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I tried a ship-within-a-ship cruise experience and it was worth it for the endless perks—here’s why

The MSC Yacht Club affords travelers a totally different cruising experience, but you’ll have to splurge.

I heard tales of luxury from people about the ritzy MSC Yacht Club , the ship-within-a-ship concept where discerning passengers enjoy their own area of the cruise ship that includes a dedicated restaurant, private lounge, separate pool and sundeck as well as private butlers and concierges to take of any whim while cruising. The elevated Yacht Club boasts priority everything while sailing MSC.

I sailed on a four-night cruise on the new MSC Seashore, a glitzy ship with Italian flair intermingled with references to New York City at every turn. Although the ship was well-appointed and had amazing dining, drinking and entertainment venues, and a bountiful Top Sail main buffet, thousands of passengers made the ship feel crowded at times, elevators were slow, and as I strolled through the general pools, they were boisterous and crowded.

RECOMMENDED: 10 things about cruising on an adults-only ship that might surprise you

Switch gears to MSC Seashore’s Yacht Club, passkey-protected for lucky guests, and is a 180 from the ship’s general spaces. Once you scan your handy Yacht Club wrist badge, or your room key, you’re instantly given entrance to a breathtaking retreat of 131 staterooms and suites. All this luxury does come at a price. Cruise fares will vary based on destination, time of year, and cabin category, but generally speaking you can expect to pay double for the Yacht Club. And from my experience, it’s worth it. Read more about why you should splurge.

You’re fast-tracked through everything

The Yacht Club’s exclusivity and impeccable service standard started from the moment I got dropped off at the Port Canaveral cruise terminal. There were hundreds of people waiting to board at 1pm on embarkation day. I saw in the distance a canopy that said MSC Yacht Club. My husband and I wheeled our carry-on luggage to the representative under the canopy. I gave her my name and within two seconds, she gave me a sticker to wear and up we ascended on the escalator to check in. Just five minutes later, I was directed to the dedicated check-in area for Yacht Club guests. To my right, I saw about 1,000 people serpentine through ropes to do general check-in. I felt a sense of relief; who wants to wait in that line? Five minutes later, a butler from the Yacht Club insisted on wheeling my luggage to board the ship and I was in my room in a total on 12 minutes from the time I stepped foot out of the car to my stateroom in the Yacht Club.

Relaxing and streamlined

In addition, Yacht Club guests have the freedom to get off the ship first for excursions. Your butler will happily escort you off the ship with a smile. Guests also can disembark on the last morning first, which is a big convenience. Your butler walks you right to the place you disembark, bypassing crowds and hassles. Port Canaveral is about an hour away from Orlando International Airport, and we took a 10 am flight home. We didn’t have to linger around until the afternoon for our flight home.

Another perk is that there’s a special seating area in the theater for shows. All the shows were excellent during my voyage. All other ship passengers have to make reservations in advance for shows but that’s not the case for the privileged Yacht Club passengers. As long as you arrive about 10 minutes before any show you choose, a crew member from the Club will allow you entry into a special roped-off section. Again, no rushing through dinner—you have the flexibility to plan your evenings your way.

Your Yacht Club package is packed with remarkable value

The price tag may sound daunting, but there’s lots of value there. All Yacht Club cabins and suites include a premium drink package that covers beverages up to $15. You can use this perk both in the Yacht Club and throughout the ship. In addition, your package includes a two-device Wi-Fi package, which worked well during my sailing. Finally, you get access to the thermal spa suite, which is a place to indulge after a day in port or a sea day. Commonly, there’s a taboo regarding mini-bars, but not in the Yacht Club. It’s stocked each day with the beverages you want; just tell your butler and consider it done.

You get perks ashore too

If your sailing includes a call to Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island, Yacht Club guests get an elevated experience there too. Yacht Club guests enjoy a private area, and a dedicated restaurant called the Ocean House. While other ship guests were hosted to a buffet of predictable fare, I enjoyed a lobster roll, and my husband chose carne asada. In my opinion, one thing that could be improved was the tram service to the Yacht Club’s private area. We were told the last tram back was 3:30pm if we didn’t want to trek a 15-minute walk in the heat. Since we were docked in Ocean Cay for the evening and weren’t sailing, I was a bit dismayed by this logistical quirk. I felt like I was keeping an eye on my phone to make sure I didn’t miss the last tram.

You have private areas with curated food and drink and outdoor spaces

Within the Yacht Club complex, there’s the Yacht Club Restaurant, Top Sail Lounge and the One Pool Buffet, which are all exclusive to Yacht Club guests. Obviously, the food and service are steps above other dining venues of the ship, I can vouch for that. Although the food is delicious, if you don’t want to pay extra to dine at the specialty restaurants or fuss in the main buffet, eating three meals a day in the Yacht Club restaurant can get a bit monotonous. The breakfast is the same daily, and lunch and dinner offer a menu with daily specials plus a few standby selections like a hamburger or pasta each day. Although the Yacht Club Restaurant concept is desirable, I would strongly suggest dining in other venues on board, especially for dinner. I thoroughly enjoyed specialty dining in Ocean Cay Restaurant, Butcher’s Cut, and Kaito Teppanyaki. I also want to mention that late afternoon high tea is offered daily at the Yacht Club Restaurant. It was one of the nicest I have experienced at sea.

Also available exclusively to Yacht Club passengers is the Top Sail Lounge, which offers panoramic water views and has chef-curated selections from morning through late night. We enjoyed popping into the lounge at all hours to try finger foods and sweets. The One Pool Buffet offers a more casual option for breakfast and lunch by the pool. The buffet has grilled fish, sandwiches and lots of delicious options if you want to dine outside.

There’s also an exclusive area with a private pool and two whirlpools for Yacht Club guests only. The sun deck loungers are very comfortable and I never had to worry about finding a lounger, there are ample. One issue I had was that there was almost no shade on the sun deck; there were shaded day beds for Royal Suite and Owners Suite guests, but beyond those, I couldn’t find any shade, which was disappointing.

You can justify the price at the end of your cruise

Overall, the best way to explain my enthusiasm for my MSC Yacht Club experience is this: it’s better to book an interior stateroom in the Yacht Club than a luxe cabin outside the Yacht Club. It’s worth the splurge and you return home feeling truly pampered and it’s money well-spent. And I make this prediction: Once you try a ship-within-a-ship concept like the MSC Yacht Club, you won’t want cruise any other way. Bon Voyage!

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

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I Sailed in MSC’s Yacht Club Luxury Suite Enclave — Here’s What It Was Like

I recently sailed onboard  MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral, Florida, for a three-night cruise. During my trip on the Seaside-class mega-ship, I got to stay in a suite that was part of MSC Yacht Club , an exclusive sanctuary on board that’s sort of like a ship within a ship. These luxury enclaves are becoming more and more common , and usually feature pricier staterooms or suites that come with added perks like access to a private lounge, restaurant, pool, and sundeck, though inclusions vary by cruise line.

While a variety of lines now feature such enclaves, MSC and Norwegian are generally credited with pioneering the idea, and MSC introduced Yacht Club in 2008. 

Today, Yacht Club is a private area accessible only via key card for those who booked Yacht Club suites. While Yacht Club does cater mostly to adults, it’s not an adults-only space. 

Each Yacht Club suite is assigned a team of butlers who can help with whatever you need, from delivering coffee in the morning to escorting you off the ship for excursions. The area has a private restaurant, lounge, and a stunning pool deck with hot tubs, a bar, and plenty of comfortable seating. On Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas, Yacht Club guests have access to a private beach with chairs, umbrellas, beach bar service, and an oceanside restaurant. 

The price of your suite covers just about everything, including premium drink packages, a stocked mini-bar in your suite, high-speed internet, and access to the thermal suite in the spa. You’ll also get skip-the-line service to get onto the ship at embarkation, off the ship at ports of call, and be the first off the ship at disembarkation time.

What Does a Yacht Club Suite Cost?

The prices for suites depend on the sailing length, time of year, and the type of room booked. However, the average Yacht Club experience can be double the cost or more of booking a non-Yacht Club room. For example, a three-night sailing from Port Canaveral to the brand’s private island and Nassau, The Bahamas, in August 2024 is $3,350 for two people in a Yacht Club Deluxe Suite. The same cruise in an equivalent balcony cabin is $990 for two. Non-Yacht Club suites are priced at $1,390 for two people on this same cruise. 

Other Yacht Club cabin styles include Interior Suites, Executive and Family Suites,  two-story Duplex Suites, Royal Suites, and the Owner's Suite, which boasts a whopping 1,119 square feet, a 517 square-foot balcony, and a whirlpool.

What’s a Yacht Club Suite Like?

My Deluxe Grand Suite was more spacious than any other cruise cabin I’ve been in, regardless of the cruise line (they range from 269 square feet to 463 square feet). I loved that it had a partially sectioned-off sitting area that made the room feel like it had a bedroom and a living room, plus it had one of the largest balconies I’ve seen on a cruise ship. Depending on your Deluxe Grand Suite, balconies can vary from 86 to 129 square feet. The room had plenty of storage, and the bathroom was about the same size as mine at home with a large shower, toilet, sink, and plenty of counter space. 

