Observations from MSC Seaside Yacht Club

[rattanchair]

7 hours ago, gtaylor said:

 

Is that really the Seaside?  It doesn't look at all familiar.

 

gary

Dear Gary,  Glad you asked. I just took these photos of the YC pool area.  There are today 8 lounges under the canopy on one side of the deck and 6 under canopy on the other side. The remainder are under open sky and subject to the sun.

[architect1337]

QQ. We are on the same cruise as you but in an Aurea aft suite. Do people dress for dinner in the YC dining room? 

[rattanchair]

21 hours ago, Beamafar said:

There was talk early on that the daily menus would be available to peruse on the MSC for Me app on the new ships.  I take it that this isn't the case?

Dear Bea,  Just for you,  I down loaded the MSC for me app. ( actually I had DW download it on my phone). The restaurants are listed with hours of operation, but no menus.  Took a photo of the posted lunch and dinner menu for YC restaurant for today located in TSL to the right before the staircase leading up to the YC restaurant.

[rattanchair]

21 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Thanks rattan, yes, it's a proper travel uv rated parasol and I'll have my factor 50 sunscreen.

 

Is the YC menu displayed in the TSL?

 

[rattanchair]

18 hours ago, JAGR said:

Top Sail Lounge (Deck 16).  The menu boards would be on the right next to the staircase up to the restaurant on 18.

 

Yes, but only for YC restaurant.

[rattanchair]

54 minutes ago, architect1337 said:

Set up the navy blue YC deck towels provided by another butler who introduced himself at the YC sun pool deck.  (Bring a wad of singles $$ for tipping)

 

Just an additional note for non US customers. 

 

Tipping is is absolutely not expected or required anywhere on the ship. Being a Swiss / Italian cruise line, all services are included in the fare / service charge, so no need to tip extra as you would be expected to if you were in the US. 

 

Note for US readers, most Europeans, Australians, Asians find tipping demeaning which is why we have a problem with it but happy to do so when in the US as it's the custom and is expected. 

 

 

Dear Archi,  With a 127 nationalities on board I like to distinguish myself.  I enjoy the smiles I receive from the totally 'unexpecting'  crew member when I slip him or her a couple of extra bucks. Oh yes, and I even get a 'Thank you' thrown in. Our ship board credit will take care of the $87.50 / person/ week. But DW brought up the 'notion' that we just have to up our tipping at the end because of the fantastic service we are being shown in the Yacht Club this sailing. So far, not including the incidental daily tips, we have set aside another $1050 for tips at the end of this weeks cruise. This amount is relative to each and every one of us. I would like to think that we are somewhere in the middle of the tipping public.

   Our waiter on the Divina, RS, Christmas, said to us that he was stationed on the Seaside before being sent to Divina and much 'preferred' the Seaside for its American guests.

[JAGR]

30 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

Yes, but only for YC restaurant.

Yews, and that's what CruisingFox was asking about.  Don't care about the MDR food.

9 hours ago

21 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Is the YC menu displayed in the TSL?

In March they posted lunch and then dinner in the morning, and at night they usually had that dinner and the next day's lunch posted.  Also, the host/hostess can let you look at the week's menus if you are trying to plan a day for Black card dinner or Specialty Dining as well.  We found that extremely helpful. 

 

[rattanchair]

51 minutes ago, architect1337 said:

QQ. We are on the same cruise as you but in an Aurea aft suite. Do people dress for dinner in the YC dining room? 

Dear Archi,  Mostly the other guests are dressed elegantly on Chic/Gala nights. But you can always find my DW and I dressed every evening. I have no where else to wear all the threads I had custom made over the years in pre 2000 Hong Kong. I have not been back since the 'change-over' and the threads still fit. Also, it is our way of showing respect to the Yacht Club and my fellow cruise passengers.

[rattanchair]

21 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Yews, and that's what CruisingFox was asking about.  Don't care about the MDR food.

9 hours ago

In March they posted lunch and then dinner in the morning, and at night they usually had that dinner and the next day's lunch posted.  Also, the host/hostess can let you look at the week's menus if you are trying to plan a day for Black card dinner or Specialty Dining as well.  We found that extremely helpful. 

 

Dear J,  Sorry, we have been on 3 cruises in the last 6 weeks on different cruise lines. The Haven NCL Breakaway   aft penthouse, Celebrity Equinox CS, and presently YC.  I have been giving my observations on each sailing and to tell the truth the food is one of the most important aspects. Food is often prepared in the same galley, though in one case Celebrity the Luminae had its own section within the same galley. We took the galley tour. We could choose from the MDR menu as well as Luminae. That being said, I shy away from making subjective remarks about food. I am just happy if I can digest it properly.

