no1talks

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" I think it's more likely the poachers will just plan on another cheap Bella cruise, refining their infiltration technique on the next go. If they're caught, they'll just return to their Easy Plus drinking elsewhere on the ship. No consequences. As far as disgruntled YCers heading to Explora in a huff, I'm not confident that will be an option for all. For example, any YC cruiser who finds the butler service to be an major component of the experience will find Explora an expensive alternative. Explora only provides butlers for their top-tier suite category: Residences. Actually, Explora feels the job title of "butler" is too quotidian, preferring to say, "Private butler services from our Residence Hosts." On this year's mid-December, 9-night, Miami roundtrip cruise, a Residence Host for your cruising needs will cost more than $19,000 for the entry-level Residence. Explora Journeys isn't a cruise line that is "just like YC, but throughout the whole ship."

Given the sentiments expressed regarding the upcoming "inclusions" and the presumed-but-unknown price increase, this board may be full of Oceania escapees, too. 🤪

I'm a big fan of YC, but I'm not sold on the idea of it losing value relative to the ship's offerings as a whole. If there are loads of new things, but YC remains the same, except for more guests, I might as well stick with the earlier ships' YCs. There are ways for the equation to favor YC on the ships of tomorrow, rather than the ships of today. However, I don't see those factors yet.

Newest ships with newest stuff... Dining venues that are not on the Diamond meal list. Wine machines and "speakeasy" bars that are not covered by the YC drink package. It seems the only new things YCers will get exclusively and included at no extra cost is an increased passenger count in YC and their area on OC. I don't see the appeal.

I do not mean how they are, mood-wise. I'm referring to professional skills. I would hope the bartenders are at least knowledgeable enough to make the menu cocktails in a timely and uniform manner. Do you find this to be so, or is there noticeable variation in the taste of the same drink, made by different bartenders? How about drinks not on the menu? Do you encounter many responses of, "I don't know that drink," when ordering a non-menu cocktail? Why do I ask? Well, unlike many on this message board my wife and I do not cruise for the ports. We still work and cannot be away from our jobs long enough to sink our teeth into a multiweek, ports-first cruise. Instead, we are all about the onboard experience, with an emphasis on quality and a "culture of yes" rather than being on a ship with a zillion things to do and friendly, but forgettable, service. So, how about those bartenders? Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with this topic.

That will be, I believe, Sun Princess. The two YC style suites are called Signature and Reserve "collections" and I think the ship goes in service next year.

And those who are waiting for Explora to finish "finalizing" their loyalty plan. If Explora accepts MSC points to one degree or another, points built up beyond the black card ceiling may have value. Or, Explora may deny any familial connection to the poor unfortunates still cruising on MSC. 😜

No confusion from my perspective. For years my employer had two entirely different formulas for computing annual bonus eligibility and the percentage, should a bonus be awarded. One was for mid-level management and above. The other for those in the trenches. The leadership folks did pretty well under those rubrics. It was only during the height of the labor crunch that a single system was put in place for all bonuses. Furthermore, it favors the hourly folks because overtime is now included in the bonus formula. All of which is to say a company can compensate their tiers of employees to wildly different levels of those employees' satisfaction.

Let us not forget, It has been reported in past threads that MSC service staff have mentioned a preference for US-based routes, because a higher ratio of American passengers means more guests open to cash tipping. It not so farfetched to suppose a cruise line with an even greater percentage of American cruisers than MSC (and the likelihood of more added tips) would be tempting to an MSC service staffer.

Internal promotions are well-and-fine, but MSC is still near the bottom when it comes to daily service charge, at $14.50 for US departures. Furthermore, YC charges the same "daily" as the rest of the ship. NCL, on the other hand . . . How much are the service charges? For bookings made on or after January 1, 2023: $25.00 USD per person per day for The Haven and Suites; $20.00 USD per person per day for Club Balcony Suite and below; I wonder how many YC service staff are heading for NCL?

In ship design of prior ages, the rear-most and highest deck was thus called.

Two birds with one stone???

Given the copious occurrences of not-quite-right food, beverage, port time, and service, which are mentioned by participants on this board, Oceania fans would do well to remove the plank from their cruise line's "eye" before remarking on the mote in the so-called wannabes'. Happy cruising.

That's the month my wife and I will be trying Oceania for the first time. Are you, perchance, referring to the December 4th cruise on Sirena, out of Miami? We've been repeat MSC Yacht Club cruisers, but we felt we should try some other premium-and-higher cruises.

Were there any chocolate falcons?

Maybe the suave secret agent and criminal mastermind want to play chemin de fer without rubbing elbows with Bob from Poughkeepsie.

If only there was a way to escort the interlopers out of YC to the tune of Chopin's funeral march.

That's a passel of towels, make no mistake. With that many towels, you could open a small car wash... Whoa, whoa, whoa, talking 'bout a car wash, yeah.

I can sympathize. My wife rolls her eyes in regards to my six pairs. I'm pretty sure that many shoes, even in YC, is exceptional among male cruisers. 👞

I played quite a bit of roulette just a few months ago on Seascape. Unless two young cruisers by the name of Rose and Jack swiped the roulette table, pitched it overboard, and floated away on it, you'll be able to play, too. 😉

Given the copious luggage your wife has, I would have expected the following: "No porters on duty until 9 am. Had to unload myself. Bad idea, as I'm now texting this from the ortho floor at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where I await treatment for a ruptured disc."

Not that flying is always stroll in the park these days. We avoid it as much as possible by driving to embarkation ports.

On the subject of butlers... For those who have the "anytime, any place" drink package, are butlers allowed to bring cocktails and such to one's cabin?

You get the gold star today for that film reference. (Truth be told, I liked the film Valmont just a bit more, because of my crush on Annette Bening.)

I'm partial to tenderloin cuts and I very much enjoyed the specially-ordered Beef Wellington on Seascape in March. If there is a special steak preparation you really enjoy, do not hesitate to see the YC maître d' and request your steak dinner, allowing a day or two lead time. Steak au poivre? Chateaubriand? London broil? Steak Diane? Steak Tartare? If they have the required steak cut and other ingredients, the YC kitchen is very accommodating.