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Minimum bids from an inside are definitely going to be higher than from a balcony. But I agree that the price paid for a particular cabin category doesn't factor into the bidding algorithm. However, a letter from MSC was posted here earlier that stated they do factor in purchase of drink and internet packages, such as with the inclusive package rate, versus the sail only rate. Specifically regarding bids to inclusive cabins, i.e. Yacht Club.

From your cabin pictures it looks like you are in a side facing Penthouse suite on deck 10, category SH. NCL's web descriptions for those cabins distinctly leaves out that they get butler and concierge services, only listing them for the forward and aft facing suites. Could you verify with the concierge that all SH suites have full suite perks rather than they are giving them to you as a VIP. Edit: After a bit more looking I did find mention that SH suites do get butler and concierge services. It just seems NCL left it out in several places.

On Grandiosa the exclusive Aurea sundeck is midship on deck 19, above the Sky Lounge. There are loungers and a hot tub that overlooks the Atmosphere Pool. There is no food service and drink service can be sporadic and with limited choices. YC has a different sundeck area forward on deck 19 with a small pool, hot tub and nicer, padded loungers. YC sundeck also offers very attentive drink service with a full bar plus a grill during meal times. Both experiences allow access to the same thermal spa areas on deck seven. Food and service in the YC restaurant is of a higher quality than in the other MDR's. Aurea uses a portion of the LaLoggia MDR for "MyChoice" dining. The menu's are the same and the servers are usually the better ones from the MDR staff. Embarkation is port dependent but usually is in a different area where YC has drinks, snacks and a private lounge before being first to board the ship. Aurea has a priority check in line shared with (many) Diamond Voyagers Club members and waits with everyone else, but usually gets a low boarding number. The same applies to disembarking, Aurea will gather at a certain lounge at a certain time and usually led along with the Diamonds to the back of the self disembark line before other colors are called. YC can get a private escort to the front of the disembark line pretty much whenever they want to get off. While much of the YC benefits are the physical amenities a large part is the experience. Personal butler escort priority on/off the ship at ports and to tendering, reserved seating in the theater, private area on Ocean Cay, elevator priority, included high level drink package with minibar access, included internet package, nightly live music in the YC lounge/restaurant, and concierge services for reservations are some that come to mind. Personally, I have only sailed YC on about half of my MSC sailings. It usually comes down to which ship, how crowded the sailing appears and time of year/itinerary.

It's unfortunate these CC forums are no longer searchable for older content. As I remember there is not much difference between the deck 10 and 11 Forward Aurea Grand Suites, deck nine has a smaller balcony and slightly obstructed view from the bedroom. Also, I'm not sure what is above the deck 11 cabins. There are videos of all these on YouTube, just use MSC Divina in a search with cabin numbers. There's some good information in the below linked threads, unfortunately the link to the most informative one by Skier52 doesn't seem to work now as the link is in an older CC format.. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1833215-divina-aurea-suite-balcony-question/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2145874-images-of-the-various-balconies-on-divina/ Image showing which area of the balcony is accessible (deck 9 only the side facing section is acessible):

Current MSC strategy seems to be to never lower YC prices regardless of how they are selling. YC prices almost always increase as sail date approaches. It creates an urgency to book in those who are unwilling to sail in regular cabins. Unsold YC cabins are filled with the upgrade bidding process. Frequently netting near the original listed prices because bidders seem to only look at the current asking price which has become inflated by the time the bidding begins.

I doubt that upgrading the second cabin will result in the two being anywhere near each other. Do you know if your upgraded balcony can hold four people? If so then just use that cabin and leave the other interior cabin empty or just use it during days you want. As long as you're not upgrading to and expecting Aurea or Yacht Club perks then there's not much MSC can say. The only problems I see would be MSC doesn't like giving extra cabin cards and you will need to be sure to link the two cabins for dining room seating.

YC always sails full, now with a significant amount of upsell bids. MSC has followed the NCL (and others) model.

My experience is that MSC bid offers from YC to YC are never any savings based on the cost difference from when I booked. I've had two offers from regular cabins to YC that would only have had value if I had booked without a beverage package and internet, since I already had those they only saved a couple hundred dollars versus booking outright. Not worth the loss of cabin choice in my opinion.

YINs on 14 have the same cabins above, it can go either way. We had noisy kids above. Above those on 15 is the YC concierge area which I believe has hard floors so possibly some footsteps at times. Above the YINs on 16 is the YC pool and associated equipment. Those cabins have good reports regarding no noise from above and are in the best location regarding the YC public areas.

Interesting that MSC Diamond gets the maximum 200 credits while the other mass market line's top tiers get 100.

Also note that on the Jewel class ships the aft facing penthouses on decks eight and nine (category SN) NCL still has the obscure wording that only "select" or "most" cabins get butler and concierge services.

