Where are all the "regular folks"?

[Lbsahm]

Yacht Club is far above our means. That said, a balcony cabin just about max’s out our cruise budget. 
I’d much rather cruise every year or two, in a balcony, than once every five years in YC. 

That said, if any of the ‘affluent’ people on here want to adopt a 59 year old, I’ll happily tag along with your yacht club experience. I’ll even carry all your bags. 

[Essiesmom]

They can adopt me, too…I’ll be 80 tomorrow, so won’t carry your bags as I can barely carry my own…. EM

[tofubeast]

“Regular” passenger here reporting for roll call! 😉

 

We sail Fantastica.  One day, I’d love to give YC a try. There are way more regular folk on board than YC. You won’t feel different or like an outcast. And unless you fall in love with someone from YC on your cruise, you won’t experience any Jack and Rose situations. 😝 

 

Edited May 8 by tofubeast

[morpheusofthesea]

7 hours ago, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

All experiences and perspectives are welcomed.

Your post brought to mind another question. 

https://financebuzz.com/people-who-should-never-cruise

#1 "People who worry about getting sick" (That's my DW who devotes one suitcase to disinfectants) and a second for medications.

#2 "People who want an authentic cultural experience in another country. Most ships only dock for a few hours before cruising to the next destination, so you won’t have time to explore. Plus, cruise ships are ocean-based resorts, and resorts aren’t built with the local population in mind." (DW and I do not get off the ship much any more)

#3 "People who don’t like enclosed spaces.  If you tend to avoid small spaces and get panicky if you don’t have several obvious escape routes from any given room, avoid cruises too."

#4 " People who care more about the destination than the journey. When you’re traveling by cruise ship, the journey is the entire point. You might stop at a few locations, but most of your time will be spent on the ship itself."

#5 "People who are afraid of the ocean. If your ocean fears were inspired more by “Titanic” or “The Poseidon Adventure,” steer clear of a cruise."

#6 "People who tend to get motion sickness. (DW takes Bonine 48hrs before the cruise and every day of the cruise).

#7 "People who don’t drink. Pro tip: If you're trying to keep more money in your wallet when booking your cruise, you'll want to ditch most of the alcohol purchases because it can get expensive fast." (DW is teetotaler and I quit due to covid and co-morbidities, overweight)

#8 "People who hate crowds.  Depending on the ship, you’ll be spending your vacation with 3,000 to 6,000 fellow passengers plus thousands of crew members." (We get around this by booking Yacht Club)

#9 "People who want to save money. 

Drinks might be the priciest part of cruise life, but they’re definitely not the only expense. Cruise ships usually have their own mall areas with boutiques, gift shops, electronics stores, and (you guessed it) bars. 

Since you’re at sea, there’s nowhere to shop except the ship itself, so don't expect any bargains. It's better to avoid throwing away money by buying the products you want somewhere else for a much better price."

#10 "People who hate waiting in lines. Waiting in line is the worst form of torture and is a foolish mistake. If that’s you, we can safely say you’re going to hate cruises unless you don't intend to get off at a port." ( Another reason we book only YC).

 

[Essiesmom]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Your post brought to mind another question. 

https://financebuzz.com/people-who-should-never-cruise

#1 "People who worry about getting sick" (That's my DW who devotes one suitcase to disinfectants) and a second for medications.

#2 "People who want an authentic cultural experience in another country. Most ships only dock for a few hours before cruising to the next destination, so you won’t have time to explore. Plus, cruise ships are ocean-based resorts, and resorts aren’t built with the local population in mind." (DW and I do not get off the ship much any more)

#3 "People who don’t like enclosed spaces.  If you tend to avoid small spaces and get panicky if you don’t have several obvious escape routes from any given room, avoid cruises too."

#4 " People who care more about the destination than the journey. When you’re traveling by cruise ship, the journey is the entire point. You might stop at a few locations, but most of your time will be spent on the ship itself."

#5 "People who are afraid of the ocean. If your ocean fears were inspired more by “Titanic” or “The Poseidon Adventure,” steer clear of a cruise."

