We are going on a sea cruise. — How do you fight seasickness?

All cruises include meals at the main à la carte restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner (drinks are an additional cost), as well as meals at the buffet restaurant.

Following the wishes of its guests, MSC Cruises provides flexible opening hours for its buffet restaurants: open 20 hours a day!

Restaurant opening hours depend on the ship's route; detailed information can always be found in the daily program.

Breakfast

Breakfast takes place at main restaurants and on buffet. You can also order a continental breakfast from the cabin service menu and have breakfast in your own cabin on any day of the cruise, except the day of disembarkation. This service is free for guests with MSC Yacht Club, Aurea, Wellness and Fantastica facilities. For guests with Bella capabilities, this service is paid – 3.5 €. To order breakfast in your cabin, you must fill out an order form and hang it on the door handle of your cabin.

Dinner

Lunch takes place at main restaurants and on buffet. The restaurants also offer an “express lunch” service, that is, lunch in 30 minutes. In the main restaurants, children's menus are available for breakfast and dinner, including a menu for children from 6 to 12 years old. The buffet has various themed corners - pizzeria, grill, take-away, health corner, Mediterranean salumeria, meat corner, etc. Opening hours of the buffet are indicated in the daily program. In addition, the buffet serves midday and midnight snacks.

Dinner

As an alternative to the main restaurant, you can dine at a buffet or in a pizzeria without fixed meal and table changes.

A la carte dinner is served in the main restaurants. Depending on the type of cabin, guests have different options for visiting the main restaurants for dinner.

Restaurant visiting system "MSC YACHT CLUB"

MSC Yacht Club guests have a separate restaurant with free visiting hours, an exquisite menu for the most discerning travelers. At the MSC Yacht Club restaurant, a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is included in the price.

Liners: MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida, MSC Divina, MSC Preziosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Seashore
To whom is it provided: for guests staying in suites MSC Yacht Club
Short description: separate restaurant, free visiting time, drinks included

“MY CHOICE” restaurant visiting system

Passengers of the Aurea and Wellness cabins are not tied to a specific dinner time - free choice, every day it is possible to book a table for a convenient time. For guests staying in Aurea cabins, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included (according to the tariff conditions).

Liners: all MSC Cruises ships
To whom is it provided: Aurea, Wellness
Short description: dinner in the main restaurant at a time convenient for the guest

Note: on board the MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Opera, guests staying in cabins with balconies Fantastica also visit the restaurant using the “My Choice” system.

Restaurant visiting system “CLASSIC”

Dinner usually takes place in two shifts, for example at 18:30 and 20:30 (on the MSC Meraviglia there are three shifts). When booking your cruise, you must indicate which shift you prefer. This will allow you to take into account your wishes, although it does not guarantee its fulfillment (first of all, the company will try to take into account the wishes of passengers with Fantastica capabilities).

Liners: all MSC Cruises ships
To whom is it provided: guests staying in cabins Bella, Fantastica
Short description: dinner in 2 shifts; restaurant, table and shift 1st/2nd are assigned

Additional gastronomic benefits of MSC Yacht Club

All MSC Yacht Club guests enjoy a 24-hour cabin service menu. We will offer our guests a selection of snacks throughout the day in the Top Sail Lounge and The One Pool. The MSC Yacht Club's own restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, traditional English tea is served in the Top Sail Lounge only for MSC Yacht Club guests.

Drinks in the MSC Yacht Club restaurant and bars, as well as in the cabin minibar, are included in the price.

Starting from the Summer 2017 season, MSC Yacht Club guests also drinks included in all bars liner 24 hours a day!

Sea cruises are one of the safest types of vacation. However, you may not even be aware of some of the dangers that await you on a cruise.

