samshltn

...any advice on either how to find out?

 

A cruise from Hamburg to Southampton, Le Havre, Zeebruge, and Amsterdam will pass through German Bight, Humber, Thames, Dover, and Wight. Currently, all of those areas are 'rough or very rough', which is the seventh level of the ten-level sea state code.

 

Of course, in the thirty-seven days between now and your cruise, all that will change hugely. But the above links will continue to keep you informed.

Just another quick question. Is the 1 app, 1 salad, 1 entree, 2 sides, 1 dessert ONLY in the specialty restaurants with the dining package OR is that standard even in the MDR's? I assume it's only in the specialty restaurants.

 

The only time/place where a rule similar to that applies is in the speciality restaurants, and only when using your Platinum dining benefit ('Dinner For Two At Moderno Or La Cucina', and 'Dinner For Two At Cagney's Or Le Bistro With A Bottle Of Wine') The rules are not the same for Platinum dining benefit as they are for Speciality Dining Package.

 

Platinum dining benefit

When using your Platinum dining benefit, the conditions state: "Benefit entitles each guest to one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert of your choice..."

 

Speciality Dining Package.

When dining in a speciality restaurant using a dining package, the conditions state: "Charges will apply for additional main course orders." and "...all items listed on the menus are included in the package. Additional entrée charges also apply for dining at Cagney's Steakhouse and Le Bistro.", but they do not limit your appetizers or desserts.

 

As almost everyone has pointed out, different servers, managers, and maître d's seem to make up rules about the number of courses you are entitled to more-or-less on the spot. Very occasionally it's necessary to show them the above two quotes in black and white to help them understand that your package includes 'all items listed on the menus', and that charges only apply for 'additional main course orders.'

 

In the MDRs: You can order what you want. No fuss.

...We were told one app, one soup or salad, one entree and one dessert...

...our waiter told us 1 app, 1 soup/salad, 1 entrée w/2 sides and 1 dessert....

...we were only allowed 2 sides...

...1 app, 1 salad/soup, 1 entree, 2 sides, 1 dessert...

 

What do you all do when you're told you're not allowed to have what you've paid for? Does anyone discreetly challenge these made-up restrictions? Or are we all happy paying for something and not getting it?

Do you have a Beard?

 

Is a beard a help or a hindrance in this context?

I would say you'll be absolutely fine....

 

Thank you for your reassurance. I would normally wear smart jeans or chinos and a polo for an MDR on NCL. I'm sure others will choose to dress more smartly, or less smartly, and I respect their choices.

Like umograd83, I'll let you know in a couple of weeks. We've booked a cruise for spring break, because we like a party atmosphere. I'll let you know how good it was!!

I presume you mean the Illusionarium show.

Can you do the Illumination show as one of the dinners?

Yes, you can, but there's an upcharge: 10USD for regular seating, 15USD for premium seating, and 35USD for VIP seating. All the details can be found on NCL's website.

What’s the difference between banquet seating and floor seating?

One is nearer the stage, on large shared tables (a dozen or twenty or so pax). The other is further from the stage, in smaller booths. I'm sorry I don't remember which is which though!

Is it worth it?

If you like that sort of thing, then it is worth it. If you don't like that sort of thing then it's not. Do you like

...Sound to me like the managers may not be the proper person to speak to either...

 

I absolutely agree. There are two groups of staff here:

• The people who know how to do the job (Waiters).
  
• The people who don't know how to do the job, but know how to manage the people who know how to do the job. (Managers).
  

For some reason, customers often want to speak to the people who don't know how to do the job.

Simple solution - don’t go to Cagney’s. This specialty restaurant is overrated and you can get better steak at Le Bistro or La Cucina.

That's your opinion. I love Cagney's and enjoy all the starters and apps, and any of the steaks (mains) and desserts.

Thanks for the suggestion, but we love Cagney's and will be going. We are also going to Le Bistro. We are not fans of La Cucina, so "simple solution" we are not going there.

 

 

Well said, ready2cruise, and vent1020. My personal opinion is that Moderno is just terrible. I really hate it there, it's not for me at all! But... I understand that other people love that concept. Personally, I really enjoy Cagneys, and will be eating there three times in the next month. The 'simple solution' is to, well... go to the restaurants you like and, well... order the foods you like...

Do we have to go to the specialty dining rooms with a copy of the Terms and Conditions from NCL's website?...

 

I wouldn't say you have to, but I keep a copy in my cabin in case any of the staff need a quick aide-mémoire. Just like LrgPizza, I've

...never asked...

, but like DebQ5, we sometimes have erroneous limits 'explained' to us unsolicited.

...people are running into made up limits...

 

Yeah I think we've all had this. Sometimes the staff forget the various policies, so to help them remember I take print-outs. I keep them in my cabin, and if a staff-member accidentally applies an inapplicable limit I give them a copy of the relevant policy to remind them. It can be very confusing, they must have a lot to remember.

Some useful information regarding how to dress can be found on the website...

 

Thanks for that, but that was actually the page that I quoted in post 17 on this thread. ("I've just read about '...evening wear for the Gala Dinners that feature on every MSC cruise...' ").

 

That paragraph raised more questions than it provided answers, to be honest. I don't really want to pack the whole 'range' of garments they suggest ("...from casual wear for relaxing aboard to evening wear for the Gala Dinners...") for a two night sailing to get home from Hamburg, so I was wondering what is the minimum I can get away with.

