Seaview in YC 3/13-3/27.

[mscdivina2016]

Boarded today in St.Martin.

 

The process was odd to say the least.

For starters, you need a PCR test 48 hours before.

Problem with that is leaving from the states you might not get your results in 48.

So we opted for 72 hour option but you now need a rapid with in 24 hours.

Not wanting to test negative , we took both a PCR and a rapid 72 hours prior just so we could cancel under the 48 hours rule.

So everything is closed on Sunday so we needed to go to the airport to get a test. They open at 11am till 5.

There was a YC tent but they verified Covid tests, made sure you had you health visa thing for St.martin and your mandatory insurance.

Then you go inside and you again present Covid tests and vaccine proof.

Then off to another Covid test. The one I took 35 minutes at $110 per person was not good enough.

Then you sit and wait in a makeshift YC area with snacks and drinks.

After 30 minutes they take you to immigration. Then a golf cart to the ship.

A Butler did accompany you the whole time.

Since my $1800+ issue was fixed I went with the flow.

Having been on 3 YC cruises in the last 3 months it's all pretty much the same 

Was told 140 in YC and 1100 total on ship. Will see if that holds.

Was given a wrist band, I gave it back. They just looked at me then said I need it for the elevators and to get into YC.

I said you mean it's another way to get into YC? They said yes. I told them I am old school and don't know how to use this new technology. Told me it's just like wearing a watch. Told them I never have worn a watch as it was great being the owner and people had to wait for me.

Needless to say, I left the "tracking" bracelet with them.lol.

 

On a side note, the terminal test was a joke as was the airport.

 

I will post daily.

 

[xcell]

27 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

 

Then you go inside and you again present Covid tests and vaccine proof.

Then off to another Covid test. The one I took 35 minutes at $110 per person was not good enough.

 

 

You have to take another test to board the ship?  And you have to pay for it???

 

Or do you mean, another test paid by MSC?

 

Did you buy their insurance or had your own from another company?  I'm trying to figure out what they want...

Edited March 13, 2022 by xcell

[morpheusofthesea]

38 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Since my $1800+ issue was fixed I went with the flow.

Love it !   Following.

Edited March 13, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[mscdivina2016]

47 minutes ago, xcell said:

You have to take another test to board the ship?  And you have to pay for it???

 

Or do you mean, another test paid by MSC?

 

Did you buy their insurance or had your own from another company?  I'm trying to figure out what they want...

No I needed the rapid within 24 hours so I went to the airport for the test I paid for.

Ship test is free.

 

I have an annual policy and I purchased a Covid rider that meets both MSC and St.Martins requirements.

 

On another note.... Ship is French so only two channels on TV are in English.

[mscdivina2016]

Day 2 morning

 

Our YC room is on deck 18 and you can hear furniture or people on the sun deck all night.

 

Everything is in at least three languages.

The casino only accepts Euro s

 

And they will convert USD to E but won't convert back.

 

The bracelet.....well I had a room card issue and we needed new cards. They needed to program the new cards to the bracelets which we don't have. Lol.

 Well it turns out only YC has them and it's not for contact tracing in any way.

 The entertainment is much better that the US based ships.

7 piece band in lounge and when they break, another band comes on.

YC had a guitar player last night, very good as well.

Casino is empty so far.

 

Food is identical in YC to US based ships so far.

[MISSGJ]

Following with interest. I’m so glad the $1800 issue was rectified before you boarded and very much hope you can enjoy your cruise to the fullest. 

[Paphillyguy]

Just curious, why did you just not take the wrist band and keep it in your room rather than going through why you refused to wear it?  Just wondering

[bigblue1952]

Following.  Glad everything worked out.  Have a great cruise

[hamrag]

7 hours ago, Paphillyguy said:

Just curious, why did you just not take the wrist band and keep it in your room rather than going through why you refused to wear it?  Just wondering

🤔 Indeed, you'd need to read these boards consistently to understand how mscdiv(in)a ticks!

[mscdivina2016]

10 hours ago, Paphillyguy said:

Just curious, why did you just not take the wrist band and keep it in your room rather than going through why you refused to wear it?  Just wondering

We were waiting with the guy and wanted to actually put it on me. I politely declined and he told me I needed it to get into YC. What????? What a fib. So since we had 15 minutes or so I decided to.play with it.

Had I known it was not for contact tracing it may have been different.

This ship has little kiosks that they want you to put your card in for contact tracing. It actually states that on the little sign.

 It is only for enclosed places.

 

A little while ago they denied the two free massages even though it's on my new confirmation from last Wednesday???

 They still have not corrected the price down another $1000 like my original invoice back from 2020.

Will post more tomorrow morning

[mscdivina2016]

Yesterday we were in Barbados. We were in a bubble. Only ships tours and taxi that are approved.

Long day not much to do for us as a beach day is not our thing as we live in Florida near the beach.

Winds have been bad. Ship is getting pushed over and snapping back.

 Entertainment has been real good.

Bartenders are awesome.

We did notice a change in the menu. Ribs, roast beef and a few others we have not seen on Seashore or Meraviglia. Probably because of the higher European passenger counts.

Casino is tight.

Today is a Sea day and the winds are the worst today.

 

YC seems empty I doubt there are 140 here as told

 

[Av8tor]

Thanks for all the info!  So glad your $1800 fiasco was resolved and I hope you do manage to get the other $1000 and massage issues straightened out.  I sincerely hope the winds die down and that you can relax a bit finally and enjoy the rest of the cruise.  Keep the posts coming if you can spare the time...

[mscdivina2016]

Yesterday we took on more people and some got off. There are definitely more than the previous few days.

 I will ask about numbers.

The shows run two nights in a row. You must, even in YC have reservations.

They are just ok. They average about 35 minutes and that includes the introduction in multiple languages.

The casino is still tight.

Dance lessons are a joke. Due to social distancing they are all done solo. Pretty funny to watch people do the waltz or Argentine tango by themselves.

 They are playing non dance music to discourage dancing yet they have two professional dance instructors and they cannot dance even with other.

YC lounge is still empty at night. Just me and my wife as a rule till it closes.

Went to the buffet for lunch yesterday. Not going again.

[Oxo]

2 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:Went to the buffet for lunch yesterday. Not going again.

 

What was the reason for you not going to lunch buffet?

 

[mscdivina2016]

4 minutes ago, Oxo said:

What was the reason for you not going to lunch buffet?

 

We have a buffet in YC but it opens at 12:30.

The main one on the ship opens at 12 so we wanted to grab a quick bite to go ashore.

The food/meats were on the dry side.

Even if you custom ordered a burger they won't do it rare.

The roast beef was pre sliced in a gravy of sorts and it was dried out same as the veal.

No turn over as most were on sure on excursions.

We are 12:30 went back to YC and ate lunch. Food was the same menu except the roast beef was whole and sliced right then and there. Burger... anyway you want it. Everything seems better or fresher is the way I can describe it.

[Oxo]

1 hour ago, mscdivina2016 said:

We have a buffet in YC but it opens at 12:30.

The main one on the ship opens at 12 so we wanted to grab a quick bite to go ashore.

The food/meats were on the dry side.

Even if you custom ordered a burger they won't do it rare.

The roast beef was pre sliced in a gravy of sorts and it was dried out same as the veal.

No turn over as most were on sure on excursions.

We are 12:30 went back to YC and ate lunch. Food was the same menu except the roast beef was whole and sliced right then and there. Burger... anyway you want it. Everything seems better or fresher is the way I can describe it.

Its a shame that things like this happen. Thanks for replying back. I do appreciate the info. Stay Safe and Happy Cruising! It will get better!

[mscdivina2016]

Friday,  we all were required to take a Covid test.

YC was great as we had our own exclusive test area.

 

Was told all in YC tested negative.

I do not know about the rest of the ship but had an odd conversation with someone in YC.

They were on with a group of eight other  friends who they hand with the whole time.

They told me this morning they went to their usual spot and no one was there. They went by their rooms (4 of them) and all of them are showing they are not there. (There is a light on the outside that shows whether your card is in the slot for power)

  I am not liking the show set up. Same show two nights in row. Only can attend once.

 

Casino is turning into a smoke room. Many people just hanging in the casino just to smoke.

 

Was so bad my wife walked out. That is rare!

 

Saturday we were docked in Brassatier and it is just a tiny place trying to make itself out to be something.

It seems the last couple days more and more are getting on.

 

Last night in top sail is had the most people I have seen on 4 YC sailings in the past 3 months.

Even other venues are heavier it seems.