1. Shipwreck

The most common phobia, because everyone still hears about the shipwreck of the Italian Costa Concordia. In fact, this shipwreck is unique in recent history. We do not now take into account Asian or African ferries, which do not comply with any safety or passenger loading standards. With the largest cruise companies carrying tens of millions of passengers per year, only one shipwreck with 32 deaths was recorded. At the same time, more than 4,200 passengers and crew members of the Costa Concordia were successfully evacuated. Of course, you wouldn’t want to find yourself on board a ship that crashes, but with such a volume of traffic, it’s unlikely that this will happen to you.

How to protect yourself?

Don't skip safety drills. You are unlikely to be able to prevent a shipwreck, but at least you will know how to save yourself in an emergency. Where is the evacuation point, how to put on a life jacket and other important information is given during the exercise on the day of landing.

The Costa Concordia liner crashed on the night of January 14, 2012. There were about 4.2 thousand people on board, including more than 100 Russian tourists. 32 people died. None of the Russians were hurt

2. Fire

But this is a more real nuisance, especially since fires often occur due to the fault of passengers. A fire in the enclosed space of a cruise ship, and even at sea, when there is nowhere to wait for help, is very scary.

How to protect yourself?

Do not neglect fire safety rules. Do not bring on board or turn on prohibited heating electrical appliances, such as irons and kettles; the voltage of the aircraft's on-board network is not designed for such loads. Do not smoke in the cabins, do not throw unextinguished cigarette butts overboard, a strong sea wind will immediately throw them back to the lower deck, where towels and other flammable items may lie. Just look at the photos below to understand the consequences.

4. Accidents involving children

No matter how reliable the ship’s infrastructure may seem, if you are traveling with small children, you must not forget about their safety. Unfortunately, there are several known cases of unattended children drowning in the swimming pools of cruise ships. Despite the fact that swimming pools are usually always crowded, and it is unclear how this can even happen with so many people, it does happen.

In May 2015, a 10-year-old girl drowned in the pool aboard Norwegian Gem. It is also known that on February 3, 2014, a 4-year-old child died on board the Norwegian Breakaway. The ship's personnel found two children, ages 4 and 6, unconscious in the adult pool. Help was immediately provided and the 6-year-old child was taken to the hospital, but the 4-year-old boy could not be revived and died on board. Similar stories happen on ships of other cruise lines. Only the Disney cruise company, aimed at families with children, has special observers in the pool area.

5. Rape by staff

Yes, yes, this happens. This outrageous incident occurred on Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam on February 14, 2014, while the ship was underway. 28-year-old Indonesian janitor Ketut Pujayasa sneaked into the cabin of a 31-year-old US citizen, beat her and raped her. After this, the attacker tried to throw the woman off the balcony. Reportedly, the cleaner came to her room while she was not there, opened the door with his master key, went to the balcony and waited there. When she returned, he came in from the balcony and attacked her. The attacker hit the American woman on the head with a laptop and strangled her with a telephone wire, and then raped her. The victim managed to escape because another passenger knocked on the door of her cabin. The man tried to escape the crime scene by climbing from balcony to balcony. The American suffered serious injuries. The cruise ship made a stop in Honduras, from where the victim was taken by helicopter to a Florida clinic

Pujayase was charged with attempted murder and aggravated sexual assault. He was also fired from Holland America, where he had worked since 2012. The company told reporters that they carefully checked the Indonesian before hiring him, but did not find any criminal episodes in his biography.

6. Falling overboard

22-year-old Oasis of the Seas passenger Frank Jade was washed away by a giant wave while walking on the open deck. Due to the fact that everything happened early in the morning, none of the passengers and staff noticed it. After some time, he was spotted by passengers on another ship, the Disney Magic, which was following the same course, and was safely rescued. About 20 people end up stranded on cruise ships every year, some deliberately.

Frame from dramatic video to rescue Frank, who was taken off board the Disney Magic.

7. Ship collision

Despite the most advanced navigation and collision avoidance systems, accidents still occur. This usually happens in ports during maneuvers or strong winds.

