Morgsmom

Oh, for the itinerary, our time at Ocean Cay was cut short due to a diesel engine issue. Not the first time for this vessel. So we lost the overnight and ½ day portion and made our way directly to Nassau. For that we were each given $50 in OBC which I cashed out at the casino. (Thank you cruise critic for the helpful suggestion). What else to say… we went to Butcher’s Cut for our Diamond Club meal. – it was delicious as always. We were surprised that they removed Teppanyaki as an option. The first of the “removals” to be encountered, but not the last. Back in YC I asked on day 2 about the room snacks – according to the head Concierge they had received word from “HR” that there would be no more starting this sailing. I did not inquire as to whether this impacted only certain sailings of so many days or not because I was too busy crying to myself (just kidding) about that precious Toberlone bar. Now before y’all say “just to to the sundries store and buy some.” That’s not the point. The point is they keep removing things. No more Voyager’s Club trinket. There was no Diamond “party”, just a general Voyager’s Club. No Captain’s meeting in Top Sail. NO welcome prosecco in cabin. I completely understand that there’s an economic impact to each of these and that there is some bean counter rubbing their little fingers together overseas, but at some point they have to stop taking things away especially with loyal guests who know what it used to be like pre-pandemic when MSC was doing everything it could to get into the US market. A happy surprise was the “Cocktail Bar” (yes, that’s the name) on 8 aft near the specialty dining restaurants. It is open limited hours but boy can they make a drink. This was about as 100% degrees difference than the craziness in the Uptown Lounge when karaoke was going on. That had the feel of a frat party with 20 somethings drinking their faces off on the lowest beverage package drinks. No, thank you, I’ll just mosey on out. It's just interesting to see the evolution from what was once an unknown line to one that is broadening their reach so much with many people taking their first ever cruise due to really low prices.

MSC Seashore – 2/25 – 2/29/24 Well I’m freshly off the Seashore, a 4 nighter from Pt Canaveral. Happy to share my experiences. For background, it was DH and Myself in a yacht club interior cabin (booked into, not upgraded). We are Diamond level and have sailed in all experience levels. We booked this one ages ago. I try to find weeks that I think are not going to be crowded – nope! The ship was 100% full and boy could you feel it. Embarkation – can you say HOT mess express. So when I was on the ship in December the line into the parking lot at 10:15am was an hour long and people were getting heated. We decided to go early and were at the lot by 9am – oopsie, doopsie. The powers that be decided that the lot was going to stay locked until 11am. You heard that right, 11am. Hubby dropped me off at YC tent with our suitcases and I got to chatting with a porter – she had that I smoke a pack of unfiltered cigs every day kind of voice and walked around with $10 bills sticking out of her fingers as a “suggestion.” Clearly a colorful character but one with the inside scoop. She said that MSC has been bringing in the shoreside employees an hour later to save on labor… hum… interesting. Fast forward to the terminal. Previous YC cruisers at Port Canaveral know of the little waiting area for YC which had friendly attendants, a desk to check in, snacks, etc. Nope. Gone. Now there is a large area – due to the fact that larger ships are coming in, however it’s a free for all. The check in folks walk around yelling your cabin number in a bingo like fashion and then come to you to check you in while seated. It was wholly inefficient and odd (I mean I don’t publicly announce what cabin I am, especially if I was traveling solo as I often do.) On the snack – nope, no more (insert frown). After that mess getting on the ship was easy and we were in Topsail by 11:45. Our room was ready so we quickly unpacked. Yes, believe everything you read about not having enough storage space in a YC inside cabin. It’s half a closet and half as many shelves. Very poorly designed. (And, no, we didn’t overpack) Unfortunately and much to my chagrin there were no Pringles, nor Toblerone, nor mixed nuts, nor anything in the cabin. Ok, I think, it’s the first day, maybe they have not gotten their allotment yet…. Lunch in the dining room was efficient, but dear goodness can they please change up the menus. Same ole, same ole. I almost wonder if they make it boring and repetitive so that people don’t order multiple courses. Topsail lounge is always nice, however, we encountered the same issues as in the past. First, the new cocktail menu is extensive and 99% of the time they don’t have the ingredients needed to make the cocktail. Examples include elderflower tonic water, dehydrated papaya, etc. All well and good until you want the drink. MSC, please don’t let some mixologist come up with something the bars cannot reasonably make. Everyone (or maybe just us?) in Topsail is already semi-high maintenance and probably “calls” their top shelf drinks already. Issue number two is the mysterious running out of the better bottles of wine on the wine by the glass list. This one makes me smack my head. No, I’m not drinking your $5 bottles of bottles of wine when you have other ones listed. There are 1000’s of bottles around this ship; please find some. (Rant over) The ship itself – GORGEOUS, very clean. I’m not a fan of the layout preferring the Meraviglia class and the promenade, but the ship is well maintained. I used the thermal spa once but for some reason when I was there there were only men in at the time and I didn’t feel comfortable. Not sure why but just didn’t. There were also fully clothed people walking through on a self guided tour (?) opening saunas and rooms and just sticking their heads in. Very odd. It is a nice thermal area, though. Entertainment – ok, I’ll say that they have upped their game for the American audience. Previously MSC had more, shall we say, eclectic entertainment that was not language based to appeal to a multi-cultural crowd. For this they had production shows which were almost Broadway level performances. Hubby even noticed the upgrade. The downside, however, is the “let’s not correct guests even when they are not following the rules” shenanigans. People coming in to the theater after the show has started and walking right in front of you doing that “excuse me, excuse me” thing, people bringing drinks in (not allowed on MSC), people videotaping live performances. The worst was one excuser who scooted by in a wet pool towel. The cruise line needs to stop such behavior at the door. If the show has started, come back later for the next performance. If you are wet and straight from the pool, no admittance. (Rant over, thank you). More to come… Happy to answer any questions

