rojoand8

17 hours ago, renatops said:

 

Thanks for the details.

In my mind the combination of not enforcing hand sanitizing and people serving themselves is a big concern. 

Last year I went on a RC cruise and at that time they would have a person next to the hand sanitizer post just suggesting/reminding people to spray their hands, as they entered the buffet. This should be the minimum with msc.

 

Glad to know you still able to enjoy it.

 

Cheers.

I know it always makes people feel safer when people keep using the hand sanitizer. The truth is it doesn’t kill the coronavirus, Noro virus or any other viruses. Hand sanitizers are antibacterials. I heard that cruises no longer stress the using of them because it gives people a false sense of protection. Yes, there are sanitizers that kill viruses, but they contain bleach. If used wrong and some gets on clothing, it will stain. Also continued use of this sanitizer, your hands will become very dry, even cracking. Let’s just wash hands good. 

We were on the kayak excursion a couple of years ago when my husband and I were 69. It was a lot of fun and quite appropriate for your kids. All I have to say is make sure your kayaks are in complete working order.  My husband sat behind me and his seat back was broken. Therefore he was practically laying down when we kayaked. Very uncomfortable.  It was a mile kayak trip to the hike. Hike was easy.  After the hike they snorkeled. I was pooped and chose to just sit on the beach because I knew we had another 1-mile kayaking trip back. Just make sure the kayak is in good working order. 

On 1/30/2020 at 6:41 AM, Saltlick said:

We've booked our first ever cruise on the recommendation of friends, and we've chosen the MSC Seaside on the E.Carribean trip in October. We're two adults and two kids (11 and 8). 

 

I've done plenty of research but I still have some questions about the cruise and how it works. Apologies if some of these seem obvious but as I say - we've never done a cruise before. 

We've booked an Aurea suite (13001) to give ourselves a bit more space, and I have managed to match my hotel status to MSC Diamond. 

 

So... firstly do people think the premium plus package is worth doing over the premium one? From what I can see it just allows you to get slightly better wine by the glass and any champagne served by the glass; though this appears to be solely Nicholas Fueillate from menus I've found? 

The free mini bar seems like a decent perk if we want to sit on the balcony after the kids go to bed - and the 30% off all bottles might be enough to convince me to pick up a bottle of Dom or something one evening (from the price list I saw that's about $260 with the 15% charge included, so with 30% off it's $180 - which is pretty much retail price). But I'm wondering if I'm overlooking any benefit or non-benefit that may swing this decision one way or another. Either way we'll definitely be upgrading from the Easy package on Aurea as my wife will want the frozen cocktails, etc. and I'm not drinking thimbles of Heineken all week. 

 

When we get to ports, I've read that having a diamond card allows easier disembarkation? How does that work? Do we just pitch up whenever we like, rather than having to book a time to get off? Do we also get back on with some kind of priority? Curious how that all works. We likely won't be doing many excursions but would like to get off and potter around for a couple of hours; but not if it's queuing for an hour to get off and on again. 

 

Speaking of excursions, I've seen one in Charlotte that I like the look of. The 'Kayak, Hike and Snorkel of Cas Cay' caught my eye. Has anyone done this? Good for the kids? We're all in reasonably good shape and all are good swimmers if that makes a difference. It was either this or the catamaran and shipwreck snorkel; but the kayaking just sounded like something a bit different. 

 

Kids - is there any way to keep track of them? Like do those cruise wristbands have trackers on them? They're pretty independent so I'd have no issue with them going off on their own at times (in fact I'm keen on it as with an enclosed environment it gives them a great chance to gain more independence), but I'd like to know where they are at the same time. Also, can kids get served at bars, etc. (not for beer, obviously) on their own or does an adult always have to be with them? What about ordering snacks and stuff - no issues with them eating at snack bars on their own?

 

The Aurea package gets priority embarkation and disembarkation from what I can see. If we get an Uber to the port in Miami, do we just bowl straight to the front or how does that work? Same with getting off, do we just choose when we get off? Can we stay on the boat until 11am-ish when we get back?

 

Again, with the Aurea package, we get "any time" dining. What does that mean, exactly? If you're not on the Aurea package you have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner when they tell you to? So can we just turn up any time to the buffet and main dining restaurants?

 

Are there any other benefits I should be aware of which aren't necessarily made obvious with the diamond status, suite or the Aurea package?

 

Appreicate your time reading - I understand these are likely very 'newbie' questions but I'm a complete novice at this

22 hours ago, reedprincess said:

Answered what I could... Happy sails, have a great time!!

 

I loved the chocolate martinis on Seaside. I’d cruise the Seaside again just for those chocolate martinis. 

Does the Mereviglia have a place similar to Venchi on Seaside?

This July on the Seaside, in the Yacht Club, the people still stayed in the pool drinking. They just hung onto the sides. They blocked the stairs. You couldn’t even get into the pool unless you kept saying “excuse me” and wiggled your way in. The middle of the pool was empty. A float of some sort would’ve been a great idea. 

Thank you everyone. I guess I’ll wait until I’m on board. Maybe by then I’ll be able to see the departure time. 

If you book an MSC excursion on line, do you have to pay for it right away, or can it go on your account so you can use your OBC?

18 minutes ago, Triptkr said:

If you're 'shaking things dry' then you're within the "if-you-touch-these-areas,-wash-afterwards" zone.      

No, if you’re a woman, shaking it dry means doing the shimmy. No touching involved. 

