Georgia_Peaches

November, 2026 on Ascent. 11 night Panama Canal and ABC islands. I could be imagining this but I think the ship/itin/date matters in what you see for sale in your cruise planner. I've read on CC that some people have different discount offers during the same 'sale' or 'promotion' depending on their sailing.

We also took advantage of an 30% off discount. Just keep checking.

I had wonderful drink service in the Retreat on Ascent (Sun deck)….from my dear husband! However, in Eden and the martini bar there was a steady stream of wait staff in circulation.

FWIW I read that there are protests against throngs of tourists throughout Europe (originating in Barcelona) to include Capri. I have to wonder if these protests have anything to do with your mysteriously vanished tender to the island. My recommendation is to catch a tender to the nearest island and then a ferry over to Capri if you still want to try and make it.

It's funny...back in May we were on a similar itin to yours but with Regent, instead. On Regent the excursions are included in the cruise fare with a few premium excursions that were an upcharge. We are not organized excursion people either but we felt compelled to take advantage of them because they were included and we were going to places that we will likely not return to anytime soon. We found that nearly all of the excursions failed to live up to their description. It's like you get the essence of what the excursions was supposed to be but they just fell short. Maybe it was because I romanticized them in my head or maybe the person who writes the descriptions is out of sync with those who execute them. Either way...we began ditching the excursions opting to explore on our own because I was becoming increasingly annoyed at the idea of missing things that I really wanted to see or do in any given port. This is my very long winded way of saying that I'm glad EJ doesn't include excursions in the fare, otherwise we might find ourselves in the same situation on our next over seas cruise.

They have a whole array of mocktails and non alcoholic coffees on offer. I'm not a tea drinker so can't comment on whether or not it's premium. I will say that on the high tea day it seems like the tea is pretty good but that's the extent of my experience....and I highly recommend participating in this...it's a lot of fun.

Yeh, I'd have a drink with Brad Pitt. I'm sure DH wouldn't mind...lol.

Congrats on your casino luck! That's fabulous. Would love to see some pics of the casino if you can catch it when it's empty.

How about a Riesling? I’m pretty sure I saw that on one of the menus posted along the way.

Ahh, that makes more sense. I thought OP wanted a breakdown of YC benefits as a first timer.

The YC benefits are the same whether it's your first time or hundredth! It begins with priority check in at a time of your choosing, not necessarily the time that's assigned. You will be met with sparkling wine and snacks in the check in lounge and then will receive a butler escort on to the ship. Next, you end up in the Top Sail Lounge where you can take a seat until your room is ready...at which point you may be escorted there directly and given a room tour and opportunity to discuss your preferences with your butler. Then you can make your way to lunch in the YC dining room where you will be pampered with a delicious meal. Finally, take your leave in order to explore the rest of the ship. And then let the cruise unfold. A few things to be sure to take advantage of on your cruise: pizza delivery to your room dedicated seating in the main theater with butler escort if you desire daily replenishment of your mini fridge daily delivery of snacks dedicated concierge should you need reservations Enjoy your Yacht Club cruise!!

No, no, no...the door decorations are for that!!!

Door slamming is a thing but it's not done on purpose and I don't think door slammers are trying to be rude. The door is heavy and wants to shut on it's own. It can gain momentum if it's wide open and before you know it, the damn thing slams. It's happened to me plenty of times...especially when my hands are full (likely with drinks) and I'm not trying to be rude or inconsiderate to anyone nearby. Maybe they should just remove doors altogether. They could hang bead strands from the doorways instead...wouldn't that be fun...

OMG I want to be you guys when I grow up!!! 🥰 Your travel schedule has been crazy busy so thank you for the time you are putting into these reviews. As an aside, I really enjoyed your most recent Celebrity Edge series comparison with MSC Sea class on Youtube. Nice job! Really looking forward to this review as we are booked on EJ II and I'm craving all the details I can get.

Do it! It’s wonderful. And the warm chocolate chip cookie is delicious.

Another vote for Ascent.

Not open on embarkation. Only specialty that is open is Sushi on 5.

Sadly, Response time from VC is 30 business days…and counting. lol.

I find that most desserts on most cruise lines look better than they taste. Personally, I’ve never had a problem with the food on MSC. It’s probably the most subjective aspect of cruising that one can review.

I thought they did away with earning points from on board spending. Sorry, I don’t have any suggestions for you besides booking more cruises.

I received a similar email today for Reflection in port Everglades. Terminal was changed from 25 to 18 for our July 14 sailing.

Sounds like your DH took doctor's orders to heart. Nothing like a little R&R to rehab the body and mind. Wishing you smooth sailings and much success with your upcoming treatment.

I view the Porch more as a lunch spot. The area is nice enough but just feels lunchy to me. The menu isn’t as varied as some of the other venues but you are not limited in what you can order. There is, however and up charge for the seafood tower unless you’re staying in an upper suite. We much prefer the Lawn Club Grill for outdoor dining and for their grilled options and salad bar..and oh! The warm chocolate chip cookie a la mode.

That's very interesting! There was a time in my cruising life when stepping up to Celebrity did feel luxurious, both in price and in product....compared to the Royal ships we sailed upon when our kids were younger. And you are so on point with the pricing...Celebrity now charges the same or more pp/pd rates as some of the true luxury lines all the while, scaling back on their offerings. It's what drove us to Regent and also to EJ... Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for this review and perspective. I have to say that IMO NCL breakaway and breakaway plus class ships have the best thermal area at sea...nothing compares. It's hard to be impressed with anything else. Like you, we find the thermal area on MSC to be dark and at times, loud. But we do enjoy the therapy pool. As for the theater shows, one of my biggest annoyances with MSc is the fact that they let people into the show after it's started often leaving a mass of people standing at the back or a steady stream of people up and down the aisles. If they are going to require reservations then they should close the doors when the show begins. There are lots and lots of comments about venues being small. For such a massive ship, you have to wonder where they put all that space...We are booked for November and like you, we will have a good time no matter what. Again, thanks for posting!