no1talks

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.

This is an excellent question. Thank you for posting it. I look forward to the replies.

You are so right, Ms TK.

Are Yacht Club and Aurea suites blacked-out as "sold" on those 14-day cruises, like the Barbados ones I mentioned earlier?

Perhaps from the MSC websites for other countries, but the US site is as I described. All Lesser Antilles cruises from Martinique (Fort-de-France) and Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre) are listed as 7-nights until the end of March 2025 when Virtuosa will be repositioned to Le Havre, France. It is now a non-issue because we have decided to book a similar cruise on Queen Mary 2 in order to avoid the logistical hurdles MSC entails. We'll still be seeing six of the ten islands. If MSC still has their 14-day route on the books in a few years, when we have retired to Florida, we can cruise it then. Plus, with Cunard, we'll have three enjoyable sea days leaving from and returning to New York.

Perhaps one or more of you have experience in this situation. I'm looking at the Lesser Antilles itinerary of Virtuosa. One can get half of the total itinerary as a 7-day cruise embarking from Guadeloupe or Martinique. You can also book two consecutive cruises to cover all the offered islands. Or, you can book a 14-day cruise covering both portions. That version embarks from Barbados. Here's the thing. Aurea suites and YC can only be reserved on the 7-day portions. On the 14-day Barbados version, those rooms are blacked-out as sold. Of course, I could book the two 7-day portions b2b. However, air travel in and out of Barbados has more options and that makes the 14-day booking very appealing. Have any of you cruised the full Barbados version and did you attempt an upgrade to Aurea or YC? Or, perhaps you were on a cruise elsewhere and the same black-out plan was used by MSC. My concern is the 7-day bookings out of Martinique and Guadeloupe will gobble up all of Virtuosa's premium cabins, leaving none for a Barbados-based upgrade bid. Thank you in advance for your responses.

It will be much appreciated if you post your cruise comments, when the time comes.

All great for a few consecutive sea days. For a long stretch on the sea, I want more activities to consider, such as lectures, organized cardplay, etc. That's why I'm looking forward to doing an over-and-back transatlantic with Cunard in '26.

It's a big deal in the YC. You only get one chocolate bar gratis and you don't want to lose it in the pool!

I'm not a fan of the two-out-of-three many cruises do. Perhaps a UN resolution is in order, to force cruise lines to keep the set unbroken on future itineraries. 😆 I would be skeptical of enjoying that many consecutive sea days on MSC, if it were to be a west coast embarkation and not an island-based cruise. There is also the issue of gambling being banned when close enough to the islands. It's my understanding some ships close the casino the whole time they are in proximity to the islands. If the ship were to model its practices after Pride of America, there would be no casino at all.

DOODIE!!!

I am reminded of this bit from The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)... Treadle (Prince Regent's tailor): That, Sir Percy, is the last word in cuffs! Sir Percy: Oh lord I should hope so! For there should never be another like it! Prince Regent: Oh come now, it's not so bad. Treadle: You see Sir Percy, His Royal Highness approves! Sir Percy: My poor Treadle, His Royal Highness does nothing of the kind! He says it's "not so bad", and nothing in the world is so bad as something which is "not so bad"!

You'll never see me denigrating the Trevi. Many years ago, I had the good fortune of being cast as Oceanus in a production of Prometheus Bound. Accordingly, I have a soft spot for the old titan. And no, I was not nude on stage. I was costumed in a proper chiton. 😁

"I'm shocked! Shocked to find that gambling is going on in here."

Long, long ago, not too far a drive from where I lived, there was an upscale pub of that name with the obligatory Sherlockian motif. It was largely supported by its proximity to a cinema. Unfortunately, the cinema switched to a dollar-movie business model and families on a tight budget replaced the full-price movie fans. 221b Backer Street did not survive the change in customer traffic.