Two Wheels Only

The butler that handles the aft-facing suites only handles the aft-facing suites on all decks. A different butler will handle your section. As for "opting out" of butler service, unless there is some sort of reduction in fare, opting out would mean paying for something that you aren't using. It happens on any cruise that guests pay for things that they don't use but I see no reason for anyone to opt out. I understand that some people don't want much from the butler and that some people may feel pressured (by forum members or by the butler) to tip but those things are optional. The butler is there. If you use the service, that's your choice. If you don't use the service, that's your choice. If you tip, that's your choice. If you don't tip, that's your choice. There's nothing wrong with any of those choices.

My longest "2 billing cycles" wait was 5 months. My shortest "2 billing cycles" wait was less than 2 weeks. MSC does things the MSC way.....

I'm waiting on a few reviews from Yacht Club guests who will hopefully answer a few questions that I have. I've seen some decent prices but I would have to lose some square footage if I keep the price the same as a MSC Royal Suite.

The vast majority of side balconies on BA/GA are very small. It makes the aft-facing balconies (depth varies by deck) even more desirable.

Those HI staterooms used to be H9 staterooms. They used to include Spa access as well as Haven access. NCL removed the Spa access but everything else stayed the same including the hot tub in the stateroom.

Yes, they open.

I'd rather be in an aft-facing suite. I'm happy with the 2 full baths, separate living room/bedroom, and the HUGE balcony. I just have the butler go and get those things if I'm in the courtyard and forget something in the suite. 😉

I found Bliss which should be similar.

Icon OTS won't be completed until after the OP wants. RCCL interior colors are often a bit....much. The exterior colors of Icon turn the color volume up to 11.

I have the same question. After taking 5 cruises on NCL, a person can be Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Sapphire depending on what is booked, how long each cruise is, what category is booked, when it is booked, etc.

Maybe?

The site just offers those things by default. Some items are included by experience and some are included by promo. Yacht Club guests get the offer to buy the drinks package even though Premium Extra (whatever it's called) is included. Yacht Club guests also get the offer to buy the internet package even though Premium Internet is included. It's like when going to SeaWorld and you see the prices for standard parking, preferred parking, VIP parking, etc.. People who have preferred or VIP parking included with their annual pass can just ignore the pricing because their parking is included with certain tiers of annual pass. If you have Yacht Club experience, you can ignore the offers for what you already have. If you have Aurea experience, you can ignore the offer for what you already have.

Yacht Club guests can also eat at anytime.

There have been 2 extensions for people who would have otherwise had their membership expire. The length of the extension depended on when the original expiration date was. December 2023 is now the expiration date for many people who haven't sailed MSC in years.

Waiters are told that but nowhere in the terms and conditions does it state a limitation on sides, apps, or desserts. If you really want that 3rd side, just order it. More than likely, it will be zeroed out on the receipt. As far as I know, nobody on the forum has posted an actual receipt the shows extra apps, sides, etc. being charged when using the SDP.

"IN WHICH VENUES WILL MY SPECIALTY DINING PACKAGE BE HONORED? Specialty Dining Packages are honored in the following restaurants: American Diner, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Food Republic, Italian, Le Bistro, Los Lobos, Moderno Churrascaria, Pincho Tapas Bar, Q Texas Smokehouse, Raw Bar, Seafood, Sushi and Teppanyaki. Guests may also dine in select entertainment-based restaurants using their SDP meal." There may be a few items that require a supplement in addition to the SDP credit (additional charge for crab cakes at Cagney's, for ex.) but those items are clearly marked on the menu.

The alphanumeric codes used by NCL have changed since that post and on some ships, the larger balcony staterooms are placed in a different category than the smaller balcony staterooms. The information regarding sizes and configurations is still the same.

I had 15008 in the Caribbean and the view of Ocean Cay is great from the balconies. That's why I took the starboard side. On my cruise, 15006 and 15010 were both empty so I didn't have any neighbors at all.

The Royal Suite on Meraviglia has a 2 part balcony. The front balcony that curves around to the side is where the hot tub is. Then there is a solid wall between the hot tub and the side balcony (entrance is from the bedroom). The smaller side balcony connects to the balcony of either 15013 or 15010. MSC is a bit more lenient than other lines with opening balcony partitions so the steward will probably open the divider for you but in order to get to the hot tub, the neighbors will have to enter the Royal Suite then exit to the front balcony.

Thanks. It's working for me, too.

If you want a forward-facing view with VIBE, you're choice is only Getaway.

I don't know if they still do but you used to be able to buy a new one on the ship. IIRC, they charged about $10 more on the ship but if using OBC instead of real money, it wasn't a big deal.

😳

Part of it depends on when the previous guest left the stateroom. One of the reasons that suites may be available earlier is because the previous suite guest left the ship earlier. The announcement that staterooms are ready may be in the afternoon but some staterooms are ready before 11:30a. Also, since suite guests tend to arrive and board earlier (priority boarding), the staff tends to have those staterooms available earlier.

I knew that the one currently installed couldn't be removed. I'm thinking more of the future ships in the class. It should still be early enough to make changes of that type. From what I've been reading, there are many changes that should be made for the next ships.