Towel Animals Gone for Good?

[3Sisters]

@euroguy What really attracts me to MSC Cruises is the quality of ships for the price. The prices are just so good and the newer ships are so beautifully designed. I love the food quality and the entertainment is great too. In comparison to CCL and RCL, I find MSC Cruises to attract a more well-rounded crowd with a less party-focused mindset. I'm not really looking for a rowdy cruise crowd anymore. I think The CCL Platinum would match the Gold status level! 

This ship is really well-designed. It doesn't feel overly crowded and the spaces onboard are endless. I haven't had to fight for a pool lounger on an MSC ship yet. Embarkation and disembarkation went really smoothly for a large ship. The crew definitely has it down to a science.

Yes, and MSC Cruises has MSC World America coming to the U.S. with the same elegance! 

I will be hopefully cruising World Europa end of 2025. It will be embarking out of Barcelona with stops throughout Italy, but I booked the itinerary on a whim while on MSC Seascape actually. I still need to plan out this trip. It's so far out still I have put it on the backburner for now, but it is booked!

[euroguy]

@3Sisters thank you for sharing your insights about MSC. It sounds wonderful. Much like you I'm not really into the "part scene" but at the same time im not looking fir a sleepy crowd either. Guess a nice balance would be nice. Inwill certainly have to give MSC another look.  I know I can get a free cruise from them but I'm already booked for 2 cruises for 2024. Maybe they have a short cruise that I might be able to squeeze in out of Long Beach to give them a little try.

Your 2025 trip starting in Barcelona sounds so great.  I've looked at those trip too and have thought it would be fun, but have never pulled that trigger. I'm so happy for you as I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip with tons if things to see.

[3Sisters]

 

@euroguy It sounds like we both share a similar common interest! We like a similar cruising experience. Have you heard of Virgin Voyages? I am really excited to try that but can't bring children along. My friends posted photos of their experience and it looked incredible. I think Virgin Voyages most definitely has another level of class! The line is still in its very beginning stages. This article is an example of that. https://www.cruisehive.com/virgin-cruise-ship-collides-with-dock-at-portmiami/106633 There is always a learning curve involved, but I can't wait to give the line a try.

I'm so very excited about Barcelona and visiting family in Madrid. It would be an incredible cruise and certainly unforgettable.

[euroguy]

@3Sisters yes virgine certainly sounds interesting and I have looked into them as well.  From what I can see and read it really is geared for adults and has a lot of to offer as an all inclusive cruise. I'm pretty sure I could get them to offer me a free cruise but I wonder about the loyalty match. I've looked at carnivals v msc and it appears carnivals loyalty program seems to offer more and the mores are what really appeal to me. Like priority boarding, priority dinner reservations, priority tender, priority debarkation, FREE Laundry, drinks party, chocolate delight sent to cabin i.e.chocolate covered strawberrys and I'm already receiving free drinks everywhere on the ship.

I know ...I know..  I might enjoy another line better 😆  but my perks are pretty great.

If I was you I would be pretty excited about the trip to Barcelona too. What ship will you be on?

[3Sisters]

@euroguy You should totally try that with Virgin Voyages. The atmosphere would totally suit you and the casinos have to be amazing! The only downside is you will likely have to cruise out of Port Miami, but if the line covers the majority of your cruise fare then paying airfare doesn't hurt as bad. 

CCL is especially hard to beat, especially at your loyalty level. It's worth it to keep on earning those loyalty points! 

The ship is MSC World Europa! I wish I could say the flights are cheap, but they are not! I keep looking at prices and it doesn't seem promising. I may end up paying more for the flight than that actual cruise, and that would bother me. I have no problem paying for a week-long cruise, but to pay the same for 24 hours off airfare is just annoying. I guess if I want to see Europe that badly, I will need to suck it up.

[euroguy]

@3Sisters it does make it hard to justify expensive flights compared to price of the cruise. This one of the problems I struggled with for my February trip out of Orlando. I'm hoping Virgin since Virgin is still young and growing that they have the West Coast on their radar in the near future. This way i can skip the expensive flights but problem is only have a limited # of destinations here verses Florida has so many

[3Sisters]

@euroguy How were the flight prices for that time of year? The big costs of flying end up boiling down to coordinating the proper time of day to travel and the day of the week. If you fly on peak days, the cost oftentimes doubles! 

I agree that there are limited options from the West Coast. At least the itinerary options are pretty nice! I happen to love Long Beach.

[euroguy]

@3Sisters I did a a one way with Southwest going and 1 way retun on AA. Worked out to be $400.  All in all not a horrible price but.of course there is a hotel cost that comes into.play with this planning as I did want to arrive 1 day ahead of embarkation. 

It took some.time to figure out best plan of attack for the flights.  #1 criteria was the flight path.had to stay in southern parts of u.s. and no connection in snow states. #2 flight times and additional.flight options if a connection was canceled #3 pricing.

Obviously the inbound flight to Orlando was the key flight so not to miss the ship. As it stands I leave 9 a.m. sacrament get to hobby in Texas about noon 1 hour layover. If connection flight gets canceled between that day and very early next morning I will have 11 flight options to get orlando same day or no.later than noon next day.

Yeah I know over planning but would rather be prepared vs. Caught by the shorts and not have a plan.

