BeeeJay

Can personally confirm, bid on YC Interior, upgraded to YC Deluxe Balcony, and for just over the minimum bid for that lower category, far below the minimum bid for the room assigned. Overall cost was approx 40% of amount for directly booking YC.

Going solo, their quarterly earnings will likely be impacted by my drink consumption, short the stock. 😉 I've booked some Coconut Cove Beach Breakin DR on 10/17 and golf at Ocean Club in bahamas on 10/20 and at North Sound in Cayman on 10/26. Might try to see if I can add some add'l golf via the Yacht Club concierge. I'm planning to stay onboard for some of the ports I've been to many times. DH is either Designated Hitter or Dear Husband, depending on how you swing your bat. 🙂

unlimited. I'm gonna try to keep it reasonable since I'm on a bunch of back to backs and don't have time for a liver transplant in Miami between sailings lol

HUGE---thanks so much took me 2 minutes I had no idea I could get that back---first free drink in Yacht Club bar is on me! 🙂

it is specifically stated in the terms that those previous upgrades are not refunded, but I believe that portion of "total cost" plays into the upgrade bid formula as despite bidding less, my total marginal revenue is higher because I've already paid a package that is included.

Yes from Bella balcony for $775 * 2 BUT I had already paid a combo package for drinks/internet AND the drink upgrade alone for $280 per person. So some of the amenities I had already paid separately, I think it ends up being close to the same amount. It goes with the territory one will overbid to have a better chance. Once I received for the first two week cruise I maxed the bid on my following cruises figuring it would suck to go back down. Still could go back or get the interior. I’m fine either way. I have really low expectations of cruising after a really bad NCL cruise last winter where the bar service was horrible and our upgraded amenities package was a train wreck.

I was on the lower end for this one but I updated to bid max on following cruises cause I don’t think I will want to go from Yacht Club back to Gen Pop over a few hundred dollars

Myself and another CC poster recently received YC Deluxe Balcony upgrades after bidding on ONLY the YC Interior Upgrade, so maybe you'll get the best of both worlds! My bid was just over the minimum, so ended up paying a fraction of the cost of booking YC Deluxe balcony room directly from the start.

just had one successfully charge to my debit card last week

Exact same cruise, bid, and result---lucky us---see you there! 🙂

This is incredibly helpful and right in the range I was thinking was reasonable, thank you so much!!!

understood and thank you for that knowledge, I had no idea! you may notice in my post I’m doing multiple back-to-backs and expecting at least some leg may not be upgraded to YC. I’ll tip at the end of each of my 6 consecutive weeks aboard. what I really need is a ballpark dollar amount for each week for each position: Butler Junior Butler cabin attendant (if not YC) restaurant wait staff Sommelier Bartender pool staff Thanks so much for the quick responses!!!

Obviously a highly personal choice and will vary a lot person to person and that is fine. Just looking to get a general consensus on how much and whom to tip and when. On past NCL and RCL cruises have tipped the cabin attendant at the end in addition to whatever included daily gratuity is required. Realizing MSC is a more European crowd with different norms i though I had better check to see what people do. Specifically thinking about Yacht Club butler, regular cabin attendants, and possible others like bartenders, wait staff etc. Will be on multiple back-to-backs. Won upgrade bid on first two weeks but TBD on others hence asking about both. Thinking I will tip at end of each week as that is a standard cutoff for a lot of cruisers/staff. I tried to search but wasn’t having any luck—any advice is greatly appreciated—thanks in advance!

Same issue booked direct with MSC, can't print ticket at 40 days out--just noticed must print within 20 days.

Thank you both for that super helpful info! I don’t think my rooms are that close but I’m fine just packing it all up in my suitcases and unpacking once every two weeks. I’m assuming on the middle week I just leave everything. it also sounds like I’ll easily be able to get off the ship early enough to play. I think if I can get 8am-2pm or 9am-3pm it gives me plenty of extra time.

I have a couple questions related to back-to-back Caribbean bookings on MSC Seascape (non-yacht club) and greatly appreciate the input of experienced MSC cruisers as this will be my first foray! I have back-to-back 14 and 13 day bookings and within those bookings there is also a stop in Miami at the end of each week. I'll be switching rooms between the back-to-backs, but staying in the same room on the mid-trip stops. I am wondering what the process for re-boarding will be in each of these instances. My plan is to play golf in Miami at a course within 30 minutes of the port, and I need to be able to leave my luggage on the ship, take my golf clubs with me, and have about a 6 hour window from departure to return. First question is what is the process for each of those re-boarding situations, end of trip room change, and mid-trip stop in Miami? Second question is what time am I able to be off the ship in the morning and what time must I be back on the ship in the afternoon? Trying to determine if this is a realistic plan for those days or if I would be better just hanging around the ship. Thanks for any input, it is greatly appreciated!!!

Do you have the option of doing an excursion and returning later? I was thinking about playing golf in Miami on the back-to-back switchover

But the foot fetish dude in the key lime shirt seems pleased! 🙂

but no way the Runza's are better lol. I have a couple upcoming Lincoln trips & MSC cruises to test both pizzas out!

Wow you really upped the cruising post-Covid! Is the Pizza as good as Valentino's? 😉

Planning on a cruise if you miss the cut Freddie? 🙂

I'm actually kind of willing to pay $1/ drink just to have a listing of all the drinks I had during the cruise! I know Guinness Book of World Records requires proof and I'm gonna have to hit 'em HARD to make up for the bait & switch!

You are 100% right, we had a similar issue on a package upgrade on NCL, knew of the issue from the boards before hand, brought all the necessary information and support, along with an internal report the NCL rep had emailed showing each persons name and the benefits included AND when we got our cruise cards the packages were printed on the face of the cards yet the benefits did not show up when the card was scanned so we were STILL DENIED. pretty much everyone with that package upgrade spent hours in line at guest services. I saved all the documentation and submitted a credit card dispute and got about $1,500 back. Lesson learned I will never cruise NCL, and I will never buy a subsequently offered package upgrade. The kids still jokingly mock my comment about NCL whenever something goes wrong in any customer service environment: "...their IT can't handle it...."