Two Wheels Only

Just a word of caution. Not all interior Yacht Club staterooms are the same size. ^^ Here's what the MSC website shows for Yacht Club interior on Seaside/Seaview/Seashore/Seascape (it's actually a wheelchair accessible YC interior). ^^ Here's an actual Yacht Club interior on Seaside/Seaside EVO class.

There are so many factors that make it virtually impossible to guarantee an early boarding time especially as early as 9:30a (won't happen). We've also done Meraviglia out of Port Canaveral and even though we were able to pass most of the lines, the ship still needed the "all clear" before guests could board (escort by butler). You original plan of 10:30-11:00ish is probably best.

Just say the S-word (school) and most kids will immediately leave.

Different cruise lines have different policies and are willing to accept different levels of risk. MSC seems to be more lenient when it comes to opening dividers.

"Children under 16 years of age are not allowed to enter the fitness centre." - NCL FAQ

You might as well withdraw the cash from your bank and set up your onboard account with cash.

I should have looked more closely at the map. My itinerary is in the reverse order. 😳

US and Canadian Citizen Children (under 16 years): Government Issued Birth Certificate*

MSC Yacht Club is a higher level than MSC Aurea is a higher level than MSC Fantastica is a higher level than MSC Bella. Celebrity Retreat is a higher level than "standard" Celebrity. NCL Haven is a higher level than "standard" NCL. Yacht Club, Retreat, and Haven are similar in many ways with the "ship within a ship" concept. Reviews from someone inside of the enclave can be vastly different than reviews from someone outside of the enclave. I recommend trying the Yacht Club but I also recommend reading the MSC forum to learn how MSC does many things differently than other lines. I also recommend not allowing either MSC's IT issues or MSC's (often) less than spectacular phone rep customer service dissuade you from trying MSC. The experience ON the ship can be the exact opposite of the experience OFF of the ship. The experience on the ship is why people (myself included) continue to sail MSC Yacht Club.

Those items (espresso, cappuccino, etc.) have had prices for years. I've never been charged in the Haven.

No, the bed can be either near the closet or near the balcony. For the standard balconies, large balconies, and Club balconies on the sides of the ship, if it sleeps 4, the bed is near the balcony. For the same group, if it sleeps 3, the bed can be in either location but most will have the bed near the closet.

Usually, there are reserved signs hanging somewhere. You might have missed it. An honest mistake isn't the same as intentionally using something that is reserved for someone else. If you missed the sign, a sign wasn't there, or if you didn't know that those cabanas are only for the people who booked them, I'd say that you made a mistake.

Ship (or ship class) first then the better of the (usually) 2 itineraries. Sometimes I just have to take what I can get as far as itinerary because of school schedules but there's also the factor of port of departure. For example, if I can choose between Sea**** leaving from Miami or Sea**** leaving from Port Canaveral, I'll leave from Port Canaveral since it's a much shorter drive for me. I no longer do older ships....I tend to book ships when they're under construction or even earlier when possible. 🤪

Was your bed near the balcony or was it near the closet? Most people find that the room "feels" larger with the bed near the balcony. If your bed was near the balcony, well....it could have been worse. ☺️

Are you guest #1 or is he guest #1? The same happens with me (I'm guest #1) as far as getting more points that those who have always travelled with me.

I've had the same Ocean Cay Yacht Club cabana 3 times. One time, the ceiling fan was broken but when we went back 3 months later, it was already fixed. We're a family of 4 so our situation is a little different. We book a cabana early then once on the ship, we let the concierge know which one that we want.

Usually, starboard faces the island. The ship is capable of docking on either side but most of the time, starboard faces the island and the bow faces the lighthouse.

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Although not exactly common, there's always a chance that someone who doesn't belong can sneak into either the Yacht Club areas or the Aurea areas.

I found another one... ...that gives a better view of the balcony. I hope that these larger staterooms are going to people who actually need them and not to people who just want a larger stateroom.

What ship?

She's eligible.....if she pays for a package. She doesn't get it included in the promo. She can order a la carte in the specialty restaurants if she only wants an appetizer, side, dessert, etc. She isn't required to order an entrée. What was happening was that people with the package were ordering extra apps, sides, etc. and would try to feed the 3rd guest using the packages from guests 1&2 who had the SDP. Now, NCL has limits on what the package covers.

We're a family of 4 and actually prefer the Aft-Facing Suites (away from the complex) to the 2 BR Family Villa (within the complex). I don't know how many you have in the stateroom but another option unique to Joy is the HI and HJ suites on deck 14. They are generally less expensive than suites within the complex but aren't as far away as the aft-facing suites. They don't have the balcony size nor the stateroom size of the aft-facing suites but they are a quick ride up the elevator or walk up the stairs to the Haven complex.

Yes.

That's the part that so many people don't understand. If NCL was all inclusive, people would complain that they are paying for things that they neither want nor need. If NCL makes things optional, people complain about "nickel and dime" tactics.