LIVE MSC Seashore Yacht Club 12/18-23

[missthesea]

Hi,

 

We are boarding now for a 5 night cruise in YC. We have done the YC on the Seaside previously. So far the embarkation is not nearly as smooth. We are in Miami, Terminal F. We knew to go right up to the YC white tent. They reviewed our documents - passports, tickets, vaccine cards and covid tests. They took us priority through security. But then things went south. We were taken past a small windowless lounge where some YC passengers waited, but we could not go on - not many seats. Instead we were ushered to stand against the wall in a large hall full of people. The line for the other passengers is huge, but moving fast. We have been here 45 minutes. This is much different than our previous trips where we whisked into a sunny room and given sparkling wine at the port, lol. I’m a glass half-full person so I know it will still be a wonderful time. Keep you posted!

[titangas]

Hey,

You know it will get better.

I boarded early this morning, arrived at FLL at 9:39 and Lyft got us to the Ship at about 11.

The staff was telling me that Terminal F is much better waiting area than here at C, and they miss it.

 

Our embarkation went pretty smoothly and we were eating Lunch at the YC restaurant by 12:15. Menu number 1 by the way and it was Fantastic.

 

Cabin is great except for the pair on men’s underwear hanging on the chair outside, but steward quickly disposed of and sanitized the chairs.

[missthesea]

Wow - no leftover underwear in our cabin!

 

Yes, we are all settled in now. It did take 2 hours to board, but the ship is beautiful and having drinks in the Cocktail Bar. Feel free to join us in our live review!

[barb in ga]

Following--We sail January 15 on Seashore, and it's our first time on MSC, we usually sail RCI. We're D+, but  the number of points needed to advance to Pinnacle(480) made us decide to try something new. We put in for a status match in October, but haven't heard anything back.

 

We're booked in a whirlpool suite with Aurea experience, so it should be fun. The easy drinks pkg came with our booking, but I think I'll upgrade to easy plus for a little better offering.

 

Do you have to take ship excursions or can we go off the ship on our own?

Thanks,

Barb

[mmbcater]

4 hours ago, barb in ga said:

Following--We sail January 15 on Seashore, and it's our first time on MSC, we usually sail RCI. We're D+, but  the number of points needed to advance to Pinnacle(480) made us decide to try something new. We put in for a status match in October, but haven't heard anything back.

 

We're booked in a whirlpool suite with Aurea experience, so it should be fun. The easy drinks pkg came with our booking, but I think I'll upgrade to easy plus for a little better offering.

 

Do you have to take ship excursions or can we go off the ship on our own?

Thanks,

Barb

Re-submit your status match documents-that seems to long!

 

[travelwide]

Following along.

[seapad]

Following too

[SirWolf]

Hey,

we are literally all in the same boat.. Lol

MSC sent 2 different check-in times:

12:00pm in boarding documents

4:00pm in “Important Update” text message.

We arrived at 12:45pm and experienced the

same disorganized chaos at check-in..

YC Butler told us they are trying a new check-in

system -> “Failed”.. in my opinion.

2 MSC crew member checking-in hundreds

of YC passengers can not work.

The windowless YC Priority Check-in waiting

room is smaller than a 2-car-garage with seating

for max 20 passengers.

We waited 1hr 15min before getting cruise cards

and wristbands. They used the uploaded photos

for ID. Check-in take long because they are

not working organized, it looks more improvised

than professionally planned. They take photos

of everything (Cruise Card, Passport, Covid

test result, Vaccination Card).. using mobile

phone and tablet.. they had problems taking

the photos because of dim light.

It took them 20 minutes to check-in a family

of 4 in line before us.

Overall experience was nothing close to

advertised “Ultimate MSC Exclusivity”.

Luggage arrived soon after we were escorted

to the stateroom.

The layout of the bathroom is different to

the YC bathroom on Meraviglia, the shower

is smaller. No face tissue box holder !

The security safe is smaller compared to

Meraviglia and Bellissima, inside dimension

is just a bit larger than iPad Mini.

DW found 2 deco pillows under the bed and a empty plastic bag of gummy bears.

Housekeeping failed to inspect the stateroom

thoroughly after last passengers left.

