GaznPaula

9 hours ago, crompton21 said:

There is an elephant in the room here, or children in the room to be more exact.  If adults buy the drinks package, child drinks packages at £7.95 each can then be purchased.  So, a family of four get a drinks package for a daily cost of £23.95 each.  I imagine this would be appealing and help with budgeting when holidaying with children and not wanting to have to budget on what your children are drinking.

Maybe these earnest discussions on value are missing the real target audience?

A cost of £95.80 per cabin per day

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

But Carnival prices are much more than P&O, so you need to factor that in as well.  

My concern, as someone who drinks well below the level to make a drink package worthwhile, is that very much like RCI and Celebrity basic drink prices on P&O will escalate now they have a drinks package.

Back when the exchange rate was $1.60 drink prices on Celebrity were only marginally higher than P&O, on our last cruise 3 years ago they were 50% higher.  I accept that Sterling's devaluation has played a part, but the major factor was higher dollar prices.

I just hope I am wrong.

It a ratio .

I have compared drink prices on each company.

The package price is what it is.

You need to drink more on P&O to break even

1 minute ago, peteukmcr said:

Yes

Well i would not declare that on any future insurance form lol

Just now, majortom10 said:

Because that is what P&O advertise it at they cannot advertise it as a price per cabin because numbers of people in cabin varies. Think everybody knows that £39-95 x no of days of cruise will be the price added to your onboard account and after all OBC is used then appropriate Peninsular Club discount will be applied if applicable.

The cold hard lump sum price normally is the figure people want to see.

Bit like a supermarket selling items based on £/100g...

Thing is, if you are a boozer, it will be worth it. 

Given that the average person would struggle to drink 3 liters of water a day, and tes there is tea and coffee..

The package offered DOES NOT compare to that of the parent company Carnival.

Carnival is an average of 6 alcoholic drinks to break even.

P&O is 8.

15 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

I am sure peteukmcr is not missing the point he is not a solo cruiser so obviously he knows as he said that the cost would be £39-95pppd so as long as he and whoever he is cruising with can get the benefit at that price then it would be cost effective. Some it will be good value others not it all depends how much and what you drink.

 

Why quote a price per person per day ?

If you are a solo traveller then that is the price.

If you want the drinks package and you are not a solo traveller then approx £560 or £1120 will be added to you on board account if you are on a 7 or 14 day cruise. I use the word approx.

So can you drink that much ? 

Its a harsh but cold figure. And an expensive one lol

8 minutes ago, peteukmcr said:

No, not a solo cruiser but I’m giving an example what I would drink and the resulting cost. We know both have to purchase. Do you find my example of my consumption unrealistic?

No i just think you are missing the point .

Its a total cabin cost of £80 a day.

So can YOUR cabin consume £80 of booze a day over a 6 or 7 or 13 or 14 night period ?

12 hours ago, peteukmcr said:

I have checked the latest prices and at £5.60 per G&T and £6.35 per cocktail and £5.65 per glass of wine, it won’t take much to get to £39.95 per day when you consider that cost includes soft drinks, bottles of water and speciality coffees. 
 

2 G&Ts before dinner = £11.20 (remembering P&O measures are UK single 25ml not USA nearly double U.K. measures), 1 cocktail £6.35 (during the day or after dinner), 3 glasses of wine = £16.95, that’s £34.50 before I’d add a bottle of water, 2 coffees and a soft drink during the day. No brainer for me. 

So take it you are a solo cruiser ?

Two people in a cabin. Both have to purchase.

Start doubling up.

As stated previous, there is always the buffet , and in truth if you cannot be bothered to make an effort for a nice restaurant...there is always the buffet...

No where is my smoking jacket....

I like getting dressed for dinner and so does my wife... I know some peoples idea of smart dress is a white blouse or shirt and a pair of jeans, but you can do that anywhere, and some do it all the time, so I am glad that there is at least some standards maintained. (to me they should be higher) and as is said above the buffet can be quieter.

Anyway, off to press my cravat !!

As fellow scousers sailing MSC for the first time on Davina, I LOVE your signature, I too am an old hand on the Royal Iris, Royal Daffodil etc. You made me smile!:D

Been the IOM a couple of time also forgot about them !!

Perfect! You're welcome. The priority worked out great for us.

 

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MiamiC - How did you find it Aurea Class ? - With us being from over the other side of the pond, Europeans don't bother us btw ..lol

I booked Aurea and it worked out well. We got the priority tickets which allowed us to skip having to go to the meet point in the ship to get tickets and wait. Took 5 minutes to walk through the ships check points. Another 5 to load up on the tender. Then maybe another 5-8 minutes for the tender to get to the dock.

 

 

 

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The answer I wanted from a person who has sailed MSC...And guess what..we are Aurea too !!

Thanks !!

Yes,you gt ticket with time. First go priority guests and excursions from MSC. Then rest of the ship.

Specifically Grand Cayman, on this ship, how long are you looking at a wait ? Will everyone be ashore say 1.5 hours after the ship arrives ? Where do you get tickets ?

First I have been to GC before, first time with MSC.

Questions as follows:

4000 people on the ship

How are the tenders organised ?

Do you just queue up ? or

Do you get a ticket ? if so where from ?

Are the tickets timed ?

We want to do a private tour that will depart about 10am from Georgetown. Will we make it.

But they say that they are changing the drinks package thus summer.

Does anyone have an uptodate one ?

Whilst never cruised to Cuba, I have been to Havana a few times.

First carry a few dollars with you.

The first place that could be of interest is Almacenes San Jose.

This is the tourist market set up in an old transit shed about ten mins walk away .Google map it.

