no1talks

Sitting on books at the adults' table for a holiday dinner was not about the attainment of knowledge... ...it was about the attainment of sweet potatoes.

"With books we sit on the chairs at the grown-ups' table." No1Talks, Thanksgiving '71.

So, they added a salmon sandwich, took away the chocolate cake, and changed "fruit basket" to "fruit plate." No dinner entees. BOO!! It seems those in YC who might want a quiet dinner in their cabin (assuming they have a proper table for meals) will have to make it a pizza night.

A four-person team, eh? Were hard hats and reflective safety vests involved?

Pray, tell us more, good sir. Since in-room dining is from that menu and that menu only, it would be nice to see the changes.

I'm happy just to see a string group playing in the Atrium a few time during a cruise. On-stage classical music is asking too much these days on mass-market lines. Even Holland America slashed their classical music availability.

The World ships' two-bathroom duplex suites are nicer and in the YC area, unlike the old "outpost" duplex suites. So that's something to consider once World America is in business.

Speaking of violin music, Morpheus, please advise whether or not there is still a smattering of public area string trio/quartet music these days. I suspect live music in MSC ships' thoroughfares will feature less (if any) classical music on the itineraries out of the US.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Morph, but I have it on the highest authority the ensemble associated with the World ships' newly-designed YC duplex with hot tub and 2nd bathroom is much spicier. In fairness, a grape lady is not included.

By the way, I've seen that hat in the MSC Logo Shop. You have to go on one of the Tanzanite scavenger hunts to get the necklace, though.

@morpheusofthesea is the undisputed guru on the topic of suite-included deck shelter. He could probably tell you exactly how many towels are required for a full closure of the shade gaps.

One does score more hootch in the top YC suites, but it is just more of the limited selections from the "choose one" options given to the rest of YC. (I have seen the bar set in pictures and videos.) Of course, there is always a chance an ambitious butler would go to bat for you with the head butler and get a bottle swap. It would probably be two "room" bottles in trade for one bottle of a non-premium liquor you might prefer. Being on the cruise for a 20th anniversary may help your case. Unlike true luxury cruise lines, MSC limits in-room dining to the room service menu and the butler brings all the food at once, no course-by-course service. As explicit policy, dining room food only shows up at your door if you are confined by illness. Again, your special occasion, a hard-charging butler, and a sympathetic maître d' might get you in-room access to the dining room menu and possibly course-by-course, but I would not bet on it. Specialty dining remains either an add-on or something for the Diamonds, regardless of one's suite.

Do enjoy yourself, sir, and best regards to Mme. Morpheus. It will not be long before 2026 is here and Seascape is sent to Galveston.

There are options for observant Catholics who are cruise enthusiasts. The question is: How motivated are those Catholics when the easiest option, that of having a priest always provided by the cruise line, is taken off the table? Use the regular cruise lines only for cruises when a priest is still being brought on board. Sail with Catholic travel groups on religious tourism cruises, which have a priest or deacon. Choose 7-day cruises that begin and end in ports where you can attend Mass by arriving a day early or staying a day late. Choose longer cruises with Sunday ports wherein Mass attendance is a viable option. (US military bases may be a way to go, but arraignments in advance are in order.) If there will be an opportunity for Mass in port, but there will also be a good reason it won't work out, see your priest about a dispensation. From the Code of Canon Law: "Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops in canon 87, a parish priest, in individual cases, for a just reason and in accordance with the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop (my emphasis), can give a dispensation from the obligation of observing a holy day or day of penance, or commute the obligation into some other pious works (can. 1245)." If, for some good reason, you have still chosen a cruise that doesn't even have one Sunday in a port where you could make a good-faith attempt at Mass attendance, the Code of Canon Law speaks to this as well: "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the liturgy of the word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families (can. 1248.2)." My personal observation: It should not be overlooked that the use of the phrase, "grave cause," may imply that the cruiser(s) should have actually made an effort to plan for Mass and not just "hand-wave" themselves out of their obligation. Individuals will have to decide for themselves how much due diligence they wish to put into remaining an observant Catholic while cruising. Pax vobiscum!

On that note... "Plato is my friend, but the truth is a better friend." - Aristotle

Yikes! Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad infamy? I wouldn't accept directions to the nearest KFC, let alone "life lessons" from that guy.

These invaluable professionals have been very important to us as well. I am concerned the ever-growing Yacht Club passenger counts will leave butlers stretched particularly thin.

That guy landed in debtor's prison twice, so I'll forego his advice about "worrying too much." 😆

A very diverse list covering many aspects of a cruise. The question is: What item(s) would be deal breakers with regard to Yacht Club, Morpheus, if altered or eliminated? Of course, some listed items are rather unlikely to change. For example, one would not expect MSC to replace the YC's walk-in showers with tubs during a ship's refit. But there are many items that could be changed due to cost savings.

This thinking seems to be in play on multiple cruise lines.

I would take offense at the attitude of presumed guilt and make my dissatisfaction quite plain.

Yes, but if this food expenditure policy actually exists, it would be very useful to know how much money is spent on the pudding from place to place. 😉

Mr. Morpheus, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to utilize your MSC intelligence sources and uncover the food expenditure rankings used throughout their cruise line. This message will...

Thank goodness! Yacht Club is getting crowded. 😆

In various interviews and press releases, Explora has been rather clear regarding their desire to capture a new market niche of sophisticated, new-to-cruising families who don't fit the typical mass-market profile. If one thinks an untapped base that is not yet cruising is out there, getting TAs on one's side would be a smart move. Personally, I don't think this target exists in America to the extent Explora may suppose. Perhaps it is different among the Europeans to which the Apontes are more accustomed.