Complimentary speciality dining for diamond

[FrostyJoe]

Can someone explain to me how we go about redeeming the free speciality dining (on Meraviglia) as a diamond member?  Do we get some kind of a voucher when we board?

 

 

[Joken35]

When you make your reservation it will be noted through your room key. 

[cublet]

Hello,

 

Just make sure your room card has 'Diamond' on it and you will be fine.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[ready2cruzagain]

In the past we received a voucher in with all of the paper work sitting on the desk the first day.  Even if you don't get one you just make a reservation once you are on the ship.  They will know from your Sign and Sail card that you are Diamond. I have always just told the waiter when we are seated that it is our complimentary Diamond meal.

[hamrag]

9 hours ago, FrostyJoe said:

Can someone explain to me how we go about redeeming the free speciality dining (on Meraviglia) as a diamond member?  Do we get some kind of a voucher when we board?

 

 

Simply book your chosen restaurant, turn up and present your keycard....they know why you're there!

[mscdivina2016]

2 hours ago, Couple-Somerset said:

Yes, just turn up.

 

Steak House gives best "value" by far.

 

Do remember that you still need to sign the free check at the end of the meal - and can add a gratuity if you wish. We tend to take $10 which is always appreciated (MSC arent "tip happy" like US lines).

 

Also, if they tell you your drinks package isn't valid in speciality restaurant, advise them to hold dinner while you go to a bar --- they will relent and get the included drinks for you.

 

Yep

[FrostyJoe]

Okay thank you everyone!!

 

also, what about some kind of deluxe breakfast that I think I’m supposed to get once on the cruise?  Would room service people know that if I just call them? 

[FrostyJoe]

Ahh I’m thinking of Aurea…

[dexddd]

6 hours ago, Couple-Somerset said:

Yes, just turn up.

 

Steak House gives best "value" by far.

 

Do remember that you still need to sign the free check at the end of the meal - and can add a gratuity if you wish. We tend to take $10 which is always appreciated (MSC arent "tip happy" like US lines).

 

Also, if they tell you your drinks package isn't valid in speciality restaurant, advise them to hold dinner while you go to a bar --- they will relent and get the included drinks for you.

 

In the US there have not been, at least for us, any zero paperwork provided or given if asked last few trips.  If you plan to tip, be prepared to have cash if no slip.

[phissy]

16 minutes ago, dexddd said:

In the US there have not been, at least for us, any zero paperwork provided or given if asked last few trips.  If you plan to tip, be prepared to have cash if no slip.

This was our experience.

No paperwork, on tablet. No way to add tip.
I forgot to bring cash but had casino voucher with me.

Assured waiter we would be back. Went and cashed out at casino and returned promptly to tip waiter . He was very grateful.

Thanked the cooks again for an amazing dinner…the best meal we had on cruise.

[cellfree]

Thoroughly enjoyed Steakhouse Dining Experience on Mera a long time ago now and am looking forward to it again in February. I would suggest making reservation soon after embarking, it did book up early.

[Oxo]

I'm not complaining or trying start a war. 

When we were Black Card members we each had 2 free meals off of the selected portion of the menu. Taste portion?

I call it the selected portion because that is what you could only get with your free meal.

 

MSC changed Black to Diamond and then cut back meals to 1 per Diamond Member.

 

Food is subjective! So I will not compare MSC Specialty Restaurants to Celebrity, HAL, NCL, Princess or RCI.

 

On NCL as Platinum we get per Cabin 2 free meals with a bottle of wine of your choice in 1 of 2 Specialty Restaurants. 

We also get anther 2 free meals in another 1 of 2 Specialty Restaurants.

The only limitation is you may pick anything from the menu and an entrée up to $35 on the second Specialty Restaurant meal. If you entrée exceeds $35 you pay the difference plus 20% gratuity.

 

My question is since MSC reduced the meals from 2 free visits for 2 people to 1,

WHY CAN'T WE PICK A MEAL FROM THE ENTIRE MENU 

Rather than the Taste selection?

 

We have cruised MSC since Jan 2006 many times.

 

Remember, I'm asking a valid question. If you have nasty remarks. Keep them.

Stay Safe!  

Edited December 19, 2021 by Oxo

[hamrag]

11 hours ago, Oxo said:

....MSC changed Black to Diamond and then cut back meals to 1 per Diamond Member....

 

Not so, it was changed at least two years prior to said change!

[cellfree]

1 hour ago, Couple-Somerset said:

 

Only comment I would make is WHY do people have to say "on xx cruiseline they do this"?

 

 

 

I agree completely. If they want what is offered on “xx cruiseline” then go on “xx cruiseline.”

