MSC Grandiosa related questions mainly shows and champagne

[exs2]

As YC passenger, can I just walk to evening show without reservation few minutes before the show as I could in MSC Seascape?

Is there YC seating section reserved for YC passengers in MSC Grandiosa as well?

I have prebooked both Carousel shows in advance. Can I select the show time at coincierge desk to suitable time during the cruise?

What is the current champagne on YC? (was all over the place in MSC Seascape in February, first Moet, then Pommery, then Jacquart)

I assume the butler is supposed to ask what YC complimentary bottle we want? Last cruise in February I barely saw my butler and it was never offered during the cruise. Not that it meant that much as there is the drink package but still...

 

Will be interesting to compare this upcoming cruise in two weeks to the Caribbean one I had in February.

 

PS. If MSC IT was better they could upsell their products better. Website doesn't have all the options and doesn't show price reductions from YC or status and insist showing options you have by those as ones you could still buy. Just infuriating.

[Ryan82]

Hey there.

 

I sailed on Grandiosa in May. I wasn't YC.

 

Yes I see no reason why you can't walk into the free shows like any other passenger if there's availability. You may find problems if you try to sit in the seating reserved for YC if people believe you're not YC.

 

If you've prebooked the carousel shows then you can book your times on the desk on deck 5 in the atrium. I presume you can do the same at the YC reception.

 

I had bought the premium drinks package and was able to drink at the champagne bar.

[exs2]

Thank you Ryan although the YC works bit differently or atleast it worked different in Seascape.

 

Example I walked in when show was about to start with like 30 people outside waiting to hear if there would be room in the show and I just raised my hand slightly where the blue YC band is visible and man at front said "except you sir, you can go right away" and then I was guided to almost empty YC section that had like 30+ places but even if the theater was otherwise full, they would not let non YC to sit there.

 

What brand was the champagne on champagne bar if you remember?

 

Like I said it was all over the place in YC lounge area where there were three different champagnes served and none were the one they advertised 🙂 At champagne bar we got Moet although from price list point it was over the drinking package price. When I inquired about it he just said that you get Moet for the same price (free, included in package). Not sure if they had run out all the other three options or if our spree of high quality (and price) champagne had something to do about it. Would be interesting to know if tMSC still have that excellent 2012 Dom Perignon or if they have updated to 2013.LR Cristal was 2015 vintage which is a bit young to drink now although excellent nonethless.

[Morgsmom]

3 hours ago, exs2 said:

Thank you Ryan although the YC works bit differently or atleast it worked different in Seascape.

 

Example I walked in when show was about to start with like 30 people outside waiting to hear if there would be room in the show and I just raised my hand slightly where the blue YC band is visible and man at front said "except you sir, you can go right away" and then I was guided to almost empty YC section that had like 30+ places but even if the theater was otherwise full, they would not let non YC to sit there.

 

Completely OPPOSITE our experience on the Grandiosa in February.  There were 2 "attendants" in the theater who actively encouraged NON YC guests to sit in the YC aera as they wanted to "stop the class division" (their words).  We protested; THEY won.  We left the theater and complained to YC Director.  They did nothing.  In short the shows were "sold out" (already reserved) and there was "so many empty seats" in the YC area that were going to waste that they basically opened them up.  

[Ryan82]

42 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

Completely OPPOSITE our experience on the Grandiosa in February.  There were 2 "attendants" in the theater who actively encouraged NON YC guests to sit in the YC aera as they wanted to "stop the class division" (their words).  We protested; THEY won.  We left the theater and complained to YC Director.  They did nothing.  In short the shows were "sold out" (already reserved) and there was "so many empty seats" in the YC area that were going to waste that they basically opened them up.  

Yes we were seated in YC on the wake me up show.

[Ryan82]

42 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

Completely OPPOSITE our experience on the Grandiosa in February.  There were 2 "attendants" in the theater who actively encouraged NON YC guests to sit in the YC aera as they wanted to "stop the class division" (their words).  We protested; THEY won.  We left the theater and complained to YC Director.  They did nothing.  In short the shows were "sold out" (already reserved) and there was "so many empty seats" in the YC area that were going to waste that they basically opened them up.  

