Morgsmom

But I go back to, HOW is this the cruiseline's fault?  Someone else grabbed your bag. The cruise lines at port of call do not check luggage - it's a grab & go madness.  

Anyone know who is currently on the Seashore?  We leave in 2 weeks.

On 2/6/2024 at 9:56 PM, BookBikeBeyond123 said:

We are trying to upgrade to yacht club….. we will see if it is possible and update here

Never heard of someone outside of YC being able to upgrade once on ship.  Going from YIN to Balcony is possible at times.

On 2/7/2024 at 9:56 AM, wolft927 said:

Thanks for the info. Currently there are 14 YC cabins available for our September sailing so almost positive they will sell out prior, but i will check after final payment and see if there is a price drop and maybe just upgrade the old fashion way by paying outright. 

Actually any cost to upgrade will be based on the price of the Deluxe Cabin AT THE TIME you booked your YIN.  (I know, it's weird, but that's the way MSC does it.)

Oh, we had the pleasure of having Mauricio on the Divina several times!!! We was so generous with his wines!  

59 minutes ago, Toddcan said:

In case anyone else has these questions, I am providing updates

 

Update: I pulled the trigger and accepted their counter offer.  However, I was expecting that it was a given - that their counter offer would be accepted right away. But, this is not the case. All it did was to modify my Upgrade Bid to the amount in their counteroffer. Weird. They said they can accept the bid up to 2 days before sailing.  I suppose I had a different view of what a counter-offer meant. 

 

So, here's the follow up question -If I am am accepted, I would cancel:

• Internet 
• Specialty Restaurants 3-night package
• Cabana on Ocean Cay

 

Can I cancel all of the above extras if I find out 48 hours before sailing that I got the YC upgrade?  

Ok, if I am reading this correctly they contacted you on January 17th; it's now Feb 5th (though you don't say exactly when you pulled the trigger).  From my experience if you had responded within the first day it would have been a done deal, but by waiting they have put you back into the pool and basically increased your bid. 

Again, this is from my experience that it's a "take it or lose it" now situation.  (Was countered in December and accepted it immediately.  My credit card was charged about 30 minutes later).  

Define "cruise consultant?"  An MSC sales rep or Travel Agent.  MSC reps are notorious for not knowing what they are talking about.  However, if you booked using an "all in wifi and drinks" fare, then you could have done the same for your regular balcony cabin.  There is NO drink package anymore that comes with the Aurea experience, so you either booked it "all in" or added a drink package.  

As far as upgrading experience, you might be able to.  Otherwise the kids will not be able to dine with you or use Deck 19 Solarium with  you.

On 2/4/2024 at 7:57 AM, BookBikeBeyond123 said:

200 credit? That might be the onboard credit refund? Did you book YC?

There's no "onboard credit" refund

20 hours ago, tony s said:

With all the nice snacks at the lounge and great pizza delivered for free why would anyone want MRE I mean Pringle chips 

Pringles are my absolute cruise (weird) gotta have habit!!! Must admit that I *might* stock up on a can or two in the YC waiting area 😉 

Correct; you cannot walk out of that area of the port.  There are plenty of ubers/lyft drivers though.

8 hours ago, Mark_T said:

Typically you can only move a cruise to a later date, not an earlier date, but I suspect there is some latitude on this, especially if the reason is to facilitate an Explora booking...

They are acting as independent companies; I can't see one side of the Balance Sheet bending to help the others.

@JAGR So sorry to hear this news.  You always offer a reasoned approach to the mystery that is MSC.  

44 minutes ago, Jamie7777 said:

Two words: Yacht Club.  That's a whole "group" of people whose preferences supersede those of other travelers.

What?  They aren’t preferences, they are paid for privileges. 💯 supercede because they are paying for it.  You pay, you get. $500 usd vs $5,000 usd 

I don’t get where you are coming from.

Pay for YC, get more. That’s all 

Otherwise, “groups” are not > individual reservations. 

< very confused 🤷🏼‍♀️ here>

Some random Booking of 8 or 10 cabins is more important than individual bookings?  Don’t think so.  

45 minutes ago, Jamie7777 said:

 I hope that makes more sense.

 I just don’t personally agree that the preferences of “groups” should supersede or outweigh those of other travelers. 

