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

msc yacht club vs suite

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. 

msc yacht club vs suite

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. 

msc yacht club vs suite

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?

msc yacht club vs suite

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. 

msc yacht club vs suite

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.

msc yacht club vs suite

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.

msc yacht club vs suite

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

msc yacht club vs suite

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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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.

Erica Lamberg

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.

MSC Seashore

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.

MSC Seashore

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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The Traveling Steve's

Our traveling adventure blog.

The Traveling Steve's

The Steve’s Review of MSC Seaside’s Yacht Club

Steve (DOS) and I sailed MSC’s Seaside cruise ship for the first time this past week; October 15 – 22, 2023 for a 7 night cruise to MSC’s Ocean Cay (MSC’s private island in the Bahamas), Costa Maya, and Cozumel Mexico. As this was a new cruise line for us, I’ll detail my/our experiences here in a bit more detail, similar to what I did when we first sailed Virgin Voyages this past July. Warning: this is a long post with lots of photos! (Sorry in advance for any typos!)😀

msc yacht club vs suite

First some quick ship stats: for the MSC Seaside (per Wikipedia)

  • 153,516 Gross Tons
  • Length: 1,059 Feet
  • Beam: 141 Feet
  • Total Cabins: 2,067
  • Passenger capacity: Max 4,961
  • Entered Service: December 2017
  • Cost when built in 2014: €700 million Euros
  • Country of Registry: Valletta, Malta
  • Current number of cruise ships in MSC fleet: 23

DRIVE TO THE PORT: As we live in the Orlando, FL suburbs, the Port of Cape Canaveral (where the Seaside is currently sailing from) is only an hour drive from our house, which make it super convenient. Not only that, but Cape Canaveral, in my humble opinion is one of the easiest embarkation/debarkation points we have sailed out of. It is not the closest port, however, to the airport as it’s an hour’s drive via car or shuttle bus, unlike Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) which is a short distance from the FLL airport terminal.

msc yacht club vs suite

ARRIVAL AT PORT CANAVERAL: MSC currently leaves from terminal 10, which is the former Royal Caribbean (RCL) Cruise terminal. We saw RCL’s Wonder of the Seas docked further down the terminal channel, so I guess they needed bigger space for their mega series of ships.

msc yacht club vs suite

We arrived at Port Canaveral Terminal 10 around 10:45am, and the luggage drop off and parking were a breeze, thanks to the good signage and uniformed port staff providing directions. There was very little car traffic at this hour, and the tour buses coming from the airport had a drop off point just for them, so they weren’t interfering with the flow of traffic. We parked on the ground level of the garage (shaded area), took a photo of where we parked, and walked the short distance to the terminal with our carry-on luggage, taking a selfie along the way of us with the giant ship behind us. One huge thing that at least the Port Canaveral Terminal Garage 10 does, is collect the parking fee upon entry via credit card. This really expedites the traffic flow upon debarkation, something other port garages such as Miami do not do, which caused lengthy exit delays when we sailed out of there in late July on Virgin’s Scarlet Lady. Ideally Miami’s garage should at least have an EPAS exit, as their garages handle multiple cruise lines out of the same garage, with various lengths of cruises, so pre-paying is perhaps not an option there.

msc yacht club vs suite

Once at the terminal, we quickly found the Yacht Club (YC) tent area where we were verified for YC, and then sent thru a quick security check line. From there we were directed to a dedicated large conference-type room in the terminal, where we would then check-in for our cruise. We had already completed the paperwork and had downloaded the MSC app, but we still printed out our travel documents per MSC’s website guidelines, which makes it easier should the phone need re-charging or an update when you’re trying to check-in. (I’m old fashioned I guess, but I always print my boarding pass for the airport for the same reason; don’t always trust the phone and/or app when I need it most.)

msc yacht club vs suite

The check-in process was very quick and we were given a glass of champagne as we entered the room. We then received our room card key which indicated YC access. They did not have the blue wrist bands available at check-in, (which will also allow you to open your stateroom door), but we picked up our complimentary bands two days later onboard at the photo gallery. While we waited a few minutes for our boarding to commence, we sipped our glass of pre-boarding champagne together with the other YC guests, and toasted to an awesome cruise ahead!

msc yacht club vs suite

After a short wait in the pre-boarding area, we were escorted in small groups aboard the ship where we were led directly thru the main lobby atrium. Here we met our personal shipboard Butler Agus, who assisted us from there. Agus helped us with our carry-on luggage and escorted us from deck five thru a few public areas, until we reached the forward elevators which took us to our “ship within a ship”, the Yacht Club section. The Yacht Club occupies the forward third of the 16th, 18th, and 19th decks aboard the Seaside. (There is not a deck 17 on this ship as it is an Italian ship, and 17 (like 13 in the US) is considered an unlucky number.)

Once in the Yacht Club, we had a seat in the Top Sail Lounge, which is the huge main cocktail lounge exclusive to the 200 Yacht Club passengers. We had yet another glass of the complimentary Champagne in the Lounge (actually Prosecco to be technically correct), and met some of our fellow passengers, while we again sipped our Bubbly. (And it’s not even 11:30am yet!). There was a nice assortment of snacks, nuts and pastries as well, but we skipped over those for now as lunch was in the near future for us. In a few minutes, we were gathered with a few other guests for a quick orientation of the Yacht Club’s services, amenities, meal hours etc, which was lead by the lead Concierge staff person, Raj. After the 10 minute or so orientation, we went to our cabin, which was just down the hall, also on deck 16. We knew from the moment we boarded that the Yacht Club was truly special, and this would be an awesome cruise!

msc yacht club vs suite

STATEROOM : After the orientation in the Top Sail Lounge, DOS and I headed to our stateroom which was just down the hall. Our room was 16014, with 16 being the deck number, and 014 the room number. The room was quite comfortable, and categorized by MSC as a “Superior Yacht Club Suite”. While our room was not what I would consider a full suite, it was a nice sized Jr. Suite in size, similar to those on other cruise lines and quite spacious enough for us. We had a King sized bed, half open-sided wall adjacent to the bedroom, dividing off the living room sofa, a large bathroom (no tub) with decent sized shower and a large single sink vanity. Robes were provided for use onboard, and the large towels and bed linens were of very good quality.

msc yacht club vs suite

The outlets for electronic devices were a bit lacking as they weren’t located on either side of the bed, but on the long table with pull out drawers. We brought a cruise-allowed power adapter (not a surge protector which are banned on all cruise ships) we bought on Amazon which is cruise-safe, and handled our other devices, such as our iPhones, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac Book. The is also a European power outlet under the TV, as well a couple USB outlets.

msc yacht club vs suite

FIRST MEAL ABOARD: LUNCH! After briefly settling into our cabin and unpacking our carry-on items, we headed up to Deck 18 (only one level up due the “skipping” of the 17th floor per Italian superstition) to the Yacht Club (YC) Dining Room. I’ll talk at length about the Yacht Club further down in this post, but for now the relaxing lunch with wine made for quite a friendly welcome aboard and literally a taste of what was to come over the next 7 days. We met our waiter and assistant waiters, who would expertly serve us throughout the cruise.

msc yacht club vs suite

EXPLORING THE SHIP: After lunch in the Yacht Club, it was time to venture out of the YC exclusive area, and explore a bit of the rest of this mammoth ship. I say “a bit” as even by the end of the cruise we felt like we had only seen some of the major ship venues, and never quite learned our way around the ship, even with the lighted ship maps located near the elevators and elsewhere.

msc yacht club vs suite

The layout in some places could be a bit strange, such as on Deck 16 towards the mid/aft of the ship, where you needed to go down or up a deck to cross all the way to the back of the ship (due to a galley blocking part of the passageway) or the plethora of mirrors aboard in some corridors that had us saying hi to the “other people” coming towards us, only to realize we were saying hi to ourselves! LOL! 😂

msc yacht club vs suite

Part of the fun of going on a new ship, however, is getting lost finding your way around; it really is a beautiful ship with so many sectional venues that it will take some time to explore even the main parts of the ship by day and night.

MAIN LOBBY : At the centerpiece of the ship are the beautiful Swarovski decorated crystal staircases located in the ship’s main atrium. These staircases lead to several levels, and flank either side of the multi-level stage areas that are used for various musicians throughout the day and evening, as well as on the main open air bottom level of the lobby. The backdrop of the atrium is an ever changing myriad of colors and scenes, depending on the occasion.

msc yacht club vs suite

There is a huge semi-circular bar which is visible from the staircases and overlooks surrounding them, and serves as a focal point entertainment venue for the numerous onboard events and parties. We even saw Elvis, and Michael Jackson one night!

msc yacht club vs suite

ELEVATORS: The ship has two primary banks of elevators; one towards the forward of the ship; and one a bit past the middle of the ship. The main elevators are “smart” elevators, although I would say the “smart part” needs a bit of tweaking to them. The idea in theory is great, provide more efficient elevator access by matching groups of passengers going to the same floors, although at peak times that doesn’t work the best. Basically by each elevator there is a mini iPad type device where you select your floor, which is also indicated by the deck’s name; i.e, Miami Beach deck.

msc yacht club vs suite

The elevator then calculates which elevator will be the quickest, and tell you the elevator (via letter and number, i.e. G5) and the approximate wait time. During slow periods, these worked fine, but when several hundred people got out of a show at the same time or returned from a busy port of call, things got a bit more hectic. Ideally each person in their group, say four people, should enter the floor number, not just one person from the group, so the elevator can calculate the capacity as 4 riders instead of 1. Unfortunately this is not obvious, and I don’t recall seeing signage to tell people to do this which at busy times can be quite crowded and confusing with multiple groups of people trying to ride as a single passenger, instead of their actual group size.

Busy periods aside, though, I really love this concept, as busy elevators on these mega ships in general (most other lines included) face the problem of over-crowded elevators, and people riding up to go down, and not getting off at the correct top or bottom floor; instead just getting on to secure their space in the crowded elevators. These “smart” elevators do not have any floor buttons once you are on board so you can’t change your mind or better yet, don’t have kids pushing every floor button of the elevator!

There is also one small bank of two elevators in the aft area of the ship by the aft pool, which are not the “smart elevator” type. There is also an elevator inside the Yacht Club for exclusive use of the YC passengers, but it only operates on the YC floors 16 – 19.

msc yacht club vs suite

LOUNGES/BARS: According to the MSC website there are some 19 bars and lounges onboard! And, no we didn’t try all of them out on our seven day cruise! While we primarily used the Top Sail Lounge in the Yacht Club, as well as the YC’s pool bar, we did go to several of the other bars and lounges in the main part of the ship as well. We were concerned the main bars/lounges outside the YC would be jam packed all the time, but that really was not the case most of the time. While many were busy, with the exception of the large main atrium bar, and main and aft pool bars, we didn’t have trouble finding seats or barstools at some of the other bars and lounges. We tried the Sports Bar, which had a large selection of drafts (but oddly no IPAs such as Lagunitis here or elsewhere on the ship I could find), the Seaview Lounge, and the Haven Lounge, both of the latter offered live entertainment, as well as the main atrium lounge.

msc yacht club vs suite

We didn’t try out the Champagne Lounge on the upper level of the main atrium, but walked by it several times as well as the Chocolate Bar; both of which looked nice but not overflowing with crowds.

msc yacht club vs suite

There is also a small bar (more of a to-go bar) in the buffet area on deck 8 which is open late while the late night buffet is being served until 1am, which is fine for grabbing a brewski or drink to your table while munching on the midnight food and snacks.

GAME ROOM: We didn’t utilize the game room, but did pass thru the Game Room Arcade a few times when walking towards the back of the ship. There was a Formula One Race Car simulator, complete with an actual size car that can be “driven” around the large virtual screen track directly in front of it. It looked pretty realistic, and we watched a man probably in his early 40s having a ball with his racing skills!

There is also a two lane bowling alley in the arcade room, but we never saw anyone bowling, although we weren’t there very much other than just passing thru. I was hoping to video someone bowling as it must be quite tricky on a moving ship; I’m sure there’s lots of curve and gutter balls even from experienced bowlers!

msc yacht club vs suite

There are also other video games as well, all of which required payment or a game pass of sorts via the ATM like kiosk or pre-pay on the cruise card.

msc yacht club vs suite

SPA Area: We’re not spa kind of people (i.e. don’t get massages, use the treatment rooms etc) so we can’t speak for the Spa, other than it was quite large, and people we spoke to really enjoyed their massage and even the “mud treatment”. (I’ve always wanted to try that seaweed wrap treatment but DOS says “that’s phooy”, you’ll gain your weight back as soon as you drink water or alcohol! Possibly, but it does sound like fun!)

Any passenger on the ship can book the “The Thermal Suite Pass” (which is complimentary for Yacht Club Members), and provides access to the Thermal Suite area and and spa deck area; a private section of deck 16, just prior to entering the YC section. We did not use the Thermal Suite on this trip as we seemed to be too busy on this cruise (not sure what we were doing other than relaxing, but we seemed busy all the time!) We did walk thru the spa outdoor deck area on our daily walks around the ship for exercise, which is shown in the next couple of photos, which never seemed to be busy, and was a nice wide area of the deck as well.

msc yacht club vs suite

We did like the cold towels the Spa staff handed to all guests when they came back from port, on the dock area near the entrance to the ship. The white washcloths were chilled (like Celebrity Cruises and Princess does), but also sprayed with an exotic Eucalyptus mixture that smelled divine. Of course they sell the bottled mixture in the Spa if you like it!

msc yacht club vs suite

POOL FUN : The main (non Yacht Club) portion of the ship has several pools, divided into different sections. There is an adventure pool area that has a kiddie pool and other water activities, while there are 2 racing water slides that go out over the starboard side of the ship, while on the port side there is a similar, but larger twisting water slide that uses a raft to ride the slide down to the bottom. Scrunched in-between, in the center of the Adventure Club area, is another twisting slide that finishes on the bottom deck of the Adventure Club pool area. None of the slides were overly busy and were complimentary, although you had to sign a waiver and get a wrist band prior to riding them. Adults as well as kids seemed to be enjoying themselves! I’m sure in peak summer or holiday periods there would be hundreds more kids using these facilities, though on our mid-October sailing it was not overwhelming.

msc yacht club vs suite

SAIL-AWAY PARTY: Sure enough, as quiet and empty as the ship was when we first got on and started exploring the ship, it quickly filled up by sail-away time. There was a big sail-away party at the aft pool deck area, but it was a bit too busy to see the entertainment staff, and a bit too noisy for us to enjoy, so we retreated back to the quite calm of The Yacht Club. I told Steve (DOS) at times leaving some of the crowded main areas of the ship was like being in a busy airport terminal, and then suddenly entering the calm of an airline’s international First Class Lounge! Not really an exaggeration either, as a couple of fellow Yacht Club passengers said something similar.

msc yacht club vs suite

SHOPPING GALLERY : As expected for a ship of this size, there are several shopping areas aboard the ship, ranging from logo items, to duty free liquors and other items, to Swarovski crystals, jewelry, cosmetics, to men’s face creams to make you look ten years younger. Maybe I should have bought two of the face cremes to shave 20 years off my age!🤣

msc yacht club vs suite

We’re not big shoppers except for souvenir type items, but we did purchase the ship’s Seascape model (which I try to collect of ships we have taken), which was priced at $56, and was a nice quality metal model on a wood base. I wanted an MSC cap, but oddly enough they were out of them, and I didn’t see any nice logo T-shirts that I cared for, so we settled for just purchasing the ship’s model.

