MSC Yacht Club Requests

[andychris]

We sailed on the Meraviglia(yacht club) a few weeks ago. We had a fantastic time. All staff were very nice. 
What requests do you ask your Butler for?  We did not ask for anything because we didn’t feel like we needed anything more. 
just wondering if there was anything we should of asked for and more prepared on our next cruise. 
thank you!

[granger]

We forgot to eat the Toblerone and the Pringle Potato Chips.  The butler was someone we acknowledged while walking from our room.

[Best Cat Mom]

1 hour ago, andychris said:

What requests do you ask your Butler for?

Sometimes it's not so much what you request but what you discuss. If there were questions about an upcoming event on board, ask. If you have questions about a port -- where to go, how to just roam around by yourself -- ask. The butler has probably been there a bunch of times and can share what they know -- or what their crew mates have told them. We also always try to ask them how their day is going. It's rare that they don't say all is good, but we've found that they like to be treated as 'people' and not 'help.' It is the same way we chat with the YC concierges, bartenders, hosts in the restaurant, etc. When they get to know you better, they know what to talk to you about, what to recommend you don't miss, etc. They are your ticket to the best cruise you can have. Enjoy!

[KarenGretz]

1 hour ago, andychris said:

We sailed on the Meraviglia(yacht club) a few weeks ago. We had a fantastic time. All staff were very nice. 
What requests do you ask your Butler for?  We did not ask for anything because we didn’t feel like we needed anything more. 
just wondering if there was anything we should of asked for and more prepared on our next cruise. 
thank you!

Do you recall the dinner times in YC? Thanks!

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, andychris said:

What requests do you ask your Butler for?  We did not ask for anything because we didn’t feel like we needed anything more. 

I copied this from the MSC YC web site. "SIGNATURE DINING"

"Savor the flavors of exquisite specialty restaurants such as Butcher's Cut, Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki, HOLA Tacos, and Ocean Cay."

"Elevate your dining experience with exclusive perks like priority reservation times, premium seating, and the luxury of a personal butler escort if you choose." Would also add that even the staff outside the Yacht Clubs do not like dealing with the clientele.

Here is a case to suggest the importance of a 'good' personal butler. We took advantage of our butler's suggestion to have him escort us the first evening to introduce us to the maitre d' as we wanted our own table reserved at a specific time every evening with the same waiters (this was our first time on a Seaship and the butler on Explora 1 suggested he escort us to dinner the first time as well for the same request and introduction to the maitre d'). We discovered after many cruises the importance of our butlers' suggestion. This suggestion of an escort by butler is even more valuable and important outside the Yacht Club venue. We rarely make a reservation at any specialty restaurant on the ships because we love the YC restaurant (not even to bother using our complimentary Diamond meal). We were seated at our favorite table when a couple were seated next to us and she was dying to complain to everyone in earshot about what had just happened to them. They had reservations at Butcher's Cut and made their own way and seated like any other passenger. There is no way they were differentiated as a YC guest to the staff or manager (maitre d'). Seated next to them was a family with unruly, loud children and they immediately asked for another table. They were refused. They pointed to another table across the room and the manager again refused. They got up and left. On the way out telling the manager they were going to return to the Yacht Club and to cancel their reservation. To CYA he calls the maitre d' of the YC to try to smooth things over. Yes, Arthur was our maitre d' and he stood and took the tongue lashing for the Butcher's Cut manager.

If one doesn't differentiate oneself from the crowd, one will be treated like the crowd .

Edited August 29 by morpheusofthesea

[SwimmingDragon]

13 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I copied this from the MSC YC web site. "SIGNATURE DINING"

"Savor the flavors of exquisite specialty restaurants such as Butcher's Cut, Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki, HOLA Tacos, and Ocean Cay."

"Elevate your dining experience with exclusive perks like priority reservation times, premium seating, and the luxury of a personal butler escort if you choose." Would also add that even the staff outside the Yacht Clubs do not like dealing with the clientele.

Here is a case to suggest the importance of a 'good' personal butler. We took advantage of our butler's suggestion to have him escort us the first evening to introduce us to the maitre d' as we wanted our own table reserved at a specific time every evening with the same waiters (this was our first time on a Seaship and the butler on Explora 1 suggested he escort us to dinner the first time as well for the same request and introduction to the maitre d'). We discovered after many cruises the importance of our butlers' suggestion. This suggestion of an escort by butler is even more valuable and important outside the Yacht Club venue. We rarely make a reservation at any specialty restaurant on the ships because we love the YC restaurant (not even to bother using our complimentary Diamond meal). We were seated at our favorite table when a couple were seated next to us and she was dying to complain to everyone in earshot about what had just happened to them. They had reservations at Butcher's Cut and made their own way and seated like any other passenger. There is no way they were differentiated as a YC guest to the staff or manager (maitre d'). Seated next to them was a family with unruly, loud children and they immediately asked for another table. They were refused. They pointed to another table across the room and the manager again refused. They got up and left. On the way out telling the manager they were going to return to the Yacht Club and to cancel their reservation. To CYA he calls the maitre d' of the YC to try to smooth things over. Yes, Arthur was our maitre d' and he stood and took the tongue lashing for the Butcher's Cut manager.

