IT'S TIME FOR MORE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POOP DECK

[morpheusofthesea]

Very short video of today's YC party.

[morpheusofthesea]

Pergolas on the YC pool deck.

[morpheusofthesea]

We really like the outfits and the white glove treatment.

[Go4Golf]

2 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Took a walk around the ship to see how crowded. Plenty of space. Walked through the Market Place Buffet to notice everyone is back to using tongs and self-service. (must speed things up ?). Here on the YC pool deck there is still no self-service. plates are filled by staff behind the counters. Here is a stark difference between the YC and outside the YC. Please notice the discarded banana on this table around the Jungle Pool and the trash receptacle in the background just feet away. Close up of the trash shows an apple core on the left. I know, I know... apples are not bananas, not even close. (Also speaks to more staff allocated to clean up after YC guests than to those outside the YC).

Here’s deck 8 from last week…

 

[morpheusofthesea]

5 hours ago, Go4Golf said:

Here’s deck 8 from last week…

 

Yes. I took photos of all the soiled dishes and glasses in many nooks and hallways on the NCL Breakaway. Either they have the same staffing problems or the same clientele ?

[fish_guru]

Every cruise can't be perfect. A few criticisms.

I've been somewhat underwhelmed by the drink service in the YC so far. I think I've identified the bottleneck. There are plenty of servers but everytime I've been sitting there long enough to wonder where the hell is that drink, there is only one bar tender...working his arse off. It has been that way in Top Sail and on the pool deck. Think two bar tenders during peak times would help.

Had a vexing experience yesterday as I attempted to order a room service pizza late afternoon to hold us over until dinner.  It was about 4pm. Picked up the phone and pressed the room service button. It rang about 20 times and nothing. Thought I must have done something wrong. Tried again, same result. Getting a little peeved at this point I decided to call the YC front desk and realized the phone was dialing the same extension. Again, ringing with no answer. Is there really nobody at the front desk? I get dressed and walk down there to find a woman behind the desk assisting a guest. When she finished with the guest I said I had tried several times to place a room service order but nobody answered the phone. She said she was very busy and sometimes doesn't hear the phone. Huh? Made no sense to me given that I had tried 3 times letting the phone ring at least a dozen times on each attempt.  A simple, 'hello, can you please hold and I'll be right with you' and I'm good, no problem. Anyway, I placed my order, in person, and went back to my room. This was about 4:20 at this point.  Was supposed to meet another group in Top Sail for pre-dinner drinks at 5:30. 5:30 comes, no pizza.  The rest of my group wasn't ready yet so I went to the Top Sail. The pizza finally arrived at 5:45. Almost an hour and a half seemed excessive for pizza delivery.

Also last night at the dining room it seemed like the food was taking forever to come out.  The previous night we completed dinner with dessert and had plenty of time to get to Cabaret Rouge for the show. Last night we arrived at the same time and rushed out before getting to dessert to make our preferred show time. Seemingly took forever for the entrees to come.  I didn't really care for the entree I ordered so I grabbed the now room temperature pizza back at the cabin and went to the Cabaret.

As my friend likes to say, we have good problems.

Hit Venchi later in the evening for dessert.  If you like dark chocolate like I do, man they have a chocolate Gelato that is fantastic.

Despite a hiccup here or there still having a great time.  Paris show in the main theater last night was excellent.  My daughter and I had a blast on the water sides yesterday as well. Usually the lines for water slides on a sea day are horrendous,  especially on a spring break cruise, but it was pretty tame compared to previous cruises.

Walked through the buffet yesterday morning. Looked like smooth sailing. Plenty of seating. No lines.

[travelwide]

Who is the YC Director who came on board the beginning of March? 

[travelwide]

15 hours ago, Go4Golf said:

Here’s deck 8 from last week…

 

The same was observed recently on X Millennium.  The cruise lines seem to be having problems returning to fuller ships.

[perakcruiser]

44 minutes ago, fish_guru said:

Also last night at the dining room it seemed like the food was taking forever to come out.  The previous night we completed dinner with dessert and had plenty of time to get to Cabaret Rouge for the show. Last night we arrived at the same time and rushed out before getting to dessert to make our preferred show time.

Obviously your pizza order caused totally chaos in the kitchen for the next hours 😄

[morpheusofthesea]

Docking this morning along side Celebrity Reflection in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Photos of the port on either side of the Reflection shows just one pier. Perhaps this is why the Norwegian Escape just dumped over 2000 passengers off in DR to fend for themselves, because we needed to dock this morning?

[morpheusofthesea]

I will never forget a CC poster's review of the MSC Seaside when it first debut. "We would have had a better time in our garage for the week." I sort of sense that with all the change over in staff on board the Seashore the newbies still do not know what their true focus should be. This is where the Yacht Club butler is indispensable and a good one is worth their weight in gold and deserves to be compensated in kind. Many of us that cruise more often on the same cruise line look forward to having the same waiter or butler and become distraught finding they have left for 'greener pastures'. 

