Markanddonna

I've been on about 7-8 MSC cruises, and most were very good/fine except one out of Miami. They were overbooked and had the rudest group of passengers ever. We just got off a meh Celebrity cruise with food in the buffet and MDR at about the same level as MSC. Twice the expense for the experience. I have concluded that as the years go on, each cruise and ship can be as different as night and day. I have noted that much discontent happens with drink packages. One difference I have noted is where you disembark. After that experience on the Divina, we will avoid Miami crowds. Interesting that the Miami sailing was a ten day and a much better passenger experience was had out of Port Canaveral on just a three day. Reading reviews can be helpful, but so much depends on little details, like, are you in the Yacht Club? For the average passenger, reading their reviews really isn't worth it and skews one's perception.

We disembarked last week on the Silhouette and were given one. We had an inside.

We have cruised on about seven cruise lines, so we have a lot to compare it to. There were about five children onboard, and we were about the average age. At least half were older than us. I believe that thing that affects all cruise lines are the cutbacks seen on almost all cruiselines over the years. The standards for many have decreased. We hope that our May TA on Celebrity will win us back.

We have been on about 7 Royals and 2 Celebrity cruises. We have always enjoyed Royal's longer cruises, primarily transatlantic and transpacific crossings. The Anthem OTS was sensational in 2024. Even in our 70s, we enjoyed the I-FLY and Dodgem cars. We booked a TA on the Constellation for a 2023 spring sailing and thought it was an exceptional cruise. The food was a step up, and the crew and fellow passengers were great. This was going to be our new, favorite cruise line, that is, until we went on another Celebrity cruise this past month. We traveled on the Celebrity Silhouette on a 10 day Southern Caribbean. This sailing was quite disappointing, especially in the food and entertainment areas. The menus were blah, and so was much of the food. The fellow passengers, while all polite and nice, were more like HAL (on the much older side). There were about 12 scooters/chairs parked by each dining room. The ship pretty much closed down after 10 PM. The ship itself is not attractive in any way. I had never seen such boring, strange artwork. The Lawn Club's lawn has seen better days (I hope) and was rarely used.

You tend to miss about 24-33% of the time.

We just got off the Silhouette and I was surprised how much older the passengers were. Sort of what I suspect HAL would be like. The people were pleasant but the number of canes, walkers and scooters was higher than I ever experienced. I suspect the majority either went to bed around 9PM or perhaps sat in a lounge for a night time drink.

We were on a Transatlantic that sailed out of Houston. Everyone at our table was from Texas, and it was right before the 2016 presidential election. We were from a critical "swing" state. Finally, someone figured out that our political views aligned with theirs, and then they revealed that they had been tentative and wondering about us. I have never even held a gun, which they thought was bizarre. Once we acknowledged our political alliances, the whole atmosphere opened up. I usually don't talk politics, but this time it worked out.

I much prefer the time changes on the eastbound route. You arrive in Europe with sufficient energy. A few captains change the time at noon rather than overnight. They do that for the benefit of the crew.

I have been in about seven TAs and the ocean, fall or spring, was always like glass. I have experienced seasickness on three cruises but had no problems with the worst storm we have ever experienced...a medicane, which are hurricane winds in the Mediterranean. The schools were closed in ports . It was wild! The outside decks, dining and buffets and the elevators were closed. We did just fine. You just never know. I was seasick yesterday with storms near the Bahamas. Side to side, aft to bow and then a stir in the middle. Was better as soon as the storm waves ceased. Btw, don't ever say you never get seasick. I didn't until after my 15th. It just depends. Also, the ships give out seasickness pills like candy. They like clean carpets.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but people at the corporate office make most of the entertainment decisions. They contract the entertainers and orchestrate their movement between ships. The CD is given the entertainers (and likely has little input) and then fits them into the appropriate venues onboard the ship. This is more noticeable on longer cruises like TAs, where an entertainer or group that is well-received is asked to perform at a matinee or special evening performance. A good CD enhances a cruise. Unfortunately, I have mostly seen blah, mediocre ones.

The first is the Hippodrome in Istanbul. The second is in Caesarea Maritima. My point is that if you are on a cruise, there may be more outstanding things to see, considering the limited time.

I was in both Kusadasi and Istanbul last Nov-Dec. Personally, I consider going to Kusadasi as relatively safe and easy to navigate. Istanbul, on the other hand, was quite the disaster. We had never been there, so we arranged for a private guide with a small group from the ship in a van. The Blue Mosque was being renovated, and we were told it wasn't worth the wait. Others who visited that day agreed- it wasn't worth it. Hagia Sophia had very long lines, and people paid to cut in or just did. I have to say that visiting it was worth the wait and irritation. The Grand Bazaar may be worth it if you really want to buy something, but it really is a confusing maze of shops. Glad I went so that I could say I was there. The Topaki Palace was also worth it but very controlled. The Hippodrome was really just a park with a few pillars. If you've ever been to the one in Caesarea Maritima in Israel, you would be disappointed. The biggest problem was the traffic back to the port. It was an absolute gridlock. The crew later told us it is like that all the time (confirmed by locals), and they all use the tram to visit. After sitting in the van with no movement anywhere, our group decided to leave the van and just walk to the ship. It was a struggle for some who were not used to the required fast pace that was necessary. Ultimately, we had plenty of time, but of course weren't confident that the ship would indeed leave late. The buses from the ship excursions sat in that traffic for hours, and of course, the ship ended up leaving quite late. Istanbul really is quite lovely but not without danger. One of our ladies was assaulted by some young men who thought she would be easy prey. She fought them off, and they scattered- they just wanted her purse, which they didn't get. This happened when the guide allowed people to walk to Hagia Sophia on their own after lunch. So, I'm not a big fan of Istanbul. If you ever get to go there, do your homework and know what you are getting into. Take the tram! It goes right to the main sites, which are close to one another. There are some tours where the guide meets you at the ship, and you go with them on the tram. Kusadasi, on the other hand, is fabulous only because you can go to Ephesus.

