pepper

Good day, 

I cannot seem to find the details online.  Please let me know as I do not want to add it to our walking tour this  Sunday if it is not open.  

Thanks in advance!

Hi!  So I have read on some forums that sometimes, once you board, a notice is in your room that a port change occurred.  When and why does this usually happen?  How often?  Has this happened to you?  I would prefer Ocho Rios so I wondering if I should NOT book. Montego Bay excursion and just wait until I board.  Thanks in advance!

Thank you everyone!

2 hours ago, ODECCIT said:

Armonia docks in Ocho Rios and arrives late. Last week they couldn't dock so they tendered which was complete disaster and people with late group numbers got off the ship around 2PM.  

Ours is docking in Montego Bay, at least according to my docs and itinerary I booked.  Maybe they have a couple of different routes on a rotation or they made a last minute change?    I'd love to do Dunns, but it is a long drive from Montego Bay.  They offer a Dunns Express, but I imagine that to be a 1.5 he drive each way and only 1 he at the falls, which does not appeal to me.  

Good day!

I am wondering if anyone has done the River Tubing from Montego Bay through MSC'S excursions, or if there is a tour operator that you recommend for river rafting or tubing (not Martha Brae, too calm 🙂 when we are only in port from 1 to 7 p.m.  I assume final boarding is at 6:15 ish.  AND, in some facebook forums, the ships sometimes arrives late in Montego Bay, so that would affect things too.  I would really want to do tubing, rafting, or falls - most tours I've checked out online are morning or 12:30 departures, and Shoreexcursioneer site says we are not in port long enough for their excrusions of that type 😞  Any advice or assistance please?

Thanks in advance!

On 2/14/2020 at 9:29 PM, Até said:

Thanks for confirming, it makes more sense that reservations are not needed.  I'm now sure the commentary was wrong as they seemed new to MSC.

Hi, I got the info from MSC's website  regarding having to book theature for Armonia.  

On 2/13/2020 at 6:33 PM, Reds4life said:

Any news on the missing mini golf on Armonia?

Nothing that I've heard.

On 2/11/2020 at 6:54 PM, cellfree said:

Yes, the same place the Armonia has Gelato they have soft serve in vanilla and chocolate. Gelato and soft serve are free.

HI!  I messaged MSC earlier today on whether the Armonia had free  Gelato, smooth bar, and movies.  They messaged back that movies were all free, but Gelato and smoothies were a charge.  So if you could confirm, were all Gelato, smoothies, and movies free or maybe it is only for particular sailings?  Thanks in advance!

3 hours ago, Reds4life said:

We are booked for Armonia in June. Would you care to share the daily planners that you found?

On 1/22/2020 at 3:12 AM, dexddd said:

Where you dropping car?

I was thinking of renting Budget from MIA and dropping it at a drop off location near port , 89SE 2ND ST.  Hopefully they have a shuttle from there to port, or I guess we cab it.  But it seemed easier to rent a car for the day to get around rather than cabbing or ubering.

Bud89 Se 2nd Street,

Miami, FL, 33131, US

13 hours ago, Reds4life said:

Yeah I agree. Taking out the mini golf sucks. I called MSC and they promised it was temporary and they were redoing it before Summer. Not helping you guys that are sailing earlier though. They need more stuff to do for kids 

13 hours ago, Reds4life said:

Yeah I agree. Taking out the mini golf sucks. I called MSC and they promised it was temporary and they were redoing it before Summer. Not helping you guys that are sailing earlier though. They need more stuff to do for kids 

Yes, they want more kids to cruise, thus the incentives, but should definitely enhance or add, not take away.  Heck... I played minigolf on my cruises before I had a kid!  However, I asked in a Facegroup group to see some daily planners, and it looks like MSC does an amazing jobs with activities each day, better than any other line I had cruised in the past, so it may be a non-issue this first time with them.  Still sucks thought, minigolf is the only golf I do 🙂

Our first MSC cruise coming up on Armonia out of Miami and I wonder what the kids club is like? Do they check them in and give us a beeper? I don't really feel comfortable if my 10 year old is wondering a ship in his own.