On MSC Seashore , the Yacht Club has 131 rooms, all of which can accomodate four people. The largest Yacht Club space is on MSC World Europa , with 152 suites. 

What I Loved About My MSC Yacht Club Experience

Overall, my experience with the MSC Yacht Club was great. The Yacht Club takes over the forward section of decks 16, 18, 19, and 20 ( MSC Seashore does not have a deck 17) and I had to scan a wearable bracelet to get into the Yacht Club from the regular guest areas. Once I was inside the sanctuary of the Yacht Club I could use the private elevator to get to my cabin, the restaurant or lounge, and the pool. 

I loved the Yacht Club Restaurant and Top Sail Lounge which were just a few steps from my cabin. Both spaces featured floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the ocean. The restaurant was elegant with white linens and beautiful place settings, while the lounge was a more casual hangout. Each morning I would walk to the lounge to get iced coffee, then head upstairs to sit at one of the restaurant tables. After a few meals, I really got to know my dining team — and more importantly, they got to know me and my dining and drinking preferences. Dishes at the Yacht Club Restaurant were elevated, including sea bass, filet mignon, and hand-made pasta. Every meal here was impeccable, as was the service. I also enjoyed that the menu for each service changed, so I was never eating the same thing twice, and there were always plenty of options to choose from.

I also loved the pool and the surrounding deck that was just for Yacht Club cruisers. This area offered a quieter oasis than the main pool, which was often brimming with guests. The Yacht Club pool deck also has an ample amount of shade and chairs, something I didn’t see at the main pool onboard. The Yacht Club pool is smaller than the main pool and doesn't have any views, but makes up for it by being relaxed, serene, and uncrowded.

One of the biggest perks of booking Yacht Club is the expedited service. This started right when I checked in at Port Canaveral, where a Yacht Club tent sat outside the terminal. I checked in and was escorted upstairs into the terminal to another Yacht Club-exclusive space to wait until I was called onboard. I was then taken to the ship by one of the Yacht Club butlers, who first brought me and a few other families to our muster station to check in for the safety drill before ushering us to the Yacht Club Lounge for drinks before lunch was served.

The expedited service didn’t stop at embarkation. After getting to my cabin and meeting my personal butler, he let me know that he could take me anywhere on the ship and that I could skip any lines. He could even take me to any specialty dining venue I wanted and have me seated almost immediately. There were also priority escorts and priority seating for the nightly shows.  

When it was time to get off the ship and head to the private island, my butler met me in my room to take me down to the disembarkation point. I was then picked up by a golf cart and whisked to the Yacht Club-exclusive beach. At the beach, I booked a cabana for the day, and it just so happened that my room butler was on cabana duty, so he was also able to bring drinks, snacks, and anything else my heart desired.

What I Didn’t Love About My MSC Yacht Club Experience

While there are plenty of perks to the MSC Yacht Club experience, I also saw and experienced a few things that diminished the experience slightly. I wish the team, whether it be the front desk at the Yacht Club, my butler, or anyone else had explained all of the services that could be provided. For example, only on my last night did I see pizzas being delivered to rooms, which I would have gone for one evening when the seas were rough instead of eating in the Yacht Club restaurant. 

The service in the lounge was hit or miss. There were a lot of great crew members taking care of the guests who booked the Yacht Club, but it seemed that in some instances special priority was given to guests who had already sailed on the ship and that the crew remembered. 

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an elevated cruise experience where the only reason you would need to leave a private enclave is to get off the ship, then yes, the MSC Yacht Club is worth the cost. Nearly everything I wanted and needed for a long weekend away was included in the cost, and the level of service from the majority of the crew exceeded my expectations.

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Review: MSC Yacht Club (Cruise – Business Class)

Cruising is completely different than the rest of the ship when it’s inside of a separate business class or first class portion of the ship. Here’s a look at MSC Yacht Club.

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*Note: I own a travel agency and was given access to this sailing, however, neither my praise nor critiques were disclosed to the cruise line prior to publication.

Ship Within A Ship

Many that aren’t regular cruisers don’t know that there’s a private section of the ship reserved solely for ship within a ship or business class for cruises. I added more color to this in a prior post but a few things I will add. It’s entirely possible to never leave the MSC Yacht Club and have an insulated and elevated experience. Every aspect of the experience is different from the rest of the ship from boarding, to who answers the phone, suites, menu items, even the elevators. Whatever your impression of large ocean cruising has been, if it hasn’t been in a private section like the MSC Yacht Club experience, it’s probably drastically different. If you flew United Airlines in a middle seat at the back of a wide body on a 12-hour flight and decided all flying was just that experience, you’d miss out on Polaris and it wouldn’t really be true.

This is a look at the second of those two experiences.

Concierge Desk

Upon arriving at the Yacht Club, the Concierge Desk on the 16th floor is the first thing to greet guests. Staffed 24/7 with at least one (usually three) Yacht Club concierges, they can coordinate anything throughout the ship if guests choose to explore other areas, or within the club. From shore excursions to massages at the MSC Aurea Spa, the concierge staff, specifically Guillermo, were excellent.

From the first greeting, they called each of my family members by name and started to predict what we’d like.

There are just 131 suites in the MSC Yacht Club section. Some of these are expanded, and most have balconies, but for those who want the expanded features of the Yacht Club but don’t have the additional budget, there are 15 interior rooms available in this section. For those bidding upgrades, these rooms run from $200 more than a standard so if you’re ok with an interior, there’s a lot of added value and it’s probably in the range of the best upgrade you can book on the ship outside of restaurants. Personally, interior rooms are not for me but as an upgrade, it’s objectively the best value on the boat.

Our suite was spacious and large. The ship is relatively new (just over a year old when we sailed in January 2024) so modern amenities were placed throughout. Luggage storage is on the right as soon as you enter the suite, to the left is the bathroom. Along the right wall drawers, a desk, a TV, a mini-fridge, and lastly a closet runs the length of the suite to the balcony.

On the left, is a king bed with full-sized closets. Buttressing the bed were nightstands with additional storage, reading lights, and power outlets including both USB-C, USB, European, and US outlets. The bed was comfortable as was the pull-out. Pillows from the kids club awaited both of our kids and a cookie plate for Lucy, our ten-year-old daughter.

A column with books and artwork separate a pull-out couch, and a glass coffee table before the balcony. Our butler had a welcome amenity that included a bottle of champagne, an array of fruit, and some light bite canapés.

The deck had space for a pair of chairs and a lounger.

The bathroom was one of the more impressive we’ve seen on a cruise ship. The vanity ran the width of the suite with plenty of space for grooming items. The shower was not only large with a rain shower head, but it had enough space for a reasonably large bench. We also enjoyed the Med toiletries.

Yacht Club Dining Room

The Yacht Club, in addition to being a class of service is also a physical place open only to its guests. The Yacht Club restaurant was similar to the concept of a main dining room but rather than specific meal times, MSC Yacht Club guests were permitted to dine any time they like within a number of hours for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Below the YAcht Club restaurant is the Top Sail lounge which is open almost all day and night. I’m not ure if it closes as one night I was there well past 2 AM, and while the bar had long closed, I continued working undisturbed while staff cleaned and readied it for the next day. Drinks in the Top Sail lounge are included, and one of the MSC Yacht Club perks is that you don’t need a drink package to order cocktails throughout the rest of the ship – any drink up to $16 is included.

MSC Yacht Club Pool and Solarium

Exclusive to Yacht Club guests is access to a pool area only for the ship-within-a-ship’s guests. On the 19th is a sun deck (solarium), access-restricted pool, bar, and outdoor buffet. I will first contrast this with a photo of the general pool area and then one from the Yacht Club. During our 7-day cruise, we only saw other people in the Yacht Club pool twice though the loungers around the solarium and hot tub were well-attended.

While most don’t go to the pool to eat, at each meal time there was an extensive buffet of hot and cold food, and staff that would customize anything on it. It was rather convenient to be able to get a snack with plenty of options both hearty and healthy while enjoying the sun.

Specialty Dining

Regardless of the fare purchased, specialty dining (restaurants onboard) incur an additional charge. With all food included either in dining rooms or buffets, many don’t see the need to purchase a dining package. Personally, we wouldn’t go without one and while the Yacht Club restaurant offered an elevated menu, even though it’s included we ate almost every night in a different restaurant onboard. The food was of a very high quality, spaces were less crowded, and it simply wasn’t that much considering what we were able to enjoy. A popular package includes a three-restaurant selection for $99/per person. For $110, the Mexican restaurant is added with an all-you-can-eat menu (but not a buffet) and for $149, five restaurants are available. At minimum, I would recommend the $110 package.

The specialty restaurants onboard we visited included:

• Butcher’s Cut (steakhouse)
• Ocean Cay (seafood)
• Kaito (sushi)
• Hola! (Mexican)
• Kaito (teppanyaki)

With a specialty dining package, travelers are permitted to order off a condensed menu and a single item from the category. For example, at the Butcher’s Cut, I ordered a starter of prawn cocktail (U8), a 14 oz New York Strip, a side of Asparagus, and a molten chocolate cake for dessert.

Here were some other highlights from Butcher’s Cut:

Ocean Cay is a name used for a couple of things with the MSC Cruise family. It’s the name of its specialty dining seafood restaurant (photos below) as well as the name of its private island.

