Morgsmom

14 hours ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

you would be stopped on any other cruise line. Balance must be 0 for customer to disembark ,its your responsibility to make sure you account is 0 

Oh, silly me.  After "checking" the donate my extra $ to their MSC save the oceans (or whatever fund) I guess it was my responsibility to make sure they did that. 

Keep in mind that the ship got into port 3 hours late after a poor soul decided to take her life by throwing herself overboard at 5am. 

I guess that while being slightly shell-shocked at the turn of events of the morning I completely forgot to check final folio yet AGAIN, having just reviewed it the night before, while fighting the mobs to get off the ship.  Yup.  I'll remember to do that next time. (All due sarcasm noted 🙂 )

14 hours ago, jcathers1 said:

<Cue the "let them live their lives" and "how does it affect you?" people.>

 

heee heeee 🙂  Let the games begin.  Oh, wait, no, please not.  

10 hours ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

Lunacy its to use so much not needed paper when you can just check your bill on TV in your room or on your phone APP. Princess dose not print it now ether.

Lunacy referred to being stopped from getting off the ship because they owed me a few dollars. Also some of the older ships don’t show your account on the tv. 

3 hours ago, exs2 said:

Thank you Ryan although the YC works bit differently or atleast it worked different in Seascape.

 

Example I walked in when show was about to start with like 30 people outside waiting to hear if there would be room in the show and I just raised my hand slightly where the blue YC band is visible and man at front said "except you sir, you can go right away" and then I was guided to almost empty YC section that had like 30+ places but even if the theater was otherwise full, they would not let non YC to sit there.

 

Completely OPPOSITE our experience on the Grandiosa in February.  There were 2 "attendants" in the theater who actively encouraged NON YC guests to sit in the YC aera as they wanted to "stop the class division" (their words).  We protested; THEY won.  We left the theater and complained to YC Director.  They did nothing.  In short the shows were "sold out" (already reserved) and there was "so many empty seats" in the YC area that were going to waste that they basically opened them up.  

On 7/4/2023 at 11:14 AM, sveima said:

We are doing this on Seascape this sunday, four of us in a Aurea suite and the two oldest kids (18 and 15) in a Fantastica Inside. The only issue i can see is that they can't join us in the Aurea only area and that there might be some issues at the Aurea diningroom but hopefully that will be OK. 

Sorry, but why SHOULD it be ok for your kids to accompany you in the Aurea dining room? 

We have NEVER gotten one on any of our sailings, either in YC or outside of it. Was stopped TWICE trying to disembark. Once because they said DH owed a few dollars (impossible, but not worth fighting) and the 2nd because THEY, MSC, owed me a few dollars.  Lunacy!!!

I'm going to be contrarian here, too.  If the OP doesn't drink I would suggest re-pricing the Balcony without the beverage package. Since they do like to just sit out on their private balcony the Fantastica Experience might be just the ticket for them.  Could easily do 2 cruises for the price of 1 YIN.

It generally depends on how full the sailing is.  You would need to ask the Maitre d' the first day during their "open hours" when dining inquiries are made.

There has also been talk about building a hotel on the island (seriously), but I just can't see that happening.  Definitely will not be a water park.

You should receive new electronic documents soon.  If not log into the website with your booking number; it should have the correct info.

12 hours ago, jimmypackedcorn said:

Got it. So if we cant select our day/time for spa services online (which we cant) there's no point in booking those in advance? Sounds like cost is about the same. I don't want to book those if we cant get the massages/spa services on our sea days, which seems to be the case since we cant do anything in advance online other than pay.

If you book IMMEDIATELY upon boarding the ship you should not have any problem getting a slot on a sea day.  The only folks who could have already tried to book would be back to backers.  I'd say your chances are very good in getting the times you want.  

Have fun!  Enjoy every minute of it and use the tips you have learned 😉

On 6/20/2023 at 11:14 AM, SueMo said:

Cabot Discovery Tours has a mini Cabot Trail tour shore excursion.  It's worth checking out.

$350 + tax for two people... 

On 6/22/2023 at 12:42 PM, jules815 said:

Will that be it for the offer, or if it doesn't sell, do they continue to lower the bidding price and send out another email?

I've never known that to happen.  

