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Topic: New to Cruise culture.

RJG
Just Boarded
Member # 1860

posted 03-14-2001 02:01 PM

My wife, two kids and I will be going on a cruise at the end of March to the Panama canal on the Melody (MSC). This is our first cruise so we have a lot of questions. Our first is about dress code. Are we expected to dress formally every night? That seems like a lot of formal ware for a twelve night cruise for four people. My second concern is about tips. As a policy we are supposed to pay $2.00/pp/pd for the bus boy and $3.50/pp/pd for the waiter. Is this only for dinner or do these tips include lunches? Will my nineteen month old son be exempt from having to tip? Any other tips or advise for this first timer would be appreciated.

Posts: 5 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 03-14-2001 03:16 PM

A very good choice!The Melody is a nice ship that offers a good cruise product.The dress code is very casual for many nights during the cruise with only two formal nights(MSC hasn't the informal dress code).About the tips this is the sum suggested by the cruise line for person for each day of cruise excluding all the kids(in Italy the tips are payed only by person those are at least 18 years old).The ship offers excellent dicated services for kids supervised by attentive animators including a splash pool(the ship was operated for many years as Starship Atlantic by the now defunct Premier Cruises the leading company for family cruises before Disney Cruise Line).The cuisine is very italian style and the service is friendly and warm.The shore excursions,the drinks and the shops have excellent prices.The activities are performed in several languages:Italian,English,Germany,French and Spanish(MSC has a loyal following in Europe and the cruise product is tailored principally for european tastes).

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

RJG
Just Boarded
Member # 1860

posted 03-14-2001 03:59 PM

Thanks for the response. I am pleased to learn that the ship will have an Italian edge to it. I am fond of it's people and it's food.

Posts: 5 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-14-2001 04:35 PM

Welcome aboard RJG!

I've checked my Berlitz Guide, for some details of m/v (motor veichle) Melody.

She was built in 1982 and is 36,500 gross tons, not too big and not too small, in my opinion. Her passenger capacity is 1,070 to 1,600 and she has a crew of 535. The cabins are all of a good size with ample closet and drawer space. She is rated as 3.5 stars by both Berlitz and Travelpages 'Ship Review'.

Travelpage Ship Review of 'Melody':
http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/ships/md_melody.asp

Readers Reviews of the Melody: http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/yourfav/yourfav_cruise.asp

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 03-14-2001 07:25 PM

RJG: Italian Cruiser may be correct about the written rule when it comes to tips, however you may find out that your dinning room staff and room steward will earn a tip serving your kids more than serving you and your wife. I would suggest you plan on adding something to the tip for them! The tips suggested are for breakfast, lunch & diner. Most cruises have some theme nights (country/western, 50s/60s, toga)if they have them I would say to plan to dress for the event. Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

RJG
Just Boarded
Member # 1860

posted 03-15-2001 09:25 AM

Thanks again for the responses. (I hope I didn't come across sounding cheap. I jut want to get the dressing and tipping thing 'right' so I don't end up embaressing myself and family.)

Thanks again for the links, pics and comments.

Posts: 5 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 03-15-2001 12:54 PM

RJG, you can follow the tips suggested,
IF YOU WANT!
It is on you, to tip or not to tip
and it is on you to tip what you want.
I sailed on the Melody December 27, 1997
to January 13, 1998, starting Genova
and arriving Ft. Lauderdale.
I will NOT take this ship again and i
do not agree to Berlitz with the rating
3 stars plus, especially the food was of an
poor quality on this cruise.
Costa is much better in my experience
on the Costa Allegra.

Italian ships are generally good, if you have children, and so is the Melody, too.

Dress is very unformal, and i myself have
no problems, to sit in the evening in the
dining room in T-shirt and Jeans on a
five star ship, if i want to do so.

(take a black jeans, not a blue)

Enjoy the cruise, the panama channel is
a good experience.

Tell after returning, how it was. I hope,
they have upgraded the food. On my cruise, this was pre-cooked and delivered by Zerbone-Catering.

Much better is Ligabue or Apollo-Catering.

And the best is: to cook and prepare every item fresh on board, like Celebrity Cruises or Cunard.

