Surprised that YC remains so cheap relative to NCL Haven

[pettums]

We booked on MSC for two cruises in the Western Med in 2018 on the Fantasia and Merigavalia. We did so because the YC seemed amazing value relative to the NCL Haven. It was around $7k relative to $10k for our party of 6.  What was remarkable too is that it was so cheap given that we had to book two cabins in YC rather than all sharing a suite as we do on NCL. For a couple it must seem a huge bargain relative to a haven suite on NCL. It was also remarkable because if you made the same booking for YC from the UK MSC website it was around $13k, so it seemed clear they had big discounts for the USA. 

 

Now we didn't love MSC (though the ports were amazing) and I personally vowed to not go on it again, but I think we are tempted to do so in 2021 for their Brazilian itinerary which looks superb. I was expecting that the prices for US folks would have risen in the last 3 years. But I just made a booking and it still seemed remarkably cheap relative to NCL haven/suites. Just really an observational post. But I am surprised that they haven't raised prices for YC now they are more established in the US market and because (as is clear on this forum) the YC has generated so much positive buzz in the US.

 

 (It is also far cheaper than regular oceanview cabins on DCL and  sky/star class on RCI but that is less surprising to me given how established their brands are)

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Dear Pettums,

 

SHHHHHH😉
You do realize that the execs from MSC read these posts religiously.  While all of us who are YC aficionados know what you are saying is true...why wave the red flag in front of the bull??  Mums the word...or should I say, Mumms the word??😋

[Nunagoras]

Well: Good evening, first of all!...

 

Generally smaller accommodations on the YC compared to the ones on the Haven do come with lower prices despite the perks.

 

Furthermore: Their Brazilian itineraries are quite unique at certain extent. MSC has the most modern fleet of the whole mainstream cruise market doing that region even compared with the other Italian flavored Costa Lines, so things are not even directly comparable!... Every other of the big mainstream lines usually sail that area with those smaller ships with some 20 years or perhaps more in service while MSC goes with their current flagships or the ones near them, so, perhaps, no Havens available to book there!... So; as I use to say: If you have found one of those "deals of a lifetime" go for it. It might not to repeat!... I did one of those cruises, actually the TA from Brazil to Portugal and I pretty much enjoyed it!... Bear in mind though you'll have lots of Portuguese speaking language folks aboard... They might very well to be the most of them all!...

 

Have a nice day and nice sailings!... 🙂

[Formula280SS]

1 hour ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Dear Pettums,

 

SHHHHHH😉
You do realize that the execs from MSC read these posts religiously.  While all of us who are YC aficionados know what you are saying is true...why wave the red flag in front of the bull??  Mums the word...or should I say, Mumms the word??😋

 

🤐🤐😉

[Zephyr173]

For my part, I find that YC is good value for money but in no way cheap. While we are in neither vagrants nor homeless, choosing YC over lesser accommodations means other stuff is set aside in the budget.  Pet food, for example, is now shared between the dogs and us, and water is rationed. 
 

We look forward to our next YC cruise for our next full meal.

 

😜

[Two Wheels Only]

Yacht  Club prices have risen but Haven prices (which were already higher) have risen more.

[frank808]

YC prices while still relatively "cheap" compared to our line of choice.  The prices have gone up about 50% for my cruises in 2020 compared to 2018. 

 

YC1 in July 2018 was about $4500 each week for the 3 of us.  Our YC1 June 2020 cruise is running right around $6800 a week for 3. 

 

Still a great value in my eyes but the prices are rising.

[psmarkle]

Yes, we too have noticed YC prices have increased, but still cheaper than NCL Haven.  We are booked for our third Seaside YC cruise this spring for right at the same price we paid for last summer's YC Seaside cruise.  However, this year's cruise was booked with a 30% casino discount + Voyagers Club 5% discount to come out at the same price point.  Having said that, NCL Haven is pretty close to 2X the price for the same cruise itinerary.  We luv NCL, but we LUV MSC YC experience sooo much more!

[gmbhardy]

You really can’t generalize and compare “the Haven” with “the YC” in many respects including value. It depends on the ship, the itinerary, the time of year and the category of cabin booked. For instance the Getaway Haven and the Bliss Haven are quite different and I assume the same is true of the YC on different MSC ships (I’ve only sailed in the Seaside YC). Comparing the Getaway Haven with the Seaside YC, the Seaside wins hand down. A more fair comparison would be between the Seaside YC and the Bliss/Joy/ Encore Havens. Generally speaking the YC represents better value but there are deals to be had. I recently sailed in the Escape Haven in a Courtyard cabin for a less expensive rate than I’ve sailed in a deluxe suite in the Seaside YC. I don’t consider either rate “cheap”.

[sverigecruiser]

 

Maybe the Aponte family is less greedy than NCL!  As a family business, even if it's big, MSC can be managed in a different way. Maybe maximum profit isn't the only priority.

 

They could probably raise the prices  more but for some reason they haven't done it, get.

[sverigecruiser]

1 hour ago, sverigecruiser said:

get.

 

 

yet

[sverigecruiser]

6 hours ago, gmbhardy said:

You really can’t generalize and compare “the Haven” with “the YC” in many respects including value. It depends on the ship, the itinerary, the time of year and the category of cabin booked. For instance the Getaway Haven and the Bliss Haven are quite different and I assume the same is true of the YC on different MSC ships (I’ve only sailed in the Seaside YC). Comparing the Getaway Haven with the Seaside YC, the Seaside wins hand down. A more fair comparison would be between the Seaside YC and the Bliss/Joy/ Encore Havens. Generally speaking the YC represents better value but there are deals to be had. I recently sailed in the Escape Haven in a Courtyard cabin for a less expensive rate than I’ve sailed in a deluxe suite in the Seaside YC. I don’t consider either rate “cheap”.

