no1talks

Egads, that's a lot of humanity. I very much enjoy the Mera-class ships' ceiling animations, though. Packed holiday cruises dissuade me from a mass-market itinerary for NYE. I would consider a ship with a better passenger-to-space ratio, but that would still leave me with the other problem... I have zero interest in being on a ship for Christmas. As far as I know, a cruise that includes NYE often includes Christmas. (Yours is an exception, of course.)

If were to find myself in MSC's C-suite, I'd call for undercutting just enough on Florida departures to offset the downside of limited Florida itineraries, which I think is a bigger weakness than the website/call center. If one wants to get to the Windward and Leeward Islands on MSC, one has to fly out for an island embarkation. Other cruise lines go there from Florida.

Earlier today, we secured our Miami pre-cruise lodgings for our March '23 sailing on Seascape. We're rooming a bit more distant from Port Miami than the Hampton Inn, though. Your topic is very timely, as I'm on the lookout for Divina commentary, even if it isn't Yacht Club related. Our current plan is to book a 2024 cruise on Divina (Pictured) while we are on Seascape. Hopefully, Seascape YC is not so changed from this year's February wonderful experience on Mera. If we find YC to be heading in a direction we feel doesn't support the price, we'll be doing nearly the same itinerary on HAL instead.

Here is a video by Romanian media personality, Leonard Miron, detailing the "Farewell Afternoon Tea" overseen by Director Sheriffs, on a Virtuosa cruise in July. Farwell Afternoon Tea MSC Virtuosa.mp4 Perhaps, Morpheus, you can comment as to the similarities and differences between the tea service on Seascape and that which Dl. Miron shows us. As to my hopes for our March cruise on Seascape, afternoon tea may very well be a make-or-break aspect of annual MSC patronage in the future. If "Americanization" is to be the order of the day going forward, my list of must-haves will be all the more crucial. Depending on how things go in March, I don't rule out a drop to the minimum level of cruising needed to maintain Diamond status.

When I saw this post, GP, I thought of you and @psmarkle because of the recent casino activity, about which you both posted. If MSC thinks they can fill (or nearly fill) YC at the going rate, it hurts their bottom line to put casino folks in those suites, without gamblers undertaking an increased risk to get the YC reward. The budget US cruiser, which MSC needs in abundance for their increasingly large ships in Florida, still gets a little something at the bottom of the prize list. Remember, getting 1200 points is not particularly tough and 1500 is not the end of the world. So, the budget cruiser who already looks for a Voyagers Club 5% price break can now make it 5% + 10% with a bit of extra casino play. That's a brass ring the cruisers in that bracket can look forward to capturing. After all, why wouldn't the budget US cruiser risk some coin in the casino? MSC's seemingly unending sale already gave that cruiser free drinks & Wi-Fi and let the kids join the cruise gratis. Some might ask, "Well, if MSC wants to throw a bone to the bargain cruiser, why not keep the 30% and just exclude YC?" I suspect MSC believes 10% will keep those cruisers at the slots just a bit more, but 30% would be giving away too much. The Bella spots, with the freebies added, are already cheap, comparatively speaking. This is another part of MSC's plan to nab a big bunch of Carnival cruisers, who are quite often in the budget-minded column.

Don't forget to invoice MSC for the engineering consult, plus materials.

So do I... "Row well, and live."

"Papers, please."

Speaking of the extravaganza, Morpheus, were there any additional incidents of "interloper response" to eliminate non-YC buffet moochers?

I'll add this to our butler to-do list. Thank you for sharing.

Since the original topic is about liquor service, it is easy to think my assertion is based on the reputation Carnival has regarding alcohol consumption. However, I'm looking way beyond booze. I refer to the diminishing European vibe on the US-based MSC ships. As MSC's US ships become more Americanized, culturally-speaking, the Carnival customer base will be more and more at home on MSC cruises out of US ports. I recommend the reporting of @morpheusofthesea as he posts from his present cruise, for evidence pointing towards the de-emphasis of MSC's European roots. There have been other recent clues mentioned by posters recounting their cruises, too. I suspect MSC believes they can gather passengers (money) from Carnival by staying in the same entry-level price category, while making the onboard experience more culturally familiar to the Carnival base. My wife is European and MSC was a great fit right away. How much the Americanization/Carnivalization impacts her enjoyment is yet to be determined.

I have a feeling MSC is going make their US-based ships more like Carnival. 🙄

"I'm not sayin' I went to a trashy high school, but that was the motto on the back of the cheerleaders' jackets."

Well, judging by that nice pair of spectators he is wearing in the picture, he clearly nose his shoes.

Wait... Cabaret? Master of ceremonies? I do believe I've seen this before.

Seems rather populous. Maximum passengers, per ships's specs, sits at 5877 and that means 91% of maximum on this cruise. YC suites total 131, so a 329 head count is rather brisk. YC's dining room, according to the specs, seats 180. I hope YC is adequately staffed, in both quantity and quality.

Morpheus, a dialed-in guy like you probably has one of these for the entries to both your townhouse and country chateau... But if I ever see one in the gift shop...

All their ships, going back ten years or more, have Yacht Club. In fact, each design change adds more Yacht Club capacity. Their earliest two ship classes are smaller and do not have Yacht Club.

By the time the proposed terminal would be ready, there may not be much European elegance left in MSC's U.S. operations.

"Party of four, if'n y'all would be so kind."

So, a Moscow Mewl, then?

When I was a youngster, I wanted Ginger. Then I grew up and realized Mary Ann was the better catch.

Fear not! Magnifica is listed for that route, too. 🙄

MSC's website has Carribean itineraries listed. Most are short Miami-KeyWest-OceanCay cruises, plus a few week-long routes.