TrinaLC

What?  We have made reservations including for 6 others and I am in the process of gathering information - and we all get emails saying we must complete the vaccine attestation within 48 hours!  And the cruise is not until late May - over 1-1/2 months away!

So "or what" happens in 48 hours?  They cancel our resies?  I even have one pax who has not yet had their second, but will be getting it in the next week.

As others have said, meh.  On the Sunshine unless you had the foresight to be way in the bow (especially on the “secret” bow balconies) you could only see one other ship.  Since we didn’t pay up for this cruise we’re happy to have been a part of it. 
 

One highlight was the cabin door decorations - the loyal plats/diamonds on board went more “all out” than Carnival did!  
 

15 hours ago, hummer2407 said:

I was on mera in October.   My son left his wristband on the table in our room and we never noticed.   It was there for a day.   Ship security found the family at the pool and kindly asked us the make sure we had our bracelets.   We were told that they noticed his bracelet not moving for a day.   They were very nice and it was an honest mistake.   We were told that the contact tracing will only kick in if you spend significant time directly next another and not just passing by.

No biggie.   

The bracelet actually came in handy when i left my phone at the photo area and didn't realize it until ship security brought my phone to me while i was seated outside.   They said they found my phone and delivered it to me.   I believe they use these more for tracking and for marketing and passenger habit info more than the virus.

‘That is REALLY creepy. I am a huge MSC fan (5 cruises to date) but will seriously consider giving a pass to any ship that is using tracing like this. (I believe it is not being used - yet?- on Seashore/Seaside despite the bracelets.). 
 

Huge privacy concerns and great risk to a vacay being tossed into quarantine for what is currently often asymptomatic or very mild esp with everyone double or triple vaxxed on board. No way. 

2 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

We were on the Seashore for 2 weeks ending on 3/12.  We were super disappointed in the pizza.  In the past we have enjoyed the pizza on the Divina and the Seaside but the Seashore did not have the great pizza like the other ships. On the Divina and Seashore they had all different types of pizza and would make specialty pizzas if you asked.

 

The Seashore only had 3 types of pizza available, Marguerita, Salami and a pizza with a white sauce, all three were on a wafer thin pizza crust.  

 

I asked several times if they could fix a different type of pizza and was told no.  They stated that they only fixed those three types of pizza.  

 

So, if you are going on the Seashore hoping to get some of their great pizza, forget about it! 

I agree!  I posted the same thing in my review of a few months ago. The pizza crust is just way too thin. I too have been on the Divina and Seaside and loved the pizza there (MDR).   As I said in that post, Carnival now has my favorite pizza @ sea (at least compared to Seashore).   
 

(I don’t recall the limited variety on Seashore but I only went twice so would probably to have noticed.)

On 3/16/2022 at 9:09 PM, Oxo said:

No drink packages accepted at all, no matter what drink, in ‘Hola!’,

Why is that? 

TIA

It is owned by a third party/run independently just like Venchi.  (And like the spa as well.)

Glad for your "happy ending"!

Used Verifly on Sunshine out of Charleston March 7 - we brought along hard copies (and everyone should!) but the app was sufficient.  We were suprised given that CHS only hosts one or two embarkations a week, but it was accepted.

1 hour ago, Oxo said:

So is your wife going to make up the bed and tidy the room?  That is the purview of the butler and his assistant.

Are you trying to say that anyone who has a cabin other than the YC will not have their bed made up and their room tidy?

 

Are you going to refuse drink service in the lounge and around the pool when offered by butlers?

Are you trying to say that there will be no one to offer you a drink on the ship? No more waiters walking around to get you a drink?

 

And decline the accelerated YC lines when manned by butlers?

Do you need an accelerated line to do anything on the ship? Is it really that slowwwww?

 

And of course decline the head of the line service from your Butler at the end of the cruise to disembark?

You cannot walk off the ship with your luggage any more?

 

You will lose the YC experience - the whole point of traveling YC. (Cutting off nose to spite face?). See article linked below:

Yes, you will loose the YC experience. I have booked the Seashore BB category and to book a YC Inside would cost me over $3,000 for 2 people. 

I sure am gaining a lot for that $3,000+ with the Butler who does all the above for me.

Just the other side of the coin. 

 

I don't need a butler to guide me around the ship or get me to the shows. I bring my phone and use the ships GPS. LOL

 

I am not trying to be funny. Just giving you my side of the cruise. 

Happy Cruising!

 

1.  No, I’m saying anyone in YC who is refusing Butler service will not have their YC room made up. 
 

2.  No, I’m saying that anyone in YC who is refusing Butler service while in the YC will at times have trouble getting a drink delivered. But there are regular servers at most hours and bartenders, so you won’t be shut out. 
 

