dznymom

Sorry, I didn't even look at JOB.  I am a volatility junkie!  I am guessing JOB it will also be 6/5.

Just got off Divina.  They have 6 multi denomination vp machines - quarter, $1 & $5.  Pretty sure the pay table didn't change by denomination.  I prefer 50 cents on TDB, but they didn't have it so I bounced between quarter and dollar on 6/5 DDB.  

1 hour ago, Ptroxx said:

Like I said.  I’m not aYC person.   But thanks. 

I responded earlier about how much I have enjoyed my MSC Cruises.  Although I have sailed in suites on many other lines, I have never felt the need on MSC.  I prefer to enjoy meandering around the ship, and in the past when booked in the Haven/Neptune/whatever I sort of felt that I needed to get the most out of the experience, and didn't do as much mingling with the non-suite guests.  I will be returning to MSC regularly, and have no plans to bother with the Yacht Club.  Don't let people try to convince you that you are missing out when you aren't in Yacht Club!

One other note regarding food.  I am not much of a beef eater, but I find that their beef dishes are probably their weakest.  (Are any of the lines serving good beef in the MDR these days?) But I really enjoy their poultry, fish & pork dishes as well as anything Italian.  They have wonderful appetizers and their desserts are pretty much fabulous!

I have sailed on over 50 cruises and 5 of my last 6 have been on MSC.  I have enjoyed every single one of them, and I absolutely love the Meriviglia.  I embrace the differences between MSC and the other mainstream lines.  It works for me, and for the people I have recommended them to.  I have sailed with friends and I have sailed solo.  I met wonderful and very interesting people on my solo cruises!  I find the food is very good, although there have been a few duds here & there, but that is true of every line I have sailed.  The crew has been amazing & for me that is what sets them apart along with the beautiful ships.  Anyway, happy sailing if you decide to try them!

I am quite pleased with the program as it is now although I would love if they threw in laundry like a few (or most?) of the other lines.  I usually leave the chocolate ship behind because it's bulky (and melty) to pack, so changing that to a chocolate bar doesn't bother me in the least.  I really enjoyed the Diamond Party in the past, and wondering if they have brought that back yet?

Also curious if anyone has taken advantage of the dancing lesson, and if so, what did you think?  

I really enjoy Ocean Cay and deliberately choose cruises that stop there, twice if possible.  The fact that the ships dock means you can easily go back & forth to the ship if you feel like it.  I prefer Ocean Cay to all of the other Private Islands, but I am not a big fan of lots of activities, so it suits me perfectly.  

I like the choice of beaches that each have different personalities.  Your drink package works on the island, and there are enough bars for some bar hopping.  The Lighthouse Bar is my favorite and has an entertainer in the afternoon which is always nice.  Your favorite bartenders from the ship will be out there somewhere!  Folks enjoy the jet ski tour, and our friends that did the boat ride to watch the lighthouse show said it was quite a party.  Pretty sure there is also a snorkel excursion available, and maybe a couple of others.

The buffet is usually quite good, although sometimes less so.  I like the food trucks as an option as well.  Swimming, sunning, floating, snorkeling, drinking & a beach party at night - that's all I need!  

This is from my booking details:

• "AUREA: Best balcony cabins and suites, Free in-room breakfast, 24-hour-a-day room service with free delivery*, Priority boarding & luggage on embarkation, Free choice of dining time with My Choice dining in a dedicated restaurant or area, Extensive buffet with a wide array of cuisine and main restaurants serving gourmet meals, Relaxation amenities in cabin, Bathrobe and slippers, Pillow menu, Broadway-style theatre shows, Pool area, Free access to fitness centre (from 14years), Reserved sundeck, Welcome package (Prosecco and chocolate box), One free cruise change. Possibility to purchase a dedicated, discounted specialty restaurant package. For adults only: Complimentary access to the Thermal area for entire cruise, possibility to purchase a dedicated, discounted SPA package, 10% off on all SPA treatments purchased on board. *except from 11 pm to 6 am on Caribbean and North America cruises."
•  

Very enjoyable review!  Brings back memories of my Divina cruise, and makes me excited because I am doing it again later this summer!  Thanks for taking the time to post and for including the great photos.

