MSC Aurea Experience Top 19 Solarium Access

[jibbity]

Hi to all....We received an offer to bid for an upgrade to the Aurea level (from Fantastica) experience. This upgrade is for a whirlpool terrace balcony room on the Meraviglia which made us take notice. We wouldn't even be considering the upgrade without it as we already have an aft balcony confirmed/booked but with the terrace/whirlpool offer we are extremely interested. Some of the other perks are nice too - we especially like the Top 19 Solarium and its somewhat more private area. I know it's not close to the YC experience but it seems a little more exclusive and we love the idea of having access to that.  

 

HOWEVER, does anyone know if/how they check or allow access to the Top 19 solarium?? The reason I ask is because of stuff like this Youtube vid below which shows a random woman just walking in unchallenged after being advised she can't by her friend (who stays behind with camera) because she wants to "take a look". You can even hear him say that they are Bella level and that the area is reserved for Aurea level...which doesn't make a difference or stop her (to his credit he doesn't also go in). I would think someone would be there from MSC to control or check those who attempt to enter have valid access. What's the point of paying extra or for added perks if anyone can just wander in??

 

I'd really appreciate any info if anyone knows whether there are "buffers" in place to prevent this type of crap.

 

Video:

 

Edited yesterday at 04:18 AM by jibbity
spelling

[BirdTravels]

The area is card key controlled. But it doesn't mean that the doors are always shut closed. People tail gate in or if the door does not close tightly, enter. People walk into YC areas when not sailing in the YC. 

[jibbity]

36 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

The area is card key controlled. But it doesn't mean that the doors are always shut closed. People tail gate in or if the door does not close tightly, enter. People walk into YC areas when not sailing in the YC. 

Thanks for your quick response and info.  That's concerning to know - as I said, it makes one wonder why pay extra for added perks if its not going to be as advertised?  (I know the right answer is people with some set of morals/conscience would refrain from doing such things but we know how rare those are in today's world).

[Georgia_Peaches]

As YC guests we were able to access the Aurea area to take a look. In addition to the key card access there is also an Aurea attendant on the deck lounge area near the entrance checking eligibility. They will also have towels at the ready to hand out. The one thing that’s different about this space is that there is no dedicated bar like on the Sea class ships so drink service could take longer. On our visit we noticed that the space seemed under utilized. 
 

Besides the private deck area one also gets access to the thermal suite and a separate area in the MDR. 
 

And one more thing, if you decide to bid I suggest you do a mock booking for that category to see what the room is going for outright. We were invited to bid on an upper YC suite on Meraviglia and the opening bid was equal to the amount I’d pay if I outright upgraded myself… so no real savings that I could see. 

Edited yesterday at 11:39 AM by Georgia_Peaches

[jibbity]

Yes...thanks you so much for that advice about the mock booking. I had already known about that from reading other threads here on CC but when I checked into doing that I saw I would lose some if not all of the perks I got when booking through a wholesale travel club.  I called them  (and called MSC) and was told I would have to cancel the existing cruise and rebook the newer one,,,problem being when I booked the existing one it included the liquor package, internet service, a wholesale money back gift card, etc. in the cruise deal package.  That would mostly be all gone when I checked and mock booked a bit back so I'd lose all that. Also, cruise is in Nov. so the cancellation penalty would obviously not be worth it.

Edited 21 hours ago by jibbity

[JAGR]

2 hours ago, jibbity said:

Yes...thanks you so much for that advice about the mock booking. I had already known about that from reading other threads here on CC but when I checked into doing that I saw I would lose some if not all of the perks I got when booking through a wholesale travel club.  I called them  (and called MSC) and was told I would have to cancel the existing cruise and rebook the newer one,,,problem being when I booked the existing one it included the liquor package, internet service, a wholesale money back gift card, etc. in the cruise deal package.  That would mostly be all gone when I checked and mock booked a bit back so I'd lose all that. Also, cruise is in Nov. so the cancellation penalty would obviously not be worth it.

I don't want to presume to speak for Georgia Peaches, but I think they suggestion was not to go as far as you did in revealing your present booking into the picture. Rather, I think the idea is to do a booking only to the point that you just confirm what the price is if you just booked that way, not actually pull any triggers.

Edited 18 hours ago by JAGR

[jibbity]

24 minutes ago, JAGR said:

I don't want to presume to speak for Georgia Peaches, but I think they suggestion was not to go as far as you did in revealing your present booking into the picture. Rather, I think the idea is to do a booking only to the point that you just confirm what the price is if you just booked that way, not actually pull any triggers.

I understand that and thanks but the point is (pardon the pun) that ship has already sailed...meaning...what's the use at this point??  I can't cancel and rebook as the penalties to do so would outweigh any price advantage (plus the same perks would not be available/be additional in cost) of booking now...or even checking the price as even if it were cheaper booking it separately, it would cost MORE when the cancellation costs/loss of perks to be added would make it not worth doing. My only option really is to do the upgrade or keep my existing booking.

 

 And, we've kind of gotten off track as my original question really had to do with the exclusiveness (or not) of the Aurea Experience when it came to allowing those not at that level to access those benefits.  With the added concern of why pay extra for a better package if  it is not going to be "policed" and as exclusive as advertised.

[SirWolf]

Don’t overrate the YouTube video, please.

The woman walked into the Aurea solarium area for a few minutes. It’s questionable if she would have been able to get even a towel or drink service without being Aurea passenger.

Passengers are curious.. they try to sneek into areas to check things out. But honestly, how many people are doing this ?

There have been reports of Non-YC passengers walking into the YC enclave.

I have seen a woman changing seats from economy to business class on a plane.. after less than 3 minutes she was escorted back to coach .. arguing that a whole row of business class seats were empty 🤨 .

Does this mean that I don’t fly business class and don’t book Yacht Club ? No.

Aurea is as exclusive as advertised.

 

[jibbity]

39 minutes ago, SirWolf said:

Don’t overrate the YouTube video, please.

The woman walked into the Aurea solarium area for a few minutes. It’s questionable if she would have been able to get even a towel or drink service without being Aurea passenger.

Passengers are curious.. they try to sneek into areas to check things out. But honestly, how many people are doing this ?

There have been reports of Non-YC passengers walking into the YC enclave.

I have seen a woman changing seats from economy to business class on a plane.. after less than 3 minutes she was escorted back to coach .. arguing that a whole row of business class seats were empty 🤨 .

Does this mean that I don’t fly business class and don’t book Yacht Club ? No.

Aurea is as exclusive as advertised.

 

Many thanks for your well thought out response. Hopefully that is the case and it's just a rare occurrence but with the sense of entitlement seemingly worsening in society I can see more people thinking they can/should be able to get away with it. I've never been one for "ratting out" anyone but if I wind up seeing something like this I may just resort to that. My dislike for squealing is outweighed by the behavior of spoiled, entitled nitwits who would try to take advantage and get benefits reserved for others who have rightfully paid good money to enjoy.