Why choose MSC Yacht Club? Is it worth it?

[defbref]

I was under the impression it was the browse only, as well, but when I was in the Med in YC on Grandiosa in May, I did watch some youtube on my phone, which I wouldn't have expected to be able to do, if it was browse only.

 

Yes I was on Wifi and not using my own mobile network.

 

YMMV

 

 

 

[Nunagoras]

Many thanks to the nice description, even though as the others have lovely corrected some of the details of the experience.

 

Excuse me, but I wouldn't directly to relate the price difference from an regular cabin to an YC only based on set price plus drinks package and Internet packages. Actually you're paying for different hotel experiences in the same ship! I'm a non drinker myself and interested to disconnect once onboard, but if I'm celebrating such a mark of life, I'd gladly to chose an YC cabin for said cruise with no doubt!... Only one can determine when or whether it is worth or not. For a special occasion; yes it's worth for me!

 

Price wise, YC for me, and for the most part on a regular holiday scheduling is becoming too overpriced, but that is me. Even those wonderful off-season YIN deals are being less prevalent as times go. I believe the experience to be worth some 20-25% above a regular Fantastica level balcony. Pretty much everyone gets a nice drinks package from where I live nowadays on your basic fare, so I will leave that as that... And balcony Fantastica to balcony YC is nearly double if not triple the price, depending on sailing! Of course I wouldn't to downgrade from a balcony to YC just to have the extra perks... Even Aurea as it is now is even more overpriced for what it gives. It gives really little bit more than Fantastica, but their prices should have been YC ones!... Aurea for me is a definite no go! To each its own. For me YC will remain a dream, perhaps to be taken on a special occasion. Yeah, I may be able to do so, if prices don't raise to the moon, but it would be a once in a lifetime. Such a Fantastica balcony suffixes for me most of the times at a price that I feel gives value to the actual product.

 

Have a nice day!...

[2cruiseluvrs]

2 minutes ago, Nunagoras said:

Many thanks to the nice description, even though as the others have lovely corrected some of the details of the experience.

 

Excuse me, but I wouldn't directly to relate the price difference from an regular cabin to an YC only based on set price plus drinks package and Internet packages. Actually you're paying for different hotel experiences in the same ship! I'm a non drinker myself and interested to disconnect once onboard, but if I'm celebrating such a mark of life, I'd gladly to chose an YC cabin for said cruise with no doubt!... Only one can determine when or whether it is worth or not. For a special occasion; yes it's worth for me!

 

Price wise, YC for me, and for the most part on a regular holiday scheduling is becoming too overpriced, but that is me. Even those wonderful off-season YIN deals are being less prevalent as times go. I believe the experience to be worth some 20-25% above a regular Fantastica level balcony. Pretty much everyone gets a nice drinks package from where I live nowadays on your basic fare, so I will leave that as that... And balcony Fantastica to balcony YC is nearly double if not triple the price, depending on sailing! Of course I wouldn't to downgrade from a balcony to YC just to have the extra perks... Even Aurea as it is now is even more overpriced for what it gives. It gives really little bit more than Fantastica, but their prices should have been YC ones!... Aurea for me is a definite no go! To each its own. For me YC will remain a dream, perhaps to be taken on a special occasion. Yeah, I may be able to do so, if prices don't raise to the moon, but it would be a once in a lifetime. Such a Fantastica balcony suffixes for me most of the times at a price that I feel gives value to the actual product.

 

Have a nice day!...

 

NUNAGORAS - You are correct, and my math was simply in getting into a Yacht Club interior room. As said a couple of times above, the math does not work out if you are looking at anything larger or better than interior. And of course, as said, if you don't want the drink package, and you don't like the Thermal Area, it does not make financial sense. 

 

My math was simply that if a couple were in any non-Yacht Club stateroom, and they buy drinks, and they buy the Thermal Package, it MIGHT make sense for some people to modify to a Yacht Club interior room, to take advantage of the big list of YC amenities. But again, that comes down to personal preferences and certainly staying in a regular Balcony is quite nice.

[Nunagoras]

47 minutes ago, defbref said:

I was under the impression it was the browse only, as well, but when I was in the Med in YC on Grandiosa in May, I did watch some youtube on my phone, which I wouldn't have expected to be able to do, if it was browse only.

 

Yes I was on Wifi and not using my own mobile network.

 

YMMV

Regularly it is the browse only; but bear in mind that if you were under a special promotion, they'd to honor that. I have seen some of those kind quite recently for Fantastica and above "last minute" bookings with top beverage and top internet packages added to the count. Really all inclusive.

Edited August 1, 2022 by Nunagoras
Mistake correction

[Nunagoras]

9 minutes ago, 2cruiseluvrs said:

 

NUNAGORAS - You are correct, and my math was simply in getting into a Yacht Club interior room. As said a couple of times above, the math does not work out if you are looking at anything larger or better than interior. And of course, as said, if you don't want the drink package, and you don't like the Thermal Area, it does not make financial sense. 

 

My math was simply that if a couple were in any non-Yacht Club stateroom, and they buy drinks, and they buy the Thermal Package, it MIGHT make sense for some people to modify to a Yacht Club interior room, to take advantage of the big list of YC amenities. But again, that comes down to personal preferences and certainly staying in a regular Balcony is quite nice.

Yeah! Agree with you, certainly! But your list also shows some of the other aspects that may to make the case for a special cruise to be worth even without your reference to those math. And I could also give others, especially on newer ships: A dedicated front line view lounge and restaurant (with better, more sophisticated menu); dedicated top music entertainment at said areas; dedicated pool grill area; afternoon tea event (if available); special access to the Spa (I presume at request); premium pizza delivery (at request when available); and so on. As I say: It's a different hotel experience, simply one that is becoming overpriced... Because don't forget: You remain at the very same ship with the exact same crowds from the beginning to the end of your cruise, one or the other way forward...

 

Have a nice day!...

[mafig]

JAGR,

Just curious.  Why do they no longer offer Prosecco upon embarcation?  Don't they still offer soft drinks and juices?  What's Covid have to do with alcohol?  I'm usually a little tense before I board and I find a quick drink of "champagne" helps me relax a little.🙂

 

Also, we were in Haven in April and really liked sneaking off the ship via the back elevator.  MSC doesn't do this any more?

[bluetickcoonhound]

On our last cruise a couple weeks ago on Divina out of Port Canaveral the Prosecco and juices as well as small snacks, including sandwiches, were being served by the butlers in the YC check in area.

 

We were on Seashore in Miami in June and there was no Prosecco there, but we were very happy to see it back a couple weeks ago in PC.

 

It was great to have a drink and light snack during check in.

[2cruiseluvrs]

18 minutes ago, mafig said:

JAGR,

Just curious.  Why do they no longer offer Prosecco upon embarkation?  Don't they still offer soft drinks and juices?  What's Covid have to do with alcohol?  I'm usually a little tense before I board and I find a quick drink of "champagne" helps me relax a little.🙂

 

Also, we were in Haven in April and really liked sneaking off the ship via the back elevator.  MSC doesn't do this anymore?

 

Makes you wonder if it is covid-related, ship-specific, a problem with inventory at that moment, or just a matter of "let's slowly remove benefits until there is enough grumbling."

[2cruiseluvrs]

2 minutes ago, bluetickcoonhound said:

On our last cruise a couple weeks ago on Divina out of Port Canaveral the Prosecco and juices as well as small snacks, including sandwiches, were being served by the butlers in the YC check in area.

 

We were on Seashore in Miami in June and there was no Prosecco there, but we were very happy to see it back a couple weeks ago in PC.

 

It was great to have a drink and light snack during check in.

 

BLUE TICK - The inconsistency is baffling. If a person was in charge of the Yacht Club branding, wouldn't they want it to be consistent from ship to ship and port to port?

 

I am wondering if the Port of Miami has new no-alcohol rule, because those drinks are not being sold and therefore not being taxed, etc.

 

 

[JAGR]

24 minutes ago, mafig said:

JAGR,

Just curious.  Why do they no longer offer Prosecco upon embarcation?  Don't they still offer soft drinks and juices?  What's Covid have to do with alcohol?  I'm usually a little tense before I board and I find a quick drink of "champagne" helps me relax a little.🙂

 

Also, we were in Haven in April and really liked sneaking off the ship via the back elevator.  MSC doesn't do this any more?

I honestly didn't ask, and I will in September, but I suspect it is one or a combination of reasons:

1.  I saw no cups.  They may feel safer with COVID by giving a passenger an entire can of soda or juice, but would not want to risk pouring into a glass from an open bottle of prosecco.  Splits would be too expensive, and a bit clumsy to drink from the bottle.

2.  The holding area is out in the open on an upper floor. Port of Miami may have a concern about alcohol being out in an open area as opposed to a secure room with a dedicated attendant.  Right now, the holding area is staffed entirely by regular butlers from the ship.  In the old Miami days, the "butlers" were all shore-side staff and the butlers came to the door to escort us on board.  That brings me to reason three.

3.  I don't live in Florida, but do know that each state has odd blue laws and liquor laws.  They may require that anyone serving alcohol in the building must be a resident of Florida, thereby eliminating the butlers from serving.  Just guessing.

4.  What I think is the real reason:  MSC uses contract employees to staff all of the shore-side functions prior to cruising.  I assume they are union members.  Since the flow of passengers in YC is sporadic (and limited in numbers due to COVID precautions), I suspect that an accountant said it is not worth the cost to serve alcohol and hire staff for what is essentially a brief hold in the boarding.  In the end, I think it comes down to dollars, honestly.

[JAGR]

20 minutes ago, bluetickcoonhound said:

On our last cruise a couple weeks ago on Divina out of Port Canaveral the Prosecco and juices as well as small snacks, including sandwiches, were being served by the butlers in the YC check in area.

 

We were on Seashore in Miami in June and there was no Prosecco there, but we were very happy to see it back a couple weeks ago in PC.

 

It was great to have a drink and light snack during check in.

I would bet those were service employees (contract butlers), and not butlers from the ship since that would go against customs regulations if they were outside of security.  Nice if they are bringing it back!  The occupancy numbers would certainly justify it.

 

[Gatordad1967]

I just want to get on the ship, so I never noticed if there is a Prosecco station!

[mscdivina2016]

That's all warm and fuzzy till after you are paid in full they take you out of yacht club and put you in a balcony on deck 8 with no reduction in fare.

Told if you don't like it cancel.

 

It's been a year almost and I am still fighting them on this.

[2cruiseluvrs]

1 hour ago, mscdivina2016 said:

That's all warm and fuzzy till after you are paid in full they take you out of yacht club and put you in a balcony on deck 8 with no reduction in fare.

Told if you don't like it cancel.

 

It's been a year almost and I am still fighting them on this.

 

MSCDIVINA2016 - Sorry to hear about your struggles with MSC. Not sure how that would have happened that you were taken out of YC to be put on deck 8 for the same price? Somehow I feel like I read about this somewhere else on this board. What led up to this madness, and then how did the switcheroo happen? I think we are all curious now!! Mind if I take a guess?

 

Purely a guess here, but I think you were in an oceanview room on some other floor, and then you bid a certain amount of money to get into Yacht Club. I think they accepted your offer, and THEN in the middle of the night, they took someone else's money for the YC, put those new customers in your room, and used the "fine print of the upgrade offer" to then move you out to a balcony room that would have cost what you had ultimately paid including the upgrade fee. So they say, "We reserve the right to accept and reject the offer, and also to move customers around to a room that matches their total investment."

