At Sea At Peace

Please don't. Part of CC enjoyment is the pictures with comments, or without. Not a big fan of changing that to 'the cloud.' Probably more technologically progressive, but we like it this way currently. Take no offense.

1. We haven't sailed the YC since December of 2019, however, then and all of the previous YC's we've done, we "walked the luggage to the Yacht tent" where it was there, prescreen documents, etc. but it will be repeated, and they took our luggage. That's why it is very important to identify the Yacht Club tent and have your driver drop you off right there. 2. We have never complied with, or even been questioned or asked about, the Yacht Club "window assigned." In fact, we've been there early waiting for them to 'que up' the tent and start processing. Once inside the Yacht Club waiting and reception venue, immediately go to the registrar and submit your documents (don't go and sit down and expect them to come to you), as now it is First Come First Serve to be called to register, and for butler assisted boarding groups thereafter. Enjoy bubbly, sweets etc. in the meantime, even if you're real early.

Had this issue recently. Here's a cut and paste (2) of our experience and resolution. Basically the online system is, and has been, down for a while. FIRST POST Well, thanks for the heads up. So we tried to do our check-in for Seascape 3/30. We're big MSC YC long-termers, fully understand the IT weaknesses that do exist. We used our laptop, not the APP (probably preferable). First, trying to enter some of the passenger information was odd. They already had such information for one of us but not the other and vice versa for input fields (as well as we are VC members). Some input fields wouldn't let us key anything in unless we 'exited the previous input using the TAB' and/or hovering the arrow to an acceptable 'spot on the input filed space!' 🤪 Second, the PHOTO snapshot wouldn't work and message that our settings-privacy-camera needed to be adjust to accept MSC. Pretty experienced at this from other cruises and other purposes; their access never 'populated' in the add option. AFTER 25 TRIES I gave up and called waiting for the correct instruction 'help with web check-in' number. Got a person right off, she said no problem, will do at port, it's been having problems for months and they are working on it. 😲 So, got what we could done. No eDocs received at all. If none by tomorrow will contact again and request. We cruise MSC for the Yacht Club! SECOND POST Tried the APP route. 🤨 Got the APP download, but couldn't log in using our MSC VC member log in, had to log in 'with confirmation number.' Then had to RE ENTER EVERY BIT - - 100% - - OF OUR INFORMATION. A nasty navigation, the TAKE PHOTO did work 😒 Took iPhone screenshots of Boarding Passes. Asked (selected) 'Send Travel Documents' EMAIL - Error (over and over). Gave up. 😔 We've sailed MSC a lot of B2Bs in Yacht Club for years. This is first MSC cruise since the pandemic. We sail MSC for the Yacht Club. The IT, website and APP (for pre-cruise) are simply terrible. Sorry.

Just wondering if the OP tried to make contact with the suggested person and email provided. Thank you. Again, a tough one.

Nice. Always follow. Enjoy your cruise and thanks for the sharing. We're nearing our B2B starting 3/30 so we're collecting all your offerings. 📰 🍹 🍷

Tried the APP route. 🤨 Got the APP download, but couldn't log in using our MSC VC member log in, had to log in 'with confirmation number.' Then had to RE ENTER EVERY BIT - - 100% - - OF OUR INFORMATION. A nasty navigation, the TAKE PHOTO did work 😒 Took iPhone screenshots of Boarding Passes. Asked (selected) 'Send Travel Documents' EMAIL - Error (over and over). Gave up. 😔 We've sailed MSC a lot of B2Bs in Yacht Club for years. This is first MSC cruise since the pandemic. We sail MSC for the Yacht Club. The IT, website and APP (for pre-cruise) are simply terrible. Sorry.

