MSC Yacht versus NCL Haven

[eppler]

Have cruised many times but mostly on NCL and Carnival.  Last one was on NCL and we tried the Haven since we are now kid-free and can afford a little more.

Am looking at a cruise in March on MSC Meraviglia from NY as a last minute kind of thing.

 

Have never been on MSC so would be interested on any comparisons between NCL and MSC and also between the Haven and the Yacht club.  Just did some looking today and they seem pretty much the same.

 

[Essiesmom]

There have been many thread comparisons here and most feel that the YC blows the Haven out of the water for far less money.  Having not sailed either, it’s just what I have read.  EM

[morpheusofthesea]

We prefer the Yacht Club over the Haven. The menu in the Haven is the same every day. One need not spend money on specialty dining as the YC menu varies from day to day. One can special order in advance in both, but that special order takes 2 hours to arrive in the Haven (DW's standing order of a grilled chicken breast and one baked potato, took 2 hours every evening ). Guests in the Yacht Club will not be bothered by other YC guests that book more than one cabin, throwing footballs or frisbees like on the Haven pool deck. Bottled water is complimentary in the Yacht club. All the YC suites, lounge, restaurant and pool are together. New elevators are 'express' for Yacht Club guests on ’Seaships”.  From deck 8 press deck 19, A,B,C ,or D elevator lights up; step toward to lit elevator, empty elevator opens, walk in, no further deck buttons inside elevator for children to play with, express to deck 19. Every Theatre show has reserved seating, no reservations needed for Yacht Club guests. One will not see discarded, soiled plates and drink glasses left in hallways of YC. 110 YC cabins, counted 16 butlers during captains greeting in Top Sail Lounge, so plenty of service, no waiting. Live music in the exclusive Yacht Club suite lounge  called TopSail Lounge in evenings.

[mscdivina2016]

2 hours ago, eppler said:

Have cruised many times but mostly on NCL and Carnival.  Last one was on NCL and we tried the Haven since we are now kid-free and can afford a little more.

Am looking at a cruise in March on MSC Meraviglia from NY as a last minute kind of thing.

 

Have never been on MSC so would be interested on any comparisons between NCL and MSC and also between the Haven and the Yacht club.  Just did some looking today and they seem pretty much the same.

 

Done many YC and Haven.

NCL has better quality dinner options like Prime rib, Lobster and Filet mignon every night. But menu never changed.

MSC menu does change.

 

YC is a great product at a great price but only use a TA if booking them.

MSC lounge has live entertainment nightly and a small dance floor. NCL has neither.

Both butlers are just so so. Rooms are comparable.

[Two Wheels Only]

28 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

All the YC suites, lounge, restaurant and pool are together.

 

Not always. It depends on the ship.

For the OP, the Duplex Suites are outside of the Yacht Club enclave but are full Yacht Club suites.

 

Having sailed both multiple times, my conclusion is that both are great.

In some ways, Haven is better.

In some ways, Yacht Club is better. 

 

 

[eppler]

36 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Done many YC and Haven.

NCL has better quality dinner options like Prime rib, Lobster and Filet mignon every night. But menu never changed.

MSC menu does change.

 

YC is a great product at a great price but only use a TA if booking them.

MSC lounge has live entertainment nightly and a small dance floor. NCL has neither.

Both butlers are just so so. Rooms are comparable.

Thank everyone for responses.

Can I ask why do you recommend using a Travel Agent.  I have never used one before.

[mscdivina2016]

4 hours ago, eppler said:

Thank everyone for responses.

Can I ask why do you recommend using a Travel Agent.  I have never used one before.

Msc is a cluster.

 

I have had so many issues. room changes, number of days changes, country changes and even Cabin changes..

How would you like to book YC and get downgraded to a regular cabin with no access to YC ?

 

[MsTabbyKats]

@morpheusoftheseaforgot a few things!

Yacht Club includes spa access.  Yacht Club has breakfast/lunch buffets poolside.  Yacht Club has pizza delivery...imho....best pizza ever (pizza snob here).  Wifi/drinks included...no extra charge.

I've never been in the Haven...but when you look at "what you get".....you'll get a lot more bang for your buck in YC.

[TrinaLC]

I have never used a travel agent for MSC - sailed YC about 6 times.  Any small issue has always been satisfactorily resolved. I have no doubt though that like any line there are one-off problems like someone posted earlier. 
 

As to whether “all” the rooms are located within the YC, almost universally true. Some ships have a few suites that have been added as YC to justify a higher cost I presume.  These are easily identified during booking. The butler service for these is not quite as personal for obvious reasons. We love them (lots of real estate!) but we are experienced YC cruisers and don’t care any more about escorts to dinner, shows. However you can easily get those by popping down to the concierge desk or arranging ahead of time. (And you will want to do that for escorts off the ship!)

