Tom-n-Cheryl

Generally under a day or two (in our case). Tom

Good to hear - Thanks ! Also I suspect, that if they have kettles for most cabins on UK sailings, that they're bound to have some available on the ship. Tom

"Lucky" is hard to define, and was a component. But, I did reapply (as if I was doing it for the first time) with a different home and email address, and they replied back and anointed me Diamond. Not sure if that's what made the magic happen. I thought I'd then have to get in touch with them to merge or delete one profile, but they used the same number and switched it to Diamond. Tom

Ugh - sounds like "fun". I'm looking at a B2B that is just OC, Nassau, Cozumel (from Pt Canaveral). I'd hope that a turnaround in that case would be a bit more streamlined. Tom

I get mailings a couple/few times a week for (fill in the blank sailings and regions), yet for the last 3-4 PUP opportunities, I've had to rely on you guys. For some reason, they stopped notifying me. Tom

You get lucky sometimes 🙂 Tom

Thanks 🙂

I was looking at a sailing on the Silhouette and the only suite remaining is a single "Horizon Suite" at the front of the ship. I can't find very much info on these. Are the benefits similar to the RS (included specialty dining)? Thanks, Tom

I'm looking at booking a second MSC sailing from Florida later this year or next (having not even sailed on our first yet - next month). The booking options online are like a mix & match. Is there an advantage to booking the 4+6 as the "single" 10 night... either due to price or by having a simpler process for the second leg (do you not have to get off the ship and go through customs, as is typically of other lines B2B's)? I can't compare costs between the two because the 10-nt says the Yacht Club is "Fully Booked". Yet, oddly, I can look at each of the two legs and see the same YC cabins available. Why would it show the 10-nt as "Fully Booked"? Here's an image of the cabins available (Seashore) for the 4 night and 6 night sailings. It's not like it's even close: Obviously, there's still a lot more to learn about this line, as they march to the beat of a different drummer ! Tom

My Celebrity Elite+ also matched to MSC Gold - which, in and of itself, is "messed up" (though it's their system/game)! Thankfully, their "messed up" system allowed me to use my Azamara status (status thanks to reciprocity with Celebrity - I've never sailed with them) to then switch to Diamond with MSC. I was able to play the "game" too, thanks to help from fellow CC'ers !! Tom

They could always place TV's in the gangway up to the ship and have Guy barking out all the safety info. By the time you got onto the ship, you'd be ready for that drink ! 😉 Tom

Anyone? Kettle.... lounger Tom

My only guess is supply/demand. They don't "need" me as much now! Tom

Not typical, but how many examples of sinking cruise ships do we have? It's good to know he had to face the music. At least he was not above the law !! Tom

BTW -- that's a damn good beer, if I do say so myself. Just following up with one (or, perhaps a second) today, to make sure it was not just the "haze" of being in cruise mode that made me think it was good! 🙂 Tom

Of course, in "real" emergencies, sometimes even the Captain seems to need a refresher (thinking of Concordia). What hope does the single trip passenger have? Tom

I read that some line had resumed it (can't recall which), but I also saw where JH said it was going to stay as it is now. Of course, nothing ever stays the same, forever ! It must be wildly more popular this way, for all involved. As long as it satisfies (fill in the blank/authority), then all should be OK. I mean, it's not like if the ship was actually in distress that there would not be wholesale panic ! Tom

Yep - I'm a "fix my own iced tea in my cabin" sort of guy, bringing along a small Yeti cooler for ice (for tea and mixing our own drinks), as the ice bucket on virtually every ship we've ever been on is woefully inadequate (and not very well insulated). The kettles have been provided (or at least available on request) in the suites on Celebrity and Royal (NCL I think too). Tom

Oh - and along those same lines (requesting something typically not in the cabin), is it possible to request a lounger for your balcony, when ample space exists? Tom

I see that they have Nespresso machines in there, can one also request a tea kettle? I know that some types of coffee machines provide just hot water, but I've had a couple that also spit out coffee grounds (and had a faint taste of coffee). THANKS, Tom

Not that it's an issue either way, but does MSC have stateroom cleaning once or twice daily? Interesting that the $14/pp/pd is the same for all categories. That's usually not the case (on other lines). Tom

But, as least Cheryl's letter from her Dr gets us out of the sardine drill if/when it returns. Much better to sit in an inside lounge than huddle under those lifeboats in the heat. Yes, though -- there's some things in life you can't fully "get out of" !! Tom

I think I'll create my own church -- 😄 Tom

They could make it less confusing by replacing the "Get It" with something else ... like LOOKUP or FILL FIELDS... but "Get It" (I don't get it, lol). Tom

When you have your "cards maxed out", and only pay the minimum, those payments rarely move the needle! I was a twenty-something at one point, and learned that the fun way. 🙂 Tom