Morgsmom

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

Definitely NOT! We were on NCL in November and they never stopped telling people to wash their hands, especially in the Garden Café. Very much encouraged.

Yes, they sing Washy Washy songs with a tambourine on NCL

2 hours ago, JV2222 said:

Did they contact you before the cruise for your mini bar and alcohol selection?

The mini bar is not customizable beforehand.  And even if you do get the "email" chances are almost 100% that your choices will not make it to the ship.

It's working and it's very very cold... no thanks...

On 12/20/2023 at 12:00 PM, Ottawa_Cruiser said:

Despite having to make numerous requests for items that should be basic knowledge for a cabin steward, he still had no issue leaving his card and an envelope for an additional gratuity at the end of the cruise.

Have NEVER encountered this before....

It's getting very difficult indeed to book as a solo on MSC.  I did it but was limited to my choice of sailings.

The covered Jungle Pool area on the Meraviglia has limited seating, though there is some.  Other than that no other "enclosed" pool areas (except the Spa)

WOW. That would be a big change!  

On 12/8/2023 at 6:39 PM, dshroyer said:

We were on the same cruise in Yacht Club.  Poor experience.  First day asked for an Old Fashion with Woodford Reserve.  After 10 min. "we do not have that".  Then asked for Makers Mark.  10 min. later same response.  "Well what do you have?"  Crown Royal, sir.  (That is in the way lower package)  Then at dinner.  No wine menu.  They asked my wife what she wanted, she said Pinot Grigio, she got the $10 bottle stuff.  "That is all we have". 

 

 

We did not see our "Butler" until the night of day 2.  (50% into our cruise) But we did finally get our newspaper on the last day. :>)  SAME HERE

 

Oh, and I did talk to the "Yacht Club Director" the first night.  Useless.  He said "it should get better tomorrow".  SAME, TOO!  I showed photos and he never followed up.

 

Why isn't it good today?  I paid for today!  He had no response.  Then avoided me the rest of the cruise.  I guess asking for a Wine Menu at dinner is too much to ask.  Apparently so

 

We were very disappointed.  We have over 20 cruises, with 3 on MSC and this was one of our worst cruises.  I would agree, though any cruise is better than no cruise, but I paid single supplement of 100% to be in YC and I would expect that they could make the drinks listed on their fancy menu. 

 

I don't think that they (are smart enough to) look at spa capacity in relation to passes sold (plus YC members plus Aurea plus Diamond members sailing...)  It's likely just a price increase as it gets really crowded in the thermal areas at times.

On the dining package you SHOULD be able to use as the wording stated when you booked.  Make sure that you have a copy of the language otherwise the default will be the new program.  (In either case I think you can only go to Butcher's Cut once.)

Interesting conversation.  I recently got off a 4 night in YC on Seashore and agree that the service level was quite diminished vs prior YC sailings.  However, I attributed it to the YC Director more so than staffing.

As far as #'s go, there are a lot of positions for which  you only need 1 (or a fixed number) regardless of size of vessel. One Captain, One Hotel Director, etc.  Theoretically you can increase the number of dinner slots and have the exact same # of servers onboard so it is not linear.  80 servers can handle one seating, or 3 seatings and 3x as many guests.  

To me the math doesn't work.

(following up) I just did a mock booking and several websites are showing the sailing as being full.

In that case I'd revert back to sharing the YC cabin w/ the kids (unless it's an inside cabin which won't accommodate)

Oh wow, here's the issue " A few days later I got an email inviting me to apply for the plusgrade upgrade thing and I figured we were being offered the experience without the room change, or that the rooms would be comparable and certainly connecting.".... the plusgrade very clearly states that if your bid is accepted they can move you to any cabin in that new category and you cannot change once assigned.  

Here's an additional issue, the other members of the party outside of Yacht Club will NOT be able to join you in yacht club. The only way you can dine together will be in the Main Dining Room but might not be possible if the ship is full.

Here's some suggestions:

1)  Keep both Yacht Club Rooms and have your kids (which must have been booked with one adult and one child) and have your kids sleep in the same room at night. (Sorry, no "adult" time)  Use the other room for storage, changing, quiet time, etc. 