Kaito is both the name of the Teppanyaki restaurant and a conveyer-belt sushi restaurant (Lucky Cat Sushi Bar.) The food was fantastic and at our dinner, there was just one other couple at our table, others were about 75% full.

One more segment that is not specialty dining is the Marketplace, an international buffet with something for everyone open most of the day and well into the evening. On our first MSC cruise, we didn’t have a Yacht Club suite and found ourselves at Marketplace for a slice of pizza. It was incredible and MSC, owned by an Italian-Swiss family, has incredible pizza with a true pizzaiolo. The pizza was so good that until close every night there was a line. I asked to speak with the pizzaiolos and learned that each night, dough for between 1,000 and 1,200 pizzas is prepped and proofed for massive 18″ pizzas. They mix up the ingredients but cheese and pepperoni on a New York-style crust was truly legendary.

Butler Service

For some lines, Butler service is more “in name only” but our Butler, Putu was exceptional. He was offended if we made a dinner reservation or left without him. Any time we had an appointment (spa, dinner, a show – even shopping) he insisted on accompanying us through the ship. He adjusted what was in our suite each day, ensured it was clean regardless of the irregular hours, and saw that our every need was fulfilled.

One of the benefits of butler service is that when you indicate you intend to catch a show, not only will they accompany you to the theater, but they have a special section reserved for Yacht Club and they defend it if needed.

Lastly, as our time onboard came to an end, Putu met us at our room and disembarked with us. While Yacht Club features priority embarkation and disembarkation, guests will flow into a general area upon arriving at a destination port like Miami. In his tuxedo with tails, he politely navigated us through the crowd moving ropes and barriers along the way and cutting the line for us. While we would have patiently waited, he was insistent that this was part of his service and we obliged. He guided us through to our luggage, helped us retrieve them and bid us farewell at customs where we returned to the United States. Outside of extreme elites in unpublished tiers on airlines (United Global Services, American Airlines Concierge Key, etc.) I can’t think of an example where this level of personal assistance is performed. I’ve never been to an airline lounge, where the staff walk you through the airport and carry your bags while shopping. It’s exceptional and just part of the Yacht Club experience.

Ocean Cay (Island)

Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island in the Bahamas was converted from a dumping site to a beautiful ecological paradise. Each year, foliage improves, and sealife is benefiting from the island’s new coral reef. Like the rest of the Yacht Club experience, what applied to the rest of the ship didn’t apply to us. Golf carts took Yacht Club guests from a shaded waiting tent on the island to the far reaches where a Yacht Club-only restaurant (Ocean House) and a private beach awaited. The Butler and Yacht Club staff waited on us in the restaurant and in the sand.

Other Inclusions

A bottle of your choice (in addition to welcome champagne) is provided for each guest suite. Room service is also included (an extra charge throughout the rest of the ship) and we took advantage of the amazing pizza rather than heading to the buffet. The Aurea Thermal Suite is more than just a spa. It features a salt room, a walk-through rinse station with seven stages adjusting the light, and water composition as you move through it. While an extra cost for other guests, it’s included for Yacht Club and the massage inside (additional charge for every guest) was exceptional.

While not included for any guest, the onboard chocolatier, Venchi, had unbeatable gelato for $6-8 depending on what was ordered.

What’s not to like? A few things. For one, the ship was enormous (5,179 passengers) and while that offers plenty to do, it also brings with it it’s own set of issues. In the Yacht Club end of the boat we had elevators that reduced time to get to different decks but throughout the rest of the ship, waits could be long.

The marketplace (buffet) was packed all the time and this led to a dining room that was tough to maintain and food quality suffered. Despite the pizza team standing at 4-5 people at any one point in time, there was still almost always a line, and most pizzas that came out were quickly gone as soon as they hit the window.

The onboard waterpark was also busy on hot days and the waterslides closed at 6 PM, a little early on sea days. Some of the elevated arcade games like a 4-D motion theater, were a little expensive for a few minutes of entertainment.

In the Yacht Club dining room, I would have liked an “express meal” option as we traveled with children, and dinners that last 60-90 minutes are a little harder than we’d like.

Another Boarding Area blogger had posted a poor experience in MSC choosing not to opt for Yacht Club or extras. The complaints aligned with a passenger that might fly Basic Economy on American Airlines but then attribute that to the entire experience of American when, in fact, business class is a completely different experience. Perhaps in a standard cabin, issues of drink packages, and dinner times are inconvenient. But if you’re a business class customer, you shouldn’t fly in Basic Economy – it’s a mismatch.

Yacht Club is about double the cost of a similar room category on the rest of the ship. That’s a little less than the premium of flying in the front when comparing business class to economy.  That said, with the extra inclusions and a 4-restaurant dining package, it was a terrific value. MSC’s Ocean Cay island is exceptional, as is the butler service, and the ability to have a quiet experience separated from the rest of the ship but the amenities and comfort that a large boat can offer.

What do you think? Have you cruised in a ship-within-a-ship concept like Yacht Club? How was your experience?

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About author.

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: [email protected]

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17 comments.

Kyle, Do you know if all cruise ships have these type of “special” areas and classes?

@Patrick – Almost all lines off something like this, even Carnival. For Royal, it’s Suites Class Neighborhood, Celebrity Retreat, Norwegian Haven, Holland Neptune, Cunard and Princess have Grill Class, and Disney has Concierge.

But in the same range of those prices (right now it might be cheaper because of the ongoing sale) you might also look at Explora Journeys: https://liveandletsfly.com/onboard-explora-journeys-a-five-star-resort-at-sea/

Great review! I’m especially appreciative of all the detailed food photos!! Would love to see a review of Celebrity’s Retreat class next.

@FTer – Ok, twist my arm. I’ll get something booked.

A fair and thoughtful review! I would echo almost everything you wrote, having just gotten off a week-long Yacht Club cruise out of NYC. The butler experience was definitely a highlight, from start to finish. We found the food, even in the Yacht Club, to be disappointing. Next time, we’ll take your suggestion and branch out to the speciality venues.

One additional thing that we noted was the quality (or lack thereof) of the wines. Just really, really bad, especially for a cruise line that calls Italy ‘home’. We actually got into a joking back-and-forth with one of the sommeliers about how cheap and nasty the selections were – when we suggested that most of the bottles could be bought at CVS for $4.99, he shot back that we were wrong, and that wine would only be $2.99 if we used our ExtraCare card. And that price was for a gallon. So at least they have a sense of humor about it! Also found it odd that the selections in the Yacht Club were the same as what was available throughout the ship. Nothing extra or elevated.

Interesting stuff, although those steak prices are higher than what I have paid for steaks at restaurants where I hadn’t even paid for my meals.

As per previous comments on the issue, I really cannot see cruising being for me, although if I do end up on one I will be aware of the tip to check if I can upgrade. Do TUI also have a ship-within-ship concept?

(I obviously meant ‘where I hadn’t even PREpaid for my meals’)

@Kyle, “Our butler had a welcome amenity that included a bottle of champagne…” “A bottle of your choice (in addition to welcome champagne)…” Uh, I’d be pretty peeved if you told me I got Champagne but gave me that $15 bottle of Asti instead. Maybe edit your post and be more accurate in the future?

Anyway, I think your conclusion is in line with what I’ve heard. Yacht Club is a great value compared to other ship-within-a-ship products. The rooms are much smaller (apparently, most YC “suites” are about the same size as balcony cabins), but the exclusive areas are larger.

I just purchased Asti sparkling wine for $5 a bottle. Goes great with Aperol.

I appreciate Rene’s non YC experience won’t be the same but feels a stretch to call it booking basic economy and not knowing what to expect.

If that’s the case MSCis very different for the “average” cruiser – actively basic economy isn’t a thing with cruising right?

@Greg – I like Rene and respect his work. He called the steak he received when he paid for the specialty dining one of the best he’s had in his entire life, not just on a cruise ship. I think that at $110 for four specialty restaurants if you know that’s what you want and expect is a bargain. The price point for the rest of the ship is also lower than other contemporary competitors but probably aligns with that. And we agree the pizza is fantastic.

A good review of a comp’ed / sponsored trip. But I take many issues:

First up, even thought you did not mention me or link, it is clear you are talking about my horrid MSC cruise.

I would not compare a fully paid balcony cabin as “basic economy” but more mile Premium and think others would agree. Also Diamond status, other than a free specialty night, is all but pointless.

Next up the food, outside specialty and YC is horrible. Unclean shrimp and shoe leather steaks are a total fail. Service so slow it takes an hour for breakfast and most times not what you ordered.

In YC you don’t have the limitations the other 5000 guests have regarding drink choices and so much more.

If MSC paid me I would not ever set food on another of their ships unless in YC because the experience truly is BASIC ECONOMY at best with MSC!

@Rene – I found we had very different experiences and perhaps that’s down to Yacht Club vs not. However, you glossed past the strong points too. In this comment you both call your experience both Premium and Basic Economy. I’m not sure that the food on a contemporary ship outside of specialty restaurants is particularly spectacular, but found their specialty restaurants to be a particularly good value. One of the highlights of the latest review I read stated your Buthcher’s Cut steak was the best you’d had anywhere, not just on a cruise ship. Considering they offer 3 specialty restaurants for $99, I’d assume that’s a terrific value unless you’ve never had an entire meal (starter, entree, sides, and dessert) at a steakhouse that costs more than $33.