On sailings I had booked long before final payment my offers were sent about a month before sailing. Evidently MSC may now choose to send offers earlier, but currently I'm not booking before final payment.

A disadvantage of paying in full before the final payment date is that MSC rarely will give you a price drop without canceling and re-booking, so you will be waiting for a large refund rather than just the deposit. MSC refund times are notoriously erratic. An advantage of paying in full is per the Terms & Conditions it locks out otherwise variable costs such as changing port fees, taxes and possible fuel surcharges. ETA: I've only received upgrade bid offers after final payment.

Just a technicality but MSC often lists their older ships as having two buffets, just linked together on the same deck. Lyrica class like Armonia are divided forward/astern (outdoor/indoor) with two different names and different food options. Fantasia class like Divina are similarly divided with two different names. Seaside and Seaview have two buffets with overlapping food items but are on different decks, with the deck 16 being smaller, having fewer options and aimed more at serving the pool decks.

From your description it sounds like the Asian restaurant would be the Sushi bar rather than the Pan Asian, all are part of the same complex but have different menus. I'm not sure if they still use the "Roy" marketing. Currently you can only purchase the discounted package online or by phone, but actual reservations must be made by going by the specialty restaurant desk on deck 16 or on cabin TV.

You sign into your internet package by connecting to the ship’s internet. On your cabin card will be the login address and your ID number which will take you to your internet package info. I believe you may need to enter your last name and cabin number. Fantastica experience gets priority choice of dining time so you should get the first or second seating, there likely will be a late 3rd seating on a Summer sailing. Your dining restaurant and table is listed on your cabin card so go by and check it out. The maitre d' will be available in one of the restaurants the first afternoon where you can request any changes. And yes, some of the two-top tables are in an area where they are very close and in one long line. If you look at the dining package details in your cruise's online planner it should either say Duo or Asian Duo, both include Butchers Cut. The Asian one includes the Roy Yamaguchi Pan Asian restaurant. If the other one says seafood it includes the Ocean Cay restaurant.

For US bookings refer to this MSC US page, also look at the FAQ. https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures So on US based sailings after May 31 you will be fully reliant on your own insurance. On all other sailings you would need your own insurance.

On US based sailings the ship must "zero out" and all passengers must minimally do an immigration check off the ship regardless if they booked as two 7 day or one 14 day cruise.

Seascape 19039 is a regular YC Deluxe Suite and does not have the walk in closet. When Seashore deck plans were first released those aft-most eight cabins on 19 were listed as YC Deluxe Grand, there was some discussion of that here on Cruise Critic. Unfortunately on some websites those cabins are still listed incorrectly as Deluxe Grand.

The forward Aurea suites on deck 14 are not like the Grand suites on the decks below them, basically they lack a separate bedroom and living area. Also the balcony is smaller and there is an overhang from the bridge. Video below from Seaview is pretty close to what you will have.

Ships are subject to these inspections twice per year - only if they are stopping in US ports. Seaside only recently returned to Port Canaveral when Meraviglia left to New York.

Seaside will continue to sail, a No Sail Request/Order would take a continuing issue that threatens health or safety of passengers or crew, e.g. last year when Margaritaville at Sea got delayed a day or so. Most issues are addressed immediately. There will be another unannounced inspection soon, in the meantime crew will be tired from a lot of extra preparation work. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/desc/about_inspections.htm

Inspection Detail Report.pdf

Yes to both, each Diamond has the perk which can be extended to another non-Diamond as long as the non-Diamond is in the same cabin. Diamond just can't extend it to another Diamond, so if two Diamonds eat a meal together (just the two of them) they are giving up the extension of a meal to a cabin mate and using up each of their perks.

• Complimentary Speciality Restaurant “Tasting Menu” Dinner [Diamond]. Members are entitled to enjoy a tasting menu dinner at a speciality restaurant once during the cruise (beverages excluded). Members may extend their invitation to one occupant of the same cabin only once and only if the cabin mate is not a Diamond card member. Privilege and speciality restaurants may not be available on all ship classes. Members under 18 must be accompanied in order to enjoy the privilege. Members are not allowed to bring any outside beverages into the restaurant. Privilege is valid in certain speciality restaurants only. More details are available on board. The rule in the second sentence is designed so that a Diamond cannot extend their perk to another Diamond in the same cabin, then the reverse - thus eliminating getting two meals for two (or more) Diamond membesr in the same cabin. In the OP's case a Diamond can extend their perk to the non-Diamond in their cabin, so if they split up and eat at separate times the non-Diamond could actually get three meals - one with each Diamond. My experience has been that if they want to all eat together one Diamond would cover the non-Diamond and the other two Diamond would use their perk for only themselves.