Fogfog

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

41 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I would think that as much as I've cruised the different ports, I would know which ones charge a state or city tax.  I don't recall which ones do or don't.  FL or MIA?  If they aren't charged I'm guessing that MIA doesn't have a drink tax.

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! 

11 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I seem to remember it’s a city tax charged.  New York charges it!

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. 

2 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Conch Republic naval exercises.  EM

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

4 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

This is interesting. So far a dozen zodiacs filled with what appears to be military men in fatigues are zipping around.

IMG_3831.mov IMG_3832.mov

🤔 

2 hours ago, PatJim said:

 

Once on board, we can either drop off our bags in our cabin (if staying in the Haven proper), leave them with the Haven restaurant hostess, or bring them with us to the restaurant.  Pre-lunch, Haven staff offer non-alcoholic drinks and hors d’oeuvres.  If you want an alcoholic drink from the bar, there is a NY alcohol tax while the ship is in port and in NY State waters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

3 hours ago, no1talks said:

 

Unlikely. Once bitten, twice shy, as it were.

 

Ask the long-term veteran YCers. They will tell you of a time when passengers guzzled the included ultra-premium liquors, hoarded the minibar mini-booze to take home, and generally abused the beverage program.

 

No more really good alcohol included. MSC learned their lesson about passenger alcohol consumption at a lower cruise fare, relative to what other lines offer to their suite passengers.

 

It could be worse. The top suite passengers on some lines receive no drink package and still manage to pay way more than YC.

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? 

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I have been accused of being one of those. My doctor says I'm am an "elitist", "not that there's anything wrong with that." (He must be one too?)

   I expect to be "entitled" to a more 'Royal' experience when paying top suite prices. Why else would one want to book a suite ? The cabin sizes here (Regent) for a penthouse are nearly the same as a regular balcony and the same goes for the MSC YC deluxe cabins. Just having a butler is no perk if all he/she does is bring canapes or laundry. Just a 'glorified' room steward with a different title. My attitude is we should be "entitled" to no lines, a separate dedicated restaurant with higher quality cuisine, the best waiters, reserved theatre seating preferably in box seats in balcony over looking the stage, elevator over ride key cards, first off and on ship, a reserved pergola with thick cushioned lounges, a reserved table in the dedicated restaurant for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. So far it is the MSC Yacht Clubs that come the closest to providing their guests with these amenities.

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?

9 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Observation Lounge at the front of the ship. Like the Top Sail Lounge of the Yacht Club, but more of an ambiance of Le Cabaret Rouge at the back of the ship when all the draperies are pulled open.

IMG_3738.mov

Really lovely

The architecture and decor of the ship is so pleasant. 

Can you sit in there any time of day and have bev and light bites brought to you? I imagine on a rainy day or cool and underway that it is pleasant if quiet.

Years back we found that on a few Celebrity ships that the observation lounge was often desolate and few would venture there. We could enjoy the quiet and read. Late in the afternoon as cocktail hour was upon us, they'd often bring us nice canapes and a drink. 

I am the outgoing one in our household yet really value the serenity of ocean views, sea breeze, and some highly civilized service. 🥰

45 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Yes, because you two are more cultured, mature of your generation. I am the first one to point out flaws and sloppiness of fellow cruisers, like this photo I took this morning of a discarded cookie in this nook by the elevator. The difference is the degree to finding these 'shortfalls' of my fellow passengers. The mass market lines have too many inconsiderate problem drinkers. MSC YC has tried to separate us from 'them'  and we appreciate it for the great price they charge.

 

I do think MSC YC crew works very hard at cleaning up and making certain things are tidy.

Can say that we have seen plenty of those overserved in YC, and some very sloppy eaters that make it look like toddlers were there!.

I notice this stuff-- from people who don't put a napkin in their lap, hold a fork like a shovel, talk with their mouth full, don't shower off before entering the pool or hot tub etc. 

This may sound bad, however we would prefer if MSC didn't don't do upgrades into YC, period. Also would like to see no children in the YC pool/hot tub period. An adult only experience.

Still, they seem to be our preferred niche at the moment. 

I'll have more thoughts re NCL and Haven in 2 months after our TA

Want to say I have seen signs of some type in Haven pics saying that kids under 16 or so could not be in the pool..though haven't been able to find that. With the whole ship being family friendly (MSC/NCL etc) and water parks and family pools etc...

we'd really like to be sailing apart from that. 

On smoking-- it always surprises me to see smokers-- even more so when they have other comorbidities (obesity) and other health issues/needs like walkers, wheelchairs. On a recent sailing one couple where on the pool deck smoking many times a day--dragging a walker with them. 

My brother started smoking young (jr high/high school) My sister in law, an RN, had him at an MD and on a patch to get off smoking when they started dating. So he stopped after more than 35+ years. It can be done. Glad to hear Regent is doing it right

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Here is a 35 second clip of last night's guest performer Lauren 'something or other'. One does not come on board this ship for its entertainment. The passengers are very gracious and very few get up and walk out during a performance. (Nor do they jump up and give an ovation). The same conversations can be heard all around the ship. " Don't know how much longer I can keep this up."

IMG_3785.mov

Great song yet not so great execution. Just not my genre

What do they mean "don't know how much longer I can keep this up"?  Tired? Frustrated? 

Oh-- and re SMOKING.. We are non smokers and were on two MSC sailings recently. 

While we are not gamblers--the smoke from the Casino on Divinia filled the upper floor and into the back of the theater. The sailing was admittedly mostly pax from SA/EU/Canada. 

On the Seashore there was a group of 18 that was loud, and many were smokers. It impacted where on the pool deck one might sit.

Surprising to us as we have no one in our social circles that are smokers.

What does Regent do re this? Please and TY

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

 They dress like all the other slouches on all the other cruise lines. All day long t-shirts, ball caps, shorts galore, not as many flip flops as the older set are more prone to falls. trances.

🤣 ... "life alert" 

yet sad to read.

TY for your frank observations

We agree re dress, respect,  for both the client AND the staff that worked so hard to serve.

1 minute ago, graphicguy said:

Thanks….appreciate the well wishes!  Found out I had a hairline crack.  So, taking a bit longer to heal up, but I’m getting there!

 

Kind of focusing in on a Canadian Joy cruise!  Some nice fares right now!

OUCH! So sorry. 

9 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

Same. I'm going to have to confer with Mrs. IA to check my recollections. It's just in my mind's eye that we are always unpacked and settled in before sail away. However, I may be thinking of dinner.

 

But I am certain that 2 out of our last 4 NCL cruises, the bags were at the door when they called rooms ready.

 

Glad to hear this

We like to be unpacked, settled  in and have changed for dinner.

36 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

 

 

I don't know what kind of places you normally stay but a razor and loofa in the shower makes it crystal clear to me that the room (at the very least, the shower) wasn't properly cleaned. That is not "a typical start" in places I stay and I don't consider it a typcial start on any cruise line.   

I'm not sure exactly how I would handle it, but, I have a feeling nothing less than the hotel manager would be at my room.  As someone else stated, I'd be worried about the sheets and to that end I could see myself stripping the bed and dumping it all in the hallway insisting they get me new bedding.

Prior passenger's personal effects left in the bathroom is 100% unacceptable.

Agreed. That says the room was NOT cleaned.

Why can't they do this on turn-around day--

As you'd be off and the new pax could wait til the next am when it would be dry/curing and smell less?🤪

4 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Funny…she and I were just talking about that this past weekend.  Unfortunately, we can’t swing it.

 

I’m sure you’ll have a great time.  It’s a wonderful ship!

Hope all is well..including the ankle.

Best

fog

8 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

6 PM? 8 PM? Go hunt for your bags in the hallway and get them before 5 PM. Those have been a few of our experiences. 🙂 Temper your expectations now haha

NCL baggage handling is THAT poor for Haven pax?

3 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

The only time I’ve checked luggage while staying in the Haven was last Oct.  Was staying in Europe for a month (week and a half cruising).  So had a big suitcase checked.  

 

IIRC, it was in my cabin around noon!

Fingers crossed. On Prima in Haven soon.

Wish you and the GF were joining the TA 😉

1 minute ago, david_sobe said:

I can only speak from personal experience.  Bags arrive relatively fast on all the NCL cruises I have taken. I don't find them necessarily arriving faster in the Haven.  Perhaps someone else has a different experience.  There is always that one bag that seems to arrive later than all the rest no matter what.  IMHO those Haven tags look fancy but don't mean a whole lot.  But we would need NCL baggage handlers to comment to know for sure. 

TY 

I do know that in Fl ports for example--the outside folks are long shoremen/union and not cruise line folks. so the bags are transferred from longshoremen, through security, to inside ship handlers. With MSC YC bags, they are put on baggage carts at the pier --all together. I would expect things can get separated though in all of our sailings on several lines and various cabin/suite levels, - only 1 bag went awol for a few hours yet it still arrived by dinner time 

On 3/18/2024 at 4:26 PM, david_sobe said:

If these are your complaints so far you are on track for a miserable cruise.  There is no such thing as priority luggage.  I have sailed Haven and non-Haven cabins and never found the luggage arrives earlier in the Haven.  Those Haven tags may make people feel special though.

Just because you are in the Haven does not mean you get to run on to the ship.  Its boarded in an orderly fashion and in groups from the Haven.  You need a Haven escort to jump the lines that will bottleneck through the process.   NCL does not stop the boarding process until all Haven passengers are boarded.  There will be plenty of non-Haven passengers who got there really early and were in the first boarding group.  I have waited in the Haven lounge with families with lots of kids with complicated passports. I sit there impatient too while I see hoards of people boarding the ship.   This happens at every port and every ship.  This is reality and should not have any impact on your cruise.  You can always find odd things under the bed or a sponge in the bathroom that were left behind and not removed during the cleaning process.  This again happens at every embarkation on every ship.  This is not a rough start.  Its a typical start.

Now go have a great cruise.  The Encore has an incredible 3 deck Haven. Soak it all in.  Just because you got on the ship 15 minutes later than you expected is not a rough start.

Interesting about the luggage. 

With MSC YC the bags are tagged YC and on separate carts. 

IDK that they arrive before/after other baggage, yet they do come early to mid afternoon.

So in the last 2 sailings- we were on the ship at 10:30/11 in YC lounge. Had lunch (carry ons dropped at the room) and luggage was at the rooms by about 2-4.

To temper expectations on our upcoming NCL Haven sailing, what is most typical. Please and TY for your thought.

Back to casual vs more formal

We like to dress for dinner-- meaning DH wears a collared shirt and blazer, I am in dress slacks/blouse or dress each night. 

What are your 2 cents on lines that hold to dress for dinner/evening lounge?

Even at YC we have seen folks show up in flip flops and shorts for the YC dining room at dinner.

That said, We are solid YC fans. 

And we are doing a TA in Haven soon so will be able to see firsthand the differences.

Pre cruise we feel disappointment that Haven is Not YC. and all of the extra charges on top of Haven'$ price

How is dress in evenings on Regent for dinner?

14 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

This is the nicest Library at sea. Suites get a newspaper of choice delivered to stateroom, just like Yacht Clubs. Those that are not suites can find a 3 copies of either the Wall Street Journal or NYTimes in the library , but not to be removed from library.

IMG_3734.mov

Really nice!

13 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

An observation: early, but not too early, at 8 am in the morning the chair hogs begin to take the coveted lounges in the shade on the pool deck. On MSC (not so much the Yacht Club) the chair hogs get up earlier. Here the guests are older and sleep later.

IMG_3758.mov

 Sheesh-- Not even out there with coffee to read.

Funny story -- YEARS ago on Carnival on the Serenity deck-- a bunch of hogs had left stuff there. We were there with another couple we met onboard. After 2 hours or so..We all moved their stuff onto a table with chairs and took the loungers/table in the shade. They came back like 2 more hours later--literally had NOT been there for 4 ours or more. They gave us a look and we ignored them. 

We were scheduled to sail Regent in fall 2021 for a TA westbound from Vancover to Japan--through the inner passage, across with 2 stops in Russia and then a few stops in Japan with then land touring Tokyo etc. Regent was disappointing in that when they cancelled--they did not offer to move the cruise to the following season- no price protections, no 25% good will like MSC did for cancelled sailings. Disappointing as we  had sailed them years ago and wanted to ty them again.

Your "notice-ings"/observations etc are helpful.

How is the quality of the food compared to YC dining?