no1talks

The retraining...

Except only one of the three categories of rooms receives butler service. Explora focuses on speciality dining venues, rather than one general menu. This makes it harder to establish special dining requests than in YC. One can have the same server team for all your dinners in YC, which makes standing requests easy. So, rather different from Yacht Club, really.

This is terrible news. 😵

Please elaborate. I'm curious about specific changes because I've not read about anything other than the unfavorable passenger-to-space ratio in World Europa's YC. (Which is bad enough, of course.) Thanks in advance.

That could result in a delay so long that Doc Brown will be the returning captain!

Similar? I really like MSC and YC, but I like them a bit less with each cut they make, so I'm not making this post as big hater of the product. Other than the cruises all being 14-nights and Florida closed-loop itineraries, they are not similar at all. The Seashore cruise you cited is just a 7-day cruise repeated, doubling-back to Cozumel and Costa Maya, with the difference of Nassau during the 1st week and a 2nd day at Ocean Cay during the 2nd, instead of just one during the 1st. Why pay for the repetition? The World America itinerary doesn't repeat ports, except for Ocean Cay of course. However, everyone booking YC on World America should keep in mind her sister ship, World Europa, has 152 cabins in YC. Seascape has 131 and there has been no significant increase across all the Europa YC venues to accommodate the increased passenger count. One may be paying top dollar (by MSC standards) for an elevated but crowded World America YC experience. We'll have to see what the first cruisers report. However, the Silver Shadow cruise I cited has no risk of being crowded and she's making unrepeated calls to places MSC visits only from their cruises that embark from the Leeward Islands (if visited at all). So add the cost of roundtrip airfare from/to Miami if you want to make an apples-to-apples comparison of island itineraries. Ultimately, anyone who wants to spend more on a cruise and enjoy more than the basic "three hots and a cot" needs to decide what is really necessary for their included amenities and how much extra they are willing to pay. They also need to be content paying for extras they don't care about, because pretty much any premium/luxury cruise will include stuff one doesn't want, but still pays for.

Yes, in Mexico las cucarachas are quite formidable. However, I have had gotten excellent results by offering them American cigarettes to leave me alone.

When you arrived, was it reserved for @morpheusofthesea and did it already have deck towels woven into the ceiling? No cabana (or cabaña) is outside his sphere of influence! 😆

The funny thing about Vegas is if you wait long enough, the properties that were once a big splurge and big deal become "affordable" stays. (I'm looking at you, Luxor.) 😆

They do, but not many. One has to search diligently or put a TA on the task.

You seem very defensive. After all, you brought up the point by implying a difference between a cruise and a wedding, as a means of refuting an implied double-standard held by those who will dress up for a wedding, but not a cruise. However, a cruise and a wedding may not be so different. It is not all that unusual for couples to combine a wedding or vow renewal with a cruise Do you always see yourself as the specific subject of an observation made to indicate a non-specific portion of the cruising population?

I go on cruises for a good time. I go to weddings for a good time. If invited to a wedding that is likely to not be a good time, which is a rare occurrence, I politely decline. Accordingly, I don't see vacations and weddings as being very different. Both should be pleasant and celebratory diversions from one's day-to-day life. I feel badly for people who seem to be incapable enjoying a cruise (or wedding) if there is a bit of dressing up included.

It is the opposite in my marriage. I'm the clothes horse who sets the pace for traditional cruise attire. (I pack more pairs of shoes, too.) 😆

By the way, in case you were wondering, that's why I haven't bothered to ask you and Mrs. Morpheus to adopt me.

Oooh! I remember reading about those suites, while Vista was still being finished. The decor and furniture is from Ralph Lauren Home. Be sure to wear your Chaps. (The fragrance, not the leather.)

When someone hits you with the ol' J'Accuse! just make like Samwise and say you were cutting the grass under the window, er... cabana.

Vista, eh? I hope you've done your homework, Morpheus, because there is some controversy regarding that ship. Have a look at what G. Bembridge had to say, even though he is a huge fan of Oceania. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aOXEYQXQW0

This is not uncommon for short cruises on MSC and other low-cost lines. Typically, a better experience would be found on a 7-day (or longer) cruise. The "weekend warriors" are less likely to participate.

I'm not in a position to watch the video at this time, but I do hope you were able to have for cabin properly cleaned shortly after you arrived.

But in the US and Canada, you're sweet potatoes.

When I feel the onset of malaprop, I just drink more gin and tonic. 🦟

And that's irrelephant. If I were you I'd elemonade that post.

I think you mean, "Fits me to two pair of t's," because he said, "pretty snotty." 🧐

Sometimes the best stuff on this board is the off-topic stuff. 😁

Ah, but one should never underestimate the motivational power within the simple gesture of arranging a surprise, scented bubble bath for one's significant other. (Especially when including a favored adult beverage.) 😉