sidari

Eataly was never any good on Divina.

We sailed on Oasis when it was a few weeks old, never felt crowded due to the design, compared to Virtuosa that does feel crowded. I cannot see us sailing on the Icon class ships or those monsters MSC are thinking of.

Never used the Galaxy restaurant on Divina or Preziosa.

As far as I recall there has never been a special Aurea menu!

We have been on two TA's, Poesia to FLL from Barcelona and Divina's first TA to Miami from Venice, both sailings were in November so not many kids onboard and a totally different demographic to the usual one or two week cruises. All the facilities were available and the food was much better than on our last sailing out of Miami at Xmas 2019 on Meraviglia. Both sailings were around twenty days so there was no rush to do anything onboard and staff had more time to interact with guests. Tenerife is the usual last port stop prior to the five day crossing and take on supplies there. We have also sailed from Venice to Dubai on Orchestra which also had few kids onboard and was much like the other two sailings. These cruises are more relaxing.

The UK has had the daily Hotel charge or gratuity included in the cruise fare for a number of years now and cannot be removed. Drink packages are usually included now with the Premium packages booked via a good travel agent.

Diamond members do take up room in the YC ... 😂 Sorry Morph couldn't resist.

Looks like more 7 night cruises instead of two, three and four night booze cruises which they know the crews hate, on recent short cruises cocktail menus were minimised in number with only a small number of bars having full menus.

Pointless points!

We were on the Seaside inaugural out of Miami and sailed on it again six months later, no issues that I can recall. The Captain can make or break a cruise where the crew are concerned which can be noticed by passengers and we were lucky enough to have sailed with the then two best MSC Captains Pier Paolo Scala and Marko Massa, though there are also two former Princess Captains, Tuvo and Dino Sagani who we also sailed with on a Princess cruise. We will be on Seascape in December and hope one of the last two will be in charge

Since our first MSC cruise way back in 2012 we have sailed in Inside, outside, balcony and Suite cabins long before MSC brought in their so called experiences (Bella,Fantastica,Aurea and YC) when cabins were Inside (I) 1and 2, Outside (O) 1 and 2 and Balcony (B) 1,2 and 3 and YC. Like others we chose not to sail in the YC because we were sailing sometimes 2, 3 or 4 times a year with land holidays in-between when we only sailed twice, had we done so then we would likely have sailed somewhat less than we have done and not been to as many countries as we have done. Instead in the later years we have sailed in Aurea cabins and Suites for the private sun deck (Especially the Seaside class twice, which has the best Top 19 of all the Newer ships) Anytime dining, free massage and drink package of which those last two are alas no more. We were given the chance of a YC sailing on Seascape later this year and have decided to try it out although we won't need a Butler to unpack our cases or to take us to the Theatre. Many years ago we sailed on a R.C ship in the Med and were seated with a couple from the USA who owned a lock making business and were as we would say "well heeled" and very well dressed, in fact the guy looked like Burt Reynolds. This couple were two of the best people we have ever met on a cruise with no airs and graces and were very easy going, I think they were in the Royal suite or whatever RC call them these days, not everyone who sails in the YC or the high end cabins on other lines are snobs.

UK bookings have only had the daily Hotel charge/ Gratuity included for about three years now.

Phissy ... Thanks for that, just checked out hotel and it is about 3 miles from 91 and a short walk to the space needle.

Is there much distance from 66 to 91 in terms of mileage? We are sailing again with Princess next year to Alaska.

But at least it would hold MSC to account for their terms and conditions.