New booking on MSC, couple questions

[nasellemom1]

Hey everyone. We just booked a 7 day Mediterranean on the Divina for August 23', we will be in the YC leaving out of Civitavecchia. 

A couple questions;

1. I just put down the deposit for now, is it normal to not see any information in my booking? I cannot even see what room # we booked, the only options are to upgrade our drink package, which I thought we get anyway for booking in YC? 

2. What are the main differences between YC and say Haven on NCL (since that's what we've sailed) I noticed a quite large difference in price, MSC being much less? 

3 What is the vibe like for kids in the YC, mine will be 13 & 11 when we sail, they are veteran cruisers, so they know how to behave. But do many cruisers look down on kids in the YC.

4. Is there any advice you would give, this is our first European cruise. Is there any huge differences between a US and European cruise. 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[phissy]

Welcome to the world of MSC.

We have sailed both NCL and MSC. MSC can be very frustrating to deal with landslide. Once onboard, it is wonderful.

NCL is good with landslide issues but, we were disappointed with onboard experience. Items in reservation not followed through onboard.

We have done 3 cruises with MSC, one in the Mediterranean.

Last was in November, Caribbean.

Just returned from NCL Haven cruise to Alaska, Bliss. We are Sapphire with NCL, so lots of cruises.

Hard not to compare Haven to YC while onboard. We felt that food, menus, drinks were much better on MSC. NCL seems to be in the mode of reducing costs.

 

[JAGR]

Since you are over a year out, and there is uncertainty with COVID, I doubt you will see excursions for some time. As an example, we have a cruise this October, and itineraries are still showing as being planned for some ports.  The drink upgrade offer is standard, but you are correct in that you won't need it.  On the MSC page, you will see a number of comparisons to Haven.  I think they are comparable, but give the edge overall to MSC.  More variety in dining choices in the YC restaurant, better butler and cabin service, much more space and comfort in the One Pool.  Don't have young ones, but MSC is family oriented.

[phissy]

Answering your questions.

1. MSC will take some time to get your cruise info posted. 
You will learn to navigate site, which is clunky. 
Also, be aware, that your deposit is non refundable for YC. 
Yes, MSC will still try to upsell  you for items you already have in YC. Just ignore.

2. Answered in previous post.  One addition. You get complementary access to Thermal Spa area. I really enjoyed this when we did first cruise. With Covid, perhaps they will limit rooms available.

3. kids will do fine. They will probably enjoy going out of YC to main pool area with other kids and sports.

4. More European passengers but, we enjoyed this.
Proper afternoon tea in YC lounge . Lots of good food.

 

Enjoy.

[no1talks]

Here is something I don't think you've experienced in NCL's Haven...

 

The Yacht Club dining room (Le Muse) on Divina is nearly all the way aft on Deck 15. Yacht Club proper is situated nearly all the way forward, on decks 15 and up. Accordingly, you'll have a bit of a jaunt to take for your YC meals. Some folks like the "meal walk" and other YCers prefer the layout on newer ships, with the YC dining room included in the Yacht Club enclave.

 

Edited May 20, 2022 by no1talks

[mscdivina2016]

7 hours ago, nasellemom1 said:

Hey everyone. We just booked a 7 day Mediterranean on the Divina for August 23', we will be in the YC leaving out of Civitavecchia. 

A couple questions;

1. I just put down the deposit for now, is it normal to not see any information in my booking? I cannot even see what room # we booked, the only options are to upgrade our drink package, which I thought we get anyway for booking in YC? 

2. What are the main differences between YC and say Haven on NCL (since that's what we've sailed) I noticed a quite large difference in price, MSC being much less? 

3 What is the vibe like for kids in the YC, mine will be 13 & 11 when we sail, they are veteran cruisers, so they know how to behave. But do many cruisers look down on kids in the YC.

4. Is there any advice you would give, this is our first European cruise. Is there any huge differences between a US and European cruise. 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

It may take some time for info to appear on their pos website. Lousy!!

Don't ever call CS otherwise there is a huge chance they will mess it up. Worst CS in the industry.

 

You get premium booze package included.

 

Main differences depend on your needs. I don't want a Butler or some of the other services that are important.

I have done 5 YC sailings since December and there was no vibe for teens. They will want to be outside of YC. If they behave they won't be looked down on. We pay allot of money for a better experience.

 

Difference between US and European cruises....... depends. I have done cruises all over the world and depending on the passengers on your cruise makes a difference.

Biggest thing I found was English is not the primary language.  You will probably find Italian to be primary. As a rule only 2 English tv channels.

Even casino takes different currency.

Entertainment may be foreign to you as well as the passenger mix. You could be part of a handful of English speaking people. Again, depends on mix.

