Fogfog

Cruising is capitalism. Not socialism and not social welfare. We do NOT feel badly for getting services we paid for when we sail. Everyone has an opportunity to choose when, where and how they spend there $. Which is why MSC should not include YC with the bid up/free upgrade (nor X Retreat, NCL Haven etc). Want to sail YC/Haven/Retreat etc.. "show me the money" 😉 Your helpful and frank review MOTS, has me less wistful for our lost TP in 2021 (Canada-Alaska-Russia-Japan) Appreciate it very much

Hi Dan Our last 8 sailings have been in YC out of Florida and as YC is inclusive (unlike Haven which is not) we didn't get hit with drink fees at embarkation. I recall years ago that being the case on another line--where our acct showed weird small charges which after inquiry we learned it was the bev tax. I do recall having this from port to port sailing around Spain during a TA 5 years ago. The story about your Marseille sailing was a good one!

Interesting. Sailing out of FL in MSC YC - we don't get hit with that kind of tax. The YC libations are included so there's that (so much for "free at sea" NCL!) and it's FL not NY.

ah ha Now that is funny! Years ago--sailing out of a port - we did have armed military boats from that nation to our port side during sail away... It was quite the show

🤔

Pat/Jim helpful post They charge NY taxes on alcohol for Haven even when you have prepaid the bev program/free at sea and grats etc? Yikes We're planning on upgrading all that on the ship but don't want to be hit with more taxes and fees Our sail away isn't til 6ish (TA) and that's cut right into cocktails/dinner etc. if we are on (Haven) early for lunch, afternoon on the ship etc

I remember reading all of that here And we have been in YC where a pax sitting across from us in the lounge admitting to clearing out the minibar of snacks and liquor etc... Have seen pics here on CC of pax doing that. I looked straight at him and commented WHY would he need to hoard the minis in the room bar... We regularly consumed the juices and coffee each day. Not the snacks/mini-bottles etc etc. On the last sailing no choc covered strawberries. And the little boxes with a snack/macaroon etc n the evening were usually part of am coffee in the room Re Opera etc.. One of our favs was the opera/ballet production on Merav. some 4 years ago Just a really nice afternoon matinee and we appreciated the cast's work. Sorry that Cirque disappeared from the Carousel aft lounge. On a 2020 B2B we did one of the two different dinner/show during each week. also was a nice evening. I know not everyone agrees with that. Both times we had reserved table- the 2 seat table port side-- so great view of the wake and the show. We were sorry to miss the late great CD Gene Moimoi Young's show on our sailings. His fan base reports it was wonderful. @morpheusofthesea Didn't I read a page or so back that you made reservations on this ship and suite for future sailings?

We agree, we are all in on hat we expect when we pay for such services. It is the ship experience that is often the destination. e have no guilt etc to skip the lines, have priority embarkation/debarkation, theater seating etc I do think MSC needs to step it up on the wine/bev package offerings in YC. It should have the best. The pre covd YC lounges had great selection and we could upgrade to anything on the ship. We had an outstanding somm who came to the YC dining each night to wine pair our meals. (B2B). He unabashedly brought the nicest things to us. And he was kind enough at the end to print for us the list of the things we drank. The offerings in the YC lounge and dining dropped off Re the "entitled", I meant that with the upgrades folks get into YC, many do not appreciate it and treat the staff and experience poorly. Including the casino at sea folks who brag about sailing free... While you may see bad behavior by those who paid rack rate etc for the experience, I think there have been fewer of those boorish behaviors than the ones that bid up or the upgrade fairy moved them in order to sell the reg balcony etc.

Re surveys -- I spend time on each MSC survey and note outstanding folks. Recently did our Seashore sailing and will be sitting down to do the Divinia sailing. Re Le Muse--we did not have a good experience on our sailing 2 weeks ago -couldn't get a dry rose (minerally) and was told it didn't exist on the ship, in spite of being seen at other venues AND two other pax were able to get it in Le Muse. - service was frenetic - dishes we had the week before on Seashore which were excellent-- were terrible on Divinia (asparagus pannacotta for example was excellent on Seashore and not worth a second bite on Divinia) We have had the menus for 8 sailings in the last 2 years or so - we have a pretty solid idea of what should be plated I am going to note on the survey abut the upgrade thing. I just dont like it into YC and often those pax treat the staff and crew and experience poorly. And they often do impact our sailing. Included casino folks Yes - there are those rude entitled folks who buy in too, I just expect there to be fewer of them

I want YC to be a success AND I want it to be a secret KWIM? Some really distasteful folks have been there from time to time. Whether it be their lack of manners, or worse yet, the way they treat the YC crew and staff poorly, (and even facilities: lounge, pool deck, etc..)

That's really unfortunate for us. We would miss all of those time slots of entertainment if left to our own devices. Are the pax in the lounge at 11? And a DJ later ? Getting up later in am and staying up later?