Lol, same response as on the FB page - 10:30 - 10:45 is an optimal time to arrive.

38 minutes ago, Robert_Loblaw said:

The new departure date must be within 90 days of the original departure date. Any change to a date that is more than 90 days from the original departure date is considered a cancellation and is subject to the above cancellation charges.

This is the sticking point.  The YC change must be for a date AFTER the original sailing but only up until 90 days after.  It has become much more restrictive so moving a year out would not qualify.  (I had to move a YC sailing and this was reiterated with the agent. )

As far as the deposit, $398 is typical for a YC non refundable deposit.  I've never heard of a $495 deposit HOWEVER there are some deposits that are entirely non refundable.  

For turning a reservation BACK to you, I think that'd be impossible. It's in your TA's hands.  I'm sorry you are having this issue.  As the MSC rep said to me yesterday, "that's why you need travel insurance."

9 minutes ago, GPPhilly said:

I just do not get all the pushback by people when talking about the YC and outside guests.  I do not feel it is people being uppity.  It is a matter of paying for a certain level of service and exclusivity.  When you have paid for this level why should you be good with others taking advantage for free of something you paid for.   Also, by using resources in the exclusive area that might have an impact on your level of service received.  

 

 

 

^^^^^^^ This.

We walk there for the exercise but taxi back 

16 hours ago, LiMurr said:

I’m on a July 1 sailing that had a substantial price decrease recently.  Many people called and were told they would get a FCC for half of the difference.  Others (like myself) took advantage of the decrease to score a Haven upgrade.

@LiMurrMay I ask how you did this?  

On 6/16/2023 at 11:00 AM, NCteacherlovescruising said:

What if we dock but it's raining during lunch hours?

The YC dining room will NOT open for lunch once succesfully docked, regardless of weather.  That'd be an organizational and personnel nightmare.

18 hours ago, GPPhilly said:

I was flamed by a person on a group on facebook because someone asked since they were in the YC but the people they were traveling with were not could they have them join them for dinner few nights.  Some said it could not hurt to ask.  My response was that the OP should not ask as the answer would be no and that would put the staff and the OP in an uncomfortable position.  The person that said it couldn't hurt to ask, ripped into me saying I was what was wrong with the elitist YC guests.  

 

My response and view on this is very simple.  People pay money to have the YC and the service level in the YC and to expect that someone should be able to join you that hasn't paid is not fair to the other paying guests.  You as a YC guest are free to go join them at a general restaurant or specialty restaurant or other public area.  Simple.  

Oh, hey... I'm on that FB post too and also got ripped.  I'm 100% on your side.  Why put someone in a position of being uncomfortable KNOWING that's they are pushing the issue.  (In this case it was a woman who wanted her Mom and Aunt to join her.  My answer is either upgrade your Mom & Aunt you cheap *** or join them in the rest of the ship. She was the one wanting to be a show off!)

The answer is "it depends."  When the ships were sailing at very low capacity it was easier to arrange.  Now it's hard to even get a 2 top at dinner (unless, as indicated, you are YC or Aurea.)  Your 'eating and moving on' doesn't help the dining room, unfortunately, as it is fixed seating.  

Possibly as late as 6:30pm, but why on earth would you put yourself through that stress?  So many things could go wrong and that ship will sail with or without you.   In addition, you'd miss out on a 1/2 day of holiday.

@MaggieNY Thank you for your comments.  From my perspective you can't compare one cruiseline directly against another.   They each have their own pros and cons.  However going into this you were aware that there was fixed dining times, that you docked at Port Canaveral at 1:00pm, and that you didn't buy the drink package.  $40 for a bottle of wine really isn't that much more than $15 corkage and $15 bottle.  As far as the library, all libraries were shut down during Covid on the ships.  Once books are restocked guests take them (there is no control tag as it's an honor system); at some point they cut their losses and make it a guest exchange library only.  As far as lack of warmness of Cruise Director's staff and the punctuality of events - I wouldn't expect anything different from MSC.  To be fair, I haven't been on NCL (but we sail on the Joy in September) but I won't compare it to MSC.  I'll just take it the way they do things.

The smoking areas are designated, and not near the pools per se.  NO smoking inside, unless the casino or in the ships with designated Cigar Bar.