Back from Seaview...Attempting to Answer Burning Questions...Ask away

[2013cruiser2013]

First things first...Everyone has been asking about what drink package is included in Yacht Club. We were never charged for anything outside the Yacht Club, though we aren’t top shelf drinkers. Our cards were marked YCE.  I asked about Nicolas Feuillate champagne at Le Bistrot L’Etellier. The bartender scanned my card and it was included.  I’ll add a picture I took from that menu as well as the TopSail drink menu. 

 

Second...Venchi...No question that gelato is included. We booked before November 2018, but I don’t think that had anything to do with it. As soon as they saw our Yacht club wristbands, it was an immediate yes. We had it several times T the back pool location, from deck 6 and also the Jungle pool. The cocktails were not included at the Venchi bar on deck 6. I never saw anybody drinking them either. We never inquired about crepes. 

 

We arrived at the port at 11:00. Butlers weren’t there to greet us, so the porter helped tag our luggage and an MSC person escorted us up to our checkin lounge. We waited about 15 minutes, and were onboard. No real orientation in the YC lounge like last year. We waited about 10 minutes and our butler led us to our cabin. He explained a bit about his role. 

 

Crew is about 30% Brazilian. I think they were still adjusting to the culture of the clientele of the newly positioned ship. I think it’s tough to go from catering to mainly one nationality and language to  the wide variety on our sailing. Italians, French, Swiss, German, Chinese, Japanese, and a handful of English speakers among many others I probably missed. This was most evident in the YC dining room. 

 

I was surprised at the number of kids in the YC. There were far more than on our Easter break sailing last year. Not all were well behaved. Kids will be kids I guess. 

 

Laundry...We had the 20 piece package we had prepaid. No issue doing it in small batches rather than all at once. 

 

Butlers... My feeling is that they are spread too thin to consistently deliver the service I think MSC is advertising. 

 

YC pool grill food was enjoyable, especially because of Fabio, one of the cooks. When we asked for something, no seafood in pasta sauce, he delivered. They will grill to order rotating proteins every day. They also had a different carving protein, made to order pastas, soups and sides along with salad etc. All tasted great, but could have been warmer. 

 

YC dining room...food was a definite upgrade over Meraviglia last year. I never had anything I didn’t like. Soups were piping hot, but other courses were hit and miss on temperature. Portions are small, but enabled me to have soup, appetizer, risotto and a main protein every night. I didn’t take pictures of the menus. 

 

YC is still an amazing product. We loved relaxing by the YC pool and being able to return to the tranquility of the enclave after having to navigate the business of rest of the ship. It was packed. I’m already scouting our next opportunity. 

 

We didn’t go to any shows, so can’t comment on that. 

 

We did 1 MSC tour to Lucca and a winery when we were in La Spezia. We prepaid before sailing. We really enjoyed the tour. 

 

There’s lots I didn’t touch on, so feel free to ask. 

[kittinfeld1966]

Thanks for the info!  Do you know if the chat and/or people locator function was working on the "MSC for me" app during your sailing?  

[kodesthemoose]

Thanks for the review! Sad to hear about Venchi cocktails not being included, I was totally looking forward to a chocolate martini there!  Where did you board ? Did you find you had time to enjoy the ship even though there’s one port every day?  

[2013cruiser2013]

6 hours ago, kittinfeld1966 said:

Thanks for the info!  Do you know if the chat and/or people locator function was working on the "MSC for me" app during your sailing?  

It wasn’t. 

[2013cruiser2013]

6 hours ago, kodesthemoose said:

Thanks for the review! Sad to hear about Venchi cocktails not being included, I was totally looking forward to a chocolate martini there!  Where did you board ? Did you find you had time to enjoy the ship even though there’s one port every day?  

We boarded in Genoa. We ‘ve been to many of the ports before, so for us we got off to explore and then headed back to the ship for lunch on th YC pool grille in most ports. We enjoy the tranquility of the YC. Cannes was a cool and cloudy day, so we went to the spa to use the thermal areas.  Palma and Corsica have later arrival times, so that helps with having more relaxed mornings and time to enjoy the sail in.