 

Compared to NCL haven? Let’s just say I will never book a haven room again. If we sail on NCL as we did for a recent Panama Canal cruise, we will book the penthouses that come with butler/concierge service and breakfast/lunch in moderno/Cagneys. 

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

8 minutes ago, TrinaLC said:

I have never used a travel agent for MSC

An important reason we use an experienced travel agent is for the additional REFUNDABLE OBC we get. On our last cruise it was $800 on Seaship. On Explora Journeys it was $2,800. Shop around.

[TrinaLC]

Just now, morpheusofthesea said:

An important reason we use an experienced travel agent is for the additional REFUNDABLE OBC we get. On our last cruise it was $800 on Seaship. On Explora Journeys it was $2,800. Shop around.

Wow, thanks. 

[LorraineP]

34 minutes ago, TrinaLC said:

I have never used a travel agent for MSC - sailed YC about 6 times.  Any small issue has always been satisfactorily resolved. I have no doubt though that like any line there are one-off problems like someone posted earlier. 
 

As to whether “all” the rooms are located within the YC, almost universally true. Some ships have a few suites that have been added as YC to justify a higher cost I presume.  These are easily identified during booking. The butler service for these is not quite as personal for obvious reasons. We love them (lots of real estate!) but we are experienced YC cruisers and don’t care any more about escorts to dinner, shows. However you can easily get those by popping down to the concierge desk or arranging ahead of time. (And you will want to do that for escorts off the ship!)

 

Compared to NCL haven? Let’s just say I will never book a haven room again. If we sail on NCL as we did for a recent Panama Canal cruise, we will book the penthouses that come with butler/concierge service and breakfast/lunch in moderno/Cagneys. 

 

 

Agree with you after staying in YC balcony would absolutely never do Haven again. No comparison. We stay on deck 16 near the YC Lounge. 

[wolft927]

We have sailed Haven many times and Trying the YV for the 1st time mainly becaseu of price. Wife and I are never in the Cabin, so we are gving the YV inside a try for only $3200 total. I will say I love the Haven and we have sailed in the Forward facing, Aft Facing and the 2 bedroom Haven suites and they are amazing. But we never spend alot of time in the cabin at all. I think the YC pool ad deck is much nicr then the Haven

[GPPhilly]

11 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Msc is a cluster.

 

I have had so many issues. room changes, number of days changes, country changes and even Cabin changes..

How would you like to book YC and get downgraded to a regular cabin with no access to YC ?

 

Every time you post this I am still amazed that you have continued to sail MSC.  You complain a lot yet you still sail with MSC.  It you truly disliked MSC, you would never sail them again.  

[mafig]

17 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We prefer the Yacht Club over the Haven. The menu in the Haven is the same every day. One need not spend money on specialty dining as the YC menu varies from day to day.  Guests in the Yacht Club will not be bothered by other YC guests that book more than one cabin, throwing footballs or frisbees like on the Haven pool deck. Live music in the exclusive Yacht Club suite lounge  called TopSail Lounge in evenings.

My take.  I enjoyed the Haven restaurant, even though it doesn't change.  DH still talks about how he had lobster every night.  I also like how they do breakfast.

NCL's policy on water is just crazy.

Our cruise on Norwegian Joy Haven was overrun with kids.  No adult could use the pool And the hot tub was always taken by this couple that talked so loudly, the  whole ship knew all their business.  How much they had in the bank, the properties they owned, etc.

However, on MSC Seashore we were awakened by a loud party next door about 2 AM two nights.  

Thinking about it now, I think they were people from the casino, (doesn't it close about that time?), the people next door were on a Casino booking.  I don't think their guests were YC people, they were the dreaded interlopers, I believe.  Invited by our next door neighbors,

No interlopers in the Haven.

 

NCL has better (great) bartenders in the Haven.

 

 

Edited February 16 by mafig

[mscdivina2016]

24 minutes ago, GPPhilly said:

Every time you post this I am still amazed that you have continued to sail MSC.  You complain a lot yet you still sail with MSC.  It you truly disliked MSC, you would never sail them again.  

I think they have a great product! I love the product which is why I "only" will sail with MSC when booked thru a travel agent.

I actually am on the Seascape in a week from now.

So thankful I had a TA. They took my room away 2 weeks ago and put me on deck 16. It's a smaller GS than my original room. I had the TA get it back or cancel me in full. I got it back.