I also love Ocean Cay, and actually prefer it to all of the other private islands.  Currently, I have only been booking the 4 night cruises that overnight there, (except for one b2b 3/4 nighter so 3 out of 7 days were there).  I especially appreciate that with the ships being at such low capacity, the island is truly magical!  

I think everyone has to do their own personal risk assessment and act accordingly.  I travel solo and drive to the port, which are factors in my decision making.

I canceled my Jan 23rd 7 night cruise and rebooked a 4 nighter at the end of Feb.  I am not terribly concerned about getting the virus but I find the risk of being quarantined is not a risk I am willing to take on a 7 nighter.  I  know myself, and I would also be very disappointed if ports were cancelled & that is a gamble right now.  So rebooking a shorter cruise a few weeks later gives me more time to assess the situation.  The odds of being turned away from Ocean Cay are lower, and that is the only port I care about on that sailing. I could deal with being quarantined on a shorter cruise.  So unless things change significantly for the worse, I will be proceeding with that cruise.  

That was my thinking.  Each of you have different considerations, and I wish everyone the best dealing with this dilemma.  Stay safe and healthy!

5 hours ago, ddlb said:

Well this is our first ever drink package so this is very good advice! Look for two senior ladies who don’t know much about drinking but are anxious to try some cool drinks!  If anyone has recommendations I’ll be happy to sample them!

I will be the solo senior female that has a quite bit of experience when it comes to adult beverages 😁  The bartenders will help you make choices depending on your personal taste.  SO many choices, so little time haha

Thank you!  

Horizon Bar sounds perfect.  I can hardly wait and will tell them Hello from Phissy?

I will also find the Edge Bar for a classy before dinner drink 🥂

I had such a wonderful time on Divina in October that I am sailing on the Meraviglia tomorrow!  I absolutely loved the Garden Bar on Divina, and I am hoping there is a bar with a similar vibe on the Meraviglia.  The bartenders were really engaging and took pride in their craft, employing a bit of flair bartending when there was time, but always taking the time to interact with everyone at the bar.  Ideally I will plant myself on a barstool tomorrow afternoon, and start the fun right away!

I enjoyed your comments.  I loved the Divina when I sailed her in October.  I also found Monica lacking as a cruise director, and normally I couldn't care less about the CD.  But she was irritating on the rare times I had a sighting.  Other than that, I found every single staff member friendly, efficient and genuinely concerned about making us all happy.  That was refreshing!

I really enjoy their food, and find it to be adequately seasoned in most cases, but I am a New Englander 😉 On most ships (and restaurants) the heavy hand with the salt is disturbing.  I will say that I rarely eat red meat, and I understand that many people have expressed disappointment with the beef.  But I love so many of their dishes that I look forward to them from one cruise to the next.  I also appreciate that they have legit Italian meat & salami and wonderful cheeses on the buffet, which is very rare at sea!  I love to put together a nice antipasti for lunch.

I felt the Covid protocols were appropriate.  I am one of the careful ones in my day to day life, so I appreciate their care in getting it right.  I never went to the theater, so I have no idea what went on there.   I was comfortable enough to have booked the Meraviglia for tomorrow!

I have done 3 MSC and 5 HAL (and a bunch of other lines).  Looking quickly at your history, I see we both sailed Veendam & the Zuidy, so I will compare those to my MSC cruises on Seaside and Divina.  

HAL definitely is more sedate with an older crowd.  MSC is more energetic and glitzier and her ships are larger.  Significantly larger!  There are more extended family groups on MSC than I experienced on HAL.    MSC has more bells & whistles (most of which are wasted on me) but Hal has a warmth and charm that is hard to find elsewhere.

