yacht dining room

Exploring The Luxurious Dining Room Of A Yacht

• Last updated Jan 29, 2024
• Difficulty Intemediate

• Category Dining Room Decorating and Design Ideas

The dining room of a yacht is a luxurious and elegant space where guests can enjoy fine dining and stunning views while cruising the open waters. With its chic decor, sleek design, and opulent furnishings, the dining room of a yacht offers a unique and unforgettable dining experience. Whether it's a romantic dinner for two or a lavish celebration with friends, the dining room of a yacht provides the perfect setting for an elevated culinary journey. From the sparkling chandeliers above to the polished wood and marble accents below, every detail is thoughtfully curated to create a truly decadent and memorable dining experience.

What You'll Learn

How is the dining room of a yacht different from a regular dining room, what features are typically found in the dining room of a yacht, how much seating capacity does the dining room of a typical yacht have, is the dining room of a yacht typically located on the main deck or a lower deck, how is the dining room of a yacht designed to withstand ocean conditions.

The dining room on a yacht is a unique space that differs significantly from a regular dining room. The design, layout, and features of a yacht dining room take into consideration the limited space, the potential for motion, and the need for comfort and functionality. In this article, we will explore these differences and provide a detailed understanding of what sets a yacht dining room apart.

Size and Layout:

Yacht dining rooms are typically smaller in size compared to regular dining rooms found in homes. This is due to the limited space available on a yacht. Yachts are designed to maximize space efficiency, and as a result, dining areas need to be compact and versatile.

The layout of a yacht dining room also differs to accommodate the movement of the yacht. Yachts can experience pitch, roll, and yaw motions in the water, which can make dining challenging. To counteract this motion, yacht dining rooms often have stabilizers in place to reduce movement and ensure a more comfortable dining experience.

Materials and Furnishings:

Given the maritime environment, materials used in a yacht dining room are selected for their durability and resistance to water damage. Wood, stainless steel, and specially treated fabrics are commonly used to withstand the moisture and saltwater exposure. The furnishing is also chosen with functionality and style in mind, with compact tables and chairs that can be securely fastened to the floor to prevent movement during rough seas.

Storage and Organization:

Another notable difference is the storage and organization solutions found in yacht dining rooms. Yachts have limited storage space, so creativity is needed to maximize storage capacity. Built-in cabinets, hidden compartments, and integrated storage solutions are often integrated into the design to provide ample space for storing crockery, cutlery, and other dining essentials.

Lighting and Ambiance:

While the ambiance of a dining room in a home can be created through various lighting fixtures, yacht dining rooms often rely on natural lighting and views of the ocean to set the mood. Large windows are common in yacht dining rooms, allowing for scenic views while enjoying a meal. Additionally, lighting fixtures are carefully selected to provide sufficient illumination without being too harsh or overpowering.

Technology Integration:

Yacht dining rooms are also equipped with technology to enhance the dining experience. Audio systems, multifunctional touch screens, and smart lighting controls allow yacht owners to create the desired ambiance and entertainment options from the dining area. This integration of technology adds convenience and flexibility for the occupants.

For example, imagine dining on a luxury yacht in the middle of the Caribbean. As you sit down for a meal in the dining room, you are surrounded by panoramic windows offering stunning views of turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. The compact yet elegant dining table has a built-in wine chiller, ensuring your Chardonnay is perfectly chilled throughout the meal. The chairs are upholstered with special stain-resistant fabric, allowing for easy cleanup in the event of spills or accidents. The integrated sound system softly plays classical music in the background, adding to the overall dining experience.

In conclusion, the dining room on a yacht is specially designed to meet the unique challenges of a marine environment while providing comfort and functionality. From compact layouts and durable materials to breathtaking views and integrated technology, the yacht dining room offers a distinctive and luxurious experience that sets it apart from a regular dining room.

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When it comes to dining on a yacht, there are several features that are typically found in the dining room area. These features are designed to provide a comfortable and elegant space for guests to enjoy their meals while at sea. In this article, we will explore some of the most common features found in yacht dining rooms.

One of the key features of a yacht dining room is a large dining table. The size of the table will vary depending on the size of the yacht, but it is typically large enough to accommodate all guests comfortably. The table is often made of high-quality wood or other luxurious materials and is designed to be both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing. It may also feature intricate detailing or inlays.

In addition to the dining table, yacht dining rooms often include comfortable seating options for guests. This may include chairs, benches, or even plush sofas. The seating is typically upholstered in high-quality fabrics that are both stylish and durable. The aim is to create a space where guests can relax and enjoy their meals in comfort.

Lighting is another important feature in yacht dining rooms. The lighting should be soft, warm, and inviting, creating a pleasant ambiance for guests. This can be achieved through a combination of overhead lighting, such as chandeliers or pendant lights, as well as table lamps or sconces. Many yacht dining rooms also feature large windows to allow natural light to flow into the space during the day.

Storage is also a crucial consideration in yacht dining rooms. As space is often limited on a yacht, storage solutions that maximize the use of space are essential. This may include built-in cabinets or drawers, as well as hidden compartments or storage benches. These storage options enable yacht owners to store dining essentials, such as dinnerware, glassware, and serving utensils, in a tidy and organized manner.

When it comes to decor, yacht dining rooms often feature a combination of luxurious and nautical elements. This may include artwork, such as paintings or sculptures, that reflects the maritime theme. Additionally, the use of high-quality materials, such as marble or brass accents, can add a touch of elegance to the space.

Lastly, functionality is key in yacht dining rooms. Many dining rooms are designed to be multipurpose spaces, serving as both a dining area and a social gathering space. As such, the layout should be flexible, allowing for easy movement and interaction between guests. This may include a layout that incorporates a central dining table with surrounding seating options, as well as additional seating areas for lounging or conversing.

In conclusion, the dining room of a yacht typically features a large dining table, comfortable seating options, soft lighting, ample storage, luxurious decor, and a functional layout. These features combine to create a stylish and inviting space where guests can enjoy their meals while at sea. Whether hosting a formal dinner party or enjoying a casual meal with family and friends, the dining room of a yacht provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable dining experience.

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The seating capacity of a dining room on a yacht can vary depending on the size and layout of the vessel. However, a typical yacht dining room can accommodate anywhere between 6 to 12 guests comfortably.

When designing the dining area of a yacht, several factors are taken into consideration to ensure maximum comfort and functionality. The available space, the yacht's layout, and the owner's preferences all play a role in determining the seating capacity.

One of the key considerations is the size of the dining table. The table should be large enough to comfortably accommodate all guests while providing enough elbow room for each person. A smaller yacht with limited space may have a smaller dining table, whereas a larger vessel may have a grander table for more guests.

The layout of the dining room is also important. Many yachts opt for a U-shaped seating arrangement with a table in the center. This allows for easy conversation and creates a cozy ambiance for guests. Some yachts may have additional seating options such as a built-in banquette or bar stools at a counter, providing extra seating capacity.

The overall size of the yacht also influences the seating capacity. Larger yachts have more spacious dining areas, allowing for a greater number of guests to be comfortably accommodated. On the other hand, smaller yachts may have a more intimate dining space, limiting the number of guests that can be seated.

To give a practical example, let's consider a 100-foot yacht. This size of yacht often includes a separate dining room area that can accommodate around 8 to 10 guests. The dining room may feature a large table with comfortable seating, along with additional seating options such as a built-in banquette.

It's worth noting that the seating capacity of the dining room is just one aspect of dining on a yacht. Many yachts also offer outdoor dining areas or additional seating options throughout the vessel, allowing for even more guests to be accommodated for meals or events.

In conclusion, the seating capacity of a yacht's dining room can vary depending on the size and layout of the vessel. A typical yacht dining room can comfortably accommodate between 6 to 12 guests, with larger yachts offering a higher seating capacity. The design and layout of the dining area, as well as additional seating options throughout the yacht, all contribute to creating a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience for guests.

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The dining room of a yacht is an important space where guests can gather and enjoy meals while aboard. The location of the dining room on a yacht can vary depending on the size and design of the vessel. In general, the dining room is typically found on the main deck or a lower deck.

On larger yachts that have multiple decks, the dining room is often located on the main deck. This allows for easy access and provides a central, open space for guests to enjoy their meals. The dining room on the main deck may be adjacent to the galley, where meals are prepared, making it convenient for the crew to serve food and beverages to the guests.

However, on smaller yachts or those with a different layout, the dining room may be located on a lower deck. This can provide a more intimate setting for guests, away from the hustle and bustle of the main deck. Some yachts may even have a separate dining area on the upper deck, offering stunning views while enjoying a meal.

The design and layout of the dining room on a yacht are carefully considered to ensure comfort and functionality. The dining room will typically feature a table and chairs suitable for the number of guests onboard, as well as storage space for tableware and serving equipment. The furnishings and decor of the dining room may vary depending on the style and theme of the yacht, ranging from elegant and formal to relaxed and casual.

To illustrate the location of the dining room on a yacht, let's consider an example of a 100-foot yacht. In this case, the dining room may be situated on the main deck, close to the galley and with easy access to other areas of the yacht, such as the saloon or outdoor deck spaces. The dining room may feature a large table with seating for 10 guests, surrounded by luxurious furnishings and decor, creating a sophisticated atmosphere for dining.

In conclusion, the dining room of a yacht can be located on the main deck or a lower deck, depending on the size and design of the vessel. The location of the dining room is carefully chosen to provide convenience, comfort, and atmosphere for guests to enjoy their meals while aboard. Whether on the main deck or a lower deck, the dining room of a yacht offers a unique and luxurious dining experience.

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When designing the dining room of a yacht, careful consideration must be given to ensure it can withstand the harsh conditions of the open ocean. Yachts are meant to be luxurious and comfortable, so it is important to create a space that offers stability, durability, and functionality.

First and foremost, the materials used in the dining room must be able to withstand the constant movement of the yacht. The floors, walls, and furniture are typically made from sturdy materials such as teak, mahogany, or other types of hardwood. These materials are not only aesthetically pleasing but also resistant to water damage and can withstand the constant rocking and rolling of the boat.

In addition to durable materials, the layout of the dining room is also carefully planned to ensure functionality. The tables and chairs are often secured to the floor to prevent them from moving during rough seas. Additionally, the furniture is designed to have rounded edges to prevent injuries in case of sudden movements. It is also common for yacht dining rooms to have storage space for dishes, cutlery, and glassware, safely tucked away behind secure cabinets or drawers.

Another important aspect of designing a yacht dining room to withstand ocean conditions is the lighting. Lighting fixtures are usually recessed into the ceiling or attached securely to the walls to prevent them from swinging or falling during rough seas. LED lights are popular due to their low energy consumption and durability.

The layout of the dining room is also crucial in ensuring stability and comfort. Yacht designers often opt for an open floor plan to allow for free movement during meal times. The furniture is carefully arranged to ensure that there is enough space between chairs and tables for guests to move around without feeling cramped. Additionally, yacht dining rooms may feature extra support handles or handrails for added stability.

To further enhance the dining experience in rough sea conditions, yacht designers may incorporate stabilizers into the design of the yacht itself. These stabilizers help to reduce the rolling and pitching motions of the boat, making the dining experience more enjoyable for guests.

