Darcy15

Hi

I did a Dubai cruise with MSC earlier this year, and also had a very early flight home - in fact, it sounds like possibly the same flight

I would strongly suggest an earlier departure from the cruise port - my MSC transfer was at 03:30 - it is not far to the airport, but the airport itself was extremely busy with very long queues for check in.

My advice would be to book an MSC transfer, but if you don’t want that then absolutely pre book a taxi as there were none at the dock that early in the morning - and when I left there were several passengers panicking on the dock because they had thought there would be taxis waiting, and there weren’t.

No customs or immigration at the dock - I just walked out of the terminal onto the coach

Hope this helps [emoji4]

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https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Assuming UK citizenship, visas will be necessary for Sri Lanka and India

Sri Lanka is an online ETA, India is more.........well, complicated and contentious! Supposedly there is an eVisa, but it seems fraught with issues......so a standard tourist visa seems a better bet. Not cheap, and involves some effort to obtain.

Hope this helps :)

Nice to hear :)

People can often be very quick to complain.........but few take the time to praise. Thank you for redressing the balance ☺️

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/

This might be helpful :)

Finally got an email notification of the itinerary change from China to Japan!

.....offered €300 OBC, so perhaps MSC have realised they dropped the ball on this one :rolleyes:

I'm inclined to agree, Darcy. What I can't figure is why/how MSC cannot let it customers know what visas will be required for the cruise before sailing, yet, at embarkation, can refuse to allow you to board without said documentation.

I know, crazy isn’t it? :confused:

I’m booked on a Grand Voyage in 2019 , and found out about a significant itinerary change - as in 2 completely different countries - here on CC !!!

......that trip is going to entail visas, and luckily I have been able to figure things out for myself. Others, perhaps who have travelled less, may not be so fortunate.

The ship service is great, but MSC really need to up their game in terms of shoreside customer service :rolleyes:

I wonder if MSC will organise visas onboard. Celebrity did that for us when visiting Vietnam and added the cost to our onboard account.

Vietnam has recently waived the visa requirement for UK citizens

I know you’re in Ireland so this may be different for yourself

I love MSC, but somehow I don’t see them sorting out visas.........their organisational skills are, well..........unreliable ;p

I travel solo .......and have done 2 MSC cruises alone

Had a great time, and have 3 more cruises booked :D

For full disclosure I was in the Yacht Club, where I found the service to be exemplary and the staff were all very kind :)

http://www.visaforchina.org/LON_EN/

I used this service for my China visa......found them very efficient

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

This is the UK government travel advice site, which provides current visa information

Assuming that you are a British Citizen.....the only visa you will need is for Sri Lanka

http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainfo/center.jsp;jsessionid=PgJCZ4VY9FLhWP8f0nwv6BTgVp5ksyl4nJjNTMh2GMNz3WWFJ1lV!1305662910?locale=en_US

This is an ETA and is done online

I retire on 22nd December :D

42 year nursing career ........that’s enough now :)

Coral Princess

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Not Princess - couldn’t find a picture - but this is how much the beds stick out of the wall [emoji15]

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Don’t do it :o

I travel solo, and did an inside with the Pullman beds once......never, ever again.

My bed was in a queen configuration and getting in and out of bed nearly knocked myself out each time, on the Pullman bunks which stick out of the wall quite a bit.

I’m only 4’ 11’ so I hate to think about anyone taller in that hugely cramped space.

Pick an inside that only sleeps 2...... check out the deck plans, and avoid the others!

My personal opinion obviously.......but I hated that cabin :(

Hi, I’ll be on MSC Seaview on 15/9/18!

Before that, I have a b2b with NCL Epic on 10/6/18.

 

Can’t wait to have that feeling again of waiting for my flight to catch a cruise!

 

 

 

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Look after Seaview for me......I’ll be onboard a few weeks later :)

Very tempting........Easter Island and Pitcairn are the last of my bucket list destinations :cool:

However, traveling solo I think the cost is just going to be prohibitive :(

I retire in December, so time won’t be an issue.......but finances will be!

https://mbccs.com.sg/shops-services-2

Yes, there is an ATM :)

Stay safe Bea :)

Enjoy 😊

I was nervous sailing with MSC the first time........but absolutely loved it :D

In my experience, it will be the time of the destination port :)

http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/Tourist.html

:)

Really enjoying your review Priscila, thank you :)

I've only done 2 MSC cruises, but have fallen in love with YC :hearteyes:

I travel alone too, so appreciate what you mean! Once they've got the idea though, the butlers are just amazing :D

I'm very blessed to have travelled widely........ but I travel alone, and rely on things being organised or it gets very stressful :(

As I've said, I don't mind the changes........but I'm really upset that I wasn't told :o

I totally agree, Darcy. I keep a regular check on the itineraries (and on my cabin numbers) for that reason!

 

I would have preferred to go in March 2019, too, as there are a couple of other itineraries I wanted to do in 2018 which I'm passing on as we're splurging for YC to Yokohama next March. However, the 2 itineraries are a bit different - we're taking in Sri Lanka, Thailand and China whereas the 2019 doesn't include these and has India included and overnights in Singapore, which the 2018 one doesn't. Not a problem for us - we've been a few times already and not too bothered about even getting off. Singapore is not what it used to be!

I just don't understand the lack of communication about it :(

What would it take to email passengers? A change of country is a significant thing :o

I disembarked Preziosa yesterday.....and loved the ship, and the amazing service in the Yacht Club........but now I'm worried about going on a much longer cruise to distant destinations due to this poor communication :(