CruisinShips

With all due respect to Laura, so many of these responses are coming across as patronizingly empty. I know it's obviously not an option to answer a question like this one with something more direct like "because we need to focus on our bottom line and we are betting on enough people still paying the outrageous prices regardless". Sadly, I have been one of them...but with a typical 7 day standard Caribbean cruise in a Celebrity Suite now coming out to around $14,000 for a couple, plus gratuities and in person tips...we are re-evaluating our future plans rather than continuing our 2 or 3 such cruises a year. Many of us are just hoping the "because we can" business mentality will hopefully have a reasonably short shelf-life, and the cruise line will realize the pricing is short-sighted. That's my hope, anyway.

FWIW, we sailed on the Apex for the first time in February, and while on board, booked the same cabin for the same time next year. Great ship and crew!

A few weeks ago, my stepdaughter called in a panic that, while driving, that notification popped up on her phone. She was (understandably) very freaked out. She has two small children and was in a panic. They scoured her car and found nothing. Finally, they opened the baby stroller and found that my wife (her mom) had left her wallet in a pocket in the stroller earlier that day (she keeps one in her wallet).

I did not. I believe the status match page asked for a booking number of a future or past MSC cruise. So I booked the cruise, signed up for the status match, and then handed it to my travel agent and he called about the status match discount.

FWIW, my TA just notified me that MCS gave me a 5% discount based on my status match (Gold) on a 7 night YC booking.

Hi all. We just booked our first MSC cruise. I completed the status match application and (quickly) got back confirmation that I am deemed Gold level. My question is this: Do I have to do the same thing for my wife? Or is there a way to link status between members (she has not yet signed up for Voyagers Club), or does it not really matter if she has status match since we cruise together? Thanks in advance!

I just watched a good review of the Beyond (non Retreat) from a you tube channel called Cruise News and Booze. You may want to check it out.

We too have stayed in Crown Loft suites...rear facing ones on the Oasis, Allure and Symphony, and liked them very much. I agree the 17th floor being suites only with the Coastal Kitchen/Lounge is a very good setup. We could easily do without the butler we enjoy in the Retreat, the a CL was exactly where I was leaning before this thread convinced me to try MSC YC. That being said, a week cruise in a CL is no great bargain either....

I can't believe you're not satisfied with one or two news stations, some form of ESPN that shows sporting events one never knew existed, a channel or two that show nonstop cartoons, an onboard infomercial, or the view of the ocean ahead. What more do you need?

I was on the Eclipse last October (west coast) and the wifi was so bad, nothing would stream. Hopefully that had to do with cabin location, ship location, or both.

Thank you. We booked the Seascape.

So, since starting this thread, we have booked a cruise on MSC YC. I will say we have absolutely LOVED our two prior Retreat experiences...first was the Eclipse last October, and then that experience was eclipsed by an absolutely wonderful cruise in a CS on the Apex in February. We enjoyed that one so much that we booked the same cabin on the same ship for February of next year. So while we now have two Retreat cruises booked, the pricing and the reviews I have read right here in this thread have motivated me to try MSC. I agree with many others...we live in South Florida and really love the convenience of Caribbean cruises, so the ship is more important to us than the ports...that's why the smaller ships just aren't appealing for those itineraries. Anyway...this has been a VERY enlightening discussion, and I sincerely appreciate all of the great feedback so many have provided.

I've had some real frustration with the online Status Match form page. #1 it requires you to upload a "membership card" from the other loyalty club...I am not sure about anyone else, but I don't have a membership card from Royal or Celebrity; #2 To get around that, I uploaded a screen cap of my loyalty number and status from Celebrity. When I finally got that finished, and hit confirm to submit the completed page, I got an error message. Has anyone else experienced anything similar, and do I need to call them? Thanks

Can’t you save me the trouble please….how would they assess the Retreat?

OK...I deserve to be smacked for missing that.