vaindioux

I m not asking for a particular business as we book with the cruise co.

Anyone knows how nice the reef is?

We snorkel the Bahamas and Cozumel often, can anyone compare?

Thxs

6 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

 

Costa Maya has limited options for shore excursions besides the ruins that you have already done.

 

Locations include:

small town 5-10 minute taxi ride away with multiple bars, shoulder to shoulder sharing same length of beach. Many used to be PAYG but unfortunately for us have become predominantly AI with some that offer various price point packages, which are not too bad but you need to be aware. If there is space it is possible sometimes to negotiate PAYG. 

Out of town (20-30 minutes) beach clubs predominantly AI.

 

Waterpark.

 

Tourist developed port area.

Snorkeling, diving and fishing can be arranged from a boat to take you out to the reef, limited snorkeling from the beach. “Nice”beaches very subjective. The area is very prone to sargassum due to east facing location. Strong winds have been a problem for docking in recent years with many cancellations of port day.

 

Cooking classes.

 

Facilities are very limited and very basic. Bikes can be rented. Kayaks, massages available. 
 

This is a basic run-down. I would suggest you read the last couple of pages of this forum where the names of regularly visited beach clubs are discussed repeatedly. 

It helps a lot. Might just go snorkeling.
 

Thxs a lot

Non drinkers have it so much easier 🤣👍🏻

So we stopped last year and visited some ruins.

There are several sites but not into it enough to go to another.

Snorkeling is a favorite one of us anywhere but i will put this on the back burner and try to see other options.

Going to an all inclusive is kind of a waste to us since we got that on the ship.

Is there a nice beach with nice snorkeling within a quick cab drive that might have just an access fee, bathrooms?

Just looking for ideas!

Thxs

2 hours ago, sgmn said:

You can bring a bottle of wine each on board plus a limited amount of soft drinks. 

 

You can also pre buy through RC gifts  bottles of wine and sometimes half bottles of spirits.  Plus cooler filled with beer. They will be waiting in your cabin when you board.  

Handy if you want to limit your on board bar bill

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/royalgifts/wine-liquor

 

Wines on board are from $8 plus 18% tip, usually choice of 8-9 different wines under $10 a glass including a sparkling wine. Bottles from $35. 

If you don't drink a whole bottle the restaurant will keep it for you for the next evening.

 

Tea/coffee/hot chocolate/flavoured iced water/iced water  etc are all free.

 

Factor in how many port days you have. If you're off the ship most days it may not be worth it, plus you can buy a beer or whatever in the ports at more reasonable cost. 

 

There is usually a 'special of the day' cocktail with a 

 couple of dollars off. 

 

Before we were Diamond we use to buy the $90, 10 drink cards (up to $14 a drink) on board, but I think since Covid restart they have stopped them. 

 

More good points. You all know your stuff.

Indeed i m big on excursions so 3-4 days are on land.

In Nassau inside the port, there is a joint with 3 Bahamian beers for $10, and yes with tables and chair.

I drank 4, wife 2, I was a little lit 🤣

Thxs

2 hours ago, davidrlewis2302 said:

It also includes bottles of water, soft drinks and specialty coffees. 
 

very easy to get your monies worth. 

That’s actually a great point, did not know that.

Thxs

3 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I would keep checking the price frequently for the deluxe drink package. In the last 6 months I have paid $62.99 per day on a few cruises. Even on Icon I only paid $72.99 per day. 
 

Don’t forget the automatic 18% tip added to every individual drink you buy. So 5x8x18%= $47.20. If you are not a beer drinker, you are more likely looking at 5x14x18%=$82.60. 

Yes, i never count tips when calculating my prices, we are good tipsrs.

Also the package is getting 18% tip added, right?

Or are the 18% included?

Like anybody i can drink a fancy cocktail or 12 YO Chivas, but it’s not required.

2-4 domestic beers daily and i m fine.

My big thing is excursions where i use my money the most.

Thxs

Yes, beer would do.

So we can save money there.

Thxs again

36 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

The break-even is about 5 alcoholic drinks per day.

That’s helpful but….

I read that the package is lowest at $75

Drinks start at $8

So 5x8 = $40

Thxs for your help

Thxs a lot

It might not be worth it for us to get a drink package.

Does anyone know of a bar menu with prices?

We have no set date but if it matters, will be sailing from Florida to the Caribbean for 7 nights.

From what i read the deluxe package can be had for $75 lowest, so i m trying to compare.

Thxs

1 hour ago, Cooper30 said:

Say it louder for those in the back. 