If one doesn't differentiate oneself from the crowd, one will be treated like the crowd .

Wow, that was a lot of good advice! Thank you! I'm going to do this for our cruise in November. Thank you!

 

[morpheusofthesea]

16 hours ago, andychris said:

What requests do you ask your Butler for?  We did not ask for anything because we didn’t feel like we needed anything more.

I just got through another delightful vlog on YouTube of one of our very own @FamilyAtSea.travel on his recent cruise to Alaska. I commented that had he been on MSC instead he and his kids would not have to wait an hour in line to get one shot at the water slide as the cruise was over crowded. As YC guests we could have our butler escort us to the front of the line just like at Disney when we paid for that service. He wrote to inform me that line for the go-karts was even longer, 2 hours, and some that waited in line did not even get the chance. Yacht Club does have its advantages.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

35 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I just got through another delightful vlog on YouTube of one of our very own @FamilyAtSea.travel on his recent cruise to Alaska. I commented that had he been on MSC instead he and his kids would not have to wait an hour in line to get one shot at the water slide as the cruise was over crowded. As YC guests we could have our butler escort us to the front of the line just like at Disney when we paid for that service. He wrote to inform me that line for the go-karts was even longer, 2 hours, and some that waited in line did not even get the chance. Yacht Club does have its advantages.

Thank you for the kind words and you're absolutely right...YC does have many distinct advantages!

 

I sometimes feel like sailing in the YC has ruined me for other cruise experiences because I'm always comparing other lines to the YC.

 

While lines like Celebrity definitely have a better full ship experience (beyond the YC/Retreat), we've yet to find a suite experience that compares to the YC (and that's before you even consider the amazing prices).

 

@andychris We typically don't ask our butler for a ton either but when our butler found out it was our anniversary on a cruise, they went out of their way to make things special for us (found out where we were having dinner and had a special dessert brought to us, put rose petals and towel art to come back to after dinner, numerous people told us Happy Anniversary, etc).

 

I know some people have them pack/unpack for them, but that's not something we feel comfortable asking.

 

I would say the biggest thing is just knowing that nothing we encounter is going to be a major issue because even if there's confusion, either our butler or the YC Director will take care of things (Mustafa on the Seascape went above and beyond to take care of us with an issue we faced back in March).

[morpheusofthesea]

26 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

you're absolutely right...

I am right about this too. You have the best travel vlog on social media. Entertaining, informative, well choreographed. never boring....I'm shocked, shocked. Keep up the good work.

[jame_g]

We ask for certain non-alcoholic beverages to be kept stocked in our room during our stay. We occasionally make a reservation through the concierge. Usually we're not too demanding and barely ask for much besides this. It is nice to have the concierge help arrange the Diamond dinner as it seems the steak house reservations fill up very quickly, and we like to try to find out when certain things will be on the YC menu before making the reservation.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

19 minutes ago, jame_g said:

We ask for certain non-alcoholic beverages to be kept stocked in our room during our stay. We occasionally make a reservation through the concierge. Usually we're not too demanding and barely ask for much besides this. It is nice to have the concierge help arrange the Diamond dinner as it seems the steak house reservations fill up very quickly, and we like to try to find out when certain things will be on the YC menu before making the reservation.

Just curious - what are your can't miss meals in the YC Restaurant?

 

I agree that having the Concierge in the YC lobby make specialty dining reservations is definitely a nice bonus.

 

We typically eat more in specialty restaurants than we do in the YC Restaurant, but now that we've cruised MSC enough to have experienced them all, we find ourselves eating in the YC Restaurant more often.

 

Looking forward to having some new specialty options on the World America next spring for that very reason.

[George C]

We rarely ask butler much, on our YC cruise he asked what time we liked dinner he would carry our drinks up from lounge to restaurant, he also escorted us to the main shows a couple of nights , YC has reserved seats for shows .

[jame_g]

Prime Rib is the big one. It's generally not the same day as Prime Rib in the main dining rooms. What's frustrating is when they have it in the main dining room but don't have it in the YC restaurant during the cruise. We usually don't worry too much about lobster. Honestly, most of the time we wish they would have the One Pool buffet open for dinner most evenings since we generally don't like how long dinner in the YC restaurant can take. We had the YC buffet open for dinner most evenings on one of our cruises and enjoyed it.

