Russ_MT

On 8/22/2019 at 9:39 AM, marcoigna said:

-  sometime we went to some private beaches, so we had our butler prepare us a cooler full of drinks - so that was nice as

  

Marco, this is brilliant.   If we do an excursion we will certainly consider this.   

Thanks!

--Russ

On 8/25/2019 at 3:35 PM, CarolnLarry said:

Hey Russ we would love to join you but we just got off a BTB the first of July.  

Sounds like you will have a great time in the RS.  Make sure you have the butler bring you breakfast on the balcony.

One other thing our butler did for us the last trip was get me American coffee in a to go cup from the bar.  He knew I didn’t like the strong coffee so he recommended this , It is a coffee mixed with hot water. The  to go cup is the only cup they had that was Big enough todo this.  I would hit the make up the room switch and he or the room steward

would know I was awake so they got my coffee. Since you will always have a card in the slot you will use the room status switches as a code to the butler and room steward.

They always  seemed to know where we were most of the time.

be sure and ask about the noon seafood buffet in the Top Sail, only one day, it was great.  First time I had grilled lobster  tail.

I am really getting spoiled sailing in the YC.

The YC is getting harder to get and no price deals, Carol got 30% off from  a casino deal and a discount from my TA. So our little Social SEcurity checks covered the rest.  Have fun Larry

Thanks for the tips Larry.  We will use the light signal.  Sounds like a great idea. 

1 hour ago, CarolnLarry said:

We thought and thought about your poor delema of being in a RS.  After the butler escorts you to your suite tell him and the room steward:

1,You want an extra key card to keep in the slot so the electricity doesn't shut down when you leave your room

2,  Take the duvet off the bed for your whole trip as it gets in the way and the room steward will love not having to throw that 

         big. heavy thing around

3.  Get an extra ice bucket that fits on the bottom shelf for all guests you will have visit

4  Tell him the wine/ alcohol that you like and he will see to it is there for you.  I had a glass of Titos vodka in the mini bar every day. 

 

 

Thanks for the tips Larry.  We'll do that.  Gotta get some friends to enjoy the big cabin. 

When are you and Carol cruising next?  Would love to connect. 

We are doing RCL Symphony the week prior in a crown loft suite.  So nice.   Then finishing off in MSC RS the week after.   MSC yacht club is sooooo nice.   I hope they don't raise prices.  It's a hidden gem. 

--Russ

On 8/20/2019 at 6:03 PM, CarolnLarry said:

Anything that is not illegal or immoral that enhances and makes my cruise better.

Hey Russ we were on the cruise with you on the seaside, did you feel like you missed something?

Larry, we had an awesome cruise and enjoyed meeting you both.   However we booked the Royal Suite this time and generally are low maintenance.   But we're thinking, what else should our butler do for us?   Marco and Ing. had a sail away party in their RS and butlers provided snacks and drinks. 

Last time our butler brought, opened and poured a bottle of wine.  That's all nice.  But what is expected of butlers?   Especially in the RS?  I hear they will bring dinner to balcony.  That might be nice.   But besides minibar, extra towels, bottles of water, what should we expect from the butlers?   We don't want to be demanding, but maybe there are things we should ask for. 

On NCL, our butler in Haven brought us daily snacks, sandwiches, gummy bears, M&Ms and such.   We didn't ask but was nice to have provided.   I'm sure other YC guests want to know what butler services adds to their experience. 

And we really don't want escorts to anything or my shoes shined.  But maybe other perks would be nice for the up charge of YC.  MSC seams to push butler service in YC and I was wondering what they provide.  

--Russ

Many threads on YC and butler service.   So what can/should you ask your butler to do?    

What can we ask our butler to do? 

Go.....

Oh yea, and the second week we didn't have to muster.   So that's a plus.

1 hour ago, jules815 said:

We've done a couple of B2B's on RC and love them.  We did a week on Seaside YC in January and didn't want to commit to 2 weeks since it was a new line for us.  Needless to say, we wish we had, because the week goes by so fast and we loved it.  I know people have been complaining about the new menus and service in the YC restaurant (hope it hasn't declined that much!), but when I looked at other cruise lines, I keep coming back to MSC for the YC, especially the pool deck with that buffet and bar.  Ship is the destination for us; we've done the Caribbean itineraries many times, but we still always enjoy and have places we like to revisit, but usually are back on by lunch time and at the pool.  And we'll get to go to Ocean Cay (twice!) so that will be something different.     

 

I wonder if the Maria you had as your assistant butler is the same Maria that served us pre-dinner drinks in the YC lounge?  She was so nice!  As I recall, she was the butler that escorted us to our room from the lounge on the first day, and insisted on carrying my backpack.  

 

I hadn't even thought about turn around day with the butlers assisting.  I bet it will be a super easy process.  Is it true you don't have to do muster on the second week?  

 

The trip is a surprise for my husband's birthday/Christmas.  It's going to be really hard to keep this secret!  

 

 

 

 

Your experience sounds exactly like ours.   We have been loyal to Royal (and will be on Symphony of the seas the week prior to our Seaside).   The ship is our destination.  YC is a special place.  At the risk of offending others, I would never book outside of YC.    The service level is what makes it special.   The ship is crowded by our standards and YC makes it feel "normal".  