What are the cost of flights to Barcelona?

I.just received another amazing offer $100 balcony 16 day transatlantic to Barcelona with some cool stops.. oh I need to retire or work 1/2 time so I can use all these spectacular offers

[3Sisters]

@euroguy Those are two great airlines! I love that Southwest allows for two suitcases. That's a huge perk, especially when traveling for a week or more. Those are both reliable airlines so if anything happens you can hop on another flight without a hassle. 

There is nothing wrong with overplanning as long as you don't get upset when something deviates unexpectedly. It's always harder when you have every hour of the day mapped out and plans change unexpectedly. When that happens, I try to just roll with the punches, making the most out of it. I wouldn't want a little mishap to ruin my vacation! 

Flights from the U.S. to Barcelona really vary! They are all about $1,000 to $1,500 or more. 

You have to try that Barcelona cruise! That's such an awesome itinerary! You would only need a one-way from Barcelona. Is that with CCL? Would you be able to work from the ship?

[Night Owl]

@euroguy I kept mine all week as well and this our steward left this arrangement on our final day at Sea.  It made my day!! And he got a great tip!

[euroguy]

@Night Owl that's awesome!!! I did the same thing. I hope you left them food and water. 😁 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@Night Owl Your collection reminds me of @euroguy's zoo! My favorite is the turkey. Since I haven't cruised with CCL in a while I have to ask, do all of the housekeeping crew still bring you towel animals daily? With all of the cutbacks, I assume it takes an awesome stewardess to do this for guests on every single day of the cruise itinerary.

[RoadTravelled]

1 hour ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@Night Owl Your collection reminds me of @euroguy's zoo! My favorite is the turkey. Since I haven't cruised with CCL in a while I have to ask, do all of the housekeeping crew still bring you towel animals daily? With all of the cutbacks, I assume it takes an awesome stewardess to do this for guests on every single day of the cruise itinerary.

@Cruising Caribbean We just completed a cruise on the CCL Venezia in September.  We got towel animals every day just like always.  We saved them as well and created our own "zoo" on the couch.  On the last day the cabin attendant did a "heart" towel with a thank you note inside.  I always have wondered who creates all of those animals.  I assume it's somebody in housekeeping and then the attendants just distribute them?  Don't really know.

[Cruising Caribbean]

@RoadTravelled Thanks for sharing this great info! I'm so excited that the tradition continues. This is just one of the many things that make the line truly stand out amongst others. CCL is a really inclusive line too. I would say it's one of the best if not the best for inclusion. The towel animal creator question is very valid. I have always assumed every stateroom attendant created their own towel animals! If there really is one "towel animal stateroom attendant," that's the job I would want if I worked on a cruise ship. I would love that job and the napkin folding job. Back in the day, CCL used to host napkin folding lessons! They were so fun.

[euroguy]

@Cruising Caribbean yes they still do towel animals everyday. I always look forward each day to see which new animal will be added to my new zoo and once seen brings a smile to my face, then with care move it to my couch.

That is a good question as to who makes them, like @RoadTravelled I've always assumed it was the cabin steward.

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy I love that! I thought the only reason why you received them every day was either because you were a VIP or because you scored an amazing stateroom attendant. It's a pretty intricate thing to do for all of your staterooms on the daily. How cool would it be if there was a whole room filled with a variety of towel animals on display? I wonder how many animal templates there really are!

[euroguy]

@Cruising Caribbean, I failed to see it or get a pic but someone on the same ship showed me the pic they took of the entire lido deck filled with towel animals all over the place. It was pretty amazing... it reminded me of feeding furbes after midnight 🤣

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy I'm so surprised you remember furrbies! Those things were so creepy and cool at the same time. I used to have quite a collection. How do you think all of the towel animals ended up on the lido deck? I hope this signature feature remains forever. It's just so fun and unique. MSC Cruises and pretty much all other cruise lines I have been on lately don't go the extra mile for anything remotely close to that. I barely get fresh towels without asking anymore. The game has changed. 

[euroguy]

@Cruising Caribbean im an enigma or multi faceted or like an onion with many layers.... 😃🤣 yes i clearly remember furbies. I thought they were so cute and man can they multiply, but you have to watch out for the leader stripe he is a mean one. 

From my understanding the cabin stewards got together and put about a 100 towel animals out on the lido deck. It was hilarious and amazing at the same time.

Sorry to hear that MSC isn't taking care of you. I know if I leave my towel on the bath floor my steward replaces it promptly.  Perhaps it's time to jump ship to CCL ...just make sure you have life preserver and beacon on so can find you if you land wrong. 😉 

[Cruising Caribbean]

@euroguy I could totally see Furbies making a comeback! Beanie babies are still super popular. The new ones are so much cuter than the older ones. I had no idea about the mean evil stripped furbies. I will keep my eyes out for those!

That is so fun! I wish more fun activities like that would occur. I love it when the cruise crew goes out of their way to make your cruise spectacular. That display must have made everyone's cruise complete. 

You are right, CCL does it right. I can't think of a bad experience I have had with the line. I haven't been displeased with MSC Cruises' customer service or overall quality, but I have noticed the cutbacks. I still feel confident to cruise with the line, but I can tell that the crew is being told to cut corners when possible to save on extras. The crew is still exceptional, but the quality of service just isn't the same.