Visitors from non-YC area to YC

[ssmea03]

I am glad you have raised the issue of the ships tours and the way they include a trip round the yacht club. We recently sailed on the Fantasia transatlantic for 14 nights...five of which were at sea. The one club was well used by YC guests, as obviously there were no excursions....save that is, for the Ships tour. Every morning between 10 and eleven, usually when we were having late breakfast there, the tour arrived. I would estimate that between 10 to 15 people arrived with their 3/4 tour escorts to tour the area and facilities. It is not such a big area so a group this size was very invasive in my opinion...people staring at what you had on your plates....we felt like something in a zoo. Take HEED MSC. On one occasion I could not get to the buffet area because the group was surrounding it looking at what was available. No issue with people wanting to see the yacht club nor for msc wanting to promote the area, BUT they really need to be a bit more selective about the time they do the tour, and a bit more considerate for the people that are using the areas. I personally was very unhappy with this aspect of the YC and it undermined the exclusivity everyone talks about.

 

On a normal itinerary there would be 1 tour per week, although split into groups by language. Much less intrusive.

Also the YC section is lead by a member of the YC concierge, if tours are getting a little indiscreet a word with the concierge should fix it.

[ssmea03]

Do they do this on other ships? Is there a time limit on when your next cruise is, could you accept the offer in 2018 and sail 2019?

 

Sorry I don't know, the guide didn't go into specifics and no one from our tour expressed an interest in the offer.

But it was very clear, you had to say yes there and then. Personally I thought it sounded too good to be true.

[CruisingFox27]

Thank you, it does sound a very good offer. I have a cruise in mind for next year so would be in a position to accept immediately. I'll have to see if we can book the tour on our upcoming cruises.

[CruiseKitty123]

Last year on the Divina, we saw the staff in the YC frequently escort people out of the lounge and pool area; they absolutely know who is staying in the YC and who is not (there are only about 130 people max in the YC). The butlers knew everyone by name. In doing this, they are also controlling costs for drinks, the mini bar, etc. The YC is not enormous by any means, and so if every person staying there brought a guest inside it would be crowded. It wouldn't be the same experience for those people that paid to be there.

The published rate last year was $110 US dollars per day/per person for others to join you anywhere in the YC, but it didn't seem to be something encouraged/advertised by MSC. The passes were limited to 10 passes per day. Our butler told us that nobody had arranged that during our cruise. I'm not sure if this is an option this year as I haven't seen anything published. As others stated, you can visit the rest of the amazing ship to see your friends. There were many people in the YC last year that mentioned they had friends/family in other sections of the ship.

Edited January 8, 2018 by CruiseKitty123

[NYHartChapp]

Yup in my case this pretty much sums it up ... but more important than all that is space. You are really paying for space and no crowds. Heading out to the pool at noon and not worrying if you will ever find a deck chair. No concern about finding seats in the buffet and never actually having to set foot in the buffet. That is the true appeal for me. And yes it's nice having pretty much everything included. Drinks and that all important spa pass which I love. I honestly don't care too much about the cabin.

 

 

Ditto!

[windlicht]

Last year on the Divina, we saw the staff in the YC frequently escort people out of the lounge and pool area; they absolutely know who is staying in the YC and who is not (there are only about 130 people max in the YC). The butlers knew everyone by name. In doing this, they are also controlling costs for drinks, the mini bar, etc. The YC is not enormous by any means, and so if every person staying there brought a guest inside it would be crowded. It wouldn't be the same experience for those people that paid to be there.

The published rate last year was $110 US dollars per day/per person for others to join you anywhere in the YC, but it didn't seem to be something encouraged/advertised by MSC. The passes were limited to 10 passes per day. Our butler told us that nobody had arranged that during our cruise. I'm not sure if this is an option this year as I haven't seen anything published. As others stated, you can visit the rest of the amazing ship to see your friends. There were many people in the YC last year that mentioned they had friends/family in other sections of the ship.

 

Sure. It's not a problem. I was mostly wondering for my teenage son - whether his best friend could visit and hand out with him in our cabin... seems like not likely (nobody is gonna pay 110 bucks for the privilege lol). The YC experience is mostly for my own benefit anyway. Thanks for this very informative response!

[CruiseKitty123]

You are welcome!

 

You will LOVE the YC! We noticed many (if not most) of the kids in the YC left during the day to use the water slides, etc. They would come back to check-in with parents every few hours and maybe grab a snack, but most of them seemed to find the YC less exciting. :) We enjoyed the entire ship, in addition to the YC perks. If I happen to see anything else on this, I will post.

 

Happy Cruising!

[eroller]

You are welcome!

 

You will LOVE the YC! We noticed many (if not most) of the kids in the YC left during the day to use the water slides, etc. They would come back to check-in with parents every few hours and maybe grab a snack, but most of them seemed to find the YC less exciting. :)

 

 

That makes total sense. I would think the YC would be kind of boring for kids, especially when the ship has a huge water park, another pool with a giant TV screen, buffets, and multiple kids clubs. Sure sounds more appealing to the average kid than the quiet, mostly adult YC area. I started out cruising when I was just a kid, and there were not that many kids onboard back then and certainly no kids clubs and water parks. Ships didn't even have TV's in cabins back then (late 70's). Still I loved cruising because it made me feel like an adult! LOL I would have probably liked the YC area because it is mostly adult.

[CruiseGal999]

This kind of makes me laugh and seems kind of snobbish. Do you plan on carding everyone in the yc area to make sure they paid for yc and meet your approval? As for me I'll stay in steerage so as not to offend any of you elite. Sorry but that really is the way this is coming across.

 

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So people pay EXTRA $$ ... say for the 4th or 5th row Center Orchestra at a play. You meander in and sit in THEIR seat. The paying guest DOES arrive and then what happens? YOU are asked to leave the seat. No one thinks this is bad form, well except for the person who was trying to upgrade his/her seat for free.

 

WHY would it be any different in the YC on a cruise ship?

[CruiseGal999]

Sure. It's not a problem. I was mostly wondering for my teenage son - whether his best friend could visit and hand out with him in our cabin... seems like not likely (nobody is gonna pay 110 bucks for the privilege lol). The YC experience is mostly for my own benefit anyway. Thanks for this very informative response!

 

Ok .. you're saying 2 different things here. YES, his friend CAN hang out IN the cabin ... for FREE. OR ...

YES his friend can hang out ANYWHERE in YC for $110/day or whatever the fee.

But IN the cabin ... there is NO fee, from what has been stated here.

[Asecert]

On Divina YC is included in the behind the scenes tour, you are told YC'ers can invite guests for a fee, so many dollars per person per time, all YC areas, including cabins. You also get a there and then offer of 50% off YC for your next cruise. You have to accept this offer before you leave YC.

 

Wow, I guess I missed that offer. I was on the Divina for the 12/9 sailing in Yacht Club. We did the behind the scenes tour, but I don't recall them making us that offer during the tour - it would have saved me big bucks because we booked Seaside Yacht Club for this upcoming December :confused::(

[TrinaLC]

Your son's friend can absolutely hang out in the cabin, as well as partake of the mini-fridge items as they are for the cabin. And while some will no doubt take umbrage, I see no issues with you son taking a plate back from the mini-buffet and sharing it.

[LorraineP]

I would be very upset if someone is allowed to use YC facilities for $110 a day after paying 4 times as much as someone in the lowest category. We book the YC so it is private & not crowded.

[susanrobert]

I would be very upset if someone is allowed to use YC facilities for $110 a day after paying 4 times as much as someone in the lowest category. We book the YC so it is private & not crowded.

 

I totally agree! On the Divina this past July they were selling passes. The first sea day we went out to the One Pool around 11 and there were no seats! I was not happy at all! Their response was, "We're only selling the passes on sea days" I tried to explain that was the problem! Everyone's on board on sea days.

 

The second sea day was better but still crowded. The concierge mentioned that there were some families onboard not in the Yacht Club. We pretty sure they were sneaking them in.

[mafig]

That's the first I've heard of something like that happening.

 

I don't blame you for being upset.

[mafig]

I totally agree! On the Divina this past July they were selling passes. The first sea day we went out to the One Pool around 11 and there were no seats! I was not happy at all! Their response was, "We're only selling the passes on sea days" I tried to explain that was the problem! Everyone's on board on sea days.

 

 

So what happened when there were no seats?

 

I'm sure other YC guests who came after you had the same problem.

 

This is one of the reasons we have avoided the Haven on NCL.....overcrowding. (I don't think they sell passes to the Haven though .. that's in their favor)

[susanrobert]

So what happened when there were no seats?

 

I'm sure other YC guests who came after you had the same problem.

 

This is one of the reasons we have avoided the Haven on NCL.....overcrowding. (I don't think they sell passes to the Haven though .. that's in their favor)

 

We left and came back later. But, not before going to the concierge and expressing how disappointing it was. We'd been on the Divina before in the YC so we knew what it "should" be like out there. There were no towels either. I had to go hunt down a cart. The deck crew couldn't keep up.

 

We think the problem was compounded by passengers letting in family members from outside the YC. There were a lot of of large families in there. The concierge alluded to it as well.

[mafig]

Now I'm a little worried.

 

I booked for July. I know. :o However I didn't think there'd be too much of a problem in the YC with crowds.

 

July was just about the earliest I could find where the YC wasn't sold out and I didn't want to go Aug-beginning Oct. because of hurricane season, and I didn't want to wait fill November.

 

How was the rest of your experience in the YC in July?

[eroller]

I would be very upset if someone is allowed to use YC facilities for $110 a day after paying 4 times as much as someone in the lowest category. We book the YC so it is private & not crowded.

 

 

Yes I agree. The entire point of booking the YC is for space and no crowds.

 

If this is a problem on my cruise in a couple weeks, quite simply MSC will hear about it and it will be my first and last time in the YC. The best way to show displeasure is with your pocketbook ... and of course spreading the word on social media! ;)

[mafig]

We left and came back later. But, not before going to the concierge ....

 

We think the problem was compounded by passengers letting in family members from outside the YC. There were a lot of of large families in there. The concierge alluded to it as well.

 

 

Instead of alluding to the problem of passengers letting in family members in from outside, he should have done something about it.......

[chefchick]

Haha not calling anyone out. I just think it's funny how sometimes we ( people of CC) can sometimes get a bit carried away. Its a cruise and we go on like it's some elite club. My DH would love the YC he has this thing about being treated like a King. I get a bit embarrassed with too much attention. I guess because I'm use to waiting on everyone else ( cooking, cleaning...). We're taking our daughter's this time so we're just trying it out. They got a fantastica inside and we got a fantastica suite. If we like MSC then when it's just he and I we can try YC.

 

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And when, or if, you do spring for a YC suite, I’m sure you will enjoy the added space and privacy it has which would be negated if everyone brought a friend there from elsewhere on the ship.

 

Come on guys, clearly one pays the higher cost for the benefits of each category, that is not being snobby, that’s just what it is...don’t we have enough “us”and “them” mentality in our everyday lives that we can give it a rest while on vacation?

 

Rant over...enjoy your cruise 😎

[susanrobert]

Now I'm a little worried.

 

I booked for July. I know. :o However I didn't think there'd be too much of a problem in the YC with crowds.

 

July was just about the earliest I could find where the YC wasn't sold out and I didn't want to go Aug-beginning Oct. because of hurricane season, and I didn't want to wait fill November.

 

How was the rest of your experience in the YC in July?

 

Excellent. We really had a nice time. Our main complaint was the crowding at the One Pool. I haven't seen anyone else ever complain here about it so it may have just been our bad luck. In the unlikely even it happens to you, I would not hesitate to go to the Hotel Manager and express your concerns.

 

I reached out to their corporate office when we got home. They said they were going to discontinue the day passes. Now, whether they actually did it or not, I can't say. From what I'm hearing here it looks like they may still offer them. They claim that they were only selling 10 per day. There was WAY more than 10 extra people out there.

[mafig]

thanks for the feedback, susanrobert.:)

[LorraineP]

Maybe someone that is on board can check whether they are still selling passes, if so, I will write to corporate & complain. I have the Seaside yacht club balcony booked for 10/6/18 & Meraviglia 10 night cruise to Canada also in a yacht club balcony booked. I would cancel both, why pay for space & privacy when anyone can have same benefits with a day pass. When we did the Haven on NCL Breakaway no passes were being sold. We did a 50th anniversary vow renewal then, our immediate family were in the Haven but my cousin & her DH were not, we paid for them to dine in the Haven restaurant that night but they were not allowed anywhere else other then in our cabins.

[eroller]

Maybe someone that is on board can check whether they are still selling passes, if so, I will write to corporate & complain. I have the Seaside yacht club balcony booked for 10/6/18 & Meraviglia 10 night cruise to Canada also in a yacht club balcony booked. I would cancel both, why pay for space & privacy when anyone can have same benefits with a day pass. When we did the Haven on NCL Breakaway no passes were being sold. We did a 50th anniversary vow renewal then, our immediate family were in the Haven but my cousin & her DH were not, we paid for them to dine in the Haven restaurant that night but they were not allowed anywhere else other then in our cabins.

 

 

I'm sailing in 12 days in the YC. I will absolutely check and report back. I plan to write a full photo-review.