Lunacy? A last minute cruise… with a 3 and 1 year old

[raino144]

So… as the thread title says, we originally were looking at a potential end August cruise out of Genoa. We’ve been in YC on Preziosa and Divina before and loved it.

 

When we checked the Covid rules, there was a risk that if we tested positive, couldn’t board… money down the pan (and with a few travels and events in July /Aug, it’s not inconceivable we could catch it again, even being boosted)… Cue a brainwave…

 

8am this morning we were at the pharmacy to get the Covid tests done, once they were passed, it was on the phone to book for tomorrow’s departure!

 

At this point, even booking parking at the port is tricky (thanks to my Italian friend for calling them up for me as online bookings close at T-72 hours)!

 

So we have a 7am departure tomorrow for a 4hr drive Geneva-Genoa, for a week’s cruise on Seaside in YC, and first cruise with the little monsters! Today has been a bit of a whirlwind…

[Morgsmom]

WOW!!! You are an adventurous soul!  Congratulations on your spontaneity and enjoy your cruise.

 

[mnpurple]

I think that's awesome! I wish I were more adventurous when my kids were little!

[raino144]

My 3 year old has been excited all day. I think he is going to have the time of his life 🙂 he loves all big things mechanical!

 

Now we are packed and I’ve had a couple of beers now feel a bit more calm about it all. Paperwork is in order, everything we can think of is packed… and for everything we didn’t think of there’s Mastercard in Civitavecchia 😂

[carlmm]

As you have sailed before with MSC you know much the people there live children - enjoy your cruise!

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

Wow!  You go!!  Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

I didn't even think about MSC having children's programs.  Maybe I should reconsider them for the grandkids!

[raino144]

If I can get Alex on the behind the scenes ship tour, and see the engine room and bridge, I think he would explode with excitement! Will ask the YC concierge if there is any chance tomorrow!

[wcook]

Excellent. Enjoy. 

[rkacruiser]

Best wishes for a marvelous cruise!  

 

Please return to this thread and report how your experience was.  

Edited June 24, 2022 by rkacruiser

[raino144]

Posting from somewhere on the approaches to Palermo… today we will hop off in the port and have a look round the town. 

 

Journey down Saturday was relatively calm (as far as can be blasting down the Autostrada!) until exiting in Genoa. Cue 1 hour jam with push and shove everywhere…  two ferries departing at the same time!

 

We had an additional concern that the tickets hadn’t been issued at the time we had arrived at the port, but thankfully the YC checkin was smoothly done with the MSC confirmation number emailed on the Friday (and Covid certificates, test results and hastily filled out health details as we hadn’t been sent them)… all safely on board about 14:30.

 

Seaside YC and the overall YC package appears to be a step up from what we have been used to; more included outside the closed off area, no navigating to the back of the ship for the restaurant etc.

 

We skipped Civitavecchia as a port (been many times before) in favour of winding down a bit after a stressful couple of days. 
 

There are a few families travelling in YC this week, the staff absolutely love our kids,  our 18 month old was almost constantly entertained by the waiters during dinner making animals from napkins etc!

 

Excellent so far, really glad we made the effort to come. 

[Rossco01]

Great to hear you made it and always interesting to hear feedback both on the ship and YC (we're departing end of July). How are things re Covid and masks? what sort of capacity is the ship at? do things seem relatively back to normal on board.

 

Have a great time and look forward to more updates.

[raino144]

Hi Rossco!

 

Ship is close to capacity this week.

 

Staff all wearing FFP2 masks, guests not really wearing masks at all (maybe 10-20%). Does state in the cruise planner to wear them while moving around but zero enforcement.

 

Apart from staff mask wearing it does feel like we are back to 2019 again on board. They are all happy to high five the kids (this is becoming a thing with Alex and all the YC staff!) so the masks seem like more lip service to the rules than anything else.

 

Cheers! (Photo from tonight’s departure, see if you can spot me on top of the bridge wing with a pint 🙂 )

 

 

[Nunagoras]

Very interesting review!... Congrats!...

 

Yes, the newer ships YC are far better than the Fantasia class ones.

 

No reason to stress that most over Covid right now. I'm not arguing the whole thing is out, but at least we know how to deal with this nowadays. It is here to stay, and ways to deal with it will only to improve!

 

Have a nice day and a nice sailing!...

[raino144]

Hi Nunagoras,

 

The only part about Covid which bothers us now is the pre travel test requirement which means you don’t know if you will actually travel until 2 days before. Having travelled and tested a few times ( pre travel and pre return journey) in 2020/1 to see family it made travelling stressful.

 

We’re vaccinated, boosted, and have also had Covid. For the adults it was minor cold symptoms, for the kids it was gastro symptoms for 3/4 days. We’re happy to ‘get on with life’ now as we’re as protected as can be, and with the kids at creche / school  it’s impossible to dodge these things.

 

Thanks!

[Rossco01]

Thanks for replying and it sounds like you are having a great time! 

[raino144]

Just pulling in to Marseille - last day already!

 

Lots of positives to report from this YC cruise:

- Kids club a massive hit with our 3 year old: 3 hours AM, 2 hours PM daily. (Evening also offered but too late for us)

- YC staff amazing with the kids

- All Inc. drinks now much improved: hard pushed to find a drink which isn’t included anywhere on the ship (barring half a dozen cocktails, and super premium alcohol)

- YC drinks options in Top Sail / sun deck excellent

- Dining in Top Sail really good quality and decent choice (menu threads exist so will not copy). Mainly casual dress code.

- Internet much improved cf. prior MSC sailings

 

Some (not negatives) but things to be aware of on the itinerary:

- Ship is so big, only uses big docks far from town. Of this itinerary, Civitavecchia, Valencia, Marseille need buses from the port into town. Palermo (10 min) walkable as is Ibiza (30min).

- Port days are not full days in Ibiza (1pm-10.30pm), Valencia (8am-2.30pm) and Marseille (2pm-9pm) so there is more sea action (personally quite like this)

- Baby club (under 3) - only one hour morning / afternoon offered with babysitting on the sea day only. Would have been good for more time as older one was in kids club much longer

- Casino - didn’t play this time as with kids but high table minimums (25e blackjack, 5e roulette per spin) and card tables have autoshufflers (house edge increases)

 

Downsides (not major)

- Room service speed patchy. 3 pizza delivery orders at lunch (over the week) arrived in 30, 60, 70 minutes as they got busy

- Butler service a bit confused - first reorganised the minibar to our liking then half way through reverted to standard offering. Newspaper selection missed first couple of days, when we enquired it was because out selection on their printed from was ‘not available’.

-Onboard ‘future cruise’ pricing is higher than getting an online quote 🙂

 

All in all very enjoyable week. Looking to book a repeat trip (with a bit more notice) for next year!

[Rossco01]

Glad that the impulsive holiday worked out great. Sounds like you had a good time. Did you go to any of the shows in the theatre?

[raino144]

Not this time, meals in the YC restaurant usually take about 2 hours, so from 6:30 sit down, 8:30 finish for meal so we put the kids to bed and sit on our balcony until lights out about 10:30 ish. Rock ‘n’ roll!

[Rossco01]

Ahhh I remember those days...with a 14 and 19 year old it's a little different now.

[raino144]

Postscript…. Ship broke down (‘technical issue’) overnight delaying our return to port this morning by 2 hours or so.
 

Clearly not all is well right now as we are moving at 14 knots against a top speed of 22, and they have had to cancel all excursions today for the non-departing guests!

 

 

[alohayall]

…At least you had your car and weren’t trying to catch a flight home.

 

Sounds like a great time was had by all - including the crew who enjoyed the children.  
 

Hats off to you for taking the (last minute) chance on a trip.

 

Thanks for taking us along.

[raino144]

Seaside seems to still be a bit out of sorts. Late into Civitavecchia this morning and now still doing no more than 15kt with 200 knots still to run to Palermo. 

[raino144]

Late update: we have reserved a YC Duplex on Grandiosa next Easter. Same itinerary but in reverse. Reason for going for the Duplex: it’s on the front of the ship and has full height glass on the balcony so safer for the kids. And jacuzzi. Will be strange doing YC but not staying in the YC ‘zone’!

[peder]

@raino144 did you have concerns about the safety of the balcony with the little ones? We have two cruises planned, one on the Seascape this February at the front of the ship with the higher glass, but then traveling again on the Seashore next Summer in a Royal Suite. We'll be traveling with kids 7, 5, and 4 and to realistically understand how safe the balconies are with kids that like to climb.

[thesnoopster2]

I took my 20 month old toddler in 2021.  He was known by staff as the boy in the cart.  We put a car seat in the back of this canvas wagon thing, gave him a tablet with wifi, and at the front was his diaper bag.  It had more room than a stroller and the bigger wheels made it easy to wheel on the beach.  Sometimes he walked, but he knew that was his safe space