MSC Seaside ... a few points mid cruise (live)

To respond to some of the recent hot button topics, in no particular order ...

But some context, first. We are late 50s, DH retired, me still working, cruise once or twice a year, typically NCL, Carnival, once on each of Princess, RCCL, HAL. We are not travel agents or in the travel industry

We consider ourselves foodies, love good wine, have travelled extensively and lived outside of the US. We are “glass half full” types and try to not let things on vacation bother us. We have never had a bad cruise. Of course, we weren’t on that one that ran out of power, had no plumbing etc. That would have been a bad cruise even for us.

1. We patrolled the trip trying to find sewer odor. We must have looked pretty funny, sniffing away. Found none, even where others have reported. A few times - and by that I mean about 3 - we got a whiff, but nothing that we have not regularly encountered on cruises.

2. Yes, the pizza is good. We’re New Yorkers. Enuf said.

3. It is a very full ship, spring break. To get a lounger, you will need to be a chair hog. By 9 a.m. There is no shame, so go with it. Probably a European thing.

4. If you can swing the Yacht Club, do so!! Truly an awesome experience. Gigantic lounge, top bow private pool, grill, hot tubs, bar, butlers, restaurant, it does in fact feel like a yacht!

5. If not, be aware the lounge decks are really packed, more so than the traditional US departing cruises. Unpleasantly so. Consider a spa pass, bought ahead of time, for some lovely private deck space and hot tub. Or go Aurea.

6. The coffee, pastry and gelato offerings are way above those same US departing cruises. Hey, it’s Italian!

7. The breakfast and lunch buffets are almost on par as US mainstream lines, but dinner buffet not so much. See other posts, they are working on this. But if you are a dinner buffet kind of cruiser, and variety/quality is really important, this will be a disappointment.

8. We are in YC so cannot comment personally on MDR but folks we have talked to think it is fine. Hot food hot, cold food cold, willing waitstaff. But if you want three rolls, take all three when first offered!

9. There can be a language barrier. You may get a wrong order or a look of confusion. But we did not find this ever to be more than a source of friendly amusement.

10. Yes, the pools are 6 foot or so deep, except for the kiddie pool. I would have designed differently. People were still having fun. There is a “beach” area so better than it sounds.

11. The kiddie waterworks area looks to be a blast. Another possible design defect, no real adult seating where to read or sit out of water’s way while supervising. Suggest swim goggles for kids, as lots of shooting water!!

12. There is delicious butter at all meals. Do try the salt free!

13. There seem to be plenty of American style coffee cups in the buffets. Blue with logo. And yes, there are the funny little white ones, those are for espressos.

14. YC reports have been of staff cut downs compared to Divina. We see no degradation in service. Butlers everywhere, always asking if you need something. They now call the cabin attendants junior butlers. Ours is doing a great job, but like all lines he seems to have way to many cabins. Works really hard, still manages great towel animals and to replenish the Scotch in the mini-bar!

15. Shade in YC for loungers remains a big problem for me. Staff (kiddos to wonderful Olin) will find you shade and move a lounger on request, but you are going to be in very odd spots and likely no two loungers together. However, there is PLENTY of shade if you don’t mind sitting at the many covered four top nice wood tables.

At the CC meet and greet, hotel director gave a pained look when I brought this up, promised they are working on a solution. BTW shade is an issue in steerage (joke!) as well, as it is generally in my experience with most ships.

16. For whoever commented that crew is not constantly wiping and cleaning like other ships, no idea where that came from. We see it constantly. Of course, not all the painting crews you also see elsewhere, because, well, the ship is frickin new. Our balcony glass was washed and our balcony deck swabbed the third day. Never had such a clean balcony.

17. The carpets are just fine. Early reports said they always looked dirty due to piling or shedding, that seems to have work itself out.

18. The YC balconies are twice the size of Divina’s, and the room larger and better laid out. Plenty of storage. Great shower.

19. Not a fan of the beige/brown decor scheme in the bedrooms, but not an issue affecting enjoyment.

20. Am a fan of the three shorter entertainment/shows. We like to eat around 8, as do many, and that never works with seeing a show mainstream lines. On MSC we’ve gone to the 7 pm show and then to dinner. Perfect as we no longer late nighters.

