riredsox

I don’t understand their up charges.  Macallan Quest is $16 up charge and Highland Park 12yr is $17?   The Quest sells for around $110 and the Highland Park $60.  Makes no sense.  Yacht Club would actually save money it they let us bring our own bottle onboard!   Will be boarding Seascape in 2 weeks and no matter the liquor choice in YC I will have a fabulous cruise!

I bought some Macallan scotch and some Royal Salute scotch.  I ran out of both so had to book another cruise.  I had quite a bit of OBC.  

On 2/3/2024 at 1:31 PM, dexddd said:

We had Arthur's as waiter on Divinia back in 2016.

 

He was Maitre D on Divinia late 2021.  Also had the fabulous Kulnal as waiter.  What an outstanding combo.

 

Don't recall if we ever saw him on one our Seaside sailings but never on Mera.

I was also on the Divina in late 2021.  I also thought Arthur and Kulnal was an outstanding combo!  

2 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

Not being able to make reservations pre-cruise is part of the trade-off to get the reduced cost of the package.  I'm sure you will always be able to make reservations, but it's likely that it might not be at your first choice of time and/or dates.

 

You can’t always get reservations.  On the Beyond they told me Eden and the steak restaurant were not available.  

On 3/27/2024 at 8:01 AM, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

And were there tons of staff just standing around twiddling their thumbs?

 

I suspect that they leave tables empty so that each table gets the service they'd expect. If they filled all the tables, there would be complaints about noise AND about lack of attention from servers.

Simple solution is to just stop selling dining packages or let you make a reservation when you purchase them.  

On 3/27/2024 at 8:39 AM, jelayne said:

We have also experienced the less than full specialty restaurant yet difficult to get a reservation.  We have asked a couple of MaitreD’s we know and have been told that they had to restrict bookings because not staffed to handle fully booked restaurant.   

Then they shouldn’t sell these dining packages if you can’t make a reservation.  If they let you make the reservation when you purchase the package that would be different.  

5 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

We have pre-purchased the Unlimited Speciality Dining Package on a credit card via the cruise planner.  I was curious how the scenario you describe above would play out on board.  Who specifically did you have to fight with to get this refunded?  Or was your money cheerfully refunded?  Thanks for input.

When I asked for a refund they somehow found availability at the two restaurants they told me were booked solid.  I don’t know why they sell these dining packages knowing full well half the restaurants will be sold out or you have to eat at 5.  When we did go to the ‘sold out’ Eden there were at least 7 empty tables and we were there for 1 1/2 hrs.  

If you get a dining package you can’t make reservations till you board.  By then some restaurants have nothing available and some only 5:00 available.   I don’t know why they do this but they do.  I told them to cancel my 5 night package on a 9 night Beyond and then they called my room and they had miraculously found availability.  

Thank you for this wonderful live report!  I was on for the 12 night Mardi Gras in February and was pleasantly surprised how good the MDR was.  Happy future sailing!

20 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

Better for my waistline and wallet as well 😆. 

 

I enjoyed the UDP on Oasis but so..much..food. I need it to not go on sale next time so I am not tempted. Full price is too expensive but when I see a bargain the temptation to buy kicks in.

What is a UPD room on Royal?

1 hour ago, chemmo said:

Yes, they did…Some upgrading of furnishings in bard etc. Michael’s Club to be revamped as Retreat Lounge. Ironically I think I would have preferred them to leave Michael’s alone…

I think Michael’s Club as is is ten times nicer than the grey and white blah retreat lounge.  

7 hours ago, bikerunner said:

I love these stupid questions   Okay why.\, most likely Caribbean cruise...where jeans please and complain the next day it was so hot in the mer.....stupid people.

I wear white, black and blue jeans in the Caribbean at night on all my cruises.  Never hot while inside a cruise ship. Their AC makes it cool every night.  

5 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Given that I don’t like pop music or any sort of disco, I suppose it’s inevitable, but this concept still baffles me. I can see it is good for passers-by, as they don’t have to hear the music, and mildly amusing perhaps for the spectators, for a few minutes, but, like gingerbread villages, my main reaction is why? And I hate wearing headphones. 😀

Because it is one of the most fun things to do!  Try it,  it is called silent ‘disco’ because of the headphones.  Only a handful of disco songs.  

