Photos from Yacht Club

[Mikesa1721]

Hi Mike

All I know is that the rep at the Clubcard Point told me it wasn't possible to book onboard. I've only sailed on Med cruises up 'til now so don't know about the Divina out your way.

I've purchased the future credit voucher and am getting €400 OBC for my September next booking as it's on the "Early Booking" price.

I read your post about how you managed to avail of the OBC!! MSC are much stricter at enforcing the T&C's in Europe :mad: You're very lucky in the US - you're getting a lot more sweeteners than on this side of the pond.

 

In order for us to receive our $400.00 OBC we had to cancel our original booking and then rebook the same sailing once again under the "Early Booking" like you have Bea. I will say,,,after the experience packages were released here in the states,,I've been keeping an eye on the pricing of the TA we are booked on next October. When we booked,,the price was $2550.00 pp for a YC1 category. I just looked on Friday and saw the price is now $4150.00 pp. An increase of $1600.00!!! I'm hoping the increase is just due to supply and demand and not the beginning of a trend. :eek:

Edited October 6, 2014 by Mikesa1721

[Beamafar]

In order for us to receive our $400.00 OBC we had to cancel our original booking and then rebook the same sailing once again under the "Early Booking" like you have Bea. I will say,,,after the experience packages were released here in the states,,I've been keeping an eye on the pricing of the TA we are booked on next October. When we booked,,the price was $2550.00 pp for a YC1 category. I just looked on Friday and saw the price is now $4150.00 pp. An increase of $1600.00!!! I'm hoping the increase is just due to supply and demand and not the beginning of a trend. :eek:

 

No, that happens all the time with MSC. My Aug sailing price was on offer up 'til the end of February. It then went up in price - we ended up saving almost €2000 by booking when we did! The same has just happened with my upcoming March TA - it's been on offer since it was released back in April. It has gone up in price in the last couple of weeks. We're paying €1800 for a balcony cabin (YC on that sailing is not being sold in Ireland :mad:) It would now cost us €3094 so we've saved €1294 thank you very much :D

[Mikesa1721]

No, that happens all the time with MSC. My Aug sailing price was on offer up 'til the end of February. It then went up in price - we ended up saving almost €2000 by booking when we did! The same has just happened with my upcoming March TA - it's been on offer since it was released back in April. It has gone up in price in the last couple of weeks. We're paying €1800 for a balcony cabin (YC on that sailing is not being sold in Ireland :mad:) It would now cost us €3094 so we've saved €1294 thank you very much :D

 

We're looking to do a Med cruise in the summer of 2016 so I'm keeping my eye on the MSC USA site. We want to see Venice and since my girlfriend is half Greek,,of course the Greek Isles have to be included in that itinerary as well. Booking early definitely seems to have it's price advantages!!

[Beamafar]

We're looking to do a Med cruise in the summer of 2016 so I'm keeping my eye on the MSC USA site. We want to see Venice and since my girlfriend is half Greek,,of course the Greek Isles have to be included in that itinerary as well. Booking early definitely seems to have it's price advantages!!

 

Keep in mind that the big ships won't be allowed in the Grand Canal so you may want to consider one of the smaller ones. Downside is NO YACHT CLUB:eek:

 

Early booking isn't always the way to go. I've just picked up an amazing deal on an 11 nighter to the Canaries on Dec 4th €360pp (€400 before 10% discount). With flights of €109pp I couldn't resist it :D

[jessabella]

Thabks for the info. Ok i will ask sorry the vouchers then. But what is considered in the early booking brackets? We are looking to sale next may or june.

[Beamafar]

Thabks for the info. Ok i will ask sorry the vouchers then. But what is considered in the early booking brackets? We are looking to sale next may or june.

 

Early booking rates tend to be for bookings at least 8 months out from sailing dates. You'll need to have purchased the voucher beforehand - it cannot be added later to a booking. MSC will request the actual voucher at time of booking. You need to check the website and select the particular cruise you're interested in. Then you need to see what pricings are being offered on that particular cruise.

[Mikesa1721]

Keep in mind that the big ships won't be allowed in the Grand Canal so you may want to consider one of the smaller ones. Downside is NO YACHT CLUB:eek:

 

Early booking isn't always the way to go. I've just picked up an amazing deal on an 11 nighter to the Canaries on Dec 4th €360pp (€400 before 10% discount). With flights of €109pp I couldn't resist it :D

 

This is where I may need some help Bea. Yacht Club is not a deal breaker for us. We would love to sail on one of the Musica class ships just for a different experience. A b2b perhaps on a Fantasia and Musica class ship??? Sooooo many options!!!

[Beamafar]

This is where I may need some help Bea. Yacht Club is not a deal breaker for us. We would love to sail on one of the Musica class ships just for a different experience. A b2b perhaps on a Fantasia and Musica class ship??? Sooooo many options!!!

 

First World problems, Mike :rolleyes:

 

Bytheway, avoid school holidays like the plague! Late May could be a nice time to sail the Med - especially if you're considering embarking in Venice. Cruises from there often take in Istanbul which is hell to visit at the height of the season. I've been there in both May and early September this year. We visited the Blue Mosque with no problems in May. We heard from fellow passengers on the Sept sailing that the Blue Mosque was a nightmare!

Edited October 6, 2014 by Beamafar

[CruiseIreland]

Wow Bea, you are brave, sailing to the Canaries in December!! Please report back and tell us how you get on. Apologies for the hijack! Ken

[Beamafar]

Wow Bea, you are brave, sailing to the Canaries in December!! Please report back and tell us how you get on. Apologies for the hijack! Ken

 

I've done it before in November -we had some pretty rough seas for a couple of days but, hey, it'll give me a taster for the TA in March hehe.

