JAGR

If I could add a small clarification on assignment/distribution of tender tickets: YC does have a priority, but MSC also assigns earlier (lower ticket numbers) to those who have signed up for MSC's sponsored excursions. If you have no excursion, or you have purchased an excursion from an independent supplier, your earliest priority tender ticket number will be after YC (who can get to the front of the line at anytime) and MSC excursion holders.

We had the same problem last cruise. The concierge on duty reprogrammed our cards twice, but to no avail. Another concierge desk associate just issued us new cards. Problem solved!

To add to @gizfish, reserving specialty restaurants on Seaside requires a bit of labor, and can only be done on board. While embarking, if you have a date and time in mind, you can reserve in person. I would recommend going to the hostess station on Deck 16 (use the forward elevators). Since all the specialty restaurants are together there, the host/hostess can lock you time and restaurant in for you. You can either order a la carte, or from the Dining Experience menu. For main dining time, that is dependent on your booking class. For Bella, you can request a seating at booking, but MSC will decide the time and restaurant (Seashore or Ipanema). For Fantastica, you have a priority in getting the dining time you indicated at booking. For Aurea, you have anytime dining. For Yacht Club, it is anytime dining in the dedicated YC restaurant. For shows (particularly requested by @HappyInVan), you may be able to reserved the shows on the app while waiting to board, but you can definitely do it on the app anytime after you board the ship. If yo can't use the app, there are interactive tv screens all around that you can use to reserve shows.

Actually, someone booked on that sailing posted (on another site that may not be mentioned) the letter they got from MSC saying they could take the sailing or cancel and apply the amount paid to another sailing.

I would worry more about the margaritas you shouldn't have had! 😄

You can just take the National/Enterprise rental shuttle (they run all the the time during the turnaround of the ships), and it's a four-minute walk to the helicopter base.

That is usually for a mini-tournament of sorts. It is run by the entertainment staff, matches dependent on how many show up

We rarely get off at Grand Cayman anymore! You will feel like you have your own ship, or large piece of it! Staff are still around, and you have your choice of loungers. You will probably be two of maybe 150 to 200 people during the large majority of the time at anchor when the tender are running. Granted, the casino is not open, but that just saves money (at least in our case!😉). It's just nice to be able to relax. We usually get a chance to talk with crew members, which we find is very educational and entertaining.

I would think the delay to be inevitable with a non-scheduled stop in Miami. They would not have extra CBP folks on hand, and the face scanning technology would already be assigned to officers working scheduled arrivals, if there are any today. Probably had difficulty getting extra staff to come to the port, and an unscheduled ship would not enjoy any priority.

As some have reported, they have not seen any Aurea priority luggage service. They only priority is Yacht Club, and Aurea passengers have said they don't really see any "priority" separation until after security screening, where there are signs for Diamond and Aurea guests. I think you are probably best just carrying your own two bags with you.

The canapes/snacks seem more varied than in the recent past.

Well, this chain got off the rails! From favorite MSC staff to what YC Directors to avoid in one fell swoop. Helpful information, I'm sure, but off target.

Amazing how many different ways they plate the Embarkation Day avocado and hamachi starter! Yours looks about the most attractive! They must give the chef's a free hand in plating, which is a surprise to me. At any rate, one of their best starters.

Agree with Mark T. Would only add that in October, we were offered reduced deposit as well.

Or at least add it on after the longer 7-day cruise, so the butlers and wait staff get to know you. We are hoping that strategy helps us in March.

mscexistingreservations@msccruisesusa.com

I've always completed the special needs form, and included a request for distilled water. They have sometimes responded that they cannot guarantee it, but I always have had it delivered nightly to my room. If you aren't confident, I would fill out the needs form, print a copy, and have it with me and a sealed bottle of distilled water. If they question you, show them the copy of the form you had. You do know, of course, that CPAPs can use regular water for short periods of time, like a week.

If by island days you mean Ocean Cay, then there are food carts (think hot dogs/hamburgers) around the cay, as well as a central buffet. You can also pay for a lobster roll or ice cream at Ocean Cay

No dinner service on Ocean Cay.

I mentioned this earlier. I'm wondering if this sailing was an outlier for MSC YC. It was the first sailing after a TA cruise. and I've seen posts before from people who were not pleased with new cruises after TA crossings, Typically, the crew are smaller for service during the sailing, and if MSC had delays or problems in ramping up or onboarding staff, that could be the reason for many of the service issues that @go.without.you experienced.

I'm so sorry that @go.without.you and Janelle are having such a rough time of it. I am hoping that this is a short-term issue with the ships transition from the Med to the Caribbean. I suspect they did not have a full ship or crew on the TA, and it appears that they did not (or could not) get adequate staffing for the initial Caribbean sailing. She is scheduled to sail out of here through at least October of 2025, so they had better take action soon. From a personal greed standpoint, YC must be solved by March 3, 2024. 😝

Yes. That is what I bring for my CPAP machine. Never a problem.

Why the attack? I thought we made our peace! SMH

Not sure about the doors, but we have used magnets on the walls on four MSC ships in YC. Never on Seascape, but twice on Seashore, a sister ship.