jules815

7 minutes ago, jules815 said:

Hello everyone, 

We haven't sailed on X since pre-Covid, but I'm on the Celebrity website now getting ready to book a transatlantic on Apex for next year. We have a wedding in Ft. Lauderdale next year in April. Thought it would be nice to tag a cruise onto the end of that. Wasn't expecting to do a TA, but oh my gosh this looks so good. And we're newly retired (66 and 62), so why not, right? We've always wanted to go to Portugal, and we'd be there on my birthday. Seems meant to be, right?

 

Anyway, we usually sail in suites, but since this wasn't expected, going with a veranda this time. I'm fairly familiar with the fancy balconies with the windows that open from watching a Ben and David YouTube video, but can anyone tell me about the port hole verandas? I know some of the ocean is obstructed due to the circular cut out, but that wouldn't be a problem for us. How are those rooms? We prefer being forward and higher up and that's where those are. Wouldn't rule out one of those fancy extended balconies I mentioned if you say they're wonderful.

 

Would love to book today. Any help is so much appreciated!

For instance, is it considered obstructed because of the shape of the balcony opening?

Hello everyone, 

We haven't sailed on X since pre-Covid, but I'm on the Celebrity website now getting ready to book a transatlantic on Apex for next year. We have a wedding in Ft. Lauderdale next year in April. Thought it would be nice to tag a cruise onto the end of that. Wasn't expecting to do a TA, but oh my gosh this looks so good. And we're newly retired (66 and 62), so why not, right? We've always wanted to go to Portugal, and we'd be there on my birthday. Seems meant to be, right?

Anyway, we usually sail in suites, but since this wasn't expected, going with a veranda this time. I'm fairly familiar with the fancy balconies with the windows that open from watching a Ben and David YouTube video, but can anyone tell me about the port hole verandas? I know some of the ocean is obstructed due to the circular cut out, but that wouldn't be a problem for us. How are those rooms? We prefer being forward and higher up and that's where those are. Wouldn't rule out one of those fancy extended balconies I mentioned if you say they're wonderful.

Would love to book today. Any help is so much appreciated!

11 minutes ago, JAGR said:

I meant the room that was getting late croissants and coffee.  They may have been doing a B2B so didn't have to be out of the room by 6:30.

 

Is room service available to B2B'ers in the YC on the last morning? 

Don't spouses both get the same (higher) status together? 

1 minute ago, NorthernCouple said:

No argument there, but it still should be MSC's aspiration for YC.

• Do I expect 'anytime you want it caviar'?
  • No. Should it be offered once in 7 days - yes.
• Do I expect a small boat (<1000 passenger) experience?
  • No, but you should feel like the staff in the YC know you and remember what you like. Once a day, a drink you have previously said was 'great' should show up without asking.
• Should every staff member know your name?
  • No, but your 'butler' absolutely should.
• Do I expect the 'butler' to serve a 5 course meal to you in your cabin?
  • No, but your 'butler' should fulfill all the jobs that MSC has designated such as unpacking, pressing, bringing drinks...without your asking.

 

I really think that there is an opportunity for MSC here. Our MSC trip with 2 adults and 2 kids in a YC Duplex Suite costs the same as a Seabourn entry level room for 2 adults.

 

It sounds like they are having an HR issue. Hopefully, this will improve with time. MSC is definitely behind on technology and experience though. I also worry about some logistical failures that L1211 mentions. These really shouldn't be happening at this point. They know exactly how many people will be on each sailing. They should be able to statistically predict how much Chardonnay and limes they need to have in the YC.

Minus the 5 course meal served in-cabin, that HAS been our experience on both of our YC sailings to date. Unpacking, pressing, without your asking? Seriously??

I do agree with your comments about the logistical failures on the recent Meraviglia cruise and it has me a little concerned for the B2B we have booked on Seascape for September in the YC. 

3 hours ago, L1211 said:

You are so welcome!  Enjoyed it!  I discovered the Camus Conundrum - I think it’s a white blend.  Liked it more than the Chardonnay on offer- that was almost always Clos du Bois.  Didn’t love it.  

I'm a big fan of the Camus Conundrum. Glad you were able to get that.

1 hour ago, hamrag said:

Pleeeeeeeeeease, nooooooooooo. 🥺😵

Oops! Sorry! LOL!

