Royal Diamon tries MSC Yacht Club on MSC Preziosa and loved it

[Iluvcruising2]

I have enjoyed reading your review. Thank you again for providing links in gapearl's Royal Caribbean review for your reviews of the Celebrity Silhouette & the Norwegian Jade. I have read those reviews as well. The research process has been started to figure out which cruise line I would like to try other than Carnival. I love Carnival & I have had nothing but positive experiences with them but would like to try a different cruise line at least once. Again, thank you for your information.

 

Thanks for your note and for following along my review. Glad that you have found the reviews useful. Just finished attending Sunday church service here. Hope to find some time to continue this review later today. Stay tuned and have a blessed day.

[Iluvcruising2]

Back on board the MSC Preziosa after a wonderful day in Malta. So we headed back to our cabin to put down our bags before going to get some food and drink. On our bed, we found this invite. Cool. We have a private cocktail party tomorrow in the Top Sail lounge. Sounds like the Captain will be there. Looking forward to that.

 

We were hungry and thirsty, so didn't hang around the cabin for long. We went up to the One Pool area. Towels were out.

 

At the One Pool buffet area, they had sandwiches on request. We didn't get any though.

 

Some of the food available.

 

We sat around at the bar area, and ordered some drinks. This was my Cosmopolitan.

 

Check out this video. The bartender was preparing our drinks. First was the Dirty Banana and then the Sea Breeze Zero and finally the Cosmopolitan. We sure had a lot of fun!

[YOUTUBE]QXW3gNUaN-8[/YOUTUBE]

 

A view of the Valletta waterfront from the One Pool area.

[Iluvcruising2]

In our usual (greedy) style, we went down to the Top Sail lounge after finishing our drinks at the One Pool. More to eat?

 

They have a copy of the dinner menu in the Top Sail. Always fun to check out what was available for dinner.

 

I had some of those veggie sticks, as well as this drink.

 

After that, based on my photos, we went walking around the ship. Some pictures of the casino, which was obviously not open since we were in port.

 

Slot machines.

 

Some table game. I don't gamble, and I don't recognize this table game, though I can read the chinese words. (Big and Small)

 

This video footage was from another evening (earlier), some footage of the casino (ship was sailing so casino was open) as well as the photo area. (where they display all the photos taken by ship photographers). Looking at how the passengers dressed, I think it was gala evening.

[YOUTUBE]6EVgUQTAQk8[/YOUTUBE]

[Iluvcruising2]

We continue exploring the ship. Chocolate coated strawberries for sale! This should be from the Caffeteria Italiana.

 

We did not purchase any shore excursions from the ship for this cruise. However, I took these photos when I walked past the shore excursions desk (which was generally quite crowded). You can see that the prices that MSC charges aren't too bad. In fact, they had packages which made it even more reasonable.

 

Here is another page of the shore excursions list.

 

We must have walked past the main dining room. This was the menu for this evening.

 

A picture of the Solarium pool. Rather busy!

 

Video of a hot tub. It could get rather cosy in there!

[YOUTUBE]1EmtakPhj88[/YOUTUBE]

 

And this is back at Deck 15 Yacht Club area. I made a video of walking into the YC area from Deck 15, into the VIP Concierge.

[YOUTUBE]cuLvn5W60RY[/YOUTUBE]

[Iluvcruising2]

Ah ha, we had afternoon tea in the Top Sail lounge again. This is only served from 5pm to 6pm. One butler making our tea.

 

Having my favourite cucumber sandwich. For some reason, this simple sandwich tasted awesome.

 

With all that eating, I had to keep active and keep moving around, so as to burn off as many calories as I could. So, no rest for me. Let's keep walking around the ship. Hot tubs continue to be very busy.

 

And so I decided to make this video about the lift lobby. What about the lift lobby? Well, we use the stairs a lot (instead of the lift) and I often cannot figure out which floor I am on, as I climb up or go down the stairs because the floor signs were not apparent to me. Watch this video to see why.

