Observations from MSC Seaside Yacht Club

[rattanchair]

     Presently sailing on MSC Seaside 7/20/19 cabin #16037 Royal Suite. The RS comes with a cabana, stocked and prepared the way you desire by your cabin butler. We lucked out and got the 'famous' Vishnu Domah you all have raved about on these CC boards.

     We arrived at the terminal F by the white tents too early, 9:30 am. We unloaded our luggage and waited with other early YC guests for staff to arrive at 10:30 and then a terminal porter to load our luggage and tip. Being under the tent helped with a little rain squall during our wait.  Escorted through security to YC lounge, same lounge as used by Celebrity Equinox in June 2019. Pictures, keycards, optional wristbands and a short wait to board as a group before everyone else. Step on board and a host of butlers ask your cabin # grab your carry-on and you are escorted to the YC elevators and given a quick lesson on how to use your key card to summon your elevator and go directly to your yacht club deck, express. There are 127 nationalities on board today and those in the YC use their key cards on these elevators without hesitation. Our butler, Vishnu, introduced himself to us and recommended that we allow him to take our carry on luggage to our room (which would not be ready until 1:00) where it would be secure and to have a seat in the Top Sail Lounge and he will escort us at 12:00, upstairs to the YC Restaurant.  We received the rest of our luggage at 2:00. Had ample time to unpack before boat drill at 4:00. Announcement made during boat drill that those who miss the boat drill today will have another mandatory boat drill tomorrow.

    Took a quick look at the YC pool deck. There are only 9 lounge chairs under a fabric canopy. I have discovered that these type of canopies offer absolutely no protection from the UV rays of the sun.

    Now we  like to think that we are very capable people, but Vishnu advised us it would be to our advantage to allow him to book all our dining and shows. He assured us he could get us our dining times at the same table with the same waiters every evening, just allow him the privilege of doing the escorting.  This is our first day on board and so far he is capable of parting the waters of the' MSC Red Sea'.

  

[mafig]

Looking forward to what I think will be a very informative review.👍

[cruisebeachgirl703]

That is good information about arriving early. Will plan accordingly for our upcoming.

Enjoy your week. Looking forward to updates as  you have them.

A quick photo of the wine list in YC would be appreciated

[rattanchair]

We went to the meet and mingle  CC party held at the Seaview Lounge. We tried to sign up before we left home, but CC closes sign up 1 week before cruise sails. MSC provides passengers with a helpful listing in the daily activity letter found on your bed the night before. All other CC members get an invitation day of embarkation. Again, asked Vishnu about not getting an invitation to CC and he said no problem he would escort us to the party. Met Captain Massa , showed us a picture of the once great Home Lines Atlantic on his phone being salvaged in some shipyard in Pakistan, bought by MSC years ago and now scrapped. MSC has something like 890 container ships and will be debuting 2- 600 passenger Yacht Club only ships, besides the 8000 passenger Grandiosa. Had our picture taken with CC group. Nice presentation. An hour later we attended similar presentation in Top Sail Lounge for Yacht Club guests.

   Vishnu showed us extra storage space for luggage under our king bed. I will try to insert photos.  There is a black strap at the center foot of the bed. It is difficult to pull upward. DW had to hold the bed up so I could take photos.

Edited July 21, 2019 by rattanchair

[rattanchair]

It is raining today. Cabana is useless, with weather like this. Sitting in Top Sail Lounge as I type my observations. On MSC Divina the YC restaurant is called Le Muse; on the Seaside it is called MSC Yacht Club Restaurant. Casino  has 10 tables, 2 of which are roulette, the rest are slots. Today only 2 tables are occupied, not a big gambling crowd. Found cabin to be very quiet, no hangers banging around in adjacent cabins. First nights show 'Timeless' was packed, very similar to Equinox's 'Topper'. Food in YC is subjective, presentation is top notch, and service has been extremely good. DW turned her head just to look over the elegant restaurant and immediately an attendant rushed over to see if she needed anything. Pianist accompanied our dining from the open air Top Sail Lounge below. This is a ship one could sail back to back to back on, not like NCL Breakaway with its never changing Haven Restaurant menus.

[rattanchair]

Dear CBG,  Here is your wine list.

[psmarkle]

We board the day you get off! Sailing in cabin 16015. If the opportunity arises, can you ask Vishnu if he tends that cabin as well? He was our amazing butler last summer when we were in cabin 16047! I've enjoyed seeing him in pics from other CC posters over the past year.

[Cruisergal1208]

Enjoying your review. Will be in 16037 for the second time in a few weeks. And Vishnu is amazing!  

[Beamafar]

Thank you for taking valuable time to do this 'live'.

 

I'd really appreciate it if you could get a photo of the wines by the glass for charge in YC.  We'll be on Meraviglia in Oct (in YC from New York) and we've upgraded to the PremiumPlus package.  I'd be interested in seeing which wines are covered by it.  TIA!

[rattanchair]

10 minutes ago, Cruisergal1208 said:

Enjoying your review. Will be in 16037 for the second time in a few weeks. And Vishnu is amazing!  

 Dear CG,  Yes, I am finding this cabin to be the most popular cabin on the Seaside, from most of the CC posters. The only disadvantage that this cabin has is its lack of privacy on this balcony. Please see photo I just took of every YC cabin on 2 decks that could be watching me typing away, if they chose at this moment to walk out on their balcony.