42 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Glad you brought that up.  I did bring up my downgrade from YC GS to a regular balcony on deck 8 with no reduction in fare to the concierge who got me a face to face with the hotel manager. He was actually shocked himself and did not believe it until he saw proof .

 Told me to not let it go as they realize they have issues and did in the past and they are trying to get people to handle to things in a better way than the current system going forward.

I did find a bottle delivered to my room😁.

 

Back on topic, I did post the pic partially as humor but travelwide is not wrong.

My room came with upgraded linens and towels and premium booze. I payed much more for those things and I should have them.  MSC oversold the sailing knowingly. Even YC director said he needs 2 more Butlers and cannot get them.

 

Wait, what? You were booked in a YC GS, then downgraded to a regular balcony outside of the YC, and they didn't compensate you? If you were booked in the GS, how did that booking change? Confused.

23 hours ago, L1211 said:

Terrible Wi-Fi!!!  Beautiful day at Ocean Cay!! Steakhouse excellent last night- pics to come.  Can we talk about this lighthouse bar???  I want to live here.  Live music, drinks, amazing views!!

When my husband and I sailed on Meravigalia in 2021, we had an overnight and 2 days at Ocean Cay. On the second day we went for a walk around the island after having lunch at the Ocean House and ended up at this bar. We really enjoyed it too! 

On 3/13/2023 at 10:53 AM, L1211 said:

Slow service in the YC bar- 13 minutes, no bottled water to restock mini-bar myself. And here are the snacks- everyone’s favorite -caramelized pearl onions and green olives. Would make sense if it were a “make your own Bloody Mary bar”!!  I wish they had coffee and water available for self- serve. I would WAY RATHER serve myself than long waits…. But I guess this is “luxury”…

O M G! I know I'm late to posting here, but this is definitely NOT the norm in the YC. So sorry you're having to deal with this.

On 3/13/2023 at 10:27 AM, L1211 said:

Had to wait till Nassau to get cell service - can’t load cruise critic on the ship’s Wi-Fi.  Cabin smells of waste - ugh.  Bed comfy, air is cold,  shower is hot!

 

Oh no! I would report that waste smell immediately, it's usually a quick fix, something to do with a dry drain or something. Has happened to us in higher end suites on RC, so can happen anywhere. Still gross though! Could the wifi issue be something to do with all the people on board? 

On 3/12/2023 at 3:01 PM, L1211 said:

My view…

My husband and I were on Meraviglia in October 2021. I know a lot of people don't like those overhead glass panels, but it was the first cruise we were able to spend all day poolside and not end up with a horrible sunburn, yet still got some color. 

On 3/11/2023 at 9:23 PM, CarolnLarry said:

Made tea using Nepresso machine.  Always run a small cup of water first for whatever reason and then run hot water for tea.  Never had a balcony on MSC big enough for a lounger.  If you have a large balcony ask your room steward and see what happens Enjoy!!!!!!

Good idea about running the small cup of water first. In fact, my husband never uses the Nespresso machine anyway, so if I can figure it out, it will only be used for my hot water for tea. 

On 3/13/2023 at 6:11 AM, mickey89 said:

We sailed YC in 2020, asked butler for a sunlounger for our veranda and one appeared within the hour.

Good to see this! We're on Seascape in September and our balcony on deck 19 looks large enough to definitely accommodate one lounger in addition to the 2 chairs and little table/footstool they have out there. I plan on asking about that too.  

On 3/11/2023 at 9:25 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I see that they have Nespresso machines in there, can one also request a tea kettle?

 

I know that some types of coffee machines provide just hot water, but I've had a couple that also spit out coffee grounds (and had a faint taste of coffee).

 

THANKS,

Tom

This is a question I've asked before, and people have told me to just use the Nespresso machines, but I know exactly what you're talking about with the faint taste of coffee and grounds in there. It's just not the same! I've had tea kettles in suites on RC and X, and I'm going to ask on our next cruise. 

Thanks again for your great review with all the pictures and video. I felt a little sad watching the video of you walking off the ship. I know how that feels. 

Safe travels home!

2 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Just a word of caution. Not all interior Yacht Club staterooms are the same size. 

 

 

^^ Here's what the MSC website shows for Yacht Club interior on Seaside/Seaview/Seashore/Seascape (it's actually a wheelchair accessible YC interior).

 

 

^^ Here's an actual Yacht Club interior on Seaside/Seaside EVO class. 

If you can handle sleeping in a twin, it seems like splitting the beds makes the interior rooms seems more spacious.

