NCL Joy Haven 7/1/23 compare to MSC Yacht club 7/9/23

[Donoilman]

My wife and I will be sailing a combined back to back.  We have been in the Haven twice on the Joy and MSC Seaside Yacht Club once in 2019..  Looking forward to how far MSC has risen since 2019 and the Meravaglia.  Our first MSC cruise in the yacht club was nice.....but they didn't understand the American experience at that time.  I am going to hold off on compare and contrast to be fair to both.  I may post from time to time during the two weeks.  Any questions....I will try to answer.  

[morpheusofthesea]

3 hours ago, Donoilman said:

.but they didn't understand the American experience a

Please define the "American experience". We are US born and raised (both 71) and would enjoy hearing about this "experience". Having cruised for 50 years on most every line we want to know how our new favorite MSC Yacht Club is 'missing the mark'?

[Donoilman]

Dear Morpheusthese....My point is that per my opinion....they missed the mark in 1979.  Opinions are personal and if I insulted either you or MSC by that comment I apologize.  That said...we were practically kicked off the ship on the last day, Bartender in Yacht club insulting female clients with attitude.  Casino pit boss yelling at clients, Butler that was useless and never around.  This was our experience....and my point is, I hope they cleaned it up...that is all.  Not looking for a social media battle here.

[morpheusofthesea]

26 minutes ago, Donoilman said:

they missed the mark in 1979.

MSC began in 1988.  The luxurious MSC Yacht Club -- where passengers have their separate section of the ship, including a lounge, pool and restaurant -- was introduced on MSC Fantasia, when it debuted in 2008.

Edited June 14, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

42 minutes ago, Donoilman said:

we were practically kicked off the ship on the last day,

We have been held up boarding the ship just this past year. This was one of my posts. NOT YOU, of course.

   Boarding does not happen until the ship rounds up all the "zeros" (those that have late flights and hide out on the ship). B2Bers will not be 'processed' (facial recognition) and allowed back on the ship until the "zeros" have been found and processed. Once the B2Bers are lead back on they are followed by Yacht Clubbers and then everyone else in the terminal. This began around 11:30. We were B2B (about 100 of us) waiting in line to be processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when a butler pointed out the "zeros" that were taking their 'sweet time' collecting the last of the remaining luggage and strolling over to the facial recognition machines. Always get this bunch of 'losers' every cruise.

   There is always a small group of inconsiderate passengers that have late flights or just no place to go after the cruise has ended. They dilly-dally and hold up the ship from "clearing" for the next cruise group to embark. These "losers" are called "Zeros". They are the stragglers that sometimes hide out and often the sheriffs office is called in to escort them off the ship.

Edited June 14, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

45 minutes ago, Donoilman said:

Butler that was useless and never around.

We had one of those when we booked an Edge Villa on Celebrity Edge in 2021. DW travels with 12 suitcases and the Villa is two levels. The ship delivers to the lower level and not to the upstairs master bedroom where all the wardrobe space is located. The Host/Butler walks into introduce himself and doesn't offer two old people to carry the bags up stairs. Disappeared for the week. We feel the same way as you do about our "experience" with Celebrity.

[Donoilman]

Dear Morpheusthese....My point is that per my opinion....they missed the mark in 2019.  Opinions are personal and if I insulted either you or MSC by that comment I apologize.  That said...we were practically kicked off the ship on the last day, Bartender in Yacht club insulting female clients with attitude.  Casino pit boss yelling at clients, Butler that was useless and never around.  This was our experience....and my point is, I hope they cleaned it up...that is all.  Not looking for a social media battle here.

edited to correct to 2019

[cruisebeachgirl703]

Being close to kicked was while we were eating breakfast in the yc restaurant. Didn't have many of regular breakfast items, syrup, toast. The attitude was It  "ok" we are done with you. Ba Bye.

[morpheusofthesea]

32 minutes ago, cruisebeachgirl703 said:

Being close to kicked was while we were eating breakfast in the yc restaurant. Didn't have many of regular breakfast items, syrup, toast. The attitude was It  "ok" we are done with you. Ba Bye.

Interesting. We get just the opposite reaction. They are sad to see us leave. Asking when we plan to be back and if they will still be on board. Perhaps it has to do with the amount of extra “American “ style tipping we do. It cannot be my good looks and charming personality for I have neither.

[kelleherdl]

15 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Interesting. We get just the opposite reaction. They are sad to see us leave. Asking when we plan to be back and if they will still be on board. Perhaps it has to do with the amount of extra “American “ style tipping we do. It cannot be my good looks and charming personality for I have neither.

I honestly believe the Butlers and Junior Butlers who routinely contract on US sailings share a ‘little black book’ on us regular YC guests. They know who’s onboard.  😀😀😀😃

[MsTabbyKats]

51 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Interesting. We get just the opposite reaction. They are sad to see us leave. Asking when we plan to be back and if they will still be on board. Perhaps it has to do with the amount of extra “American “ style tipping we do. It cannot be my good looks and charming personality for I have neither.

DH is not the world's greatest tipper...and we don't tip until the end.  Our butler/asst butler/the entire YC staff were fantastic.  We had an interior YC....butler/staff may have even thought we were going to be too poor to tip.

Even the "last breakfast"....I had syrup for my French toast and DH had his "2 complete breakfasts".

 

It has to do with attitude....and how you treat the staff.

Edited June 15, 2023 by MsTabbyKats

[lovemycruisetoo]

We always treat the staff just as people and not as our personal servants and although we are very generous tippers, they remember who you are. Only sail YC and just off the Meraviglia twice in May. We still have 3 more this year alone  and all of the staff are excited to have us back. 

[phissy]

56 minutes ago, kelleherdl said:

I honestly believe the Butlers and Junior Butlers who routinely contract on US sailings share a ‘little black book’ on us regular YC guests. They know who’s onboard.  😀😀😀😃

I always suspected this as well.

Our last MSC cruise was on Divina.

Our Butler from Meraviglia cruises was now on Divina.
He greeted us at YC embarkation lounge and wondered  why we had not booked RS as we usually did. 
Only reason….

. We wanted to try Executive Suite.

 Divina has no cabanas or a Jacuzzi on RS balcony .

He was disappointed , as he was  assigned to RS on the ship .

We had him as our Butler for last 3 Meraviglia cruises.

We did chat with him during our cruise and catch up on his family news.

 

[Donoilman]

I am encouraged to hear that the Yacht Club has improved since 2019.  I am going to post reviews for both after voyages just not here.  I wish you all calm seas and safe journey's.....I am out