I m 57, still work 48-53 H/Week

I had a 27 YO kid that can hardly work 40Hrs tell me “You are rich” (I wish), like if i had a disease 🤣

Dude i m 30 years older than you and work more hours, i certainly hope i got more in the bank than you!

And then he got fired for stealing from the company.

1 hour ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

We bought a 2009 Corolla new and put 250k miles on it before we gave it to my niece....who totaled it a few months later. 🤬

I drove a Ford Escort to over 200000 miles.

The day i traded it for the Corolla, the car just died in the Toyota dealership lot.

They still gave me good money for it, I was surprised.

Now the Corolla is my last 4 cylinders, too small to travel left and right.

Next i want a nice Honda Accord.

2 hours ago, Sharon_and_TC said:

I have pretty thick skin and usually don't take offense at things posted in a forum on an internet site; however, I take offense at the "regular folk" reference - as if those who can, will, and choose to travel in a certain way are somehow different. 

 

My wife and I (both in our late 60s) are as "regular" as anyone else.  We both worked for close to 50 years, and scrimped, saved, and made smart (for the most part) life choices.  We did those things with the hopes that when we retired we could, and would, enjoy our later years.  One of the hardest things to do, once we retired, was to teach ourselves that it was OKAY to spend money on ourselves. 

 

Ten years ago, even though we could afford it if we "rearranged things", we would not have travelled in YC or in Haven, or fly First Class; because we did not let ourselves do so - we had goals to reach.  But I didn't - or even wouldn't have considered - putting down someone, or being offended by someone, who did do those things. I am not sure why some people are offended or disturbed by the fact that some "regular folk" prefer to travel in a more comfortable environment, with more amenities, and are willing to pay extra to do so.  

 

It seems from many of the comments in this thread, that people who do not travel in YC have more issues with those that do travel in YC, than the other way around.  It was mentioned that many of the top topics are "YC" topics.  Surprisingly, many YC travelers are just as cost-conscious, as non-YC travelers.  YC travelers want to make sure they get their money's worth, just the same as non-YC travelers.  

 

What she says, and more!

LOL, the story of our lives me and my wife.

I m going to make it as short as possible.

Late 50’s, married 32 years and love each others very much.

We have worked 50-60 hours weeks all our lives as blue collars.

We have lived within our means pinching the pennies but making smart choices and especially SACRIFICED a lot, no silver spoon fed folks here.

Some family members, co-workers hate us because they know we are confortable and about to retire (Wife is retired for health reasons, me 57, within next week to 2 years max).

I know folks at work for 25 years that have worked 35-38 hours a week, change cars every 2 years, get NFL season tickets, own a boat and yadayadayada!!!

Do we hate on them? No!

I drive a 2013 Corolla at 57, we bought a decent but small house new and knocked the 30 Y mortgage in 9 years.

Few restaurants during that time, 3 day driving vacations at the beach sleeping at days inn and eating MD!

Now we can retire early, are not rich but comfy and some folks including family members hate on us?

Then they wear their sport team shirt with their favorite player’s name in the back who is a billionaire !!!

Are you kidding me? How about hating on him?

So YC it is now, and it’s sad to read posters hating on cruisers that save for the YC.

Some have the suites in YC, do we hate on them? No!

You got millionnaires in YC, do we know who they are or care, no!

We enjoy a nice talk with everyone at the bar, in the pool or the elevator.

Good for them if they have tons of money, no hate from us.

And i m typing this while my beautiful wife drives the Corolla back home.

There should be a MSC YC forum with booking number to provide to participate 🤣

If you want to talk it further, look for us in the YC!

My wife had double knee surgery and suffers from Lupus (Energy runs out quicker).

In YC, there is hardly any walking.

Being in our late 50’s, we are trying to really enjoy life too.

She booked an inside cabin in the YC.

I was “ Do we really need this?”

Well as stated a few times above, there is no going back.

YC is amazing!

Never in a million years would i have expected to enjoy it so much.

We have cruised MSC twice to the Caribean in the last 10 months and are USA based.

Regular balcony room on the Seaside we were charged  $5 per extra entree

YC on the Seashore, no extra charge for extra entrees.

I never order extra appetizer or dessert.

First time in YC

We gave an extra $100 to our butler, he deserved double extra, he was so happy, $50 to the junior cabin stewart.

Dining room waitstaff changes as there is no set time, it’s hard to get to know them well with 1 experience.

Lots of bartenders, lounge bar staff go above and beyond at the pool deck and in the lounge.

I saw 3 upon disembarking and gave each $20.

It does no matter what other people do, this is what we did.

I was a waiter for 10 years, am now a delivery person for 25 and tips are not just extra money but show how your hard work is appreciated.