[Cruisergal1208]

15 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

 Dear CG,  Yes, I am finding this cabin to be the most popular cabin on the Seaside, from most of the CC posters. The only disadvantage that this cabin has is its lack of privacy on this balcony. Please see photo I just took of every YC cabin on 2 decks that could be watching me typing away, if they chose at this moment to walk out on their balcony.

So true. But we are staring right back at them🤣🤣🤣

[Cruisergal1208]

Do you think you’ll have any meals on the nice table on the balcony?  The table wasn’t there for our first time 

[cruisebeachgirl703]

1 hour ago, rattanchair said:

Dear CBG,  Here is your wine list.

 

Fantastic!!! Thanks so so much. Loving the review.

[Cruisergal1208]

You can also wave to  Captain Massa🤣🤣🤣

[CruisingFox27]

We sail on Seaside later this year, thank you for the updates looking forward to your review. 

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

Sailing on Seaside next fall (2020) and will be in one of those balconies that can stare at you!  Looking forward to sailing on this ship.

We sailed in the Royal suite on the MSC Belissima in May.  We had a fabulous time.  Unfortunately, those preference call elevators are spoilers.....as in I was so spoiled that I didn't take the stairs, like I usually would.  Result was no weight lost on that cruise!  (I can usually count on losing 5 lbs. on a cruise because of additional activity levels-----certainly not from lack of food!)

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences!  I'm following!

Karla

[dexddd]

12 hours ago, Cruisergal1208 said:

Do you think you’ll have any meals on the nice table on the balcony?  The table wasn’t there for our first time 

We never asked but were also never offered a few weeks back.  Let us know how your cabana snacks go.

 

I think Vishnu needs a well deserved vacation as do many on Seaside who seemed to have gotten extende terms..

Edited July 22, 2019 by dexddd

[George C]

Great review , I sailed home lines Atlantic about 1980 then it name changed to Melody as a msc ship in early 2000’s , we sail Seaside in November in yacht club.

[rattanchair]

16 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Thank you for taking valuable time to do this 'live'.

 

I'd really appreciate it if you could get a photo of the wines by the glass for charge in YC.  We'll be on Meraviglia in Oct (in YC from New York) and we've upgraded to the PremiumPlus package.  I'd be interested in seeing which wines are covered by it.  TIA!

Dear Bea, How can anyone on the CC boards refuse you for all the help you give us !  You can do me a great favor by taking a photo of the deluxe YC 163 sq ft balcony on the Meraviglia. The Royal is booked and I have to settle for a YC deluxe. I want to know if MSC provides guests 2 lounge type chairs that recline, Christmas . Thank you. I might have to book a cabana for the week.

[rattanchair]

16 hours ago, Cruisergal1208 said:

Do you think you’ll have any meals on the nice table on the balcony?  The table wasn’t there for our first time 

Dear CG, I just asked DW that question. She said not if she doesn't have to. She loves the air conditioned comfort of the YC Restaurant.  I just love to sit on the toweled lounge and type away in the breezy shade.

[rattanchair]

15 hours ago, Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin said:

Sailing on Seaside next fall (2020) and will be in one of those balconies that can stare at you!  Looking forward to sailing on this ship.

We sailed in the Royal suite on the MSC Belissima in May.  We had a fabulous time.  Unfortunately, those preference call elevators are spoilers.....as in I was so spoiled that I didn't take the stairs, like I usually would.  Result was no weight lost on that cruise!  (I can usually count on losing 5 lbs. on a cruise because of additional activity levels-----certainly not from lack of food!)

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences!  I'm following!

Karla

Dear Karla,  Funny you mentioned the elevators the way you did. We only take the elevator when DW has heels on, which is most evenings. We were just commenting on not being able to lose weight this cruise because of that perk. We have to force ourselves to take the stairs.

[rattanchair]

17 hours ago, psmarkle said:

We board the day you get off! Sailing in cabin 16015. If the opportunity arises, can you ask Vishnu if he tends that cabin as well? He was our amazing butler last summer when we were in cabin 16047! I've enjoyed seeing him in pics from other CC posters over the past year.

Dear PS, Brought your question to Vishnu's attention. No he is not going to be your butler, but assured me to tell you that his fellow butlers will take good care of you. He asked for your name and I told him PS Markle and that you had him last year and were looking forward to having him again. Also that you were a fellow CC poster extraordinaire.

[rattanchair]

1 hour ago, George C said:

Great review , I sailed home lines Atlantic about 1980 then it name changed to Melody as a msc ship in early 2000’s , we sail Seaside in November in yacht club.

Dear George,  We used to sail back to back, Christmas and New Years every year on Home Lines Atlantic. It was like coming home, same staff same passengers. Vishnu will be on vacation in October, but plans to return in December.

[Jossie1960]

Hi Rattanchair.........please could you check if the Roulette wheels are European or US i.e. does the wheel have 0 and 00.    Thanks looking forward to reading your review, have a great cruise.......

Edited July 22, 2019 by Jossie1960

[Beamafar]

Dear Bea, How can anyone on the CC boards refuse you for all the help you give us !  You can do me a great favor by taking a photo of the deluxe YC 163 sq ft balcony on the Meraviglia. The Royal is booked and I have to settle for a YC deluxe. I want to know if MSC provides guests 2 lounge type chairs that recline, Christmas . Thank you. I might have to book a cabana for the week.

Thank you so much, RC, for both the photo and your lovely comments! [emoji9]

 

We had a YC deluxe on Mera back in June 2017 so I can return the favour now with a couple of photos of the cabin (#18012):

 

 

We found it wonderfully spacious, but the chairs didn't recline, I'm afraid (you may be able to make out the ones that were on the balcony in the second photo).

 

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