psmarkle

Just got off the Divina yesterday! Highly recommend Homer and Kaith (like Keith, but with an A) for your Waiter/Ass't Waiter team. Just ask Mehmet and he'll ensure you get them every day!

I saw your update on the MSC board about giving the YC Director a chance to correct things. Did it get posted here, by chance? I'm still reading through this thread, but I found really good info in your post about how to handle things in a tactful way!

For the YC restaurant, we go on embarkation day and talk to the Maitre' d about getting a set dinner time and table with the same table staff. Has worked every time as we prefer a 6 or 6:30pm seating. Once you get past 7:30pm, they hesitate as that gets into peak dinner service time. We've only had great service this way as our servers get to know us, have our preferred bottle of wine waiting at our table when we arrive, know that we like a family-style plate of risotto to share as a side, and learn which dishes to recommend to us based off previous orders/likes/dislikes, etc.

Log into your MSC account and see if it will let you make the payment there. I believe you can.

Oh you are in for a treat! We are setting off on the Divina in 2 weeks. Don't bother with printing luggage tags as the porters at the white YC tent will just rip them off and replace them with those beautiful gold YC luggage tags! And show up when you want...you're in the YC now! You even have a separate line for security and then up to the YC check-in lounge w/ Prosecco and snacks while you wait.

Is that THE Vishnu from Mauritius who's back as the Concierge now?! I plan on future booking the Mera for next April out of NYC when sailing the Divina in 2 weeks. I would love to have him working the YC again!!

JAGR: oh my goodness, I'm sorry to hear about your wife's passing. I did so enjoy reading all of your cruise adventures together here on CC. I think it's beautiful that you got to perform a ceremony to put her ashes to rest at sea. I've asked the same of my family when my time comes. May peace find your soul.

The Seashore is my favorite MSC ship so far! And the YC experience is amazing. One drawback, at the One Pool, if you want shade, you have to move chairs by the "funnel" I guess you'd call it. It's a big a/c air intake, so that also makes for a nice breeze to keep you from getting too hot.

We have just booked one of their spa suite experiences for our upcoming cruise. It looks like total pampering! Pre-Covid, Mr Sanchos was our regular Cozumel stop as we always enjoy our visits there on the all-inclusive side. Now, I came across the 4 spa suites, so we're going to try that for once. $550.00 for the day that includes massages for 2 + butler service 🙂

I agree with what you are saying as about a month ago I dummy booked our cruise on the Divina and there were 15 YC cabins available! Now, just 3. I figured it's all about the upgrades. For our upcoming Western Caribbean cruise, DW and I are only getting off the ship at Cozumel and Ocean Cay. We plan to enjoy the YC pool deck and thermal spa access to its fullest this cruise! I do miss the seafood/lobster grille at the pool, I truly enjoyed that. But it's still the YC...unbeatable for price/service, IMO,O!

If you're wanting a reprieve from the hot sun like my DW, a Cabana is worth it, for us anyways. Just our personal preference. We have done Cabana #7 oceanview and found it was worth the extra $50 to move to oceanfront on our next cruise. Either Cabana #4 or #5 will have the best ocean access. Our last cruise, I forgot to stop by the YC Concierge and request Cabana #4 until the day before. He initially told me we were already assigned to #2, but when we arrived at Ocean House, the butler looked us up and said, "ah, yes, Cabana #4!" I definitely recommend water shoes! Those pebbles hurt until you get out in the water. For the snorkel gear, just go up to Ocean House to get it and tell them which Cabana you're staying in. It's nice having the chilled Prosecco upon your arrival along with the iced down water bottles. They scheduled our jet ski excursion (we're doing this excursion again in a few weeks because we enjoyed it so much!) during the YC lunch time. After being worried, our butler told us "no problem." He wrote down our lunch orders and they were waiting in our Cabana in "bento-style" boxes when we got back! During our visit, the Cabanas had a separate butler tending to them from the YC "gen pop" 🤣 So the cocktail service was very prompt.

Same as Morpheus, I do it on every cruise. I usually book thru the casino dept then send in a transfer form and move it to my TA who's agency offers a 10% obc discount on top of everything else.

Have yet to get to Wyoming and Montana, but have hit the other 48 thanks to the Air Force...and also way past 50!

I usually have the YC Filet at least 3x on a 1-week cruise and have only ever sent one back as it was more med than med-rare. I think on our last cruise, I even had it on embarkation day for lunch. We usually use our free Diamond meal at the seafood restaurant as DW loves Chilean Sea Bass, but might have to go ahead and try the filet at Butcher's Cut so I can do my own comparison and report back.

Do a behind-the-scenes tour and learn how little the "below deck" crew make. Can you live off $900/mo which is what the galley food prep crew make and try to send home to their families? That's what these prepaid gratuities help cover for all the crew, not just the customer-front crew who make more. Oh boy, did I just wade into shark-infested waters here...yikes! I gladly pay the pre-paid gratuities and bring plenty of cash/small bills to tip throughout each day. It's the least I can do for how hard the crew works to make my valuable vacation time an experience! I am now ready for my online pummeling...