OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK SEASCAPE DEC- JAN 8 2023

[Match Game 72]

43 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Both. We only requested 'still', large and small glass bottles.  Stocked refrigerator and found a leather box containing small can of Pringles, Toberone and glassware. Don't know anymore the 'amenities', they change from week to week. Embarrassed to ask, really. For example, DW has me walking before and after meals so much that my custom insoles in my shoes are beginning to hurt. In today's daily planner Is an advertisement from the MSC Aurea Spa for "walk-in foot misalignment clinic today from 3:00pm-4:00pm at the MSC gym". We were waiting at 3 pm and brought our daily planner up to the Aurea Spa desk to ask when is the clinic. "sorry sir we only have one instructor and today is his day off." (You can not make this up, not going to complain, we didn't drive too far to get to the gym at 3 pm). Got 2 of the small dark chocolate bars this week, no bars last week. Was told to expect 4 chocolate ships, if they don't come, again we will not complain. The service is exceptionally better than the Retreat or the Haven.

   I stopped drinking alcohol and wine when the pandemic hit, my being obese. Only thing I cut out of my diet. Got to say I am no happier, but I did lose 50 lbs. So all these bottles are gifts to those back home. Others will have to answer those questions. Nice Venchi chocolates every night on bedstand. Got none on Celebrity Beyond in November.

  

Congrats on the 50 pounds. That's quite an accomplishment.

[KittyCruz]

4 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Both. We only requested 'still', large and small glass bottles.  Stocked refrigerator and found a leather box containing small can of Pringles, Toberone and glassware. Don't know anymore the 'amenities', they change from week to week. Embarrassed to ask, really..."

Thank you!  I am afraid that I'm the DW that makes her husband walk everywhere as well.

We are not huge drinkers, but I when cruising I like to have dinner wine and my husband has a cocktail and the idea of having water bottles 24/7 is really the best.   last time we sailed was right at the start of the pandemic and we had an aurea suite with the unlimited drinks so we ended up packing the mini bar bottles and gave them to the kids (all grown) in their stockings. 

I'm really excited for the yc treatment and chocolates on our pillows or general area- thanks again and happy sailings

[morpheusofthesea]

6 minutes ago, KittyCruz said:

I'm really excited for the yc treatment and chocolates on our pillows or general area- thanks again and happy sailings

Just remember one thing. One only gets the YC treatment in the YC enclave. Outside the YC one will be jostled, coughed on,  forced to wait for elevators that do not come and when they come are too crowed or not going in the direction designated (but this is when the ship has over 5000 passengers, so far). Witnessed a child pressing the buttons for several decks and lighting up 3 of 4 elevators. We gave up and took to the stairs going up twice this evening. (not complaining about walking down the stairs). Going to recommend in comment card that YC guests MUST  have working elevator over rides to get back up to the YC enclave as a prerequisite.

[morpheusofthesea]

Tonight I am afraid I am commiserating with styles27 who is reporting on their Divina cruise. Am sure when we both get home we will forget these trifles and once again ‘sing’ the praises of MSC.(it is just our fellow cruisers that we have ‘issue with’. Example, below is photo of stroller in the aisle for the entire show, a possible hazard? The child at one point screamed louder than the singers on stage and the parents did not remove the child from the theatre. No consideration.

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, KittyCruz said:

we ended up packing the mini bar bottles

Just looked in refrigerator. Only bottles of soda, beer and juices. We are packing up 11 bottles of liquor and bubbly for these 2 cruises booked separately. Understand that if booked as one cruise would receive half the number of bottles and other amenities.

Edited January 6, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[no1talks]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Understand that if booked as one cruise would receive half the number of bottles and other amenities."

Maybe less, Morpheus.

 

I don't think the list of amenities associated with a "big suite" in YC officially includes such largess. Unless an amenities change is being rolled out, you were lavished with extra alcohol.

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

Maybe less, Morpheus.

 

I don't think the list of amenities associated with a "big suite" in YC officially includes such largess. Unless an amenities change is being rolled out, you were lavished with extra alcohol.

I believe you are correct.

[morpheusofthesea]

Today’s observation. Our daily program describes our shopping, just a short walk from the ship, about 3 miles away from where we are now docked. Since this stop at Cozumel was a last minute itinerary change, MSC had to dock away from the city center, and besides nobody really reads the daily program. Independents getting off  should just leave the DP on the ship. There are no escalators at this dock. Pictured we are berthed with higher class ships.