Wow. What is your objection to us sitting in the YC seating area that was empty? Would it have made you happy if I'd missed the show? 

 

With attitude like that I'm glad I don't waste my cash booking YC if I'd have to spend time with fellow passengers with that attitude!!

[exs2]

26 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

Completely OPPOSITE our experience on the Grandiosa in February.  There were 2 "attendants" in the theater who actively encouraged NON YC guests to sit in the YC aera as they wanted to "stop the class division" (their words).  

I would have said that "ok, perhaps I do not need to buy YC to sit in YC section at shows and perhaps that nice quiet lounge area and restaurant is ok too not to forget the pool without the YC. Thanks, you just saved me thousands from my next trip. Now can I get that in writing too?" 🙂

 

In more serious note if they want to keep people paying for YC "exclusivity" they should be wary of letting too many things to slip.

 

Examples of current slips that I noted in that Seascape YC cruise in February.

- No YC beverage choice in cabin was ever asked from me (my friend next door got it cause they happened to be there when YC butler came to introduce herself while I was already at muster drill)

- No priority exit, entrance except start and end of cruise. They advertise that you are first off the ship and first in ship. Nope, you line with the others in regular entrance out and in. Every port they had one entrance at front with white tent but every time I tried to use it they motioned me to normal entrance that everyone was using and lining up for even when I mentioned being YC passenger. I have seen reports that this seems to be the norm (maybe they should remove the advertisement about it).

 

Not necessarily YC issue but they are very lost with information handling. Example recent youtube video in which the couple showed a part where app said to be onboard 19:30 and they came 19:00 to find out it was supposedly18:30 and they were about to leave these two in shore with paperwork about it already completed. When they showed app, the MSC person still thought it was their mistake. One thing that it is impossible to verify from video is that did they have their clock in right time zone though.

 

Also in our trip we needed to buy sunscreen. Well, the ships shop was closed (private island day) because one employee was sick. We said that we wont survive a day without sunscreen that we planned on buying at ship and they said that no worries, island shop have it. Well, it didn't. Back to ship and YC coincierge desk who didn't believe us and called the island who said, yep, we have ran out.

 

Eventually they sent someone to open the ships shop for us to buy the sunscreen which I thought at the end was probably a service they would not have done to non YC passenger and was kinda nice at end but we had to fight about it.

 

Too bad cause I really like the YC concept otherwise. Will report how it went (sailing 18.7 from Barcelona)

[Ryan82]

Genuinely can't tell @Morgsmomif you're being serious or not.

[exs2]

1 minute ago, Ryan82 said:

Wow. What is your objection to us sitting in the YC seating area that was empty? Would it have made you happy if I'd missed the show? 

 

With attitude like that I'm glad I don't waste my cash booking YC if I'd have to spend time with fellow passengers with that attitude!!

I wouldn't really mind, except if they keep coming and causing me miss half the show (you know people who come late to theater and make whole row to step up and move their stuff and then sit down again). At the end, it is everyone choice to pay or not to pay for services promised but if you pay for it, you kinda expect them to be delivered. You don't walk from economy to business class at planes either or you will be charged about it and it has nothing to do with snobbery. It is all to do of what you pay for. I don't know you and you don't know me so lets no presume anything about our character of these forum writings.

[Ryan82]

1 hour ago, exs2 said:

I wouldn't really mind, except if they keep coming and causing me miss half the show (you know people who come late to theater and make whole row to step up and move their stuff and then sit down again). At the end, it is everyone choice to pay or not to pay for services promised but if you pay for it, you kinda expect them to be delivered. You don't walk from economy to business class at planes either or you will be charged about it and it has nothing to do with snobbery. It is all to do of what you pay for. I don't know you and you don't know me so lets no presume anything about our character of these forum writings.

The YC reserved area of the theatre is not business class on a plane. Its just an area of the theatre that's reserved for YC. Same seats. Same leg room etc.

[skipsaur]

In my opinion, if I pay for business class, that gives me a seat, singular. It doesn't give me the right to the empty seat next to me. The airline is free to assign that seat to someone else, even as a free upgrade, regardless of the fact that I paid for my seat.