2)  Keep both Yacht Club Rooms and don't use the 2nd room (crazy, but option) since your kids are little.  

3)  look on a very well known social media site (I don't think that we can mention Mark Zuckerberg's little site) or on the Roll Calls for the sailing.  There will CERTAINLY be a "group" for this sailing.  Chat amongst the group there.  However you'd have to find someone who had connecting cabins (iffy) who is willing to take this gamble, because I'm not sure even your travel agent could get this to work smoothly and I, as a traveler, would be very skeptical about such an offer at it could easily backfire with MSC.

let us know how you make out!

On 12/6/2023 at 4:35 PM, Todd320 said:

If you are parking at terminal 10 could you please give us an update on construction relating to delays, etc .

It was REALLY backed up last Sunday (12/3).  I might actually recommend offsite parking.  People were in line for > hour trying to park.

2 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

A supplier issue ?!?

Adding this to my packing list.

Not a supplier issue, but the bathrooms were not designed with one of those "behind the door" slots where the small boxes of tissues normally go. There is no built in for them on this ship, thus they are not regularly supplying tissues.  

Please enjoy actual photo of the requested box of Kleenex/ tissue. 😂

57 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Haha, I hope they can get the Negroni Sbagliato correct. (the word "sbagliato" means "wrong, messed up" in Italian).

Well then if it’s supposed to be messed yp

then I’m pretty sure that it will perfectly messed up 😝

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 When I booked our February cruise I had a choice of a 10 day (7 + 3) or an 11 day.  Having read about how the shorter cruises tend to be "booze cruises" with more of a party atmosphere I went with the 11-day.  When I read stories like this it just re-affirms that I made the right decision.  

 

 

It’s not a party atmosphere in YC by any means (but there was a LOT of “herb” on Ocean Cay yesterday).  There’s just a distinct “you are only here for 4 days as don’t give a …..” vibe. 

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

Thank you for pointing this out, it's helpful to know your background and expectations. Hoping things get better for you as things progress!

Actually it’s diminishing. lol.  Please enjoy photo of iceberg lettuce and drinks listed for which they do not have the listed ingredients.  

Good morning from the Bahamas - going to be a lovely day.  Unfortunately, this sailing has not been so lovely, or up to expectations.  I can't get my photos to come over as internet has been a bit spotty, so I'll paint a picture.  I'll start with the fact that we boarded on Sunday and it's Tuesday morning and I still *have not met my butler.* 

Embarkation: a hot mess!  This size of ship is too large for Terminal 10 and it's parking facilities, especially with half of the parking lot being ripped up.  Cars were in line for hours waiting to park and tempers were high (in the online chat group).  I arrived at 11:00am after having a tire blow out on the way (thank you Florida Highway Patrol!) and the YC waiting area was already packed. Check in was easy but we didn't board until shortly after 12'ish so it got a bit cramped. (The YC waiting area has not expanded even though the size of the YC in the Seashore holds considerably more guests - something MSC should account for).  Fortunately I wisely grabbed a can of Pringles because there was none in my cabin 😞

So we are herded off to Top Sail.  First observation - there is literally no fruit for garnishes. Margaritas without limes; Hugo Spritz without mint, etc.  Ok, they are getting started I say (but surely there was some from, um, yesterday.  They couldn't have worked it down to the last lemon...?)  Anyhow, brush that off and make my way up to the pool deck for lunch.  Here we find two bowls of the palest Iceburg lettuce you have ever seen marked "mixed greens" or something like that.  Ok, again, first world issues.  To note, I'm in the restaurant industry and DH is an exec chef so we really "notice" food. (Which is a kind way of saying that we are picky).

Get to cabin - port side, balcony.  I prefer starboard but didn't want to tempt the MSC IT gods and call and try to have it moved less they say "oh, that'll be treated like a new booking so you owe us another million billion dollars"...  Cabin is nice enough, but no snacks (boo), no butler to ask about any preferences, no pen to leave a note (YC guests are now provided with a fancy #2 lead pencil).  No welcome (Diamond) Prosecco (was told that's been done away with), no fruit, no nothing.  