msc yacht club vs suite

We had the same issue on Virgin Voyages recently where they were out of their logo caps, and like on MSC, this was only on the second night. Don’t know if ships are having supply-chain issues or people are gobbling them up right away (I think the former as you they would want to advertise their product), so if you see something you want in the gift logo shop, I would buy it early on in the cruise.

msc yacht club vs suite

CASINO: While we’re not gamblers, we did stroll thru the casino after the theater shows let out, as it was a passageway towards the mid to the aft of the ship, and you really couldn’t avoid it. Although MSC allows smoking in the casino, it really was very well filtered, and this comes from someone who is very sensitive to second-hand smoke. There were definitely plenty of slots for every type play you like, as well as many table games as well.

msc yacht club vs suite

The huge bar served as a functional and aesthetically pleasing circular sports bar as there were TV monitors mounted from the ceiling pointed down to the bar below.

msc yacht club vs suite

YACHT CLUB EXPERIENCE: Wow oh Wow! What can I say about this? The Yacht Club (YC) is an exclusive area for 200 or fewer passengers, which makes up only 5% of the ship’s capacity, yet offers the best service, food, and amenities aboard. The YC occupies the forward 1/3 of decks 16, 18, and 19, with YC cabins on decks 16 and 18 (there is no deck 17 on these Italian ships due to superstition of the number 17). The YC offers mostly similar “Superior Suite Balcony” cabins, although there are 2 Royal Suites, and a few inside cabins as well, all which receive the same Yacht Club service, although the Royal Suites do get a reserved onboard pool-side cabana and much larger suite. (There are other cabanas in the YC available complimentary to YC passengers, on a first-come basis, and can be reserved onboard.)

msc yacht club vs suite

Note there are actually several categories of larger suites aboard the Seaside that are not in the Yacht Club area, and these do NOT include the 5 star Yacht Club admittance and perks; they are basically larger cabins located throughout the ship among the masses of other passengers. Even though we’ve had very large suites on other lines, the room on MSC was almost secondary as the service and amenities in the public Yacht Club areas were far superior than being in a large suite in a non-Yacht Club area, although the larger space would be good for families needing extra space. All of the rooms in the Yacht Club are in the same key-only accessible area, and it was like being at a Country Club as it was such a small group of passengers with such a high staff to passenger ratio. It was easy to meet most of the fellow YC passengers over the course of the cruise, and it really was like a family between the staff and passengers by the end of the cruise.

msc yacht club vs suite

The Yacht Club is entered via a key-carded entry door, where the 24 hour Concierge desk and staff are located, and glad to answer any questions, assist with shore excursions, specialty dining, and any type special request you may have.

The long hallway internal to the YC is mirrored on both sides, a common design theme used throughout the ship; lots of mirrors everywhere! On the starboard side where our cabin was located, there is also another keyed entrance door which bypasses the Concierge, and lead down a couple hallways to our room.

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At the end of the hall on deck 16, is the Top Sail Lounge, a large and elegant cocktail lounge exclusive to the YC passengers. It faces the front of the ship and has plenty of seating on chairs, sofas, and at the bar area as well. It is here where (well actually anywhere in the YC) you can truly relax away from the mass market crowds of passengers in the main parts of the ship. No loud music and shouting, although there is a piano player/singer who entertains in the evening and special events such as the Captains cocktail party, High Tea, etc, and one night there was a saxophone player entertaining as well.

msc yacht club vs suite

During other times of the day and night there is light and soft jazz or supper-club type music piped in thru the speakers, which makes a subtle background effect, without being overwhelming, even in the pool lavatory! There are always plenty of staff serving the YC, and there is never a wait for a drink, be it bottled water or your favorite cocktail, wine, or beer, and all but the most premium wines and liquors are included both here and throughout the ship (with two exceptions, the chocolate bar and the gelato bar in the main areas of the ship.)

msc yacht club vs suite

Meals Aboard: Unlike the main part of the ship which has 3 seatings in a couple of dining rooms, which require a reservation time, the YC is open seating, and offers 3 waiter-serviced meals a day, in addition to the YC buffet which is available until 7 -10 am for breakfast and normally 12 – 3pm for lunch. We usually ate at the outdoor buffet for breakfast and lunch as the service hours were later and longer than the restaurant, and it was quite an extensive buffet you could enjoy around the pool, or outdoor seating area.

msc yacht club vs suite

We did have lunch in the Yacht Club Dining Room the first day, and breakfast in the Dining Room on Debarkation Day; both of which were leisurely and wonderful, but we preferred the casual poolside buffet most days for breakfast and lunch. (The YC buffet is not open for dinner, although they have hors d’oeuvres in the Top Sail Lounge for a pre or post dinner snack.)

msc yacht club vs suite

We always had dinner in the YC Dining room, which was truly a treat! Dinner is served nightly from 6pm to 9pm, and is open seating with no reservation required for whatever time you like to dine between the posted hours. We requested the same section each night so we had the same wait staff, and normally dined around 7:30pm. The menu selections changed each night with the evening’s theming, but they always had a few classics you could order from if nothing was to your liking, which including a Filet Mignon, Salmon, Cesar Salad etc.

msc yacht club vs suite

Unlike other mainstream US cruise lines, there are 3 courses offered instead of the usual four on RCL, Celebrity, Princess and others. The portion sizes are also a bit small than other lines, but we thought this was actually a positive thing as many times cruise lines oversize their portions, although that too has changed since COVID in serving size portions. MSC offers a choice of several starters, entrees, and desserts (including selections from the cheese cart which I loved.). If you wanted another entree or like Steve (DOS) another or different starter, the wait staff was only too happy to oblige. As drinks were included, we tried several different wines with different food pairings over the week cruise, and one night the sommelier surprised us with a Beaujolais to try with our starter. We never would have guessed what it was (he didn’t tell us initially) as it was quite complex; like a more full-bodied Pinot, than a Beaujolais which is usually a young and more simple wine. Our wine of choice however, was the French Medoc they freely poured, or the Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon.

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The food, presentation, and service were truly outstanding in the YC, and the Chef visited us table-side a couple evenings, while the Maitre D’ always stopped by to check on us. Our waiter and assistant waiter were absolutely some of MSC’s best!

msc yacht club vs suite

Outdoor YC Pool Area/Bar/Buffet: On deck 19 was the YC Sun Deck, pool, and bar/buffet and outdoor seating area and cabanas. This was a large area, although most of the lounge chairs were not shaded unfortunately. As the YC’s sundeck was in the very front of the ship, umbrellas would probably not work due to the wind, although the area was quite protected by full length window panels, which mostly blocked the wind. On the downside, the large window panels created a bit of an obstacle for taking photos, although for sunset photos or in-port photos such as MSC’s private island, we could get good and unobstructed photos from our room’s balcony, as the window panels did not block the view as they did on the sundeck.

msc yacht club vs suite

The YC saltwater pool was deeper than it looked, at around 5 feet deep, although the sign said 4’8″. The pool was a fun place to socialize and cool off, and we used it most days due to the great weather.

There are also two whirlpools located a bit further forward of the sectionally partitioned YC club, which are on the forward part of the YC sundeck.

msc yacht club vs suite

Little extras mean a lot: The Yacht Club includes so many little extra touches with attention to detail, which makes it so extra-special. Your choice of daily newspaper: Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, and others, which are condescended versions of the papers, and printed daily on site.

msc yacht club vs suite

Evening chocolates on the pillow, and some type of surprise treat each evening, such as white chocolates in a plexiglass box, a bottle of Prosecco one evening, a box of 4 sampler chocolates in a gift box the last night, replenishment of your mini-bar beers, water, sodas per your request etc.

msc yacht club vs suite

Butler Service is included along with your room attendant, and the Butler will escort you anywhere on the ship and even to the exit for port days and debarkation. This was a huge benefit, especially being led to the reserved Yacht Club section for the Theater production shows. The High Tea service was especially nice and classy, and served in the Top Sail Lounge.

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Production Shows: There were FIVE Production shows on this 7 night cruise! (Most 7 and even 10 night cruises only have a maximum of three, filled in with other acts on the other nights). Each show was different and some were better than others, but were all energetic with 4 main singers and 9 dancers, with additional specialty-act performers on some of the shows, such as the Peter Punk and Michael Jackson show.

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The show theater itself while very large with two aisles and a center section (with stadium type seating allowing for great views), seemed a bit under-sized for a ship this large, sailing with 4,300 passengers on our sailing, so a couple of the most popular shows actually had 3 seatings (7:30, 9:30, and 10:30pm) instead of two most nights, due to the capacity requirements.

msc yacht club vs suite

Unlike most other cruise lines, the Cruise Director did not make an announcement forbidding photography or even video taping at each show, and it seemed like quite a few people discretely videoed some of the performance number highlights, including myself, which I have included a few short segments below of some of the shows.

We enjoyed all of the shows, although we did not go to the two comedy shows on the non-production show nights, with the Circus Spectacular and the final night’s Michael Jackson show really extra well-done.

PORTS OF CALL : MSC OCEAN’s CAY was without a doubt our favorite port stop on this cruise. Like other cruise lines, MSC has their own private island in the Bahamas, however on our itinerary we were docked at Ocean Cay overnight, allowing for two full days on their private island, something other cruise lines do not do.

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The island is also reachable via a dock area, so there is no need to tender to the port. As our cabin was on the starboard (right) side of the ship, we had an awesome view of the private island, including the landmark lighthouse, which has a light show at night, overlooking the beach party there.

msc yacht club vs suite

We absolutely loved MSC’s Ocean Cay, and as DOS and I both agreed, it reminded us of Royal Caribbean’s (RCL’s) Coco Cay, before they turned the quiet island into a “theme park” with gigantic waters slips, a hot air balloon, zip lines etc. Not that there’s anything wrong with that if you want a bit of adventure for the whole family, but we much prefer the more pristine and natural look of a tropical island without all the added frills which we could do onboard or at a waterpark back home if we wanted to.

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As there is no tendering required, it’s quite easy to debark the ship, and quickly explore the island. Our ship was the only ship in port both days, so it really did feel like a private island without the crowds. As passengers in the Yacht Club, we were escorted down to the exit, and once on land directed to a golf-cart tram, which transported us to the other side of the island, to the exclusive Yacht Club compound on the private beach.

msc yacht club vs suite

The Yacht Club section includes the only air-conditioned passenger building on the island for the club house bar. There was really no reason to access the bar most of the time though, as the service was exceptional, both on the beach as well as at the adjacent Yacht Club Ocean Restaurant. We did go in there a couple times for a quick bottled water or drink if we were passing by there for a restroom stop or to cool off a bit.

msc yacht club vs suite

As lunch the first day was from noon to 2pm, (11:30am – 1:30pm on the second day), we were a bit early for lunch, so headed to the gorgeous private beach just steps aways from the restaurant/bar area. The private beach area was huge, and offered plenty of lounge chairs with umbrellas (complimentary). We had read that the beach itself could be a bit rocky, so we brought some waterproof beach shoes which were great for not only the water, but walking on the hot beach.

In addition to the complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas, beachside cabanas could be pre-reserved as well for a fee. As the service was so good to everyone, we really didn’t see a point in getting a cabana, and were quite comfortable with our beach chairs and umbrellas, as servers were constantly coming by on the beach to provide us beverages. The beach chairs were actually closer to the water as well. The Bahamian water was so crystal blue and clear, it invited most passengers in for a refreshing dip.

msc yacht club vs suite

Snorkeling was not offered at the Yacht Club beach, possibly as there was no protective netting there (more in a moment – yikes! 😱), but it was offered at the non-Yacht Club main beach areas for a fee.

We went to lunch around 1pm at the Yacht Club outdoor Ocean House Restaurant, which is covered in most areas, along with ceiling fans to cool off. The food has different menus both days, and unlike a Buffet for the non-Yacht Club areas we passed on the way in, the YC section has full waiter service. It is served by the same wait staff on the ship, so it’s nice they know you, and you know them for the service they provide with a smile.

msc yacht club vs suite

Steve (DOS) had always wanted a lobster roll (served on the second day on the island) but doesn’t like mayonnaise, so he told that to the waiter, who in turn talked to the chef, and DOS got his lobster roll without mayo and loved it! Later on in the cruise, the chef actually came by our table one evening at dinner and asked him how he liked the lobster roll without mayo! Outstanding service, and passenger memory preferences as well!

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After a leisurely lunch, we headed back to the beach to relax for a while and enjoyable the beautiful mid-October day in the Bahamas. We actually got more than we expected, with some “wildlife” viewing, swimming around in the water. Yes, we saw a few sharks really close to the shore! 😱 These were sand sharks, and I guess when everyone was at lunch and the water was empty of beach goers, they decided to swim close to the shore and feed on the tiny needle or other fish. I could not believe how close the sharks got to the shore; literally in a foot of water! 🤪😜🤔😱

We, along with most our fellow passengers at the beach took photos and video of the sharks swimming around, although I don’t think anyone else got back in the water that afternoon. There is a lifeguard, and he cautioned people about the sharks, but it didn’t take much caution for us to avoid the water after lunch!

msc yacht club vs suite

The next day, we didn’t see the sharks though, and it seemed safe to go back into the water. I looked up sand sharks when we got back to the ship and Wikipedia had this article on them. They are normally “docile” to humans and are not aggressive unless provoked. They are usually more active at night, so I guess we “got lucky” by seeing them in the afternoon!

In the evening of our first day at MSC’s Ocean Cay, there were two lighthouse shows, and a huge beach party on the sand. We intended to get off the ship and go to the party, but after a big dinner and a few drinks we felt a bit lazy, so watched the show and party from our 16th floor balcony; actually probably the best view from anywhere.

msc yacht club vs suite

The beach party was adjacent to the lighthouse, and in full view for us as seen from our balcony, looked lively and fun as well. The beach party, and island “curfew” lasted until 11:30pm, at which point everyone rebounded the ship until the next day, while the “island people” who live there freshened up the island overnight.

msc yacht club vs suite

There were two different light shows; one at 9 and one at 10pm, and in between the shows were rotating light effects; i.e. MSC logo, different color lights etc, and coordinated with music as well.

The second day on Ocean Cay was basically a repeat of the first day, but without any shark sightings.😀 It was nice to sleep in a bit, have breakfast aboard the ship, and then head back to the Yacht Club Beach Resort; it had a feel of staying at a nice Caribbean land resort. DOS had his lobster roll for lunch, while I had the lunch tournedos of beef, and an ahi tuna salad.

msc yacht club vs suite

We sailed from Ocean Cay on our second day there, at 5:30pm for our next port, Costa Maya, which we would arrive in two days, after a day at sea on the way there.

COSTA MAYA, MEXICO: This is a newer Mexican port as far as tourism goes, but already it has gotten quite popular, and unfortunately crowded. The day we we docked here, there were a total of 4 mega ships in port, (RCL’s Adventure OTS, Allure OTS, Carnival Pride, and our ship MSC Seaside) and as the ships shared the two long dock areas, it was quite busy just walking down the long perpendicular dock ramps to the Costa Maya cruise entrance.

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Once there, it felt perhaps a little less busy than Mardi Gras, with most passengers wandering around aimlessly watching the free show in the town square, going to the many bars there, shopping, some even swimming in the huge pool there, or like us heading down to the “swim with the dolphins” area to have a look.

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We skipped on doing Costa Maya’s “Spa Treatment”, which consisted of women (and even some men) soaking their feet in an aquarium filled with tiny fish. Supposedly the fish gently chew on your dead skin, and somehow this “reduces stress” and “makes skin smooth and soft!”. I don’t know, but I got stressed just watching these ladies with their feet getting chewed on by those little fish! To each his own I guess; hey they’re in Mexico enjoying themselves. (At least the lady on the right. The lady on the left kept looking at her watch, like “how much longer do I have to have my feet in this horrible tank!”

msc yacht club vs suite

We did not do a shore excursion or tour here on our own, as we stopped here last year in March 2022 on a Princess cruise and had gone into town on that trip. While there were mega ships in that day as well, as it was still the trailing part of the COVID pandemic, most of the ships were only sailing half full then, so while the port was busy in places (such as the taxi stand), the port itself was more like a ghost town compared to this trip’s visit to Costa Maya. The one part that was busy then was when we took a taxi into town, and it was a bit of a free-for-all getting a cab. The town itself wasn’t as busy as the hectic cruise port, and offered massages on the beach next to one of the many ocean front beach bars and souvenir shops. The town was worth a look if you hadn’t been, and it had much more of a feel for the “real” Mexico with its rustic sea-side village. You can view our stop in Costa Maya last year on this Princess post if you want to see the village town of Costa Maya.

msc yacht club vs suite

COZUMEL MEXICO: We’ve been to Cozumel several times over the years, and always enjoy the stop there. While there were three or four ships in port the day we were there, Cozumel has several docks which are spread out by a couple miles, so it’s not nearly as overwhelming with crowds compared to Costa Maya, where the docks are all in the same area. We were docked at the International Cruise Port Terminal, which is the preferred terminal as it’s in town and the port area has some of the fun places to visit; i.e. Margaritaville and Señor Frogs among others. We had no excursions booked here, so basically wondered around the port area and into town for some exercise and bought a souvenir hat, being the big spenders we are!🤣

msc yacht club vs suite

I first went to Cozumel in 1987 on my very first cruise, Bahama Star Line’s Veracruz, when Cozumel was not a well known port of call, and the ships that did stop there were much smaller than today’s mega-monsters. That first 5 day cruise on the Veracruz, got me hooked on cruising for life, and I have fond memories of the 3 cruises I took on her the first two years alone, eventually expending my cruise repertoire to now over 75 cruises on various cruise lines with different cruise lengths and regions of the world That tiny ship, the Veracruz was only 10,000 tons or so with perhaps 700 passengers, and there were no balconies, specialty dining, internet (Internet! 🤣🤣🤣 It wasn’t even invented yet!🤣🤣🤣), but it brings back great memories to this day, and many former passengers and staff have commented on my Veracruz post from a few years back with their stories down memory lane on her as well.

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Anyway, sorry I digress down memory lane. What reminded me of Cozumel and the Veracruz, was the Hotel that you see in port, at the International Terminal where we were docked on the MSC Seaside. That Hotel has been there for years, although has undergone many renovations (even now) due to hurricanes and general upkeep and modernization.

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It was formerly called “El Sol”, Spanish for “The Sun”. I never stayed there, or even visited the property, so DOS and I toured the lobby of the hotel and grounds, which although under partial renovation, looked very nice. Even though it was so close and just across the dock area from the cruise ships, it had a secluded feel to it, with a nice pool facing our ship, a nature walk with outdoor spa, whirlpool, bar etc, and was tropically landscaping as well. DOS even went to inquire on room types and rates at the Front Desk before we left, which is now called “El Cid La Ceiba”.

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In my younger, “Veracruz” days, (pre-DOS) I would take the old Fiesta party boat as a shore excursion to a private beach, with unlimited rum punch and a piñata party and dancing on the way back to the port.

msc yacht club vs suite

I’m sure they have something similar to the Fiesta boat now, but we skipped the party scene on this return trip to Cozumel, although did have a look in at Margaritaville and Senior Frogs. I settled for my souvenir cap from Ron Jon’s Surf Shop in Cozumel, and we made our way back to the ship for lunch. It was a beautiful day in Cozumel while we here on the MSC Seaside in mid-October 2023.

msc yacht club vs suite

MISC/OTHER Onboard Experiences : On MSC Seaside, there were several other optional tours and events, wine tastings, backstage tours, Bingo, Slot Pulls etc you could signup and pay for, although we did not do any of them; not so much out of lack of interest, rather there were so many other activities to do, and hanging out by day at the Yacht Club pool area was one of them! 😀

Behind-the-Scenes Tour: I would have loved to have taken MSC’s Behind the Scenes Tour, but it was quite an extensive tour and required lots of walking up stairs and other areas of the ship (per their description) and as I’m still recovering from my heart surgery last year and I didn’t want to over-exert myself, although I’m doing fine walking on level surfaces. The backstage tour includes off-limits areas to guests including the Engine Room, Galley, Bridge, and Backstage of the Main theater among others. The Backstage Theater tour was always my favorite on Celebrity Cruises, and I’m sure this all inclusive Behind-the-Scenes tour would fail to disappoint as well.

Wine Tasting Events: Another event that sounded promising was one of the wine tastings. We walked by the display table for the wine tasting event that was setup adjacent the Butcher Cut (Specialty steak dining venue), and it looked quite elegant with various size Riedel glassware and fine wines. We’ve done many ship wine tastings on many different ships, and have always enjoyed them, so from the descriptions of the wine tasting it sounded very nice; again it was more of a timing thing for us. We enjoyed one wine tasting event on Celebrity Cruises years ago, that got us hooked on the Riedel glassware and use it to this day (after breaking a few glasses over the years and replenishing them obviously!)😱 A proper wine tasting with Riedel should include a different type glass for each varietal tasted, noting the differences and shapes in the stemware, paired with the appropriate wine for the glass from which you are sampling.

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Caviar Tasting : We did not do this, but met a couple of ladies in the Yacht Club who did, and loved it! I believe the cost was $50 for this tasting, which is held at Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse at various times.

Specialty Dining : There are several Specialty Dining venues on board, including the Butcher’s Cut, an Asian Restaurant, and a Seafood Restaurant. The Butcher’s Cut especially looked wonderful for me Steve (UNO) as I’m a steak and potatoes kind of guy, and the cuts of beef (and wines) are on display adjacent to the Specialty Restaurant’s Lounge and worth at least having a look. /

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We actually enjoyed the Yacht Club Restaurant so much we didn’t even make it to one of the Specialty Dining’s Restaurants aboard (although I would have chosen The Butcher’s Cut if we had gone) as we had an included complimentary Specialty Restaurant dinner with my (status match) Diamond status on MSC. Passing up on a complimentary meal at Butcher’s Steakhouse tells you how much we enjoyed The Yacht Club’s restaurant. (Actually though, I was getting a bit Filet Mignon’d out by the fourth day!)😀

Optic Eye: This was unique to us, and again we didn’t do this, but it was interesting, at least in concept. According to MSC, “it’s all the rage in Europe”, although we’ve never heard of it there either. Basically they scan your eyes with a device similar to one at an optometrist office, and it creates a colorful artwork design of your eyes, enlarged to make a poster, photo, canvas etc. I don’t know maybe it’s me, but I don’t think I would want my eyes staring at me all the time at home in the living room, but it is a unique conversation piece.🤔

BINGO! Everyone knows Bingo and if you play it, you know it! Onboard every cruise ship.

Zip Lining! This is one activity I definitely wouldn’t do, but was hoping to watch. They only offer it certain times of day, and unfortunately the last sea day was a bit windy so it was closed. I just wanted to video the brave souls that soared high over mid ship’s top deck toward the aft pool area. The zip line, (after you sign your life away waiver) costs $11 a zip. No thank you from the Steve’s, although it’s probably a blast if you’re an adventurer type.

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I’m sure there are many other paid events and experiences aboard, but these caught my “eye” so to speak, out of interest even though we didn’t do them. There were plenty of free activities as well such as trivia, karaoke, dance classes, beach parties, pool parties, sail-away parties, etc, etc, etc. Whatever you do, you won’t be bored or run out of things to do, and you certainly won’t go hungry.

Farewell Day at Sea: The last day of the cruise is traditionally sad for us, as you have to pack up and realize the cruise is ending early the next morning. On this cruise, most likely due to the Yacht Club service, accommodations, easy itinerary and mostly casual clothes, we were really able to relax the last day.

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Traditionally the first and last night of a cruise are very casual with the idea being passengers just arrived and/or have not unpacked their luggage, or on the last day have already packed up their luggage for the trip home. On MSC in the YC at least, about 50% of the passengers dressed up in semi-formal attire for the farewell Italian dinner on the last night of the cruise. This was the only night I wore shorts to the dining room as we had already packed and were only traveling an hour home to Orlando the next day. I felt a bit uncomfortable although quite a few other Floridians and others were wearing shorts as well. Some of the passengers also wore shorts to dinner on the port days, but mostly it was dress casual aboard except for the one formal night, which was not the last night of the cruise.

We spent a good part of the day by the pool area, having lunch as usual at the outdoor YC buffet. As a nice afternoon treat, the waiters come by and pass out your choice of ice cream too!

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For dinner, it was Italian night, and all of the waiters were dressed in tuxes with the Italian flag colors for the tie and vest. Even the tables had alternating colors of red, white, and green of the Italian flag.

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Disembarkation: We had our farewell breakfast in the YC Restaurant at 8am on disembarkation day, as the regular pool-side buffet breakfast was not served on the last morning. Having the full breakfast and not being rushed on Debarkation Day was especially nice vs the normal Continental Breakfast you get on some lines as you’re in a hurry to get off the ship and avoid crowds.

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After breakfast, we waited for a bit with the other YC guests in the Top Sail lounge as we waited to be called; rather escorted down to the exit one last time. The “walk off” guests were called first; i.e. those passengers aboard the ship (everyone, not just YC) who were carrying their own luggage off the ship (as opposed to checked luggage), which must have been a few hundred passengers. No rush for us though as we were comfortably seated in the lounge area.

We disembarked around 9:10am, and were escorted all the way to the exit, following a roped off line so the passenger mix wouldn’t get in with our flow of YC traffic. Our luggage was waiting for us in the terminal, and we got a porter to assist us (very smart move!), who wheeled our luggage thru Customs and all the way to our parking spot in the parking garage. We were on our way home by 9:30am, and home by 10:35am; quite an easy disembarkation and trip home. Welcome Home!

Final Thoughts on the MSC Seascape after our first sailing:

  • Certain areas of the MSC Seascape (more so than allowed on most other cruise lines) allow smoking. This seemed to be the main pool on the starboard side, but even the YC allowed smoking on the front portion (away from the pool though) starboard side. I don’t recall anyone smoking in the YC area however, so it wasn’t a problem for us, although on the main pool area starboard side there were quite a few smokers. The casino allows smoking but it is really filtered well, so wasn’t terrible just walking thru it, as we don’t gamble.
  • YC is truly a class by itself, and is so worth it if you can afford it. Compared to booking a suite on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or Princess, it’s quite a bit cheaper as well, and RCL doesn’t include the drink package with all but the very top suites, nor their Beach Club access on their private island (an extra $200 a person for the one day there!)
  • The production shows in the theater do not allow you to bring a drink into them. Not a huge deal though as the shows are typically 30 -35 minutes. There were actually 5 production shows on this 7 night cruise, plus two comedy shows. The shows were shorter, except for the Michael Jackson show which lasted about 45 minutes vs 30 minutes for the others.
  • YC service includes Butlers who will escort you anywhere on the ship, and for disembarking in port as well as final debarkation. While we normally only used this service for the theater shows and going off the ship, it really does save lots of time, and makes it much easier to attend the shows, as you don’t need a reservation for the reserved YC seating area. Main passenger guests need to make reservations for the shows and queue up, while YC passengers are escorted by a butler 10-15 minutes prior to show time in a dedicated seating area which always had seats for us and others, even on the full shows.
  • YC guests do not need a reservation for dinner as it’s open seating in the YC Dining Room. Other guests must make reservations for dinner, and depending on the fare level you paid, you may not be able to pre-reserve your dining preference at one of the three seatings.
  • To us it seemed a bit of an oddity, but there are ATM-like credit card verification kiosks several places aboard the ship, where you needed to verify your credit card to enable charging on your account. We just thought it was a given to charge your credit card on file, but I guess some people put down a cash deposit, and need to have a card cover their excess charges on board. We just provided a credit card and “activated” (that’s what MSC calls it) when we boarded, and we were good to go for any incidentals.
  • The YC covers all meals, 2 internet devices per person, virtually all alcoholic and other drinks, Butler and Room Attendant services, complimentary room service (you can even order a whole pizza to your room!), dedicated Concierge service, nightly turn down service (with chocolates!), daily choice of newspapers, pillow menu, etc: so worth it all! Best of all are the dedicated spaces for it’s own restaurant, lounge, private pool and sundeck area, and the YC Beach section at Ocean Cay, as well as complimentary access to the Spa Thermal Suite.
  • The YC does NOT include daily staff gratuities, shore excursions, spa, or gift shop items.
  • MSC will “status match” their frequent quest program to another cruise line or an elite Frequent Flyer or Hotel Program. I got status matched with Hyatt Globalist which gave me Diamond status with MSC. It’s not a huge benefit, but provides a 5% discount, and one specialty dinner aboard. The YC restaurant itself was so good, however, we didn’t even go to one of the specialty dining venues, even though we had a complimentary meal at the speciality restaurant of our choice.
  • At least on the Seaside out of Port Canaveral, the shipboard announcements were not as many in quantity as we expected. It’s possible these (except for emergency or Captain’s announcements) were muted in the YC area, but we didn’t hear any more than you would on a Princess or RCL ship. This would be different in Europe I imagine due to the many nationalities boarding there, as well as the different length of cruises, even within the same 7 or 10 day itinerary (people may disembark in one port, vs taking the whole roundtrip cruise like on the Seaside out of Port Canaveral).

Finally, If you’re still here reading this; thanks for sticking around! I’ll finish this lengthy post with the finale the MSC singers and dancers concluded the Michael Jackson show with on the final night of the cruise. This song was a fitting sendoff to everyone, and in effect the ship itself is a bit of the United Nations itself with the multiple nationalities from both crew and passengers, that make up this floating city. The video is taken from the back of the theater, so it’s not the best quality, but it gives a happy and bittersweet moment for the end of show and cruise. Thanks for reading, and God bless the crew members here and worldwide that work so hard for us, and are away from their families for months at a time, so that we may enjoy our cruises. Take care everyone, and safe and happy travels!

  • ← Welcome Aboard the MSC Seaside’s Yacht Club!
  • Happy Birthday to Steve DOS from DISNEY SPRINGS! →

10 thoughts on “ The Steve’s Review of MSC Seaside’s Yacht Club ”

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Steves, thank you so much for taking the time to write this exhaustive description of your experiences. It is chock full of useful information that I will make good use of.

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My pleasure! We enjoy sharing our experiences and tips with others. Thanks for your comments!

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Hi both We are booked on MSC SEASHORE which I presume is mostly identical in October. Yacht Club….. I can’t wait for this top notch experience. Your review brought it to life especially the private island. Your writeup of the boarding experience was very informative and will mean hopefully we wont wait in the wrong queue with no fizz! Excellent and thanks

Hi Graham, glad you enjoyed my post on the Yacht Club. While we haven’t taken the Seashore, from what I’ve read (as it’s based in North America) it should be a very similar experience. As the Yacht Club is such an intimate and enhanced experience, you’ll meet many of your fellow YC passengers there, and everyone we met said they would only do the YC on MSC again it was so wonderful! Enjoy your trip on the Seashore!

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Thank you so much for this really detailed review. We were suggested Yacht Club by our travel agent but we haven’t yet made a final decision based on so many negative reviews of both MSC and the Yacht Club. Your review makes me much more likely to give it a try this coming October!!

You will love the Yacht Club if you do it. Yes, MSC itself has had some negatives; mainly due to the ‘nickel and diming’, required reservations for shows etc in the basic MSC lower, non YC cabins.. The Yacht Club, however is in a totally different league. There are only about 200 passengers in the YC, and it feels like a “country club” setting. You are free to explore the ship ship anywhere, however it feels so special coming back “home” to the YC. I really think you will like it. We’ve sailed many cruises on many lines, and we were quite impressed with the level of service and attention to details. Enjoy!

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We have been dedicated Celebrity cruisers for a few years now. One of our sons got employed by MSC last Fall, and we took advantage of a “Family & Friends” program to cruise on MSC SEASHORE in March for four nights. Balcony cabin was nice, ship was beautiful, staff was great, but certainly not Celebrity level.

We are going back on SEASHORE in June for ten nights in The Yacht Club, then on Seaside in November out of Miami, and SEASHORE again next April. All Yacht Club, which we can do for the price of a regular balcony on Celebrity.

Really enjoyed this great review, and really looking forward to the MSC Yacht Club.

We have enjoyed the upscale Celebrity experience as well over the years, and are going on the Beyond for the first time in August. We were quite impressed with the service level on MSC’s Yacht Club, and felt it was more personal than many ships we’ve sailed. For the price point you’re absolutely right; the YC is less than a balcony on Celebrity, plus for the Caribbean itineraries at least, many offer an overnight at MSC’s private island which is wonderful! Enjoy your upcoming cruises!

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Wow love this review. I hear the msc ships are beautiful and prices can be good but not much else positive. You have about convinced me I need the YC for my sept bday cruise now off to research! We always cruised carnival for convenience then tried celebrity and they won us over and our last cruise celebrity didnt work out tried princess and had a wonderful experience similar to celebrity but a few extras. YC seems like the way to go thanks so much for the post. What has been your favorite cruise based on the experience not the ports? Staying overnight sounds nice. Thanks!

Hi Donna, we love the Yacht Club on MSC and are looking forwarding to taking it again, this time on the MSC Seashore in late October. The slightly larger Seashore replaces the Seaside out of Port Canaveral, which we had taken last year. As far as favorite cruise ship (not taking the ports or location into account), that is a tough call to make. The MSC Yacht Club “area” rates as among the best service we’ve had at sea, and makes for a similar experience to even the ultra deluxe lines such as Seabourn.

Some of the other best times aboard ship were on the older Celebrity “Millennium Class” ships, such as the Constellation, Millennium, Infinity, and Summit (all 4 basically twins with slight in decor and the specialty restaurants. I think we liked the smaller size from the mega-liners of today, less crowds, a bit more formal (at least years ago, not now), easier meeting people and seeing them again on the ship, favorite waiters etc. Although you said to not mention ports, these “Panamax” sized ships were (and still are) ideal for a Panama Canal transit, as they can still fit thru the old Panama Canal locks, with only 1 foot or so to spare on either side of the ship. You can literally touch the side of the canal you are so close! The newer and bigger ships must transit the new locks, which while interesting are much bigger and lack the historical context of the original old locks. Other ships: Love Seabourn Encore for its much smaller size and boutique, country club casual like atmosphere and service. Celebrity Beyond – even a mega ship, it has something for everyone, but still a bit to big for us. I’m writing a post on our recent experience, so check back in a couple days. Your question also got me thinking of doing a post on then vs now. I started cruising in 1987 and how it’s changed over the years for better and sometimes not so better, but all good. Thanks for writing Donna!

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How MSC’s private island experience is different for cruisers in suites

Ashley Kosciolek

Do you enjoy large cruise ships but still want to feel like you're in the lap of luxury? Passengers booked in MSC Cruises' Yacht Club cabins and suites have access to high-end amenities – both on the ship and off.

Butlers, exclusive dining and a private pool delight guests on board, but perks also await on MSC 's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , in the Bahamas. You can expect dedicated trams, towel service and a chance to book the nicest cabanas on the island, among other extras.

msc yacht club vs suite

Read on to find out how the MSC Yacht Club Ocean Cay experience differs from that of the average cruiser.

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club beaches vs. regular beaches

msc yacht club vs suite

MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Reserve private island is home to seven (soon to be eight) beaches, and all are public, except one — Ocean House Beach, which is the Yacht Club's exclusive swath of sand. Beyond its exclusivity, the beach has a few other differences from the island's regular beaches.

There, use of lounge chairs and umbrellas is free. Chairs at the other beaches are also free and available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, umbrellas come with an extra cost.

Passengers must sign out towels on board the ship before heading ashore to Ocean Cay's main beaches. Yacht Club passengers can skip that hassle and ask for towels at the towel tent found on Ocean House Beach.

msc yacht club vs suite

Interestingly, I found that several of the public beaches were less crowded than Ocean House Beach. At the latter, chairs were positioned much more closely to one another. If you're willing to walk or hitch a ride on one of the island's trams, you'll find fewer crowds on the farther beaches than if you stick close to the ship.

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club food vs. regular dining

msc yacht club vs suite

Free lunch is included for all cruisers who visit Ocean Cay. For Yacht Club travelers, the Ocean House Restaurant — an exclusive waiter-served dining venue where passengers enjoy their meals on a shaded porch — exudes upscale beach vibes.

msc yacht club vs suite

During my visit, the menu included starters like crab ceviche, charred octopus and a salad with romaine, tomatoes, jicama, a poached egg and candied bacon in a citrus dressing. Mains featured locally sourced blackened mahi-mahi, lobster roll, carne asada, a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and one of the best burgers I've ever tasted during a cruise — a blend of Angus chuck, short ribs and grilled brisket with red onion jam and Monterey Jack cheese. Desserts consisted of creme caramel, mango cheesecake and chocolate cake with coffee sauce.

msc yacht club vs suite

The meals at Ocean House are definitely superior to the fare found at the Seakers buffet, which is where cruisers not staying in the Yacht Club can go for a beach barbecue that serves hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, macaroni and cheese, red beans, roasted potatoes and a slew of salads, drinks and desserts.

msc yacht club vs suite

The food is tasty, but lines can be long. An alternative is to head to one of several food trucks throughout the island. Some are free and dole out the same items offered on the buffet but with shorter lines. Others sell entirely different menu items — lobster grilled cheese, fried calamari, shrimp with watermelon, Caribbean ceviche and octopus salad — with the cost charged to cruisers' onboard accounts.

msc yacht club vs suite

Additionally — and also for an extra fee — a stand near the ship offers specialty coffee and ice cream. (If you're a coffee lover, trust me when I say you won't want to miss the Coco-Nilla Latte.)

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club cabanas vs. regular cabanas

msc yacht club vs suite

There are three types of cabanas on Ocean Cay: Ocean Cay Beach Cabanas, Ocean View Yacht Club Cabanas and Beachfront Yacht Club Cabanas. All three types are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

They can hold up to six people each and include cold water, beach towels and chairs, as well as floating mats for use in the water. As the prices increase, so does the number of inclusions. The last two types are only available for booking by Yacht Club passengers.

Ocean Cay Beach Cabanas, found on South Beach, North Beach and Bimini Beach, are the most affordable on the island at $250 for the day. They've got walls on three sides, and they're outfitted with cushioned couches. They include the basic amenities mentioned above, and anyone can rent them.

Next up are the Ocean View Yacht Club Cabanas, which cost $400 for the day and also entitle you to free lunch and drinks, as well as fresh fruit skewers, four sets of snorkel gear and four floating mats. They're found on the Yacht Club's private Ocean House Beach, so they're off-limits to non-Yacht Club guests.

msc yacht club vs suite

The most expensive, however, are the Beachfront Yacht Club Cabanas, located in a different section of the Ocean House area. They carry a $450 price tag but offer all the same extras as Ocean View Yacht Club Cabanas.

The draw? They're closer to the water and, therefore, have better views. Although they aren't on the main part of Ocean House Beach, they are still in the exclusive area, near the restaurant, so you don't have to go far to grab food.

Ultimately, the only thing being in the Yacht Club affords you in this case is the option to book more expensive cabanas.

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club trams vs. regular trams

msc yacht club vs suite

At 95 acres, Ocean Cay is sizable. If you're fit, you can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes, but if you don't have great mobility or if you're easily overheated, reaching some of the island's more remote beaches can be difficult on foot. That's why MSC offers tram shuttles.

Passengers in standard cabins will find tram stops with shaded waiting areas throughout the island. However, waits can be long, especially if many other people are also in need of a lift.

Yacht Club cruisers can take advantage of trams exclusively for the Yacht Club. They run between a special tent (with free cold water to sip while you wait) set up just inside the entrance to Ocean Cay and the Ocean House beach and restaurant area.

You can make special requests for stops, which the regular trams usually won't accommodate. For example, you might ask to go straight from the tent to South Beach for a volleyball game without stopping anywhere else first.

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club activities vs. regular activities

msc yacht club vs suite

This is the one category where the island's public spaces beat the Ocean House area by a mile. If you're looking for something to do other than eating, drinking or lazing by the beach, you'll have to head back toward the ship because there's not much going on in the exclusive areas.

Everything from massages, lighthouse tours and water sports equipment rentals to beach parties, volleyball games and shore excursions takes place elsewhere. However, perhaps that's by design. The Yacht Club is generally quiet, even on board, and the line likely prefers to keep the raucousness to other locations.

Bottom line

msc yacht club vs suite

The MSC Yacht Club experience is more exclusive than the standard one at Ocean Cay, with extras like butler service, dedicated trams, towel service, access to pricier cabanas and a private beach and restaurant with better food and shorter waits.

However, all of the action — shore excursions, pickup volleyball games, beach parties, the lighthouse show — happens in the areas that are accessible to everyone, which significantly levels the playing field.

Additionally, items like specialty coffee, ice cream and for-fee food truck orders cost extra for everyone — even Yacht Club passengers.

Overall, Ocean Cay offers a great day for anyone who enjoys the beach, regardless of cabin type.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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  • CruiseMapper

MSC World Europa cabins and suites

Msc world europa staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

MSC World Europa cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by MSC Cruises en-suite amenities and services.

The MSC World Europa cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

MSC Yacht Club Owner Suite with Balcony Jacuzzi

Layout (floor plan).

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:2
Cabin size:Suite 1 (1120 ft2 / 104 m2), Suite 2 (840 ft2 / 78 m2)
Balcony size:Suite 1 (515 ft2 / 48 m2), Suite 2 (700 ft2 / 65 m2)
Location (on decks):forward on decks 16-18
Type (categories):(YC4) MSC Yacht Club Owner Suite With Whirlpool Bath

YC4 Suites feature a large balcony (with an outdoor Jacuzzi/whirlpool bath and alfresco dining area), floor-ceiling windows, separate dining room and living room, en suite bathroom (with large shower and spa tub), mirrored vanity (hairdryer), large walk-in closet (wardrobe with shoe rack, luggage storage, electronic safe box, lifejackets), smart HDTV (Interactive system), Wi-Fi, phone, mini-bar, refrigerator, espresso coffee machine.

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite with Balcony Jacuzzi

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:4
Cabin size:550-635 ft2 / 51-59 m2
Balcony size:450-550 ft2 / 42-51 m2
Location (on decks):forward on decks 16-18
Type (categories):(YC3) MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite with Balcony Whirlpool Bath

MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite with Balcony Jacuzzi

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:6
Cabin size:495 ft2 / 46 m2
Balcony size:320 ft2 / 30 m2
Location (on decks):(2-level accommodation) forward on decks 16-18
Type (categories):(YJD) MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite with Balcony Whirlpool Bath

Category YJD (MSC Duplex Suites) are 2-floor accommodations. On Level 1 are the living/dining room (double sofabed), wardrobe, bathroom (shower), terrace (with an outdoor Jacuzzi, 4-seat dining table). On Level 2 are the Master Bedroom (double bed/non-convertible to twins), bathroom (shower, spa tub), wardrobe, Sundeck (loungers).

All passengers booked in Duplex Suites receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

  • 2-deck-high (lower / upper level) stateroom - main level (living/dining room, double sofabed), upper level (master bedroom, queen bed convertible to 2 single beds / upon request)
  • 2 HDTVs, 2 phones, electronic safe (in the closet), mini-bar
  • 2 walk-in wardrobes
  • 2 bathrooms with shower (1 with bathtub)
  • private balcony with whirlpool hot tub
  • Priority services (boarding, tendering, dinner seating / at onboard complimentary restaurants)
  • 24-hour room service
  • Unlimited drinks by MSC's "All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package"
  • Complimentary Spa package - welcome cocktail, your-choice massage (spa menu), tanning shower, private wellness consultation, Thermal Area free access (throughout the cruise, adults only), private solarium access
  • Complimentary room diffuser (100 ml)

MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:3
Cabin size:495 ft2 / 46 m2 (2-level accommodation)
Balcony size:65 ft2 / 6 m2
Location (on decks):forward-portside on decks 16-18
Type (categories):(YCD) MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite

Category YCD (MSC Duplex Suite) is a 2-deck accommodation.

On Level 1 are the dining/living room (double sofabed), wardrobe (walk-in closet), bathroom (shower), terrace (sundeck with loungers).

On Level 2 are the Master Bedroom (double bed/non-convertible to twins), bathroom (shower, spa tub), wardrobe.

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:130
Cabin size:270 ft2 / 25 m2
Balcony size:50 ft2 / 5 m2
Location (on decks):forward on decks 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21
Type (categories):(YC1) MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite

Max passengers:2
Staterooms number:7
Cabin size:160 ft2 / 15 m2
Balcony size:none
Location (on decks):forward on decks 15, 16
Type (categories):(YIN) MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite

All passengers booked in MSC Yacht Club Interior Suites receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

  • interactive large TV, phone, electronic safe (in the closet), Nespresso coffee machine
  • Myform Memory mattresses
  • Dorelan pillows menu
  • Egyptian cotton bathrobes, slippers
  • luxury bedding (by Mascioni)
  • 1 queen bed (or 2 single beds/ upon request)
  • private bathroom with shower
  • fully stocked mini-bar
  • goodnight gourmet chocolates (by Venchi)
  • Nintendo Wii gaming console
  • Priority services (check-in / check-out, embarkation / disembarkation, tendering)
  • 24-hour personal concierge, butler service, room service (free delivery)
  • Unlimited drinks in all MSC Yacht Club venues (including the cabin's mini-bar drinks)
  • All-inclusive (complimentary) free-time dining (lunches and dinners) in the exclusive MSC Yacht Club restaurant
  • Unlimited drinks in all onboard bars and restaurants
  • Free Thermal Suite access
  • Direct access (via private elevator) to MSC Aurea Spa
  • Exclusive access to "The One Sun Deck" and "Top Sail Lounge"

Grand Suite with Wraparound Terrace

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:6
Cabin size:375 ft2 / 35 m2
Balcony size:270-375 ft2 / 25-35 m2
Location (on decks):aft on decks 11-12-14
Type (categories):(SXT) Grand Suite Aurea with Wraparound Terrace

Grand Suite with Terrace Jacuzzi

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:4
Cabin size:375 ft2 / 35 m2
Balcony size:400-495 ft2 / 37-46 m2
Location (on decks):aft on decks 15, 16
Type (categories):(SXJ) Grand Suite Aurea with Wraparound Terrace and Whirlpool

Aft-Facing Grand Suite with Wraparound Balcony

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:4
Cabin size:375 ft2 / 35 m2
Balcony size:100 ft2 / 9 m2
Location (on decks):aft on decks 9-10
Type (categories):(SX) Grand Suite Aurea with Wraparound Balcony

Promenade View Suite

Max passengers:6
Staterooms number:4
Cabin size:225-300 ft2 / 21-28 m2
Balcony size:75-105 ft2 / 7-10 m2
Location (on decks):aft on decks 11 (SLP) and 16 (SRP)
Type (categories):(SRP-Deluxe, SLP-Premium) Suite Aurea with Promenade View/facing the ship's interior

Promenade View Suites (categories SLP and SRP) are new for MSC cabin type that features a private step-out balcony overlooking the Promenade Deck below. Double suites are with double beds, quad suites have a separate bedroom (double bed) plus a double sofabed in the living room.

Premium Family Suite Aurea

Max passengers:6
Staterooms number:40
Cabin size:270 ft2 / 25 m2
Balcony size:40 ft2 / 4 m2
Location (on decks):midship-aft on decks 12-14
Type (categories):(SL1-Family) Premium Suite Aurea

Family Suites are fitted with a double bed (convertible to two single beds), sofabed, and a separate kids' bedroom (with upper-lower bunk beds).

Junior Suite with Private Sundeck

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:46
Cabin size:185 ft2 / 17 m2
Balcony size:140-160 ft2 / 13-15 m2
Location (on decks):midship on deck 9
Type (categories):(SM) Junior Suite Aurea With Private Sundeck

Deluxe Balcony Cabin

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:1092
Cabin size:180 ft2 / 17 m2
Balcony size:30-110 ft2 / 3-10 m2
Location (on decks):9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16
Type (categories):(BP-Deluxe with Partial View, BR1-BR2-BR3-BR4-Deluxe, BA-Aurea) Balcony Staterooms

SuperFamily Balcony Cabin

Max passengers:6
Staterooms number:
Cabin size:370 ft2 / 34 m2 (2 connecting cabins)
Balcony size:90 ft2 / 8 m2 (2 connecting balconies)
Location (on decks):
Type (categories):(FLA) Super Family Fantastica Balcony / modular connected rooms and balconies

Note: Super Family cabins combine 2 connecting balcony staterooms.

All passengers booked in MSC Super Family cabins (connecting staterooms for families) receive the following perks (bonus amenities and services):

  • 2 interactive TVs, 2 phones, 2 electronic safes (in the closets), 2 mini-bars
  • 2 wardrobes
  • 2 private bathrooms (1 with showers, 1 with shower/bathtub)
  • 2 private balconies
  • bed configuration (max sleeping capacity 6 people) - a combination of lower beds plus double sofabeds
  • Dedicated and supervised kids activities (educational and recreational), "Doremi Chef" cooking courses

Classic dining (assigned first or second sitting) or Flexi dining (your time). Switching dining styles is available after booking and also after boarding the ship.

Promenade View Balcony Cabin

Max passengers:2
Staterooms number:196
Cabin size:170 ft2 / 16 m2
Balcony size:50 ft2 / 5 m2
Location (on decks):aft on decks 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16
Type (categories):(PV, PR1, PR2, PR3) Balcony Cabin With Promenade View / facing the ship's interior

Infinite OceanView|French Balcony Cabin

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:170
Cabin size:215 ft2 / 20 m2
Balcony size:none
Location (on decks):forward on decks 10-11-12-14
Type (categories):(VL1, VL2, VLA) Infinite Ocean View / French Balcony Staterooms

MSC's "Infinite Ocean View" cabin type features a sliding window that opens to a French Balcony (glass balustrade).

MSC World Europa Infinite OceanView|French Balcony Cabin photo

Deluxe Oceanview Cabin

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:77
Cabin size:170 ft2 / 16 m2
Balcony size:none
Location (on decks):5, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type (categories):(OR1-OR2-Deluxe Ocean View) Outside Staterooms

Interior Cabin

Max passengers:4
Staterooms number:818
Cabin size:160 ft2 / 15 m2
Balcony size:none
Location (on decks):5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21
Type (categories):(IR1-IR2-Deluxe Interior) Inside Staterooms

Studio Single Cabin

Max passengers:1
Staterooms number:22
Cabin size:OS (130 ft2 / 12 m2), IS (120 ft2 / 11 m2)
Balcony size:none
Location (on decks):5, 9, 11, 14, 16
Type (categories):(OS-Studio OceanView, IS-Studio Interior) Cabins with Single Occupancy

OceanView Studios and Interior Studios are single cabins fitted with 1x single French bed, bathroom (WC-shower-washbasin), wardrobe (safe, hairdryer), mirrored vanity with chair, smart HDTV, phone, mini-bar.

MSC's Studios (categories IS-Interior, OS-OceanView, BS-Balcony) are available for booking with single-occupancy rates only.

MSC World Europa Studio Single Cabin photo

Handicap|Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins

Max passengers:2
Staterooms number:65
Cabin size:160-180 ft2 / 15-17 m2
Balcony size:Sundeck (160 ft2 / 15 m2), Balcony (30 ft2 / 3 m2)
Location (on decks):Suite (9), Balcony (10-11-12-14-15-16), Interior (9-10-11-12-14-15-16)
Type (categories):(SM) Junior Suite Aurea, (BA) Balcony Aurea, (BR1-BR2-BR3) Deluxe Balcony, (BP) Deluxe Balcony with Partial View / modified accessible staterooms

For passengers with disabilities, MSC World Europa has a total of 65 handicap-accessible cabins (33x Inside, 24x Balcony, 8x Junior Suite).

Next are listed the handicapped cabins (for disabled passengers) as types and categories.

  • (IR1-IR2-Deluxe Interior) rooms: 9096, 9126, 10105, 10106, 10588, 11111, 11112, 11534, 11535, 11592, 11594, 12114, 12115, 12582, 12585, 14113, 14118, 14534, 14535, 14585, 14594, 15025, 15032, 15059, 15066, 15520, 15521, 15549, 15571, 16039, 16046, 16071, 16080
  • (BA-Balcony Aurea, BR1-BR2-BR3-Deluxe Balcony, BP-Deluxe Balcony with Partial View) rooms: 10109, 10110, 10156, 10157, 11116, 11119, 11162, 11165, 12118, 12121, 12162, 12165, 14119, 14122, 14163, 14166, 15063, 15070, 15109, 15116, 16077, 16084, 16131, 16138
  • (SM-Junior Suite Aurea/Suite with Sundeck) rooms: 9123, 9130, 9147, 9149, 9154, 9156, 9167, 9174

Each of the handicapped staterooms features: larger size (compared to the non-accessible counterpart), wider doors (width 35 inches / 0,9 m, sitting-level keycard slot), wider turning spaces (5 ft / 1,5 m), ramped thresholds, beds with open bed frames, lowered vanity in the sitting area, amplified phones, captioned TVs, wider bathrooms (door width 35 inches / 0,9 m, roll-in shower, fold-down shower bench, grab rails, lower sinks and closet rods, raised toilets, hand-held shower head, seat height from the floor 0,4 m).

All ADA cabins also feature a convenient location near the elevators.

The ship's gangways are all wide enough for most types of wheelchairs and disability scooters.

All decks provide elevator access.

All passenger lifts have visual, audio and Braille deck indicators.

During an emergency, dedicated crew personnel helps all disabled guests (also those with reduced mobility) to board the ship's lifeboats.

MSC World Europa cabins review

Of all MSC World Europa staterooms (2633 total), around 65% are outside. Most passenger cabins have a double bed (convertible to 2x single beds) plus a convertible couch (double sofabed) to accommodate 3rd/4th person. The number of all cabin categories is 19, including 7 new for MSC types of cabins. Guaranteed cabin categories include YCW-Yacht Club Suite, BW-Balcony, OW-Oceanview, IW-Inside.

  • Double beds are not available in categories Interior Studio and Outside Studio.
  • Bunk beds are not suitable for kids under 16 yo.
  • 3rd and 4th beds are not available in categories Interior Studio, Interior Bella, Oceanview Studio, Promenade View Balcony, MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite.
  • 5th and 6th beds are available only in the category Family Suite Aurea.
  • Cabin balconies are two types - with a metal balustrade/guardrail, and with a half-glass/half-metal balustrade.

For accommodating more guests (up to 8), the ship offers 3 types of "family cabins", comprising of 2 or 3 modular connecting rooms (and their balconies). These are the categories FPB ("Super Family Plus"), FLA ("Super Family"), and FMB ("Family") balconied staterooms.

For passengers with disabilities, the liner has a total of 65 handicapped/wheelchair-accessible ADA cabins (33x Inside, 24x Balcony, 8x Junior Suite).

World Europa is the first MSC ship to have Promenade View cabins (aft located "interior balcony" cabins overlooking Promenade Deck), Duplex Suites (2-deck accommodations with large terraces, some with an outdoor Jacuzzi), AUREA Suites (with aft-facing wraparound balconies), AUREA Family Suites (larger-sized balcony cabins with a kids bedroom with bunk beds), Infinite Oceanview (French Balcony cabins with down-sliding windows/balustrades opening to a Juliet/false balcony).

Follows the review of MSC World Europa staterooms as amenities, furniture and included (complimentary) services.

All passenger cabins as standard/complimentary amenities offer twin beds (singles convertible to King-size double bed/upon request), leather headboard, bedside tables, wall-mounted reading lamps, pillow menu, large wardrobe, smart HDTV (with an interactive TV system allowing bookings from the cabin, also itinerary/ports and tours/excursions information, movies on demand, live webcam views), direct-dial phone (intercom/onboard connections only), electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), hairdryer, mini-bar/fridge, sitting/lounge area (mirrored vanity table, chairs), en-suite bathroom (WC/wall-mounted toilet, single-sink vanity, shower), individual air-conditioning (thermostat controlled), Wi-Fi Internet access.

All MSC YACHT CLUB suites are also fitted with Nespresso machines. All Suite categories feature larger bathrooms with bathtubs.

  • YC4-Royal Suites feature a large balcony (with an outdoor Jacuzzi/whirlpool bath and alfresco dining area with a 6-seat table), separate dining room, living room, bathroom (with spa tub), walk-in closet (wardrobe with shoe rack, luggage storage), 2x HDTVs.
  • YJD-Duplex Suites are 2-deck accommodations. Level 1 houses the living/dining room (double sofabed), bathroom (shower), terrace (with Jacuzzi, 4-seat dining table). Level 2 houses the Master Bedroom (double bed/non-convertible), bathroom (shower, spa tub), Sundeck (sun loungers).
  • YCD-Duplex Suites are 2-deck accommodations. Level 1 houses the dining/living room (double sofabed), walk-in closet, bathroom (shower), terrace (sundeck with loungers). Level 2 houses the Master Bedroom (double bed), bathroom (shower, spa tub).
  • Other "yacht club" suite categories include YC1-Deluxe and YIN-Interior.
  • Two new Owner Suites (YC4) feature a double bedroom (walk-in closet) and bathroom (with a full-size bathtub), a separate living-dining area (with floor-ceiling windows), two sundecks (terraces with alfresco dining areas and Jacuzzies).

The new AUREA cabin categories are S3 (Family Suite), SC3 (Promenade View Suite), SE3 (Grand Suite), SJ3 (Suite with Balcony Jacuzzi), and ST3 (Grand Suite with Wraparound Balcony).

All "Promenade View" staterooms are actually interior-facing cabins with balconies that overlook the Promenade (partially covered by a LED screen interior space lined up with dining and entertainment venues).

Interconnecting “cluster cabins” are specifically designed for large families and family group travel. This new concept allows up to 3 cruise staterooms to be linked together and opened up. Family cabins are in 2 main categories – FAMILY (max occupancy 6 passengers, 2 connecting rooms, 2 baths, 1 balcony) and SUPERFAMILY (max occupancy 6 passengers, 2 connecting rooms, 2 baths /1 with bathtub, 2 balconies).

MSC “BELLA cabins” are in categories I1-Inside, O1-Oceanview, B1-Balcony. Booking Bella-class staterooms additionally offer as extra perks: 20-hour gourmet buffet, organized daily scheduled activities, access to a dedicated swimming pool, modern gym, open-air sports facilities, plus earning MSC Club points for more perks on the next cruise.

MSC “FANTASTICA cabins” are in categories I2-Inside, O2-Oceanview, B2-Balcony, FLA-SuperFamily. Booking Fantastica-class staterooms additionally offer as extra perks: 24-hour room service, 50% discount on fitness classes, specially dedicated to kids activities, free in-room dining (breakfast), free delivery, priority dinner sitting, cooking sessions with the ship’s Master Chef. These higher-grade cabins are with upper deck location and offer easy access to elevators and popular lounges.

MSC “AUREA cabins” are in categories B3-Balcony, S3-Family Suite, SC3-Promenade View Suite, SE3-Grand Suite, SJ3-Suite with Balcony Jacuzzi, ST3-Grand Suite with Premium Balcony. Booking Aurea-class staterooms additionally offers: a complimentary Aurea Spa package, Thermal Area unlimited access, 60-min massage PP (max 2 per cabin), 20-min Solarium usage, welcome cocktail party, plus priority services (check-in, embarkation, tendering), bathrobes, slippers, luxury spa products, 24-hour unlimited drinks (specialty coffee, wine and beer, cocktails, soft beverages, gelato ice cream).

MSC YACHT CLUB passengers enjoy an exclusive butler service (available 24-hours), dedicated concierge service (24-hour Concierge Reception), all-inclusive dining (a la carte menu, your-time dining in an exclusive gourmet restaurant (TBN), unlimited drinks (from cabin’s mini-bar and in all Yacht Club complex areas), exclusive “The One Sun Deck” (suites-only sundeck area) access, exclusive Top Sail Lounge access. The YACHT CLUB’s exclusive lounge areas are “Top Sail Lounge” (with its own restaurant) and “The One Pool Deck” (swimming pool, whirlpools, sundeck served by its own bar).

Passengers booked in MSC Wellness cabins (IW-Inside, OW-Oceanview, BW-Balcony, and YCW-Yacht Club) receive access to dedicated sports facilities, training equipment, and amenities, along with the personal trainer, personalized fitness program, exclusive fitness-themed excursions, healthy food/drinks, charge-free laundry service (gym wear only).

Note: On decks 13 and 14, balcony cabins colored in pink are the line’s new “wellness” class. In the same class are also the interior staterooms on deck 13, plus 4 outside staterooms on deck 8.

ZOE is MSC's (and cruise industry's first) new in-cabin digital assistant. The technology was developed by Harman International (US-based company, a fully-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics).

  • ZOE is an artificial intelligence device (voice-enabled, with advanced voice recognition software) available in all passenger staterooms.
  • ZOE speaks 7 languages, answer cruise-related questions, provides info on shipboard services-activities-facilities, makes reservations and bookings.
  • The digital device features far-field microphones, top-quality speaker, quad-core processor (for fast response times), direct phone connection (through Bluetooth). The system can also upgrade its own database to answer previously unanswerable questions.
  • Passenger data (including itinerary/tour and shipboard preferences) is stored in the Cloud Storage system and used on the next scheduled voyage.
  • The device (sized ~15 cm) can be activated whenever passengers choose. A waiver must be signed to agree for their personal data to be stored.

Starting with Bellissima (2019), ZOE is available on all newbuild MSC liners and to be introduced fleetwide by the year 2024.

MSC World Europa cabin and suite plans are property of MSC Cruises . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

msc-world-europa-cabins-&-suites

  • Owner’s Suite n°16002 - Surface 78  sqm with large balcony ( 48 sqm ) and private whirlpool bath, deck 16
  • Owner’s Suite n°18001 - Surface 104 sqm with large balcony ( 65   sqm ) and private whirlpool bath, deck 18
  • Large balcony with private whirlpool bath and outdoor living area
  • Panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors
  • Separate dining and living room area
  • Bathroom with large shower and imperial tub
  • Vanity Area with hairdryer
  • Large walk-in wardrobe with shoe rack and luggage storage
  • Comfortable double bed
  • Interactive TV, Wi-Fi connection, telephone and safe
  • Bar setup, refrigerator, and espresso coffee machine
  • Air conditioning

Discover a world of privileges with MSC Yacht Club including:

  • 24-Hour Butler service and dedicated concierge
  • Premium Extra Drink and Internet packages included
  • Complimentary Access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea SPA
  • Balinese massage package and Specialty restaurants package, available up to 2 days prior to embarkation; 10% discount on all spa treatments purchased on board..
  • 1 Free cruise change

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

  • Surface 51-58 sqm with large balcony ( 42-51 sqm ) and private whirlpool bath, deck 16 and 18
  • Large balcony with private whirlpool bath and outdoor dining area
  • Walk-in wardrobe and luggage storage
  • Bathroom with large shower and tub (some cabins feature large tub only)
  • Accommodates up to 4 persons

Main feature:

  • Open living/dining room with Double sofa bed
  • Bathroom with shower and hairdryer

  Level 2:

  • Master bedroom with comfortable double bed
  • Bathroom with large tub and hairdryer
  • Spacious wardrobe

Balcony area:

  • Private Sundeck
  • Private Whirlpool bath
  • Dining table
  • Other amenities:
  • Mini bar and Air conditioning.

Main features

  • Master bedroom
  • Bathrooms with tub and hairdryer

Size, layout and furniture may vary from that shown (within the same cabin category).

The image is representative only.

  • Surface 25 sqm with private balcony approx. 5 sqm, deck 15-21
  • Bathroom with a and large shower hairdryer
  • Comfortable double bed which can be converted in two single beds (on request)
  • Surface 15 sqm, deck 15-16
  • Accommodates up to 2 persons
  • Surface 35 sqm with large balcony  ( 37-46 sqm ) and private whirlpool bath,  deck 15-16
  • Setting Area with double sofa bed
  • Interactive TV, Wi-Fi connection (for a fee), telephone and safe
  • Mini bar and Air conditioning
  • Surface 35 sqm  with private Premium Balcony  (25-35 sqm), deck 11-14
  • Surface  35 sqm with private balcony (approx. 8-9 sqm), deck 9-10
  • Sitting Area with double sofa bed
  • Surface  25 sqm with balcony 4 sqm, deck 12-14
  • Spacious wardrobes
  • Bathroom with tub and hairdryer
  • Interactive TV, telephone and safe. Wi-Fi connection available (for a fee)
  • Can accommodate up to 6 people
  • Surface 17 sqm with large private sundeck 13-17 sqm, deck 9
  • Interactive TV, telephone and safe. Wi-Fi connection available (for a fee).
  • Surface 27 sqm with private Balcony (9 sqm) overlooking the Promenade, deck 11
  • Sitting Area with double sofa bed (for double occupancy) or separate living room with double sofa bed (for quadruple occupancy)
  • Surface  20 sqm with private Balcony (7 sqm) overlooking the Promenade, deck 16

Important : this cabin will be available for cruises with departure dates starting from 13th April 2025 .

  • Surface  17 sqm with balcony (3 sqm), deck 10-16

Some cabins feature partial view

  • Surface  17 sqm with balcony 3 sqm, deck 9-10
  • Surface 17 sqm with balcony 3 sqm, deck 15-16
  • Surface  16 sqm with balcony (5 sqm) overlooking the Promenade, deck 9-15
  • Surface approx. 16 sqm with balcony (5 sqm) overlooking the Promenade, deck 10-11
  • Surface  20 sqm

Some cabins have panoramic sliding window that turns into a glass balustrade when open*

*Officers of bridge may need to keep the windows of Infinite Ocean View closed without allowing passengers to reopen them. This may be necessary for weather conditions, maintenance, safety and bunker operation. The guest will be notified directly by the on-board staff.

  • Surface 20 sqm

*Officers of bridge may need to keep the windows of Infinite Ocean View closed without allowing passengers to reopen them. This may be necessary for weather conditions, maintenance, safety and bunker operation. The guest will be notified directly by the on-board staff

  • Surface 16 sqm, deck 5-9

Some cabins have panoramic sliding window that turns into a glass balustrade when open

  • Surface  12 sqm, deck 5-14
  • Surface 15 sqm, deck 5-14
  • Surface  10 sqm, deck 11-19

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Exclusive Butler Service in MSC Yacht Club

MSC Yacht Club

Welcome to a world of ultimate luxury at the MSC Yacht Club. Accessible only by key card, guests will enjoy lavishly appointed accommodations and refined service, private dining, lounge and pool areas, free drink package, access to the Thermal Suite, and more exclusive benefits. Discover a ship within a ship, a place where you can savor exclusivity and privacy in a world of choice. Indulge in the luxury of a private club while enjoying access to a myriad of recreation and entertainment possibilities that the ship has to offer. Lavishly appointed suites, exclusive 24-hour butler service and a dedicated concierge are just the beginning of these exclusive cruise experiences. The MSC Yacht Club also boasts a range of superb private areas, from the elegant Top Sail Lounge, stylish restaurant, and the One Pool Deck complete with private swimming pool, whirlpool baths, sun deck and bar.

Platinum Card® Members, share a few details about your dream trip and we’ll contact you to plan the rest.

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Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Ship's Registry: Malta

*Terms and Conditions

Cruise Privileges Program Cruise Privileges Program (“CPP”) benefits are valid only for new CPP bookings made with participating cruise lines through American Express Travel. CPP benefits are valid only for eligible U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum and Centurion ® Card Members (Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Card Members are not eligible). CPP bookings must be made using the eligible Card. CPP benefits are non-transferable. Participating cruise lines and program benefits are subject to change. The benefits of an onboard credit and amenity are valid for new CPP bookings of at least five nights and require double occupancy; the eligible Card Member must be traveling on the itinerary booked; the total cost of the CPP booking must be paid using an American Express ® Card in the eligible Card Member's name. Onboard credits and amenities cannot be combined with other offers unless indicated; blackout dates, category and fare restrictions may apply. Onboard credits and amenities may not be available to residents outside of the 50 United States. Onboard credits and amenities apply per stateroom, with a three-stateroom limit per eligible Card Member, per cruise. For new CPP bookings with Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International, eligible Card Members receive an onboard credit (in USD) of: $100 for inside and outside staterooms, $200 for balcony, verandah, and mini-suite staterooms, and/or $300 for suites. For new CPP bookings with Cunard, eligible Card Members receive an onboard credit (in USD) of: $300 for all Queen Mary ocean-view staterooms category EF or higher, and/or Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth ocean-view staterooms category FA or higher. For new CPP bookings with Ama Waterways, Oceania, Regent, Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea, Uniworld, Windstar and Explora Journeys, eligible Card Members receive an onboard credit of US$300 for all stateroom categories. For new CPP bookings, Centurion Members receive an additional US$200 onboard credit on Explora Journeys, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, and Silversea. Onboard credits will be applied at checkout upon completion of the cruise; credit amounts in local currency may vary due to foreign exchange rates; credits are subject to cruise line terms and policies; credits cannot be used for casino charges, gratuities, or other similar charges. Any unused portion of a credit is non-refundable and is not redeemable for cash. Other restrictions may apply. Onboard amenities vary by participating cruise line and are not available on Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos, and Silver Discoverer. Onboard credits and amenities are not available on Celebrity Cruises Galapagos sailings.

Extra Membership Rewards ® points: CPP-eligible Card Members that are Membership Rewards program-enrolled will receive one (1) extra Membership Reward ® point per eligible dollar spent on new CPP bookings made with participating cruise lines through American Express Travel; separate airfare and other charges associated with such bookings are not eligible. CPP bookings must be made using the eligible Card (described above). The extra points will be credited to the Card Member’s Membership Rewards account 8-12 weeks after completion of the CPP cruise. For more information visit membershiprewards.com/terms .

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Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards ® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.

The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo .

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MSC World Europa Decks and Cabins

  • 11 Stockholm
  • 12 Copenhagen
  • 15 Brussels
  • 21 Valletta
  • 22 Amsterdam
  • Click here for ALL
  • Infinite Ocean View
  • Promenade Balcony
  • Suite with Sundeck
  • Family Suite
  • Promenade View Suite
  • Grand Suite
  • Whirlpool Bath Suite
  • MSC Yacht Club Interior
  • MSC Yacht Club Deluxe
  • MSC Yacht Club Duplex
  • MSC Yacht Club Whirlpool Duplex
  • MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite
  • MSC Yacht Club Owners Suite
  • Ship info and tracking
  • Cabins Check

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Built in 2022, the MSC Cruises MSC World Europa cruise ship weighs 216K tons and has 2631 staterooms for up to 6314 passengers served by 1413 crew . There are 20 passenger decks, 12 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 34 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for MSC World Europa showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

MSC World Europa ship profile picture

MSC Cruises MSC World Europa

LIVE SHIP TRACKING

STATEROOM CABINS COMPLETE LIST BELOW

MSC YACHT CLUB OWNERS SUITE

MSC Yacht Club Owners Suite diagram

Floor Diagram YC Owners Suite Cabin 18001

Sleeps up to: 4 2 Cabins Cabin: 839 sqft (79 m 2 ) Balcony: 699 sqft (66 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

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More Info [+/-]

Deck locations, stateroom cabin features, important size information, stateroom cabin perks, more diagrams of this cabin type.

Yacht-Owners diagram

MSC YACHT CLUB ROYAL SUITE

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite diagram

Floor Diagram Yacht Club Royal Suite YC3

Sleeps up to: 4 4 Cabins Cabin: 548 sqft (52 m 2 ) Balcony: 452 sqft (42 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

MSC YACHT CLUB WHIRLPOOL DUPLEX

MSC Yacht Club Whirlpool Duplex diagram

Floor Diagram Yacht Club Duplex Whirlpool YJD

Sleeps up to: 4 6 Cabins Cabin: 495 sqft (47 m 2 ) Balcony: 322 sqft (30 m 2 )

MSC YACHT CLUB DUPLEX

MSC Yacht Club Duplex diagram

Floor Diagram Yacht Club Deluxe Starboard Suite YCD

Sleeps up to: 4 3 Cabins Cabin: 495 sqft (47 m 2 ) Balcony: 64 sqft (6 m 2 )

MSC YACHT CLUB DELUXE

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe diagram

Floor Diagram Yacht Club Deluxe Suite YC1

Sleeps up to: 4 130 Cabins Cabin: 269 sqft (25 m 2 ) Balcony: 53 sqft (5 m 2 )

MSC YACHT CLUB INTERIOR

MSC Yacht Club Interior diagram

Floor Diagram Yacht Club Interior YIN

Sleeps up to: 2 7 Cabins Cabin: 161 sqft (15 m 2 )

WHIRLPOOL BATH SUITE

Whirlpool Bath Suite diagram

Floor Diagram Grand Whirlpool Suite SJ3

Sleeps up to: 4 4 Cabins Cabin: 376 sqft (35 m 2 ) Balcony: 398 sqft (37 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

GRAND SUITE

Grand Suite diagram

Floor Diagram Grand Suite SE3

Sleeps up to: 4 10 Cabins Cabin: 376 sqft (35 m 2 ) Balcony: 96 sqft (9 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Grand-Suite diagram

PROMENADE VIEW SUITE

Promenade View Suite diagram

Floor Diagram Promenade Suite 4 passengers

Sleeps up to: 4 4 Cabins Cabin: 226 sqft (21 m 2 ) Balcony: 75 sqft (7 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

FAMILY SUITE

Family Suite diagram

Floor Diagram Family Suite S3

Sleeps up to: 6 40 Cabins Cabin: 269 sqft (25 m 2 ) Balcony: 43 sqft (4 m 2 )

SUITE WITH SUNDECK

Suite with Sundeck diagram

Floor Diagram Seat with Private Sundeck S2

Sleeps up to: 4 46 Cabins Cabin: 182 sqft (17 m 2 ) Balcony: 161 sqft (15 m 2 )

 Accessible Info [+/-]

Balcony diagram

Floor Diagram Balcony B1, B2, B3

Sleeps up to: 4 1092 Cabins Cabin: 182 sqft (17 m 2 ) Balcony: 32 sqft (3 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Balcony diagram

PROMENADE BALCONY

Promenade Balcony diagram

Floor Diagram Balcony Promenade View BC1

Sleeps up to: 2 196 Cabins Cabin: 172 sqft (16 m 2 ) Balcony: 53 sqft (5 m 2 )

INFINITE OCEAN VIEW

Infinite Ocean View diagram

Floor Diagram Infinite Oceanview OV2, OV3

Sleeps up to: 4 170 Cabins Cabin: 215 sqft (20 m 2 )

Ocean View diagram

Floor Diagram Oceanview O1, O2

Sleeps up to: 4 77 Cabins Cabin: 172 sqft (16 m 2 )

Interior diagram

Floor Diagram Interior I1, I2

Sleeps up to: 4 818 Cabins Cabin: 161 sqft (15 m 2 )

Studio diagram

Floor Diagram Studio Oceanview

Sleeps up to: 1 22 Cabins Cabin: 118 sqft (11 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Studio diagram

MSC World Europa Deck Page Menu

Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck.

MSC World Europa Quick Stats

Big picture msc world europa decks.