16 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

Host said show up between 5-515 or after 830.

 

Or book set dining. I hope it's full since this is clearly overbooked.

They told us that too but we went between 7 and 8.  Got a beeper some of the time, had a cocktail and it the beeper would go off.  

On 3/1/2024 at 7:35 PM, kaysha2004 said:

Concierge class is only a class within the veranda category.  It's not for interior or ocean view rooms.  Excluding the suite categories, veranda (balcony) rooms are categorized as Veranda (good), Concierge (better), and Aqua Class (best).  Within each of those three categories are subcategories based on location on the ship (aft, middle, forward, and deck level).  There is no square footage difference or balcony size.  The difference is solely the amenities provided for the room category.  You can find those amenities on Celebrity's website.  If you have a free cruise, choose the highest of those three, if offered.

Concierge cabins aren’t necessarily in the best location anymore.  I had one that was far from everything.  It was the last Concierge I did.  It was a $25 dollar bid up but I should have stayed in my original veranda.   

I grew up in New England and we always had lobster, corn on the cob and Wise potato chips.  I still have those as sides.  I ate at LPC on the Constellation last month and the lobster was delicious!

The only benefit of concierge class that I could tell was the embarkation lunch.  The cabins aren’t in great locations anymore.  The YC is comparable (and in most cases such as not Edge class) so much better than the retreat.  Concierge class is the biggest rip off of any cabin.  

My husband and I both have nasty colds (not Covid though, had that at Christmas).  I will say I really enjoyed this cruise and the MDR food was fantastic.  Nice surprise!

On 2/20/2024 at 12:23 PM, Lena11033 said:

there is but honestly I’m not a huge fan of the Michael’s club. It is dark and well too quiet when I’ve been. 

I’ve found with martini bar before dinner is busy after dinner it’s actually a lot better. Yesterday I waited like a minute before getting a drink. Every time I go before dinner it’s like 10 mins just because there are a lot of people and one bartender. 
 

that being said I go to the reflections lounge and either they start making an aperol spritz as I get there or within a few mins of sitting down I have a drink 

I went a few times but they never did have the Kale Martini which is actually very delicious.  I do like the ice top much better than the Edge Class.  

3 hours ago, Moby Jones said:

without the water slides and kids. 

Yet 

1 hour ago, billc23 said:

Me too! Is there a time and place CC members on this sailing plan to meet?

Us too!!

15 hours ago, billc23 said:

answered the SC response above. I have new bookings on Silversea - over 100 days so far. 5 cruises on MSC YC for the family vacations. I probably will give Seabourn and Regent a try but my research, for what I enjoy, puts Silversea first.

I thought about Silversea but will not give Royal Caribbean Group any more money.   It’s like switching from Celebrity to Royal.  

18 hours ago, jmdlv1 said:

Have not seen anything.I hope somebody posts.

My wife drinks Grey Goose.

I drink scotch and bourbon but no way will I pay those prices listed on Cellar Masters menu!  Not one decent scotch or bourbon in the premium liquor package range.  I have 2 more cruises booked (number 43 and 44 with Celebrity) and that is it.  First time I have more MSC YC booked than Celebrity. 

We bought the 5 night specialty dining package on our 9 night Beyond last October.  It was a nightmare trying to get reservations once onboard.  I finally told them to cancel the whole package and they miraculously came up with availability in all the specialty restaurants.   Originally they said Eden was completely full for the whole cruise and all others had 5 or 5:30 times available. We ended up eating at each restaurant at 8 or 8:30 which is our preferred time.  And Eden was only 1/2 full during our 2 hour meal!

16 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I like it too, as long as I’m inside the YC enclave. 

I leave the YC for the jazz bands they usually have on board.  I find a seat, sip and listen. My husband goes to bed early but I don’t.   Also leave it in the afternoon when I do the slides!  My husband holds my towel while I slide the slides!  I’m 67 yrs old but my inner self is much younger.