jcpc

14 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I wouldn't say I have completely given up on Celebrity, but it is hard to justify their current pricing, especially when all the reports on the CC Celebrity forums are about services and quality being cut or there being upcharges for things that used to be included.

I totally agree with you.  I have sailed exclusively with Celebrity since its inception and have attained their highest loyalty status (for what it's worth (actually it's not worth much anymore)....LOL).  I have decided to give MSC Yacht Club a try next month.  I cannot justify paying the amount of money Celebrity is now asking.  My last sailing on Celebrity was July 2023 in a SkySuite and while we had a great time and service was good (mainly because we knew tons of crew members as we sail Summit frequently) I definitely could see things rapidly going downhill.  Time to see what else is out there.

46 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Must have changed in 2022. We sailed exclusively in 2021 on Celebrity in the Retreat and had to muster in one of the restaurants and watch the video there. Also we became familiar with your great reporting at that time as well. Glad you made the transition to MSC. We do love Celebrity Retreat, but MSC fulfills more of the things on our list, like providing a reserved pergola on the OnePool deck, a  cushioned lounge chair on our balcony, an open suite only restaurant on port days, a clean, bug free out island, a very attentive butler (not one that disappears for the entire cruise when glimpses DW 12 suitcases having booked a Villa), reserved seating in the theatre for all shows, exclusivity of being inside a gated community and (at times) an elevator over ride perk. Perhaps the greatest perk of all on MSC is never hearing 'No'. Have only experienced "Anything you want Mr. Morpheus". Now how can we go anywhere else than MSC ?

@morpheusoftheseaI'm not sure what ship/sailing dates you sailed in 2021, but I believe Celebrity resumed their sailings from a U.S. port in the July 2021 timeframe.  I sailed two Edge sailings in September 2021 and our muster drill was held as @JamieLogicalstates (i.e., watch a video and report to your muster station any time prior to ship departure to get your card scanned).  I again sailed on two Summit sailings in November 2021 and my experience with muster was still the same.  Prior to Covid, however, you had to report to the muster station en masse and watch a video/listen to instructions there.

I am trying my first MSC Yacht Club sailing in two weeks and am looking forward to it very much.

15 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

MSC Yacht Club is great.  The problem is the itineraries out of Florida.  All 7-night, same, same.

Well I’m thrilled that they sail out of New York year round as I live within driving distance to NYC.  Itinerary doesn’t concern me as the ship is my destination not the ports as I’ve been to all Caribbean ports multiple times!

3 hours ago, bnurick said:

Think there are more of us now.

 

 

I read Generation X review of YC MSC. Very interesting option.

Even prior to Generation X sailing and reviewing MSC, MSC was on my horizon.  My travel agent did an MSC Meraviglia sailing in January.  She quite honestly told me to "go for it" (and her commission is less with MSC than it is with Celebrity and she still recommended that I try MSC!)  and gave me her opinion of the pros and cons of Yacht Club vs. Retreat.  Additionally some of my longtime "Celebrity friends" have friends who have sailing MSC Yacht Club and they all say they love it.  (Outside of the Yacht Club is somewhat of a different story......it's kind of frenetic!)  Actually 4 of my longtime Celebrity friends are also sailing with me next month on Meraviglia.  Another huge plus.......saved tons of money over a Celebrity suite sailing.

2 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

My limit on a sky suite is about $300 pp/pd and about $500 pp/pd for high end suites.   As you can see I won't be sailing in suites anymore.   Plus since I get drink package and wifi with my loyalty status I won't book AQ either as I just find it wrong to have to pay for something I get as a perk.

I also get drink package and Wi-Fi with my loyalty status.  After cruising exclusively with Celebrity (in suites for the past 10 years or so) my next Celebrity cruise is in Concierge class (I have FCC that I want to use!!). I am also trying MSC Yacht Club next month so, who knows, MSC may be my preferred cruise line in the future.

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

So EM, I have to ask...what do you think of the 4 night/3 night b2b?  Did it feel disjointed coming back to PC only to head out again for a few days more?  I ask because we are doing something similar in November on Celebrity's new Ascent.  It's a 4 night and then a 3...We aren't really doing it for the ports but for the pre maiden brand new ship instead... just wondered about your thoughts.

