bucfan2

9 hours ago, coolio111 said:

Is RCL doing temperature checks before embarkation at any port but mainly Galveston or Miami. I have a child that usually has higher temperatures especially in warmer weathers. 
 

They won't even check for a pulse....

31 minutes ago, jeh10641 said:

As exemplified by this thread, food is very personal.

Indeed.  We can count on one hand the meals we actually thought we're subpar.  We've only been on 70 or 80 cruises, so waiting for the 'other shoe' to drop any minute.

On 1/27/2024 at 11:22 AM, Another_Critic said:

 

28 RCCL, 2 Carnival, 9 Celebrity, 1 Regal, 2 Premier, 2 NCL, 1 Holland America, 1 Princess, 1 Azamara

Don't do MSC Yacht Club....good chance you'll be ruined. Blew away anything we've ever done, including CL's on Royal. Our anticipation for Pinnacle in the near future just had the brakes applied in a big way after our YC experience last week. 

6 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

Thank you! Glad to help.  We absolutely loved it.  My husband is a pretty simple guy who would be happy in insides all the time and the buffet every meal.  He was raving the whole time.  He enjoyed talking to the YC staff and kept saying how nice they are.  This went also for the Divina itself.  Whenever we talked to staff, they really were nice and not just for tips or a review.  

Your husband sounds like the description my wife gave of me....in addition to 'kid at Disney' lol. Truly an unbelievable experience. 
 

So much for making Pinnacle in the relatively near future.....that whole apple cart has flipped after the YC. 

18 hours ago, deliver42 said:

You don't get 3. You get a butler and cabin steward.

That's for sure...you get like 10 butlers.  Every where you move, their assistance is immediately available if desired, whether they are your personal butler or not.

Quite the extreme for us:  Sailing outside of YC, we'd choose several other lines ahead of MSC.  If were doing an upper suite, we'd choose MSC YC before RC/Carnival/Celebrity.....MSC YC experience is superior.

On 1/18/2024 at 6:25 PM, George C said:

YC is excellent 

That is indeed the understatement of the year.  Appreciate the info leading into our first YC experience George.  I believe we have a new go-to cruise line for upper suite cruising...simply unbelievable.

On 1/7/2024 at 9:14 AM, jean87510 said:

It wasn't like some reviews where it seems like the butler follow them around all day with toilet paper to wipe their bottoms.  But reflecting back, I think they read us correctly.  They knew what was important to us and that was no lines!!!  Another observation was they knew I snuck in every am to run before gym was open and I always got coffee afterwards.  They knew I liked the wasabi chips at 4pm and always had a bowl for me.  They knew my husband liked Coke Zero at meals.  After the initial hiccups, it really went smoothly.  1000x better than the RCCL suites where they seem to focus only on the Pinnacles in the SL.

Well, just off the Yacht Club experience.  Thanks for putting us at ease going in...it was our first MSC experience.  We believe if the YC isn't good for a cruiser, cruising is definitely not for them.

On 1/13/2024 at 2:01 PM, Charles4515 said:

iPhones don’t control people, we control iPhones. 

of course

6 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I love Oasis class ships, but I have always found them to be more crowded than Freedom and Voyager class ships. On Oasis class ships I frequently experience not being able to find a single lounge chair available any where on the ship. On the other hand, I have never had trouble finding lounge chairs available on any Freedom or Voyager class ships. Shows are also far less crowded on Freedom and Voyager class ships. Every show area (theater, aqua, ice skating, etc.) on Oasis class ships are almost always packed for the entire cruise. 

Different perspectives are so interesting.  We love Freedom and Voyager class ships, yet tend to choose Oasis class ships as they feel so much more open/less crowded.

Who knew that food wasn't the only subjective discussion.

13 hours ago, RNELL said:

My family will be sailing on Symphony soon. We have two cabins, one is a suite the other is not. My 11 year old is assigned to the regular cabin, I am assigned to the suite is there any chance my 11 year old could eat in the Coastal kitchen with me.

Symphony has 102 suites (not counting junior suites).  Based on a min of double occupancy, that's 204 guests for CK (in addition to pinnacles and js based on availability) that they're attempting to accommodate.

Seating capacity is 135 in CK. If they allow each suite to bring one extra (child, friend, mother's cousin who knows this guy, etc), 204 guests quickly becomes 306 guests, and pinnacles and js folks are eating in the MDR or at the trough.  
 

