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I guess we got lucky when we ordered a sausage pizza, not on menu, and got Jone's Dairy Farm breakfast sausage on pizza. They do offer a Supreme now with sausage but not brave enough to try. Just order the pepperoni and life good.

Apparently showing safety message after first day not a big draw.

Some of that true, others just hit or miss. As I said in a previous post, YC experience downfalls are not people generally, it is the system and setup. Captain John's review on newest ship shows improvements in next class as they have been doing, although slowly.

Right, there are a couple posts back a few pages.

I didn't spend a ton of time looking at all pay movie options or prices, but there were some for $4.99 a few weeks back on Mera. I thought that was reasonable but heck, even cheapo NCL gives around 100 ppv movies for free in Haven.

Under what conditions/offer was that from?

Don't recall what ship you are on, but Mera included internet was pretty good.

Does MSC have a Freddie level?

They actually used to have a ton of channels but vastly cut back awhile ago. They did actually add all the NFL games to in room tvs a few weeks back.

Right, Divina not around US. Our first sailing with MSC was Divinia. We have sailed twice but last was February 2022. All was good. Since first class with YC there are some things they corrected. Biggest gripe was no shade. They added a few umbrellas by pool. Walk to Le Muse. Not issue for us. We just walked down to first passenger floor, go aft, pop up to restaurant. Both times had a great time. Arthur was also on both sailings which only helps.

Having sailed MSC YC five times since restart, the first four dinners were good variety and quality. Last one, not. I see from Captain John's report they had the same menu we had one night. He's in Europe and we were US. I wonder if they are standardizing things as what I recall they varied. I saw reference to meals being Mediterranean inspired. Maybe some other area needs to inspire meals out of US. I also noticed our fridges had same contents. That also varied with Europe Pepsi, US Coke in the past. We had little glass coke bottles like Europe or Mexico. Thought that was odd. But bar had cans. Go figure.

They had elusive chocolate peanuts for check in. Our recent NYC nothing other than drinks. They finally budged from dark brown furniture in lounge. YC staffing is really the issue vs Haven. NCL goes with minimum and bare bones running them ragged. MSC staffs better numbers. Trolley of drinks is a great idea. Buffet looks great. That dinner menu same as what we had on gala night. Wasn't a fan of most. Too much seafood or things like duck we don't care for. Our fridge was identical to yours. Normally Europe was Pepsi, US coke. This was our fourth time on Mera and different from previous three. Fruit in room, we were told it would come, never did. Maybe a trial to reduce waste?? Not missed but if we had kids with they usually eat. When roaming ship we saw a note on a door 'no fruit'. Believe this was message asking for it and it was later in trip. Overall ship looks great. Have a good time.

It's 7:10 now so should be well into that cooler.

Couple other changes, ymmv. YC theater seating is now port side in the back. Butler still brings in regular line on right, not sure why changed. Soda used to be like coke zero and sprite zero in cans. In room it was coke zero in bottles and seven up zero in cans or regular sprite in bottles. Not an issue, just found odd compared to the past.

We had very good, even a couple excellent meals on MSC before. This trip was also in YC but not the same.

Well, at least the hotel has a cruise ship type toilet.

One other negative. If they have a crew party on the open deck way down the noise funnels onto your balcony, through glass, and into room.

Unfortunately no although it should be. If Diamond, 10 percent discount.

Was on trip before. I'd agree about the theater and steps. No hand rails and people coming in after lights turned down. Soft serve was like 1-5. Food, yes, subjective. I'd say buffet did have good variety but mostly starches no surprise. That movie channel would be TCM. They do have some color movies. Pool towels, they had a station starboard just before Bamboo doors. Staff was there long hours.

The pool bar was 7 am to 8 pm weather permitting. Breakfast 7:30-10-30. Lunch noon to 3. Light snacks later.

How many traveling? If only two, a RS really not worth the dollars now days. Yes, a large living room, the whirlpool but that is about it.

We've done two Royals over the years including Seaside. No extra perks. You do typically get a senior butler though which helps.

Umm no. Deeper issues. We had a maitre'd we've sailed with at least three times on Mera. Despite all the small talk and staff running around including maitre'd, not good. We've sailed twice with Arthur but only on Divinia. He does work miracles but on a ship like Mera I have to think infrastructure working against him. At the end of the day, I feel bad for staff wanting to do best but hindered by forces beyond their control.

I think you are correct that something changed as far as the food and as the regular told you. Just plain honest, the dinner menu and food stunk. Done eight trips on three ships and a couple weeks ago just plain bad. Pool food actually good except filet was not good and the rolled pork with cheese was not even cooked, literally raw and cold.

OP, why don't you and DW try a short trip by yourselves to see? You can probably snag a trip for two around$1,000. We just got off Mera and have been four times. No rowdy crowds. I will say from a lights and glass perspective, it is similar to being in Las Vegas. There is a sport court, race cars, bowling, other games.