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YC Seascape November 25 - Dec 2

KittyCruz

By KittyCruz,
in MSC Cruises

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KittyCruz

KittyCruz

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We returned from a week at sea and after a week to settle back into the 9-5 routine I wanted to provide some thoughts about our recent cruise.

 

1. Interlopers - interesting enough I walked behind a family that had managed to break through and were attempting dinner in the YC restaurant only to be turned away because they showed up an hour early to dine.  (I caught this because we might have also showed up early, but we had the option of going downstairs to have a pre-dinner cocktail, the interlopers were shown the door) We also saw people try unsuccessfully to access the doors to YC and we like most others just ignored them.  

2. The pool area was not packed, and this was pretty great!  We only had 270 on this cruise.  Smokers tended to stay in the correct areas, and one felt they had ample space to lay out, read, talk, relax, etc... we tended to stay towards the bow so service wasn't great, but I didn't have a problem getting up to grab myself a beverage, besides when I did, they would always ask where I was and bring it out.

3. Food -In general food was excellent and I wanted, asked for and received shrimp cocktail each evening as my appetizer, one lunch the choices were for lack of better words, frou frou so we chose that day to order a pizza.  If I wanted to have gone up a pants size, I would have ordered at least one of everything on Italian night, the lasagna was a thing of beauty- the pasta melted in your mouth.   Sadly, there was no seafood buffet but one day for lunch the buffet had scallops          (I might have eaten what in the states would equate to $100 worth of scallops) on that same day the dining room had shrimp, but it was a sunny sea day, and I needed my vitamin d.  Service wise things were good, we had a decent head waiter/jr waiter there were a few hiccups in order that were odd but we just went with it.  Dinner shined, breakfast was always a little odd and lunch was slow so we usually just did the buffet.  I learned a YC perk which was to go downstairs pre breakfast and order a cappuccino - this gave me the caffeine needed to be able to order breakfast like a real human being.  

4. Dress - the first day there were some casual outfits in the YC restaurant, but after that it really only seemed like one table that didn't get the memo for dinner.  We enjoyed dressing up and seeing everyone else's attempts.   Although next time I'm tempted to channel my inner dude and come to breakfast in my pjs, robe and YC slippers with sunglasses

5.Service - with the exception of high tea, which we did not get good service at, service was across the board excellent.  Our Butler/Jr. Butler knocked it out of the park. (I worried a bit because we are not high maintenance but did want to be treated like YC folks) I used the tip from @morpheusoftheseaand had a list for our butler. We got a few bits that showed up throughout the trip bowl of fruit, chocolates and we would get a small glass box of treats each night.  This of course led us to the Chocolatier and why we are still enjoying fine Italian chocolates.  In the TPL and pretty much everywhere on the ship, we experienced great service.  In gen pop for Gala Night I hit the champagne bar the staff were filling it so there was a moment of which fine champagne do you get and trying to find it, and I stopped them to say the processco would do nicely and they obliged. 

6. Entertainment - we didn't do much entertainment outside of TSL -shows either didn't interest us or were too late for our lifestyle.  

7. Tips - we tipped extra (butler, jr. butler, waiter, jr waiter, bartenders, tpl wait staff, outside YC bar tenders, excursions) I had a great vacation that was made possible by a slew of people who kept smiles on their faces and calm composure 24/7.

I will get around to posting a real review, uploading photos and of course adding to the unofficial, official room directory kept by @Two Wheels Only for suite 19010

 

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brichar499

brichar499

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I haven't brought a suit on a cruise now for several years.

 

My last suited experience was on Princess when, on formal night, our formally dressed selves were seated for dinner in the MDR next to a dude in a T-shirt, shorts and flip flops. That was my never again moment.

 

Hope I'm not shamed out of the YC in khakis and a collared shirt when we sail Seascape in January.

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morpheusofthesea "Live from...." Rare

morpheusofthesea

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Just to belabor the point once again. There are quite a few 'requests' of cruise lines made of passengers that are not followed and seldom enforced. Attire is one of them. Most these low cost mega lines are attracting a "wider audience" who look at cruises like a camping trip, roughing it, bivouacking. They throw their soiled everything out the cabin door into the hallway (Instead of calling room service to pick it up) and hang their wash out to dry on the balcony. As one pays more for suite class one 'sometimes' finds a more respectable clientele that respects others and themselves. Will see in a couple of weeks how Explora 1 compares to Yacht Club and will report.

ATTIRE.jpeg

DRESS.jpeg

soiled.jpg

LAUNDRY1.jpeg

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KittyCruz

KittyCruz

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Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Just to belabor the point once again. There are quite a few 'requests' of cruise lines made of passengers that are not followed and seldom enforced. Attire is one of them. Most these low cost mega lines are attracting a "wider audience" who look at cruises like a camping trip, roughing it, bivouacking. They throw their soiled everything out the cabin door into the hallway (Instead of calling room service to pick it up) and hang their wash out to dry on the balcony. As one pays more for suite class one 'sometimes' finds a more respectable clientele that respects others and themselves. Will see in a couple of weeks how Explora 1 compares to Yacht Club and will report.

