RichYak

Isn’t this just a California state law?

1 minute ago, ScottC4746 said:

When I tried to close the panel with the window open,  on the app,  the button on the wall, and the touch pad.  Both touch pad and app said to close window first. 

Oh my bad, I thought you were talking about the bifold doors. This makes more sense.

3 hours ago, tori1022 said:

Thanks everyone! based off of this, it sound like YC is still a better fit. There was never an issue getting a lounger next to the pool so we can watch the kiddos. The cost is a little more for MSC but looks like it might be worth it. In our minds, there is nothing worse that feeling stressed about getting chairs poolside (if we don't, we are standing next to the pool watching the kids). 

What MSC ship are you considering? That could sway the "better fit" decision a bit.

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

To that end, I see a cruise to the Norwegian fjords in our future!

This is on my short list as well.

2 hours ago, ScottC4746 said:

Based on concierge class 11177 on edge you cannot have window open and panel closed. 

Why not? Will the panel not close if the window is open? That seems odd.

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

who goes into a nice restaurant at closing time..?

People who eat late. 2pm is not closing time, it's last seating.

3 hours ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

I agree with you that you were not late but I shouldn't expect to be seated and have lunch in only 15 minutes. That is unrealistic, I think.

This is a joke, right? Either that or a complete lack of understanding of how restaurant hours work.

1 minute ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

How many of you actually watched this video? 

I didn't, but I re-read your original thread to refresh my memory. I think it's important for people reading this thread to know that the lunch mishap wasn't a huge issue for you at the time and you let it roll off your back and your family got passed it immediately.

I feel as though you're being made out to be a complainer/rule breaker/DYKWIA type, which appears far from the truth. You didn't complain until encouraged to do so by people on this board. You deserve credit, not criticism, for how you handled the situation.

I look forward to your Retreat/YC comparison.

7 minutes ago, nferr said:

 What do you want them to do? Kick other people out? Sorry disagree.

No, they stay open until the waiting list of those who showed up before doors closing is exhausted, as is policy.

I found the thread with the relevant comment:

3 minutes ago, nferr said:

If it's full and there's no seats I don't know what people expect. Especially when it's near closing time.

It wasn't near closing time, it was near last seating time. Whether or not they should have been accommodated is not in question. The host/hostess was in the wrong turning them away. No tables available near last seating is a failure by the YC restaurant.

Just now, jelayne said:

However he is a sick guy...

I can't tell if this was intentional or a typo 😂

8 minutes ago, MonsterJoe said:

I am very curious about the story, how it was mostly likely exaggerated, and how it was resolved. Do you have a link?

I didn’t save a link. It was an embarkation day lunch with bad weather so the pool deck was not an option. Maitre D bungled it turning them away near closing time. They were posting here live and were encouraged to speak to YC director who, as I recall, handled it very very well though I don’t recall the specifics of what he offered. Just my recollection that it was way more than fair. 

21 minutes ago, chisoxfan said:

Making sure you have correct change everytime you are going to have a drink is not relaxing to me.

Nor I, which is a reason I pre-tip bartenders and bar servers--for the convenience. 

8 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Any thoughts or comments? 

I remember reading their story on this board a month or 2 ago and it was more than resolved by the YC director during that sailing.

2 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Okay, so now I think we are splitting hairs here. ("phrase. If you say that someone is splitting hairs, you mean that they are making unnecessary distinctions between things when the differences between them are so small they are not important)" like calling a phone # and hanging up.

Not splitting hairs or trying to hurt anyone's feelings, just describing the differences. The lack of the phone call--that you must do from your stateroom on MSC--plus the flexibility in watching the video make Celebrity's muster easier. 

On 6/4/2024 at 5:23 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

The Seascape has the easiest muster drill in the cruise industry. Scan your card anytime from 11:30 am from a pink ball capped muster station crew member, take the elevator back to cabin, watch video, call number indicated, done.

Celebrity is easier. You can be done with the muster requirement before even getting to your cabin when you embark. Watch the video on the mobile app--even before you board. You can also watch it on your stateroom TV if you prefer. Check in at your muster station any time before sail away and you're done. No phone call necessary so one less step than MSC.

10 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

How does this happen since tipping is done at the end of the cruise

On every cruise I have taken in the last 15 years, the tip has been prepaid or charged to my account daily.

3 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

And usually people care about the quality of the food, not about the gentle movements of the waiter serving it 😄

I care that what I'm about to order is what I'll like. The menu only tells you so much.

20 hours ago, nlclhc said:

I still can't understand

1 hour ago, nlclhc said:

I completely disagree

I wasn't trying to get you to agree. I was trying to help you understand why it's acceptable, which is what you said in the post I responded to. Another reason it's acceptable is because US federal labor guidance and state labor laws say it is. You don't have to agree with that either, but it is law.

18 hours ago, nlclhc said:

I am an European that have lived in the US since 2001 and I still can't understand why it is considered something acceptable for a employer to pay very little to a worker and expect the client to cover the rest through tips.

Because everybody wins. Good servers prefer it this way as they make more money in tips then they would with just a salary alone. They are incentivized to provide better service, which is a win for the customer. The business owner also wins as wages are kept in check, which is also a win for the customer as menu prices are lower. Finally, the lousy tippers get the worst service, which is a win for the rest of humanity.

Just jumping in to wish you a great trip! I loved Alaska, I'm sure you will too. Bon Voyage!

19 hours ago, GA Dave said:

Personally, I always order the burger with a bun and the lobster roll without the roll, then put the lobster meat on the burger. I call it an Island Surf & Turf. 

I've seen this recommendation many times on this board and people really seem to like it. I really can't see myself enjoying it. To me it seems like an odd combination. Am I the only one?

14 hours ago, Kiwifruit said:

I know from first hand experience that most (if not all) cruise lines will accept “over bookings” but it is extremely rare that this results in passengers being involuntarily denied boarding.
 

Cruise lines know that it would be very damaging to the brand if this occurs. Therefore they go to great lengths to ensure that any over bookings are resolved well before embarkation through generous offers and enticements to transfer sailings etc as previous posters have explained.

 

In my experience where there have been instances of passengers being denied boarding at the port it is not usually due to the practice of “over booking” per se. Rather it occurs where a ship is sailing at full capacity and cabins have to be withdrawn from the inventory without notice such as when water damage or sewage problems render them uninhabitable which is very uncommon and certainly not worth fretting about.

Agree 100%. It's naive to think that cruise lines overbooking is not standard practice. They have more than enough statistical data to know just how much they can overbook and not resort to involuntarily deny boarding at embarkation short of that rare 3- or 4-sigma event.

On 5/25/2024 at 9:18 PM, Jeal said:

There is a portion of Bimini Beach that is only for guests staying in Yacht Club.

I'm with Notch on this. There is no portion of Bimini Beach that is only for YC. The exclusive beach for YC is Ocean House Beach which is a completely different beach than Bimini.

23 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

I'm not arguing analytics.  I'm simply stating that I don't believe the cruise lines are routinely making a general widespread practice of overbooking cruises at the risk of passengers being denied boarding.  IMO if this was the case we would be hearing loud and long media and anti cruise groups reporting of the practice documenting the stories of those passengers denied boarding and stranded at the pier.  It would be front and center news.

I believe overbooking is happening. There's too much potential revenue for it not to be happening. With the move-up program, there is a constant flow of cabins becoming available. Cruise lines can resolve the situation prior to embarkation day if done conservatively yet there haven't been enough cancellations to meet the number of guarantees sold. It's a very manageable risk.

2 hours ago, adolfo2 said:

I call it the "Cruise Crud" 😉