Here’s to NOT “The Worst Cruise I’ve Ever Taken”!!! Sailing the Mera today- first time MSC, YC and Aurea Suite

[L1211]

For anyone planning a return from the Mera in PC to MCO, we were almost exactly 2 hours from cabin to Delta gate.  We used Cruise Control transport and waited 40 minutes outside the terminal- showed 2 minutes before our scheduled window of 8:15 to 8:30.  Would call that right on time.  Got through security with TSA pre check and to gate  9:15 - all times AM.  Easy peazy! 

Edited March 16, 2023 by L1211
Gibberish

[L1211]

9 minutes ago, goldmom said:

We usually cruise NCL, but are considering the YC on Meraviglia.  I have a question about elevators.

 

Is there a dedicated elevator within the YC complex or only stairs?  If you're unable to go up stairs, do you need to go out to the main elevators in order to access a different level of the YC.

 

The deck plans are a bit confusing as there is something in the YC that looks like an elevator but isn't labeled as "lift".

 

Thanks for any help!

There is a dedicated elevator that goes from 14 to 19 - the entire enclave.  There are stairs as well.  Enjoy!!

[KennyFla]

6 hours ago, amygutman said:

Thank you again for the lovely review and photos...am slightly nervous re: some of the negative reviews but you have taken every bump in stride. You have been a joy and I will metaphorically fist bump you as we hit the gangway in 8 hours or so....:)

Warmest, Amy

Are you going to post while on board?

[L1211]

45 minutes ago, NorthernCouple said:

Your reports definitely put me on guard regarding our 7 day NYC-NYC in July. I feel like I will enter the boat defensive and pushing for us to get the value that we paid for. Not a good way to start.

Hopefully, MSC keeps tabs on these forums (they would be foolish if they didn't). Our family is a demographic that they should be targeting. My wife and I would book Seabourn if we didn't have kids. We typically only get 1-2 weeks off together per year. So, we are willing to spend more money on those weeks. We are looking for that Seabourn experience for us but with a kid friendly boat. If we have a good first cruise, we could be customers for the next 10 years.

Based on your reports, I'm just not hopeful. They seemed to fail the customer service experience frequently.

Did you catch Boundforsea’s report of the 4+3 sailing on the Mera?  Said it was night and day different from their prior 7+ day sails.  He had cruised in YC 9X previously and this was the worst experience to date. Similar issues that we experienced.  I think the double turn in one week is more than the crew can handle. Not trying to taint others’ experience, just tried to report the facts…. We never received any orientation to the YC due to a boarding snag, brought onboard by a housekeeper and dropped at entrance.  We did not utilize the butler service for anything but room cleaning - and the room was clean!    
 

Loved the cabin, mattress was dreamy, linens crisp, AC cool, water hot, blackout curtain worked perfectly!  Balcony was tiny. 
 

I’d say lean in, ask for what you want- no one is there to anticipate your needs…  and report back!

[JAGR]

2 hours ago, L1211 said:

Saw a butler taking coffee and croissants to a cabin as we left at 7:15.  I asked last night at the concierge’s desk and was told we had to be out of our cabins at 6:30am.  I don’t think that was good intel.  We stayed till 7:15 due to 8:30 planned transport (cruise control, $150 private for four).  WTH??  

Possibly a room that had people doing a b2b.  We've enjoyed the "late" breakfast when doing a b2b.

[L1211]

1 minute ago, JAGR said:

Possibly a room that had people doing a b2b.  We've enjoyed the "late" breakfast when doing a b2b.

I’m honestly unclear on where everyone was!  There was literally no one in the queue set up on deck 6 where you disembark.  No one waiting around the YC desk area.  There were no doors propped open for cleaning like I’ve always seen when leaving a cruise ship.  I don’t know if we were the last or the first off - ha!  

[L1211]

We were told the 19th floor deck and buffet was not open on disembarkation day-  only sit down dining for breakfast- is that so?  We only wanted coffee - maybe the lounge would have been open. Ha, didn’t think of that! Never had morning drinks- rats! 