It’s not a secret that for much of the Boarding Area audience, economy – basic, standard, or premium – is not how they travel. And it’s also no secret that much of our readership was unaware that ship-within-a-ship (cruise business class) exists at all. As I said in the post, if you bought an economy ticket but you’re a business class flyer – that airline might be the worst you’ve ever flown in your mind. But if you bought a lie flat in the front, the experience is entirely different. I recognize that MSC’s Yacht Club is not the broader MSC experience, it’s limited, more costly, and exclusive. But I believe you called he brand “horrid” in your titles which I am not sure is fair. When we interacted outside of the Yacht Club, our experience wasn’t horrid at all. But where we agree is that Yacht Club is generally a completely different experience to the rest of the ship and that’s both where the Live And Let’s Fly readership tends to travel, and also was largely unaware the class existed. I was happy to bring my experience to our readership.

Reading his review and between your lines MSC is providing a ‘basic economy’ kind of product but not advertising it that way

Even more concerning, according to his account ordering a premium drink package leaves you with no real premium wine option onboard. He notes only one wine bar had additional wines for those with the premium package, and in the Yacht Club only one bar offered it. What good is the one decent steak if it’s with cheap wine.

and if yacht club dining is serving sub $15 a bottle wine forget it.

In the last twenty years we have been on ten cruises, with the 6-9 on Celebrity, and the ninth in The Retreat. Really enjoyed their “ship within a ship” but decided the cost just too much for an old retired couple.

Did a short cruise on MSC SEASHORE in early March, in a regular balcony. Not up to celebrity level, but well worth it at the lower cost. Have now booked SIX MSC Yacht Club cruises in the next 12 months, with two suites and four interior. We’ve never done an interior on any cruise, but this is a great way to experience the Yacht Club at a much lower cost. Also have two more Celebrity cruises for November 2024 and 2025.

Oh my! Lucy has grown up (Of course she has!) I still smile when I recall Lucy’s portraits in Thailand. Don’t know if our younger ones appreciate glorious travel, but, darn it, it makes us feel good when we share with them. Thanks, as always, Kyle.

@docntx – Before we know it, she’ll be driving. Thanks for following all of these years!

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WELCOME TO A WORLD OF

PRIVACY & LUXURY

MSC YACHT CLUB THE LUXURY CRUISE EXPERIENCE

Feel the finesse and elegance of luxury cruises with MSC Yacht Club , an exclusive area of refined indulgence . Surround yourself in unparalleled comfort and personalized service as you embark on an astounding voyage aboard our finest ships. Discover a world where  privacy  meets  luxury , where every detail is meticulously crafted to exceed your highest expectations. Savour the sophistication  and  elegance of luxury cruises from the very first step onboard. Our  dedicated staff  will cater to your every need, ensuring that your  journey  is nothing but sensational. Welcome to  MSC Yacht Club , get away from it all, whilst having everything you may wish for .

Unrivaled comfort and exquisite luxury

Experience the finest luxury accommodation during your  MSC Yacht Club luxury cruise . Discover lavishly appointed suites designed with meticulous attention to detail .

Immerse yourself in the epitome of comfort with  luxurious amenities and elegant touches.

Explore below all our MSC Yacht Club Suites available to book.

• Surface: approx.  104 sqm, terrace 48 sqm, deck 16
• Bedroom with a queen size bed
• Separate dining/living room with a sofa bed which converts into a double bed
• Floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors
• Spacious private terrace with a whirlpool bath, a dining table and chairs
• Marble bathroom with a bathtub, a shower and “Med” organic amenities
• Premium bespoke embroidered towels and bed linens 100% cotton
• Plush slippers and 100% cotton bathrobes for onboard use
• Spacious walk-in wardrobe
• Bar set-up, refrigerator, Nespresso machine, Fresh fruit Welcome amenity & Venchi daily turndown chocolates
• Interactive TV, telephone, safe and air conditioning

The image are representative only: displayed suite from MSC World Europa Size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same suite category)

• Surface: approx.  51-58 sqm, terrace 42-51 sqm, deck 16-18
• Separate living room with a sofa bed which converts into a double bed
• Marble bathroom with a large shower and bathtub and “Med” organic amenities (some suites feature a large bathtub only)
• Premium bespoke embroidered towels & bed linens 100% cotton
• Bar set-up, refrigerator, Nespresso machine and Fresh fruit Welcome amenity
• Venchi daily turndown chocolates
• Surface approx . 46 sqm,  terrace 28- 31 sqm, deck 16
• Two-deck-high suite located at the front of the ship

Main level (suite entrance)

• Open living/dining room with a dining table and a sofa bed which converts into a double bed
• Private terrace with a whirlpool bath, outdoor chairs and a table
• Marble bathroom with shower and “Med” organic amenities

Second level

• Master bedroom with a queen size bed which can be converted into 2 single beds (on request)
• Marble bathroom with bathtub & “Med” organic amenities
• Private sundeck with loungers, accessible from the external staircases
• Spacious wardrobe

Each suite is equipped with:

• Minibar and Nespresso machine
• Fresh fruit Welcome amenity
• Interactive TV and telephone available on each level
• Safe and air conditioning
• Premium bespoke embroidered towels & bed linens 100% cotton

The image is representative only: displayed  suites from MSC World Europa Size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same suite category)

• Surface: approx 46sqm, balcony 6 sqm, deck 16

Main level (Suite entrance):

• Balcony with outdoor chairs and a table

Second level:

The image is representative only: displayed suite from MSC World Europa Size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same suite category)

• Surface:  approx . 40-53 sqm, deck 12
• Queen size bed which can be converted into 2 single beds (on request) with a panoramic sealed window on the side (no access outside)
• Separate living room with sofas and armchairs with a panoramic sealed window (no access outside)
• Marble bathroom with bathtub and “Med” organic amenities
• Premium bespoke embroidered towels & bed linens100% cotton
• Minibar Tea kettle & Fresh fruit Welcome amenity

The image are representative only: displayed suite from MSC Fantasia Size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same suite category)

TAKE A SUITE TOUR

• Surface:  approx . 31-43 sqm, balcony 8-21 sqm, deck 16-19
• Queen size bed which can be converted into 2 single beds (on request)
• Balcony equipped with outdoor chairs and a table
• Minibar, Nespresso machine and Fresh fruit Welcome amenity

The image are representative only: displayed suite from MSC Seashore Size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same suite category)

NB: Select MSC Yacht Club Grand Suites are adapted for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility.

• Surface:  approx . 25 sqm, balcony 5 sqm, deck 15-21

NB: Select MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suites are adapted for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility.

• Surface: approx. 15 sqm, deck 15-16
• Bathroom with shower and “Med” organic amenities
• Premium bespoke embroidered towels& bed linens 100% cotton

PRIVATE VENUES

The MSC Yacht Club is an authentic ship within a ship: each MSC Yacht Club venue has been meticulously tailored to provide our guests with the highest standards of comfort and privacy .

Get inspired by our selection of private venues.

Top Sail Lounge

The Top Sail Lounge, located in the MSC Yacht Club area at the forefront of the ship, offers breathtaking views alongside exceptional food and service. As part of a luxury cruise experience, this exclusive lounge is accessible 24/7 to MSC Yacht Club guests. A complimentary bar awaits you, with premium beverages available all day, as well as delicious gourmet finger food at various times. You can enjoy live music every evening and participate in hosted events like the High Tea moment and Officer Welcome Onboard cocktail.

MSC Yacht Club restaurant

The MSC Yacht Club Restaurant is an exclusive and private venue reserved only for you with spectacular sea views. Embark on a culinary journey and delight in gourmet creations and five-star service. From à la carte menus with premium Mediterranean and International cuisine to a dedicated team of international chefs sourcing local premium products, everything is thought to tantalize your taste buds. Our dedicated Sommelier will be pleased to advice a food & wine pairing experience and to present the wide selection of wines.

MSC Yacht Club Grill & Bar

The MSC Yacht Club Grill & Bar is a dedicated outdoor terrace where guests can savour meals and drinks all day long. Start early morning with a wide selection of breakfast options with cereals to omelets, French toast, and fried eggs. Our waiters will take care of your every needs at the pool bar: delight with a variety of beverages such as craft cocktails, beers, wines, and for a high-end touch to your evening experience, savor a chilled glass of champagne.

The MSC Yacht Club Grill is available on Meraviglia, Seaside and World Class ships

MSC Yacht Club Sundeck & Pool

The MSC Yacht Club Sundeck & Pool is an exclusive luxurious outdoor area with captivating swimming pool, spacious sundeck, and relaxing large hot tubs for an remarkable luxury cruise experience. In the MSC Yacht Club you are provided with exceptional service, including fresh towels and cleaning sunglasses while enjoying the One Pool. Elegant and private cabanas are also available on selected ships.