Edited July 25, 2019 by rattanchair

[JAGR]

11 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

Dear J,  Sorry, we have been on 3 cruises in the last 6 weeks on different cruise lines. The Haven NCL Breakaway   aft penthouse, Celebrity Equinox CS, and presently YC.  I have been giving my observations on each sailing and to tell the truth the food is one of the most important aspects. Food is often prepared in the same galley, though in one case Celebrity the Luminae had its own section within the same galley. We took the galley tour. We could choose from the MDR menu as well as Luminae. That being said, I shy away from making subjective remarks about food. I am just happy if I can digest it properly.

NP!  I just meant that CF was asking about YC menu.  You have good ships to compare MSC to.  We had a nice suite on Breakaway (not Haven 😂!) and have been Concierge on Equinox, but we find nothing has topped our recent one-week trips on MSC in Yacht Club. Looking forward to a two-week B2B in March.  We did like the food in YC on Seaside  best of all because they have their own kitchen.  I was allowed a walk-through one early morning with the chef when he was in the lounge getting coffee.  It's not a full kitchen, but they tray and do most entrees from there, and do the basic prep for the grill on deck 19.  Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[architect1337]

30 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

Dear Archi,  Mostly the other guests are dressed elegantly on Chic/Gala nights. But you can always find my DW and I dressed every evening. I have no where else to wear all the threads I had custom made over the years in pre 2000 Hong Kong. I have not been back since the 'change-over' and the threads still fit. Also, it is our way of showing respect to the Yacht Club and my fellow cruise passengers.

 

Agreed. It's one of the only complaints I have with the MDR on Gala night. People showing lack of respect by wearing jeans, shorts etc and MSC/ maitre D not directing them toward the Buffett.

[rattanchair]

Well today or at least this morning is beautiful on the YC pool deck. This is our second shot at using our cabana/alcove and in the shade it is quite pleasant and there is a breeze. All the cabanas/alcoves are booked. Some guests have had to resort to making up their own shade using towels as all shade chairs are taken. Vishnu just brought us some cold fruit and cheese plates. He said he will be preparing grilled lobster momentarily on the pool deck. Tonight is lobster night in the YC. This is one cruise line you could very easily go for longer cruises.

[rattanchair]

11 minutes ago, JAGR said:

NP!  I just meant that CF was asking about YC menu.  You have good ships to compare MSC to.  We had a nice suite on Breakaway (not Haven 😂!) and have been Concierge on Equinox, but we find nothing has topped our recent one-week trips on MSC in Yacht Club. Looking forward to a two-week B2B in March.  We did like the food in YC on Seaside  best of all because they have their own kitchen.  I was allowed a walk-through one early morning with the chef when he was in the lounge getting coffee.  It's not a full kitchen, but they tray and do most entrees from there, and do the basic prep for the grill on deck 19.  Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Dear J,  Can not disagree with your choice of B2B. We booked 2 more RS while on board , one on Seaside the other on Meraviglia, you will find it hard not to.

[JAGR]

Good to know!  Thanks!

[rattanchair]

I do not know who or what thread I was commenting on over the last 6 weeks. But the topic came up on suite bath amenities. We bring our own for fear of breaking out with a rash in the middle of the ocean far from our dermatologist. So I did not think to comment at the time. so here are a few photos of the MSC brand toiletries, for those of you concerned.

[rattanchair]

11 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Good to know!  Thanks!

Also the $200 obc really is not a great incentive booking a $14,000 cabin. It is the service that has us coming back. Just compare it to that $60,000 cabin offered by Celebrity. There is no way one can get a greater level of satisfaction than we are receiving today. We can squeeze 6 cruises a year and multiply our satisfaction quotient 6x as well.

[rattanchair]

Had to leave the pool deck it was getting to hot for us and the cloth roof over the cabana/alcove provides absolutely zero shade from the sun. Noticed that the other RS cabana/alcove was unoccupied. Had to have a venchi chocolate sundae at the indoor venchi bar one evening $8.50, which they asked to swipe my room card.  The charge never appeared on our profile.  They have a different flavor featured each day in the YC restaurant besides always having the standard venchi chocolate or vanilla on hand every day.

     We tend to walk off our meals by walking indoors starting on deck 5 and working our way up floor by floor until we reach our deck 16, criss-crossing each floor front to back. We noticed that the cabin deck hallways appear to get a bit wider as we ascend, that there are quite a few 'guests' that love to leave their soiled dishes and glassware in the hallways outside their cabins and at a few spots there exists a smell of sewage. Compared to the YC , never any dishware outside a cabin and no foul smells.

     Some passengers love to smoke on their balcony despite the request not to, but then it is only a request and never enforced on any cruise line, even with the threat of a fine. Seriously, does anyone know of anyone ever being fined? Forward cabins have their benefits in being upwind sailing the ocean blue.

[rattanchair]

On 7/22/2019 at 10:27 AM, rattanchair said:

Dear George,  We used to sail back to back, Christmas and New Years every year on Home Lines Atlantic. It was like coming home, same staff same passengers. Vishnu will be on vacation in October, but plans to return in December.