We bagged the Royal Suite in YC for our sailing and are excited for our 1 short week on the ship.   

Turn around in MIA was a burden (had to go through customs) but it was made easier with butlers.  

If Maria is still there, she will be your asst butler (the name is a distinction) she will be awesome.   She hugged us when we left  (over and over) A true gem.   All the YC staff are awesome!

You need to document your cruise here and provide a review.  

--Russ

2 hours ago, jules815 said:

Secret door?!  I love secret doors on cruise ships!  

 

I've decided to stay with 16010, because...I just booked it for the next week, turning our cruise into a back-to-back!  And now we have a secret door, which will be very handy.  I'm visualizing where that door is, and that would be right around the staircase where they have the menu posted.  Perfect!  🙂

We did a B2B last December.    Not the same cabin, however our butler told us to leave our clothes and he moved them to the new cabin for us.   Two weeks is a good amount of time.   And of course the butlers escort you on the turn day in Miami through customs.

Yes, the door comes out where you said.    It's not much different than going into the hallway via the glass doors but I used it often for some reason.  Our assistant butler, Maria, would run down the hall to open our door.   I hope she is still there or was promoted.  She was amazing.

1 hour ago, Beachin2 said:

Thanks Russ.  I already have a note on my travel planner to turn off automatic updates and uploads on both of our devices.  Very accustomed to having unlimited plans at sea where you purchase different speeds & access capabilities rather than capacities.

 

Feel like we are managing a 1990's cell phone plan.

Oh yea....automatic updates are another thing to check.  I have so many apps that seem to update so often.

Also many iPhone apps are constantly "phoning home" so I check those as well and turn it off.

What I didn't check was iCloud which when connected to WiFi (it thinks you are at home with unlimited bandwidth) it uploaded all my videos and photos which apparently were Gigabytes worth.   So now I turn off iCloud.

It does feel like 1990s cell phone plan where you have to monitor your usage.   I don't know why MSC does it this way.   Other ships do not.

--Russ

Last December we had 3 GB plan for 2 devices.  We ran out and had to buy more which wasn't expensive.   I then learned iCloud was turned on and uploaded all my video and photos.

--Russ

Thanks for the clarification.  I think the all in means Wi-Fi is included.   Makes sense as all yc have premium package and they never checked/scanned our card/band for anything.  That would be bothersome.  Only outside of yc did they ever check our package.  I’m glad nothing has changed.   They need to make it clear when booking yc.   

I only care because it’s cheaper to upgrade pre boarding.  God to know we won’t need to. 

We sailed in December on Seaside YC and "Premium" was included which was fine for us.  Includes everything up to $12.   The EASY package is minimal up to $6  "house wines etc".  

Our docs use the term "all in plus wifi" which is the EASY package and wondering if they have changed something in YC since 

our Dec 2018 cruise.   I'm hoping the docs are just as stupid as their website.

We never had to show any cards or bands in YC because EVERYONE had the premium package.   Butler would bring us a bottle of wine to our cabin all included.

--Russ

Can someone recently off YC let me know what drink package level is included.  Our docs are confusing.   Claim "all in" which is the Easy package.   Last year on YC we had the Premium package included with YC.

Thanks,

--Russ

That looks like some crew area.  But I doubt it will be noisy.   There is a hallway between your cabin and that space.   I think it's space butlers use for linens and such (BTW  YC changes ALL bedding every day).

We were in 16012 and there is a "secret door" at the forward end of that hallway directly into the lounge.  Our asst butler pointed this out.   This allows you to enter the lounge without going out into the main center hallway.    

Does YC have reserved Front Row seats or did your butler reserve them specifically for you?

On 7/1/2019 at 7:30 AM, Linda the Book Lover said:

Perhaps we lucked out. We had great service every meal and we ate almost all of them in the YC except for breakfast twice when we had room service and one night in Butchers Cut. The servers and the Maitre D were all so very nice. We also ordered meals to split and for me extra desserts (my cruise temptation every time). The four of us had a really nice time on the ship and especially the YC. In comparison to the Haven my DH and I both felt we enjoyed the different meal each day aspect and did feel the YC staff was more welcoming to us than the Haven. I am not knocking the Haven but we loved YC more. 

 

+1

We sailed YC in December 2018.

We found food comparable to NCL Haven.   Shipwide, NCL food was better.   MSC is an Italian line so it has that slant.   It was good food.  Better than MDR of any mid-range line.   Atmosphere was nice and attentive.   If we didn't like something, our waiter brought us something we did.  They wanted us to be happy.

Our Maitre D was excellent.  Waiters were always trying to please...very hard.   Our glasses never went empty.    

YC manager came around all the time to check on us.   YC Manager did some amazing things to correct tiny mistakes (gave us a free cabana).

Quite a different experience from OP.  We did eat earlier...5:30 and were just 2 people.  Perhaps the large/late group threw a wrench in it.    We did join a big group one night and services was exceptional.   The OP is puzzling.  