In conclusion, the dining room of a yacht is designed with careful consideration to withstand ocean conditions. From the choice of durable materials to the layout and lighting, every aspect is taken into account to ensure stability, durability, and functionality. By combining scientific principles with experience and practicality, yacht designers are able to create a dining room that offers both luxury and comfort, even in the roughest of seas.

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Frequently asked questions.

The dining room of a yacht is a designated area on the yacht where guests can enjoy meals. It is typically located on the main deck or the upper deck of the yacht.

The dining room of a yacht is typically much smaller and more intimate compared to a regular dining room. It is designed to accommodate the number of guests the yacht can hold, usually ranging from 6 to 12 people, and is furnished with luxurious amenities and furnishings.

The dining room of a yacht is usually equipped with a dining table and chairs, as well as a variety of amenities to enhance the dining experience. This may include fine china and cutlery, crystal glassware, and table linens. Some yachts may also have a built-in bar or wine cellar in the dining room.

Yes, most yachts have onboard chefs who can cater to specific dietary requirements and preferences. Guests can often work with the chef to create a personalized menu for their meals in the dining room. Additionally, the dining room may also have a selection of wines and spirits that guests can choose from to accompany their meals.

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Superyacht Luxury Dining

Enjoy a personalised menu of gastronomic delights

Whilst aboard a luxury charter yacht , prepare to dine on the very best gourmet cuisines, cooked and expertly prepared by a world-class Chef to ensure every bite is tailor-made to perfection.

Each charter yacht has a professional on board crew trained in five star service to ensure each meal is catered to the highest possible standard. Whether you prefer formal dining, alfresco lunches or sundeck barbeques, your on board Chef can cater to your every gastronomic delight. From beautifully assembled four course meals to delicious snacks and nibbles, there is no doubt that your food will be nothing but exquisite. With superb service and a personalised menu, the mouth-watering cuisine aboard a superyacht is the epitome of gourmet dining.

Before you embark upon your luxury charter, you and your guests will be asked to complete a preference sheet which will itemise in detail any dietary requirements, food allergies and medical conditions that the crew should be made aware of prior to departure. Be as detailed as you can be. If you are on a strict diet, mention it; if you only like white chocolate, put it down as the crew will then use this sheet to familiarise themselves with your likes, dislikes and how you like to dine. Be completely honest and maybe even adventurous and you will not be disappointed. Once this preference sheet has been reviewed by the crew, you can rest assured that the cuisine on-board your yacht charter will be nothing less than perfect.

Prior to your charter check about the possibility of an exchange with your on board Chef, this way you can work together and establish which foods you would like to eat whilst you are offshore. This will ensure the only food served during your stay will consist of ingredients specifically requested by you meaning each and every meal will be tailor-made to perfection.

Don’t be shy when mentioning your specific requirements; the worst you could say is "we’ll eat anything" which of course is untrue. Your Chef will be familiar with special requests and will have handled many personal preferences on previous yacht charters such as, vegetarian, gluten free, diabetic friendly and low calorie, so don’t be afraid to be specific.

Dine on the very best gourmet cuisines, cooked and expertly prepared by a world-class Chef.

Remember, Chefs will not have access to large supplies of ingredients once the yacht has set sail and although it may be possible to source ingredients locally; this is dependent on your charter destination. Be sure to mention if you have a special occasion whilst on board as yacht charter crews love to host a party. From pirate themed nights to decadent dinner parties, what better way to celebrate than with a feast of culinary delights alongside your favourite people with a slice of personalised birthday cake for dessert?

From delectable beach picnics to delicious hors d'oeuvres your on board Chef can prepare astounding meals which are perfectly tailored to your own personal preferences. Bon appétit!

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The design trends shaping superyacht galleys

Foodies rejoice: cooking on board is taking centre stage, says Tory Kingdon as she discovers the design trends shaping superyacht galley kitchens in 2021

Once upon a time, the galley was a somewhat overlooked element of a superyacht’s general arrangement and design. Primarily used by crew, they would be installed as a rather uninspiring functional element, with the budgets and big ideas reserved for owner areas. In recent years, however, they are finally getting the attention they deserve. After all, if a yacht is to offer five-star hospitality, it needs optimal kitchen equipment and space. Even the best chefs in the world cannot operate without the right tools.

The evolution of the onboard galley has undoubtedly been in line with the rise of the dining scene globally. Just as the world’s best restaurants started putting their chefs on show behind glass screens or in open kitchens, so too did superyachts begin integrating their cooking and dining spaces. Sanlorenzo’s SX88 , designed by Piero Lissoni and launched in 2017 , featured an entirely open kitchen next to its dining room. The idea was for a relaxed social space. “I keep picturing boats, even very large ones, as if they were lofts: that is very open, highly liveable spaces, which make it possible to be in contact with what’s around us” says Lissoni.

Ewa Eidsgaard , designer and director of Harrison Eidsgaard , agrees it’s a growing trend. “We’ve certainly had a lot of requests for more open kitchens, where guests can see their food being prepared by the chef, or can even allow for the client to do some of the cooking themselves. I think overall the attitude to food and culinary entertainment on board has changed over the last years. We’ve moved from classical dining to chef’s tables, hot stone grills and tapas-style sharing plates,” she says.

On yachts, where closed galleys exist, additional equipment is often brought outside to exterior spaces. The teppanyaki grill, originally a Japanese style of cooking, has become one of the most popular additions to superyacht sundecks and other al fresco dining areas in recent years. The hot griddle allows chefs to cook a selection of meat, fish and vegetables in front of the diner to be served immediately. Then there are barbecue grills and pizza ovens, like on the bridge deck of Benetti’s 69-metre Spectre . Dining is no longer simply a matter of eating, but a culinary experience that provides a large part of the evening’s entertainment.

One of the most impressive yachts to grace the charter market of late is 136-metre Lürssen Flying Fox – and it would be fair to say that any and every culinary desire can be met on board. As well as a 10-door oven, pizza oven and two teppanyaki grills, there is a Brazilian churrasco grill and a Spanish Josper charcoal grill. “Whether you want sushi prepared in front of you, a lamb cooked on the rotisserie or fresh focaccia, it’s all possible. It’s the most versatile option out there as it really has all the equipment you could need,” says Judith Stewart, director at Imperial Yachts , who delivered Flying Fox with Lürssen . There is also a 24-seat dining table on board, so it’s certainly a charter for lovers of all things food.

Not all owners like to be continually catered for. “There is a downshift in attitude that sees many owners wanting to take a more hands-on role,” says Eidsgaard. “We are slowly moving towards ‘relaxed luxury’, where many owners enjoy the freedom of making their own coffee, breakfast or dinner. Shared crew and owner’s pantries as well as mini breakfast rooms are in demand.”

The 63-metre Benetti 11.11 is an example of this where the stone-clad cocktail bar and kitchenette on the upper deck allow the client to make their own food or drink by the pool. The galley of 11.11 is also spacious and includes a central island in the design comparable to a residential kitchen.

According to Eidsgaard, a popular addition to newer yachts are tasting tables. “These are often in the galley, right in the middle of the action, yet available only to the ‘inner circle’ and enhance family and personal time,” she says.

With owners spending more time in the galley, there is undoubtedly a greater focus on aesthetics as well as functionality, and there is no shortage of inspiring designs available for onboard kitchens. Linley recently launched the Odyssey kitchen, which it hopes will appeal to the yacht industry. Currently on display at Harrods, the kitchen is hand-crafted from eucalyptus and sycamore. Its cabinets feature hand-dyed blue veneers and the brand’s signature marquetry details, and the worktop is a Bolivian marble with blue and gold veining. Bespoke brass accents complete the design.

Based in Minnesota, US, the family-run company Cambria makes beautiful and practical natural quartz stone worktops that are strong, more stain-resistant and non-porous than other stone surfaces. It has recently worked on yacht projects with Horizon , Ocean Alexander and Westport , and continues to bring new designs to its ever-growing collection of surfaces.

For the details there is no better place to look than the New York-based Nanz Company, which can create bespoke designs as well as offer a vast range of interesting and unique options for cabinet pulls, knobs and the like. Locking cremones are a mainstay of Nanz’s stable of products and it has recently released the elegant new No 7901 cabinetry cremone.

The more elaborate galleys become, the more technical pitfalls can arise. “From fire risk to extraction, odour residue or cleaning practicalities,” says Eidsgaard, “It all has to be dealt with. This is a trend that’s staying.”

This feature is taken from the October 2020 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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What It's Like On Board Evrima, The Ritz-Carlton's First Ship

What to expect on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's Evrima, a 149-suite ship with five restaurants, six lounges, and plenty of over-the-top hotel amenities.

Maya Kachroo-Levine / Travel + Leisure

“The great thing about yachting is you’re in complete control — whether you’re at anchor or at a dock,” said Doug Prothero, founder of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection . “We have the ability to make something up as we go along — and that is the yachting lifestyle."

We were drinking iced tea at the Marina, an indoor-outdoor venue hovering 10 feet above the water on the third deck of the Evrima . The yacht, named for the Greek word for “discovery,” was anchored in Alcúdia Bay, just off the northeastern coast of Mallorca, Spain. Stairs led down to a platform from which guests could dive directly into the sea. Prothero called the area, lined with sun loungers, “the beach.”

Maya Kachroo-Levine / Travel + Leisure

Prothero explained how The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection structures itineraries aboard the Evrima . Each all-inclusive sailing (with options for five-, seven-, nine-, 10-, 11-, and 12-night journeys) spends at least two days at anchor, affording guests the choice to stay lounging at sea or take a small tender boat to the nearest port (in this case, Alcúdia, Spain, where some visited the Old Town and one group of golfers even went ashore for a 7 a.m. tee time).

“We’re moving this resort,” Prothero said. “There’s never going to be a Ritz-Carlton in this place.” But there is right now.

The Inaugural Sailing

We’d left Barcelona Cruise Port the night before, on October 15, 2022, for Evrima’ s long-anticipated inaugural journey . We set sail with 220 guests, a handful of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection corporate team members, 245 Ritz-Carlton ladies and gentlemen (as the brand calls those working on board), 1,800 bottles of Moët & Chandon, and one Travel + Leisure editor (me).

Some guests had been waiting three years for this moment, having booked the original inaugural sailing, set for February 5, 2020. It was rescheduled eight times — the result of a shipyard bankruptcy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and myriad supply chain delays. And yes, I did meet travelers who had rescheduled every time, one of whom showed me eight confirmation emails over martinis at the Observation Lounge on deck 10.

Christopher Cypert / Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton

On the other hand, many passengers I met had no idea there were delays — including honeymooners who had booked this trip in January 2022 because it departed exactly a week after their wedding; a solo traveler in her 30s who I joined on a four-hour shore excursion filled with tapas and insights into the Gothic architecture of Palma, Mallorca; and a woman whose husband had surprised her with a 50th-birthday celebration aboard The Ritz-Carlton yacht she kept sending him articles about.

Once the ship sailed from Barcelona , no one was thinking about the ups and downs that preceded our voyage or how we got there. We were focused on where we were going. And it was Saturday night on Evrima .

