BeeeJay

@Morpheous maybe you know the answer to this question, I am doing multiple B-2-B, and I can see YC availability for all but one leg.  Specifically I have already received upgrade for weeks 1 & 2, I have max bid in on weeks 3 thru 6.  If I search for rooms by week I see YC availability on weeks 3, 5, 6 but week 4 doesn't show any YC rooms at all.  My question is if it is possible to upgrade 1 leg of a 2 week cruise?  My bookings are done 3 two-week cruises, weeks 1-2, 3-4, 5-6.

10 hours ago, Até said:

(and evidently you may even get a higher category than you bid on).  

Can personally confirm, bid on YC Interior, upgraded to YC Deluxe Balcony, and for just over the minimum bid for that lower category, far below the minimum bid for the room assigned.  Overall cost was approx 40% of amount for directly booking YC.

25 minutes ago, ajusaf said:

LOL, MSC will save alot with me since I rarely drink, but I will have some wine here and there with some fine dining.  Are you doing any excursions?   I'm still deciding one a couple but I don't always do them since i've been out on most ports already except for PR and Puerto plata

Going solo, their quarterly earnings will likely be impacted by my drink consumption, short the stock. 😉

I've booked some Coconut Cove Beach Breakin DR on 10/17 and golf at Ocean Club in bahamas on 10/20 and at North Sound in Cayman on 10/26.  Might try to see if I can add some add'l golf via the Yacht Club concierge.    I'm planning to stay onboard for some of the ports I've been to many times.

DH is either Designated Hitter or Dear Husband, depending on how you swing your bat. 🙂

5 minutes ago, ajusaf said:

LOL, since its free I'll get u a drink also lol.  BTW how many drinks do we get for free a day I'm not much of an alcohol drinker, but I am curious lol 

unlimited.  I'm gonna try to keep it reasonable since I'm on a bunch of back to backs and don't have time for a liver transplant in Miami between sailings lol

40 minutes ago, ajusaf said:

 

HUGE---thanks so much  took me 2 minutes I had no idea I could get that back---first free drink in Yacht Club bar is on me! 🙂

5 minutes ago, ajusaf said:

Not bad,  only a difference of $300 in bidding.  You need to call MSC to be sure they refund your money regarding drink and internet package since it’s included for YC.  This will be my 3rd time sailing MSC, but third different ship.

 

My NCL experience was great but I had Haven so it’s def a different experience.  That one I bidded $600 pp and snagged it as well but that time we only had 1200 people on board. 
 

Since I’m planning to show up earlier than my boarding time I’ll most likely be between top sail and market place. Enjoying food until my room is ready.  This seems to be identical ship to seashore so I’m pretty sure I’ll find my way around rather easily. 

it is specifically stated in the terms that those previous upgrades are not refunded, but I believe that portion of "total cost" plays into the upgrade bid formula as despite bidding less, my total marginal revenue is higher because I've already paid a package that is included.

6 minutes ago, BeeeJay said:

34 minutes ago, ajusaf said:

Lower end in the $650+?  Damn I could have saved $800+ then.  Where you originally booked in a balcony bella or?

Yes from Bella balcony for $775 * 2 BUT I had already paid a combo package for drinks/internet AND the drink upgrade alone for $280 per person.  So some of the amenities I had already paid separately, I think it ends up being close to the same amount. 
 

It goes with the territory one will overbid to have a better chance.  Once I received for the first two week cruise I maxed the bid on my following cruises figuring it would suck to go back down.  Still could go back or get the interior.  I’m fine either way.  I have really low expectations of cruising after a really bad NCL cruise last winter where the bar service was horrible and our upgraded amenities package was a train wreck.  

26 minutes ago, ajusaf said:

Lower end in the $650+?  Damn I could have saved $800+ then.  Where you originally booked in a balcony bella or?

