jcpc

They did air the Super Bowl on our Meraviglia sailing. But it was not broadcast in the theater. It was broadcast on large screen tv in pool area, at casino bar, and at Brass Anchor Pub if I recall correctly. The folks sitting in front of me in the theater at the 10 pm am show we’re watching it in their cell phone while enjoying the live show in the theater!

I really enjoyed reading your posts and am anxiously awaiting your thoughts regarding MSC YC vs Celebrity Retreat. MSC and Celebrity are truly "two different animals" but it's pretty hard to beat the YC experience which typically prices out at about half of the cost of a Retreat experience. I found on my first MSC sailing the ship was full and the main areas of the ship were a real zoo. Last week, however, the ship sailed at way less than capacity and I actually enjoyed most of the main areas of the ship (i.e., lounges, shops, etc. - did not go to the main buffet or pools at all since there was no need). I am also, I believe, in the minority as I think that the food is YC Restaurant (at least on my 2 Meraviglia sailings) was far superior to what I've recently had in Luminae. YC cooking is very low in salt content whereas Luminae's food is loaded with salt, in my opinion. Again, thanks for all the posts and pictures. And isn't Pepe just the most gracious man ever?

@Georgia_Peaches Thanks! So that’s 2 billing cycles. Crazy! By the way, I think I’m a Yacht Club convert now. I’ve got 4 more booked on Meraviglia in the next 12 months vs. 1 Celebrity (not in Retreat) booked (had $1500 worth of FCCs that I wanted to use!). Also received a letter from casino on my sailing last week offering me a discount on a future cruise with details being sent to me via email this week. So I’ll see what that’s all about!

Does anyone have any experience with the length of time it takes Celebrity to refund a refundable deposit? In early January I cancelled a July sailing that had a refundable deposit. Here it is 6 weeks later and the credit has not posted to my credit card. All I’m being told is that it’s “in process”. Thanks for any info anyone has regarding how long it took for them to see the credit posted.

I have sailed extensively in Retreat on Celebrity. I am currently onboard MSC Meraviglia sailing my second Yacht Club cruise. In my opinion, MSC Yacht Club is a far superior experience than Celebrity Retreat….for half the cost.

I’m currently on Meraviglia. All of the Deluxe Suites on Decks 14-18 have a walk in shower. In my opinion Deck 18 is best location!

I, too, have one Celebrity cruise booked this year. Also in May....but on Eclipse and NOT in the Retreat as I could not justify $10K for 2 people in a Sky Suite (We get premium beverage package, internet, and access to Retreat Lounge/Michael's Club due to our loyalty status so I booked Concierge Class for $8K less.....could not justify the extra money just to eat in Luminae. For what I saved by doing Concierge, I can eat in Specialty all week if I want to!!) I do, however, have 2 more MSC YC cruises booked for this year (for half the cost of Celebrity!!). Enjoy your sailing. I'll be following along.

I'll be interested in your perspective of MSC YC. I, a former Celebrity loyalist, sailed MSC YC on Meraviglia in September and was blown away......so much so, in fact, that I am again sailing on February 11th on Meraviglia in YC again. Enjoy your cruise. I'm sure it will be great.

@PistolPete13 When I sailed last September the shows were 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. But on the Daily Activity Sheets you posted on January 27th it states that the late show in the Broadway Theater started at 10 pm. I was hoping they changed the start time from 9:30 to 10:00!

@Cruzinforpeace***Enjoy your cruise. I enjoy reading your posts from sailing on Celebrity ships. Quick question: What times are the evening shows in the Broadway Theater? Thank you. (And, yes, I agree MSC Meraviglia is a very "loud and busy" ship).

The assistant butler is, in essence, your cabin steward.

I don’t think we met. Sorry about your mom. That’s a tough thing to happen when you’re traveling. Moniek is wonderful. And, yes, she was our assistant waiter a couple of times. It’s so nice to see that she got a well-deserved promotion. I believe Yuksel (you probably know him too!) was responsible for her being promoted.

@abbydancerI am willing to bet we were on the same sailing……the April repo cruise??? Raphael was a wonderful Maitre’d and there was a loud , disruptive group in Luminae. Our server, Moniek, apologized profusely about them. We did, unfortunately, had to sit near them one night and they were truly awful.

@Stem to Stern You state: Luminae, on the other hand, operated like a finely oiled machine. The people of Luminae are the heart of Luminae. Serdar is the face of the restaurant, greeting, smiling, laughing, engaging us, and of course back pillowing us at every meal. I totally, 1000% agree with you regarding Luminae on Summit. No matter how many times I've eaten in Luminae on SM I always feel that I am extremely well taken care of. Each and every maitre'd I've ever encountered on Summit in Luminae (well......with the exception of one) is top notch and definitely runs a finely tuned restaurant. Luminae on the other Celebrity ships pales in comparison to Luminae on Summit. Edited 12 hours ago by Stem to Stern

