KSWind

When you said that you were upgraded to YC without the amenities, what does this mean? No drinks included, mini bar or access to YC lounge, pool? Just curious.

No drinks and no free mini bar. If I remember right everything else was included. Luckily I had the drinks package already.

I was able to get the answer to my original question within seconds of asking at the YC concierge desk last week. Essentially I was bumped because they gave my original cabin to another family MSC decided to upgrade to a YC cabin (without the amenities). They do this when the YC is not fully booked and want to see if they can entice these folks to go YC in the future. They did it to us in April of 2014 and it worked. We were upgraded on our second cruise with MSC and have booked YC ever since. I can't imagine why the office in Munich didn't know of this practice or, if they knew of it, offer it as a possible explanation.

Anyway...last week's cruise was fantastic and we had a very good time. Service was the best yet.

Yes, only 2. I suspect we'll get the first one on the Civitavecchia to Palermo Run and then the night we leave Valletta. Of course, that is only my guess.

Hello, I am an avid cruiser on Royal Caribbean and Carnival and have cruised other cruise lines also but MSC.

 

We are considering trying a MSC caribbean cruise but need your input and feedback please:

 

1- For those who have gnomon MSC more than once what are the main reasons why you keep going back? Price

 

2- Can you compare Royal Caribbean to MSC, what are the likes, dislikes, differences, anything better about MSC? No.

 

3- Same with Carnival can you compare to MSC. No.

 

4- Tell me about the food, dining, options/choices, do they have an open dinner seating time where we can go anytime we like under certain hours of course? Plenty of restaurants. No open seating. Buffet open 20 hours a day - closed 0200 to 0600.

 

5- What is there to eat past midnight besides room service? Buffet until 0200.

 

6- What are the cabins like, pros/cons? Subjective. We liked 'em.

 

7- Do they have a drink/alcohol drink package what is the cost and what does it include? They have packages. They vary so I advise you to check them out on the web site.

 

8- Are there more europeans or Americans on these ships, as passengers? Depends, I guess. We've only sailed in Europe with MSC. 'mericans were a minority.

 

9- How is the crew and staff? Multilingual, laid back, friendly.

 

10- How is the service overall? Good without being overbearing.

11- How is the casino, do they stay open to the wee hours of the night such as till 3am?

If anyone is interested below is the reply I got from my Email inquiry. I wrote back asking for an explanation again.

Dear Mr. "Raisin' Heck",

thank you very much for your message.

We are sorry to hear about your annoyance regarding the cabin number change. At the same time we would like to ask for your kind understanding that cabin numbers may be changed by the headquarter of the cruise company due to organizational reasons. This possibility of the cabin number change is also stated in the general terms and conditions. Such changes are being made by a department of the headquarter in Italy and we have no in-depth insight regarding the reasons of the changes in single cases. Out intention is to provide the best possible service to our guests, but changes like these cannot be avoided entirely, especially when the company has reserved a right for such a change in the general terms and conditions.

We still hope that you and your family will enjoy the cruise in spite of this inconvenience and we are looking forward to welcoming you on board soon.

With best regards,

Branko Zindovic

MSC Kreuzfahrten

Back Office Representative

UPDATE: I sent an Email and a form letter from the Web Site contact page to express my concerns. I did it in English as I cannot articulate myself with enough detail for this situation in German. We'll see what comes of this...

I called the office in Munich (I think) and had a short and fruitless conversation with a young lady there. She said there was nothing she could do and that the changes come from the office in Italy. I'm not a yeller and she doesn't get paid enough to listen to me ranting so I let it go. For now.

 

I will express my thoughts while on board and on the post cruise survey and any other opportunity I get. Having been in the YC before I know I will get the Captain's ear at a meet and greet. I know he is not involved in this but when the lackeys who follow him around on these social gatherings overhear what I say I may get a reaction of some sort.

 

Having sailed only a few times with MSC I can't really say I am a regular but it looks like becoming a regular will not happen. I say this in regard to the loyalty program changes and the price hikes for children, etc.. I believe they are looking for new customers but I think it is a mistake for them to forget those that were there before.

I called the office in Munich (I think) and had a short and fruitless conversation with a young lady there. She said there was nothing she could do and that the changes come from the office in Italy. I'm not a yeller and she doesn't get paid enough to listen to me ranting so I let it go. For now.

