Yacht Club questions!!!!

[lhlm75]

Hello everyone,

My DH booked us YC for 2024. Now that I know what is the difference between the standalone suites and YC. My question is what is included in YC? I know a butler is included and the boarding and disembark procedures, I also know about the beverage package. What I am asking is what are the perks? (Any free laundry, dining options, shows, ect.) because I’m doing my research on YouTube, and most of the information is about 2 to 5 years old. Are there any post Covid changes? It’s my first time on the MSC line and I have been only sailing with NCL. I have only done the Haven once how do they compare?
Thank you,

[titangas]

YC is similar to Haven, but in my experience better.

It is a ship within a ship and you never really need to leave it you do not want.

 

You will have a separate dining room for YC that serves all 3 meals, only sailed YC on MSC but most reports much better than Main Dining.

There is an exclusive lounge for drinks, lite snacks and live music., piano player in the evenings.

You will have your own pool deck with bar, small buffet - with plenty of space and loungers.

Butler will escort you to shows of you wish and there is reserved seating for YC guests.

Mini Bar in room included and stocked Daily,

 

Access to a concierge that will assist with bookings in spa, specialty restaurants, excursions etc.

Edited February 19, 2023 by titangas

[mmbcater]

7 hours ago, lhlm75 said:

Hello everyone,

My DH booked us YC for 2024. Now that I know what is the difference between the standalone suites and YC. My question is what is included in YC? I know a butler is included and the boarding and disembark procedures, I also know about the beverage package. What I am asking is what are the perks? (Any free laundry, dining options, shows, ect.) because I’m doing my research on YouTube, and most of the information is about 2 to 5 years old. Are there any post Covid changes? It’s my first time on the MSC line and I have been only sailing with NCL. I have only done the Haven once how do they compare?
Thank you,

Hopefully this will help!!! 

 

MSC Yacht Club brochure.pdf

[hamrag]

11 hours ago, mmbcater said:

Hopefully this will help!!! 

 

MSC Yacht Club brochure.pdf 9.29 MB · 24 downloads

That is a reasonable reflection of all that YC offers. Some may notice that the butler shown in this marketing is always male, but there are female butlers too and I do not understand why their marketing does not show such!

[LiquidWu]

I would like to add something from my perspective as a European. 
You should not only ask yourself what the differences are between Haeven and Yacht Club. Much more exciting are the differences in culture on board between American and European shipping companies. 
I have just read a very fair, comprehensive comparison here  (please don't be put off by the lurid title, it's about the linked answer by @B_A_H ) 

 

 

You did everything right with the yacht club booking. The main perk (and you asked about these) is having a quiet, luxurious ship in the ship as a place to retreat. Combined with the possibility to go out into "real" life at any time.

My next cruise, a week in the YC of the MSC Virtuosa, starts on 19 March 🙂 If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me.
 

Edited February 20, 2023 by LiquidWu

[Gatordad1967]

shame your t/a couldn't explain it for you.

 

[KennyFla]

I think what we like best about YC is the all inclusive.  Really is a stress free vacation.  I don't worry how many frozen drinks we are having at the pool, if we should have a bottle of wine with dinner, night caps.   I appreciate the great butler service, but am not one that likes to get escorted around the ship.

 

My wife is gluten free, she feels safer eating in the YC restaurant than most places because of the fantastic service.

Edited February 20, 2023 by KennyFla

[talljules1]

5 hours ago, LiquidWu said:

I would like to add something from my perspective as a European. 
You should not only ask yourself what the differences are between Haeven and Yacht Club. Much more exciting are the differences in culture on board between American and European shipping companies. 
I have just read a very fair, comprehensive comparison here  (please don't be put off by the lurid title, it's about the linked answer by @B_A_H ) 

 

 

You did everything right with the yacht club booking. The main perk (and you asked about these) is having a quiet, luxurious ship in the ship as a place to retreat. Combined with the possibility to go out into "real" life at any time.

My next cruise, a week in the YC of the MSC Virtuosa, starts on 19 March 🙂 If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me.
 

I think that' a really good point. We've only been in YC once so far (next one in June this year) and loved it. Food was good but more European (more of a mediterranean diet rather than beef, beef, beef, beef). Service was efficient, and understated. Yes, announcements in more than one language - we didn't notice particularly and in no way did that impinge on our enjoyment. We met lots of nice people. 

 

Like KennyFla, we don't need an escort around the ship, but there are times when it is useful. On our last MSC cruise we had to go down and get our passports inspected by UK immigration a day or so before the end of the cruise. The lines were long, and being escorted to the front of the line, past the queue, was great. Equally was good at disembarkation. So we make use of it for that.

 

We don't use this often, but we have had our butler unpack for us - it is wonderful!!

