JAGR

Too True! My DW is nicknamed "Imelda!"

You as well!😄

Sorry. I know what TBH is, but am unfamiliar with the extra H. Does it mean 'To Be Hugely Honest'?

To @mosiegirl: While your friends are doing that with the Maître d', you may want them to check on dining. With four 'main' dining rooms, one of them has to be open for breakfast. it's almost always the Green Wave, but could also include the other three: Cala Jondal, Aegean, or Skyline. They may not have lunch on port days, but I can't believe they are closed for breakfast.

A good time to get the traditional hamachi and avocado starter! However, this is only an option in YC, at least on US-based cruises, where the dining rooms are not open for lunch on departure day. Probably different in Europe with passengers on and off at each port.

That is on Elegant night, where MSC recommends dress up if you like, but that casual is accepted. While they are not consistent about enforcement on all ships and all sailings, shorts and sleeveless shirts for men are not allowed, as are open-toed shoes. Long pants and a polo shirt and you would be fine.

I see Mark Twain! "I have no respect for a man who can spell a word only one way!" Or Andrew Jackson: "It is a damn poor mind indeed which can't think of at least two ways to spell a word."

They are RFID-based, and have to be reprogrammed. They would only be jewelry until the are reset, and I suspect that they would notice then that it was an old one. That would be a problem in addition to the Muster Station. The usage that Ate provides is correct. I would add that it is limited to the newer "smart ships", which would be Meraviglia and Seaside classes and newer. Also, note that they are complimentary for Aurea and Yacht Club experience. You would have to pay for the use of them in the Bella and Fantastica experiences. You can get by easily with you card only, so there isn't a real reason to rent them if you don't want to pay.

Along with a glass of "Champaign," no doubt!😉

If you were a fan of "Reefer Madness" (either from the 1936 film version or the 2005 updated "Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical"), then you were led to believe that marijuana was not a gateway drug. It was the ultimate killer drug!

Splendida is a Fantasia class ship. There is only the main theater (The Strand).

MSC does things quite a bit differently. Assigned embarkation times are a moving target with them, at best. They typically have everyone at a later time, and as the sailing gets closer, they often change people's times. As an example, we were in Yacht Club on Meraviglia in October. We were originally assigned 3:00 p.m., then 2:00, then 1:00. Finally, teh week of our sailing, we were assigned 10:30 a.m.

Yes, indeed! 😞 I'm out of coffee this morning! Thanks for the catch! Happy you beat Morpheus to the punch! 🤭

We've been on both ships, and yes, there is significantly more shade areas on Seashore. Assuming you are a non-smoker, the area forward of the buffet/bar area on the port side is covered, but seating is dedicated to tables and chairs. Smokers are accommodated on the starboard side. Probably about eight four tops. There are quite a few open cabanas as well, and while not really offering roof cover, there are ways to get away from the direct sun on the loungers in the cabanas. It's not perfect, but it better than Seashore by quite a bit.

Hopefully, they'll have sorted out your "special" air vents for your cabin!☺️

If no YC, that would be easy. The hard part is how they do it if there is a YC.

Not exactly. When you enter and go past security, make sure you tell personnel that you an Aurea experience passenger so that you get in a priority lane (you'll see signs for Aurea/Diamond to know you are in the right line). Once you are checked in, you will be assigned to a priority boarding. You'll be on right after those that are back-to-back and those that are in Yacht Club.

You are correct, I think. It must be new. I just did a mock booking to match our March YC sailing, and it does say "priority boarding and luggage drop-off. I'm curious how they would do that, unless they are setting up an "Aurea" tent? I can just see the complaints coming in from Diamond guests in Fantastica or Bella rooms!

No worries! She looks like Fabiana, who was on Seashore a year ago or so. BTW, really enjoy your posts and your writing style! Hope to see you at a YC bar in the near future, although I admit I wouldn't be drinking the Fireball! Maybe tequila, if DW is not sitting at the bar!😉

I don't think that's right, unless they changed. La Pergola was reserved for Aurea and Fantastica Suite guests, at least when she sailed out of Florida.

I think it was Fabiana, the Hostess/Asst. Dining Room Manager.

The only category that has priority bag drop off is Yacht Club. Aurea has priority for check in and boarding only on embarkation, I believe.

Agreed. We missed it twice before COVID. As I recall, the original date was December 2017 (overly ambitious!). Then in September 2016, they announced that the date was being moved to October 2018. Then in November 2017, they announced a new date of November, 2018. Then., they switched to December 5, 2019 (first time they used a specific date!).

On the first point, you kind of answered it yourself when you posted the Dining Experience menu. That is the "tasting menu" you mention. Personally, I like the YC filet (always available) to the Butcher's Cut, but I think the side choices at BC make it worth trying (maybe for a sea day lunch?). Using the Diamond meal somewhere else is a good option if there is something that strikes your fancy (fish, or sushi/sashimi, perhaps).