 

Sure, I might like a row to myself, but I don't need more than 1 seat. I can't imagine complaining to a flight attendant if they choose to give the seat to someone. 😂

[exs2]

25 minutes ago, skipsaur said:

In my opinion, if I pay for business class, that gives me a seat, singular. It doesn't give me the right to the empty seat next to me. The airline is free to assign that seat to someone else, even as a free upgrade, regardless of the fact that I paid for my seat.

 

Sure, I might like a row to myself, but I don't need more than 1 seat. I can't imagine complaining to a flight attendant if they choose to give the seat to someone. 😂

Funnily enough here in EU it is actually empty seat next to you in business class (intra EU). Legroom is only inches more or even same as in economy cause they keep changing business class size according to demand by just moving the curtain so no need to complain the flight attendant cause they are not going to give that middle seat to someone and I don't recall ever seeing it given to anyone for any reason.

 

Ryan and you seem to be thinking that what is the harm of someone else using the "perks" they are not entitled to? It raises the question why would anyone pay more of YC or plane business class if anyone can and should just go there "if there is room" and lets face it, in plane the reason economy is cheap is because they get most of the revenue from the business class. One travel documenter said it well in his document when he was flying in economy. I thank each and everyone in their lovely business class seats and service because it allows me to travel cheap here. Same can be applied to many other things too be it planes, hotels, ships, concert seating, even seating...

 

If anyone can go anywhere they please, pretty soon nobody pays the extra price and it usually means the prices go up for everyone.

 

But I think this conversation have run its course. We agree to disagree and move on.

[Ryan82]

No I don't think I'm entitled to perks that I haven't paid for @exs2 the seatingseating theatre reserved for YC is exactly that. It's reserved for YC. It isn't YC. It isn't closed off. Better seating. Premium view. Comes with a drink. 

[Ryan82]

I think youre not making the distinction between YC enclosed areas which are exclusively YC vs the other areas of the ship where YC may have a benefit - ie seating kept aside for them - but not exclusively for them in the theatre

[sverigecruiser]

3 hours ago, skipsaur said:

In my opinion, if I pay for business class, that gives me a seat, singular. It doesn't give me the right to the empty seat next to me. The airline is free to assign that seat to someone else, even as a free upgrade, regardless of the fact that I paid for my seat.

 

 

On flights within Europe many airlines give their business class passengers the right to the empty seat next to you! They won't assign that seat to anyone.

[Ryan82]

1 minute ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

On flights within Europe many airlines give their business class passengers the right to the empty seat next to you! They won't assign that seat to anyone.

There is a huge difference between business class on a plane and three rows of seating in the Grandiosa theatre set aside for YC. 

 

I repeat original question - do you think other passengers should miss the show - just so the empty "YC" seats remain empty?

[exs2]

2 hours ago, Ryan82 said:

I think youre not making the distinction between YC enclosed areas which are exclusively YC vs the other areas of the ship where YC may have a benefit - ie seating kept aside for them - but not exclusively for them in the theatre

Promised myself to end this conversation as it is not going anywhere but did you not see what I originally wrote?

 

" I was guided to almost empty YC section that had like 30+ places but even if the theater was otherwise full, they would not let non YC to sit there."

 

That YC section was ONLY for YC. It was closed off from the rest of the seats with blue belt material that MSC personnel opened for YC quests and no others. It was not something that they reserve for YC and if YC don't come, they open it to everyone. No. It remained closed for whole time and anyone trying to enter it was quickly escorted away by the MSC personnel if they didn't have YC card/bracelet. So it is very much restricted for YC use only no matter if they use it or not.

 

Morgsmom then said it was opposite of her experience as the MSC personnel didn't follow the same procedure but let anyone to sit there.

 

What comes to question if other people should miss the show because only available places are in YC section well, that is not for me to decide. I didn't put those barriers there and shoo people away. MSC personnel did it.