[morpheusofthesea]

We were aboard the Seaside in the Caribbean when the ship got in late to port. Some YC guests felt they had time for a quick lunch in the YC dining room before they would be called for their tours. We seldom get off the ship and we learned a harsh lesson that day, wait for lunch or forego your tour. We heard these guests request that the waiter inform the chef of their hurry for their burgers, but to no avail. We did notice that every time they inquired about the burgers all the waiters could do was refill their wine glasses. The butler came to escort them to their tours just as their burgers arrived. They left without eating.

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, travelwide said:

Who is the YC Director who came on board the beginning of March? 

Mr. Sherrif of Mera going to Grandiosa when Mr. Balla returns ?

[mscdivina2016]

28 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I will never forget a CC poster's review of the MSC Seaside when it first debut. "We would have had a better time in our garage for the week." 

 

This is where the Yacht Club butler is indispensable and a good one is worth their weight in gold and deserves to be compensated in kind. 

How exactly is the YC butler indispensable?

I am so happy that mine right now, has left us alone the past 9 days so far.  

 

Also regarding the garage comment.  Some of us have pretty nice garages with automobiles and toys. Mine even has a pizza oven.

 

[morpheusofthesea]

3 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

How exactly is the YC butler indispensable?

Whatever we want, he gets. He is indispensable and we tipped him $250 for the week last month.

[mscdivina2016]

2 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Whatever we want, he gets. He is indispensable and we tipped him $250 for the week last month.

Maybe someday our paths will cross and you can fill me in more.

 

I find our bartender is the most important person. We close the topsail every night.  I just don't see our butler doing stuff for us at 3.00am.

We sleep till almost noon.

[JAGR]

3 hours ago, travelwide said:

Who is the YC Director who came on board the beginning of March? 

Robbie Sherriff.  Scottish.  New to MSC, and was on Meraviglia for his first assignment.

Edited March 21, 2022 by JAGR

[travelwide]

19 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Robbie Sherriff.  Scottish.  New to MSC, and was on Meraviglia for his first assignment.

Thanks for the two replies. Can you please find out when he gets off? We had him on Meraviglia. Hope he is there when we board.

[JAGR]

8 minutes ago, travelwide said:

Thanks for the two replies. Can you please find out when he gets off? We had him on Meraviglia. Hope he is there when we board.

Answered you on another thread.  As far as he knew on 3/5, he was on for six weeks and unsure beyond that.

[travelwide]

45 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Answered you on another thread.  As far as he knew on 3/5, he was on for six weeks and unsure beyond that.

Oh.....

 

45 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Answered you on another thread.  As far as he knew on 3/5, he was on for six weeks and unsure beyond that.

Oh...too many threads to follow. Hoping he would be there through the end of May. Robert is also very nice. It is great to have such first world problems!🍷

[morpheusofthesea]

Something may be amiss with the entertainment in the Cabaret Rouge; or just that there are changes being made to the venue last night and tonight. The band was moved from their up stairs stage to the performers stage last night and had nothing to do with Picasso (the title of the show). Saw only one of the dancers mingling with guests and no dancing at the 7:45 show. Tonight one show for 45 minutes ABBA, by Los Blondies, tribute in Cabaret Rouge. Must be a performers nights off.

Edited March 21, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[mscdivina2016]

6 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Whatever we want, he gets. He is indispensable.

Ok, we are going to try it out with your reply.

Tonight, or should I say tomorrow morning at 2:30 am when we leave top sail, we will see if we can get more booze. If not, food. Or lastly at least, ice as we have a bottle of vodka in the room.

 I also want to get a copy of my current room charges as I just got a charge for laundry when I have pre purchased two 40 piece packages.

[fish_guru]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Something may be amiss with the entertainment in the Cabaret Rouge; or just that there are changes being made to the venue last night and tonight. The band was moved from their up stairs stage to the performers stage last night and had nothing to do with Picasso (the title of the show). Saw only one of the dancers mingling with guests and no dancing at the 7:45 show. Tonight one show for 45 minutes ABBA, by Los Blondies, tribute in Cabaret Rouge. Must be a performers nights off.

We noticed that too regarding the Cabaret Rouge. Also thought it was odd there was no traditional show tonight.

 

My 12 y/o daughter is very much into dance (ballet, tap, jazz, etc) and was thrilled to have one of the dancers stop by and speak to us last night. 

[morpheusofthesea]

The chicken Kiev on the menu tonight was different than it was a month ago. Tonight when I cut into it the butter came pouring out onto the plate like I thought it should. But what do I know, I am just your average gourmand (glutton). Here is a hint for those that love chocolate souffle and have to make it to the show. Order the dessert souffle when one orders the entree, because it takes an extra 15 minutes to prepare.

[morpheusofthesea]

I am also reminded of something else that butlers will provide for their charges (guests). They will provide one with a box lunch if one is going on tour in port.