clear - probably to those familiar with Happy Hour. 
 

Drinks - quick and easy answer:

The nice response from your fellow cruisers here on the forum is indicative of what I would expect from the crew in the ship. You probably haven’t noticed all the help available in the WJ as you didn’t need it in the past. Finding it should be easier than you expect - now that you will be looking for it. (This is different than other aspects of life, where you wonder where help is when you need it).  People offer me help as I am getting older (I’m only 61 - but I do have weakness that I guess they can see).

I would be tempted to get a lightweight tray to use - the room service (and old buffet) ones are rather heavy.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  It brings out the best in many people. 

You can always give it a try - join us “normal” people and book Fantastica.  It’s not so bad on the dark side 🙂

They did modify the Aurea experience this last year - taking away some of the perks. I think drinks might have been one of those perks.

Are they offering a rate for your intended sailing that has a drinks + internet included price?  If you compare pricing, it might be less expensive than adding a drinks package to your cruise.

Of course, after two weeks on Royal with a drinks package, you might enjoy reduced consumption and pay as you go.  If you get a rate with $200 OBC, that can cover a couple of drinks every day.

Here are drink package options for my upcoming October cruise on Seashore out of Miami:

I used the balcony for price of an ocean view promotion.  It came with onboard credit which is sufficient to cover my Coca Cola and bottled water needs for the week. 

I think most will agree that it is frustrating. Did they at least notify you?