- MSC Cruises
Is The Yacht Club worth it ?
By horseymike , February 28, 2023 in MSC Cruises
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Hello veteran MSC cruisers.
I’m considering booking our first MSC cruise.
Is booking The Yacht Club worth it ?
Depends on what you value. I recently concluded my first MSC cruise at the Aurea level, and I loved the Top 19 solarium with its lounge. Very quiet up there, lots of space to spread out. We didn't really feel like we were missing anything. But we also had a rare 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite, which was perfect for our family and unmatched in the Yacht Club experience level.
We have 2 future cruises booked at Yacht Club level (Grand Deluxe Suite on the Seashore and Royal Suite on the Virtuosa), but that's more about seeing the YC lounge and sundeck (and in the case of the Royal Suite, it's about waking up to the Norwegian fjords at the top-front of the ship).
I expect we'll still do some specialty dining even when in YC, and we also sailed without a drink package. So neither the YC restaurant nor the YC drinks package are reasons for us to try YC. We probably place highest value on having lots of our own space aboard.
Toofarfromthesea
4 hours ago, horseymike said: Hello veteran MSC cruisers. I’m considering booking our first MSC cruise. Is booking The Yacht Club worth it ?
IMO, absolutely yes.
Offering a different perspective, fhe core ship experience is good and it really does depend on what you value and your budget. Personally I'd prefer say three cruises a year rather than 2 YC cruises. Depends as well on your itinerary and how much you enjoy spending time in Port.
We are at the point in our lives where we don't wish to stand in lines, get up at 7:00 am to hog a chair by the pool, deal with the wait at guest relations, or arrive an hour before a show to get a seat. We enjoy being served and pampered. The Yacht Club experience starts when you pull up to the pier and step into the YC white tent; you are whisked through the embarkation process and brought to a lovely lounge waiting area where you can sip champagne while waiting for the ship to clear. YC passengers are the first to board. A butler will escort you on the ship, show you around, and introduce you to the concierge. The concierge was available to help you with any reservations or issues you might have...you no longer need to go to guest relations. Our butler and his assistant were there to make sure everything was perfect. If our butler was unavailable, one was always ready to assist. We were pampered when entering the YC to the end of our cruise when our butler escorted us off the ship.
Absolutely, I probably wouldn't book it if I had little ones though....It is not close to any of the slides, etc...
On second thought, nah, don't book it. Keep the demand down. 🙂
@Nashna maybe when comparing YC to Bella and Fantastica (or when comparing experience levels across ships), the differences seem more stark, but we were pleasantly surprised with how empty the Top 19 solarium was in the Aurea experience on the Seascape, and we had very short lines anywhere (during embarkation, we actually saw folks in the Yacht Club room waiting for butlers, while we zipped up to the ship quickly).
We travel with our 3 kids, so our situation is probably a bit different. We would probably book the 2-bedroom Aurea suite anytime it's available. If Yacht Club had a Family Suite--like every other cruiseline seems to offer these days--we would probably always book YC. But the cabin configurations in YC are really not conducive for larger families. It seems weird to me that NCL will have maybe 1/2 of their cabins in the Prima/Viva Haven suitable for larger/multigenerational families traveling together, but MSC has effectively zero.
Gatordad1967
only you can determine worth.
Two Wheels Only
34 minutes ago, peder said: It seems weird to me that NCL will have maybe 1/2 of their cabins in the Prima/Viva Haven suitable for larger/multigenerational families traveling together, but MSC has effectively zero.
With the way that NCL is pricing Prima/Viva Haven, it's sometimes possible to get 2 Yacht Club Deluxe Balcony staterooms for the price of 1 Haven stateroom. 😉
1 hour ago, Nashna said: We are at the point in our lives where we don't wish to stand in lines, get up at 7:00 am to hog a chair by the pool, deal with the wait at guest relations, or arrive an hour before a show to get a seat. We enjoy being served and pampered. The Yacht Club experience starts when you pull up to the pier and step into the YC white tent; you are whisked through the embarkation process and brought to a lovely lounge waiting area where you can sip champagne while waiting for the ship to clear. YC passengers are the first to board. A butler will escort you on the ship, show you around, and introduce you to the concierge. The concierge was available to help you with any reservations or issues you might have...you no longer need to go to guest relations. Our butler and his assistant were there to make sure everything was perfect. If our butler was unavailable, one was always ready to assist. We were pampered when entering the YC to the end of our cruise when our butler escorted us off the ship.
