Questions for those with recent experience with the MSC Yacht Club

[loriva]

Thanks to the many who have posted reviews and on the MSC board. I've read through all I could, but still had some questions and was hoping those with recent experience might help sort them out. Here goes with some questions for our sailing on Splendida out of Civitavecchia on 15 June:

 

--Sailaway is 1900—what time for boarding/muster drill?

--All Aboard?? mentioned the concierge could arrange cash withdrawals from your onboard account—what is the fee for this? Anyone ask the concierge about upcoming spa specials to book ahead—or do YC guest have priority for spa appointments (as has been reported they do for ship’s excursions)?

--Laundry service—is this complimentary or do you now have to buy a laundry package--€20 regular (next day) service and €30 for express (same day) service, price is for up to 30 items, don't have to do all at one time)?

--Can you order hot items (an omelet for breakfast or a hamburger for lunch, for example) from Room Service? Can you order cocktails (or okay to just get one from the bar in the Top Sail and carry to room to enjoy on the balcony?) Can you dine on your suite balcony—like Princess’s Ultimate Balcony Breakfast or Dinner?

--Are there computers for guest use for internet access in the library or lounge area? Any discount on internet for YC guests?

--Any experience with Verizon cell phone service on board? How much did ship-to-shore telephone service cost per minute?

--Someone wrote that the butler provided a package of water tickets for use elsewhere on the ship where bottled water was not free. Anyone else experience this?

--Ordering hot food in the One Pool area or Top Sail Lounge—someone reported being able to get cooked-to-order eggs, bacon, etc. and there is a YC breakfast menu I found posted on-line that did list this option. Any recent experience with this?

--No reservations required for the private dining restaurant, L’Olivio, but did anyone ever experience a long (more than 15 minutes) wait? Someone also mentioned that at dinner in L’Olivio you could go off the menu and order pretty much anything you wanted—is this limited to, for example, items on the MDR menu or is it really anything? (Like ordering escargot or a special pasta on Princess?)

--You can also ask the concierge to reserve a table in the Villa Verde panoramic section—did anyone try this? Why?

--Tipping: One person mentioned tipping the butler over and above the general 7 Euro/pp service charge. Did you do so and how much for what services? When did you tip? Did you tip again when the butler walked you out for disembarkation? What about the concierge staff?

--Any entertainment or music venues you particularly liked?

--I read the hours for the gym are very limited--not opening until 0800 hours. Can YC guests access outside of posted hours via the direct elevator to the spa?

 

Many thanks,

[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

I will try as best as I can :)

 

Thanks to the many who have posted reviews and on the MSC board. I've read through all I could, but still had some questions and was hoping those with recent experience might help sort them out. Here goes with some questions for our sailing on Splendida out of Civitavecchia on 15 June:

 

--Sailaway is 1900—what time for boarding/muster drill?

 

One hour ahead of your departure, should be 1800.

 

--All Aboard?? mentioned the concierge could arrange cash withdrawals from your onboard account—what is the fee for this? Anyone ask the concierge about upcoming spa specials to book ahead—or do YC guest have priority for spa appointments (as has been reported they do for ship’s excursions)?

 

No fee for cash withdrawal.. Spa Specials will be announced in the daily program you receive in the cabin the evening before. Generally, the specials are when the ship is in port.

 

--Laundry service—is this complimentary or do you now have to buy a laundry package--€20 regular (next day) service and €30 for express (same day) service, price is for up to 30 items, don't have to do all at one time)?

 

You have to buy the EUR 20 package, really a good value for money service. We buyed it on day 5.

 

--Can you order hot items (an omelet for breakfast or a hamburger for lunch, for example) from Room Service? Can you order cocktails (or okay to just get one from the bar in the Top Sail and carry to room to enjoy on the balcony?) Can you dine on your suite balcony—like Princess’s Ultimate Balcony Breakfast or Dinner?

--Are there computers for guest use for internet access in the library or lounge area? Any discount on internet for YC guests?

 

No hot items on the room service menu. They serve breakfast and hot lunch at the YC pooldeck. You can have continental breakfast in your cabin. No dining in cabin, only of you are sick. Yes you can order cocktails in the YC bars and they take them to your balcony. You also have a free minibar in the cabin. No internett discount for YC guest. You can allways use the ship's main buffet in addition. There they have a great selection of hot dishes. You also have the sportsbar which serves burgers for a small fee.

 

 

--Any experience with Verizon cell phone service on board? How much did ship-to-shore telephone service cost per minute?

--Someone wrote that the butler provided a package of water tickets for use elsewhere on the ship where bottled water was not free. Anyone else experience this?

--Ordering hot food in the One Pool area or Top Sail Lounge—someone reported being able to get cooked-to-order eggs, bacon, etc. and there is a YC breakfast menu I found posted on-line that did list this option. Any recent experience with this?

--No reservations required for the private dining restaurant, L’Olivio, but did anyone ever experience a long (more than 15 minutes) wait? Someone also mentioned that at dinner in L’Olivio you could go off the menu and order pretty much anything you wanted—is this limited to, for example, items on the MDR menu or is it really anything? (Like ordering escargot or a special pasta on Princess?)

 

No waiting to dine in the YC restaurant. You can order about anything. But their menu is very good and it changes daily. In addition they have a "allways available" menu. A fantastic restaurant :)

 

 

--You can also ask the concierge to reserve a table in the Villa Verde panoramic section—did anyone try this? Why?

 

We did not, that's the main restaurant of the ship. Why go there when you have your own "private restaurant".

 

--Tipping: One person mentioned tipping the butler over and above the general 7 Euro/pp service charge. Did you do so and how much for what services? When did you tip? Did you tip again when the butler walked you out for disembarkation? What about the concierge staff?

 

We gave him tip when we disembarked, that's good timing.

 

 

--Any entertainment or music venues you particularly liked?

 

We really enjoyed the Top Sail Lounge, a very nice lounge with relaxing music and cozy atmosphere as well as great service. Very nice to meet fellow cruisers there. In addition you have loads of venues around the ship- We allways spend some time in the disco as well as the casino;)

 

--I read the hours for the gym are very limited--not opening until 0800 hours. Can YC guests access outside of posted hours via the direct elevator to the spa?

 

Many thanks,

 

Hope this helps. wish you a great cruise:)

[ulek]

I was in MSC Yatch Club on MSC Fantasia this New Year. You can read about this cruise on my homepage, there you also can see all daily programs. I will translate the site in english this week.

 

https://sites.google.com/site/semestertips/msc-fantasia-yatch-club

[loriva]

Many thanks, Norwegian Cruiser 73 and Ulek. The photos are lovely, Ulek--and it looks like you had beautiful weather for December--30 degrees! Having spent a winter in Copenhagen, I know how nice it is to go south and see the sun in December or January. Looks like the New Year's Eve party was fun as well.

 

Thanks for posting the daily programs. Looks like the gym--at least on Fantasia--opens at 0600 hours. Someone posted that it did not open until 0800, which woud be a little late with early ports.

 

Har det got!