At Sea At Peace

Thanks for looking. We had called and asked if there were any promotions expected before we cancelled and the CC contact was unable to report on such. We were booked for 5/26-6/1/2024 on Beyond out of FLL. We ate $957 in cancellation fees and booked a replacement trip up to Universal Studios on a FL Resident sale at a luxury on-site resort for one less day, but 2-rooms with water view, 4 day Park to Park Tickets, Express Passes for 5 people and the FLL-Orlando Brightline new fast rail for less than the original Beyond cruise cost, fees and gratuities, PDACC thrill park and zip line tickets for 4 (2 for us just to watch) and planned excursions for the Stingrays at the Grand Cayman.

Well, we were apprehensive about Seascape after CC comments and our prior MSC YC B2B's since 2017 where we found, starting with Divina, that each successive MSC YC was still "fantastic, the best at sea for us and an incredible value," each seemed to have a little bit less than before - that we noticed, and such was influenced by the oh-so-slight "less than before" YC staff overall and individually. Our recent Seascape B2B was the first change in that subtle declination, it was fantastic; and the YC staff was the reason. We can run of names that many long-timers of the YC can recall from our over-the-top YC experiences before the 'word got out.' For a while, we didn't see emerging replacements of comparison. This recent experience - we did!

Nice. Appears more reasonable. Interesting also as the Ascent was just days different. We likely wouldn't have "cancelled" if such was the case as we wanted the grandkids to enjoy the thrill park, zip line and then the rest of the island, and couldn't believe we had to also pay just to watch. 😲 😉

From our recent B2B, here are the Top Sail Lounge and One Pool Deck Bar menus of drinks for free and, if applicable, supplemental offerings.

There are those in the Yacht Club that constantly go to the Concierge desk and ask for a replacement card or wristband under the representations that they lost such - on the waterslide, in the pool or hot tub or on an excursion, etc. Seriously. 🎲

We agree. We also note, from our recent B2B, that the proportion of those that are making their unauthorized and unpaid for entry into the Yacht Club usually enjoy the One Pool and the Lounge with someone who is actually in the Yacht Club. We would hold both parties equally responsible and off load them all at the next port. We won't list the methods that are employed, but it is intentional and, with some parties, voluminous and frequent.

Although such is actually a possibility, the level of likelihood of such would seem to be assessed quite low. Again, not a zero though. We just completed a B2B on Seascape 3/30 forward. We don't consider ourselves spending our vacation spying or eves-dropping on other people. However, when you "don't want to even hear the outrageous, loud and inconsiderate conversations of others;" including from several cabanas away to a toddler back home who was warned he'd be 'spanked over and over, or in the Dining room on a 'speaker FaceTime business call,' and others beyond chemically 'enhanced,' then we believe those are "fair to note." At the time, we did. I simply don't believe this is relevant regarding the 'money' or the 'manners.'

Yep. The Chef also makes his way out 'to the people' also. He appears to have been given some 'margin' on the menu. We understand that the changes to the Minestrone Soup and the Beef Barley Soup, in which it appears (per DW) he semi-pureed half of the vegetables to make a 'thicker, more satiating' offering, was his idea. It surprised us and was excellent. I actually cancelled my 'entree and substituted the Beef Carpaccio starter for a light finish for the night after that Minestrone! Mustafa, YCD, is the most awesome, in all regards, we've experienced in dozens of weeks in the YC across a blend of ships.

Great. Thanks so much. We brought out or got a smile out of him several times a night, as well as the waiter 'Killa' and the head waiter ('dicshey, left after 9 months back to Mauritius at end of our B2B) who was 'the gold standard' for us in the YC. On our last night all three came up to us as we stood to leave to give big hugs!

Awesome! This seems 'up your alley' to not just interact but to educate in your own special way. For example, we read the daily menus and the special breads and the noted healthy specials. So, 'we asked him about them' and he was, well, not prepared (the first couple of times; thereafter, he read them ahead of time). Then we chided. The bread special (we don't do bread*) one day was with cranberries. That was wrong - the 's' being specific. We took one to inspect with him. There was -1- piece of diced cranberry on the outside of the bread. That was it. He laughed. The next day it was 6 grain seed special, we asked was it just the -6- seeds or were there more. He now knew our game and said he talked to the chef and they were all in the bread. It was quite fun. * sans sourdough, a resistant starch, which we explained the purported digestive system difference to (bewildered). The same with the daily health specials. Lastly, when an 'upscale customer' was personally seated by the MD and overly pampered 😉 we heard him state to them "tonight we have a good menu." So, we told Tristan and asked if we could know the nights remaining that had the 'bad menus.' Again, big smile. Have fun, enjoy, we're reading along.

Oh, I'm quite sure they will remember. They were 'the most enjoyable part of our entire B2B @ dinner each evening.' We had a very interactive time with them, especially funny with assistant Tristan, who I made so nervous pouring the wine he would get it all over the place and I threatened to buy a $2.99 rain poncho for dinner the next night. 😉 Another hint is we were known as the 'strawberry people' that put such in our champagne or prosecco, and after Tristan 'got it' we got the following at each seating on the table before we arrived. We also shared, and others thought it was a nice touch. Thanks if you can. Enjoying the follow.

The YC Director, Mustafa, was awesome. The best, most visible, most responsive that we've seen alone in on B2B compared to the many B2B YC's we've done pre-pandemic 'combined.' But, he can't be everywhere. The MD in the dining room was, compared to the same other other B2B YC, useless, as well as the host, the entire B2B. The servers, a quite exceptional group, were all 'waiting' for someone to do something as they said they were not allowed to. So I approached the MD and host. They, although totally aware of the boisterous bloat even from 50' away, unbelievably, said they couldn't interrupt the man during his call - - but I could. Not happening. We, as well as others, all moved! Didn't bother the oaf or his wife at all, as one would expect of such classless characters. If Mustafa had been nearby this would not have been handled this way. He handled every single issue with tact, immediacy and resolution for the entire B2B. I guess we can't post signs for everything, but extended cell phone calls and FT in the dining room should be a 'known no-no.' But, this is 2024; we don't want to offend 'one' offender despite the impact on hundreds of others. The MD should have a small pre-printed card that states such and politely asks the rude passenger to end the conversation or take it to the lounge or stateroom.

The particular subjects were (1) a 50-YO couple from FL (heard of supervised room suspension, 'here-say' from crew), (2) a 50+-YO 'exec' who decided to do an end of week FT call with his business in the dining room with full 'speaker mode' plus his massive vocals for 37 minutes and (3) a 65 YO H with W and 2 IL's who FT'd loudly to a toddler at home about his deserving spanking he'll get when they get home every day. No spring breaker issues at all. No issue with kids at all.

MOTS - Though lengthy 😉, enjoy following (most of the time). 🤔 Will follow. Enjoy your cruise. If you find the time and recall, please give our best to the YC waiter 'killa' and especially assistant 'tristan' and tell them 'table 31 - no bread, protein only' says hello (they were GREAT for 2-weeks on our recent B2B).

Just completed a B2B on Seascape starting 3/30 with week 1 Easter week with almost 100 kids and week 2 with 1/3 less total capacity in Yacht Club and only 20 plus something kids. The first week was the best. 🤔 The # of adults behaving like children the second week was above normal. 🙄