#6 "People who tend to get motion sickness. (DW takes Bonine 48hrs before the cruise and every day of the cruise).

#7 "People who don’t drink. Pro tip: If you're trying to keep more money in your wallet when booking your cruise, you'll want to ditch most of the alcohol purchases because it can get expensive fast." (DW is teetotaler and I quit due to covid and co-morbidities, overweight)

#8 "People who hate crowds.  Depending on the ship, you’ll be spending your vacation with 3,000 to 6,000 fellow passengers plus thousands of crew members." (We get around this by booking Yacht Club)

#9 "People who want to save money. 

Drinks might be the priciest part of cruise life, but they’re definitely not the only expense. Cruise ships usually have their own mall areas with boutiques, gift shops, electronics stores, and (you guessed it) bars. 

Since you’re at sea, there’s nowhere to shop except the ship itself, so don't expect any bargains. It's better to avoid throwing away money by buying the products you want somewhere else for a much better price."

#10 "People who hate waiting in lines. Waiting in line is the worst form of torture and is a foolish mistake. If that’s you, we can safely say you’re going to hate cruises unless you don't intend to get off at a port." ( Another reason we book only YC).

 

Under #9. You forgot casinos.  EM

[morpheusofthesea]

19 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Under #9. You forgot casinos.  EM

I gave up gambling when I found my wife. How many times in one's life can they 'hit the lottery'? 

[no1talks]

7 hours ago, tofubeast said:

"And unless you fall in love with someone from YC on your cruise, you won’t experience any Jack and Rose situations."

"Jack, I want you to draw me like one of your Bella Guarantee girls."
- Rose DeWitt Bukater

[no1talks]

8 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Nothing beats MSC Yacht Clubs, not even Explora Journeys, its sister company, for butler service."

This depends entirely on what one might want from one's butler.

Dining in one's cabin, if they happen to have a proper table, is rather curtailed in YC. Only a few of the YC cabins even have a suitable table, and even then the official policy is for the whole meal to be brought in one trip, not course-by-course. If you order ice cream for dessert, you will need to eat it first or drink it last. On top of all that, the in-room dining must come from the room service menu. Official policy allows ordering from the restaurant menu only when the passengers are confined to their cabin. This is one factor that dissuades me from getting a top suite in YC. (Only one bathroom is another, but at least some YC's have the one-and-half-bath duplex suites.)

Meanwhile, Regent allows in-room dining from either the room service menu or the main dining room menu during the hours of its operation. Course-by-course service is provided upon request.
 
While I enjoy YC a great deal, I fully understand there are many niceties enjoyed by cruisers of luxury lines that MSC cannot deliver at the YC price point. That's just their business model.

I also fully understand that luxury services and amenities widely provided by the likes of Regent, Seabourn, and others may mean zip to some cruisers. This is perfectly okay. We should all be informed cruisers and use due diligence in selecting accommodations that suit us at a price with which we're comfortable. After all, luxurious cruising to one group may be entirely unsatisfactory to another.  

 

[MyriamS]

I think this is just because most of the people on this board are American while most of MSC customers are European. I've always had the feeling that most Americans have more money to spend than Europeans (and statistics seem to agree with me, though measuring these things aren't actually straightforward due to different currencies, purchasing power etc.) but less time for leisure. I work in large companies and my American colleagues say getting 2 weeks paid off a year is pretty good while in Europe I've never gotten fewer than 5 weeks off.

 

So if you work and earn a lot with little time off, or are retired after doing so for a lifetime, it makes sense to spend more to make your holiday extra special. The YC is actually quite reasonably priced for a luxury experience (compared to other cruise lines' suites). I could afford it, but it just doesn't make sense to me to spend so much money for one week where I could use it for a whole month of vacation! 

 

Also everyone in this thread talks about Bella, Fantastica etc. experiences. Is this also US specific? When I do mock bookings on MSC Germany, I can choose cruise only or cruise+drink package, then I'm prompted to choose a cabin (from inside to YC). Nothing about "experiences".

