Georgia_Peaches

On 9/17/2024 at 2:20 PM, SirWolf said:

YC Experience is still a good product and we will probably be loyal to MSC .. but there is nothing wrong with feeling better (as in saving money) while making a reservation.

Completely agree!  But knowing that MSC will likely not be looking to discount their rooms any time soon, finding a good TA who will offer a nice refundable OBC is, IMO the next best thing.  It feels like a discount, albeit after the fact...but still nice to get that check in the mail...and use it to make the next cruise deposit 😊. 

1 hour ago, chrisgp999 said:

While this is an interesting discussion it is also totally irrelevant.

Sorry, not understanding how it's irrelevant.  While what you have said is true, so is the notion that booking early saves money.  It just does.  Confused.

3 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

I've seen the Move Up price bids and they are not really a significant savings.

To further illustrate this, I recently looked to see if there were any Owner's Suites available for our Seascape sailing in November as   there weren't any available when I initially booked.  There was one room so I guess someone had to cancel.  I contemplated upgrading but decided to look at what the move up opening bid was before making my decision.  Opening bid was $7225 per person.  I could have simply upgraded the room for just over $6k outright by just calling my TA.  Still not wrapping my head around this math.

2 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

BCD was only too happy to teach Kassandra how to make it. It is one shot of espresso, one shot of Baileys, one shot of Kahlua, and one shot of coconut rum, shaken and poured over ice in a high ball glass.

Please let them know that Georgia Peaches will be on board in November and would like this concoction as well!

I noticed the evening dress is "elegant"  is that the same as "gala" just a different word?  Or is that just another way to say dressy but not formal?  I don't remember seeing that before.

32 minutes ago, chrisgp999 said:

If your room is constantly hot, have your butler check if one the occupants of nearby cabins have a penchant for leaving their balcony doors open.  AC serves several cabins and will turn off if the sliding balcony doors are open.  Had this problem with our very first MSC cruise.

Yes, we were aware that our neighbor was, in fact sleeping with their balcony door open.  I was frustrated enough to peek around the divider...and low and behold...an open door!  I reported this to guest services (the concierge and our Butler) but the open door continued but for one night.  I'm sure it puts the staff between a rock and a hard place as they strive to make all the guests happy.   I suggested that a notice on the door with the A/C info would be helpful as many people are not aware of how the a/c units work. 

From that point forward, we only booked inside cabins in the YC because I figured that nobody on either side of me would have a balcony door to keep open.  Rooms were so much cooler! 

But for our 20th anniversary cruise this November, DH wants to step out on the balcony and have a dance with me under the moonlight...so romantic.  But this Peach isn't going to be happy if we have a repeat of our previous a/c capers!

@Scottdalfonso and @chisoxfan once you have hung around here for a bit you will soon grow to love and appreciate @morpheusofthesea for his whit, charm, unique observations and yes, even his eccentricities. I have learned much from Morph and can only be so lucky as to meet him and his DW in person some day!

@Best Cat Mom your stateroom 

 looks lovely. I hesitate to ask but how’s the a/c in the room?  Our room on Seashore was HOT and regardless of my pestering, it never seemed to get corrected. 

duplicate post. 

4 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 This was our plan.  I am thinking Teppanyaki on Day 2 and Butcher's Cut on Day 6 but the boss has the final say.  Otherwise, if we do dinner, I was thinking day 3 and day 5. 

 

Can the Diamond meal be used at lunch?

I've seen video of the improvements but plan to experience first hand in November.  As far as I can tell, there is an extensive deck area to accommodate lunch tables where once they were perched on grass.  Sand fleas were a bother so hoping this is no longer the case.  As for the beach, I expect that it will still be quite rocky so recommend water shoes if you plan to get wet.  Also, I believe there is a proper bathroom now instead of the porta-potty trailer.

Two loungers, 2 chairs, small table on Edge MCSS in June.

2 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

I wish they would send those to Diamonds instead of the macarons and bubbly.  I do get them on Carnival.  EM

I'm guessing those beautiful chocolate cover strawberries were a gift from our very own @morpheusofthesea.