Fully understand your position!
Now for the other side of the coin.
We are Seniors.
We liked to join in with the rest of the crowd to meet people from around the world on each cruise.
We don't mind waiting our turn.
We don't put towels on chairs to become a chair hog at any time.
We don't arrive an hour early for a show and never have.
We don't need a butler to unpack or escort us as we capable of doing so on our own.
We try to be self sufficient.
We would rather cruise more times than just the cost of 1 YC cruise.
We find the staff very friendly to all and even know us by name and our drink after the first couple of days.
I guess each person has:
'Different strokes for different folks.'
Enjoy your cruise regardless of category! Happy Cruising!
30 minutes ago, Oxo said: Fully understand your position! Now for the other side of the coin. We are Seniors. We liked to join in with the rest of the crowd to meet people from around the world on each cruise. We don't mind waiting our turn. We don't put towels on chairs to become a chair hog at any time. We don't arrive an hour early for a show and never have. We don't need a butler to unpack or escort us as we capable of doing so on our own. We try to be self sufficient. We would rather cruise more times than just the cost of 1 YC cruise. We find the staff very friendly to all and even know us by name and our drink after the first couple of days. I guess each person has: 'Different strokes for different folks.' Enjoy your cruise regardless of category! Happy Cruising!
^^^ THAT ^^^
48 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said: With the way that NCL is pricing Prima/Viva Haven, it's sometimes possible to get 2 Yacht Club Deluxe Balcony staterooms for the price of 1 Haven stateroom. 😉
Oh I know it! The Haven pricing is absurd.
The advantage of their family and villa staterooms is that there's a common living space that serves as a private enclave. Great for family get-togethers. If not so prohibitively expensive, we would have strongly considered even their 3-bedroom option for a multi-generational / family-reunion type of cruise.
MsTabbyKats
40 minutes ago, Oxo said: Fully understand your position! Now for the other side of the coin. We are Seniors. We liked to join in with the rest of the crowd to meet people from around the world on each cruise. We don't mind waiting our turn. We don't put towels on chairs to become a chair hog at any time. We don't arrive an hour early for a show and never have. We don't need a butler to unpack or escort us as we capable of doing so on our own. We try to be self sufficient. We would rather cruise more times than just the cost of 1 YC cruise. We find the staff very friendly to all and even know us by name and our drink after the first couple of days. I guess each person has: 'Different strokes for different folks.' Enjoy your cruise regardless of category! Happy Cruising!
This is what my 88 year old husband used to say....until colon cancer hit. Now we're booked in YC and I'm thinking of canceling the NCL Sept (great price for a balcony) cruise just because we deserve/want/can afford to be pampered. Unfortunately.....I think he also needs it.
1 hour ago, peder said: But the cabin configurations in YC are really not conducive for larger families. It seems weird to me that NCL will have maybe 1/2 of their cabins in the Prima/Viva Haven suitable for larger/multigenerational families traveling together, but MSC has effectively zero.
That's a plus in my book.
7 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said: This is what my 88 year old husband used to say....until colon cancer hit. Now we're booked in YC and I'm thinking of canceling the NCL Sept (great price for a balcony) cruise just because we deserve/want/can afford to be pampered. Unfortunately.....I think he also needs it.
Sorry to hear about your DH! We wish you both the Best!! We are in our 80s. I have lost 5 members of my family to various forms of cancer, so do understand your position.
We have over 135 cruises and just would not use the services provided by a butler and other things. Been to the YC for Captains Parties, toured the YC cabins and areas. We do price out YC and cannot justify the cost. JMHO!
As Diamond on MSC we get what we need, crew recognizes us, priority boarding, etc., without the extra costs. We normally do about 10 cruises per year.
Again, we understand your reasoning and were not questioning why. Just do what you think is right and enjoy each cruise as we do!
