Notes from Armonia Miami-Havana Jan 2019

[CruisingFox27]

John, we have done a B2B which returned to Miami, although not this itinerary. There  are two options. Leave the ship in the morning for an excursion or your own visit to Miami and clear customs and immigration on your return.  Or, if you wish to stay on the ship for the day, you are requested to meet and wait in a lounge on board. We met at 10am. Once all of the passengers have departed, you're escorted to customs and immigration. You can then re-board. How long this process takes depends entirely on how quickly people disembark. It was around and hour and 30mins for us. 

 

We stayed in the same cabin so did not move our belongings and didn't need a new card. We did have to check in again with the concierge/guest services.

Edited April 7, 2019 by CruisingFox27

[Beamafar]

Hey CF ... someone didn't like us discussing old cars - did you notice? (I have to be a bit circumspect here).  I wonder it there'll be anything on the menus on Meraviglia containing coconut?  I think we'd certainly relish some, don't you think?

[CruisingFox27]

Yes, I noticed Bea. Suddenly disappeared to the scrap yard!  I was looking forward to my coconut too 😎

[Epos Man]

and me maybe some coconut water around somewhere

 

[Beamafar]

9 minutes ago, ikea logistics said:

and me maybe some coconut water around somewhere

 

 

That's one five-letter word I hate to see on this forum, IL (and I'm not referring to the word "maybe"  LOL)   

[Epos Man]

Okay maybe some malibu then at least it tastes of coconut

 

See that you went on Splendida in 2018 that was our first MSC cruise lovely ship we thought

[Beamafar]

10 minutes ago, ikea logistics said:

Okay maybe some malibu then at least it tastes of coconut

 

See that you went on Splendida in 2018 that was our first MSC cruise lovely ship we thought

 

We sailed on her in Feb in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well (when MSC offered great prices for off-season Med cruises).  It was one of my favourite ships and we've some great memories from cruising on her.

 

Funnily enough, there's an itinerary next year that I was keen to do, but the drawback I felt was that it's a Splendida sailing.  We've since booked Preziosa (another ship we've been on a couple of times before).

[Epos Man]

We don't know what we'll do next year enjoyed the eastern med on musica last year some lovely places of call.

 

Doing the Seaside this year just to see what the US side of cruising is like was thinking of northern europe next year or the fjords

 

Thankfully we brought the All inclusive Classic as it is in the states before the changes so glad about that have been looking at the small vauxhall car.com site and some interesting OBC available on it might wait to see if MSC do the balcony for an inside promo again but we'll see

Edited April 7, 2019 by ikea logistics

[Beamafar]

One of the reasons I chose to do Armonia was also to experience life onboard an MSC US-based ship.  There were very few Americans onboard - it was mainly Europeans, but there was definitely a difference in the approach taken by the crew and some of the food offerings differed, too.  The main example was the fact that NY strip was 'Always Available' on the nightly menu - that's something you won't see this side of the pond!

 

There are 2 dates for Preziosa's Northern Europe, 14 night itinerary, next year being offered at the moment in the 5 + 15% Voyagers' Club Selection, one in April and the other in September.  Now, I had 'saved' the info a few weeks ago for the September one as one to track, pricewise.  I couldn't believe my luck when I saw that it was in the VCS so sooner after.  YC is only a little over €2800 pp for the 2 weeks with the discount.  Needless to say, I went ahead and booked it.

 

 

I can't access the UK section as you have to use your VC number to do so (it won't accept mine as it's not a UK one 🙄)

 

 

Edited April 7, 2019 by Beamafar

[CruisingFox27]

Ikea, we did a Northern Europe/Baltic last year and POC wise it was an absolutely fabulous cruise, I'd highly recommend. I can't comment on the Fjords until May, we sail there then.

 

Our Miami/Caribbean sailing on Divina had mostly American passengers and was a completely different experience to our European cruises. It will be interesting to compare our Armonia from Miami and Meraviglia from NYC experience this year.

[Beamafar]

49 minutes ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Ikea, we did a Northern Europe/Baltic last year and POC wise it was an absolutely fabulous cruise, I'd highly recommend.

 

It's on my bucket list to do one up to the Baltics;  I looked at an itinerary a while back and saw that it didn't overnight in St Petersburg, so I dismissed it.  (Can't remember which ship or for what year LOL but it was definitely an MSC cruise  🙄).  Also, those itineraries tend to be more expensive and there's always something else that draws my eye (such as Meraviglia's NY sailings this year).

 

Now that I have Preziosa booked for next year, it looks like the Baltics will have to wait 'til 2021.

[CruisingFox27]

I'd certainly recommend the 2 days in St P, there really is a lot to see. We found the 14 night options to be very expensive and offered little over the 7 night option, except the overnight in SBP. I was delighted to find that 11 night cruise last year, reasonably priced for the region,  as it was a VC sailing. Exactly the same scenario for our Fjords trip this year.

[Beamafar]

I think an 11 night cruise is a perfect length - certainly 7 nighters are too short.  It feels like you've only just unpacked before you're re-packing.

