KKB

I understand holding a table/chair while you go to the buffet, get a drink, use the restroom, even spend some time in the pool (but not if you are spending hours in the pool...) I sat at the pool on MSC Divina last month on a port day. Got there about 10AM. Many "saved" but managed a good spot. FOUR HOURS LATER when I left the 2 saved next to me were STILL empty--the savers had never shown up! The selfishness astounds me--screw everyone else, as I want those chairs this afternoon! I have to think, tho, that some on this site are those chair hogs...do they just not comment on such threads?😐

We did the 7 day SEA-VAN on the Discovery (lovely ship) last Sept. Ketchikan-Juneua-Skagway/Sitka are your usual stops. Inside Passage was fantastic. We also did Dawes Glacier viewing--also amazing. Plenty of wildlife to see. The weather was comfortable--50s. The only time we really needed gloves & several layers was on the balcony during the glacier viewing. Timing for northern lights was perfect but the clouds didn't cooperate sadly. Alaskan cruises are more casual & quiet down a bit earlier than Caribbean cruises.

AWESOME--I thought it was 2/room!

I rather expect not to get it...but worth a try!

So I got an offer in my email today about a number of Europe sailings Apr-June (mostly E class)...free interior from Blue Chip Club. (INT pretty nice on Eclass) First offer I've seen...WELL...I happen to be cruising in Europe in May & with a bit of fanagling (is that a word?), I just might be able to tack it on. SOOOO....I click to fill out the for--and my MOTHER'S name is on it (God rest her soul). Huh. Pretty sure I've gambled more than her in their casinos! SOOO...I just put my name in instead. Anyone had this happen before??? Do I have a chance in hell of getting it?

Current policy is 2 per stateroom...but let's admit, you could go thru security a little "separately" & they would never know...

Answer: YES (I called...was super quick) I simply go to Guest Services on Embarkation day & fill out a form. No refunds for days not sailed. (fair)

I know you can bring 2 bottles/stateroom on embarkation day. I have heard that they are more lax about wine in Europe--perhaps this isn't true or has changed. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor? Thank you!

Downloaded it but it is loading as my sons game (has it on his phone; we share some Apps)--but I cannot see ANY way to change it to my account!!

Unfortunately neither the $500 nor the $750 ones have been repopulating lately...perhaps that gravy train is gone?

I am on the Preziosa cruising Norway in May. I just received an offer for a free Europe cruise on Celebrity & would need to disembark before the final disembarkation day to do so. I am wondering if this is even possible--perhaps it is not, but thought I would ask. Thanks so much

Happened our our Constellation Spring Break cruise about 10 yrs ago. The spring breakers next door were having a late night party the last night. DH knocked & politely asked them to turn it down & they did. They were still having fun, but they were quieter after that. Had they not quieted down, we would have called security. One day upon returning from Key West, they had loud music on the balcony in the afternoon. I can live with that (and with a cruise of 3/4 college students, rather expected it). But 2AM? Nope.

Chat is SOOOOOO much easier.

Oh, yes--Hercules on the keys as well!😍

I was on Divina for 12 days last month solo. (DS was SUPPOSED to join me the 2nd 7 days...a freak snowstorm made that impossible!) Do attend a solo gathering. I met some nice people...ran into them all week.

DH & I did 2 Celebrity cruises 10 years ago..then we did a Spring Break (took my parents & our teenage children)--THAT was NOT the same. Our cruise was 3/4 FSU students & it showed. Forget getting in a pool or hot tub. I heard stories of inappropriate encounters. Now, we met many lovely young people. THAT BEING SAID--we did NOT encounter this AT ALL on the Apex last March. I think your experience was more due to the timing than the line. THAT BEING SAID--I think ALL cruise lines are cutting expenses & service & quality are suffering a bit. Perhaps it is more due to labor & supply chain issues (I HOPE SO). BUT if you are looking to change lines, you are going to have to spend the $. Having done Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, RCCL, NCL, MSC & DCL I can say that Celebrity is the best by a small step--and Eclass ships take it up another notch. You will likely have to go to luxury lines to get a better experience. (another option is the "Ship within a ship" model--the suite on various lines; but unless you hibernate in the suite area, you still must deal with other passengers)

For dinner? Observed a man in shorts turned away at dinner on Divina last month. Personally I could care less, just reporting my observations. (and honestly--u are fine with a 100 lb. woman in short shorts? They better damn well enforce--or not--the rules the SAME for any damn size of person. Give me a break...)

