Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted April 27, 2023 #1 Share Posted April 27, 2023 This post was recognized by LauraS! "Thanks for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic!" Tom-n-Cheryl was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' This is our first cruise with MSC. We status matched at diamond, and boarded promptly today at 11:00 a.m. We are not able to book specialty restaurants ahead of time either by design, or website issues. It was not offered. First thing after getting on the ship was to go to the Yacht Club concierge to request butchers cut and Ocean Cay restaurant reservations for tonight and Saturday. It looks like we're going to be out of luck, unless follow-up calls by the concierge later prove fruitful. Apparently others were able to book ahead of time... that would be a group cruise through Expedia who booked all specialty reservations for all nights. Amazing! We waited until a little after 12:00 in the Top Sail lounge and then proceeded up to the restaurant. It's schedule shows it as opening at noon. However, when we arrived we were told they were not going to be opening until 12:30. More to come ... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreic082 Posted April 27, 2023 #2 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Great! Can't wait to hear your review- have a wonderful time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlandryst Posted April 27, 2023 #3 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Is the YC tent hard to get to and locate at the port? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare GPPhilly Posted April 27, 2023 #4 Share Posted April 27, 2023 I think you will enjoy the YC restaurant so don't worry about that but I am surprised that they are all booked. I would ask again as the concierge normally can get you in. I would take it to the YC director if they say no again. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted April 27, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted April 27, 2023 19 minutes ago, jlandryst said: Is the YC tent hard to get to and locate at the port? We dropped off our luggage with the porters but not at the tent. Once we figured things out and found the tent our luggage was already there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChattTenn Posted April 27, 2023 #6 Share Posted April 27, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said: It looks like we're going to be out of luck, unless follow-up calls by the concierge later prove fruitful. Apparently others were able to book ahead of time... that would be a group cruise through Expedia who booked all specialty reservations for all nights. Amazing! Our local Expedia owner is on your sailing. She told us that MSC invited Expedia group to sail as a working cruise so Expedia can show MSC a few things (do not know the number). MSC Seaside must set aside those specialty restaurants for them as a treat. Hope they can work you in those specialty restaurants. We will be on Seaside very soon. Can't wait. Edited April 27, 2023 by ChattTenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted April 27, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Followed up with the concierge, it's a total lockdown in the favor of Expedia. No one else on the ship will be enjoying specialty dining. Screwed.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted April 27, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted April 27, 2023 21 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said: We dropped off our luggage with the porters but not at the tent. Once we figured things out and found the tent our luggage was already there! (After we parked) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony s Posted April 27, 2023 #9 Share Posted April 27, 2023 I would find the Expedia owner and make a comment about reservations. Maybe for PR reasons they will assist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted April 27, 2023 Author #10 Share Posted April 27, 2023 6 minutes ago, tony s said: I would find the Expedia owner and make a comment about reservations. Maybe for PR reasons they will assist Yes, but I shouldn't have to play games once onboard 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony s Posted April 27, 2023 #11 Share Posted April 27, 2023 (edited) Have a conversation with YC Director. They will go overboard to make you happy. We had a similar situation and they got us in one restaurant and for Butchers Cut arranged the dinner to be served in the YC dining room Edited April 27, 2023 by tony s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukeca Posted April 27, 2023 #12 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Hi Tom-n-Cheryl! If you are able to post the daily programs and dinner menus that would be amazing! You are on the same itinerary I will be sailing, so I'm super interested in any info you have. I'll certainly be following this thread! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted April 27, 2023 Author #13 Share Posted April 27, 2023 45 minutes ago, tony s said: Have a conversation with YC Director. They will go overboard to make you happy. We had a similar situation and they got us in one restaurant and for Butchers Cut arranged the dinner to be served in the YC dining room It's worth looking into. Just found a nice two topper in the yacht Club restaurant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted April 27, 2023 #14 Share Posted April 27, 2023 2 hours ago, ChattTenn said: She told us that MSC invited Expedia group to sail as a working cruise so Expedia can show MSC a few things (do not know the number) Could be even worse. MSC could have it chartered as well. Just ask mscdivina 2016. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted April 27, 2023 #15 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Following along as we will be on Seaside next month and again in August. Wishing you a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fissues Posted April 27, 2023 #16 Share Posted April 27, 2023 X2, Dinner Menus Please!! I'll be on Seaside soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare APDMOM Posted April 27, 2023 #17 Share Posted April 27, 2023 (edited) Looking forward to virtually cruising with you! 🙂 Sorry to hear about the special dining issue. Hopefully, something will work out. Edited April 27, 2023 by APDMOM typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bruce85 Posted April 27, 2023 #18 Share Posted April 27, 2023 We will be sailing in 30 days. Our second on the Seaside, fourth with MSC. Will be watching your posts. Enjoy your cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted April 28, 2023 #19 Share Posted April 28, 2023 3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said: Yes, but I shouldn't have to play games once onboard Would be even more interesting if this Expedia group has "Access" to the YC venues as a courtesy of MSC, (those with cabins not in the YC). Good luck finding an available pergola. Sometimes the course of events, like large groups that are not advertised, force one to "play games" in order to get service one has normally become accustomed to in the YC. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boozy O Croozy Posted April 28, 2023 #20 Share Posted April 28, 2023 5 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said: Followed up with the concierge, it's a total lockdown in the favor of Expedia. No one else on the ship will be enjoying specialty dining. Screwed.... That's some serious bullsh*t. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnpurple Posted April 28, 2023 #21 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Maybe disappointing, but we have been on two cruises in the last year in YC and didn't go to a speciality restaurant for either one. We enjoyed the YC restaurant a lot. And, like others have mentioned, you can put in a request for something special if you'd really like (with some notice). I wouldn't let that get you down too much. Enjoy what YC has to offer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mscdivina2016 Posted April 28, 2023 #22 Share Posted April 28, 2023 15 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said: It's worth looking into. Just found a nice two topper in the yacht Club restaurant. Fyi, The specialty restaurants are usually open on sea days for lunch. I would also point out as a diamond member one of your perks is a specialty dinner, so ask the YC director to sort that out. Another thing you might want to do is have the specialty food served in your cabin or in YC restaurant. I am currently on Splendida and I have been having the same lobster as the specialty restaurant in our restaurant. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne_trisha Posted April 28, 2023 #23 Share Posted April 28, 2023 How rough was your embarkation yesterday? I work on CCSFS about a mile from the port and we were in a tornado warning. Crazy wind, rain, thunder lightning, hail, and tornadoes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herdfans4 Posted April 28, 2023 #24 Share Posted April 28, 2023 (edited) Thanks for sharing your trip with us. will be on Seaside in May. A little nervous as the available cabins for our cruise all disappeared yesterday and the cruise itself (5/14/23) is no longer available on MSC to book. I wonder if they have done a similar move with the remaining cabins on our cruise with inviting a group like Expedia to be onboard. Edit: just looked again today and now there are Aurea suites available that were not there yesterday and some balcony rooms. but YC says booked. I was hoping to win a YC upgrade for 2 rooms. no looking good now. Edited April 28, 2023 by herdfans4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herdfans4 Posted April 28, 2023 #25 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Also Tom-n-Cheryl I noticed you had Canaan Valley listed for home town. Is that Canaan Valley, WV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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