ATTIRE.jpeg

DRESS.jpeg

soiled.jpg

LAUNDRY1.jpeg

Oh my... I will clip our swim suits to the back of the chairs in the  evening but I've never to that degree

Edited by KittyCruz
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KittyCruz

KittyCruz

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On 12/9/2023 at 12:17 PM, xcell said:

Thanks... 20 days and counting...

 

Any tips on excursions?

 

Anything you wished you had done? or done more of?

@xcell  

not sure if you meant "tipping" on excursions or tips for excursions, so i will offer both.

We tipped both our guide and driver on our excursion.  I have no idea if this is normal behavoir but its something i picked up years ago and just continue to do so.

As for tips for excursions. 

Our choice is to always book through the cruise, for that piece of mind of not being left behind.  We didn't do as many this trip- mostly because what was offered was not our cup of tea.  I have noticed in a post covid world they pack way to much into an excursion and its not always worth it because one feels rushed or too worked over.

If you are mobile Puerto Rico is defintely walkable and there was loads to do/see in old San Juan.

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morpheusofthesea "Live from...." Rare

morpheusofthesea

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1 hour ago, KittyCruz said:

We tipped both our guide and driver on our excursion.  I have no idea if this is normal behavoir but its something i picked up years ago and just continue to do so.

It is definitely not normal behavior, but it is well intentioned especially prior to getting a seat on the bus. I consider myself a 'quick study' when traveling the world on cruises and taking ship sponsored tours in remote areas where no one,  'in their right minds', would go off on their own. I read reports like this one:

  "Fourteen individuals were killed, and 19 others were injured," Mojokerto police chief Rofig Riptc Himawan told reporters on Monday, adding that the reason for the tragedy was still being investigated Earlier. an East Java Douce spokeswoman blamed the accident on driver error. "This collision was caused by human mistake: the driver was exhausted or weary." said Dirmanto, who only goes by one name."  So what I do is get out a $5 bill and ask the tour guide to tell the driver to go get a cup of coffee with this 'tip'. Every driver 'perks' right up even without the coffee at this point.

Edited by morpheusofthesea
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lcpagejr

lcpagejr

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On 12/10/2023 at 8:00 AM, Jorhammer said:

You won’t be shamed, but you will be required to wear a collard shirt, long pants and closed shoes for dinner. They are now enforcing the dress code

I doubt the enforcement....I was in YC over Thanksgiving and I saw tshirts, ball caps and shorts at all dinners.... 

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xcell

xcell

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On 12/13/2023 at 4:29 PM, KittyCruz said:

@xcell  

not sure if you meant "tipping" on excursions or tips for excursions, so i will offer both.

We tipped both our guide and driver on our excursion.  I have no idea if this is normal behavoir but its something i picked up years ago and just continue to do so.

As for tips for excursions. 

Our choice is to always book through the cruise, for that piece of mind of not being left behind.  We didn't do as many this trip- mostly because what was offered was not our cup of tea.  I have noticed in a post covid world they pack way to much into an excursion and its not always worth it because one feels rushed or too worked over.

If you are mobile Puerto Rico is defintely walkable and there was loads to do/see in old San Juan.

thanks for info...

 

tip = what excursions to do...

 

 

11 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I was told that this week a 'lady' came to breakfast in the YC Restaurant and was seated in her pajamas.

 

it would be okay if she wore the YC robes...  (joking of course)

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blueslily Great Review Rare

blueslily

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On 12/10/2023 at 9:14 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

Just to belabor the point once again. There are quite a few 'requests' of cruise lines made of passengers that are not followed and seldom enforced. Attire is one of them. Most these low cost mega lines are attracting a "wider audience" who look at cruises like a camping trip, roughing it, bivouacking. They throw their soiled everything out the cabin door into the hallway (Instead of calling room service to pick it up) and hang their wash out to dry on the balcony. As one pays more for suite class one 'sometimes' finds a more respectable clientele that respects others and themselves. Will see in a couple of weeks how Explora 1 compares to Yacht Club and will report.

ATTIRE.jpeg

DRESS.jpeg

soiled.jpg

LAUNDRY1.jpeg

 

Sorry, but that just looks bad. With all that stuff outside the cabin door, is that due to bad service? Do people not know how to ask staff to pick up what they want to get rid of? That is just, literally, trashy. 

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scamper

scamper

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On 12/10/2023 at 8:14 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

Just to belabor the point once again. There are quite a few 'requests' of cruise lines made of passengers that are not followed and seldom enforced. Attire is one of them. Most these low cost mega lines are attracting a "wider audience" who look at cruises like a camping trip, roughing it, bivouacking. They throw their soiled everything out the cabin door into the hallway (Instead of calling room service to pick it up) and hang their wash out to dry on the balcony. As one pays more for suite class one 'sometimes' finds a more respectable clientele that respects others and themselves. Will see in a couple of weeks how Explora 1 compares to Yacht Club and will report.

ATTIRE.jpeg

DRESS.jpeg

soiled.jpg

LAUNDRY1.jpeg

While I will be the first to agree that money doesn't bring class, this, imho, is the result of dirt cheap cruises.  Don't ever recall seeing this on Seabourn or Regent.

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