AZAaronBoy

On 4/11/2022 at 8:30 AM, LACruiser88 said:

Alongside the Ruby this morning on a rainy San Francisco day.

Is this taken from Pier 27? Did they dock bow or aft in? Trying to determine if I'll have a view of Golden Gate or Bay Bridge from balcony.

So, I’m patiently standing in a line to get onto a tender when I can feel someone off of my right shoulder trying to get by me. I turn my head to see who it is and take a slight step to the right to block the person. The woman is holding up a black cruise card and with an annoyed look on her face she says “I’m elite, I get to go first”.

I hold up my black card and tell her, “that doesn’t mean anything to me and the line is behind me. “

I do believe those were death stares I was getting from her on the tender. :D

 

My guess is she is just as rude off the ship as she was on.

I would rather be the last one to board the tender. Last on First off, less time crammed in the front, back, or roasting in the sun when not moving.

I am 'young' for Elite but do not expect to be treated any differently at bars or public areas of the ship. All we really care about is the Laundry, Internet, and nightly cocktail parties. Lately have been booking suites for double credit and get most of those amenities anyway. Now we can't seem to downgrade.

On the sapphire now and the laundry is super slow. Tomorrow it will be 2 days since I sent it. So much for same day. Sabatinis is very nice and cabin c750 is great. So quiet. Personalized stationery rec'd in the back of the binder. Easy to miss.

I'll be in this cabin in 12 days, do you have any pictures to share or can you tell me about the balcony seating? I've seen pictures of a table with 4 chairs and two loungers or table with 2 chairs and two loungers.

I upgraded to impress what I hope to be my future in laws who will be on their 1st cruise. Hoping to be able to do breakfast/tea/dinner for four people on the balcony at least once or twice during the cruise.

Thanks for the MSC information, I am leaving on the MSC Musica in a few weeks.

Found a spa package that includes access for a week and multiple treatments for 390 Euros.

Did you use the facilities at all? Even though it is co-ed I can live through that for the chance to relax. What were the changing rooms/showers like? I am sharing a cabin with a roomate and usually use the spa area for showering/dressing. They are bigger and helps keep me motivated to work out if I am up there.

Does anyone have any experience on MSC or specifically the MSC Musica? Will be sailing on them on August from Venice.

Stumbled on this thread looking to see if Princess offered Male therapists for spa treatments. I am a big fan of steam/sauna and prefer non co-ed so I can be naked or just a towel. Glad I can make a contribution. Ok on to the EPIC.

I was onboard during a cruise industry event in July when it first reached the states. It has been a few months so I will do my best. The spa and gym area's are very impressive however they utalize 2 seperate locker rooms.

Gym and it's locker room are free, no time to work out so only waled through this locker room briefly. I know there were no saunas or steam just 2-3 showers, restroom facilities, and maybe lockers.

For access to the spa/locker room you had to be booked in the appropriate cabin spa access category. (Possibly suites also included check with your travel agent) OR purchase a day/full cruise pass. I think mine for just me was $30-$40 for the 3 days. This also gave me access to the co-ed area that will be covered later. My boss was also on this cruise and we were shocked to find this access was not incuded as part of a spa treatment. Hopefully this has changed as I like shower/steam before any treatments. (I'm sure my therapist apprecates this as well)

The locker room was very large to get a locker key you exchange it for your room key. 2 regular showers and 1 larger disabled stall. Steam was large enough to seat 8 comfortably, more if people sat closer together. Didn't seem to get to hot but there were still last minute details being worked out on this sailing. Dry sauna was very small and different configuration. To enter you walk in and turn immediatly to the left were there are two benches. If anyone is seated there they have to move or you climb over them to sit on the bench.

Also inside the locker room was a small seating area with cold water. There was a connection for a TV or Flat screen monitor but it had not been installed.

Co-Ed Area

In this area your are expected to wear a swimsuit. It is in the rear of the ship with 6-8 heated loungers facing an exclusive outdoor deck area with daybeds and chase lounges. There was the biggest tholassatherapy pool I have ever seen. It was broken out into a few different areas within the larger pool. Hard to explain but very nice with different jets/bubbles to relax away the stress.

Within the co-ed area there were 2 dry sauna's, both explained what the differences were but I don't remember. A floor to celing glass wall provided great views. Plenty of seating but not sure on how many. The steam sauna was also very large, much hotter than what was in the locker room.

Pro's

Option of seperate or co-ed steam/sauna areas, locker room areas no views.

Large locker room with plenty of lockers.

Water Fountain or cups of cold water avalable. Refreshments in co-ed area, juice, tea, etc.

Con's

Fee based or must be booked in premium category

Seperate Gym/Spa locker rooms - Not as much socalizing unless people pay.

When I was onboard booking a spa treatment did not give you access to these amenities.

3 Showers were enough but for such a large area might not be enough.

Let me know if you have more specific questions that might jog my memory.

Since PAT&PAUL touched on an NCL ship (Pride of America), I'd also like to ask if anyone's sailed the Epic and can provide a detailed description of the men's sauna and steam rooms.

 

I've scoured the NCL boards for a description, but, as usual, they are sketchy & confusing at-best. What I've pieced together: I believe there is a for-fee/co-ed area with a jacuzzi, balcony and co-ed steam & sauna rooms. However, I'd also like to know if there are complimentary (read: FREE) NON-co-ed sauna or steam rooms in the men's locker room (???).

 

It appears the layout of the sauna & steam amenities on the Epic differs from the Pearl & Jewel (which I intend to visit someday soon, as they sound GREAT), so it would be nice to understand (clearly) how they are different.

 

Much obliged in advance,

Gigglewolf O' the Seas

:p