Yacht Club vs Regent Grandeur

[oceans.calling]

10 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

“Same experience. We tried Divina, their Le Muse alone is the best Yacht Club restaurant in the entire MSC fleet. Seascape was good with Chef Lisa, but she is now on Virtuosa”

 

We recently got off the Meraviglia 2/18 and Chef Ajay told us he was leaving and Arthur mentioned that Chef Lisa was joining in his place. We are on in about two weeks and will check. 

[JAGR]

1 hour ago, oceans.calling said:

We recently got off the Meraviglia 2/18 and Chef Ajay told us he was leaving and Arthur mentioned that Chef Lisa was joining in his place. We are on in about two weeks and will check. 

Lisa is on as chef. She was on our March 3rd sailing

 

[morpheusofthesea]

Business center has 4 laptops for general use and a printer.

[morpheusofthesea]

There are these ubiquitous distilled ships water machines called hydrating stations. We prefer the bottled mineral water.

[morpheusofthesea]

This morning, access to the outside decks was restricted due to power washing.This 14 second video shows the soot that was power washed to the gutters and finally hand swept down the drains. I suppose this is indicative of the fuel still being used on these new ships? Saw and videoed the same when we were onboard the Seascape. Even the tables and cushions were power washed on Seascape. I did a paper towel wipe test to show no soot remained after a power washing that many posters were complaining about on social media about Seascape.

[Fogfog]

Re surveys

-- I spend time on each MSC survey and note outstanding folks.

Recently did our Seashore sailing and will be sitting down to do the Divinia sailing.

 

Re Le Muse--we did not have a good experience on our sailing 2 weeks ago

-couldn't get a dry rose (minerally) and was told it didn't exist on the ship, in spite of being seen at other venues AND two other pax were able to get it in Le Muse.

- service was frenetic

- dishes we had the week before on Seashore which were excellent-- were terrible on Divinia (asparagus pannacotta for example was excellent on Seashore and not worth a second bite on Divinia)  We have had the menus for 8 sailings in the last 2 years or so - we have a pretty solid idea of what should be plated

 

I am going to note on the survey abut the upgrade thing. I just dont like it into YC and often those pax treat the staff and crew and experience poorly. And they often do impact our sailing. Included casino folks

Yes - there are those rude entitled folks who buy in too, I just expect there to be fewer of them

 

Edited March 23 by Fogfog

[morpheusofthesea]

Apparently there has been an announcement today, a sea day, that due to forecasted winds of 30 knots the outer decks have been closed. Deck 5 and deck 12. As has our balcony by the stewards not untying and putting cushions on chairs and lounges. They must just be sporadic wind gusts because our Navigation info on cabin TV shows variations of 10 to 19 knots presently.

[morpheusofthesea]

This  wind situation has confined us to our cabin without the benefit of our spacious balcony.

On our earlier walkabout before breakfast this morning I captured the 'earlybird' chair hogs. (Did not see any long lines at any of the men's and ladies toilets) So they all must be at breakfast. Needless to say the pool deck is over crowded today. Resulting in nowhere to sit so the tables at the buffet, same deck, are also taken, just like what occurred at the Grand Barbecue.

[morpheusofthesea]

During our walkabout we saw another use for the alligator clips. This was around the pool deck. Usually on MSC we find the same tactic only MSC folk bring a clothesline.

[morpheusofthesea]

DW brought these self-serve cookie trays to my attention. Did someone take a bite out of this one cookie and put it back on the tray? It sure looks that way. Or is it just cookiedolia a phenomenon akin to pareidolia.

Edited March 24 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

Here is a clip, 20 seconds, of tonight's encore performance by Lauren 'Something or Other. Attendance in the theatre was around 75. She actually stopped the show and had the lights put on to see for herself the attendance she garnered.

[morpheusofthesea]

Unlike MSC, Regent adds an extra treat. A show before dinner tonight put on by the crew. Here is a 20 second clip. I think that MSC has the right idea.

[no1talks]

38 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Here is a clip, 20 seconds, of tonight's encore performance by Lauren 'Something or Other. Attendance in the theatre was around 75. She actually stopped the show and had the lights put on to see for herself the attendance she garnered.