 

Hopefully MSC will have some attractive Northern European/Baltic itineraries for 2021 (with reasonable prices LOL - or is that just a little too much to ask?  Gonna have to time it just right with getting a casino voucher, methinks  😊).

[CruisingFox27]

7 nights is certainly not long enough, although, we've only done one in recent times, which was actually 6 nights thanks to storm Emma!

Our longest have been 21 nights, and I wasn't ready to disembark then, truth be told.

 

Although, we did find that with the Baltic cruise, it was more intense than others, only 1 sea day and I'm not sure we could've sustained that level of sightseeing for many more days.

 

The issue you may have, is the more reasonably priced 11 night options I've looked at have all been sailing on Orchestra. We had a great cruise on her last year, which was a stark contrast to your Christmas experience.

 

[goosemay]

Can anyone recommend good lunch spots in Arminia’s POCs? We are looking for an authentic experience that isn’t touristy. Thanks!!  ( Roatan, Cozumel, Havana, etc) Sailing April 22.

[JP Medina]

7 minutes ago, goosemay said:

Can anyone recommend good lunch spots in Arminia’s POCs? We are looking for an authentic experience that isn’t touristy. Thanks!!  ( Roatan, Cozumel, Havana, etc) Sailing April 22.

Havana: "Iván Justo" is an Excelent "paladar" (fine local cousine venue)

[Bollinge]

Thanks for your reply Beamafar. Your review was so comprehensive I assumed you’d been on for two weeks!

 

cheers, John

[Beamafar]

24 minutes ago, Bollinge said:

Thanks for your reply Beamafar. Your review was so comprehensive I assumed you’d been on for two weeks!

 

cheers, John

 

Is this a nice way of saying it was long-winded, John?  😱      (Just kiddin'  😉)

Edited April 8, 2019 by Beamafar

[Beamafar]

I was just reading the latest drinks package inclusion.  Something that struck me that I thought I'd share here for those of you who'll have the old Deluxe package included (as we did).

 

It wasn't easy to differentiate between what was included that the new Premium didn't include (other than having the mini-bar and food from the room service menu that didn't have a service charge attached).  However, I was able to have wines and champagne up to $14, whereas the new Premium has a limit of $12.  I couldn't understand this as I'd assumed that the Deluxe drinks inclusions had been subsumed into the new Premium and had the same limit.  But, it turns out that the system onboard was programmed to allow drinks up to that value for Deluxe.

 

Here's how the different package inclusions are described (note that Premium states 'up to $12' for wines, but the Deluxe states 'whole selection of wines and house champagnes' without any price limit.  The wine selection had wines @ $14 a glass;  Nicholas Feuillatte and Mumm Cordon Rouge were $13.95 a glass, which I had no problem in getting.

 

 

 

I wonder if the old included package for YC will be honoured on Meraviglia in October, or if MSC's policy regarding YC is that you get what's included at the time of sailing.

 

 

 

[CruisingFox27]

I suspect that it will be what is included at the time of sailing. It's easier for passengers to know what was included in the previous classic and deluxe packages as it's well documented. YC didn't have a specific package as clearly defined, therefore easier for MSC to amend what's included without us being able to refer to anything written down. 

[Beamafar]

The only cavea

10 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

 ... It's easier for passengers to know what was included in the previous classic and deluxe packages as it's well documented... 

 

The only caveat I'd add to that is, with the price increases, I was concerned about how I'd know what we would be entitled to with Deluxe that the Premium didn't cover (other than the mini-bar and room service items.  Gelato is free for everyone on Armonia, which is why I'm not listing it in this instance).

 

I think it's important to highlight the fact that anyone with the Deluxe package will also get the more expensive wines and champagne that aren't included for Premium (which only covers wines up to $12).  What I find strange is that Premium clearly states ALL drinks up to $12;  there are items on the Connoisseurs' Selection that are below that price point, yet aren't included (though Hamrag has indicated that the lower end CS offerings were included for YC guests - that would certainly explain that!)

[CruisingFox27]

It was all a lot simpler when you just had to look for an asterisk or two 🙄

[Epos Man]

Oh for definite it was knew exactly what you could and couldn’t have

[FGJones]

On 2/6/2019 at 4:39 PM, Beamafar said:

I posted the following on another thread, but thought I'd share it here.  It's the Spa bar menu (though it was out on the pool deck.  

The items are only included in Deluxe, Premium and Prem+ packages.

Thank you so much for all the information, my trip is next month.  The eight months between booking and the trip have flown by.  You note that this menu is for the Spa Bar but was on the Pool Deck.  Can you elaborate?  Where do you order if you wish to they these lovely drinks?  I have the Deluxe drink plan, but no access to the Spa as far as I know. (Oceanview Room with Fantastica Experience)

 

And do you happen to know which flavor Vitamin Water they had on board?

Edited April 11, 2019 by FGJones

[Beamafar]

The Spa bar is usually in the reception area of the Spa;  on Armonia it was just outside of it.  They also had these new drinks which were introduced on the first day of our cruise (also included in Deluxe, Premium and Premium+  drinks packages):

 

 

I've no idea about Vitamin water, sorry.