4 hours ago, ajusaf said:

Congrats, I bided the max.  I didn't want to take a risk at first so, I started with $700 and pushed it to $1100 to try to be sure to lock it in.  That bid was for interior room and I remember the deluxe balcony started at $2600, so I def got a good deal on the double bump and YC experience.   Are you also on the 16th floor? My room is right by the top sail area   

I was on the lower end for this one but I updated to bid max on following cruises cause I don’t think I will want to go from Yacht Club back to Gen Pop over a few hundred dollars

On 9/21/2023 at 7:54 AM, JamieLogical said:

 

My husband and I have gone back and forth on this a LOT, because we currently have a YCI bid in for our cruise this Sunday and I keep debating canceling it. We are booked in a nice balcony on Deck 8 of the Meraviglia... one of the ones that is a deeper balcony on the bump out and is not obstructed by the lifeboats. It's a 10-day cruise and we have never done an interior before. I am apprehensive about the lack of storage, lack of space generally, and the lack of natural light. But, it does seem like a good opportunity to try out the YC benefits without paying a fortune. Ultimately, we decided to keep our bid in and leave it up to fate. I am sure we will have a wonderful cruise either way.

Myself and another CC poster recently received YC Deluxe Balcony upgrades after bidding on ONLY the YC Interior Upgrade, so maybe you'll get the best of both worlds!  My bid was just over the minimum, so ended up paying a fraction of the cost of booking YC Deluxe balcony room directly from the start.

2 hours ago, Lanierain said:

Hi cruisers! Got an offer to upgrade rooms but my debit card isn’t processing. There’s plenty on the card - will the upgrade portal only take credit cards? Thanks in advance 

just had one successfully charge to my debit card last week

On 9/23/2023 at 8:36 AM, ajusaf said:

Hello all, I'll be going on board Oct 15, which is roughly 22-23 days out.  I'll be doing the 15 day/ 14-night cruise and just got notified yesterday that i was accepted into YC.  I bided for interior stateroom YC but I got upgraded to Balcony YC 🙂  originally I had regular balcony before my bid.  In 2022 I did  NCL Haven (loved it), MSC seashore and Divina non YC balcony which embarking and disembarking was a nightmare.  I'm looking forward to the YC experience.

Exact same cruise, bid, and result---lucky us---see you there! 🙂

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

If you read the threads, the amounts vary tremendously from guest report to guest report. Above, I just put in what appears to be the "average" amount.  Keep in mind the level of service you receive may vary from week to week.  Also, keep in mind how much service you require.  Daily consults with the sommelier versus only occasional contact would impact the tip amount.  Also, for dining, you will usually have a team with one lead waiter and two or three assistants. The lead waiter will have a gold tie.  I am assuming this would be US-based cruises.  Tipping is less expected overseas.  The offical MSC line is that tipping is not expected.  In reality, the top servers bid for US-based cruises because of the likelihood of tips.

This is incredibly helpful and right in the range I was thinking was reasonable, thank you so much!!!

Just now, JAGR said:

One minor factor. You mention butler and cabin steward.  Keep in mind that the YC rooms are served by Butler and Junior Butler.  The junior butler distinction is a source of pride to those individuals, as they represent an elite level for the steward position.

understood and thank you for that knowledge, I had no idea!  you may notice in my post I’m doing multiple back-to-backs and expecting at least some leg may not be upgraded to YC.

I’ll tip at the end of each of my 6 consecutive weeks aboard.

what I really need is a ballpark dollar amount for each week for each position:

Butler

Junior Butler

cabin attendant (if not YC)

restaurant wait staff

Sommelier

Bartender

pool staff

Thanks so much for the quick responses!!! 

Obviously a highly personal choice and will vary a lot person to person and that is fine.  Just looking to get a general consensus on how much and whom to tip and when.

On past NCL and RCL cruises have tipped the cabin attendant at the end in addition to whatever included daily gratuity is required.

