nursebob

We LOVE being 'paraded around' by our butler! It became quite funny as we were travelling on our first Divina cruise in the YC with my 6 month old at the time and every time we tried to leave the YC, our butler would rush out and insist on escorting us wherever we might be going. It was almost like he was lying in wait for us! We loved him SOOOO much! Now that we've done 6 cruises in the YC on Divina, it still hasn't lost its allure. We just love the escort! And they still spoil my now 3 year old rotten!!!

Does or will the Butler escort you to the theater?

I think you had Nelson on that cruise. He was taking care of the other Penthouse on the Century in late October 2014 on a New Caledonia, Vanuatu cruise when I had Santosso as my butler on the port side Penthouse. Celebrity has since sold the Century.

Thats his name thank you he was great.

If you have free time to spare and want to stay at airport hotel to save cost, catch the free hotel shuttle to MIA and take the public transport DT or S Beach and then back. Did that. Easy and affordable. DT Miami also has its own free shuttle bus to get you around.

Has anyone stayed at the Downtown Hilton, were are Hilton members is it close to Bayside? They are totally remodeling the hotel which will be done by the end of the year.

The YC butlers are worth their weight in gold. Not only do they do everything you want, but they're probably among the hardest working staff on the ship.

Regarding suite size, I think the YC1 deluxe suites are fine for two persons, even on long cruises. They have all the space we've ever needed.

I agree about the Butlers we have the Royal suite on both up and coming cruise I think that will be fine for the two of us.

We tried really hard to get a Y2 or Y3 when we aren't flexible on the date of departure. We are coming from the larger NCL suites to MSC and the cabin size worries me. However, on NCL the food quality was going down (even specialty restaurants) and the price of the drinks were going up that we started look elsewhere. If the private lounges are great, I think the cabin size will be fine.

 

As for the butlers, we use our butler a lot. I have no concerns if they unpack us. They see my clothes when cleaning the cabin anyway. I figure we are paying to have a butler, why wouldn't I use their services. And they have made our vacations so much more relaxing and fun. I love having a butler. We really missed one on the HAL trip we did over the summer.

I agree with you totally, we also utilize our Butler that's why we travel we will pay the extra cost. We are on vacation, I don't want to lift a finger I like being catered to. We are lucky because we are retired and have great flexibility so we get what we want.

I hope you realize that the Celebrity M Class Penthouse Suite balcony alone is 3-4 times the sizes of the so-called Royal Suites (both indoor and outdoor space included) on the MSC ships. The latter doesn't have a pantry, doesn't have a powder room (much less a full-sized 2nd bathroom), doesn't have a baby grand piano......

 

Even the S class Penthouse suites, with the smaller balcony than the counterparts in the M class, are still several times the sizes of the MSC Royal Suites.

 

I heard so much hype about the Yacht Club until I took a cursory glance at the dimensions and specs. For those of us accustomed to the spaciousness of the M class Penthouse suites on Celebrity and the Garden Villas on NCL ships (or even the smaller Wintergarden suites on Seabourn ships), it's staggering to imagine one can downsize this much and still be happy.

We did book two cruises on MSC and we have the Royal Suite for both, I know that the Divina is not large but we booked on the Seaside Royal Suite that will be much better. You are right I would never book less than the Royal on MSC.

As of April 2015, all Penthouses and Royal Suites in Celebrity ships come with unlimited premium beverage and unlimited specialty restaurant packages. (They actually started offering us the aforesaid amenities in August 2014 during our stay in PH 6148 on the Millennium and thereafter). They have also introduced Luminae, a highly regarded private restaurant for suite guests. However, it's true that they still don't have a pool, a private gated entry and other lounge areas (besides the Michael's Club) reserved for suite guests.

Thats good to know our last cruise with them was either 2012 or 2013 I am glad they finally did something like that. I wish I could remember our Butlers name we were also on the Millennium he was really a great Butler.

I hope you realize that the Celebrity M Class Penthouse Suite balcony alone is 3-4 times the sizes of the so-called Royal Suites (both indoor and outdoor space included) on the MSC ships. The latter doesn't have a pantry, doesn't have a powder room (much less a full-sized 2nd bathroom), doesn't have a baby grand piano......

 

Even the S class Penthouse suites, with the smaller balcony than the counterparts in the M class, are still several times the sizes of the MSC Royal Suites.

 

I heard so much hype about the Yacht Club until I took a cursory glance at the dimensions and specs. For those of us accustomed to the spaciousness of the M class Penthouse suites on Celebrity and the Garden Villas on NCL ships (or even the smaller Wintergarden suites on Seabourn ships), it's staggering to imagine one can downsize this much and still be happy.

We have heard so many good reviews of the Yacht Club we decided to try it, we realize that the suite is not as large as the penthouse but willing to give it a try. The penthouse doesn't include any drink packages, private dining, if you choose to leave the penthouse, private pool etc. We like the idea of these services offered by MSC. so we will give it a try and see.

The ONLY things in walking distance were 2 fast food restaurants. It was a $30. cab ride to the nearest nice mall.

Last year we stayed at a Courtyard by Marriott downtown. We are staying there again this year. Walking distance to Bayside shops & restaurants.

Thanks for the information

Is it better to stay at a hotel by the airport or downtown Miami, is there anything to do by the airport within walking distance like there is downtown. I am looking at the Hilton Airport or the Downtown Hilton. Thank you Bob

The butler will bring to your cabin a tray of the goodies from the Top Sail Lounge buffet, whether it be pastries, chocolates, sandwiches, fruit or sweet items. Other than these, there's free room service food ordered from the menu that is in the cabin.