[morpheusofthesea]

Your butler will ask one the night before what their plans will be for the following day for a good reason. The butler wants to know what to plan for one the next day. If one is going on shore, if a tour, where to meet on the ship for a quick escort off, instead of waiting in a long line at the gangway. Or if, like us, we intent to enjoy the best the Mexican Riviera has to offer on the One Pool Deck enjoying the beautiful weather, with plenty of towels, made up lounges, stocked with ones favorite beverages, newspapers delivered to where one intends, and sometimes a towel animal thrown in for ambience.

[morpheusofthesea]

Here is an observation that no photo can describe. There is a reason that the better class ships do not dock here. Depending on which way the breezes are blowing one is struck by the pungent oder of raw sewage, like fermenting cabbage, in the air.

[morpheusofthesea]

Since our YC key cards are not working as they should, for the elevators, we are deposited on the default deck 19. This gives us a chance to test the entrance door to the YC quite often. Unless one makes an effort to make sure it is closed behind one it will easily pull open from outside the enclave. One MUST make an effort to close the door to make sure it locks when leaving the YC. If properly locked no one can enter with or without key card and then just take the stairs down one flight to 18 and use key card to enter there.

Edited January 6, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[graphicguy]

12 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Tonight I am afraid I am commiserating with styles27 who is reporting on their Divina cruise. Am sure when we both get home we will forget these trifles and once again ‘sing’ the praises of MSC.(it is just our fellow cruisers that we have ‘issue with’. Example, below is photo of stroller in the aisle for the entire show, a possible hazard? The child at one point screamed louder than the singers on stage and the parents did not remove the child from the theatre. No consideration.

I am really quite surprised the crew didn’t make note that the stroller in the aisle needed to be removed as a tripping hazard if an exit from the theater had to be made with the lights down.

 

And, double thumbs down to the family for A) putting the stroller there to begin with, and B) not removing the obnoxious child from the theater.

[morpheusofthesea]

The menu is fine, but the daily planner lists a definite lack of any entertainment tonight.

[phissy]

4 hours ago, no1talks said:

Maybe less, Morpheus.

 

I don't think the list of amenities associated with a "big suite" in YC officially includes such largess. Unless an amenities change is being rolled out, you were lavished with extra alcohol.

I had the same thought.

Regular YC guests will not receive even close to what Morpheus has posted.

(The amenities shown are not due to Booking Royal Suite.)

VIP classified YC guests seem to receive  3-4 times what is normal for YC experience. My concern is when someone books YC, after reading these very informative posts, expecting the same. 
They will be disappointed when they receive 1+1 in suite.

Edited January 6, 2023 by phissy

[no1talks]

19 minutes ago, phissy said:

I had the same thought.

Regular YC guests will not receive even close to what Morpheus has posted.

(The amenities shown are not due to Booking Royal Suite.)

VIP classified YC guests seem to receive  3-4 times what is normal for YC experience. My concern is when someone books YC, after reading these very informative posts, expecting the same. 
They will be disappointed when they receive 1+1 in suite.

For some reason, I'm reminded of the bit in Rocky Horror Picture Show, where in the servants (Riff-Raff and Magenta) argue with the master (Frank-n-Furter) over receiving their due...

 

Magenta:
I ask for nothing!

Frank:
And you shall receive it, IN ABUNDANCE!

 

Come to think of it, this may encapsulate the future of cruise freebies, in general.

😆

Edited January 6, 2023 by no1talks

[morpheusofthesea]

8 minutes ago, no1talks said:

Come to think of it, this may encapsulate the future of cruise freebies, in general.

😆

Or, this showering of "abundance" is in recognition of spending too much money.  The gamblers get free upgrades and cabins and bring their entire families with access to the Retreat (on Celebrity). Celebrity began the restart and THE SCARE we all received from covid particularly affected us that we said enough with delayed gratification and saving for a future we may or may not have. Instead of tapping into retirement funds and paying 23% taxes, we HAD a paid off house. With interest rates so low we took out a HELOC and began with a Celebrity Suite, which lead to a Villa, then a Royal, followed by a Penthouse , repeating and going back to the 'Goldilocks' of cabins the Royal Suites. The officer in charge of guest services told us that Celebrity put us on their VIP list and they have our picture posted in their office as required memorization. When walking around the ship we would be addressed by our surnames by staff we never met before. Others have reported the same.