Bars and Restaurants

I was off to The Evrima Room, the fourth-deck main dining room serving three meals a day. I ordered the charred octopus (all the fish and seafood on board are sourced locally from ports every three days), heirloom tomato risotto, and a lemon tart decked out with mini meringues and sugar-spun ornamentation.

There are four other dining venues (plus 24/7 in-room dining) on the 623-foot-long yacht: The Pool House, on the fifth deck, next to the infinity-edge pool; S.E.A., which stands for Sven Elverfeld Afloat, modeled after the chef’s Michelin three-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg, Germany, on deck six; Talaat Nam, an indoor-outdoor Southeast Asian spot designed to physically wrap around S.E.A.; and open-air Mediterranean restaurant Mistral on deck eight. I polled about 20 ladies and gentlemen on their favorite restaurant, and Mistral was the overwhelming favorite. The focal point of Mistral is the pool in the middle of the venue — one of two pools on board — “Plus the sea,” Prothero quipped, “that’s the biggest pool."

All food and beverages are included in the sail price, save the curated 120-bottle reserve wine list, a collection of high-end spirits, and the seven-course tasting menu at S.E.A., which starts at $285 with wine pairings.

Amenities and Entertainment

I left The Evrima Room by 10:30 p.m. to see where people were congregating, first dropping by the fourth-deck Living Room, where a jazz trio was warming up.

There are six musicians on board, including a DJ, as well as local artists who continually rotate in. They play in different configurations, including as a pop group and a jazz trio. Guitarist Craig Stuart told me most had never met before coming together in July in Santander, Spain, where the ship was being finished, to spend the month rehearsing together.

With six lounges on board, nearly every space felt lively, but none too crowded. From The Living Room, we migrated to deck 10 where the cozy, 404-square-foot Humidor, outfitted with a The Macallan cart, Davidoff cigars, and an array of reserve-list whiskies, was — sorry, there’s no other way to say it — poppin’ off. 

The Observation Lounge had similar energy, and folks gathered around as the bartender, OJ, who garnered a band of loyal followers during our time on Evrima, strained my Negroni into a coupe, enclosed it in a glass covering, and pumped in smoke, purely for the spectacle — and to add a smoky je ne sais quoi to my nightcap.

Even the ninth-deck Spa Terrace (one of Prothero’s favorite spots because “when we’re moving, you can see the front of the ship, so the view is amazing”) had a small crowd in the whirlpool. I didn’t linger on the Spa Terrace, but came back the next morning for a deep-tissue massage in one of the five treatment rooms and a sumptuous nap in the indoor-outdoor relaxation area. 

The Staterooms

I ended my night on my private balcony wrapped in a Frette robe, transfixed by the waves of the Balearic Sea rhythmically foaming and curling against the ship. There was plenty of space inside my 429-square-foot Signature Suite to sprawl — a full tub and double vanity in the bathroom, a sitting area, a dining table, and a king-size bed.

Room options range from the entry-level Terrace Suites to the 1,000-square-foot Owner’s Suite, with a private whirlpool. Each of the 149 guest rooms has its own balcony. While the two two-story Lofts and their vast 81-square-foot terraces were the top-tier offering on the inaugural sailing, the two Owner's Suites and four View Suites have since been completed, and are now the swankiest rooms on the yacht. 

Francisco Martinez / Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton

A personal concierge is assigned to each suite, though with schedules printed daily (and posted on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection app) detailing onboard happenings, like sunset stretch and meditation on deck nine, and personalized itineraries, I rarely reached out to mine.

An Impeccable Team

As I met concierges, chefs, the two-person wine team (pro tip: always befriend the sommeliers), and shore excursion pros, I was impressed by their expertise. Of the 245 staff members on board, about half come from the world of luxury hotels and half from the world of high-end cruising. That’s how you bring a hotel concept to sea.

I talked luxury hotel shop with Theo Lakkas, a food-and-beverage lead who opened Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection , in Budapest. Executive chef John Suley came from Stephen Starr’s team and very seamlessly worked a “Wolf of Wall Street” quote into conversation. I learned about head sommelier Sebastian Pacheco’s vision for the reserve wine list — he wanted to pick up a highly sought-after case from every port city to bolster the already-expansive selection. He came from Francis Ford Coppola’s Inglenook in Rutherford, California, and was working there the last time I visited the Napa Valley winery in 2019. 

Sotheby’s-educated art concierge Rafaella Vitale, from the London art advisory world, gushed about the private tours she was planning to do with guests and the mini-auctions she’d curate for each sailing. I watched as Pacheco and Vitale ping-ponged ideas off each other for art-and-wine events they could put on during an upcoming transatlantic crossing, all while sipping Ruinart sparkling rosé from the bottle the three of us were sharing. That particular transatlantic voyage was slated to leave from Lisbon after Evrima’s christening on November 5, sail to Tenerife, Spain, spend seven days at sea, and wind up in Bridgetown, Barbados. Vitale planned to have the Bahamian artist behind the ship's upcoming rotating art exhibit, Lynn Parotti , on board for the crossing and Caribbean sailings.

Guest Rewards

As if it weren’t already apparent that this vessel is, in fact, a luxury hotel at sea by the classic light-blue Ritz-Carlton key cards, Frette robes, Diptyque bath products, and signature oils in the spa used at each of the 108 Ritz-Carlton hotels worldwide, the clearest sign came on our second evening. The ship hosted the “first-ever Marriott Bonvoy member reception at sea,” according to Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano, who Zoomed in for the occasion.

The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program functions for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection much in the the same way it would on dry land: Guests can earn five points per dollar spent on their cruise fare; they can redeem points to reduce the cost of their sailing, with some limitations (an initial redemption of 180,000 points saves you $1,000, and you may then continue to redeem at a clip of 90,000 points for each $500 of savings).

Members will also earn one Elite Night Credit per night (which counts toward Marriott Bonvoy elite status ) and can enjoy a private members-only reception. The higher your status, the more perks you'll have access to, including priority boarding and departure, complimentary laundry services during your cruise, and early access to reservations at S.E.A., among others (depending on your level of status).

Where Evrima Sails — and New Ships on the Horizon

Evrima continued sailing the Mediterranean until the aforementioned transatlantic crossing, after which the yacht spent five months in the Caribbean, visiting idyllic ports of call in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and Turks and Caicos, among other islands, before heading back across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean in mid-April 2023. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has two more vessels in the works: Ilma , coming in 2024, and Luminara , coming in 2025, each with a 456-passenger capacity.  While The Ritz-Carlton is now the first luxury hotel brand at sea on this scale, Four Seasons and Aman will soon launch ships of a similar size. In 2022, Four Seasons announced a 679-foot, 95-cabin yacht , designed by the same company that worked on the Evrima , Tillberg Design of Sweden , coming in late 2025. Like Evrima , it will summer on the Mediterranean and winter in the Caribbean. Aman’s 50-suite yacht, Project Sama , also slated for a 2025 delivery, is in partnership with Cruise Saudi and will explore the Middle East.

Christopher Cypert / Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton 

I disembarked on Mallorca halfway through the seven-night inaugural sailing, which concluded in Nice, France, on October 22, 2022. When Evrima anchored off the coast of St. Tropez, the Marina, open only when the ship is at anchor, unfolded with floating platforms and a bevy of water toys, like paddleboards, sailboats, kayaks, and snorkeling accoutrements.

From my layover in London, I texted my marketing contact for pictures of Evrima anchored off St. Tropez (it’s called yacht FOMO, OK?). I could just picture what my morning would look like on board: espresso on my balcony, maybe a mimosa at the Marina, a soak in the ninth-deck whirlpool. For the afternoon, I’d move slowly, go ashore when I wanted, if I wanted, probably make it up as I went along. I hear that’s what the yachting lifestyle is all about.

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Luxury Yacht Dining Rooms

This is the first in a series of posts concentrating on specific and, sometimes, ecclectic subjects relating to the luxury yachts you will want to charter. Whether you’re thinking of chartering a yacht in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, super yachts offer the highest standards of everything.

In this post, you see an example of one of our favourite on-board dining rooms on a motor-yacht, ready and set for a 5-star meal. Nothing is ordinary in any of these dining rooms - be it the general decor, the art work, or the furniture - elegance and style speaks for itself in every case.

Just walk into one of these rooms and you’ll be impressed! The style will reflect the style of the yacht’s interior – contemporary, classic, traditional or art nouveau. The dining room may be part of an open plan salon or a more private room but the ambience will always be not only one of sumptuousness, but also welcoming and inviting - a perfect balance.

And aren’t the table settings gorgeous ! Crystal glasses sparkle, the cutlery is carefully placed and the silver gleams. Even the napkins vie for attention, saying “Look at me, I’m special too !” And, indeed they are. Motor yachts of this standard will have several choices of table settings, bone china and glassware to match the menu or a theme night - more on that topic another time. While every detail has been carefully considered and rendered perfect in itself, it is then all arranged very carefully under the watchful direction of the Chief Steward or Chief Stewardess (a very important person on a large charter yacht) so that the whole is a beautiful work of art.

We love so many of these interior dining rooms and the different styles they all have - each with its own special personality and charm. We think you would love them too. If you’d like to know more about dining on-board charter yachts, please get in touch.

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Ritz-Carlton Is Reinventing Cruise Cuisine Without a Buffet in Sight

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection rolls out some of the most luxurious and delicious hospitality on the high seas.

Courtesy of Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection

When I boarded Ritz-Carlton’s elegant new ship  Evrima  this past April, I was quickly convinced of two things: that this stately vessel was not  The Love Boat  (there’s a reason we waved it goodbye in the ’80s) and that my personal concierge might be an overly enthusiastic sleuth. “Congratulations on you and your husband’s new restaurant,” he said cheerily as he led me down a hallway to my two-story loft suite, chatting knowledgeably about my latest side hustle.

It turns out Sammie had just done his homework, like so many good hosts often do, including many of the ship’s team I encountered over the coming days while sailing from Antigua to Puerto Rico. (Like the senior maître d’ who addressed me in fluent German, knowing I could respond in kind.)

I witnessed the same personable interactions with other guests, too, and each time, it felt sincere and engaging. This shouldn’t come as a surprise from the school of Ritz-Carlton, whose curriculum is centered on the notion that knowing your guest well is the ultimate show of hospitality. This valuable lesson would have served me well in reverse — it pays to know your host, too. Earlier that day, transiting from the airport to the ship anchored in Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour, I had mistaken the friendly man in the Ritz-Carlton-logo-embroidered vest outside the terminal for our driver. It was, in fact, the company’s then-CEO and founder, Douglas Prothero. I turned a deep shade of red, we laughed awkwardly, and he invited me to dinner anyway. (I still carry a deep sense of shame about the incident, the kind borne of strict German parents with impeccable manners; sorry, Mom and Dad.)

Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

It’s thanks to Prothero’s vision and the style of hospitality on board  Evrima  that Ritz-Carlton is differentiating itself in many ways on its long-awaited foray into the world of cruising. In fact, part of the experience — and for many, the appeal — is feeling like you’re not really on a cruise at all.

I came to think of  Evrima  less as a cruise ship and more as a luxurious floating villa. There are no restaurant buffets, no onboard announcements, no central pool, no nightclubs, and no bingo. Instead, there is privacy (cruises are limited to 298 passengers at any one time) and attention to detail. There are Nespresso machines, Fellow-branded tea kettles, and refillable metal water bottles in all the suites. Fine bone china and handcrafted ceramics grace the restaurant tables, and the main pool is a haven on the back of the megayacht-like ship rather than a focal point in the middle. The more diminutive size of the ship also means it can dock in smaller harbors than large cruise lines, offering guests more varied and intimate shore experiences, too.

This is all a very deliberate play to introduce a new breed of passenger to the open seas. Many of the guests who had joined this sailing were first-timers, including some of the ship’s crew, such as the general manager and the food and beverage director (who both came from the hotel arm of Ritz-Carlton). One of the major culinary concepts on board is also making its oceanic debut: the aptly named S.E.A. It’s spearheaded by chef Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred Aqua, the fine-dining restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The food on board is very good indeed, from the flavorful shakshuka with lamb merguez, spicy chickpeas, peppers, feta, and eggs I had for breakfast in the Evrima Room to the fiery Thai green curry with prawns, bok choy, and string beans I enjoyed for dinner at Talaat Nam. At S.E.A., I marveled at a clever “upside-down” vitello tonnato, a jewellike slice of tuna dotted with a punchy veal mayo and capers. But don’t just take my word for it; on my first night sitting at the sushi counter at Talaat Nam, a diner gleefully yelled, “The food is excellent!” across the dining room to the staff.

A day later, while we were moored in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, I bumped into Sammie, about to leave the ship for a few hours to celebrate a colleague’s birthday. “You’re most welcome to come along,” he said without hesitation, ever the good host.

2024 at a glance

Ritz-carlton yacht collection's evrima.

• 45 itineraries, from 4 to 11 nights
• 5 restaurants
• 6 bars and lounges
• 298 passengers
• 10-night Barcelona toTenerife, Canary Islands, from $8,700
• 7-night Bridgetown round trip (including Bequia, Grenada, and St. Lucia), from $6,900

Book these shore excursions

• Wines & Vineyards of Tenerife
• Savane des Esclaves Museum & Rum Tasting, Martinique
• Chocolate Making at Howelton Estate, St. Lucia

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This Cruise Life

Msc yacht club menus (2024) with pictures.

In January, we sailed on MSC Meraviglia for a 9-night cruise. Each night, we dined at the private Top Sail Restaurant – exclusive to Yacht Club guests. Because food is such an important part of our cruise experience, we captured every dinner menu to share with you.

To make it easier to digest (see what I did there!!), we’ve split the 9 dinners into 3 separate pages, complete with photos of the food. Scroll down to see just how well we ate during the course of our cruise!

MSC Yacht Club – Night One Dinner Menu

For our first dinner in the Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge, we each enjoyed multiple starters and entrées. We both ended our meal with the Tiramisu.

I got the Nordic Salad and the Fire-Roasted Tomato Cream Soup as my Starters. Because I couldn’t decide on my meal, I got two: the Tortellini Stuffed with Asparagus and Mascarpone Cheese along with the Punjabi Tadka.

MSC Yacht Club – Night Two Dinner Menu

The second night in the Top Sail Lounge was the Gala Dinner (aka, Formal Night). There were so many wonderful options on the menu, and we, once again, each ordered several appetizers!

I ordered the Williams Salad and Burgundy Snails (fun fact: escargot is one of my favorite starters). For my entrée, I ordered the Champagne Risotto. While I won’t rehash our Yacht Club Food Review on YouTube here, let’s just say it was one of the best dishes I had in the Yacht Club. I ended my meal with the Crepes Suzette.

MSC Yacht Club – Night Three Dinner Menu

Our third dinner in the Yacht Club’s Top Sail Lounge was no different than our previous nights; we couldn’t decide what to order! So, both Rocky and I each got several appetizers. I stuck with the risotto for my main as I enjoyed it so much the previous night and I finished off with the evening’s featured dessert.

To start, I had the Cream of Argenteuil Asparagus Soup from the “Deliciously Healthy” section of the menu. Side note: I find it kind of funny that the Deliciously Healthy section is placed directly under the full Desserts menu. haha

I also enjoyed the fried Asiago Cheese Fritters (definitely not from the Deliciously Healthy section). For my main, I ordered the Truffle Risotto. Again, I don’t want to give too much away, but WOW. This was fantastic; I highly recommend. Finally, for dessert I ordered the Cherries Jubilee which was flambéed by the maître d’. Extra points for both presentation and flavor. Once again, another highly recommended dish.

MSC Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge Menus

Keep on eating and enjoying; check out the next set of menus below:

• MSC Yacht Club Menus (2024) | Top Sail Lounge Nights 4, 5, and 6
• MSC Yacht Club Menus (2024) | Top Sail Lounge Nights 7, 8, and 9

Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge Full Review

We’re working on a complete dinner service food review from our time on board. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our YouTube channel so you’ll be notified when that goes live. In the meantime, check out our entire MSC Meraviglia YouTube Playlist !

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The MSC Meraviglia Yacht Club Experience Review

Doug Parker

• February 3, 2024

Doug talks with Mark and Rocky of TheCruiseLife this week about their nine-night cruise aboard MSC Meraviglia.

They dive into their bougie MSC Meraviglia Yacht Club experience, from exclusive embarkation to dedicated amenities like a butler, private lounge, dining room, and sun deck. They discuss the superior dining options, including specialty dishes and a unique cheese trolley, and the benefits of their status-matching loyalty program status.

One of MSC Cruises’ larger vessels , Mark and Rocky also touch on the onboard entertainment, the ship’s atmosphere, and ports of call, including a visit to MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay.

Find Rock and Mark’s coverage of MSC Meraviglia :

• ThisCruiseLife YouTube channel features their cruises across all lines.
• The MSC Meraviglia playlist has several videos from their sailing.
• Read the MSC Yacht Club experiences on ThisCruiseLife website .

MSC Meraviglia Review Transcript

Doug (00:01:01) – Mark and Rocky had just returned from a nine-night cruise aboard MSC Maravilla. It was out of New York City, in the Bahamas, Florida area, and staying in the yacht club. They join us on the line right now. Hey, guys, how are you?

Guest (00:01:16) – Good, Doug.

Doug (00:01:17) – I’m excited to talk about this because we haven’t had an MSC Yacht Club experience in a long time. We’ve had the ones that were like three-nighters and were fast, but I’m excited to hear what it’s like spending extended time beyond seven nights in that yacht club. So what we’ll do here before we get started, we’ll get some pre-cruise thoughts. You’re in the Phoenix area. What made you want to take this nine-niner out of New York City.

Guest (00:01:40) – Honestly, it was just the idea of getting to check out a new cruise line. We’ve been looking at MSC for a long time, and the idea that sailing out of New York in the heart of January, when it is very cold outside, uh, the pricing was very lucrative to get ourselves onto that ship, as well as to fly across the country to New York.

Guest (00:02:01) – So all the stars aligned and just made it worthwhile for us.

Doug (00:02:04) – Now, there were some, uh, a little bit of weather going through the country about the time when you all boarded. It might have missed you by a day or two. Did that impact your flights going into Manhattan?

Guest (00:02:14) – It did not impact the flights at all. It did impact sail away a bit. Um, as you can imagine, uh, the storms, uh, it was pretty rocky on the seas. Uh, it was really cool because it was the first time ever.

So we’ve been to Alaska several times, but it was the first time ever we’ve actually seen snow on a cruise ship. And so to see the crew, it was the first time many had seen snow on a cruise ship. And they were out running out, uh, TikTok ING and taking selfies. It was a really special experience, uh, being able to see that snowstorm.

Doug (00:02:48) – That is so cool.

Doug (00:02:49) – So did you any pre cruise time in the city before boarding in Brooklyn?

Guest (00:02:57) – You know, we always suggest that the best way to do it is to fly a day ahead of time. Uh, this time we flew in two days in advance to take some time and explore Brooklyn, because that’s where the cruise terminal is for MSC. And then we also took the subway into Manhattan and just kind of hung around Times Square, went to a couple of bars, a couple of restaurants, and, uh, just kind of got ourselves situated in New York before we set sail. We met up with we met up with one of, uh, the solo’s that I met on board, uh, Norwegian Cruise Line. So I did a Norwegian cruise line earlier in 2023. Uh, we met a bunch of solos in our solo cabins, and we actually met up with them to hang out, and they showed us New York, which was a ton of fun.

Guest (00:03:36) – You see.

Doug (00:03:36) – You never know what connections you’ll make on a ship, right? Right.

Guest (00:03:39) – Exactly.

Doug (00:03:40) – Yeah. It’s it’s so awesome. So you make your way to Brooklyn the following day and you go to embark MSC Maravilla. How was that embarkation process? And, did you get any kind of special treatment embarking since you were in the Yacht Club?

Guest (00:03:54) – Goodness gracious. It was an embark like none that I’ve ever experienced. We’ve all been through embark. We know the lines, we know the queues. We know all of the seating areas. Um, the moment that we got there, immediately there was signage for yacht club. And so the, the, the porter, the luggage porter whisked us over and tagged our bags with yacht club tags and pointed us to his colleague standing at the door with a yacht club sign. They literally escorted us through the terminal to our own dedicated security line for yacht club. Um, they didn’t have a they didn’t have us waiting in the general queue.

Guest (00:04:28) – And so we went through that security queue, uh, very quickly. And another, yet another Yacht Club representative whisked us to our private lounge, where they did one on one check ins with us, um, and then handed us glasses of champagne and canapés and sparkling water. Um, and it was a private area, very quiet, very secluded from the rest of the terminal. And we enjoyed mimosas and, uh, sparkling water, uh, that as we waited to board the ship.

Doug (00:04:57) – How long did it take you from curb to ship, then?

Guest (00:05:00) – It took us about an hour and a half. So unfortunately the the sailing before ours was the New Year’s cruise. And so they had a lot of passengers to disembark from that ship. So they were slightly delayed on clearing the ship down to zero counts for us to start the embark process. So yeah, about an hour and a half from when we arrived. Fortunately, the lounge was great. We had butlers in there waiting on us, so it was a really pleasant experience getting to stand around and wait until the ship was ready.

Guest (00:05:28) – Literally. Butlers, butlers, refilling our champagne glasses, walking around with bottles of champagne, saying, oh, would you like a refill on your champagne? Well, okay. Yes, we would love that.

Doug (00:05:38) – It’s like being stuck in an airport and being able to be in an airline lounge instead of in the regular common area, right? Just kind of, uh. Yeah, yeah, living it up in there. So you make your way on board the ship. You’re mentioning this was your first time on the ship. So what were your first impressions of MSC Meraviglia?

Guest (00:05:54) – So it’s kind of funny you ask that we didn’t actually get to see the whole ship for the first four hours that we were on board when they when the yacht club boards, we get priority boarding service. So they bring us into the main atrium, and that’s about the most of the ship we get to see. From there, we walk down a corridor of rooms to the very forward of the ship, where they have elevators that they can badge in, giving you priority access to the elevator.

