My experience of Seaside YC

[ashank1m]

 

My Seaside YC review 4/13/19-4/20/19:  There were lots of review that helped me greatly, here I am adding few points that I didn’t see or missed.  First of all, it was a great experience for me and the family. MSC now has 3 new families that will come back for more of YC in the future.  I am a repeat MSC but now, DW & DD wouldn’t go MSC unless it is YC. I now need to quit drinking and smoking to save money and drink one week a year in YC.

 

Check in for YC: As you get to the terminal F, look out for a white tent before the terminal F drop off point.  Once you stop, you will have traffic control/police scream at you to move on. Tell them you are a VIP for VIP location drop off.  He didn’t seem to understand YC and kept yelling at me. You will check in with VIP tent, have your bags drop off there as well. Once MSC staff is ready (remember they are escorting you and other guests to the lounge so if busy you have a short wait.), they will take you to the main door with all other passenger for security check, but move to the left for VIP line.  After security check, Escort will take you to the lounge. You will relax, enjoy snack, drinks until called to check in. After check in when a Butler is ready, they will take you to the YC lounge, by passing all other passengers waiting to board. Upon arriving at YC lounge, Butler asked you to wait until your Butler is ready to take you to the room. So, there was no hand off from ground Butler to ship Butler, understandable as few Butlers are trying to make your stay comfortable as possible.  We sat there until someone came to take us to our room, while downing few onboard drinks and snacks. Once at our room, the Butler told us our Butler is Alex and Wayan an assistant (room stewart). We went in and unpacked and ready to explore the ship.

1. Check the pillow, if you are not happy, ask Butler or Assistant to change your pillow based on the pillow menu.

2. Mini bar: same ask to change the setting per your preference.

3. Few items not in the restaurant menu were avail in Room Service menu, take advantage of that, specially pizza delivery.  You can order pizza like you are at home (Supreme, half pep, etc)

4. Dont forget to go to the concierge area on 16 floor to link your CC to your room card.

5. We were at room 18021, 18023 (inside), 18007.  18007 has moldy smell, although located in front the access to lounge and restaurant is on the Starboard side.

6. In YC, they don’t scan your room card or bracelet for drinks, so yes almost all drinks in YC are included and if you can get one w/o charge in YC you can get one at other bars (they will scan your card/bracelet, sometime just seeing YC bracelet, some just gave me the drinks).  Also, no limit on drinks as I was able to order 4 drinks and they gave without timelimit or question both YC and outside.

7. You don’t need a reservation for YC restaurant, but if you have large party, you do need to make a pre-arrangement as there are very few tables that will seat 8+.

8. Sweet snacks, including Venchi chocolate and candy were avail in YC lounge in the evening.

9. Drinks in YC were higher quality than rest of the ship.  We often had to come back and forth.

10. When going on excursion or just to go out on port day.  Meeting point is at YC lounge, take advantage of that to speed your access.  Come back to ship, there is a separate line that cuts other passengers boarding.

11. Use Butler to take you to the show.  There is two rows of seats at the back mid/right section.  However, if you do head out get there early and seat in the front if available.  We headed out 15 min prior and always found seat on front 2-4 row in mid section.  For YC reservation was not needed. Only show that packed the theatre was last night show.  Star Walker so that you need to head min 20 early to get a decent seat.

12. Cruise Critics MM, Sunday at 10:00 am, Seaview Lounge on deck 8.  There was 120+ signed up but 30 showed. They had CC cake made, snacks, spar wine, and some other drinks avail.  We took a group pic which was sent to my room for free. Please take advantage of this. MSC went out of the way to do this for CC and we need to support so this can continue.

13. Specialty Tasting, on Monday at 10:45 am at deck 16 for Specialty restaurant tour and taste.  Good chance to see the place. Same drinks as other events (spar wine, juice, and one mixed drink)  We tasted veg roll (sushi rice was very good, firm, tangy and sweet), fried rice with teppanyaki demo, Fillet (steak).

14. Two formal nights, Sunday and Thursday.  Thursday is also elegant dinner night. During the lunch, YC grill had small grilled lobster tails, shrimps, and fish kebop.  Dinner, prime rib, rack of lamb, rock lobster (about 10-12 oz). Yes, gravy heaven, there was condiment (horseradish, drawn butter, etc) that came out bit late.  Fillet (steak) was available all the time but they were pre-cooked so bit dry and temp inconsistent. YC grill steak was more consistent.