 

 

 

[alserrod]

30 minutes ago, MyriamS said:

I think this is just because most of the people on this board are American while most of MSC customers are European. I've always had the feeling that most Americans have more money to spend than Europeans (and statistics seem to agree with me, though measuring these things aren't actually straightforward due to different currencies, purchasing power etc.) but less time for leisure. I work in large companies and my American colleagues say getting 2 weeks paid off a year is pretty good while in Europe I've never gotten fewer than 5 weeks off.

 

So if you work and earn a lot with little time off, or are retired after doing so for a lifetime, it makes sense to spend more to make your holiday extra special. The YC is actually quite reasonably priced for a luxury experience (compared to other cruise lines' suites). I could afford it, but it just doesn't make sense to me to spend so much money for one week where I could use it for a whole month of vacation! 

 

Also everyone in this thread talks about Bella, Fantastica etc. experiences. Is this also US specific? When I do mock bookings on MSC Germany, I can choose cruise only or cruise+drink package, then I'm prompted to choose a cabin (from inside to YC). Nothing about "experiences".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I strongly agree

 

People prefer to plan and have two (or more) single cruise weeks instead of a luxurious cruise week. Does it mean it doesn't worth?. No.... it just means people can choose about intensive holidays or extensive holidays. Having more payed off holidays you think on extensive holidays.

 

About experiences... I also agree. I do not remember when booking but nowadays I have surfed and...

- web says "drinks included" (Easy pack only)

- web ask for type of cabin (as she said, from inside to YC). I guess, depending on cabin you will have one or other experience.

 

 

[notley-cruise]

1 hour ago, MyriamS said:

I think this is just because most of the people on this board are American while most of MSC customers are European. I've always had the feeling that most Americans have more money to spend than Europeans (and statistics seem to agree with me, though measuring these things aren't actually straightforward due to different currencies, purchasing power etc.) but less time for leisure. I work in large companies and my American colleagues say getting 2 weeks paid off a year is pretty good while in Europe I've never gotten fewer than 5 weeks off.

..

Also everyone in this thread talks about Bella, Fantastica etc. experiences. Is this also US specific? When I do mock bookings on MSC Germany, I can choose cruise only or cruise+drink package, then I'm prompted to choose a cabin (from inside to YC). Nothing about "experiences".

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, my wife and I discussed the American purchasing power thing after our last cruise. I'm British, she's European, and we both have colleagues in USA.  We both take something like eight weeks holiday per year, whilst US takes way less. 

For myself Europe now feels quite expensive, but the Americans don't seem to flinch at the prices.  Is the USA equally expensive ?  Do Europeans visiting the US find it expensive ?

 

As regards experiences, after selecting the cruise and drinks package, your cabin selection determines your experience, it should be the same Bella, Fantastica, Aurea experience maybe just described differently.

 

There are some interesting naunces with booking in UK, Europe, RoW vs. USA. i.e. UK bookers always have gratuities included and are offered Premium Plus drinks package at 60% discount, where France sees the gratuity listed separately, and US gets offered the Easy Plus drinks package by default. 

 

 

 

[alserrod]

12 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Hardly. The dichotomy, separation, division, even polarity between the YC and the rest of the ship is what makes the Yacht Club so much more appreciated. We got back from a Regent Seven Seas cruise on the new Grandeur in a Grand Suite having paid 3 times the price of a Royal Suite on Seaships to get cafeteria food (could not special order a grilled chicken breast without salt or oil) in Compass Rose, no reserved pergola/cabana/lounge chair on any deck, not much entertainment (three nights were only movies in the theatre), no escorts to the front of any line, no reserved table at the once a cruise Grand Barbecue, everyone is FCFS. Nothing beats MSC Yacht Clubs, not even Explora Journeys, its sister company, for butler service. The service I provide is to save you all reading here the cost of throwing good money for suites on so called luxury cruise lines that are anything but luxury when compared to MSC Yacht Clubs.

P.S. Outside the Yacht Club one enjoys the same entertainment. Get up early before 7 am and enjoy the Market Place buffet (I did a 7am video 360 degree walk about showing how beautiful and uncrowded and not picked over by the hordes that are still sleeping). Get any lounger at any pool at 7am. Buffet lunches on port days are just like breakfasts at 7 am. Some of the meals in the buffet are on the YC menu as well (these all come from the same kitchen, like Indian butter chicken). Read my Yacht Club posts. I write about the whole ship.

 

 

 

Or .... wake up quite late!!!

 

My first call will be a port where disembarkation is on tenders. I have read that there are long queues to arrive the port. One person told me he had a booked excursion that had to be quite hurry because more than one hour delay.

So... I told my family that day we will visit the city on our own. I have planned a walk through the city. An easy walk visiting the most interesting places.

And... we will wake up without using the alarm clock, we will have a pleasant breakfast (buffets open until..... 11:30!!!) and we will take the tender

 

[morpheusofthesea]

4 hours ago, no1talks said:

Regent allows in-room dining from either the room service menu or the main dining room menu during the hours of its operation.

I recommend you temper your expectations of Regent Seven Seas. " The pleasure of expecting enjoyment is often greater than that of obtaining it, and the completion of almost every wish is found a disappointment." Samuel Johnson

P.S. The only item we found to our liking on Regent was the size of the Grand Suite. If it wasn't for the sewage smell emitting from the bathroom we would give the suite a 10 out of 10 score. The cruise itself is a 5, average.

Edited May 9 by morpheusofthesea
P.S.

[ready2cruzagain]

Regular folks here. We have never sailed in the YC and probably never will. We can cruise for 3 to 4 weeks (and we do) for the price of one week in the YC.

 

I have not been on MSC boards much because we have been sailing NCL lately. Love MSC and miss it! Looking to book our 2025/2026 cruises on MSC but the Caribbean cruises have not been posted yet. MSC's food is awesome in the MDR. Compared to NCL, MSC is definitely a cut above in the food department. 

 

 

[capriccio]

14 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

They can adopt me, too…I’ll be 80 tomorrow, so won’t carry your bags as I can barely carry my own…. EM

Happy birthday!

[Two Wheels Only]

6 hours ago, no1talks said:

This is one factor that dissuades me from getting a top suite in YC. (Only one bathroom is another, but at least some YC's have the one-and-half-bath duplex suites.)

 

The Duplex Suites have 2 full bathrooms. Downstairs has a shower, toilet, and sink while upstairs has a tub/shower, toilet, and sink. 

[MsTabbyKats]

2 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

Regular folks here. We have never sailed in the YC and probably never will. We can cruise for 3 to 4 weeks (and we do) for the price of one week in the YC.

 

I have not been on MSC boards much because we have been sailing NCL lately. Love MSC and miss it! Looking to book our 2025/2026 cruises on MSC but the Caribbean cruises have not been posted yet. MSC's food is awesome in the MDR. Compared to NCL, MSC is definitely a cut above in the food department. 

 

 

IMHO...nothing tops the NCL buffet.  MSC...strictly for the pizza (in and out of YC).

[thistimeplease]

I sailed my first MSC cruise last year on the Seascape and were the Fantastica level.  We loved it, so much so we are sailing in a couple of months on the Meraviglia.  We had a great time, no wait for anything (some say we were lucky) even bar and tender.  Our room was beautiful and except for dining at a table with others we enjoyed the dining room.  We have requested with MSC that we'd like a table for 2 this coming cruise but if not we will dine in the buffet or specialty restaurants.  We had the drinks package and never had a problem getting a drink.  I don't even read the posts about YC anymore as I felt the same as you.  I can vacation several times a year instead of being in the YC. Have a great trip.

[no1talks]

34 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

The Duplex Suites have 2 full bathrooms. Downstairs has a shower, toilet, and sink while upstairs has a tub/shower, toilet, and sink. 

I'm a traditionalist and only consider a bathroom to be full if it has both tub & shower with the sink and toilet.

 

Of course, other traditionalists might correctly point out that "three-quarters" more correctly describes the lower bathroom of a YC duplex suite. I would agree, but still not use the term for two reasons:

 

• The use of "three-quarters" in the description of a bathroom leaves open the question of whether the tub or shower is omitted.

• A good many people would scratch their heads over the unfamiliar use of "three-quarters" bathroom.

 

So, I use one-and-a-half baths colloquially to convey a meaning of one bathroom being full and the other less-than.

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, no1talks said:

I also fully understand that luxury services and amenities widely provided by the likes of Regent, Seabourn, and others may mean

I do not think you do. What is advertised and what one gets are two different things. Do not know about Seabourn until we can get a closed looped cruise from South Florida, but Regent reminds me of a Henry Ford quote for having said that “Any color the customer wants, as long as it’s black.” Regent is not going out of their way to provide a quality experience you detail. Waiter could take an order, but kitchen could not deliver an order with no salt all week. 

P.S. At both specialty restaurants for lunch asked for Iceberg or Romaine lettuce. Waitress said she will have to go to the buffet to get it for us. At least she was honest. We refrained.

Edited May 9 by morpheusofthesea
ps

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

20 hours ago, yogimax said:

Yet, four out of the top 7 topics deal with the Yacht Club.  That's 57%

 

The OP has a valid point.  I feel the same way.  The implication on this board is that MSC is all about the Yacht Club.

 

That was my point.  Thank you.  

[Two Wheels Only]

11 minutes ago, no1talks said:

I'm a traditionalist and only consider a bathroom to be full if it has both tub & shower with the sink and toilet.

 

When doing that, some NCL Haven suites such as the aft-facing ones would also have to be called the same as the MSC Duplex lower bathroom.

 

Another distinction could be made if a bathroom has a separate tub and shower in the same bathroom. For example, in the aft-facing Haven suites for the BA/BA Plus ships, 2 people can shower while a 3rd person takes a bath. In the MSC Duplex, only 2 people can shower or 1 person can shower while the other takes a bath....unless someone wants to take a bath in the hot-tub on the balcony.

 

 

19 minutes ago, no1talks said:

So, I use one-and-a-half baths colloquially to convey a meaning of one bathroom being full and the other less-than.

 

I now understand what you mean and why you use the term but it can be confusing for others who might believe that everyone in the suite has to go upstairs in order to shower.

 

For people in other staterooms that only have a shower, I wouldn't say that they only have a half-bathroom. 

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

18 hours ago, Arizona Sunshine said:

Please don't conflate people who don't cruise MSC in YC with people who can't afford to. 

 

Is the Subaru driver next to you unable to afford a Lexus? Is the person you see at breakfast at the Hampton Inn dreaming of the day s/he can stay at the Four Seasons? Are the 16 people at the front of the plane all wealthier than the 160 behind them?

 

This is an excellent point.  Thank you.  

 

I was trying to stay humble, but I agree.  We are doing this cruise "on the cheap" because we are helping with our daughter's wedding, and we have two more expensive cruises coming up - Alaska and South America. 

 

My husband of 27 years told me we could onlytake a cruise this year if I met a certain number for the budget.  You'd think he'd have known better than to issue me a challenge like that. lol

 

My father loves to walk into a place where salespeople work on commission in his "farmer clothes" and be completely ignored until someone finally comes over and realizes he can, in fact, afford to be there.  We call it his "Julia Roberts move," but he did it long before Julia made it legendary.

[morpheusofthesea]

16 minutes ago, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

My husband of 27 years told me we could only take a cruise this year if I met a certain number for the budget.

I use to make the same stipulations, but those only lasted til year 5 of our marriage.

P.S. The winning wife of all time is Caroline Marie Penney, wife of J.C.Penney who after their marriage was given a note pad to write down every cent she spent. She promptly threw it in the waste bin.

Edited May 9 by morpheusofthesea
ps

[Momto3girlsintheCarolinas]

22 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

When you cruise in a few days, please share your experiences. I've read other comments where people express the need for more non-YC threads.

 

Buon viaggio!

 

I have attempted to keep this trip as inexpensive as possible.  We booked a Bella experience with an inside cabin.  We were given a free upgrade to a balcony, which makes us very happy.  We're still Bella, though and we very much have a budget for this trip.

 

I'll write a review for the "regular folks when I get back.  Our favorite line is NCL, with Royal as second.  This is the first trip on MSC.