3.  The butler assist with lines does in fact have real value. You can bypass several hundred people lining up to get on or off the ship. It is a great perk. But certainly you can forego that perk.

4.  Agreed don’t need butlers to guide around ship.

5.  Certainly many make a choice to spend thousands less and stay outside YC.  But to forego the YC benefits that one has paid for?  To make a point against MSC?  

On 3/9/2022 at 8:51 AM, mscdivina2016 said:

Actually my wife doesn't want the Butler either🙂.

 Our best friend in YC is the bartender 😁

The $1800+ issue has been adjusted back.  

 

So is your wife going to make up the bed and tidy the room?  That is the purview of the butler and his assistant.

Are you going to refuse drink service in the lounge and around the pool when offered by butlers?

And decline the accelerated YC lines when manned by butlers?

And of course decline the head of the line service from your Butler at the end of the cruise to disembark?

You will lose the YC experience - the whole point of traveling YC. (Cutting off nose to spite face?). See article linked below:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/First-Call-Yacht-Club-takes-MSC-Seashore-to-the-next-level

No they won’t delay a day. I’ve never seen it happen but I could envision a delay of some hours waiting for flights booked through MSC. 
 

Good luck!

The signs are there. We got dropped off with no problem. The issue is sometimes that Waze directs to the actual ship entry area, not the check in /drop off area. 

Try calling them!

The butlers perform so many service duties that I don’t see how you can as a practical matter refuse. They take drink orders, they service the cabins, and perform many tasks not associated with “butlering”. 
 

I guess I would just tell your assigned butler when you meet him or her that you prefer just the basics, you don’t want to be accompanied but all these services are such an integral part of the YC it will be awkward. 
 

I understand your anger but maybe redirect it and go with an open mind relative to the very hard working butlers?

Typically no, you only get the real estate but not the perks. 

It would be a reverse commute, so traffic probably not awful. We’ve been off the ship by 7:30 am and if you have your luggage and call Uber promptly you should be ok but by no means a slam dunk. 
 

OTOH Amtrak trains are notoriously late, often by hours. Look up the operating history of your specific route. 
 

And plan a fall back …

21 hours ago, day-day said:

 

 

 

Okay, the above was in FAQ's, I just looked at Carnival's COVID-19 Protocols and see that the three day example when the guest is "up to date" is stated differently from FAQ's and is what I remember from several days ago:

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Effective with sailings departing as of March 1, guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within three days prior to sailing. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose(s), when eligible. If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines (i.e., is eligible for a booster but has not received one), they must take their pre-cruise COVID-19 test within two days prior to sailing.

Example: If the sailing is on Saturday, guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test as early as Wednesday and as late as Saturday, if guaranteed to receive results in time for check-in. A fully vaccinated guest who is not up to date with their vaccines may take their test no earlier than Thursday and as late as Saturday.

 

So, based on this, a Monday departure for an up to date guest would allow testing on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

 

 

Thanks!  

On 3/1/2022 at 11:08 AM, mtns2sea said:

We are heading out on the 4/2 sailing. We are local to the area. Any tips on getting to the port for parking? We are a little far out for uber. And, keep the Sunshine tips coming.

There is “almost” a full open promenade great for walking or sitting quietly in full shade. I think it is deck 7. (Below the lifeboats.)

Havana bar puts put Cuban treats on the (I believe) starboard/JiJi side of the bar. Easy to miss. 
 

The language “3 days prior” is confusing. 
 

is a negative test result on a Friday good for a Monday departure?

Love, love, love the Sunshine. An oldie but a Goldie. The three deck serenity area is second to none, JiJi’s and the Italian restaurants are great. Havana bar is also unique including Cuban canapés. Great outdoor promenade.  And best yet, a $20 Uber drive from our home. Looking forward to our 5th or 6th trip. 
 

YC tent is usually set up and ready by 10:30. 

Title pretty much says it all. Pretty neutral on which cruise line. Haven’t found a good site to sort by this.  TIA. 

2 hours ago, JAGR said:

K:  Let's not advertise him too much.  At least for a few more weeks!

😀

Chris, if you haven’t already met him make sure you do: Arnold (“Arnie”) Castro is an amazing server in the YC …. He always made us smile!

I find the Haven to be anything but.  The public spaces are much smaller and the bedroom layout invites families, with the result that the Haven area is overrun with kids many of whom are not well behaved - or at least not quiet!  Yes I am getting to the “get of my lawn stage”! 😉

No!  We book precisely for the peace and quiet!  Plenty of other music venues…