Alex71

Where are you from? There are different conditions and pricing policies operating in different countries. So you need to specify which country you will be making your booking in. It is not one size fits all when it comes to MSC!

Here in Germany, kids under 12 are still free when sharing a cabin with two adults. They don't have to pay port charges, but now have to pay half the service charge.

We've used TAs from different countries without problems.

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....and I have never been one of them, nor agree with those that moan about the US tipping culture. I'm a great believer of "when in Rome....."

 

 

 

If you want to travel to other countries, be prepared to accept their customs and practices. You don't have to like them, just don't expect them to change to suit hour own practices. Anyway, it's part of the fun of travelling. It would be pretty bring if we all behaved the same way, ate the same things......

100% agreed!

Spending three weeks in the US at the moment and I could moan all day long about all the things that are different (tipping, driving, bread, portions, chlorine water) or I could waste all my energy trying to convince people that their way of doing things is wrong and the German way is the only propper way.

This would not go over well and would lead nowhere. Part of the fun of traveling is to experience different cultures and immerse as much as possible.

Maybe it's hard for people who leave their country for the first time, but after a while, the fun kicks in.

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The tap water in Los Angeles currently costs about $5 per 748 gallons. We have historically considered it a practically free commodity and would raise holy Cain if anyone attempted to charge money for it in a restaurant because it would be so silly.:cool: Do you have to pay to wash your hands in European restrooms? Because that uses a lot more than one glass. :confused:

I guess you would be in for another shock if you tried to wash your hands at a rest stop in Germany (the charge is 70 ct).

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YIKES! :eek:

In the end you have to look at the final cost with all things included. Whether you pay a couple euros more for water or in service charges or for other things really doesn't matter.

MSC understood that the water topic can be very emotional for some Americans. Therefore they adjusted their policy for this customer segment, but in the end, MSC is out there to make a profit and will make up through other things.

BTW, the American lines include service charges in the prices they advertise here in Germany, as they understood that this can be a controversial or at least unexpected issue in this market.

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Okay, now you've piqued my curiosity. Do Europeans only drink bottled water? Is your tap water not generally safe? Or is it that you prefer mineral, (sparkling), water vs. flat water in a bottle? Or do you usually drink tea, coffee, wine, beer, etc. with your meals?

 

We in the U.S. drink tap water with tap water ice pretty much with all of our meals and the water tastes fine and is certified safe. If we are traveling, or going to the gym, we'll take flat bottled water with us.

 

All the cruise ships that sail within U.S. waters must maintain certain water quality levels. They have very high-end filtering and/or osmosis systems that typically provide some of the finest drinking water available...both in the restaurants and in the buffets.

 

What do I need to be prepared for when I sail in Europe???

 

BTW, I booked a cruise on Divina in the YC for this Dec. at a fabulous price, so I'm not so sure about that U.S vs. European pricing scenario. ;)

 

I mean no insult to anyone in this query.....I'm just confused. :confused:

Customs in restaurants vary from country to country, so I don't think there is one answer that is universally applicable.

Here in Germany, drink revenue is an important factor for restaurants. The tipping expectation is lower, taxes are included and alcoholic beverages are quite a bit cheaper. On the other hand, there are no free drinks.

Traditionally, restaurants have only served bottled mineral water, but more and more are starting to sell filtered tap water (either still or carbonated) for a fee.

Here in Germany, you can expect to pay between 4 and 5 EUR for a 1L carafe of tap water and between 5 and 7 EUR for a 0.75 L bottle of mineral water.

Compared to that, water on MSC ships is dirt cheap. No complaint from my side...

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Is this the new policy of MSC? :

 

Going forward, on its Europe itineraries, the line will provide free, unlimited bottled water to American and Canadian passengers during lunch and dinner in the dining room, MSC Director of Public Relations Alyssa Goldfarb tells Cruise Critic. Previously, North American passengers were refused tap water in the dining room and received only one free bottle per table, per night.

 

Other cruisers on Europe voyages will still have to pay for water; other European lines such as Costa and Hapag-Lloyd also charge for it. Passengers who sail from homeports in North America already receive free pitchers of tap water with dinner.

 

If this is the case I will NEVER sail on MSC cruises EVER.

 

What a discrimination for us people from Europe !!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

I pre-ordered a water package for our next sailing for 27 EUR for 14 bottles, so it's really a non-issue.

In the past, one could occasionally make a bargain by booking through an American TA, but over the past few years, prices through European TAs were consitently lower. So all things considered, I think we still get the better price, even when factoring in the cost of the water.

MSC in the Med will be distictly Italian with almost exclusively Italian food in the MDR. Seafood is better than meat. The buffet does have a fast food section, but that's about it in terms of American food.

People tend to dress up for gala nights, although this is not an absolute requirement. We've seen people in jeans as well, but that was the absolute minority.

