skip.brandy

Many thanks for your posting, you cleared up some of my questions. Glad they put the evening buffet back, as we usually eat around 5pm, and on cruises end up having afternoon tea, (more weight).

The tea bags, DH always has problems with his tea, he's a tea granny, and it must be boiling water.

Thanks again Carol

Not just competitors practicing The Routine, but also dance studios who teach routines as a goal and not a tool. So that when their students get on the ship and find the dance floor crowded, they don't know how to take a few simple steps and just adjust for direction and distance.

Dancer Bob,

You've taken our words right out of our mouths. We just do plain basics on cruises, would be nice if one could stretch out. On two Costa cruises, ( can't remember which ships, will have to dig out the albums) they had beautiful dance floors, with lots of space. We had two completes, some times cancelled the dance to put on Bingo. The other was, when dancing little kids would run across the floor. We were doing a quick step, and a kid about 2yrs old ran right behind Doug, lucky I saw it, and stopped Doug in time, otherwise there would have been a bad accident, with the two of us, on top of the kid, and maybe others involved too. To this day, I still don't know how we stopped in time, good communication between our bodies, I guess.

Carol

What do you mean " too old to compete"? You are never too old. You know Senior IV is for age 65/60.

Hi Cruisedancer, We would need Senior VII or something, we're 75 &. 80, we still dance, even if we do have some arthritis, and the dance shoe still go on cruises with us. Carol

Yes Westway and 30-Up, also Lago in Woodbridge on Thurs and Pat and Cathy at Casa Ricca on Fri. Many years ago decided not to compete, have developed much more respect for good floorcraft.

 

Hi Dancing Bob, have been to both "Westway and 30-Up" clubs, but not for a few years. Lago and Casa Ricca no haven't been there.

Thank you Judy. I agree they shouldn't leave copies out side in the mail slot. If they can't give you a copy on check-in, the cabin steward should either slip it under the door or place inside the cabin. Thank you

Dancing Bob. Yes 5.30 is early, even in the Carribean we struggle, end up having " afternoon tea" then putting more weight on, that's why we usually end up in the buffet. Guess we can always have tea or fruit.

Bob, do you dance? We do ballroom dancing, and competed for Ont. Although we don't compete any more, too old.

As for passports, knew we should have renewed our Euro ones, and brought them instead, but had just renewed the Canadian ones for ten years. The hotel in Venice kept them until we sighed out, but I dont remember Costa doing it too, that was in 2010. I always bring copies with me. Thanks for your help too.

Carol

HI everyone, thank you for all your comments, good and bad. We're booked on this cruise Jan.4th, Have sailed with Costa twice before B2B. out of Venice in 2010. We're also booked on MSC on the 19th. Like Namwicha, we've had our concerns, after reading different reviews, but then there's been some good reviews too, so we will " go with the flow". We usually drive down to Florida and cruise from there, on Celebrity, HAL, RCCL, but decided to try the Med again for a different intinary. I have two questions if someone can answer for me.

1). Re buffet in the evening, we like to eat supper around 5.30pm, so some times have it at the buffet, instead of in the MDR. I have read that the buffet isn't opened, only for Pizza, but BAZBOV you say Costa has re-instated the evening buffet, is this correct?

2) TORONTO.GAL, (We're from Barrie). You stated your passport was on display for everyone to see, do they take the passports off you when you board? we've always kept them in the save. I would be concerned they might loose them, or worse still someone steal them.

Thanks

Carol

Two questions I have.

(1). does anyone know if at Genoa port, at the embarkation area, do they have a duty free store like in Venice when we were there in 2010? We could buy two bottles of wine and soft drinks and water. But only on embarkation not in other ports.

(2). If there's no duty free store there in Genoa, can we bring our two bottles of wine on board like we have on other cruise lines?

Thanks Carol

Magnifica :- March 2017

What is a " Loyatly Match"? Does this mean MSC will match other cruise lines loyalty programs?

Thanks Carol

I didn't want to start a new thread for a simple question, and it fits with this thread already:

I'm going on the Sinfonia in July - does anyone know if the drinks packages are the same price once on the ship? As opposed to buying online beforehand?

 

thanks!

Morgan

Hi Morgan, We just booked for March 2017. In answer to your question, when we booked we have the option to book our "drink package" at 15% discount, up to a week before sailing, if it's not a week, it's two weeks before. ( I can't remember which). We booked through MSC it's self. Hope this helps. Carol

Hi RuthC, Thank you for the reply. Our cabin is 1031 starboard side on the Zuiderdam. Carol

HELP, we've been assigned a inside cabin, on main deck, and it's right under the casino, and bars. Can anyone tell me what the noise will be like? Will we be able to get to sleep?

Thanks Carol

Well another awesome cruise is over for us. The Pearl was wonderful and the staff and crew were fabulous. Our first suite experience was beyond what we thought it would be. We were in a forward PH, 10500. It was beautiful and Maxi our Butler was AWESOME.

 

Now I am in my post cruise depression state :(and will be re-living the cruise in my mind. Good thing I have one booked for next year and now have a cruise reward deposit so I can watch for the 2016 schedules!!

 

Any questions? I am not much on reviews but will be happy to answer any questions so ask away!:)

Hi, we're thinking of booking for Dec. 2015, and was wondering if there's any descent dance floors for dancing? On the Pearl. We're ballroom dancers and most of the newer cruise ships have made the dance floors smaller. Have looked at videos, photos and the deck plans and haven't really noticed any thing.

Thanks for you help. Carol

Hi JS10. Thank you for a great review and taking the time to write it and ans., everyone's questions. We're looking into this cruise, Dec 7th. For my hubby's 80 B/D. Will keep the "secret door" a secret.

Thanks again

We're usually on board any time after 11am., made our way to the buffet and had lunch, took our carry-on's with us.