Fogfog

DH was happy enough with the Oberon. I primarily drink whites and found what was on offer: not chilled, and some too sweet. They had only a sweet rose-- which I don't drink. Two other parties were able to get a dry minerally rose in Le Muse and when I politely asked for that as a choice, I was told they didn't have any. I know that wasn't true and it came from somewhere on the ship (maybe Butchers Cut) Know that those two parties dealt with Pepe on it. DH was going to go to Butchers cut to get me a glass of wine. and Pepe was so busy I just wasn't going to add to the burdeon. We never saw a wine list- and were never offered the opportunity to buy off another list. Certainly would have done that. This was our 8th YC sailing and we felt Le Muse was by far the poorest experience

@morpheusofthesea TYVM We know all too well that ship, officers, kitchen all make the journey experience vary The tone and tenor can -- execution of food, service and cleanliness, upkeep of a ship. Best fog

Didn't see any of that wine in Divinia Le Muse March 3-10. Couldn't get a dry rose 😞

Giorgio Vietello was a fab YC D on Merv in both 2020 and in 2022, yet I think he's on another MSC ship, not certain Pepe is YC Dir on Divinia, is excellent Simone in concierge on Divinia is excellent as was another lovely lady whose name escapes me at the moment Rudy (I think I have name right)--the man who is Head Butler on Divinia is excellent. Melania, YC Dir on Seashore is excellent. The Maitre D and Asst Maitre D on Seashore are both excellent. All of the above are personable, visible, approachable and BUSY. They are attentive to their YC guests.

Says a lot-- So sorry that after having such a lovely cabin-- that the ship, service or lack thereof and entertainment or lack thereof makes this a one and done thing. Your thread has been very helpful. Regent's marketing is quite powerful (lux brand and al lux experience on the ship etc). Can you compare MSC YC, vs Haven vs Retreat? We "left" X once we found YC. We have a long sailing in Haven coming up and pre-cruise we have liked the concierge contact. Have not liked having to add in bev package and that the daily fee leaves out our butler. Yes we tip cash to all the folks who make our sailing excellent, we just don't like NCLs policy to leave the butlers out. There are interesting itineraries on X from time to time yet we don't think the Retreat will be as good as YC. And some sailings really need a smaller ship (water access) and in that market, we dont know which way to go-- as we wonder if they are all like Regent in real life experience. Thoughts?

Lots of wild rumors (hotels etc) that according to the 2 YC directors we spoke to in the last month- neither could be confirmed beyond the dedging. OC is not an amusement park like other lines and doesn't fit the brand and OC Marine Foundation mission

We hope things go well for you Having sailed MSC YC 8 times in a few years--we can say we are hooked Re food-- MSC leans into Euro - Ital and less salt, smaller portions etc That said--we just did a YC on Seashore and a YC on Divinia..in the last month. Dishes on Seashore like Asparagus Pannacotta were Amazing and a huge miss on Divinia. Embarkation lunch which we have had 8 times--varies by kitchen/supervising chef even with the same menu. Yet its been executed differently. Have done 6 Mera sailings (B2B) then, Merav B2B2B2B, then Seashore and Divinia We were a bit surprised to see the variation from the kitchen. That said, we will be interested to hear what you think. We absolutely avoid sailing during spring break-with families-kids

My late grandfather said the same...Vividly recall him telling me if I ever had a wound and needed to address it (I may have been 4-5 yrs old--we were walking thee shoreline) He said, a dog should lick it for same reasons.. I am not a microbiologist - yet trust that "peck of dirt" thing 🥰

My dear late mom said every child "eats a peck of dirt"... We drank out of hoses, shared sandwiches with friends and lived to tell the tale

Men in ball caps indoors 🙄 makes such a statement about them. Sadly basic manners and decorum are lost on many Hand washer here. I dont like the idea of just using the sanitizer which feels like its laminating the dirt to hands. blech

Helpful link https://www.msccruisesusa.com/manage-booking/before-you-go/what-to-wear

😆

Meraviglia - 6x Divinia - 1x Seashore 1x Only sail YC so only look at sailings on ships with YC

Sounds like Phishing

Cruising is capitalism. Not socialism and not social welfare. We do NOT feel badly for getting services we paid for when we sail. Everyone has an opportunity to choose when, where and how they spend there $. Which is why MSC should not include YC with the bid up/free upgrade (nor X Retreat, NCL Haven etc). Want to sail YC/Haven/Retreat etc.. "show me the money" 😉 Your helpful and frank review MOTS, has me less wistful for our lost TP in 2021 (Canada-Alaska-Russia-Japan) Appreciate it very much

Hi Dan Our last 8 sailings have been in YC out of Florida and as YC is inclusive (unlike Haven which is not) we didn't get hit with drink fees at embarkation. I recall years ago that being the case on another line--where our acct showed weird small charges which after inquiry we learned it was the bev tax. I do recall having this from port to port sailing around Spain during a TA 5 years ago. The story about your Marseille sailing was a good one!

