BoundForSea

GM!! Love it!! That’s the OG Classic!! Post it this afternoon!! Purple Rain 😊 Oh, and why can’t all Monday Mornings be this great?!?!? 😂

Okay @JamieLogical let’s play a game… Every day through Friday you recommend me a NCL drink to have daily here and I’ll recommend a MSC….. You start….

Hey Jaimie, I sent a GM post this morning then read all this just now and apologize for the cheery message (unknowing the situation) Very simply I send my very best to you and Ted and your squad. Strength to you guys. I’m glad he’s ok and on his way home. There’s always a next time for a re-do if you indeed decide to head back North. Sending good vibes to y’all. 🙏😊

Good Morning Ms. Logical from a beautiful warm morning from Spice on Getaway from just east of the Azores 😊. Hope you guys have a great Saturday.

Hola and Sushi on Mera are the bomb. it’s the best food on the ship IMHO. Not sure if Jamie would agree. I’d eat there daily. Honestly, you’re not missing anything with Butcher and that other one (forget it’s name so what does that tell you). We did Butcher on my Diamond freebie and that’s the only reason why I’d do it tbh. I was going to order the specialty dining package for a bunch of nights for December for the kind of solo cruise I’m taking my mother on, but instead I’m gonna just set aside some cash for Hola and Sushi other than my freebie Diamond nights.

Have an awesome time. On Getaway now on the TA to NY. Keep me posted on here for the next planned solo when you guys do it. Have a great time (I mean, I know you will!!) Try a Gold Rush for me!

Just FYI, the bidding system is a contracted vendor they use for the service. They purchase the use of this system from that vendor. That same vendor provides this product to other lines like MSC etc. So as the owner of that IT company that provides this product, if I can offer a product that increases the revenue of the cruise line then I can charge more for my product and everyone (but us) wins. I just have to share that in 2014 before bidding started, I used to get a call asking me if we wanted to upgrade and that cost usually was in the hundreds of dollars. lol. There was a phone number you could call and ask for it as well. I used to tell people on here to stop talking about it or it will go away…. And here we are. I think the message here as consumers and players in this program is not to increase your bids. I personally, don’t bother with the bid system anymore. I usually will seek out affordable sailings for Haven and book them directly if we want that experience.

NCL seems to have capitalized on this opportunity to pull the solo group to them by reallocating hundreds of new balconies and ocean views as Solo cabins on their fleets. Rooms that were standard cabins are now set aside as solo cabins and they have access to the great solo lounge on the BA and BA+ and Prima Class. I really think they see an opportunity to attract the folks that MSC and other lines are pushing away. Good on them.

@John Bullwhat are your thoughts and recommendations on a pre cruise stay in Portsmouth in lieu of SH? We enjoy laid back pub fare and small cafes, and good beer! Not so much into ‘touristy’ attractions just like to soak in the local culture while we visit places. Thanks good sir! Deciding whether to stay out there or not so your input is valued!

So MSC changed the specialty dining packages. I was on there a couple weeks ago looking at the Unlimited and it’s gone. And instead of any combination of any restaurant (except BC) it’s now a 3,4,5 meal pass and you are locked into one restaurant one dinner each. For example the 5 day is Kaito, Hola, Ocean, Butchers, and Tepp. One night each. And the lower the nights you lose the premium options like BC and Ocean. Jaimie is right. Hola and Kaito is much better just Ala carte and it seems to get the premiums you have to do the 4-5 nights. I should have bought the unlimited or the old 5 meal pass when I had it up. Never k OE when this stuff is gonna change!! if I’m interpreting the new plans wrong let me know!

Well it depends. For us, after 7 or so sailings it comes down to two possible outcomes, just luck of the draw: 1. They just do anything and everything for you and are just beyond amazing. Always present and always eager to offer any number of ways to make your sailing amazing. OR 2. They disappear for the entire length of the cruise (I’ve had to go to the YC Director on two sailings and tell him I was filing a missing persons report for his Butler)only to show up on the last day to try and collect a tip. This is NOT an exaggeration.

I’ve got my popcorn and cocktail for this one!!! I have to join one of these solo cruises y’all do next year. I’ll be on an NCL TA on the 25th. Any plans yet for a ‘24 one?

Ok so @JamieLogical, I still don’t understand why MSC runs out of so many food and drink items frequently. We had the same thing happen last year again, ketchup, alcohol, just random things that I’ve never experienced on other lines not read about it happening as frequently as MSC. How do you run out of English Muffins? They must purposely under provision to save money. I thought they had finally figured this out when they came to NY. Can you just blog when it happens again on the rest of your cruise for us? Drives me nuts. Then they do what they shouldn’t and instead of saying , sorry we are out of XYZ they do like that and substitute ingredients for some whacked out concoction they make up instead of just telling people like a restaurant, sorry we’re all out of XYZ when you order. Ugh. Just a pet peeve I guess.