Well, thanks for the heads up. So we tried to do our check-in for Seascape 3/30. We're big MSC YC long-termers, fully understand the IT weaknesses that do exist. We used our laptop, not the APP (probably preferable). First, trying to enter some of the passenger information was odd. They already had such information for one of us but not the other and vice versa for input fields (as well as we are VC members). Some input fields wouldn't let us key anything in unless we 'exited the previous input using the TAB' and/or hovering the arrow to an acceptable 'spot on the input filed space!' 🤪 Second, the PHOTO snapshot wouldn't work and message that our settings-privacy-camera needed to be adjust to accept MSC. Pretty experienced at this from other cruises and other purposes; their access never 'populated' in the add option. AFTER 25 TRIES I gave up and called waiting for the correct instruction 'help with web check-in' number. Got a person right off, she said no problem, will do at port, it's been having problems for months and they are working on it. 😲 So, got what we could done. No eDocs received at all. If none by tomorrow will contact again and request. We cruise MSC for the Yacht Club!

Yeah, that's a tough one. After getting all excited to win the best on the ship it makes it harder to take losing it. I don't know why such happened. Laura Hodges Bethge CEO is really tough to get for a matter like this; she's about a year into running the entire line and that's a lot on her plate to take on individual matters. I would recommend Andrea Shey, I believe VP of the Loyalty Program for about the same amount of time. I watched many cruise videos and read many online commentaries from her and, after having an issue of our own, she actually immediately communicated with us, commented and forwarded to the correct department head for resolution. We got a phone call in minutes and our issue was resolved satisfactorily. We believe the person was from an "Executive Office" type response team. Anyway, CC has many different thread post with various emails for her. The one we used originally and successfully was below. ashey@celebrity.com I will recommend, as I do to all in such conditions, to conduct yourself in a balanced, passionate (about Celebrity cruise history) and non-adversarial manner (even though you could have every right to feel so) as, in these corporate level access situations, we find that a touch of sugar coating works more often than vinegar.

The same for us, although we will sample the shows. It's not that we 'not show people,' we've lived a life of rising 5-6am for 40 years and haven't really been able to shake that, making staying up for the shows an issue. So we enjoy the very elegant and low key performances in the Lounge. Very relaxing, even if the dinning venue is still open.

First, always enjoy keeping up with your posts and information.😉 SS has no booze included? I believe I mentioned that it probably wasn't A-T-A, but there were no Retreat Suites available at the time 🤨 so that is the what we were comparing the cost to; under the assumption that an equivalent (size, bath etc.) to the YC standard deluxe in the Retreat would be 'even more' expensive.💵 We're headed on the 3/30-4/13 soon in the YC out of Miami. 🛳️ We've logged years of 3 B2B's per year in the YC pre-pandemic and found it 'always' to be a total pleasure, fantastic amenities ~ ~ low passenger density and comparability to passenger mix and demographics ~ Top Sail Lounge (inside early morning, late afternoon and evening, light entertainment, and maybe even access to outside for in/out of ports viewing) ~ YC Restaurant (relative quality, uniqueness, OPEN over lounge, special requests etc.) ~ One Pool, Sundeck and Grill & Bar (just 'awesome for lunch daily') and and at a ridiculous comparable value to the big boat sea ship alternatives. So looking forward to it, first MSC YC post pandemic!

We truly 'lucked out' and had a great run of years. Original was Divina B2B. Forward sales invited us to champagne to talk. We were given the option to book the new ships that were open for booking, in the Yacht Club, at a matched price! We booked, and booked.... 😄 To be honest, despite how good the Yacht Club continues to be, it was OVER-THE-TOP in the first couple of years. I won't elaborate, as such much encourage others to chime in and say 'MSC has cheapened it." But it was very special for a sea ship and we were also doing the NCL Haven the same amount of time per year and "it wasn't even close!" 🤫 But we enjoyed other aspects of the NCL ships outside of the Haven for such bookings.

