Two Wheels Only

In the case of NCL, shorts are allowed in the majority of restaurants.

You've come to the wrong place...😅

"I need the CEO's email address because I didn't get towel animals and I need to express my disappointment." - maybe once or twice a month on Cruise Critic. 😉

Would you prefer...? A) The cruise line raises everyone's fare by $50 but allows a 2nd entree in the MDR. B) The cruise line charges $5 for a 2nd entree for the people who want more. Obviously, we'd all like an option where the fare doesn't increase and there isn't a charge for a 2nd entree but we aren't given that option. If Yacht Club guests are charged for a 2nd entree (they aren't), I can understand if people are a bit miffed but it would still be an optional charge. I've sailed Yacht Club when Venchi was included and I've sailed Yacht Club when Venchi was an extra charge. In both cases, I ordered what I wanted. I didn't let the miniscule charge bother me just as the extra entree charge shouldn't really bother someone who wants an extra entree.

The problem with all inclusive is that you end up paying for things that you DON'T want to pay for. If MSC raised everyone's fare by $5 but allowed a second entrée in the MDR, people who don't order a second entrée would be paying for nothing. When things are optional, people pay for what they want and ignore what they don't want. The go-karts on NCL are an extra charge that people can either accept or not partake in the go-karts. If the go-karts were no extra charge, people who don't or can't use the go-karts would be paying for nothing. Agreed. I don't want to pay for things that I don't use. In some cases, it is inevitable. I've never used a kid's club but part of my fare goes to pay those staff members. I'm paying for nothing but it is an acceptable part of cruising. If the cruise line decides to charge extra for something that is optional, that is not a "nickel and dime" tactic.

Never let a company know that. They will be more than happy to oblige.

Depending on the ship, NCL, Celebrity, and MSC have "outside of the enclave but still have access" staterooms. There are usually advantages and disadvantages for being in one of those staterooms. I don't think that simply adding Yacht Club access during booking would work but designating certain staterooms as Yacht Club (similar to how MSC changed the Duplex Suites on Meraviglia) could work. If the 2BR/2BA Aurea Suites were changed to Yacht Club suites, that would be a nice option since even the Royal Suites and Owner's Suites don't have a 2nd bedroom nor a 2nd bathroom. That's unlikely. MSC (and other lines) want more people on the ship. You booking 2 staterooms wouldn't be beneficial to MSC. They want separate people onboard since 2 people are more likely to spend more than 1 person. If people could book a Yacht Club interior and still book a larger stateroom elsewhere, it would be nearly impossible to book an interior Yacht Club stateroom. Those least expensive Yacht Club staterooms would get booked by everyone who wants to add Yacht Club access to what they also have. An inexpensive balcony plus Yacht Club interior cost about the same as a Deluxe Yacht Club stateroom.

Maybe they mean highest in quality instead of in quantity. 😁 I know that they don't mean highest staff to guest ratio.

That's usually the case. The concierge does have the ability to deny the request especially if the Haven is fully booked and/or if the restaurant is overwhelmed. There was an option to pay for a day pass but that option may no longer be available. Before this thread devolves into the usual "Yacht Club/Haven/The Retreat access for others who aren't...." thread, my suggestion is that if Yacht Club access is important, everyone should pay outright for it. Don't hope to get upgraded. Don't hope to win a bid. Don't try to sneak in or have others sneak in. Don't hope to buy a day pass. If possible, just book/pay upgrade everyone to guarantee Yacht Club access.

EDIT The article states magnetic lift system but I don't think it will reach high g-forces like the land coasters reach.

How are you getting specialty dining "for 7 nights"? The SDP promo is a set number of meals and varies by stateroom type and length of cruise. Are you getting extra meals from a TA?

It depends on the route to get there. I have 2 cruises booked that are going to PR. One is 9a-4p and the other is 9a-7p. Both leave from Miami and go to DR first then PR.

Wait times are usually exaggerated in reviews. Nobody waits an hour for buffet items. Nobody waits 30 minutes for an elevator. Nobody waits 30 minutes at a bar. It may feel that way when hungry, tired, or thirsty but the wait times aren't really that long.

Experiences are like economy, coach, business, first class, etc. when flying. Different levels get different things. Someone could have an interior with Yacht Club experience (highest level) while someone else could have a balcony with Bella experience (base level). One of the reasons for such varying reviews is because of the different experiences, accomodations, and expectations. Assigned dining is something that bothers some people. Certain experiences have it while others are more freestyle like NCL. With Fantastica, there is some flexibility but it's still assigned for dinner. More info HERE (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea) and HERE (Yacht Club).

Bella? Fantastica? Aurea?

Bella through Yacht Club is the same daily service charge.

That's like $5 a month. 😯

This post (#601) might help.

There's also.... You may replace a dish from the Dining Experience menu with one from the à la carte menu for 50% of the listed price. You can also order any additional dish at full price. ...in certain restaurants if you have a dining package.

Technically, yes. You could bring the powdered version and mix with water onboard, I guess.

It's pointing out that the deck plans are incorrect. People looking to book an angled balcony that is the same price as a standard balcony would be happy to have the correct information.

Where does the cruise start? Where does the cruise end? Which countries are visited in between?

Prices do fluctuate but don't expect to get lucky. What works for me is to book early (to assure that I get the stateroom that I want), continually watch for price drops or added Voyager's Club discounts, and decide if it is worth the gamble to reprice if the new price is lower. I generally book 1-2 years out so I usually end up with a good price until YC is sold out or my stateroom category is sold out. By the time that final payment comes, there may be a few available staterooms but those might go to people who upgrade. On my next cruise, there is only 1 YC stateroom available but the price is currently higher than it was when I booked. Even though I'm past final payment date, there's no lucky/lower price way to get into the Yacht Club for someone who's looking to book.

I paid $2 for my water shoes at Walmart. They worked fine and I continue to use them at OC. I also recommend them for use on the sundeck since that area can get very hot.

It depends on who is working that particular ship on that particular day. I've been told "...no drinks near the pool..." but on the same cruise, I've had butlers deliver drinks to me while I was IN the pool....MSC inconsistency.