Kicking the tires on MSC, better than NCL in the winter out of NYC?

[NYcruzzer]

MSC's Winter options are much better in 2025. They have some nice Eastern Caribbean itineraries then. 

[JIMESOPUS]

@cruiseny4life At first I didn't want to go, not a tea person, coffee black and strong ( worked in a powerhouse for many years ) but Carol loves her tea so off we went. They met us at the door with champagne and then escorted us to a table of our choosing. 

They presented a tray of samples, most of them were Earl Grey variations. Upon choosing they filled a strainer basket with the tea and placed that into the pot.

Did I mention there was a snack tray at every table?

I did finish off my tea but got an expresso from the bar afterwards 

[laudergayle]

27 minutes ago, NYcruzzer said:

MSC's Winter options are much better in 2025. They have some nice Eastern Caribbean itineraries then. 

Where do you find the 2025 itineraries?  I don’t see anything online yet.

[JIMESOPUS]

@laudergayleThe MSC site is bad, need to clear the cache first. Here is a link to 2025.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/Search Result?embkPort=NYC&departureDateFrom=01%2F01%2F2025&departureDateTo=31%2F01%2F2025&passengers=2|0|0|0&page=1

[laudergayle]

12 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

@laudergayleThe MSC site is bad, need to clear the cache first. Here is a link to 2025.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/Search Result?embkPort=NYC&departureDateFrom=01%2F01%2F2025&departureDateTo=31%2F01%2F2025&passengers=2|0|0|0&page=1

 

Awesome…thanks.  I don’t know how to clear the cache 🤷‍♀️

[NYcruzzer]

23 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

@laudergayleThe MSC site is bad, need to clear the cache first. Here is a link to 2025.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/Search Result?embkPort=NYC&departureDateFrom=01%2F01%2F2025&departureDateTo=31%2F01%2F2025&passengers=2|0|0|0&page=1

 

Wow. You see those fares for 1/5/25 cruise ? Gen pop inside with drink package and unlimited wi-fi for two (Fantastica) a bit over $1800.00 for two. No add on service charge from drink package. That's for a 10 night to Caribbean ! YCI around same price less then a comparable cruise in a balcony on NCL. I'm sure MSC sailing year round from NYC was a factor in NCL pulling a second ship from NY in the Winter.. 

[MsTabbyKats]

13 minutes ago, NYcruzzer said:

Wow. You see those fares for 1/5/25 cruise ? Gen pop inside with drink package and unlimited wi-fi for two (Fantastica) a bit over $1800.00 for two. No add on service charge from drink package. That's for a 10 night to Caribbean ! YCI around same price less then a comparable cruise in a balcony on NCL. I'm sure MSC sailing year round from NYC was a factor in NCL pulling a second ship from NY in the Winter.. 

Been following those sailings....interiors on Deck 16 are gone already!

 

DH and I were discussing Haven (never been, never will be) vs YC...and just the simple things:

Take a sea day in Haven.  If you don't want to go on shore, where do you eat lunch? (I think Haven restaurant is closed.)

Take a sea day in YC.  If you don't want to go on shore, you have the YC restaurant, the YC buffet on the pool deck...and pizza delivery by the butler!  Basically...you have a private yacht.

 

He think NCL better re-evaluate if they want to compete.

 

Forgot to mention....if you're in the YC...you can also go to the thermal spa if you stay on board....no extra charge!

Edited September 25, 2023 by MsTabbyKats

[JIMESOPUS]

We took a walk over to get pizza and brought it back to the cabin, the Butler gave us a strange look. 

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, JIMESOPUS said:

@cruiseny4life At first I didn't want to go, not a tea person, coffee black and strong ( worked in a powerhouse for many years ) but Carol loves her tea so off we went. They met us at the door with champagne and then escorted us to a table of our choosing. 

They presented a tray of samples, most of them were Earl Grey variations. Upon choosing they filled a strainer basket with the tea and placed that into the pot.

Did I mention there was a snack tray at every table?

I did finish off my tea but got an expresso from the bar afterwards 

Coffee is my workhorse! Tea is my relaxing pleasure, even the caffeinated kind. And, especially Lapsang Souchong which I don't expect to find on any cruise line, except maybe an Asian line. 