 

Should they let others to sit there? Debatable. What if YC passenger then comes just as the show is about to start and they say oh sorry, we gave the places we have reserved for you to others. I don't think that would sit well with the YC passengers in general that have paid for perks like that. Remember... it was MSC who decided to give that perk to YC passengers.

 

It is also about perceived value. If you are given extra perks because you (usually, not always) pay more for it, it will diminish the value of product if you then give it free to people who did not pay for it. This far we have been only talking about seat in this case but as you can see in other threads, there seems to be people who think it is ok to buy one YC cabin and share the bracelet to all of their friends in Bella cabins.

 

That makes it loss proposition for both the ship and the customers who paid for it even if you do not think anything wrong with it. This will eventually lead to perks being removed/diminished or that ship personnel will start to ask YC passengers to scan their ID everytime they get something in YC which again diminish the experience and perceived value. I could give you dozens of examples how value proposition and pricing works in industry but I am afraid you would not "get it" as you have not gotten it this far. 

[Ryan82]

You are extremely patronising @exs2 you have no clue of what I do for a living or my personal wealth. 

 

I think you, and the attitude you display really proves what my mum (RIP) used to say "it's nice to be important but it's *more* important to be nice". 

 

You may think that choosing YC elevates you to a certain status. From what I can observe it's delusional.

 

I choose not to engage with you further. 

[sverigecruiser]

9 hours ago, Ryan82 said:

There is a huge difference between business class on a plane and three rows of seating in the Grandiosa theatre set aside for YC. 

 

I repeat original question - do you think other passengers should miss the show - just so the empty "YC" seats remain empty?

 

I only responded to what to expect when flying business class.

[skipsaur]

On 7/7/2023 at 12:20 AM, exs2 said:

Ryan and you seem to be thinking that what is the harm of someone else using the "perks" they are not entitled to? It raises the question why would anyone pay more of YC or plane business class if anyone can and should just go there "if there is room" 

 

Sorry, you misunderstood me. You're arguing with the ghost of what you think I said, not what I actually said.

 

I'm not saying "what is the harm of someone else using the "perks" they are not entitled to?" Put down your pitchfork, I'm not advocating chaos and anarchy. 😉

 

1. In the example I read it was MSC crew who directed other passengers to those empty seats. People did not take it upon themselves.

 

2. YC passengers paid for their seats and have the right to them. The empty seats are the property of MSC and it's entirely up to MSC to choose to give them to other passengers or keep them empty.

 

3. MSC representatives gave out the seats. Those lucky passengers received a "free upgrade" for the length of a show. MSC is the only one who can legitimately give out entitlement to those seats. YC guests are entitled to the 1 seat they paid for, not what happens to the empty seats. This is the same logic that dictates YC guests may not invite non-YC guests to YC areas.

 

Which of these 3 points is untrue?

 

You might argue that MSC shouldn't give the seats away, but that's a separate issue and I have no interest debating that. As far as "diluting" the brand appeal, brands have always given away luxury items for free. Some people in the middle pay full price but people on both ends of the bell curve get it for free or negligible cost. There will always be people who pay much more or much less than me for the same goods or services. I can't change that. I can change whether to look for the positives or negatives.

 

You can't choose what MSC does with the empty seats, you can only choose how you react. At my age I've learned that in this case, if I choose to be magnanimous and happy for the good fortune of my fellow passengers on their free upgrade, I and everyone else feels better than if I stew in stingy discontent at the unfairness of life. One path is how I aspire to be, the other is where I sometimes end up.

Edited July 8, 2023 by skipsaur

[skipsaur]

On 7/7/2023 at 12:20 AM, exs2 said:

Funnily enough here in EU it is actually empty seat next to you in business class (intra EU). Legroom is only inches more or even same as in economy cause they keep changing business class size according to demand by just moving the curtain so no need to complain the flight attendant cause they are not going to give that middle seat to someone and I don't recall ever seeing it given to anyone for any reason.

 

That's interesting, I didn't know that about intra-EU flights. Most of my flights are long haul so the difference is not inches, but more lay flat seats, compartments. Usually the first and business class seats are full, except during COVID. But if any are free upgrades, I'm happy for that passenger to have escaped a long haul flight in economy!