Onil Jay on the Mera is outstanding.

IMO both are horrible ports. I'd never again get off in Jamaica. Too much crime. (My opinion only). In fact, DH and I won't go on a cruise that includes a port of call in Jamaica.

Well technically you cannot attest over the phone NOW that you won't be sick when you cruise in the future.... 😉 The health questionnaire was/is supposed to be filled out right before sailing to attest to your health and exposure risk at the time of sailing.

Just to note that YC Insides are few and far between and booked out months in advance. Bids for them have not been terribly successful. As far as the pool areas, they can be crowded or not, depends on ship and sailing. School breaks will be full of kids running around, even in YC

THIS!!! Exactly. You are in Europe; many languages are spoken and honored. I personally LOVE it.

hum... let's go with hooligan 🙂, but I'm talking basketball shorts hiked so low as to see the waist logo on the "under britches", tank top, backwards ball cap... that whole thing. (Seashore and Meraviglia) However, on the Divina have also witnessed a gent in linen dress shorts being turned away to go change at dinner.

Booked Bella IS after final payment for Dec 2023 4 night Seashore, was assigned Balcony the next day.

Last Feb in Grandiosa (7 night, YC) there was no Lobster

I have seen men refused from YC at dinner for shorts. But i have also seen thugs with baseball caps allowed. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Ah, getting stopped when trying to leave! They stopped me once for a few dollar CREDIT and asked me to go settle it. I was like "keep your dang $2 and get me off this ship"! (to note, we were 4+ hours late into port due to an unfortunate event onboard) . In the case of non refundable shipboard credits, MSC will "take it" Since these were refunds, they want you to close out and get your credit before getting off. It's maddening because they do not issue end of cruise statements (like everyone else does) so you can literally get to the final check out scanner and be told to go back... ARGHH...

Thank you. The previous YC director was not on his game. But I think he was at the end of his contract 🤷🏼‍♀️

You will ALSO need the birth certificate. Just a driver's license can get him denied boarding.

Regular YC balcony cabin.

I have been told the same thing; the price it was when you booked.

I had a tub in YC on the Divina

Was on the Seashore last month; food was "ok" as I expected. Not great, but ok.

But I go back to, HOW is this the cruiseline's fault? Someone else grabbed your bag. The cruise lines at port of call do not check luggage - it's a grab & go madness.

Anyone know who is currently on the Seashore? We leave in 2 weeks.

Never heard of someone outside of YC being able to upgrade once on ship. Going from YIN to Balcony is possible at times.

Actually any cost to upgrade will be based on the price of the Deluxe Cabin AT THE TIME you booked your YIN. (I know, it's weird, but that's the way MSC does it.)

Oh, we had the pleasure of having Mauricio on the Divina several times!!! We was so generous with his wines!

Ok, if I am reading this correctly they contacted you on January 17th; it's now Feb 5th (though you don't say exactly when you pulled the trigger). From my experience if you had responded within the first day it would have been a done deal, but by waiting they have put you back into the pool and basically increased your bid. Again, this is from my experience that it's a "take it or lose it" now situation. (Was countered in December and accepted it immediately. My credit card was charged about 30 minutes later).

Define "cruise consultant?" An MSC sales rep or Travel Agent. MSC reps are notorious for not knowing what they are talking about. However, if you booked using an "all in wifi and drinks" fare, then you could have done the same for your regular balcony cabin. There is NO drink package anymore that comes with the Aurea experience, so you either booked it "all in" or added a drink package. As far as upgrading experience, you might be able to. Otherwise the kids will not be able to dine with you or use Deck 19 Solarium with you.