morpheusofthesea

I had the same question back in February before our first cruise on the Seashore. Had our TA call MSC, she called her MSC rep who told her "It will be determined on a case by case basis." All we can say is no one was reported 'left behind' on any island we visited on the 5 cruises since February 2022. P.S. While on board 2 weeks ago, all staff were tested every week. Those testing positive were quarantined on the ship until we got back to Miami where they were removed to housing on shore until testing negative.

Is there a Piazza del Doge on the Seashore ? Or something similar? Something like Cafe al Bacio on Celebrity ?

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/before-you-go/what-to-wear

We were escorted by our butler to the Tribeca Restaurant at 9 am on a Thursday morning, the restaurant was closed for breakfast. Escorted back to our cabin and told to wait for a phone call within 10 minutes if positive. No phone call means negative and no need to wait any longer. On day of disembarkation..... At 10:30 there were 14 B2B in the YC in the TSL, when we were escorted to the elevators and taken down to deck 6 and used our new key cards to get off. When we got to the deck 6 gangway there were another approximately 100 other B2Bers lined up and being held back waiting for us to be rushed in front of them to get off first (even before those in wheelchairs). Next we all waited in a long line in the terminal with a couple of butlers in front and 2 butlers behind the 14th YCer to keep the other B2Bers from rushing and butting ahead of us. This was a longer than expected wait. Then we were escorted down to the luggage claim area (empty) and went through facial recognition with about 6 working machines followed by another long wait to get clearance to reboard the ship as we all stood again in one long line. By 11:10 we were allowed to board, no security check, only ship key card scan and back on the ship

We’ve sailed YC 5 times and I’ll tell you even YC is not what it used to be. It is startling the contrast between posters. Perhaps first timers in the YC are struck by the attention. Then we and our service providers become complacent (?) on subsequent sailings. They and we become 'known' quantities ? Sure many of our favorites have not come back and the newbies do not know the extent of their services. But we had a seasoned butler on the first leg of our cruise in June and he was abruptly replaced by another butler who excelled even he. She was not quite sure the extent of her powers as a butler, so we did not expect instant gratification (a yes answer), but she came back with even more 'flourish'. How these butlers manage having 12/13 cabins to attend to and give such great service the entire cruise, begs the question.

Your experience confirms my beliefs in never booking the lowest price category on any cruise line. Sounds like one step above having one shanghaied and then impressed into service. Seen many reviews of many reporting the same on other cruise lines low priced categories. Now if one was 'accosted' in such a manner as you report in the higher categories, that would be 'newsworthy'. One might be pleasantly surprised with ones treatment on board any MSC ship in the higher categories.

Yes, we have been spoiled by many waiters in the YC over the years. Very few have returned to service, and even if they had we are never sure they could live up to the expectation of the service they once provided. Sometimes they may become complacent. So we never ask for a particular waiter. We think it is very important to ask our assigned waiter (gold tie) his name and to introduce us to his assistant (black tie), the first day. One morning our waiters were on 'assignment' ? We had a different waiter, not assigned. At the end of breakfast as we were leaving we tipped him $5 for his service. The next time this same waiter came running to our table at Ocean House to take our order for lunch, again we tipped him $10 for his service at the end of the meal. We find the more non-tipping guests the better our service no matter how crowded the venue.

My guess...that the scanner personnel are not available until 4pm doing other duties during embarkation day. Video is playing all the time, but only at 4pm are the code # and request to have key card scanned at muster station advertised. Scanner personnel wear a pink ball cap. Pre covid one could even do muster drill the following day. B2Bs do not need to do it a second time (at least not in YC).

Sort of impossible with the elevators. Still unbelievable that the posted maximum is 21 persons. One might want to wear a mask for the short ride. If one is young enough, take the stairs. One will find this hard to avoid at 4 pm embarkation day for muster station card scan YC either deck 7 in the casino or Madison Theatre and getting back to the YC deck 16,18, 0r 19.

Been on several Seashore cruises, Feb, March, May, June 2022. Love coming home again in the YC. We wore masks every time in the Madison Theatre in the YC section. Sometimes in the Cabaret Rouge if crowded. As the months progressed less and less guests wore masks. We were strictly in the minority. Staff are tested weekly and removed from the ship to Miami until tested negative. All B2Bs were tested onboard for the second week. Perhaps by October there will no longer be any testing, before or during any cruise? There will always be those of us who will continue to mask up in the venues with no social distancing, for a long time to come.

