SailBreakaway

4 hours ago, The_Portlandian said:

What does this mean and how do I find the bid meter? 

Doesnt show up on my iphone, I need to login on a computer to see the meter. 

3 hours ago, aero777 said:

Just won my bid, Norwegian Encore 11/2, cheapest MC mini suite to H8 Haven. Excellent bid. Good luck everyone!

Bid range was Excellent range (not just saying it was generically excellent?)

4 hours ago, gmbhardy said:

 

I was on a B2B with my second week on the Breakaway (what a disaster) and the Internet was terrible. Anyway, here’s the info I got on Drago - he’s no longer in the YC but got a promotion and is now a head waiter in the Ipanema MDR. Any Venchi drink under $12 is included in the YC package. My wife and I had one every day, sometimes two. Gelato and crepes are also included in the Venchi outlet near the aft swimming pool. Really loved the YC again. I’m a NCL loyalist too but IMO, the YC blows the Haven right out of the water. 

Hey thank you so much!!! We will definitely seek him out when we get ton board in December.  Glad to hear he got promoted, he's a great dude.  

Great news on the Venchi drinks still ok'd for YC.  I feel like eventually someday, that will change, so thanks for getting the intel, and like I've said before, the Chocolate #2!!! Shut the front door!!! lol

Welcome to the club, the Haven sell outs! Honestly, can't beat the YC.  I have an option to spend 2500-2800 or so to upgrade my MiniSuite on NCL to the Haven, and I'm thinking to myself, man that's 3/4 the cost of one more week in the YC! 

Love to hear you BA stories when you get a chance, until then, welcome home and thanks again my friend!

Does NCL award upgrades on weekends or weekdays only when office staff is present?

Heres a question for you guys. Were a week out and I have some strong bids in. I use a Cap One card that I usually keep locked by the app for security reasons. I don’t want to unlock it now if I don’t have to not knowing when and if they will process a bid in the next 5 days, so if they hit the card and its declined because its locked, what will happen? Will they contact me or just move on and throw away and lose my upgrade?

Oddball question I know. 

1 hour ago, beerman2 said:

Depends on the circumstances of his leaving. If he left on his own accord (highly unlikely) he probably has a no compete clause for x amount of years.

 

If he was "fired" or "shoved out" Yes he can go elsewhere NOW!

 

I guess we will see the circumstances of his departure soon.

A little birdie flew by my window and said so...  

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

You will see Andy re-emerge with another operator. 

10 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

Yes, for two weeks. 46 cruises and it was our all time favorite one. Nothing better on the seas. Priced very well too.

Excellent. So glad to hear that. We are becoming MSC loyalists and NCL converts as well. Thanks for that info!!!

1 minute ago, grandgeezer said:

We just got off the Seaside and the drinks at Venchi as long as they were under $12.  Ww had a chocolate martini #1 on a regular basis over the two weeks. #1 is with rum and #2 is with vodka.

Were you in the YC? Oh and the Chocolate  #2 is the best!!

2 hours ago, JC5240 said:

Hey all - just wanted to report back:

 

We got off the Seaside on the 19th (GORGEOUS ship! I may actually write my first cruise review - we'll see! haha). 

 

Venchi drinks are NOT included in any package (it states it on each page on their drink menu as well). We indulged though and got the Venchi Martini No. 2 (absolutely incredible). We were, however, able to order other drinks from the Venchi bar that were not on the Venchi menu (Pear and Ginger Martini, Lattes without Venchi chocolate, etc). But, depending on the bartender that you asked, it was selective - some bartenders let you order whatever you wanted and as long as it wasn't Venchi it was included. Other bartenders stated that no matter what was ordered even if it wasn't Venchi incurred a charge, and one bartender said they only serve Venchi items that are on the Venchi menu (when I mentioned what Venchi drinks included Heineken since there was Heineken behind the bar, she shrugged her shoulders and walked away)...

 

But, the overall consensus is that no Venchi based drink is included in any package, regardless of the price.

 

Hope this helps!

Thanks, thats same as it was in June then. Curious to hear back from @gmbhardy to see if they are still including Venchi drinks for Yacht Club Guests (we’ve heard both ways lately). 

It’s usually normal to get a few different answers to the same question with MSC, you just have to keep asking until you get the right one or the one you want! It is getting better though. 

@gmbhardy Whats the scoop on the Venchi Martinis/drinks/gelato and were you able to find Drago? Welcome back, hope you had an awesome time!

