Zephyr173

3 hours ago, GonzoWCS said:

Zephyr173 - If possible would you ask for the expected Capacity numbers from Customer Service for the 16 October Port Canaveral Sailing?  Please don't go out of your way, but if they happen to have them thanks in advance!

 

Cheers

I will go out of my way and get an answer, but…. You’re an expert.

Who would be the right source for your question?

Let me know ASAP. We have the usual event with upper brass at YC tomorrow AM (I’m at GMT from tonight).

15 minutes ago, jethapgun said:

Hi Zephyr173! We are following this post, and are excited that we will have the exact cabin in a few weeks out of Port Canaveral! Any pros or cons to your cabin? Glad to hear that your cabin attendant is a gem. We hope you have a wonderful time!

Hi Jethapgun,

the cabin is as advertised by MSC. It is lavishly appointed and comfortable.

Pros : oh yes, the YC service. I think the balcony furniture is more roomy than on Divina (table)

cons : there are 2 3-way power switches, and it took me 2 days to figure them out.  That’s really a first-world problem. 
Want pictures? Or keep the surprise?
 

Just hopped on Meraviglia on the 26th of September.  Requirements were strict because it is a Grand Voyages. 
 

Needed a 72-hour PCR, and made all calculations and adjustments, as we are from Canada, and boarded in Genoa.  Test was 66 hours old upon boarding, and I noticed the medical person double-checked the times, including time zones.  

1 hour ago, JAGR said:

We are coming on her at the end of the month.  Curious who YC and Hotel Directors are, as well as the YC Maitre 'd.  I assume they will stay on the ship for a few months at least.  Thanks, and enjoy your cruise!

Hi Jagr,

Very honored to get back to questions you ask of me, as you are quite a reference on this forum.

Hotel director: Robert Moik (Austria) - info from cabin TV

YC director: Alessandro Messina - info from concierge

Maître d’: Stoicanescu George - info from concierge

Kindest regards, 1/2 way from Gibraltar to Funchal. 

19 hours ago, BklynBorn47 said:

We're onboard now also. Just sailing past Gibraltar.

About 1300 will still be aboard for the TA

That feels about right. It’s kind of weird to go to the Plaza and see it almost empty.  And today is a sea day.

checked out the infinity pool and there were numerous free deck chairs.  Ditto for the lido deck, even the loungers in the pool are more than half available, and it’s nice, sunny and warm.

While it’s certainly not super enjoyable to have to jostle for room, chairs, etc., I must admit that I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit more people.

16 hours ago, BklynBorn47 said:

We're onboard now also. Just sailing past Gibraltar.

About 1300 will still be aboard for the TA

That feels about right. It’s kind of weird to go to the Plaza and see it almost empty.  And today is a sea day.

checked out the infinity pool and there were numerous free deck chairs.  Ditto for the lido deck, even the loungers in the pool are more than half available, and it’s nice, sunny and warm.

While it’s certainly not super enjoyable to have to jostle for room, chairs, etc., I must admit that I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit more people.

11 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

What is your itinerary?   What accommodations are yours?  YC?  Thanks for posting and I will be following along.  

Genoa, Ajaccio, sea, Málaga, sea (today), Funchal, 5 sea days, Bridgetown, St-Martiin, Fort-de-France, Philipsburg, 2 sea days, Ocean Cay, misery.

We are in YC, cabin 18012.  Our attendant, Meri, is a gift from heaven. 

17 hours ago, Paphillyguy said:

We will be joining on Oct 13 for 10 days from Port Canaveral.  I heard they were allowing smoking in the casino despite that per the report the signs in the casino say non smoking?  If true, I hope they stop it once cruising from the US.  Thanks 

Hi Paphillygy,

checked on the MSC App, consulted with the YC concierge and attended at the casino. Smoking is indeed allowed, on the side of the slot machines (left of the entrance when coming from the Plaza). The room does smell (mildly) of tobacco. Cigars are not allowed.

Hi!

Currently on Meraviglia for a TA.  Open to questions, and have 2 weeks left to run around to scare up answers. 
 

All the best to all CC users.

The steaks in YC are of excellent quality. The filet might be the same product, but I feel other cuts are more modest in size than at BC.  Also, the selection of cuts at the YC restaurant at a given seating is less extensive than at an actual steak restaurant.  At least that was our experience on Fantasia class ships. 

Thanks Morgsmom & Maryann2.  Be well.  Regards from Montréal, Canada.

Will be doing a TA that arrives at Port Canaveral at 7AM.  Arrival is 13 October 2022, on Meraviglia.

We have done a TA once before.  The first US port we reached was Puerto Rico.  Arrival the next day in Miami was a breeze as the customs mayhem had occurred in Puerto Rico.

Does anyone have any idea what to expect when the disembarkation port is also the first US port?  I.e. should we expect to spend hours at customs?

Thanks for any advice.

On 6/23/2022 at 7:54 PM, rkacruiser said:

But, what about breakfast?  Make a stop for a Bloody Mary, etc. en route? 

Breakfast at Le Muse is fine.  Eggs any style, bacon, ham, sausages, fruits, grilled tomatoes, cheese, etc.  Along with espresso, lattes and the likes.

Not to mention mimosas.  I prefer mine with no orange juice 😬, and it all begins at the Top Sail before spilling over to Le Muse.