[styles27]

Yikes! I’m not looking forward to the embarkation process on Seashore Jan 8th after reading this. 
We were on Divina last month out of PC and it took less than 15 min from arriving at the terminal to walking on the ship. 
 

Hopefully they’ll improve in the next 3 weeks. We have a 12:00 embarkation time I wonder if they’re even checking pax assigned times. Doesn’t sound like it. 

[titangas]

A little first breakfast to pick at before YC restaurant opens. Just enjoying the view.

The show Gravity last night was entertaining, not the best show at sea but far from the worst you could get.

 

No need to reserve for YC guests, they have 4 rows blocked off and you are escorted by butler

Celebrating my birthday tonight at Butchers Block Chef Table.

 

Tonight is Gala night. All the menus for week are in the MSC for me app. If I were to skip one YC meal this would have been the one anyway.

 

[mscdivina2016]

7 hours ago, styles27 said:

Yikes! I’m not looking forward to the embarkation process on Seashore Jan 8th after reading this. 
We were on Divina last month out of PC and it took less than 15 min from arriving at the terminal to walking on the ship. 
 

Hopefully they’ll improve in the next 3 weeks. We have a 12:00 embarkation time I wonder if they’re even checking pax assigned times. Doesn’t sound like it. 

Doubtful.

We got off yesterday to a new cluster.

We departed from F but returned to C.

Those that parked at G were screwed.

If you board at F, plan to wait outside as it's in construction.

[seapad]

2 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Doubtful.

We got off yesterday to a new cluster.

We departed from F but returned to C.

Those that parked at G were screwed.

If you board at F, plan to wait outside as it's in construction.

Can you explain what you need to return to C when you depart from F?

Also, if we are taking Uber to airport, can we just grab the Uber from F?

Thanks.

[mscdivina2016]

1 minute ago, seapad said:

Can you explain what you need to return to C when you depart from F?

Also, if we are taking Uber to airport, can we just grab the Uber from F?

Thanks.

A very long walk.

Yes you can get an uber from F.

 

We had a car parked so we had to walk to it.  No reason why they changed berths??? It wasjust what had happened to us.

[seapad]

2 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

A very long walk.

Yes you can get an uber from F.

 

We had a car parked so we had to walk to it.  No reason why they changed berths??? It wasjust what had happened to us.

Thanks! We are thinking of catching the 11 am flight home on the return. Was your debarkation process quick and on time? Think 11 am flight should be ok?

[mscdivina2016]

12 minutes ago, seapad said:

Thanks! We are thinking of catching the 11 am flight home on the return. Was your debarkation process quick and on time? Think 11 am flight should be ok?

You will not make 11am in my opinion.  We were in YC and we were not able to get off till 8am. Because of YC it was easy so I cannot comment on non YC

[missthesea]

Day 2 of our cruise. Wonderful and relaxing with only a few glitches (besides the embarkation). The ship is the fullest it has ever been per the crew - about 3200 passengers. We were told Yacht Club is full, but we were emailed offers to upgrade to many other canon types for a fee right up to the day before so not sure that is accurate. We have an inside room - 19016, long and narrow and very nice. With Omicron coming, we are being more careful and running a little HEPA air purifier (they have allowed it) and about 95 percent of people are being great with masks. It is hard to avoid crowds in the casino or at the show. They are doing some distancing, but it isn’t enforced. The YC feels uncrowded with plenty of space. Our butler is great and staff are really attentive. As others have noted, there are some changes: the minibar has only beer and pop, but you are given a standard size bottle of spirits or sparking wine to drink here or take home. No biggie for us. No slippers ( those were too big to wear anyway!) and the drinks outside the YC are limited to $15. All of the signature cocktails in Cabaret Rouge - which is this nice lounge with theater acts at the back of the ship - are $16. It seems that many of the cocktails at the Cocktail Bar on 8 by the specialty restaurants are included. I highly recommend that bar if you like to try interesting cocktails. We have read that crepes and gelato are not included either, but who knows - it is MSC! We will try! If not, buying them will stop me from eating them twice a day and gaining 10 lbs. To the person who asked about leaving the ship, we will double check but we were sure you could without a ship excursion as long as you are vaccinated. We have a private tour with “Tours by Locals” in Roatan, so hope so. For anyone wondering, the spa is open including the thermal area. We had a great couples massage with dry floatation with Vanessa. Didn’t spend too much time in the wet areas as it felt a little Covid risky. Someone asked on another thread about almond milk lattes. Yep, they can make them for you here. They are lighter and even if you drink milk, I suggest them if you don’t like how heavy the regular ones are. So far, there have been good vegetarian options. I know this is long, but I find these detailed posts helpful when I’m planning a trip. Let me know if you have questions and I’ll try to answer by the end of the cruise. 