15. Monday was flower/70’s party, Tuesday Italian night, Wed White party,

16. YC, exclusive and private but small, pool area that also shared space with  YC grill. Near pool was always busy, specially during meal time. There are 4 tables near the grill, front of the pool, more to the side (starboard side is smoking side), but seats were very limited.  Service was very good and Vishunu was very best kept our table with drinks constantly.

17. Surprising, and heard many about YC restaurant service.  Alan, Director of /YC restaurant, was hands on and very helpful, but many servers to be overwhelmed. Starting second night, our new waiter, Alex and Gary was awesome and in my opinion they were the best servers whole ship and last three cruises.  He knew we like to try different food, so he recommended daily specials and brought out several extra dishes so we could try. There are the only ones that made recommendation, asked if we were satisfied, drinks, etc. During other times when we were served by other waiters, it was not acceptable.  Why no one ever asked if I wanted water when there is an empty glass, or drinks when my wine glass was empty, or even coffee?

18. Spa/Therma area was decent (not my thing but tried once), locker was not working most of the time (it uses your card or bracelet to open and close)  It was bit small but adequate. (hot tub there sits 6, 10 therma lounge chairs, each spa (dark sensory, light sensory) seats about 8, Finnish sauna and Mid sauna seat about 8 each, snow room was small for only 2-3.

19. GYM was also small, not all primary exercise machine was  avail, but suspense machine was good touch. Free weight, only one set so…  it did server what I needed to do. Near spin class area was very smelly.

20. Questions about what YC included per gelato, crepe, coffee drinks, etc.  Yes, gelato at all locations, crepes, coffee drinks are included.

21. Activities including Zip line and water slide will required you to sign a waiver.  On 18th floor near aft/ starboard side next to the water slide (tube slide) discharge area there is a table for you to sign a waiver and get a bracelet to ride these.  If you want zip line, this is where you need to pay and get your token (large button) before you head up three floor up to zip line. If you have a play pass, use that to pay for token here.  Zip line was cool looking but not exciting as it had a speed control lock so it crawled to other side. Lets say, 70 year aunt who never did this was not amused or excited after the ride. But a good photo op.  Tube slide (single or double) was cool with light inside the tube other than that a standard tube ride. Other racing slides, short and although it goes over board, tube is too dark to see out so no excitement there either.  Being a good cruiser, I was not locked up in the wooden jail, so no comment on that.

22. Other entertainment/activities were so so.  5D theatre/game, 4 choices of shooting game in a small there where chairs move to simulate motion ($10 for 5 min), Bowling, huge line and I seen people wait and wait and melt away.  I was there on Sunday to play 5D game while waiting, no one was bowling and attendant convince me to play bowl (30 min for $25), he gave us free shoes use. While playing, machine keep reseting and getting stuck in wait mode.  So, for 30 min we played for half of it. Before we could finish, we got booted (since we started others started coming to sign up) mostly because other lane was broken. I should have gotten my money back but since I got $80 free for $100 and not much else to spend on I kept my silence. (I still have couple unused zipline tokens as no one was fight over to use the zipline again.)  Beyond that, they had an air hockey machine, two small moto ride arcade machine, one F1 ride ($10). That is all the arcade and fun pass can be used for. So, if you plan on getting a Fun Pass, thing wisely.

23. Shows were decent, not something I would pay for, at moments dancers were awkered and out of sync.  Shows were theme every night that consist of dances, various acrobatics and magic show. I enjoyed all the shows.  Acrobatic team was great. (two gentlement combo, three men combo, two asian combo, ring rider, juggler, etc) Unlike Drag queen show in NCL EPIC (very awkered for grandma and kids), it was more family oriented.

24. Photos, if you like me, don’t like them but buys them cause DW….. Online prepurchase is the best value.  However, even though there is no photographer hawking in the YC, one person does come on certain days to take pictures.  If pic is your thing, I would ask concierge to have him come up and do a photo session in the lounge. Price was better here than ship photo.  Where 10 pic pre-purchase goes for $96, on the ship $149, that same one with leather binder &10 pic taken at YC had price of $149 (20 photo 2 binder $249).  But photo package bought online can’t be used for YC photo.

25. We enjoyed the ship, but mostly stayed in YC.  Seaside public area was very cramped compared to Divina.  Drink service/quality was hit or miss outside of YC.

Debarkation:  Standard process, if you have checked back leave it out night before, luggage tags are delivered prior evening with color code.  Need to leave the room at 7:30 am. Hang by YC lounge until ready to debark, have your butler come up and escort you out, again cutting through all regular folks standing in line to get out..