59 minutes ago, JohnIreland said:

 

MSC have no issues putting a bigger pool even higher.

They did a great job on Meraviglia, Bellisima, and Grandiosa. I’ll see if I can post a news drone photo from its inaugural Manhattan arrival of the top deck. They did like an aft ampatheater tiered seating surrounding a pool, great efficient use of the space. They also have the main pool (good sized), slides, ropes course, a solarium pool just forward of the main pool (like RCCL) with a Haven retractable roof, AND the YC area forward of the solarium and pool. We’re sailing on her in February. 

Encore was designed wit you in mind. Go Carts, Virtual Reality, Laser Tag (and your usual water slides etc) etc.  They gave up a lot of real estate to provide these new activities geared toward families and kids.  Our teenagers were always totally fine with ropes course and slides on BA/GA and Escape.

10 minutes ago, www3traveler said:

Has anyone seen yet an exact date and time for the Handover Ceremony?

I'm not sure NCL has given an exact time yet for them to hand over the keys to @TheDougOut.

😉

6 hours ago, RNRcruisers said:

 

That is what I'm afraid of. Where will we go on sea days?

The following statement is purely me venting. I’m not expecting an actual answer...

Pressure Relief Valve Open..

I don’t get it. First let me say, I am on the Inaugural TA because it is the last of the BA class of ships that we have loved as a family (esp 2015 era NCL Management - Breakaway from NY) and my wife and I have wanted to do an inaugural TA for years. Were going to be indoors for many days and that’s something we love. Deck space and outdoor events won’t have any impact on us, nor will crowds like Summertime out of NY.  I had a Summer Bermuda booked on Encore and I’ve cancelled it. I won’t spend 5000$+ on that ship for a summer sailing that is packed. 

I keep reading over and over again about the lack of deckspace, the loss of Spice, the massive amounts of real estate made into some sort of Virtual  Reality, the extra charges for everything, and on and on. And then you read post after post of everyone throwing their money at NCL for this ship!!!! WHY? Book Getaway, Book Breakaway, Book Escape, Book Bliss or Joy even, but why is everyone investing in a product they don’t like?? Soon FDR will bloviate to his shareholders how Encore has more bookings than any other ship NCL has had and further out and on and on and on. He will brag how their go to market strategy for paid venues and virtual reality and go carts lead the industry in generating revenue both pre cruise and on board spending, yet over and over educated cruisers say “This is awful.... But I’m booked”. With all the options of ships and experiences and beautifully designed decks,  why??!?!?

This is rhetorical. I know some will love the design, mothers and fathers of kids and families may think this design is the pinnacle of cruising (until they want to spend an hour in the sun without the kids)

Time will tell, however I just don’t understand why so many will flock to book this ship at premium prices, but will declare the design sucks. 

I’m done.

Not looking for answers, just to vent. It’s capitalism, open free markets, and it’s what out country is founded on, but I just can’t get over with this design that “If you build it they will come”. 

Carry on!

Having said all that we are like 17 days from boarding and I’m excited as heck to do this Trans Atlantic with our family of 500 CC members!!

Just now, Paul Bogle said:

Bermuda from NYC in mid November? Unless indian summer strikes the weather will be too cool for laying out in the sun. I can't see any reason to spend money on Vibe passes unless you want to spend a lot of time in the hot tub and have it all to yourselves.

Save your money and buy Mandara Spa passes.

On 10/14/2019 at 11:31 PM, cruisingator2 said:

We’re booked on the MSC Grandiosa for spring out of Barcelona and yesterday I booked us on the Seaside for late October. Both are in the YC but the cost was outstanding. Especially compared to NCL’s Haven. Something new for us. No longer loyal to one cruise line. If you decide to cruise on the Meraviglia I will look forward to your review and photos. 🙂

 

Welcome to the club, this will be our last NCL cruise until things change over there, we have become loyal MSC clients with 3 more booked for 2019 and 2020.  Seaside and Meraviglia are both impressive designs in their own respects, each has something to offer the other doesn't.  We sailed SS and loved it.  We book YC and were loyal Haveners.  It's not a bad product at all, however they have priced themselves out of my market, and well into some others (I cruise 2.5 times on MSC for what I can cruise once for in Haven).

My only gripe of Meraviglia is the didn't make the front Top Sail Lounge windows two stories to connect with the restaurant like SS and Bliss/Encore.  Interestingly, Bella and Grandi they fixed their mistake and they indeed have two stories of windows.

That's all from here for now.  See you all on the Encore Inaugural TA posts from Southampton! It's my farewell to the Breakaway class, and some great memories.

