CarolnLarry

Yes, you can decorate your door.  We use a cruise critic door sign so we can easily find our room.  Enjoy your cruise with the Grandkids.

15 hours ago, no1talks said:

A very diverse list covering many aspects of a cruise. The question is: What item(s) would be deal breakers with regard to Yacht Club, Morpheus, if altered or eliminated?

Of course, some listed items are rather unlikely to change. For example, one would not expect MSC to replace the YC's walk-in showers with tubs during a ship's refit. But there are many items that could be changed due to cost savings.

I have seen some of the YC benefits disappear such as small liquor bottles, chocolate ships, seafood buffet and chocolate martinis. I am sure there are other things I forgot but the real deal breaker for me would be the loss of the butlers and concierge. They have provided the services I would expect in the YC.

4 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I just updated my list and it bears repeating.

A lot has to do with which ship in the MSC fleet one has chosen. Next is who the Hotel Director is, followed by Yacht Club Director, Head Butler, Maitre d' and Chef of the YC restaurant. Our latest cruise was in April 2024 on the Seascape and it was the best cruise we have had in 50 years of cruising. Never sailed on a MSC ship in a cabin outside the Yacht Club. We can list now all the things to look out for when booking any cruise ship.

#1 E muster drill is better. Seascape was take elevator, scan at 11:30, watch video, call#.

#2 Two cabin cleanings per day

#3 No % charge for gambling if using credit card

#4 No extra charge for can sodas vs fountain drinks, all included.

#5 Reserved seating in the theatre for all shows

#6 Complimentary bottled water (not ship distilled with unsanitary reusable bottles)

#7 Reserved or ability to reserve pergola/cabanas on pool deck (avoiding chair hogs)

#8 'Cushioned' pool lounges

#9 Escorts on and off ship avoiding long lines. Group or personal escorts.

#10 First to use tenders off the ship at ports that tender

#11 Dedicated restaurant that is so good one need not book Specialty Restaurants

#12 Service that does not involve 2 hours to complete a meal

#13 An attentive butler not hard to find when needed. Much depends on guest ($).

#14 Cabins ready upon embarkation/ key cards in hand at checkin

#15 Dedicated restaurant OPEN port days

#16 Dedicated buffet to only suite guests

#17 Dedicated pool and sun deck only for suite guests with ample lounges

# 18 All the advantages of a mega ship with the exclusivity of a gated community

#19 walk-in shower not low profile tub/shower combo

#20 No non-suite paying Pinnacle/Zenith/Diamond passengers taking up prime real estate in the Yacht Club

#21 Elevator over-ride key cards for suite guests

#22 Pristine out island with NO bugs crawling all over cabanas

#23 short distance between cabin and restaurant decks

#24 At least a 100 sq ft balcony accommodating a cushioned lounge chair

#25 A reserved table for 2 for all meals in a dedicated restaurant with the same waiters for 'most' every meal

#26 More options for nightly entertainment besides theatre show productions, Loft Cafe, Uptown Lounge, Le Cabaret Rouge, Atrium, Dueling Pianos Times Square, and Top Sail Lounge

 I have done 11 YC cruises and have done all of these and that is why I keep sailing with MSC. 4 cruises on the Divina, 4 cruises on the Seaside and 3 cruises on the Seascape. I wish everyone else would hate the YC so the price and availability would be better for me. 

Has MSC ever had anything open on schedule?  Ocean Cay was delayed at least a year and their new terminal is way behind original schedule.  Relax and enjoy your cruise as missing a port is part of cruising>

As I have stated before I have them do everything that is not illegal or immoral.  If you need more of a response then go to the first sentence. 

If you see Ramchandra on your cruise tell him Larry, Jamie, Paul, Haley and Dylan think he is the best butler with MSC.  We were fortunate to have him as a junior butler on one cruise and butler on the next.  Always enjoy your trips and hoping you have a GREAT cruise.

7 hours ago, jame_g said:

We basically do the same. We leave the service charge in place, then we tip extra individually for those who go above and beyond. We may also tip a little extra to those that most frequently provide us service. The other thing is that if there is someone who has given really good service, make sure you fill out the survey and mention their name.

Agree totally with this tipping concept.  Asked a butler why he was in the Caribbean instead of the Mediterranean, which was closer to his home, he replied Americans tip better and a lot of others don't.

This happens to me all the time. Wanted to cruise last September and nothing was available until first of December. More work for my travel agent as she has to work week by week until she can get a room.

I don't do stairs and have used the elevators in my 10+MSC cruises for the muster drill.  There will be guides outside the YC area just tell them you don't do stairs. No problem.

7 hours ago, jgris90 said:

Hi, 

 

On previous cruise lines we have been able to remove the divider between the rooms when travelling in a group, will MSC do this aswell?

 

Also we thought we booked connecting rooms but looks like my agent made a mistake and one room is connecting on the other side not the 2 rooms we have booked.

 

Another idea is if the person in the connecting room is willing can we switch on board? 

 

 

On the Seascape we had the butler open the divider for us.

Thany you everyone for your responses.

We cannot bring up any excursions for Grand Cayman or George Town on our available excursions for our cruise. The excursion block comes up gray and unable to even see the excursions.  No problems with the rest of our cruise ports.  Anyone know why this is happening?

Anyone have the number to the casino main office?  Not reservations or advance cruises.  Need casino info on my past cruises and supposedly they have it. The reservation contact said you can't talk to them, only email.  I can't believe that they don't have a phone number you can call.  Any help is appreciated.

We were charged 14.59 per person per day for the yacht club in Jan.  Same as reported above

48 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

I have Apple Air Tags in my checked luggage.  Would not leave home without them. 

 

Thanks for theinfo.  That is my new plan.

I was thinking of buying the electronic luggage finders that you track on your phone.  Has anyone tried these?

5 hours ago, kelly94942 said:

 

We asked Ram about this this morning - he indeed has those cabins (he has through 43) and will be here until June!  He said he has some guests returning that will be on deck 16, and he’s going to be their butler as well.  I told him that’s a lot of work, and he said it’s only 2 floors!

Thanks for the info, can't wait to see him again.

Does Ram also have suites 19039 and 19041 as his responsibility?  We have those cabins on the Dec 2 cruise.

The ship model is really heavy.  I won one in a raffle of everyone who made a purchase in the shop given away on the last day. I had to put it in my carryon luggage. You should have seen the xray people as I went through the check in process for my flight.  They thought it was a bomb in my carryon luggage.  when they saw what it was they also smiled.

There is a long boarding ramp that goes back and forth.  Get a wheelchair to get on the ship if you have a mobility problem.

Cas is all I use.  If I win anything on the slots I get a ticket when I cash out and take it to the cashier for cash.  On the tables buy in with cash and if there any winnings back to the cashier for cash.

A brand new robe costs $60.

This question came up a couple of years ago and the best answer I read was, the butler will do whatever is not illegal or immoral. 

In January I paid $64 for 3 people and 5 bags from the pe=ier to airport in Miami.

Next time we will Uber or Lyft/

Yeah I want to know his name also as I will ask for another butler if I ever have him on my next cruise 2 Dec  What deck are ou on?