The cruise ship Celestyal Crystal, en route from Greece to Istanbul, collided with the tanker Pimlico on June 27, 2015. Both vessels received significant damage. There are no casualties among the people. The collision occurred due to the fault of both ships; the ship traffic control center in the strait warned both ships about the danger of a collision.

In September 2013, the ferry Superfast II was blown off its moorings in the port of Bari due to strong winds, causing a collision with the cruise ship Mein Schiff 2 of the cruise operator TUI Cruises. No people were hurt.

8. Dangers on the shore

Nine people died in a plane crash in Alaska in June 2015 during a shore excursion of the HAL Westerdam. The reason was bad weather conditions. A seaplane carrying airline passengers who had bought an excursion crashed into a rock.

We hope that with this article we have not discouraged you from going on a cruise. After all, no fewer dangers await us on land. As they say, “Forewarned is forearmed!”

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Sea travel, which many of us dreamed about as children, is now becoming an increasingly popular way to see the world. At first glance, it seems that this type of recreation is available only to the “cream of society,” but this is not at all the case. We are ready to tell you a few secrets that will make your sea cruise one of the most exciting adventures without causing a crushing blow to your budget.

website I have collected for you 19 of the most important and proven tips that will come in handy both at the travel planning stage and on board the cruise ship. We are confident that with them your trip will be truly unforgettable.

Before the trip

• If you want to buy a cheaper cruise, then follow the principle of buying a regular tour: during the peak season (summer) and for several months before the departure date, prices will be high, and if you wait and book a trip just before departure during the velvet season, then you are likely to get an excellent discount, since cruise ships have a large number of cabins that sell poorly in the fall due to weather conditions and the start of the school year.
• Plan your excursion routes in cities during stops in advance. Thus, you will not overpay on board the ship for guide service, transfers and lunches at excursion points. Choose a convenient route and calculate the time - leave an hour and a half in case you are delayed in the city.
• Download your cruise line's app to your phone. There you will find a lot of useful tips, photographs from the ship, exact cabin locations, an entertainment program, a travel map and much more. In addition, some companies offer several hours of free Wi-Fi or access to other paid services exclusively for those who download the application in advance.

Cabin

• Don't forget a portable charger, as economy class cabins are notorious for not having enough power outlets.
• Take advantage of the "Cabin Class Guarantee" when purchasing your cruise. This way you will be placed in a category no lower (and most often higher) than the one you paid for. If you do not want to pay extra for this service, then your stay may not be the most comfortable.
• For a romantic trip, choose a cabin located at the rear of the ship. Firstly, this will protect you from strong winds, and secondly, you will be able to watch dolphins, sunsets and sunrises not from the common upper deck, but from your personal balcony or window.
• After the ship's first stop in port, contact the Guest Relations Desk and ask them to upgrade your cabin. Since some passengers are transferring to another ship, you can get a nice bonus in the form of accommodation in a cabin with a balcony.

• If possible, choose an "outside" cabin. Even if you have to overpay. In the “interior” cabins there will be a rather depressing atmosphere due to the lack of windows and daylight. The higher your deck (cabin floor), the better. The lower "outside" cabins are equipped with porthole windows only.

Food and drink

• Food is always the main income for a ship during a trip. Before setting sail, find out all the information you need about meals on board. Ask about lunch boxes, which you can purchase when purchasing your tour. They will help you save time and a significant amount of money.
• If you do not have an all-inclusive system, then stock up on snacks and favorite treats in advance. On board, these little pleasures won't come cheap. But don’t forget about the baggage limit and the ship’s rules.
• If you ordered “breakfast only,” then upon arrival on the ship, ask the staff how much the additional payment for “breakfast and dinner” will be. Due to the buffet system, the cost of additional payment for dinner will be low.
• Ask the stewards what they can offer as free treats. Typically these include mini snacks for evening tea, cookies and sweets, nuts and popcorn in bars, and sandwiches on the deck in the entertainment area.
• On the first day of your trip, find out about special offers at a la carte restaurants, which regular customers book as soon as they arrive on board.