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MSC World Europa Links

  • PDF of all the decks
  • PDF (choose your own decks)
  • MSC World Europa DECK DRAG
  • MSC World Europa Cabin Check

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SeaDream Yacht Club vs Emerald Yacht Cruises: Which to choose?

Published 10th September 2024 in Cruise Advice By Louise Harmer /cruise-news/cruise-advice/seadream-yacht-club-vs-emerald-yacht-cruises

Sunset in Antibes on board SeaDream I

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Yacht-style cruising is becoming more and more popular for guests looking for an intimate luxury experience. Here we take a look at the differences between the charming SeaDream Yacht Club and the sleek Emerald Yacht Cruises to help you choose which is best for you...

Ships: SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream Yacht Club's fleet comprises two identical vessels, SeaDream I and II , each offering a welcoming home-from-home for up to 112 guests. These are vintage ships, having been built in the 1980's, but their charm endures, and they benefitted from a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2022. The style on board is relaxed and unpretentious, attracting a sociable crowd of like-minded travellers who return time and time again.

Guests describe SeaDream as being like a family where the 95-strong crew attends to your every need, learning your name and preferences with ease, and conjuring plenty of 'surprise and delight' moments to make your voyage truly unforgettable.

SeaDream Yacht Club in Mykonos

Ships: Emerald Yacht Cruises

Emerald Cruises expanded into the ocean cruising space more recently, having made their name in river cruising. Their new-build sister yachts Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara launched in 2022 and 2023 respectively, showcasing a sleek silhouette which looks more akin to a private super-yacht. Accommodating a maximum of 100 guests each, the yachts are thoughtfully designed with a contemporary and elegant style, and guests will enjoy attentive service from the crew of 75.

A third innovative yacht will join the fleet in 2026, Emerald Kaia , which has the same modern elegance as the first two vessels but represents an exciting evolution, with a larger guest capacity of 128 and reimagined onboard spaces.

Emerald Azzura in Rovinj, Croatia

Dining on SeaDream Yacht Club

Despite the yachts' small size, you can expect a wide-ranging menu of culinary delights, prepared by expert chefs, and complimented by wines chosen by the resident sommeliers. Cuisine incorporates local flavours of the region as well as 'always available' favourites, plus plant-based menus and options to accommodate other dietary preferences and requirements.

All meals are included in the fare, and you can choose to dine indoors in the Dining Salon or al fresco, plus you can enjoy SeaDream's signature dessert extravaganza, poolside sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres and more. The al fresco Topside Restaurant offers a relaxed spot for breakfast, lunch, and select dinners.

Topside_Restaurant on SeaDream

Dining on Emerald Yacht Cruises

On board the Emerald yachts you can enjoy open dining in a relaxed and elegant setting. La Cucina Dining offers buffet-style breakfasts and lunches, with a la carte offerings in the evening. Expert chefs will create dishes with locally sourced ingredients, inspired by the destination, and the adjoining Terrace allows you to dine al fresco. For light bites during the day, head to the Aqua Pool Café for sandwiches, gelato, and coffee.

Exclusive to Emerald Kaia and carrying an additional charge, the Night Market Grill is an intimate venue for just eight guests to enjoy an Asian-inspired meal where the chef prepares dishes in front of you.

Emerald Sakara La Cucina Dining

Rooms & Suites on SeaDream Yacht Club

Guest accommodations on board SeaDream I and II were completely renovated in 2022 and offer a comfortable, well-designed space with ocean views from either porthole or picture windows. The Yacht Club Staterooms on decks two and three feature 195 square feet of space with a seating area, writing desk, bathroom with multi-jet shower, flat-screen TV, and luxury bath robes and slippers. Two Yacht Club Staterooms can also be combined to create a Commodore Suite, offering twice the space and amenities.

If you prefer a spacious home from home, the Admiral's Suite offers 375 square feet of space with three picture windows, separate bedroom with en suite bathroom featuring shower and bathtub, and a comfortable living and dining area. Alternatively, the generously sized Owner's Suite boasts 447 square feet of space with a separate master bedroom, expansive living area, and ample storage. The SeaDream yachting experience is all about the outdoors so don't be put off by the window-only staterooms, as the entire yacht becomes your own personal verandah.

SeaDream Yacht Club Stateroom Deck 2

Rooms & suites on Emerald Yacht Cruises

Fifty guest staterooms and suites grace Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara , and there is a surprising variety from which to choose. All boast a sleek and contemporary style, decorated in neutral colours with modern fixtures and fittings, and luxury ESPA bath amenities. Oceanview staterooms begin at 182 square feet and are located on deck 3 of the yacht, with a king-sized bed, modern bathroom with shower, and a picture window. If you prefer a private balcony, opt for a Balcony Suite situated on decks 4 and 5, or a Deluxe Balcony Suite which is larger in size at 382 square feet, with a separate bedroom and lounge.

If a large outdoor area is a must, the light-filled Terrace Suites at the aft of deck 5 offer an expansive dual aspect private terrace or the similarly designed and located Yacht Suites on deck 4 boast more space including a walk-in wardrobe. The epitome of luxury comes in the form of the two Owner's Suites each boasting over 1,100 square feet of space including a large private terrace, modern bathroom with shower and bathtub, and separate living and dining area.

The new Emerald Kaia has 64 suites, most of them larger in size than their counterparts on board the sister yachts, and the Owner's Suite design has been enhanced to include a spa pool on the private terrace.

Emerald Sakara Oceanview Stateroom

Onboard activities & facilities on SeaDream Yacht Club

The SeaDream experience is a true lifestyle, and you will quickly become accustomed to this special way of travelling. Where conditions and regulations allow, the onboard water sports marina platform offers the chance to get out on the ocean with snorkelling equipment, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, jet skis and more . Other active pursuits include daily morning yoga on deck and SeaDream's Golf Simulator if you wish to practice your swing, plus the use of the onboard fitness centre. For rest and relaxation, visit the only Thai-certified spa at sea where you can enjoy massages and beauty treatments, take a dip in the saltwater swimming pool and hot tubs, or browse the onboard library.

Evening entertainment is relaxed and low-key with regular live guitar or piano music, and there is a small casino on board. A special experience on warm evenings is SeaDream's 'Starlit Movies' during which the pool deck becomes an open-air cinema, or head up to the Sun Deck where upon request the Balinese Dream Beds can be transformed with luxurious bed linens to enable you to sleep under the stars.

Loungers_and_twin_Jacuzzis_SeaDream

Onboard activities & facilities on Emerald Yacht Cruises

Emerald's state-of-the-art marina platform on each of their yachts offers complimentary use of water toys including stand-up paddleboards, floating mats, SEABOB water scooters, a water trampoline and more, subject to conditions, plus you can swim and snorkel straight from the marina when the yacht is anchored in certain locations. Exclusively on Emerald Kaia , there is a water slide and a dedicated Marina Lounge. As part of Emerald's wellness facilities, you can enjoy the onboard gym, with classes led by the dedicated wellness coach, or relax in the infrared sauna. The salon offers beauty treatments, and the Elements Spa is a relaxing sanctuary for a massage or facial.

Light evening entertainment in the form of live music often graces the main lounge, and you will find a small boutique for any gifts or souvenirs.

Emerald Azzurra Marina Platform

Bars & socialising on SeaDream Yacht Club

The yacht's small size lends itself well to getting to know your fellow guests and you will find the SeaDream experience to be inherently social . The Top of the Yacht bar is a popular spot for meeting new and old friends, catching up over a drink, and enjoying the sea breeze and views. This social hub is open from morning to evening, and you can enjoy early risers coffee or a nightcap here.

During a leisurely day spent on deck, swing by the Pool Bar for a refreshing drink or an expertly made cocktail, and as day turns to night, head to the Piano Bar to enjoy live music and request your favourite song.

Top_of_the_Yacht_Bar SeaDream

Bars & socialising on Emerald Yacht Cruises

On board the Emerald yachts you will find plenty of areas to relax, enjoy a drink, or socialise with your fellow guests. On warm evenings, the Sky Bar is an expansive open-air space on the top deck, perfect for enjoying the sunset with a cocktail. The Amici Bar and Lounge is a central hub on deck three, near the restaurant and a popular pre-dinner meeting point, and this is also the venue for briefings to learn about the next day's plans, plus light entertainment.

The intimate Observation Lounge offers a serene sanctuary to relax with a book, play a game, or track the yacht's route, and the adjacent terrace is perfect for taking photographs as you sail through picturesque landscapes.

Sky Bar on board Emerald Sakara

Itineraries & Shore Excursions on SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream's yachts come into their own in the Caribbean , where they spend winter hopping between sun-soaked isles and hidden bays, visiting lesser-travelled gems only accessible by small ship. In summer you will find the yachts in Europe, sailing the French and Italian Rivieras and Greek Isles , benefitting from being small enough to transit the narrow Corinth Canal. In summer 2025 and 2026, SeaDream II spends time in Northern Europe including the spectacular Norwegian Fjords .

Shore excursions are not included but can be pre-booked in advance of travel for an additional cost, and there will often be complimentary crew-led activities such as hikes in certain ports of call, and independent use of the onboard bicycles. Don't miss SeaDream's 'Champagne and Caviar Splash' event during Caribbean voyages: an exclusive beach barbecue with luxurious refreshments served in the surf.

SeaDream Yacht Club in the Caribbean

Itineraries & Shore Excursions on Emerald Yacht Cruises

Emerald's yachts winter in the Caribbean , visiting the Grenadines, Leeward Isles and Windward Isles, and in summer you will find them right at home with the super yachts of the French Riviera, as well as sailing Greece, Italy, and the Adriatic coas t. In 2026 and 2027, new yacht Emerald Kaia sails the beautiful Seychelles , as well as visiting ancient wonders in Egypt and Jordan.

Emerald often offers at least one complimentary excursion per voyage, depending on the destination, and a selection of excursions which can be purchased for an additional cost, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the destination. EmeraldPLUS events are exclusive experiences such as a beach barbecue with a live band in the Caribbean, or a musical performance in Europe.

Emerald Azzurra in Kotor, Montenegro

What's included with SeaDream Yacht Club

  • All meals including dinner under the stars or in the lavish dining room
  • Drinks including champagne and select premium brands
  • Use of the onboard marina including water toys and snorkelling gear
  • Bicycles to use ashore
  • Champagne and caviar beach barbeque in the Caribbean

Pool Deck on board SeaDream Yacht Club

What's included with Emerald Yacht Cruises

  • Beer, wine, cocktails and soft drinks
  • Complimentary WiFi
  • Use of the onboard marina platform and water toys
  • Selected excursions in key ports
  • Return economy class flights from London and overseas airport transfers. *Conditions apply

All taxes and gratuities

Emerald Sakara Marina Platform

Louise is Marketing Executive at Mundy Cruising, having worked with the company for nearly two years and in travel for over 8 years. Most recently she's cruised on Explora Journeys and has also sailed with Crystal Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Seabourn, Ponant and Uniworld. Her favourite destination is New Zealand however she's also enjoyed cruises in the Mediterranean, Pacific Islands, Norwegian Fjords, Indian Ocean and South Africa. When she’s not travelling she loves cooking and trying new restaurants.

msc yacht club vs suite

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  • Royal Caribbean International

Comparing RC Sky Class to MSC Yacht Club

By Southern latitudes , January 11, 2022 in Royal Caribbean International

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25+ Club

Southern latitudes

I have sailed on RC 5 times, 3 in Sky Class.   I just got off of my first MSC Yacht Club sailing and thought others might be interested in the comparison.   One of my Sky Class sailings was post Covid; the others were before the pandemic changed things.   To be fair, most of my comments will compare the post Covid sailings.

Boarding:   Pre-Covid Sky Class boarding was very easy.   We had a private lounge to wait until boarding time.   Post-Covid, Sky Class passengers waited in the general line with everyone else, and got no special boarding privileges.   When we made our way to the suite lounge, there was no one there.   We went to Coastal Kitchen, the suite restaurant for lunch and waited there until our room was ready. Yacht Club passengers were met at the luggage drop off and escorted by various employees through security, health screening and check in.   The entire process took less than 20 minutes. After check in, a butler escorted us onto the ship and to the suite lounge, where we were provided a cocktail.   The concierge gave us an overview of the YC inclusions, then our butler escorted us to our room.  

Shows: The shows on RC were far superior, but we had to make reservations and had no reserved seating.   One of my favorite pre-Covid Sky class benefits was that we did not have to make reservations for shows and had reserved seats.   Post-Covid, reservations were required and we were told that we could enter the theatre 45 minutes early to get seats.   To me, that was not a benefit, especially since I never saw anyone with a reservation refused early entrance.   YC asks that you meet in the lounge 10 minutes prior to show time, and a butler escorts you to a reserved section in the theatre.   If RC goes back to pre-Covid procedures, it is clearly preferable since the shows are significantly better.  

Suite lounge : The suite lounge on RC ships that include Sky Class are varied.   On Oasis class ships, which I only sailed pre-Covid, there was a bar with a limited beverage selection available at no additional cost from 11 am to 11 pm.     This bar was very crowded almost all of the time, and during the early evening hours, it was difficult to find a seat.   I am sure this was partially due to the fact that Pinnacle members have access to the suite lounge, which makes it crowded at times.   I am not sure if this policy has continued post-Covid.   On the Quantum class ships, the suite lounge is in a totally separate area of the ship.   It was virtually empty every time we went in there.   There were snacks there in the morning (continental breakfast) and in the early evening, but none the rest of the time.   There may have been limited drink service there in the evening, but we did not use it.   The YC lounge is for YC guests only.   It is open, with a fully stocked bar from 6 am until late night/early morning.   There are always light snacks available.   It was not at all crowded when we were there, but to be fair, the YC was way below capacity.   It did seem much more spacious than the suite lounges on RC.  

Drink packages : RC has limited beverages available for all passengers.   You can purchase other drinks a la carte or purchase a drink package.   The deluxe beverage package is only included for Star Class passengers, not Sky Class.   (I have never sailed Star Class, so I am not including it in the comparison)   For YC passengers, all beverages up to $15 are included.   The RC deluxe beverage package includes all drinks up to $13 (which is most of the popular, but not truly top shelf drinks-the $15 limit on YC is about the same).   The cost of the beverage package varies greatly but I usually pay between $50 and $58 per person per day.   All guest over 21 in the cabin must purchase the package.   The premium extra beverage package described above is included in the cruise fare for YC passengers.   The primary difference in the packages, besides the cost, is that if you order a drink above the included minimum on RC, you only pay the difference.   For example, an $18 glass of champagne would cost $5 plus gratuity.   For YC, you would pay the entire $18.   Drink packages can be used at any bar or restaurant on RC and on all but 2 for YC.  

Suite restaurant : Coastal Kitchen was always crowded, even post-Covid.   We were required to have reservations for dinner each night.   They were not difficult to get for Sky Class, but they were not very flexible about changing times.   The suite restaurant in YC was always available at any time.   The maitre’d did say that when there are more YC passengers, dining is a little less flexible, perhaps a longer wait for a table, but they do accommodate all YC passengers.   We were told that CK would not accommodate us without a reservation at dinner.  