Using said pencil I left a note for mystery butler asking for Tissues/Kleenex as there was none in bathroom nor a slot in the bathroom design where they normally insert them.  Was provided with - drumroll please - a fresh roll of wrapped toilet paper by my bed, which had been opened and the first sheets pulled up to create short of paper candle effect.  I KID YOU NOT.  (Darn, I wish these pictures would come over!!!!)  I nearly peed my middle aged pants laughing, which would have been given the extra toilet paper 🙂

Anyhooo, so I also sent two pairs of trousers for pressing on day 1.. unfortunately they not back until late last night well after dinner on day 2 so I had to juggle my dinner wardrobe plans.  (Warning to anyone who thinks they might get their pressing back)

On cocktails- there are these lovely menus here and there, at Ocean House and in Topsail.  Unfortunately they are consistently lacking most of the ingredients and/or the recipes....lol... the Mule LePoire was made with regular grey goose (not the pear one) and without limes so they added a splash of sour mix 😞  The fancy Gin & Tonic drinks listed on the Topsail menu. For example, the Elderflower which is supposed to have Fever-Tree tonic, dehydrated orange peel, cinnamon stick and clove was made with the correct spirit, but regular tonic, and absolutely none of the other things...Some high fallutin' mixologist created these drinks that absolutely cannot be managed amongst a fleet of ships that can hardly keep up with all of the drinks they are making. Don't offer something if you can't make it.

So much more to comment on but if this were my first YC I'd run for the hills and never return.  I do have 2 more booked on this size ship (another Seashore, and then Euribia) but I personally prefer the Meraviglia size ships.  The YC here is just too big and you roll the dice on getting what is listed as being available to you.

Your mileage, of course, may vary.  

@JCMAN I'm on same ship & sailing sailing solo.  Booked Interior, Assigned Balcony. Bid max for YC inside and NOTHING for YC Deluxe as the starting bid (x2) was too high for me.

Like you, was countered because there are no insides available. I DID take the counter offer, even at the 2x price because it was well worth it to me once I factored in Premium Drink package and wifi for 2 devices.  

The price I am paying is more than last year's 5 day/4 night sailing at the same time of year in Yacht Club, but significantly less than booking YC as a solo because of the 100% solo supplement. 

If you purchased the drink packaged SEPARTELY (it was not part of the drinks + wifi fare) then,yes, you can cancel it.

38 minutes ago, 1kaper said:

I know on my last cruise we did both and got numerous calls saying we didn't. Even after I contacted Guest Services. 

Good ole MSC 🙂

13 hours ago, eyern1 said:

That was my initial point. It was held exactly during the launch time. Had our balcony been on the other side, we could have seen the video and the launch. I immediately bugged out after dialing the obligatory muster code number but it was too late by the time I got to an open deck area. To add insult to injury, they sent us a letter saying we didn’t complete the muster drill despite performing all required steps. 

After the muster video you then have to go in PERSON to your emergency station and have your card scanned.  Did you do that part?

1 hour ago, 1kaper said:

 

Are you sure it was Seashore?

I only ask because we came in on Seaside. We were late into port.  We were walk off but made the mistake of waiting to get off. We were trying to delay getting the rental car so we didn’t have to wait at the airport so long the next day. 
It was a mess getting off. Apparently luggage hadn’t made it to the terminal and they wouldn’t let people move until all the luggage was in the terminal. There was a long long long line to get off that didn’t move for a long time. We didn’t get off until close to 12 and there were still people behind us who hadn’t even been called to debark her. 
When we finally got off the shuttle driver told us there was a line of traffic of people waiting to get into the parking garage.  They would let anyone in until our ship got off. 
I can’t imagine embarkation wasnt messed up. 

Yes 💯 Seashore 

22 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

. For example, they demanded sitting together in the YC restaurant, no tables for 18, so had to push together 4 tops. That is fine. But what isn't fine is they wanted these tables reserved whether their party was all together present or not. This is akin to 'chair hogging' on the pool deck, depriving other YC guests of a table in an overcrowded sailing. 

That's ridiculous and hopefully was not allowed.