Fla Mike

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Got up this morning and played Holiday Road,

Thanks...now I've got it stuck in my head.

Complete with the dog barking at the end 😂

I hope you didn't win the cruise as a contestant on "Pig In A Poke"

Have a great time.

We we at OC in November and heading there again tomorrow.

There ARE free loungers at the other beaches, with an umbrella stand between two loungers.

Last time we rented an umbrella and headed over to South Beach.

We are doing the same this trip.

The lagoon is crystal clear and very calm.

Had the beach almost to ourselves.

Nothing to look at if you want to  snorkel though.

@GA Dave

My condolences on your loss.

Great story, thanks for sharing, if I you would have posted this a day earlier I might have pulled the trigger on the YC bid.

As I was getting ready to pull my card out of my wallet, that little angel popped up on my shoulder and echoed what others have mentioned...That $1040.00 is another cruise.

So, Lovey and I will remain in the Kayak Klub (steerage) and wallow away our sorrow with Brandy Alexanders and Jamesons instead of Hennessy and Glenlivet .

At least now I don't have to worry about her doing a "bobbit" on me, (look it up) when she saw I spent the extra grand. 😲

I'm still debating pulling the trigger on a YC bid for our cruise coming this Sunday.

I know, wait till the last minute.

I'll get shot for doing it, but Lovely will change her tune after she settles in.

Anyway, I'm afraid if my YC bid gets declined...Ill loose my original cabin location to something less.

I'm currently on deck 12 Fantastica, (all in) mid shipish.

Minimum YC balcony bid $520 pp

What would YOU do.

8 hours ago, jamon said:

Am I right that ocean cay is not like coco cay that rccl has??????

Not like Coco Cay at all!!!

As FrostyJoe and others have mentioned, it is not an amusement park.

IMHO the whole RCCL operation, ships and private destinations, including Labade, have become "Amusement Parks of the Seas"

For any old time New Yorker's,  Coco Cay reminds me of "Palisades Park".

Think of Ocean Cay as a beautiful, relaxing spot, with many different style beaches, decent free food, free booze, (with beverage package), with still a lot to see and do. Just not in your face.

Many here think it is by far the best private island of any of the mainstream cruise lines.

Here is a copy of what I showed to the MSC folks in November.

Used the same test on Carnival in September...

5 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

So the following second one from Walgreens is okay then from what this thread says?? We are driving to FL and having to schedule a test on the trip about 12 hours in (half way there).  There is a walgreens but they only provide the first 2.

 

Available tests

• 

  Diagnostic Lab Test (PCR)Results time varies†
• 

  Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID NOW)Results in less than 24 hours
• 

  Rapid Antigen Test (BinaxNOW)

Yes you are good to go!

See my conformation above.

5 hours ago, alyssamma said:

Bonus. Not sure why anyone would get the "slow" PCR test then...

Exactly, unless you have unvaxxed kids it really makes no sense.

And, I'm not sure what all the back and forth is about this, the Walgreens Rapid ID Test is accepted.

Like I said before I used it on MSC already!

2 hours ago, alyssamma said:

Typically the first and third are free...you pay for the second (at least that is how CVS works...not sure about Walgreens...

The 2nd test (Rapid ID Now) is free also...

Going for my third one Friday for my Sunday cruise.

Not spring break, but we were on a four nighter on Divina in early November... very few to none college age heavy revelers.

Contrast that to our Carnival Magic cruise in September which is the reason Carnival has it's reputation.

My guess is the Spring Break crowd will go where they know their crowd is.

I'd avoid Carnival, RCL, and NCL.

On my current booking I am able to upgrade to Premium Plus on line.

I believe the cost is $20.00 US per day.

Of course since this is MSC, you actual mileage may vary.

ho

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

What is important for you?

Well, in our younger daze when the early 1980's, and I do mean daze, we got hooked on cheap booze filled weekends, (remember we live in Florida).

Three night booze cruises ruled.

Cabin size, configuration, or location, didn't matter, as long as we could have some fun.

Bunk beds ruled.

After a few insides, we did at least demand an outside bunk!

The NCL Skyward, Emerald Seas, Britannis, Flavia, The Amerikanis, and the Dolphin IV, They were Grand Old Dames.

Wife number two, I talked her into getting married on the Costa Riviera.

Unheard of back in 1989.

She got hooked.

When I married Lovey in 1997, (the third time is a charm!) we honeymooned on the Big Red Boat/Star Ship Atlantic.

She got hooked too.

We booked it so late, the only rooms left were outside upper/lowers, we never did have them make the upper 😉.

As we got older, the parties didn't matter as much, but we loved to cruise.

The itineraries took over.

Europe, Alaska, Deep Southern Caribbean and TA's and  trans-canal cruises.

Now...now, we cruise for the ships, could care less where we go or for how long.

Food is important, room size and balconies even more.

