My Opus on the MSC Seaside Yacht Club cruise, Jul 27-3 Aug 2019

[Host Jazzbeau]

I run wine tastings for our Learning in Retirement Group and most recently decided to do a vertical (in a price sense) tasting of Valpolicella.  We started with the 2017 Bolla DOC in the big bottles ($11.99 for 1.5L) – which was surprisingly good for the price.  Then a small-estate 2017 DOC Valpolicella ($14.99 for 750ml), which a few people chose as their favorite of the tasting.  Then onto a 2016 Ripasso ($16.99), which many thought was the winner. And finally a rare find: a 2004 Amarone in good condition ($39.99), which was nice but not worth 2x the Ripasso.

 

But if I got the Bolla on a ship as the house wine, I wouldn't complain.  More and more I'm finding that cheap wine is often better than the next step up, in the sense of less flawed (even if it has less character).  So while I'm not a fan of Robert Mondavi Private Selection, there are worse choices out there...

[Host Jazzbeau]

Thanks for this detailed and very helpful review.  We are sailing in the YC on Seaview next month for our first MSC experience, and this gives me a good taste of what the ship part of that trip will be like.

 

However we will be in the Mediterranean.  Do you have any experience [or hearsay] about what we may find different?  For example, is the medium=medium-rare steak thing common across MSC ships or would it depend on the Executive Chef on a particular sailing?  Or, are there any names of top-star servers we should seek on in the Seaview YC?  Stuff like that.  Thanks!!!

[dolphin1313]

Thanks PsMarkle for your review, it was very informative!

[psmarkle]

7 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Thanks for this detailed and very helpful review.  We are sailing in the YC on Seaview next month for our first MSC experience, and this gives me a good taste of what the ship part of that trip will be like.

 

However we will be in the Mediterranean.  Do you have any experience [or hearsay] about what we may find different?  For example, is the medium=medium-rare steak thing common across MSC ships or would it depend on the Executive Chef on a particular sailing?  Or, are there any names of top-star servers we should seek on in the Seaview YC?  Stuff like that.  Thanks!!!

Host:  my apologies, I do not have any insight on the Seaview, but I'd search for Seaview on this forum and read those reviews.  The steak medium=medium rare is going to vary by sailings.  I did not have to do that last year on the Seaside.  On past cruises on other ships, I usually ordered rare=medium rare, so this was a switch in strategy for me.

[renebfl]

I am anxiously awaiting my B2b after Thanksgiving.  We traveled 2017 on Seaside and fell in love with the YC.  You helped me remember all the wonderful experiences we had.  We can't wait to have a B2B.  It has been on my bucket list.  Never have I been treated like a queen for a week, now it will be 2 weeks.  Thanks for the report.

 

[SingBill]

Such a wonderful and informative review.  I especially liked that it was continuous so I could read straight through.  Thank you so much.  We are first time MSC cruisers and sail on Seaside in the Yacht Club in 4 weeks

[DCGuy64]

6 hours ago, psmarkle said:

Host:  my apologies, I do not have any insight on the Seaview, but I'd search for Seaview on this forum and read those reviews.  The steak medium=medium rare is going to vary by sailings.  I did not have to do that last year on the Seaside.  On past cruises on other ships, I usually ordered rare=medium rare, so this was a switch in strategy for me.

Superb review, so detailed, cleverly written, incredibly informative. This is one of the best cruise reviews I've ever read. Thank you for taking the time to mention everything, and especially your shout outs to the crew. Wow. It's almost like I was there. We will be going on our first YC experience later this year (on a different MSC ship, however). We loved the Seaside, even though we were "only" in the Aurea experience it still felt like pampering. Thank you again for such a spectacular review! 

[mnocket]

I'd love to go with the "clean polo shirt" option for elegant night.  I know dress codes have pretty much become just suggestions, but I wonder if you felt out of place?

[cyndyga]

Thanks for the wonderful review loved that it was so lengthy with details! I'm going the end of November and can't wait! 

[gmbhardy]

I normally hate long reviews but yours was fantastic. We were NCL loyalists until we sailed in the Seaside YC in April. We still enjoy NCL, but have three more YC cruises coming up - Seaside in October, Meraviglia next April and Seaside again December 2020. I really appreciated your dress code interpretations. Like you, I can’t wait to change back to shorts after dinner. We are pretty down to earth people, so I’m not sure how we will deal with the new butler escort service but I’m sure we will manage. Thanks again for a great submission.

[mafig]

Thank you for your review.  I really enjoyed reading it.

 

We're trying to decide on our next cruise.  We've been on Divina and Seaside in the YC and were interested in Meraviglia.   However, we've never been in The Haven and do want to try that.  You have been in Haven, haven't you?  How does it compare to the Yacht Club?  Would you ever go back to the Haven?

 

 

[psmarkle]

19 hours ago, Hlitner said:

We would disagree with the OP when it comes to Robert Mondavi Private Selection in the YC.  Those wines generally sell for around $10 - $12 (retail price) and are a very basic low cost product.  We would expect better in the YC and were surprised when we saw a similar wine on the Divina (Yacht Club).   In fact, on the Divina they once tried to pour some Mondavi Woodbridge wine until we made it clear we expected better options.  While we are not wine snobs, for the prices paid to be in the Yacht Club we simply expected better.

 

Hank

Yessir, I do understand where you're coming from.  I actually drink Trader Joe's Boxed Wine, so the Mondavi is a big step up for me!  However, I do understand your perspective as the wine is in the $10 category.

[psmarkle]

19 minutes ago, mafig said:

Thank you for your review.  I really enjoyed reading it.

 

We're trying to decide on our next cruise.  We've been on Divina and Seaside in the YC and were interested in Meraviglia.   However, we've never been in The Haven and do want to try that.  You have been in Haven, haven't you?  How does it compare to the Yacht Club?  Would you ever go back to the Haven?

 

 

Yes, we last sailed the Norwegian Dawn (after renovations) in the Haven and did enjoy it.  NCL's newer/larger ships do have a separate restaurant for the Haven, but their other ships do not.  They used Cagney's Steakhouse for breakfast and lunch for Haven guests and it was the same menu for the week.  There are more involved threads on this board comparing Haven vs YC, but the biggest difference for me is the pricing.  Literally almost 2X more for the Haven (in pure $$ terms, this last cruise on Seaside was $5,500 less than comparable sailing on NCL).  The Haven is a good product, we just enjoy the more pampered feel of the YC, personally.

Edited August 12, 2019 by psmarkle

[psmarkle]

3 hours ago, mnocket said:

I'd love to go with the "clean polo shirt" option for elegant night.  I know dress codes have pretty much become just suggestions, but I wonder if you felt out of place?

Not at all.  In fact, on our cruise, fewer people were dressed to the nines than those who were dressed nice, but casual. I never felt out of place either elegant night, but this a personal choice to make.  Does make packing pretty easy, though!

[Beachin2]

Excellent and very informative review with great tips all around.

 

[psmarkle]

4 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

Superb review, so detailed, cleverly written, incredibly informative. This is one of the best cruise reviews I've ever read. Thank you for taking the time to mention everything, and especially your shout outs to the crew. Wow. It's almost like I was there. We will be going on our first YC experience later this year (on a different MSC ship, however). We loved the Seaside, even though we were "only" in the Aurea experience it still felt like pampering. Thank you again for such a spectacular review! 

You are most welcome...and thanks for the very kind words!

[Russ_MT]

Does YC have reserved Front Row seats or did your butler reserve them specifically for you?

[eagletwo]

Thank you for the well written review on the YC.  We are booked on the Meraviglia, YC in March 2020. Yeah, we are excited!    

[Bradiego]

Thank you for the great review of your YC experience on Seaside.  Decided on a November 2019 cruise for my birthday and definitely booking the YC.  

[dexddd]

11 hours ago, psmarkle said:

Yes, we last sailed the Norwegian Dawn (after renovations) in the Haven and did enjoy it.  NCL's newer/larger ships do have a separate restaurant for the Haven, but their other ships do not.  They used Cagney's Steakhouse for breakfast and lunch for Haven guests and it was the same menu for the week.  There are more involved threads on this board comparing Haven vs YC, but the biggest difference for me is the pricing.  Literally almost 2X more for the Haven (in pure $$ terms, this last cruise on Seaside was $5,500 less than comparable sailing on NCL).  The Haven is a good product, we just enjoy the more pampered feel of the YC, personally.

Dawn doesn't have a Haven.  It does have suites but no Haven categories.

Edited August 13, 2019 by dexddd

[CGTNORMANDIE]

GREAT REVIEW PS!!  I had to laugh at the other couple you disembarked with.  Same cruise...totally different experiences.  You really know how to navigate the YC and get the most out of your cruise.  Thanks so much for taking the time...MSC should hire you as a YC ambassador.

[jimbri]

Enjoying your review and  photos!

[gmbhardy]

16 hours ago, mafig said:

Thank you for your review.  I really enjoyed reading it.

 

We're trying to decide on our next cruise.  We've been on Divina and Seaside in the YC and were interested in Meraviglia.   However, we've never been in The Haven and do want to try that.  You have been in Haven, haven't you?  How does it compare to the Yacht Club?  Would you ever go back to the Haven?

 

 

If I may throw in my two cents, you can’t really compare “the YC” to the “Haven” as the experience can be quite different depending on what ship you are on.  On NCL for instance, the Getaway Haven and the Bliss Haven are two different animals as far as facilities are concerned. The Getaway/Breakaway Haven is small with no inside observation lounge while the Bliss, Encore and Joy have an observation lounge similar to the YC. I think the Haven is more casual (no pants required in dining room, no formal nights etc). We think the food in the Haven dining room was better than YC but the Haven menu never changes from night to night. The bartenders in the Haven lounge are mixologists. You can get some pretty exotic concoctions there. There is also a bigger variety of rooms available in the Haven (aft suites, two bedroom family villas etc). The pool area, sun deck and grill on the YC totally blows away the Haven. The entertainment on NCL ships totally blows away MSC productions. There’s more specialty dining venues on NCL ships. The butler experience on both ships really depends on the luck of the draw as some are better than others. Considering everything I think the winner from a value perspective is the YC but as prices edge up this may become a moot point. Bottom line, they are both great experiences.

 

[psmarkle]

5 hours ago, dexddd said:

Dawn doesn't have a Haven.  It does have suites but no Haven categories.

You are so correct...my memory failed me on that one!  It was the Jade out of Tampa.  Good catch!

[CruisingFox27]

17 hours ago, psmarkle said:

Not at all.  In fact, on our cruise, fewer people were dressed to the nines than those who were dressed nice, but casual. I never felt out of place either elegant night, but this a personal choice to make.  Does make packing pretty easy, though!

 

There were lots of people wearings t-shirts/polo shirts on Elegant night? And in YC?

Some people were more properly and smartly dressed though, please tell me it was so?