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40 minutes ago, lovetravel1114 said:

Lobster on YC virtuosa on 2022 summer sailing in Europe was the worst lobster tail in my life and I raised the issue with YC at the time. It was barely suitable for stock use grade so something with supplier or shipboard storage must have gone wrong. I am not picky at all but couldn't eat, and my 2 children refused to eat at their first bite. We sailed last year again YC and had lobster in one of the night (think it was gala night) but not great, acceptable but would not pay to have it in the restaurant. It could be different depending on the region but don't have hight expectation! 

Sailing in the YC on the Mera back in 2022, my first lobster tail was chewy which means it was overcooked. I called our waiter over and he did not hesitate to take it back to the YC kitchen where he said he stood and watched the cook prepare me a new one cooked properly!

I ended up eating 3 of them LOL 😛

On 2/16/2024 at 10:43 AM, DaKahuna said:

How was your gumbo?  As I stated in my blog mine lack any file flavor at all and was more of a soup than a thick and rich gumbo.

 

I wish pasta bolognese was on the YC every day menu.  We have penne pasta with a marinara sauce instead. 
 

In my own experience in the YC, if there's something on the MDR menu, you can ask for it. It just take a few minutes more to go get it, but the YC dining room staff has never disappointed! But YMMV?

On 2/6/2024 at 10:59 AM, DaKahuna said:

 You are way ahead of us in packing.  I have not even finalized what shoes I'll be brining.  
 I have an idea in my head what clothes I'll bring but other than ironing a few dress shirts nothing has been put out yet.  We usually don't pack until the night before we leave the house, which in our cased will be Friday nigh.  

 

Off to get that haircut I mentioned and to get a Popeye's Ghost Pepper wing craving satisfied. 

 

 

 

1 pair of khakis and 7 polo shirts...leaves plenty of room for DW's "overflow"! 🤣

The Butler service, the YC Top Sail Lounge, the YC private restaurant with it's own menu, butler escort on/off the ship, skipping the lines, YC poolside buffet, the YC hot tubs are rarely crowded (esp the one at the front of the ship)...Aurea does have perks, but YC has da' pampering!! Oh, and it starts with the wonderful white YC curbside check-in tent at the port and separate security line, and YC check-in lounge area with Prosecco!

If you can afford the YC, you won't regret it! And you'll never want to go back.

From a Former NCL Haven'er ourselves.

What everyone else has said + the YC separate pool deck and outdoor bufffet is totally worth it! Not having to fight the chair hogs!!

And the Ocean House restaurant at Ocean Cay with those lobster rolls...yum!

So totally worth the upgrade, but you will be spoiled for the rest of your cruising life.

Not sure of the url, but I make casino reservations at 1-844-MSC-PLAY. Cut-n-paste from one of the e-mail offers I got recently

Don't do it. The queue at Miami airport is a holdup, and that's assuming everything goes smoothly with the ship and customs (usually, but not always). We sail YC and do self walk-off. Off the ship by 8am. A noon flight is a pretty safe bet (pun intended in this case!).

You will LUV the YC starting with the white YC tent for embarkation 🤩 keep in mind, the 4-day experience will probably not be as personable as a 7-day experience, but enjoy the pampering nonetheless! Have only done 7-day YC cruises, but basing that off the feedback from our YC crew...they actually said they get frustrated on the shorter cruises as they want to provide a higher level of service, but just don't get enough time to know your personal preferences like my Grey Goose Cosmos as soon as I sit down in the Top Sail Lounge! Luv those people!!

March 31st until we sail on the wonderful Divina! Have only sailed MSC in the YC and not even NCL's Haven can compare for us, personally at 1/2 the price, literally. 

I so enjoyed your review and felt like I was on the cruise with you...thank you for posting!

On 1/5/2024 at 4:35 PM, jean87510 said:

Still at Ocean Cay

 

 

 

 

If I may be politically incorrect in these times, as the brother of two very successful hair stylists, your hair is seriously gorgeous! Nicely done! 