Realizing MSC is a more European crowd with different norms i though I had better check to see what people do.

Specifically thinking about Yacht Club butler, regular cabin attendants, and possible others like bartenders, wait staff etc.  Will be on multiple back-to-backs.  Won upgrade bid on first two weeks but TBD on others hence asking about both.  Thinking I will tip at end of each week as that is a standard cutoff for a lot of cruisers/staff.  
 

I tried to search but wasn’t having any luck—any advice is greatly appreciated—thanks in advance!  

On 5/27/2023 at 8:56 PM, rsail203 said:

What if you booked directly with MSC?

Same issue booked direct with MSC, can't print ticket at 40 days out--just noticed must print within 20 days.

Thank you both for that super helpful info!

I don’t think my rooms are that close but I’m fine just packing it all up in my suitcases and unpacking once every two weeks.  I’m assuming on the middle week I just leave everything.  
 

it also sounds like I’ll easily be able to get off the ship early enough to play.  I think if I can get 8am-2pm or 9am-3pm it gives me plenty of extra time. 

I have a couple questions related to back-to-back Caribbean bookings on MSC Seascape (non-yacht club) and greatly appreciate the input of experienced MSC cruisers as this will be my first foray!

I have back-to-back 14 and 13 day bookings and within those bookings there is also a stop in Miami at the end of each week.   I'll be switching rooms between the back-to-backs, but staying in the same room on the mid-trip stops.

I am wondering what the process for re-boarding will be in each of these instances.  My plan is to play golf in Miami at a course within 30 minutes of the port, and I need to be able to leave my luggage on the ship, take my golf clubs with me, and have about a 6 hour window from departure to return.

First question is what is the process for each of those re-boarding situations, end of trip room change, and mid-trip stop in Miami?

Second question is what time am I able to be off the ship in the morning and what time must I be back on the ship in the afternoon?

Trying to determine if this is a realistic plan for those days or if I would be better just hanging around the ship.

Thanks for any input, it is greatly appreciated!!!

Do you have the option of doing an excursion and returning later?  I was thinking about playing golf in Miami on the back-to-back switchover

On 4/15/2023 at 10:58 AM, LoungerOnBalcony55 said:

Ew the disgusting gross picture of that foot...

But the foot fetish dude in the key lime shirt seems pleased! 🙂

14 minutes ago, KKB said:

WAAAY better. 

More NYC style thin crust.

 

but no way the Runza's are better lol. 

I have a couple upcoming Lincoln trips & MSC cruises to test both pizzas out!

On 4/4/2023 at 11:00 PM, KKB said:

I’m ALL about seafood when cruising!

And MSC pizza has ruined all other pizza for me…

Wow you really upped the cruising post-Covid!  Is the Pizza as good as Valentino's? 😉

Planning on a cruise if you miss the cut Freddie? 🙂

I'm actually kind of willing to pay $1/ drink just to have a listing of all the drinks I had during the cruise!   I know Guinness Book of World Records requires proof and I'm gonna have to hit 'em HARD to make up for the bait & switch!

On 3/21/2023 at 9:21 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Well, it's probably only a "contract" when they need to exert the terms for their benefit. When it's an issue that you're having with them, it's probably more like "guidelines"... lol

 

Tom

You are 100% right, we had a similar issue on a package upgrade on NCL, knew of the issue from the boards before hand, brought all the necessary information and support, along with an internal report the NCL rep had emailed showing each persons name and the benefits included AND when we got our cruise cards the packages were printed on the face of the cards yet the benefits did not show up when the card was scanned so we were STILL DENIED.  pretty much everyone with that package upgrade spent hours in line at guest services.  I saved all the documentation and submitted a credit card dispute and got about $1,500 back.   Lesson learned I will never cruise NCL, and I will never buy a subsequently offered package upgrade.  The kids still jokingly mock my comment about NCL whenever something goes wrong in any customer service environment:  "...their IT can't handle it...."