First time cruise on MSC Yacht Club!

[allatsea97531]

Hi, we have been on a few ferries etc but for our first ever cruise, we are going to book a Yacht Club 4 day taster cruise on MSC Virtuosa. It is just from Southampton to Cork and Portland UK, but we decided to do this cruise in style!

 

We have been browsing online to check the benefits of YC and just general information but have read conflicting opinions and would just really appreciate some tips or advice, thanks in advance!

 

For example, our deal includes a premium drinks package, but apparently MSC do not  allow anyone to bring any soft drinks or even water in your luggage - is that correct? We were only hoping to bring on a small amount or use in our cabin, say if we wanted to simply stay in to watch a film one night, we know soft drinks are included in the drinks package, but obviously we’d have to go to a restaurant/buffet to obtain these.

 

Also, although we are looking forward to a slice of a luxury cruise, we have had a look at sample menus on the YC menu and as these menus are geared towards fine dining, we might only try there once and stick to the buffet and main Dining Room generally - are they strict on enforcing smart/ casual for evening meals or can you just appear smartly dressed without having to wear a smart jacket e.g.?

 

Another point of confusion is whether or not we would qualify for free wifi and complimentary mini-bar, some say yes to free wifi for up to 2 devices, others say both services cost extra?

 

There is a butler service included, which I doubt we would bother with, and our offer clearly states “ all gratuities included” but if we did ask the butler for help at any point would they expect a top anyway?

 

Our final question is about the onboard casino - a lot of people say just bring cash to play on the slot machines, but MSC seem to advise not to bring cash or credit card, any incidentals would be charged to a special onboard card. Does that mean we would have to pre- load say 500 euros on this card and then in order to play the slot machines is there a casino cashier who will dispense euros of for example 100 euros and if we hopefully won do you get paid out in cash or any winnings added to your onboard card account!

 

Sorry for all the queries, but what we thought would be fairly simple and straightforward is far more complex than we first imagined! Thanks

[Hutcha]

Your minibar in the room will be restocked daily with soft drinks, beer and water. It is included.

 

You get the wi-fi 2 device plan for each person. Included.

 

You will be hard pressed to find people that prefer the main dining room or buffet to the YC restaurant. You don't have to get dressed up. Just smart casual for dinner. There is a YC buffet that is open for the three meals.

 

The butler can be very useful. From bringing drinks, to daily snacks and so forth. A tip for good service would be appreciated.

 

 

[allatsea97531]

Thanks Hutcha for the prompt reply! Just a born worrier, this trip is to celebrate my wife’s 60th and we just want as few hitches as possible!

[helenb]

Don't worry about the YC food being 'fancy'. You can order plain food, if that's what you want. They have steak (filet mignon) and chicken and salmon (plain) every night in the restaurant. You can add a sauce or fries or other side if you wish. My son had grilled chicken and fries EVERY night. Just tell them what you want and they will do their best to accommodate. You do not have to have the 'fancy' food if you don't want it.

[heatherb1958]

Your  mini fridge in your YC cabin is stocked daily with included soft drinks/ beers and of you run out while watching a movie a phone call to the butler will have them replenished immediately or you can nip out to the YC bar , place your order and a lounge butler will deliver them to your cabin with snacks too if needed . We had this recently on Grandiosa . By the way MSC charge for in room movies . 

We found people dressed less smartly in YC than the rest of the ship on Grandiosa out of Barcelona , we were 2 out of approx 10 Brits  in YC. 

We met a couple from Scotland who only went to the YC restaurant on formal/gala night for the 'special' menu, all their other meals were taken in the buffet as they preferred the food there .

 

[Beamafar]

You can use cash in the slots in the casino or you can charge an amount to your cruise account.  You don’t need to pre-load cash to the account if you’ve registered a credit card to your account.  There isn’t a special onboard card for this.  You just register your cruisecard in a machine and input the amount to be charged to your account.  It’s very straightforward;  directions are on the machines and the casino crew will assist if you have any problems. 

[insidecabin]

Just got off Virtuosa after a week in YC.

 

If not booked use a discounting TA there are 15% off deals on some MSC cruises(not this one).

If this is the 26th Sept 4n trip plenty of time to plan

 

Are the dates critical there may be other options that are better value?

 

With 4n you need to get up and running quickly, to get the best from the trip you want to be one of the first on.

 

They start boarding at 10am(if the ship is on time) so get there for that time ignore the time on your tickets if different.
(how are you traveling, parking etc, ABP is expensive, can give some options)

 

At the Horizon terminal

There is a white tent between the doors go there that's when the YC experience starts.

you should get whisked past any lines into the dedicated check in areas to be escorted on the ship.

 

You really don't need to bring anything unless you are very brand specific. 

 

Bottled water unlimited supply they have regular(still/fizzy) and also posh like Pellegrino.

As are all the other drinks except a few premium alcohol products, available in your cabin or the YC area,  the premium drinks also get you drinks in most of the other locations. 

 

If there are specific drinks(like a beer) that is not stocked in YC but available on the ship they will get some in for you.