Yep. When we were looking at our 3/30-4/13/2024 B2B options and really limiting our preference to Celebrity Retreat Suite or MSC Yacht Club Deluxe, it was $24K versus $10K+- respectively. Although, after sailing Ascent, we LOVE the outside of the Retreat Ascent (the rest of the ship) versus outside of the Yacht Club (which is OK), just couldn't justify the difference. In our early days on MSC pre-pandemic, we were doing 3 B2B's a year for $6,800!

We've sailed Celebrity recently, Silhouette and Ascent (Aqua), neither Retreat. We've sailed MSC YC many, many times all B2B with another upcoming the 1st two weeks of April. I keep looking at the $ comparison. I'm not if using the Aqua Class Sky suite (Retreat privileges) is even a fair comparison to average Retreat suite.

Well, it would have to have been coming up from the shower drain. It would not come out of the fresh hot and cold water feed to the shower. Totally separate. Again, tough situation. Sorry it happened. There are CC folks here way better familiar with how the heck sewer can blow and spray out of toilet. Not up my alley. Probably wise to 'keep a lid on it' just in case?

We're so sorry for your experience. Sometimes really bad things happen. We believe that when the appropriate level of management arrives that you will be served well, albeit late to your satisfaction. Although we don't understand exactly what happened, it seems very rare. But, it indeed happened. In that situation I'd have jumped in the shower with soap over and over and would have rinsed my own eyes excessively. The proper treatment? Nope. Just mitigation for something you shouldn't have had to deal with. We hope it all works out. We would have transferred you to another stateroom immediately. Hang in there.

You certainly have that right! 👀 🤫 We've done many MSC YC B2B's from 2017 to 2019 before the 'word got out.' Even booking future B2B's with a 'same price guarantee' at the time. Imagine, $3,457.04, including all taxes and port fees, for 2! We're going again B2B at end of this month. Almost that 'per' now, and it was hard to find a B2B with a stateroom that we preferred!

It's unique. 😕 We have a B2B booked for 12/1 and 12/8. We log in to those, go to All Dining, Complimentary, pick a MDR Venue and go to "Reserve" and everything is 'greyed out' with the error message that states that "you have Select Dining Anytime" and won't let us select anything. On our upcoming 5/26, doing the same thing, we get no such warning, and get to pick each MDR to select by day and choose from the remaining time slots available (8:30 and later). Yet we have the same confirmation package for each. Go figure? 😉

It is what it is, it was just a surprise. We didn't do very good research, so just informational for others. In reply to this in an "excursion forum" as to why we just didn't go to Orlando to a water park 😄 😜 🏊‍♀️ ~ We've taken these kids to water parks in Orlando, while at WDW Grand Floridian; Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach repeatedly. They've been to the biggest water parks in an around Austin TX. So, we don't book a cruise for a couple of hours at a water park at one of the ports, and we're not tripping up to Orlando (car, Brightline or air) with a hotel overnight, etc. to add a waterpark. We wanted to take the kids on a cruise ship for the first time, we're 1 mile from Port Everglades right on the beach and we have them for 3 weeks from May to June. THEY wanted to go on a cruise ship. Granted, Celebrity (owned by Royal) is not the best option for kids for onboard activities, we believe Royals ships are, but they were not available here in FLL for the open dates we have and out of Miami the ICON was 3-4X. Maybe next time. So, we picked an itinerary that would have active ports for them, Cococay (the entire island, various activities (they have their own, best snorkel gear) and 'some time' at the Thrill water park), Cayman (Stingray City and more snorkeling) and to a lesser extent Bimini (still unplanned). A 6N cruise. The purpose of the cruise was not just the Thrill Waterpark at Cococay for the whole day and nothing else. It's just a segment piece of one day. We'll be all over the island with other activities throughout the day. There are no longer 1/2 day passes and the Thrill park cost has grown from $79 for kids and $129 for adults to the same $189 for both kids and adults; apparently different than even Royal charges and much more than the past 9 months. So, it was just a surprise to just find out now on this booking. Take care, we're fine. If the weather doesn't look good prior to the full refund date we'll just cancel if there isn't a better offer or promo in the meantime.

Yep. That really makes it super flexible as we can all look at the menus for the day and get an idea what each will want a bit ahead of time and, like you note, get such from any MDR venue. 👍

@EatonDoolittle, we've taken these kids to water parks in Orlando, while at WDW Grand Floridian; Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach repeatedly. They've been to the biggest water parks in an around Austin TX. So, we don't book a cruise for a couple of hours at a water park at one of the ports, and we're not tripping up to Orlando (car, Brightline or air) with a hotel overnight, etc. to add a waterpark. We wanted to take the kids on a cruise ship for the first time, we're 1 mile from Port Everglades right on the beach and we have them for 3 weeks from May to June. THEY wanted to go on a cruise ship. Granted, Celebrity (owned by Royal) is not the best option for kids for onboard activities, we believe Royals ships are, but they were not available here in FLL for the open dates we have and out of Miami the ICON was 3-4X. Maybe next time. So, we picked an itinerary that would have active ports for them, Cococay (the entire island, various activities (they have their own, best snorkel gear) and 'some time' at the Thrill water park), Cayman (Stingray City and more snorkeling) and to a lesser extent Bimini (still unplanned). A 6N cruise. The purpose of the cruise was not just the Thrill Waterpark at Cococay for the whole day and nothing else. It's just a segment piece of one day. We'll be all over the island with other activities throughout the day. There are no longer 1/2 day passes and the Thrill park cost has grown from $79 for kids and $129 for adults to the same $189 for both kids and adults; apparently different than even Royal charges and much more than the past 9 months. So, it was just a surprise to just find out now on this booking. Take care, we're fine. If the weather doesn't look good prior to the full refund date we'll just cancel if there isn't a better offer or promo in the meantime.

Thank you. Looks like the plan! 👍

So much for 3rd and 4th passengers (grandkids) free? YIKES! No half-day option in Excursions. Now, for the us (we're just observing, except for required rides that we can do) and two grandkids 10 and 12, @ $188.99 each = $755.96 Plus $75.56 in taxes ($831.52) ~

YIKES! No half-day option in Excursions. Now, for the us (we're just observing, except for required rides that we can do) and two grandkids 10 and 12, @ $188.99 each = $755.96 Plus $75.56 in taxes ($831.52) ~

Thanks, we think we are going to be okay as we're 5:30-5:45 ready. It appears that this 'reserving complimentary dining' even if you've booked with the designation Select and/or Early and/or 6PM is developing. Didn't have it on Silhouette with Select or recent Ascent with BLU available. 🥩 🥔 Again, thanks all. We're now wrestling with the 'Parental Consents' from son and partner/mom that are in Texas with the notary requirement with us, as 'Accompany Adults' and were in Fort Lauderdale with the same notary requirement? Appear to have worked that out with Executive Office that accepted our draft modification of the RCCL template by separating the two notarizations with the Parents consent to be signed and notarized in Texas and, on that sent to us, our Accompany adults consent to signed and notarized in Florida. 🧐

We should know this after a couple of recent cruises on Silhouette and Ascent, but we're taking our grandkids 12 and 10 on their first cruise on 5/26/24 (6N CocoCay, Cayman and Bimini), all booked, with the designation under 'Dining' as Select and Early (some screen shots said 6PM). Reading CC, it appears there are reservation now that can be made for MDRs. So, to be safe, we just checked and there is "nothing" short of primarily 9PM on any night by night 6 (we're booked in Eden for that night). So, if we show up pre-6PM what can we expect? 2 lines? One for reservations and one for stand-by select? If 2 lines, what have others experienced for wait times in the stand-by select? Is this something we can try to fix once on board? Called Captains Club and they said "you can make reservations," then looked and saw none early, and said 'should be OK' if we go 5 minutes before 6? Thanks to anyone with thoughts and suggestions.