@GenerationX So glad to see your current TR--I forgot that you are now cruising as often as I! 😂 A Mommy/daughter trip is a gift at EVERY age, one you will never regret. Gen Z is adorable! We took our teenage children on the Constellation (also Spring Break) & they had as good a time as they always do on a cruise. See you in 3 weeks! (PS just read a review about YC on MSC Meraviglia...uh, it does seem that YC on larger ships is NOT like Divina...)

Interesting. Sailed RCCL in 2018 & Carnival in January & saw no shorts at dinner either time. NOW...I did NOT see anyone turned away for wearing them, tho I did on the Divina last month.

@L1211 Thx for your review. It very much parallels my non-YC experience on the Divina last month. Lots of crew who didn't seem well trained. Lots of lines to get drinks. Constantly out of everything at bars. Pizza best I've ever had! Buffet excellent quality but a hot mess. Now, I DID find a few EXCELLENT bartenders & servers who knew what I liked, would go out of their way to get it & were just overall lovely people. And I did extraordinarily well at the casino so it was a profitable situation--guess I'd do that every week if I could!! IMO you missed nothing by not hitting production shows. They were...odd. Vocal talent was VERY good. But dancers' costumes didn't make any sense & dancing was high school level. (DD has danced since she was 3, and currently works full time at a dance studio, so know my dance) Abba show--vocalists in lovely evening gowns. Dancers in...umm...Samurai costumes?? Then waitress costumes? Disjointed seems to be a theme of this line in many areas. A gal I follow on Celebrity who does Retreat did a short Celebrity Retreat cruise followed by YC on Divina & did a comparative. She RAVED RAVED RAVED about YC & made me ponder trying it. Needless to say I had heard YC isn't quite the same upscale experience on larger ships as your review shows. As with you--I had a good time. Pretty much have a good time on any trip. Sailing Preziosa in May--but that is more for the itinerary. Many port days so line not as important. But your review tells me issues appear to be more systematic than situational. I will reserve judgement until after my May cruise...

Yep. When I went to make my final payment online invoice showed higher price than orginal. B2B in May on Preziosa. Spent 90 min on the phone getting both corrected. Had to send screenshots of original invoice to MSC. "The word is" when you add something (excursion, internet, drink package, etc) to ANY booking you have, it adjusts the pricing to ALL your bookings to the current price. That is insane, but it does appear what happened as I added things to a Feb. booking. Now, I have added excursions to these May bookings with no invoice issues & the price of these cruises have increased considerably since I booked in Nov., so who knows...

SV is worth it to me--I love SVs. AQ likely worth it--you get Blu (which is great) plus spa pass. Have had good luck with low bids, just over min, but for interior to balcony. There are fewer SVs & AQs so you may need to bid a bit more to up your chances. There is no reason to bid on Concierge or FV imo

We are trying our 1st S1 on Beyond next month. You will be blown away by Eclass--fell in love with the Edge in 2021! I could list the suite amenities, but the above link does a perfect job of it.

Internet is far better than 10 years ago... But It's a crapshoot on any ship. I did find Alaska to be some of the worst I've encountered (also Discovery in Sept)--I suspect it is due to angle/distance from equator, which, if my understanding is correct, is where satellites tend to hover? On a good note, it is nice to be able to access data in AK. Was on MSC Bahamas cruise last month & internet was best I ever encountered. Booked a cruise on another line using internet & my phone--would have never thought I could do that. Now, the next week as we ventured to MX, things were a bit sketchier, so who knows?

Other than NCL, no other lines we have sailed allow shorts in MDR for dinner. (14 cruises since 2021; Celebrity, Princess, NCL, MSC & Carnival) I agree that cruising is more casual overall since we began cruising 20 yrs ago. DH no longer brings a jacket or even a tie. He MIGHT bring button up shirts for formal night...but typically a light pair of slacks & golf shirt for him. Sundress or capris & nice top for me. Now, buffets & counter service dining has no particular dress code.