OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK JUNE 2024

[mica178]

Have you noticed that it's becoming rarer that live musicians actually play classical music? I'm finding more and more are playing Muzak or showtunes. I was just at an Eastern European restaurant, and I'm pretty sure I heard the theme song of a soap opera

[Georgia_Peaches]

Looking forward to more!

[SpareBrew]

17 hours ago, Corriegr said:

I guess just the usual for seasoned b2b’ers seeing zeros going off in all directions bar the immigration hall then being corralled through what seemed like a an empty warehouse. My wife thought we were about to be deported to Guantanamo… guess just normal stuff but first time for us sensitive Brits. 
 

To be fair seemed longer but left TopSail at 10:38 and was back there with drink in hand by 11:12. 

We were also part of the 11 b2b’ers.  I agree that the warehouse experience was definitely strange considering I’ve done this before in Miami but never going through areas with the forklift nearby.

[morpheusofthesea]

At last nights Chora Theatre production our Cruise director mentioned there were 65 nationalities on board this cruise. Calling out to the audience and receiving back shout outs from guests it appears there are less Europeans and more Latin Americans on board this month, hardly any shouts from Italians this sailing. Which jives with info I got that this cruise in the Yacht Club has NO guests with ACCESS (those guests that are friends and family of officers residing in cabins outside the YC and allowed full access to all YC venues).

   We like to read the daily planner while seated waiting for breakfast to arrive as we plan out our evening with listed goings on. We plan to begin our evening again with Le Cabaret Rouge at 7:30 pm, leave to catch the Chora Theatre production show of Premiere (popular movie show tunes), leave a bit early (we have end seats in the back reserved YC section) to get seats in the Loft Cafe which begins 10:15 pm with a Jazz group that rotates the evening with a soloist of some sort that must be good as he highlights evenings in the Top Sail Lounge. And hopefully we can stay up late enough to 11:00 pm for an adult comedy act in the Loft Cafe as well.

Edited June 16 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

Here is a photo from above of the roof our all the pergolas available on the Seascape

[morpheusofthesea]

Present seaday hours for meals in YC.

Edited June 16 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

Little details have noticed these changes. Elevator key pads in YC list deck and description. In cabin a new room service menu. While booking our lunch at Hola Tacos on Ocean Cay day DW saw this Free Tasting advertised. Don't worry, I plan to go to Ocean House and video any changes and count the tables and chairs. Our butler told us no more tables on the lawn in front of Ocean House.

[morpheusofthesea]

For those not in the Yacht Club here are the latest prices for dining packages on board the Seascape. Those residing in the YC, don't bother with these specialty restaurants, everything is better in the YC.

[no1talks]

12 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"In cabin a new room service menu."

 

Pray, tell us more, good sir. Since in-room dining is from that menu and that menu only, it would be nice to see the changes.

[Corriegr]

9 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

For those not in the Yacht Club here are the latest prices for dining packages on board the Seascape. Those residing in the YC, don't bother with these specialty restaurants, everything is better in the YC.

We tried Butcher’s last night as a mid cruise break from YC dining as part of our Diamond package. It was ok,and the Shrimp Cocktail looked fancy on crushed ice but wasn’t a patch on the one I had Fri night in YC

[morpheusofthesea]

20 minutes ago, no1talks said:

 

Pray, tell us more, good sir. Since in-room dining is from that menu and that menu only, it would be nice to see the changes.

Will be the next photo I take for you when I get back to cabin. Had butler and 3 deck attendants prepare our pergola, so had to spend my morning basking in this shade, breezy luxury until lunch. Don't want to hurt any feelings for all the trouble they go to to please a YCer.

P.S. Actually it is the contrast of service that we both have come to appreciate on MSC Yacht Club. Having spent on two "luxury " cabins this past year Explora Journeys and Regent Seven Seas Grandeur this MSC Yacht Club wins by a huge margin. Cruisers are absolutely nuts to spend more and get so much less.

Edited June 16 by morpheusofthesea

[no1talks]

10 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

'Had butler and 3 deck attendants prepare our pergola..."

 

A four-person team, eh? Were hard hats and reflective safety vests involved?

[morpheusofthesea]

12 minutes ago, no1talks said:

 

A four-person team, eh? Were hard hats and reflective safety vests involved?