Pool deck : RC has a sun deck available for Sky class and above guests.   On some ships, it has a hot tub, but not on all ships.   Some ships have a bar there, but others do not.   Even pre-Covid, I found that the bar on the suite sun deck was not regularly staffed.   The YC sun deck is very large and has a full bar that is open from about 7 am to 7 pm.   It also serves breakfast and lunch.   There is a pool and a hot tub on this deck.  

Cabin: The one bedroom grand suite, the entry level Sky Class cabin is larger than the deluxe balcony suite in YC.   YC also has some interior cabins, which gives you the YC experience at a significantly lower price.   We were in a balcony room which was totally adequate for 2 people and could accommodate 3.   It is approximately the size of a spacious balcony cabin on RC.  

Disembarkation: Bothe pre and post Covid, breakfast for Sky Class passengers was available in the CK, but it was chaotic.   Pre-Covid, Sky class passengers could meet in the suite lounge and the concierge would escort the group off at set times.     Post-Covid, that procedure was discontinued and all passengers waited in their cabins (or at breakfast) until it was their time to disembark and they left with all other passengers.   Post Covid, YC passengers go the suite lounge and a butler escorts them off when they are ready to leave.   They must be out of the cabin by 8 am, but breakfast is served in the suite restaurant from 6:30 until 8:30, and the suite lounge is open.   We left about 8:45.   We were off the ship and on our way to the airport by 9:10.   The process was incredibly easy.   The butlers can override the elevators and we had a special line to leave.   (Butlers will also escort you off the shore at the various ports.   We used this sometimes and did not others.   On a more crowded ship, this would be a real benefit but there were not really crowds anywhere.   There is also a YC tent at each port.   If there had been long lines, I feel sure they would escort guests back on the ship as well.)

Private Island experience : In Labadee, RC has a beach and buffet reserved for Sky class and above guests.   It was very nice, and the food was slightly better than the buffet on other parts of the island.   On Coco Cay, RC has a special area with a restaurant that is open to anyone who makes a reservation at an extra cost.   Suite guests get no special access or area on Coco Cay.   On Ocean Cay, MSC’s island, there is a beach reserved for YC guests, which includes a lovely, sit down restaurant.  

Food:   Food is always subjective.   We love the food in CK and have generally found it to be very good.   We found the food in the YC restaurant to be a cut above the food in CK.   The portions are much smaller, which we liked, and the menu offerings were a little outside of the normal, which pushed us to try some new things.   The pasta was always outstanding, and we got risotto every night.   They had a different risotto each night, and most were very good.   The menu was heavy on seafood and veal; very little chicken.   But we always found something that we enjoyed.   The pizza, available from noon to midnight, was absolutely delicious.   We tried the buffet for a light snack one afternoon.   It was typical and fine.   I am not a fan of buffets, but I appreciate the fact that both RC and MSC now have staff serving the food.   From what I could tell, the buffet on MSC is open more hours than on RC.  

Overall : We were nervous about trying MSC and YC, but had a wonderful experience.   I also thoroughly enjoy RC.     I hope this helps other people trying to decide if they want to try something different.  

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mafig

We've been in the YC twice, pre-covid.  We really liked it and would love to book it again.

However, I'm leery of taking a chance of perhaps cancelling last minute with MSC.  We just cancelled a cruise right before final with Royal and received our non refundable deposit back.  Not so sure we'd have the same luck with MSC.

barbeyg

Thanks for the input.  We did have some differences from your experience during Covid, and I've shared them below.  We were Sky Class on Oasis in December.  Maybe the more personal experience was because we were in Miami?

Boarding:  We were escorted to an elevator to the suite lounge, met as we exited the elevator, and checked in personally, led to a seat.  We were sent onboard as a group, before anyone but the B2Bers.

Suite Lounge:  limited beverages 11 to 11, with an open bar from about 5 - 8.  Just about anything but frozen drinks.

Coastal Kitchen:  was never crowded.  Spaced out well, and changes were readily available.

Suite pool deck:  Nina was tending the bar there every time we went by.  We stopped in for bottled water as early as 11 am, and left there as late as 5:30 pm.  Always someone working the bar.

My post covid sky class sailing was in August.   Sounds like they improved things. Glad to know that.  Thanks

How is YC on pricing relative to sky class?

sandebeach

5 hours ago, barbeyg said: Thanks for the input.  We did have some differences from your experience during Covid, and I've shared them below.  We were Sky Class on Oasis in December.  Maybe the more personal experience was because we were in Miami?   Boarding:  We were escorted to an elevator to the suite lounge, met as we exited the elevator, and checked in personally, led to a seat.  We were sent onboard as a group, before anyone but the B2Bers.   Suite Lounge:  limited beverages 11 to 11, with an open bar from about 5 - 8.  Just about anything but frozen drinks.   Coastal Kitchen:  was never crowded.  Spaced out well, and changes were readily available.   Suite pool deck:  Nina was tending the bar there every time we went by.  We stopped in for bottled water as early as 11 am, and left there as late as 5:30 pm.  Always someone working the bar.    

Miami has a much better system for boarding Suites than Port Everglades. 

1,000+ Club

Twice in YC on Seaside & far surpasses anything RCL offers. Also much better then NCL Haven. 

I haven't done extensive research and I am sure that it varies according to season, ship and itinerary, but I have generally found YC to be slightly less than Sky Class, especially when you factor in included drinks package.

  • 5 months later...

Cool Cruiser

Just came back a month ago on MSC Seashore in their YC Grand suite. It beats Royal Suite, Haven, Retreat and Sanctuary hands down and cost a bit less; in my case, partly because of being an matched Diamond and partly due to a cancelled booking in late 2020 and MSC offered an 25% incentive to keep the FCC instead of demanding cash refund, 

Except for the shows, which are decent, but not in the class of royal's, the YC has it all over anything else, meaning Sky Class or the Haven on NCL. It comes with more perks, and better service at a lower cost. For example, we ar booked on the Divina next May for $5000.00, and just got off the Seashore with a bidding at the lowest level for $4800.00 total. That came with all the YC perks within the YC, but outside the YC it reverted back to our Aurea package. Either way, it's a fantastic experience. You are really treated like royalty to the point that they remember what you drink, and remember your name.They give you an MSC wrist band, and to my surprise, they actually delivered my newspaper of choice to the pool deck with out my asking. They just new where we were. Loved it. What service.

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msc yacht club vs suite

IMAGES

  1. MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite on MSC Seaview Cruise Ship

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  2. MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite on MSC Seaside Cruise Ship

    msc yacht club vs suite

  3. MSC Seascape

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  4. 16022 Yacht Club Deluxe Suite on MSC Seashore

    msc yacht club vs suite

  5. What is the MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises' luxury suite area?

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  6. MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite on MSC Seaside Cruise Ship

    msc yacht club vs suite

VIDEO

  1. MSC Yacht Club First Impressions! A Look At My First Day Onboard This Suite Class! #mscyachtclub

  2. Yacht Club Suite 18012 MSC Seascape- MSC Cruises. 305-306-2600 call, text, or WhatsApp

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  5. MSC Euribia Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

  6. MSC Yacht Club balcony suite tour #msc #travel #adventure #tour #cruise #sea #shortsvideo #shorts

COMMENTS

  1. MSC suite vs Yacht Club what's the difference?

    Posted February 18, 2023 (edited) Suites are the largest non-YC cabins.. available with Aurea Experience. Yacht Club is the Experience.. "ship-within-a-ship" concept with its own. categories of suites. Example: MSC Seascape. • Inside (Bella / Fantastica) • Ocean View (Bella / Fantastica) • Balcony (Bella / Fantastica / Aurea)

  2. What is the MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises' luxury suite area?

    The bathroom in a Deluxe Balcony Suite in the Yacht Club of MSC Cruises' MSC Seascape. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY. New to the fleet with the line's World Class are 1,600-square-foot Owner Suites, which include multi-room layouts, walk-in closets, bathtubs and balconies, each with a whirlpool and alfresco dining area.

  3. MSC Yacht Club Perks: 10 Amenities Worth the Splurge

    By March 2022, Balla expects all 131 suites in MSC Seashore's Yacht Club to be full. 5. The MSC Yacht Club Has So Much Extra Space, Both Indoors and Outside. With every new ship, MSC Cruises keeps ...

  4. I tried the cheapest MSC Cruises Yacht Club suite. Here's what to know

    A repurposed industrial site, it has become a Bahamian oasis with pristine waters and 8 beaches. MSC Yacht Club guests get special access while visiting the island, which I think is one of the significant differences from other cruise line suite programs. At the far end of the island, Yacht Club has its own dedicated area featuring the Ocean House.

  5. I Sailed in MSC's Yacht Club Luxury Suite Enclave

    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.

  6. Everything you need to know about MSC Cruises cabins and suites

    MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suites. Yacht Club Duplex Suite on MSC Meraviglia. IVAN SARFATTI/MSC CRUISES. Rising two decks, MSC's duplex staterooms measure 495 to 635 square feet and come with 65- to 334-square-foot balconies. They feature living rooms with two-person sofa beds downstairs and master bedrooms upstairs, which also sleep two passengers. ...

  7. I Tried the MSC Yacht Club and it Was Worth it for the ...

    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.

  8. MSC Yacht Club: Is It Really Worth It?

    The MSC Yacht Club duplex suites are humongous, with more than 600 square feet of interior space and nearly 250 square feet of exterior space, with a whirlpool-boasting balcony. There are two ...

  9. Is MSC Yacht Club Worth It?

    MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite. Spanning an average of 17 square meters, and sleeping two, a MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite features a comfortable seating area, a double bed, an an opulent bathroom - alongside other unique amenities and all the MSC Yacht Club benefits outlined above. MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite, MSC Seaview.

  10. MSC Yacht Club: An overview of what's included

    MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite is one of the best suites in the fleet, with an expansive 1,055 square feet of space, including a separate living and dining area. Its 269 square foot balcony has a private hot tub and lots of room to lounge. MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite has 667 square feet of space, with separate living and dining space.

  11. First Time MSC Cruisers- Royal Suite Worth the Price?

    When MSC wants double (or more) than the Deluxe, the RS isn't worth it. We're a family of 4 so the extra space is worth it (only 1 bathroom, though) and so far we've been lucky to catch prices before they climb. Totally agree. Unfortunately MSC now seems to be able to get that 100%+ more for the Royal than a YC Deluxe.

  12. The Steve's Review of MSC Seaside's Yacht Club

    The room was quite comfortable, and categorized by MSC as a "Superior Yacht Club Suite". While our room was not what I would consider a full suite, it was a nice sized Jr. Suite in size, similar to those on other cruise lines and quite spacious enough for us. We had a King sized bed, half open-sided wall adjacent to the bedroom, dividing ...

  13. Seashore YC Deluxe vs Deluxe Grand Suite

    MSC designer basically took the Deluxe Suite floor plan and added a walk-in-closet by stretching the length of the stateroom. I noticed similar stateroom layouts on MSC Explora 1 (Explora Journeys). ... Yacht Club on MSC Seashore is on decks 16, 18 & 19 forward. Navigating YC is convenient with an elevator and stairs connecting YC decks ...

  14. What is MSC's Yacht Club Ocean Cay cruise experience like ...

    The MSC Yacht Club experience is more exclusive than the standard one at Ocean Cay, with extras like butler service, dedicated trams, towel service, access to pricier cabanas and a private beach and restaurant with better food and shorter waits. However, all of the action — shore excursions, pickup volleyball games, beach parties, the ...

  15. MSC World Europa Cabins

    Splurge: If money is no object, the MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite is the crème de la crème of shipboard accommodations, rivaling those found on purpose-built luxury ships. Huge open decks with ...

  16. MSC Seashore cabins and suites

    Both YACHT CLUB Royal Suites are with separate bedroom (bathroom and balcony access), large walk-in closet, separate lounge room (wet bar, balcony access), spacious veranda (sized 33 m2, 6-seat dining table, sundeck with loungers, whirlpool bath). MSC's "BELLA cabins" are in categories I1-Inside, O1-Oceanview, and B1-Balcony.

  17. Yacht Club vs Suite

    The Yacht Club is a " ship within a ship " concept. It's partly similar to RCCL's Suite Neighborhood but taken to a higher level of exclusivity. The closest thing to the Yacht Club is NCL's The Haven. The next closest is Celebrity's The Retreat. It's not on all MSC ships.

  18. MSC World Europa cabins and suites

    All MSC YACHT CLUB suites are also fitted with Nespresso machines. All Suite categories feature larger bathrooms with bathtubs. YC4-Royal Suites feature a large balcony (with an outdoor Jacuzzi/whirlpool bath and alfresco dining area with a 6-seat table), separate dining room, living room, bathroom (with spa tub), walk-in closet (wardrobe with ...

  19. MSC yacht club vs Celebrity suite class : r/Cruise

    The dining in the Retreat is more varied than the Haven that has the same menu every meal. The Yacht club entertainment is a little more European in nature. NCL sticks to the Broadway Show approach. The Yacht Club has more room in area with a much larger pool. The Yacht Club also has a much more exclusive embarkment which most folks love.

  20. Cabins & Suites

    MSC World Europa features new cabin designs such as cluster cabins for families and groups. The MSC Yacht Club offers a new style of suite, featuring a walk-in wardrobe including two more luxury suites with whirlpool baths and 28 more of the terraced cabins with their own private area for sunbathing. Choose your cabin find your cruise.

  21. MSC Yacht Club by MSC Cruises

    Welcome to a world of ultimate luxury at the MSC Yacht Club. Accessible only by key card, guests will enjoy lavishly appointed accommodations and refined service, private dining, lounge and pool areas, free drink package, access to the Thermal Suite, and more exclusive benefits.

  22. Celebrity Retreat vs MSC Yacht Club

    We have celebrity retreat several times including very recently on Beyond and also Edge , in general I give a edge to MSc yacht club, love the truly ship within a ship , on yacht club all your cabins , restaurants and bars are in this area you can't enter without being in a yacht club cabin, the inside suite lounge is beautiful and much larger and nicer than celebrity with a baby grand piano ...

  23. MSC World Europa decks, cabins, diagrams and pics.

    MSC YACHT CLUB OWNERS SUITE. YC4. Floor Diagram YC Owners Suite Cabin 18001. Sleeps up to: 4 2 Cabins Cabin: 839 sqft (79 m 2) ... Floor Diagram Yacht Club Royal Suite YC3. Sleeps up to: 4 4 Cabins Cabin: 548 sqft (52 m 2) Balcony: 452 sqft (42 m 2) * Size may vary, see details below.

  24. SeaDream Yacht Club vs Emerald Yacht Cruises: Which to choose?

    Two Yacht Club Staterooms can also be combined to create a Commodore Suite, offering twice the space and amenities. If you prefer a spacious home from home, the Admiral's Suite offers 375 square feet of space with three picture windows, separate bedroom with en suite bathroom featuring shower and bathtub, and a comfortable living and dining area.

  25. Comparing RC Sky Class to MSC Yacht Club

    I have sailed on RC 5 times, 3 in Sky Class. I just got off of my first MSC Yacht Club sailing and thought others might be interested in the comparison. One of my Sky Class sailings was post Covid; the others were before the pandemic changed things. To be fair, most of my comments will compare the post Covid sailings. Boarding: Pre-Covid Sky Class boarding was very easy.