OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK SEASCAPE DEC- JAN 8 2023

[morpheusofthesea]

We packed up our beachware from our pergola to come back to our cabin to prepare for our muster drill when a butler stopped us for casual conversation. Told him it was muster time. He said "Not for you. You did it once already." I said , "Great, what's your name. I want to know who to blame when 'they' come looking for us." DW says to me "Tip him."
 

 

Edited January 2, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

Got our new key cards this morning with new internet ID #. But so far am able to keep logging in on old number. Will see what happens and wait til we get knocked off. Learning little nuances, noticed the butler escorting us down through customs this morning was also trying out his crew card on the elevator to see if it would over ride the system. No luck yet. Even they are hoping the system is upgraded soon for the Yacht Club.

[morpheusofthesea]

Appears out of over 5000 passengers on this cruise only 500 have followed muster directions. CD announces that the captain will not leave port until muster is attended. CD also announced that all B2Bs have 'won' the privilege of not having to do muster again. This is a first. All services have been shut down. 

P.S. Understandable ,why, "apparently, Disney Cruise Line is going back to the old, tortuous way of doing muster drills". "We have met the enemy, and they is us." Walt Kelly

Edited January 2, 2023 by morpheusofthesea
ps

[paddy1112]

Hi, is there a shuttle on changeover day available to somewhere in the city?

[SMLWA]

11 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Instructions for B2B passengers. There are 13 of us in the YC. As of last night 332 expected in the YC today.

Thanks! Doing a back to back in a couple of weeks, so good to know info.

[morpheusofthesea]

Well, our wifi from our first week locked us out at 8 pm today. So we put in our new number and then upgraded to browse for $48 total for this 6 day cruise.

[morpheusofthesea]

What a changeover from last cruise !!! Last cruise did not see shorts and tank tops in the YC Restaurant. This cruise all we see are shorts and tank tops. Maybe it is because it's the first evening and no luggage yet ?  Many undisciplined children, school is still out this week in Florida. Many adults with feet up on the furniture and on tables. This is the first time we had to leave the Theatre show production because of inconsiderate coughing on the backs of our heads. Left immediately back to our cabins and took another shower and sprayed our clothes with lysol. 

Edited January 3, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

At lunch today witnessed a young family of 5 order what seemed to be everything on the YC menu and kid's menu, and all the children did was play with the food and made a mess. We thought the younger generation was more considerate of food waste in the world. We inquired just how many dishes they ordered....23. The youngest was a baby which did not partake of any dish. 

[morpheusofthesea]

Overheard another 'gentleman' demand of the concierge that he had not yet been introduced to his butler. This looks like this cruise is going to be real interesting.

[travelwide]

Management needs to educate this group onboard on what is and is not acceptable behavior. 

Sorry you need to put up with this behavior. 

All cruise lines Management need to take control and not let passengers control the situation. Are they really looking for this type of client to book the YC? Don't be afraid of loosing a client. There are many out there who have the class the YC deserves.

Let's see how long it takes for someone to flame me. 🙂

[no1talks]

2 minutes ago, travelwide said:

"All cruise lines Management need to take control and not let passengers control the situation."

All cruise lines are hungry for cash, especially ones wallowing in debt or in the middle of a growth spurt. In these times, management is unlikely to stop anything that doesn't rise to a situation of cruise line liability or damage to property. The family is favored, because they spend money on tchotchkes, snacks, and amusements. That's revenue YC adults traveling without kids usually don't generate.

The kids-cruise-free scheme is a reliable business model.

The price of YC accommodations probably dissuades most young families from taking the hit, and instead sticking with Bella. However, from time to time, there will be instances of what Morphesus describes, even in YC.

Other than adults-only cruises, one can only minimize the chances of such an occurrence by carefully selecting the time of year and the cruise line. 

[Av8tor]

16 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

 Helicopter landing site starboard side Top 10 sun deck.

...must be an awfully small helicopter 😲

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, Av8tor said:

...must be an awfully small helicopter 😲

I think you are correct. More likely a pick up bullseye. Cannot imagine same thing. Too dangerous to allow any landing of small commercial coptors on ship infrastructure. Generally only US Coast Guard mega coptors allowed to do aerial rescues at sea from ships.

Edited January 3, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

4 hours ago, no1talks said:

All cruise lines are hungry for cash, especially ones wallowing in debt or in the middle of a growth spurt. In these times, management is unlikely to stop anything that doesn't rise to a situation of cruise line liability or damage to property. The family is favored, because they spend money on tchotchkes, snacks, and amusements. That's revenue YC adults traveling without kids usually don't generate.

The kids-cruise-free scheme is a reliable business model.

The price of YC accommodations probably dissuades most young families from taking the hit, and instead sticking with Bella. However, from time to time, there will be instances of what Morphesus describes, even in YC.

