OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK JUNE 2024

[no1talks]

11 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Edgar Casey had a novel way of absorbing knowledge from books, but not as novel as @no1talks.

Sitting on books at the adults' table for a holiday dinner was not about the attainment of knowledge...

 

...it was about the attainment of sweet potatoes.

Edited June 16 by no1talks

[morpheusofthesea]

Tonight is Gala night. We learned that all the soups are made in the main ship’s galley as are the vegetarian dishes. Had a delicious vegetarian lasagna tonight. Also learned that there are 5 vacant Yacht Club suites and one Royal Suite.

  On our way to Le Cabaret Rouge tonight DW made mention that there was a greater percentage of passengers well dressed outside the YC than inside.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

1 minute ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Tonight is Gala night. We learned that all the soups are made in the main ship’s galley as are the vegetarian dishes. Had a delicious vegetarian lasagna tonight. Also learned that there are 5 vacant Yacht Club suites and one Royal Suite.

  On our way to Le Cabaret Rouge tonight DW made mention that there was a greater percentage of passengers well dressed outside the YC than inside.

Is it typical for YC rooms to be vacant?

 

I would have thought they'd be filled with upgrade bids.

[morpheusofthesea]

Just now, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

Is it typical for YC rooms to be vacant?

 

I would have thought they'd be filled with upgrade bids.

Exactly. This indicates that everyone that bids wins.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

On 6/15/2024 at 3:27 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

Muster drill was a breeze. Went to lunch in YC Restaurant greeted by Nicholas Cage’s dark haired cousin Ercan (ersjon) and new assistant, hostess Nelly. Ercan was kind enough to give us our old table and same waiter, Raymond. We were told that wait contracts are being cut back to 7 months from 9.Doesn’t know what ship he will be reassigned to. Weather is nice and overcast. TA called me back immediately to tell me not to worry (thank you @Two Wheels Only, you are right). She caught mistake and tried informing MSC during a transfer of this on board booking to her with another booking number that she was given. The deposit was also transferred to the new booking number, but MSC never cancelled the original and still did not cancel after final payment was never received on original booking. This is another example of the importance of dealing with a knowledgeable travel agent. (It is also a wake-up call for me to double check DW credit card statements).

Are they still bringing you by your muster station on the way to the TSL during embarkation?

 

They did this when we boarded the Seascape for the March 23 sailing and then on the March 30 sailing on the Seashore they did not do that and we learned this was an experimental process.

 

It was a much better way to muster vs. having to do it with the masses at 3:30pm so I'm hoping they adopted this across the fleet for the YC.

[Two Wheels Only]

4 hours ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

Interesting!

 

I would feel bad butting in front of people but at least it would be short lived since I wouldn't be in line very long.

 

You'll get used to it.

I had the butler escort my kids past the Effy line to get their free scavenger hunt trinkets. That line was way longer than any brunch line.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

Just now, Two Wheels Only said:

 

You'll get used to it.

I had the butler escort my kids past the Effy line to get their free scavenger hunt trinkets. That line was way longer than any brunch line.

 

The one really bad line I remember waiting in was on the last day to get our free Diamond photo...it would have definitely helped skipping that.

 

I know the internet line on day 1 is horrible as well but fortunately we've never needed to wait in that (we can figure out how to connect it on our own).

[morpheusofthesea]

3 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

still bringing you by your muster station 

Our butler did in April but the scanner did not come into his muster position until 11:30 am. So this week we just moseyed via elevator down to muster station after lunch and took elevator back to YC.

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, no1talks said:

Sitting on books at the adults' table for a holiday dinner was not about the attainment of knowledge...

 

...it was about the attainment of sweet potatoes.

That explains a lot. Now I know why I love to sit down and be served dinner versus fighting for a place at the self serve buffet line. We never had any thick books.

Edited June 17 by morpheusofthesea

[no1talks]

7 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Now I know why I love to sit down and be served dinner versus fighting for a place at the buffet line."

The same.

However, if a buffet is noteworthy for some reason, I'm game. For example, we are trying to discern a timetable for our drive to next year's Cunard cruise that will allow for a stop at Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Pennsylvania.

[MonsterJoe]

48 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

You'll get used to it.

I had the butler escort my kids past the Effy line to get their free scavenger hunt trinkets. That line was way longer than any brunch line.

I won't.

My review last year on seaside puts a point on it, but I find the line cutting insufferable. We do YC 50% of the time (so far) and I would never let a butler push a family with a baby aside for me, like happened to me last summer.  I was disgusted.

[oceans.calling]

We are not line cutting because we pay a high price for the special treatment of not having to wait on long lines. We do YC 100% of the time for that privilege because of it. Is it possible that maybe the YC is not for all 🤔🤔🤔 hmmmm?

[Av8tor]

5 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Exactly. This indicates that everyone that bids wins.

Well it does for this particular cruise.  I'd imagine that for some cruises YC is fully booked, or at least booked enough, that all or some upgrade bids can't be accomodated....

[momofmab]

8 hours ago, MonsterJoe said:

My review last year on seaside puts a point on it, but I find the line cutting insufferable. We do YC 50% of the time (so far) and I would never let a butler push a family with a baby aside for me, like happened to me last summer.  I was disgusted.

I agree with you.  Both the line cutting and the escorting are very cringey for me, and other than the line cutting at embarkation (which I wish was a separate line versus budging through the regular line), we used neither of these services.  We were escorted off the ship in a YC group, but the butler took us to an exit that required no line cutting.

 

Everyone has their reasons for cruising YC. Ours were the larger cabins and less crowded dedicated pool area, restaurant & lounge.  Anything butler-related is not important to us.

[MsTabbyKats]

7 hours ago, Av8tor said:

Well it does for this particular cruise.  I'd imagine that for some cruises YC is fully booked, or at least booked enough, that all or some upgrade bids can't be accomodated....

Or...it may mean that they aren't so liberal with giving away "cheap YC cabins".  It's very annoying to "pay a lot" when others get it at a discount, for me anyway.

[MsTabbyKats]

10 hours ago, oceans.calling said:

We are not line cutting because we pay a high price for the special treatment of not having to wait on long lines. We do YC 100% of the time for that privilege because of it. Is it possible that maybe the YC is not for all 🤔🤔🤔 hmmmm?

I started with YC...just to cut the line...as my husband was recovering from surgery and using a cane.  And it's worth every penny.  No matter what the reason, we pay for that privilege, and every other amenity in YC.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

3 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Or...it may mean that they aren't so liberal with giving away "cheap YC cabins".  It's very annoying to "pay a lot" when others get it at a discount, for me anyway.

I'm sure there's a breakeven number for upgrades that MSC is aware of and includes in the minimum bids, but I would think their ultimate priority is maximizing profitability and they're less concerned about whether people stay in the YC via retail price or upgrade bids.

 

I could see somebody winning an upgrade bid even becoming a new retail YC customer as well once they experience it so that would work in MSC's favor as well.

 

As somebody who books YC (vs hoping for upgrades) it makes no difference to me how somebody gains access to the YC. If anything, I'm happy for people who get to experience the YC that normally may not be able to afford to do so.

 

I get more annoyed by the family/friends of crew members who get access to the YC, but even that's not because of how they get access, it's simply because they seem to care less about the cultural norms/etiquette in the YC that the rest of us appreciate.

[JIMESOPUS]

47 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

I'm sure there's a breakeven number for upgrades that MSC is aware of and includes in the minimum bids, but I would think their ultimate priority is maximizing profitability and they're less concerned about whether people stay in the YC via retail price or upgrade bids.

 

I could see somebody winning an upgrade bid even becoming a new retail YC customer as well once they experience it so that would work in MSC's favor as well.

 

As somebody who books YC (vs hoping for upgrades) it makes no difference to me how somebody gains access to the YC. If anything, I'm happy for people who get to experience the YC that normally may not be able to afford to do so.

 

I get more annoyed by the family/friends of crew members who get access to the YC, but even that's not because of how they get access, it's simply because they seem to care less about the cultural norms/etiquette in the YC that the rest of us appreciate.

You can put me on the upgrade list. Our only cruise with MSC was just a trail run. We won an upgrade to YC inside but discovered they gave us a YC1 suite. Never going back to NCL Haven. Our next cruise will be a YC inside unless the bid fairy stops by. 

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

2 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

You can put me on the upgrade list. Our only cruise with MSC was just a trail run. We won an upgrade to YC inside but discovered they gave us a YC1 suite. Never going back to NCL Haven. Our next cruise will be a YC inside unless the bid fairy stops by. 

It's such a good value.

 

We just finished a cruise in the Retreat on the Celebrity Equinox and the Retreat was definitely inferior to the YC (but the rest of the cruise was definitely a big upgrade over MSC).

 

I'm glad you got that opportunity and became a new YC regular!

[morpheusofthesea]

13 hours ago, MonsterJoe said:

I would never let a butler push a family with a baby aside for me, like happened to me last summer.  I was disgusted.

Then just let him escort you to the end of the line. Our butler on the Regent Seven Seas did just that for us. There are many avid cruisers of Regent that like this egalitarian way of cruising. 

   I remember years ago a Disney experience that one who pays more gets a host (butler-like guide) who butts one to the front of every ride and exhibit. We and all the others that pay for this service butted in front of thousands of families with babies for us.We would actually go from behind the scenes coming out of secret doors at the head of the lines and the attendants automatically took us VIPs immediately. The Yacht Club is the same concept. Pay more, get more. Let's not get sanctimonious with "entitled". On YC we do have some separate lines, but where it is first come first service we have the option of using a butler. Those with "disgust" for the practice are free to choose not to use it. We that love it continue to cruise in the Yacht Club. MSC has another sister cruise line you might enjoy more called Explora Journey, FCFS no butler butting.

P.S. "Get essential details about the Disney Private VIP Tour.

Pricing: Ranging from $450 to $900 per hour, depending on the season (valid park admission is required for each park visited on tour and is not included in the price of the tour)."

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said:

It's very annoying to "pay a lot" when others get it at a discount, for me anyway.

 

It's best to just think about what you paid. If you found a great deal on a cruise and were happy with that price, it shouldn't matter if someone else found a better deal that was $1, $50, or $200 cheaper. What they paid doesn't change your bank account.

 

On the flip side, I don't feel better if someone else paid more than I did for the same cruise and category. What they paid doesn't change my bank account.

 

However, if I can learn from the person who got the better deal, I'll see if I can match their results next time. 👍

[morpheusofthesea]

For those that do not want to buy a drink package saw this posted at Infinity Bar, but is accepted all over the ship.

[KittyCruz]

21 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"For your eyes only" Bond, James Bond

My husband will be happy to see the chocolate chip cookies, he's a second (and third) dessert sort of guy.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

11 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Then just let him escort you to the end of the line. Our butler on the Regent Seven Seas did just that for us. There are many avid cruisers of Regent that like this egalitarian way of cruising. 

   I remember years ago a Disney experience that one who pays more gets a host (butler-like guide) who butts one to the front of every ride and exhibit. We and all the others that pay for this service butted in front of thousands of families with babies for us.We would actually go from behind the scenes coming out of secret doors at the head of the lines and the attendants automatically took us VIPs immediately. The Yacht Club is the same concept. Pay more, get more. Let's not get sanctimonious with "entitled". On YC we do have some separate lines, but where it is first come first service we have the option of using a butler. Those with "disgust" for the practice are free to choose not to use it. We that love it continue to cruise in the Yacht Club. MSC has another sister cruise line you might enjoy more called Explora Journey, FCFS no butler butting.

P.S. "Get essential details about the Disney Private VIP Tour.

Pricing: Ranging from $450 to $900 per hour, depending on the season (valid park admission is required for each park visited on tour and is not included in the price of the tour)."

This is a great comparison that does make sense since I have no judgement for people taking those VIP tours (I hope to do the same some day!).

[morpheusofthesea]

3 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

It's best to just think about what you paid. If you found a great deal on a cruise and were happy with that price, it shouldn't matter if someone else found a better deal that was $1, $50, or $200 cheaper. What they paid doesn't change your bank account.

 

On the flip side, I don't feel better if someone else paid more than I did for the same cruise and category. What they paid doesn't change my bank account.

 

However, if I can learn from the person who got the better deal, I'll see if I can match their results next time. 👍

On the other hand I can take consolation in the fact that the entire staff of the YC run a very tight ship and know who paid what. In one very candid conversation a year ago with the head concierge and Head butler we were told of a very lucky YC guest that got a Royal Suite for $5000 total for the cabin. We thought, lucky guy, hit the lottery. Something that could have happened this cruise. We asked our butler if anyone upgraded to our 2nd mistake booked RS this cruise. No, no one in the other Royal Suite. We hit the lottery 32 years ago on a cruise sailing down the coast of China. $10,000 for two lowers inside cabin with air. A fire broke out on the ship while everyone was on tour during refueling and the engines/fire was extinguished by Chinese with pumped salt water docked at Tianjian. the cruise was finished by the cruise line Pacquet by chartered air and we ended up back in Hong Kong for our post cruise 4 days. The American vice president ,Iverson, flew in with total refund check of $10,000 and one 1/2 price future cruise vouchers. So when we hear stories of great fortune we empathize. I saved the letter we received on the ship.