Coochuck

I agree that the onboard cruise person was useless. I'm pretty sure you can just get better deals online.

These sound like trivial complaints but I'm glad some people believe this is enough to not cruise MSC again- means I'm personally more likely to get a terrific YC deal again. :)

When someone that sells you something...and does not deliver on a 25% OFF discount...that is a big deal if it's your money. Yacht Club Cabins are not a trivial amount to me, perhaps to you. 25% off is over $1000...not trival.

I had the same experience. We were on the hurricane cruise and the Concierge either did not know what was going on or gave misinformation. We found out from fellow passengers that we were going to have clear immigration/customs on the ship in Cozumel. Then, on the day we were leaving the ship, the Concierge told us we had to meet with Immigration at 6 am; so we got up very early, finished packing as we were told we had to bring all of our luggage including carry-ons. My husband went down to the concierge at 5:45 am who then said no we didn't need to be there until 730am and we did not need to bring carry-ons. We then went at 7:30 am and it was a zoo...hundreds of people in line, mass confusion, and one immigration officer. I knew more about what was going on than the concierge's by going to the daily Captain's talk.

 

Also, I had a bad experience with the night concierge. I tend to get up early so I went down to Top Sail to get a pastry. I got caught by the night concierge who spent a 1/2 hour telling me how bad MSC was to work and how awful her job was. I know, I should have walked away but I'm just too polite. I got rescued when another guest came up with a question.

 

The Captain, butlers, and room stewards were all great. Our room steward even wheeled our luggage all the way down the pier in Cozumel.

 

Lori

Lori, I'm sorry about your experience...and have spoken to others who got off in Cozumel....was a very bad situation. Unbelievable how much bad information was passed or or not passed on at all by their staff. LOL...was thinking they should switch the Butlers and the Concierge staff!

I'm just asking (I have no experience with MSC) but what would happen if you canceled the cruise that was booked on-board then booked again from home? Would you get the discount then?

I thought of that, but after the bad experience with MSC I feel my money is best spent elsewhere. MSC keeps preaching that they are a Family run line. Just glad to not be a member of their family after this bad experience. Perhaps if they were a publicly traded company they would treat their customers better than I was treated.

Sorry to read about your experience. Maybe de US office from MSC can help you? I have got the impression that they are very helpful from reading how they react here in CC.

Tried them, the lady I worked with was very sympathetic, but could not help. I will just mark it off as a bad experience and move on....but thank you for your suggestion.

Just finished trying the MSC Divina as a first time cruiser of MSC. We have gone on around 50 cruises so we are not novices. We had a Yacht Club Suite and found the on board staff, i.e. Butler, Waiters, etc to be as good as any other cruise line we have gone on. With that being said the rest of the staff from the Front Desk to the Concierge gave inconstant information.

The worst experience came when we booked another Yacht Club Experience on the new Seaside while on board. The 'Next Cruise Consultant' booked our reservation, took our deposit, and told us that we could not use our 25% discount (given to all cruises who had cruises interrupted by the hurricane)on board, however once we got home we should call the MSC Main Number and the discount would be applied. THIS WAS A TOTAL LIE...I pushed this up within MSC and was told there was nothing they could do for us. I'm done with MSC....I will never use them again and tell my fellow cruises never to use them as they cannot be trusted. How can they employ someone to see cruise on board one of their ships that sells something to a customer that should not have been sold? Oh well....live goes on.

First time on MSC...a bit confused about Internet Packages. I just want to be able to facetime, or whats app home, along with checking emails for one device...whats the best plan and how is is priced. I looked at the web site and got confused.

Thanks

Long trip. :)

 

Don't know. We're driving down from Jacksonville tomorrow. Guess we'll find out... :)

Please let me know how you made out when you get back. Thanks

We are driving down from Jersey to board the Divina on Sept 2nd. Spending the night before in Jacksonville. I looks like most of the routing maps route us off of RT 95 onto the Florida Turnpike around Ft Pierce rather than taking 95 all the way down as I have before. I assume major construction??? Anyone know why?

Thanks

We have used UBER before and were very happy with the service. A quickie question...we will be 2 people with 4 bags doing a 24 night cruise...is regular UBER ok, or should I use UBER XL? Thanks for you opinions.

We were on Serenade last December and I've got to say that Voom absolutely stank! Difficult to get logged in and VERY slow.

 

I discussed this with the customer service desk several times and one staff person showed me an easier way to log in but the system was still very slow, almost back to the days of dial up internet.