SET SAIL FOR A WORLD of PRIVILEGES

From its elegant suites to its round-the-clock butler service, the MSC Yacht Club offers an all-inclusive luxury cruise experience

 with privacy and exclusivity while you can enjoy all the other vibrant activities that our ship offers. 

Discover more:

Indulge yourself in luxury cruises with MSC Yacht Club. Surround yourself in unparalleled comfort and personalized service as you embark on an astounding voyage aboard our finest ships of dedicated venues including a private restaurant, lounge, pool and solarium, all featuring an all-inclusive drinks service.

• Butler service available 24 hours
• Dedicated concierge 24 hours
• Premium Beverages included: Premium Extra Drink package in all ship areas
• Internet package: Browse - 2 devices per person with unlimited Internet Package
• Dedicated priority check-in and check-out
• Room service available 24 hours
• Complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea SPA
• Relaxation amenities in each suite (including bathrobe and slippers) and pillow menu
• Other personal touches such as luggage packing/unpacking service, newspaper service
• Most rewarding experience for MSC Voyagers Club points
• One free Cruise Change** (please consult Terms and Conditions)

Discover a world where privacy meets luxury, where every detail is meticulously crafted to exceed your highest expectations. Welcome to a ship within a ship, a secluded and elegant area is waiting for you.

• Lavishly fitted suites offering outstanding comfort located in the foredecks of the ship
• Dedicated exclusive Sun Deck with pool, whirlpool, solarium and Grill & Bar
• Gourmet dining in the private MSC Yacht Club restaurant. Free choice of dining time during restaurant opening hours
• Panoramic Top Sail Lounge with bar, afternoon tea service, light food selection 20 hours per day
• Live music available every night in the Top Sail Lounge
• Tailor made excursions and shopping experiences (not included in cruise fare)

At your own pace, indulge in the privacy and luxury of the MSC Yacht Club or step out of your secluded area and enjoy countless recreation, relaxation and entertainment opportunities offered throughout the ship.

• Access to all ship's facilities (bars and lounges, specialty restaurants, pools, etc)
• Discounted packages offer
• Premium buffet
• 10% discount on all MSC AUREA SPA treatments purchased on board
• Varied programme of Broadway and Las Vegas-style theatre shows
• Entertainment activities for adults, infants and children
• Recreational activities for children
• Open-air sports facilities
• Well-equipped gym with panoramic view

DESTINATIONs

Explore marvelous destinations all over the world with MSC Yacht Club, while enjoying the unique service, unrivalled comfort and exquisite luxury. The privileges of the MSC Yacht Club extend beyond the ship, discover our exclusive beach destinations with their own reserved MSC Yacht Club area .

Join the MSC Yacht Club Excursions and discover amazing hidden gems by participating in unique activities with knowledgeable local guides, specially crafted just for our valued MSC Yacht Club guests and covering a wide range of finely curated experiences and benefits.

Including OCEAN CAY MARINE RESERVE

MSC YACHT CLUB: THE LUXURY CRUISE EXPERIENCE

A ship within the ship.

Which ships in the MSC Cruises fleet feature the MSC Yacht Club? MSC Yacht Club is featured in 15 of 23 MSC Cruises ships. Book now the one that suits you best:

- MSC Bellissima

- MSC Divina

- MSC Euribia

- MSC Fantasia

- MSC Grandiosa

- MSC Meraviglia

- MSC Preziosa

- MSC Seascape

- MSC Seashore

- MSC Seaside

- MSC Seaview

- MSC Splendida

- MSC Virtuosa

- MSC World America (from 2025)

- MSC World Europa .

MSC Yacht Club FAQ

What is the msc yacht club.

The MSC Yacht Club is an exclusive and private area entirely dedicated to luxury, privacy and comfort, an authentic ‘ship within a ship’ equipped with elegant suites, 24/7 butler service, and a dedicated concierge reception for your extraordinary luxury cruise experience. In the MSC Yacht Club you will have exclusive access to refined private venues including a restaurant, lounge, pool, and sundeck, along with an all-inclusive premium drinks service. Unlimited internet access and an extensive selection of recreational and entertainment opportunities, such as the thermal area in the MSC Aurea Spa and Broadway-style theatre shows, enhance your luxury cruise journey. For your family holiday, a world of excitement awaits young travelers on board MSC cruises, from kid’s club to aquapark , guaranteeing endless amusement.

What types of suites accommodation are available in the MSC Yacht Club?

All the accommodations in the MSC Yacht Club are elegant suites specially designed to ensure you the utmost comfort and privacy. The MSC Yacht Club features a range of 8 distinct suite types , each with its own unique touch of luxury and comfort. Although not all suite types are available on every ship, you will always be able to choose from a selection of elegant and comfortable accommodations according to your own preferences. All MSC Yacht Clubs on our ships provide refined Deluxe Suites with balconies and spacious wardrobes, as well as Royal Suites featuring direct balcony access from the bedroom and a private terrace. On Fantasia class ships, you can also choose from Grand Suites with ample living space or Executive & Family Suites with a panoramic sealed window and a separate living room. Indulge in high-end accommodations on our newest ships, offering innovative suite choices. Meraviglia class ships boast Duplex Suites with whirlpool, located at the front of the ship for breathtaking views. On Seaside class ships, MSC Seashore and MSC Seascape also offer Owner Suites with spacious terraces and a private whirlpool and Grand Suites. Owner Suites are also available on our World-class ships, including Duplex Suites, that can be chosen either with or without a whirlpool. All our newest ships also include refined Interior Suites .

From Myform Memory mattresses to Egyptian cotton bedding and mattresses and a Dorelan pillow menu, marble bathrooms to complimentary minibars, your every need is catered to for a truly exceptional luxury cruise .

What does MSC Yacht Club include?

In the MSC Yacht Club, you can enjoy an all-inclusive luxury cruise experience with a wide range of exclusive privileges, starting with 24-hour butler service , dedicated priority check-in and check-out , and a 24-hour dedicated concierge. Drinks are also included with the Premium Extra Drink package, not only in the MSC Yacht Club but also throughout the ship. This allows you to enjoy your favorite beverages at various locations such as the buffet, main restaurant, specialty restaurants, and onboard bars. Wi-Fi connection is available for the entire duration of the cruise with the Browse Cruise package for two devices per person.

Gourmet dining awaits at the private MSC Yacht Club restaurant , with flexible dining times. The Top Sail Lounge offers nightly live music, while the Panoramic Top Sail Lounge provides a bar, afternoon tea service, and light food selection for 20 hours a day. All MSC Yacht Club suites are situated on the foredecks of the ship to ensure you exceptional comfort with room service available 24/7 . You can benefit from unlimited access to the thermal area in the MSC Aurea SPA for your complete relaxation. You can also take advantage of spa discounts, specialty restaurant packages, open-air sports facilities , Kid’s Club, aquapark, and diverse programs of Broadway and Las Vegas-style theater shows.

Are drinks included in the MSC Yacht Club?

Which internet package is included in the msc yacht club.

MSC Yacht Club Guests benefit from the Browse internet package, with unlimited data valid for two devices per person for the entire duration of the cruise. This package allows you to: :

• Browse the web.
• Send and receive emails and images.
• Chat on messenger apps (e.g. WhatsApp).

Once onboard, you can also choose to upgrade the Browse internet package to the Browse and Stream package , available for an additional fee.

What are MSC Yacht Club Excursions? How can I book them?

What is the dress code for the msc yacht club are there themed parties i shall specifically pack for.

The dress code m ay vary depending on the venue and the time of the day. Top Sail Lounge - Dress code To fully appreciate the exclusive ambiance of the Top Sail Lounge, dressing appropriately in the lounge is highly recommended.

• By day: Casual clothing, including t-shirts and tops, is perfectly acceptable, but we kindly request that you do not wear swimwear at any given time.
• By night: Smart casual attire is required for entry to the Top Sail Lounge. Feel free to wear dresses, skirts, long pants, jeans, and button-down tops. However, please avoid wearing shorts and flip flops.

MSC Yacht Club Restaurant - Dress code To preserve the exceptional ambiance of this private restaurant we kindly ask you to dress in a way that complements its exclusiveness.

• By day: Feel at ease in casual wear, including t-shirts and tops, but to maintain a respectful atmosphere, we kindly request that swimwear not be worn at any time.
• By night: We kindly ask that you dress in smart casual attire. This includes options such as dresses, skirts, long pants, jeans, and button-down tops. However, please avoid shorts and flip flops.
• For Gala evenings: Dress elegantly and glamorously for your onboard photo with sophisticated outfits such as cocktail dresses, skirts, slacks, designer jeans, elegant dress tops, blazers, or even tuxedo suits and gowns.

MSC Yacht Club Grill & Bar - Dress code Wear your bathing costumes, t-shirts, tank tops, hats, and sunglasses as you please. Just remember that topless bathing is not allowed in this family-friendly area.

Can you  bring external Guests such as family or friends staying in the main ship in the MSC Yacht Club area?

Is the msc yacht club luggage allowance higher compared to regular guests, are children and infants allowed in the msc yacht club, how to join the msc yacht club shall you need to register to the msc yacht club, as a msc yacht club guest do you collect more msc voyagers club points than other experiences.