Guest (00:06:21) – They loaded us into these elevators and took us up to the 16th deck where the topsail lounges, which is the exclusive lounge space for the top or the yacht club. Uh, and they put us in there with, again, more champagne and more canapés and live music that was being performed for us. So we spent most of the first four hours on board in that topsail lounge. Well, they took us from the Topsail Lounge. Then they opened up the Topsail Restaurant, the exclusive restaurant for yacht clubbers. And so we literally went from canapés and champagne up to the lunch in the Topsail restaurant.

Normally we run around taking pictures and exploring the ship. We literally were just kind of in the lap of luxury those first several hours onboard. Oh, we met our butler as well during that time. And so we didn’t actually leave the yacht club as Rocky mentioned, until about four hours after boarding.

Doug (00:07:12) – So a lot to unpack here. So I want to actually take a step back.

Doug (00:07:15) – And I want to ask, um, we were chatting before we started recording here, and you mentioned you had an upgrade offer. So how much of a premium, um, once you accept that upgrade, is it for the yacht club against just staying in a regular balcony cabin?

Guest (00:07:29) – So that’s exactly what we had booked. We booked a balcony cabin and received an offer to bid on an upgrade. Now, because we had already booked that balcony and paid for a balcony, the upgrade amount was not wildly expensive. I think it was. We we could have started the upgrade process offer at $300 per person. Wow. And Rocky was like, okay, should we just start there? And I was like, how often will we get to stay in the yacht club? We are maxing that bit out. And so I think we each maxed our bid out at about $600. So for another $1,200 or so plus tax and all of that stuff, um, we could move from the balcony we had into.

Guest (00:08:09) – We actually dug and bid for an interior yacht club cabin because we were like, okay, we’re just gonna make sure we get into this thing. Well, they were they must have been sold out because our dreams were answered. We got the upgrade and they put us into a deluxe suite.

Doug (00:08:24) – I love it. Let’s discuss that deluxe suite in the yacht club and give us all the details.

Guest (00:08:30) – As you walk in, the first thing that meets your eye is the size of this cabin. I would say that this cabin is the same depth as your standard balcony cabin that you find on any cruise ship. However, the width is probably equivalent to one and a half to anywhere up to two times the width of a standard balcony cabin. Huge space, um, between the foot of the bed and the credenza and wall units that they had where all of the minibar was located. There was probably a good 4 to 5ft of space between those two areas. Um, inside the bathroom, it was upgraded amenities.

Guest (00:09:05) – You had marble tile throughout, a very large, spacious walk in shower with a rainfall head, uh, or the rain shower head. Um, the balcony was the same width as the room, so it was a pretty sizable balcony. They only put two chairs and one side table out there, but you could have easily had another two. Uh, very large and spacious room.

Doug (00:09:29) – So the question is, how do you use the butler on your cruise? Well.

Guest (00:09:33) – You know, because we often have butlers on our cruises. Uh, I kid, um, it was the first experience. And so literally the butler introduced himself. We were in the room. He he knocked and came in and he said, what questions do you have for me? And we said, well, we don’t even know what questions to ask. And so he’s like, well, let’s start with your pillow selections. Are your pillows up to your liking? And Rocky joked, he’s like, well, we’ll sleep on him tonight and let you know.

Guest (00:09:59) – Um, but but the. Butler took care of our minibar, so he asked us specifically for our preferences in terms of sodas, juices and beers.

He asked for our liquor selection because the yacht club comes with a bottle, comes with bottle service, a single bottle. And so we, uh, we shared our, uh, bottle selection with him, and then he just let us know that he would be the person that would escort us to dinners if we wanted. He would escort us to the theater for shows.

He would arrange our bookings if we wanted to go to any specialty restaurant. And so it was, you know, Rocky and I asked as we were getting ready, we’re like, is this just going to be an upgraded room steward, like a room steward that wears a suit? Um, and no, it was it was significantly more than just a room steward. In fact, we had a junior butler as well and, and a third person who helped service the room.

Guest (00:10:50) – So there were three people servicing the room. But that Butler experience was really unique and new to us. Yes, I love it.

Doug (00:10:58) – So you were on there for nine nights. Was there enough space in your room to put everything?

Guest (00:11:01) – Yeah, there was um, I think one of the challenges that we discovered when we were unpacking our room was the closet space was a little bit smaller than what we’re used to on some of the other balcony rooms that we’ve had in the past. Um, the way it’s set up, you walk in and the, the closet space is your entrance to the bathroom.

And so it’s kind of a strange layout. We discovered that there were some challenges with that. However, there was a three-drawer storage space in the main room area that was part of the main. I don’t know what you call it. Credenza. Yeah. And so that actually made up for some of that lost space. And fortunately, these beds were designed to hold luggage under or suitcases under them.

Guest (00:11:41) – It was easy to unpack our room and get moved in for those nine days. Oh, and don’t forget both of the nightstands next to the bed. So there were additional storage tables next to the bed as well. And so there was plenty of storage. But to Rocky’s point that the closet seemed to be a little bit smaller than than other rooms.

Doug (00:11:59) – ThYacht Club is like Norwegian’s Haven, a ship within a ship concept. So outside of your room, what amenities did you have within your ship?

Guest (00:12:07) – I’m telling you, they design it so you don’t have to leave the yacht club. They tell you when you’re going through the booking process. They say it’s exclusive and it’s private. And that is very true. And so the entrance to the yacht club on each of the floors are glass doors. Truly. They look out into the elevator bank. I think MSC has designed it so that people can see in and you can see out, but you have to badge in and out to get in.

Guest (00:12:33) – And so the spaces are beautiful. They’ve got those crystal staircases. What are those crystals? The Swarovski, Swarovski, uh, staircases, the spiral staircases. So we would leave our room and take the staircase up to the next deck. Uh, the 16th deck, which is where the concierge was at the Topsail lounge. Topsail lounge was windows all at the front of the ship.

The view of of New York, we commented that was probably the best view of New York we’ve ever had in that topsail lounge. Oh yeah, the canopy. Like, there’s just so much to unpack in that, um, the full bar.

And then again, you take up another spiral staircase and you are there at the exclusive restaurant, and then one more spiral staircase up, and you are at deck 19, which is your dedicated, uh, lounging space, pool, and hot tub. There’s a daily buffet that they put up there for, for just yacht club guests, along with a bar.

Doug (00:13:23) – Let’s talk about some of the food on MSC Maravilla.

Doug (00:13:26) – Once you get out of your haven complex and go to the buffet with the common folk, how was the buffet and the food throughout the nine days?

Guest (00:13:34) – So we didn’t discover the buffet area until that first night. It was the second day that we discovered it. Yeah. Uh, now that I think back on the experience, um, we like to refer to those areas as Jen and Pop. And, uh, as we walked in to the buffet, we were we kind of felt like we were in someone else’s place. We didn’t feel like we knew that our way around, because we had spent so much time on the ship before we found the buffet. But once we did find it, I’ll tell you, Doug, we spent a good amount of time there, especially for late-night buffets. Uh, this was the first time that we’d really seen a cruise line dedicate a late-night buffet to its passengers consistently. Every night from midnight until 2 a.m..

Guest (00:14:14) – They served food. And we’re not just talking about just, you know, a quick little grab here and there. They have their pizzas available. They have little small sandwiches that you could grab. They had burgers and hot dogs. They sometimes had nachos. Sometimes, they would do a breakfast with some scrambled eggs and bacon every night. I think I got scrambled eggs and bacon every single night of the cruise.

They had the healthy corner like they had salads. And so it wasn’t even just that fried stuff that you sometimes find on the late night buffet. They had salads in a healthy corner. I mean, it was the largest. So we’ve seen late night buffets right on Carnival. We’ve seen it on, uh, we’ve seen it on the other lines. This was the I mean, it was the size of a regular buffet at from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m.. It brought me back to old days of cruising.

Doug (00:14:57) – Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sounds like it. So for your main. You were mentioning.

Doug (00:15:01) – You had your dining room in the topsail area. So how was the dining in the yacht club, and was there much of a selection like, do they rotate the menus? How does that play out?

Guest (00:15:12) – Very much a dedicated menu for the, uh, those that were in the yacht club. Um, the options that they, they had on the menu, there was some mirroring that happened to the main dining rooms on the ship, but they were elevated to a different level with the offerings and the types of food. Uh, there was a selection of classics that were served every night.

For example, you could get your classic filet mignon, or a salmon would be available. And I think they also had a lobster on that classics menu. On the classics menu, you had lobster and filet mignon. I mean, this is this is next level here. Right. And then uh, for the regular offerings every day they had a rotation of several different items. Usually there was a daily result of that was available.

Guest (00:15:53) – There was also a different daily lamb that was on the menu. Uh, so definitely a higher caliber of food offerings on the menu. And the way that they were prepared and plated were very beautiful. Uh, you had, of course, your main waiter and then you had your, your waiters’ assistants and they would all work in harmony together to deliver your breads, appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

Speaking of desserts, don’t forget that the maitre d would flambé the dessert. So we had cherries jubilee one night where he flambé and served that, um, they, they did the cheese trolley where they would literally, they literally had a cheese trolley where you could choose the cheeses and, and jams and jellies that you wanted as part of your dessert option. It was it was definitely. Where do you find a risotto on a cruise on the difficulty to actually prepare that correctly for the masses. Um, you can’t do that. But you can in a private small restaurant that’s dedicated to a subset of your passengers.

Doug (00:16:53) – And how were the lines up there?

Guest (00:16:57) – We don’t know what you mean by lines.

Doug (00:17:00) – Fair enough.

Guest (00:17:02) – Yeah, because there was such a small capacity within the yacht club itself on the ship. Right. And because you only have those people that have access to it, our dining times for dinner was available from 6 p.m. until 830.

That was when you could get seated, and it was open to your time. Whenever you wanted to go in, you would show up. There was one knife that I can think of, and I believe it was the second gala night. We had to wait maybe three minutes, maybe get seated. Yeah. Um, overall, the amount of seating that they have both in the lounge and the restaurant are ample for the number of people that are in there, and they know that they’re going to turn over tables throughout the evening from guests that are doing early versus later dining.

Doug (00:17:42) – Did you enjoy any specialty dining on board this one?

Guest (00:17:45) – So this sailing specifically, we chose to stick to the yacht club so that we could capture each of the menus and actually record some reviews each dinner. We actually are right now looking at booking, uh, another MSC cruise, we committed to ourselves that we would do a yacht club and we would do non-Yacht Club. And so that is where that’s sailing, where we plan to actually explore some of those additional, um, upstairs upcharge specialty restaurants. But for this sailing we literally stuck to the Yacht Club restaurant. That exclusive restaurant.

Doug (00:18:16) – I meant to ask you, before you sailed, did you do the status match with them?

Guest (00:18:20) – Yeah, both of us actually ended up doing status match. Um, with Mark having diamond status with Carnival and I have platinum status, we were both able to match into their gold status or gold level with the Voyagers club.

Doug (00:18:33) – So you stepped right into gold. So do you know, like what that gets you compared to just being a first-time MSC cruiser?

