no1talks

Mauritius must be a great place for sourcing butlers, because Renuka is from there as well. She took excellent care of us back in March. (I seem to remember you mentioning her as your butler on a prior cruise.) MSC has an itinerary out of South Africa that stops at Mauritius. It's on our short list, once we switch to flying for a cruise.

"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly in Pogo.

Based on YC reports from World Europa, I'm hesitant to book World America's YC. A great many more rooms without a proportionate increase in dining room and lounge size is not a plus.

Then it's a good thing you stick to the walk-in showers.

So, @morpheusofthesea, are you telling us your cruise is turning into a John Hughes film?

Do the food trucks serve the same burgers and such, as with regular MSC ships' days at the island? As I understand it, MSC days still include a buffet, in addition to the food trucks. Was the island buffet available for Explora? Thank you very much for your observations.

Not just Italians. European cultures that patiently queue are the minority. My wife is from Europe (non-Italian) and on our first MSC cruise some years ago. she was appalled at all her fellow Europeans skipping queues. Whenever she encountered line-jumpers who were speaking her native language, she read them the Riot Act. It was quite amusing to see their stunned faces as an imposing six-foot tall blonde gave them a proper earful, out of the blue.

We skip lunch on port days, so we hasten back to the ship to freshen up for tea and suitable accompaniments. A few hours later, it is time to dress for dinner.

With winter approaching, it's a good thing you live in Florida. Prosecco corks are notorious for their lousy traction in snow.

Of course, MSC can (and may) change Top Sail snack policy seventeen times before we are next in YC. However, I do hope other snack categories are ready in the kitchen and butlers are cleared to bring them out, by individual request. If not, our customary afternoon tea will very much fall short with only "Assorted nuts, chips & marinated olives." If such becomes standard operating procedure in YC, Cunard will have a ship in North America year-round, starting in '26. I'm quite sure they can do better than nuts, chips, and olives for their tea service. 😉

Well, if there is only one roulette table now, the other was replaced with craps. A pair of roulette tables were at the front end of the blackjack tables.

I know the cuisine on Explora I is being touted as stellar, but this is where I draw the line.

Do you know what was removed to accommodate the table?

It is not unheard of for MSC to do things differently between European and North American cruises. Booking an Aurea experience for World Europa could possibly be different. It wouldn't surprise me a bit.

I agree with many of your observations. However, there is one point you mentioned in which MSC had things correct. While Aurea status still includes access to an Aurea sundeck, Aurea bookings no longer include thermal spa access unless a pass is purchased. However, a Voyagers Club Gold booking would include one visit per cruise, for up to one hour.

I should very much like to take such a voyage as a means of stress testing our seasickness countermeasure: Scopolamine transdermal patches. My wife and I swear by them, but we've never been on serious ocean swells

I'd wager that's a good story.

This is one of Explora's biggest red flags for me, in a series of red flags. I'm nearly 2m tall and I do not relish the thought of such low seating.

A great many ladies wear them. These days, they are called, "shapewear." It's worth noting that old-school corsetry has quite a following these days. There are a great many corsetières to be found doing business via the Internet. (Some corsetiers, too.) Alas, one is unlikely to find such fashion amongst female cruise passengers, with the possible exception of Virgin Voyages. 🧐

Just "Amaro," without a brand? There are dozens of brands and they can vary quite a bit in flavoring and proof. However, amaro is Italian for "bitter," so thirst-quenching it ain't. As for myself, I enjoy an occasional fernet con coca before dinner, even though amari are usually served as digestifs.

Canned/bottled soda, juice, flavored tea, water, and beer are restocked free. Pringle cans, jars of nuts, and Toblerone chocolate bars are not free after the first serving.

That's because it is MSC's proprietary fragrance. They had it created just for themselves. In addition to the toiletries, the fragrance is used in scented oil diffusers in some suites.

Sasso Suds?

Out they go! You cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. 🤪