 

After spending 3 hours embark and 3 hours debark on regular NCL EPIC last Christmas (day gov’t shut down and only 1 CBP was working), this was the most pleasant cruise I have taken.

 

PS. I am not a name person and can’t remember any names, but this cruise and awesome job by MSC Seaside I like to give thumb up to their staff. (This ship is no longer MSC Suicide)

Alex, my butler.  Always smiling and sweating, running around the ship delivery pizza from 6th to YC, escorting my family to shows and ports. (When being escorted, you may not always have your butler but others will help each other.)

Alejandra (Alex’s wife), yes husband and wife combo butler, also helping out.

Wayan, room steward & Alex’s assistant for having our rooms in top shape and mini friz filled with drinks of my choices and choco peanuts for my kids.

Alex and Gary at the YC restaurant, for going beyond and above for unforgetful service.

Rondald, YC lounge bartender for best drinks in the ship.

Glen, YC grill/pool bartender for quickest service.

Patricia and Eva from YC concierge.

All the staff of Cruise Director for keeping us happy and engaged.

[Hobby3333]

Best concise review IMO in a long time.   We were on the Seaside YC last July and will be back this July.  Can’t wait.

[Cruisergal1208]

Were you the large group that dined behind us, Tom and Mary Ann?  I am the one in blue standing next to Captain Di Palma.  Hubby is in the bright blue shirt behind him.  I think the DR staff was swamped due to the large number of holiday cruisers.  We usually don't have that many large groups in the YC when we have sailed in the past.  A very good and detailed review and it will help many on CC.

Mary Ann

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, ashank1m said:

Check in for YC: As you get to the terminal F, look out for a white tent before the terminal F drop off point.  Once you stop, you will have traffic control/police scream at you to move on. Tell them you are a VIP for VIP location drop off.  He didn’t seem to understand YC and kept yelling at me. You will check in with VIP tent, have your bags drop off there as well. 

 

May I assume from what you have written that you were able to drop off your luggage, then park your car, and return to the VIP tent for check in?

 

Thanks for an informative review of your Yacht Club experience!  It helps me as I prepare to make my first MSC booking which will be in Yacht Club.

[ashank1m]

44 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

May I assume from what you have written that you were able to drop off your luggage, then park your car, and return to the VIP tent for check in?

 

Thanks for an informative review of your Yacht Club experience!  It helps me as I prepare to make my first MSC booking which will be in Yacht Club.

Yes.  I dropped off family and bags.  I had Ford Transit that doesn't fit in the garage, and last year I didn't find first level parking in garage or lot(we get there around 12-1 and parking gets tight), so I parked outside this time at Safecruiseparking for $80 which was over $200 cheaper than Port parking (over sized double price).  Thank God for YC lounge at check in, took me an hour to get back as I got lost to the parking lot, but they were waiting in comfy not in line with other 4000 pax looking for me.  When I got to the tent, they already knew my family was inside and next available staff took me in to where my family was.  So, if you are parking, don't sweat, they can go in and wait for you in comfort, prory knocking down few cocktails and sandwich before you get there 🙂

[ashank1m]

1 hour ago, Cruisergal1208 said:

Were you the large group that dined behind us, Tom and Mary Ann?  I am the one in blue standing next to Captain Di Palma.  Hubby is in the bright blue shirt behind him.  I think the DR staff was swamped due to the large number of holiday cruisers.  We usually don't have that many large groups in the YC when we have sailed in the past.  A very good and detailed review and it will help many on CC.

Mary Ann

yup, Korean family of 9.  you are standing next to DW and I am one with Blue/Orange shirt.  Thanks for nice words from you about my kids.

[floridian1]

How was your statetoom 18021? Was there noise from the deck above?

 

How were the kids clubs?

 

For your table of 8..what dining times did they offer you to choose from?

 

Great review thanks!

[ashank1m]

59 minutes ago, floridian1 said:

How was your statetoom 18021? Was there noise from the deck above?

How were the kids clubs?

For your table of 8..what dining times did they offer you to choose from?

I am a light sleeper but then 19 hours drive might have knock me out.  I or any of us heard any noise above.