A few years back I did a 4 night followed by a 5 night on Constellation from Miami…in the Penthouse.  I looked at it as a 9-night cruise but I was sadly mistaken.  I found a totally different type of passenger sails on 4 and 5 night cruises.  Although I hate this term they were 2 “booze cruises”…….shorts, tanks tops and sneakers were the evening mode of dress for the majority of men.  We made the best of it but it truly was a Charlie Foxtrot (to steal one of your terms, which I will be using in the future by the way….LOL).  I’m thinking you will NOT be running into this on the Ascent pre-maiden voyages as I think most of those passengers will be seasoned Celebrity cruisers looking to experience the new ship).

20 minutes ago, MizDemeanor said:

I just booked an MSC today, our 1st... FWIW. 

I also have booked my first MSC Yacht Club.  Sailing on Meraviglia in 3 weeks.  Looking forward to it!

@CGTNORMANDIE  Thank you for the information.  I'm looking very forward to sailing YC on MSC.

@morpheusofthesea I have read every one of your Observations from the Poop Deck posts and thank you for all the info you have provided.

@Georgia_Peaches Thank you for your very informative answers to my questions.  I believe most of our time will be spent in the Casino and the Top Sail Lounge (although I do want to check out all the other bars on the ship even if it's just for one drink!)  And thank you for your reviews as I found them very helpful.

I'm looking forward to the YC experience for sure.

8 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

You are going to love Yacht Club!  Seashore was my first MSC experience after bailing on Celebrity. There is absolutely no comparison between the Retreat and YC. The outside areas are nice as well but be prepared for a bit more of a lively atmosphere than on Celebrity. For some, this is a good thing and for others, it’s overwhelming. For us, we really enjoyed the many venues throughout the ship and then relished in the quiet of the YC. Enjoy!!

@Georgia_Peaches Hi.  We, too, are loyal Celebrity Suite cruisers (been sailing with Celebrity since the first year they came out with the Horizon and for the past 15 years or so have been sailing exclusively in suites).  We, also, are making the move to MSC (Meraviglia sailing next month).  The Celebrity suite pricing is out of control (and their product is slowly getting worse and worse!)  Here's my question for you:  Regarding tips for the bar personnel, waitstaff, etc.  On Celebrity, we are very well known to most of the bar personnel because we sail so often.   On the last night we make sure to visit all the bars that we frequented regularly (mostly Martini Bar....LOL), and the Retreat Deck pool guys, etc. and give them a hefty tip to put in their tip bucket.  The crew knows this is our modus operandi so they are not looking for a few bucks each time they serve us a drink.  Since we will be "strangers" to the MSC crew how would you suggest we do tipping in the lounges?  Tip each night as we get our drinks or wait until the last night?  Also, how about the YC restaurant?  Do you usually get the same wait team every night.  WIth Luminae we always have the same waiter but, as you know, all other waitstaff pitch in and help wherever needed.  We know tips are pooled in Luminae so on the last night, again, we give a nice wad of cash to our waiter or the maitre'd.  What do you suggest we do on MSC?   I would imagine that since we are creatures of habit we will pick our "favorite" lounge or two and spend the majority of our time there.  Thanks so much for any advice you can offer.

If memory serves me correctly, the Le Grand Bistro on Edge (the venue where they do the Le Petit Chef dinner) only has 2 top and 4 top tables.  The Summit (M-Class ship) does have one long table that could probably accommodate 10 or 12 but there is no such table on Edge if I remember correctly.  They will probably seat you at a 2 top and a 4 top next to each other.  They cannot push the tables together due to the setup in the ceiling of the projection.

Thanks for your review and all your pictures.  From your review I take it that you may have a bit of a problem with overweight people -- referring to them as plus size female driver of scooter, fluffy lady in a beach wheelchair, and hefty middle-aged woman falling off a barstool.  I personally thought the adjectives of plus-size, fluffy, and hefty were not necessary and actually took away from the entire review.  But as they say - you do you, I'll do me!  Again, thanks for posting.

18 hours ago, BDL said:

In May unfortunately we had to walk inside the terminal to get a wheelchair for my hubby.  It was quick but it was a bit of a walk from the YC tent.  When we go in October I may have the Uber driver drop him off in front of the YC entrance and I'll drop off the luggage. 

Thanks for the information.  Another question for you:  Does the YC have a separate entrance into the terminal?  If so, where is it in relation to the general, main entrance into the terminal?  Again, thanks so much.  It's our first time on MCS (normally sail on Celebrity but their suite pricing is out of control!!!) so any information is appreciated.