 

Am I right?

 

[phissy]

No, not correct. 
This was the Salsa Cruise debacle, last year.

MSC had booked private charter cruise with Armonia to cruise Caribbean. 
SalsaCruise MSC 2021

Others had already booked MSC cruise on Divina , for that week.

MSC changed Salsa Cruise to Divina, without notice to who had Divina cruise plans all made.

Many found out by following RollCall on CC.

Lots of calls to MSC who denied the change for weeks.( I suspect they wanted final payment first) 

Existing cruisers found out that they were moved to other cruises or had cabin location changed and downgraded.

Those with YC bookings were “ quietly” moved to  other lower cabins because  Salsa Cruise all wanted the YC.

Finally, MSC offered to let non Salsa cruisers cancel their cruise or stay on ship and get their cruise fare adjusted to new rates.

Some YC cruisers were promised that they would still keep YC benefits even if their cabins were lower balcony cabins. 
This never happened. Original cruise fare stayed the same.  OBC’s offered never showed up once onboard.

Prices were not adjusted and refunds were difficult.
Many who stuck with the Salsa cruise reported how awful it was, vowing to not trust MSC at their word again.

 

 

Edited August 1, 2022 by phissy

[mscdivina2016]

17 minutes ago, 2cruiseluvrs said:

 

MSCDIVINA2016 - Sorry to hear about your struggles with MSC. Not sure how that would have happened that you were taken out of YC to be put on deck 8 for the same price? Somehow I feel like I read about this somewhere else on this board. What led up to this madness, and then how did the switcheroo happen? I think we are all curious now!! Mind if I take a guess?

 

Purely a guess here, but I think you were in an oceanview room on some other floor, and then you bid a certain amount of money to get into Yacht Club. I think they accepted your offer, and THEN in the middle of the night, they took someone else's money for the YC, put those new customers in your room, and used the "fine print of the upgrade offer" to then move you out to a balcony room that would have cost what you had ultimately paid including the upgrade fee. So they say, "We reserve the right to accept and reject the offer, and also to move customers around to a room that matches their total investment."

 

Am I right?

 

Not even close.

I booked a Yacht club deluxe suite a year and a half in advance and I spotted a great price on the Yacht club Grand suite. I took it of course.

 

MSC had a Salsa cruise booked on the Armonia and due to covid the ship did not make it so MSC gave the Salsa group cruise our ship and the Armonia did not have YC, but Salsa people wanted it.

 

They needed to get rid of all of us who booked YC, so they used the T&C to change my room without reason because they can. So take our great cruise deal and make it into a crap cruise. We were offered the right to cancel with no penalty as the cruise was a month away.

 

No compensation no nothing. I told them I would have taken any 7 night cruise of their choice over a 5 month period from any FL port with just 2 days notice. Just honor the price and category.

 

So every time I sail with them, I take it up with the Concierge in YC from day 1. I have done this on my past 5 sailings and I have 5 more coming up.

 

Why do I take it on board? Because we recorded a call with notice being given that we were recording it and other people came on the line and stated that I should try taking it up when I am onboard my next cruise, so I do and I will forever continue till its taken care of.

[mscdivina2016]

[2cruiseluvrs]

PHISSY & MSCDIVINA - Wow that sounds aweful. Sorry you went through that, and continue to go through that.

[2cruiseluvrs]

37 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

 

I don't see how they can argue with their own documents that state you have a Yacht Club experience, 

97716752

[rkacruiser]

4 hours ago, JAGR said:

I would bet those were service employees (contract butlers), and not butlers from the ship 

 

Agree,  The "butlers" whom I initially encountered in Miami were young men and did not "fit" the age or the nationality of the Butlers whom I encountered on the ship.

 

4 hours ago, JAGR said:

In the old Miami days, the "butlers" were all shore-side staff and the butlers came to the door to escort us on board. 