Edited December 20, 2021 by cellfree

[Oxo]

2 hours ago, hamrag said:

Not so, it was changed at least two years prior to said change!

OK, sorry 2 years ago. Send me to the naughty room. Does that make it better?

Point is they cut perks. 

[Oxo]

1 hour ago, Couple-Somerset said:

 

Agreed

 

 

OK, sorry 2 years ago. Send me to the naughty room. Does that make it better?

Point is they cut perks. 

[Oxo]

1 hour ago, Couple-Somerset said:

 

Only comment I would make is WHY do people have to say "on xx cruiseline they do this"?

 

It wouldn't be so bad if you paid the same fare for the same amenities, but MSC is a lower cost line and is not "Americanised".

 

What is wrong with comparing different cruise lines?

Whatever you mean by MSC is a lower cost line and is not Americanised?

We have 10 cruises booked for 2022.

RCI 5 Oasia OTS 4, Symphony OTS 1.

MSC 2 Seashore

NCL 2 Breakaway

Celebrity 1 Apex

Price wise:

OASIS Central Park Balcony 7 days 2 people total $1300. We are Diamond+ get 6 free drinks a day, 2 free days of wifi and can buy Unlimited Dining pkg for 7 days to eat dinner in the Specialty Restaurants every evening and get free lunch in the Specialty Restaurants on Sea days.

MSC SEASHORE BB Balcony Gty 7 days 2 people total $2116 wifi easy plus pkg

Apex Inside with tips, bev pkg, wifi 7 days 2 people $2835

Breakaway Inside  7 days 2 people total $2238 RT AIR, 2 free Specialty Restaurants meals, bev pkg, wifi

So, as we all have choices, you can see there is not much difference between 4 cruise lines.

We are not cheerleaders of any.

 

[FrostyJoe]

32 minutes ago, Oxo said:

OK, sorry 2 years ago. Send me to the naughty room. Does that make it better?

Point is they cut perks. 

I think I see both points here.  You get what you paid for with XYZ company and no point in comparing company to company.   If you prefer ABC company--your choice to book ABC.  If you can put up with XYZ company that offers less than ABC then put it up with....

 

But what really bothered me with MSC (first time I booked with them) is I thought I did my homework and looked at what Aurea experience included at the time of booking (easy package & one massage, etc.); I checked their website and then booked.  As soon as I got the confirmation, I noticed that Aurea experience did not include the items that they were currently advertising on their own website that Aurea should include.   Turns out, they "downgraded" the Aurea--without updating their website for another week or so.

 

So when I called to ask if they can give me easy and/or complimentary massage as advertised on their website (and independently confirmed by MSC rep), they choices that were given to me was they'll give me the "opportunity" to cancel even though I booked after final payment.  I thought this was disingenuous at best, and false advertisement/fraud at worst.  I'm sure it was not intentional and their IT department didn't update their website on time etc but that still does not change the fact that I got baited and switched literally.

 

We still opted to keep the cruise for now since it was a pretty good deal and they also matched us to Diamond etc but it wasn't a great first impression.

 

Where I agree with Oxo in general is that companies have been cost cutting left and right in cruising and other industries.  And now companies are blaming covid for things that's totally unrelated.  What has providing prompt refund has anything to do with covid?  Gone are the days with midnight chocolate buffets, free room service, mints on beds, ice sculptures at buffets, etc etc....  Also on the land side for our "safety" no daily room servicing unless specifically asked--what ever happen to defaulting to cleaning the room and for those that don't want their room entered nowadays, they can always use the do not disturb sticker.....

 

Covid is bad and serious and by no means am I denying the seriousness of it.  But I don't like the fact many big $$$$ companies are using covid really as an excuse to continue their path to cost cut....

 

That being said, we certainly paid more 10, 15 years ago --inflation adjusted.  So we ultimately got and will get what we paid for....

Edited December 20, 2021 by FrostyJoe

[Oxo]

5 minutes ago, FrostyJoe said:

I think I see both points here.  You get what you paid for with XYZ company and no point in comparing company to company.   If you prefer ABC company--your choice to book ABC.  If you can put up with XYZ company that offers less than ABC then put it up with....

 

But what really bothered me with MSC (first time I booked with them) is I thought I did my homework and looked at what Aurea experience included at the time of booking (easy package & one massage, etc.); I checked their website and then booked.  As soon as I got the confirmation, I noticed that Aurea experience did not include the items that they were currently advertising on their own website that Aurea should include.   Turns out, they "downgraded" the Aurea--without updating their website for another week or so.

 

So when I called to ask if they can give me easy and/or complimentary massage as advertised on their website (and independently confirmed by MSC rep), they choices that were given to me was they'll give me the "opportunity" to cancel even though I booked after final payment.  I thought this was disingenuous at best, and false advertisement/fraud at worst.  I'm sure it was not intentional and their IT department didn't update their website on time etc but that still does not change the fact that I got baited and switched literally.