Yes, MSC Yacht Club is MSC Cruises’ most rewarding experience :

• For cruises less than 5 nights or 6 days , you will earn 800 MSC Voyagers Club points .
• If your cruise ranges from 5 to 9 nights or 6 to 10 days , you will earn 1,500 MSC Voyagers Club points .
• If your cruise is longer than 10 nights or 11 days, you will earn 2,000 MSC Voyagers Club points .

How to upgrade to the MSC Yacht Club?

Can upgraded guests to the msc yacht club collect msc voyagers club points in the same way as other msc yacht club guests , terms and conditions, terms and conditions.

• **MSC Yacht Club guests are entitled to one free cruise change, applicable either on the cruise dates or on the destination. Such change needs to be performed up to 30 calendar days before departure, for a new cruise to sail within 90 calendar days from the original departure. Any cruise change shall be requested through MSC Book or our contact centers.
• Possibility to organise tailor made excursions depending from itineraries.
• For more information about the premium extra drink package please click here

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MSC Cruises

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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MSC Yacht Club

An exclusive haven.

MSC Yacht Club, an exclusive ship within a ship, offers a whole new dimension in sheer pampering and luxury. A quiet haven of privacy and personalized service with all the entertainment and fun of a cruise ship on your doorstep. Sailing MSC Yacht Club gives you the opportunity to enjoy the comfort and convenience of your own personal butler trained to the rigorous standard of the International Butler academy. Butlers are dedicated exclusively to MSC Yacht Club guest 24 hours a day.

All of the MSC Yacht Club appointed suites offer the ultimate in luxury, privacy and personal service combined with elite access to a number of amenities aboard the

• Priority embarkation and debarkation
• 24-hour butler service
• 24-hour private concierge reception
• Concierge Lounge, Top Sail Lounge, and The One sun deck complex with private pool, solarium, two hot tubs and bar
• Complimentary fine dining at the Yacht Club dedicated restaurant
• Complimentary selection of wines, spirits, mineral water, specialty coffee and soft drinks at every MSC Yacht Club venue
• Complimentary suite mini-bar
• Direct private access and priority at the MSC Aurea SPA
• Pillow menu
• Complimentary daily international newspaper of choice
• Access to unique services including tailor-made excursions in private transportation; exclusive ashore shopping opportunity with private guide; personal photographer on excursions
• Luxury Italian designed suites
• Daily afternoon tea

Best MSC Yacht Club Suite Deals

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• Cruise Only + Up to $250 per stateroom
• Cruises from $249 on Escape to Sea Fares + Kids Sail Free
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All offers are based on select sailings and categories and are subject to availability at time of booking. All rates are per person based on double occupancy.

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MSC Splendida Review: MSC Yacht Club Experience

We just got back from a seven-day cruise to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan on board the MSC Splendida, and today we will tell you all you need to know about MSC Yacht Club Experience! Is it really worth it? Watch us until the end, and you will find out! 

Today we will tell you all about our experience on board the MSC Splendida Yacht Club. But first, if you like travel-related blogs like this one, now is a great time to hit the subscribe button so you will never miss any future blogs.

Let’s begin: 

What is the MSC Yacht Club?

The MSC Yacht Club is an exclusive section of some of MSC’s cruise ships that offers passengers a unique, all-inclusive cruising experience. Some people refer to it as a ship within a ship or a luxury cruise to other luxury cruises.

The MSC Yacht Club section is typically located at the top of the ship, and it’s reserved for guests who are looking for a little extra luxury and a private club. It can only be accessed with the cruise card.

When you book a trip with the MSC Yacht Club, you’ll have access to a range of exclusive amenities and services. For example, you’ll have a dedicated concierge who will be available to help you with any requests you might have.

They’ll even walk you to wherever you need to go! You’ll also have access to a private lounge, which serves complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day.

But that’s just the beginning. The MSC Yacht Club also offers passengers exclusive access to a range of private spaces, including a private pool area, an MSC Yacht Club restaurant, and a bar. This means that you’ll be able to relax and unwind in your own private sanctuary, away from the hustle and bustle of the main ship.

But perhaps the best thing about the MSC Yacht Club is the level of service you’ll receive. The staff in this section of the ship are highly trained and attentive, ensuring that your every need is taken care of. Whether you need help with your luggage, want to book an excursion, or simply need a drink, the staff at the MSC Yacht Club will be on hand to assist you.

Our next topic for the Yacht Club Experience is:

Boarding MSC Yacht

One of the great perks that we noticed right away was priority boarding. In fact, when we arrived at the luxury cruise terminal, a butler was waiting for us and took us straight through immigration, check, and on the ship skipping the extra long line that other passengers had to do. Also, the butler explained to us how to use the dedicated elevator reserved for Yacht Club passengers. With this elevator, activated by our cruise card, we could go right to deck 15 or 16 without stopping on any deck in between.

Once we arrived at the dedicated MSC Yacht Club Lounge on deck 15, we were greeted with a glass of champagne while a very nice concierge lady explained to us all our Yacht Club benefits. We have to admit that the priority boarding process was incredibly smooth and efficient, with a very nice personalized touch.

Let’s move to our next topic of the MSC Yacht Club experience, and we will talk about:

We booked a Yacht Club Deluxe suite on deck 16. The cabin was quite nice, wide, and well laid out. The room had a nice couch and a little desk beside the private balcony.

The bed was very comfortable. We had a very nice walk-in closet with a lot of space for clothes and shoes, which we really liked.

The bathroom was wide and quite nice, with a bathtub. In our opinion, a nice big shower is better than a tub, but we know that a lot of people like to take baths. 

The private balcony was nice, not the widest but big enough.  We noticed a couple of things that could be improved in the cabin. First, there were no electrical plugs by the bedside tables to charge the phones.

In fact, the only plugs available were by the desk, and there were two European and two American plugs there. Second, the wood paneling in the room made the room feel a little dark. Other than those minor details, we really enjoyed our cabin.

The next topic in our Review of MSC Yacht Club is

The Yacht Club Lounge 

On MSC Splendida, the Yacht Club lounge is on deck 15 all the way to the front. The area is really nice and well-designed. There is a concierge desk that takes care of all the yacht club passengers’ needs; more about that later.

Next to the concierge, there is a great big lounge with couches and tables. In the lounge, there are snacks available all the time. In the morning, they serve a light breakfast with cereals, sandwiches, and toast, and jam.

The lounge also has a nice big bar with complimentary drinks. We really enjoyed this area, especially on sea days we used it to work because it was really quiet and comfortable. It was also the best place for a pre-dinner aperitif.

Moving on to our next topic of the MSC Yacht Club experience:

The Yacht Club Pool

The MSC Yacht Club Pool is called “one pool” and is located on deck 18, right above the lounge. It is a very nice space with a pool, two jacuzzis, a lot of sunbeds, a bar, and a small buffet area where they serve food for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. On our cruise, during sea days in the buffet area, the head waiter of the Yacht Club restaurant was cooking fresh pasta and other lunch items in a buffet they set up by the pool. 

We really enjoyed this area sunbathing, especially during the sea days. It is never super busy and always has sun beds available for us away from the huge crowds of the main pools on the ship.

The MSC Yacht Club Pool area is also incredibly private. In fact, we asked the concierge if it was possible to invite guests, and the answer was no. The area is for Yacht Club members only.

Next, we will talk about:

The Yacht Club Restaurant 

On the MSC Splendida, the Yacht Club’s dedicated restaurant is called Olivo, and it is located on deck 15 all the way aft above the main buffet. We heard that on newer ships the MSC Yacht Club restaurant is located above or below the yacht club lounge, but on this particular ship it was outside the exclusive yacht club area. That’s probably because the MSC Splendida was the first ship to get retrofitted with the yacht club.

The restaurant is open seating, and Yacht Club passengers can go anytime during opening hours. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

The specialty restaurant’s ambiance is excellent, very intimate and wide, with a lot of natural light. The service is absolutely impeccable. Every waiter is perfectly trained, knowledgeable and really friendly. 

In this restaurant’s menu, there are always one or two items that are not available on the menu in the main dining room; for example, on the second formal night, they served lobster that was not on the menu in the main dining room.

Moving on to our next topic of the MSC Yacht Club experience, we will talk about:

The Service for MSC Yacht Club Guests

The service at MSC Splendida Yacht Club is impeccable. The MSC Yacht Club perk is that a 24-hour butler service is available, which is really nice.

We did not ask our butler to unpack and pack for us, but that is one of the butler services that they provide. We can totally tell that the butler service takes great pride in providing stunning service and that they genuinely care about their MSC Yacht Club guests.

Our butler Augustine was incredibly friendly and attentive, always available but never intrusive. Very well done! 

The concierge desk was there to take care of passengers’ needs. They were there to help with almost every aspect of the MSC cruise, from excursions to billing. 

This came particularly helpful the day before arriving at the port of Sokhna when the Egyptian border agent came on board to stamp everyone’s passports. We did not have to go to see the agent, but the concierge took care of this step for us to avoid the long lines. 

Also, the future cruise consultant was available at the concierge lounge by appointment for MSC Yacht Club passengers. Really stunning service. 

Our next item to review about the MSC Yacht Club review is:

What is Included in MSC Yacht Club?

One of the best benefits of MSC Yacht Club perks, aside from the amazing service, is the fact that it is a truly all-inclusive experience. In fact, when you book a yacht club cabin, you have the Premium Extra Drink Package included. The MSC Yacht Club offers a package that includes drinks up to €13 euros.

Now one thing to consider is that if you order a drink that costs €14, for example, you will be charged the whole amount, not the €1.00 difference as other cruise lines do. It also included is the premium internet package, with unlimited use for two devices per passenger.

Another thing that is included is unlimited access to Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, even though on this voyage, people at the spa told us that we had to make a reservation before going. Now we brought this up to the concierge, and they said that it wasn’t true. We did not have to make a reservation. 

The MSC Yacht Club offers gratuities and 24-hour room service. Basically, the only items not included were the excursions, spa treatments, onboard shopping, drinks over 13 euros, and the Casino.

Moving on to the next topic of our MSC Yacht Club experience, we will talk about:

Yacht Club passengers have priority access to shore when going on an excursion. Basically, we had to meet our own personal butler at the sail lounge at the time specified on the excursion ticket, and he then took us to the gangway skipping all the lines for security, passport controls, etc.

Same thing on the way back from excursions. A butler was always by the gangway escorting us to the front of the line and back to our lounge. Now, this service is excellent because it allows Yacht Club Passengers to skip all the long lines, but there is a downside.

Since we were always the first passengers on the bus, we then had to wait on the bus for all the other passengers to arrive. Sometimes the wait was up to an hour. Now considering that some excursions on this itinerary required two and half hours bus ride, an extra hour before departure was quite long.

In our opinion, it would be better if MSC reserved the seats on the bus for Yacht Club passengers (they already know who they are) and let them off the ship when the bus was almost ready to go. 

MSC Cruises Ships

MSC Cruises is getting bigger and better. There are a lot of special things to discover on each MSC cruise ship when you go sailing with them as a member of the MSC Yacht Club.

Their huge fleets include:

MSC Seashore

MSC Seashore is like her sister ships, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview. Most of the places people go on the ship are different than before.

MSC Seashore has new places to play, eat and hang out outside. There are also more rooms for people to stay in and more space for everyone.

You can sit back, relax, and enjoy all that MSC Seashore offers. MSC Seashore is the first of two special ships. It has technology that helps it use energy more efficiently.

The MSC Cruise has been fitted with the fleet’s largest and most luxurious MSC Yacht Club, with almost 3,000 sqm of space, including a bigger solarium and a panoramic whirlpool.

MSC Seashore’s 13,000 sqm of outdoor spaces, from pools and lounge areas to Speciality Restaurant seating areas, bring guests closer to the sea than ever before, making them truly.

MSC Meraviglia

You can experience the ultimate sea adventure on MSC Meraviglia. This magnificent ship boasts incredible features such as gourmet dining, amazing entertainment options, panoramic areas, an ocean-view lounge, a two-deck “inside promenade” complete with an LED dome, and an amusement area attached to an outdoor water park.

Best of all, MSC Meraviglia features late-night and overnight stays on MSC Cruise’s exclusive private island.

MSC Virtuosa

The name MSC Virtuosa is from the word virtuoso which means someone who is very good at something. MSC Cruises gave it this name to honor the people who designed and built the ship. They are very talented and skilled.

This new cruise ship is one of the biggest in the MSC Cruises fleet. It has lots of special features that work together to give you the best vacation ever! Moreover, it’s the MSC Grandiosa’s sister ship.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the Yacht Club on board MSC is really excellent product. It not only allows passengers to enjoy a ship within a ship but also provides a great service that is much more personalized and attentive than what you’d expect with a standard MSC product.

The MSC Yacht Club allows passengers to avoid long lines for embarkation, excursions, or even restaurants. The downside is the price.

The cruise costs almost twice as much as a regular balcony cabin. Everything is indeed included, but the price difference is quite steep. In fact, when you’re looking at this price point, luxury cruise lines now become comparables.

We really enjoyed our week on board the MSC Splendida Yacht Club and will do it again for sure, maybe next time on a different itinerary.  

We hope you enjoyed our blog, and as usual, if you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

In March 2017, Rick and Andrea started Travel Addicts Life as a way to share their travel photos and videos with the world. And boy did it ever grow!  Today, we are proud to offer content here on Travel Addicts Life, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

Thanks for reading!

Rick & Andrea

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• MSC Cruises

Yacht Club Service Fee

By Nashna , February 6, 2023 in MSC Cruises

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On the MSC website they state that the automatic tipping charge is $14.50 per person, per day.  Is there an additional charge for passengers sailing in the Yacht Club or is it just assumed we would voluntarily tip extra?

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Two Wheels Only

Same as the rest of the ship. If you choose to tip more, you can.

MSC has mandatory Daily (Hotel) Service charge per passenger in all of their Experiences (booking classes) including YC.

Daily Service Charge is no tipping fee.

..from MSC USA website..

During your cruise, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. They are supported by just as many staff and crew who work hard behind the scenes to ensure you enjoy every moment on board. For your convenience, MSC Cruises will automatically add a daily Hotel Service Charge to your shipboard account, based on your chosen itinerary and the number of days for which the services are actually provided.

The Hotel Service charge serves to ensure we maintain the highest quality standards of service to our guests. The daily amounts below have been calculated with this in mind and cannot be modified. However, should you wish to remove any of the daily Hotel Service Charge in the unlikely event that you do not receive satisfactory service, you may do so by contacting the Guest Relations Manager onboard. If you wish, the daily Service Charge for your cruise can be added to the price of your cruise at the time of booking, rather than added to your onboard account during the cruise. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to add the Service Charge to your cruise price.

TIPS: MSC does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

VALID UP TO SUMMER 2024

morpheusofthesea

On 2/6/2023 at 3:27 PM, Nashna said: Is there an additional charge for passengers sailing in the Yacht Club or is it just assumed we would voluntarily tip extra?

There are no other charges. We did pay extra $48 each to upgrade to streaming wifi for the week.

   Just a word to the wise. It is better to be discreet in ones tipping so as not to embarrass the more thrifty gentry sharing the same venue. We novice bumpkins are not entitled to more attention that we receive in response to our largesse.

   On our most recent cruise I met with the maitre d' to express my desires and then asked him if he was going to be our maitre d' for the entire cruise. He assured me he was and to 'express' my 'appreciation' that everything would be as I requested, I tipped him. Just at the moment of his hand and mine clasping an officer approached and witnessed the act. I asked the officer if he had anything to do with the dedicated restaurant and he said he was the manager of all the restaurants. I proceeded to go into my pocket again for another tip 'in kind' when the officer stopped me and said for him it is not necessary. The maitre d' chimed in and said "whenever you feel the urge to tip my boss to give it to me. I will make sure he gets it."

We had sailed in the Yacht Club on Divina in January 2020.  I do know the service was excellent and we rewarded our waiter, Maitre de, the Concierge, butler and his assistant over the standard amount.     

Best Cat Mom

We've sailed several times in YC and tip extra to those who give us exceptional and personal service. We have always recognized our server and assistant in the YC restaurant and our butler and assistant in our stateroom. We've also tipped the YC restaurant maitre de, chef and hostess(es) at times, as well as particular Top Sail butlers and bartenders, and the YC concierges. Envelopes are available via the YC concierges and they are also especially helpful with spelling people's names or helping us identify people who we only know by sight (they have images of all the crew on their computer and that has saved us more than once when we have someone whose name we never are able to catch from their badge).

1 hour ago, Best Cat Mom said: We've sailed several times in YC and tip extra to those who give us exceptional and personal service. We have always recognized our server and assistant in the YC restaurant and our butler and assistant in our stateroom. We've also tipped the YC restaurant maitre de, chef and hostess(es) at times, as well as particular Top Sail butlers and bartenders, and the YC concierges. Envelopes are available via the YC concierges and they are also especially helpful with spelling people's names or helping us identify people who we only know by sight (they have images of all the crew on their computer and that has saved us more than once when we have someone whose name we never are able to catch from their badge).

That's good to know.  I like the idea of the envelope rather than just the cash.  

Can someone provide YC tipping “guidelines”, please?  My April cruise will be my 75th cruise overall, second time on MSC but first time in YC (or similar category). I usually tip my stateroom attendant and waiter in cash (above and beyond DSC) but am stumped when it comes to butler, concierge, etc.

Thanks in advance!  

2 minutes ago, Liz said: Can someone provide YC tipping “guidelines”, please?

Tip whatever amount that you want to whomever you want. You can't tip too much. You can't tip too little. 

It's up to you. 

perakcruiser

Do it discreet and use a envelope. Give the envelope with both hands. Not just one 🙂

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1. what kind of cruise ship decor do you like best.

• Colorful and wacky! It sets the vibe for fun.
• Serene and soothing! Greige helps me relax.
• Arty and sophisticated! Whimsical pieces make me smile.
• Nautical and classic! I want to feel like I'm on a ship.
• Mod and shiny! Give me all the glass and chrome.
• Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

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MSC Seascape Cabins & Suites

MSC Seascape features new cabins designed to suit all your needs during your holiday. Choose among different types of cabins and suites with balconies including the coveted aft suits, terraced suites with extended balconies and different suites with outdoor private whirlpools. And get to know an unparalleled accommodation experience at the 2 new palatial  Owner’s Suites  at the largest and most luxurious MSC Yacht Club.

