I've been on a couple of Carnival cruises and never had a problem finding a quiet table to dine. But it seems as if the ship within a ship exploits some people's need for exclusivity from the very people they chose to be around. There's an old saying that goes something like, "If I can give a group of people another group of people to look down on, that first group want mind if I pick their pockets." I can't remember the exact quote or who said it. 🤔
@@williamguru President Lyndon B. Johnson! And the second part of that quote is: "Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
I have a slightly different take on the yacht club. I chose this for the cruise with my nearly 90 year old mom last week, much better experience than being part of the main ship, as there was less noise and crowds, which for a person with visual,hearing And mobility issues is a really big benefit. Just my two. Cents.
It’s a fine line the cruise lines are walking. The ship within a ship concept can work when us folks in steerage are made to feel special, and the elite passengers are made to feel more special. The problem comes when the steerage passengers are made to feel less special.
I have never not felt special - how do they remember our names?? ♥♥But in Yacht club (solo) I paid for the "attention" "experience" and got way more attention than I ever want - I didn't feel especially "special" just overwhelmed, stressed from expectations (real or imagined), and after having multiple YC servers watching you eat because you're the only customer - I felt like I was on stage and do not want that again. But some people love it. Although I did loved them taking care of arrangements in a military state country😀
@@connie_360I’m always surprised that this old myth still survives… Sure the airlines make a profit with C/J/F passengers, but these passengers for sure don’t pay for the entire flight. Don’t make fhe mistake to look at IATA prices for C/J/F tickets, hardly anyone is ever paying those.
Great video. My late mom and I loved traveling on Norwegian in the Haven. We had many great cruises. I love the hustle and bustle of the big ships while she, in her 70s at the time, liked the smaller, quieter, easier to navigate area of the Haven. It was the best of both worlds for us. She has been gone 4 years now but I have some wonderful memories.
This is why we stay at the Four Seasons hotel in Las Vegas...it's a "hotel within a hotel" that gives you an escape from the madness of Vegas. We are sailing on MSC Seaside in the Yacht Club this coming Thursday. Will be our first time on MSC and will be interesting to compare the experience we had in an NCL suite last summer. For me it is totally worth it to pay to avoid the crowds. In fact I would rather take half as many trips if I had to in order to afford trips that are more luxurious.
This is a great video discussing the benefits and potential shortcomings of YC. Being segregated from the hoi polloi can be a fascinating experience. My wife and I were given hockey tickets to the company's box. We could park for free right outside the club entrance, take the elevator up to the box level and walk above the crowds. We had in-box snacks and easy access to drinks, and a great view of the game. It gave me an idea that someone whose whole life is like this can become quickly spoiled, even blase about it.
I can't wait for the next generation of this. You'll take an express elevator to the top deck where a ginormous pool fitting nearly the whole top deck exists. It isn't a wading, smoking, or swimming pool but rather a container for a smaller ship to float in where select individuals can indeed board a ship on a ship. Complete with its own kitchen, dining and entertainment areas. xD
Hi Gary! My husband and I went on MSC Splendida on a trip that was an award from my company. We don't like big ships, so thank God that they booked us in the Yacht Club. had our cabin been outside of the Yacht Club - we would have a very bad experience. In the main areas of the ship - there were hundreds of people everywhere - to the point that on some decks you could not walk at your own pace. We went down once for dinner to the main restaurant, but the food wasn't good and they put us at a table with some passengers from Germany who could not speak English and we don't speak German. All in all - we really appreciated being in the Yacht Club and we had a great cruise. As you are saying - if anyone loves the big ship amenities, but also loves peace and quiet and doesn't want to break the bank - the MSC Yacht Club is for them.
Sounds like a good option for the introvert traveling with a large group of extroverts. "You guys go watch the parade and go to the party. I'm going to chill in the dull, boring, *quiet* Yacht Club lounge." A retreat like this is the only way you could get me on a mega-ship, aka introvert's nightmare. I'd rather be on a small luxury ship though.
I really like MSC. We are a family of 5 and cruise every year so the Yacht Club is currently not an option. However, once it's just my wife and I, we will certainly be using these "ships within ships". MSC's is very affordable as well.
You'd be surprised. Prices were crazy low the past few years and are high right now but check in the fall. As a solo, I expect to pay $2100-$5000 for a YC Inside, OV, or Balcony. Remember, YC everything is included - unlike Haven, etc. Premium drinks, Wifi, Thermal spa come with it. As prices go that's a good saving of nearly $1000 per person if you were going to buy those things. When pricing, the first choice for example is $500 or $950 which includes drinks and wifi. That price starts to make sense.
On a HAL Alaskan Cruise I introduced my wife and myself to my Cabin Steward in Indonesian. Well, the grapevine went ballistic and wherever we went we were treated like VIPs. Seems the staff could chat to us in Indonesian which they are not allowed to do, even amongst themselves on the ship as per Regulations, unless the passengers do it first. Best seats, Silver Service in all the eating areas, it was great.
My husband and I very much enjoy your videos but as frequent Yacht Club cruisers, including the Virtuoso, we have to take exception to some of your comments. Firstly all Yacht Club guests have dedicated toiletries i.e. MSC Med. You never mentioned the Nespresso coffee machine in all Yacht Club cabins. We find all bar and restaurant staff have addressed us by name by day two. The breakfast and lunch staff remember our coffee/alcohol preferences by maximum day 3. If there has ever been the slightest issue we have found the concierge desk immediately proactive. You occasionally mention the price difference but the basic point is that the Yacht Club experience is superior by far to being in the main body of the ship and price for price in comparison with other cruise lines is excellent value. But, Gary, keep up the good work you are doing, we appreciate it.
Hi Gary we sailed the Haven NCL Bliss to Alaska last year as a special treat and it was exceptional, not pompous which would have made us uncomfortable, just subtle benefits, the dedicated staff were wonderful, really went out their way to ensure you had an enjoyable cruise, knew our names, our preferences etc within hours and had great fun with us without being intrusive or in anyway “fake”. There were one or two guests around who had an elevated sense of entitlement, you know the type 😂 we just ignored those and found most guests were just hard working folks treating themselves and many new friends were made. Problem is it has now spoiled us for future cruises, we’re just back from a Med and Greek island tour on the new NCL Viva, Haven was too expensive this time, however our balcony suite was really lovely and all the staff were great but we struggled with the crowds and thankfully we followed many of your tips, so a good time was had, but yes we missed the Haven a little 😁. Time for something different next time loathed to move from NCL but saving hard for a possible Antarctic adventure, so will be searching out your videos! Thank you again for a great piece. 🥰🏴🇬🇧
I had a different experience with MSCs Yacht Club with the staff being personal. Everyone knew my name as I went to the lounge, etc. I will do it again.
Completely agree. I’ve just come off 2 weeks in YC on Virtuosa. The staff knew our names, our favourite drinks and my son’s breakfast order. It was a fabulous experience
We’ve gone on the Yacht Club twice (Med cruises) and loved the experience. We got an interior and it was well worth the price for the week. I’m afraid this has spoiled me re:MSC in that I don’t think I could ever travel without it!
I get having special areas for the premium passengers like the Yacht Club, but I find it offensive that premium passengers get to cut in front of people who have been waiting for off-ship activities like the train and gondola.
I think this works fine while the two groups are kept apart (dining etc). What would not be fine is if I was made to stand waiting to board an excursion bus/train until the whole line of yacht club people are taken on in front of us. This makes me want to never cruise with MSC.
It's as if some people don't know there are grades of cabins or extra cost specialty restaurants on cruise ships. Where are you drawing your lines for feeling left out/not equal? Early embarking? Bigger room? Early access to booking shows? On no ship is everything equal, except for the SS Yakov Smirnolf where you don't take a cruise, the cruise takes you.
If I ever do MSC again, I'd probably do Yacht Club. It's not much more than a regular room especially once you factor in it includes WiFi, Spa, Specialty Dining and Drink package all things I would purchase separatedly anyway. My problem is I don't like crowds AT ALL, even when I get to bypass it all. Especialky looking at how crowded the excursions are as well.
Look into the interior rooms in YC he mentioned. I’m staying in one this coming January and it is roughly the same cost as an inside room on Virgin or Celebrity (with their versions of drink and Wi-Fi packages).
As usual another great review, i watch many and they all give a helpful and worthwhile perspective. Just a quick response to the last comment MSC are introducing smaller all Yacht Club Ships in the not too distant future so perhaps that might suit some people. I couldn’t help smile at your post as our Buttler from March 2023 was in it and were some of the staff we met, we will be back on the Virtuosa on Saturday those staff may have left because of their contracts. You are not wrong that this is an expensive option, it does however enable my wife and i to make the most of our relaxation, i think it very important to remember, all of the staff work long hours, are away from loved ones for extended periods of time and are still smiling, helpful and professional. We never know what is going on in anyone’s life, on the World Europa one of our Butlers was heading home to India just after that devastating train derailment, I have no idea whom i might speak to next week, it could be a person from a Greek island who’s family have evacuated their home or a Tunisian who has lost a loved one and yet i will still expect preferential service because i have paid a few Quid, honestly i love MSC and most members of staff are amazing, thank you for your excellent reviews, could i ask you in future to perhaps cover the people you interact with rather than just your experience.
I've been lucky enough to sail in Yacht Club twice, last year when they had an amazing solo supppliment deal, both times on the Virtuosa. I was greeted regularly by my name & on the 2nd sailing was recognised immediately upon boarding. I had an amazing experience & would absolutely do it again.....if they have another solo supppliment sale.
Great video Gary - after watching it I think I'm not in a rush to go on an MSC cruise, and would rather pay more for something like Oceania or just cruise on ships with smaller passenger counts (say, Holland America or Princess.)
The Yacht Club sounds perfect if you want to be on a very large ship. We spend about 90 day a year on the water and really prefer to pay the extra for the upscale small ships.
I would love to know how you do that without prying too much ie the practicalities- are you using credits from previous cruises or how do you manage it? Which lines do you use?
Thank you for this video, Gary. I was recently wondering about the Yacht Club. I am not an MSC cruiser, but have thought about the Meraviglia out of NYC in the Yacht Club. Perfect timing!
Thank you for your informative vlog. We have been leery trying MSC, but now I feel for a quick holiday at a good price, it may be the thing of the good and not so good. We have done suite class on Celebrity, Princess and Holland America. Knowing that the Yacht Club will not reach their heights and knowing what to expect will not cause a disppointed experience.
I think you do the best job of all the Cruise reviewers ! I am going on my 3rd Merivegilia Yacht Club cruise this year...Been on 250 + including the Luxury lines. The price and benefits are well worth it !!! The small ships are very quiet, we have the best of both worlds in the Yacht Club.
I noticed that our timeshare / vacation club moved in this direction a decade or more ago, boosting services for individuals who made a larger and also a more recent investment. One feature was that the newly created class A status owners were allowed to make specific kinds of reservations a week prior to everyone else. In theory, the developers built new resorts to accommodate the same new weeks / points being sold and that resulted in new resorts that likely wouldn’t have been built otherwise for all the owners to use at some tiered level. I’m not a fan of the class system within a travel modality but understand that it is a business decision to help attract or retain a customer at a different price point and this may be needful to stay competitive or to keep stockholders engaged. I still felt disappointed that our vacation club original purchase made three decades prior shifted many into a class B or C status that didn’t exist prior to. One of the more micro reasons for making my purchase, modest as it be, was I thought it would help make condo vacations available to more families, younger families and perhaps a “blue collar” owner, that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to vacation at all. The club wouldn’t exist in the same way without enough entry level purchases.
Don’t mind the ship within a ship on MSC’s yacht club as it’s widely accessible for mass market customers who want to pay slightly more and treat themselves, but on celebrity and Norwegian they’re totally out of reach for normal people creating a huge class divide
As a past YC/main ship and pending YC user of Virtuosa + another 4 MSC similar/smaller ships, I recognise all your comments Gary. I can't say we have ever had a major problem with MSC compared to P&O, RCL and Marella/Thomson over 25 cruises and 20 + years. I'm grateful to @msccruisesuk for the NHS discount during 21/22 and their pricing policy in general.
We’ve booked MSC Yacht Club for the first time. Excited to see how the “ship within a ship” concept plays out. Totally fine with just hanging out in this area for 4 nights.
I always enjoy your analysis of the amenities and services. Recognizing the food wasn't at the same level as other vessels but was cheaper is important. I see too many people in the RUclips comments section across topics that fail to recognize material differences. The ability to jump to the head of the line seems like something many of us would value more on a vacation than even outstanding food. It's been some time since I've watched one of your videos on choosing a ship size, but your Yacht Club treatment seems to be even better than you would get on a small ship. Thanks. 👍
The best and most detailed video and insight into Yacht Club that we've seen......not surprisingly given that its you Gary. But here's a further insight. We had just watched a vlog from an American lady who also commented on how she had received a wish list of her preferred options for her cabin, only to find that not one had been granted/supplied. MSC would do well to remember that core customer service/delight mantra.....Under promise, Over deliver
This feels like ships are going back to the old days of having 1st class vs the rest of the people. Not sure this is that different than people staying in luxury resorts vs value resorts at like Disney. So many places have different levels of service for people based on price, which has its pros and cons. Thank you for sharing this info!
And then in the parks themselves you have the regular queues, then the "genie plus" which gives you the ability to book a limited number of rides without queing, then at the top of the pile you have the "private VIP tour" which basically lets you skip all the queues.
Good overview Gary. The names may be different, but this is just the return of the old class system that used to exist on ocean liners and still does on most airlines. Call it what you will, but basically you were booked into what used to be called First Class. In our very uptight society, the cruise lines can't use that term. But that's what we are talking about.
Gary, thank you for this video. Now it is just my hubbie and me cruising without older children. We are RCL and Celebrity balcony cruisers and looked at cost of their suites and the ship within a ship - the cost 😮!!! Someday we will try it but for now we prefer going 2 or 3 times a year in a balcony instead of 1 time in a year and a half. Still many places to go see. With our Diamond status, we still enjoy many benefits. You have definitely peaked my curiosity on MSC Yacht club ! Again thanks for always having great content .
I was upgraded to YC on back to back Med cruises 10 years ago (on Splendida and Divina). The first MSC cruise ship with its unfriendly and impersonal crowds and service was a nightmare but the YC an oasis of calm. The YC cabin was no bigger than the one I had stayed on the previous ship but the decor was a little nicer with a walk in wardrobe and included mini bar. Being at the forward end I noticed some motion sickness too. My butler was lovely. I didn’t eat in the restaurant as I ate with other passengers I had met on the first ship but relaxed in the lounge during at sea days and afternoons. The main perk I appreciated was being first to get to excursion buses first (I was escorted off the ship through a different exit) and a late “check out” on the last day. If I sailed MSC again I would only go with YC as the peace and quiet made a major difference to my solo experience.
We had three Yachtclub cruises on the msc VIRTUOSA in the past 2 years. I agree on all issues that are discussed. At all three cruises we were in the special Yachtclub seats in the theatre. And every time the moment the butler left the YC area because the show started, guests who were no Yachtclub guests sneaky came in the YC seat rows and stayed there. Especially Chinese couples and families did this. A lot of noice as they keep on talking. Very irritating. And no one to send them away from the seats they did not pay for. MSC should let a butler or workers stay there during the WHOLE show.
Another excellent video, Gary. My wife and I have just come off a QE trip to Alaska where we were upgraded to Princess Grill. We won't be going back to Britannia Club in future because the Grills lounge and sundecks gave us peace and quiet any time of the day or night. However, there were no other benefits that you cover here to Grills class - no priority access to excursions, theatre, etc which for us would have spoiled the experience. While it's acceptable that higher prices obtain better facilities, it isn't right that other passengers are made to feel 'lower class'; after all, they had paid the best they could afford for their trip and are owed not to be waiting in long queues to see privileged people waltzing past them. Is this ship-within-a-ship trend an unintended consequence of lines chasing low fare, 100% occupancy with drinks packages cruises? Isn't P&O are losing reputation because of its pack 'em in cheap policy for instance, leading previous customers to look for less rowdy cruise experiences? Cunard seem to have the balance exactly right.
Video request - I would love it if you could compare visiting Norwegian ports on a large ship like MSC vs that of smaller, luxury ships (especially if you have been to the same port on both types of ships). Topics like: access, crowds, attitude of locals, etc. Thanks for all your amazing videos!
Thank you for another great insight into a cruise line. I'm wondering if the lack of eye contact is related to culture. In some areas of the world it may be considered inappropriate to make eye contact which would mean, as often is the case, that staff training is the likely solution. Thank you again for the video, looking forward to the next one.
Gary, TY for the video. YC prices, inclusions, and services cannot be beat. I shop like Emma and when I saw the YC prices to Red Seas OMG, solo 2K, lux balcony it was like a sign. Solo female traveling to Red Seas. I am so happy I did it, that hand holding and guidance through all the Military gated ports and so on was so worth it. My 60th gift to myself including FC flights. I did come back down to earth as the very next day when I flew to NYC for Prima inside. 😕😅🚢🥂
I was greeted by name after Day 1 I think, so I think it always depends on the crew. I, for one, really enjoyed YC a lot, since I experienced the service to be very quick, friendly, and attentive. They even had my favourite bottle of wine layed out for the evening, and I felt it much more enjoyable compared to the Aurea cruise we did a few weeks back. I will definitely go back to YC I do agree on the email before boarding, however. On my first YC cruise I opted for a newspaper which never arrived - on the second cruise, on the same ship, it miraculously arrived.
Loved the Yacht club on The Divina and the Seashore. No problems and all request were filled. Sailed out of Florida and just booked the seascape out of Galvenson. Yachet club of course. Love your videos on Holland. as we are also sailing Alaska on HAL.
Thanks for another really thorough video, Gary. This answers whatever questions I had about Yacht Club on MSC! Nice to get these answers without being onboard.
Excellent video. I'd be interested in the Yacht Club. You get to enjoy the big shows and extensive facilities of a big cruise ship, but also avoid the lines and the noise of the general population. I really like the 'club within a club' idea.
I've been so excited for your reviews and content from MSC Yacht Club to start coming through, as you're so used to the premium end of the market. Your points on service are really interesting - I've heard about the lack of 'personalisation' from other passengers - I do find it odd that some didn't make eye contact, and I'm really surprised that you weren't referred to by name during your time in there!
Thanks for this Gary! As a fellow solo cruiser, I love cruising MSC because they have many sailings where they waive the solo supplement, so it is very affordable for me. Hope to try the Yacht Club someday! Looks amazing and worth the money. Personally, on my last MSC cruise, I felt like I had my own butler as my cabin steward on the Divina (which is one of their older/cheaper ships) was amazing and did so much for me. I had such an incredible experience with the service both times I cruised MSC so far. So sad to hear that you had a less than stellar experience, but seems like there was many positives too- that chocolate cake looked to die for!
I am not great with crowds... If I had to cruise something like this would fit me a little better... but to be honest you start getting close to the line in cost where you might as well charter your own personal yacht. I remember a few years ago or so you could charter your own yacht out of LA to Catalina for like 20k ish I think. Then you get your own personal crew / chef as well.
We aren't fans of MSC but I watched this with interest. We were on Opera, a smaller ship, so badly run! Dreadful food, patchy service, uninterested officers, no stabilisers deployed until passengers raised a ruckus in rough seas... and my phone was stolen from our cabin. They refused to investigate it.
If the cruise line opened up the spaces reserved for the "rich" to all guests, it would disperse the crowds throughout the ship more. The cruiseline is making general crowding worse by using valuable space up on a select few.
I believe that it was really brave of you to go on a MSC cruise at all. We only cruised once with them and after that we almost gave up cruising. Thank goodness that we didn't. It is our first holiday love on other cruise lines.
I viewed the video by cruise with Ben and David, they were giving a positive review of MSC yacht club and then on day 3 they were forced to stop filming and even told no pictures even of themselves. Based on how they were treated I am canceling my upcoming cruise with MSC. View the video for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Majority of comments are critical of MSC.
The YC is great on the smaller ships the attention to detail really works....we have just come back from 7 nights on the Seashore in YC around the Med and the service was not great too many people on board and not enough staff even in YC ...we would always use YC when on MSC but would now only travel on smaller ships...
Just been on a Celebrity Silhouette cruise. What disappointed me most was that half the ship was taken up with speciality dining and the exclusive "Retreat". This meant 1/ the main restaurant is absolutely packed with hardly any space between the tables and 2/ when I book a cruise I expect to have use of all of the public areas! I didn't realise I was paying for half a ship.
I enjoyed the time spent in yacht club. I personally like the big ships but also like some peace. Just sailed on Princess and on a weeks sailing, managed to get a seat in a bar twice. We gave up in the end. At least with YC, I could’ve gone and got a drink and had a chat with fellow travellers. I think the fact that there are these options available is good. If you don’t like it, then don’t do it!
We booked something a bit similar -- the Havana area onboard Carnival Horizon -- and while it is nowhere near as elaborate as MSC's Yacht Club or areas like The Retreat, it DID offer a great chance to escape the hurly-burly of the rest of the ship, and it's nowhere near as pricey. We had a dedicated pool and hot tubs, a dedicated side of the Havana Bar, and our cabin had a nice "cabana" area (like a patio), and the rest of the ship's pools and hot tuns were quite crowded. The pool deck staff greeted us by name after the second or third day and there was excellent bar and frozen-fruit service. For our next cruise, also on Horizon, the Havana area remains sold-out, and we had to "settle" for a Lido Deck balcony...however, my cruise-friends felt they'd missed some of the vibe of the rest of the ship last time and are okay with the downgrade. Me, I'd rather have the relative quiet. :)
This reminds me of what Ryanair calls priority... It is not so much about giving you a better and faster way, it is more about making the normal way slower and worst.
The ship within a ship shit needs to stop. I make good money but I’m not throwing down $20k on a cruise - but the lines want me to feel like I’m broke because I didn’t
I thought yacht club was ok but you use the word “ erratic” in relation to the service, I think that perfectly describes the yacht club experience. It was not bad but I didn’t feel that they quite delivered on the price point and promise. For me the biggest takeaway was to highlight just what great value and service that the MSC base product really is. I paid nearly 5times the base fare for yacht club-that value equation doesn’t work. MSC is a very open line and caters for everyone, where possible usually late booking solo travellers are particularly well catered for, far better than any other line I know. I would not pay to sail yacht club again, but I look forward to my next MSC sailing very much.
As someone who can't even afford to go on a cruise, maybe my opinion is not exactly valid in this subject.... But, I don't see a problem with the concept, if well executed. Some people have more money than others, and they should be able to access better things for more money, I don't think this is a problem per se. What I think becomes a problem is when the companies forget about the regular paying people. When they only think about the top payers, only give them a good experience. You gotta give top class experience to regulsr folks and over the top class experience to vip folks. Because everyone is paying good money to go on these things, so everyone deserves good things. Exclusivity is not a problem, you just gotta know how to keep everything high quality, not only the higher paying people's experience.
When we did YC on the World Europa in June, the staff regularly called me out by name, knew my drinks I had ordered on previous days, and the dinner staff knew our preferences after a couple of days. We thought the food was very good as well. If we cruise MSC again, we would definitely choose YC. I agree from his previous videos on MSC that it's very packed in the rest of the ship. The Top Sail Lounge, YC sundeck and YC restaurant at the front of the ship makes it a special experience.
It’s the cruise industry returning to its ocean liner roots, now we have First Class and the rest of us in steerage. It parallels the new normal of a true 2 class society of landlords and tenants that we’re rapidly returning to as well.
I understand the idea of having both quieter spaces and family or more lively areas. But getting to go to the front of an excursion line? Obnoxious. The front of lines should be for seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant or with young children, serving military/vets not for those with more $$$
I agree with you totally,I was in MSC MERAVIGLIA yacht club few months ago ,lost luggage ,didn’t deliver newspaper as requested ,food ok, had to beg for drink in the bar wouldn’t come up to me and ask if I needed anything had to flag him down ,getaway to yacht club for peace and quiet was the attraction. Won’t go MSC again . Out of 40+ cruises still PREFER VIKING.🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
wouldn’t it be better to go on a ship that doesn’t have 6000 guests on it and then paying more to avoid all the very same people?
Its for poor people who want to feel rich, not actual rich people with taste.
I've been on a couple of Carnival cruises and never had a problem finding a quiet table to dine. But it seems as if the ship within a ship exploits some people's need for exclusivity from the very people they chose to be around. There's an old saying that goes something like, "If I can give a group of people another group of people to look down on, that first group want mind if I pick their pockets." I can't remember the exact quote or who said it. 🤔
@@williamgurulyndon b Johnson. Regarding racism. The sentiment works for many circumstances.
@@Dunewarrior00 Poor people have taste as well. Snob!
@@williamguru President Lyndon B. Johnson! And the second part of that quote is: "Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
I have a slightly different take on the yacht club. I chose this for the cruise with my nearly 90 year old mom last week, much better experience than being part of the main ship, as there was less noise and crowds, which for a person with visual,hearing And mobility issues is a really big benefit. Just my two. Cents.
It’s a fine line the cruise lines are walking. The ship within a ship concept can work when us folks in steerage are made to feel special, and the elite passengers are made to feel more special. The problem comes when the steerage passengers are made to feel less special.
Like airlines? Those upstairs passengers pay for the entire flight 🙂
But I want to pay more to make you feel less special so that I feel ok!!!! LOL (Note this is sarcasm)!
@@wannabedal-adx458 I did it once and I missed the entire rest of the ship! ha ha, that is so sad 😀
I have never not felt special - how do they remember our names?? ♥♥But in Yacht club (solo) I paid for the "attention" "experience" and got way more attention than I ever want - I didn't feel especially "special" just overwhelmed, stressed from expectations (real or imagined), and after having multiple YC servers watching you eat because you're the only customer - I felt like I was on stage and do not want that again. But some people love it. Although I did loved them taking care of arrangements in a military state country😀
@@connie_360I’m always surprised that this old myth still survives… Sure the airlines make a profit with C/J/F passengers, but these passengers for sure don’t pay for the entire flight. Don’t make fhe mistake to look at IATA prices for C/J/F tickets, hardly anyone is ever paying those.
This is what used to be called „First Class“.
Eventually the ship within a ship will expand so much due to popularity that they'll have to come up with a ship within a ship within a ship
Great video. My late mom and I loved traveling on Norwegian in the Haven. We had many great cruises. I love the hustle and bustle of the big ships while she, in her 70s at the time, liked the smaller, quieter, easier to navigate area of the Haven. It was the best of both worlds for us. She has been gone 4 years now but I have some wonderful memories.
This is why we stay at the Four Seasons hotel in Las Vegas...it's a "hotel within a hotel" that gives you an escape from the madness of Vegas. We are sailing on MSC Seaside in the Yacht Club this coming Thursday. Will be our first time on MSC and will be interesting to compare the experience we had in an NCL suite last summer. For me it is totally worth it to pay to avoid the crowds. In fact I would rather take half as many trips if I had to in order to afford trips that are more luxurious.
This is a great video discussing the benefits and potential shortcomings of YC. Being segregated from the hoi polloi can be a fascinating experience. My wife and I were given hockey tickets to the company's box. We could park for free right outside the club entrance, take the elevator up to the box level and walk above the crowds. We had in-box snacks and easy access to drinks, and a great view of the game. It gave me an idea that someone whose whole life is like this can become quickly spoiled, even blase about it.
I can't wait for the next generation of this. You'll take an express elevator to the top deck where a ginormous pool fitting nearly the whole top deck exists. It isn't a wading, smoking, or swimming pool but rather a container for a smaller ship to float in where select individuals can indeed board a ship on a ship. Complete with its own kitchen, dining and entertainment areas. xD
😂
Hi Gary! My husband and I went on MSC Splendida on a trip that was an award from my company. We don't like big ships, so thank God that they booked us in the Yacht Club. had our cabin been outside of the Yacht Club - we would have a very bad experience. In the main areas of the ship - there were hundreds of people everywhere - to the point that on some decks you could not walk at your own pace. We went down once for dinner to the main restaurant, but the food wasn't good and they put us at a table with some passengers from Germany who could not speak English and we don't speak German. All in all - we really appreciated being in the Yacht Club and we had a great cruise. As you are saying - if anyone loves the big ship amenities, but also loves peace and quiet and doesn't want to break the bank - the MSC Yacht Club is for them.
Sounds like a good option for the introvert traveling with a large group of extroverts.
"You guys go watch the parade and go to the party. I'm going to chill in the dull, boring, *quiet* Yacht Club lounge."
A retreat like this is the only way you could get me on a mega-ship, aka introvert's nightmare. I'd rather be on a small luxury ship though.
I really like MSC. We are a family of 5 and cruise every year so the Yacht Club is currently not an option. However, once it's just my wife and I, we will certainly be using these "ships within ships". MSC's is very affordable as well.
You'd be surprised. Prices were crazy low the past few years and are high right now but check in the fall. As a solo, I expect to pay $2100-$5000 for a YC Inside, OV, or Balcony. Remember, YC everything is included - unlike Haven, etc. Premium drinks, Wifi, Thermal spa come with it. As prices go that's a good saving of nearly $1000 per person if you were going to buy those things. When pricing, the first choice for example is $500 or $950 which includes drinks and wifi. That price starts to make sense.
On a HAL Alaskan Cruise I introduced my wife and myself to my Cabin Steward in Indonesian. Well, the grapevine went ballistic and wherever we went we were treated like VIPs. Seems the staff could chat to us in Indonesian which they are not allowed to do, even amongst themselves on the ship as per Regulations, unless the passengers do it first. Best seats, Silver Service in all the eating areas, it was great.
My husband and I very much enjoy your videos but as frequent Yacht Club cruisers, including the Virtuoso, we have to take exception to some of your comments. Firstly all Yacht Club guests have dedicated toiletries i.e. MSC Med. You never mentioned the Nespresso coffee machine in all Yacht Club cabins. We find all bar and restaurant staff have addressed us by name by day two. The breakfast and lunch staff remember our coffee/alcohol preferences by maximum day 3. If there has ever been the slightest issue we have found the concierge desk immediately proactive. You occasionally mention the price difference but the basic point is that the Yacht Club experience is superior by far to being in the main body of the ship and price for price in comparison with other cruise lines is excellent value. But, Gary, keep up the good work you are doing, we appreciate it.
Hi Gary we sailed the Haven NCL Bliss to Alaska last year as a special treat and it was exceptional, not pompous which would have made us uncomfortable, just subtle benefits, the dedicated staff were wonderful, really went out their way to ensure you had an enjoyable cruise, knew our names, our preferences etc within hours and had great fun with us without being intrusive or in anyway “fake”. There were one or two guests around who had an elevated sense of entitlement, you know the type 😂 we just ignored those and found most guests were just hard working folks treating themselves and many new friends were made. Problem is it has now spoiled us for future cruises, we’re just back from a Med and Greek island tour on the new NCL Viva, Haven was too expensive this time, however our balcony suite was really lovely and all the staff were great but we struggled with the crowds and thankfully we followed many of your tips, so a good time was had, but yes we missed the Haven a little 😁. Time for something different next time loathed to move from NCL but saving hard for a possible Antarctic adventure, so will be searching out your videos! Thank you again for a great piece. 🥰🏴🇬🇧
I had a different experience with MSCs Yacht Club with the staff being personal. Everyone knew my name as I went to the lounge, etc. I will do it again.
Completely agree. I’ve just come off 2 weeks in YC on Virtuosa. The staff knew our names, our favourite drinks and my son’s breakfast order. It was a fabulous experience
We’ve gone on the Yacht Club twice (Med cruises) and loved the experience. We got an interior and it was well worth the price for the week. I’m afraid this has spoiled me re:MSC in that I don’t think I could ever travel without it!
I get having special areas for the premium passengers like the Yacht Club, but I find it offensive that premium passengers get to cut in front of people who have been waiting for off-ship activities like the train and gondola.
Agree. Definitely not fair.
It sounds very British.
@@Moksha-Raver No, it's not British. British people have never confused money with class.
@@littleglimmer2325 Hasn't the class system in Britain always granted similar perks to those at the top?
@@Moksha-Raver The British class system is not based on money. Those who think money buys them into the class system have no class.
Huge ships create chaotic monstrocity !!
I think this works fine while the two groups are kept apart (dining etc). What would not be fine is if I was made to stand waiting to board an excursion bus/train until the whole line of yacht club people are taken on in front of us. This makes me want to never cruise with MSC.
Or, waiting in line to discover you've been bumped by a last minute YC guest.
It's as if some people don't know there are grades of cabins or extra cost specialty restaurants on cruise ships. Where are you drawing your lines for feeling left out/not equal? Early embarking? Bigger room? Early access to booking shows? On no ship is everything equal, except for the SS Yakov Smirnolf where you don't take a cruise, the cruise takes you.
If I ever do MSC again, I'd probably do Yacht Club. It's not much more than a regular room especially once you factor in it includes WiFi, Spa, Specialty Dining and Drink package all things I would purchase separatedly anyway.
My problem is I don't like crowds AT ALL, even when I get to bypass it all. Especialky looking at how crowded the excursions are as well.
Great video, as usual. Lol. I’ll not be likely to sail in the Yacht Club ($$$), but enjoy the vicarious experience!
Look into the interior rooms in YC he mentioned. I’m staying in one this coming January and it is roughly the same cost as an inside room on Virgin or Celebrity (with their versions of drink and Wi-Fi packages).
Like all things, you get what you pay for. Remember as Lee Iococca said, "The back part of the plane gets there the same time as the front".
As usual another great review, i watch many and they all give a helpful and worthwhile perspective. Just a quick response to the last comment MSC are introducing smaller all Yacht Club Ships in the not too distant future so perhaps that might suit some people.
I couldn’t help smile at your post as our Buttler from March 2023 was in it and were some of the staff we met, we will be back on the Virtuosa on Saturday those staff may have left because of their contracts.
You are not wrong that this is an expensive option, it does however enable my wife and i to make the most of our relaxation, i think it very important to remember, all of the staff work long hours, are away from loved ones for extended periods of time and are still smiling, helpful and professional. We never know what is going on in anyone’s life, on the World Europa one of our Butlers was heading home to India just after that devastating train derailment, I have no idea whom i might speak to next week, it could be a person from a Greek island who’s family have evacuated their home or a Tunisian who has lost a loved one and yet i will still expect preferential service because i have paid a few Quid, honestly i love MSC and most members of staff are amazing, thank you for your excellent reviews, could i ask you in future to perhaps cover the people you interact with rather than just your experience.
I've been lucky enough to sail in Yacht Club twice, last year when they had an amazing solo supppliment deal, both times on the Virtuosa.
I was greeted regularly by my name & on the 2nd sailing was recognised immediately upon boarding.
I had an amazing experience & would absolutely do it again.....if they have another solo supppliment sale.
Our experience felt very personalized too, with lots of people remembering our names and being very friendly.
This is a great tip. Thank you!
Great video Gary - after watching it I think I'm not in a rush to go on an MSC cruise, and would rather pay more for something like Oceania or just cruise on ships with smaller passenger counts (say, Holland America or Princess.)
yes agree :-)
Try virgin. My family feels the same way and virgin voyage is amazing . It feels so much less crowded we love it
The Yacht Club sounds perfect if you want to be on a very large ship. We spend about 90 day a year on the water and really prefer to pay the extra for the upscale small ships.
I would love to know how you do that without prying too much ie the practicalities- are you using credits from previous cruises or how do you manage it? Which lines do you use?
Thank you for this video, Gary. I was recently wondering about the Yacht Club. I am not an MSC cruiser, but have thought about the Meraviglia out of NYC in the Yacht Club. Perfect timing!
As always, great info Gary. I travel cheaply so I appreciate traveling vicariously through you in a more expensive way.
Someday we might dine together! LOL! 😂
Haha yes! Nearest I come to cruises are overnight ferries 😂
But i think I've watched most of Gary's vids now...
Thank you for your informative vlog. We have been leery trying MSC, but now I feel for a quick holiday at a good price, it may be the thing of the good and not so good. We have done suite class on Celebrity, Princess and Holland America. Knowing that the Yacht Club will not reach their heights and knowing what to expect will not cause a disppointed experience.
YESSSSS I feel like I’ve been waiting for this for years, love it. Thanks Gary! 🙏
Thank you for showing this! Confirmed my opinion that MSC line is not for me. I’d have to be part of the hoi poloi and that crowd would drive me crazy
Phenomenal video! Thorough, balanced, and detailed. This would prepare me so well to evaluate the product. And the transition at 2:45 -- wow!
I think you do the best job of all the Cruise reviewers ! I am going on my 3rd Merivegilia Yacht Club cruise this year...Been on 250 + including
the Luxury lines. The price and benefits are well worth it !!! The small ships are very quiet, we have the best of both worlds in the Yacht Club.
I noticed that our timeshare / vacation club moved in this direction a decade or more ago, boosting services for individuals who made a larger and also a more recent investment. One feature was that the newly created class A status owners were allowed to make specific kinds of reservations a week prior to everyone else. In theory, the developers built new resorts to accommodate the same new weeks / points being sold and that resulted in new resorts that likely wouldn’t have been built otherwise for all the owners to use at some tiered level.
I’m not a fan of the class system within a travel modality but understand that it is a business decision to help attract or retain a customer at a different price point and this may be needful to stay competitive or to keep stockholders engaged.
I still felt disappointed that our vacation club original purchase made three decades prior shifted many into a class B or C status that didn’t exist prior to. One of the more micro reasons for making my purchase, modest as it be, was I thought it would help make condo vacations available to more families, younger families and perhaps a “blue collar” owner, that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to vacation at all. The club wouldn’t exist in the same way without enough entry level purchases.
Don’t mind the ship within a ship on MSC’s yacht club as it’s widely accessible for mass market customers who want to pay slightly more and treat themselves, but on celebrity and Norwegian they’re totally out of reach for normal people creating a huge class divide
Where it got really annoying on celebrity was when they cut space out of the main dining room!
Great insights into the Yacht Club. Food for thought when I take an MSC cruise. Thanks!
As a past YC/main ship and pending YC user of Virtuosa + another 4 MSC similar/smaller ships, I recognise all your comments Gary. I can't say we have ever had a major problem with MSC compared to P&O, RCL and Marella/Thomson over 25 cruises and 20 + years. I'm grateful to @msccruisesuk for the NHS discount during 21/22 and their pricing policy in general.
We’ve booked MSC Yacht Club for the first time. Excited to see how the “ship within a ship” concept plays out. Totally fine with just hanging out in this area for 4 nights.
Another reason I like Viking. No ship within a ship.
I always enjoy your analysis of the amenities and services. Recognizing the food wasn't at the same level as other vessels but was cheaper is important. I see too many people in the RUclips comments section across topics that fail to recognize material differences.
The ability to jump to the head of the line seems like something many of us would value more on a vacation than even outstanding food. It's been some time since I've watched one of your videos on choosing a ship size, but your Yacht Club treatment seems to be even better than you would get on a small ship.
Thanks. 👍
The best and most detailed video and insight into Yacht Club that we've seen......not surprisingly given that its you Gary.
But here's a further insight.
We had just watched a vlog from an American lady who also commented on how she had received a wish list of her preferred options for her cabin, only to find that not one had been granted/supplied.
MSC would do well to remember that core customer service/delight mantra.....Under promise, Over deliver
This feels like ships are going back to the old days of having 1st class vs the rest of the people. Not sure this is that different than people staying in luxury resorts vs value resorts at like Disney. So many places have different levels of service for people based on price, which has its pros and cons. Thank you for sharing this info!
And then in the parks themselves you have the regular queues, then the "genie plus" which gives you the ability to book a limited number of rides without queing, then at the top of the pile you have the "private VIP tour" which basically lets you skip all the queues.
Good overview Gary. The names may be different, but this is just the return of the old class system that used to exist on ocean liners and still does on most airlines. Call it what you will, but basically you were booked into what used to be called First Class. In our very uptight society, the cruise lines can't use that term. But that's what we are talking about.
Gary, thank you for this video. Now it is just my hubbie and me cruising without older children. We are RCL and Celebrity balcony cruisers and looked at cost of their suites and the ship within a ship - the cost 😮!!! Someday we will try it but for now we prefer going 2 or 3 times a year in a balcony instead of 1 time in a year and a half. Still many places to go see. With our Diamond status, we still enjoy many benefits.
You have definitely peaked my curiosity on MSC Yacht club ! Again thanks for always having great content .
I was upgraded to YC on back to back Med cruises 10 years ago (on Splendida and Divina). The first MSC cruise ship with its unfriendly and impersonal crowds and service was a nightmare but the YC an oasis of calm. The YC cabin was no bigger than the one I had stayed on the previous ship but the decor was a little nicer with a walk in wardrobe and included mini bar. Being at the forward end I noticed some motion sickness too. My butler was lovely. I didn’t eat in the restaurant as I ate with other passengers I had met on the first ship but relaxed in the lounge during at sea days and afternoons. The main perk I appreciated was being first to get to excursion buses first (I was escorted off the ship through a different exit) and a late “check out” on the last day. If I sailed MSC again I would only go with YC as the peace and quiet made a major difference to my solo experience.
We had three Yachtclub cruises on the msc VIRTUOSA in the past 2 years. I agree on all issues that are discussed. At all three cruises we were in the special Yachtclub seats in the theatre. And every time the moment the butler left the YC area because the show started, guests who were no Yachtclub guests sneaky came in the YC seat rows and stayed there. Especially Chinese couples and families did this. A lot of noice as they keep on talking. Very irritating. And no one to send them away from the seats they did not pay for. MSC should let a butler or workers stay there during the WHOLE show.
Another excellent video, Gary. My wife and I have just come off a QE trip to Alaska where we were upgraded to Princess Grill. We won't be going back to Britannia Club in future because the Grills lounge and sundecks gave us peace and quiet any time of the day or night. However, there were no other benefits that you cover here to Grills class - no priority access to excursions, theatre, etc which for us would have spoiled the experience. While it's acceptable that higher prices obtain better facilities, it isn't right that other passengers are made to feel 'lower class'; after all, they had paid the best they could afford for their trip and are owed not to be waiting in long queues to see privileged people waltzing past them. Is this ship-within-a-ship trend an unintended consequence of lines chasing low fare, 100% occupancy with drinks packages cruises? Isn't P&O are losing reputation because of its pack 'em in cheap policy for instance, leading previous customers to look for less rowdy cruise experiences? Cunard seem to have the balance exactly right.
Sailed the meraviglia out of NYC in June. Yacht club was the best.so spoiled. No crowds. No children. My best cruise ever.
Video request - I would love it if you could compare visiting Norwegian ports on a large ship like MSC vs that of smaller, luxury ships (especially if you have been to the same port on both types of ships). Topics like: access, crowds, attitude of locals, etc. Thanks for all your amazing videos!
Yes, I would like that also.
Thank you for another great insight into a cruise line. I'm wondering if the lack of eye contact is related to culture. In some areas of the world it may be considered inappropriate to make eye contact which would mean, as often is the case, that staff training is the likely solution. Thank you again for the video, looking forward to the next one.
On this topic not as all the crew are from the same countries as on other lines...
Gary, TY for the video. YC prices, inclusions, and services cannot be beat. I shop like Emma and when I saw the YC prices to Red Seas OMG, solo 2K, lux balcony it was like a sign. Solo female traveling to Red Seas. I am so happy I did it, that hand holding and guidance through all the Military gated ports and so on was so worth it. My 60th gift to myself including FC flights. I did come back down to earth as the very next day when I flew to NYC for Prima inside. 😕😅🚢🥂
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
I was greeted by name after Day 1 I think, so I think it always depends on the crew. I, for one, really enjoyed YC a lot, since I experienced the service to be very quick, friendly, and attentive. They even had my favourite bottle of wine layed out for the evening, and I felt it much more enjoyable compared to the Aurea cruise we did a few weeks back. I will definitely go back to YC
I do agree on the email before boarding, however. On my first YC cruise I opted for a newspaper which never arrived - on the second cruise, on the same ship, it miraculously arrived.
Seeing all those people in one place makes me cringe. I will stick with older Princess ships with week or longer sailings during the school year.
Thanks for sharing. You always tell it like it is.
I'm not gonna lie, the title got me excited thinking there were cruise ships with a giant pool in the middle that contained a smaller boat
People who cruise on family lines who complain about families should question their choice of line
I think if I could afford it I would rather go on a smaller more exclusive ship but I can’t afford to cruise anyway! ❤🏴
My opinion is that if you are going MSC and have the cash go "yatch club" If you don't have the cash go another cruise line.
Loved the Yacht club on The Divina and the Seashore. No problems and all request were filled. Sailed out of Florida and just booked the seascape out of Galvenson. Yachet club of course. Love your videos on Holland. as we are also sailing Alaska on HAL.
Thanks for another really thorough video, Gary. This answers whatever questions I had about Yacht Club on MSC! Nice to get these answers without being onboard.
Excellent video. I'd be interested in the Yacht Club. You get to enjoy the big shows and extensive facilities of a big cruise ship, but also avoid the lines and the noise of the general population. I really like the 'club within a club' idea.
I've been so excited for your reviews and content from MSC Yacht Club to start coming through, as you're so used to the premium end of the market. Your points on service are really interesting - I've heard about the lack of 'personalisation' from other passengers - I do find it odd that some didn't make eye contact, and I'm really surprised that you weren't referred to by name during your time in there!
Thanks :-) Great to hear you've been watching these and your thoughts!!
Thanks for this Gary! As a fellow solo cruiser, I love cruising MSC because they have many sailings where they waive the solo supplement, so it is very affordable for me. Hope to try the Yacht Club someday! Looks amazing and worth the money.
Personally, on my last MSC cruise, I felt like I had my own butler as my cabin steward on the Divina (which is one of their older/cheaper ships) was amazing and did so much for me. I had such an incredible experience with the service both times I cruised MSC so far. So sad to hear that you had a less than stellar experience, but seems like there was many positives too- that chocolate cake looked to die for!
Did you ever sense any resentment from the “hoi polloi” as you were escorted pass them as they waited in lines?
Does ‘Hoi Polloi’ mean plebeian? 😂
@@Erin-Thoryes, I believe it's a Yiddish word
@@elisaastorino2881 - I was going for humor over accuracy. 😎
I am not great with crowds... If I had to cruise something like this would fit me a little better... but to be honest you start getting close to the line in cost where you might as well charter your own personal yacht. I remember a few years ago or so you could charter your own yacht out of LA to Catalina for like 20k ish I think. Then you get your own personal crew / chef as well.
We aren't fans of MSC but I watched this with interest. We were on Opera, a smaller ship, so badly run! Dreadful food, patchy service, uninterested officers, no stabilisers deployed until passengers raised a ruckus in rough seas... and my phone was stolen from our cabin. They refused to investigate it.
I personally would prefer it if the staff didn't know my name and left me alone! 😂
If the cruise line opened up the spaces reserved for the "rich" to all guests, it would disperse the crowds throughout the ship more. The cruiseline is making general crowding worse by using valuable space up on a select few.
I believe that it was really brave of you to go on a MSC cruise at all. We only cruised once with them and after that we almost gave up cruising. Thank goodness that we didn't. It is our first holiday love on other cruise lines.
It was a challenge I set to return to it.. and to all the big resort lines this year (so have Royal C this month and Norwegian in November)....
I viewed the video by cruise with Ben and David, they were giving a positive review of MSC yacht club and then on day 3 they were forced to stop filming and even told no pictures even of themselves. Based on how they were treated I am canceling my upcoming cruise with MSC. View the video for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Majority of comments are critical of MSC.
Thank you for your honest review!
I have heard the same things from a friend who cruises, it’s worthwhile if you can afford it, and makes an experience on a bigger ship a lot better.
The YC is great on the smaller ships the attention to detail really works....we have just come back from 7 nights on the Seashore in YC around the Med and the service was not great too many people on board and not enough staff even in YC ...we would always use YC when on MSC but would now only travel on smaller ships...
Just been on a Celebrity Silhouette cruise. What disappointed me most was that half the ship was taken up with speciality dining and the exclusive "Retreat". This meant 1/ the main restaurant is absolutely packed with hardly any space between the tables and 2/ when I book a cruise I expect to have use of all of the public areas! I didn't realise I was paying for half a ship.
I would only ever go on a smaller ship, medium at the very most! Thank you for the video!
Thanks again Gary for a very detailed analysis!
I enjoyed the time spent in yacht club. I personally like the big ships but also like some peace. Just sailed on Princess and on a weeks sailing, managed to get a seat in a bar twice. We gave up in the end. At least with YC, I could’ve gone and got a drink and had a chat with fellow travellers.
I think the fact that there are these options available is good. If you don’t like it, then don’t do it!
We booked something a bit similar -- the Havana area onboard Carnival Horizon -- and while it is nowhere near as elaborate as MSC's Yacht Club or areas like The Retreat, it DID offer a great chance to escape the hurly-burly of the rest of the ship, and it's nowhere near as pricey. We had a dedicated pool and hot tubs, a dedicated side of the Havana Bar, and our cabin had a nice "cabana" area (like a patio), and the rest of the ship's pools and hot tuns were quite crowded. The pool deck staff greeted us by name after the second or third day and there was excellent bar and frozen-fruit service.
For our next cruise, also on Horizon, the Havana area remains sold-out, and we had to "settle" for a Lido Deck balcony...however, my cruise-friends felt they'd missed some of the vibe of the rest of the ship last time and are okay with the downgrade. Me, I'd rather have the relative quiet. :)
This reminds me of what Ryanair calls priority... It is not so much about giving you a better and faster way, it is more about making the normal way slower and worst.
The ship within a ship shit needs to stop. I make good money but I’m not throwing down $20k on a cruise - but the lines want me to feel like I’m broke because I didn’t
I thought yacht club was ok but you use the word “ erratic” in relation to the service, I think that perfectly describes the yacht club experience. It was not bad but I didn’t feel that they quite delivered on the price point and promise. For me the biggest takeaway was to highlight just what great value and service that the MSC base product really is. I paid nearly 5times the base fare for yacht club-that value equation doesn’t work. MSC is a very open line and caters for everyone, where possible usually late booking solo travellers are particularly well catered for, far better than any other line I know. I would not pay to sail yacht club again, but I look forward to my next MSC sailing very much.
Thanks You, your videos are just fantastic.
Wow, thanks so much for this very kind and generous super chat!
I love the way he says “chocolates”.
I'd much prefer a smaller ship that can get into interesting places the behemoths can't.
As someone who can't even afford to go on a cruise, maybe my opinion is not exactly valid in this subject.... But, I don't see a problem with the concept, if well executed. Some people have more money than others, and they should be able to access better things for more money, I don't think this is a problem per se. What I think becomes a problem is when the companies forget about the regular paying people. When they only think about the top payers, only give them a good experience. You gotta give top class experience to regulsr folks and over the top class experience to vip folks. Because everyone is paying good money to go on these things, so everyone deserves good things. Exclusivity is not a problem, you just gotta know how to keep everything high quality, not only the higher paying people's experience.
Very helpful, especially when you mentioned the price difference to other more premium offerings. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Gary, great video. You have definitely reinforced my choice to premium and luxury cruise lines.
When we did YC on the World Europa in June, the staff regularly called me out by name, knew my drinks I had ordered on previous days, and the dinner staff knew our preferences after a couple of days. We thought the food was very good as well. If we cruise MSC again, we would definitely choose YC. I agree from his previous videos on MSC that it's very packed in the rest of the ship. The Top Sail Lounge, YC sundeck and YC restaurant at the front of the ship makes it a special experience.
I know it doesn't compare but some of the staff on Marella remembered my name and drinks preferences!
It’s the cruise industry returning to its ocean liner roots, now we have First Class and the rest of us in steerage. It parallels the new normal of a true 2 class society of landlords and tenants that we’re rapidly returning to as well.
I was just thinking that! (The middle class is disappearing, notifications are being sent.)
Excellent video!! BTW, are you using a personal drone in a few shots?
I understand the idea of having both quieter spaces and family or more lively areas. But getting to go to the front of an excursion line? Obnoxious. The front of lines should be for seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant or with young children, serving military/vets not for those with more $$$
Food quality is evident. They ran out of tiramisu in yacht club. Of course they replaced it with the tiramisu from mdr. Significant difference.
RCCL and. Celebrity have has the priority seating at shows and expedited access on tenders for Elite+ passengers. And for suites guests.
I agree with you totally,I was in MSC MERAVIGLIA yacht club few months ago ,lost luggage ,didn’t deliver newspaper as requested ,food ok, had to beg for drink in the bar wouldn’t come up to me and ask if I needed anything had to flag him down ,getaway to yacht club for peace and quiet was the attraction. Won’t go MSC again . Out of 40+ cruises still PREFER VIKING.🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
So we're back to the first class/ second class divide, huh? Wonder if the first class passengers get priority lifeboat access again too.
Really enjoy these videos new to cruising very interesting thanks
I’ve found even on Holland America the staff learned names.