I will express my thoughts while on board and on the post cruise survey and any other opportunity I get. Having been in the YC before I know I will get the Captain's ear at a meet and greet. I know he is not involved in this but when the lackeys who follow him around on these social gatherings overhear what I say I may get a reaction of some sort.

Having sailed only a few times with MSC I can't really say I am a regular but it looks like becoming a regular will not happen. I say this in regard to the loyalty program changes and the price hikes for children, etc.. I believe they are looking for new customers but I think it is a mistake for them to forget those that were there before.

I was just informed by MSC, by way of new boarding tickets and luggage tags, that I was moved from cabin 15030 to cabin 16024 on our Preziosa sailing next month. I know they can move you around but this one hurts. I was looking forward to having a square YC1 again. I'll give them a call later, raise some heck ,and see what they say.:mad:

We are booked at the Novotel for our cruise next month. 94 Euro for the three of us for one night. Not the best but the restaurant is decent. I recommend taxiing to the port - about 5 minutes away.

We visited there on an MSC shore excursion we took a couple of years ago. As the folks here mention it is well worth it. If I remember right we were a bit rushed but were able to get in a decent visit and a quick but tasty lunch before we had to depart.

Ditto. We used Tony's and did everything you listed but the beach. We did have a relaxing lunch at an out of the way tavern as well. I recommend using the mules on your way back to the ship. You waste too much time in line waiting for the lift. The walk down is an option. It takes about 45 minutes but it is slick due to the smooth rock paving and the powdered animal waste.

So easy to get around on your own with a rental car. Tony's Rent A Car is excellent and Tony will give you maps. I did it once and I'm doing it again. You don't have to pick and choose where you go; you can do it all. Tony's is just a few minutes walk from the cable car. Check him out. You won't be disappointed.

I have had no issues with Turkish Air. Their planes may, in some cases, be dated but the service was excellent. I am 6'1" and don't remember being anymore cramped than with any other airline. I recall, also, that they served free Effes beer (Turkish beer) as well as soft drinks.

They put the couch away during the day and have it ready for you in the evening too. NOTE: I've never been on the Divina but I expect them to do the same as the other MSC Yacht Clubs.

We booked a balcony cabin on the Splendida back in 2014 and were upgraded to YC when we got to Genua. The upgrade didn't include the extras like the free mini bar but we enjoyed it immensely and are now hooked on the YC experience. Upgrades are nice and are a welcome surprise.

We've been up front but on higher decks. Never noticed any movement but the seas were always calm.

If I'm not mistaken they can figure out your location by the IP address of your computer and then they re-direct you to the website that services that location.

I do wish you luck - I tried that and the website kept kicking me back to the USA version. If you succeed, please consider posting back! I may try a travel agent in a different market next time instead of booking direct.

Although not booked yet, it looks like we will try to cruise in April on the Preziosa again.

You'll get a few US military and DoD families due to this being the time DoDEA has their spring break. Nothing to worry about.

We were upgraded to YC last April when we sailed on the Splendida. It came as a complete surprise. As I recall we were not allowed some amenities, i.e. free mini bar access. As a result we are going on the Preziosa this June as YC1.

I've been on 3 cruises and never felt the ship move except the first time when the Dream had to test their stabilizers on the way out of the port. That was interesting. Needless to say I have never experienced sea sickness. Yet. <knock, knock>

I use the German MSC website and it shows my tally when I log in and how many more points I need for the next level.

Anybody hearing anything on this?

http://http://www.msc-kreuzfahrten.de/de_de/Ueber-MSC-Kreuzfahrten/News/MSC-Trinkgeldempfehlung-fuer-Kreuzfahrtgaeste.aspx

I am scheduled to have port call in Tunis on the Splendida next month. In light of the NCL incident, what are your thoughts on MSC also dropping this port call? Where would you like to see them stop instead if you were scheduled for Tunis?

Technically, I am not allowed to disembark there for other reasons (please don't ask-OPSEC) but I am disappointed to miss out on Carthage. Personally, I would like to visit Valletta again.

Keep an open mind and be a little adventurous (especiallly if cruising in Europe) and you will not be disapointed.

Ha! I've been in a series of Email exchanges with the German MSC customer service regarding problems with a contract bus company they use to transport people to the port. Although close to a resolution I started the exchange with them last summer.