Plus do they schedule many activities and games throughout the day? Can the kids also participate in teen activities? When we were at an All inclusive resort, kids club was too young of a set and the kids around 10 and teens hung out in games room and doing teen club games and activities.

Also, what are the daily activities for adults like? Games, free classes, etc?

Any info appreciated. Thanks!

I read in another review that minigolf was taken out!  Not impressed as my son was looking forward to that in March.  Additions.... not take aways 😞

Really?  Their website still has it on deck 13.  Any other changes from their deckplans there?  No Minigolf sucks as we look forward it that.  

I am looking to rent a car and wanted to know what time to drop it off and get onto the ship, for Armonia  out of Miami.  Can anyone advise what the earliest time we can get onboard please?  We sail in March. 

Thanks in advance!

On 12/19/2019 at 7:10 AM, psmarkle said:

To me, it looked like a barracuda, but I'm not an expert. 

The fins are all wrong for a baracuda.  Definitely looks like  a shark.  

On 12/15/2019 at 5:40 AM, stoneman56 said:

They sure do, we were about to go in snorkelling and the lifeguard pointed to a 4ft shark about 20 mtrs out. He said they are not aggressive just don’t get skittish around them. He was happy for us to go out and look at it. Unlike Jaws when he said/shouted shark everyone snorkelling went INTO the water😂

And a little heads up for anyone who brings their own snorkel gear. The staff at the rental station say you can use your own gear but you have to rent a yellow vest off them. 
rubbish, the lifeguards are happy to let you do your own thing without wearing one

Which area did you snorkel to see the shark?  Thanks in advance!

On 12/7/2019 at 9:17 AM, Dred pilot Roberts said:

I find it very strange that MSC charges for umbrellas at all let alone in the YC area.  On Coco Cay RCCL has literally hundreds of umbrellas set up around the island along with lots of natural shade from the existing palms.   It seems that MSC is cheaping out on the small things after spending several hundred million to build the island.  And highly annoying to its YC passengers that when there is no shade you have to rent an umbrella.

 

DPR

We are going on our first MSC cruise in March and it is funny, we were advised on a post that MSC nickel and dimes less than other lines, but so far there is a charge for umbrellas, a charge for the steam room, I can only imagine what else will come up that is normally complimentary on other lines......

Nobody has joined the roll call yet.  Would love to see who else is going.  We have not cruised in 8 years and never on MSC.  Checking out shore excursions for our ports, not via MSC.  My last cruises years ago have been on RCCL and Carnival, and roll calls were huge.  It was great getting to know some people, and on my Mediterranea Cruise, all of our excursions were booked together, so it was a great experience.  Any takers for March 23?  Roll Call is available for signup, as well you need to signing up for Meet & Mingle. 

Pop questions:  Their policy is nothing, not even tine wine other lines allow.  So, if I actually packed some pop for family (probably a case) and a liquor bottle for me (the only one who drink), in your experience, how often do they confiscate?  

Just now, pepper said:

I hope so, but I doubt it.  This is an extra cost it seems.  Do you know the cost?   We booked Fantastica.

 

On 11/21/2019 at 1:23 AM, Beamafar said:

If you book an Aurea cabin, the thermal suite will be included, otherwise you have to pay for access.

 

You'll find that MSC is much less likely to nickel & dime you than most other cruise lines.

I hope so, but I doubt it.  This is an extra cost it seems.  Do you know the cost?   We booked Fantastica.

It has been years since we've cruised.  The nickel and diming seems to still continue from what I've seen.  On my previous cruises, when the steam room actually was working, it was free.  You go to the spa, get a free locker key, and can use the showers, steam/sauna/whirlpools located in spa area. 

Does anyone know if this is free for the MSC Armonia?

Thanks in advance.