 

I am unsure who escorted me aboard Meraviglia from the Lounge.  It was someone different from the person who got me to the check-in/refreshment Lounge.  Whomever it was took me directly to my suite's door.  A nice variety of small sandwiches, snacks, and beverages were available including unlimited Prosecco.  (Maybe that is why I don't remember who the person was?  😀)

 

5 hours ago, 2cruiseluvrs said:

The inconsistency is baffling

 

No, it is not.  ALL of the cruise lines on which I have sailed has experienced this inconsistency of service/expectations issue as their fleets have grown larger.  

 

What is "baffling" to me is why the corporate executives in charge of the onboard experience don't seem to recognize this as an important irritant to those who have sailed on that company's ships.  

[mscdivina2016]

29 minutes ago, 2cruiseluvrs said:

 

I don't see how they can argue with their own documents that state you have a Yacht Club experience, 

97716752

They said even they stated YC we would 100% not be allowed in.

 

Don't like it cancel!!

[rkacruiser]

22 hours ago, 2cruiseluvrs said:

Now I am very curious about what your experience was versus your expectation of the butler service. 

 

 

I think what I experienced was minimal of what might have been possible because I am low maintenance.  

 

22 hours ago, 2cruiseluvrs said:

I think there is a point where a passenger can be a real jerk, and disrespectful toward staff including butlers. Just because a person is staying in Yacht Club, it is no excuse to be a demanding idiot, and no reason to treat other human beings like trash, or like "servants!"

 

 

In any of the YC venues on Meraviglia, I saw none of this.  My fellow guests "put their pants on like I do", were so friendly that I was asked to join them for dinner.  

 

22 hours ago, 2cruiseluvrs said:

But in all normal cases, I think the expectation is fine to ask for a drink, ask for a snack, ask for the newspaper from a certain city, ask for help to book an excursion

 

Certainly.  In some ways, the service was more than I really needed.  A large fruit bowl that I could never consume and which was completely refreshed half way through the cruise.  (It didn't need it!)  My stock of Prosecco was always replenished.  

 

I only asked for Butler service twice to a show.  Once to the Cirque du Soil show that I had booked in a lounge that I didn't really know where it was and was a long way from the YC for this very slow walker.  She stayed with me until the doors to the theater opened, took me to my reserved seat, and ensured I had my included drink.  The other time was my first attendance to a show in the Main Theater.  A Butler escorted me to the reserved seating area where another Butler had been assigned to keep others from using those seats.  When I knew where that area was, I managed to get to the theater on my own.  (What would have been helpful was a Butler getting me back to the YC when the show was over.  Priority elevator service was a myth more often than not in my experience.)  

[Seadweller001]

We only sail (14 cruises) in the YC.

 

I do not drink.  Water only.

My wife hardly drinks.

We do not use the spa or the pools.

 

We like the service and the crew in the YC.  Keeps us returning.  9 upcoming YC cruises booked from Aug to Dec.

 

GUESS we are subsidizing the drinkers and Spa users but that is fine.

 

i order 18 way power seats in my cars, set the seat up with the Sales Person on delivery day, push Memory 1 and never change the position again.  

We have experienced the Celebrity, RCL, Carnival suite experience and for the $$$$s nothing beats the YC.

 

 

[J0Y0US]

Sorry if I missed it but Yacht Club you are you able to order multiple items for dinner? If you want two apps or entrees or desserts? 

[2cruiseluvrs]

43 minutes ago, J0Y0US said:

Sorry if I missed it but Yacht Club you are you able to order multiple items for dinner? If you want two apps or entrees or desserts? 

 

JOYOUS - You can order as much of anything as you want off the menu in the Top Sail Restaurant. Two of this. Three of that. Nine of those... etc. It's all yours for the taking. Including drinks! I may be mistaken, but the ONLY thing that you may not be able to order for "free" at dinner or at the bar(s) is the ultra-high extra-premium liquor... you know, the whiskey or vodka that comes in a $200 bottle kind of stuff.