hun

I don't think they "combined" the rate discount. I have been given the choice of the 10% military discount or the Voyager 5% discount, but not both on all of my MSC bookings.

Thank you!

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We booked our first MSC cruise for next year with the Voyager Club 5% discount (rate before port charges) from status match with RCCL. Somewhere along the way I had been told that we couldn’t combine the state employee discount so I hadn’t tried - seems at least someone here was able to combine the discounts? Also good to know retirees’ discount is also valid, as I wondered. Thanks for this thread!

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Thank you CaribbeanBound and ollienbertsmum! [emoji4]

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We loved the Hotel Continental, with balcony on Las Ramblas and great breakfast buffet!

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Hi, Cullyman! I would be happy to. I bought the thermal pass for myself online before the cruise for $65. My husband isn’t at all interested, so he didn’t get one. On the first day I went to the spa and checked in, filled out a short form, then each time you go they hold your cruise card and give you a locker key. There are separate women’s and men’s rooms with toilets, showers, lockers and changing rooms down the hall from the desk and gym. That hall leads to the dry saunas and steam rooms. I bought the pass mostly because I wanted to experience this-

 

 

And that’s exactly how it was. I went almost everyday, first to the gym for some stretches and yoga, then to the jacuzzis and then the saunas. There are also lounge chairs in the jacuzzi room to relax and enjoy the view. The most people I ever saw was 6 in the 3 jacuzzis. Usually I was able to have my own jacuzzi. I think I only shared the sauna one time. I usually went in the late afternoon, and I don’t know if it was busier earlier in the day.

 

I never had to endure any sales pitches. There is cold water in a pitcher at the front counter too.

 

 

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Was the $65 thermal spa a special discount? Or maybe prices are going up...? I’d love to have the thermal spa package especially as we also have a few sea days, but checking our booking, the site says it’s $101 for our 10 night Preziosa in September 2019. [emoji854]

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Yes, most hotels will store your luggage prior to check-in time.

 

We have enjoyed our stays at Hotel Jazz (convenient to P Catalunya). Have also stayed at Hotel Continental (right on Las Ramblas - fine if you don't mind the color pink).

 

Pick-out the area in which you want to stay & then search sites like booking.com, hotels.com, etc.

Haha these two hotels are actually the ones we’ve stayed at and would choose again! I loved the Continental for the location (we had a balcony room onto Las Ramblas) and the buffet and my husband loved the Jazz for its modernness. Can’t go wrong with either!

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Yayyyy just checked mine as well and $100 credit was posted a few days ago [emoji322]. I wondered if I’d have to pay the $500 and then get the $100 credit the next month, but no [emoji4]

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Thanks for your detailed review! We’ll be spending a few days (not sure how many yet) in Rome post cruise next year and this is very helpful! Did you feel the three days were fine to see what you’d wanted to see or did you wish you had an extra day or two?

(Recognizing that even a week pre or post cruise is not enough...[emoji4])

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We matched with RCCL Platinum to Gold, so I believe you’d be the next level, Black, which is the highest. My opinion (while limited since we haven’t cruised with MSC yet) is that it’d be worth your while to match. We booked our first MSC next year, and got a 5% discount due to the match and will get a free hour in the thermal spa. Black status gets more [emoji4]

I also didn’t call to get the status match. I sent them a screen shot of my info from RCCL page and heard back via email about 2 weeks later.

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We just booked our (first) MSC cruise and paid $500 as a deposit through a TA over the weekend. I called AMEX yesterday to inquire when the $100 credit would be issued. She said by the end of my current billing cycle. I’m not sure she’s correct because the terms say within 90 days but luckily that’s before the June 8th expiration date, so if it doesn’t appear on my statement, I can call again [emoji848]

When you look at your Amex statement online, you’ll be able to see how the charge went through, it needs to be to MSC Cruises USA.

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Thanks Squish for taking the time for your detailed review! We just booked our first MSC (Preziosa September 2019) after primarily RCCL/NCL and love to get others’ perspectives!

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This is my first MSC as well. Are you on the Sept 22, 2019 sailing from Hamburg as well? We booked a few weeks ago. Terrific price! Long way off, but looking forward to the cruise!

We are! [emoji4] yes, great price and itinerary!

Elisa

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Thank you for your advices! Just booked the Preziosa! [emoji322]

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Good evening!