 

Don't fancy coming with us, Ken? From €489 (including your 5% discount) for flights & Fantastica Balcony :D

[Mikesa1721]

First World problems, Mike :rolleyes:

 

Bytheway, avoid school holidays like the plague! Late May could be a nice time to sail the Med - especially if you're considering embarking in Venice. Cruises from there often take in Istanbul which is hell to visit at the height of the season. I've been there in both May and early September this year. We visited the Blue Mosque with no problems in May. We heard from fellow passengers on the Sept sailing that the Blue Mosque was a nightmare!

 

Great info Bea!!! Thanks so much!!! We are pretty flexible so late May would work for us. Just have to wait for the itineraries to be released on the US site.:)

[Beamafar]

Great info Bea!!! Thanks so much!!! We are pretty flexible so late May would work for us. Just have to wait for the itineraries to be released on the US site.:)

 

Mike, I've just checked out Cruisetimetables.com and had a look at the sailings from Venice for May 2016 - nothing showing for MSC from there. Only 2 showing at the moment - Silversea and Azamara.

[Mikesa1721]

Mike, I've just checked out Cruisetimetables.com and had a look at the sailings from Venice for May 2016 - nothing showing for MSC from there. Only 2 showing at the moment - Silversea and Azamara.

 

I did some checking on the ports of call for our TA next October on http://ports.cruisett.com. They don't show the Divina in any of the ports on the dates we are to arrive so I'm guessing they haven't updated their site yet???

[Beamafar]

I did some checking on the ports of call for our TA next October on http://ports.cruisett.com. They don't show the Divina in any of the ports on the dates we are to arrive so I'm guessing they haven't updated their site yet???

 

There are very few added for 2016 so I reckon you're right. It's probably too early. I was just about to edit my post to add this but you're ahead of me :p

[CruiseIreland]

I've done it before in November -we had some pretty rough seas for a couple of days but, hey, it'll give me a taster for the TA in March hehe.

 

Don't fancy coming with us, Ken? From €489 (including your 5% discount) for flights & Fantastica Balcony :D

Ulp! I'm stupid enough to sign up but there is NO WAY the boss would get on a ship in (a) December and (b) in the Atlantic! Great price though! Do report back!

[Beamafar]

Ulp! I'm stupid enough to sign up but there is NO WAY the boss would get on a ship in (a) December and (b) in the Atlantic! Great price though! Do report back!

 

You callin' me stoopid (in my best Mafia accent) :D

[I&J Cruisers]

Great pix. Looks like there isn't much shaded area in the pool area. Is that the case.

 

 

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[Janet&Carl]

Oh, that's wonderful. I thank you, but my bank manager won't.

 

I imagine that the single supplement on the Yacht Club must be pretty horrendous...

 

As far as I know there is no discount for single - you have to pay for 2 per cabin. We recently had the offer of upgrade to YC if you bought a S3 suite. We are already in a suite so was going to try for it. Unfortunately, my mother could not get a cabin upgrade with single supplement so it made it too expensive for her.

[Willow1686]

As far as I know there is no discount for single - you have to pay for 2 per cabin. We recently had the offer of upgrade to YC if you bought a S3 suite. We are already in a suite so was going to try for it. Unfortunately, my mother could not get a cabin upgrade with single supplement so it made it too expensive for her.

 

Janet and Carl

 

MSC wouldn't let me book a Yacht Club cabin at any price for a cruise in the Mediterranean; they had made a policy decision not to allow solos in the Yacht Club.

 

They have apparently changed their minds on this but I was pretty miffed with them :D I ended up doing the last leg of a Fred Olsen world cruise instead of a MSC repo, had a back to back on the Aegean Odyssey with Voyages to Antiquity, and have just come back from a week on the Star Flyer out of Monaco visiting Les Voiles de St Tropez.

 

The Star Flyer is a real yacht - maximum 170 passengers - and I was utterly hooked on the tall ship experience, so my bank manager is still suffering. I do hope you all have a wonderful cruise, even if you're not in the Yacht Club!

[CruiseIreland]

You callin' me stoopid (in my best Mafia accent) :D

 

:D:D:D...nah! But I would be to go on a rollercoaster cruise with my 'mal de mer' ishness!!:confused:

[Beamafar]

:D:D:D...nah! But I would be to go on a rollercoaster cruise with my 'mal de mer' ishness!!:confused:

 

Oh, ye of little faith..........The best fun I've had was trying to hold on desperately to my stool in the Casino as we rode the waves :cool: .......and, as for managing not to roll out of the bed LOL

[Iluvcruising2]

Great pics! Thanks so much for sharing.

 

We're booked on the MSC Preziosa Yacht Club for end 2015! So excited!

[jessabella]

It's fantastic iluvcrusing2....you will love it

[plucasana]

those are really great pics, thank you norwegian cruiser 73.

 

@iluvcruising may we hope for another great blog-review then?

[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

almost time for my cruise..and hubby still has no idea...but Ive come back to this post because now nowegian cruiser Im calling on you for tips on our next cruise....Im thinking to book while we are on board for savings...and guess what ..we are wanting a fjords cruise..or something in that area ..interest..ect..moment sure what MSC has for offer on that..but something about fjords or northern lights excite me...what are your tips?

 

Jessabella, have you decided for your next cruise? My tip is to book the MSC Splendida out of Hamburg. She sails lovely itineraries the coming summer. 11 and 14 night cruises to the Norwegian Fjords and Spitzbergen. Imagine the midnight sun and the lovely fjords seen from this beautiful ship :)

 

@ plucsana, thank you very much :)

Edited January 18, 2015 by Norwegian Cruiser 73