 

Kid club...mmmmm.....my kids not so much.  Most kids are foreign speaker and couldn't make any friends so they skipped.  This was same in Divina.  Younger kids are better with scheduled program but teens are more of their own so no.  Kids were given choice after the YC experience where they were so impressed and pampered with so much food, drinks, gelato, and service. (not to mention exclusivity of YC): for next cruise NCL balcony (not Haven) or MSC YC.  Kids chose NCL.  I guess they are staying home on my next cruise 😉 *One night there was macarone, and my daughter got so excited she dropped them on the floor, when we asked our butler for more he left them next two nights along with nightly chocolate. (thanks Alex)

 

First night, we ate around 6:10 on Port side with Jeffrey, it was not pleasant and had to call MD few times.  On my way out, I ask to set my table for 9 for the week, they told me they didn't have table early so we had to come at 8:30.  Being so late, we asked for two tables for 3 and 6 for 5:45 dining.  Next day when we came in they put three tables together by SB side to make table for 9 and served by Alex and Gary (My daughter had a ball as her name is Alexandria and we had Alex as Butler and another Alex (small Alex) as our waiter, then met Alejandra, Butler Alex's wife).  So table for 8+ you really need to make pre-arrangement for 5:45 or 8:30.  For MD outside of YC, it is 5:30 7:30 and 9:30.

Edited April 23, 2019 by ashank1m

[ashank1m]

One more thing, I forgot to mention (prory got more).

Elevators, we noticed many YC didn't know how to use Priority service.  Fwd elevator banks one on each side (port/SB) toward middle there is insignia of YC.  Place your wrist band or card to call priority service of the elevator.  Once in elevator, there are scanner on either side for you to scan again in order to select a floor.  Of these two scanner, only the fwd one had two black dots.  You have to use these scanner to select your floor and have a priority.  After fumbling for a while priority gets cancelled and others push buttons for their floor finally get the button light up and you lose your priority control.  Once you use that right scanner to select your floor, all other floor goes away and you go to your floor while others start to curse about elevator not working.

[floridian1]

Very helpful and thank you for the elevator tips. Was this eastern carib? Any advice on excursions?

 

How was breakfast and lunch in YC? Did your whole group get to dine together?

[dolphin1313]

Thanks for your review!

[umtigerfan1]

Do you remember what time you arrived at the port? Last year we got there too early, just in my nature. The staff did not arrive at the tent until 10:30 so we had a little wait outside. Thanks!!

[Linda the Book Lover]

A wonderful review that was chock full of information. You gave so much information that I actually printed it to take with us!

[ashank1m]

7 hours ago, umtigerfan1 said:

Do you remember what time you arrived at the port? Last year we got there too early, just in my nature. The staff did not arrive at the tent until 10:30 so we had a little wait outside. Thanks!!

I get there around 12-12:30, from others they said staff men the tent around 10:45-11:00ish.

[ashank1m]

15 hours ago, floridian1 said:

Very helpful and thank you for the elevator tips. Was this eastern carib? Any advice on excursions?

How was breakfast and lunch in YC? Did your whole group get to dine together?

E Carib (my schedule keep getting me the E Carib for the third time in two yrs.)  Look at the MSC Excursion, it is cheaper to do it online before the cruise.  Personally, have not done ship excursion the past 8 yrs.

- Puerto Rico/San Juan:  Walk to pier 1 and find a trolley (free) to take you to the El Morro.  They stop running at 6 pm.  Last week, I waited from 5:30-6 and didn't see one but I used it couple years ago.  We ended up walking to the far end and walked up to El Morro and walk back through streets.  Pretty much same as one you pay to do for Night Walking Tour for $35 PP.  It is about mile up and a mile down.

- St Thomas: Once off the ship there are tons of hawks asking for taxi, they are all Taxi Asso dispatchers so no risk there.  Tell them where you want to go.  I did the Megan Bay last Xmas, $8 pp each way, $5 to get in the park.  you can rent chairs but they are not spread out like public beaches in Carib, bathrm and shelter on both end of about a 1 mile long beach, there is a restaurant and a bar.  This time we did Coki beach $9 pp each way.  Very crowded beach with no space since all the space has been filled with chair/umb ($5 per chair/ $10 for umb, so $20 for a set.)  Hawks for drinks and food.  I found food quality very poor. Nearby, right side, Coralworldvi.com, nice to visit but at $20 a pop not worth the price.  In Coralworldvi, few paid activities, we did snuba $84 including admission.  Also, on right side before the coral world, is Cokidive, com you can do scuba for $89.  Google for website and pricing.

- St. Marten: we took water taxi ($7 for round trip) to nearby beach.  typical price for 2 chairs and umb ($20), cheaper drinks(5 brew for $10), sis family did taxi tour of island for $25 each (for 8+)  she was party of 4 shared ride with other 4 to make it $25 pp other wise $40 pp.  3-4 hours tour of famous landmark in St Marten on both Dutch and French side.  Yes, you will see Maho beach where airplanes land over the beach.  Very small/narrow beach with foot and car traffic.