• The highest markup on the ship is carbonated drinks and alcohol. Keep this in mind when ordering at a restaurant. But free water (as well as anti-nausea mints) can be found in almost all public areas. By the way, you will not be able to bring alcohol on board during loading or stopping. This is prohibited on most cruise ships. Before your cruise, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the alcohol policy on the ship you choose.

• Shops near the port always inflate prices for the most common products and souvenirs (as do the souvenir shops on the ship). Just walk deeper into the city and save up to 50%. Also, do not succumb to the provocations of local “guides” near the ship’s stop, who will offer to show you the city and the most budget boutiques.
• In many seaports there are Duty Free shops, where you can profitably purchase goods that are subject to high taxes: cosmetics, jewelry, alcohol. But what you shouldn’t buy at Duty Free are souvenirs: despite the fact that they are not subject to taxes, they are unreasonably expensive in duty-free shopping areas.

The time has passed when sea ​​cruises served only peace and relaxation. Today it is believed: the more dynamic the vacation on the ship, the better. This review contains 18 mind-blowing entertainments that await vacationers on board tourist ships.

1. Wind tunnel

American-Norwegian company Royal Caribbean International is engaged in the construction of top-class ships. The ships are literally “stuffed” with the latest technologies not only in the field of technical support, but also in the field of entertainment. On several cruise ships, developers have installed incredible attractions for outdoor enthusiasts.

Wind tunnel RipCord, located on the ship Quantum of the Seas, allows you to experience the indescribable sensations of free falling at a speed of 160 km/h.

2. Observation cabin

The observation cabin on the mechanical arm of The North Star allows vacationers to rise to a height of up to 100 meters above sea level. The capsule functions both while the liner is moving and when it is in port. There is a wonderful 360 degree view from the top.

3. Children's entertainment gym

The multi-purpose SeaPlex space on Anthem Of The Seas is designed for children's circus classes, roller skating, and a race track.

4. Artificial wave for surfing

Surfing on board a ship is now possible on Anthem Of The Seas. An artificial wave will allow you to fully enjoy boarding.

5. 65-meter water slide

AquaDunk is a huge water slide on board the Disney Magic cruise ship. Its height is 3 floors and its length is 65 meters.

6. Zipline

Thrill seekers head to Zipline, now available on Oasis of the Seas. A descent on a steel cable through 9 decks will provide daredevils with a decent dose of adrenaline.

7. Bionic bar

The future is already here. On board the Quantum of the Seas, robots mix cocktails at the bar.

8. Brewery

Well, if tourists want to take a break from the dizzying descents, they can always go to a beer hall, where they serve a drink brewed right on the ship in their own brewery.

9. Planetarium

Now you can look at the stars not only from the deck, but also in the planetarium located right on the ship. Never before have the stars been so close.

10. Climbing wall

The world's largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, which set off on its first cruise just a couple of days ago, invites vacationers to try their hand at a climbing wall.

11. Ice bar

The idea of ​​creating an ice bar was inspired by the snow hotels of Scandinavia. Oddly enough, after the hot sun, tourists are happy to put on warm clothes and go to the ice-cold bar for a glass or two of a strong cocktail.

12. Water park

You can feel like a child by visiting a water park on one of the cruise ships. 5 multi-level slides, 2 swimming pools, 4 Jacuzzis - and all this on the deck of one ship.

13. Mini golf courses

Evening performances in aqua theaters leave spectators in awe as performers dive into deep pools from a height of 10 meters.

16. Suspended bikes

The Skyride, or suspended bike, allows vacationers to walk above the deck rather than on it. This way you can travel a distance of up to 250 meters.

Just the other day I left the port. On it you can find most of the entertainment described above.

The word “cruise” scares off the average Russian tourist in the same way that frog legs in sour cream scare off the mighty Siberian peasant raised on dumplings. But in vain. Paws... that is, cruises are an excellent alternative to the boring tourist menu. Moreover, they also have a number of advantages.