Our important things now are each others company.

We love to sit around everywhere on the ship, but now with fine wine, or a good whisky and people watch.

Watching some people around the pool and hot tubs are worth the price of the cruise alone.

Also, we love meeting people. The bigger the dinner table, the better.

But not during COVID sadly.

We have made life long friends from around the world.

You can't put a price on that.

2 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

Lots of Men in Suits on the pier. 

Business Suits or Hazmat Suits???

33 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

Is this what you are talking about.

That is the stuff

On Divina in November and at the buffet they were using "Coffee Mate" brand creamer in large pumps, both flavored and "Original".

I say "Original" because, that what I saw at the coffee station, and I asked for it.

I thought to myself, great, this is what I use at home.

When I received my coffee it was VERY sweet.

 I went up to check and was shown a bottle of Coffee Mate Sweetened Original, so it was loaded with sugar and/or corn syrup.

They had no other, so I had to get a carton of milk with my coffee.

If you are diabetic, (as I) or do not take a sweetener, be aware.

Thanks for the pix...great!!!

I've gotten two offers so far for our Feb 13 cruise, one last week and one about a week after I booked in November

Yea.

We will have our test ready to show them when we get to the port.

1 hour ago, JAGR said:

• Guests 12 years and older who are fully vaccinated are able to cruise and must present proof of COVID-19 vaccine with the final dose being administered at least 14 days before the cruise.

• All guests under 12 years of age (given our vaccination requirements) are required to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 3 days prior to ship embarkation.

I read these on the website a few days ago, and I read it to say if you are vaxxed and over 12 you do not need a test before hand.

I know that is wrong, but this is MSC

Thanks for the review, glad you had a good time and makes me anticipate our February cruise more.

Do you know if you were contacted traced at all by the pools, indoor lounges or solarium'

That is my only real concern,  hanging out in the Brass Anchor, Bamboo Pool, or the MDR and someone from across the room tests positive and we get quarantined because of it.

47 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Now if one enjoys solitude, long walks around a promenade or out on deck, a beautiful cabin with a large balcony overlooking a beautiful seascape, deck chairs unoccupied anywhere anytime in the shade or sun, gourmet meals served in moments not hours, waited on by enthusiastic willing to serve staff, then cruising is now.

That's me!

44 minutes ago, dexddd said:

You must live close to a port.

Me too! Smack in the middle between Everglades and Canaveral

21 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

I would cruise if I was in Morpheus' situation, young and healthy, and fully vaxxed.

Well, I;m old, vaxxed, and boosted and have more wrong with me than right. Really. I do.

I like to say I take more drugs now,  then when I took drugs! 🤫

I also understand people are still dying from this. I just lost a dear friend that I worked with for over 20 years to COVID. The proverbial healthy as a horse, hardly ever left the house and worked from home, but unvaxxed. Sad.

We are all adults and need to weigh the pros and cons that work for us.

Personally, my wife and I and again,  we are both vaxxed and boosted, never go out. Only to Publix, and Walmart for food shopping and, doctor visits, but only the last few months in person. I am also going back to virtual visits.

Avoided the big New Years party in my neighborhood again for the second year. Most people walked away with COVID from it.

But when it comes to cruising, I'll take my chances. I spend enough time cooped up and being careful, but I'm not stupid.

Our Carnival cruise in September, we went to the comedy show and turned around and left, place was packed solid.

Our Divina cruise in November was almost a ghost ship, really easy to avoid people if you want.

So if my Meraviglia cruise for Valentine's day is a go, so am I.

Most likely I will bid up on a Aurea suite with hot tub. I could spend four days in that room no problem.

My wife agrees with me. God forbid if we do get sick, or worse, we have no one to blame.

I'm reading that you are escorted to the "Q" area and someone will bring your personal belongings.

...what happens to the things we have in the safe?

Like cash, passports, jewelry, cameras, phones, COVID VAX cards, etc.?

What about my medications?

Not that I would expect any dishonesty on the crew's part, but how do I prove I had $1000.00 in the safe if I only get $500.00?

Just an additional thought...

Since we may have determined that the emails for the personnel are: firstname.lastname@msccruisesusa.com

Maybe if you can get the name of a mid level supervisor and just bombard them with mail, they may finally answer you?

Try one of the contacts in THIS LINK, particularly Richard Sasso,  you'll get a reply. 😉

22 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

A newsletter from a ambulance chaser is trying to stir up speculations re Merv and "cases"...

even the # he mentions is imho so low it's only the pearl clutchers who will care

Just read that guy's "report".

 Definitely sensationalism on his part... reports by officers "who wish to stay employed by MSC" and "At least one ambulance was waiting at the dock "

But... 169 crew and  60 guest is not really that small of a number.

But I think as the weeks pass the number will go way down.

That being said, Lovey and I are still planning to go in February.