21. The entertainment is fun. Same performers working their hearts out. No, they are not native English speakers. There have been a few songs that we could not understand a word, but still enjoyable entertainment. At least we got to go to it, see 20.

22. The technology to reserve entertainment, navigate ship, etc is state of the art. Can they get the same guys to work on MSC website please?!

23. Love the bracelets that for most part replace the sign and sail cards. I recommend the purchase if it does not come free with your experience.

24. CC meet and greet was a highlight. Do sign up and go! Instead of being held in the morning with crappy coffee and pastries like other lines, held at proper cocktail time, very good hours d’oeuvres, booze flowing and every single member of senior leadership from the captain, hotel manager, etc in attendance, mingling, answering questions. Never seen anything like it.

25. And yes, obviously MSC takes the comments on CC seriously.

26. At that same meet and greet I mentioned to hotel director how happy we were to be reunited with our favorite waiter from Divina and he immediately picked up his phone and relayed that information to ... someone who presumably mattered in the chain of command.

27. I do not believe the food is as good as other main stream lines. That continued to be a disappointment. But pizza and pasta are the best, back to low carb next week!

28. The elevators were all working. Never waited at all, even after muster or shows. But I am fast on the break. Those poor people with their walkers never stood a chance.

29. YC boarding opens at about 10:30 a.m. We got there around 10;15 and there were about 6 other couples. The tent is pretty easy to spot and porters pointed it out as well. Our luggage arrived by early afternoon.

30. I am not going to go back and read everything I wrote but if I missed saying it, the crew are friendly, smiling and everything you would expect.

31. The spa is fabulous with various multi-sensory experiences. Best part, no hard sell! I often don’t book treatments on other lines because I hate that but had read on CC that MSC spa staff did not do that. Had a message and she half-heartedly waived a bottle of something and I smiled and shook my head and that was it.

32. I miss all the little food venues that Carnival has, Guys burgers, the wonderful deli, separate pizza station, burrito/taco bar. In addition to providing choice, these help lighten the load on the buffet. MSC please consider!

33. YC, good to see some diversity. Butler position I assume is better paying and has some status. Seeing a much more diverse group including women. Please continue this, your passengers notice!

Well, that is all I can think of top of head. Hope this helps given all the competing information. Obviously one person’s opinion. Happy to answer any questions.

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Awesome, thanks! We appreciate the time and effort to give your feedback!

When you mention that you have to be a chair hog and grab a lounger by the pool, do you mean even in the Yacht Club? ...since that's where you are?:eek:

How's the casino?

Venchi?

A previous poster mentioned that he requested and received two loungers for his balcony. Since you mentioned that the YC balconies are larger than Divina's, can you envision two loungers fitting there?

When you mention that you have to be a chair hog and grab a lounger by the pool, do you mean even in the Yacht Club? ...since that's where you are?:eek:

Wondering the same thing?!! I sure hope not!!!

Great updates and feedback....Thanks!!!

Thank you for a well balanced review!! :)

When you mention that you have to be a chair hog and grab a lounger by the pool, do you mean even in the Yacht Club? ...since that's where you are?:eek:

I didn't read it that way...Pretty sure she meant the general area pools.

@TrinaLC,

Wow. Thanks for this outstanding write-up. Makes us even more anxious for our B2B weeks in the YC in May!

~Brian

TrinaLC- apprecaite the Live feedback!

Enjoy your cruise!

Note: the alcohol drinks at Venchi are worth trying...loved the hot chocolate too

To respond to some of the recent hot button topics, in no particular order ...

 

But some context, first. We are late 50s, DH retired, me still working, cruise once or twice a year, typically NCL, Carnival, once on each of Princess, RCCL, HAL. We are not travel agents or in the travel industry

 

We consider ourselves foodies, love good wine, have travelled extensively and lived outside of the US. We are “glass half full” types and try to not let things on vacation bother us. We have never had a bad cruise. Of course, we weren’t on that one that ran out of power, had no plumbing etc. That would have been a bad cruise even for us.

 

1. We patrolled the trip trying to find sewer odor. We must have looked pretty funny, sniffing away. Found none, even where others have reported. A few times - and by that I mean about 3 - we got a whiff, but nothing that we have not regularly encountered on cruises.

 

2. Yes, the pizza is good. We’re New Yorkers. Enuf said.

 

3. It is a very full ship, spring break. To get a lounger, you will need to be a chair hog. By 9 a.m. There is no shame, so go with it. Probably a European thing.

 

4. If you can swing the Yacht Club, do so!! Truly an awesome experience. Gigantic lounge, top bow private pool, grill, hot tubs, bar, butlers, restaurant, it does in fact feel like a yacht!

 

5. If not, be aware the lounge decks are really packed, more so than the traditional US departing cruises. Unpleasantly so. Consider a spa pass, bought ahead of time, for some lovely private deck space and hot tub. Or go Aurea.

 

6. The coffee, pastry and gelato offerings are way above those same US departing cruises. Hey, it’s Italian!

 

7. The breakfast and lunch buffets are almost on par as US mainstream lines, but dinner buffet not so much. See other posts, they are working on this. But if you are a dinner buffet kind of cruiser, and variety/quality is really important, this will be a disappointment.

 

8. We are in YC so cannot comment personally on MDR but folks we have talked to think it is fine. Hot food hot, cold food cold, willing waitstaff. But if you want three rolls, take all three when first offered!

 

9. There can be a language barrier. You may get a wrong order or a look of confusion. But we did not find this ever to be more than a source of friendly amusement.

 

10. Yes, the pools are 6 foot or so deep, except for the kiddie pool. I would have designed differently. People were still having fun. There is a “beach” area so better than it sounds.

 

11. The kiddie waterworks area looks to be a blast. Another possible design defect, no real adult seating where to read or sit out of water’s way while supervising. Suggest swim goggles for kids, as lots of shooting water!!

 

12. There is delicious butter at all meals. Do try the salt free!

 

13. There seem to be plenty of American style coffee cups in the buffets. Blue with logo. And yes, there are the funny little white ones, those are for espressos.

 

14. YC reports have been of staff cut downs compared to Divina. We see no degradation in service. Butlers everywhere, always asking if you need something. They now call the cabin attendants junior butlers. Ours is doing a great job, but like all lines he seems to have way to many cabins. Works really hard, still manages great towel animals and to replenish the Scotch in the mini-bar!

 

15. Shade in YC for loungers remains a big problem for me. Staff (kiddos to wonderful Olin) will find you shade and move a lounger on request, but you are going to be in very odd spots and likely no two loungers together. However, there is PLENTY of shade if you don’t mind sitting at the many covered four top nice wood tables.

 

At the CC meet and greet, hotel director gave a pained look when I brought this up, promised they are working on a solution. BTW shade is an issue in steerage (joke!) as well, as it is generally in my experience with most ships.

 

16. For whoever commented that crew is not constantly wiping and cleaning like other ships, no idea where that came from. We see it constantly. Of course, not all the painting crews you also see elsewhere, because, well, the ship is frickin new. Our balcony glass was washed and our balcony deck swabbed the third day. Never had such a clean balcony.

 

17. The carpets are just fine. Early reports said they always looked dirty due to piling or shedding, that seems to have work itself out.

 

18. The YC balconies are twice the size of Divina’s, and the room larger and better laid out. Plenty of storage. Great shower.

 

19. Not a fan of the beige/brown decor scheme in the bedrooms, but not an issue affecting enjoyment.

 

20. Am a fan of the three shorter entertainment/shows. We like to eat around 8, as do many, and that never works with seeing a show mainstream lines. On MSC we’ve gone to the 7 pm show and then to dinner. Perfect as we no longer late nighters.

 

21. The entertainment is fun. Same performers working their hearts out. No, they are not native English speakers. There have been a few songs that we could not understand a word, but still enjoyable entertainment. At least we got to go to it, see 20.

 

22. The technology to reserve entertainment, navigate ship, etc is state of the art. Can they get the same guys to work on MSC website please?!

 

23. Love the bracelets that for most part replace the sign and sail cards. I recommend the purchase if it does not come free with your experience.

 

24. CC meet and greet was a highlight. Do sign up and go! Instead of being held in the morning with crappy coffee and pastries like other lines, held at proper cocktail time, very good hours d’oeuvres, booze flowing and every single member of senior leadership from the captain, hotel manager, etc in attendance, mingling, answering questions. Never seen anything like it.

 

25. And yes, obviously MSC takes the comments on CC seriously.

 

26. At that same meet and greet I mentioned to hotel director how happy we were to be reunited with our favorite waiter from Divina and he immediately picked up his phone and relayed that information to ... someone who presumably mattered in the chain of command.

 

27. I do not believe the food is as good as other main stream lines. That continued to be a disappointment. But pizza and pasta are the best, back to low carb next week!

 

28. The elevators were all working. Never waited at all, even after muster or shows. But I am fast on the break. Those poor people with their walkers never stood a chance.

 

29. YC boarding opens at about 10:30 a.m. We got there around 10;15 and there were about 6 other couples. The tent is pretty easy to spot and porters pointed it out as well. Our luggage arrived by early afternoon.

 

30. I am not going to go back and read everything I wrote but if I missed saying it, the crew are friendly, smiling and everything you would expect.

 

31. The spa is fabulous with various multi-sensory experiences. Best part, no hard sell! I often don’t book treatments on other lines because I hate that but had read on CC that MSC spa staff did not do that. Had a message and she half-heartedly waived a bottle of something and I smiled and shook my head and that was it.

 

32. I miss all the little food venues that Carnival has, Guys burgers, the wonderful deli, separate pizza station, burrito/taco bar. In addition to providing choice, these help lighten the load on the buffet. MSC please consider!

 

33. YC, good to see some diversity. Butler position I assume is better paying and has some status. Seeing a much more diverse group including women. Please continue this, your passengers notice!

 

Well, that is all I can think of top of head. Hope this helps given all the competing information. Obviously one person’s opinion. Happy to answer any questions.

 

 

 

 

 

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I LOVED this! Thank you!

Enjoy the remainder of your cruise!

When you mention that you have to be a chair hog and grab a lounger by the pool, do you mean even in the Yacht Club? ...since that's where you are?:eek:

NO problem getting a lounger at any time in the YC, the other areas are the problem.

Thanks for the update.

When you mention that you have to be a chair hog and grab a lounger by the pool, do you mean even in the Yacht Club? ...since that's where you are?:eek:

No, there are ten chairs to pax in YC, sorry not to be clear on that. Incredibly spacious.

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How's the casino?

 

Venchi?

 

 

A previous poster mentioned that he requested and received two loungers for his balcony. Since you mentioned that the YC balconies are larger than Divina's, can you envision two loungers fitting there?

Not comfortably, but honestly the YC public areas are so superior we preferred them to the room.

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Wondering the same thing?!! I sure hope not!!!

No!!!! So much room and space.

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Glad to hear that they must have added more blue coffee cups! During our cruise I only got one for 1 meal the entire week. Every other time we had to settle for those stupid espresso cups.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

TrinaLC- apprecaite the Live feedback!

 

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

Note: the alcohol drinks at Venchi are worth trying...loved the hot chocolate too

Please what would you recommend at ave chi for the alcohol drinks?

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Thank you for this info!

On the Divina I had a female butler in the YC.

Thanks for the review. Pam and I can’t wait for our sailing in September!

Thank you for your report.

Keith

Trina ... Some interesting points and some of them were evident on our Xmas cruise especially on sea days.

"Probably a European thing."

not sure why you would say this? are you telling us that this does not happen on other cruise lines, because each one we have been on have had sun lounger issues in the exact same way as you describe regardless of whether it has been Europe or the Caribbean.

Thank you for putting my mind at ease regarding the pool area in the YC.

and also.....

thanks for this review.:D

To respond to some of the recent hot button topics, in no particular order ...

 

But some context, first. We are late 50s, DH retired, me still working, cruise once or twice a year, typically NCL, Carnival, once on each of Princess, RCCL, HAL. We are not travel agents or in the travel industry

 

We consider ourselves foodies, love good wine, have travelled extensively and lived outside of the US. We are “glass half full” types and try to not let things on vacation bother us. We have never had a bad cruise. Of course, we weren’t on that one that ran out of power, had no plumbing etc. That would have been a bad cruise even for us.

 

1. We patrolled the trip trying to find sewer odor. We must have looked pretty funny, sniffing away. Found none, even where others have reported. A few times - and by that I mean about 3 - we got a whiff, but nothing that we have not regularly encountered on cruises.

 

2. Yes, the pizza is good. We’re New Yorkers. Enuf said.

 

3. It is a very full ship, spring break. To get a lounger, you will need to be a chair hog. By 9 a.m. There is no shame, so go with it. Probably a European thing.

 

4. If you can swing the Yacht Club, do so!! Truly an awesome experience. Gigantic lounge, top bow private pool, grill, hot tubs, bar, butlers, restaurant, it does in fact feel like a yacht!

 

5. If not, be aware the lounge decks are really packed, more so than the traditional US departing cruises. Unpleasantly so. Consider a spa pass, bought ahead of time, for some lovely private deck space and hot tub. Or go Aurea.

 

6. The coffee, pastry and gelato offerings are way above those same US departing cruises. Hey, it’s Italian!

 

7. The breakfast and lunch buffets are almost on par as US mainstream lines, but dinner buffet not so much. See other posts, they are working on this. But if you are a dinner buffet kind of cruiser, and variety/quality is really important, this will be a disappointment.

 

8. We are in YC so cannot comment personally on MDR but folks we have talked to think it is fine. Hot food hot, cold food cold, willing waitstaff. But if you want three rolls, take all three when first offered!

 

9. There can be a language barrier. You may get a wrong order or a look of confusion. But we did not find this ever to be more than a source of friendly amusement.

 

10. Yes, the pools are 6 foot or so deep, except for the kiddie pool. I would have designed differently. People were still having fun. There is a “beach” area so better than it sounds.

 

11. The kiddie waterworks area looks to be a blast. Another possible design defect, no real adult seating where to read or sit out of water’s way while supervising. Suggest swim goggles for kids, as lots of shooting water!!

 

12. There is delicious butter at all meals. Do try the salt free!

 

13. There seem to be plenty of American style coffee cups in the buffets. Blue with logo. And yes, there are the funny little white ones, those are for espressos.

 

14. YC reports have been of staff cut downs compared to Divina. We see no degradation in service. Butlers everywhere, always asking if you need something. They now call the cabin attendants junior butlers. Ours is doing a great job, but like all lines he seems to have way to many cabins. Works really hard, still manages great towel animals and to replenish the Scotch in the mini-bar!

 

15. Shade in YC for loungers remains a big problem for me. Staff (kiddos to wonderful Olin) will find you shade and move a lounger on request, but you are going to be in very odd spots and likely no two loungers together. However, there is PLENTY of shade if you don’t mind sitting at the many covered four top nice wood tables.

 

At the CC meet and greet, hotel director gave a pained look when I brought this up, promised they are working on a solution. BTW shade is an issue in steerage (joke!) as well, as it is generally in my experience with most ships.

 

16. For whoever commented that crew is not constantly wiping and cleaning like other ships, no idea where that came from. We see it constantly. Of course, not all the painting crews you also see elsewhere, because, well, the ship is frickin new. Our balcony glass was washed and our balcony deck swabbed the third day. Never had such a clean balcony.

 

17. The carpets are just fine. Early reports said they always looked dirty due to piling or shedding, that seems to have work itself out.

 

18. The YC balconies are twice the size of Divina’s, and the room larger and better laid out. Plenty of storage. Great shower.

 

19. Not a fan of the beige/brown decor scheme in the bedrooms, but not an issue affecting enjoyment.

 

20. Am a fan of the three shorter entertainment/shows. We like to eat around 8, as do many, and that never works with seeing a show mainstream lines. On MSC we’ve gone to the 7 pm show and then to dinner. Perfect as we no longer late nighters.

 

21. The entertainment is fun. Same performers working their hearts out. No, they are not native English speakers. There have been a few songs that we could not understand a word, but still enjoyable entertainment. At least we got to go to it, see 20.

 

22. The technology to reserve entertainment, navigate ship, etc is state of the art. Can they get the same guys to work on MSC website please?!

 

23. Love the bracelets that for most part replace the sign and sail cards. I recommend the purchase if it does not come free with your experience.

