Av8tor

We board on Sunday, 1/29 and wondered how things are going? CruiseMapper shows current speed as 21 knots with San Juan arrival 1/25 at 1500. It also says the scheduled arrival at SJU was 1200. Not sure about the accuracy of CruiseMapper info, but that doesn't sound like all is well to me 😲

We sail on our 1st MSC cruise in 6 days and just received e-mails saying we can "personalize" our YC cruise experience(s). Coice of newspaper, pillow & in-cabin bottle of spirits ... A few questions for those that have YC experience: 1) Did your YC butler get those preferences and actually fulfill them? 2) Choice of "spirits" that are listed are not what I'd prefer. If I don't send in the Preference form, can I ask for (and actually get) a different bottle of booze (say Canadian Club instead of Jack Daniels) once I'm on board? 3) My wife & I both got the e-mails. Does that mean we each get to chose a bottle of "spirits"? (We both matched to Diamond if that matters) 4) What pillow type(s) will be on the bed if we don't submit the preference form? Thanks

Only 3 champagnes in...just how fast does he drive to MCO and back??? (or is she a slow drinker?)😁

The 10 & 20 item package details both say the "item allowance must be used all together in a single delivery. Multiple deliveries are not accepted." If you put items in on Tuesday AND Thursday you used 2 packages in their eyes...

The health form must be printed out and handed in at the port during check-in. The form itself says it must be completed and signed within 6 hours prior to embarkation. Entering credit crad info online really doesn't do anything for you (other then allowing another opportunity to be hacked 😲) since I hear you still have to link your cruise card to your credit card at the on-ship kiosks within 48 hours of boarding. Entering the CC info on the web-check-in page MAY make it easier to pre-book excursions & extras before the cruise, but since I've not pre-booked anything I really don't know...

OBC is in addition to the 10% discount. If I'm not mistaken, only one of you needs to be eligible for a discount (teacher or LEO) for the cabin's fare (i.e. total for 2 cruisers) to be discounted. At least that's how it worked for me with a military discount (my wife didn't qualify for a discount), but both of our fares were discounted. Not sure how it works if you have more than 2 people in the cabin...

I do believe that is correct - it usually doesn't hurt to try with other lines, but beware, because with MSC you never know what they could do to screw up your booking any time they access your reservation 😲

Thanks for the reply. Hopefully my cruise will have the same options. If so, my 2 sea day plans (AYCE sushi & seafood extravaganza) will be thoroughly enjoyed!

Thanks, I'm enjoying your review(s) and awaiting more. We're on the Seascape YC in 2 weeks for our 1st MSC cruise. I'm curious about how much the all-u-can-eat sushi cost? Are either the sushi special or the YC seafood extravaganza offered more than once? (They seem to be offered at the same time & I'd like to try both...) Thanks

Not true in all cases - I used a TA and I got all my docs,boarding passes, luggage tags on line well before I started receiving them from the TA...

...must be an awfully small helicopter 😲

I wonder if many folks are entering the desired deck on the outside selection panel, but if the car doesn't arrive fast enough, they then leave & take the stairs. When the ordered car finally arrives, does it know those folks didn't get on so it stops at "their" deck anyway?? Also, could something similar be happening like when kids used to get on the elevator and press every floor button just fir kicks?

Thanks for you reply

Thanks for the review & video, We have our first MSc cruise booked for next month in YC. Your posts brought up a few questions: 1) Is there a kettle in the cabin for heating water or can the Nespresso machine do that? 2) Cabanas on the YC pool deck: a. Are they really no charge & 1st come, 1st serve? b. Did you experience cabana hogs "reserve" one with a few belongings and never really use it? Thanks

Great review...waiting for it to continue

Will the YC butler or concierge blow it up for me? 😁

Why use envelopes? Save paper and just hand them the ca$h...

I believe it only works prior to final payment...

Which discount are you talking about - VC or military? You can't get both. Either way, they should both be able to be applied retroactively as long as final payment hasn't been made. Just remember, I've only done it once so I'm no expert.

The current military discount is 10%. I initially got a price quote from a TA that was the same amount as shown on the website for a "normal" (non-VC discount & non-military discount) fare. The TA held the cabin. Then I submitted my DD214 to MSC and MSC quickly applied the military discount. I then paid the discounted fare through the TA directly to MSC. You can'r combine the military discount with the VC discount - it's either one or the other.

Must have missed your other thread... Is MSC reducing the commissions paid to TAs at the end of this year??

I finally got access to my cruise booking on the website after some IT snafus. I can see proper ship, dates, cabin, etc as well as the MSC obc from their booking promotion. However, I can't find the obc that should be from my TA. Is that shown anywhere prior to the cruise, or do I have to board and hope it will show up in my account. The TA obc amount is shown on the booking info from my TA (along with the MSC obc), but I'd feel better if I had some acknowledgement from MSC that the additional obc will show up...

Update: The VC folks answered my next email after a few days and said the problem was a conflict with my name for my on-line website access account and what they had listed in my VC account. They deleted my on-line account and had me create a new account using my first and middle names in the first name entry field to match the name in on the VC account and wht was listed in my cruise booking. My VC member number/account remained unchanged and there were no points lost or change in my Diamond status. Upon creating a new website account using the same e-mail address, I was able to access my cruise booking using either the booking number or my online login. However, when I went to the Web Check-In section, my VC number was not displayed (with no way to edit/add it) and my middle name still was listed twice. I e-mailed the VC people again and after waiting two weeks with no reply, I reluctantly called MSC again. This agent was able to quickly add my VC number to the booking and delete one of the double listed middle names. Now it seems that all is working correctly as I was able to complete the on-line web check-in process and print the cruise documents and luggage tags. Now only 5 weeks to go until I can print my tickets 20 days prior to the cruise and hopefully all will still be kosher then.

If you're asking me, yes I do realize that. The amount she/they offered me was up to them. I did not ask or negotiate for a particular amount. If they weren't "comfortable" giving that amount, they wouldn't have offered & given it or they wouldn't continue working at that agency. This is my first experience using this agency, so other than the initial booking, I'm not sure how much other assistance I can expect if any glitches arise.

I recently booked a 7 day cruise for late January in a YC Deluxe cabin on Seascape with a major on-line agency. Even with a 10% military discount, they gave us a $500 obc in addition to $200 obc from MSC which was part of the then current promotion. The agency I used was recommended by another CC member on this board via e-mail.