 

 

I have been on both the Orchestra and the Fantasia which is a sister ship for the Preziosa. Well once I don't know really what the itineraries are, I would consider first what of the ports you have more interest on visiting. At least a good cruise is the good mix of a good itinerary and a good ship. That said, and considering only the ships or that both itineraries are adequate to you, once there are a few sea days in both itineraries, I would personally to choose the Preziosa. She is a newer, larger ship, with more and sort of better amenities, like a larger Venchi gelato place; she has a better crowd management scheme so even though the ship caries more passengers she doesn't feel so crowded. Food is subjective, but once they are doing similar itineraries they'll use same menus in both ships. Perhaps you'll have better luck here or there, but it will be relative. Crew will most likely be doing their first or last cruise in season, so be comprehensive with them once they are both expectant to go home and / or they are adjusting to return their work. A few "bugs" are usually expected on those repositioning cruises.

 

 

Hope to have helped a little bit. Have a nice day!... :)

Thank you! The itineraries are very similar - the Orchestra has an extra port in Portugal and goes to Cadiz instead of Vigo (there’s a cost difference of only $50).

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This would be our first MSC Cruise for September 2019. We’ve cruised on RCCL, NCL and Celebrity in the past and have matched to gold for MSC.

We were originally looking at the Seaside 7 night western med, but we just noticed the Hamburg to Genoa trips on the Orchestra (11 night) and Preziosa (10 night). The price difference isn’t much - although there are three sea days, which we’re a little hesitant about - but we do really like the itineraries.

Looking for opinions for any preferences/pros/cons for either the Orchestra or the Preziosa? I’ve seen negative comments, mostly about the Orchestra and the food, but would greatly appreciate your input on which you’d choose over the other? (And any comments about MSC sea days in Europe would be appreciated too!)

Thanks! [emoji4]

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We’re planning our first MSC Med cruise for fall 2019 and typically book on our own or through our roll call, however, I’ve noticed that the prices for the MSC excursions seem very much more “reasonable” than those of RCCL or NCL, so we will most likely book direct with MSC for organized excursions.

We’ve also enjoyed “free walking tours”, so will look into those at certain ports if available as well.

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Here is a link to my review of 2 x 14night B2B in April 2016, it might give you some insights to the ship, and the Aurea Experience.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=270&t=11371

 

 

 

 

 

Secret places.:-

 

1) there are balconies across the front of decks 10 ; 11 ; 14 and possibly 9 which can be accessed when in port and for sail outs. Just walk as far forward as you can and there are doors, one each side, which most of the time are chained with a signed NO EXIT

 

 

 

2) Deck 14 aft there is a balcony, accessed through the disco, which also has stairs leading to other aft balconies on deck 12 and possibly 13

 

 

 

 

 

Pete

 

 

 

ps I hope if you read my review you will get some useful insights from it

Thank you for your review!

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Wondering the same - am looking at this ship for a fall 2019 interesting looking itinerary!

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Great information - thanks for posting!

We’re looking at the Seaview for certain 2019 fall dates and I checked our possible various dates for all these big cabins and they’re all taken! [emoji31]

(Since the bigger cabins aren’t available, does anyone have any preference as to any particular deck? TIA [emoji4])

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We did free walking tours in both ports, but also just walked around. In Tallin, stop in at KGB prison cells on the main road and also get some delicious chocolate covered marzipan at Kalev chocolate shop!

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Thank you for your interesting and helpful review! We’re looking at booking our first MSC cruise in June 2019, Divina from Genoa, based on the great itinerary and trying to research as much as possible.

(One thing I did learn today is that unfortunately the Fantastica option won’t include the 12 drink vouchers after March 2019)

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I am sailing the seaside October 12, 2019..I have the FANTASTICA EXPERIENCE with a 12drink vouchers plus a mealtime drink package....so what you are saying is my vouchers and free mealtime drinkpackage will not be valid for the cruise:mad:

We’ve never cruised MSC before, but really like the western Med Divina 2019 itineraries, so have been researching. I had planned on going Fantastica rather than Bella because of the 12-drink vouchers (we don’t typically do room service).

I just called and spoke to the MSC rep because I had a few questions and she said that with Fantastica we would NOT get the 12 vouchers as they’re being discontinued as of March 2019.

I hadn’t seen that anywhere, but unfortunately it seems that’s true for your October 2019 cruise (and our planned June one) [emoji31]

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If you look at the Italian website they are avilable

 

https://new.costacrociere.it/

Grazie! [emoji4]

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The summer 2019 itineraries are online.

I’m looking for Western Med for June 2019 (or September 2019) and can’t find it yet... [emoji848] did you find on the Costa site?

Although I looked on the US site, maybe I should take a look at a different one?

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We haven’t stayed at Europark but have stayed at Hotel Jazz, it’s clean, modern and quiet and it’d be my husband’s first choice to stay there again, if that’s helpful [emoji4]

(My choice would be Continental because of our balcony room on Las Ramblas and the buffet, but not at all modern as you’re looking for lol)

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