Thanks again for your photos and videos. We're also excited to be making a stop in San Juan when we cruise in September. It's always been one of our favorite ports and it's been a few years for us as well. Excited to hear all about Puerto Plata. It will be a new port for us, which hasn't happened in a long time.

56 minutes ago, seacruise9 said:

Hi, 

 

I was on the Celebrity Beyond's February 19 cruise. I loved the Beyond, but I was impressed by the Seascape. I also was impressed by the new port development in Puerto Plata. Because I was on a long shore excursion, I didn't have much time in the port area. However, it was very nice and I would like to return to this port. I took some great pictures of the Seascape. 

 

Chuck

We'll be on Seascape in September and look forward to a stop in Puerto Plata, which will be a new port for us. Been a while since we've had a Caribbean itinerary with a new port.

Do you need a reservation to go to this venue, or is it just like any other lounge with live entertainment?

58 minutes ago, seacruise9 said:

Hi, 

 

Yes, because I have never set foot aboard an MSC ship, I wondered how people who have sailed on MSC ships in Yacht Club would compare this experience to sailing in a standard stateroom on Celebrity or Princess. I have been a member of Cruise Critic since 2000 and have learned a great deal from fellow cruisers. I thought one of the purposes of these boards was to exchange information. In my initial post, I indicated my age and that I place an emphasis on food, service and entertainment when choosing a cruise.

 

I certainly made my own informed decision regarding MSC (I decided to book a four-day cruise on the MSC Seashore in Yacht Club to try the experience), but I am interested in hearing the opinions of cruisers who have actually sailed in Yacht Club. I greatly enjoy discussing cruises with fellow passengers while I am on a cruise. Although everyone is different, I think there is value in hearing about other peoples' experiences. If I hear numerous positive comments (or complaints) about a particular ship or cruise line, this is one factor that I will consider in selecting a cruise. 

Hi Seacruise, I see you're from Chicago. 🙂

We've sailed on Seaside (similar to Seashore) and Meraviglia. Prior to that, many cruises with RC and Celebrity. I've only sailed in suites on X, and I would compare the balcony staterooms in the YC, YC1, to be similar to a Sky Suite on X. It will definitely be larger than a traditional balcony on either Princess or Celebrity. We prefer the YC to suite class on RC and Celebrity. The ship-within-a-ship concept is really nice. You kind of get the best of both worlds. You have the exclusivity of the YC enclave, but still have the rest of the ship to explore and enjoy. You're really going to enjoy the One Pool deck. 

Hope that was helpful. 

Thanks for doing your live review and including pictures and video. Looks like you're having a great cruise with beautiful weather. 

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I just wish that the YC balconies were a bit larger. You have to make a big jump ($ wise) to the Royal Suite to get any kind of sizable balcony. When you hit the RS level on Celebrity, at least they throw in free specialty dining. 🙂

 

Looking forward to seeing what MSC is all about !

 

Tom

It looks like the balcony we'll have for our upcoming Seascape cruise is pretty big. (It's the room with the walk-in closet.) Was hoping to get our butler to put a lounger out there for us.

1 hour ago, RCFirstTimer said:

We have our first non-Royal Caribbean sailing booked with MSC for Feb 2024 on Seashore.  We love cruising with RC and are finally at their diamond level.  However, with the prices of cruises over the next two years, we decided to save a little and try something different.  MSC appears to be up and coming in the US which is good (more true competition).  For an interior YC room, it is still cheaper than an older balcony RC booking with the same number of days.  So, we are giving up the balcony to try something different and everything I have read about the YC made me want to try it that way.  Might as well give ourselves the best shot at a good experience.

 

We decided to try MSC after many cruises on RC and Celebrity. To date we've been on Seashore and Meraviglia, both times in the YC. We found the YC experience to nicer than suite class on RC and X. 

49 minutes ago, SirWolf said:

I (we) never rented a cabana on Ocean Cay.

We usually pick sun loungers and umbrella at the far end to have some privacy. Beverages and towels are provided by butlers and we have lunch in Ocean House restaurant (included in YC).

We don’t stay on Ocean House Beach the whole day, just for 2-3 hours.. the $400 are not worth for such a short stay in my opinion.

$400 can buy sports activities on Ocean Cay and/or full-day excursions in other ports.

Same. Usually have a couple of drinks on the beach under an umbrella, then move to the Ocean House for lunch, a walk around the island and then back to the YC pool deck.