- Bahamas.. just walked around and ate Conch salad by water side near Senor Frog, Conch Fritter by ship market place.

 

Restaurant: Breakfast a typical restaurant fare, did enjoyed Farmer (over easy eggs, bacon, tomato, beans, a steak.  Steak was small fresh cooked so it was delish.), Lunch have not done, typically did lunch on YC Grill by the pool.  Lunch and dinner menu is posted in 16th YC lounge.  YC grill, have steak, cook to order burgers/hot dogs avail even not on buffet line.

 

Enjoy!

[floridian1]

does Yacht Club restaurant have a kids menu? How were the servers with the kids?

 

Did you receive a bracelet to wear that you were able to charge things to and open your door?

 

Could you access the lounge from deck 18 by walking through the restaurant? or did you have to go down to 16 first than out to the lounge?

[psmarkle]

16 minutes ago, floridian1 said:

does Yacht Club restaurant have a kids menu? How were the servers with the kids?

 

Did you receive a bracelet to wear that you were able to charge things to and open your door?

 

Could you access the lounge from deck 18 by walking through the restaurant? or did you have to go down to 16 first than out to the lounge?

 

Sailed Seaside YC last summer; Don't remember on the kid's menu as my crew all ordered off the main menu...good variety every night.

 

Yes on the bracelets.  Come standard with YC rooms, I think it's $5 extra for non-YC.

 

Technically, you can go thru the restaurant and down the stairways to the lounge, but I wouldn't (esp during hectic meal times) as there are stairs to deck 16 right outside of the restaurant in the hallway.

[ashank1m]

27 minutes ago, floridian1 said:

does Yacht Club restaurant have a kids menu? How were the servers with the kids?

Did you receive a bracelet to wear that you were able to charge things to and open your door?

Could you access the lounge from deck 18 by walking through the restaurant? or did you have to go down to 16 first than out to the lounge?

No kids menu, but ask if they have something they can cook up, like pasta and burger, fries etc.  If they have the item in the kitchen they will make it for you or bring from the YC Grill.  They are good with kids.  First night for desert there was a crepe with V. ice cream.

 

You will get a YC wrist band along with your room card during the check in.  Convenient since a room card has to be in the slot all the time to keep the light on.

 

There is a Crystal stair case linking 18 restaurant and 16 lounge directly front of you (slightly to right) as you walk in the restaurant.  Also, use this stair case to go down and to outside deck for smoke if you are for one.  So if waiting for a table you will wait in the lounge and they will come and get you. (make sure to check in with restaurant first so they know you are waiting down stairs), any drinks not finished take it with you or ask lounge server to bring it up to the restaurant.

Edited April 24, 2019 by ashank1m

[murse09]

Great review

can you remember the depth of YC, The One pool by any chance? Is it silly deep like the other pools or was it at least under 6 feet?

Edited April 25, 2019 by murse09
Spelling

[JAGR]

2 hours ago, murse09 said:

Great review

can you remember the depth of YC, The One pool by any chance? Is it silly deep like the other pools or was it at least under 6 feet?

It is deep.  Six feet, but there is a nice ledge that is a few inches below the water level so you can sit and get wet and dangle your feet in the water. 

[cathep]

On 4/23/2019 at 3:54 PM, ashank1m said:

Restaurant: Breakfast a typical restaurant fare, did enjoyed Farmer (over easy eggs, bacon, tomato, beans, a steak.  Steak was small fresh cooked so it was delish.),

 

That's the item that stood out to me on the menu.  Great to know the steak is worth it.

 

Thanks for such detailed info!

[DLA57]

Thank you for the review and the tips they have been very helpful.  Can't wait for our 2019 Christmas cruise

[ptuder]

Thanks for the helpful review. Was the specialty restaurant tasting for yacht club only?  Thanks! 

 

[markf]

Pool was  definetly toooo deep--and  the ladder to get in and out was , in my opinion not  that easy  to use--they should have had  stairs and had  4 or  5 feet on one side of the pool for those  not as comfy in the  water

[Linda the Book Lover]

2 hours ago, markf said:

Pool was  definetly toooo deep--and  the ladder to get in and out was , in my opinion not  that easy  to use--they should have had  stairs and had  4 or  5 feet on one side of the pool for those  not as comfy in the  water

I decided to not go in the pool because though I can swim some I can't tread water (I know crazy huh)