Well, it is exactly like this. There are 3 pool attendants in red shirts. I approached one yesterday and pointed out which pergola I wanted and had him put the reserved sign on it, then showed him my past photo of slat weaving and how I wanted it to remain for the week, then to make sure he understood I tipped him $20. The following day I was approached by the two other red shirts and told them the same thing and likewise tipped them as well. Do not want any hard feelings. Our butler approach us yesterday and told him the same thing, tipped him $100 I said this is just to start out on the right foot.

P.S. When one considers the money we are saving by not cruising on those other luxury cruise lines my tipping is a pittance.

Edited June 16 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

 

Pray, tell us more, good sir. Since in-room dining is from that menu and that menu only, it would be nice to see the changes.

"For your eyes only" Bond, James Bond

[DaKahuna]

23 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

There are 5711 on this sailing. 291 in YC of which 35 are children. Mistakes are constantly made. It would behoove those sailing that the other Royal suite is available. For some reason MSC had us booked in both. We only paid for one. I think. I immediately called my TA and she said I only paid for one. (I better text her again).

 

You should keep both in case your better half kicks you out of bed, you won't have to sleep on a couch. 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

4 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

You should keep both in case your better half kicks you out of bed, you won't have to sleep on a couch. 

 

She already suggested such.

[no1talks]

37 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"For your eyes only" Bond, James Bond

 

So, they added a salmon sandwich, took away the chocolate cake, and changed "fruit basket" to "fruit plate."

 

No dinner entees. BOO!!

 

It seems those in YC who might want a quiet dinner in their cabin (assuming they have a proper table for meals) will have to make it a pizza night.

 

 

[MonsterJoe]

I will be curious to learn which writings of Kerouac, Ginsburg, Burroughs, of Vonnegut you will grace us with.

[morpheusofthesea]

here is the new YC elevator key pad.

[morpheusofthesea]

Just learned some more advantages to having a Yacht Club butler. Relevant to a past post @FamilyAtSea.travel where he almost got turned away from a meal time. Our butler just told us of past guests of his that did miss having breakfast in the YC Restaurant. Only on sea days does this occur, the Green Wave Restaurant is open from 8 to 1:30 for Brunch, but the line to get in is long and he as butler has the authority to butt his guests to the head of every line. He was adamant that YCers cannot go by themselves and butt in front of any line, they must be escorted by a butler. Another YC guest went to pick up their pictures and found the line too long of a wait. He suggested he escort them to the very front of any line. The conversation began when we mentioned we saw this long line for raffle tickets during our after lunch stroll. He said he just escorted a couple to the front of that very line.

Edited June 16 by morpheusofthesea

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

2 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Just learned some more advantages to having a Yacht Club butler. Relevant to a past post @FamilyAtSea.travel where he almost got turned away from a meal time. Our butler just told us of past guests of his that did miss having breakfast in the YC Restaurant. Only on sea days does this occur, the Green Wave Restaurant is open from 8 to 1:30 for Brunch, but the line to get in is long and he as butler has the authority to butt his guests to the head of every line. He was adamant that YCers cannot go by themselves and butt in front of any line, they must be escorted by a butler. Another YC guest went to pick up their pictures and found the line too long of a wait. He suggested he escort them to the very front of any line. The conversation began when we mentioned we saw this long line for raffle tickets during our after lunch stroll. He said he just escorted a couple to the front of that very line.

Interesting!

 

I would feel bad butting in front of people but at least it would be short lived since I wouldn't be in line very long.

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, MonsterJoe said:

I will be curious to learn which writings of Kerouac, Ginsburg, Burroughs, of Vonnegut you will grace us with.

None too soon. "With books we stand on the shoulders of giants."

John Locke

[no1talks]

47 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

None too soon. "With books we stand on the shoulders of giants."

John Locke

 

"With books we sit on the chairs at the grown-ups' table."

 

No1Talks, Thanksgiving '71.

[DaKahuna]

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

he Green Wave Restaurant is open from 8 to 1:30 for Brunch,

 

How is the food there?  Then again, it's not easy to mess up an order of bacon and eggs. 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

 

"With books we sit on the chairs at the grown-ups' table."

 

No1Talks, Thanksgiving '71.

Edgar Casey had a novel way of absorbing knowledge from books, but not as novel as @no1talks.