[Beamafar]

Thanks for the report.  We're looking forward to trying YC on Seaview in Aug/Sept.  Was there a sommelier in the restaurant, and, if so, was he attentive?  How were the wine offerings?

[2013cruiser2013]

4 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Thanks for the report.  We're looking forward to trying YC on Seaview in Aug/Sept.  Was there a sommelier in the restaurant, and, if so, was he attentive?  How were the wine offerings?

No sommelier in the YC restaurant. There were 2 reds and 2 whites available every night that were included. We were always satisfied with the included offerings. 

[Never too young to cruise]

Thanks for the information in your post. Can I ask how many theme nights there are? Eg formal night, white party etc. Thanks.

[Beamafar]

1 hour ago, 2013cruiser2013 said:

No sommelier in the YC restaurant. There were 2 reds and 2 whites available every night that were included. We were always satisfied with the included offerings. 

 

Thanks for that.  I'm disappointed to hear that there was no sommelier;  if that's the case in Aug, it'll be the first time we haven't had one in YC.  I'd read reports that there hadn't been one in YC on Seaside.  Looks like another MSC cutback.

 

I was curious if they were still only offering a choice of 2 reds and 2 whites in the YC restaurant.  By right, you're entitled to choose any of the included wines that are on the Premium list.  I always got to choose from the list when in steerage and we had the Deluxe package.

 

When we were in YC on Splendida last year, I asked for my favourite red, Cicogna Cabernet (which would have been included).  Our waiter told us that there was only a choice of 2 and that the one I liked might be available some other night as part of the choices, but that it wasn't on that particular night.  For the next couple of nights (it was a 28 night cruise) I got the wine I wanted from the wine bar and brought it up to the restaurant.  The sommelier asked why I was doing this;  when I told him he said that there was no problem with me having the wine of my choice and, from then, it was always available to me.

 

We'll have the PremiumPlus package, so would have liked to have had a sommelier to make recommendations from the included wine selection.

[2013cruiser2013]

2 hours ago, Never too young to cruise said:

Thanks for the information in your post. Can I ask how many theme nights there are? Eg formal night, white party etc. Thanks.

2 elegant nights, though people tended as a whole not to get too dressed up. I saw 2 tuxedoes in the YC. My husband wore a jacket and dress shirt. I like to wear cocktail dresses. We got on in Genoa, so our first night turned out to be the first one. They called Barcelona the “home” port even thought guests embarked in most ports. They also had a white party and 60’s. 

[Merdera]

Thank you, simple question, coca cola or pepsi here in the med area?

[elbarney]

19 hours ago, 2013cruiser2013 said:

No sommelier in the YC restaurant. There were 2 reds and 2 whites available every night that were included. We were always satisfied with the included offerings. 

In our sailing there was woman that seemed to be the sommelier. I say seemed because she never spoke to us, as I suppose there were more important guests 🙂 Maybe the same happened to you?

 

[Beamafar]

Elbarney ... you also had a different experience to that of the OP in relation to the Venchi venue where you weren't charged for items.

[hamrag]

19 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

Thanks for that.  I'm disappointed to hear that there was no sommelier;  if that's the case in Aug, it'll be the first time we haven't had one in YC.  I'd read reports that there hadn't been one in YC on Seaside.  Looks like another MSC cutback.

 

We'll have the PremiumPlus package, so would have liked to have had a sommelier to make recommendations from the included wine selection.

 

A suggestion.....take this up with the YC Director, or Head Butler and ask them for the person (sommelier, or otherwise) who can provide the best wine expertise available onboard. As a minimum, you can select your preferred wines from the Connoisseur Menu each day and ask the Head Butler to ensure such bottle(s) is/are delivered to the Restaurant for your consumption. You are entitled to that with P+.

