GA Dave

Ocean Cay.

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Sunrise over the Caribbean Sea on approach into Ocean Cay from the MSC Meraviglia.

I am going to add on to this report in lieu of starting a new thread.  I was on the same cruise in Yacht Club Deluxe Suite 15009, a forward facing balcony.  I had an exceptional experience on this cruise and have already started the process of reserving a longer cruise on this same ship in a similar cabin for early next year.  I felt the service was excellent, the food in the YC very good, and the YC private area at Ocean Cay was wonderfully relaxing.  I am going to add links to some videos I took onboard below, then will add some of my photos in subsequent posts.

YC Cabin 15009 Walk Through

Meraviglia Final Approach to Ocean Cay

Sunrise Going Into Ocean Cay

Yacht Club Beach on Ocean Cay

Ocean Cay Yacht Club Area to Dock, Part 1

Ocean Cay Yacht Club Area to Dock, Part 2

Ocean Cay Lighthouse Show

Rainbow Forms Over MSC Meraviglia at Ocean Cay

Sky Lounge 360 Video on MSC Meraviglia

12 minutes ago, jules815 said:

Was that your post, Dave, on FB earlier today on the YC Beach drinking the Purple Rain?  The beach looked so inviting. 

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Yes, that is me.  This whole experience has been exceptional.  Just wish I was doing a B2B.  Going to hate having to leave Monday morning.

A couple of updates from a fellow cruiser in the Yacht Club.  I have a forward facing balcony deluxe suite on deck 15.  Had an amazing view of the sunrise this morning as we approached Ocean Cay.  The Yacht Club beach area and Ocean House restaurant was really nice, with all amenities provided.  Meals in the YC restaurant have been excellent, with a bone in veal chop last night and filet mignon tonight.

Below are the Yacht Club beach and my first Purple Rain at 9:30 AM this morning.

Then my lunch at Ocean House (lobster roll).

On the 3-day on Meraviglia right now and there are 742 people on board with 1100 crew.  Ocean Cay was just spectacular today.  I was literally the first passenger off the ship and had a private drive out to the Yacht Club beach.  The beach was fully stocked with loungers, umbrellas, and towels and the waiter service was excellent.  Lunch at the YC Ocean House for me was a salad and a lobster roll.  Very satisfying day.

Just now, alyssamma said:

I, too, had the same issue. However, since you are YC, you can ignore the time and just show up whenever.

 

I showed up at 11am for a 12:30 embarkation time no problem...just walked right in.

Thank you!  I figured that would be the case, but didn't want to be stuck standing in the driveway area for an hour.  🥵

So, I am now on my sixth version of my cruise ticket, received late last night from MSC.  My check in time was 10:00 AM on the last three sets, and was moved to 12:00 PM on this latest version.  I am now also sailing in the Yacht Club after a winning bid for a Deluxe Suite on deck 15.  Based on everyone's experience this month, and particularly for anyone who has sailed in the Yacht Club, how closely are they enforcing the check in times for Yacht Club passengers?  All of my previous suite experience was with NCL Haven and we were always the first people to board the ship.  Any information based on actual experience this month is appreciated.

10 hours ago, jules815 said:

Does anyone know how long they'll be sailing under capacity?

I think the bigger issue right now is not having enough customers wanting to cruise vs limiting how many reservations they take.  I thought my cruise this Friday would fill up with the absolutely ridiculous deals they are offering, but it still looks very empty.  Once people realize that they are truly safer on a cruise ship right now than they are at a Wal-Mart or in a theme park, they will start filling up.

10 hours ago, Kruizin'Kath said:

Don't want to go too far off topic, but I have bid (minimum) to upgrade 9/25 Fantastica Balcony to YC. I was about to buy my beverage package and now don't know if I should pull the trigger on that. Do they refund it if you get the upgrade? TIA

Kathy,

As someone who was just successful in winning a bid for a YC Deluxe, let me suggest that you do not bid exactly the minimum.  Bid the minimum plus a little (i.e., $20).  I am sure that is how I won my bid.

10 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Yes, that is fine.

 

BTW, can you please ask if they will do covid tests for a b2b and how much?

I actually have a fellow furry critter who is doing a B2B this weekend/week, and he was told they are to go to the testing center on the ship on the first or second day of the 3-day cruise to get tested for the second part of the B2B.  Cost = $120.

Did not want to start a new thread just for these questions and this seemed to be the right spot.  I am sailing this coming weekend on Meraviglia out of Miami.  Finished packing this past weekend, and just received an upgrade to YC.  Quick questions for the YC restaurant: 

Are my "dress jeans" in black and khaki acceptable for dinner? 

Are Sperry's acceptable footwear? 

Are collared polo shirts acceptable? 

I have been working from home for a year and a half now and even that is dressy to me at this point.  😄.  Need to know if I need to re-pack.  Any advice is appreciated.

4 minutes ago, cyndyga said:

Solo but you had to pay x2 correct to upgrade?

Yes, but it was still significantly less than paying for an outright upgrade to YC.

15 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

When I was in the YC on a Divina Med Cruise in 2018 I got to chatting with my assistant Butler (who was better than my Butler) and he was really excited about the Divina relocating to the Carib.  When I asked him if it was because they get more Americans and they do more extra tipping he just grinned nodded.

It is rare that someone will get offended because you gave them money.