HAL's entertainment is more refined.  We always enjoyed the classical music, jazz trios and such.  My husband really enjoyed the more educational offerings throughout the cruise.  MSC has rather unusual production shows which definitely aren't to everyone's taste.  The music around the ship varies from quite good to not so good, but always lots to choose from.

If you gamble (I do), the casinos on HAL are small and dull, whereas MSC's are lively and larger.  

I hate to say much about food because people get so impassioned about it.  Suffice it to say that we enjoy the food on both lines.  I actually slightly prefer MSC food because the Italian offerings skew to my taste more, but both are very good.  

Both lines have fabulous private islands.  We always loved Half Moon Cay, but Ocean Cay can give her a run for her money.  That crescent beach at HMC is spectacular, but the variety of beaches and bars on OC is truly special.

Service on both lines is Excellent.  MSC's pre-cruise customer service has issues.  Using a TA seems to alleviate much of the problem.  I book myself, and haven't had any serious issues, but I also have time and patience to spare.  

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts.  I am very happy sailing on both lines, but the experiences are very different.  Tomorrow I embark on #4 (and 5) on MSC, so clearly I have found lots to like about the MSC experience.  But I would jump on a dam ship in a heartbeat if they would go back to their Bermuda cruises!

Thanks for the responses!  I do have 2 booking numbers, so it looks like 2 specialty dinners for me.  I am not a big fan of steak houses, although Butcher's Cut on Seaside and & Divina was very good.   But I am hopeful I can have one dinner in a different restaurant  😋

One more quick question.  I got a Bev pkg for the 4 nighter, but not the 3 nighter.  Will they be offered onboard since they aren't available to prebook?  I may be done drinking by then anyway haha!

Yesterday I held for about 2 minutes before getting exemplary service!  I rarely need to call, so I was very pleased.

I have a B2B coming up in a couple weeks on the Meraviglia.  I originally just booked a weekend cruise, but had a "Why not?" moment and yesterday I added on the 4 nighter.  I mean, 3 days at Ocean Cay in one week = Heaven!!!  I am wondering if I will get all of the Diamond perks twice?   I feel like on another line, they don't offer certain perks on short cruises, so although I would love twice the goodies, I won't be upset if it doesn't happen.  Also wondering which Specialty restaurants offer the Diamond Dinner?  

I saw a post where they are having Diamond parties again on some ships.  Any idea if I can expect that to happen?  I have always enjoyed them in the past, but never did a short MSC cruise.

I am very excited!  She will be my largest ship to date!

The only cash I need onboard is for discretionary tipping and for the casino.  On the islands, I use cash for transportation and small expenses.  Depending on you what you plan to do in port, many places accept credit cards but I prefer to use cash unless it's a big ticket item.  

Your recap was a genuine pleasure to read and experience!  I'll be on Divina in Oct, and you have put my mind at ease with regards to a few concerns I had.  Only problem is now I want to book Meriviglia!  

To quickly address the issue of folks touting the Yacht Club to the detriment of the rest of the ship, I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 Bella experiences on the Seaside.  I have cruised everything from ocean view to swanky suites on several other lines, and never once did I feel second class in Bella.  I really enjoy the MSC experience and it sounds like they have their Covid protocols well in hand.  I am really looking forward to my Fantastica Aft Balcony on Divina!

Thanks for a great immersive report!

This is all very interesting.  On Monday I cancelled my cruise which would have left today because my husband's doctors told him he should not travel.  At the time I was told that it was 100% cancellation fee, period.  I wonder if they will do this retroactively.....

5 hours ago, sunsetbeachgal said:

Sorry I just re read your post and you said you didn’t want any insurance lectures.  Mine wasn’t intended to be a lecture, just that you said you are turning 65 and Medicare changes things!

