no1talks

Either that or psychotically affected. 🤪

''Tis a rock!... a peak!... a cape! A cape, forsooth! 'Tis a peninsula!"

Good one!

Modesty forbids me any affirmation as such. Even though ol' Cyrano would have had the upper hand at crossing swords, I have bested him in one significant way. He didn't even make it to middle age, the poor fellow.

You flatter me, kind sir. However in mindfulness of your observation, I must admit to owning a genuine rapier. (For ren faires, not dueling.)

Not to take away from Victorian sensibilities, Morpheus, I think the Greeks of antiquity had the right of it when it comes to understanding love. They defined seven types of love, from the juvenile to the sublime, which I will leave for interested readers to investigate. (Some scholars say the ancient Greeks recognized eight types, adding mania.) Accordingly, both the tulip and the rose can shine in their respective significations of love, neither being superior to the other.

I quite agree with your take on the issue, Morgsmom. Unfortunately, the loss of those overnights will be one more example of discontinued things that allowed MSC to stand out from other lines.

But, objectively speaking, these are not the same suites. The suites on luxury lines have much better stuff. I could not recall whether you stayed in a Grand or Grandeur Suite, so I watched tour videos for both. Those suites have many features lacking in both the Owners and Royal Suites on MSC. Of course, it is perfectly reasonable if full-suite features existing on Regent or Crystal or Seabourn are not wanted and therefore not missed in an MSC full suite. However, Regent and the rest will still charge a fare reflecting the availability of those features. If we were currently retired and spending the nest egg, we'd find that room more than satisfactory. We won't be quite so well-heeled to stay in that level of accomodation frequently. However, for a particular itinerary or special occasion, count us in. Out of curiosity, I did a test booking for a Grandeur Suite on Grandeur, one-week Miami round-trip, early December of this year. Total for the two of us was $17,193.10.

I know YC Royal and Owners suites have devoted fans. That being said, these suites are just not equipped in the manner I would require for a real suite. I'd only want an actual suite if the itinerary is suitable for entertaining guests for before-dinner cocktails, a meal at table, or a card game. Unfortunately, Royal and Owners suites lack a guest bathroom. I would not dream of having guests without a tidy bathroom free of all the stuff we all generally leave on the vanity during a cruise. The real gems from my point of view are the YC duplex suites. One can keep the lower half-bath free of toothpaste tubes, mouthwash, and razors and have the butler put things in "entertaining mode" with a stack of hand towels, a diffuser air freshener, and the proper liquid soap & hand lotion I'd pack if planning on having guests. (MSC's is okay, but I think we can do better.) The duplex suites on World Europa are even nicer, since there is an upper level on the balcony providing enough outdoor space to take a small party outside as well. I assume World America's duplex suites will be similar.

Thank you, Morpheus, for adding color to my analytical musings.

I, too, find the increasing "Americanization" of food and entertainment offputting. However, there is an itinerary I want to try as soon as the timing can be made to work. MSC has a Lesser Antilles run in the Caribbean that equally splits the embarkations in 2025 between Martinique and Guadeloupe. Americans have a harder time getting to those two islands than Europeans might. Three French airports have direct flights to Martinique and Guadeloupe, but in the US, there is only Miami. (In the case of Guadeloupe, New York has seasonal direct service.) This difference in direct flight access causes me to hope those cruises still maintain more of the original MSC experience.

We've not been on a river cruise, but I've studied the subject a bit. I get the impression the small area of these boats makes for a somewhat regimented experience until one is off the boat and seeing the sights.

Having spent quite a few years in the hospitality food and beverage sector, I can state for a fact the majority of HFB service professionals are not as enamored with us as we may be with them. There are, of course, exceptions that extend beyond the workplace. They are rare.

As I recall, MSC is building the place to park three big, honkin' ships at once. In round numbers, that's up to 6k on and 6k off each of those ships. While a relaxing, no-rush space would be sweet, I don't foresee MSC doing much to encourage any lingering.

30 years ago, I was a newlywed dad and not close to being able to get on a cruise ship. Nowadays, I study the history of cruising to be a better-educated passenger. Please correct me if my interpretation of cruising history is off the mark because, afterall, I wasn't on the ships. I don't think shoddy treatment should have been a shock on a Princess cruise 30 years ago. The brand had a huge expansion in the 80s. Owners P&O rebadged some of their own ships over to Princess to accommodate the growth. P&O acquired another cruise line and rebadged more ships to Princess. Then the 90s started. Recession. Oil spikes. American cruise market maybe not so hot. Now, Princess ships are getting transferred to P&O. No sooner does the century turn than P&O spins-off Princess into a standalone and Carnival grabs it just a few years into the millenium. Again, those who were cruising and following the industry closely back then can point out my errors, but I think your Australian experience was simply a case of a cruise line that was losing its way after a decade of Laissez les bons temps rouler.

The cruise lines want consumables in the rooms because it's a good place for an impulse buy, just like the stuff retailers put in proximity to checkout areas. My guess: Cruise lines will tighten things using practices the hotels have been using for years. It's only a matter of time before the included minibar in YC goes away. If MSC can yank the included drink package and spa massages from poor, bereft Aurea, they'll pull the included minibar from YC someday. Look for it as soon as the minibar upkeep and inventory become too much of a time sink for the stretched YC staff. Remember: The number of new ships' YC cabin is a-growin'. The first VIP lounge at the new terminal is going to Explora, I'd wager. I don't think we can absolutely count on a lounge for YC as well, or even that an Explora lounge will be shared with YC.

From the linked article: "Unlike other upscale brands, Explora Journeys caters to families as well, he noted, with a complete entertainment program for children." Whether Explora Journeys get these families on their ships or not, the targeting of such may very well dissuade not a few luxury cruisers. It is no secret a good many such cruisers enjoy the nearly child-free surroundings typical of luxury cruises.

In my considered opinion, this is why cruises are so hesitant to enforce so many rules. They know any given attempt may result in a tantrum that is instantly recorded and sent to social media.

I can. 🙄 NIAGARA FALLS!

Agreed.

His name must not be Tom. Otherwise, he would have talked you into painting the railings for him.

But, the two suite categories I mentioned include butler service. I only brought it up because the dissatisfaction you spoke of would have cost less than the $30k you mentioned.

I've watched video of Grand Suites on Grandeur in the aftermath of your cruise. I must say, I saw multiple aspects of the suite's amenities and furnishings that made me think, "Well, that's of no use to Mssr. and Mme. Morpheus." However, it was not lost on me that much of what that suite offered would be much appreciated by another type of cruiser. Before your disappointing cruise, what were the deciding factors for selecting the Grand Suite rather that a less profligate suite (Seven Seas or Penthouse)?

No chef required. 😆

In fairness, Morpheus, they can't fill a ship as of yet (at least I've not seen even a nearly full ship reported). The passenger counts thus far have included plenty of complimentary fares for travel agents, vloggers, and influencers. They have already had to slash prices on lower-tier cabins during a time when well-off cruisers are eager to sail and should happily pay a premium to be among the early passengers. On top of all that, the CEO has made a rather suspect resignation. If MSC were not privately held, I daresay investors would look askance at your use of the word "success." However, Explora Journeys is privately held and the Apontes can bide their time while Explora finds its sea legs and its raison d'être.