[SirWolf]

3 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Doubtful.

We got off yesterday to a new cluster.

We departed from F but returned to C.

Those that parked at G were screwed.

If you board at F, plan to wait outside as it's in construction.

We departed from C in October (Meraviglia) and yesterday (Seashore) and were told by MSC staff to park in garage G.

MSC provided shuttle bus service from/to garage G to terminal C. The shuttle bus stop is at the entrance of garage G.

[dexddd]

Yeah, I don't know why they have such a small check in area considering they want social distance.  Nothing like the other terminal they used.

 

In regards to no kleenex, not sure what is going on there.  We had none in room on our two trips.  Heard something about due to sanitization which makes no sense.  Maybe they were running short??  In any case, we asked for a box and got one.

[SirWolf]

4 minutes ago, dexddd said:

In regards to no kleenex, not sure what is going on there.  We had none in room on our two trips.  Heard something about due to sanitization which makes no sense.  Maybe they were running short??  In any case, we asked for a box and got one.

The bathroom vanity countertop is not designed to hold a tissue box as on other ships.

Sanitizing can not be the reason, we found a open tissue box in a drawer in the desk across from the bed.

 

another note:

They replaced the fruit basket (YC Meraviglia, YC Bellissima) with a tiny fruit box which looks like a jewelry box 🙃 ..

[mscdivina2016]

2 hours ago, SirWolf said:

We departed from C in October (Meraviglia) and yesterday (Seashore) and were told by MSC staff to park in garage G.

MSC provided shuttle bus service from/to garage G to terminal C. The shuttle bus stop is at the entrance of garage G.

I guess we were lucky as we parked in the open air lot across from D/E.

[seapad]

2 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

You will not make 11am in my opinion.  We were in YC and we were not able to get off till 8am. Because of YC it was easy so I cannot comment on non YC

We are in YC. Just wondering if we can be the first to get off, and how early would they allow. In the past, other cruise lines allow people to carry their own luggage off as early as 7 ish. Hope we can do the same and allowed to walk off with own luggage as early as 7

[mscdivina2016]

1 hour ago, seapad said:

We are in YC. Just wondering if we can be the first to get off, and how early would they allow. In the past, other cruise lines allow people to carry their own luggage off as early as 7 ish. Hope we can do the same and allowed to walk off with own luggage as early as 7

If all goes perfect and you arrange with the butler who must escort you in order to get off first you could have a shot.

[kym05]

Wow sounds like MSC is trying to go full stream ahead ignoring this new variant! Well good to know Yacht club doesn't fell that crowded even thou being fully booked. Any chance getting dinner menus each not if not allot to ask for =). Please keep us posted on quality of service aboard the ship. Also any one care to challenge the no drinks in the show lounge! Was wondering if a Jarvis with a lid would be allowed during the shows no drink policy, any thoughts? Will be on this ship leaving March 19 and a bit concerned with Covid regulations ruining our cruise!

[titangas]

 

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Edited December 20, 2021 by titangas
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[mscdivina2016]

14 hours ago, kym05 said:

Wow sounds like MSC is trying to go full stream ahead ignoring this new variant! Well good to know Yacht club doesn't fell that crowded even thou being fully booked. Any chance getting dinner menus each not if not allot to ask for =). Please keep us posted on quality of service aboard the ship. Also any one care to challenge the no drinks in the show lounge! Was wondering if a Jarvis with a lid would be allowed during the shows no drink policy, any thoughts? Will be on this ship leaving March 19 and a bit concerned with Covid regulations ruining our cruise!

What " No drinks "?

Our Butler carried my wife's into the show last week.

Covid messed with Ocho Rios.

Only allowed in shopping area or a ships tour.