[YOUTUBE]JRzZg2IENUY[/YOUTUBE]

[Iluvcruising2]

Alright, the ship was about to sail from Valletta and I decided to go up to the sun deck to watch the sailaway. I think my family went back to the cabin to rest. The views were great. This was the waterfront.

 

A photo of the pier. It looked like they were loading some luggage.

 

Almost dark now. Dusk.

 

This was the Garden Pool, aft of the ship.

 

Outdoor pool.

 

The MSC Preziosa was sailing out!

 

And here are two videos. First is the outdoor pool area, during sailaway.

[YOUTUBE]oPKACDoWelE[/YOUTUBE]

 

And some footage of the scenery as we sailed out. Sorry this video is a bit jerky, but you get the idea.

[YOUTUBE]i3yDpDh3noU[/YOUTUBE]

[Shadow205]

I have really enjoyed your review. Thank you for sharing! I am planning our 40th wedding anniversary cruise and considering trying MSC Divina/Eastern Caribbean at the end of May. You information has been really helpful.

[Iluvcruising2]

I have really enjoyed your review. Thank you for sharing! I am planning our 40th wedding anniversary cruise and considering trying MSC Divina/Eastern Caribbean at the end of May. You information has been really helpful.

 

Thanks for your note and congrats on your 40th wedding anniversary! God bless.

[Iluvcruising2]

It was time for dinner! Tonight, in the Yacht Club restaurant, looks like we will have some Dim Sum assortment.

 

Here is a video I made of the dinner experience that evening.

[YOUTUBE]MKbQGMDkJNo[/YOUTUBE]

 

My House Red and White, as usual.

 

This was the fish of the day. Crusted. And rather dainty.

 

And the dessert. All of us chose the same, cheesecake.

[Iluvcruising2]

Here is the place they prepared the cheese plate. Pretty neat. I had a cheese plate on my first night.

 

After dinner, I went to walk around and spotted some live music in the Italian inspired cafe. Looks like some people were having fun.

[YOUTUBE]ebbzDtxvlBo[/YOUTUBE]

 

Yes, I know I am greedy. Headed to the Top Sail lounge to check out the food and ended up eating some more! Here is the display of food.

 

In this video, I show you the food as well as what I ate, and my drink. Tonight, I asked for a Gin and Tonic.

[YOUTUBE]SzRgZHlWL9s[/YOUTUBE]

 

Another picture of the food.

 

And my food, minus the drink.

 

And that completes our day in Valletta, Malta!

[Delmarmelina]

Thank you for your posts. I am boarding the MSC Divina tomorrow and am really looking forward to the Yacht Club experience.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Iluvcruising2]

Thank you for your posts. I am boarding the MSC Divina tomorrow and am really looking forward to the Yacht Club experience.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Have a great cruise!

[Iluvcruising2]

A video showing you the prices of drinks on board.

 

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[Iluvcruising2]

Today, was a sea day. Yesterday, we were in Malta, and today the ship would be at sea. So we would all take it slow and easy.

 

This is a video of what we had for breakfast, in the Yacht Club restaurant. Plenty of toast and fried eggs!

[YOUTUBE]yP8FLrcorEA[/YOUTUBE]

 

Subsequently, I took a walk around and spotted a bag sale. Later my wife told me that the prices were ok, though she did not buy anything. This video also shows you the Solarium pool. Many people enjoying the hot tub.

[YOUTUBE]3aXh4DgKsmQ[/YOUTUBE]

[Clarea]

Thanks for the review. We are considering MSC and interested in learning about the line.

[Iluvcruising2]

Here was my speciality coffee for the breakfast on the sea day.

 

And plenty of toast for the family.

 

First time we ordered this dish. What was this all about I think we wanted boiled eggs.

 

After breakfast, went for a walk. Here are some pictures of the sun deck.

 

Good number of passengers on deck chairs. You can see that passengers were all dressed up. Nobody was out in swimwear on the deck chair. It was actually rather chilly. The temperature was about 15deg C.

