no1talks

MSC doesn't have the deepest bench when it comes to itineraries. However, there are several I'm eager to book. Of course, one cannot be certain these particular cruises will be around from one year to the next. Nonetheless, here is my list, though somewhat tongue-in-cheek. What's on your list? #4 10 nights: Las Palmas, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Arrecife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Casablanca, Valencia. You can never have too many stops in the Canaries and this cruise has four, with Madeira and Fuerteventura islands thrown in. That's a lot of islands, but still not enough for salad dressing. The best part of the whole trip will be stopping for lunch at Rick's Cafe in Casablanca, if it's still in business at the time. I'll be taking my dinner jacket with me to don at the restaurant and pose for a picture near the piano with one of the staff. "You played it for her, you can play it for me!" #3 12 nights: Durban, Port Louis, La Possession, Inhaca Archipelago, Durban. MSC doesn't do much in the Indian Ocean, but this cruise looks pretty good. Between you and me, though, my real interest is the three-day stop in Mauritius. With all that time, I'm certain to discover a waddle of dodos that has been keeping a very, very low profile for more than 300 years. #2 11 nights: Tokyo, Muroran, Sakata, Kanazawa, Busan, Yatsushiro, Kochi, Osaka, Tokyo. Even though there are cruises that do a full circumnavigation of Japan, three of the four major islands would still be a fine cruise. One stop in South Korea is included for good measure, too. Do you suppose there would be any problems with US customs if I were to buy some spare parts for my K900 in Busan? #1 14 nights: Hamburg, Bergen, Molde Fjord, Longyearbyen, Honningsvag, Hammerfest, Tromso, Leknes, Stavanger, Hamburg. I think it would be fun being able to say I've been to a place (Longyearbyen) less than 12° south of the North Pole. Plus, cats are banned, so I won't need my allergy meds. Most ships going there are smaller, expedition-type vessels but MSC can take you there in YC style, if that's your thing.

You win Cruise Critic today, sir.

Yes! The lobster roll is very popular, though some New Englanders turn up their noses a bit. Some YCers love getting a burger with a dollop of the lobster salad on it. YMMV on that one.

Watch, now that I mentioned it, the policy will have been changed. 🤪

At least you can still have the Ocean Cay YC lunch, since that menu is served in YC instead, so the prepped food isn't wasted.

Well, it is Holy Week and Lent is concluding. Are you sure they weren't just wearing sackcloth?

You should add this to your cruise gear, Morpheus.

Quelle horreur! Here's something I find amusing: One of the amenities listed for top suites on Regent ships is included laundry and dry-cleaning. However, I don't think I've seen any photographic evidence of passengers possessing enough applicable clothing to make dry-cleaning even worth having. This is probably why Regent doesn't lose much in giving it out as an amenity.

It's the first of two breakfasts served to hobbit passengers.

He did post on another thread approximately 18 hours ago, so there is that.

Is regular roulette still available as well? Thank you very much.

Genie agrees!

Better to have cruising Tales of Woe than contemplations on the Tree of Woe. (I can't resist an 80s film reference.)

Well, Queen Elizabeth is currently available for 9, 12, and 21-day Carribean cruise reservations out of Miami (round trip). Sailings begin in October of '25 and conclude in April of '26. Presumably, the Alaska itineraries will follow.

My, but you are the raconteur, Mssr. Morpheus. I think there is a book of cruise tales in need of writing.

Unlikely. Once bitten, twice shy, as it were. Ask the long-term veteran YCers. They will tell you of a time when passengers guzzled the included ultra-premium liquors, hoarded the minibar mini-booze to take home, and generally abused the beverage program. No more really good alcohol included. MSC learned their lesson about passenger alcohol consumption at a lower cruise fare, relative to what other lines offer to their suite passengers. It could be worse. The top suite passengers on some lines receive no drink package and still manage to pay way more than YC.

The Royal Court Theatre on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth has such seating. However, it is not a suite amenity. As I understand it, the boxes are open to all, except on formal nights. On those occasions, they are reserved for a fee.

No, no. I'm talking about the old-school, full-spectrum talent shows of cruising days gone by. Perhaps you experienced this phenomenon in your early years of cruising? Imagine passengers telling jokes, performing card tricks, and making balloon animals. We're actually lucky the Japanese gave the world karaoke. Otherwise, we might still be getting that passenger show and it might include a really bad harmonica player.

Consider yourself lucky. You might have had your cruise enhanced with a far more memorable passenger talent show.

I enjoy opera. I've posted my disappointment regarding MSC dropping the one-off operatic matinees from their cruises. (Dropped from Caribbean cruises, at least.) However, in all honesty, I think I'd rather listen to Yoko Ono than yet another overwrought rendition of "O Mio Babbino Caro." (I'll add "Nessun Dorma" as well.)

If you know, you know.

This is especially painful. My Fair Lady is one of the few musicals on my drop-the-remote list. "But it can't have been right for your father to pour spirits down her throat like that. It might have killed her." "Not her. Gin was mother's milk to her. Besides, he's poured so much down his own throat, he knew the good of it." Gold. Pure gold.

Ah. Probably referring to one's general state of wellness in relation to fitness for cruise travel.

That game room would be a big plus in my book. I noticed there is a selection of refreshments available as well.

This speaks to my concerns vis-à-vis Regent, Silversea, Crystal, and Seabourn. Cruiselines do what they do with a customer base in mind. If the aforementioned lines are presenting what septuagenarians (and those more senior) see as luxurious cruising, would I, being 15 to 20 years younger, see things in a similar manner?