 

We did the Seaview last month out of St. Martin.

It was a French cruise but most spoke English and it was heavy British.

 If the ship is your transportation you will be fine. If it's the destination that may be another thing.

 We have been on cruises where only two other people spoke English .

 

keep in mind most live music will be in Italian if that's the major passenger mix.

 

seeing the world is great, but if the above bothers you, next time book major USA cruise lines and it's English any where in the world.

We bring a DVD player with us and a series to watch.

[dexddd]

Main difference vs Haven is Haven rooms tend to be larger but service on MSC way better.  Plus price.

 

Divina has a slide outside YC but it is tame.  The Jungle Pool area is just outside YC and is cool with movable roof. Kids will probably enjoy snacks and drinks by YC pool.  The pool is not big though.

 

How big are your kids?  The sofa beds are small, maybe between a twin and a double??

 

We did several late night pizza parties.  Their pizza is great.  One warning though, we ordered a sausage pizza (was not on menu) and they used Jones Dairy Farm breakfast sausage which I guess is technically sausage.

 

 

[Zephyr173]

22 hours ago, no1talks said:

Here is something I don't think you've experienced in NCL's Haven...

 

The Yacht Club dining room (Le Muse) on Divina is nearly all the way aft on Deck 15. Yacht Club proper is situated nearly all the way forward, on decks 15 and up. Accordingly, you'll have a bit of a jaunt to take for your YC meals. Some folks like the "meal walk" and other YCers prefer the layout on newer ships, with the YC dining room included in the Yacht Club enclave.

 

I totally enjoyed the pre and post-meal walks, especially if weather permitted the outside walk.  I also was quite deliberate in walking on the port side, as I would «accidentally »bump into the Di Sarrono bar, just for a quick amaretto sour as a cocktail, then just a quick left and you're at Le Muse.

[nasellemom1]

On 5/20/2022 at 12:53 PM, no1talks said:

Here is something I don't think you've experienced in NCL's Haven...

 

The Yacht Club dining room (Le Muse) on Divina is nearly all the way aft on Deck 15. Yacht Club proper is situated nearly all the way forward, on decks 15 and up. Accordingly, you'll have a bit of a jaunt to take for your YC meals. Some folks like the "meal walk" and other YCers prefer the layout on newer ships, with the YC dining room included in the Yacht Club enclave.

 

I did notice this, thankfully we enjoy a good walk before and after meals. I am curious as to why they chose this layout. 

[lovemycruisetoo]

According to the YC manager on the Divina which we were on very recently, this was the first ship to try out a Yacht Club experience so that had to use what they had available. 

[JAGR]

36 minutes ago, lovemycruisetoo said:

According to the YC manager on the Divina which we were on very recently, this was the first ship to try out a Yacht Club experience so that had to use what they had available. 

Interesting!  False, but interesting!  The Divina launched in 2012.  The Fantasia, launched in 2008, had the first YC.  Who is the current YC manager on board the Divina?  Hopefully, very new!  The Splendida also predates Divina, and has a  YC. 

Edited May 23, 2022 by JAGR

[RudiRatlos]

afaik the Fantasia class YC restaurant was originally planned as a specialty restaurant.

[JAGR]

1 hour ago, RudiRatlos said:

afaik the Fantasia class YC restaurant was originally planned as a specialty restaurant.

It may have been, but L'Etoile was the Yacht Club Restaurant in the summer of 2009 I know.  As with "Firsts," there are all kinds of stories.  My point is that Divina was not first (or second, for that matter) as an MSC ship with YC.

 

Edited May 23, 2022 by JAGR

[luvmylilangels]

Be sure to visit the European Ports boards on here to get the most recent information on the ports you will be stopping at. Lots of tips and advice over there. They helped me out greatly when planning out our first Mediterranean cruise. They are very helpful.  

[deliver42]

If the weather is bad, just go to deck 7 and proceed to the rear elevators and go up to 15. LeMuse is right there.

[perakcruiser]

On 5/20/2022 at 11:35 PM, nasellemom1 said:

3 What is the vibe like for kids in the YC, mine will be 13 & 11 when we sail, they are veteran cruisers, so they know how to behave. But do many cruisers look down on kids in the YC.

This is a company from Italy that behaves like a company from Italy. Anyone who "looks down on kids" will be thrown overboard. "Bambini first" is the overall motto. But your kids probably will have more fun in the Teens club than in YC.

[dexddd]

NCL's oldest ship has suites and something they have been plan, do, learn, adjust with each new ship.  That old ship vintage 1998.  MSC much later to game but newer YC ships are all in one for YC.

 

You can also go out of YC down to 13 passenger deck, go aft, then back up stairs to Le Muse.