IMG_3828.mov

I enjoy opera. I've posted my disappointment regarding MSC dropping the one-off operatic matinees from their cruises. (Dropped from Caribbean cruises, at least.)

However, in all honesty, I think I'd rather listen to Yoko Ono than yet another overwrought rendition of "O Mio Babbino Caro." (I'll add "Nessun Dorma" as well.)

[no1talks]

43 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"A show before dinner tonight put on by the crew."

Consider yourself lucky. You might have had your cruise enhanced with a far more memorable passenger talent show.

[morpheusofthesea]

4 hours ago, no1talks said:

Consider yourself lucky. You might have had your cruise enhanced with a far more memorable passenger talent show.

That's called 'Karaoke Night' in the Grandeur Lounge. MSC has it as well.

[morpheusofthesea]

16 hours ago, Fogfog said:

Yes - there are those rude entitled folks who buy in too, I just expect there to be fewer of them

I have been accused of being one of those. My doctor says I'm am an "elitist", "not that there's anything wrong with that." (He must be one too?)

   I expect to be "entitled" to a more 'Royal' experience when paying top suite prices. Why else would one want to book a suite ? The cabin sizes here (Regent) for a penthouse are nearly the same as a regular balcony and the same goes for the MSC YC deluxe cabins. Just having a butler is no perk if all he/she does is bring canapes or laundry. Just a 'glorified' room steward with a different title. My attitude is we should be "entitled" to no lines, a separate dedicated restaurant with higher quality cuisine, the best waiters, reserved theatre seating preferably in box seats in balcony over looking the stage, elevator over ride key cards, first off and on ship, a reserved pergola with thick cushioned lounges, a reserved table in the dedicated restaurant for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. So far it is the MSC Yacht Clubs that come the closest to providing their guests with these amenities.

Edited March 24 by morpheusofthesea

[no1talks]

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

That's called 'Karaoke Night' in the Grandeur Lounge. MSC has it as well.

 

No, no. I'm talking about the old-school, full-spectrum talent shows of cruising days gone by. Perhaps you experienced this phenomenon in your early years of cruising?

 

Imagine passengers telling jokes, performing card tricks, and making balloon animals. We're actually lucky the Japanese gave the world karaoke. Otherwise, we might still be getting that passenger show and it might include a really bad harmonica player.

[Fogfog]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I have been accused of being one of those. My doctor says I'm am an "elitist", "not that there's anything wrong with that." (He must be one too?)

   I expect to be "entitled" to a more 'Royal' experience when paying top suite prices. Why else would one want to book a suite ? The cabin sizes here (Regent) for a penthouse are nearly the same as a regular balcony and the same goes for the MSC YC deluxe cabins. Just having a butler is no perk if all he/she does is bring canapes or laundry. Just a 'glorified' room steward with a different title. My attitude is we should be "entitled" to no lines, a separate dedicated restaurant with higher quality cuisine, the best waiters, reserved theatre seating preferably in box seats in balcony over looking the stage, elevator over ride key cards, first off and on ship, a reserved pergola with thick cushioned lounges, a reserved table in the dedicated restaurant for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. So far it is the MSC Yacht Clubs that come the closest to providing their guests with these amenities.

We agree, we are all in on hat we expect when we pay for such services. It is the ship experience that is often the destination. e have no guilt etc to skip the lines, have priority embarkation/debarkation, theater seating etc

 

I do think MSC needs to step it up on the wine/bev package offerings in YC. It should have the best. The pre covd YC lounges had great selection and we could upgrade to anything on the ship. We had an outstanding somm who came to the YC dining each night to wine pair our meals. (B2B). He unabashedly brought the nicest things to us. And  he was kind enough at the end to print for us the list of the things we drank. 

The offerings in the YC lounge and dining dropped off

 

Re the "entitled", I meant that with the upgrades folks get into YC, many do not appreciate it and treat the staff and experience poorly. Including the casino at sea folks who brag about sailing free...

While you may see bad behavior by those who paid rack rate etc for the experience, I think there have been fewer of those boorish behaviors than the ones that bid up or the upgrade fairy moved them in order to sell the reg balcony etc.