Really lovely The architecture and decor of the ship is so pleasant. Can you sit in there any time of day and have bev and light bites brought to you? I imagine on a rainy day or cool and underway that it is pleasant if quiet. Years back we found that on a few Celebrity ships that the observation lounge was often desolate and few would venture there. We could enjoy the quiet and read. Late in the afternoon as cocktail hour was upon us, they'd often bring us nice canapes and a drink. I am the outgoing one in our household yet really value the serenity of ocean views, sea breeze, and some highly civilized service. 🥰

I do think MSC YC crew works very hard at cleaning up and making certain things are tidy. Can say that we have seen plenty of those overserved in YC, and some very sloppy eaters that make it look like toddlers were there!. I notice this stuff-- from people who don't put a napkin in their lap, hold a fork like a shovel, talk with their mouth full, don't shower off before entering the pool or hot tub etc. This may sound bad, however we would prefer if MSC didn't don't do upgrades into YC, period. Also would like to see no children in the YC pool/hot tub period. An adult only experience. Still, they seem to be our preferred niche at the moment. I'll have more thoughts re NCL and Haven in 2 months after our TA Want to say I have seen signs of some type in Haven pics saying that kids under 16 or so could not be in the pool..though haven't been able to find that. With the whole ship being family friendly (MSC/NCL etc) and water parks and family pools etc... we'd really like to be sailing apart from that. On smoking-- it always surprises me to see smokers-- even more so when they have other comorbidities (obesity) and other health issues/needs like walkers, wheelchairs. On a recent sailing one couple where on the pool deck smoking many times a day--dragging a walker with them. My brother started smoking young (jr high/high school) My sister in law, an RN, had him at an MD and on a patch to get off smoking when they started dating. So he stopped after more than 35+ years. It can be done. Glad to hear Regent is doing it right

Great song yet not so great execution. Just not my genre What do they mean "don't know how much longer I can keep this up"? Tired? Frustrated? Oh-- and re SMOKING.. We are non smokers and were on two MSC sailings recently. While we are not gamblers--the smoke from the Casino on Divinia filled the upper floor and into the back of the theater. The sailing was admittedly mostly pax from SA/EU/Canada. On the Seashore there was a group of 18 that was loud, and many were smokers. It impacted where on the pool deck one might sit. Surprising to us as we have no one in our social circles that are smokers. What does Regent do re this? Please and TY

🤣 ... "life alert" yet sad to read. TY for your frank observations We agree re dress, respect, for both the client AND the staff that worked so hard to serve.

OUCH! So sorry.

Glad to hear this We like to be unpacked, settled in and have changed for dinner. Agreed. That says the room was NOT cleaned.

Why can't they do this on turn-around day-- As you'd be off and the new pax could wait til the next am when it would be dry/curing and smell less?🤪

Hope all is well..including the ankle. Best fog

NCL baggage handling is THAT poor for Haven pax?

Fingers crossed. On Prima in Haven soon. Wish you and the GF were joining the TA 😉

TY I do know that in Fl ports for example--the outside folks are long shoremen/union and not cruise line folks. so the bags are transferred from longshoremen, through security, to inside ship handlers. With MSC YC bags, they are put on baggage carts at the pier --all together. I would expect things can get separated though in all of our sailings on several lines and various cabin/suite levels, - only 1 bag went awol for a few hours yet it still arrived by dinner time

Interesting about the luggage. With MSC YC the bags are tagged YC and on separate carts. IDK that they arrive before/after other baggage, yet they do come early to mid afternoon. So in the last 2 sailings- we were on the ship at 10:30/11 in YC lounge. Had lunch (carry ons dropped at the room) and luggage was at the rooms by about 2-4. To temper expectations on our upcoming NCL Haven sailing, what is most typical. Please and TY for your thought.

Back to casual vs more formal We like to dress for dinner-- meaning DH wears a collared shirt and blazer, I am in dress slacks/blouse or dress each night. What are your 2 cents on lines that hold to dress for dinner/evening lounge? Even at YC we have seen folks show up in flip flops and shorts for the YC dining room at dinner. That said, We are solid YC fans. And we are doing a TA in Haven soon so will be able to see firsthand the differences. Pre cruise we feel disappointment that Haven is Not YC. and all of the extra charges on top of Haven'$ price How is dress in evenings on Regent for dinner?

Really nice! Sheesh-- Not even out there with coffee to read. Funny story -- YEARS ago on Carnival on the Serenity deck-- a bunch of hogs had left stuff there. We were there with another couple we met onboard. After 2 hours or so..We all moved their stuff onto a table with chairs and took the loungers/table in the shade. They came back like 2 more hours later--literally had NOT been there for 4 ours or more. They gave us a look and we ignored them. We were scheduled to sail Regent in fall 2021 for a TA westbound from Vancover to Japan--through the inner passage, across with 2 stops in Russia and then a few stops in Japan with then land touring Tokyo etc. Regent was disappointing in that when they cancelled--they did not offer to move the cruise to the following season- no price protections, no 25% good will like MSC did for cancelled sailings. Disappointing as we had sailed them years ago and wanted to ty them again. Your "notice-ings"/observations etc are helpful. How is the quality of the food compared to YC dining?