 

The mini bar is included and you can request extra stuff if it won't all fit in.

water, juice, fizzy, beer

 

We spend very little time in the cabin preferring to just go to the lounge which was open from 7am till 1am (we were an inside no window) starting with coffee.

the YC lounge has a mini snack help yourself section  that helps fill the gaps and other snacks available if you ask like crisps(chips in american), nuts..

 

All the bars do coffee teas, soft drinks(some fresh squeeze orange) and a alcohol menu

 

We found the food in the YC restaurant good they will do special order if you don't fancy anything(just let them know in advance).

YC meal times are limited so we ended up in the buffet some breakfast and lunch as we missed the window. evening open dining 6pm-9pm so we managed that

 

There is a bit of overlap with the MDR menu options so I would not bother with that if if there is something on that menu you want ask for it in YC(in advance) they should be able to do it)

All the menu for the cruise will be on the app so you an check them first day and decide if you need anything done off menu, we always have a regular order side dish for any lunch dinner we go to, they got it right most times.

  

The buffet can be a nightmare(also it's at the other end of the ship and it's a  big ship) as it gets very very busy there are some decent options but you have to do a full circuit to find some of them.

 

If the weather is better than last week the YC outside grill may be open giving more food choices and longer times to eat.

 

dress is casual, I was shorts/T's/slides  during the day and longs/collar/shoes at night for dinner.

   

 

We don't do casino, they allow smoking and the place stinks.

 

As a brit we expect the regular(included on UK bookings)  service/gratuity to cover the job of the relevant crew,   

 

some things you did not ask

 

Think about booking one of the carousel shows.

 

if you like steak then the Butchers Cut(BC) is good but YC has steak anyway and BC needs a big appetite.

 

There are some seriously good deals on Virtuosa you could do a cheap tester to get to know the ship before the luxury one.
There have been 7n for £300(regular inside)

 

Travel from Scotland is time consuming and expensive.

Not for the Sept date but you could consider flying to one of the other embarkation ports if  there are flights.

 

 

 

[allatsea97531]

Thanks everyone, lots of interesting details to consider! Our cruise isn’t until Sep’24, but we have been instructed to expect a phone call any day soon to pay our deposit.

From Edinburgh, we are flying down the day before and returning home the day after the cruise returns. I read online a small number of hotels in Southampton offer a shuttle service to the quay, but on Tripadvisor these are few and far between and not always reliable. Very important to know boarding is so early in the morning, glad we are staying in a hotel the night before!

 

We are considering a cheap MSC cruise before then from Europe if we can find a good deal.

 

When in Vegas recently, although smoking is still allowed in most casinos, it wasn’t as bad as in previous years, will give it a try. We had 2 Vegas buffets, one pretty good, one very poor, so will probably try the buffet just once to try it out.

 

Interested in attending any/ all shows available on board, will book them as soon as we can.

 

I assume the wifi is a bit patchy? My sister was on a Med cruise last summer and got very frustrated with the service. Thanks again

[insidecabin]

A quick look YC1 is available at around £1160pp (£100 off MSC price)

 

Join voyagers club for 5% off if you have any status on any reward program there is a status match. 

You are scheduled to be be at Horizon terminal for the 26th.

 

Google maps is a good way to get the lay of  the land in Southampton.

 

If traveling light for 4 nights it is a 7-9min walk with bags to the terminal from the Ibis/Novotel hotels they are the closest to the terminal but a bit further from the town for going out in the evening.

 

Taxis/uber are reasonable  all the main central hotels are under £10 to the terminal it can get as low as £5.

 

We use the Travelodge central as that is closest to the Mall restaurants and some pubs if you are planning to have some time on the day.(always a 5% discount around)

 

Other popular hotels are Moxi, Premier Inn, holiday inn, Leonardo grand  and some more boutique/special

Not tried it but Pig in the wall looks good at a price..

 

 

looks like the 25th 1n is going to be from around £80+, we book refundable and swap if any price drops/sales happen.

 

As the cruise is a Tues I would look at flying down Sunday, hotels are cheaper on Sunday get that extra day, a full free day Monday could do some tourist stuff like Winchester

eg Travelodge is £65,£85   

Surprised there is not a big difference in flight costs  between 24/25 Sept bot haround £100.

 

If not time constrained sometimes the LHR flight and National express can save a chunk but not as  convenient.

 

 

The paid internet was not that bad(not streaming movies but social was fine)

You can use EU roaming for Cobh and regular for Portland so won't need it for a lot of the time anyway(if you have data)  

[heatherb1958]

FYI - the Theatre shows in the main theatre cannot be booked until you board, either  through the app or get your Concierge to do it . The Carousel lounge shows which have a fee , currently £9 if you book before boarding through your cruise planner , time is allocated once onboard. We had pre booked both shows on Grandiosa for the cheap price and I got the Concierge to reserve the dates and times I wanted . Our  butler would have escorted us to the reserved seats If I wanted but by that time in the cruise I was fed up of having a chaperone 😆 🤣 😂.  

[insidecabin]

Main theatre there is a dedicated area for YC(back, left) not the best but reserved so no problems

They have been doing 3 shows a night making it easy to fit one in around everything else

 

On 4n I would just do one carousel show we like ARKYMEA best 

Save the other for another tip