joeyancho

Yep. He's no Jacques Pepin

Does the $5 charge apply if you don't care for what you ordered and ask for something else?

Joking or jealous?? I really can't tell.

53 cruises all over. Never asked for anything but seapass. No issue

I have taken 53 cruises, so I figured, what the hell. We had read so much about Yacht Club that I decided to try. Regardless of the room they put us in we would still be on a cruise.

Our cruise is 7 day Western Caribbean. My initial bid was the suggested amount. I think around 500 pp, maybe a little less. I didn't hear anything for quite a while so we decided to up our bid 100 pp. Soon after our bid was accepted. Which turned out to be an amazing bargain. Good luck.

Can't speak for Jamie but in my experience Costa Maya is as safe as any Mexican port. Maybe even safer considering it is a rural part of the country.

We are on the Seascape, Yacht Club in one month. Our 2nd MSC cruise but first in YC. So I will be following closely. Have fun.

This. My bid from Fantastica to Yacht Club was accepted. However I bid on Yacht Club inside room. I was put into Yacht Club deluxe balcony suite. Imagine my excitement. My card was already charged when I got the email notification.

I have been on 53 cruises over 5 different lines. I've never had a bad cruise, including MSC. Bon Voyage

On my upcoming cruise I originally booked a standard balcony room. I was invited to bid for a better room. I bid on a Yacht Club inside room. My bid was accepted. When I checked out the room assigned to me, it was a deluxe balcony suite! Not really a suite but a large room. The bid amounted to about one half of the price had I booked the room directly. Check out the Yacht Club experience, it is beyond amazing. No mass market cruise line offers anything close to it.

Is the $5 charge enforced if an entree is not to your liking and you request something else?

Maybe you mean the WWII Museum??? My father served in the Pacific, my uncles in Europe participated in the D day invasion. The Museum brought me to tears several times. It is a must see..

That much savings buys a lot of drink package, specialty dining, etc...

MSC is run differently than other cruise lines. It is privately owned. MSC is a massive commercial shipping company with over 760 ships worldwide. Those ships did not stop sailing during the pandemic. They had an income stream. They were positioned much better to deal with the shut down of cruising. Being privately owned means they are not obligated to stock holders. There is no pressure to pay dividends. They don't answer to anyone. They mainly operate in the European market. Only recently have they ventured in to the US market. So their product is a bit different than Americans are used. I would not say they are not "as nice". I would say they are different. They have 5 different drink packages. Much more reasonable than Royal. Their drinks are cheaper than Royal if you are paying out of pocket. There are not as many places to get free food, but the buffet stays open from 6 am to late at night. Their pizza is crazy good. Rooms are serviced twice per day. I have taken one MSC cruise and was impressed. I am booked to go again in December. This time in the Yacht Club experience, the most elevated experience of any of the major cruise lines. Even though I am diamond + on Royal, I am not Royal loyal. I am always ready to venture beyond my comfort zone. I am not upset if everything is not the same as what I am used to. So if you are fed up with rising costs and fees, why not try something different? After all you will still be on a cruise. Bon Voyage.

To service their massive debt. The billion dollar profit was not enough.

You could not have picked a better place for a pre-cruise experience. It's a great city. Exercise caution as you would in any big city and you will be fine. Some of the best restaurants in the country are in NOLA. Stay within the Quarter. No need to venture out. Make sure to visit the Cafe du Monde for beignets and café au lait, a New Orleans tradition. Also across the street is the Central Grocery, where the muffaletta was invented. Go early before they run out. Acme Oyster House is a great place for seafood, grilled oysters, gumbo and etouffe, all at reasonable prices. Avoid Bourbon Street (or not) if you are adverse to nudity and general debauchery, lol. If you have time take a class at the New Orleans School of Cooking. It's great fun. Have a great time.

Guy Fieri = salute to cholesterol

I have been going to Mexico for over 40 years. It never used to be like that. Things used to be very reasonably priced. Not any more. Prices are listed in pesos. However prices have gone up bigtime and they give a horrible exchange rate on top of it. So they make money on both ends. I now ask for the price in US dollars. If I think it is unreasonable, I have no problem with saying no way. I just wait until I get back to the ship, where it is free, or at least paid for. I don't mind paying for what I want, but I don't like getting ripped off. Bon Voyage.

That Paul is a handsome devil.

I thought so too.. I was merely re-posting something some one else wrote.

Yes. Everything is metal

I have a deluxe balcony suite (not really a suite, just a big room). On the December 2 sailing of the MSC Seascape. Includes the premium drink package, private lounge, private pool, private dining room with upgraded offerings, such as filet mignon available every night, unlimited access to thermal spa, 24 hr concierge, own personal butler and on and on. Price: $3100 for wife and me. I would say better..

I have taken one also and loved it. Sorry you had a lousy time. I guess if everyone liked the same thing there would only be one flavor of ice cream. Bon Voyage.

I have been in Yacth Club yet. I will be in December. Some one posted this a whole back.... Butler: $75 to $125 The range would cover probably 60% of the tipping Junior Butler: $40 to $60 cabin attendant (if not YC): $40 to 80, depending on service level restaurant wait staff: $70 to 100 for the crew, especially if you have the same set all that week. Sommelier: $20 to 60 Bartender: $1 or 2 per drink, especially outside of the YC,and $20 or so to any "favorite" or "regular bartender pool staff: Varies. If you ask the attendant to set up towels daily in your desired location, maybe $20-40. Pool waiter, $1 or 2 per round