OK, here's what I got from my URComped e-mail. So basically, you can earn a free cruise then pay to upgrade to YC for $X depending on type of cruise. Lengthy, but informative post, so grab a cocktail as you digest the lengthy information...might be worth starting a separate thread??

MSC "You Choose" Signature Rewards for Dream Points

MSC's "You Choose" Program is MSC's onboard Signature Casino Rewards program. This On-Board Reward Program is a tiered system, based on play. Like many other casinos, players can earn "Dream Points" onboard to receive benefits/rewards. These benefits include 3 different discount levels on a future sailing, a free cruise certificate, as well as possible Free Play vouchers and Casino Drink Packages.

$3 coin in (Slot Machines/ Video Poker)= 1 Dream Point
Table players must check their points with onboard staff

 

Based on where the casino guest wants to sail with MSC will determine the points needed to receive certain benefits. These are "market-specific" Dream Point Reward options. Some specific point values provide rewards that are valid for sailings around the world! Guests can reach multiple benefit options where they will have the opportunity to "choose" between two or three rewards. The host/manager will ask and confirm which reward option the guest would prefer and issue the reward letter or free cruise certificate accordingly. 

 

URComped guests who sail onboard MSC will be eligible to receive these benefits and join the rewards program. Your URComped host will be able to redeem and book the offer that you receive for you. DO NOT GO to the NEXT CRUISE desk to book this.

 

Please see the “Dream Point Reward Matrix” below for the Market-Specific and World Dream Point Reward options. 
*Note that the below criteria to "earn a free cruise onboard" is different than URComped's negotiated offers with MSC Cruises that are seen on your URComped "My Offers" Page. Your onboard points/rewards do not affect your URComped offers.

 

 

• • • • Free Cruise Certificates
      Any Guest who reaches the following Dream Point thresholds for a free cruise will receive a Free Cruise Certificate (FCC) with the below Stateroom according to the length and market of the cruise: 
      
      Anywhere around the world up to 10 nights
      • 10,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 15,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 20,000 Dream Points FCC Balcony Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 30,000 Dream Points FCC Suite Stateroom Aurea Experience + Casino Drink Package
      • 45,000 Dream Points FCC MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite
         
      USA sailings 6 to 8 nights
      • 8,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 10,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 15,000 Dream Points FCC Balcony Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 25,000 Dream Points FCC Suite Stateroom Aurea Experience + Casino Drink Package
      • 34,000 Dream Points FCC MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite
         
      USA sailings 2 to 5 nights
      • 5,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 8,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 10,000 Dream Points FCC Balcony Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 20,000 Dream Points FCC Suite Stateroom Aurea Experience + Casino Drink Package
      • 30,000 Dream Points FCC MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite
         
      MEDITERRANEAN sailings 7 nights
      • 8,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience
         
      BRAZIL sailings 7 nights
      • 8,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience
         
      AFRICA sailings 5 nights
      • 5,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience
         
      Free Play Rewards
      Once you choose the certificate that you prefer, you will start earning $50.00 in Free Play for each additional 1,000 dream points earned. The free play amount will increase until you reach the next upper-level stateroom category criteria. When this happens, the Free play will automatically reset to 0 and you will restart earning $50.00 Free Play for every 1,000 points.
       
      For example, you decide you want a USA 6-8 night cruise. 
      • 8,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 9,000 Dream Points FCC Interior Stateroom Bella Experience +$50 Freeplay
      • 10,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience
      • 11,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience +$50 Freeplay
      • 12,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience +$100 Freeplay
      • 13,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience +$150 Freeplay
      • 14,000 Dream Points FCC Ocean View Stateroom Bella Experience +$200 Freeplay
      • 15,000 Dream Points FCC Balcony Stateroom Bella Experience
      • And so on...