Most of us can say the same thing. My 'beef' with the buffets have never been the food, just the self-service. Stopped going to self-service buffets having witnessed the antics of fellow passengers. Did not appreciate the guy in front of me picking out all the shrimp from the pot. Had it been served we all would have gotten a 'fair share'.

Food is a personal, deep-seated idiosyncrasy peculiar to each individual. Would it be farfetched to imagine that the same chef is rotating from one kitchen to another, in a confined space as a cruise ship, in response to more anticipated bookings in one venue from another; cooking on similar hardware the same seafood, chicken, meats only presented differently? Perception is reality. The buffet appears to be a free for all, but take the same entrees and put them on a dressed plate with colorful garnish, served in moments by an attentive waiter grinding pepper, grading cheese, and topping up your glass of wine….viola … an upcharge!

Still the case on Seashore. One just has to know how to 'grease the wheels'.

Exactly what we found. But we respect Paphillyguy's astute observations.

Dear Paphillyguy, You posted this several times and I am intrigued. Very interested in what you found different. Could you be more specific ? Would want to know what to watch out for on future sailings. Was it passenger counts? Number of YC guests? Fear of covid onboard ? Certain staff away on vacation? We were on Feb, March, May and June and am planning July. Would like to know what I missed in June ? TIA.

Since we have only sailed in the YC, we have not experienced the buffet or the pizza area. When we ordered a pizza one evening to be delivered to our cabin it came delivered by our assigned butler Annalisa in a pizza box placed inside a blue insulated pizza warmer, with real plates and cloth napkin wrapped silverware. Just what one expects of YC. Wonder if one could do the same with crepes ? Will ask next month.

We agree. Suppose we have to look at everything outside the Yacht Club as the 'county fair'. I wonder if the Explora 1 will have the same type of Venchi kiosk?

Found forward elevators more 'receptive' when on decks 6,7,8 and wish to go to deck 19 YC. One of the perks of low capacity sailings. We moved to deck 16 YC on subsequent sailings and found elevators not as 'receptive' perhaps due to two 2 factors: increased passengers (double 1500 to 3000) and the fact that deck 16 is also the ship's buffet. There are occasions when the buffet is the only venue open for general population and getting an empty elevator is a 'long shot'. We begin walking up the stairs and trying another floor.

We are now home. The hardest part of the entire cruise was self driving out of the port, even with GPS. Once on I95 North, DW turned to me and said this was probably the best cruise time we ever had. I had to agree... This is all there is ....

Noticed while waiting to leave the ship this morning one family was required by US officials to be cleared first before anyone else. We were told that the family missed the ship embarkation day, took a flight to pick up ship at next port of call and needed to be processed by US immigration upon return by the ship. Resulting in a 15 minute delay.

At 8:44 a bell tolled from the PA on shore, signaled the start of the second lighthouse show. It lasted 6 minutes with music. As the last 15 seconds approached the end of the lighthouse show, the ropes were unfastened and we began our departure from this beautiful island paradise.

We arrived and docked, uneventfully, (no drama of 4 attempts) at Ocean Cay. From our starboard balcony we could enjoy a view of Ocean Cay. Just seeing all the passengers swimming, sunning, milling around from our balcony gave one a sense of all was right with the world again.

Thanks. We have never seen any "fireworks", just a light show as the lighthouse lights up. Ours tonight was about 5 minutes long at 8:15 pm, all aboard at 8:30 and another coming up at 8:45pm. We hope to be on the Seascape as well and booked the starboard side in anticipation of the captains always 'parking ' the same way. After the first light show, accompanied with music, the lighthouse continues to make a display with no music, pictured below.

Three gangways for Ocean Cay. One for 3000+ exiting passengers in background, a second for returning 3000+ guests, and a third for 300 +-YC guests.

With a balcony view like this one of Ocean Cay why bother getting off the ship? (Yes, unless one takes a hour to hit the logo shops on the island). Though I must say that the Yacht Club goes all out to prepare Ocean House, its secluded, guarded enclave on the island exclusive to its YC guests. IMG_1996.m4v