jules815

21 minutes ago, MarkusToe said:

Same with us, 2 cruises in YC July and Sept. 21. 

Tons of balconies available, but YC fully booked

We're October 16, and lots of rooms still available, YC1, and today one of the Royal Suites opened up as well. And when I say lots, as an example, on deck 16 where our room's located, there are only 2 others booked. Deck 18 only has 3 rooms booked. Unless these are all rooms that haven't been assigned yet after everyone's rooms went up for grabs a while back. Although that makes no sense, because I'm seeing these rooms available on another travel website. They're all available for booking.

Just had a thought. If everyone in YC is vaccinated during our week, wonder if they'd do a no mask required thing there?

2 hours ago, paulh84 said:

We are not booked until February from Miami but received an email this morning asking to start the online check-in process to confirm vaccination status and accept the cruise contract. The links don't work so this may have been sent in error but it does look like they are trying to get their ducks in a row for winter cruises. 

 

 

Received the same email today.  We're sailing mid-October.

On 7/13/2021 at 5:38 AM, KennyFla said:

If they use this policy for the caribbean, I can live with it.  We have been watching the latest youtube videos from MSC passengers, and the safety measures do not look too bad.

The only thing I am really worried about is getting a false positive when we go to board the ship.

This is exactly how we feel. We're both fully vaccinated and sailing on Meraviglia mid-October. The false positive, or being asymptomatic with the Delta variant, is worrisome. I'll be so relieved once we're able to board.

1 hour ago, KennyFla said:

For our October cruise, the cabanas are $500 per day.  That seems a little crazy.  You already get food and drinks by being Yacht Club.

The cabana prices are outrageous. I mean, they're nice and all, but not that nice. 

Are umbrellas included on the YC beach at Ocean Cay? 

We're now just about 90 days before our cruise on Meraviglia in the YC. 

According to our most recent booking confirmation we received just yesterday, it still says:

PRIVILEGES
− Dedicated priority check−in and check−out
− Butler service available 24 hours
− Dedicated concierge available 24 hours
− Room service available 24 hours
− Unlimited beverage selection in MSC Yacht Club areas and in all bars and restaurants
of the ship according to the drink selections available in the different venues
−Premium Internet Package, up to 4 GB (depending on the length of the cruise).
− Complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea SPA
− Relaxation amenities in each suite (including bathrobe and slippers)
− Most rewarding experience for MSC Voyagers Club points

Now, if we go by that, don't you think that would mean anything available in the YC lounge, including the premium alcohol (mainly Hendricks for my husband) and bubbly? 

12 minutes ago, cruisecouple7 said:

As or today,

This is what the MSCcruises.com says "If you are fully vaccinated You will be required to wear a mask throughout the cruise while indoors and in public areas. Mask use is not required outdoors. Where social distancing is not possible outdoors, mask use is recommended for all guests" The rest of the guidelines are here: https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

- Will there be any changes to the bars and lounges?

Our bars will be open and ready to serve our guests with their favorite cocktail or aperitif. To ensure we comply with the current social distancing recommendations, our staff will deliver drinks at the table and we will limit the capacity of each venue. Face masks do not need to be worn by our guests when seated in bars and lounges for vaccinated guests. Not fully vaccinated guests must wear face masks.

On 7/11/2021 at 11:56 AM, deliver42 said:

MSC goes out of Florida, and they can't ask if passengers are vaccinated there. It will probably be 95% vaccinated and 5% unvaccinated, in which case vaccinated will have to wear a mas some places inside, and non vaccinated will be restricted where they can go, just lie Royal Caribbean and Carnival. This cold change by the day. 

I thought they were going to have vaccinated cruisers upload a copy of their vaccination record, and then showing it again at the port. Isn't that the same as asking?

1 hour ago, BecciBoo said:

My first one disappointed.  I haven't had one since.  Never understood all the excitement about it.  If you like overdone gristly roast beef, this one's for you.  I couldn't even chew the meat.  The bun is good though.  We'll be on Allure soon, maybe I'll try again.  BTW, you can only get it on Oasis class.

Thank you BecciBoo! I had the same experience. First time was a major disappointment, and tried again on Harmony and was pretty much the same. Maybe we've been unlucky with cuts of meat and will have to keep trying.

13 hours ago, cured said:

What about the local employees? I was under the impression that locals worked in parts of Labadee.

They do. I was reading about Labadee last night, and they employee 200 or 300 locals. And the locals who sell their wares in the tent there pay a fee to RC International.

4 hours ago, neptuno said:

If you were confused regarding cruise ship sailings and regulations out of Florida, it just got worse.  The feds appeal may change the rules and even the scheduled sailings out of Florida.  Hang on, the roller coaster keeps going.  Hopefully things will be settled before December.

Hopefully things settle before mid-October!

Can you provide a link?

22 minutes ago, drsel said:

That's a very good idea and it should be such, that it cannot be removed & lent to anyone else

Thread:  

2 hours ago, phissy said:

Wondering how fully vaccinated passengers will be identified? (Or unvaccinated) ?

