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Hey, someone posted a review on YouTube and it said people had to purchase the armbands. Is there a fee for them or will they be provided free of charge? Assuming, there is a fee ... do you know how much it is?

I'm sailing in 12 days in the YC. I will absolutely check and report back. I plan to write a full photo-review.

awesome! I'm looking forward to it!

There are still not enough actual reviews, basically nothing about the YC. The reviews that are available are kind of sad - people seem to have somewhat unrealistic expectations and I suspect at least a couple of "fake" reviews. Come on, even if you had to wait for two hours to get off the ship and the brand-new-and-just-oriented staff did not exactly know the way to your specific cabin, you should not feel that the cruise is only worth 1 star and MSC the worst cruise line ever. And seriously, if you can't find your cabin on a cruise ship, there is something wrong with you. :confused: OK, rant over.

Anyway, I am looking for "experience reviews" instead of generic "these are your amenities" reviews.

Ok .. you're saying 2 different things here. YES, his friend CAN hang out IN the cabin ... for FREE. OR ...

YES his friend can hang out ANYWHERE in YC for $110/day or whatever the fee.

But IN the cabin ... there is NO fee, from what has been stated here.

Oh. I took to to mean 110 dollars ANYWHERE in the YC, including the cabins - due to mini bar or whatever. The non-YC teenager might have the nerve to drink one of the sodas ;-)

I'll ask the butler or concierge when we arrive. It doesn't matter that much anyway because - as others pointed out - my son won't be around much, except for his mandatory dinner with me. On the other hand, he enjoys playing host so.... well, I'll find out.

Last year on the Divina, we saw the staff in the YC frequently escort people out of the lounge and pool area; they absolutely know who is staying in the YC and who is not (there are only about 130 people max in the YC). The butlers knew everyone by name. In doing this, they are also controlling costs for drinks, the mini bar, etc. The YC is not enormous by any means, and so if every person staying there brought a guest inside it would be crowded. It wouldn't be the same experience for those people that paid to be there.

The published rate last year was $110 US dollars per day/per person for others to join you anywhere in the YC, but it didn't seem to be something encouraged/advertised by MSC. The passes were limited to 10 passes per day. Our butler told us that nobody had arranged that during our cruise. I'm not sure if this is an option this year as I haven't seen anything published. As others stated, you can visit the rest of the amazing ship to see your friends. There were many people in the YC last year that mentioned they had friends/family in other sections of the ship.

Sure. It's not a problem. I was mostly wondering for my teenage son - whether his best friend could visit and hand out with him in our cabin... seems like not likely (nobody is gonna pay 110 bucks for the privilege lol). The YC experience is mostly for my own benefit anyway. Thanks for this very informative response!

I am just loving all this Titanic talk when we all are afterall, going to be on a ship! LOL!

But not on the Titanic ;p

If anyone wants the Titanic, you can go have an all around experience somewhere in China - with iceberg and sinking and all.... so I hear.

IRL, I prefer the Caribbean - no icebergs yet, although Florida is currently cold enough to make me think of icebergs. (And not true, I don't prefer the Caribbean at all. My favorite cruise was my Alaskan cruise - lots of little ice floats there).

But an invitation nonetheless...and he wasn't restricted to just visiting their stateroom.

Hm, I am certain they really did not want him to go near the stateroom. He probably had lice and fleas - remember, he never got checked. Rose just didn't care because .. well, she was a rebellious teenager.

I could have my guests spread out on the cool marble floor of my YIN cabin...wait a minute, that's only in the HC version with the matching marble vanity.:confused:

Really?

Well, bummer. I hope they don't have too many differences from their advertisements. Don't want to start out disappointed about something technically irrelevant just because we expected something different and were misled.

Why do they have marble in the HC and not in the regular ones?

And for breaking the rules he got what he deserved in the end. (On my list of most hated movies)

Hahahahahaha. OMG this is cold, man (no pun intended).

Well, if you're going to use Titanic as an example, should I point out just how many times that Jack, despite being in steerage, was a guest in the first class areas of the ship?

Lol, if I recall... they were quite reluctant to let him in that one time and did not let him forget his place. He also had to go as far as save a damsel in distress to even get that reluctant invitation. :D

Butcher's Cut

 

Ocean Cay

 

Roy's Asian Market

 

Attached the two smaller size files.

 

Anyone know how they will handle Black Card dinners? Will they just treat the same as a dining experience?

REEEAAALLY helpful! Thank you!

More like whiny envy. If you go to a restaurant with a friend who orders a filet mignon should that entitle you to get one as well even though you are paying the hamburger price?

 

Why do you think that people who pay a lot of money for something are snobs because they want what they paid for? And are not thrilled at having what they paid for diminished on behalf of people who didn't pay for it.

True! Good point! You're absolutely right!

This kind of makes me laugh and seems kind of snobbish. Do you plan on carding everyone in the yc area to make sure they paid for yc and meet your approval? As for me I'll stay in steerage so as not to offend any of you elite. Sorry but that really is the way this is coming across.

 

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LOL. I am definitely not a member of any elite. Just treating myself because I can. Usually I go "steerage," as well. The YC is kind of small in comparison, so I am sure the staff know who belongs there and who doesn't... no carding required, except to gain access in the first place.

