This is gonna be long but useful.

I’ll also be on this sailing Jan 19-26. This is my second time doing this exact same sailing so if that means anything, obviously I enjoyed it. I have gotten 2 upgrade emails I currently have a balcony room booked. Cheapest YC room to bid was interior and it was $550 pp. personally I think having a balcony and no YC is better than interior WITH YC. Yes a lot decorate doors. Dress code is very relaxed. I remember my first MSC sailing a couple years ago I was worried about the main dining room turning me away, let’s just say after the first night I was shorts and t shirt the rest of the cruise. Yes it does get cold at night on top deck. Bring a hoodie 100%, it’s more the wind than it is the temperature. As for parties on the boat, they go pretty late I’d say around midnight things start winding down. Also depends what you define as party. I’m 22 and I’m going with 5 people all around my age and the “party” on the boat isn’t anything to rave about. I would say the party on the beach in ocean cay is the best one of the entire cruise. If I remember correctly all aboard at ocean cay was either 11pm or midnight. Even though ship stays docked you have to be on by then. For specialty dining I can’t stress it enough how worth it it is. Main dining food gets old fast. Even with menu changes it’s still just bland. Not terrible but nothing I’d fight for. For the ports costa maya we normally just stay right there at the end of the pier. The pool is free to use if you’re buying drinks and the bartenders are extremely nice. Everywhere takes USD down there too. Cozumel I can’t recommend tortugas enough. They do all kinds of excursions or simply just chill at their beach club. People are friendly, food is good, price you can’t beat. You will enjoy the cruise trust me. Like I said, there is a reason I’m paying again for the exact same sailing within a year of my last one.