Guest (00:18:39) – Great question.

Guest (00:18:40) – Because, uh, MSC is not known for their loyalty program having the strongest perks, but what it did get us is it it got us a welcome back reception where they had cocktails, which when you’re in the yacht club, it doesn’t really have a huge impact. Uh, because we had champagne up and up in our private lounge.

We also got a little gift. It was a little backpack or drawstring backpack that we got. There’s also when you’re part of the when you’re part of the loyalty program, you get a discount on sailings with MSC, and on future sailings with MSC. And so I think it’s a 5% discount that you get as, as a member of that level. And so there are some perks.

They don’t actually do priority. Like many lines have priority boarding and don’t do that until you hit their very top level, which is diamond. And that’s the only group with priority boarding and demarcation. So that’s our goal. My goal is to hit Diamond on Carnival and MSC.

Guest (00:19:36) – We’ll see how long it takes.

Doug (00:19:37) – Double diamond. There you go.

Guest (00:19:39) – I like it I like.

Doug (00:19:40) – That. How about around the ship like you mentioned Carnival. So we’ll stick with that. Uh, they have the guys burger joint, which is complimentary dining. Does MSC have anything like that around the ship? Kind of a grab and go type place. Yeah.

Guest (00:19:52) – So, uh, it was kind of surprised. And that was one of the conversations that we had at Post Cruise is the fact that there really aren’t those. Types of grab and go quick serve restaurants on board. You do have the buffet, which is very well divided. They have their ethnic corner and they have their pastas, and they have a pizza spot and some burgers, but it’s really only confined to that area as well as the main dining restaurant restaurants. Aside from that, everything is upcharge. They have a Mexican place that’s an upcharge. They have, uh, I can’t remember all of them. There’s a there’s a couple other ones.

Guest (00:20:27) – One thing that I would call out that was unique, that I’ve never seen before on any of our sailings, is they had a kid’s buffet, a dedicated buffet for the kids so that they didn’t have to be in the main area of the buffet. And then the only other kind of separate areas that they had were out on the lido deck.

They had that kind of they had like side buffets. It was the same buffet food on the inside of the buffet, but it was just right outside on Lido, so you didn’t have to go in. But there was no you know, I think about even Celebrity Apex had the burger and fries station and Carnival and all of their side restaurants that they have that are included. None of that. It is focused on the buffet and their and their main dining room for the included options.

Doug (00:21:10) – Let’s discuss the entertainment on board Maravilla. I know that MSC gave up the Cirque partnership located at the back of the ship. What’s going on back there now?

Guest (00:21:22) – So I will say that we were pleasantly surprised with the show performances that were put on in the main Broadway theater, which is their main theater in the forward of the ship. We actually attended one of the Meet the cast type of, uh, presentations, if you will, and we had a really great interaction with them.

We found out that all of the shows in that forward lounge were designed specifically for that cast and this ship. So in all, we were very impressed and enjoyed all of the shows we saw in that forward lounge. Now, going to your question about Cirque du Soleil partnership, you can see that there still is some residual, um, design with the shows that they have in that back lounge that does still exist, they still do aerial acts, and we very much enjoyed those performances. But one thing to be aware of is MSC still continues to consider that an upcharge and add-on type of experience.

Guest (00:22:20) – So if you buy it on the ship, it’s $18 a person to get into one of those shows. The nice thing is they sweeten the deal because they throw a drink at you that you can enjoy during the show, but it’s definitely a bit different of an experience than what we’ve seen on most of the other cruise lines.

Doug (00:22:37) – Gotcha. And did you guys, uh, like, what kind of show was you mentioned? It was like an acrobatics thing, but it was just an MSC-branded show.

Guest (00:22:47) – Yeah. So they put on a magic show. Houdini is the name of the show. And so there’s a lot of singing, dancing, acrobats flying through the air, and a little juggling and jumping out into the audience. And so definitely had, I would say Cirque vibes, but just not with the branding. But to Rocky’s point, they’re still charging that upcharge for the Cirque like show.

Doug (00:23:10) – Gotcha. Okay. Historically, MSC Cruise Entertainment is more visual and less like comedians because of the international audience. Is it like this on MSC Meraviglia?

Guest (00:23:22) – Actually, no. I feel like there was a lot, a lot of the presentations that we saw were done primarily in English, surprisingly. Okay. Uh, the one thing that caught us off guard was the overhead announcements.

Anytime the captain would make his announcements, it would always be done by the captain. Again in Italian. Uh, during the safety briefings when we were on the embark day, they were doing announcements in both English and Mandarin. For safety reasons, there were so many Mandarin-speaking passengers on board. But overall, most of the shows were done and performed in English leading up to the show’s start.

They would do a couple of announcements in Mandarin and Italian and English and German. So they did do several pre-calls for those shows. But overall the actual shows themselves were primarily in English, if there was any speaking at all. Yeah, it turns out it turns out those songs are universal. You know, the journey is universal across all languages.

Doug (00:24:19) – Let’s talk about the sea days. As far as crowds and congestion, I know that you were up there in the yacht club for probably most of it, but as you made your way further south, you mentioned the snow on the sail out, but that it eventually warm up once you got around the Carolinas or Florida.

Guest (00:24:36) – Warmed up is relative. Uh, it was warmer than than the snow, but we there weren’t a lot of folks spending time out on deck or making use of of the water slides. Um, it was still pretty chilly until, honestly, the nicest day we had was in Nassau. And so it took us, uh, five days into the cruise before the weather was, was to a point where you would want to actually be out on deck or layout, you know, you could be out. I mean, we were like, jackets and jeans, uh, throughout the sailing. Uh, but but it wasn’t it didn’t get really warm until we got down into the Bahamas.

Doug (00:25:07) – As far as the crowds and congestion around the ship, was there any of that since everyone was inside?

Guest (00:25:16) – Really? Honestly, the only crowds we experienced were in the Meraviglia Galleria Meraviglia, which is a domed area. If you deck six and deck seven, it’s a two-story area. They’ve got a beautiful dome, similar to the Fremont Experience in Las Vegas, where they’ve got that led that runs almost the entirety of the ship. That’s where they would do many of their dance parties and events, because it was too cold up on deck to do it.

We didn’t feel that space was designed to host those parties. And so it’s a throughput for traffic on the ship. And so you’ve got people trying to make their way throughout the ship and people dancing and singing. And that was really the only time we felt like we were crowded, or that we were kind of annoyed a little bit by the traffic flow of the ship. Otherwise I would I would tell you, we didn’t feel crowds, even the buffet, the buffets, were sometimes a little bit busy, but but not to the point where we’ve seen it wear on other lines.

Guest (00:26:12) – What did you think of that promenade area with the ceiling that lights up?

Guest (00:26:15) – Beautiful. Uh, we were stunned by the design and how gorgeous that space was, and they really maximize the usage of those LED screens throughout the sailing, including on Embark day, when they’re showing you where all of the different muster stations are located. But overall, that space was beautiful.

It was definitely wide enough to walk through it when there wasn’t an event happening, you could easily take yourself up onto the next deck up and look down from the mezzanine and really enjoy the sights and the and sounds and even the smells coming from the chocolate factory. As you were sailing along, so it was very enjoyable.

Speaking of speaking of those multi-use screens, remember, even on the welcome back party, they played the Welcome Back video that that that MSC sizzle reel. They played the video thing. Welcome back. I appreciate your loyalty. They played that up on those screens. And so literally everyone at the Welcome Back party headed to the sky watching them talk about what a great experience MSC is.

Doug (00:27:11) – The casino. How was that as far as the smoking situation in and around it?

Guest (00:27:17) – They had a smoke-free casino. It appears that it was an afterthought based on our conversations with the other passengers on board. The smoke-free casino was nice. However, they didn’t have any gaming tables for the smoke-free gamblers.

Now, the exciting thing was the placement of the Cirque theater. You have to walk through the smoking casino to get to the theater, which was kind of a strange setup, but the way the casino was set up. They put the main bar in the center of it. So you’re not diving into the main casino itself. Overall, the casino seemed like a pretty ample size, comparable to what we’re familiar with on some of Carnival’s Vista ships .

Doug (00:27:59) – Okay. Very cool. So, let’s talk about the ports of call you hit on this nine-night cruise. And what we’ll do here is hit the first one, give us a highlight, then we’ll go to the next one and so on.

Guest (00:28:10) – The first cruise port we visited was the exotic location, Port Canaveral in Florida. We had something else arranged. We have some really good friends that we’ve also met through going on cruises who live in the Orlando area, they ended up picking us up, and we had a fun day at SeaWorld for the day. So, it’s definitely a little bit different. We didn’t book anything through MSC because we’ve been to Port Canaveral before, so we wanted to check it out through the locals.

Doug (00:29:01) – So what was after Port Canaveral?

Guest (00:29:04) – Next was Miami and the day was unexpected. Icon of the Seas was scheduled to arrive in Miami the day before.

However, due to the weather, they kept her out for an extra day. And so we literally got to see icon of the seas sail. And we did a live, uh, we did a YouTube live where we streamed her sailing into Port Miami for the first time. We watched her turn around in the basin, return, and dock at the Royal Caribbean Terminal. There.

We got off the ship, and we hiked our excursion that day. We hiked about a mile up to the Royal Caribbean Terminal, climbed up to the very top of the parking garage, Royal Caribbean parking garage, and we just took pictures and filmed a bunch of stuff up there because it was like such a wow moment for for a couple of cruise nerds.

Doug (00:29:53) – Yeah. No, definitely. So after Nassau, you headed over to the Bahamas. Uh, what was the first Bahamas port?

Guest (00:29:59) – We first stopped at MSC’s Private Island, MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. It’s a beautiful private island destination.

You can tell that MSC put a lot of thought and consideration when they were designing this port. It’s huge. It is massive, huge. And it’s nice because the ship can dock directly onto the port there, instead of you having to do a water shuttle taxi service to get in.

It is a very large and sprawling island, with tons of places for people to go out and lounge and layout, grab food, and have a nice relaxing day. Now. Now they don’t have, you know, big water parks and they don’t have hot air balloons that go up in the air like some, you know, private islands do. But but I mean, it had everything that you could want.

Guest (00:30:48) – It had many different beaches. Uh, to Rocky Point food trucks, uh, included food trucks throughout the island, as well as some upcharge food trucks where you could get, you know, seafood, you could get your lobster rolls and some of that fresh seafood.

Doug (00:31:00) – You were in the yacht club, right? So I know they have that yacht club area on the other side of the island, like on the other side from where the ship docks. How was that space, or I guess, did you utilize that space? And would you think of it if you did?

Guest (00:31:12) – Yeah, we actually, uh, as soon as we got off of the ship via escort from our butler. It’s just fun to say that. I’m sorry. Uh, we were escorted over to the yacht club’s meeting point, where they picked us up by golf cart and drove us to that exclusive area. It just made it a little bit easier to get there so we can maximize our time. Uh, the area is referred to as the Ocean House.

And so that’s actually where they serve lunch. And it’s a lovely, large colonial-style building. Uh, the lunch there included amazing bites from a lobster roll to crab ceviche. The ceviche was so good. The beach was delicious. Uh, they also had your standard fare of burgers on the menu, and then a couple of salads and other options.