 

There are very many 'suggestions' for what we might like to wear but, but the only hard-and-fast rule I've seen for MSC is 'No shorts in restaurants for dinner'. I think that, since I'll only be dining in the MDR, an absolute maximum of jeans and a polo will be fine.

 

Thanks again to everyone for all your insights.

Not according to our waiter on the Gem last week.

We were told one app, one soup or salad, one entree and one dessert. I told him that is not what the T and C's say.

His response was " that is what we are told"

YMMV

 

• That is the case for the Platinum dinner. The conditions for that state: "Benefit entitles each guest to one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert of your choice..."
  
• It is not the case if you have purchased a Speciality Dining Package. The conditions for that state: "Charges will apply for additional main course orders." and "...all items listed on the menus are included in the package. Additional entrée charges also apply for dining at Cagney's Steakhouse and Le Bistro.", but they do not limit your appetizers or desserts.
  

Waitstaff often get the two mixed up, so I carry a printed copy of the two with me to help them remember which is which.

Sad to think that anyone would do this.

 

In my humble opinion, it's worse than sad: it's deception intended to result in personal gain.

 

...which is also known as 'fraud'. I would really think that MSC would have a more robust verification method. I would happily have given over my username and password to allow them to log into my NCL account and check for themselves. Perhaps someone could suggest that to them?

Bea! Our path's cross again!

...your level will be valid for 3 years after the disembarkation date on the card, unless you cruise again with MSC within the time frame....

Very useful to know that: The black status will disappear after three years if I don't maintain it.Well, i'll just have to make sure I make a 'recency' cruise on MSC every three years then, won't I! As if I needed an excuse to cruise! If I can adjust to MSC on my first cruise with them next month, I've got my eye on a sneaky little Venice/Med with MSC to keep the recency up!

First time I've heard of anyone getting black lanyards!

We think they're a great idea. Quite understated and elegant, but a great way for the crew to quickly identify who they need to focus on. On NCL, we're used to not really being taken seriously* unless we can get a crew-member to scan our card (the cards don't differentiate status by colour) - so we really like MSC's system of black cruisecards for black members. That is VERY impressive. NCL take note!!

 

(*The crew presume we're someones children - we're a bit younger than the average cruisers!)

We got our black status by screenshotting our Platinum status on NCL and emailing that in. Our black lanyards arrived in the post shortly after, and the letter said that we would get our black cruisecards when we get on board (it will be our first time on MSC). Are there any advantage to having the presentation box and pin? If so, there's one on eBay I could get...

No ...... and no. It's only a suggested dress code, anyway! ...

(n.b. I think you edited your post after I quoted you? I apologise if I've misquoted you... )

 

You are a FANTASTIC resource... I wish MSC's staff and website were as useful as you.

 

So it's only a 'suggested' dress code. I presume smart jeans and a polo would pass, just the same as on NCL. I have to dress smartish for work, the last thing I want is to have to dress up at the weekend as well!!

 

Thank you SO MUCH for all your help.

I would say it's a matter of personal taste. If you personally prefer

 

...the crab cakes or the pork belly...

then I would recommend that you go for one of those (whichever one sounds best to you, personally). Similarly, if you find that you're the sort of person who prefers

...oysters and shrimp...

then my advice to you would be to pick your favourite out of those two. I wouldn't recommend that you order the 'Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleon' unless you, personally, enjoy beets, and goat cheese, served in a stack. But your personal tastes may be different to mine, so I can't advise specifically.

I've just read about '...evening wear for the Gala Dinners that feature on every MSC cruise...'

 

Surely they're not suggesting that a cruise ship passenger would wear full white tie evening dress to the MDR ... Also, these 'gala dinners'... they wouldn't be on a two-night hop from Hamburg to Southampton, would they?!

I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

 

Thank you. Me too! I'm fairly open-minded and adaptable (and I'm hoping a Black card goes some way towards smoothing things over, like it does on NCL!).

 

I've got five cruises booked in the next year (two next month!), of which one is MSC. We decided to try them because it seemed cheap*, and they offered me direct-entry at Black level. So... we'll have to see how they measure up!

 

(* However, on balance, it may not be as cheap as it looks. We paid:

NCL: Two-nighter to Hamburg: GBP179pp in an aft balcony mini-suite including drinks.

MSC: Two-nighter from Hamburg: GBP112pp in an inside cabin, NOT including drinks.

 

We drink... so think the NCL cruise may work out to be the cheaper one haha!)

As I've said, the MDR just may be open for embarking passengers on your cruise.

 

It's exciting to try a new line and see what it's like - I can't wait. Thanks for all your help.

 

I look forward to getting on board and finding out what I've paid for!

You're just told that if you're embarking that day that you have to go to the buffet..

 

I 'have' to go to the buffet?!

 

After eleven NCL cruises, I can see MSC is going to take some getting used to!

We've been stopped from entering the MDR for lunch on a number of occasions...

 

That's worrying... If it was open, what reason did they give for not letting you in?!

...british craft drinks such as... ...guinness...

🙈 ..

Thanks Bea. I don't eat in buffets if I can avoid it. NCL always has an à la carte/Table d'hôte option available for lunch on boarding day. I presume MSC, being European, has the same?