morpheusofthesea

Took our after lunch walkabout the ship both inside and outside on the decks. Appears to be a little more crowded but still plenty of available lounge deck chairs in the sun. Air conditioning is a bit too cool inside, bring a shawl, coverups or something. We opted to buy the MSC logo jackets last month experiencing the same interior low temperatures.

This must be a new idea, addition to, the services provided by the staff at the YC one pool deck. A refreshment trolley going door to door with complimentary drinks that did not happen last month.

This morning we discovered that not everything listed on the menu is always available or if still available is not exactly as enjoyable as one remembers. For example, Berliners, those 2 bite size cream filled, light and airy donut puffs, were presently not to be found. Our new waiter, Brendan, will see about them for breakfast tomorrow. The regular donuts with white frosting and chocolate sprinkles still look delicious, but tasted like a sweet bagel rather than a donut. Fortunately the pastry tray was loaded with perfect delights. One must always 'roll with the punches' when at sea.

We had a great waiter (gold tie) Narsicio last month and he is still in the YC Restaurant this cruise. We learned a lesson about a year ago on the Seaside that one can generally have both a good favorite table and great waiter, but the following cruise a month later the table is still there but the waiter is stationed across the room. On the subsequent cruise we requested our favorite table and our old waiter across the room. Our old waiter could not keep up the great service we expected that we had been accustomed to receive from him. The maitre d' understood, we tipped our old waiter $20 for his effort for the night before and were assigned the original waiters to our favorite table this cruise. The new waiters assured us they were just as competent (also gold tie). They were.

Another butler perk I forgot to mention happened last night when Kevin came to pick us up at the cabin to escort us to dinner. He asked what our plans for the evening. We stated that we wanted to make the show in the Madison Theatre at 7:00 pm. When we arrived for dinner Kevin left us for a moment and returned to our table to inform us that he had instructed our waiter that we were at our table and that we wanted to get to the show, that we would require faster service. Usually on land and going out to dinner at any restaurant" I have to ask the maitre d' for a table near a waiter". On MSC YC all one needs is a good butler. But, really, it is all a group effort, working together to provide great service.

Took advantage of a Voyager Club discount on board the first evening only of every cruise, $10 off for every $50 spent in on board shops. Some caveats. First one has to ask for it, second it is just off the first $50, if one spends $100 only one $10, and can not be used at the Venchi Chocolate kiosk. P.S. Wait til after ship leaves Miami to save additional 7% sales tax.

We had an excellent time last month on the Seashore in the YC and we were introduced to the new Head butler Larysa. Both she and Kevin said they would be on board this June so we requested of Larysa that we have Kevin assigned to us again stressing that we would be booked on the opposite side of the ship in June. Our wish was fulfilled. Did not have to remind anyone. Still learning the importance of having a butler. Have yet to meet our assistant butler/room steward to ask for extra towels, hangers, when we like our room attended to, etc. Just gave the list to Kevin, voila, all taken care of immediately.

Our Miami view from our table in the YC restaurant at noon for lunch.

Here is another item of interest that I posted last month and thought we were an anomaly. Again this evening our butler, Kevin requested to escort us to our table in the YC restaurant. I did not take a picture of us being escorted for fear it could be interpreted as staged. But upon leaving dinner I caught this group being escorted up the Swarovski staircase from the Top Sail Lounge to the YC restaurant by their butler. Kevin met us at the TSL and escorted us to the Madison Theatre for the show "Beautiful". We wore masks in the theatre. Very few are wearing masks. The elevators are still pretty good at being empty and direct, but its only day one.

As we leave the Port of Miami we pass the Carnival Horizon. Look closely at crowd of passengers on that ship. 'Warms the cockles of one's heart' to see so many passengers back to cruising. It must be sailing near 100% capacity. Not a free space along the railings watching us glide by. Reminded me of our trying to get a good spot on deck when traversing the Panama Canal years ago not affording a cabin with a balcony.

Now this is a photo from the starboard side of the drop off points down below. On the left is general drop off and about 50 ft to the right are the tent tops for YC. By about 3 pm the 'red carpets' are rolled up and the tents removed, gangway stowed away. 'Show time'.

Below is photo of the YC section in the terminal and the refreshment table. Not quite as nice as precovid when we had sofas and cushioned chairs, sandwiches, champagne, chocolates and sometimes even live music. Buffet lunch opens at 12:30 at the one pool deck, no one there before as the attendants are helping with luggage, wheelchairs etc. Counted at least 75 B2B'ers getting back on board. Heard that there are 3200 on board of which 298 in the YC. School is out.

Started this morning by getting in the proper mood. Continuous loop of National Lampoons "Holiday Road". Got to port of Miami about 9:30 and pulled up to white tents. Unloaded DW's 12 suitcases and tipped the porter $50 to make sure our bags did not 'end up in the 'drink'. DW mentioned to the porter she read about those things happening to luggage on occasion. All luggage arrived at 1:30.