And my wife is a bigger tipper than me, she would have given more lol

On 5/7/2024 at 4:36 AM, Fogfog said:

 

Smart Wrist bands show status both YC and our voyager status so we never have issues around the ships.
 

 

May i ask what you mean with the above?

Do you mean, you show the wrist band outside YC and are treated as such outside?

We didn’t flash it but realized other crew members outside YC spot it and you get more attention.

I wonder if they are told to do so.???

We asked for a second chair.

Ice, 2 extra tags for our luggage upon departure as we had 4 suitcases.

A phone call here and there about “Where is this on the ship?”, “How do we go about doing this in YC?”

We are not high maintenance and they take care of everything you might need without asking.

1 hour ago, bucfan2 said:

Yep...I'll criticize your And me 

And me your negativity!

Still HAGD! 😁

2 hours ago, bucfan2 said:

Of course not. 

Why don’t you?

Just criticizing!

Some people are just so negative!

HAGD! 😃

6 hours ago, Stockjock said:

For 20% more, I'd do YC.  For 350% more, nope.

P.S. Are you able to specifically show me *any* YC Deluxe cabin for only 20% more than a Fantastica veranda?  If so, please provide the information, obviously without mentioning any travel agency.

Somehow, I doubt it, but I'd love to see it.

First i m not going to post any detailed info here.

There is another thread going on right now, i thinks it’s titled something like “YC from balconies” that mentions upgrades to IYC are not that high.

we had a balcony and upgraded to IYC for not that much.

I m not sure what a Deluxe cabin is.

I would never pay the rates you mention.

we like the balcony when we arrive or leave port otherwise we are never on it.

We do sleep better in interior cabins too.

Pat

6 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

I don’t disagree with the sentiment but I’m going with a group and I would be alone in YC the whole time so what’s the point. Also I hope you don’t mind sunbathing in public because you won’t be able to get sun in the privacy of your own cabin with an interior 

We don’t use the balcony much. It’s just nice to arrive and leave ports.

we hang at the deck.

If the other people in your group are not doing YC, it makes no sense to book it, i would not book it either.

Pat

16 hours ago, Stockjock said:

I've not done YC.  I can afford it, but choose not to.  Maybe some day I'll give it a try.  While it seems to be a better value versus other cruise lines' suites, here's my attitude.

1. It's considerably more expensive.  For example, on an upcoming Norwegian Fjords cruise, the price of YC deluxe is roughly 3.5 times the price of my Fantastica veranda.  Do you get more?  Of course.  3.5 x more?  Doesn't seem that way.

2. Not only do I not want a butler, but I think I'd find them to be annoying.

3. Obviously, an upgraded dining experience is nice, but 3.5 times nice?  To some, sure.  To me, probably not.  That said, on a recent cruise, we got 4 speciality restaurants for $100 USD per person.  3 of the 4 were part of a $200 package.  The 4th (2nd in Butcher's Cut) was a loyalty reward for being a Diamond member.  So 4 of 7 nights in a specialty restaurant for $100 each?  I consider that to be a great value.

4. I do like some of the privacy of YC, but again at 3.5 times the price?  Nah.

5. I don't like the fact that YC deposits are typically non-refundable.  While I don't book with the intent of cancelling, non-YC cabins can typically be cancelled without penalty up to 90 days before the sailing.  Not the case w/YC.

I also don't fly first or business class.  I'd love to do it.  I can afford to do it.  I simply don't want to spend the money.

Nothing wrong w/YC.  I'll try it one day.  But for now, you'll find me in a Fantastica veranda, or perhaps an Aurea suite, but only if the price is right.

I guess my travel agent (My wife-Not an agent, she just do all this) has better rates than you.

YC cost us less than 20% more than a regular balcony room for 20x more service.

But to each his/her own

Thxs 🍻

Pat

On 5/9/2024 at 12:10 PM, codingmunkey said:

The regular folks don't post as much because we don't have the flex to show off.  My experience is YC folks are pretty snotty honestly, I met one couple that was nice.  And before people attack me, I am speaking from MY experience only and that experience has been YC people are absolutely the entitled types.

 

 

I won’t attack you, just my opinion too.

I had never done anything like a yacht club upgrade before.

My wife insisted as we are getting older and experience it. I honestly got pissed a little at the idea.

I m a courier for a living, my wife a retired grocery store manager, no Rolex and Chanel folks.

I never thought i would enjoy it so much.

People were real nice. Young, old, rich, not so rich, nobody snubbed us.

I m actually changing my home spending on ridiculous things to go back to yacht club every time.

Thxs

Pat and Kris