Overall, it was a great area. As you approached it, there was signage, so you knew it was reserved for the yacht club guests. Uh, there was a private beach. And that’s the one downside that I would say about the exclusive area is the Yacht Club’s Ocean House. The beach is probably the least nice of the beaches that are found on the island.

It’s a little bit rough. Uh, there’s some larger sand bits, if you want to call them that. Uh, so getting in the water makes it a bit tough. And due to the weather that we encountered, we really didn’t even touch the water because we touched the water.

We just didn’t get into the water. It’s it’s rocky, says sand. But I would say sharp rock. So the folks that had been there before had water shoes and were in the water. That was a that’s a great tip. If you’re going to Ocean Cay and in the yacht club, make sure to bring water shoes because. It will make your day better.

Doug: .That’s a good tip. There are a lot of beaches around the island so you get to explore most of them?

We did. We met people on the cruise, as we always do on cruises. And so we went out and we got to explore a little bit with them. In hindsight, I wish we had done the exploration first because it started to pour. Uh, it started to downpour and it was a cold downpour in the Bahamas. And so we we didn’t get to explore as much as we’d like, but we got to see several of the lagoons.

Guest (00:33:15) – We got to see the lighthouse. We got to enjoy one of the food trucks. We did eat at one of the food trucks just so we could say we, you know, ate with our friends. Um, Rocky. Rocky always says we ate with the common people. Um, and so we enjoyed the food on the mainland. And then there’s shops, there’s shops, there’s you can buy ice cream cones and various things on land as well. Before we headed back to the ship. And, and unfortunately, that was the only we were this point spoiled us, Doug. Um, we were looking for our butler escort back onto the ship, but but there was not one on to the ship. And so we had to wait in the rain with the rest of the ship that had all run back to get onto the ship as well.

Doug (00:33:55) – Oh, no. Horrible. Did you get to stay at night to see the lighthouse lit up? Yeah.

Guest (00:34:01) – Back on board wasn’t scheduled until 8:00 that evening. Uh, most of the passengers had embarked on the ship by about 330 or 4 due to the weather, but we stayed docked there, and we were wondering about that lighthouse show because we’d heard about it. And so we went to the concierge, who gave us a great recommendation on where to go to view it, so we could also hear the music playing through the show.

Uh, and so we had the opportunity to watch it and it was impressive. We enjoyed it. And hopefully, we’ll be able to return to Ocean Cay again in the future, where we won’t encounter poor weather. We can be on the beach and see the light show from the ground.

And because of the concierge tip, we know the crew smoking area on MSC Meraviglia. And so it was a great tip and we got to hang out with crew as they watched the light show.

Doug (00:34:54) – He probably know this, but if you’re ever feeling energetic or you want to work out, you can climb that lighthouse. It’s like $15 or 20 maybe, but you got some great views up there and there’s quite a few steps, so, uh, yeah, pack your energy. Yeah.

Guest (00:35:06) – No. And that’s another reason why we want to go back. You know, I don’t think, uh, the weather was really in our favor to be able to do that type of an excursion, but definitely in the books for us to do it again.

Doug (00:35:16) – So your final port of call was Nassau. How was your day there?

Guest (00:35:19) – Nassau was great. Uh, as Mark had mentioned, it was the best weather that we saw on the entire cruise, and we were a little bummed that it was our final port day, but we made the most of it. We were docked in Nassau with four other ships. So a standard busy Nassau day. Uh, nothing unusual there.

Guest (00:35:36) – Uh, we have a tradition whenever we’re in Nassau, where we go visit a rum distillery in a little bit deeper into town. And so we decided to do that at this time. We took the trek and walked around and checked out the updates that they made to the port of Nassau, because that was our first time there since they did all the construction since they finished the construction.

Yeah, we’ve been several times during. Yeah. And then from there we walked up to the distillery and enjoyed a little tasting up there before returning to the port and getting on the ship. It was a pretty quiet day, but we’re looking forward to the opportunity to get to lay out on deck on the cruise ship before sail away took place.

Doug (00:36:12) – Yeah, perfect day for it. So you leave Nassau for a couple of days and you head back to Brooklyn. How were your sea days going up?

Guest (00:36:19) – The weather, I will say, was more cooperative on the way back, but. So it wasn’t as bumpy and rocky, but there were times when you would sleep at night and roll on or you would.

Guest (00:36:31) – You knew you were on a ship. You know, when Rocky and I first boarded, one of the things we commented as we were sitting in, I think it was the topsail restaurant. After spending time in the lounge, we said, we don’t feel like we’re on a cruise ship, but you just felt like you were almost at an all-inclusive resort.

We knew we were on a cruise ship on the sea days out and on the sea days back. The weather was left, the ocean a bit rocky. We had some. You saw some gale-force winds. There were some swells, but they had the magnetic, uh, bags out, the thick bags out in the elevator banks. They had those out for, for all of the passengers. We did talk to several folks who said they might not sail again in January, but but we liked it. But I know the sign us up.

Doug (00:37:18) – So it’s time to get off the ship in Brooklyn.

Doug (00:37:20) – Was the process as smooth and bougie as that embark?

Guest (00:37:25) – I love that you say the bougie because it continued through. Uh, we always go for a very relaxed, dark morning. We try to stay on the ship as long as possible.

We book later flights knowing that there’s always the possibility that a ship could be delayed returning to port. Uh, and fortunately for us, the ship did arrive on time, however. We didn’t end up disembarking from the ship until much later.

We we decided to go down and have breakfast down in the main restaurant, the topsail restaurant, in the yacht club area. And once we were done eating there, we went down to the lounge and enjoyed a quick beverage and a couple of little canapés. You know, just trying to get our last bits in and chatted with the bartenders.

The bartenders were tremendously friendly the entire sailing, and we just hung out with them and enjoyed some coffee and drinks. Yep. And then once we were ready to get off of the ship, we went to the concierge and actually, we ended up seeing our butler at the concierge desk, and he offered to help us get off the ship.

Guest (00:38:26) – And so he took Marc’s two suitcases that he was carrying from his hands and wheeled them to the elevator, took us down to the lower deck, and wheeled us over to where they take you off the ship. Or they scan your card to say you are officially disembarked from the ship. So we continued that experience as long as we could.

And the cool thing about the luggage program, if you decide to put your luggage out the night before the cruise ends, all of the yacht club luggage gets delivered to one specific spot, so you’re not rushing to get off.

You’re not rushing to go find where your luggage was placed. When it’s in that terminal building, it’s very easy to locate and get to pick up your suitcases and you’re on your way. Once again, those yacht club signs. Right this way. Um, a dedicated area, even for your luggage.

Doug (00:39:16) – Awesome. Very cool. Does Brooklyn have facial recognition for the dark?

Guest (00:39:21) – Yes they did. We were very excited when we saw that we’re getting off the ship.

Doug (00:39:25) – Yeah. It sure makes a difference. Looking back here as first-time MSC cruisers and in the yacht Club, do you have any first-time tips to offer anyone sailing MSC or sailing out of Manhattan?

Guest (00:39:39) – Uh, goodness gracious. If you get that upgrade offer and it’s within your means, you bid that upgrade offer up. Suppose you can get into the yacht club from a balcony. That would be my biggest tip because not only does it include all of those amenities that we’ve talked about. They grant you into the premium drinks package as well.

So the premium drinks package on this sailing would have been 790 a person, a person. We paid less for the entire yacht club experience, including those premium drinks. It included Wi-Fi on each of our devices, and it included all of those exclusive amenities that we’ve talked about.

And so that would be my number one tip is if you get that offer to upgrade to the yacht club, really look at what it would cost you to have that experience and just individually and take that for serious take.

Guest (00:40:29) – Be serious about that. And if you can get that upgrade and it’s in your means, do it. Yeah, absolutely. And then I would also say the other thing is that this cruise ship departs out of the Brooklyn terminal.

So instead of paying the 60 plus dollars that it would cost to get an Uber or a lift, you could take the subway, and the train system, all of which will be super easy to get over there. And there’s a water taxi or ferry. Ferry, I guess it is, uh, that takes you from Wall Street.

If you were to go into Manhattan and stay the night out there, you can quickly get onto the ferry from Wall Street over to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Easy. And it’s quite cost-effective.

Doug (00:41:09) – Yeah, that’s one thing I’ve heard over the years is that a lot of people who are doing cruises out of either Brooklyn or Manhattan, they kind of get taken by surprise how much it actually cost to get from the airport to the cruise port.

Doug (00:41:20) – But a little extra research can save you quite a few bucks, and it’s not that bad. I think it’s.

Guest (00:41:25) – Scarier being in New York traffic. Quite honestly. When we the Uber, we took an Uber from the hotel to the cruise terminal. I think that was scarier than the subway was, you know, the night before when we had flown in. And so, yes, I think it’s great.

Doug (00:41:41) – Well, looking back, what was your biggest highlight of this cruise?

Guest (00:41:56) – I would say the biggest highlight was probably being in the yacht club. What a treat it was for us to be able to experience that. Um, it was so exciting walking into the Topsail Lounge in that exclusive yacht Club area, no matter how many times a day we walked in there, we always discovered new canopies that were waiting for us to try.

Guest (00:42:17) – The bartenders and servers in the topsail lounge were all very friendly. They started to get to know us, what drinks we enjoyed the most, and they would start making recommendations based on the spirits we were drinking to make our journey that much more enjoyable. I think for me, um, one of the best bites of food I’ve had on a cruise ship was, uh, in the Eden restaurant onboard Celebrity Apex.

And I would say fast forward. That was a couple of years back now for Thanksgiving. But fast forward to this. To have that daily rotating risotto to me was a surprise and delight that menu in Topsail restaurant. You just don’t see food like that on a cruise ship. And it was fantastic.

And it was included in that experience. It wasn’t we weren’t, you know, dropping 150 for the meal. It was included in that yacht club experience. That, to me was a surprise and delight.

Guest (00:43:10) – I did not expect how good and high-quality that food would be.

Doug (00:43:22) – Well, uh, in closing here, your final thoughts of MSC Maravilla.

Guest (00:43:27) – the MSC Meraviglia is a gorgeous ship. MSC did a great job in designing and developing this class of ship. The size of it was great. We did have a lower capacity on the ship during our sailing, but we still managed to have a great time. We met a lot of great friends.

We found places to call our own that maybe we’re not in the yacht club specifically. Still, we discovered the Sky lounge as a great place to meet people and to be able to enjoy the company of others that were not a part of the yacht club, and really just kind of put ourselves with the rest of the population that was sailing. Very good. The Champagne Bar was another one of my favorites. That the Edge bar.

Guest (00:44:09) – The champagne bar, you know, that looked out over the water as the ship was sailing. That was great. Those champagne cocktails were excellent. And that’s the beauty, right? When you have. We would flash our yacht club bracelets and I will tell you, I joke. I’ve made this joke now lines would disappear and people would just randomly appear.

