no1talks

The juniper berries in gin might, perhaps, provide an outdoorsy, pine-scented note to one's breath. Maybe you have a red flannel shirt?

It's a good thing YC gives you two bottles of vodka. If you run out of Lysol, you can use one of the bottles as a sanitizer.

Can an unforced error like this still be partially recouped with the cancel-for-any-reason provision of travel insurance?

For purposes of staying within the $13.50 price limit of the drink package, how does Cunard price cocktails not appearing on their menu? One-liquor drinks would seem to be simple enough, but what about libations calling for two, three, or even four alcoholic ingredients? Thank you in advance for your expertise.

Ceiling?

I'm no expert on typical Celebrity cruisers, but I'd wager the rowdies on MSC these days are more likely to indulge in mischief than the most rambunctious of Celebrity cruisers.

Do they let you on the ship for free? Let's see if you get this example: If I pay $500 to attend a charity gala and a member of the catering staff hands me a glass of underwhelming bubbly, was the bubbly free? No. It was included. I only had access to it because I paid the 500 bucks in the first place. Cruises are the same. Everything "free" is predicated on money being paid to get on the ship in the first place. Even people who are on a cruise with a casino comp have paid for that cruise with past losses at the tables/slot machines. Veteran cruisers who have collected a cruise through a loyalty program have still paid for that cruise over years of sticking with the brand. Exempting a small percentage of passengers who are invited guests of the cruise line and pay nothing to be on the ship, shuffleboard is not free. This isn't a difficult concept to grasp, really.

I think you mean, "It's included in the price of every other cruise line." MSC charges extra for plenty of things and that is part of what keeps their cruise prices low.

This comment made my day and I thank you. Lawn boys at the Ritz. That's delightful. 😆

Nope. Referring to Crystal passengers as fossils occurred in a Friday morning post. "With all it's pools and bars the ship was designed for a younger cliental rather than the fossils that permeate Crystal."

Indeed, who would be? Unfortunately, the alternatives are to pay more for YC-or-better cruise amenities elsewhere or just save your money and cruise with fewer refinements. 🤔

"All the years I've waited for this. The ship is mine! I have the ship. The ship is mine. I got it!"

Just call up the captain and say, "Please bring me my wine." (I just couldn't resist.)

There are only two acceptable answers: "Not enough of them" and "All of them." 😉 I'm a "not enough of them" and will work on that once I've retired and can be on a trip for more than a fortnight. (This is predicated on MSC not losing too much of what makes them appealing.)

You should reread my answer to Guindalf AND Guindalf's original question. I'm not incorrect at all. The question asked was whether JW Blue was in the drinks package. Since Guindalf mentions prior experience with Retreat and Haven, but not YC, it would be logical to understand my answer, "Lord no," applies only to YC. Why would I be answering for Retreat or Haven if Guindalf has been there to see first-hand? In fact, Guindalf confirmed having Haven knowledge (and consumption) of JW Blue in a later post on Wednesday.

Is that confirmed fleet-wide? Changes in MSC policy often trickle out, ship-by-ship.

For specifics, Google "MSC liquor list" and you should find a pdf without much trouble. Generally speaking, if the ship is fully supplied, expect sixteen or so labels in the included price range and another two or three requiring payment. Check with your butler as to which labels can be chosen for your included room bottle. That choice will be much more limited.

No, but among the varied hats I've worn is that of hotel security. I'm familiar with the technology involved and how to mess with it. If a cruise company is on the ball, the material used in these envelopes would thwart most forms of mischief that would leave no visible sign.

Forget about the naysayers who discourage extra tipping in YC. Tipping staff there is completely normal. In fact, the YC concierge desk has tip-sized envelopes available upon request.

That Premium Plus access costs. NCL doesn't include a drink package with Haven, but it's easy to cruise NCL with a Free at Sea "Unlimited Open Bar" package. Then, you would pay $34.80 per person per day, which includes the service fee on the upgrade, for access to JW Blue. So, you would likely pay significantly more to be in Haven in the first place, compared to YC. Then, you'd pay for a drink upgrade that would mostly cover three daily JW Blue upcharges of 11 buck plus service fee if you're on MSC with their Premium Extra package. That's the package YC includes, by the way. (Of course, prices can go up without notice and the $11 JW Blue difference could expand.) Well, if you hang with drink-buying ballers, it doesn't really matter and you should cruise where they cruise.

Due, no doubt, to the blended scotch hounds who drank each cruise dry. 😂

Lord no! Even luxury lines don't offer JW Blue as an included liquor if you check their listed brands. However, if you are on an MSC ship that has rolled out the pay-the-difference pricing policy, you'll just pay an up-charge. Yacht Club gets the Premium Extra package, which tops out at $16. JW Blue goes for (I think) $27. That would leave you on the hook for $11, plus service charge on the difference.

Potential result of mischief done by a passing knucklehead. Also easily perpetrated by prankish dopes going down the hall. Bringing the flow of embarkation to a halt, thanks to the hijinks of others who should know better. Except in this situation, instead of a finite number of employees, an indeterminate number of fellow cruisers are added to the mix. How many of those passengers might think it hilarious to mess with cards on the doors as they walk past during embarkation? Would there be different levels of risk for key-related shenanigans between a costly luxury cruise filled with seniors and a mass-market ship packed with spring breakers? Probably.

While there is video camera coverage in cabin passages, would not unattended and activated key cards on the doors create an opportunity for mischief, if not outright criminality?