1 hour ago, Jamie7777 said:

I'm part of a group cruise so perhaps they will allow us to keep this option?  I can see them making this change to accommodate groups first and then individual cruises.  I imagine there'd be a lot of upset people if they couldn't give members of a group the same dining time.  Our group always does 5 pm dining.  I wouldn't be upset if our time was set for 7 pm and I could watch the sail away the first night.  9 pm is too late for me.  

Groups reservations are linked (or should be) which will put them in the same seating time. Why should groups get preferential dining slots or choice thereof is my question?  

15 hours ago, reedprincess said:

??? We're both Diamond members. Having one in each  cabin, really - gaming the system?  More like maximizing the perks.. 

 

By your same logic, MSC is actually denying perks when 2 Diamond members are in the same cabin and only 1 specialty dinner is given or one discount or one OBC or a variety of other items... Instead one for each member. 

It's all in how you look at it...

 

It’s actually how the cruise line looks at it.

What they realized is that 98% of people sailing together in the same cabin have the same status. Thus the switch to one diamond dinner per cabin of two, not one dinner for two for each Diamond member. But you do you. You call it maximizing. I call it scamming 

9 minutes ago, reedprincess said:

??? We're both Diamond members. Having one in each  cabin, really - gaming the system?  More like maximizing the perks.. 

 

By your same logic, MSC is actually denying perks when 2 Diamond members are in the same cabin and only 1 specialty dinner is given or one discount or one OBC or a variety of other items... Instead one for each member. 

It's all in how you look at it...

 

Actually no. The benefits are clearly listed. Maybe you get caught?  Maybe not? 

1 hour ago, reedprincess said:

To each their own...  It's a few more things than 5% and specialty dining, but cool. No worries.

Happy sails.. 

well technically you are trying to game the system which then results in MSC pulling back on the goodies for those who earned them 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said:

I'd think they could afford some "paperware"....

Thank you but not a reasonable option.  Let’s take 300+ guests who ALL think they can have what they want, when they want, sprinkle in some crazy unreasonable requests and a large dash of “well I paid for yacht club” (when 50% or more are there via upgrades).  Disappointment ensues.

in case it matters, I run 3 high volume restaurants. Hubby is an executive chef at a country club full of  size 2 gluten free stay at home blondes.  We completely understand what is reasonable and what is just an “entitled” flex. 

Just now, reedprincess said:

As you can see, I'm well aware of that and mentioned it in my original post.. but thanks for reiterating, in case others may have missed it..

 

Oh, ok... For me a 5% discount and a free specialty dining would NOT be worth this shenanigans, but to each her own

On 1/23/2024 at 11:45 AM, no1talks said:

MSC is consistently inconsistent and not shy about yanking amenities, even from Yacht Club.

Truer words have never been spoken.

On 1/23/2024 at 11:22 AM, rkline520 said:

Just spoke to an MSC rep 

bwhahaahahah... now that was your problem.  Yes, you can use Easy Plus in specialty restaurants HOWEVER your choices might be limited especially if you are a wine drinker.  Just go to a bar, get your libation of choice as allowed by your package, and bring your own in to specialty dining.  You can't use Easy package in specialty dining b/c they don't have any of the well liquors or cheaper wines that are covered in the venue.

On 1/24/2024 at 11:08 AM, BlueKernal said:

suggestions on which bar to visit to avoid a lengthy wait on the MSC Seashore? Are you able to get drinks in a timely manner in the MDR?

For the MDR - absolutely NO!  IMO, one should always bring their drink of choice INTO the MDR. So much faster since there is no bar, per se, in the dining room. They will have to go to one of the main bars to get your drink. WAY WAY faster and easier to carry in your own.    

On 1/25/2024 at 11:31 AM, reedprincess said:

Either way, it'll work out. It's worth the small hassle for the extra savings and maximizing perks aboard.

 

Keep in mind that all charges made using the key cards will be associated with that ORIGINAL cabin.  That will have to be sorted out between the cabins.  So if Wife A wants to charge something but Husband A (who is in cabin B) is not with her the charge will go to cabin A.....

On 1/24/2024 at 8:02 PM, MsTabbyKats said:

It sounds like he wants to take lunch from the YC restaurant and eat it by the pool......

 

Just an opinion....but I don't see why not

Because the service ware (china) is different and the YC restaurant has no means of packing "to go" food that would then be left on the pool deck.