 

 

Casino Drink Package 

Any Guest entitled to a Suite Aurea Stateroom regardless of the market and the length of the cruise will get a Casino Drink Package as well as the Stateroom and the Free Play rewards if any are earned.

 

Upgrading your "You Choose" Certificate
Players can upgrade their certificate with the following pricing:

7-10 Night Sailings Upgrade pricing
- Inside to Oceanview: $425
- Inside to Balcony: $1250
- Inside to Yacht Club: $3350
- Oceanview to Balcony: $850
- Oceanview to Yacht Club: $3000
- Balcony to Yacht Club: $2200
- Balcony Aurea Suite to Yacht Club: $1400
- Extra Person: $500
 

Short sailings Upgrade pricing
- Inside to Oceanview: $295
- Inside to Balcony: $540
- Inside to Yacht Club: $2945
- Oceanview to Balcony: $295
- Oceanview to Yacht Club: $2400
- Balcony to Yacht Club: $2265
- Balcony Aurea Suite to Yacht Club: $120
- Extra Person: $300

2 hours ago, George C said:

I went from wearing a tux to a sports jacket , now just dockers and shirt with collar .

I now just pack 1 pair of Khakis and 7 polo/golf shirts, then gym clothes and a couple of bathing suits...that's it!

Yes. And yes. And on MSC, they don't charge a service fee (usu 3% on some other cruise lines) for charging to your room.

Go to msccruisesusa.com/casino for description of the revamped casino rewards program.

Make sure you insert your room card into the machine for points tracking as well. It used to be 1,200 points earned you a 30% voucher for your next cruise which is how we can afford the YC every time. Now, I believe it's 3,000 points for 20% off and 5,000-8,999 points for 30% off, and I think I read somewhere the free cruises start at 9,000+ points.

I think it's 1 point for every $3 in slot play that you cycle through the machine??

Oh, and if you are enjoying some cocktails while you play, a small tip goes a long way. I usually have to tell my waiter to slow down on the refills as I tip every drink!

12 hours ago, mvh said:

Uber or Lyft are really reasonable in Miami. Should be around $25 or less.

Or around $75 if you happen to forget a suitcase back at your airport hotel and call back your Lyft driver to come get you again...not that I'd ever do that, speaking for a "friend!" 🤣

On 12/21/2023 at 6:44 AM, bucfan2 said:

Not a foodie, yet very critical of Italian cuisine...interesting.  I have no idea what to expect of our upcoming cruise, particularly regarding food.  I realize it's subjective, and we have yet to be disappointed w/ the food on any line, but some of these reviews have me wondering.

I am a foodie of sorts and I do the cooking at home, and I'm a pretty solid cook. Don't know if this helps any, but I go on a cruise with a vacation mindset, meaning as long as I'm not doing the cooking, cleaning, and there are plenty of cocktails, then I'm definitely going to have a good time!

I've posted on other threads here, I'm a carnivore, so there are some nights where I'm not thrilled with the menu, but in the YC you have the "everyday steak" option which is a filet mignon (ok, tech a beef tenderloin on the menu...same thing to me!). In the MDR, it's a NY strip and I have not seen great reviews on that one. You can also request another dish if you're not happy with what you ordered...I've done that about 1 night every cruise. And if all of that fails, there's the pizza! In fact, in the YC, you gotta order the free room service pizza at least once...it's not the same as the buffet. YUM-O!

So for me, I don't fret the food as I know there are so many options and no dishes to wash afterwards 😋

Just now, JAGR said:

I assume you are talking about Seaside, back in the day!  I really did enjoy that ship a few times in 2018.  Had Vishnu as Butler on one sailing, and almost always had Arthur as waiter.

Yes, sailed Seaside 2X before Covid.

21 hours ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

 

We also got spoiled rotten with the collective talent on the early MSC YC voyages in the states with a crew team with the names Mario, Authur, Roy, Vishnu, Onil, Allessandra etc.  What a great couple of years we had following them around.