Worth asking (as mentioned above, $100/$200 may help), but would understand if they weren't real excited to accommodate. 

5 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Don’t lump everybody that has made negative comments still cruises. I know a lot of people who bailed even before the shutdown, us included. We went from averaging 40+ days a year to 42 days total between 2016 and the shutdown. Shutdown through today 0. Nothing planned, nothing even considered. Living life to the max without cruising, retired and more money than we’ll ever spend. 

Cool...went from cruising to commenting on cc. Sounds fun. 

13 hours ago, rjp50 said:

For the comedy shows, are they the same in both venues or do they have different routines?  In other words, does it make sense to reserve in each venue?

Give it a try...only let us book one of them on cruise last week.

Highly recommend water show, Mama Mia and the Ice show (Blades).  Suggest water show on first night, as it tends to be cancelled later in the cruise if rough seas/inclement weather (also allows ya to see it multiple times if you desire).

Just off Allure yesterday.  Food was typical....very good to excellent.

If we weren't satisfied w/ RC's food, we'd either sail another line, or choose another type of vacation.  So far, of the dozen or so places on board to find something to eat, we've yet to be disappointed.  (Only been cruising for 40 years or so, so expecting the 'other shoe' to drop at anytime lol).

1 hour ago, jean87510 said:

Disembarking today

 

So after 11 days I am comparing my experience in YC to RCCL suites.  YC wins hands down.   

Sure appreciate your reviews, and glad to hear this one in particular.  As RCCL suite cruisers trying YC for the first time, we've been a bit apprehensive after reading some reviews.  Thanks again.

1 minute ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Stroll  around the new port area.  Pretty nice to kill an hour or so.   

M

Ya...strolled around a couple times in the past 3 or 4 months, and enjoyed seeing the project that only took about 12 months longer than predicted. They did a nice job, commercialized it nicely, and we got it checked off our bucket list. 

3 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Thanks @bucfan2  -  appreciate the update.  I'm not expecting it to be renewed, but it would be a nice surprise if it is. 

M

We don't either. Just hoping for a justified reason to get off the ship in that hole lol. 

Give this thread another day or so, and if no responses regarding actual experience of Atlantis in the first 5/6 days of 2024, I'll thread it be removed.  I'll post our experience in a week or two. 
 

Actual experience posts greatly appreciated. The 'my cousins uncle's friend know this chick who heard....' responses good for filler if ya feel it necessary. 

1 hour ago, mcatmcat said:

I guess they will have multiple lines that says express = scan n go

 

my friends who are traveling with me don’t have the express but I do. Not sure if diamond status have anything to do with it 

That could be...might speed it up using scan n go.

As far as being diamond - not likely.  Everyone and their brother is diamond...probably be the longest line.

10 hours ago, tmann4 said:

Was on Med cruise 5 years ago and saw half of Cats and left at intermission   

Bet ya wish you had left sooner.

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Since it is only Jan 2, I'd give it a few days and ask again.  

I'd love to, but hate to wait until after we get back....kinda defeat the purpose. 

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

A few confirmed with Atlantis that it was to end on 12/31/23.

Thanks.  We all heard that as well.  Wondering if anyone has been there in 2024 to see if they extended the deal.  About the only reason to get off the ship there in our opinion, and could see where cruise ship business at Atlantis would die back down.

And yes, choice got $25, prime $50, sig $75, mas $100.

If anyone has been able to utilize free play at Atlantis in the New Year, would appreciate hearing from ya.  (Heard the RC choice/prime/etc free play there was to be discontinued at close of 2023).

Thanks.

2 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Which ship are you going on? I’ve been in YC on Grandiosa, Virtuosa and Euribia all have been brilliant! About to go on YC World Europa next week. I’m sold on the product! 😊

Seascape

1 hour ago, Mark_T said:

That is correct, MSC outsource the process to Plusgrade and they are in good company doing that...

 

https://www.plusgrade.com/partners/

 

 

Thanks...had already discovered that. Was just a bit confused in why they choose the email option as the only way to bid (as opposed to bidding either thru the email or plusgrade site like other cruiselines). 

We're new to MSC.  Certainly not impressed w/ their IT stuff, and would be lying if we said we weren't concerned about our upcoming YC experience (particularly after reading reviews). We're holding on to the 'only whiners complain' mantra and hoping it plays true.