Posts: 1034 | From: Gutach, Black Forest, Germany | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

James
First Class Passenger
Member # 1351

posted 03-15-2001 06:13 PM

Welllll - - I think T-shirt and jeans in the dining room is disgusting. It should be treated as any fine restaurant. The suggested tip is for the entire day, not per meal, in case that wasn''t made clear earlier. You will probably want to take breakfast and lunch at their buffet, in most ships it's called the lido, but I'm not familiar with this one. ENJOY

Posts: 202 | From: Illinois, Home of Lincoln and great graft | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 03-15-2001 07:20 PM

I'm sorry Amerikanis - you wouldn't be welcome at my table or anyone else's I am sure, wearing a t-shirt and jeans for evening dinner.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 03-16-2001 08:24 PM

Not at MY table either,Sympatico!!!!

T-shirt and jeans at dinner? No way,Jose!!

Terri

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Blizzard54
First Class Passenger
Member # 1824

posted 03-17-2001 05:05 PM

"Dress is very unformal, and i myself have
no problems, to sit in the evening in the
dining room in T-shirt and Jeans on a
five star ship, if i want to do so."
---------------------------------
T-Shirt and jeans is only acceptable on A 50's night. I know that cruises are becoming more informal but this is NOT Denny's. You could show a little class...

Posts: 118 | From: Seattle,WA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

paulaf
First Class Passenger
Member # 1493

posted 03-18-2001 06:04 PM

Gee, I thought people were more important than clothes. Someone who has never cruised and read this would surely found it intimidating. I'd prefer to sit next to someone as described - black (not blue) jeans and a tee-shirt rather than someone in an ill-fitting suit who smelled of mothballs.

Posts: 10 | From: Baltimore, MD 21220 | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-18-2001 07:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by paulaf:
Someone who has never cruised and read this would surely found it intimidating.

Paulaf, you have just hit a nail on the head, so to speak! Questions of dress code separate the traditionalists from the new breed of cruisers, as does 'Freestyle' dining!

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 03-19-2001).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 03-19-2001 07:35 AM

Malcolm, How many times do I have to tell you its DINING, not DINNING?

[This message has been edited by topgun (edited 03-19-2001).]

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-19-2001 09:28 AM

More often than you do!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Deck 9 001
First Class Passenger
Member # 1716

posted 03-19-2001 11:42 AM

Okay,
If I can go the extra inch to look "smarter" I don't see why others cannot!!!
It's called common courtesy.......

Regards,
Mike

Posts: 939 | From: Taipei, Taiwan (originally New York) | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 03-19-2001 11:00 PM

Why do people resist the chance to dress up for a few nights. My husband is a machinist and does not care to dress up but when we go out to eat in our home town (which is often) he would not dream of going in Jeans. I dress professionally every day for my job and we sure don't regret the chance to dress nice for our evening meals on ship. If you don't want to dress up go eat in the other spots. The cruise line are not making you dress up they do offer alternative eating places. Please don't let the formal nights go to the way side My family and I have just started cruising and really enjoy watching people go all out when they come to the dining room to eat. On our last cruise there were a couple of bikers We saw them get on the ship . When we first saw them in the carpark they all had colours on but on the ship they just had regular leather jackets but they all wore bandanas. We did not see them in the dining room so I don't know how they dressed but I was very curious. When we saw them on deck they always had jeans on I don't suppose they got much of a tan on their legs!!!

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

bubbles
First Class Passenger
Member # 1415

posted 03-20-2001 11:29 AM

So glad to see a return of this hot topic. It seems ages since we argued about what to wear on this board. At home my husband and I have a 'discussion' like this almost every time we go out. He says I won't bother changing and I say well if you want it to look like we are going to different places fine ...... he usually changes!!! Seriously, if I make the effort for him I expect him to make the effort for me and why not, we did it when we were courting so why not now? I think the same goes for greeting new friends or other passengers. If the evening is made a bit special by perhaps the cocktail party then why not play your part and show the same consideration? I don't understand people having such problems with getting themselves out of jeans and t shirts they are fine in a less formal setting, if comfort is all why stop there why not just keep on PJs after all they are even more comfortable aren't they? You don't have to go to extreme expense a little black dress can change its appearance with different jewellery, shoes etc.

Posts: 133 | From: England | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

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