   We had tried the Sophia Loren Suite on the Divina and found the cabin too small and the balcony not to our liking, so switched to the Seaside Royal Suite and have been comparing ever since with those on Celebrity. Anyone can achieve this VIP status, we do not know the threshold. Do not think it is written down by any cruiseline. In our case just spend over $100,000 per year on cabins and tip over $1500 / week and I am sure you too will receive these amenities in "abundance" (and we told them we do not drink alcohol, so we accept whatever they do have to offer and give them as gifts back home).

[KittyCruz]

1 hour ago, phissy said:

I had the same thought.

Regular YC guests will not receive even close to what Morpheus has posted.

(The amenities shown are not due to Booking Royal Suite.)

VIP classified YC guests seem to receive  3-4 times what is normal for YC experience. My concern is when someone books YC, after reading these very informative posts, expecting the same. 
They will be disappointed when they receive 1+1 in suite.

Thanks All for the additional input and considerations!    I am enjoying reading Morpheus' post since there is not a lot out about this ship and its current inhabitants. 

 

So far I have on my radar to be pleasantly surprised by the amenities/treatments but to feel entitled to the special VIP YC perks.

and 

Be prepared to have usurpers who might try and come between me and a YC seafood buffet banished back to the cheap seats. 

 

 

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

Just now, KittyCruz said:

So far I have on my radar to be pleasantly surprised by the amenities/treatments but to feel entitled to the special VIP YC perks.

The advantages of Diamond are not that great. We would rather be first timers, silver? in the YC than Diamond outside the YC in any category. However you all may still be too young to be spoiled so early in life. Take it slow and easy. Work your ways up to the best life has to offer. Too much of the best in life at an early age can damage your pysche later on. Do not recommend doing the Yacht Club too early in ones life, especially grandparents bringing their grandchildren. Unless these grandparents set aside a nice inheritance for them.

[KittyCruz]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

The advantages of Diamond are not that great. We would rather be first timers, silver? in the YC than Diamond outside the YC in any category. However you all may still be too young to be spoiled so early in life. Take it slow and easy. Work your ways up to the best life has to offer. Too much of the best in life at an early age can damage your pysche later on. Do not recommend doing the Yacht Club too early in ones life, especially grandparents bringing their grandchildren. Unless these grandparents set aside a nice inheritance for them.

With the exception of Carnival we have been trying the different lines out to see which one we like the best, since our first MSC was on the Meraviglia right as covid began to get serious we actually felt like we didn't get to full on experience everything (our ship was the first to be denied port during the start of the pandemic so we basically sailed around Cuba with a one port stop in Cozumel)  We also really felt MSC did a good job in how they handled it all. 

 

We're still a few years off from retirement but thankfully we are in a position to be able to splurge every once in a while.

 

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

Last night we attended one of the few entertainment venues listed in the Daily Planner,  the Le Cabaret Rouge. Here is another 'tip'. One must get to the LCR early to get a seat. Our butler insists on escorting us down the elevator to the lounge in the back of the ship. He uses my key card to call an empty elevator and often finds that it takes several trys to get the key pad to 'work properly' and get a 'discreet' elevator. He got just as frustrated with the key pads that he suggested we walk over to the other side and use the other bank of elevators. We all witnessed a 'gentleman' approach the elevator key pad and hit it with his fist. Nothing was said, our butler just rolled his eyes at us.

[morpheusofthesea]

Another observation. There are very few families with well behaved children on board. Last night at dinner DW stopped at  a table in the YC with three very young girls always well behaved and commended the parents. It is such a rarity today.

[morpheusofthesea]

On 1/2/2023 at 4:57 PM, paddy1112 said:

Hi, is there a shuttle on changeover day available to somewhere in the city?

That appears to be the case. A couple of choices on turn around day. Hop on hop off. Check details at excursion desk.

[morpheusofthesea]

Chef Lisa decided to have another seafood extravaganza at the One Pool Deck today another sea day with lobster at  the buffet. So that would make it 3x per week for the lobster in the YC. The pool attendant caught another 6 interlopers in the YC.

  Walking around the ship after lunch we encountered Captain DePalma with his charming wife and son  inside on deck 8 strolling.They were very approachable and kind. He and his wife shook our hands and we thanked them for all the wonderful times on MSC ships.

[CarolnLarry]

Do you know what pier/dock you will be coming into tomorrow?  Have to give Uber an address. 

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, CarolnLarry said:

Do you know what pier/dock you will be coming into tomorrow?  Have to give Uber an address. 

We asked guests services that question when we were on Seashore in October. Purser said they will get an email night before (tonight).

Edited January 8, 2023 by morpheusofthesea