SEASIDE – Yacht Club 3/3-3/17/18 B2B – Points and Q&A

[Formula280SS]

The DH and I stay on the ship for some ports and are fine with the closure of some venues. We have plans to stay on the ship for some ports on our upcoming MSC cruise. Personally, it is enjoyable to casually walk around the ship and not be in a crowd. We stay in Haven/Suites on NCL and when the ship is full it is always a crowded hot mess on sea days. The non-Haven ships mean there is no quiet place from crowds so we venture out more. Do we enjoy the company of people sometimes - but, to be honest, sometimes the noise, pushing etc. gets on my nerves and the port days without the full ship is nirvana.

 

Yep, same. Just 'some appears (to us) to be almost all restaurants and shops.

 

Yes, we both agree.

 

Yes, agreed re: Haven on NCL and MSC Seaside also.

 

Thanks for the response.

[Formula280SS]

HOT BUTTON TIME - Sewer Odor

 

We've a great exchange on the previous topics. Now down to the HB issues.

 

Sewer Odor

 

We cannot attest to the current status.

 

As posted in other threads, we experienced the sewer odor (above and beyond our other cruises, notable Oasis/Allure when over Central Park on port days) upon embarkation when passing the Atrium (a bit more that a whiff), a couple of other minor times, and ONE MAJOR TIME while at port when we used the zip line and water slides (on the stair legends up, behind the aqua park we believe).

 

Absolutely the worst, most enduring, and totally unacceptable in the long run.

 

So we left that area after enjoying the venues as much as we could take.

 

Was it a cruise killer?

 

NOPE.

 

Just a matter to look for, and adjust.

 

We did.

 

Admittedly, we don't want it to taint MSC. However, it did exist. In FACT, on the last sea day in the Yacht Club pool, starboard, we again experienced a noticeable whiff for 15+ minutes.

 

So, we give the MSC Seaside B2B our BEST CRUISE RATING. However, can't deny that they had (or have) an issue with sewer odor. Hopefully it is solved or will be.

 

Will monitor status, but certainly, based on the low frequency of encounters and the ability to 'move on, will not impact out booked future cruises on MSC Seaside (or sister ships).

[Clarea]

Enjoying your interesting format for a review.:)

[Formula280SS]

Enjoying your interesting format for a review.:)

 

Thank you.

 

A dialogue with a few, some on the same cruise, recent cruise or planned cruise, about core aspects of MSC and seaside.

 

Luckily able to avoid getting off track pretty much so far.

 

We've learned from many of the responses. AND THAT IS ANOTHER POINT. CRUISECRITIC (the forum, members, et al) is SUCH A RESOURCE. The best we believe, and the one we most rely on. We've only been cruising since 2008 and continue to cruise quite often. Every cruise SELECTION is prefaced by a week or so cruising CRUISECRITIC on the 'target CL's and ships and itineraries and ports. As the cruise approaches, reading CRUISECRITIC very frequently for current reviews, pertinent threads, "secrets" and other very helpful tips, and even "what's wrong items" just to be ready for.

 

 

Again, thank you for your comment; and CRUISECRITIC for a great resource.

[Formula280SS]

HOT BUTTON TIME - MSC Website, CS, US CEO and WIFI

 

As with the unique perspectives of cruisers regarding staterooms, dining, pools and other aspects of ones' cruise, there are many different experiences with the MSC Website and the Land Side Customer Service (as opposed to on ship).

 

Our experience with the MSC website, as a comparative primarily to RCCL and NCL, has generated the opinion that MSC has QUITE A WAYS TO GO.

 

Some Issues ~

 

Note: these potential issues are not experienced by everyone, and may have only been us; it is not a factual listing of proven deficiencies.

 

1. PRO - the Status Match was easily done. The upgrade to BLACK Card took some effort.

 

2. PRO - the Online Registration for the cruise was easily done. However, sometimes what you've already completed would disappear, then reappear.

 

3. IFFY - In addition to some of your INFORMATION after online registration (check in) disappearing and reappearing, OUR ENTIRE B2B CRUISE DISAPPEAR SEVERAL TIMES in the weeks leading up to the cruise. Since it WASN'T THERE, we couldn't do any cruise planning (excursions, buy wifi package, etc.). This APPARENTLY HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY there was a HEADER NOTICE that indicated if your cruise (confirmation #) didn't appear CHECK BACK IN 24 HOURS! That kinda leads to support for the opinion that they've go some IT issues.

 

4. CON - Dealing with Customer Service by phone ran a gamut of simply awful to really great. The FACTOR that differentiated the level was the EXPERIENCE LEVEL of the customer service personnel that you got. When we finally GOT TO THAT ONE everything was 'cleaned up. Very impressive. Honestly, we were told, they have massive training programs ongoing to staff customer service up to the level that the demand is causing. Prior to the clean up? An over an hour 'WAIT TIME (only once, and others indicated they got 'right in) to inquire about our "MISSING CRUISE."

 

5. CON - USA Management Team, as the the Tone at the Top of all operations including Customer Service, didn't come through on emailed promise to 'make good on an issue from 2017 Divina Yacht Club B2B on our Seaside B2B cruise when we completed booking and payment. Directly from USA CEO Rick Sasso, and later his assistant, emails and phone calls simply now no longer responded to (email chains). The email chains were from the prior year B2B Divina YC where, for almost 10 of the 14 days, we couldn't TAKE A SHOWER. Our shower "mixer valve" was faulty. You had to take a COMPLETELY COLD SHOWER or, if you even rotated the control an 1/8 of an inch, YOU COULD GET SERIOUSLY SCALDED. During the cruise, the butler had every service person in the stateroom. At first they would say "there IS hot water." Dude, that not the complaint, WAIT. Then the scream. ;):D Alternately, we showered on the pool deck in our bathing suits. Not a lot of fun pre-dining as we generally waited until we had some privacy from the smoking area (and we had some great stateroom abutters who knew our issue and we were comfortable with; they also offered their staterooms to shower). Do problems come up? Sure. We made the best of it, and in my post-cruise review, noted it. Also, sent the detailed review to USA RS personally, and he responded with the above to make it right on the next MSC cruise. He didn't. Not a future MSC cruise killer by any means, IN FACT, we're BIG MSC enthusiasts (just a reminder).

