Celandine

Celandine - Could you please share the name of the hotel in Hamburg? We will be staying in Hamburg one night post cruise and I would love any good hotel suggestions. Also, the Chocoversum sounds like something we would love...I assume I can Google to get some more info? Thanks and looking forward to the rest of the review.

Yes you can Google the Chocoversum and it is so worth it! (it also took like 15 minutes to walk to it from our hotel)

The hotel was the Novum Hotel Grafe Moltke

Very interesting discussion here, I do always leave the full service charge on (last week I actually heard a guy at guest services ask to have his reinstated because he cancelled the the night before in anger but changed his mind...) and if someone has gone above and beyond for me I usually tip extra at the end.

In all my cruises I’ve never seen someone tip a drink server in cash but I order so few drinks that my own observation is very limited.

Very interesting to read through though

Yea, looking forward to a current review. We will be on the Magnifica in May. I was wondering if your cruise stopped in Le Verdon Sur Mer? It is my understanding you cannot leave this port unless you are on a MSC excursion. Did you experience this?

Thanks, Alice

 

 

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We did not stop there, so I have no information on that, sorry.

Sorry all I wanted to post more tonight, but I only got home at 3:30 am and then got up for work at 6:45... so it's bed time for me but tomorrow I promise to write at least Embarkation and the first sea day to post :)

The first week (March 30-April 6)

So at the school I work at we had 2 weeks for Spring Break this year, and we split the trip up into 3 parts. From March 30-April 3 I went with a few friends first to Munich then drove to Rozvadov (King's Casino) for the German Poker Tour. This was my first time entering a tournament and it was a great time had by all. The food at the casino is also inclusive and basically a 24 hour buffet (alcohol is separate). I did not win any money, but I've been playing for the past 5 years and managed to place in the top 30-35% of players in each of the tournaments I entered (my goal was to finish in the top half at least) so I will definitely be entering another one (or more) in the future! (hoping for a WSOP next time)

On April 3 we drove from Rozvadov back to Munich airport (some were flying elsewhere) my friend and I just hung around the airport until we could go check in to our Munich hotel (check in started at 4 pm). I did not like the hotel we stayed at, we had issues with room temperature (too hot even with AC on) and water temperature (in the shower it would go from warm, to cold to scalding hot and I almost burned myself a few times). No WIFI, and although they advertised an airport shuttle they did not have one (there was another issue but I don't want to discuss it here, I did on the review I left on the hotel). In Munich itself we stayed 2 nights, the first we just wandered around a bit, the second day we did the Hop on Hop off tour, I found Munich to not really be my scene.

On April 5 we checked out and headed to the airport to fly to Hamburg. Once there, we again waited until taking a Taxi to our hotel. This hotel was awesome! it included breakfast and WIFI, and I would definitely stay there again. The room itself was a bit small, but for 2 nights we made it work. The first night we again just wandered around and relaxed. The second day we had made reservations for the Chocoversum (we booked online for an English tour) and this was possibly the best 13 Euros I've spent! the tour itself is 90 minutes long, taking you through the process of harvesting and making chocolate. The guide was fantastic (informative and humourous) also the amount of chocolate we got to taste was well worth it, we both spent a fair amount in the shop afterwards buying souvenirs for others (and some for myself). The entrance fee also includes making your own chocolate bar, and there is a wall of toppings you can add to personalize your own. If you have time in Hamburg go here! We then did the Hop on Hop off tour (though we didn't hop off, as we had major plans that night to go do laundry). It was a good tour about 90 minutes long and there are many interesting places to see and photograph in Hamburg. I would come back to this city in a heartbeat! So the night of the 6th we had help finding a laundry mat, and went and watched a movie while we washed and dried clothes (not exciting but was necessary otherwise I would have needed to bring twice as many clothes and I already felt I overpacked!)

The last morning in the Hotel - we woke up and went to breakfast, and checked out right at 11 am (suggested check out time) we then waited for a taxi and went to the cruise port (our hotel was right across the street from the Central Train Station and the taxi ride to the port was about 25 Euro)

The next post - Embarkation and the Cruise begins....

Hello everyone,

I got off the ship yesterday and couldn't wait to start my review.

Some background on me: this was my 13th cruise (with a Friday the 13th on it) and my third with MSC, I'm a Canadian living and working in Egypt for the past 7 years and this was my first time visiting Northern Europe. I have cruised with Carnival, RCL and Princess as well.

Travelling with me was my best friend on his second cruise (both with MSC, first was last year- and he and his parents are joining me and my mum on an Alaska cruise this summer with Princess)

It was just the two of us, so no useful information on the kids club (other than I did see their parades before the shows), we saw every show, only ate in the buffet (our choice) and did not use the Spa, specialty dining, pools or casino (earlier part of this 2 week trip was a German Poker Tournament in Rozvadov, so I had spent more than enough money in casinos lol)

In summary we had a great time, there were some issues (some with the actual cruise/staff some just associated with the cruise/vacation in general, several with other people but such is life at times).

I did bring home all of the Daily Programs, so if anyone wanted to see those I can likely upload those (any suggestions on adding pictures are welcome) I promise I won't spend too much time on the Pre-Cruise week, and plan to wrap up everything before I leave for Amsterdam (again lol) on April 27.

I hope you enjoy my review!

Not on the Seaside, but just got off the Magnifica today and saw their production of L’Amour (excerpt of Carmen) and the cruise director said that only 3 ships currently are performing operas with them... I didn’t see him to ask which.

I also second the live at the met performances, no not the same as live but still breathtaking and immersive and a very affordable option too.

Hi all

I tried searching the boards but nothing came up. We embark today but have already been on vacation for a week. We’ve purchased some souvenir alcohol (chocolate wine and beer) and were hoping it could be stored by the ship like you would if you bought some in port.... do you think this is possible? Thanks!!

Thanks for the great review!!! I’m in Munich now flying to Hamburg tomorrow for a few nights pre-cruise... getting on board on Saturday and your review has made me even more excited!!!!

Thanks again I got everything sorted with my TA.

I think I was confused because last year I booked right on the MSC website, and I know that I tried to this year also but I couldn't get that to work which is why I booked through my friend's site.

Maybe I was just a little too stressed this week, either way happy to have things wrapped up before I leave for my week of pre-cruise vacation.

I will definitely be posting a review of the Magnifica when I return!

Thanks for the replies, will try to download the app for sure and should hear back from my TA today (I forgot yesterday was Sunday, in Egypt that’s my start of the work week).

Hello everyone

My friend and I leave on our cruise in 13 Days and have completed web check in but when trying to request the tickets to email nothing happens. No email has been sent and like I said I clicked the button and literally nothing happened.

Has anyone experienced this?

I did book through a third party site and sent a message to the person who might technically be considered my TA but from a different time zone so still waiting on a reply.

Just thought I’d check here for any relevant information. Thanks for any help you can offer!

Hey, I am boarding the Magnifica on April 7... though not a R/T UK (I'm doing R/T Hamburg) but I plan on posting a review when I return (should be done before you leave).

Hi all,

I am headed on this ship (R/T from Hamburg) on April 7.... after reading this I’m a bit nervous for rough seas.... I’ve honestly never tracked weather for impact on seas... any advice on either how to find out?

I appreciate all of the information.... I live in Egypt part time, Canada the rest of the time.

In other good news I appear to have been upgraded to a balcony cabin... which is exciting because now my friends can hang out in my room with me lol.... I have a first time cruiser and a new to MSC cruiser coming with me (in another cabin).

Thanks all! Documents were in my inbox this morning.... excited! I will share my experience when I return :)

success... I called, and she had to enter the information manually... but it is apparently done now and my stuff should be emailed to me later today....

My friends were able to do web check in without problem (same cruise)... so that is still a mystery but as long as I get on the ship I don't really care....

Can you call MSC? They might be able to help

Well I finally figured out how to dial the toll free number given from my Egyptian Mobile..... so on hold now.... fingers crossed

So I can't seem to get the web check in to work, and there is little to no information on their website about that except to call your TA or us... I don't have a TA and I'm currently in Egypt and cannot call the number from my mobile phone...

I cruise on Saturday, I was only emailed that my documents were ready (provided I can web check in) on March 26.... I am kind of starting to freak out.

I have my original document showing I paid in full, but they have since changed my cabin to a different one....

Do you think I will be okay if I bring that paper only?

So I tried to do we check in, and it keeps telling me the login information has failed... starting to worry

Good evening all

I am leaving on the Poesia on Saturday, and I don't know if I'll be able to access a printer to do online check in at the moment....

So I don'[t have luggage tags or anything....

Will this be a problem when I get into the port? (the port is in venice)

Any help/advice is appreciated

I was able to book online, when I went to the global sites I was able to click on Canada, and although most of the form was still in reference to the U.S, it accepted my postal code without a problem. So I assume online check in would be similar.

Thank you!

Hi all,

My friends and I have booked a cruise in the spring on MSC, and I was wondering how we could connect our bookings (so we could be assigned the same table for dinner).

I would like to do this before we get on the ship, but if not I know we could talk to people on the ship to get what we need.

thanks for any advice!

I definitely didn't want to start a new thread asking yet another beverage package question, but I also can't find exactly what I'm looking for using the search function.

I have the classic beverage package booked (free with booking - the only reason I have it, as I do not drink enough ever to justify the price)

I understand they list the types of spirits that are included in the level of your package, as opposed to cocktails.

I have been searching menus and can't find some of the drinks I am interested in (Vodka cranberry, mudslide, etc).... but I assume these can be made (so long as the ingredients are on board and the alcohol is covered in my package) is this a correct assumption? related, please tell me they have cranberry juice for the vodka cranberry

and again any virgin version of drinks is covered (margarita, daiquiris etc) ?

any other 'drinks to explore' from those who know?

Thanks for any help