[GPPhilly]

8 minutes ago, jame_g said:

Prime Rib is the big one. It's generally not the same day as Prime Rib in the main dining rooms. What's frustrating is when they have it in the main dining room but don't have it in the YC restaurant during the cruise. We usually don't worry too much about lobster. Honestly, most of the time we wish they would have the One Pool buffet open for dinner most evenings since we generally don't like how long dinner in the YC restaurant can take. We had the YC buffet open for dinner most evenings on one of our cruises and enjoyed it.

You can let them know that you like a faster paced meal and they will do their best to accommodate. 

[GPPhilly]

I love the Indian Butter Chicken

[pirate4me2]

That butter chicken is SO GOOD!!!

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

1 hour ago, jame_g said:

Prime Rib is the big one. It's generally not the same day as Prime Rib in the main dining rooms. What's frustrating is when they have it in the main dining room but don't have it in the YC restaurant during the cruise. We usually don't worry too much about lobster. Honestly, most of the time we wish they would have the One Pool buffet open for dinner most evenings since we generally don't like how long dinner in the YC restaurant can take. We had the YC buffet open for dinner most evenings on one of our cruises and enjoyed it.

It is hard to beat a good Prime Rib, you are right about that!

 

I'll have to start asking about that in the future myself to make sure we don't miss that...thanks!

[andychris]

Thank you very much. 
we enjoyed the yacht club and look forward to sailings in the future. 
everyone is so nice and helpful. We love speaking with everyone and love to hear stories from them 

 

[MonsterJoe]

On 8/30/2024 at 10:17 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

I am right about this too. You have the best travel vlog on social media. Entertaining, informative, well choreographed. never boring....I'm shocked, shocked. Keep up the good work.

 

I know I threw some shade in the general direction of cruise vloggers a couple months ago, and you understandably took it personally...but after having watched your videos, I agree with morph. You are a diamond in the rough.

[MonsterJoe]

On 8/30/2024 at 2:40 PM, pirate4me2 said:

That butter chicken is SO GOOD!!!

It seriously is - they should put stars and rainbows on the menu to draw your eye to it. My wife ordered it that night - and I just tasted it...but it was my favorite thing from the menu that night.

[MonsterJoe]

On 8/29/2024 at 4:56 PM, andychris said:

We sailed on the Meraviglia(yacht club) a few weeks ago. We had a fantastic time. All staff were very nice. 
What requests do you ask your Butler for?  We did not ask for anything because we didn’t feel like we needed anything more. 
just wondering if there was anything we should of asked for and more prepared on our next cruise. 
thank you!

The biggest one is what we like in the mini fridge...I leave a note out the first day and they take care of it all week.  They'll learn how much water you drink and then bring twice as much 🙂

I never asked him, but our butler a week or so ago would often see me running to TS for a couple drinks and would stop me and say "Why don't you ask me to do this for you!?"  the reason is because mostly I didn't know that was an option (and that would keep him very busy with how many drinks we have at night!) but also I like doing things for myself...but apparently that is on the table, too.

 

Edited September 2 by MonsterJoe

[morpheusofthesea]

23 minutes ago, MonsterJoe said:

 

I know I threw some shade in the general direction of cruise vloggers a couple months ago, and you understandably took it personally...but after having watched your videos, I agree with morph. You are a diamond in the rough.

He's talking about you @FamilyAtSea.travel, mate. Another CC discerning devotee.. Keep it up.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

32 minutes ago, MonsterJoe said:

 

I know I threw some shade in the general direction of cruise vloggers a couple months ago, and you understandably took it personally...but after having watched your videos, I agree with morph. You are a diamond in the rough.

I appreciate that, truly.

 

I'm way outside my comfort zone doing this as I've always been the guy behind the scenes, even in my primary business, so it is appreciated to know some others are finding value in the work I'm doing. 

 

Hopefully I can continue to get better as time goes on and I get more experience. I'm a pretty analytical person so hopefully I can offer some unique perspectives. 

 

I appreciate all of you guys and gals here on CC. 

 

I know this account is pretty new but my time here goes back to getting ready to go on my first cruise for my wife and I's honeymoon back in 2012 with my old account @SheSaidYes2012.

[MonsterJoe]

23 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

I'm a pretty analytical person so hopefully I can offer some unique perspectives. 

 

I am a software engineer - so I can appreciate that perspective. 🙂

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

24 minutes ago, MonsterJoe said:

I am a software engineer - so I can appreciate that perspective. 🙂

I spent the first decade of my career in the tech industry... Geeks unite! 🤓😜