 

Yesss! We, too, got spoiled by Arthur and Vishnu in the early years! Miss them (isn't Arthur now a Maitre' d on MSC??). I heard that Vishnu moved back to Mauritius and opened a restaurant. I wish them all success!

3 hours ago, jean87510 said:

We do it 50% of time.  It just depends where we are going and what time of year.  During the holidays there is no way I'd chance a same day flight living in the northeast US.  And if same day, always the earliest flight and always direct.  And never Southwest!!

And guess who we're flying on in March!? 😁 They were much cheaper then American or Delta.

FWIW, we stay at the Hyatt Regency Miami/Brickell, maybe 10 mins to the port and in a great walking/restaurant area. You can actually see the cruise ships from your room. We use points and it's only 15,000 for the night.

You are smart to fly in a day early which is what we always strive to do! Following along, we're on the Divina in March.

Not sure this is of help, but I've found a Lyft/Uber is more convenient and cheaper than the shuttle charges from MCO to Port Canaveral. Just offering that up as I'm also the major "family" travel planner. And Lyft is on your timeline, not the cruise shuttle's...no need to go back to the airport, just get picked up at your hotel. Especially if they offer a stay and cruise parking package.

3 minutes ago, petuniaflower said:

Thanks, this is exactly what we're looking for!  Is the one in Ocho Rios the one iwth the trampoline in the water?

Yup, that's the one! Takes a LOT more energy to get up there out of the water than you'd think! Wore my butt out!...and I work out daily and got my butt whipped climbing that ladder onto the trampoline LOL

Oops, I think I'm finding Royal Palms is permanently closed now...my bad. Researching another beach club... 🫣

Looks like Coral Beach Club is still open??

Having done this itinerary several times, we head to Royal Palms Beach Club in Grand Cayman where we rent a cabana (we just grab a van taxi at the port along w/ 8 of our new "best friends"), in Ocho Rios you can walk off the ship to Margarittaville beach club where we do the VIP pkg which includes beach chairs, a beach side safe for valuables and a round of margaritas. Cozumel, it's Mr Sanchos all the way! VIP pkg, of course (unlimited drinks and food)!

We love this intin so much, we're doing it again in March 2024. It's a great beach day schedule, if that's what you're looking for like we do!

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I had preconceived notions about Explora1 reading all the different comments. I was banned twice from the forum asking concerned questions since we were in cancellation and worried we made a big mistake. One just has to see for themselves. Those of us fans of MSC Yacht Clubs are fans for a reason. We are repeaters for the same reasons. We have listed the reasons ad nauseum 

Agree 100%! Having gone YC on 4 previous cruises, I am definitely more experienced now on how to exact the experience from the YC that my family is looking for. I don't hesitate to ask for the pillow menu on Day 1 to get the extra pillows I need for my bad back. I also remove the items from our mini fridge that we don't use and ask for more of what we want (extra Coronas!). On night 1, we let the Maitre' D know what time we'd like to eat (usu 6pm for us) and the same table we'd like. I also know if there's not a main dish I like on the menu, I can always order the filet mignon which has not disappointed yet (I'm a carnivore, what can I say?). Also, we let our butler know our pre-dinnner cocktails we'd like in our room as we get ready since I learned from our first YC cruise that they get "hollered at" if their boss sees a YC customer carrying their own drinks from the bar vs them delivering them to us!

And similar to you, I pre-tip every day to the poolside waiters for prompt and great cocktail service. Not required, but I also never have an empty cocktail glass either LOL!

So all to say, I've learned a lot of tips and pointers along the way on our YC journey from our first Seaside cruise and now don't hesitate to ask up front for what we'd like. The people working the YC aspire to provide an exceptional experience and have done us right our last 4 cruises with our 5th coming up in March.

Have only done a hot stone massage with MSC as I require a massage therapist with seriously strong hands for my functional massages (I really have tight back muscles). However, doing a hot stone massage on a cruise is truly enjoyable and relaxing! Highly recommend.