YC Drink Package Changes?

[Até]

11 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Well, it downloaded for me when I clicked on it, so at least I have a copy thanks to you posting it.

It is a PDF copy I made.  The original on the MSC US site is gone.

[Até]

6 minutes ago, Selion said:

One thing stood out from this chart - "Soft ice cream" (I'm assuming gelato) is not included in ANY of the alcoholic packages.

I'm pretty sure Gelato was referred to as "Homemade Ice Cream" in the old packages.  It is gone from the new packages.  Soft Serve is something completely different and in now only in the non-alcoholic packages.

[Até]

27 minutes ago, jules815 said:

This has gotten so confusing!  I swear I thought I saw a comparison chart the other day that had (Yacht Club) in the heading for the Premium Plus column.

Too late to edit my above post. 

 

When the new packages first appeared on the websites, under Compare Experiences page the Yacht Club was listed as getting the Premium Plus package.  Look back into this thread and you will see that discussion and then the subsequent quandary about removal of that wording.

[Dr. Cocktail]

MSC Head Office Decision Tree:

 

[2013cruiser2013]

There will have to be some clarification at some point of what is included when outside of Yacht Club given there aren't asterisks on the menu anymore. When I read   "Unlimited complimentary beverages in all MSC Yacht Club areas, the mini-bar in your suite, and in all bars and restaurants of the ship (according to the drink selections available in the different venues)"one could think that anything on the menu would be included.

[Beamafar]

 

5 minutes ago, Até said:

When the new packages first appeared on the websites, under Compare Experiences page the Yacht Club was listed as getting the Premium Plus package.  Look back into this thread and you will see that discussion and then the subsequent quandary about removal of that wording.

 

The Ireland website is useless so we don't even get  these tables showing the different packages' inclusions.  Fortunately you were smart enough to make a copy.  It's something I make a point of  doing, now, each time I see info worth keeping.

[Até]

3 minutes ago, 2013cruiser2013 said:

...one could think that anything on the menu would be included.

As with most drink packages the unlimited is in terms of quantity rather than quality/choices.

[Beamafar]

17 minutes ago, 2013cruiser2013 said:

There will have to be some clarification at some point of what is included when outside of Yacht Club given there aren't asterisks on the menu anymore. When I read   "Unlimited complimentary beverages in all MSC Yacht Club areas, the mini-bar in your suite, and in all bars and restaurants of the ship (according to the drink selections available in the different venues)"one could think that anything on the menu would be included.

 

Totally agree ... but Até is right - the use of the word "unlimited" has always been a qualified one.

 

(ETA  The weirdest thing just happened just as I submitted this post ... the insertions from the following post were inserted here.  I've since deleted them as I didn't post them).

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2018 by Beamafar

[Selion]

Found this on an MSC website for the US market.

 

Notice it said "Old packages already booked will be granted on board at sales conditions" without an expiration date, or a conversion date such as 'on sailing on and after xx/xx/2019, A package will be grand fathered into X package and B package will be grand fathered into Y package'.

 

 

 

I still think YC would not fit neatly into one of the new packages, as minibars will still be included and this is the key disclaimer in YC benefits:

Unlimited complimentary beverages in all MSC Yacht Club areas, the mini-bar in your suite, and in all bars and restaurants of the ship (according to the drink selections available in the different venues).

 

Also, no where on the YC benefits charts says YC guests will receive discounts on bottles.  YC will most likely have a hybrid between Premium and Premium Plus packages, with MSC deciding which few items from Premium Plus will be included with YC.

 

The last disclaimer limits what are and are not included with YC depending on different bars.  Venchi bars or other branded bars, being licensed or co-branded or however legally structured, may exclude YC from its offerings.  It's a 'catch all' disclaimer from MSC, since we can also interpret it as saying "No, you can't have a xxxx since you are at the ABC bar and we don't stock xxx here."

 

[Beamafar]

Selion ... I think you are misinterpreting the meaning of "according to the drinks selections available in the different venues".  That has always been a proviso for all drinks packages.  All it means is that not all bars/lounges will have the same stock as some bars are quite small, with a limited range of drinks, others offer a comprehensive selection and one or two even offer a specialised selection (such as the wine bars or cigar lounges on some ships).

Edited December 2, 2018 by Beamafar

[Até]

Well to me it just comes down to MSC not realizing what they were doing when they initially gave Premium Plus to YC. I and many others were all in for that as there were some very good ultra premium selections available, albeit mostly in YC.  We should have just kept quiet and let MSC figure that one out over time.

[Selion]

1 minute ago, Beamafar said:

Selion ... I think you are misinterpreting the meaning of "according to the drinks selections available in the different venues".  That has always been a proviso for all drinks packages.  All it means is that not all bars/lounges will have the same stock as some bars are quite small, with a limited range of drinks and others offer a comprehensive selection.

 

That I may be.  But before the package changes, drinks with 2  ** were not included either.  That can also be covered by "according to the drinks selections available in the different venues."

 

Without that disclaimer, the benefits basically says unlimited drink anywhere on the ship.

[Beamafar]

3 minutes ago, Selion said:

 

... before the package changes, drinks with 2  ** were not included either. 

 

The wording was the same even then;  as Até has said, the word "unlimited" in this case means quantity.

[Selion]

2 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

The wording was the same even then;  as Até has said, the word "unlimited" in this case means quantity.

 

Apologies in advance.  I've been working with contracts people for too long and it will seem I'm picking a fight here.

 

If MSC meant unlimited quantity, then they should have worded the benefits as "Unlimited number of complimentary beverages..."

 

"Unlimited complimentary beverages" to me means unlimited number (quantity) and unlimited selections (quality) of beverages, hence the last disclaimer in parenthesis which could simply be added to say not all drinks are available at all venues.  That's rather common sense.  If MSC's legal department felt the need to add a clause just to clarify common sense when it comes to availability, I feel they took the opportunity to use the same clause to limit the selections of included drinks.

[Até]

It's the same with many cruise line's packages.  NCL's Ultimate Beverage Package says "unlimited", but it is in regards to consumption.

[Selion]

We are turning into philosophers.  Arguing the same points but on different parts.  LOL!

 

This is the benefit clause:

Unlimited complimentary beverages in all MSC Yacht Club areas, the mini-bar in your suite, and in all bars and restaurants of the ship (according to the drink selections available in the different venues).

 

You are saying the limits on selections of drinks are implied with all unlimited packages.

I am saying the limits on selections of drinks are implied with the disclaimer in parenthesis.

 

Whichever it may be, we can all agree it's not unlimited selection of drinks as we all hope it would be!

[2013cruiser2013]

Now we just need for some of us to get on board to actually see how it is playing out. I'm more curious about the European sailings.  I'll be in YC on Seaview in April. 

[SirWolf]

1 hour ago, Beamafar said:

Dave ... when looking at Aurea prices, I used to always compare them with Fantastica, plus adding the cost of the drinks package. 

Bea, in fairness to MSC the Aurea Experience includes 2 massages (50 minutes each), use of Aurea Thermal Spa during the length of the cruise and access to Aurea sun deck. That is quite a value in addition to the Drink Package and MyChoice Dining.

[Até]

16 minutes ago, Selion said:

You are saying the limits on selections of drinks are implied with all unlimited packages.

I am saying the limits on selections of drinks are implied with the disclaimer in parenthesis.

Okay, what's your opinion about whether the old drinks packages should cover drinks on Ocean Caye.  The new packages specifically exclude it.  The old packages don't mention it.  Wording can be a very strange thing.

Edited December 3, 2018 by Até

[Até]

6 minutes ago, SirWolf said:

Bea, in fairness to MSC the Aurea Experience includes 2 massages (50 minutes each), use of Aurea Thermal Spa during the length of the cruise and access to Aurea sun deck. That is quite a value in addition to the Drink Package and MyChoice Dining.

I'll be a bit rude and interject.  The value of the two massages is easy to see.  The value of priority check in relates to Voyagers status, so to many now is less important.  The value of the spa thermal access depends greatly on the ship, but averages about $90/week.  The value of my time dining is totally dependent on the person, but costs MSC nothing.  The value of the private sundeck is also personal, but can be quantified based on per day charges for using the facility.  I still come back to the greatest value that Aurea used to offer was in the Classic beverage package.  With that gone I can no longer see the Aurea experience being worth the additional cost MSC now associates with it.

[Beamafar]

8 minutes ago, SirWolf said:

Bea, in fairness to MSC the Aurea Experience includes 2 massages (50 minutes each), use of Aurea Thermal Spa during the length of the cruise and access to Aurea sun deck. That is quite a value in addition to the Drink Package and MyChoice Dining.

 

I always weighed up what Aurea offered over and above what Fantastica did (I never did consider Bella as an option for reasons I won't go into here).  There are 2 benefits that can't be purchased - priority boarding (which we already have, having Black Card status) and MyChoice dining (how do you put a value on that?)  However, the gap in the cost between Aurea v Fantastica now is such that, apart from MyChoice, purchasing the other Aurea "benefits" (included massages, access to Spa thermal suite and private deck, all-inclusive drinks package), it's now cheaper to book a Fantastica balcony and pay for the extra "benefits" onboard that are included with Aurea.  In other words, as another poster has pointed out, there really is little to no incentive to pay Aurea prices going forward (to use that awful, worn-out expression!).

[Beamafar]

37 minutes ago, Selion said:

We are turning into philosophers.  Arguing the same points but on different parts.  LOL!

 

This is the benefit clause:

Unlimited complimentary beverages in all MSC Yacht Club areas, the mini-bar in your suite, and in all bars and restaurants of the ship (according to the drink selections available in the different venues).

 

You are saying the limits on selections of drinks are implied with all unlimited packages.

I am saying the limits on selections of drinks are implied with the disclaimer in parenthesis.

 

Whichever it may be, we can all agree it's not unlimited selection of drinks as we all hope it would be!

 

I've learned (from experience) how to interpret (some of) MSC wordings LOL ... or, at least, to keep my expectations "real".

[sverigecruiser]

I really need to contact MSC and get a confirmation on what is included in my Yacht Club "experience", booked before the changes.

 

As I understand it the pricelimit for drinks is now $12, correct? I know it was a higher limit before but what was the limit?

 

[Annbel1511]

I'm boarding the Preziosa on 22/12 and just got my e-tickets. There is no mention of the mini bar included and that is what worries me most. I booked a year ago so if I don't get the mini bar includes I will made a fuss.

 

YOUR CRUISE What is Included
PRIVILEGES
Dedicated priority check-in and check-out
Butler service available 24 hours
Dedicated concierge available 24 hours
Room service available 24 hours
Unlimited beverage selection in MSC Yacht Club areas and in all
bars and restaurants of the ship according to the drink selections
available in the different venues
Complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea SPA
Relaxation amenities in each suite (including bathrobe and
slippers)

 

In the documents I also have a voucher for bottled water don't know why I would need that?!

 

A question nothing to do with drink package : on my documents it says boarding time 20.45. Do you think we can board earlier then that ?

 

[citizenfrank]

8 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

I always weighed up what Aurea offered over and above what Fantastica did (I never did consider Bella as an option for reasons I won't go into here).  There are 2 benefits that can't be purchased - priority boarding (which we already have, having Black Card status) and MyChoice dining (how do you put a value on that?)  However, the gap in the cost between Aurea v Fantastica now is such that, apart from MyChoice, purchasing the other Aurea "benefits" (included massages, access to Spa thermal suite and private deck, all-inclusive drinks package), it's now cheaper to book a Fantastica balcony and pay for the extra "benefits" onboard that are included with Aurea.  In other words, as another poster has pointed out, there really is little to no incentive to pay Aurea prices going forward (to use that awful, worn-out expression!).

Exactly! Spot on.

It is a 'pointless' classification ….Though I'm saying this & not roping you in! lol