That's about what I paid for my medical center visit for my UTI. A little more detail...I had my first UTI onboard a ship and went to the medical center, was given an antibiotic and another med. About $160. Things were going fine until I reached a small village in Poland where I was staying with my husband's cousin, who is "the rich man in town." I told him I needed to go to the doctor, and he said, "That clinic is run by a horrible old Russian doctor who often doesn't show up... I'll see what I can do." An hour later, we met a nurse on a bicycle who gave me a strip of antibiotics. Never had another UTI since that time. Sometimes, when you travel, things get a bit desperate.

I had my first UTI ever onboard a ship. The doctor was very good and prescribed an antibiotic. It worked for about 10 days when the UTI surfaced again, but I was safely in Europe. Different ships work their medical center differently. Sometimes, you can just show up. I agree with those who arrive early. Our travel insurance paid for everything. All the recommendations for what to drink or eat are really for prevention, not when you have a full-blown infection. Get the antibiotics.

One of the worst cabins we ever had was on the NCL Jewel in a penthouse suite. The anchor was obviously close by, and it sounded like a train going by our window in the early morning. The fog horn was also right above these cabins in the bow. The cabin itself was lovely, and the balcony was so large that I could have held a dance party on it when docked. The wind was fierce when moving.

If you want to see Israel, go on a land trip. Israel already stated that this is going to be a long war- months. So many sites aren't opened as a result. For all who want to visit Israel, realize there are windows of opportunity. Israel is always on edge but there are safer times than now. Go when the window opens again.

I would also not consider anything less than seven days. Some people want to wet their toes with a short cruise, which is often very different from "typical" cruises. You might be joining a booze cruise of loud, obnoxious locals who stay in their friend and large family group.

While I also believe that my time will come when my time will come...I also get to decide what places are important enough for me to risk it. Jamaica isn't one.

We were assigned at a table for ten on a Celebrity TA last April/May. Only six of us showed up the first night. Two of the single ladies bolted after that. The other couple and us are rather outgoing, and we invited others to join us. Within two days we had a full table of ten, and everyone showed up almost every night. The chemistry was great and everyone shared their plans and experiences. The maitre'd and our waiters were very accommodating. Those who joined us were often the only ones at their former tables.

We had an apartment in west Jerusalem last November. You have to experience Shabbat to see why that is a good idea. Even the McDonalds had some restricted hours. Keep in mind that store owners often close down a few hours before Shabbat begins, not at sundown. We were the last people served at 1:30 PM at a restaurant on Shabbat. The owners need to clean up and maybe stop at a store for their own preparations before everything closes down.

We leave our passports in a safe only on ships (unless it is mandatory to carry them, which is rare. I don't trust hotel safes since I've heard some horror stories.

I would cancel. If peace breaks out by then, you can rebook. I would hesitate through the first half of 2024. I was there independently last December (even to the fence borders of Lebanon and Syria- what was I thinking!!!???) . Even in more peaceful times, Israel has tensions that aren't seen elsewhere.

Ever since I began cruising on MSC, the website has been awful. You often hear "Wait until the weekend is over. On Monday, the problem should be fixed." I suspect that is written on a plaque above each MSC agent's desk.

For your Italian heritage, the choice of Rome is sort of a no- brainer even though Barcelona is closer to the port. It really isn't hard to get to from the port, and I agree with others to look on the Italy board for suggested companies to hire with a larger group. There are so many popular areas around Rome. I would do my homework, choose a hotel, and pounce on the reservation when you get your dates.

I have been on about 8 MSC cruises. I was on the Divina around 2018 and thought it was a great ship. After a horrible B2B on the DIvina in 2023, I believe it is fully deserving of at LEAST a full point drop. The crew was so unhappy, the ship was WAY oversold to primarily central and south American passengers, and there were fights onboard. Probably the rudest, most angry passengers I have ever witnessed. The food was blah. I couldn't give it zero stars, so it had to be given a one star. I believe it would have been a five star back in 2018. Since the vast majority of passengers are not in the Yacht Club, a prospective passenger has to keep that in mind. I have heard that even the YC has gone downhill. To be honest, I think our cruise was the absolute worst sailing the Divina has ever experienced. People were traumatized.