The absence of the static moment of ordinary resorts, turning vacationers into amorphous sausages fried in the sun, is already an excellent incentive. Sea breeze, endless distances, albatrosses soaring high in the sky, waves running from under the keel to the horizon - it seems like a great alternative, doesn’t it?

No unbearable tropical acclimatization, no persistent beach barkers. And then, in the usual 7-10 days, you will have time to visit not one country, but several at once, you will see the best seaports, life and people, separated by languages ​​and borders. You can go on a cruise at any time of the year and to any part of the world - be it exotic French Polynesia, the icy Arctic or the classic Mediterranean.

The only negative for people with a sensitive vestibular system is seasickness. However, there are many ways to deal with seasickness, so during a boat trip, feeling unwell will not interfere with enjoying the endless open spaces.

Price question: what to save on.

You will say: a cruise is wonderful! However, the issue is price. This is crazy money. Yes. And what? It's hard to argue with that. But again - there are different liners, not necessarily fashionable, cruises are different, not necessarily around the world, and the time of year is also different, not necessarily summer. So the price range is quite wide.

In terms of prices, by the way, there is one point. It will help you navigate and save money. This is the location of the cabin. The most budget option is interior cabins. Cabins with a window cost a little more, but still less than cabins with a balcony. The lower decks are much cheaper than the upper ones, as are the bow and stern compared to the center. Also, don’t be alarmed when you see a number in a tour operator’s brochure. The word “cruise” usually means that its price will include all entertainment and sports programs, sports equipment, a swimming pool, meals, and sometimes alcohol. So to speak, a turnkey holiday. What is not included in the price is transfer to the place of departure, shore excursions and port taxes, as well as some personal services - for example, SPA, laundry and ironing, some purchases on board.

Another “loophole” for saving is the season. The “low” tourist season is always several times cheaper than the “high” one. By the way, in addition to price, the “low” season has one more advantage: most excursion-interesting port cities will be free from crowds of noisy tourists. You can stroll through them leisurely and with pleasure.

The cheapest tours are Mediterranean, the most expensive are in the southern hemisphere, the Arctic and Antarctic. In summer, the “high” season is closer to the subtropics, in winter - to the equator.

What else is important to consider when choosing a cruise for your vacation?

Ship size

Often it is even more important than his affiliation with a cruise line. Generally, the larger the ship, the more entertainment you'll find on board. The design of large cruise ships can include swimming pools, SPA salons, casino clubs and other pleasant places. Small ships, of course, do not provide such luxury, but they can offer something else - the cozy atmosphere of a small country boarding house.

Ship age

The older the liner, the less likely it is that all its amenities will be placed in suitable premises. In new ships, all functional rooms are provided at the design stage, while on ships of an earlier year of production you can, for example, find a sauna somewhere in the hold.

Ship class

Please note that liners have the same “star” classification as hotels. However, here the same stars mean something slightly different. For example, standard 4* cabins are usually smaller than hotel rooms with the same star rating, but the service and atmosphere here, on the contrary, are much better. The service, by the way, on any ocean liners, regardless of their class, age and size, is always very good. Perhaps because, in principle, there is nowhere to escape from board, and getting to work on such a liner is much more difficult than in an ordinary hotel.

Purpose of the trip

It is important to understand what you want - to have a blast with friends or relax with your family. For the first purpose, small ships are more suitable, but the giants of cruise holidays, on the contrary, are usually perfectly suited for family holidays - nurseries, children's playrooms, high railings. In both cases, by the way, you can save a lot of money: among cruise companies there is a common pricing system in which the first two passengers in the cabin pay the full cost of the cruise, and everyone else pays much less.

Booking

Sea cruises are a popular business. Therefore, tickets for the most popular destinations need to be purchased 3-4 months in advance. Moreover, as a rule, the cabins of the lowest and highest classes are dismantled first. So you can reach the middle class in a month or two. There are never last minute prices for sea cruises. Here everything is exactly the opposite: the cost increases the more the closer the departure day gets.