2 hours ago, jennsouth217 said:

That is great! I checked today, we are still in pending status. Fingers crossed! 

Really? We're on the Inaugural TA and still nada.. That's great tho congrats!

Anyone recently have a fair/borderline good bid accepted? If so pls let me know, just curious how many are accepted (I realize every cruise is unique). Thanks!!

15 minutes ago, CazV said:

A photo of her arriving into Eemshaven this afternoon.

(Photo Credit: Jeroen van Roijen)

That's a pretty nice picture thanks! You find such good stuff!

5 hours ago, sheilb4 said:

After reading the great review from Rattanchair, with Vishnu, I’m sure many of us are drooling for that superb experience you enjoyed. Is anyone willing to share names of the other good or even bad Butlers on MSC Seaside ? Please... Always nice to have a heads up early, so that you don’t waste time asking for a new one and the likely hassle and/challenges that could present.🥴

An engaged and personable friendly Butler is such a treat and can seriously make such a positive impact on your entire cruise, that will always be remembered,  so am hoping to have the same wonderful service that Rattanchair experienced.
I had Leslie my last time. He was very pleasant, a lovely person but I think also very new.  

Lezle B. was the butler I described above. Probably same guy. The YC Director told me he was new, but took the words out of my mouth by saying immediately that is no excuse for his performance. We were on first week of June, curious when you guys had him and if he stepped up his game at all. 

Ill take any recommendations for the ‘great ones’ for SS for us in Dec and Mera in Feb. 

1 hour ago, cyndyga said:

Don't need to call them out but curious how they were terrible because I am fully wanting and paid for a "good" butler experience. Please expand on your comment 🙂

Sure.  I'm going to skip the detail and keep it very simple.  From Day one, we never saw him again for DAYS.  Our fellow guests we became friendly with told us their Butler asked them what they were doing daily (in a discreet not in your face way) so they were present to help them with shows, embarkation, disembarkation at ports, etc. They would show to bring them to dinner, they would check in with them in the lounge, on the sundeck. "Hi Mr. So and So, is there anything I can help you with?"  They would know their favorite drink and when they saw them in the lounge, THEY WOULD BRING IT!! They would learn through minibar use what they liked and bring extra!! Without asking. US? No Butler to be found. I asked for his telephone number and he told us on day one he did not have one, I later found this was incorrect.  I asked because on NCL the Butlers had portable phone with direct dial numbers which was GREAT, so I asked.  They do on MSC as well, he told me no.  Whenever I needed something like clothing pressing I would call the generic number, and someone else would show up and pick up clothing, drop off, etc.  Just a random employee. I saw him in the lounge halfway through the cruise when meeting for a shore excursion, and went up to him (he did not approach us) and told him I was going to call in a missing persons report! It didn't phase him, he asked how we were and that was the end of that.  What was the kicker for us was on disembarkation day, he showed up! Oh yes he did! He came to the room at 730AM to tell my wife and I we had to be out!!!! I thought I was going to lose my mind.  I legit asked him if he was really serious.  I immediately went to the head Butler (the YC Director was busy with another guest) and explained our experience with him and he was VERY upset I didn't come to him earlier, however he didn't seem surprised.  He told me he would address it right away, and the Butlers and stewards are told strictly not to approach guests to move them to check out in YC as they are supposed to do throughout the ship.  We were awkwardly escorted down to disembarkation by him later, in silence (my guess is his boss spoke to him) and we parted ways. It was an awful way to end what was an otherwise beautiful cruise.  I just had this overall feeling that we were robbed of part of the overall experience. 

Now, this was our first MSC cruise and first YC. I was SOOOO impressed otherwise.  We had been Haven guess several times and really didn't use our Butler much, but at NCL they were always present.  

After reading many posts here of what the experience should be, although we don't NEED to have all of that attention, I feel like we pay for that service and option, and we should have an attentive Butler who is at least present.  

So, this is why I've asked for recommendations.  You can request a Butler, is what the head Butler told me the day I shared my feedback with him.  

2 hours ago, gmbhardy said:

No problem. If he’s there I’ll track him down.

Thanks I really appreciate it!

Here’s a question, we were on SS in YC in June for first time, and the experience was fantastic however the Butler was AWFUL! If you want his name I will happily supply it. Having said that, we are returning in December (SS) and February (Mera). If you’ve had an outstanding experience and service from your Butler can you provide his or her first (and/or last) name here? It would be most valuable to me and possibly others.