Never bothered to walk 300 meters to the restaurant, I guess because we are on vacation.

Also enjoyed the walk outside.  Preferable to walk on the port side: (1) because there is only an entrance back in on the port side to access Le Muse and (2) there is the Diarrono Bar (aka Garden Bar) just before getting to that entrance.  Perfect for a quick aperitif.

We were last on Divina just before the pandemic. Il i remember well, if we wanted to go to Le Muse indoors, our choice would be deck 13, or even deck 7 if we wanted to be offered pictures a thousand times. Deck 14 is to be avoided, as you then have to go through the buffet.

22 hours ago, no1talks said:

Here is something I don't think you've experienced in NCL's Haven...

 

The Yacht Club dining room (Le Muse) on Divina is nearly all the way aft on Deck 15. Yacht Club proper is situated nearly all the way forward, on decks 15 and up. Accordingly, you'll have a bit of a jaunt to take for your YC meals. Some folks like the "meal walk" and other YCers prefer the layout on newer ships, with the YC dining room included in the Yacht Club enclave.

 

I totally enjoyed the pre and post-meal walks, especially if weather permitted the outside walk.  I also was quite deliberate in walking on the port side, as I would «accidentally »bump into the Di Sarrono bar, just for a quick amaretto sour as a cocktail, then just a quick left and you're at Le Muse.

We have just pulled the plug on a 7 nighter on Seaview, due to sail on 13 February. Canadian restrictions to get back home are tedious at best.  Entry requirements in St-Martin are not a joyous matter. 
 

Cruise embarkation was changed from Point-á-Pitre (Guadeloupe) to Philipsburg. Flights get more complicated for us. 
 

MSC is offering a small OBC if we choose to cancel with a FCC, which is fine with us.

On 6/21/2021 at 5:13 PM, DCGuy64 said:

I’ve never been on Celebrity (would love to some day), but let me tell you about our experience in the Yacht Club regarding food. When we were on the Meraviglia in December 2019, I remember speaking with one of the waiters and mentioning I liked Indian food. The waiter was Indian and I figured at least some of the kitchen staff were, too. From that night on, the chef prepared me an Indian dish every night, even if I didn’t ask for it. I also mentioned that I love an Italian dish called pasta puttanesca. They made it for me right on the spot and it was delicious. Things like this are why I’m hooked on the MSC Yacht Club. 

We have had 3 similar experiences.

1) we wished for champagne and there was none in the restaurant on MSC Divina.  A waiter was dispatched to fetch it at Topsail.  Champagne awaited us every night afterwards;

2) I was thoroughly enjoying an appetizer of Bellotta.  Our waiter brought me a huge plating of same, that I simply could only afford to serve a large gathering ;

3) towards the end of a trans-Atlantic, DW's preferred wine (whine?) was out of stock at the restaurant.  The M'd «purchased» a few bottles from other bars aboard.

Over and above, I recall a scene where fighting broke out to reenter the ship after the usual fantastically pleasant USA immigration.  There were 2 YC butlers VERY actively searching forYC guests, and shoving us out of the chaos, through a side door, and right to the ship.

The staff really make the difference.

Incidentally, I'm travelling with a couple of friends, who are sharing a cabin.

Along with the change of port calls, my friends now have «guaranteed» staterooms.  They had booked YIN.  Does anyone know if they will remain in YC.  If not, that would defeat the purpose of travelling with friends in YC.

For our part, we had booked a YIN on deck 16, and have been heaved to a YIN-H on deck 18.  I have no issue with that, other than I fear we could be bumped around to accommodate guests who truly need a H stateroom.

Again, all this with no warning.  I make the final payment, and there it is on the confirmation.

Grrr.

Final payment arrives, and our journey is nowhere to be found whether on MSC For Me or even my TA’s resources. So, I log in to MSC with the booking number and discover that embarkation/debarkation ports are changed,  as are a few items of the itinerary.   

Yet, neither my TA nor I received any notice whatsoever.  Why ?
I find that’s a lack of proper communication. 

The cruise in question was to depart Pointe-à-Pitre on 13 February 2022.  It is apparently set to depart from Philipsburg.  There are other changes from the previous journey, that arènes t to avoid French territories struggling with COVID. 
 

Thanks for a week full of fun and laughter.  Have a safe trip home back to your Cooper.

Money buys everything.  As Até suggests, if you pay, you will obtain.

You or your TA need to call, but it’s very easy. Your ticket will be reissued, with an additional voucher indicating the prepayment. 

I have done so prior to the first gala evening on each YC cruise.  Just remember it's preferable (as a courtesy to the butler) to give your shoes the day before.

Eat, drink an be merry.

Enjoy the perks that are specific to YC, such as the Top Sail Lounge, One Pool, access to the thermal area of the spa.  Preferred and escorted exits on port days are swell.  We are also relatively low maintenance, so shoe shine, laundry, and a caffé latte in the morning are pretty much it for us.

Indeed.  On an 11-nighter, you can expect 2 gala, one white and one Italian. Not the full gamut that Ready2Cruise has experienced on a lengthy cruise. 
 

on our recent 21-day TA, we had 4 gala nights, 1 white, 1 Italian and 1 tropical. 
 

Thanks BossaNova, for keeping the table warm. We were there several times 😀