We're booked again and look forward to YC.   We don't expect Michelin 3-star restaurants at this price point.  We don't cruise for the food else we'd pick another line.  

Food is subjective.   Our opinion:

MSC Butchers cut and the Seafood specialty restaurants disappointed us.   RCL Chops was Soooo much better.  NCL specialty were Soooo much better.   We thought the YC filet was better than Butchers Cut.

YC pool deck food was blah.   We don't like buffet food.  Service was exceptional.

YMMV

29 minutes ago, Até said:

I also prefer aft facing over forward facing for the same reasons.  I have one of those forward Meraviglia Aurea suites w/hot tub booked anyway.  Have you seen the Mardi Gras aft suites renderings?  I'm still not sure about Carnival though.

 

That's really nice.  We've never done Carnival.   That is enticing though.  Wow

Again, it's a very nice cabin, with tons of space.  2 large loungers and a nice big hot tub (compared to those tiny ones on Seaside).   That's rare on any ship.  I would want to spend a lot of time in those private loungers rather than a crowded pool deck.

However, I don't like that metal stuff blocking the view.   I do love the wrap around view.  Port days would give a lot of things to see forward and side.

 I'll never book a forward facing cabin again though.  Wind noise drove me crazy.  The aft cabins are the best in my opinion.   No wind, gentle sound of the wake.    But everyone is different and there is no one size fits all.

Our hot tub at home is open to the sky.   That's what we like, to soak and take in the view.  I'm not sure this would give much of a view.  Maybe I'm wrong.  Seems too claustrophobic for me.    But then again, a private hot tub on a ship is quite the luxury.  

This is 11011 on Meraviglia.  

I just looked up your cabin and it has a massive balcony.  The hot tube is huge!  Not the smaller ones on Seaside.

It's definitely a great cabin.   My only hesitation would be that it's FORWARD facing.  They do have a "windshield".  The steel structure below seems a bit boxy and blocks the views.   See

https://www.holidaycheck.de/kreuzfahrten/bild-msc-meraviglia-aurea-suite-11011-whirlpool/caf112de-0c59-35cf-9565-7eb7ad35f3a9/98161d28-a4c3-34d6-b4b9-0c7116be3823

These balconies are unique in that they have steel instead of glass on the bottom of the balcony.  

We had an forward facing Owners suite on NCL Escape.   Fantastic cabin except while at sea.  The wind noise was horrendous.  

It's a toss up.   If you want to spend time in that cabin and have guests, it's got LOTS of room.   

We have a hot tub at home so that wouldn't be a draw for us.  In fact, we are weird about hot tubs that other people have been in.   People are gross.  

--Russ

We did 2 weeks in YC on Seaside last December.     First time MSC.

Our observations are the ship is understaffed.   I hear many complaints about waiting for service (bars drinks etc.)   The crew/passenger ratio isn't good on MSC.   See  https://www.cruisewatch.com/top-10/ships-passenger-crew-ratio/

We also found the ship to be crowded. 

We didn't need a butler.   However, they are pooled.  So they wander around everywhere.  

Seating for shows...they escort you to reserved seating.  Escort you on/off ship.  We hate waiting and paying to not wait is worth every penny.

Our butler did bring us a bottle of wine and glasses (opened and poured) to our cabin.  Mini bar is stocked and free.   We said "there is no Baileys" and he said it doesn't come in small bottles and filled a glass with Baileys, covered it and put it in the fridge.

Stocked us with a dozen bottles of water each day.   

As black match, we were given a specialty restaurant meal each week.   Honestly the YC restaurant was better, quieter, nice views and excellent service.  Our YC waiter even brought us a desert from the specialty restaurant.  Filet Mignon was always on the menu and as good as the steakhouse with MUCH better service.

Honestly, I hope people avoid YC so MSC doesn't raise prices.  

You are trading a hot tub....hot bathtub for Yacht Club service.    A massage..(which you have full spa perks in YC sans massage) for 

Butler bringing you ANYTHING you want.

Quiet pool and pool deck

Pool bar where they don't let you be thristy

Pool bar food that is tasty

YC restaurant that is quiet and as good as any specialty restaurant

YC perks like reserved seating

YC perks like express elevator

YC perks like lounge that is forward facing and all your needs attended to

YC perks like express embarkation, tenders and port access.

YC perks like anything you want.

Sorry....I'm spoiled by YC.  I probably shouldn't even post this as it MSC will figure out the deal.

The hot tub is nice but may that nice.   

Absolutely do YC

service level is outstanding. Restaurant and lounge fantastic.  Pool quiet and not crowded

we will always sail YC if possible.  You will too. 

RCCL has the fastest Internet at sea.  No delays.  All your stuffs will work like at home.  We have a dozen+ cameras and can watch them all from the ship.   As mentioned above, you can turn OFF cellular and enable internet calling on all smartphones and make/receive calls over the onboard WiFi.   

What ship?   Most of the fleet has excellent WiFi throughout the ships.  

You will have to share a login.    So if someone wants to check email, you will have to log out.  

YC last December black card got us each a chocolate ship, pen, notepads and a free specialty restaurant.  The YC restaurant was better.

YC offers free drinks EVERYWHERE.