Yacht Club vs Explora Journeys

[Nikita4]

4 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

So we have been led to believe. But truly not so. Perhaps it is not written anywhere. But our  butler intimates differently. Residences gets a different level of preferential treatment not advertised. Let us just say we are being accommodated like in the Yacht Clubs.

P.S. And we are tipping accordingly.

Your expections are strange.
With tipping you want to buy better service? But MSC is a european cruise line and tipping is not common in europe, you don t have better service with tipping.

[morpheusofthesea]

28 minutes ago, Nikita4 said:

Your expections are strange.
With tipping you want to buy better service? But MSC is a european cruise line and tipping is not common in europe, you don t have better service with tipping.

My expectations are always fulfilled with tipping. European cruise lines that employ third world staff prefer positions on ships plying American waters and jobs on cruise lines that cater to US guests, told to us repeatedly by those we come in contact with on the ships we sail. We smile at all the complainers that post poor service.  I have posted this many times on social media: 

 We keep the gratuities in place as they go to paying the low salaries the cruise lines get away with paying. Sure the tipping custom is anathema to those cruisers coming from Australia and Japan where a high living wage is mandatory. But those educated Australians and Japanese also know that cruise lines are not subject to their countries laws and they still tip accordingly when out of their country. It's the miser, penny-pinching, tightwads that use their countries' customs as an excuse to stiff and/or remove the suggested 'mandatory' gratuity from their hotel bill.

   It all depends on your service. What would you feel you would appreciate for the service you provided if the shoe was on the other foot?

I was unsure about a lot of things, so I went in search of information and found this university study on tipping. "The common feature of all forms of tipping is the voluntary and discretionary nature of the tip: the consumer is free to choose how much to tip, if at all. This definition excludes service charges, imposed gratuities, and imposed tips which have nothing in common with voluntary tipping."

Being one's first time with no past experience of what to expect from a butler it can be a challenge. Let us take the example mentioned here. Some of us have experienced the assemblage of YC guests meeting in the TopSail Lounge for a 'group' escort off the ship to "fend for themselves" on the pier, while others are approached the night before by their personal butler (a good one) asking one's plans and setting up an appointment to be picked up at one's cabin and escorted (without a group) personally to one's seat (coach or private car). The group butler hardly deserves much of a tip unless it is from the spouse of a late straggler holding up the entire group waiting in the lounge. The "good" butler goes above and beyond and deserves at least $20 per day. We only travel 7 day cruises and tip $200-$400 depending on the level of service provided. One cruise we only tip our butler $20 for the week, we did not get the service we had grown accustomed to (spoiled by) from other butlers on MSC. 

  Then the steward (jr butler), $20 /day; waiter $40/day (we eat all 3 meals with them), $2-3 every drink delivery, etc. Concierges generally $20 each unless something special was requested.

  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23748777_The_Social_Norm_of_Tipping_A_Review

Edited December 28, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

"Anyone having a bad time on a cruise only has themselves to blame, if there is just one cruiser that is having a good time." Morpheusofthesea

[At Sea At Peace]

28 minutes ago, Nikita4 said:

Your expections are strange.
With tipping you want to buy better service? But MSC is a european cruise line and tipping is not common in europe, you don t have better service with tipping.

 

Tipping is a global conundrum.  No tipping expected to tipping 'at least %' very expected.  Experiments in tips that are 'allocated' to the back of the house in restaurants.

 

To each their own.  Whatever works for you.

 

We prefer tipping decisions be left to the tipper.  On a regular (not a club within a club) stateroom, we tip in two parts (1) we leave the required gratuities 'alone' and in place as we really consider it a wage base supplement that is relied up by the service crew and (2) we also tip the room attendant, usually $100-$200 in US cash, and our repeat head waiter $20 per night.

 

On a club stateroom (Yacht Club MSC, Haven NCL) we ironically prefer the 'butler team' for service and do not rely on the assigned butler much at all (which we inform of up front).  The butler team in the YC for example are those that respond to our kind requests for services, etc. Those that 'get it' are easily identified and relied upon and we tip them, usually $100-$300 depending on ranking that we discuss).

 

We don't tip until the end of week one (we are B2B cruisers in the club-club programs only) as we gravitate toward those servers (waiters, assistants, bartenders, pool attendants (towel changes, chair to shade moves all day, etc.) that 'get it' and deserve it without knowing for sure if they'll get a good tip.  They aren't much different in week two because they are true providers (plus 'they must be good sensors of passengers based on their experiences).