Is it easy to get wheelchair assistance from the YC Luggage Tent?  Or do we have to wait until we are actually inside the terminal to ask for a wheelchair?  Thanks.

17 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Well, when I discussed this with the captain, he was apparently unaware that there was an elevator that might or might not have been broken.  And I certainly wasn't offered any FCCs by the retreat concierges.

 

Linda,

In all of my previous Summit sailings I was never offered a FCC due to the non-working elevator.  It's only on my two 2023 sailings where I received FCCs.  Have you sailed Summit in 2023?

I sailed on Summit in April and in July, 2023 (and several times during 2022).  The elevator to the Retreat Sundeck is broken.  Per the Retreat Team, they know of no plans for it to be fixed.  The Retreat Concierges have, however, been giving out Future Cruise Credits to mobility-impaired suite guests who are unable to use the Retreat Deck.  It's anyone's guess how long they will continue to extend FCCs to mobility impaired guests.

Congrats on the casino win!!

This is not surprising to me.  I usually sail in Royal Suites but earlier this month I sailed in a Sky Suite on Summit.  I could see a significant change between Royal and Sky Suites.  Our butler was great (he left snacks at night, etc.) BUT if we wanted Evian water there was a charge (Aqua Panna was complimentary), there were no "fancy box of chocolates" on Chic night, there was no upgraded tote bag.  The last time two times that I sailed in a Sky Suite (Beyond October 2022 and Infinity September 2022) all was the same as when I sail in a Royal Suite (i.e., Evian, box of chocolates, tote bag).  I commented to my travel companion that they really diluted the Sky Suite amenities on the Summit.  But now I know it's not just the Summit.....it's the "new Celebrity"!

I'm trying MSC Yacht Club in September (saved approximately $6000 over Celebrity Equinox pricing for our two suites).  So I'm thinking if all goes well MSC will be in my future travel plans for sure!

1 hour ago, miched said:

I don’t think it was called the WCB.   It had some other name.   The drink menu was on a few IPads and I think that was confusing for many, especially when they didn’t work properly.     The drinks were different than the WCB and most of them were smoked.   
 

Another problem was the staff.  I think we’re they shared somewhere else.   One time when the bar was supposed to be open we sat there for 20 minutes and there was no BT in sight.   People would come up and leave because of that.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

When I was there, no ipads were there with the menu.  The menu (consisting of about 5 or 6 drinks) was typed on a piece of paper and was in a plastic holder standing up at the bar.  But you're right.......no bartender was ever around (maybe the guys from Al Bacio were supposed to cover this bar!).  I don't remember the exact name of the bar but in my mind the menu was very similar to the types of drinks served at the WCB.

Thanks for posting.  I sail Meraviglia in September (first time MSC cruiser) so I'm anxiously awaiting the remainder of your review!  I'm curious to know if you thought the casino was smokey as I believe smoking is allowed in there.  Thanks.

A few years back, the World Class Bar was on the Summit -- in the exact same place on Deck 5.  It did not last long.  It was closed due to lack of business!  Hopefully it fares better on Infinity than it did on Summit.

They had Bingo twice and Deal or No Deal once on Summit last week.  So I guess Bingo is Back!!

I’m blown away by your review.  So much detail.  It’s one of the best I’ve ever read.  And it’s making me so excited about my September sailing (Well except for all the smoke in the casino.  I’m a “casino person” but won’t be able to stay in there if it’s really smoky.). I’m looking forward to your next post.  Again thank you for doing this!

Loving your review.  Thanks so much for doing this.

The Summit departs on Sunday and on Monday night while you are sleeping  the ship advances the clocks forward one hour.  My iPhone did not automatically advance one hour on Monday night.  On Tuesday morning my phone still showed NY time (for lack of a better term) and did not advance one hour until we arrived in Bermuda.  My presumption is that as we were out to sea we had not yet actually physically moved into the new time zone.  So I would say if you want your phone and/or watch to match “ship time” on Tuesday while you are still out to sea you will have to make a manual change.

Was your wheelchair easily accommodated in the Broadway Theater and the Carousel Lounge?  I was told that you have to walk down a few stairs to reach the handicapped seating in the Broadway Theater.  While not using a wheelchair, one member of our group uses a rollator and cannot descend/ascend stairs easily.  Thanks.