 

I agree with you but...

 

A few days ago we booked a one week cruise on MSC Seashore from Barcelona July 9, 2021. A courtyard penthouse on the Epic 2 days later should cost almost $2500 more. (A spa suite should cost a little less but since that's not located within the Haven that's not a fair comparision, I think.) NCL is NOT worth that much more.

[TrinaLC]

Also, I find that NCL prices the Haven at a sucker’s rate which is then heavily discounted through its bidding program ... which is why I no longer sail NCL. I want to pick my room and pay a fair rack rate, not “hope” to “win” a random room. 
 

[gmbhardy]

3 hours ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

 NCL is NOT worth that much more.

 

Totally agree.

[gmbhardy]

3 hours ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

 NCL is NOT worth that much more.

 

Totally agree.

[xcell]

YC prices have gone up if you are travelling with 3rd and 4th passengers (like my kids). Before it was only taxes and port fees but within the year, it has increased about an extra $1000-2000 (total).

 

Still less expensive than the Haven.

[Linda the Book Lover]

16 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Yacht  Club prices have risen but Haven prices (which were already higher) have risen more.

The Haven once our place of relaxation has switched to the YC for the DH and myself.

[Linda the Book Lover]

2 hours ago, TrinaLC said:

Also, I find that NCL prices the Haven at a sucker’s rate which is then heavily discounted through its bidding program ... which is why I no longer sail NCL. I want to pick my room and pay a fair rack rate, not “hope” to “win” a random room. 
 

I have to admit to being disenchanted with the bidding option and the knowledge we would pay way more for a cabin when we booked. But we sucked it up because we chose the cabin we wanted and was satisfied. We tried MSC YC and liked it so we booked again. Not saying we will not sail in the Haven again but most likely not. 

[pettums]

I have always just booked a suite at NCL directly without bidding. We have mainly sailed on NCL out of Boston to Bermuda. And on those cruises all the suites do tend to sell out during the summer months even at the "sucker rates". So typically you are paying around $12-14k for a 7 night cruise in a 2-bedroom suite. And that would be on the Gem which is an old ship.

Though that seems high it often seem a better value than DCL. On DCL for a 7-night cruise in two oceanview rooms we are paying around $13k on the Fantasy. 

 

I don't mean to suggest that YC is cheap in an absolute sense. Just that its pricing is cheap or apparently good-value compared to other lines for us even though we are getting two cabins. So it must seem great value relatively if you are a couple.  And I had thought that their plan must be to bring the pricing up into line with the other lines at some point. But they don't seem to have done that yet. 

 

 

 

 

[Cruising89143]

We sailed on the Bliss in October in the Haven. While the suite that we booked was very nice (huge aft balcony) we felt that the overall cruise product was not worth  the price paid. Much more than what we’re paying for the YC on the Grandiosa out of Barcelona in the spring. NCL was nice but we won’t be running back soon. Even though booked in the Haven we felt that they always had their hand out for more. They seem to be the king of the nickel and diming.

[Hobby3333]

2 hours ago, cruisingator2 said:

We sailed on the Bliss in October in the Haven. While the suite that we booked was very nice (huge aft balcony) we felt that the overall cruise product was not worth  the price paid. Much more than what we’re paying for the YC on the Grandiosa out of Barcelona in the spring. NCL was nice but we won’t be running back soon. Even though booked in the Haven we felt that they always had their hand out for more. They seem to be the king of the nickel and diming.

I have sailed Seaside the last two years in YC and IMO it is a good value for the price.  So much so that we booked today for July in YC.  We were booked for a really nice AI in Mexico and I had already booked the airfare on AA.  Lost some money on airfare but there is not a better vacation for me and my wife.  

[sverigecruiser]

6 hours ago, xcell said:

YC prices have gone up if you are travelling with 3rd and 4th passengers (like my kids). Before it was only taxes and port fees but within the year, it has increased about an extra $1000-2000 (total).

 

 

For me that's a good thing because that may mean even less children in the Yacht Club! 

[Fogfog]

YC prices have gone up

They don't restrict kids... (adults only) Wish is was adults only

They have made cutbacks on the premium package as well as the minibar in the room 

Food and service can be spotty

Some rave about it. Some gripe

Prices on many lines have skyrocketed 

 

The poor reviews of Havens dining room (small, waiting for tables etc) turned us away

 

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by Fogfog

[JP82]

I feel like MSC are still brand building and growing their product. In the grand scheme of the big lines they are still the new kid on the block. I think in terms of value for money we are passengers are enjoying a Golden period whilst they build their product, fleet and loyalty. I don't think we'll be so lucky in a year or two.

[Hobby3333]

24 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

YC prices have gone up

They don't restrict kids... (adults only) Wish is was adults only

They have made cutbacks on the premium package as well as the minibar in the room 

Food and service can be spotty

Some rave about it. Some gripe

Prices on many lines have skyrocketed 

 

The poor reviews of Havens dining room (small, waiting for tables etc) turned us away

 

 

Cutback in minibar?  The first time I sailed YC people on CC were talking about cutbacks in drinks, zip line, crepes and gelato.  We were lucky and got everything.  Last year it was only the free zip line that was missing.  But, I think the service was better the second time.  Very difficult to discuss dining because taste are so different.  We also enjoyed the food more the second cruise.   Guess I will only know for sure in July