 

We also got spoiled rotten with the collective talent on the early MSC YC voyages in the states with a crew team with the names Mario, Authur, Roy, Vishnu, Onil, Allessandra etc.  What a great couple of years we had following them around.

 

[morpheusofthesea]

Have not seen lobster for lunch in Emporeum Market place this week?

Edited December 28, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[JAGR]

1 hour ago, At Sea At Peace said:

We also got spoiled rotten with the collective talent on the early MSC YC voyages in the states with a crew team with the names Mario, Authur, Roy, Vishnu, Onil, Allessandra etc.  What a great couple of years we had following them around.

 

Onil especially!  Meteoric rise from Pool Guard/Attendant to Jr. Butler to Butler in a few short years; all the while with an ever-present smile and sincere desire to provide outstanding service!  I would add Arnold, From YC Lounge Butler to regular Butler extraordinaire within a year!

[morpheusofthesea]

This evening is the final night of the first week of this B2B. Our butler /RH and reiterated that he was unsure about how tomorrow works with B2B. That if the cruise was booked separately we would need new key cards. But since we booked as one cruise we keep the same card. 
  The daily program posted dress code again “ because good taste extends beyond menu”.

[morpheusofthesea]

I went to one of three desks and had a seat while the purser made me printout of our cabin statement and noticed immediately that it was the same as the Yacht Club. I asked if there was a hotel service charge like in the YC. The purser said there were no gratuities, but if there was anyone we appreciated we could tip them.This was totally unsolicited. Only wanted a copy of my bill.

[morpheusofthesea]

Tonight’s shows in the Journey Lounge are 2 acts about 45 minutes each a tribute to Billy Joel. Just as entertaining as the theatre performances in the Madison/ Chora theatres. 

[Cruisergal1208]

6 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Have not seen lobster for lunch in Emporeum Market place this week?

It was usually found around the corner from the main line of other offerings with the oysters, etc.  

by the way,after over 25 YC cruises, I much prefer that vs the EJ. Some in our group thought the same thing about the higher class of suites with butlers regarding the space.   I felt it being a smaller ship things felt squeezed in without as much space   The food was the highlight of the cruise. Not sure I’d return. Ship is beautiful but the YC has me spoiled. 

[Cruisergal1208]

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

This evening is the final night of the first week of this B2B. Our butler /RH and reiterated that he was unsure about how tomorrow works with B2B. That if the cruise was booked separately we would need new key cards. But since we booked as one cruise we keep the same card. 
  The daily program posted dress code again “ because good taste extends beyond menu”.

If you are inSan Juan we didn’t have to go through the regular process of B2Bas in the US. 

[morpheusofthesea]

For me this is a problem. But for everyone else it is a godsend, a boon, a windfall. The Emporium Market Place Buffet. NO self serve and I tend to overindulge here. An oriental section with  stir fry of the day. No lines. Sushi section for those that like that.  Dessert choices, two cookie choices one pound cake choice and two tarts. A cook to order pasta station (2 minutes). A 3 choice Ocean grill today swordfish, snapper and shrimp. Five to six choices cooked to order burgers, vegan, chicken kabobs with a waiter outside  the counter to bring it to you so you don't have to stand waiting for it. Too, too easy to over eat. Ice cream bar with different toppings.

  Schooled this evening at the show in the Journeys Lounge. These productions are not called shows, they are called "experiences".

  Entertainment Manager (cruise director) announced 288 B2Bers and about 388 coming on board tomorrow.

[morpheusofthesea]

53 minutes ago, Cruisergal1208 said:

other offerings with the oysters, etc.  

Saw plenty of oysters. Will be more observant this week.

[morpheusofthesea]

Resident artist Luke(vocalist), put on a good experience (show) this evening all Billy Joel tunes. Difference is audience was invited to dance like in Le Cabaret Rouge and they did.

[Cruisergal1208]

28 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Resident artist Luke(vocalist), put on a good experience (show) this evening all Billy Joel tunes. Difference is audience was invited to dance like in Le Cabaret Rouge and they did.

In November there was lots of dancing including some of the hosts. Fun to watch.  

[morpheusofthesea]

Since there are going to be upwards of 650 passengers this cruise dinner times have been moved up 1/2 hour to 6pm from 6:30pm in the 4 restaurants. Those staying on board are being asked to see the dining reservation kiosk to make sure we all have a reservation for dinner New Years before the new passengers board. (They make it like a big deal. I must be missing something?)