• Comfortable king bed
• Large balcony with private whirlpool bath and outdoor living area
• Separate living area and dining room
• Walk-in closet and luggage storage
• Panoramic glass wall
• Bathroom with large shower and bathtub, vanity area and hairdryer
• Interactive TV, telephone, safe and minibar.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Can accommodate up to 4 people
• Approx. 1,055 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 65 ft 2
• Located on deck 19

Discover a world of privileges with MSC Yacht Club.

The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same stateroom category).

• Large balcony with a private whirlpool bath and dining room table
• Walk-in closet
• Bathroom with shower and bathtub, vanity area and hairdryer
• Interactive TV, telephone, safe and minibar
• Approx. 667 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 355 ft 2
• Located on deck 16
• Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request
• Located on the top deck*
• Separate living area
• Bathroom with large shower, vanity area and hairdryer
• Accommodates up to 5 guests
• Approx. 269 - 463 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 86 – 129 ft 2
• Located on decks 16-19

* Except staterooms 18019, 18018, 16027 and 16020. S ize, layout and furniture may vary from that shown (within the same stateroom category).

• Sitting area with sofa
• Spacious closet
• Bathroom with shower or bathtub, vanity area and hairdryer
• Approx. 269 - 366 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 86 ft 2
•  Located on decks 16-19
• Approx. 226 ft 2
• Located on decks 16 and 18
• Two-bedroom Suite
• - Bedroom 1: Comfortable king bed
• - Bedroom 2: Two single beds
• Two bathrooms
• - Bathroom 1: Shower, vanity area and hairdryer
• - Bathroom 2: Bathtub, vanity area and hairdryer
• Sitting area with sofa or separate living area
• Wi-Fi access available ($)
• Can accommodate up to 6 guests
• Approx. 527 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 183 ft 2
• Located on decks 11-14
• Select staterooms can accommodate up to 5 guests
• Approx. 377 – 527 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 32.2917– 226.042 ft 2
• Located on decks 9-13
• Spacious wardrobe
• Can accommodate up to 5 people
• Approx. 301 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 75 ft 2   with its own private whirlpool bath
• Located on decks 9-15
• Approx. 301 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 409 ft 2
•  Located on deck 9
• Approx. 280 – 344 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 97 – 151 ft 2
• Approx. 183 ft 2 with a balcony that is approx. 172 ft 2
• Located on deck 9

The image is representative only; the size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category).

Important: this cabin will be available for cruises with departure dates starting from 5th April 2025.

• Approx. 183 ft 2  with a balcony that is approx. 54 - 97 ft 2

* Some staterooms have a metal balcony front instead of glass.

• Approx. 172-183 ft 2  with a balcony that is approx. 54 - 65 ft 2
• Located on decks 11-12
• Window with sea view
• Bathroom with shower, vanity area and hairdryer
• Approx. 183 ft 2
• Located on deck 5
• Approx. 301 ft 2
• Located on deck 10

* Some staterooms for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility have a non-convertible king bed.

• Approx. 151 ft 2
• Located on decks 5-10

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MSC Cruises

7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on your next cruise

Anyone who has priced out a suite on a cruise ship knows they can be expensive.

As TPG showed in a family cruise lines pricing comparison , you'll often pay at least 50% more for a suite on a cruise vessel than for a standard cabin. Sometimes the premium can be much higher.

At $11,000 a night, the top suite on luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises' 3-year-old Seven Seas Splendor is more than five times the cost of a standard cabin on the vessel.

Still, it's not just high pricing that sets suites on cruise ships apart. Cruise ship suites also are typically a lot bigger than standard cabins on cruise vessels, have better locations and come with a long list of extra perks that you won't get with a regular cabin.

The perks often include lots of complimentary things for which you'd normally pay extra on a ship, such as Wi-Fi access and dinners in top shipboard restaurants.

Related: 8 cabin locations on cruise ships you should definitely avoid

Add it all up, and — for some cruisers, at least — a pricier suite on a cruise ship can turn out to be the best value of any cabin on board. Here are seven things you'll typically get with a cruise ship suite that might make you want to book one instead of a standard cabin.

Priority embarkation

The perks of staying in a suite start from the moment you arrive at your ship. Usually, you'll find a special check-in area for suite guests at the arrival terminal — one without the long lines that you'll sometimes find to check in for a regular cabin. Sometimes, there's even a private lounge area for suite guests with drinks and snacks.

As a suite guest, you'll be among the first passengers to board your ship. That means you'll be able to start your vacation earlier than almost anybody else on your cruise.

A bigger room

This one is a bit obvious, but just to be thorough, we'll say it again anyway: Suites on cruise ships are bigger than regular cabins — sometimes far bigger. Regular cruise ship cabins are notoriously small — at least when compared to hotel rooms on land — but some cruise ship suites can be downright massive, with multiple rooms, including living rooms, dining rooms and extra bedrooms.

In other words, while you pay more for a suite, you get a lot more space for the money.

At the higher end, there are cruise ship suites bigger than the average home in the U.S., such as the eye-catching Regent Suite pictured above. It measures more than 4,000 square feet and has its own sprawling living room and dining room area, as well as two massive bedroom complexes.

Related: 6 reasons you'll want to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise

Better room location

Cruise ship suites aren't just bigger than regular cabins. They're better located, too.

On many ships, you'll find some of the biggest suites at the very front or the very back of the vessel — the two places that offer the most stunning views. You'll also often find suites along the sides of ships at the equilibrium point — the spot near the middle of a ship that is the most stable in rough seas. If you're prone to seasickness, this is where you want to be.

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

Better room perks

Expect all sorts of upgrades to your room experience when staying in a cruise ship suite, from higher-thread-count sheets to upgraded toiletries.

On Royal Caribbean ships, for instance, Royal Suite Class guests get upgraded bottles of L'Occitane shampoo, conditioner and lotions in bathrooms, Mr. Coffee/Tea service and Royal Caribbean bathrobes for use during the voyage. Top suites on Viking ships have minibars stocked with complimentary drinks, including hard liquors. Celebrity Cruises suites come with a stocked minibar, too, plus two bottles of liquor of the passengers' choice.

More pampered service

Your suite will often come with a private butler who is on call day and night. Some suites also come with access to a private concierge. These are people whose whole job is to take away all the little stressors that you might experience on vacation and pamper you at the highest level.

Related: 5 reasons to turn down a cruise ship cabin upgrade

Your butler, should your suite come with one, can do everything from unpack your suitcase to serve you private meals on your balcony. This same butler (or your concierge, if you have one) also can book you into the ship's top restaurants, where you'll likely have priority access, another common suite perk. She or he also can escort you to a private seating area for suite guests in the ship's theater, which is another perk of being in a suite at many lines.

Butlers and concierges also can get you tickets to onboard activities (again, with priority access) and will assist you in getting off the ship quickly when it arrives in a port — letting you make the most of your time during port calls.

Access to exclusive shipboard areas

On a growing number of megaships, suite guests have access to sprawling, private "ship-within-a-ship" luxury areas that offer a level of pampering not found across the rest of the vessels.

On more than half of Norwegian Cruise Line 's ships, for instance, many of the top suites are part of an exclusive keycard-accessed area called The Haven. Aimed at luxury travelers, The Haven complexes are located at the very top of the vessels and often come with private lounges, pools, sunning areas and even restaurants.

The exclusive The Haven complex at the top of the 4,004-passenger Norwegian Bliss features a private lounge with spectacular views over the vessel's bow. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE/FACEBOOK

A number of MSC Cruises vessels offer a similar "ship-within-in-a-ship" area for suite guests called the MSC Yacht Club, and the newest Celebrity ships , such as Celebrity Beyond , have an exclusive and swanky indoor and outdoor lounge area for suite passengers called The Retreat.

Some ships also have private concierge lounges that are open only to suite guests (some are open to passengers with top elite status , too).

Related: What it takes to get concierge lounge access on a cruise ship

Included freebies

Staying in a suite can bring you all sorts of value-added perks on ships that normally would come with an extra charge, from complimentary Wi-Fi access to meals in extra-charge restaurants.

The suite experience at Princess Cruises , for instance, includes a free dinner on embarkation day at one of the ship's extra-charge restaurants. Passengers staying in Royal Caribbean's top Star Class suites get complimentary dining in extra-charge eateries through the cruise, as well as included gratuities and a complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package.

On Regent's Seven Seas Splendor, Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Grandeur, the top Regent Suites come with a private masseuse on call for unlimited treatments during your voyage, plus a long list of other perks.

Other freebies that often come with suites include laundry service, access to the spa thermal suite (normally an extra charge), a bottle of Champagne at embarkation and canapes delivered every afternoon. If you're staying in a big enough suite, you might even get a dinner with the ship's captain.

Additionally, many promotions that lines run will throw in complimentary gratuities, drink packages, shore excursions and even onboard credits as an incentive to book a suite.

Bottom line

A suite on a cruise ship can cost a lot more than a regular cabin. But the pricing differential isn't as high as it looks once you factor in all the free perks you get with a suite and other added value.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise