Upgraded to Yacht Club Cabin!

[Beamafar]

Nikki ... I found the thread I was referring to about an upgrade to YC.  The OP boarded Divina on April 28th last.  I was reluctant to post the link as it might cause some frustration for you.  In post #18 the OP states that they received all the YC benefits:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2658373-upgradeor-not/?tab=comments#comment-57353975

 

 

[nikkiw60]

21 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Nikki ... I found the thread I was referring to about an upgrade to YC.  The OP boarded Divina on April 28th last.  I was reluctant to post the link as it might cause some frustration for you.  In post #18 the OP states that they received all the YC benefits:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2658373-upgradeor-not/?tab=comments#comment-57353975

 

 

Thanks Bea I will have a look through this later!

[nikkiw60]

If we get the benefits it’s a double bonus. And if we go on not expecting anything then we won’t be disappointed. 

[Beamafar]

If I were in your shoes I'd take the exact approach, Nikki!  But as someone "On the Outside, Looking in"  I'm feeling the frustration on your behalf!  🙄

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise, whichever way it goes!  😊

[sverigecruiser]

13 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

We were in the YC of the Divina a few years back, and the YC had a separate dining room and an included open bar. Unless thins have changed, the YC was a totally separate part of the ship only accessible to those with a room there. No ID was required to go to the YC dining room or bar.

 

The dining room isn't located in the separate part of the ship.

 

No ID is required but they will know if they have upgrades in the YC without access to bar and dining room.

 

I hope that the OP will get all benefits because I think that it's unfair to upgrade to YC without giving lounge and diningroom access.

[Beamafar]

19 minutes ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

The dining room isn't located in the separate part of the ship.

 

 

SC ... the YC dining room on Divina is in a separate part of the ship.

[sverigecruiser]

4 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

 

SC ... the YC dining room on Divina is in a separate part of the ship.

 

Yes, the dining room is in another part of the ship and not in THE separate part (the YC).

[kittinfeld1966]

5 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

You don't indicate where you're posting from.  For UK and Ireland bookings, MSC began including water, tea and coffee in bookings made from May 1st 2018.  This would be denoted on tickets, regardless of experience booked, despite the fact that these would automatically be included, anyway, for Aurea and YC and those with drinks packages either included due to a promotion or pre-booked.

 

I'd noticed that those from the US were reporting that they were no longer getting bottled water included (which they had been);  this leads me to wonder where you're booking from.  If you're in the US, it would seem that MSC has since reconsidered its withdrawal of the benefit.

We are in the US 😊

[Beamafar]

Looks like they've restored the benefit to their US customers, so.  Thanks for your response.  😊

[max996]

Yacht Club passengers dine in Le Muse restaurant on deck 15 Aft. It's a long walk from the YC section of the ship, but you can dine whenever you like. On embarkation day, you'll be asked what time would you like to eat each night and your table will be waiting on you each night. 

You can eat breakfast and lunch there as well on a walk in basis. Best burgers on the ship for lunch. 

Edited May 15, 2019 by max996

[thecruisers6]

Hi Nikki - A big smile when introducing yourself to the YC director or concierge followed by “thank you so much for the upgrade we love MSC, can we pay extra to eat and drink in YC”

worked for one person. 

[Beamafar]

2 hours ago, max996 said:

Yacht Club passengers dine in Le Muse restaurant on deck 15 Aft. It's a long walk from the YC section of the ship, but you can dine whenever you like. On embarkation day, you'll be asked what time would you like to eat each night and your table will be waiting on you each night. 

You can eat breakfast and lunch there as well on a walk in basis. Best burgers on the ship for lunch. 

 

Max ... the discussion revolves around the fact that the OP (Nikki) has been told that she won't be able to dine in the YC restaurant, or enjoy any of the other YC facilities and benefits as she received a free upgrade to a YC cabin but not to the 'YC Experience'.

[CruisingFox27]

We had a couple on a sailing with us last year who received a free upgrade to YC and they received all of the benefits of YC. It would appear the upgrade benefits are randomly allocated.

[Beamafar]

A Frenchman on our 28 night Splendida sailing last year told DH that he'd found that he'd been upgraded at embarkation;  he received all the YC benefits, too.

Edited May 15, 2019 by Beamafar

[little britain]

9 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

Funny thing is I see the shower over bath situation as a negative in YC on Fantasia-class ships.  I'd never use the coffee maker, so it would be an irrelevance for me.  Just goes to show that it's all about POVs.  😄

 LOL me too..... now hoping that we do not get an upgrade as a bath is physically not possible for my elderly mother! Has to be walkin showers!

[BermudaBound2014]

12 hours ago, nikkiw60 said:

I have just called MSC re the website showing we still need to check in and to confirm we have done! At least 4 times...

i also asked the questions and we go to the regular boarding area and only have the cabin so will be in the MDR for dinner and unable to use the Topsail bar. 

Do you remember the song On the Outside Looking in??? That will be us... our cabin is at the entrance so we don’t need to walk through the area either... just think coffee maker and bath...

 

If I were a betting women, I would bet the entire farm that you WILL be able to use everything included in the YC. The shoreside reps are just giving the corporate line. I would be interested to note if you key card is different after you board. If you key card is YC I wouldn't even bother speaking with anyone. Just carry on as if you purchased YC yourself. Couldn't happen to a nicer MSC fan. :)

[hamrag]

5 hours ago, thecruisers6 said:

Hi Nikki - A big smile when introducing yourself to the YC director or concierge followed by “thank you so much for the upgrade we love MSC, can we pay extra to eat and drink in YC”

worked for one person. 

 

Absolutely do NOT do that, unless as a final and last resort if in the highly unlikely event they advise you don't have full YC status!!

 

From the outset, definitely present yourself at the YC tent, act like you are a YC guest....do NOT at any time mention the Fantastica word, rather assume and act like you have all benefits. We have sailed YC on 3 occasions during the past year, and the YC staff (mainly butlers and their assistants) do not recognise any class other than YC.....I am confident you will report back that all is fantastic....and not Fantastica!

[Beamafar]

G ... unfortunately it's clearly stated on Nikki's docs that she has the Fantastica 'Experience'.  That may also show on her cruisecard.  I've only ever been upgraded to Aurea;  Fantastica was indicated on my card, which meant the crew knew that, even though my cabin number was an Aurea cabin, I couldn't use it to get free access to the Spa or private deck.  It'll be interesting to hear from Nikki if Fantastica is included on her YC cruisecard.

[BermudaBound2014]

5 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

even though my cabin number was an Aurea cabin, I couldn't use it to get free access to the Spa or private deck.  It'll be interesting to hear from Nikki if Fantastica is included on her YC cruisecard.

 

I find that incredibly tacky on the part of MSC. It would have cost them nothing to allow you access to aurora private deck and it's not like you would have made it any more crowded since you were in an allotted cabin. It will cost them nothing to allow Nikki access to YC amenities, and again, crowding shouldn't be considered. After all, if they COULD have sold the cabin they would have. 

[Beamafar]

Totally agree, BB.  MSC move people out of cabins (usually personally chosen for their location) and "upgrade" them, all because it's probably the best-selling category.  So they discommode people for sales purposes, but don't follow through with some compensation in the form of, minimally, receiving the benefits that go with the "upgrade", that, as you say, cost the company zilch!

Edited May 15, 2019 by Beamafar

[BermudaBound2014]

So in the case of someone getting upgraded to YC without the benefits- it’s likely their new YC cabin is in a less desirable place. Mid ship low is great for motion sickness. Some people like decks closer to amenities they use (example casino). MSC was smart and took the least desirable section of a ship - high and forward- and made it desirable. The “experience”’should come with the upgrade. It’s just good business practice. 

[CGTNORMANDIE]

14 hours ago, nikkiw60 said:

We have our updated tickets the question is do we check in at Yach Club area or just the Black Priority boarding area? Also the tickets also are back showing 2nd dinner sitting so think we will be in the MDR. 

On a positive the cabin has a 🛀 not shower and from what I have read a coffee maker. I am more than happy if that is the only benefit we get!

 

Hi Nikki,

 

YOU NEED TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE YC TENT TO CHECK IN!  The staff there will sort out any confusion and send you in the right direction.  Your cruise rep gave you some bad information.  It would be a shame for you to miss the YC check-in. If you are booked into a YC cabin then you deserve the full treatment.  You will NOT be denied any of the YC benefits.  98% of success in life is just showing up...so be there!    

 

 

[Até]

I find all this interesting because just a few days ago I was talking about this to my PCV because I was adding a cabin for family near one I had booked earlier.  I was told MSC wouldn't upgrade either cabin because we had selected them specifically, they would only upgrade people who booked guarantees.  Now she is a pretty seasoned PVC but I told her I really don't think that's true, I'm pretty sure I've also read other people here on CC have been upgraded from specifically booked cabins.  Perhaps she just meant for US bookings.  I'm not talking about being moved due to berth capacity problems like with the Grand Suites, just upgrades.  

 

On my last Seaside sailing I was told by the hotel director they had over a dozen empty YC cabins one week before sailing and by two days before sailing all were full.  I was told upgrades by corporate.  I was never able to figure out who got those upgrades as everyone I saw had the same access to all YC areas and I never saw them ask certain people for their card when they ordered a drink.  I fully expect Nikki will get access to all the YC areas.  I'd be interested to know if you already had a higher level drink package Nikki?  I do remember reading a report where someone who was upgraded to YC said they had to pay a small supplement for all the YC perks, perhaps they initially had a lower drinks package.

 

I really prefer that MSC handles these unsold cabins in this manner, particularly for the YC and Aurea.  I'd much rather they remain as unsold and go as last minute upgrades than have large price drops weeks before sailing.  It is a nice price protection factor for those that book these cabins early.  I wonder how long it will take MSC to implement an upgrade bidding system that is now appearing on more lines.  As long as they don't do it like NCL I would be okay with it.

[BermudaBound2014]

I'm with CG on this one. Don't ask, don't tell. Head straight to the white tent. No quetions asked. I might recommend heading directly to LeMuse for lunch. That way if there is any issue and they are going to act like idiots , it can be sorted out immediately without a crowd.  Once you've eaten in LeMuse once (lunch on embarkation day) they will all recognize you. Enjoy!! 

[BermudaBound2014]

2 minutes ago, Até said:

As long as they don't do it like NCL I would be okay with it.

 

What don't you like about the way NCL does it? I've benefited huge with NCL's bidding system. RCL and Celebrity are doing it the exact same as NCL as far as I can tell. I just got an offer yesterday to bid for an upgraded cabin on Allure. The bidding system is profitable. MSC will be on it, but with their inconsistency in policy and monster of a clunker web page I imagine  that will end up being quite the cluster.