 Vishnu will be back in January, sorry.

[Fogfog]

6 hours ago, architect1337 said:

Set up the navy blue YC deck towels provided by another butler who introduced himself at the YC sun pool deck.  (Bring a wad of singles $$ for tipping)

 

Just an additional note for non US customers. 

 

Tipping is is absolutely not expected or required anywhere on the ship. Being a Swiss / Italian cruise line, all services are included in the fare / service charge, so no need to tip extra as you would be expected to if you were in the US. 

 

Note for US readers, most Europeans, Australians, Asians find tipping demeaning which is why we have a problem with it but happy to do so when in the US as it's the custom and is expected. 

 

 

On the MSC website it says there is a Service Fee that is charged on a daily rate (grats)...which is NOT "included"/ part of the initial cost of the sailing. 

At least that is the case for a Carib. sailing.  We have B2B booked.

 

We always tip above/beyond in cash to those who make our cruise special. They work so hard and appreciate the gesture. During a TA int he spring, we had heard from some none-americans that a cruise staffer told them that Americans are the most generous in tipping, and Asians the stingiest.  

[rattanchair]

On 7/24/2019 at 11:47 AM, CruisingFox27 said:

 

We've always been able to view the menu outside of the restaurant, the region sailed has never altered that.

 

rattan, can I clarify if there are shaded areas around the YC pool on Seaside? Although I may take my parasol anyway, I'm not sure I'd like to risk not having shade.

 

I know YC prices have increased but $60,000, wow!

Dear CF,  Do not forget your parasol. Many unhappy on YC pool deck with lack of shade, covering themselves with towels today, very crowded due to unlimited lobster being grilled for lunch. No lobster lunch in YC restaurant, the only lobster was in the ravioli sauce. If you want lobster you have to suffer the sun.

[Two Wheels Only]

4 hours ago, rattanchair said:

We booked 2 more RS while on board , one on Seaside the other on Meraviglia, you will find it hard not to.

 

Would you happen to know how far out they are taking bookings for Seaside and Meraviglia? I can't see anything after Spring 2021. I'm also deciding between Seaside again or Meraviglia in March 2021 but could alter my decision based on what is available in summer 2021. 

[rattanchair]

On 7/23/2019 at 11:52 AM, rattanchair said:

Observations for today in St. Maartin.  MSC provides YC quests with a separate gangway to exit and enter the Seaside. This way we can avoid butting to the front of the line following a butler and the looks and comments by the hoi polloi .  But in order to find this exit it is not advertised.  YC guests are told to show up when they want at the TopSail Lounge entrance and a line of butlers are waiting to escort  you off the ship.

   Last night a notice was posted outside our cabin door advising passengers of deck cleaning while in St Maartin.  They began when we left the ship to walk around the port area. We returned in about a hour and checked out the prepared alcove on the YC sun deck. No breeze and decided to return to cabin to check out our balcony.  The balcony was perfect, in the shade, capturing a nice breeze. Set up the navy blue YC deck towels provided by another butler who introduced himself at the YC sun pool deck.  (Bring a wad of singles $$ for tipping). He would supply cabin with as many as desired. I set the lounge chairs with towels and 'new' towel clips I found in port this morning, and logged on to report to you all, when without warning around from the corner of the balcony comes the manned window washing machine . He did not stop, just nodded hello as I received my second shower of the morning. All my fault, I thought they finished earlier. Luckily DW was inside cabin at the time of my dowsing. He went to the end of the Yacht club and guess what? They came back again for a second shot at me, but this time I folded up the towels and ran inside the cabin and got my phone out to capture a photo.

Please notice the big puddle beneath my lounge chair to attest the dowsing I received.

[rattanchair]

3 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Would you happen to know how far out they are taking bookings for Seaside and Meraviglia? I can't see anything after Spring 2021. I'm also deciding between Seaside again or Meraviglia in March 2021 but could alter my decision based on what is available in summer 2021. 

Dear TWO,  We are booked in the RS , Mera, for March 2021. Summer is not out yet and believe  me, I tried. Thought future cruise desk had some clout, but they do not.

[Fogfog]

35 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

Dear CF,  Do not forget your parasol. Many unhappy on YC pool deck with lack of shade, covering themselves with towels today, very crowded due to unlimited lobster being grilled for lunch. No lobster lunch in YC restaurant, the only lobster was in the ravioli sauce. If you want lobster you have to suffer the sun.

Rattanchair

Your YC looks divine and the room and balcony perfect

Grilled lobster sounds good to me... 🍹  Wheres a lobster emoticon when ya need one 🙂

[Two Wheels Only]

31 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

Dear TWO,  We are booked in the RS , Mera, for March 2021. Summer is not out yet and believe  me, I tried. Thought future cruise desk had some clout, but they do not.

 

Thanks for checking. 

If anything opens up as far as future dates, I'll gladly share the info.