HAL loyalist - First Timer on MSC

[kelleherdl]

My first post on my first MSC cruise. We embarked yesterday on the MSC Seaside for a seven day Eastern Caribbean out of Miami. We have a Yacht Club Deluxe Suite. So most of these posts will reflect that ship-within-a-ship product. Embarkation was a dream. YC guests have a separate bag drop and initial check-in. From then forward everything is escorted and facilitated by a butler via a totally separate check-in hall. Everything is front of the line. So if you are uncomfortable being treated preferentially MSC YC is not for you.

 

The butler escorted us onboard and introduced us to the Concierge desk. Everything for the YC is behind keyed doors on decks 16, 18, and 19 full forward. Our key card are supplemented with RFID wristbands that are fully functional. Think Disney Magic Bands when you stay on property.

 

The YC-1 Deluxe Suite is very nice. It has a somewhat square design which gives moving around easier than a balcony cabin on most lines. The Seaside is a brand new ship so decor is very modern. Think Koningsdam. We found storage in the two closets to be very spacious. Luggage storage under the bed is similar to HAL.

 

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[DaveOKC]

We are thinking of exactly the same MSC YC out of Miami, so please provide as many details as you can on the experience.

 

I am also interested in how a "normal" MSC experience would be instead of the YC (some in our group just want to do the "normal" section.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Can't wait to hear more about the ship and your cruise.

Hope you will post pictures of your cabin.

[rkacruiser]

Most surely looking for more information from your experience! It has been recommended that if I sail on MSC, Yacht Club is what I ought to book in order to be pleased with my MSC experience.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for sharing the info

 

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[*Miss G*]

Thanks for posting! Looking forward to hearing of your continued impressions. :)

[Joken35]

We sailed on the Seaside in April. WE had the Auera experience not YC and it was wonderful. food; Staff; entertainment was great . Sailed on the Divina in Oct enjoyed it so much we booked the Seaside . Can't beat the price and they do not nickel and dime you!

[RJ2002]

Looking forward to following these comments on MSC's YC. Thanks for taking the time to share.

[Overtime4me2]

Following. Would love to see pics of you can. Enjoy!!

 

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[kelleherdl]

Post 2

 

The bathrooms are single vanity, with a really nice rain shower. The balcony is nicely oversized as well. Deep with two chairs and ottoman. The bed unfortunately is while comfortable on both sides has the typical feel of European middle crack. [emoji57]

 

The YC Area is over 3 decks. We are on 16, which has the Concierge area and the Topsail Lounge. Think luxuriously appointed Crows Nest with totally open bar except for top-of-the-top shelf. It has to be like 25 year scotch to be an added charge. YC guests have access to all bars and restaurants and entertainment throughout the ship.

 

The reception in the YC is outstanding. Clearly MSC is putting their best staff on the US market entry. The YC has dedicated staff from YC Director to restaurant manager to bar staff to waiters. Think Pinnacle Grill staff from butler to bartenders to kitchen to pool staff. It is a complete ship-within-a-ship. The Italian officers are personable and very animated.

 

First sea day included a noon reception with the complete senior officer staff in attendance. Personal greeting with each guest with Captain and Hotel Director.

 

Since folks seem interested I will post more. We did venture out so I will post next about the full ship experience.

 

Dennis

 

 

 

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[DaveOKC]

Please post more - we are very interested!

 

Question - I know this may be hard to answer - if one couple is in a YC and the other is in the main section of the ship, how much of an issue will this be? I know we will not be able to dine together in the YC, so this is a bit of an issue. Any other issues we should be aware of?

[colonialinnkeeper]

Interesting thread. Have not experienced "ship within a ship" so hard to comment; however, staffing is interesting. Reading all the comments about numbers of staff for YC guests, I wonder how it affects the rest of the ship. Comparing HAL Koningsdam (which is their largest ship) to MSC Seaside, it appears that HAL staff is about 1:2.5 guests whereas MSC is about 1:4 guests.

[George C]

I am just waiting for my loyality match before I book my msc yacht club cruise.

[DaveOKC]

I am just waiting for my loyality match before I book my msc yacht club cruise.

 

Got mine Friday - took about a week.

 

4 Star = Black

 

If you are in the YC, the perks of Black overlap a lot of YC perks (like VIP boarding).

[LadyVol1]

I am just waiting for my loyality match before I book my msc yacht club cruise.

 

 

You’ll still get your perks even if you get your status match after booking. The same goes with the military discount. I didn’t find out about it until we were booked. Emailing the DD214 allowed my TA to easily get the discount applied after booking (but before final payment was due).

 

I’ve been reading ALL the CC posts about Seaside since it launched in December. I’m 5-Star with HAL and have the Yacht Club booked in November for 14 days. I’m more excited about it than the other 4 cruises I have booked which total ~150 days. I can’t wait to enjoy the serenity and pampering of the YC plus the benefits of a large ship (Venchi chocolate restaurant with free gelato and coffee drinks [one of which comes with 3 pieces of Venchi chocolate], entertainment, bars, zip line, water slides, wonderful free spa for YC guests with saunas, snow room, therapy pool, various shower rooms, dark and light rooms (??), etc.)!

