Morgsmom

12 hours ago, jimmypackedcorn said:

Got it. So if we cant select our day/time for spa services online (which we cant) there's no point in booking those in advance? Sounds like cost is about the same. I don't want to book those if we cant get the massages/spa services on our sea days, which seems to be the case since we cant do anything in advance online other than pay.

If you book IMMEDIATELY upon boarding the ship you should not have any problem getting a slot on a sea day.  The only folks who could have already tried to book would be back to backers.  I'd say your chances are very good in getting the times you want.  

Have fun!  Enjoy every minute of it and use the tips you have learned 😉

On 6/20/2023 at 11:14 AM, SueMo said:

Cabot Discovery Tours has a mini Cabot Trail tour shore excursion.  It's worth checking out.

$350 + tax for two people... 

On 6/22/2023 at 12:42 PM, jules815 said:

Will that be it for the offer, or if it doesn't sell, do they continue to lower the bidding price and send out another email?

I've never known that to happen.  

Lol, same response as on the FB page - 10:30 - 10:45 is an optimal time to arrive.

38 minutes ago, Robert_Loblaw said:

The new departure date must be within 90 days of the original departure date. Any change to a date that is more than 90 days from the original departure date is considered a cancellation and is subject to the above cancellation charges.

This is the sticking point.  The YC change must be for a date AFTER the original sailing but only up until 90 days after.  It has become much more restrictive so moving a year out would not qualify.  (I had to move a YC sailing and this was reiterated with the agent. )

As far as the deposit, $398 is typical for a YC non refundable deposit.  I've never heard of a $495 deposit HOWEVER there are some deposits that are entirely non refundable.  

For turning a reservation BACK to you, I think that'd be impossible. It's in your TA's hands.  I'm sorry you are having this issue.  As the MSC rep said to me yesterday, "that's why you need travel insurance."

9 minutes ago, GPPhilly said:

I just do not get all the pushback by people when talking about the YC and outside guests.  I do not feel it is people being uppity.  It is a matter of paying for a certain level of service and exclusivity.  When you have paid for this level why should you be good with others taking advantage for free of something you paid for.   Also, by using resources in the exclusive area that might have an impact on your level of service received.  

 

 

 

^^^^^^^ This.

We walk there for the exercise but taxi back 

16 hours ago, LiMurr said:

I’m on a July 1 sailing that had a substantial price decrease recently.  Many people called and were told they would get a FCC for half of the difference.  Others (like myself) took advantage of the decrease to score a Haven upgrade.

@LiMurrMay I ask how you did this?  

On 6/16/2023 at 11:00 AM, NCteacherlovescruising said:

What if we dock but it's raining during lunch hours?

The YC dining room will NOT open for lunch once succesfully docked, regardless of weather.  That'd be an organizational and personnel nightmare.

18 hours ago, GPPhilly said:

I was flamed by a person on a group on facebook because someone asked since they were in the YC but the people they were traveling with were not could they have them join them for dinner few nights.  Some said it could not hurt to ask.  My response was that the OP should not ask as the answer would be no and that would put the staff and the OP in an uncomfortable position.  The person that said it couldn't hurt to ask, ripped into me saying I was what was wrong with the elitist YC guests.  

 

My response and view on this is very simple.  People pay money to have the YC and the service level in the YC and to expect that someone should be able to join you that hasn't paid is not fair to the other paying guests.  You as a YC guest are free to go join them at a general restaurant or specialty restaurant or other public area.  Simple.  

Oh, hey... I'm on that FB post too and also got ripped.  I'm 100% on your side.  Why put someone in a position of being uncomfortable KNOWING that's they are pushing the issue.  (In this case it was a woman who wanted her Mom and Aunt to join her.  My answer is either upgrade your Mom & Aunt you cheap *** or join them in the rest of the ship. She was the one wanting to be a show off!)

The answer is "it depends."  When the ships were sailing at very low capacity it was easier to arrange.  Now it's hard to even get a 2 top at dinner (unless, as indicated, you are YC or Aurea.)  Your 'eating and moving on' doesn't help the dining room, unfortunately, as it is fixed seating.  

Possibly as late as 6:30pm, but why on earth would you put yourself through that stress?  So many things could go wrong and that ship will sail with or without you.   In addition, you'd miss out on a 1/2 day of holiday.

@MaggieNY Thank you for your comments.  From my perspective you can't compare one cruiseline directly against another.   They each have their own pros and cons.  However going into this you were aware that there was fixed dining times, that you docked at Port Canaveral at 1:00pm, and that you didn't buy the drink package.  $40 for a bottle of wine really isn't that much more than $15 corkage and $15 bottle.  As far as the library, all libraries were shut down during Covid on the ships.  Once books are restocked guests take them (there is no control tag as it's an honor system); at some point they cut their losses and make it a guest exchange library only.  As far as lack of warmness of Cruise Director's staff and the punctuality of events - I wouldn't expect anything different from MSC.  To be fair, I haven't been on NCL (but we sail on the Joy in September) but I won't compare it to MSC.  I'll just take it the way they do things.

The smoking areas are designated, and not near the pools per se.  NO smoking inside, unless the casino or in the ships with designated Cigar Bar.

55 minutes ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

How would a guest know if they were in the YC or not?  

1.  On the Caribbean sailings (or any sailing that does not have guests who join at various ports of call) you pretty quickly learn the other YC faces/guests and you might spot a "new" face.

2.   There's often a "tell" - the looking around, not knowing what to do, how to get a drink when you are few days into the cruise is a signal, too.  

3.   Listening - many times these folks brag to their friends

4.   Looking - sometimes folks are so dumb that they wear their key card on a lanyard which clearly doesn't have the YC logo on the back side

5.   Looking part 2 - guest presents key card to get a drink

🙂

Do not worry about it; the credit card registration RARELY works beforehand.  There are multiple kiosks onboard to do this.

We've seen interlopers on various ships.  Those that sneak in are generally escorted out fairly quickly.  However the real issue is when a  YC guest "invites" their friend/family to join them and the YC guest gets all high & mighty with the pool attendants/staff and starts ranting about "I paid good money and I can do what I want" .. blah, blah, blah.  Then it becomes a whole thing.  

12 hours ago, Laurab23 said:

In YC can you only order drinks on the menu or can you request a certain drink? I have cruised before but not on MSC.

 

Laura

You can order any drink you want if they have the liquor and the ingredients (and the liquor is below $15 a pour)

3 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

What was it like sailing with mostly Europeans?  We’re they friendly?

4 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

I almost choked when I saw a 140,000 ton ship referred to as ‘quaint and intimate…’.  Now if you were talking about an Armonia class ship…. EM

Lol. The YC on the Divina is intimate.   But the whole ship seems teeny weeny vs the new builds 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

@NCteacherlovescruising Then I say go for it!  

2 hours ago, Laurab23 said:

Also can you get flavors of cappuccino anywhere? Like a white chocolate cappuccino?

 

Flavored cappuccinos are not really a thing on the ships (and some Italian grandmother is shaking her head), but the "traditional" espresso based drinks are FANTASTIC

The Divina is an older ship and the YC definitely needs a refurb (especially Topsail).  Le Muse (the YC restaurant) is NOT in the YC as it is a retrofit, so you have to go down to 7, walk across, then up to the restaurant.  The Divina is lovely, but does not have the bells, whistles, etc of the newer ships, but it is quaint and intimate.  The thermal spa is poor in comparison to the newer ships so if you value that I would not recommend.

On a plus side, the YC is much smaller and more personalized (IMO) since the concierge, director, etc have many fewer guests.  

oh, boo!  I was just watching a YouTube on the Euribia and just found out about Helios.  Of course it's not covered (shaking my head)..  

Without looking at the itinerary my guess is that you are joining "mid" itinerary so that's why the ship is sailing so late.  If it were me and I was arriving into AMS (and you haven't been to Amsterdam), I'd.... take the bus/shuttle into Amsterdam directly to the central train station. You can check your luggage there.  Spend the morning and early day in AMS, then take the train to Rotterdam.  Alternately there is luggage storage in the train station in Rotterdam for about 7E for the day.  I wouldn't plan on going to the port and dropping off luggage very early and then turning around.