I believe service in Luminae on M-Class ships in superior to the service received in YC Restaurant. And usually service in Luminae on S-Class ships is also superior. However, from my experience the service in Luminae on Edge Class ships is no better than service you would receive in MDR. There are just too many suites on the Edge class ships to have any sort of personalized service at all......in both Luminae and the Retreat Lounge. I believe I'm in the minority but I much prefer the food in YC Restaurant than the food in Luminae. The food in Luminae and elsewhere on Celebrity ships, although always requesting low/no sodium meals, is VERY high in salt content in my opinion. YC Restaurant had more of a "mediterranean way" of preparing food.....little to no salt, which is my preference. You can get the true flavor of the dish being served rather than the "over seasoned" flavor we, as Americans, are all used to. Celebrity seems, in my opinion, to now offer quantity over quality. I much prefer quality over quantity! In my opinion, Celebrity cannot come close to the service received in the Top Sail Lounge on MSC. We wanted for nothing and were blown away at the personalized service we received. All in all, I'd sail either MSC YC or Celebrity Retreat, however, the Celebrity Retreat pricing is 3 times what I've paid in the past. A 7-night Caribbean cruise in a Sky Suite prices out at over $10K, whereas you can book a 7-night Caribbean cruise in a verandah suite on MSC for $5K total.

@Stem to SternI totally agree with @goofysmom99. Great video and I, too, will never see that “live” so I appreciate you posting it. I’m guessing right about now you’re having a Luminae Burger!! Is Telma still the Maitre’d in Luminae? And if Reymond is still onboard request to be seated in his section! He’s great!

I’m looking forward to your next adventure!

@Stem to SternI'm anxiously awaiting your review of YCIN. I'm debating whether to book one (solo) for a 7-night cruise. Pricing out at $3200 total - such an excellent price. For that price I think I can cut down on the amount of clothing I usually bring.....LOL

@Upper Deck Dad Yes, I also just received the email plus an email from my travel agent. We've already been discussing (there are 5 of us booked) what to do and I believe we have settled on which cruise we will be re-booking on. Oh well.......so much for a nice 10-night cruise on MSC to Canada/N.E.!

@Stem to SternThanks for posting about the Voyagers Club Diamond Reception. It sounds to me like I made the right decision to skip it on my sailing. I'll more than likely skip it on my February sailing too. On Meraviglia we had a love-seat type couch and what appears to be the same coffee table that you guys have (MSC must have bought thousands of these tables for all their ships!) I will say though, that the big chair you have does look comfortable to sit in,

My September 15 cruise is no longer showing on my MSC account when I log in. So I'm guessing we will get the notification from MSC very soon. @Upper Deck DadPlease post when you get the official notification and I will do the same. Thanks.

@jelayneOn the E-class, did they have live music for the entire evening in the Retreat Lounge or just for an hour during "pre-dinner cocktail time"? But it is good to hear that they are "stepping up their game" on E-class at least. I have sailed Edge, Apex and Beyond and have not yet encountered any of the things you describe. However, I must admit my last E-class sailing was in October 2022. All of 2023 was on either Summit or MSC.

@Stem to SternIf you attend the Voyagers Party for Diamond members please let me know what you thought of it. For some reason that escapes me right now, we did not attend. But we are sailing again in February so may attend if you think it's worthwhile. I had lunch a few times in the YC DIning room during our sailing. I enjoyed it. But I only got one onion ring with my burger......LOL. Actually, one was enough for me but I suppose if I want extra in February I'll have to make sure to specify how many I want so I don't end up with just two!!! Re entertainment in Retreat Lounge on Summit. I sailed Summit in July and there was no live entertainment any evening in the Retreat Lounge. One night they did have the officer's meet and greet but that was about it. In previous sailings I do recall one or two nights during the cruise they had a piano player in there. But nothing on July sailing. When we sailed Meraviglia in September they had live entertainment in the Top Sail every evening until around midnight. It was nice. Oh, and re the potato chips. You can tell your DH that I was told that the chips are made onboard. I don't know if that's true or false......but they had some of the tastiest chips I've every eaten!! I recall that the type of chip varied a few times during the week.

@Stem to SternI'm really enjoying your posts and I hope you guys are having a great time. I loved the fact that "pickies" are available in the Top Sail Lounge all day long whereas in Retreat I think they have limited hours for munchies (i.e., morning and pre-dinner cocktail time). One day I actually ate both breakfast and lunch in the Top Sail Lounge......LOL And I'm not really a "sun" person so some sea days were also spent in the Top Sail Lounge reading (and drinking!!! LOL) We also had those fancy silver butter dishes on our Meraviglia sailing but they were filled with butter in a dish - not wrapped butter packets. Either one would be fine with me. I think sometimes I prefer the wrapped butter packets!

@Stem to SternI'm really enjoying your pictures and posts. I will admit that I missed Cafe Al'Bacio when I sailed Meraviglia earlier this year. But I quickly warmed up to the Top Sail Lounge and the Lounge Butlers working there for my morning and afternoon cappuccino fixes. And I enjoyed all the snacks that were offered in the Top Sail Lounge (but, alas, no almond croissants!!!)