  Our maitre d' of Fil Rouge came from Celebrity. He opened both the Edge and Beyond, holding the position of maitre d of Blu and Eden restaurants, then he went to work for MSC as manager of Specialty Restaurants on the Seashore. He held that position for 2 months and quit, it was too much for him dealing with 5500 (of the "wider audience"). So forum questions as to why some of these new mega ships are having trouble finding good service providers can be answered by a simple stare in the mirror. 

[no1talks]

28 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"So forum questions as to why some of these new mega ships are having trouble finding good service providers can be answered by a simple stare in the mirror."

 

"We have met the enemy and he is us."

- Walt Kelly in Pogo.

[psmarkle]

21 hours ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

 

We also got spoiled rotten with the collective talent on the early MSC YC voyages in the states with a crew team with the names Mario, Authur, Roy, Vishnu, Onil, Allessandra etc.  What a great couple of years we had following them around.

 

 

Yesss! We, too, got spoiled by Arthur and Vishnu in the early years! Miss them (isn't Arthur now a Maitre' d on MSC??). I heard that Vishnu moved back to Mauritius and opened a restaurant. I wish them all success!

[JAGR]

8 minutes ago, psmarkle said:

 

Yesss! We, too, got spoiled by Arthur and Vishnu in the early years! Miss them (isn't Arthur now a Maitre' d on MSC??). I heard that Vishnu moved back to Mauritius and opened a restaurant. I wish them all success!

I believe you are right on both counts!  I assume you are talking about Seaside, back in the day!  I really did enjoy that ship a few times in 2018.  Had Vishnu as Butler on one sailing, and almost always had Arthur as waiter.

Edited December 29, 2023 by JAGR

[psmarkle]

Just now, JAGR said:

I assume you are talking about Seaside, back in the day!  I really did enjoy that ship a few times in 2018.  Had Vishnu as Butler on one sailing, and almost always had Arthur as waiter.

 

Yes, sailed Seaside 2X before Covid.

[oceans.calling]

We had Onil as butler November and will again in February. We are thrilled because he was fabulous, attentive and always smiling.  We still keep in touch and he sent me this photo of his award when I asked if he was on Seaside. We had him on the Meraviglia. 
 

I’m not sure if this is the Vishnu that was also mentioned, but if it is he is now YC head concierge on Meraviglia. I vaguely remember him mentioning he was opening some business and then Covid hit which he changed his plans. 
 

 

[no1talks]

1 hour ago, psmarkle said:

"I heard that Vishnu moved back to Mauritius and opened a restaurant."

 

Mauritius must be a great place for sourcing butlers, because Renuka is from there as well. She took excellent care of us back in March. (I seem to remember you mentioning her as your butler on a prior cruise.)

 

MSC has an itinerary out of South Africa that stops at Mauritius. It's on our short list, once we switch to flying for a cruise.

[morpheusofthesea]

Walked off the ship this morning in San Juan with key card, drivers license and transit cards. Went to Walgreens and DW bought a few alcohol wipes and while checking out, if ones types in ones zip code there was a discount. Same at CVS a few doors down. Walked back to the terminal as passengers were sauntering off the ship.... That is another difference between Explora and MSC, guests 'stroll', 'amble', 'drift', 'promenade', and 'putter' getting off this ship rather than the frantic frenzy, pushing and shoving, serpentining sardines of inhumanity, herded like cattle ready to stampede at any moment during debarkation on MSC.

  Getting back on was a breeze. Much easier than Miami. No CBP. No facial recognition. No waiting for guests to leave first. Even easier than getting back on at Ocean Cay on MSC.

  

[morpheusofthesea]

Back on board we were treated to a different perspective. New guests making a 'beeline' to make dinner reservations. This is the first time we have seen lines form on this ship. We were tempted to join the lines fearing we missed something, that these new passengers knew something we didn't ?  I can only make assumptions (generally wrong). Maybe these new passengers are just following the  practices they are used to on the mega liners. Just one short week ago we were the same way, rushing to the Emporium Market Place buffet or  Marble Restaurant as we do still on MSC to the Yacht Club Restaurant or Market Place buffet. New guests are overwhelmed dragging their carry ons into the Emporium and just standing for a moment 'like deer in headlights' in awe of what to do next. That was us.

[morpheusofthesea]

The whole ship is out, stationed every 20 feet apart, directing, smiling, answering every question. A real show of 'service' force.  We were even addressed "welcome back" as if we were on board before, giving all within hearing range the impression we are repeaters. (Slick)

   We B2Bers need not do muster drill a second time just like MSC.

Edited December 29, 2023 by morpheusofthesea