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Ron_L

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    Meraviglia Questions

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    1 hour ago, jkgourmet said:

    Research the differences in the Easy Package vs NCL alcohol package.  The Easy Package us VERY LIMITED and not usable in the specialty restaurants.

     

    Trust me, I have researched everything 😄  I have added in the cost to upgrade to the Premium package on MSC, which is closer to the NCL package.

    Meraviglia Questions

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted

    3 hours ago, dexddd said:

    Keep in mind on the NCL packages you pay a service charge on the packages.  Also, the DSC is roughly $4 more pp pd on NCL.

     

    Food, subjective but call it even but MSC pizza blows away NCL.

     

    Yep...  I have those factored into my spreadsheet :-D

    Meraviglia Questions

    in MSC Cruises

    Posted · Edited by Ron_L

    Hi! I'm Ron, and I am a research-aholic! 🙂
     
    The president's day sales on cruises have me researching a cruise for 2021, most likely February. So far I have narrowed it down to NCL and MSC. We have cruised NCL twice and loved the freestyle conecpt, but we also like to try new things.
     
    We've been on NCL, Celebrity and Carnival (most recently Carnival Horizon in December 2018) and have never had a bad cruise. We tend go go into things with an open mind and try hard not to let things out of our control bother us.
     
    So... As part of my research I have some questions, A couple are subjective and I would value your thoughts, and a couple are more based on my newness to MSC, and so far I haven't found the answers.
     
    1. NCL or MSC? This is one of the subjective ones, but for those who have cruised both, what is similar, and what is different? Price-wise, the base fare on NCL is higher, but with the NCL sale and perks, and comparing similar options (drink package, dining package, etc.) the total price is within $100.
     
    2. Fantastica Balcony or Aurea Balcony? Specifically, Fantastica with the All In promo or Aurea without (since the easy drink package is included with Aurea). I think access to the Thermal Spa and the massages would be nice to have, but not mandatory, but is priority boarding, more flexible dining and the Aurea sundeck (is that the right term) wirth the difference in price? If I add massages and internet into Fantastica, and take into account the $100 OBC for the All In package with Fantastica, the different works out to be about $450 for two. (Yacht Clus isn't an option based on price)
     
    3. Bed location and tub vs. shower - Is there a way to tell which cabin has which? I think we would prefer the bed by the bath and have the seating area by the balcony, and the shower looks to be more managable.
     
    4. I have seen mixed info on this. If we go with a dining package (likely three dinners), can we choose the restaurants? My wife doesn't eat seafood, so we would prefer not to eat at the seafood restaurant. If we don't shoose a package, are the specialty restaurants prix fix like other cruise lines or ala carte?
     
    I think that's it for now 🙂 Thanks for hanging in to the end and thanks in advance for your responses!

    What is your favorite cruise "hack"?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    23 minutes ago, GB Chicago said:

    Some surge protectors are prohibited but there are several power strips that are allowed.  I have never had a problem with bringing one onboard.  They are absolutely on the must have list as the cabins have minimum power outlets.

    I agree that an outlet strip or multi-tap adapter is essential, but ones with surge protectors are prohibited for safety reasons.  Please bring one without a surge protector to be safe. There is a fairly long technical explanation at the link below. 

     

     

    • Like 2

    What is your favorite cruise "hack"?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    19 hours ago, bluesman0711 said:

    Battery operated tea lights, magnet hooks, small surge protector, a hat that can lay flat in your suitcase, towel clips, coozies for port beers, a watch if you don't wear one to stay on ship's time when in port, a separate card to use for the safe, I use a Best Western or AAA card that's not a credit card and keep it with my sign and sail, a large mug to use instead of the tiny cups on lido.

     

    All good ideas, except the surge protector. Surge protectors are not safe on the ship because of the way the electrical system works and can actually cause a fire. They are on the list off things that Carnival (and other cruiser lines) prohibit.

     

    https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2822/~/electric-outlets

    • Like 3

    Seven Ships in Port - What to do?

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted

    On 10/28/2018 at 7:17 AM, JT1962 said:

    This site shows only 4 ships that day with around 16,000 people.

     

    http://m.cruisett.com/p/St_Martin__St_Maarten/511-Philipsburg/January_2019/

     

    I will be there in December when there are 6 ships and 20,000+ projected. I will try and remember to post our experience when we return.

     

     

    We'll be there on the same day on the Carnival Horizon!  Still not sure what we are planning.

    Rosie’s rib shack @ mullet bay

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted · Edited by Ron_L

    It was Golden Eagle Catamaran and we booked it on the Allure through Royal Caribbean. We are headed back in December and have booked Golden Eagle through Carnival (we are on the Horizon). We had a great time and have only good things to say about this company !

     

    How crowded was it when you booked through Royal, Alexmom? We're on the Horizon (Dec 1st) and I am still thinking about what we want to do, but we've only done two ship excursions and both were way over crowded.

    My sister's first cruise...and she's got questions!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    With regard to online check-in, you should be able to start beginning at midnight Eastern time 90 days before you sail. There is no compelling reason to stay up to do this at that time, unless you want to be among the first to select your arrival appointment, which is the time slot you can arrive at the port to check-in there.

     

    Yep. I set a reminder on my phone for 6am on the day when we were 90 days out (I get up at 6) so I wouldn't forget. We ended up with an 11am arrival time.

    Grand Turk beach snorkeling - Jack's Shack or Governor's Beach

    in Grand Turk

    Posted

    Yes, there has been a rental shack there in the past. I'm assuming it's still there post-Hurricane.

     

    The rental equipment is only so-so, so I'd suggest bringing your own. The bottom of my drop-bottom rolling duffel bag has proved to be perfect for storing the gear.

     

    Has anyone been to GT recently and can confirm that the rental shack is still there? We bring our own masks and snorkels, but typically rent fins or use the ones provided on an excursion.

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