JAGR

Here we go! You opened Pandora's box! 😜

Answers in your text.

I'm curious how the GO Port shuttle worked out. I was looking at doing two one-way rentals (about $55 for each, so close to the Go Port rate) I'm thinking about the delays on drop-off and pick-up for the rental cars at Port Canaveral, and the time waiting for the Go Port bus to fill up and take us to the ship. Didn't see much comment on your shuttle experience, so I was curious. Thanks

You may be on to something. I was thinking about the Magic 8-Ball and the 20 possible answers, except that MSC's ball is biased towards the five ambiguous answers: Reply hazy, try again, Ask again later, Better not tell you now, Cannot predict now, and Concentrate and ask again.

Short answer is yes, you are "in transit." The night before your first week ends, you will get paperwork on instructions for the B2B portion, and your second week cards should be processed. You may have to go to the service desk to make sure everything is set up properly We have done B2Bs on MSC, but were always in Yacht Club, where the butler and concierge took care of everything. On the day, you do have the option of either being one of the last off the ship, and one of the first on (after a Customs and Immigration processing in the terminal). To re-board, you have to wait until the ship is cleared (could be an hour or more of standing around in the terminal as a group of B2Bers, but usually less time than that). Your other option is go off the ship anytime you want, do an excursion or whatever, and make sure you are back by the all aboard time. Since you have your week 2 card (which really is you "in transit" card), you can bypass all of the normal check-in procedures you went through on the first week. Bon voyage1

And that is really a Junior Butler responsibility. Looks like the OP got the worst YC service team. You would think that a new butler would have an experienced and helpful assistant to balance the service. But that would be a logical step for MSC!

This one has and will bounce all over the place. There is Kaito Dining Experience menu, but there is not one listed for Teppanyaki. At some point (pre-COVID) you could get the Teppanyaki with a $10 surcharge, but most recently on Meraviglia a few months ago, we were told by the YC concierge that was not an option. Later, we met a couple who said they did get the experience with the surcharge. Typical inconsistency as an MSC trademark continues. Here is the Kaito Experience:

Actually, last time we were at 51st and Green, I had the worst pint ever! Best was at the top of the Guinness Store. We were given passes to go again this summer. A booze tour, with passes to Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore D.E.W.

Probably depends on experience you are sailing and critical priorities. If I were in YC and drank, I would prefer Seaside, only because the specialty restaurants and the great cocktail lounge were just outside the YC complex on Deck 16. If I was YC and wanted some greater privacy on the sun deck, I would go with Seashore with added space on sides and extra cabanas. If shows are a big interest, I'd probably go with Seashore for Le Cabaret Rouge (although the shows have not been as good lately). Either ship you can't lose.

I know you were being humorous, but some readers may not understand the concept of "apparent wind," which is a calculated estimate (hence apparent): I is the the wind as observed aboard a moving vessel, being the vectorial combination of the true wind and the wind due to the ship's motion.

Thanks. Didn't see that.

Good advice given! I don't think that the OP is looking for ADA relief. I think they should still fill out the special needs form which is not ADA specific to try and make the experience easier for them

If yo go to the main Forums page, you can see a link to MSC Roll Calls. A bit further down is a link to UK Cruising with lots of information about Southampton: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/544-uk-cruisers/

Let's assume you are talking about a sailing from the US. Regardless of room type, MSC has a service charge of $14.50 per person/per night. Depending on how full the ship is, there could be three sittings. If it is two sittings, times will usually be around 6:00 and 8:30 (give or take a half-hour). Look up the Voyager benefits. You get 5% off your booking, and at Diamond level you get a free tasting menu dinner at a specialty restaurant for two people There are roll calls. Got to Roll Calls, MSC, and your ship.

Make sure to fill out the special needs form (now online) to let them know about your restrictions and needs. You can request wheelchair assistance for boarding, as a an example. This helps them to prepare for you.

Well, if I ever came across a darlek, I would be nervous. If it's a run of the mill dalek, however, no worries. I always carry a can opener! 😉

Seashore has a Top 19 Exclusive Solarium sun deck for Aurea guests with a dedicated bar and two whirlpools. Yes, you have the Manhattan Room as the private Aurea dining area. yo can go to other dining rooms, but the menu will be the same. You have anytime dining as an Aurea guest. They will ask you if you have a rough preference time, but that is for planning/estimating purposes. You are not held to any time or timing window.

If this is for your daughter on her honeymoon cruise, I really don't think they'll have much time outside of their room to enjoy the Fun Pass! Between the Sauna and all the YC offers, they'll be busy!🤭

Haven't been on Carnival in a few years, but when we were on them, I recall that they did change times at least once on a Southern Caribbean cruise. May have been due to DST. At any rate, MSC does change times to match port local time. They don't care what Carnival does!😉

Yes, there are large tables on Meraviglia, but I personally would not wait until the day. Make sure your group's booking numbers are all linked with each other, and if you are in a booking class above Bella, make sure everyone has picked the same dining time preference. You stand a better chance of MSC already assigning you a table together.

Allowing for delays with clearing the ship and Customs and Immigration in getting off the ship, if you are checking bags at the airport, getting through TSA security, I would not get a flight before 11:30. There will be people that will tell you they got earlier flights, but I've always allowed for inevitable delays.

I didn't say you were buying a house. I was responding to someone else. Enjoy your vacations.

Similar to what we are doing for DW. On the overall points, I am just waiting for Dave @sidari to work his magic with his friends at MSC to get us put into the new, higher level that has been in planning by MSC's superb IT department (😉) for the last few years. I think the elite level is Cubic Zirconium, or pyrite.

G: We do have it here, at least in the housing market with "earnest money," which is designed to protect the seller as you are pointing out. Honestly, I view my YC deposit as earnest money (at a very cheap rate!) that allows me to select a room I want very far out in the future. I just did it yesterday to make add a booking for 2024 to make it a B2B. I did it this far out because I wanted the same room for the added week, and it was available. I'm not sure if I will go through with keeping the reservation, but to me, for under $400 it was worth the peace of mind. That being said, thanks for the heads up! I'm going to the Dark Side of Europe for a holiday in June. I'll have to remember to leave a small deposit with the bartender when I order a pint of Guinness to make sure I don't cancel it before he's finished pouring it.😉

It's not just Ireland. My DW can't log into her account for the same reason with the email validation snafu. We have to do a workaround on the booking side to check things like her activity and point totals. MCS IT problems do not pick on countries. They appear to be equal opportunity gremlins.