 

Your experience sounds lovely. Thank you! The espresso sounds nice, too. 

[cruiseny4life]

13 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Been following those sailings....interiors on Deck 16 are gone already!

 

DH and I were discussing Haven (never been, never will be) vs YC...and just the simple things:

Take a sea day in Haven.  If you don't want to go on shore, where do you eat lunch? (I think Haven restaurant is closed.)

Take a sea day in YC.  If you don't want to go on shore, you have the YC restaurant, the YC buffet on the pool deck...and pizza delivery by the butler!  Basically...you have a private yacht.

 

He think NCL better re-evaluate if they want to compete.

 

Forgot to mention....if you're in the YC...you can also go to the thermal spa if you stay on board....no extra charge!

Haven restaurant is open for all meals on port days and sea days. 

[mking8288]

NCL withdrawn themselves out of the NY market themselves in 2024 and 2025 ... our BIL/SIL booked the Joy again for May, prices are the Insides are just absurd, nevermind OV or Balcony, etc.  

 

If there's a last minute bargain deal, maybe we'll go to give them com ... when we get back from Alaska (that, we scored a pretty "reasonable" deal on N's older ship next season, final payment isn't due till next January, got time to decide or pull the plug.  The joke being that ship's CD will be the feature entertainer on stage ahead, lip singing ... (don't laugh, please) who's going to know & tell. 

 

Jim, how's that "modernized" pier parking at Red Hook post-Sandy recovery, but we will probably - leave our cars at home - car service by ride-sharing with a van, since parking is now on a level playing field, $45 per day at MCT, CL and RH ... that darn Manhattan, south of 61st Street congestion penalty surcharge isn't going to help one bit.  

[JIMESOPUS]

@mking8288 Drop off and pick up areas are well designed and covered, with plenty of Taxi parking. The Blue tent for YC luggage dropoff was a very nice touch but both of our suitcases arrived wet in the cabin. We lined the inside with a plastic bag.

Parking your car in an open lot for $45 per day hurts, they could have used some of the money to fill in the holes and improve the signage

 

[MsTabbyKats]

38 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

... that darn Manhattan, south of 61st Street congestion penalty surcharge isn't going to help one bit.  

I have NO idea how they are going to enforce this surcharge......and I'd think if you're on the FDR you would bypass it anyway....as you won't be on the streets.

 

When we came home the Uber took less than 30 minutesI (maybe more like 20 minutes) to get to East 96th.  It really didn't cost us much more in time or money than getting to the West Side.

 

You really gotta join us converts.......

 

 

[MsTabbyKats]

8 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

@mking8288 Drop off and pick up areas are well designed and covered, with plenty of Taxi parking. The Blue tent for YC luggage dropoff was a very nice touch but both of our suitcases arrived wet in the cabin. We lined the inside with a plastic bag.

Parking your car in an open lot for $45 per day hurts, they could have used some of the money to fill in the holes and improve the signage

 

We generally just take one carry-on each and get the laundry perk on NCL.

Our upcoming April cruise is for 11 nights..with no laundry included....so I'm thinking DH can take his carryon and I'll take something a little larger.

 

Since we can drop off the luggage at the YC tent, I'm not worried about it getting lost.  However, for disembarkation, where did they put the luggage?  Separate YC area? 

[JIMESOPUS]

48 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

We generally just take one carry-on each and get the laundry perk on NCL.

Our upcoming April cruise is for 11 nights..with no laundry included....so I'm thinking DH can take his carryon and I'll take something a little larger.

 

Since we can drop off the luggage at the YC tent, I'm not worried about it getting lost.  However, for disembarkation, where did they put the luggage?  Separate YC area? 

We did the fast walk off but they had special gold tags for YC. According to the schedule after the walk off gold was next. They have a barcode system to keep track of the bags. Unlike NCL they had structure, several PAX had their luggage picked up at night and attempted to walk off, they were asked to wait. Our Bulter walked us down and waited until we went through the security.

[JustAPilot]

Well we ended up booking MSC Yacht Club for next year’s Greek itinerary. NCL is out of touch with Haven pricing reaching $12,000 a person on the Pearl.