 

We still opted to keep the cruise for now since it was a pretty good deal and they also matched us to Diamond etc but it wasn't a great first impression.

 

Where I agree with Oxo in general is that companies have been cost cutting left and right in cruising and other industries.  And now companies are blaming covid for things that's totally unrelated.  What has providing prompt refund has anything to do with covid?  Gone are the days with midnight chocolate buffets, free room service, mints on beds, ice sculptures at buffets, etc etc....  Also on the land side for our "safety" no daily room servicing unless specifically asked--what ever happen to defaulting to cleaning the room and for those that don't want their room entered nowadays, they can always use the do not disturb sticker.....

 

Covid is bad and serious and by no means am I denying the seriousness of it.  But I don't like the fact many big $$$$ companies are using covid really as an excuse to continue their path to cost cut....

 

That being said, we certainly paid more 10, 15 years ago --inflation adjusted.  So we ultimately got and will get what we paid for....

Agree with your posting in total! We don't cruse for perks. We don't cruise for Caribbean Island ports. We stopped cruising overseas such as SEA, EUROPE, PACIFIC.

 

Each cruise line has pluses and minuses.

 

My question was really why not allow us to pick from the Specialty Restaurants full menu?

 

As for perks I have a list of them all and some are outstanding! 

Stay Safe and Happy Cruising!

Happy Holidays!

 

[FrostyJoe]

1 minute ago, Oxo said:

 

My question was really why not allow us to pick from the Specialty Restaurants full menu?

 

Simple....Nickle and dimeing 🙂

 

[FrostyJoe]

I hope virgin voyages concept takes off and others copy their success.  Kind of what happened with NCL and my time dining before other cruises started doing the same besides MSC...

 

It would be nice if all dining areas area complimentary with surcharge/paid items at each of the venues....

[dexddd]

16 hours ago, Oxo said:

I'm not complaining or trying start a war. 

When we were Black Card members we each had 2 free meals off of the selected portion of the menu. Taste portion?

I call it the selected portion because that is what you could only get with your free meal.

 

MSC changed Black to Diamond and then cut back meals to 1 per Diamond Member.

 

Food is subjective! So I will not compare MSC Specialty Restaurants to Celebrity, HAL, NCL, Princess or RCI.

 

On NCL as Platinum we get per Cabin 2 free meals with a bottle of wine of your choice in 1 of 2 Specialty Restaurants. 

We also get anther 2 free meals in another 1 of 2 Specialty Restaurants.

The only limitation is you may pick anything from the menu and an entrée up to $35 on the second Specialty Restaurant meal. If you entrée exceeds $35 you pay the difference plus 20% gratuity.

 

My question is since MSC reduced the meals from 2 free visits for 2 people to 1,

WHY CAN'T WE PICK A MEAL FROM THE ENTIRE MENU 

Rather than the Taste selection?

 

We have cruised MSC since Jan 2006 many times.

 

Remember, I'm asking a valid question. If you have nasty remarks. Keep them.

Stay Safe!  

On NCL they do limit the meal to one item before entree list, one entree subject to price, one side, and one dessert for the loyalty meals.

[hamrag]

5 hours ago, Oxo said:

OK, sorry 2 years ago. Send me to the naughty room. Does that make it better?

Point is they cut perks. 

Wow....you do seem somewhat exercised by this and also a number of other reasonable responses to your posts!

 

You have asked another poster also to 'send you to the naughty room', so I shall desist on this occasion and leave the job to them....assuming that is OK with you. 😉

[Oxo]

12 minutes ago, hamrag said:

Wow....you do seem somewhat exercised by this and also a number of other reasonable responses to your posts!

 

You have asked another poster also to 'send you to the naughty room', so I shall desist on this occasion and leave the job to them....assuming that is OK with you. 😉

I was joking when i said to send me to the naughty room. Apparently people are to sensitive today and the world is on the edge. I understand why C19. But I meant that as a joke. How else could I have phrased that?

[Oxo]

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

On NCL they do limit the meal to one item before entree list, one entree subject to price, one side, and one dessert for the loyalty meals.

You are correct. However, you have a choice from the entire menu. If something has an upcharge it is noted on the menu. Just got off of the NCL Joy and only 1 appetizer, crab cake, had an upcharge of $5.

Main Entrée had an upcharge of $19 on the Lobster or Surf and Turf added to an entrée.

 Here is the latest NCL Cagney's menu of entree's. If you would like I can post the Dining Package prices. Again, you are not restricted to a Taste Type selection with an additional 50% charge if you choose out of that Taste selection.