[amygutman]

24 minutes ago, KennyFla said:

Are you going to post while on board?

Depending on how the Wi-Fi situation is, yes. Otherwise I will certainly do when I get home. A few people have had questions about the duplex yacht club suite that I hope to answer (both for myself and for them).

 

Not to step on the OP’s toes but if there’s anything specific I can answer for you, I’d be happy to try.

 

Warmest, Amy

[L1211]

1 minute ago, amygutman said:

Depending on how the Wi-Fi situation is, yes. Otherwise I will certainly do when I get home. A few people have had questions about the duplex yacht club suite that I hope to answer (both for myself and for them).

 

Not to step on the OP’s toes but if there’s anything specific I can answer for you, I’d be happy to try.

 

Warmest, Amy

Would love to hear about your experiences!! Enjoy!!

[L1211]

1 hour ago, Mrs_Tiki said:

Yikes! Like you, I am a Chardonnay girl. Sailing on Seascape on Sunday and hope they are better provisioned. (But glad to read that they made a favorable substitution for you!)

 

Loving this review, thank you for taking the time to post during your cruise.

You are so welcome!  Enjoyed it!  I discovered the Camus Conundrum - I think it’s a white blend.  Liked it more than the Chardonnay on offer- that was almost always Clos du Bois.  Didn’t love it.  

[surfjock27]

3 hours ago, L1211 said:

We left the cabin way too early…. never stopped walking from cabin to outside terminal.  There was NO ONE in queue to disembark, albeit huge  set of ropes set up looking like they were expecting a massive line-up.  Escort was not needed- there was no line to bypass.  Left cabin 7:20, out side at 7:38.  Wow!  I don’t understand the complaints…

I am surprised you're up and functioning this morning. Last night looked like SO MUCH FUN! lol
Safe trip home. 

[surfjock27]

2 hours ago, Mrs_Tiki said:

Yikes! Like you, I am a Chardonnay girl. Sailing on Seascape on Sunday and hope they are better provisioned. (But glad to read that they made a favorable substitution for you!)

 

Loving this review, thank you for taking the time to post during your cruise.

See you on the Seascape on Sunday! So excited. 

[L1211]

1 minute ago, surfjock27 said:

I am surprised you're up and functioning this morning. Last night looked like SO MUCH FUN! lol
Safe trip home. 

We had a blast!  With that 6am alarm I had this idea that alcohol should NOT be served on the last night of a cruise…. The crew is not happy with me- we were way too early!  I think I was given bad info that we had to clear the cabin at 6:30 am.  We stayed later but still at gate three hours before flight after a 45 minute wait for van outside the terminal… that’s a lot of extra sleep missed!! 

[L1211]

3 minutes ago, surfjock27 said:

See you on the Seascape on Sunday! So excited. 

Yay!!! Enjoy your sail!!!  

[L1211]

For those of you dying to know, here’s the snack selection at the MCO Delta Sky Club- vacation mode still activated! 

[KennyFla]

2 minutes ago, L1211 said:

For those of you dying to know, here’s the snack selection at the MCO Delta Sky Club- vacation mode still activated! 

 

Where are the olives and carmelized onions?

 

[L1211]

Just now, KennyFla said:

 

Where are the olives and carmelized onions?

 

Ok, that actually made me laugh out loud!  Not to be missed for sure!! 

[KennyFla]

11 minutes ago, L1211 said:

Ok, that actually made me laugh out loud!  Not to be missed for sure!! 

My wife is from Kentucky, what is your favorite bourbon?

[surfjock27]

13 minutes ago, KennyFla said:

 

Where are the olives and carmelized onions?

 

HAHAHAHA I am cackling. 

[L1211]

4 minutes ago, KennyFla said:

My wife is from Kentucky, what is your favorite bourbon?

Oh boy, my DH is a collector/drinker (not collector/reseller) and we likely have 150 different bourbons- rotate through a bourbon table that holds maybe 60 bottles.  He shares almost everything… the Weller 12 year and Weller antique 107 are his favs and remain “put back” - ha!  Favorite day to day bourbons likely Weller SR green label.  Seems he’s a Weller guy! We go to Buffalo trace often and get allocated bourbon at retail - lucky to live nearby!!  

[hamrag]

3 hours ago, NorthernCouple said:

....My wife and I would book Seabourn if we didn't have kids. We typically only get 1-2 weeks off together per year. So, we are willing to spend more money on those weeks. We are looking for that Seabourn experience for us but with a kid friendly boat. If we have a good first cruise, we could be customers for the next 10 years.

Based on your reports, I'm just not hopeful. They seemed to fail the customer service experience frequently.

It's not realistic to find a 'Seabourn experience' in MSC Yacht Club, not gonna happen! 😉

[jules815]

3 hours ago, L1211 said:

You are so welcome!  Enjoyed it!  I discovered the Camus Conundrum - I think it’s a white blend.  Liked it more than the Chardonnay on offer- that was almost always Clos du Bois.  Didn’t love it.  

I'm a big fan of the Camus Conundrum. Glad you were able to get that.

 

[NorthernCouple]

14 minutes ago, hamrag said:

It's not realistic to find a 'Seabourn experience' in MSC Yacht Club, not gonna happen! 😉

No argument there, but it still should be MSC's aspiration for YC.

• Do I expect 'anytime you want it caviar'?
  • No. Should it be offered once in 7 days - yes.
• Do I expect a small boat (<1000 passenger) experience?
  • No, but you should feel like the staff in the YC know you and remember what you like. Once a day, a drink you have previously said was 'great' should show up without asking.
• Should every staff member know your name?
  • No, but your 'butler' absolutely should.
• Do I expect the 'butler' to serve a 5 course meal to you in your cabin?
  • No, but your 'butler' should fulfill all the jobs that MSC has designated such as unpacking, pressing, bringing drinks...without your asking.

 

I really think that there is an opportunity for MSC here. Our MSC trip with 2 adults and 2 kids in a YC Duplex Suite costs the same as a Seabourn entry level room for 2 adults.

 

It sounds like they are having an HR issue. Hopefully, this will improve with time. MSC is definitely behind on technology and experience though. I also worry about some logistical failures that L1211 mentions. These really shouldn't be happening at this point. They know exactly how many people will be on each sailing. They should be able to statistically predict how much Chardonnay and limes they need to have in the YC.

[jules815]

1 minute ago, NorthernCouple said:

No argument there, but it still should be MSC's aspiration for YC.

• Do I expect 'anytime you want it caviar'?
  • No. Should it be offered once in 7 days - yes.
• Do I expect a small boat (<1000 passenger) experience?
  • No, but you should feel like the staff in the YC know you and remember what you like. Once a day, a drink you have previously said was 'great' should show up without asking.
• Should every staff member know your name?
  • No, but your 'butler' absolutely should.
• Do I expect the 'butler' to serve a 5 course meal to you in your cabin?
  • No, but your 'butler' should fulfill all the jobs that MSC has designated such as unpacking, pressing, bringing drinks...without your asking.

 

I really think that there is an opportunity for MSC here. Our MSC trip with 2 adults and 2 kids in a YC Duplex Suite costs the same as a Seabourn entry level room for 2 adults.

 

It sounds like they are having an HR issue. Hopefully, this will improve with time. MSC is definitely behind on technology and experience though. I also worry about some logistical failures that L1211 mentions. These really shouldn't be happening at this point. They know exactly how many people will be on each sailing. They should be able to statistically predict how much Chardonnay and limes they need to have in the YC.

Minus the 5 course meal served in-cabin, that HAS been our experience on both of our YC sailings to date. Unpacking, pressing, without your asking? Seriously??

 

I do agree with your comments about the logistical failures on the recent Meraviglia cruise and it has me a little concerned for the B2B we have booked on Seascape for September in the YC. 

[NorthernCouple]

3 minutes ago, jules815 said:

Unpacking, pressing, without your asking? Seriously??

Should clarify - The butler should offer (you don't have to accept) but you shouldn't have to chase them down (L1211's seemed to disappear) and ask.

Edited March 16, 2023 by NorthernCouple