[Beamafar]

Thanks, G!  That's a really good suggestion.  We'll be on Seaview with another couple who won't have Prem+ so it may be a little tricky in the restaurant.

 

However, there will be 4 of us on Meraviglia with the upgraded package, so that will be more straightforward.

Edited May 3, 2019 by Beamafar

[hamrag]

1 minute ago, Beamafar said:

Thanks, G!  That's a really good suggestion.  We'll be on Seaview with another couple who won't have Prem+ but it may be a little tricky in the restaurant.....

 

 

I would keep 'mum' on that situation, find out which wine they prefer and have the butler deliver both bottles....I really don't think anyone serving in the restaurant would care!

[Beamafar]

Having a sommelier would certainly make things easier, for sure.

[2013cruiser2013]

8 hours ago, Merdera said:

Thank you, simple question, coca cola or pepsi here in the med area?

Both. Pepsi products in mini fridge. Coke Zero on YC Pool deck. 

[annster31]

Since you got on the ship in Genoa where did you do the safety drill? Was there a party by the YC pool one night like i think I read on the Seaside?

[2013cruiser2013]

6 hours ago, annster31 said:

Since you got on the ship in Genoa where did you do the safety drill? Was there a party by the YC pool one night like i think I read on the Seaside?

We did the safety drill in Genoa. There wasn't a party by the YC pool, though most nights were too cool for much outdoor enjoyment. 

[George C]

Wine list looks mediocre at best , can you upgrade to higher end wines for a additional price. Really looking forward to our yacht club but we are picking about wine selection. Normally cruise rccl and get drink package and pay a few dollars extra for a better glass of wine. Thanks 

[2013cruiser2013]

1 hour ago, George C said:

Wine list looks mediocre at best , can you upgrade to higher end wines for a additional price. Really looking forward to our yacht club but we are picking about wine selection. Normally cruise rccl and get drink package and pay a few dollars extra for a better glass of wine. Thanks 

We never asked because we were good with what was included. 

[Beamafar]

6 hours ago, George C said:

Wine list looks mediocre at best , can you upgrade to higher end wines for a additional price. Really looking forward to our yacht club but we are picking about wine selection. Normally cruise rccl and get drink package and pay a few dollars extra for a better glass of wine. Thanks 

 

You can upgrade the included YC package to Premium+ for a better selection of wines.  It will depend on which region you're sailing what will be available.

 

Here's the wine selection on the + package in YC on Euros ships (courtesy of SirWolf):

 

 

If you choose not to upgrade, you will pay 15% service charge when buying by the glass.

 

If you upgrade before sailing you will avoid the 15% which is added to the upgrade cost when done onboard.

[George C]

2 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

You can upgrade the included YC package to Premium+ for a better selection of wines.  It will depend on which region you're sailing what will be available.

 

Here's the wine selection on the + package in YC on Euros ships (courtesy of SirWolf):

 

 

If you choose not to upgrade, you will pay 15% service charge when buying by the glass.

 

If you upgrade before sailing you will avoid the 15% which is added to the upgrade cost when done onboard.

Thanks we will upgrade when we get closer to sailing date 

[sailco]

Also just off the Seaview but Fantastica Experience with a pre purchased easy beverage package. Very different experience to sailing Yacht Club of course. This was our first MSC cruise but we were status matched to a black card.

 

Our cruise was Barcelona return with a new port every day. This is quite tiring if you want to explore. We took 3 ship's excursions and they were the best we've ever taken with any cruise line.

 

We were disappointed with the food in the MDR. Uninteresting and tasteless. Ate one night in Ocean Cay and the food came hot, beautifully presented and full of flavour.

 

We didn't find the easy beverage package to be as bad as some people say. There was a nice pinot grigio and cabernet savignon. Not a great beer choice with Heinikin being MSC preferred beer. If you like it you'll be happy. Lots of wonderful coffee, juice and water.

 

We found the crew a bit unhappy and that reflected in their approach to the passengers. Happy to answer questions.