Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 11 #1 Share Posted July 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh8eb_ACLl8 Thought we start out on the right foot ! with a little Chubby Checkers "Let's twist again like we did last summer." It never gets dull in the Yacht Clubs. We leave again this Saturday. Can't get enough Royal Treatment. I think MSC is trying to lure us off the ship with their new enhanced, exclusive, Yacht Club only excursions. DW is never thrilled anymore with packed sardine bus tours. Have to see if there are really any excursions not found on the regular list of usual suspects. This is interesting. Read that two of our favorite people in the YC are gone, unexpectedly. They are both too good not to turn up again. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted July 11 #2 Share Posted July 11 Excited to follow along....again! I have questions: 1. Is there a wine bar near the specialties like on seashore? 2. Please evaluate the overall A/C on the ship...that's not a question. I'll think of more... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 11 Author #3 Share Posted July 11 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said: Excited to follow along....again! I have questions: 1. Is there a wine bar near the specialties like on seashore? 2. Please evaluate the overall A/C on the ship...that's not a question. I'll think of more... #1 Yes #2 see photos It was so cold in our cabin that we raised the thermostat to the warmest 5 red lights and could only get our thermometer to get to 74 degrees. We bring a thermometer to hang on the wall next to the thermostat. P.S. Walking on decks 6,7,8 inside we need a sweatshirt or jacket it is so cold. Edited July 11 by morpheusofthesea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted July 12 #4 Share Posted July 12 19 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said: P.S. Walking on decks 6,7,8 inside we need a sweatshirt or jacket it is so cold. Pure bliss in my view. Thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Zippyjet Posted July 12 #5 Share Posted July 12 Georgia P: Thank you for the AC intel. I'd rather be chilly than sweating. Thats what the thermal suite is for. I'm cruising on the Sea Scape in September and can't wait. I've sailed on the Maraviglia and Seashore and my cabins were nice and cool. And for those who really like it chilly if you pony up for the thermal suite they have yes, a cold room with snow! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Zippyjet Posted July 12 #6 Share Posted July 12 Cold Room aboard MSC Seascape Aurea Spa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Best Cat Mom Posted July 12 #7 Share Posted July 12 3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said: We leave again this Saturday. We wish you a Buon Viaggio as always, Morph! Please leave us the best of the best for our sailing in September. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no1talks Posted July 12 #8 Share Posted July 12 17 minutes ago, Best Cat Mom said: "Please leave us the best of the best for our sailing in September." Now, BCM, you know very well @morpheusofthesea will leave the "best of the best" only because he accepts nothing but... (Tip o' the cap to those who know the film reference without Google-fu.) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phissy Posted July 12 #9 Share Posted July 12 2 hours ago, no1talks said: Now, BCM, you know very well @morpheusofthesea will leave the "best of the best" only because he accepts nothing but... (Tip o' the cap to those who know the film reference without Google-fu.) I love that scene from Men In Black. When Will Smith mimics sarcastically, “best of the best of the best, Sir” , chucking the whole time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phissy Posted July 12 #10 Share Posted July 12 And to answer his question….” Y’all want to get in on this.”. YES, i am all in for another adventure with Mr. James. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 12 Author #11 Share Posted July 12 (edited) Thought I'd repost this on butlers and tipping. Those that find no use for a butler do not bother with an added tip. We tipped at the end of the cruise $20 when he told those assembled in the Haven Bar (NCL) he was not part of the mandatory gratuities and any remuneration would be greatly appreciated. On our first Yacht Club cruise we had the same 'no show' butler, who did show on the final night of the cruise. Had to ask DW who he was when he came to the door that evening. Tipped him $20 for helping take the luggage out into the hallway. Having another butler in the Celebrity Retreat Edge Villa, butler came to the cabin and saw DW's 12 suitcases and did not offer to lug it up to the Master Bedroom where all the closets are located. He also was AWOL the rest of the cruise. He wasn't even worth $20. Our next cruise we had a butler on the Seaside who blew us away with service, Vishnu D. He has since left MSC and is now a butler on Regent Grandeur. (That's another story). Vishnu would not let us go outside the confines of the Yacht Club without his escort. He reserved us tables at every YC event. Reserved us a table at Ocean House. He went above and beyond any butler we have ever experienced. Tipped him $400. Had another like Vishnu named JoEl, $400.We have had others of varying degrees in the Yacht Club since and have tipped those $200-$250 when compared to Vishnu and JoEl. Our last butler in the YC was again worth every cent of $400 for a week of superb service making last month's cruise on the Seascape one our best cruises ever. Edited July 12 by morpheusofthesea 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgdesign Posted July 12 #12 Share Posted July 12 Eagerly following every word (as we sail in November on the Seascape B2B)... very much looking forward to hearing more about any exclusive YC excursions you might take. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonsterJoe Posted July 12 #13 Share Posted July 12 You mentioned two people who left since your last cruise - I'm assuming one is Mustafa, since I read about that here and on FB - who is the other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 12 Author #14 Share Posted July 12 19 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said: He has since left MSC and is now a butler on Regent Grandeur. (That's another story). Here's the other story. There are two different cultures of staff, Regent Seven Seas vs MSC Yacht Club. The staff on MSC are there to serve the guests. On Regent the staff and officers are living their lives and the guests are pests. This is our personal opinion. I am not going to base this on just one example. One of our first times on MSC we were lost and I stopped by a crew member in overhauls painting the white railings. He stopped painting, got up, and escorted us to the venue. On Regent, a couple in front of us waiting to catch a flight during debarkation asked a passing staff member what was the holdup in clearing the ship ? His reply without stopping his stride "Sorry it is not my department." We were notified that the wooden railing outside our humongous Regent Grand Suite balcony was going to be varnished. One of our reasons for booking a large suite is for the veranda. One never needs to subject oneself to chair hogs. (please see chair hog video on Regent below). We did not want the smell of varnish to disturb our use of the veranda. So we went to the concierge. Her answer "We have to do routine maintenance." We asked to escalate this matter to the next in charge. She said she would bring it to the attention of the Staff Captain. The rest of the week we waited in dread... On MSC they also do routine varnishing of the railings, but we notice that on MSC they unscrew the wood railing and take them else where to varnish. Noticed the staff and officers make sure they have accommodations at the once a cruise Grand Barbecue on Regent Grandeur, but no accommodations for all the paying guests that wish to attend. FCFS, no reserved seating for suite guests. MSC, always reserved seating for YC suite guests. REHOGS.mov 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 12 Author #15 Share Posted July 12 47 minutes ago, lgdesign said: Eagerly following every word (as we sail in November on the Seascape B2B)... very much looking forward to hearing more about any exclusive YC excursions you might take. 😀 Will look into them, but really have to be enticed. Been on too many cruises and have been fooled by descriptions using the words curated, nestled, exotic, unique like Toraja Land, Sulawesi. And one gets there in the back of a truck with wooden benches and no seat belts. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 12 Author #16 Share Posted July 12 (edited) 30 minutes ago, MonsterJoe said: You mentioned two people who left since your last cruise - I'm assuming one is Mustafa, since I read about that here and on FB - who is the other? The popular Head concierge Eva, who got married and retired. She made a comeback on our April 20, 2024 cruise as promoted Head Butler (next step is Yacht Club Director). She was enticed back by Robbie S, Director of MSC YC directors who had worked with Eva. She left with us in Miami June 22, 2024. Edited July 12 by morpheusofthesea 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgdesign Posted July 12 #17 Share Posted July 12 (edited) 10 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said: Will look into them, but really have to be enticed. Been on too many cruises and have been fooled by descriptions using the words curated, nestled, exotic, unique like Toraja Land, Sulawesi. And one gets there in the back of a truck with wooden benches and no seat belts. Oh, I totally get it... though the one you describe does sound "unique"... 🤣 Edited July 12 by lgdesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnocket Posted July 12 #18 Share Posted July 12 43 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said: on MSC they unscrew the wood railing and take them else where to varnish. I'm surprised they would do this from a safety perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 12 Author #19 Share Posted July 12 (edited) 27 minutes ago, mnocket said: I'm surprised they would do this from a safety perspective. The wood is just decorative. There is still a metal railing that it is attached to. Edited July 12 by morpheusofthesea 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted July 12 #20 Share Posted July 12 5 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said: Thought I'd repost this on butlers and tipping. Boy, any of your former butlers are going to think we are cheap. We usually tip our butler about $20 a day if we get outstanding service. Less service less tip. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorfromBrazil Posted July 12 #21 Share Posted July 12 16 minutes ago, DaKahuna said: Boy, any of your former butlers are going to think we are cheap. We usually tip our butler about $20 a day if we get outstanding service. Less service less tip. They'll tag @morpheusofthesea as a "High Tip Roller" 🤣 You know @morpheusofthesea, you're an inspiration for me! No kidding, I'm a "baby sailor" still hunting down the best offer and sailing on a very tight budget, and I aspire to get to your level, to be able to reward those that go way beyond their duties to make our lives/vacations a little better/happier/cooler. And, of course, making sure DW gets the best treatment 😁 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 12 Author #22 Share Posted July 12 46 minutes ago, DaKahuna said: Boy, any of your former butlers are going to think we are cheap. We usually tip our butler about $20 a day if we get outstanding service. Less service less tip. They are very professional. They won't say anything other than 'Thank you'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted July 12 Author #23 Share Posted July 12 (edited) 1 hour ago, SailorfromBrazil said: I'm a "baby sailor" still hunting down the best offer and sailing on a very tight budget, I am actually a very late bloomer. Having spent the last 50 years booking inside cabins for $100 pp per day and living below my means building up a nest egg.. It was covid that woke me up and hitting 70 years old, wondering if we would make it to 71. Started booking suites only. Tipping has always been a way to get preferred treatment on land or sea. Call it advanced tipping or bribery tipping, I could care less. It works. I learn from my peers. I do not mind divulging my secrets because 'one cannot teach old dogs new tricks'. Most tune me out. These old dogs just go around complaining about the food and what godawful time they are having in steerage or Yacht Club. We had great times in steerage, even being invited to the Captain's table for dinner in those days ( I was known as Mr. Tipwell). Was even told by a Cruise line VP we met, that our surname was used during training sessions at their call-in center as VIPs. Cruise line has since gone defunct, might have been more affective had my surname been Smith? She went on to become president of one of the big 4 luxury cruise lines. Edited July 12 by morpheusofthesea 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no1talks Posted July 12 #24 Share Posted July 12 45 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said: Tipping has always been a way to get preferred treatment on land or sea. Call it advanced tipping or bribery tipping, I could care less. It works. I learn from my peers. As a person who spent years in the tip-reliant portion of the F/B/H industry before moving to management and then leaving the field, I can verify this. Even if a generous tipper does so only at the end of a cruise, they will soon find their reputation preceding them on subsequent cruises. What does this mean for typical cruisers? Well, people are inherently self-interested. As much as a restaurant, hotel, or cruise line might say all their guests get the same level of attention, it just isn't so. Celebrity, good looks, a charming demeanor, or a reputation for generosity can shift the level of service, even if it is only slightly. To those who would say any favoritism is very bad and things should be egalitarian, I would respectfully suggest they are tilting at windmills. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Best Cat Mom Posted July 12 #25 Share Posted July 12 (edited) 17 minutes ago, no1talks said: a charming demeanor... can shift the level of service, even if it is only slightly. This is the tactic we employ -- always friendly and generally happy to be there. We've never tipped in advance but liberally hand out words like "please" and "thank you." It seems to have worked well for us so far. Edited July 12 by Best Cat Mom 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now