Seashore 10-day 12/7-17: attempting a live-from!!

[Kevinb1176]

5 hours ago, gotta cruise again said:

Initially we were told we would not have to disembark and parade around the cruise terminal since we were booked in a 10 day and not 3+7. 
 

Wrong—they said we did. So, passports in hand along with cruise cards, we met in the YC lounge; I think rest of pax met in a restaurant or lounge. Then we all met up on deck 6(??) to “ding” off the ship. Walk the “jet bridge”, long hallway, zigzag down a ramp, pass where luggage will be when we actually disembark, pass the facial recognition rolling stands, and into a snake roped off area to wait for wheelchair folks to pass facial recognition first. Now, if we had known (another lesson learned!!) there would be that much walking for DH, we would have gotten him a wheelchair or at the very, very least have brought his walking-seat (see Ta-Da chair, which I learned about here on CC!!). He was wiped out for the rest of the day. After facial recognition, then back through luggage, up zigzag ramp, long hallway, jet bridge, then to cabin (without benefit of butler-expedited passage).

 

Yes: they give you passes so you can leave the port and have an easier time getting back on the ship. 
 

I wouldn’t say it was chaotic but we didn’t know what to expect so weren’t prepared for DHs mobility needs to be adequately met. However, I cannot speak to any possible chaos at the port should you leave for a while and return later. 
 

Would we do it again? Yes, as we know more!

Thats bizarre! I can see if a true back to back but if you booked as a 10 day through them, I don’t see why we’d need to get off and back on. 
 

I figured if we’re yacht club they’d let us hang up there. We’ll see, the whole MSC experience seems very confusing. 
 

At least you don’t have the outside contracted film crew in YC with you like we did a couple weeks ago!

 

Thanks and Enjoy!

[SpareBrew]

On 12/10/2023 at 11:33 AM, gotta cruise again said:

“Pro” tip: as I’ve already been onboard, I’m not having one of the pre-trayed beverages. I asked for the menu and this is what I got:

salted caramel expresso martini!!

 

Ask them to make you a Key Lime Pie martini!  Both Lucky and Ekta know how to make them!  Delicious!! Tell them Barb and Kevin say Hi!  

[gotta cruise again]

47 minutes ago, SpareBrew said:

Ask them to make you a Key Lime Pie martini!  Both Lucky and Ekta know how to make them!  Delicious!! Tell them Barb and Kevin say Hi!  

Here it is!! Thanks for the tip!!

 

 

I started right in—forgot to take the picture until almost done LOL

[carlmm]

7 hours ago, Kevinb1176 said:

Thats bizarre! I can see if a true back to back but if you booked as a 10 day through them, I don’t see why we’d need to get off and back on. 

Looks like just another case of US border control. This has nothing to do with MSC. Ships are required to zero out in US ports when coming from a non-US port.

[DCGuy64]

On 12/14/2023 at 6:25 AM, KennyFla said:

Which sailing are you on?

January 14.

[KennyFla]

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

January 14.

We board the 18th. 

[Kevinb1176]

13 hours ago, carlmm said:

Looks like just another case of US border control. This has nothing to do with MSC. Ships are required to zero out in US ports when coming from a non-US port.

If that’s accurate then MSC should note that when booking it as a 10 day cruise. They’re not very organized. 

[rebeccac]

8 hours ago, Kevinb1176 said:

If that’s accurate then MSC should note that when booking it as a 10 day cruise. They’re not very organized. 

It is accurate.  We have sailed a B2B on Princess that was sold as one cruise and we did have to disembark when we returned to the embarkation point mid-way through the cruise.  I don't recall it being noted that this was going to happen, but I did know about it from research prior to going on the cruise.  This will be true of every cruise from the US (I understand the rules are different in Europe).  Now as to MSC being disorganized in their process, that may well be true.  On Princess, it was a fairly quick and painless procedure.  

[morpheusofthesea]

13 hours ago, Kevinb1176 said:

They’re not very organized. 

We thought MSC was very well organized. 

We were on for 2 cruises and HAD to get off the ship on turn around day. Our butler informed us we had to congregate at about 10 am in the TopSail Lounge. Listening to the CD announce the groups over the public address system call the last remaining guests to leave. At 10:45 am CD came on the PA announcing 'last call' for everyone to leave the ship. A few minutes later we YC B2Bers were escorted down to the terminal. Boarding back on not till the ship rounds up all the "zeros" (those that have late flights and hide out on the ship). B2Bers will not be 'processed' (facial recognition) and allowed back on the ship until the "zeros" have been found and processed. Once the B2Bers are led back on they are followed by Yacht Clubbers and then everyone else in the terminal. This began around 11:30. We were B2B (about 100 of us) waiting in line to be processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when a butler pointed out the "zeros" that were taking their 'sweet time' collecting the last of the remaining luggage and strolling over to the facial recognition machines. Always get this bunch of 'losers' every cruise.

There is always a small group of inconsiderate passengers that have late flights or just no place to go after the cruise has ended. They dilly-dally and hold up the ship from "clearing" for the next cruise group to embark. These "losers" are called "Zeros". They are the stragglers that sometimes hide out and often the sheriff''s office is called in to escort them off the ship.

[CruisingWalter]

On 12/13/2023 at 1:35 PM, jinpasco said:

Could we get more insight on the Kaito Sushi experience. You said it was a blast. 

 

Sorry for the delay in getting back on here. It's been a working trip for me and it's been busier than expected. 🙂 

 

Kaito Sushi works in two ways, you can pay $39 for all you can eat in 45 minutes. The servers made it clear that 45 minute limit doesn't apply, we could have sat there for 2 hours according to them. 

 

Or you pay ala carte per dish. Each dish is color coded and the colors correspond to an individual price. At the end of the meal the servers just tally up the dishes and that's your cost. 

 

We did the $39 flat charge and spent a little less than an hour there. The concept is simple, the dishes go by on a conveyor system and when you see something, you just grab it. There was a combination of rolls, nigiri and other items in the dishes. It was fun to interact with the servers and just grab whatever we wanted off the line. Some ship's officers were dining on the other side of our conveyor and we interacted with them a little as well.

 

Overall a fun concept to grab whatever you feel like eating. The dishes are very small and I want to say we had maybe 8 or 10 dishes each over the hour. I'll have a new food review going up on YouTube hopefully in a week after we're home, the Sushi will definitely be in there! 

[morpheusofthesea]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

They dilly-dally and hold up the ship from "clearing" for the next cruise group to embark. These "losers" are called "Zeros". They are the stragglers that sometimes hide out and often the sheriff''s office is called in to escort them off the ship.

Besides these losers there are also a group of passengers called Downliners that MUST be off the ship first to clear CBP, before anyone is cleared to leave the ship. They got on the ship somewhere down the line. They also dilly dally holding up the disembarkation process. 

[Kevinb1176]

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Besides these losers there are also a group of passengers called Downliners that MUST be off the ship first to clear CBP, before anyone is cleared to leave the ship. They got on the ship somewhere down the line. They also dilly dally holding up the disembarkation process. 

A little more hardcore than me. I like to be off the ship and on the road as soon as we can. As soon as they say you can disembark, we’re off. 

[Kevinb1176]

6 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We thought MSC was very well organized. 

We were on for 2 cruises and HAD to get off the ship on turn around day. Our butler informed us we had to congregate at about 10 am in the TopSail Lounge. Listening to the CD announce the groups over the public address system call the last remaining guests to leave. At 10:45 am CD came on the PA announcing 'last call' for everyone to leave the ship. A few minutes later we YC B2Bers were escorted down to the terminal. Boarding back on not till the ship rounds up all the "zeros" (those that have late flights and hide out on the ship). B2Bers will not be 'processed' (facial recognition) and allowed back on the ship until the "zeros" have been found and processed. Once the B2Bers are led back on they are followed by Yacht Clubbers and then everyone else in the terminal. This began around 11:30. We were B2B (about 100 of us) waiting in line to be processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when a butler pointed out the "zeros" that were taking their 'sweet time' collecting the last of the remaining luggage and strolling over to the facial recognition machines. Always get this bunch of 'losers' every cruise.

There is always a small group of inconsiderate passengers that have late flights or just no place to go after the cruise has ended. They dilly-dally and hold up the ship from "clearing" for the next cruise group to embark. These "losers" are called "Zeros". They are the stragglers that sometimes hide out and often the sheriff''s office is called in to escort them off the ship.

We’ll see how it goes. Hopefully not too much of a hassle. As far as MSC being disorganized, we’ve only done one cruise with them but I find one hand doesn’t know what the other is saying or dying. I called last week as I was booking and asked how it works for the day back in Port Canaveral and the rep said you can do an excursion or stay on the ship. She mentioned nothing about customs.
 

Before our last cruise, I was told that ships can provide cribs as this was our first trip with our toddler. I called and requested one in advance as we were told. Several calls, one person would say it’s not guaranteed, the next would say it’s confirmed, then I’d get an email the next day that it’s not guaranteed. The other day I put in a move reservation to my travel agent form, I received a response asking for my military information which I’m not military. 

Our first sailing with them was pretty bad, others that were in YC with us that sail frequently on MSC said not to judge them based on the sailing we tried. 
 

hopefully is smooth sailing, thanks for the details. 

 

[gotta cruise again]

So sorry that I have been MIA but spent yesterday afternoon packing (while ship was NOT moving!!) along with a very enjoyable dinner with new friends. 
 

It was rather bouncy & creaky last night but my electronic wrist bands are doing the trick so no motion sickness for me. We got very prompt delivery of room service breakfast; DH ran up to the YC pool buffet and got us both some lunch. Our butler, his assistant, and now the assistant’s assistant (yep: 3 people!!) have been taking wonderful care of us if we needed anything but all we’ve needed was that breakfast and then dishes removed. 
 

I do have a bit more that needs to be packed and will be working on that soon. In the meantime, here’s where we are, ship speed, and wind speed:

 

DH just added that the wind is actually whistling down the cabin passageways!! He opened our door so I could hear it. 
 

And, last night I inquired of our butler how long he thought we’d be able to use our cabin on Sunday, with the delay getting into port. He said probably until around 1400 (2pm) but we’d be given more info on that later today. 

[gotta cruise again]

This next post is just my own opinion but I’m including it as I read a lot about folks trying to pack light. 
 

Me, I don’t pack light!! We enjoyed dressing up and having choices on this cruise. However, we could have skipped having white night outfits, flower outfits, and tropical outfits.

 

Those clothing choices would apply if we were going to attend the 1030pm (and later!!) festivities where those outfits were celebrated. We didn’t even venture out to take a look. 
 

Now DH did wear a tropical shirt and I did wear flowered options on those evenings where that was the evening dress. But we were bringing those clothes even if that wasn’t the suggested attire.

 

For our next MSC cruise, we might have theme clothes but I won’t be planning on bringing items specifically to meet a theme. 
 

Hope this helps with any packing concerns some of you may have. 

[gotta cruise again]

Looking back through my photos and I see I missed posting this one. 
 

As a reminder, I’m not critiquing the food but this was really tasty and REALLY big!!

 

Lamb Shank: there was meat all the way around the bone! 

[morpheusofthesea]

4 hours ago, Kevinb1176 said:

Several calls,

We use a travel agent. We never call direct. Horror stories abound for those that call direct. Telephone agents have no clue what is going on. Filled out forms are never forwarded to ship. Some travel agents give up to 10% back to clients in form of refundable on board credit, which those that deal direct do not receive.

[Kevinb1176]

2 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We use a travel agent. We never call direct. Horror stories abound for those that call direct. Telephone agents have no clue what is going on. Filled out forms are never forwarded to ship. Some travel agents give up to 10% back to clients in form of refundable on board credit, which those that deal direct do not receive.

Can be more than 10%. The agent I used for last 2 MSc gave 12% off total with taxes and port fees. 

[gotta cruise again]

Double checking the cabinets and came across this magnet sign that would be used to confirm a cabin is clear. 
 

As you can see, it’s kept in a slot inside the under sink cabinet where the trash can is located. 
 

I hope I don’t get in any trouble since I removed the little sign from its sleeve for a moment!!

 

[gotta cruise again]

I cannot remember if I wrote about this earlier or not. If I did, then we’ll chalk it up to visions of sugarplums dancing in my head!!!

 

We had dinner in Ocean Cay specialty the other night and I left the restaurant to go a short distance around the corner to the public restroom. This facility was for anyone to use and each stall was self contained including its own sink. 
 

Signage in all public restrooms notes that after washing your hands, use a paper towel to open the door. East from both the stall and the larger restroom as towels & trash bins are handy.

 

But after leaving the restroom, you have to use a door handle to return to the specialty dining hallway. No towels or trash bin, no hand cleaner dispenser, no automatic door. I did have a towel to use on this handle as I happened to pay attention on my way to the restroom but once back at the restaurant, no trash bin at host station so the host just held out his hand for me to give him the towel. I did explain that the towel was used to open that public door to the hallway…so I hope he then washed his hands. 
 

A long story just to inform that you may have just washed your hands but then will get them dirty again if you don’t realize there are other doors to open!

[Essiesmom]

White apparel was well adhered to in the non-YC part of the ship.  EM

[gotta cruise again]

 

Here is an 11 second video of the sea, taken through the balcony window. 

 

[gotta cruise again]

I haven’t really had any problems at all posting pictures (and the couple of tiny videos) to cruise critic. Again, we just have the basic internet package that came with YC. 

 

So thought I’d just give this update on my experience.

 

[gotta cruise again]

Land is now in sight but no new word on when we’ll dock: seems to still be at 1500. 
 

I looked at PC webcam (a while ago) and it showed 3 ships already in port. 
 

Breakfast & lunch served in both the restaurant and the pool buffet. 
 

Food info: don’t try to bring buffet food into the lounge to eat as “food is not allowed in the lounge”. (Snacks & small bites are actually considered food—lol)