[no1talks]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"...box seats in balcony over looking the stage..."

 

The Royal Court Theatre on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth has such seating. However, it is not a suite amenity. As I understand it, the boxes are open to all, except on formal nights. On those occasions, they are reserved for a fee.

 

[Essiesmom]

I see you in Key West today:

 

[no1talks]

2 hours ago, Fogfog said:

"I do think MSC needs to step it up on the wine/bev package offerings in YC."

 

Unlikely. Once bitten, twice shy, as it were.

 

Ask the long-term veteran YCers. They will tell you of a time when passengers guzzled the included ultra-premium liquors, hoarded the minibar mini-booze to take home, and generally abused the beverage program.

 

No more really good alcohol included. MSC learned their lesson about passenger alcohol consumption at a lower cruise fare, relative to what other lines offer to their suite passengers.

 

It could be worse. The top suite passengers on some lines receive no drink package and still manage to pay way more than YC.

Edited March 24 by no1talks

[FLCruiser97]

4 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I have been accused of being one of those. My doctor says I'm am an "elitist", "not that there's anything wrong with that." (He must be one too?)

   I expect to be "entitled" to a more 'Royal' experience when paying top suite prices. Why else would one want to book a suite ? The cabin sizes here (Regent) for a penthouse are nearly the same as a regular balcony and the same goes for the MSC YC deluxe cabins. Just having a butler is no perk if all he/she does is bring canapes or laundry. Just a 'glorified' room steward with a different title. My attitude is we should be "entitled" to no lines, a separate dedicated restaurant with higher quality cuisine, the best waiters, reserved theatre seating preferably in box seats in balcony over looking the stage, elevator over ride key cards, first off and on ship, a reserved pergola with thick cushioned lounges, a reserved table in the dedicated restaurant for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. So far it is the MSC Yacht Clubs that come the closest to providing their guests with these amenities.

I suspect that this will be the last cruise on Regent for you and the Mrs.

[morpheusofthesea]

3 hours ago, no1talks said:

 

No, no. I'm talking about the old-school, full-spectrum talent shows of cruising days gone by. Perhaps you experienced this phenomenon in your early years of cruising?

 

Imagine passengers telling jokes, performing card tricks, and making balloon animals. We're actually lucky the Japanese gave the world karaoke. Otherwise, we might still be getting that passenger show and it might include a really bad harmonica player.

Yes, but I figure this audience is too young to remember those days. We were on Regency Cruises years ago in the 1990's, the Regent Sea and the Regent Star. Generally they were so bad that one cruise and done. But we had the displeasure of sailing both. On the first cruise the ship had a fire on board in the middle of the ocean in the engine room. It knocked out all power, even emergency power (If we had any emergency backups required in those days ?) At the time it was very frightening. I carry a couple of pocket flashlights at all times (along with my ready handy tip money) in my trouser pockets all the time on cruises ever since. We were bobbing around and it was in the late afternoon. No one could get their cabins without a flashlight. Those that could, retrieved and put on their lifevests, which only fueled more anxiety. Passengers began fighting over deck lounges to sleep on. Crew were running to the pool and filling buckets of water and running back inside. The Captain radioed an S.O.S. and with a mega phone announced that nearby a freighter was coming to our assistance. Everyone calmed down when the freighter pulled close by our ship. He gave instructions for us to prepare to abandon ship to the freighter IF the need arose. An hour later the fire was out, the power restored, the freighter slowly drifted away and dinner was late.

   It wasn't until the second cruise on Regent Star (which was complimentary due to the fire) that we could all joke about our ordeal the year before. We were three young couples at the time and one of us had spent the year writing jokes about the ordeal to perform at the passenger talent show. I now understand...."The past is always attractive because it is drained of fear.” — Thomas Carlyle

Edited March 24 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

14 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

I suspect that this will be the last cruise on Regent for you and the Mrs.

Very perceptive of you. This has been the subject of our conversations this entire cruise. Pros and cons.

[FLCruiser97]

2 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Very perceptive of you. This has been the subject of our conversations this entire cruise. Pros and cons.

Yes. More cons. Not too many pros.