I just won a bid up to YC for my cruise Friday on Mera.  I have previously sailed Haven on NCL and it was known there that the Butlers and Concierge employees were NOT part of the DSC.  Are they compensated in YC from the DSC?  Or are they just receiving a better salary than a "normal" employee like server or room attendant.  

Just received my upgrade email this morning at 5:00 AM for my cruise this Friday on the Meraviglia.  Was a solo in a Fantastica balcony on deck 10, upgraded to a YC Deluxe Suite forward facing with balcony on deck 15.  Very pleased.

1 hour ago, dexddd said:

There were two big changes this week and I'd have to say MSC has done a great job communicating those changes.  While most of us here would rather go to the DMV than deal with MSC's website, the changes were communicated to our TA who then passed on the info to us within 48 hours.  Today I got a text for each of our two upcoming cruises about those changes as well from MSC.  Don't let go of that summer IT Intern.

I also received a text about the changes to my cruise very quickly after they were posted on their website.

8 hours ago, travelwide said:

GaDave.. can you do me a favor and find out who the Hotel Director is and how long he will be on the ship?

 

We board in Sept.

 

Thanks!

I will try.

50 minutes ago, NRWPA said:

I no nothing about MSC since my first cruise with them will be in October. However, all the other cruise lines I've been on would allow this...also, I found this on the MSC website:

 

Each guest is limited to checking in:

 

• two suitcases per person* (not exceeding 90x75x43 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag)
• two pieces of hand luggage per person* (not exceeding 56x45x25 cm in size and 23 kg in weight per bag).

Thanks.  Just measured my bag and it is much smaller than their not exceeding dimensions for carry on.  👍🏻

I have never gone on anything but seven day cruises.  Next Friday, I am on the three night Meraviglia cruise out of Miami.  With just one day at Ocean Cay and a sea day, I am packing very light.  I am driving myself from Savannah so I have no worries about airline restrictions.   My plan was to have my electronics, paperwork, etc in my leather backpack, and then to have my Swiss Gear “overnighter”, a very small roller bag for my clothes, toiletries, etc.  This bag normally fits easily in all airliner overhead bins, even most of the regional jets.

Will they let me walk on the ship with both of these bags?  I read a few recent trip reports from people that boarded early (10-11 AM), but they did not receive their bags until after dinner.  I really want to avoid giving my little roller bag to the Porter if I can.  Do they allow that?

I am glad they are standing up to FL so they can stay in business.  They are giving people a choice:  Bring your original vaccination card or find another business to spend your discretionary money at.  Last I checked there is no “right to cruise” in the Constitution.  I will happily show my card next week.

On 8/10/2021 at 12:18 PM, neptuno said:

With the new virus surging in Florida and the hospitals at near capacity, wondering if we should dare to cruise out of Miami?  Final payment deadline is coming up for Divina and there seems to be no end to this pandemic in the near future.  Would not like to be turned away at the pier or worse, to get sick on ship.  Maybe wait until next year?  Your thoughts?

I may have a different perspective than most responding here.  My wife and I last cruised in Sept. 2018 in an NCL Haven cabin.  Wonderful experience.  We had a ten-day Haven cruise for the Med scheduled for Sept. 2020.  Once Covid hit, we obviously cancelled that.  Then we started planning multiple land-based vacations to make up for the lost cruise.  As we got close to each one, my wife said "maybe we should delay until after Covid".  We did this three times.  Then, on Sept. 15th of last year, my wife had a cardiac event in her sleep and past away.  She was only 57.

Since then, I have taken the attitude that life is just too short to wait on any chance of "Covid going away".  I got vaccinated in February and am now living my life to the fullest.  I have a cruise next Friday on MSC, a Universal Orlando trip with my DD, SIL, and 2 granddaughters in three weeks, and a Royal cruise in November.  No more waiting for "Covid to go away".  Life truly is too short.

10 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Yeah, like many things these days, change is the only constant. That's why we're getting tested on the 25th, we fly to Italy the 26th. According to the State Dept, it only has to be 3 calendar days before departure. Italy doesn't require proof of a negative test for fully vaccinated people, whereas MSC essentially does (done at the port). I have no idea if MSC will change its guidance between today and our sail date (Aug 28), but anything is possible. ANYTHING.

The text copied above is from the website under the section on health & safety measures, in the section specifically about The Bahamas and Caribbean.  I scheduled two test, one at 70.5 hours before my boarding time and another at 46.5 hours before my boarding time.  Hopefully, one of those will work, as my nose is getting sore from all of that poking!  🤣

So this won't work?  🤣

6 hours ago, bones774 said:

how are unvax being treated onboard by crew and other pax?  severe discrimination? what's app. ratio vax/unvax.

talking US cruises now

thanks

About what you would expect.  🤣

22 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

I ordered a mix of beer at times (Heineken draft) but also cocktails like a margarita or mojito.  Also lots of water including the larger bottles that were included.  I wasn't on a mission to "get value from the drink package".  On a short cruise like this the package worked for me but on a longer cruise I'll go without a package.  

 

I had the streaming internet package but I didn't really try to stream anything.  I just enjoy the faster access that comes with the streaming plan.  

With the easy package, are drinks like the strawberry margarita and pina colada on-the-rocks, or could you get them frozen?  I prefer them frozen, but have read that if you order something even one dollar over the package limit, you pay the whole price of the drink and not just the overage.