No worries!  Our health insurance covers us out of the US and includes evacuation.  I am keeping that insurance in addition to Medicare.  When we travel to more distant locations, I do get insurance as I want higher coverage in the event of a long distance evacuation.  But with a port intensive itinerary in the Caribbean we decided against it.  Anyway, this decision is never made lightly.

The more I thought about the possibility of bringing any illness home to my husband, the more I realized it wasn't worth the risk. So, I spent yesterday cancelling everything:  the cruise, flights (2 different airlines), excursions, hotel, rental car, hockey tickets (which almost hurt the most since we had GLASS tickets!) and the kennel.  Phew - I think I got everything but it was a lot!  

Thanks for all your helpful comments and suggestions.  To everyone sailing in the near future, I wish you Smooth Sailing and Good Health!

Thanks for the encouragement!  He has continued to improve, and I think he really wants me to go so I will stop nagging him about doing everything the doctors told him 👅

I have started packing and at this point I would say I am 80/20 in favor of going.  My best friend friend will check up on him every day.   I already ordered the unlimited internet package so I will be able to message him whenever I feel like it.  This is a port intensive itinerary, so I should be able to call him at least at those 6 stops, assuming we get in to all of them.  And if necessary I could fly home from one of those ports.  It wouldn't be the first time I had to cut a cruise short.

I will turn 65 on this cruise, and I gotta say, this elderly stuff isn't for the weak!

7 hours ago, goldfada said:

Since your husband is "insisting" that you go, then look at it this way:  If you had won a free solo cruise in one of your favorite cabins, paying only port fees, taxes, and gratuities, would you turn it down? That's the decision that you're facing.

 

If your concern is traveling solo, as opposed to leaving your husband behind, then check out some of the many postings from solo passengers in similar circumstances. Almost all were glad that they decided to go.

To your first question, it depends.  Just like this depends on how he is doing in a couple of days.  He is definitely not going, and I will only go if I feel confident that he is going to be fine without me.  My biggest worry is that he will not follow doctor's orders, but that is another story.

I am not concerned about traveling solo as I travel frequently on my own.  For land based trips I usually meet up with friends at my destination, but not always.  I have done a couple of solo cruises, and have made some great friends that way.  They were shorter cruises than this one, but I had a blast.  I am not sure I would be happy quarantined for an extended period by myself, but I think that is a pretty remote possibility.  I am bringing the extra meds recommended by Princess, and loading up my Kindle just in case!  I also need to see the Maitre'd after I board since we requested a table for 2 and I know I would get pretty sick of myself after a few nights  

See, one minute I am thinking I am going, and the next minute I am having doubts.  I think it's about 50/50 right now.

16 hours ago, cherylandtk said:

Your purchased items will be refunded. As will the taxes and fees.  Thank you that is what I thought and hoped would be the case.

 

If you can find a replacement travel partner, there will be a name change fee of about $50.  That seems reasonable enough, but I have decided against that.

 

If you cancel both of you, you indeed have 100% penalty, but you still get the taxes and fees back.  
 

If your husband is a no-show, there will be no additional charges if you do decide to travel by yourself.  His taxes and fees will be refunded.   Perfect.
 

DO NOT Cancel just him. If you do that, even though you are in 100% penalty, the act of canceling will trigger the refund of the taxes and fees on his part. And while sometimes you are not charged the single supplement because of the size of his penalty, it has been known to happen that you could get charged a single supplement, essentially paying for three fares for just you to travel. So go with a no show.  That is what I was afraid of.  It feels sketchy for me to just show up without him, but it seems even sketchier that they could possibly do something like that.  If I decide to go solo, I will just show up without him.  Do I tell the person checking me in that he isn't coming, or just play dumb? 

Thanks to each of you for your responses.  I keep weighing the pros and cons of going vs staying home, and I just can't come to terms with either of them yet.  I guess I have a few more days to make up my mind, but the piles of things waiting to be packed are mocking me!  I sure wish I didn't upgrade when one of my favorite cabins became available.  For some reason, that makes cancelling even harder.