Observations from MSC Seaside Yacht Club

[rattanchair]

1 hour ago, Beamafar said:

 

I just thought that you'd like to know that, already, your posting those menus has helped other posters, too, as the subject of what's included in YC is always being raised.  👍

Dear Bea,  Funny thing, the ship in port, St. Maartin and like advertised , the YC restaurant is open for YC guests, like ourselves, that remain on the ship for our dining pleasure.  There were a few guests in the dining room who, mistakenly, thought they could grab a quick lunch before being escorted down to catch a prearranged tour. Boy, were they in for a surprise ! I saw many half eaten angus burgers being cleaned away from their tables having had to leave in haste for their tours. Everything is cooked to order and takes time, especially in the YC restaurant, where one should come to dine and not chow down. The YC restaurant can not accommodate any one in a rush  , whether it be a tour or an evenings show. Today I saw tempers flair in several languages ! It did not help to keep filling the wine glasses...

    Now the part about menus. While walking off lunch in the air conditioned comfort of any almost empty ship DW wanted to see what the other restaurants were offering this evening, it is' Italian night.' We  walked to all the closed restaurants to see their postings and found none.

We walked down to guest services and walked right up, no line.  I was able to enter the exit. I asked a purser where I could find a posting of tonight's restaurant menus. "We do not do that , sir". I found that to be unusual on a cruise ship. So I now see your and other posters acute interest in MSC menus. They are not advertised.

[George C]

We are very patient when our wine glass is full 😁😁

[little britain]

11 hours ago, rattanchair said:

 

    Now the part about menus. While walking off lunch in the air conditioned comfort of any almost empty ship DW wanted to see what the other restaurants were offering this evening, it is' Italian night.' We  walked to all the closed restaurants to see their postings and found none.

We walked down to guest services and walked right up, no line.  I was able to enter the exit. I asked a purser where I could find a posting of tonight's restaurant menus. "We do not do that , sir". I found that to be unusual on a cruise ship. So I now see your and other posters acute interest in MSC menus. They are not advertised.

Strange. I have always looked at the menu posted on the outside wall of the restaurant whilst on my way to my pre dinner g&t... did so on Divina in May, Bellissima in March... perhaps it is a USA thing?

[Beamafar]

13 hours ago, rattanchair said:

Dear Bea,  You are welcome, a brick, too.  DW asked me to ask  you if the YC pool deck has lounge chairs in the shade.  Since your photos of the suite show only 2 chairs and an ottoman. Divina has no shade, this Seaside only has 9. The Seaside does have a nice pool section with lots of shaded lounges on deck 6 in the aft with a Venchi  ice cream, sorbet, and crepe station. But then what is the sense booking YC ? (because no hoi polloi chair hogs ! ) We are hoping the RS opens. We no longer think the alcoves are such a good idea, at least not on the Seaside. We will just have to wait and see if the Meraviglia alcoves are any different.  Unless someone can post otherwise. Thank you for all you do.

 

I'm not good with descriptions (you'll never find me describing a ship, or any area of it, in reviews lol) but there are 'canopies' around the YC pool deck to provide shade.  (A picture paints a thousand words, so I'll let the following do the 'talking'):  

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2019 by Beamafar

[rattanchair]

Allow me to reflect on another thread posted about who in the world would book a cabin for $60,000 for a one week cruise ?  I have sympathy and compassion for anyone who needs to spend so much more to get the same level of satisfaction that I get from all my more modest choices.

   Thorstein Veblen's 'Theory of the Leisure Class' describes in agonizing detail the 'plight' of the "rich". Read any chapter and one will appreciate the absolute 'folly' of the "leisure class". So fear not intrepid CC posters. Truly lucky is the one who enjoys their 'lot' in life.

[CruisingFox27]

8 hours ago, little britain said:

Strange. I have always looked at the menu posted on the outside wall of the restaurant whilst on my way to my pre dinner g&t... did so on Divina in May, Bellissima in March... perhaps it is a USA thing?

 

We've always been able to view the menu outside of the restaurant, the region sailed has never altered that.

 

rattan, can I clarify if there are shaded areas around the YC pool on Seaside? Although I may take my parasol anyway, I'm not sure I'd like to risk not having shade.

 

I know YC prices have increased but $60,000, wow!

[rattanchair]

Another observation :  The evenings show productions are 'short and sweet', about 45 minutes. No time to doze off.  Each night there are three productions and each night our production was packed, standing room only. Our butler, Vishnu, always makes sure we are escorted in time to pick out 'our preferred seats', bypassing the 2 husky theatre guards scanning passengers for 'proper' reservations.  I mentioned this morning to DW that on other cruise lines one gets the feeling the butlers are avoiding the guests in their care. But with Vishnu,  "it is like he tagged us with some form of 'GPS',  he anticipates our moves" (DW words).

    The American cruise director on this ship ( a rarity in the cruise market for the cruise director to be American, so we have been told ) told us last night that MSC is the only cruise line that will have an opera. The Seaside will have a matinee of "Madame Butterfly". The CD jokes or boasts that the original production is some 3-4 hours long, but MSC version will be 40 minutes. I am embarrassed to recall to you all that the last time DW and I saw this opera Madame Butterfly was in the Sydney Opera House, Australia. We both ran for the exit the first scene change. We have never forgotten. That might translate to about 5 minutes for this MSC production.

[Beamafar]

There was talk early on that the daily menus would be available to peruse on the MSC for Me app on the new ships.  I take it that this isn't the case?

[rattanchair]

18 minutes ago, CruisingFox27 said:

 

We've always been able to view the menu outside of the restaurant, the region sailed has never altered that.

 

rattan, can I clarify if there are shaded areas around the YC pool on Seaside? Although I may take my parasol anyway, I'm not sure I'd like to risk not having shade.

 

I know YC prices have increased but $60,000, wow!

Dear CF,  No menus posted, very strange. We have always been able to view posted menus as well. The shaded area is along side the grill, mostly tables and chairs for eating, but you can see they 'squeezed' in 9 (why not 10?) very close together under the same cloth canopy. Do bring your umbrella ( I hope they are UV proof) because I got so burnt under the false pretense that the canopy would protect my very fair skin. Sun screen is imperative under these canopies.

 Yes, no sightseeing for us, we instead spend our day on our balcony (alcoves on YC pool deck are stifling hot); so I spend my time reading CC threads. $60,000 was for Celebrity suite of some sort in the 'Twilight Zone".

Edited July 24, 2019 by rattanchair

[JAGR]

21 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

Another observation :  The evenings show productions are 'short and sweet', about 45 minutes. No time to doze off.  Each night there are three productions and each night our production was packed, standing room only. Our butler, Vishnu, always makes sure we are escorted in time to pick out 'our preferred seats', bypassing the 2 husky theatre guards scanning passengers for 'proper' reservations.  I mentioned this morning to DW that on other cruise lines one gets the feeling the butlers are avoiding the guests in their care. But with Vishnu,  "it is like he tagged us with some form of 'GPS',  he anticipates our moves" (DW words).

    The American cruise director on this ship ( a rarity in the cruise market for the cruise director to be American, so we have been told ) told us last night that MSC is the only cruise line that will have an opera. The Seaside will have a matinee of "Madame Butterfly". The CD jokes or boasts that the original production is some 3-4 hours long, but MSC version will be 40 minutes. I am embarrassed to recall to you all that the last time DW and I saw this opera Madame Butterfly was in the Sydney Opera House, Australia. We both ran for the exit the first scene change. We have never forgotten. That might translate to about 5 minutes for this MSC production.

Is the CD still Gene?  He is very entertaining and has a great gift of humor.

[CruisingFox27]

Thanks rattan, yes, it's a proper travel uv rated parasol and I'll have my factor 50 sunscreen.

 

Is the YC menu displayed in the TSL?

[Cruisergal1208]

Yes, the menus are posted in the Topsail. 

[JAGR]

1 hour ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Is the YC menu displayed in the TSL?

In March they posted lunch and then dinner in the morning, and at night they usually had that dinner and the next day's lunch posted.  Also, the host/hostess can let you look at the week's menus if you are trying to plan a day for Black card dinner or Specialty Dining as well.  We found that extremely helpful. 

[rattanchair]

2 hours ago, JAGR said:

Is the CD still Gene?  He is very entertaining and has a great gift of humor.

yes

[rattanchair]

2 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Thanks rattan, yes, it's a proper travel uv rated parasol and I'll have my factor 50 sunscreen.

 

Is the YC menu displayed in the TSL?

Please translate TSL. TopSail Lounge? Yes.

Edited July 24, 2019 by rattanchair

[JAGR]

Just now, rattanchair said:

Please translate TSL

Top Sail Lounge (Deck 16).  The menu boards would be on the right next to the staircase up to the restaurant on 18.

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

4 hours ago, rattanchair said:

The American cruise director on this ship ( a rarity in the cruise market for the cruise director to be American, so we have been told ) told us last night that MSC is the only cruise line that will have an opera. The Seaside will have a matinee of "Madame Butterfly". The CD jokes or boasts that the original production is some 3-4 hours long, but MSC version will be 40 minutes. I am embarrassed to recall to you all that the last time DW and I saw this opera Madame Butterfly was in the Sydney Opera House, Australia. We both ran for the exit the first scene change. We have never forgotten. That might translate to about 5 minutes for this MSC production.

 

Anna Russell famously did the entire Ring Cycle in 20 minutes.  Perhaps MSC can revive her 'production' 

 

 

[Dr. Cocktail]

1 minute ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

Anna Russell famously did the entire Ring Cycle in 20 minutes.  Perhaps MSC can revive her 'production' 

 

 

The best part of her overview is that it is RIDICULOUSLY correct!

 

She was an extremely gifted and talented lady.

 

Seaside's Butterfly is wonderful and ghastly at the same time. Prerecorded click track, only Butterfly and Pinkerton sing live and it really does look like something that you would see on a Simpson's episode. Still - it's different from anything else on any other line, tackily entertaining and unique. 

[rattanchair]

Leaving St Thomas as loud speakers are playing Boccelli's "Time to Say Goodbye' . Gives one goose bumps.. It takes so little to please me. George C's recommendation of the Chianti Classico was a hit at last night's Italian night dinner.  After dinner and the show at around 9 pm there was a surprise unannounced party for Yacht Club guests at the YC pool deck. Live music and dancing in front of the pool.  Of course, Vishnu, escorted us to a table which soon became almost part of the dance floor. The butlers were dancing with the guests and vice versa. Its amazing how quickly the drinks take affect and loosen that Latin beat in all of us.

 

[mafig]

56 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

 The butlers were dancing with the guests and vice versa. Its amazing how quickly the drinks take affect and loosen that Latin beat in all of us.

 

 Great description!  Sounds like a lot of fun.😀

[gtaylor]

21 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

I'm not good with descriptions (you'll never find me describing a ship, or any area of it, in reviews lol) but there are 'canopies' around the YC pool deck to provide shade.  (A picture paints a thousand words, so I'll let the following do the 'talking'):  

 

 

 

 

21 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

Is that really the Seaside?  It doesn't look at all familiar.

 

gary

[Beamafar]

1 hour ago, gtaylor said:

 

Is that really the Seaside?  It doesn't look at all familiar.

 

gary

 

It's Meraviglia ... the OP asked me about shade on the One Pool deck on her.

[BermudaBound2014]

20 hours ago, rattanchair said:

Another observation :  The evenings show productions are 'short and sweet', about 45 minutes. No time to doze off. 

 

That comment made me laugh out loud :).

 

I remember the days where most lines offered evening nod off performances. Cast was either fresh off a high school musical or doubling as a line chef. I'm so glad most lines have truly upped their evening entertainment options.

 

The cushions on your balcony lounge chairs look so inviting. Ahhhhhh

 

Have a wonderful trip. 

[architect1337]

Set up the navy blue YC deck towels provided by another butler who introduced himself at the YC sun pool deck.  (Bring a wad of singles $$ for tipping)

 

Just an additional note for non US customers. 

 

Tipping is is absolutely not expected or required anywhere on the ship. Being a Swiss / Italian cruise line, all services are included in the fare / service charge, so no need to tip extra as you would be expected to if you were in the US. 

 

Note for US readers, most Europeans, Australians, Asians find tipping demeaning which is why we have a problem with it but happy to do so when in the US as it's the custom and is expected. 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2019 by architect1337

[Cruisergal1208]

15 hours ago, rattanchair said:

Leaving St Thomas as loud speakers are playing Boccelli's "Time to Say Goodbye' . Gives one goose bumps.. It takes so little to please me. George C's recommendation of the Chianti Classico was a hit at last night's Italian night dinner.  After dinner and the show at around 9 pm there was a surprise unannounced party for Yacht Club guests at the YC pool deck. Live music and dancing in front of the pool.  Of course, Vishnu, escorted us to a table which soon became almost part of the dance floor. The butlers were dancing with the guests and vice versa. Its amazing how quickly the drinks take affect and loosen that Latin beat in all of us.

 

I was wondering which night they would do the deck party since San Juan was dropped. It is so much fun to see the butlers and Jr Butlers having a good time. Enjoying your reviews.