[Iluvcruising2]

It was much warmer in the solarium. That's what the solarium is for.

 

I also watch some table tennis action for a short while.

 

Here is a video of some more table tennis action!

[YOUTUBE]kT6Fa-aHqZ4[/YOUTUBE]

 

Now, here is a more unusual sight. A passenger, dressed up in her ballerina outfit, shoes and all, was posing for photos on the golden staircase of the Yacht Club! Her boyfriend/husband was doing some photoshoot of sorts. Rather innovative, I thought.

 

Here is a video of her poses. She can probably dance ballet very well.

[YOUTUBE]5Djwk_GB3Pk[/YOUTUBE]

[Iluvcruising2]

Just hijacking my own thread on the first day of Lunar New Year. This is the year of the monkey!

 

 

A tradition that the chinese have is to have reunion dinners, before Lunar New Year. I had two, one for each side of the family. Both time we had 'Lou Hei' or the prosperity toss, followed by steamboat dinners. Small, intimate family affairs.

 

Here are two videos of the two dinners.

 

First dinner.

[YOUTUBE]2tv8CEHq4c4[/YOUTUBE]

 

Second dinner

[YOUTUBE]PWBHZ01ypmk[/YOUTUBE]

[Ashling]

The food looks yummy. Wishing you and your family Good luck for the year of the monkey.

[Iluvcruising2]

The food looks yummy. Wishing you and your family Good luck for the year of the monkey.

 

Thank you. Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year in Singapore (also a public holiday). We are preparing to leave shortly for another round of visiting relatives.

[Iluvcruising2]

A quick update for today.

 

Time for lunch! Today was a sea day, so we were on board the ship. We would have our lunch in the Yacht Club restaurant. This is the video I made of our lunch experience. Pictures to follow.

[YOUTUBE]BkdTXALuTC0[/YOUTUBE]

 

This was the House White for lunch. If you watch the video, I also had some of the House red. Ok, I loved to try all these House wines. All good!

 

A small piece of bread on the side. I like the size of the bread - small. Just a bite, not too much. Already, too much to eat on the cruise. If you had a larger appetite, you could take as many pieces as you cared for. No issues at all.

 

These were pieces of scallops. Refreshing starter.

 

Veal Chop. A main course. Kids loved the fries.

 

A nice piece of freshly grilled fish. Felt very healthy eating this. Certainly a good option if you were minimizing calories.

 

Some display which greeted restaurant guests at the door.

[Iluvcruising2]

Sea day, just walk around, enjoy the ship. I pay a visit to the gym and spa area. It was a very pleasant area of the ship.

 

A video I made of the gym and the Spa Bar (just outside the gym). The gym was fairly large and well equipped. Even though this was a sea day, it wasn't crowded. The spa bar outside the gym had many interesting cocktails (based on colour themes) for 4.5Euros. I didn't see many customers at the Spa Bar though.

[YOUTUBE]kqEsv-cUe9M[/YOUTUBE]

 

This art piece caught my attention. It was rather inspirational. I couldn't do this pose, or perhaps if I tried I would break something along the way!

[Iluvcruising2]

This section of the ship is called the MSC Aurea Spa, Rest and Relax. Even though I didn't do any spa activities, it was a calming place just to walk around! The gym is located within the Aurea spa.

 

Yet another art piece striking a pose that looks easy, but in reality, no joke.

 

This is the MSC Preziosa Aurea Spa, and I show you some of the prices of the spa treatments.

[YOUTUBE]DxCrnbXp2tg[/YOUTUBE]

 

Continue to explore, the ship, this must have been one of the bar venues.

 

This is the dinner menu for the Main Dining Room this evening.

 

Second part of the dinner, same evening.

[floridianny]

Your New Year's celebrations look wonderful. Thank you for sharing. Happy New Year to you and your family:)

[jchipgcs]

Can I ask a dumb question? What is "Royal Diamon"?