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

It’s really not that big of a deal..

Especially since they don't verify your check in time...We have found the check in process to be so streamlined that there's virtually no wait at all...although, we did wait to get on the ship on Reflection...Retreat, at that!

4 minutes ago, Kordy said:

Would this work, or would they ask for an upcharge if we order 2 appetizers + 2 entrées per person? 

We did just this in June on Edge.  In fact, I believe we tried 3 apps, at our server's suggestion, and entrée each as well as 2 for the table....again, at our server's suggestion.  The portions are nice sized but not so large that you feel like you're wasting food. 

1 hour ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

I wouldn't call MSC "very budget friendly" in the US. 

Prices have certainly increased over our first MSC cruise back in 2022...like everything else, I guess.  Still, MSC is more 'budget friendly' than my typical go-to of Celebrity, who has priced me out of their market.  Hoping I don't get there with MSC too!

22 minutes ago, ExArkie said:

The Luminae dish tasted like baked chicken with Moroccan spices added. 

Which is likely EXACTLY what it was.  I find that often the descriptions on the Luminae menu do not always reflect what is presented.

9 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Our favorite is the BB Jazz Quartet in the Loft Cafe.

Where is the Loft Cafe?  

13 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

We arrived a bit early to Atlanta into Terminal A and were pleasantly surprised to find out that our next flight was also in Terminal A

I thought that was you I saw flying over head!  Did you see me waving? 😉

13 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

The couple across from us asked if we were going on a cruise and I thought,  do we look like cruise people? Should I be worried?

We also get asked this question...A LOT.  It doesn't help that Mr. Peaches wears his tropical leaf shirt with my face plastered all over it.  He thinks he's being fashionable. 🤦🏻‍♀️  On an upcoming Meraviglia cruise all of the gentlemen in our party of 10 will be wearing one...similar to this...

13 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

We checked in and received a digital room key while we were on the shuttle so we did not need to stop at the front desk, which was a good thing because there was a huge line at the desk when we got in there from unloading the shuttle.

Wow!  This is the way to go for sure!  Great pics of the room.  Looks nice and refreshed.

Really enjoying your review!!

15 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Met with the nicest Cruise Critic poster ever @Best Cat Mom and can tell all they are both the nicest people on the planet as well.

Awe, I'm so jealous! 😊

8 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

it is 9:40 am and all the pergolas are taken.

How does one who is not in a suite with a dedicated pergola get one?  Reserve daily? for the week? Is there a charge?  I seem to remember that the pergolas on seaside were FCFS except for the reserved ones and there was no charge but on Meraviglia, there was only one available to reserve and there was a fee.

1 minute ago, bluefish17 said:

Departure time for the Bahamas cruise is 4pm and for the Bermuda cruise 8pm.

huh...interesting.  Our departure time for the Bahamas is 3 pm. This is in December.  Wonder if the difference is due to the 'fall back' time change.

6 hours ago, kayjay76 said:

Hi all! What time do they start boarding the msc meraviglia ship at the Brooklyn port? We'll be driving in and are trying to figure what time to arrive so we are not sitting in the terminal too long. Our assigned boarding time is 11am. On our papers, it states we must arrive within an hour of 11am. Is this a strict policy? Could we arrive after 12? Never have sailed msc or out of NY before so their boarding process is all new to us. Thank you!!

Regardless of when you get there, remember that you must be checked in/on board 90 minutes prior to sail away, which is 3 pm. Personally, I’d arrive sooner over later bc anything can happen…and usually does. 

I'm pretty sure the DB option on the menu stays the same from night to night but I could be misremembering.  To answer the question, that particular section of the menu has not appealed to me, although the chocolate pill on the dessert portion of the menu sounds interesting.

Not even when staying in the highest level suites (Royal and Owners) like Celebrity.  Much as I like the Yacht Club product, I think this is a miss.  However, IMO the YC food is better than the specialty restaurants.