OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK SEASCAPE FEB19-26 2023

[morpheusofthesea]

18 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Miss the college kids (Monet and other shows) from February and March on the Seashore!  They were so enthusiastic, and the singing and dancing were great.

Funny you mention them. This morning docking here in Nassau and watching the Wonder of the Seas pull in next to us outside the TopSail Lounge a few veteran butlers and we mentioned how we all miss hearing MSC ships play "Time to say Goodbye" when we leave a port like Princess plays the "Love Boat" theme. Then our butler Gusti ( a 23 year veteran butler) mentioned missing the same acts performed on Seaside, including "Volare", "Butterfly" and "Michael Jackson Tribute". We brought up "Off the Record, On the Rocks", and "Coast to Coast". Unfortunately the same can be said for the entertainment on Celebrity. So it must be an industry wide problem.

  I suppose everything was better in the 'good ole days' of cruising. Hey! These are the good ole days !!!

[morpheusofthesea]

This is an oenophile alert. No bartender needed, no lines. Found only on deck 8 next to Hola Tacos inside the Wine Cellar. Wine E-motion display of 8 wines ready to pour in self-service wine glasses in 3 varying amounts all for same price.

[morpheusofthesea]

1/4, 1/2, 3/4 glass full wine dispenser. Ab

Edited February 21, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

Above the Aneri is a blue slot to put ones key card. Select fill level. but place wine glass under dispenser tube sticking out from above bottle selection.

[morpheusofthesea]

Now there is still some question regarding complimentary scoops of gelato at the 4 gelato stations on this ship. I was charged a while back when I stopped for a couple of scoops at the Venchi kiosk on deck 6 that came through on my cabin statement. Passing by the satellite ice cream station outside on deck 8 aft at the adult only Infinity Pool the young lady recognized DW and welcomed us back offering  a complimentary gelato to all Yacht Club guests. Don't know if even she knows what is true or not and I just finished lunch having had 3 scoops already with a slice of cheese cake. There is another satellite on deck 18 by the Marina Bar pool side and a third at the Jungle Pool outside the Market Place buffet deck 16. Someone else will have to test these other 3 satellites, because I already have a complimentary sundae every lunch and dinner with either chocolate cake, cheese cake, apple crumble and/or chocolate souffle.

[morpheusofthesea]

We just left Nassau. The elevators are terrible. Heard someone pressing the button continuously in frustration. We made it up to deck 10 and had to take the elevator the rest of the way to 16. Got on and we were taken back down to deck 4. Of course it was my fault for trying my key card override (Its always my fault).

[bafinegan]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Now there is still some question regarding complimentary scoops of gelato at the 4 gelato stations on this ship. I was charged a while back when I stopped for a couple of scoops at the Venchi kiosk on deck 6 that came through on my cabin statement. Passing by the satellite ice cream station outside on deck 8 aft at the adult only Infinity Pool the young lady recognized DW and welcomed us back offering  a complimentary gelato to all Yacht Club guests. Don't know if even she knows what is true or not and I just finished lunch having had 3 scoops already with a slice of cheese cake. There is another satellite on deck 18 by the Marina Bar pool side and a third at the Jungle Pool outside the Market Place buffet deck 16. Someone else will have to test these other 3 satellites, because I already have a complimentary sundae every lunch and dinner with either chocolate cake, cheese cake, apple crumble and/or chocolate souffle.

There is always a charge at Venchi for gelato, coffee, anything.  I thought there is a time span where it is complimentary ( during lunch?) at the buffet.  I seem to remember that from last Jan. 2022

[morpheusofthesea]

16 minutes ago, bafinegan said:

There is always a charge at Venchi for gelato, coffee, anything.  I thought there is a time span where it is complimentary ( during lunch?) at the buffet.  I seem to remember that from last Jan. 2022

The soft serve machine is pulled out from the back room at the bread station in the Market Place Buffet from 3:30 to 4:30 for complimentary cones. The other soft serve machines at the gelato stations is a charge unless one purchases a kid's drink package.

 

[Bobbiegentry]

Thank you @morpheusofthesea!

Your illuminating and insightful threads are always the ones I seem to gravitate to first. 
 

Keep a sharp eye out for those miscreant interlopers.  😃

[no1talks]

5 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"No bartender needed, no lines."

No drink packages accepted.

Another MSC feature that is an upcharge, even for YCers. If the new ships continue to add things for which even YC has to pay extra, people will wonder what the point of YC even is, on the newest ships.

It makes sense to increase the wow factor on new ships. What doesn't make sense is to allow the wow factor of your premium accommodation tier to shrink by comparison.