Interesting. Sailing out of FL in MSC YC - we don't get hit with that kind of tax. The YC libations are included so there's that (so much for "free at sea" NCL!) and it's FL not NY.

ah ha Now that is funny! Years ago--sailing out of a port - we did have armed military boats from that nation to our port side during sail away... It was quite the show

🤔

Pat/Jim helpful post They charge NY taxes on alcohol for Haven even when you have prepaid the bev program/free at sea and grats etc? Yikes We're planning on upgrading all that on the ship but don't want to be hit with more taxes and fees Our sail away isn't til 6ish (TA) and that's cut right into cocktails/dinner etc. if we are on (Haven) early for lunch, afternoon on the ship etc

I remember reading all of that here And we have been in YC where a pax sitting across from us in the lounge admitting to clearing out the minibar of snacks and liquor etc... Have seen pics here on CC of pax doing that. I looked straight at him and commented WHY would he need to hoard the minis in the room bar... We regularly consumed the juices and coffee each day. Not the snacks/mini-bottles etc etc. On the last sailing no choc covered strawberries. And the little boxes with a snack/macaroon etc n the evening were usually part of am coffee in the room Re Opera etc.. One of our favs was the opera/ballet production on Merav. some 4 years ago Just a really nice afternoon matinee and we appreciated the cast's work. Sorry that Cirque disappeared from the Carousel aft lounge. On a 2020 B2B we did one of the two different dinner/show during each week. also was a nice evening. I know not everyone agrees with that. Both times we had reserved table- the 2 seat table port side-- so great view of the wake and the show. We were sorry to miss the late great CD Gene Moimoi Young's show on our sailings. His fan base reports it was wonderful. @morpheusofthesea Didn't I read a page or so back that you made reservations on this ship and suite for future sailings?

We agree, we are all in on hat we expect when we pay for such services. It is the ship experience that is often the destination. e have no guilt etc to skip the lines, have priority embarkation/debarkation, theater seating etc I do think MSC needs to step it up on the wine/bev package offerings in YC. It should have the best. The pre covd YC lounges had great selection and we could upgrade to anything on the ship. We had an outstanding somm who came to the YC dining each night to wine pair our meals. (B2B). He unabashedly brought the nicest things to us. And he was kind enough at the end to print for us the list of the things we drank. The offerings in the YC lounge and dining dropped off Re the "entitled", I meant that with the upgrades folks get into YC, many do not appreciate it and treat the staff and experience poorly. Including the casino at sea folks who brag about sailing free... While you may see bad behavior by those who paid rack rate etc for the experience, I think there have been fewer of those boorish behaviors than the ones that bid up or the upgrade fairy moved them in order to sell the reg balcony etc.

Re surveys -- I spend time on each MSC survey and note outstanding folks. Recently did our Seashore sailing and will be sitting down to do the Divinia sailing. Re Le Muse--we did not have a good experience on our sailing 2 weeks ago -couldn't get a dry rose (minerally) and was told it didn't exist on the ship, in spite of being seen at other venues AND two other pax were able to get it in Le Muse. - service was frenetic - dishes we had the week before on Seashore which were excellent-- were terrible on Divinia (asparagus pannacotta for example was excellent on Seashore and not worth a second bite on Divinia) We have had the menus for 8 sailings in the last 2 years or so - we have a pretty solid idea of what should be plated I am going to note on the survey abut the upgrade thing. I just dont like it into YC and often those pax treat the staff and crew and experience poorly. And they often do impact our sailing. Included casino folks Yes - there are those rude entitled folks who buy in too, I just expect there to be fewer of them

I want YC to be a success AND I want it to be a secret KWIM? Some really distasteful folks have been there from time to time. Whether it be their lack of manners, or worse yet, the way they treat the YC crew and staff poorly, (and even facilities: lounge, pool deck, etc..)

That's really unfortunate for us. We would miss all of those time slots of entertainment if left to our own devices. Are the pax in the lounge at 11? And a DJ later ? Getting up later in am and staying up later?