We did a Transatlantic from Copenhagen to Boston last Fall and found the internet pretty good on the ship. It worked everywhere except when the satellite was out in the Arctic Circle. Was able to use Facetime and WIFI Calling to home pretty much the entire trip. We were in the middle of the ocean, so I didn't have high expectations, but overall was pleased. Still not even close to the speed you get on the newer ships like the Allure, Oasis, and Harmony.

On our recent trip on Explorer the internet ran at dead-snail speed or slower for the entire trip. This was Sydney return to Pacific Islands. Berthed at Sydney it took more than a minute to load the Amazon landing page; it was downhill from there as the ship set off into the wild.

What date was your sailing? Did you have Surf, or Surf and Stream?

Does the Explorer have the faster internet yet, VOOM ??

We came over from Copenhagen to Boston in the Fall on the Serenade. We bought the package and were very happy with it. It worked for communications home, surfing the web, and streaming some films. With that being said, last month we here on the Harmony...and the speed was way better. We will be on the Explorer for a Transpacific in April and will Pre Purchase the Internet package. I hope that it will be at least as good as it was on the Serenade. If it is, then I'll be a happy cruiser!!

Going to sail this week on the Harmony. First time with the iphone 7. Had a 5S before. Got the internet package for the week. I assume, just as I did at home...enable WIFI Calling, put phone in airplane mode...and good to make calls home...correct?

Thanks

What kind of breakfasts do they have in JR's?..Just breakfast sandwiches?

The bands are supposedly reusable.

We learned on the Anthem over a year ago, that we could take them to the desk that issued new bands, that they would issue you a new one if you turned in your old one. Was just wondering if anyone has done this in the past few months/

If you have a band from a previous cruise...say the Quantum...can you use that on the Harmony?

Lets not forget some of the things that have been added.

No Corkage fee which we love in the Dinning Venues

Internet to stay in touch with the world while we travel

More Dinning options, if we want to take advantage of them.

The coffee served in the Main Dinning Room and Windjammer has been greatly improved!

Newer Ships with so many new offerings, such as Broadway Shows like Chicago, Momma Mia, Grease...etc

I still feel that you get the best value for your vacation buck on a cruise...and I do prefer RCCL to the others.

Quickie question. Does the ship broadcast Monday Night Football in a particular bar or on the Big Screen up on deck? Will be on the Reflection next week and want to watch the Eagles/Packers game.

Thanks

I have done Aqua Class once. Admitted, it was an upgrade from a standard balcony. I was not impressed and would not spend my money on an Aqua Class cabin. Would rather spend my money on other things. The cabins are exactly the same...the perks not that big a deal. If you want specialty restaurants, then go for it. Aqua Class is really about sales and marketing. Shut your door at night and pretty much all cabins are the same.

I do have to agree with the original poster. Celebrity is the WORST line to sail with children. I have done a number of cruises with family and would never consider a Celebrity Cruise with small children.

We have been on the Summit 3 times and enjoyed each voyage. We have done the New England cruises on other ships and found it very enjoyable. With that being said, I do have to say that I prefer the newer ships...so much more to do, and so much more of a WOW factor.

mmmmmm......wondering how much our travel insurance policy would pay? We are going on a 16 night TA.....looks like the policy pays $200 per person for baggage delay, and $1000 per person for lost baggage if the bags are totally lost. Would think that if we didn't have our baggage for the entire cruise we would get more than $200 per person. Hope I don't have to find out!!

Biker19 - I have to say a big thank you to you, we just got off the Serenade this morning and as you advised on another thread I used one D+ BOGO for the first two days then used the second D+BOGO off a package for the remainder of the cruise - it ended up only costing us $11.98 for Internet to cover the whole week - many thanks once again.

Going on the Serenade next week. We are both Diamond Plus. Can get 2 free days with one...then let some days pass....and buy the package for say an additional 10 days, or do you have to buy the package for the entire cruise to get the Diamond Plus Discount? Note, this is a 16 night Transatlantic

Hello Danish Viking...Thank You for all the information you have provided. I just found this thread and it is fantastic. One question I have...we will be staying at the Hotel Bethel for a few days before our cruise to Boston. We would want to take a Boat Ride upon morning arrival at the hotel. We were wondering if there was one you could recommend within walking distance of the Hotel?

Thanking you in advance.

Chuck,

 

We are sailing in October on the Serenade on the NE cruise. As someone mentioned, VOOM was still sorely lacking in June on the Serenade. Please let us know what you experience!

 

Enjoy Norway, it is gorgeous there!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Annie

I"ll post something when I get back.....not a lot of hope for blazing speed!