Servers would appear, you flash that yacht club bracelet and it didn’t matter what bar we were at, if we were at the horizon bar, after the champagne bar, or at the Sky lounge, they just showed up and took such great care of us. You can tell that even the rest of the ship is trained to pay attention to yacht club guests, because it was just such a fantastic experience.

I’m excited to go back on MSC Meraviglia in in the in the standard amenities in the non-yacht club amenities to be able to experience it truly and compare and contrast to be able to talk about what does that value look like and how it feels to sit down in the main dining room each night for dinner versus in your dedicated restaurant? And so I am excited to get back on the ship.

Guest (00:45:10) – We’ve looked we’ve booked on the inaugural on MSC World America, World America. And so it was it was a great experience and great sailing. And so MSC gets a lot of bad rap out there. There’s a lot of negativity about people who love or hate it. And I will tell you from our experience where we’re looking at booking two more already. So it was it was in it was in a really good category for us.

Doug (00:46:34) – Awesome. We’ll link to it also in the show notes at Cruise Radio dot net. Mark Rocky, thank you all so much.

Guest (00:46:40) – Thank you so much, Doug.

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THROW OFF THE LINES AND STEP ABOARD.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection onboard features have been expertly designed to enlighten, enliven, and excite. Like the slower pace lifestyle of a superyacht, life on board is laid back and casual, with a sense of freedom and flexibility. Spaces are designed to embrace the natural surroundings, with walls of glass that flow seamlessly toward the sea and elegant yet comfortable décor. And thanks to a spectacular space ratio of more than 89 square feet per guest, there’s room to accommodate the luxuries of a boutique resort, including a full-service spa and a generous collection of aquatic recreational activities. Evenings can be enjoyed with cocktails and live music in the Living Room or late-night dancing in the Observation Lounge. A local celebrity may be on board for a specially curated performance. Or some may prefer to head for a club in town to take in the local scene. 

Immerse yourself in a life untethered aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s  luxury all-inclusive cruises . Discover standout luxury yacht features including a lounge, marina-style water sports, and the world-famous Ritz-Carlton onboard spa. Relax, unwind, and unplug among luxury cruise features that beckon guests to live elevated and unencumbered.  

MARINA AND MARINA TERRACE

Sitting right at the water’s edge, the Marina offers sun loungers and a generous choice of water toys. Like a private beach with seamless entry into the sea, it’s the go-to spot while at anchor. Just steps above, the Marina Terrace serves handcrafted cocktails and light bites with stunning views. 

THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA®

Exceptional massages, facials, and a variety of locally inspired treatments await you within our serene onboard oasis. Enjoy a rejuvenating spa treatment in one of five private rooms, or al fresco, paired with ocean views. Plus, a full-service Beauty Lounge, Gentleman’s Grooming Salon, as well as a sauna, steam room and quiet zones allow you to truly disconnect. Reservations required, additional fee applies.

An infinity oasis of blue is just steps away from The Pool House, where guests can enjoy all-day dining. Frozen treats, whirlpools to soak in, and refreshing water mistings pamper guests on the sun loungers and banquettes. A spacious venue for deck parties and open-air movies. 

THE FITNESS STUDIO

The Fitness Studio is home to a health and wellness program that integrates fitness and spa with lectures and nutrition that can be customized for each guest. From personal training to sunrise yoga and mat Pilates, each voyage has opportunities to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

THE LIVING ROOM

Bold shades of blue reflecting the sea provide a vibrant accent to the yacht’s gathering place, with its chic, comfortable furnishings and library with travel guides and best sellers. Diffused lighting transforms the space into a cocktail lounge with piano bar, dancing and live music later on, making The Living Room one of the most popular Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection onboard features.

THE BOUTIQUE

From exclusive sportswear and branded apparel to jewelry and leather goods, leading labels offer enticing options. In select ports, your shopping experience is further enhanced by bespoke collaborations with local artisans who come on board to showcase their offerings.

Entertainment and Enrichment

Like the yacht itself, entertainment and enrichment onboard are an intimate affair. Our in-house classical and jazz musicians will provide highly personal performances across the many venues onboard throughout each voyage. The yacht's leisurely pace offers the freedom and flexibility for our team to arrange fully immersive cultural experiences both onboard and ashore. From partnerships with the local arts and music communities to discussions led by renowned experts and lecturers, each experience is designed to stir the senses in an uncommonly profound way. Our commitment to immersive and enriching entertainment offerings sets our luxury cruise features apart from others.  

THE OBSERVATION LOUNGE

Top-deck views erase the borders between land and sea, an inspired setting for lounging, cocktails or socializing. At twilight, the space is transformed into a venue with cocktails and live entertainment, extending into a late-night hangout. Whether exploring on luxury repositioning cruises, luxury Baltic cruises, US-based cruises, or anything in between, The Observation Lounge is your vantage point for sightseeing anywhere at sea. 

ONBOARD DRESS CODE

The dress code on board the yacht reflects the luxury lifestyle of The Ritz-Carlton and casual freedom of a yachting vacation. During the day for breakfast and lunch, the dress code is Yacht Casual, wherein shirts, shoes, and bathing suit cover-ups are required when not at the pool. During the evening, for dinner, bathing suits and sleeveless t-shirts are not permitted, and shirts and shoes are required throughout the yacht. When dining in The Evrima Room, Talaat Nam and S.E.A. the dress code is Yacht Sophisticated — meaning collared shirts are not required, but highly recommended. Ball caps, hats, shorts, and flip-flops are not permitted during dinner service. There are no formal nights on board.

Families exploring the world together are welcome aboard The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. With its own dedicated space on board, Ritz Kids® is an educational and fun-filled program that encourages children to explore the world around them. Enhanced services will be available during holidays and summer months. 

THE HUMIDOR

Cap off your day with a premium cognac in this intimate lounge with its comfortable furnishings. An excellent selection of premium hand-rolled cigars is showcased in the state-of-the-art humidor.

Locally owned and operated for 23 years

Yacht StarShip IV

Overview:  Florida’s largest 150-passenger dining yacht! At 124 feet this exquisite yacht has three decks, a main dining room, lounge deck and Promenade deck.

Dining:   Cocktail, seated dining, and buffet options available from our award-winning menu, freshly prepared daily by our Executive Chef and Galley staff.

Entertainment:  Dazzling entertainment for dancing on the lounge deck. The Cruise Director (DJ) can play to any crowd, making the dance floor the most popular place to be after dining.

Weddings:  Ceremonies for 125 on the Promenade deck, bridal suite, lounge deck and main dining room make this yacht ideal for wedding parties of 125 passengers or less.

Exterior Decks: The Promenade deck can accommodate 125 guests for 360-degree views, feels like you’re floating 30 feet off the water. You can see it all!

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The bourgeois charm of Siberia's oil capital

If you’re driving west across Russia from the Pacific Ocean, the first thing that you notice upon entering the city of Tyumen is the McDonalds. Tyumen has long been one of the only Siberian cities with a McDonalds restaurant. Although the fast-food giant has plans to open locations in nearby Novosibirsk and other regional cities, Siberia still contains one of the longest distances on earth outside of Africa where you can remain on a major highway and not see a McDonalds. Until you reach Tyumen, that is.

A stop in Tyumen provides an interesting glimpse into how modern Russia’s oil revenue has influenced Siberia’s oldest Russian city. Tyumen is a great stopover point on the Trans-Siberian Railroad and a short ride from Yekaterinburg (five hours) or Tobolsk (four hours).

In the 16th century, Russia started expanding eastward into parts of Central Asia ruled by the Tatars, an Islamic people who still live thoughout Russia. A band of Cossacks wrested control of Tyumen from the Tatars in 1580. Six years later, Russians established a fort in Tyumen on the Tura River.

For centuries, Tyumen vied with the nearby city of Tobolsk—once the official capital of Siberia—for the prestige of the region’s most important city. Tyumen won in the end, when the Trans-Siberian Railroad bypassed Tobolsk and was routed through this now oil-rich city.

Tyumen played an important role in Russian history during times of war. At the beginning of the Russian Civil War, the Bolshevik Red Army slowly pushed the White Army, commanded by Admiral Alexander Kolchak, into Siberia. Kolchak and his anti-Bolshevik forces holed up in Tyumen until the Red Army overtook them in January of 1918.

During the Second World War, many Russian industries were moved away from the front to Siberian cities. Tyumen had already become an industrial capital during the early Soviet era, and the city became an ideal spot to relocate Russia’s western factories. As Nazi forces approached Russia in 1941, the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin was sent from the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow’s Red Square by train to the Tyumen State Agricultural Academy for safekeeping. In 1945, Lenin’s body was shipped back to Moscow.

Some of the factories relocated to Tyumen during wartime remained in the city. The discovery of oil in the region catapulted Siberia’s oldest Russian settlement to further prosperity. Modern Tyumen is a vibrant city with a number of universities and a revamped center well-suited for exploration by foot.

Start your walking tour around central Tyumen on Ulitsa Respubliki. The city’s main drag has fine pedestrian walkways and leads wanderers past an impressive collection of tsarist-era buildings that recall Tyumen’s importance in the beginning of Russia’s colonization of Siberia.

From the southeastern end of Ul. Respubliki, head north toward the Tura River and take a brief side trip onto Ul. Ordzhonikidze to visit the Fine Arts Museum (47 Ul. Ordzhonikidze) which houses exhibits of classical Russian and Soviet art as well as traditional bone carving and works produced by the native people who live in the far north of Tyumen Oblast.

Back on Ul. Respubliki, you’ll soon see the city’s requisite Lenin statue by the local government buildings. A block away, opposite Lenin, is Tyumen’s city park, a delightful place to walk or hop on one of its amusement rides.

Most Siberian cities developed under the watchful eyes of the atheist Soviet regime and churches are usually not Siberia’s strongpoint. But this isn’t true in four-centuries-old Tyumen. Strolling up Ul. Respubliki, you’ll soon come to the Church of the Saviour (41 Ul. Lenina) and the Znamensky Cathedral (13 Ul. Semakova). Each of these stunning Baroque-influenced churches are located right off Ul. Respubliki and were built in the late 18th century.

Tyumen is also famous for its historic wooden houses. Heading further up Ul. Respubliki, stop to wander around some of the side streets and snap photos of these ornate wooden structures which provide a glimpse back in time. Near the Tura River, you’ll pass a civil war monument in remembrance of the Tyumen natives who died fighting the White Army and the Tyumen State Agricultural Academy (7 Ul. Respubliki) an impressive building in its own right where Lenin was stored during the Second World War.

Near the end of Ul. Respubliki, take a walk over the Tura River on the Lover’s Bridge, a suspension bridge open to foot traffic only that has become one of Tyumen’s iconic sights. The other side of the river is a great place to see more of Tyumen’s signature wooden houses as well as take in the churches scattered around the city center.

Save the best for last and visit the Trinity Monastery (10 Ul. Kommunisticheskaya) at the end of Ul. Respubliki. A white wall surrounds the monastery, giving it the appearance of a mini-kremlin, and the golden onion domes of the 18th century churches within should not be missed.

Although navigating Tyumen is straightforward enough, the St. Petersburg-based travel company OSTWEST can arrange a city tour in Tyumen and the surrounding countryside.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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