Freedom of the Seas began sailing recently and apparently vaccinated guests are wearing a purple wristband.

4 hours ago, miataman19 said:

I noticed that also. I'm thinking that, with 3 months till my sailing on Oct. 2nd, alot is going to change. Hoping that the mask wearing for vaccinated passengers will go away. Noticed you've sailed on Reflection a few times. Me too, love that ship. 

We also think a lot might change before our cruise on 10/16. Hopefully for the better. The Delta variant has me a bit concerned. 

We really enjoyed our cruises on Reflection. Hope to be sailing with them again some day. We're currently on an MSC Yacht Club detour. 

Has anyone noticed the language here? Could they be following Royal Caribbean and having a few venues for vaccinated guests only?

"Our bars will be open and ready to serve our guests with their favorite cocktail or aperitif. To ensure we comply with the current social distancing recommendations, our staff will deliver drinks at the table and we will limit the capacity of each venue. Face masks do not need to be worn by our guests when seated in bars and lounges for vaccinated guests. Not fully vaccinated guests must wear face masks."

23 minutes ago, Até said:

The MSC US based sailings protocols have been changed.  There is now no difference between the COVID-19 recovered and the non-vaccinated, actually the recovered category is now gone.  Also there is now a pre-boarding test requirement for the vaccinated even though the CDC does not require it.

I thought it was always that vaccinated had to be tested at the pier prior to embarkation?

We're (hopefully) cruising in October, vaccinated, and that was something I've been paying attention to.

35 minutes ago, phissy said:

 

Just mention this to the Concierge.
They are there to facilitate your desires on your cruise. If you want reservation at Specialty restaurant, they will make it happen. Want to dine in MDR? They will make it happen.

Concierge desk always open to help.

Of course! I didn't even think about the Concierge! 

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Curious.  How would one do so?  Just show up at a dining room and expect to be seated?  

I would tell someone ahead of time, butler, YC matre'd, if anything as a courtesy to the YC dining room staff. Maybe they arrange it for you?  

28 minutes ago, Shippy said:

yes,

we just show up early     :O)

never had a problem

I don't think showing up early will be advised. Think of all the additional testing that will be done prior to boarding. Boarding a cruise ship now won't be anything like it was in the past.

1 minute ago, phissy said:

We did use our MSC Meraviglia bracelet to take over elevator to YC deck ...when we were the only ones in it.

It probably bypassed others waiting on other decks but, I'm sure  it quickly came back down for them.

Yes, we figured it might bypass other floors with people waiting. I know there was one time that we had just called the elevator using our card, and another couple came running to get in with us. We apologized that it was going to go straight up to 16, but they didn't care.  And even that time I don't think we were even sure it was going to work. Sometimes it would, and then most of the time we figured we were doing something wrong.

7 hours ago, hamrag said:

 

 

We love Yacht Club, and 99% of its perks. That particular perk is one we never use, we feel it shows disrespect to fellow passengers on the ship....we are not the types to shove our perks in the faces of others!

Same. But if we were alone and calling an elevator, we'd give it a try.

19 hours ago, NightOne said:

 

We are not wearing masks here anywhere. The only mandatory mask wearing is on airplanes, etc.

 

And yes your list is quite long and off putting.

 

Vaccinated passengers = Yes

 

Masks = No

 

That is my opinion

Not in medical facilities, doctor's offices?? Public transportation?? 

21 hours ago, phissy said:

 

Nothing like the pool deck in the YC! We enjoyed the fresh made pasta dishes they served at lunch time, grilled lamb chops, shrimp, etc.  It's not your typical cruise ship grill, although they did have tasty burgers too.

5 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Is that for a 7-day cruise or longer? We just paid $4200 for a YC1 cabin, but that was for two, so around $2100 per person. $3500 seems high but our cruise is only 7 days, maybe yours is longer?

We're paying just under $2300 per person for a YC1 cabin on Mera for our cruise in October. Our daughter has an interior on Seashore booked for next April, and I know that's around $1700 pp, because she's trying to get me to join her.  🙂  Both are 7-day itineraries.

28 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

No worries, I enjoyed reading your post. 😊 

They really seem to go the extra mile in the YC. I’d say that if you want something, just ask and you’re likely to get it. I don’t know if Arthur is still the maitre d’, but he was bubbly and cheerful all of the time. 

I've heard about Arthur. He's pretty famous with quite a few here on CC.  

2 hours ago, 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. 

Noted!  We love Indian food too. A few years ago my husband and I did a B2B on RC Freedom of the Seas. About 2 days in, service and food in the MDR wasn't great, and we'd cruised with the many times, and the menu was very repetitive. We started going to their buffet every night for dinner. (It became a very laid back kinda vacay, we could wear shorts to dinner!) They had a section in the buffet that served some Indian dishes. One of the assistant waiters working the buffet stopped our table and we mentioned how good the curry was...next night we showed up, and they brought specially prepared food out to our table, including naan. The chef came out to our table every night from then on with something new. Turned out to be our best trip ever.

(Sorry for the long post, and I will remember to ask about Indian food when we sail on Mera in October.)