[morpheusofthesea]

7 minutes ago, no1talks said:

Another MSC feature that is an upcharge, even for YCers

Perhaps, if purchased outside the YC at the Wine Cellar. Doesn’t the YC have comparable wines complimentary? Just guessing. Staff in the YC do not understand why anyone needs to venture out of the gated community. They seem to intimate that the YC can provide its guests with anything if it is on board. I get the feeling we are going to find out when you sail soon.

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

What doesn't make sense is to allow the wow factor of your premium accommodation tier to shrink by comparison.

I think there is a misconception that there has been a “shrinking” of any YC accommodation. Seafood extravaganza has increased from one to two and once we experienced 3 in a week cruise. The “shrinking” has increased outside the YC like gelato, crepes at venues outside the YC.

[Av8tor]

On 2/20/2023 at 8:21 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

Getting off the ship this morning at beautiful Ocean Cay we met our butler Gusti. He informed us that all aboard was at 5:30 and all services close at 3:00 on the island. We told him we were not going to Ocean House that we were going to just walk around and spend the beautiful day on the ship. He asked where we intended to lunch and we expressed our desire to have a pizza delivered to our cabin."What kind, how many and when. I am staying on board and will deliver it to you." Service. 

 That is another thing I am noticing on this cruise. The guests are walking around the YC with smiles.

We had Gusti (and Marinette) for the first two weeks of Febuary.  You are in for a treat.  Tell him Paul & Jackie say "Selamat siang & terima kasih" (Indonesian for good day & thank-you)!

[Av8tor]

8 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We just left Nassau. The elevators are terrible. Heard someone pressing the button continuously in frustration. We made it up to deck 10 and had to take the elevator the rest of the way to 16. Got on and we were taken back down to deck 4. Of course it was my fault for trying my key card override (Its always my fault).

One of the YC butlers told me that the override won't really work if all 4 of the cars in the elevator bank have already been "assigned" due to other calls.  If there is an available car when your card is read, then the override will (or at least should) work.  My experience was that the override did work most of the time, but certainly not right after the muster check-in is on going and theater shows let out.

[no1talks]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I think there is a misconception that there has been a “shrinking” of any YC accommodation.

The accomodations and the perquisites are a package deal. Diminishing those which exist outside the bubble are a diminishment of the total accommodations package.

If anyone thinks, "As long as things are status quo inside the bubble, all is well," that person should forego the white-tent intake, the escort to the front of all lines, the reserved theatre seats (even if outside the normal section) and so forth.

A big part of YC is the collection of non-bubble benefits. Those benefits have decreased. If every new feature on every new ship is a nickel & dime affair for YCers, too, I'll just stay on the older ships. My YC fare will have more bang for the buck, especially when the fares on newer ships are usually higher.

[morpheusofthesea]

23 minutes ago, no1talks said:

A big part of YC is the collection of non-bubble benefits. Those benefits have decreased. I

Could you be a little more specific ? I would like to know what I am missing. What did I have on my Divina cruise in 2018 that I do not have on this Seascape 2023 cruise for instance.

[Esv104]

On Seascape now.  Yacht club.  Cruise is great. Fantastic Mardi Gras party in atrium. Crazy!!   Just finished legit Lobster Tail Pizza in Marketplace Buffet! Oh, and gelato is included in yacht club!   Got it once today, no scan of card,  son got it with a scan, no charge!   They all insist it is included, yet YC concierge say it is not. All great on Seascape!!  Morpheus, still trying to figure out who you are 😉. Have a great night!!

[no1talks]

51 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I would like to know what I am missing.

You are being cattivo, Morpheus. 😉

You, yourself, have catalogued the changes in YC inclusions.

Outside the perimeter, there were the gelato and crepe cuts. In the perimeter, the form of the chocolate gift has changed and now the snacks are comped first serving, only.

As I recall, YCers from waaaay back have mentioned the lack of any price cap on liquors while in YC. Now, there is a price limit in place, per the Premium Extra Package. It would not surprise me to find out such MSC cruisers from days of yore can recall other benefits that have fallen away.

Of course, this is not just a YC situation. Aurea lost their drink package and massages, yes? World Europa has added new specialty restaurants, but apparently, these new eateries are not participating in Voyagers Diamond Members' tasting menus. 

New ships, like World Europa, chock-full of innovative à la carte chargeables, will just make Yacht Club shrink in cachet, when it adds nothing.

 

[RudiRatlos]

YCers from really long ago may remember they had to pay for any drink outside YC. It used to be free drinks in the YC then, but no drink package to use "outside" at all.

[insidecabin]

9 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Perhaps, if purchased outside the YC at the Wine Cellar. Doesn’t the YC have comparable wines complimentary? Just guessing. Staff in the YC do not understand why anyone needs to venture out of the gated community. They seem to intimate that the YC can provide its guests with anything if it is on board. I get the feeling we are going to find out when you sail soon.

Our last YC, bar worked out I like my beer but they don't stock a lot of choice, they were willing and got my requested bottles, i still went to Master for the draft but I guess if I asked they would have got me draft.  

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, no1talks said:

 YCers from waaaay back have mentioned the lack of any price cap on liquors while in YC. Now, there is a price limit in place, per the Premium Extra Package

Ah, now there's the rub !  There are cruise lines that are now charging for a second or third entree. Today's outside special is all one can eat sushi for $33 plus tip (with a time limit). Yet in the YC no limit on how many lobster tails at the extravaganzas. It all depends on the guest. Some lines are limiting all guests, with packages or without, to 15 alcoholic drinks per day. 

  It is a little more nuanced in the Yacht Clubs. There are many of us that are reporting receiving gelatos (and some crepes) outside the YC and are not being charged while others in YC have been charged. Officially, 'the word from  on high', is these things are no longer included. Yet lo and behold, many of us are blest with a complimentary treat, extra bottle of liquor (Or 2), extra Pringles, nuts, or Toblerone all complimentary beyond the first helping and when reported all hell breaks loose.

  I surmise that the staff in the YC are given much discretion. And the recipients of YC largesse think twice about posting their good fortune. 

P.S. Pool attendant just escorted 2 interlopers from the One Pool Deck.

[morpheusofthesea]

Went to Chora Theatre Show production last night second seating, standing room only. Singing and dancing , called Dreamscape. Missing were any acrobatics that was in the production last month. Thought the show was much better. Tonight's is called "Premiere" loosely based on movie show tunes. Cabaret Rouge same mix (3rd time contortionist climbed through a tennis racket).

Heard a couple of interesting stories about MSC no longer chartering their ships for cruises. Discovered that charter groups tend to leave the ship in worse condition imaginable. That Med cruises their ships are considered more ferry boats than cruise ships with guests leaving and embarking at every port. Muster drills every port for newbies, etc.

[Best Cat Mom]

21 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I surmise that the staff in the YC are given much discretion. And the recipients of YC largesse think twice about posting their good fortune.

This has been our experience as well. Butcher's Cut entrees in the YC restaurant with "special" bottles of wine hand-selected by the maitre d'/sommelier, all adult beverages regardless of price in the Top Sail lounge, unlimited mini-bar replenishment, etc. -- basically anything you ask for that will make your holiday all the more enjoyable -- are all quite available in YC with no additional charges. The service and extras are definitely still there but are usually not obvious to anyone except the recipients. We have no issues with YC or their European-style of impeccable (and nearly invisible) service. 🙂

[Two Wheels Only]

10 hours ago, Esv104 said:

Just finished legit Lobster Tail Pizza in Marketplace Buffet!

 

Will definitely be trying that on the next cruise. I'm one of those people who orders extra tails (hold the asparagus) at dinner. 

 

10 hours ago, Esv104 said:

Oh, and gelato is included in yacht club!   Got it once today, no scan of card,  son got it with a scan, no charge!

 

I've had the same experience on all of my YC cruises. It doesn't make sense but I'll take it. The Smiling Fish on Ocean Cay also doesn't charge YC guests. 😉

 

28 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Yet in the YC no limit on how many lobster tails at the extravaganzas.

 

Hehehe. 

I know some people will grumble because "...it's not cold wata Maine lobsta..." but I don't care. 

 

31 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

It is a little more nuanced in the Yacht Clubs. There are many of us that are reporting receiving gelatos (and some crepes) outside the YC and are not being charged while others in YC have been charged. Officially, 'the word from  on high', is these things are no longer included. Yet lo and behold, many of us are blest with a complimentary treat, extra bottle of liquor (Or 2), extra Pringles, nuts, or Toblerone all complimentary beyond the first helping and when reported all hell breaks loose.

 

^^ THIS

All day, every day. 

 

The inconsistency is troubling to some but in our cases, we appreciate the "extras" that we get. These things aren't much but they go a long way to help the guest enjoy their cruise. 

[FLCruiser97]

20 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Above the Aneri is a blue slot to put ones key card. Select fill level. but place wine glass under dispenser tube sticking out from above bottle selection.

That's pretty cool!