Does anyone by chance have a copy of the room service menu for the Yacht Club?

Do you tip them every time they bring you something, do something for you?

We have always waited until the end of the cruise to tip everyone who has provided service to us.

So.... What is it like to have a butler? What do they do? Do they really unpack your suitcase? Will they bring you a glass of wine to your cabin?

When we were on Celebrity Cruise in the penthouse our Butler served us breakfast, and dinner in our suite we had a dining table that seat 8 he would serve us each course individual. He made sure all of our needs were met and predicted our needs we had coffee delivered to the butlers pantry every morning at 6am then breakfast at 7:30. Our first cruise on MSC will be in January of 2017, not sure what to expect but was informed by the agent at MSC they will do anything possible to make sure our needs are met.

MSC Yacht Club was originally touted as an exclusive "Ship Within a Ship", with access to this exclusive area of the ship, and its amenities available to only those cruisers wishing exclusivity and willing to pay for having a butler and other benefits. We did a cruise on the Splendida and enjoyed availing ourselves of this level of service. Well, we recently booked the Yacht Club on the Divina and only through due diligence discovered that the cabin they booked us on as a Yacht Club cabin was not located within the confines of the exclusive area. Cabins within the actual Yacht Club are located on decks 15 & 16. MSC has added 3 cabins located on deck 12 (12001, 12002, & 12004) as Yacht Club cabins. They are in fact 3 decks below the Yacht Club, do not have key controlled access to the area of the ship where these cabins are located, require the people booking these cabins to travel a distance through the hallways to the elevators leading to the actual Yacht Club. The booking agent at MSC failed to reveal these facts at the time of the booking, and when another MSC agent was confronted with the situation was quite snippy and generally exuded an attitude of so what. I am certainly glad that I did the due diligence and didn't arrive at boarding to have been extremely disappointed. Any experienced cruiser knows full well that voicing displeasure on sailing date might get you 4 chocolate covered strawberries.

I believe in the brochure that it states that the Yacht Club is on decks 15 and 16 so at that point I would have questioned the 3 cabins on deck 12 before I booked. Just saying

I don't know about MSC, but most cruise lines will open March or April of this year for 2017.

We have booked on the Divina for January 2017

Hi Bob,

 

We are also booked on the January 13 sailing in a YC1. Looking forward to trying MSC for the first time.

 

Johan

my partner and I are also booked of the 13th of January in the Royal Suite can't wait.

We are looking at booking the Seaside for May 2018. We are still new to cruising and not "loyal" to any one cruise line. My first cruise was on Carnival in 2003, then I did not sail again until 2014 with my wife on royal caribbean, Enchantment of the Seas. We sailed the NCL Getaway this past October and loved it and are currently booked for our next cruise on the Harmony of the seas in April 2017.

One of the things that I have enjoyed about cruising is experiencing what different cruise lines have to offer. And with the price being offered for the Seaside I think it might be fun to try. Now I have read reviews of the Davina and know that it may be different than what we have sailed in the past.

Should I pull the trigger and book?

We just booked our first cruise on MSC about a month ago, we also have sailed other cruise lines. I saw their commercial on TV and was impressed with the Yacht Club, we have been in the Haven on NCL it was ok but not impressive. So we did pull the trigger and very curious to see if the Yacht Club is everything they say it is. Good luck with your decision. In fact we have two cruises book in the Yacht Club 2017 and then on the Seaside 2018.

good day;

 

spent 3 weeks in the royal suite on the Divina - the balcony is nice when the ship is not in motion, but hard to open the door when under sail due to the wind....

 

the room is fantastic and this is what we liked the best - did not use the balcony that much - it is quite narrow and the majority of the balcony is kind of useless - just outside the balcony door is the most usable.....

 

hope this helps, u will love the suite - no doubt about that but u will be disappointed with the balcony, imo....

 

booked the new seaside in royal suite and the balcony seems 1000% better on this ship...i am sure they learn from mistakes...

Thanks for the information greatly appreciate, we also booked on the Seaside Royal Suite in January 13, 2018 can't wait.

When in January? We will be on the January 6th cruise in a Royal Suite.

January 19th 2017

We are sailing on the divina in January 2017.

Which ship? We sailed on the MSC Preziosa Cabin 16008 and they called this the Royal Suite.

We will be sailing on the Divina in January 2017.

What has anyone experienced with the balcony in the Royal Suite? I realize there maybe the wind, but is the balcony useable?

My partner and I also booked a deluxe suite in the YC for the same date (1-13-18). We typically sail NCL, but looking forward to a new ship and a new experience.

 

BTW - cool name.

We have been in the Haven on NCL wasn't that nice, we have been in the Penthouse on Celebrity that was great. Can't wait to compare the Yacht Club with the other suite we have been in.

my guess they take what left over after big boys in Caribbean :confused:

I really wish MSC start going to Alaska ,Hawaii or Panama Canal ....

I agree Alaska would be wonderful

Booked Seaside for Jan 20 2018 Royal Suite through TA. Had it marked on my calendar for awhile to call on Dec. 19th. Looking forward to the dining room on the front of the ship and looks like specialty restaurants will be on the same floor.

We will be on the Divina 1/11/16 and looking forward to that also, of course!

My partner and I have booked the Royal Suite on the Divina for 1-18-17 and then booked to Royal Suite on the Seaside for 1-13-18 can't wait. Any one else book on those dates?