We got to OC rather late. (4 th attempt was a charm) May 14th sailing. Everyone got off the ship at the same time so there was an extremely long line waiting for the 12 person trolley to Ocean House. So we opted to hit the shops and mosey back to the ship. We recommend to eat at least once at Ocean House. First time we ate on the veranda, like Bali Hai with the palm swaying and the waves crashing on the rocks a few yards away. The next time the wind was blowing and the temperature dropped, so we were fortunate to get one of the very few tables inside. Really enjoyed the last time on board as well. Service at both was extraordinary. We tipped our waiters $10 each time. (Since they were not our regular waiters in the YC).

Same menu , but I defer to rkacruiser as the expert on most matters. Not really a lobster fan. I'll make a mental note as we leave tomorrow morning for the June 11 sailing. If we are able to dock, we will come back to the ship to eat at the YC pool deck and check.

On the eve of another exciting cruise vacation on board the magnificent MSC Seashore. I am hoping I can fit all DW's suitcases into the car. She has switched out some smaller ones for larger. She has offered to sit on one for the trip to the port. She is 5 foot tall and it just might work with 'head room'. In our case, life has been one of delayed gratification. It is very hard to break away from successful habits, but our time has come. And these posts are my catharsis. This is all there is. This is the best life has to offer. Enjoy, dance, dress up, dance some more and have a ball.

"Is that all there isIs that all there isIf that's all there is, my friendsThen let's keep dancingLet's break out the booze and have a ballIf that's all there is. " Got our 'negatives'... So I'm back to musing about our upcoming cruise on the beautiful Seashore. Heard Peggy Lee's rendition this morning and have had this 'earworm' all day. Been reading social media of several posters not finding the same great time aboard the Seashore that 'most' of us aficionados have come to enjoy. Perhaps it age. The world is always in turmoil. Our regrets were the cruises we cancelled because of world events frightening us. But these are posters who perhaps read our glowing reports of instant service, good food, great entertainment, no lines at any venue are missing their favorite brand of beverage and are having 'meltdowns' about the entire cruise. I fear with "age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone." O. Wilde

Same items on the YC pool deck. Also, we had the option for a couple of hamburgers and fries. No waiting for a table. Quite pleasant.

I happen to fall into this category. We enjoy a large enough cabin with room to dance, a separate bedroom and a quiet large balcony helps me attain a "Blue Mind". The balcony must be at least 100 sq ft and not be bulk head so my ocean view is intact when in an inclined position. Prefer total shade, so rotate from cabin to YC pool deck cabana of Seashore type ship vs Divina RS (bulkhead type). Each of the above ships and cabins fit this criteria without going to a higher category suite, they are the very minimum. "The best laid schemes of mice and men..." No one can prevent cabin neighbors from smoking on their verandas or coughing up a storm in the cabana next door, so an attachable deck chair umbrella is invaluable when one must seek refuge again in ones cabin balcony in the sun.

Thank you for your reply. It was your post a few years ago (2017 ?) that prompted us to book the YC in 2018 and greatly value your opinions ever since. Found the YC 'enclave' more like a refuge, a castle with no real need to wander outside its 'walls'. Several steps above the Haven and just one step above the Retreat. Going to try HAL's N.Amsterdam (Pinnacle suite), Regent Mariner (MS), Regent Grandeur (GS), Explora 1 (GP) and Oceania Sirena (OS) to compare. Our we making any mistakes? P.S. Never acquired a taste for caviar. Only service that funnels to a greater "Blue Mind" experience.

Different strokes for different folks ? Slow running water always has me running in search of a 'head'. What kind of feeling did you get ? Which other cruise lines ? I respect your opinions. Makes us wonder why we are being 'singled out' for such treatment. It obviously does not occur since you and anyone else never witnessed this ?

I guess back in 2016 you thought quite differently about MSC, hence mscdivina2016 is your 'handle'.? P.S. Yes, if what happened to you happened to me I would definitely have a hard time attaining my "Blue Mind" state.

All these beautiful things provided to us in the Yacht Club contribute by relaxing our sensitive natures. I never enjoyed the sea as much 40 years ago traveling on two lowers on the inside. Walking through cluttered hallways of trays filled with soiled plates and half drank glasses. Standing in long lines waiting to see a guest relations purser, never finding an available deck chair unless I 'play the game ' and get up every morning before dawn and 'hog' our own. Never could get to a "Blue Mind" or experience "negative ions" when inundated by these types of things. Now find that being treated with 'kid gloves' is the way to achieve Nirvana.

Yes. Indeed. I am glad you brought this up. It adds to my list. I find that to enhance my "blue mind" lounging out on my shaded balcony over looking the endless ocean listening to the ship cutting its way through the water, I increase my negative ions by eating milk chocolate. " Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy." I stock up at the Venchi chocolate kiosk the first evening of my cruise. Thank you for your kind words.

Another subtle difference of the Yacht Club that it allows the “blue mind” to take hold faster and last longer while on board several MSC vessels, is the ambience of the Top Sail Lounge. Wall to wall, ceiling to floor glass windows spanning the bow of the ship and rising two decks with background music during the day featuring vocals by greats like, Ella Fitzgerald. Ever present butlers in crisp, clean livery providing instantaneous service. In the evenings a pianist, violinist or sometimes both, indulges one in an elegant meeting place before being escorted to dinner by one's personal butler, up a Swarovski jeweled lighted staircase into the loft-like YC restaurant above.