Two Wheels Only

First choice in your case (2 side by side/bed near balcony B1s) would be deck 12 (12308/12310). Then, deck 9 (9320/9322). From there, it is a trade off between size and potential noise. Deck 15 (15278/15280) is next in size but might be avoided because of the noise on the sundeck. This is a bigger issue on other ships that have a Spice H2O. After that is deck 14 (14282/14284) in size but could also be an issue with noise. Deck 11 (11314/11316) is about the same size as deck 14 so that could be an option. After that, deck 10 doesn't have ANY B1s that are next to each other. Deck 13 (13308/13310) is the smallest. If the bed near balcony vs bed near closet isn't a deal breaker, go based on deck. I would avoid 9324, 12312, 15282, 14286, 11318, and 13312 as they are the most narrow aft-facing balcony on their deck. If you happen to find 2 that are next to each other, I can tell you which one would be bed near balcony if it isn't both.

I've made lists for the bed location and room configuration for all aft-facing staterooms on all 6 BA/BA Plus ships including M1 and Haven. Even when the deck plan shows the room indent (Breakaway/Getaway), I have found errors so I made my own lists. If you ever have a question, feel free to ask.

The dailies will tell you the hours for the specialty restaurants. NCL can sometimes vary lunch hours of operation depending on port days vs. sea days and can sometimes close or open specialty restaurants for lunch at random. For dinner, reservations are strongly recommended. For lunch, you can probably just show up.

Not necessarily. You CAN have 2 aft-facing bed near balcony staterooms that are next to each other. I prefer and suggest deck 12. 12308 and 12310 are both bed near balcony. Deck 12 is the 2nd deepest deck, has good views, and is far enough away from the noise of the sundeck (no Spice H2O on Encore).

If a specialty restaurant is open for lunch, you can use your package. It counts as a use. If you use 1 for lunch and 1 for dinner on the same day, that's 2 meals used.

With aft-facing, balcony depth varies by deck. There are also differences in balcony width and bed location (near balcony vs. near closet). Depending on what is important to you will give different suggestions.

The BA Plus ships (Escape, Joy, Bliss, Encore) have a larger standard side balcony than the equivalent on the BA ships (Breakaway, Getaway). The OP is sailing Getaway so the standard balcony is less deep. Having an angled balcony on a BA ship makes more of a difference since the standard balcony is so shallow... ...An angled balcony on a BA ship is much smaller than an angled balcony on a BA Plus ship.

Deck 9 seems to be fine as far as view from the balcony (9271).

If the song isn't in your head already.....

Yes...(T&C) 1.5 Length of Membership MSC Voyagers Club Membership is subject to a minimum of one cruise every three years. If the last cruise disembarkation date is over 3 years (36 months) or no cruise has been completed in 3 years after the enrolment date, membership to the MSC Voyagers Club program will expire.... ...If membership to the MSC Voyagers Club expires, all points earned are lost. For example: If a Diamond MSC Voyagers Club member with a points score of 12,000 does not sail for 3 years since their last disembarkation date, the 12,000 points will be lost. In order to start collecting points again, it will be necessary to subscribe to the MSC Voyagers Club again. FAQ Is there a limit on how many times I can request a Status Match? You may only apply for a Status Match one time.

The entrance to the inside stateroom will be around the corner instead of directly outside of the balcony stateroom door.

Is it aft or aft-facing?

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/114-disabled-cruise-travel/ You'll probably get better answers in the above section.

For Bliss, all actual suites are Haven staterooms. The Club Balcony "Suites" aren't actual suites and do not have a butler. Your B1 doesn't have a butler, either. Perhaps your friends had access to the VIBE Beach Club which has an exclusive sundeck.

No butler for B1. You friends may not have stayed in the Haven enclave but if they had an aft-facing suite (H-something), they would have had a butler and access to the Haven areas (opposite end of the ship).

With MSC, things generally aren't set in stone. Some lines (like NCL) are strict with ages but MSC is more likely to look the other way for something like a couple of months.

Yes, for a fee. There are 2 types (Oceanview and Beachfront). Loungers and umbrellas are no charge.

On Escape, port side/forward-facing on deck 19 is open to everyone...unless things have changed.

You can have those things on NCL if you are willing to pay more.

The Yacht Club shuttles go directly to Ocean House and directly back to the ship (close to it). They generally only stop on the way back if a YC guest requests that the shuttle stop (at the Smiling Fish, for example). Very rarely are guests picked up in-between. I don't know where you were waiting nor where you were going so I can't fully explain why you were not allowed on. For the most part, something as simple as towel color or ship card can tell if someone is a Yacht Club guest. The only female that I have seen drive a shuttle was a Yacht Club staff member so she may have not recognized you. If a shuttle is allocated for Yacht Club and you aren't staying in Yacht Club, the situation was handled correctly. You might have wandered into the Aurea area before reaching the Yacht Club area if you were outside. I don't know which deck that you were on. However, if you were in an area which you were not allowed to be, the guest and staff member did the right thing. As long as neither was rude, I don't see this as an issue.

On the US site, the drop down menus for all 3 experiences aren't expanding to show what's included. Previously, under "Relaxation & Wellbeing", it showed included spa access. The words and arrow are still there but no other explanation/expansion. When it comes to MSC, I generally lean towards incompetence instead of nefarious for things that seem wrong. I'm more inclined to believe that someone on the IT side messed up instead of MSC removing something as integral as Aurea Spa access from the Aurea experience. But I agree. With MSC, you never know...

I'm thinking that it never really left. It seems to have been a website update to add the "upon reservation" part.

What happened and how do you feel that it should have been handled?

That's the best option. Also, bring a map and point to where you want to be.

That should be 18030, 18032, 18034, 18036, 18038, 18040. ....stupid phone...😠