[jules815]

I think it's great that some of you use the packing and unpacking service.  I use packing cubes and unpacking doesn't take too long. I usually have my husband pop the arrival bubbly and drink it while unpacking. I do the clothes, and my husband is in charge of electronics, setting up the safe, etc. Funny how after all the cruises we've taken, we both go into auto unpacking mode and get it done quickly.

 

 

[talljules1]

5 minutes ago, jules815 said:

I think it's great that some of you use the packing and unpacking service.  I use packing cubes and unpacking doesn't take too long. I usually have my husband pop the arrival bubbly and drink it while unpacking. I do the clothes, and my husband is in charge of electronics, setting up the safe, etc. Funny how after all the cruises we've taken, we both go into auto unpacking mode and get it done quickly.

 

 

We've done it twice - once in YC, once on Celebrity.

On YC - it was not long after my mum had died. We had booked months before her unexpected death, and we were exhausted. Honestly, the pampering was much needed (and appreciated).

Second time was when we boarded a ship in Rome. We had been travelling since 2am that day and after 12 hours of travel we were hangry and tired - again, it was just lovely to have some help. It didn't take long, and we tipped well.

Will almost certainly make use of this service in the future too.

 

[wineoclock]

52 minutes ago, talljules1 said:

We've done it twice - once in YC, once on Celebrity.

On YC - it was not long after my mum had died. We had booked months before her unexpected death, and we were exhausted. Honestly, the pampering was much needed (and appreciated).

Second time was when we boarded a ship in Rome. We had been travelling since 2am that day and after 12 hours of travel we were hangry and tired - again, it was just lovely to have some help. It didn't take long, and we tipped well.

Will almost certainly make use of this service in the future too.

 

Hi can I ask how they compare please? Have always done suites on celebrity & Disney but looking at YC for our next cruise. Thank you. 

[talljules1]

Just now, wineoclock said:

Hi can I ask how they compare please? Have always done suites on celebrity & Disney but looking at YC for our next cruise. Thank you. 

They're similar but different. On E-Class X ships, you have the large lounge and sundeck, but the suites are outside the area. On S-Class (which we prefer), the Retreat lounge is smaller, as is sundeck.

 

Things YC does better than a sky suite - all in one area, bottle of spirits, included mini bar, newspaper. Can order drinks to room with room service (included). Big ship to explore, with lots going on. Can be crowded. Cost is a LOT less. (We're going for 2 weeks in a duplex YC suite, great itinerary, for about the same as a week on X in aft corner sky suite. Room is about same size as a Royal Suite on X, has a hot tub on balcony, and has 2 full bathrooms (instead of bath and half bath on X RS)). So this suite is size of a Royal, with amenities somewhere between Sky and Royal. (No included specialty dining)

 

Things X does better - rest of the ship will be calmer, included movies in your room. (But in Sky suite, no newspaper, no included minibar or spirits)

 

Purely a personal experience of course, but for me at the moment X is disproportionately increasing prices whilst cutting services. We wouldn't choose to sail MSC outside the YC, but we think the YC is a good deal.

 

I'm hopeful we will really like our June cruise and, if we do, I think we will be jumping ship (despite being elite+ on X)

[B_A_H]

55 minutes ago, talljules1 said:

We wouldn't choose to sail MSC outside the YC, but we think the YC is a good deal.

This is an interesting point and one I agree with.  Once you see what MSC is capable of with the YC, it does shine a light on what they choose not to do in terms of the regular cruise experience. 

 

I wouldn't say I'd never sail non-YC with MSC, but I'd only cruise Aurea if I did. And ideally not on a short cruise or one I knew in advance would be full of kids and groups traveling together.  At least with Aurea you get priority boarding and preference (even if it's against the Maître D's will) for dining. The MDR can be shambolic on a full MSC ship and they sometimes go to three seating times.   

 

Celebrity was my favorite mainstream line; especially on the E-class ships.   There was a certain polish and vibe that's hard to explain that made the cruise feel more modern and upscale without needing to be in the Retreat.  Celebrity has taken a machete to services and dining in the name of cost cutting.  For me, they just aren't worth the premium they charge any longer. I canceled a Concierge class Caribbean booking on Apex in November to sail YC on the Seaview out of Rome in October instead.  I'm more comfortable about what I'll receive nine months from now on MSC than I am Celebrity.. 

[wineoclock]

Thank you for the comprehensive answers. We love Celebrity but possibly going to be cruising with our dcs in their 20’s & think they will prefer MSC. 
 

 

[lhlm75]

10 hours ago, Gatordad1967 said:

shame your t/a couldn't explain it for you.

 

I’m actually in process of becoming a TA, my DH did his homework and booked it himself online. I’m the one asking because I have never cruised on MSC before and it’s the first time that I heard of YC. So I’m curious about the experience and how does it compare to Haven, because I did that and had an amazing time. 😃

[Toofarfromthesea]

On 2/20/2023 at 11:39 AM, talljules1 said:

 

 

Things YC does better than a sky suite - all in one area, bottle of spirits, included mini bar, newspaper.