Other than adults-only cruises, one can only minimize the chances of such an occurrence by carefully selecting the time of year and the cruise line. 

Unfortunately, everything you stated should be acknowledged and taken into consideration. 'Can't have my cake and eat it too' ("to have or enjoy the good parts of something without having or dealing with the bad parts.)"

[morpheusofthesea]

The Yacht Club has been considered the best example of a 'ship within a ship', an oasis in a desert. Perhaps MSC's answer to us YC enthusiasts is their Explora Journeys. Hopefully we will live long enough to have one of their ships based out of Miami, so we can switch over to.

[morpheusofthesea]

[Two Wheels Only]

5 hours ago, Av8tor said:

...must be an awfully small helicopter 😲

 

 

Coming soon?.......

[morpheusofthesea]

Ocean Cay is beautiful today. Docked before sunrise with no 'drama'. Noticed a couple of things similar to last week. The shops on board are all closed as is the Venchi Kiosk. Recall that on the Seashore all the shops were open on Ocean Cay day and even had a 20% off sale and it was busy with staff and passengers buying 2-3 deep in line to check out. We even shared a gelato sundae at the open Venchi kiosk on the Seashore.. Appears the attendants are being commandeered to work on the island. Many of the bars are also closed on the ship today. Recall in times past one had to walk by a gauntlet of island employees at the entrance waving and smiling with Doremi in attendance. This cruise 'heard almost 6000 passengers, 332 in the YC and another 18 'access' (refers to guest not in YC cabins that are friends and family of officers that have access to the YC enclave) totaling 350 in YC. Then there are the unknown number sneaking in by the broken latch door on deck 19.

[morpheusofthesea]

Below are 2 photos of the closed on Ocean Cay Day, Infinity Bar and Venchi gelato outdoor kiosk at the adult pool, besides the closed Venchi kiosk indoors on deck 6. Also there should be 3 shows in the Chora theatre on first evening performance and not 2 as last night. It was packed with 6000 on board and the theatre only seating 1000. Also felt terrible waiting for the elevators today. Young man in wheelchair waiting and waiting and waiting. Appeared to be one of many of our brave service men whose legs were blown off . They should be given elevator over ride key cards that work.

   Strollers should not be allowed in the aisles of the Chora theatre folded or not folded. 

[Oldsweets]

Sorry don’t know any meetups on the Cruise for the 22nd.  Our meetup is hosted by ur comped and the last one they did aboard MSC was last fall.  It seems like they do one per quarter with MSC and the other months they are held on other cruise lines.  We paid for an upgrade for the yacht club last time and were the only one from the “casino meet up’” that stayed in the yacht club.  This trip they comped us and we don’t know that anyone else out of our group in yacht club so I doubt we are driving up the numbers.  I suspect it’s simply the upgrade offers from MSC as the root cause for higher numbers.  I can tell you though you should wish they would be a high number of casino guest in yacht club as we spend so little time using the yacht club perks given the events scheduled for us elsewhere.  Last time we missed “every” event except for the Seafood Deck Lunch.  We also spent almost no time at the pool, and only ate breakfast once, lunch zero, and dinner twice in the yacht club dining room.  Some of that was our ignorance, some was less then helpful information from the staff, and some was the casino and it’s events.  Having said that we are doing yacht club again and hopeful for an even better time.  Fingers crossed!

[Oldsweets]

On 1/2/2023 at 3:18 PM, travelwide said:

I wonder if that is why the YC numbers are so high these days. Do you know of any casino groups on the 1/22 sailing? 

 

On 1/2/2023 at 3:18 PM, travelwide said:

I wonder if that is why the YC numbers are so high these days. Do you know of any casino groups on the 1/22 sailing? 

See my response to your question on page 8 of this subject

[Moz]

18 hours ago, travelwide said:

Management needs to educate this group onboard on what is and is not acceptable behavior. 

Sorry you need to put up with this behavior. 

All cruise lines Management need to take control and not let passengers control the situation. Are they really looking for this type of client to book the YC? Don't be afraid of loosing a client. There are many out there who have the class the YC deserves.

Let's see how long it takes for someone to flame me. 🙂

I just hope MSC doesn't become another Carnival and recruit the Carnival crowd,  Finally found a classy line reasonably priced so hopefully it isn't ruined,

[morpheusofthesea]

Took us time to discover (this second week) that the Top Sail Lounge has the best entertainment. This 10 second video during dinner.Walked around the ship and found 4 of the 6 entertainment venues on break so for the first time decided to try the TSL.

[morpheusofthesea]

Some passengers do cabin crawls. Yours truly likes to do entertainment venue races to get the best seats. Here is a 12 second taste of the Loft Cafe Quartet 

[morpheusofthesea]