They do serve Coke. I can't remember how much it costs, but might be worth getting a package if you drink lots of it.

Overall we like MCS, but you have to be aware that it is an Italian line with the vast majority of the passengers coming from Italy and other European countries.

I just read the terms on the German status match program and what I found interesting is that they will not just match the status of other cruise lines but also of hotel chains or tour operators.

Since they are that generous, it's no surprise they had to drastically cut back the benefits.

Is any one aware hoe we can find these selected sailings that carry the additional 15% discount! or do you just have to keep looking at cruises and work it out for yourself?

 

Interested to know just how many options we will have and when.

I had a flyer explaining the new club rules in the mail last week. It listed six different sailings, all in July and August, so pretty much last minute, standard eastern an western Meds itineraries.

If I understand this correctly, no points will be awarded for cruises booked as specials. This will make it almost impossible to collect many points going forward.

To summarize:

- massive devaluation of the loyalty program

- higher service charge

- less advantageous terms for kids

- less advantageous terms for solos

while massive additional capacitiy is coming online across the market. Interesting times ahead!

Agreed, very unappealing route. I guess, a large ship needs large ports so that won't have to let the masses descend on a small tender port.

Also on sale in the UK. Cheapest insides cruise only 2 people sharing £299 each.

 

Balconies don't appear to be available for solo occupany but insides and outsides are.

That's quite a bit cheaper. I may have to find a British TA for my next booking...

The changes really are a shame. We shop around a little for other cruise lines. Always wanted to sail Tui Cruises.

This can be booked from Germany now too. Embarcation port is Montego Bay, though. Cheapest insides start at 1499 EUR pp. including flight, cheapest balcony cabins start at 1899 EUR. For comparison purposes, a flight from Germany to Jamaica alone would cost around 700.

Looks like the prices they are able to charge are quite a bit higher than what they would have gotten anywhere in Europe at that time of year. Also, I'm sure people are less likely to venture out on their own, which should give them higher excursion sales.

I think it's all just a matter of name differences at this point. Lol!

 

In the U.S. Bottled water can be purified, filtered or just left alone.

 

We just call regular old water, water. Lol. It's either tap water or bottled water for human consumption! Sparkling water in the USA is generally what we'd refer to as "carbonated flavored water" (to anyone I've ever known) and mineral water is your Pellegrino's etc. So the still, mineral, sparkling to me is just a difference of region and how its described in each place. :ovOr as in Italy "gas or no gas?" And I was like "well no gas I guess?" Lol.

Mineral water is a defined term in the EU. Purified or filtered water would not meet the requirements: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=URISERV:co0008

Is there no way a European Cruise can be booked by a British person on behalf of an American/Canadian?

 

Basically where the British person acts as the agent, Just booking the cruise from this end?

 

Or is this naive thinking on my part? It does seem odd and a great pity that MSC don't upload their itineraries to Europe on the US site.

We've used TAs in other countries without problem.

Not sure what this would mean though if MSC changed plans an reallocated the ship to a different route. They may not be willing to reimburse a transatlantic flight for someone who booked through a European TA.

MSC serves San Benedetto mineral water, as AmoMondo said, either either still or sparkling: http://www.sanbenedetto.it/en-eng/Our-products/Mineral-Waters/San-Benedetto/For-The-Whole-Family

"San Benedetto low mineral content water, with its unique balance of minerals and mineral salts, helps your body purify and regenerate itself on a daily basis. San Benedetto mineral water, a drink of life, every day for the whole family."

Love your review. Much looking forward to reading the next installments! A Norway cruise is definitely next on our list.

These changes on relatively short notice have been discussed before. While I find them acceptable when the security situation changes, I don't think it's right to do it purely based on bookings, as seems to be the case here.

The previous Canary Islands itineraries are still available on the German MSC site.

Other than that, it sounds like an interesting change. I assume one could book the flights separately and add a few days in Cuba.

Another opportunity to take a Caribbean cruise without the hassle of going through US immigration.

Berlin is a very layed back city and you will find many people with shorts and flip flops on hot days. You will stand out though, if you wear sport shoes with tennis sock.

Thanks everyone!

I'll book the package online then. Unlike my TA, MSC is at least not charging a credit card fee.

Just got the confirmation for our next cruise and went to the MSC website to reserve our usual beer and water packages. In the past, they could be reserved online and were later added to the onboard account.

When I added them today, I was asked to provide my credit card information to complete the transaction. I assume paying upfront for the packages would mean that they won't count for MSC club points towards a higher status.

Are others seeing the same thing? Is there a way around the prepayment e.g. by reserving the packages through my TA?

I was able to get the 5% MSC club discount on the fares. :)

My 8% club discount was now also deducted, was apparently just false information from my TA. Combined with the special discount from my TA, that's almost a 16% discount.

Duplicate post, please delete.