 

One caveat on this point.  The early ships that have Yacht Club had the YC restaurant at the opposite end of the ship from the 'enclave'.  So you have to walk the length of the ship to get to and from the restaurant.  For 3 meals that means walking the length of the ships 6 times.  Which can be difficult for folks with mobility issues.  The Divina is one that has this awkward arrangement and I think there are others but I don't know their names - maybe someone can chip in with them.  If this might be an issue for someone they should check the deck plans.

 

The second generation of YC has the restaurant with the rest of the enclave, so no problem there.  I really liked Divina, but now I'm mobility challenged, so it is off the plate, for me.

[Best Cat Mom]

29 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

The Divina is one that has this awkward arrangement and I think there are others but I don't know their names

I believe that the 4 Fantasia-class ships have the YC restaurant -- Le Muse -- near the adult pool aft. I have experienced it on Divina and Fantasia. According to Wikipedia, Spendida and Preziosa have similar designs. I'm not certain if other ships also have YC split in this way.

[RudiRatlos]

14 minutes ago, Best Cat Mom said:

I'm not certain if other ships also have YC split in this way.

It is just Fantasia class.

[talljules1]

1 hour ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

One caveat on this point.  The early ships that have Yacht Club had the YC restaurant at the opposite end of the ship from the 'enclave'.  So you have to walk the length of the ship to get to and from the restaurant.  For 3 meals that means walking the length of the ships 6 times.  Which can be difficult for folks with mobility issues.  The Divina is one that has this awkward arrangement and I think there are others but I don't know their names - maybe someone can chip in with them.  If this might be an issue for someone they should check the deck plans.

 

The second generation of YC has the restaurant with the rest of the enclave, so no problem there.  I really liked Divina, but now I'm mobility challenged, so it is off the plate, for me.

Yes - that's fair comment. We've been on Preziosa, and yes, it is a long walk.  Going on Virtuosa this year and that's all in one place.

 

[mickey89]

Celebrity or MSC YC ?  

On Celebrity we always choose a normal Balcony cabin whilst on MSC would only choose the YC as the rest of the ship is too crowded and manic.  

Celebrity pros - better food quality, superior entertainment, less crowds, best specialty restaurants and better customer service on land and sea.

MSC Yacht Club pros - top sail lounge, better choice of wines included, best bed mattress ever, Mini-bar a definite plus, Voyager Club 20% deals ( now discontinued which makes YC too expensive )

 

The main problem with MSC YC is lack of any shade on the sun deck.

[Cruiser21]

9 minutes ago, mickey89 said:

Celebrity or MSC YC ?  

On Celebrity we always choose a normal Balcony cabin whilst on MSC would only choose the YC as the rest of the ship is too crowded and manic.  

Celebrity pros - better food quality, superior entertainment, less crowds, best specialty restaurants and better customer service on land and sea.

MSC Yacht Club pros - top sail lounge, better choice of wines included, best bed mattress ever, Mini-bar a definite plus, Voyager Club 20% deals ( now discontinued which makes YC too expensive )

 

The main problem with MSC YC is lack of any shade on the sun deck.

Sounds like you are leaning towards Celebrity.

[mickey89]

Cruiser21 - you are very astute.

[Cruiser21]

49 minutes ago, mickey89 said:

Cruiser21 - you are very astute.

My apologies, I did not see wineoclock was asking for a comparison between the two lines.

Evidently I am not that astute.

[Best Cat Mom]

5 hours ago, mickey89 said:

The main problem with MSC YC is lack of any shade on the sun deck.

Have you sailed the Fantasia-class ships? They have a much larger shaded area around the One Pool Bar and shade over parts of the pool itself as well. We much preferred that to the Seaside, which has no shade as you've mentioned.

[Nashna]

I just finished 18 days on the Apex and Edge in early February.  We sailed in a Sunset Verandas on both sailings.  We were on the Apex in January 2022 and absolutely loved the ship, food, and service, which is why we booked X for our 2023 sailings.  Check on the Celebrity CC boards; you will find very negative comments regarding the changes X made on January 1st to their meal choices, the food quality, and the added charges for room service and a second lobster tail.  While we loved our stateroom, the service, entertainment, and ambiance of the ships, the food cutbacks persuaded us to search for alternative cruises.  There was no filet mignon, prime rib, or higher-priced fish.  We had planned to book Beyond for January 2024 onboard the Edge, but we changed our plans and booked Oceania instead.  Sadly, the choices that X made to cut costs have damaged their brand.   I really enjoyed sailing with Celebrity and will follow CC to see if X addresses their passengers' complaints in the hope that we might sail with them again.