There are money Cadesa places in there, plus you can get some bargains and then take them back the ship.

The other great thing is that you are across from San Fransisco Square.

This is on the edge of the old town. History awaits.

There is a hop on hop off bus which starts and finished at the tourist market.

Cigars...Must visit Hotel Conde Villaneuva minutes from San Fansisco Sq as they have their own cigar shop and guy making cigars...I have stayed in the hotel and a must visit when I go to Habana

Liked the review and the videos...

Think this ship will be perfect for the Caribbean.

Done two with Carnival, and looking back based on the food, and it was good, but it was like eating food is any place in the USA. You know steak, Yukon gold potatoes...But we go away not to have same same , but different...and think based on what we have read, this could be a great balance...

Don't be confused, we are here to help!! I must say there are SO many choices now and not just with MSC!

 

I think with Aurea you will get free access to the spa. However, I have never booked Aurea so I am not sure.

 

Regarding the drinks package, I have never felt the need for a drinks package and just pay as I go.

 

We have sailed on Splendida, Preziosa, Opera, Armonia (my personal favourite) and am planning on sailing the Meraviglia. We always go for the Fantastica whether inside, ocean or balcony. I chose this as we have a 7yr old and we just find it easier to have breakfast in our cabin. With the Fantastica that option is included in the cruise price.

 

MSC are beautiful ships with spectacular shows. However, some classes of ships do not give you full access the ship. (The front areas are dedicated to the Yacht Club). My husband wasn't at all bothered by this. I, however, missed not having a bar or area to go to that give me a bridge view!

 

You will have a great time whatever chose!

I wouldnt have a drink , let alone consider a drinks package if we had a 7 year old with us on a cruise !

Hurt it will not do, but it will give people who look at ratings a false impression..As I have stated, if you could then 'critic' the critic, it would give a bit of a redress even with a 'thumbs down ' option...

If people only choose to be vague, as above, 'the food was not good' or 'it was full of Europeans'...the reviews like that dont deserve to affect the rating of a ship or business

Hi

 

One thing you should consider about reviews is that they are just literary efforts and like all literary efforts, some are presented better than others.

 

A sure sign that a review won't be helpful is where you get broad generalizations, such as "The food was terrible, there was nothing that I could eat except for the hamburgers". I have seen this particular statement made more than once. It tells me nothing except that the person likes hamburgers.

 

People writing reviews really need to be specific, because they have to realize that something that isn't to their taste, might be exactly what someone else is looking for.

 

Some forget that the purpose of a review is convey information and not just a place to complain. The "complaint" review is for some, only a method for them to vent and usually their misfortune is specific to them, and unlikely to affect anyone else. Sometimes something bothered them early and every little thing will reinforce that feeling. Another statement I have seen in various forms " The cabin steward didn't do their job, I put a crumpled piece of paper on the vanity and he never threw it away!!!"

 

I am also surprised how often people are suggesting that the cruise line somehow are responsible for things not in their control. Amazing. The reality is that some reviews are bogus, bad or good by people who haven't used a product.

 

You can't question these people. That's the anonymity of the internet. Imagine small businesses that are affected by some disgruntled customer, fair or not posting negative reviews.

 

That is why you have to read between the lines and on this site for instance you can go to the MSC threads and ask specific questions that others who have recently sailed on a ship can confirm or deny.

 

Like a bell curve, throw out the best and worst reviews and reality will be somewhere in the middle.

 

have a great day

Yet a reviewer can have quite a few 'forum posts' ..and just one review, and that review brings down the overall standing of the ship...

The ability to cruise is the ability to explore...Part of exploring is seeing new things, meeting new people and eating new things...

If you want the same as back home then why move, and then complain about say, too many foreigners ?? Different type of food...or even different nationalities...lol

As I say, why cannot there be a negative or thumbs down ?

If the people can take time to critique...then they can be criticized ...

I am on TA and we can get unfair reviews , reviewed, ...and espicially from 'one review wonders' lol

Just been reading some of the reviews on this ship, and out of the first 10, 3 of the reviews are below average, but yet the reviews either claiming or giving the impression that they have cruised before...BUT

they only have ONE review...!!

Why choose to rate this cruise poorly? I cannot see where else they have cruised or what they are basing the review on... what about your other cruises ??

I do disregard these type of reviews as I can see through them. Surly as well as a helpful vote, a thumbs down or unhelpful can also bee awarded for what the reviewer posts ...

Help please

We have booked Divina in August 2017.

We have cruised before but never with an AI drinks package.

Are all the tips included for the drinks in this package?

Thanks in advance

Thanks a bunch. I checked Mersey Rail, (hoping that was the correct rail) and it lists no stops???

Do you know if Chester would routinely have cabs waiting at their rail station, or is there a stand nearby?

Liverpools history and renewal is fascinating, and definately worth a return visit for a longer stay.

Right outside Chester Rail Station , you have cabs and busses , and there is sometimes a free bus..

The walk along city road and under the subay is only ten mins...

You could miss out on various sights if you get a cab..

Dont orget to visit spud u like..!! in the basment is the roman baths ..or what is left !!!

We will be in Liverpool in August. I would like to follow your very interesting tour but I also want to visit the Cavern Pub.

Can you tell me if we will be anywhere near that we might stop by the Pub? I can't seem to get a good map of the area even at the tourism website. (I may have just missed it though).

Thanks for your help. Robin

You want a hotel by the Cavern ..?

The Hard Days Night hotel is 50 yards away...

I would use google maps which will give you the ability to search.

Other hotels

The Hilton

There are also cheaper hotels , like The Premier Inn , Vernon St

Travelodge - Heymarket