Jump to content

MSC Yacht Club * VS* NCL Haven ????


trician24
 Share

Recommended Posts

It used to be that suite guests got all promos and there was no charge. In June of last year, NCL started to charge suite guests the service charge for the UBP and SDP promos (which were then made optional).

 

 

Seriously? For what they charge?

Well, I guess if people pay it, can't blame them for charging.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seriously? For what they charge?

Well, I guess if people pay it, can't blame them for charging.

For 8day cruise on NCL, choosing drink and specialty dinner package current additional charge is about $389

Added to Cruise fare .

A agree that this was a bad move by NCL to make Suite guests pay these additional fees now.

We were in Haven and had to purchase water package to get more than the one bottle we received on cabin on first day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For 8day cruise on NCL, choosing drink and specialty dinner package current additional charge is about $389

Added to Cruise fare .

A agree that this was a bad move by NCL to make Suite guests pay these additional fees now.

We were in Haven and had to purchase water package to get more than the one bottle we received on cabin on first day.

 

More reasons to cruise in the Yacht Club instead of the Haven. Much cheaper and more things included.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

More reasons to cruise in the Yacht Club instead of the Haven. Much cheaper and more things included.

 

Yep. We have one cruisenext left and won't be buying any on our upcoming trip. Haven prices way up, less being offered and more charges.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

We have never booked the MSC Yacht Club but are interested in learning more. 

 

We have completed multiple NCL cruises and recently bid to get into the Haven Courtyard as an experiment.  Our experience with the Norwegian Bliss Haven was delightful.  (In fact, we booked 2 more Haven Courtyard stays due to our experience.)  Our butler and steward were wonderful.  If one was busy, the other filled in.  Other Butlers and stewards helped out wherever ours were unavailable.  And the public areas all had helpful staff continuously available.  Other's Haven experiences likely depend on the ship booked as Haven area varies greatly between ships due to the evolution of the offering.  It also probably would differ between Haven cabins in the courtyard vs Haven cabins spread throughout the ship.  I agree it's a bit pricey but we did get 5 "free" offers (Drink Package, Dinner Package, Internet Package, Port Credits, Onboard Credit)  The 6th offering we don't need but free 3rd and 4th in a 2 bedroom suite can calculate at being quite a deal.

 

The Breakaway Plus ships have a huge forward facing glass enclosed lounge with snacks, a library, a bar lounge, a restaurant, a small private pool / jacuzzi area and a very nice outdoor area.  The concierge desk helps with reservations, etc.  For boarding, we had a private waiting area and were escorted on the ship in a matter of minutes.  The concierge staff escorted us off the ship for each port and at debarkation.  The Theater had a special area for Haven guests.

 

For those who have done the MSC Yacht Club, how would you compare your experience with ours in the Haven?

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, ttechnology said:

The Breakaway Plus ships have a huge forward facing glass enclosed lounge with snacks, a library, a bar lounge, a restaurant, a small private pool / jacuzzi area and a very nice outdoor area.

 

Only 3 of the 4 Breakaway Plus ships have a forward-facing lounge. Escape does not while Joy, Bliss, and Encore (under construction) have 2 each. One for Haven guests and another for all guests.

 

The rest of the amenities including 3 hot-tubs are on all Breakaway Plus ships.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, ttechnology said:

For those who have done the MSC Yacht Club, how would you compare your experience with ours in the Haven?

I'll let you know next week!!

I have also enjoyed my Haven experiences on NCL. After sailing Royal for so long:classic_sad: then going to NCL-it was obvious who was getting my money.

MSC is a good deal right now so I'll see how it compares to NCL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/22/2018 at 12:42 PM, ttechnology said:

We have never booked the MSC Yacht Club but are interested in learning more. 

 

We have completed multiple NCL cruises and recently bid to get into the Haven Courtyard as an experiment.  Our experience with the Norwegian Bliss Haven was delightful.  (In fact, we booked 2 more Haven Courtyard stays due to our experience.)  Our butler and steward were wonderful.  If one was busy, the other filled in.  Other Butlers and stewards helped out wherever ours were unavailable.  And the public areas all had helpful staff continuously available.  Other's Haven experiences likely depend on the ship booked as Haven area varies greatly between ships due to the evolution of the offering.  It also probably would differ between Haven cabins in the courtyard vs Haven cabins spread throughout the ship.  I agree it's a bit pricey but we did get 5 "free" offers (Drink Package, Dinner Package, Internet Package, Port Credits, Onboard Credit)  The 6th offering we don't need but free 3rd and 4th in a 2 bedroom suite can calculate at being quite a deal.

 

The Breakaway Plus ships have a huge forward facing glass enclosed lounge with snacks, a library, a bar lounge, a restaurant, a small private pool / jacuzzi area and a very nice outdoor area.  The concierge desk helps with reservations, etc.  For boarding, we had a private waiting area and were escorted on the ship in a matter of minutes.  The concierge staff escorted us off the ship for each port and at debarkation.  The Theater had a special area for Haven guests.

 

For those who have done the MSC Yacht Club, how would you compare your experience with ours in the Haven?

 

 


????

 

That is exactly what this thread is about.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well folks, it seems like the comparisons change day-to-day.  

 

I was once completely loyal to NCL Haven but became disillusioned after Sheehan was out and Del Rio was in.  He gave us less for more and as a outright suite booker I hate the Priceline-esque bid system.  

 

Fast forward to MSC's status match, followed by tons of research on YC. I booked for May 2019.  

 

Recent developments hint that much of what I expected has changed.  Yeah, hotel is paid for.   I could cancel and take a small loss but I am a "see it for myself" kind of gal.  So yeah,  I will go in May and decide if I am one and done or if I have a new cruiseline.  

 

I am wondering if the honchos at MSC have been hitting the links with Del Rio. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, DMH15 said:

Well folks, it seems like the comparisons change day-to-day.  

 

I was once completely loyal to NCL Haven but became disillusioned after Sheehan was out and Del Rio was in.  He gave us less for more and as a outright suite booker I hate the Priceline-esque bid system.  

 

Fast forward to MSC's status match, followed by tons of research on YC. I booked for May 2019.  

 

Recent developments hint that much of what I expected has changed.  Yeah, hotel is paid for.   I could cancel and take a small loss but I am a "see it for myself" kind of gal.  So yeah,  I will go in May and decide if I am one and done or if I have a new cruiseline.  

 

I am wondering if the honchos at MSC have been hitting the links with Del Rio. 

 

 

 

Edited by Dr. Cocktail
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, DMH15 said:

Well folks, it seems like the comparisons change day-to-day.  

 

Recent developments hint that much of what I expected has changed.  Yeah, hotel is paid for.   I could cancel and take a small loss but I am a "see it for myself" kind of gal.  So yeah,  I will go in May and decide if I am one and done or if I have a new cruiseline.  

I love your style, we are also 'see it for ourselves' cruisers. We did YC for the 1st time last month, and loved it so much we booked for February. We will assess what changes, if any, have been made so it might be two and done for us...but we have 43 cruises on 14 different cruiselines, so we are loyal to none and normally choose for itinerary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, hamrag said:

I love your style, we are also 'see it for ourselves' cruisers. We did YC for the 1st time last month, and loved it so much we booked for February. We will assess what changes, if any, have been made so it might be two and done for us...but we have 43 cruises on 14 different cruiselines, so we are loyal to none and normally choose for itinerary.

I'm with you.  Booked our first YC for Sept of next year.  Probably wouldn't have if I'd known MSC was going to embark on a strategy of cheapening the experience.  May be one on done for me too.  We'll see.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Completely agree on hatred for the Priceline way of bidding for Haven suites.

 

Price them fairly and transparently.  I refuse to play a bidding game, so I will never again sail Haven suites.   (I want to book the category and cabin I plan on sailing; another reason not to book a guaranty.  I don't want to book an NCL balcony and "hope" I win a bid for the Haven.  If I want to sail the Haven, I want to book it - but at a fair price.)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, mnocket said:

Probably wouldn't have if I'd known MSC was going to embark on a strategy of cheapening the experience.  

 

Sorry...I read through this entire thread but didn't pick up on the subtleties.  What cheapening are you referring to ?  We have a YC MSC Seaside booked for Christmas 2019.  I'm not sure what is changing that may affect our experience.  Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, RFerrington said:

 

Sorry...I read through this entire thread but didn't pick up on the subtleties.  What cheapening are you referring to ?  We have a YC MSC Seaside booked for Christmas 2019.  I'm not sure what is changing that may affect our experience.  Thanks

Here's the thread that discusses the changes. 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2609077-yc-more-items-now-not-included/?tab=comments#comment-56231195

 

Edited by mnocket
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've sailed NCL Haven and suites multiple times over the past ten years and I lasted until 2017 then moved to MSC, with the last three in Seaside Yacht Club.  I don't care if it's Yacht Club or not I won't be back to NCL until something changes.  MSC has it's quirks and growing pains, but so far I can deal with those better than NCL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am looking forward for our MSC YC trip in January, so I can't actually compare it, yet!  We were in the Haven in May on Getaway and it was ok.  There was nothing bad about it, but I just never felt like the experience was equal to the cost.  We still had a great vacation so I won't complain too much.  More than anything I didn't like the ship itself, the layout was just odd.  I will say that the aft balcony cabin was spectacular.  I think I have better aligned my expectations with the upcoming MSC cruise. 

 

I actually heard about YC and MSC in the Haven on NCL.  Some other passengers were comparing and made it sound like they actually preferred YC.  So after some research, we booked MSC two weeks after coming home.  🙂

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, mmpgoodtogo said:

There was nothing bad about it, but I just never felt like the experience was equal to the cost.

I'll assume you paid full price.  I'm fine with the Haven/suite experience on NCL, a nice product that unfortunately has seen some cutbacks.  Back when I last sailed there was a minority of upselling.  That has changed and NCL does all it can to hide the fact that now a majority got there through Upgrade Advantage bidding.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, Até said:

I'll assume you paid full price.  I'm fine with the Haven/suite experience on NCL, a nice product that unfortunately has seen some cutbacks.  Back when I last sailed there was a minority of upselling.  That has changed and NCL does all it can to hide the fact that now a majority got there through Upgrade Advantage bidding.

We did pay full price, but I wanted a very specific room/deck combo.  So from the standpoint of paying for the room we got, it was worth every penny. But it did seem like a lot of people were talking about the bidding on the roll-call.  I wouldn't have risked it though since I knew exactly what room/location I wanted. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, mmpgoodtogo said:

I wanted a very specific room/deck combo.  ...I wouldn't have risked it though since I knew exactly what room/location I wanted.

As do I.  I just don't like the artificially inflated suite prices they use to drive the bidding frenzy.  That opinion comes from ten years sailing in NCL suites.  That is why if I want a more luxury cruise I now sail YC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...