 

24. CC meet and greet was a highlight. Do sign up and go! Instead of being held in the morning with crappy coffee and pastries like other lines, held at proper cocktail time, very good hours d’oeuvres, booze flowing and every single member of senior leadership from the captain, hotel manager, etc in attendance, mingling, answering questions. Never seen anything like it.

 

25. And yes, obviously MSC takes the comments on CC seriously.

 

26. At that same meet and greet I mentioned to hotel director how happy we were to be reunited with our favorite waiter from Divina and he immediately picked up his phone and relayed that information to ... someone who presumably mattered in the chain of command.

 

27. I do not believe the food is as good as other main stream lines. That continued to be a disappointment. But pizza and pasta are the best, back to low carb next week!

 

28. The elevators were all working. Never waited at all, even after muster or shows. But I am fast on the break. Those poor people with their walkers never stood a chance.

 

29. YC boarding opens at about 10:30 a.m. We got there around 10;15 and there were about 6 other couples. The tent is pretty easy to spot and porters pointed it out as well. Our luggage arrived by early afternoon.

 

30. I am not going to go back and read everything I wrote but if I missed saying it, the crew are friendly, smiling and everything you would expect.

 

31. The spa is fabulous with various multi-sensory experiences. Best part, no hard sell! I often don’t book treatments on other lines because I hate that but had read on CC that MSC spa staff did not do that. Had a message and she half-heartedly waived a bottle of something and I smiled and shook my head and that was it.

 

32. I miss all the little food venues that Carnival has, Guys burgers, the wonderful deli, separate pizza station, burrito/taco bar. In addition to providing choice, these help lighten the load on the buffet. MSC please consider!

 

33. YC, good to see some diversity. Butler position I assume is better paying and has some status. Seeing a much more diverse group including women. Please continue this, your passengers notice!

 

Well, that is all I can think of top of head. Hope this helps given all the competing information. Obviously one person’s opinion. Happy to answer any questions.

 

 

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GREAT SUMMARY.

Thanks.

Concur with almost everything; now I do not have to do a post cruise review. ;)

One variation re: FOOD. Week 2 of the B2B is a notch above Week 1. There is some variety change, but for early dining for us, the execution has been flawless (last week, menu or execution flaw concerns three nights, left for Roys). Also, my diet is 'beyond LC in difficulty in expecting any cruise line to be easy (Plant Paradox, i.e., low lectins), but I have experienced flawless accommodations with any adjustment of any offering with anything on or off the menu.

BUFFET - Checked it out twice for lunch (not dinner), grabbed pizza slices (wife) and took pictures of EVERY STATION, EVERY ITEM. Compared to recent ANTHEM OTS in January, "better offerings." We did not eat (other than wife pizza she loved) though, cannot weigh in in taste and preparation. Compared to recent NCL ESCAPE, quite a notch below (we believe NCL has not 'cost cut the heck out of food compared to RCCL (our view only)). Except for a couple of fish items from the YC lunch, ALMOST EVERY OTHER YC OFFERING WAS IN THE BUFFET.

SMELL - Walked the entire ship, every deck, every venue, each of the last two port days. NOTHING other than a 'passing slight whiff above the jungle pool area (we stopped, but wasn't a smell area, it was 'passing).

FAMILIES - A lot and very nice. Even in Yacht Club. At early dining, some really great parents and kids, dressed for the nights, NO (or only occasional) iPHONES or tablets. Actually eating appetizers and meals that, honestly, 20 years ago you couldn't get a young kid or teen to try. And, having 'conversation.

GYM - When not full, it has everything you need; however, clean everything yourself. The staff is inconsistent, one day attendant sprays every machine after every use. Other days (certain tall guy) sits at the reception desk on the internet and doesn't GOHA "at all."

Overall, GREAT TIME.

" I do not believe the food is as good as other main stream lines. That continued to be a disappointment. But pizza and pasta are the best, back to low carb next week!"

OP... Are you referring to the food in YC not being as good as the main dining rooms on other main cruise lines?

Thank you for your detailed live review. I will be in YC mid April and was hoping the YC restaurant would be equal to a specialty restaurant in quality of food and service.

Also... I need to be in the shade for health reasons but love relaxing in the fresh air... I am planning on bringing a personal sized shade umbrella with sun protection fabric, hopefully that will be ok with the staff.