 

Our Seaside stateroom bathroom (which is the best design we've sailed) and shower (same) ALSO HAD A DEGREE "SWING" IN THE TEMPERATURE MIXER VALUE. You had to pay attention. Several others we met in the YC indicated they were experiencing the same thing.

 

6. PRO/CON - The WIFI package, for 4 devices, was really fairly priced. The set-up took a bit at the beginning of the first week, but once all set up, VERY IMPRESSIVE ALL WEEK 1. Great WIFI "anywhere" we went. Period. WEEK 2, WTH happened? OMG was it sometimes SPOTTY and other days (Mexico ports primarily) TOTALLY USELESS. We had a couple of matters to attend to back home and couldn't maintain a REMOTE CONNECTION (like we had the entire previous week) to my office desktop with ANY RELIABILITY. In fact, it took AN HOUR AND A HALF to reconnect over and over and over just so that I could properly LOG OFF my office desktop so that it wouldn't be ON and signed in.

[Formula280SS]

HOT BUTTON TIME - MSC Website, CS, US CEO and WIFI

 

As with the unique perspectives of cruisers regarding staterooms, dining, pools and other aspects of ones' cruise, there are many different experiences with the MSC Website and the Land Side Customer Service (as opposed to on ship).

 

Our experience with the MSC website, as a comparative primarily to RCCL and NCL, has generated the opinion that MSC has QUITE A WAYS TO GO.

 

Some Issues ~

 

Note: these potential issues are not experienced by everyone, and may have only been us; it is not a factual listing of proven deficiencies.

 

1. PRO - the Status Match was easily done. The upgrade to BLACK Card took some effort.

 

2. PRO - the Online Registration for the cruise was easily done. However, sometimes what you've already completed would disappear, then reappear.

 

3. IFFY - In addition to some of your INFORMATION after online registration (check in) disappearing and reappearing, OUR ENTIRE B2B CRUISE DISAPPEAR SEVERAL TIMES in the weeks leading up to the cruise. Since it WASN'T THERE, we couldn't do any cruise planning (excursions, buy wifi package, etc.). This APPARENTLY HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY there was a HEADER NOTICE that indicated if your cruise (confirmation #) didn't appear CHECK BACK IN 24 HOURS! That kinda leads to support for the opinion that they've go some IT issues.

 

4. CON - Dealing with Customer Service by phone ran a gamut of simply awful to really great. The FACTOR that differentiated the level was the EXPERIENCE LEVEL of the customer service personnel that you got. When we finally GOT TO THAT ONE everything was 'cleaned up. Very impressive. Honestly, we were told, they have massive training programs ongoing to staff customer service up to the level that the demand is causing. Prior to the clean up? An over an hour 'WAIT TIME (only once, and others indicated they got 'right in) to inquire about our "MISSING CRUISE."

 

5. CON - USA Management Team, as the the Tone at the Top of all operations including Customer Service, didn't come through on emailed promise to 'make good on an issue from 2017 Divina Yacht Club B2B on our Seaside B2B cruise when we completed booking and payment. Directly from USA CEO Rick Sasso, and later his assistant, emails and phone calls simply now no longer responded to (email chains). The email chains were from the prior year B2B Divina YC where, for almost 10 of the 14 days, we couldn't TAKE A SHOWER. Our shower "mixer valve" was faulty. You had to take a COMPLETELY COLD SHOWER or, if you even rotated the control an 1/8 of an inch, YOU COULD GET SERIOUSLY SCALDED. During the cruise, the butler had every service person in the stateroom. At first they would say "there IS hot water." Dude, that not the complaint, WAIT. Then the scream. ;):D Alternately, we showered on the pool deck in our bathing suits. Not a lot of fun pre-dining as we generally waited until we had some privacy from the smoking area (and we had some great stateroom abutters who knew our issue and we were comfortable with; they also offered their staterooms to shower). Do problems come up? Sure. We made the best of it, and in my post-cruise review, noted it. Also, sent the detailed review to USA RS personally, and he responded with the above to make it right on the next MSC cruise. He didn't. Not a future MSC cruise killer by any means, IN FACT, we're BIG MSC enthusiasts (just a reminder).

 

Our Seaside stateroom bathroom (which is the best design we've sailed) and shower (same) ALSO HAD A DEGREE "SWING" IN THE TEMPERATURE MIXER VALUE. You had to pay attention. Several others we met in the YC indicated they were experiencing the same thing.

 

6. PRO/CON - The WIFI package, for 4 devices, was really fairly priced. The set-up took a bit at the beginning of the first week, but once all set up, VERY IMPRESSIVE ALL WEEK 1. Great WIFI "anywhere" we went. Period. WEEK 2, WTH happened? OMG was it sometimes SPOTTY and other days (Mexico ports primarily) TOTALLY USELESS. We had a couple of matters to attend to back home and couldn't maintain a REMOTE CONNECTION (like we had the entire previous week) to my office desktop with ANY RELIABILITY. In fact, it took AN HOUR AND A HALF to reconnect over and over and over just so that I could properly LOG OFF my office desktop so that it wouldn't be ON and signed in.

 

A bump to close thread out and see if there are any other comments re: above or questions heretofore not addressed.

 

Thanks to all.

 

GREAT B2B @ MSC YC Seaside!