Best of all!!
5 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said: That's a plus in my book.
It probably just results in families zooming up and down the hallways more rather than staying in their private enclave. I'm still booking multigenerational travel with MSC, but now we'll be spread out all over the YC, even across floors. We'll probably use the Royal and Duplex Suites as hangout spots, but it'll be extra traffic just between cabins that would be avoided if they had proper YC family suites/villas.
2 minutes ago, Oxo said: Sorry to hear about your DH! We wish you both the Best!! We are in our 80s. I have lost 5 members of my family to various forms of cancer, so do understand your position. We have over 135 cruises and just would not use the services provided by a butler and other things. Been to the YC for Captains Parties, toured the YC cabins and areas. We do price out YC and cannot justify the cost. JMHO! As Diamond on MSC we get what we need, crew recognizes us, priority boarding, etc., without the extra costs. We normally do about 10 cruises per year. Again, we understand your reasoning and were not questioning why. Just do what you think is right and enjoy each cruise as we do! Best of all!!
YC interior (it's small but we travel light) for an 8 night cruise was less than an NCL balcony guarantee for 7 nights....same week!
Up until this year my husband used to say "the day he needs a butler would be the day he can't walk". Although he can still walk (with a cane at this point), what sold me wasn't "the butler" but we could avoid lines and waiting. The spa, separate pool, meal on demand, lounge area, pizza delivery (and other food too), drinks (although we are very very light drinkers) are just added bonuses.
If "the April cruise" happens...and I'm impressed....I may go for a larger cabin in YC next time!
13 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said: YC interior (it's small but we travel light) for an 8 night cruise was less than an NCL balcony guarantee for 7 nights....same week! Up until this year my husband used to say "the day he needs a butler would be the day he can't walk". Although he can still walk (with a cane at this point), what sold me wasn't "the butler" but we could avoid lines and waiting. The spa, separate pool, meal on demand, lounge area, pizza delivery (and other food too), drinks (although we are very very light drinkers) are just added bonuses. If "the April cruise" happens...and I'm impressed....I may go for a larger cabin in YC next time!
What ship date in April? We are on the Seascape Apr 16 - 30.
19 minutes ago, Oxo said: What ship date in April? We are on the Seascape Apr 16 - 30.
Meraviglia 4/29.
2 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said: Meraviglia 4/29.
Enjoy! Wish you both well!!
5 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said: Meraviglia 4/29.
love that ship and folks in YC!!
sverigecruiser
3 hours ago, peder said: But the cabin configurations in YC are really not conducive for larger families. It seems weird to me that NCL will have maybe 1/2 of their cabins in the Prima/Viva Haven suitable for larger/multigenerational families traveling together, but MSC has effectively zero.
One more reason to book the Yacht Club instead of the Haven.
bigblue1952
2 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said: YC interior (it's small but we travel light) for an 8 night cruise was less than an NCL balcony guarantee for 7 nights....same week! Up until this year my husband used to say "the day he needs a butler would be the day he can't walk". Although he can still walk (with a cane at this point), what sold me wasn't "the butler" but we could avoid lines and waiting. The spa, separate pool, meal on demand, lounge area, pizza delivery (and other food too), drinks (although we are very very light drinkers) are just added bonuses. If "the April cruise" happens...and I'm impressed....I may go for a larger cabin in YC next time!
I do hope it happens for you in April and I guarantee you will be impressed.
Bottom line, no matter where you cabin is, your still just on a cruise. To me they are all just cheap getaways to crappy islands that you've seen a million times. There is nothing in the Caribbean worth visiting. I'm bald and I still get asked to have my hair braided. It is just a easy cheap way to get some warmth in the winter. Save your money and take a real vacation to Hawaii or Europe. I've done both Haven and Yacht club and they were marginal at best better than a basic balcony room. Too many wannabees that think they are a higher class than the rest of the ship. Never again.
16 hours ago, peder said: But we also had a rare 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite, which was perfect for our family and unmatched in the Yacht Club experience level.
@peder Do all MSC ships have the 2-bed/2-bath suites? How can I find these?
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