Thank you everyone for your input. So it’s known that the ships sailing the Caribbean in August will be Seaside and Armonia?  If that’s the case, we’ll definitely keep the March cruise on Mereviglia because Armonia doesn’t have the YC, And we were just on the Seaside this past July.  

1 hour ago, capriccio said:

Are you considering a cruise beginning on March 27 or 28 and ending April 3 or 4?  If so, April 4, 2021 is Easter.  Many US schools have off the week before Easter and if MSC is like other cruise lines (I'm speculating because our first cruise on MSC is in January), they will charge a premium for sailings that week and there will be lots of kids on board.  If you are thinking the week earlier, there will be fewer kids and maybe slightly lower fares (March is still high season).  The weather in South Florida at least in March is much nicer (relatively cooler, much less humidity and not in hurricane season which is June 1 to December 1) than August.

The week we have booked is the 21st to 28th. I’m really considering staying with this cruise unless what they come out with in August is something real special. 

We have a Caribbean cruise booked for the end of March 2021 on the Mereglivia. I really wanted an August cruise but the 2021 dates aren’t posted yet so to I scheduled the one in March just to be sure I had something. Then I was thinking, maybe the March date would be better. Can anyone give me an idea of what the weather and the seas are like in late March early June?

12 hours ago, mafig said:

 

I'm glad you posted this.  I was getting really confused.  I've been on Divina and know the restaurant's name is Le Muse, and I started to wonder if Norwegian had a restaurant in the Haven area with a similar name.  Started looking at deck plans and couldn't find it ….LOL.

So sorry.  It was late when I posted. I did get the two mixed up. 

On 8/10/2019 at 5:15 PM, saxkid said:

We are on your cruise on Monday...

 

In Honduras we are using Victor Bodden tours, they have monkeys, sloths etc, but our cruise ship docks after the time period they allow people to hold sloths. They have lots of options available.

 

Costa Maya - we are using Native Choice for a trip to Chaccoben ruins

 

Cozumel - I have done Nachi Cocom all inclusive beach resort several times. Always good all drinks unlimited and a four course lunch for each person.  You need to book ahead of time on their website.  This time we are doing a chocolate factory tour instead.

 

George Town - we splurged and are taking a jetski tour to stingray city, booked ahead with fatfish adventures.

 

I almost never book excursions from the ship anymore as there are better/cheaper ones available third party. The only time I would book with the ship is if it was a very long excursion and I was risking not being back in time.

 

Hope to meet you on board!

You’re going to love the jet ski excursion with Fat Fish. We did I it 2 years ago. We drove the jet skis out 4 miles to the sting rays, then got on the jet skis and drove to a snorkeling sight. Then we went to starfish point. Got on the jet skis and rode the 4 miles back. We were 69 at that time and I have to admit, it was the best excursion we ever went on. Make sure you wear swim goggles because when you’re driving fast to keep up with the guide, you’re getting a lot of salt water thrown in your face. Enjoy. 

13 minutes ago, mafig said:

I'm looking at a Forward Facing Penthouse on her (H7).  Thoughts?  I already know to avoid Deck 9.  What do you think of that category vs. H5?

When we were on the Escape Haven we had the least expensive cabin—the spa cabin. It was awesome as far as room size. It also had a whirlpool in the room. The problem with that room was that it wasn’t in the Haven complex. It was next to the spa. LaMuse, their restaurant was also not in the Haven. You had to learn how to navigate your way there. The first night your Butler takes you there to show you the easiest way. Having sailed on the Divina and Seaside I would never again sail NCL’s Haven. Mostly because if their cost and their swimming pool. It was so small and even when the roof is retracted it seems very stuffy and dull. To me, the YC and the Haven aren’t comparable.  Just booked another YC on the Meraviglia in the Caribbean in 2021. 

We just got off the Seaside a couple of weeks ago. Also sailed on the Divina 1 1/2 years ago. Just booked the Meraviglia for the Caribbean in March 2021. All in the YC. It sounds like you like the Meraviglia just as much as Divina except the feeling of crowds around the ship. I haven’t heard too much about this ship as it’s been in the Med. I’ll have to start watching for more boards on her.  Thank you for your nice review. 

Thank you. That seems like a lot of their ships be in the US. 

1 hour ago, citizenfrank said:

I have no news of the ships, but like you I suspect I have been looking at 2021 dates and from June for the UK only Med sailings are listed to date. I have found a decent Caribbean sailing in April with a fun schedule but nothing further.

Thank you.  I’ll just have to keep checking. I also saw that sailing in April that you spotted. Sounds intriguing, but we can’t make it in April. 

Has there been any chit chat as to what ships will be doing the Caribbean in the summer of 2021 and when the bookings will open up for them?

We were just off the Seaside in the Yacht Club. Our family wore basically the same to dinner each night which was going to church Sunday clothes. We did not dress up for the elegant nights. A man at the next table wore a different black t-shirt every night that had rock bands on them. Didn’t bother us at all, he just looked a little strange being in his 60s wearing that. 

Thanks for trying, but we got off the ship yesterday. Nothing worked and it seemed like the casino staff was on to us—very rude.  I guess what was left was the MSC applied OBC. 

Thank you everyone for the responses, but nothing worked.  

Is there a way to get your OBC transferred into cash at the end of the cruise if you do not use it all?

We will be on the Seaside this Saturday and have scheduled an excursion with a third party in St. Thomas.  Just got instructions from them where to meet.  I didn't know there are two docks in St. Thomas.  Which one does Seaside dock at, Havensite or Crown Bay? TIA

It is son-in-law and basically grandson.