That Poutine Tho!!!!! 🔥🔥 R U Kidding Me?!?!? 😍

Eagerly awaiting the JL customary day/night of a plethora of adult beverage driven fun!! 😂 (I sat here legit for a few minutes trying to decide how to best word that for the audience😂😂)

Already cancelled it and refund came through. Thanks tho for the well wishes! More importantly thanks to those who gave me your experiences, was very helpful in making this decision.

I’d be happy to answer any YC questions. Been on quite a few times.

Thanks Jamie. As always that was super helpful. So I can’t eat much, ever since an elective procedure I had in April, so tasting menu is perfect. I think I have a new plan based on your recommendations. I’m gonna sock away some OBC for Hola, and use the dining credits for Ocean Cay, BCut, and then we like Kaito and the rest will be dining room or those buffet nights where you just don’t want to deal with all the things, and just grab and go. We will be back on Getaway on a TransA in October, first time in a long time so looking forward to that a lot. This 7ni in December is a nice somewhat inexpensive little chance to get away (mom deserves it since my dad passed a couple years back). We will most likely get off in OCay and thats it. Thanks Jamie and your husband for your help!!

Hey! Happy to see you’re back on Mera again! Question for ya, Ive booked her for myself and a surprise week for my mother as a Christmas Gift. Two rooms. Both Fantastica. Suggestions for dining together and any other hacks? I’ve only done MSC in YC many times with the DW so this will be my first semi-solo kind of deal. Did you guys eat in Butcher or the Seafood restaurant and if so what were your thoughts on them? I’m almost thinking of booking the 5ni Specialty Dining package for her and I. We both really enjoy good Mexican, Sushi, Hibachi, and ofc seafood and steak cuisines to make it worth it. I get a free night of Butchers and one other with my Diamond so that would help in that I’d only need the 3ni. Looking forward to your next go at it!

I scrolled and didn't see one. Maybe I missed it. I booked for December 9th today, maybe thats why. Nada. Anyway, it was a surprise to me as I had no idea they decided to do this. Good for them I guess right? More on board revenue..

So I just went to book a sailing for December for a Single in a Balcony. The sailing came up sold out....Hmmm. That doesn't look right...I went in and amended it and put in party of two.. Poof, Availability in all categories now!... So I called, she tells me that a month ago they changed the policy and now only a certain number (not many apparently) of single RESERVATIONS are allowed on any one sailing (charged at a Single Supplement Rate). SO now, you can't book any cabin category and pay the double rate, you just can't book it at all once those few Single RESERVATIONS are exceeded. I was calling for a friend, she decided to go with another cruise line. I'm not sure I follow ANY logic in that thinking.. You're only pushing away the Single Travel market, which is pretty robust with repeat clients! Add this to my list of MSCisms that will never make sense.. Anyone else run into this?

He is correct. If you added it to the room it will go into the big ‘pot’ of the service charge and be divided among everyone. Just give them cash. I’m tempted some times to cancel my service charge and just tip directly everyone who provides us a service (except bar tenders and specialty restaurant tips which are included in your package as a separate service charge that can’t be waived). We don’t because I always feel like I’m shorting someone but I do t trust the cruise lines with money. I just don’t. Cash is king when it comes to showing appreciation guys. Not gifts, cash.

Has anyone done Vibe passes on a Fall (or Spring) TransAtlantic? If so did you use them? I know weather varies, however its been staying warmer later into the Fall months and I'm almost wondering if a VIbe pass for a 13ni would be worthwhile? We sail Oct 22nd and head west from Azores for NY which is more southern latitudes (almost as south as North Carolina at 37' North) We enjoy some quiet outdoor time and don't mind long sleeves and pants (or even a blanket) if needed out there. WIll they still man the bar and such if it's a little chilly? I imagine if its a complete no go we can request a refund. Thanks

My friends (also my clients) are with you on board. Thanks for the live!

Ok just need some clarification if you guys can help. My good MSC friend, whom I’ve shared many a cry and venting sessions on that thread with!… Im back with NCL. I’ve given up over there. Here’s what I want to do, now can you guys tell me if it’s possible? Book an Inside for 2 for 7ni with Free at Sea. Then do a double 60k upgrade to Balcony (Is it a BA, BB, or BC?). Then add a two tier in Meta to get to Aft Facing? Can I get there that way or is basic balcony (BA-BC) the highest you can get on upgrade? Also if I do it that way will I get a bid upgrade invite? lastly, Once the reservation is in how does this all work? Do I order the coupon and wait for it to show up in my account like an FCC? Then I call to have it applied? Do I have any control over stateroom selection? Can these be added to Agency Booked reservations or just NCL booked? AK has a great point to $$ value for double upgrades. thanks!!