According to "Titanic," steerage is more fun, if that's what you're looking for. I'm going for classy (snobby?) and quiet this time. I love that you called us out though! Enjoy your cruise. :)

Thank you all for your replies!

Yes, I can see how other YC passengers would be bothered, if I brought friends to the public areas. I can totally see your point! However, I also wish to point out that even if every YC guest brought a friend, it wouldn't be any worse. It would not by any means be crowded ... non-members are still capable of showing proper manners. ;)

As I said, I see your point. You want a quiet, restful, classy experience for which you paid a considerable amount of money and others did not. Why should they be able to take advantage of the same privilege?

As for my suite... I hope you're right that my teenage son will at least be allowed to have his best friend over for a while. He won't mind leaving the YC anyway... As for me.... I guess I'll have to see.

I love that so many of you responded so quickly! Thank you!

And of course there is never a problem with you visiting your friends in any other part of the ship. Problem solved.

True ... but I am treating myself to the yacht club experience and would therefore spent time there.

Cool! Thank you!

Actually, no. I didn't think that telling the parents to use their free drinks for their kids milkshakes was useful, either.

 

And saying they can get ice cream at dinner instead of one of the good milkshakes (presumably made with the good gelato) is like telling someone who wants a steak at dinner that they should just have a burger instead.

 

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Got it. My apologies. I guess then you should just buy the delicious milkshake, seems like your only option, imo nothing to get too upset about. I hope you'll have a relaxing cruise.

Dining room ice cream is not the same as what are apparently excellent milkshakes at the chocolate place. Your suggestion is not helpful or appropriate.

 

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Sorry, I did not mean to offend. You skipped some of my response though. Was the remainder helpful? Not sure how my suggestion was inappropriate.

Hi!

So, we have booked a suite in the YC this year, our first time, and we found out that friends of ours will be on the same cruise. Can anyone tell me what the MSC policy is on visitors? Can they visit us in the YC or is that prohibited?

Thanks! :D

My kids will be disappointed in they can't get some free milkshakes. I guess they can still have some frozen cocktails but a milkshake would be a great treat.

 

I felt like we got really nickle and dimed on our last cruise on the NCL Escape and I was hoping that Seaside would be better but it sounds like it might be a similar experience.

Well, how much ice cream do they need? There will be ice cream with dinner, they can have as much as they like there. And otherwise, unless the prices have changed, it shouldn't be very expensive - probably not a nickel or dime but still. And if it's included for the adults - just get one for "yourself" and give it to your kid.

My opinion on MSC, based on prior experience, is that you need to book YC or go on another line. Sad but true, the people happy on the ship are YC, while the other 90% of the ship, many are unhappy. It is like this on most MSC voyages.

I sailed on the Divina in a balcony cabin last summer and had a wonderful experience!

Hi all,

 

I have booked in a suite on the Divina on 12/16 however after reading more reviews I am LITERALLY TERRIFIED of the experience we will receive. I almost booked a Celebrity Concierge Suite on Celebrity but changed last minute because of the suite.

 

I'm not so picky about food but hearing that the ship is a cluster of people and the bad service are really turning me off.

 

I also called MSC to inquire about upgrading and got the WORST customer service agent in the world. I was FINALLY routed to a manager (the first agent out right refused to let me talk to a manager until I got really angry) and she is trying to help get us into the Yacht Club but other than that, I am honestly thinking about throwing away this money and booking something else.

 

As the manager said, "I don't want you to feel like you are going on this cruise because you have to" however this is exactly how I feel.

 

My boyfriend hasn't had a real vacation in years so we are really looking forward to this trip and want a nice experience.

 

What should I do??????

 

Appreciate your help.

 

Signed,

TERRIFIED of MSC

Ah don't be afraid. I traveled with my teenage son in a regular balcony stateroom (Fantasia experience) last summer and we absolutely loved this cruise! LOVED it! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and don't let the telephone customer service deter you - they are not great :-) But the ship is great! The food in the MDR was great; out waiter was absolutely phenomenal; the shows were great; it was just a lovely, relaxing, wonderful cruise. There is a lot of complainers out there. Just don't let little things spoil your fun... little things always happen. You'll have a great time, I promise!

Thank you so much!

Thanks everyone for the replies! I think I'll keep this cabin. The shade will actually be nice, I think, and the large balcony will be nice - especially considering how crowded the sun deck is. :-)

riclop, did you stay in the cabin? Did the deep balcony make the cabin dark and did it have a sofa? Not that the sofa matters that much. ;-)

I booked a Caribbean cruise on the MSC Divina for this July. I picked cabin number 12093 because it was the only cabin left with a large balcony. There doesn't seem to be a lot of information about this cabin, barely any reviews.

I was wondering, if any of you can help me decide whether to keep it or change it. The balcony is large but at an angle as well as not far under the deck 14 overhang. So, it's gotta be dark. From the two photos posted of the balcony it seems almost like looking out through a tunnel. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the cabin and how this particular type of balcony affects it.

Has anyone of you been in that cabin or one of the others like it? How was it?