 I also discovered I was missing some obc during web check in. Still don't have that back yet but I have the paperwork as I booked it while on the Splendida in the middle east last year .  Was told that the extra obc was an offer from European office not USA.  What? Who cares??? Obc is obc.

 

Last month on Seashore my OBC was again missing as I booked it onboard prior.  Called TA and it was finally applied on day 6.  Quick casino cash out!

 

On a side note, MSC isn't the only screw up. Mostly MSC but this time it's NCL.

 I just was able to do online check in for a sailing next month. Just discovered that the advertised room by the TA being in the Haven is a Haven room, just not in the Haven.

Don't know what to do about that yet?? TA screwed up, no in Haven rooms available except a very expensive one 

[mscdivina2016]

6 minutes ago, mafig said:

My take.  I enjoyed the Haven restaurant, even though it doesn't change.  DH still talks about how he had lobster every night.  I also like how they do breakfast.

NCL's policy on water is just crazy.

Our cruise on Norwegian Joy Haven was overrun with kids.  No adult could use the pool And the hot tub was always taken by this couple that talked so loudly, the  whole ship knew all their business.  How much they had in the bank, the properties they owned, etc.

However, on MSC Seashore we were awakened by a loud party next door about 2 AM two nights.  

Thinking about it now, I think they were people from the casino, (doesn't it close about that time?), the people next door were on a Casino booking.  I don't think their guests were YC people, they were the dreaded interlopers, I believe.  Invited by our next door neighbors,

No interlopers in the Haven.

 

NCL has better (great) bartenders in the Haven.

 

 

Was your sailing last month 1/7? As we were having a party at 2am in our cabin and balcony at that time.   If so, the friends were not Interlopers but Haven inside occupants.

[morpheusofthesea]

7 minutes ago, mafig said:

NCL has better (great) bartenders in the Haven.

Oh, yes, I forgot about the "great" Haven bartender who I asked for a bottle of water and he charged me for a mudsllde. 

[mafig]

9 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Was your sailing last month 1/7? As we were having a party at 2am in our cabin and balcony at that time.   If so, the friends were not Interlopers but Haven inside occupants.

No.

[morpheusofthesea]

19 minutes ago, mafig said:

No interlopers in the Haven.

Perhaps no interlopers, but more 'interesting' folk. DW and I witnessed at dinner in the Haven a threesome of middle aged ladies sitting at the table when one of them passed out. The other two, carried her out like a scene from "Saving Private Ryan" to their cabin. The two ladies return to their boozing and 15 minutes later the second lady fell out of her chair on the floor of the restaurant. She refused all help to get up off the floor and the third lady just sat drinking pretending nothing out of the ordinary was taking place. Well the maitre d called in security (they were men in black suits) and one remained stationed 3 feet from their table. We finished our delicious chocolate bomb tart and missed the last act of this show.

[MsTabbyKats]

18 hours ago, eppler said:

Thank everyone for responses.

Can I ask why do you recommend using a Travel Agent.  I have never used one before.

My TA gives me approx 10% discount. 

[MsTabbyKats]

2 hours ago, wolft927 said:

We have sailed Haven many times and Trying the YV for the 1st time mainly becaseu of price. Wife and I are never in the Cabin, so we are gving the YV inside a try for only $3200 total. I will say I love the Haven and we have sailed in the Forward facing, Aft Facing and the 2 bedroom Haven suites and they are amazing. But we never spend alot of time in the cabin at all. I think the YC pool ad deck is much nicr then the Haven

The one thing to keep in mind about the YC Inside....minimal storage space.  DH and I take one carry-on each...it's sufficient.  But if you change clothing multiple times a day, or bring a lot of shoes...try to cut back.  For $3200...YC is well worth it!

[GPPhilly]

1 hour ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Was your sailing last month 1/7? As we were having a party at 2am in our cabin and balcony at that time.   If so, the friends were not Interlopers but Haven inside occupants.

I hope you are joking ??

[wolft927]

21 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

The one thing to keep in mind about the YC Inside....minimal storage space.  DH and I take one carry-on each...it's sufficient.  But if you change clothing multiple times a day, or bring a lot of shoes...try to cut back.  For $3200...YC is well worth it!

We live in Bathing suits during the day and at night my wife usually wears sundresses or something a little more formal for the formal night. We will need to bring a garment bag this go around but its not very big. I am assuming suitcases can fit under the bed and the garment bag hangs in the closet.  

[mscdivina2016]

45 minutes ago, GPPhilly said:

I hope you are joking ??

No I am not joking.

 

We get kicked out of top sail so they can clean and out on the sun deck, they have everything put away and tied up despite our request to have some set up.