 

Here’s the Yacht Club link.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Discover-MSC/MSC-Yacht-Club.aspx

 

Here’s a matrix explaining the Experiences that can be booked for non-Yacht Club fares:

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/compare-experiences.aspx

Edited July 9, 2018 by LadyVol1

[LadyVol1]

Question - I know this may be hard to answer - if one couple is in a YC and the other is in the main section of the ship, how much of an issue will this be? I know we will not be able to dine together in the YC, so this is a bit of an issue. Any other issues we should be aware of?

 

I’ve read (but haven’t been on MSC Seaside Yacht Club yet) that they will not be allowed in the YC areas. The YC areas are locked except for YC passengers and concierges have photos of the YC passengers. Since all beverages are free in the YC I’m guessing that’s one reason they don’t want non-YC pax in there. It sounds like the Neptune Lounge (but with free alcohol and tons bigger and nicer). I haven’t been allowed to bring in non-Neptune Suites passengers on prior HAL cruises other than for a tour and I’ve asked the Neptune Lounge concierges.

 

All of this being said, hopefully kelleherdl/Dennis will ask and get the real answer!

[George C]

You’ll still get your perks even if you get your status match after booking. The same goes with the military discount. I didn’t find out about it until we were booked. Emailing the DD214 allowed my TA to easily get the discount applied after booking (but before final payment was due).

 

I’ve been reading ALL the CC posts about Seaside since it launched in December. I’m 5-Star with HAL and have the Yacht Club booked in November for 14 days. I’m more excited about it than the other 4 cruises I have booked which total ~150 days. I can’t wait to enjoy the serenity and pampering of the YC plus the benefits of a large ship (Venchi chocolate restaurant with free gelato and coffee drinks [one of which comes with 3 pieces of Venchi chocolate], entertainment, bars, zip line, water slides, wonderful free spa for YC guests with saunas, snow room, therapy pool, various shower rooms, dark and light rooms (??), etc.)!

 

Here’s the Yacht Club link.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Discover-MSC/MSC-Yacht-Club.aspx

 

Here’s a matrix explaining the Experiences that can be booked for non-Yacht Club fares:

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/compare-experiences.aspx

 

Did not know about dd214, recently got discount on a charter cruise with that

[bEwAbG]

MSC is a newish product and they're making a big push in the North American market. Makes sense that posters on a cruise forum would post about their experiences. I've seen more bad comments than good. At the end of the day, word-of-mouth from people I know means the most, and I have a coworker who just returned from MSC saying "never again" because he thought the food was terrible versus his previous RC and Princess cruises. He wasn't in the suite section, though.

[RJ2002]

kelleherdl, yes, please continue to post your impressions. Enjoying your reports.

[whogo]

The other thing that cemented that rather negative first impression was the incredibly loud music coming from the ship.

Loud music everywhere, every public room, every outside deck, was the comment about an MSC sister ship on a TV show I watched. The reporter was not sailing in Yacht Club.

 

 

Enjoying your thread, kelleherdl. Thanks for posting. I would like to hear your thoughts on the music or noise level.

[*Miss G*]

We've cruised on both non-SWS and SWS.

I rate overall cruising experience as 5* on the Nieuw Amsterdam (that is a ship-within-a-ship itself) and 4*+ for MSC YC.

The key feature is the TopSail Lounge - a luxury feature that was missing in NCL Haven until the Bliss.

We are looking at MSC YC next year instead of the Nieuw Statendam as Nieuw Amsterdam will not be available.

Your other question: yes, it seriously limits the experience for other passengers.

See Clarification of Suite Perks vs Class Division on Cruise Ships

The Nieuw Amsterdam is definitely not what I would call “a ship-within-a-ship”.

[VennDiagram]

kelleherdl, thanks for taking the time to do this. I'm enjoying your reports (y)

[Aquahound]

kelleherdl, yes, please continue to post your impressions. Enjoying your reports.

 

I'll echo this statement. I'm also interested. I always had a bad impression of MSC in the Mediterranean, but some friends of mine who sailed them here in the US on Divina and Seaside loved it. They normally sail Princess and they thought MSC was a step up.

[sidari]

MSC is not newish to the USA, they have been there since 2006, having seen the YC cabins and stayed in an Aft Aurea Condo Suite, the Aft Suites are much better.

[kelleherdl]

Ok. Let's limit this one to the question of YC vice rest of ship, including the lesser 'experience' levels like Aurea. I would not personally sail MSC unless it's in the YC. We only sail Neptune Suite on HAL. That is why we are on this cruise, to experience the true original ship-within-a-ship. I like it so much I now have 3 future bookings. Two Caribbean and 1 We stern Med. all YC. Leaving the YC you are definitely in a large mass market ship. Since this is our first MSC I can't comment on other than the Seaside. Last night was the first elegant night. The main ship areas felt very crowded.

 

Think, you live in Manhattan and in a private condo building and are going to a show. You have to deal with the city to get there, but it's still hustle and bustle. At the end of the evening you are happy to have the secure door open for you.

 

Speaking of elegant night. The YC Director did mention to me that they are having a difficult time in the US market keeping the more European guidelines on dress. In our YC orientation it was even emphasized that elegant for gentlemen means tuxedo or dark suit. Well let's just say my wife and I were the best dressed passengers on the ship. :-)

 

 

I have no idea about staffing ratios, but service level in the YC is over the top. Rest of ship did look harried in the bars and buffet.

 

Non YC guests are not permitted in YC. It is card access only.

 

Next post will be on value proposition.

 

Dennis

 

 

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