MSC Cruises - Minefield of hidden charges

pearl123

They are floating shopping centres on water. You the target audience are trapped.

Katiehound

Perhaps you would have been warned off if you had booked through a cruise specialist agent and they could have advised you what to expect.

I've sailed with Fred. Olsen and Cruise& Maritime lots.
Yes, of course they want to sell you extras.
Fruit juice is only available at breakfast- if you want it at other times you pay or buy the all inclusive package.

I have never needed or bought exclusive dining. The food on Fred is generally great.

Do I want to pay for white glove service afternoon tea when I can go to the bun fight for free? No

Do I want to listen to every announcement in every language under the sun with English last? No that's why I choose trad British cruising!!

However I do pay the extra gratuities. I would rather pay a bit more for the cruise and have the staff paid a proper wage...but.... that's not going to happen.

Hope this experience hasn't put you off cruising completely

gettingtheresometime

Having been on a number of P&O cruises and one RC cruise I think the only thing that really annoys me is when the photographer comes around during the meal peddling their wares.

Katiehound

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Having been on a number of P&O cruises and one RC cruise I think the only thing that really annoys me is when the photographer comes around during the meal peddling their wares.

I'd forgotten about them!
Taking photos at every verse end!!- not just meals but every port
However they quickly learn that I say 'no thank you' so don't bother to take the photo- or, as others do- let them take photos but never buy!!

NoodleDoodleMan

Think of a cruise ship as a floating hotel.

If you have the all inclusive package it can cover some (but not all) of the extras, just as in a land based hotel.

If you don't, then you pay for the extras you want, as ordered, just as in a land based hotel

I would recommend Cruise Critic if you want to research details of all the different cruise lines, as supplied by experienced cruisers.

For example, that's where I discovered that on one line UK and Commonwealth military veterans (including reservists) with a specified minimum length of service are entitled to claim compilmentary onboard credit added to their cabin account balance, based on the duration of the cruise - up to $250 free spending money US Dollars - a nice little earner.

StumpyPumpy

I would also strongly recommend Cruise Critic to anyone looking to go on a cruise on an unfamiliar ship or with a new company. A quick search would get you to a page where there are (as I write) 79 passenger reviews of the MSC Meraviglia

Many reviewers have written full accounts of their cruise experiences both good and bad. They work well as an expectation setter and can often tell you things that no travel agent or professional reviewer would. Taking as an example the one mentioned above by NoodleDoodleMan, my father only found out through Cruise Critic that simply by having done National Service (and registering on the appropriate website) he qualified for free on board spending money with P&O!

SP

NoodleDoodleMan

If you ask a question on Cruise Critic then you are almost guaranteed to get an answer, pointing out the pros and cons of whatever scenario is being discussed.

There is a separate chat forum dedicated to each cruise line, so you can be really specific with enquiries, I've learned so many useful and beneficial things since I joined - as StumpyPumpy says lots of stuff that cruise lines don't advertise upfront.

loobs40

NoodleDoodleMan wrote: »

For example, that's where I discovered that on one line UK and Commonwealth military veterans (including reservists) with a specified minimum length of service are entitled to claim compilmentary onboard credit added to their cabin account balance, based on the duration of the cruise - up to $250 free spending money US Dollars - a nice little earner.

P&O also give OBC for military service, we get it for my husband, I think its £70. Pays for some of the time he is in Brodie's bar :beer: