JAGR

I think most of us on here know of your single-minded determination. I'm bad at showing my "surprised" look. 😯

You are very lucky! 😁 If I had half that amount of luck, I'd buy a mega millions ticket!

I think this is an exaggeration on the Mark and Donna's part. Theater seating for shows is by reservation, and I've never hear of them overbooking like airlines and hotels tend to do.

This has been "elaborated on" ad nauseam!

Mariner Boy, Mariner Boy, M.....Won't say it three times! 😉

The YC interiors are all pretty much the same on Meraviglia. There are not larger handicapped rooms. There are a number of Youtube videos you could review: This is probably the best one:

I've been following the thread and your growing disappointment with MSC, and reference to other "prestigious" lines. It's hard to delineate exactly what lines are truly prestigious, since so much of it is based on personal preference. The title is also subject to shifting, based on one's latest cruise experience. I think that shift is evident in your latest experience. Assuming you earned Diamond status, you have cruised MSC more than recently. You must have liked some of those experiences in order continue sailing with them. It seems like you have reached your breaking point with MSC, and I can understand that. I would offer my observations on the "MSC Brand" experience. Since you are from Westerville, let me use a local reference: Kroger Company. In this area of the Columbus metropolitan area, we have four Korger's that serve the market. Even though they are all Kroger stores, they are not alike. Not sure what part of town you live in, but here is my rundown of the stores. First is Maxtown Rd. This is bright, well staffed and serves an upscale market. You can tell that because not only do the carts roll freely and straight, many are computerized to allow customers to scan and buy their food without contact with a cashier. They have a large Starbucks, a liquor store and large wine shop (with sampling counter), and actual workers (!!!) behind the deli and meat and seafood counters. This Kroger is the Flagship store (think Europa or Euriba), and is the equivelant of the Yacht Club. Further west, you have Kroger Polaris. It is a larger Kroger store, well stocked, with a liquor store and sometimes staff areas like the bakery, deli, meat/seafood with real workers, and many of the carts have all four wheels and work. It markets upscale apartment and condo residents. This is the Kroger Aurea experience store (Seaside). In the southeast of Westerville is the Schrock Road Kroger's. In its day, it was considered a destination store (think Fantasia, the first YC ship), but is now a weather-worn former grand dame. Staffing levels are low, and they are usually going on break when you approach them with a question, and stocking levels are not complete. It gets the job done, but could have been so much better. Carts are in short supply and getting through the aisles requires determination. This Kroger's is Fantastica class. Finally, there is Worthington Centre. Despite the quaint English spelling of center, this is Kroger's Bella experience. Shelves are barren, staff hide in the back room, and people fight over the last can of creamed corn. This Kroger should rest in peace with MSC's Monterey and Patricia. Just remember, don't paint MSC or Kroger with one brush. 😊

If he gets there around 11:00, he should not have to wait too long to board. 3:00 seems to be the place holder that MSC has been using since COVID, but they usually change the time to a more realistic one closer to the date.

You can easily test the discount. Once you pick the cruise you want, when the prices come up, take note of them, and on the the top of the screen there is an option to enter your VC number. When you do, it should change the prices shown to reflect the discount (the regular 5%, or any other additional discount associated with that sailing and the date you are booking.) If the price doesn't change, something may well be off.

Good catch! Well played, sir! Well played! Lol

When is your cruise? The process really only opens 20 days out for downloading or getting your documents emailed to you, although some have reported getting their paperwork earlier.

I have to admit that I am amazed sometimes with your posts! You go to great lengths to find the "right" words, highlighting the preferred words in quotation marks, and yet, you at times, "Cry, 'Hovoc!,' and let slip the dogs of war (grammar soldiers)." Too many hors d'oeuvres may have spoiled you, for again you have brought one of the sister cities that is home to the University of Illinois into play. I'll drink a glass of champagne to that! 😁

Same for us in October. As you face the reception counter, the small desk is on your right. They made our reservations on line very quickly.

Here is an idea of where the smoking areas are. Keep in mind that on the One Pool Deck, it could be expanded towards the front as well (to the right of the circle shown). The circled areas are the one place on each deck where ashtrays are laid out.

Sorry it is of concern to you, but as a nonsmoker, I don't think it is bad. The Seaside class are all the same on YC public area layouts. On the One Deck, smoking is not allowed at the bar area, but is allowed on the Starboard side at the tables and by some of the open lounger areas. In the front balcony of the Top Sail Lounge, smoking is on the starboard half. As long as we stayed on the port side on those decks, it really was not intolerable.

It's coated, not just concrete.

YC you'll be fine. Just go to the YC table at the base of the escalator.

I know what you are saying about the pullman being listed. The three videos that had only the one main bed also show a pullman. Never knew that MSC IT has expanded into deck plan design! 😉

I think you are correct about the room number being wrong, since she said they were next to each other. The bigger problem, I think, is that there is no real pullman bed in the HC deluxe rooms. There are a number of videos of Meraviglia Deluxe HC balcony cabins, and none show beds. OP should really check those rooms.

I may not have said it correctly, but that was the point I was trying to make. If you demonstrate the need for an accessible cabin, MSC will try and accommodate you. You should not need a doctor's note unless you declare a potential problem with traveling. The Special Needs request should be enough.

You've highlighted a potential problem. If the OP or TA does not send in the special needs form (which they probably can't if there is no "need'.), that room can be taken by a client who needs it. That is something my sister did last year. HC rooms were showing as sold out. She told the MSC rep on the phone about her need, and with a few minutes, someone who had a HC room was moved. I think her TA may have gone too far.

Seashore has no cigar room. For the most part. smoking areas are outside on the starboard side (the side most MSC ships use. One exception is Meravilgia which seems to favor port side, and has an indoor smoking area between the buffet and the front of the ship. In YC on Seashore, the smoking areas are outside on the front of the Top Sail Lounge on deck 16, and on the One Pool deck on 19. MSC tend to be more relaxed on casino smoking outside of the US. Used to not be allowed on US-based Caribbean cruises, then was changed to allow smoking within an area of the casino, which is plit by a center aisle.

Not sure what it's called, but it's not wood.

I though OP was saying they would match to Gold, but with Silver you should get all basic Classic perks, as well as the aforementioned OBC, Milestone reward (lapel pin), and the complimentary fruit basket.

Dining experience is for two people, but is for Diamond level, not Gold. Gold status brings: A complimentary one-hour thermal area session once per cruise. A complimentary gift. A complimentary photo taken during the "welcome back" cocktail party. A complimentary birthday cake when it's your birthday.