Newbie question - How does Yacht Club work.

[Wishing on a star]

You do have to make the booking for a YC category cabin, right???

There is now way to add/book access for other cabins?

Are there other similar 'solarium' areas on some ships?  I am confused looking at Deck Plans!

 

Thanks for any good info and feedback on YC!

 

[Essiesmom]

I am not sure what it is you are not understanding.  The Yacht Club is an exclusive area for guests who book that class of cabin, and there is no access for those booked outside the Yacht Club.  You have your own restaurant, pool, lounge, bar, deck area.  Even elevator priority.  I have not stayed in the YC, but understand you might bring someone in to see your cabin, but not tour the area.  YC staff will recognize those people don’t belong and ask them to leave.  There is a long thread about that a page or two back.  EM

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, Wishing on a star said:

You do have to make the booking for a YC category cabin, right???

 

Yes. You select your "experience" when booking. 

Bella, Fantastica, Aurea

Yacht Club

 

1 hour ago, Wishing on a star said:

There is now way to add/book access for other cabins?

 

No. 

 

1 hour ago, Wishing on a star said:

Are there other similar 'solarium' areas on some ships?

 

Which ship? Some ships offer more for Aurea than others, for example. 

 

1 hour ago, Wishing on a star said:

 I am confused looking at Deck Plans!

 

If you are familiar with NCL's Haven, the concept of the MSC Yacht Club is most similar. Celebrity's Retreat also has many things in common with the Yacht Club. 

 

The deck plans aren't always complete so you may not be seeing what is available for Yacht Club guests. For example, I'm booked in the Yacht Club on Seashore and I can't see what is on the top deck which is where the Yacht Club sundeck is. I have a pretty good idea based on how Seaside was but nothing "official". 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay.  Thanks you guys!

I have enjoyed The Sanctuary on Princess,  which any passenger can book.

YC would be more exclusive.

The only thing is, I wish you wouldn't have to book a cabin up high and far forward in the ship.

More motion and probably more walking too.

[rkacruiser]

5 minutes ago, Wishing on a star said:

I wish you wouldn't have to book a cabin up high and far forward in the ship.

More motion and probably more walking too.

 

More motion?  In the Caribbean, January, 2020, on MSC Meraviglia?  Yes, there was a bit more on 2 days than if I had a stateroom on the lowest possible deck and in the middle of that deck.  Unpleasant?  No.

 

More walking?  Not necessarily.  The venues that I mostly visited outside of YC were the Meraviglia Lounge, the Theater, and the mid-ship's pool area with its bar and pizza outlet.    If one wants to got to the venues in the aft part of the ship, yes, it's a bit of a walk.  But, if one is in decent shape, that's not an issue.  

[mafig]

Hardly any reason to leave the Yacht Club😀  We did go to the theater a couple of times and the casino....that's about it!

[jules815]

28 minutes ago, mafig said:

Hardly any reason to leave the Yacht Club😀  We did go to the theater a couple of times and the casino....that's about it!

My husband and I like to go for a walk around the ship after breakfast and dinner, but other than that, we spent most of our time in the YC, it's really that nice. There's no reason to use any of the other pools, etc. We didn't even use our complimentary meal at the steak house. We did go to the Meet and Mingle, which compared to other cruise lines, was the nicest one we've ever been to. This was on Seaside in 2019.

 

 

 

[mafig]

11 minutes ago, jules815 said:

My husband and I like to go for a walk around the ship after breakfast and dinner, but other than that, we spent most of our time in the YC, it's really that nice. There's no reason to use any of the other pools, etc. We didn't even use our complimentary meal at the steak house. We did go to the Meet and Mingle, which compared to other cruise lines, was the nicest one we've ever been to. This was on Seaside in 2019.

 

 

 

 

OK, I did forget about our meal at the steak house.  We did do that.

 

Also went to the Meet and Mingle.  And I agree.  I was the nicest one we've ever been to also.

 

[Cmackdaddy]

We've done the Yacht club on the Seaside twice and seldom left the YC area. Have a YC suite booked on the Meraviglia this October.

[jules815]

1 hour ago, Cmackdaddy said:

We've done the Yacht club on the Seaside twice and seldom left the YC area. Have a YC suite booked on the Meraviglia this October.

So do we. It was supposed to be on Seaside, but canceled 3 times due to COVID and then last October, they moved us to Mera. Loved Seaside, and it seems like some people prefer it to Mera, but we're very excited to try a new ship and finally get away. And now that it looks like it's really going to happen this time, fun to begin the pre-cruise planning. When we switched our flights (again) we decided to go down 2 days early this time. I've got a hotel booked on mid-beach, but been watching reviews closely. 

[jules815]

Another thing, one night on our after dinner walk, we took a walk all the way to the back of the ship, then took the elevator up at the back to do that bridge thing that's aft. We took that then started walking forward and now we were on the big main pool deck. As we were round the corner from the back we heard live music. Turned out there was a really good salsa band on the stage with the big video screen behind them. There were LOTS of people dancing (they were really good!) and we found a little table and watched. Toward the front of the pool, next to the place that has gelato, there's a bar there that was packed with more people dancing. It looked like a good time.

 

But it is always nice to be able to escape back to the YC. There really is nothing like it, and we've done some pretty high end suites on Celebrity and RC, and most times (mostly on RC) you'd be lucky to find a seat in the concierge lounge. We ended up buying a drink package ($$$) and not bothering. Which is why for us, YC is the better value if you compare to the others. Not to mention the pool deck...nothing like that on RC or X, unless you go with NCL Haven, which I know is quite a bit more. Haven't sailed on NCL though.

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks again everyone!

Will continue to consider YC on Meriviglia....

Could only probably manage a YC inside.   And It looks like some ships only have the bigger and more pricey YC cabins.

 

(I just mention the motion because, one of our last cruises was Deck 15 Forward in the Caribbean on Princess.

YES, there was motion up there!!!!)

[Wishing on a star]

I am noticing that most everything is included with YC.  Which is good!

But, this does not cover the daily Gratuities?

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, Wishing on a star said:

But, this does not cover the daily Gratuities?

 

No.

 

What are the service charges?

 

During your cruise, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. They are supported by just as many staff and crew who work hard behind the scenes to ensure you enjoy every moment on board. For your convenience, MSC Cruises will automatically add a daily Hotel Service Charge to your shipboard account, based on your chosen itinerary and the number of days for which the services are actually provided.

 

The Hotel Service charge serves to ensure we maintain the highest quality standards of service to our guests. The daily amounts below have been calculated with this in mind and cannot be modified. However, should you wish to remove any of the daily Hotel Service Charge in the unlikely event that you do not receive satisfactory service, you may do so by contacting the Guest Relations Manager onboard. If you wish, the daily Service Charge for your cruise can be added to the price of your cruise at the time of booking, rather than added to your onboard account during the cruise. Please let your booking agent know if you would like to add the Service Charge to your cruise price.

 

TIPS: MSC does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

 

Yacht Club charges are the same as non-Yacht Club. 

(THE BAHAMAS & CARIBBEAN))

Adults - (12 and older) - $14pppd*

Child - (2-11) - $7pppd

Child - (under 2) - no daily service charge

 

Amounts can differ depending on where the cruise is (South America, Asia, Africa, etc.)

 

*The website has slightly different but it is probably an error. 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by Two Wheels Only

[rkacruiser]

8 hours ago, jules815 said:

ut it is always nice to be able to escape back to the YC.

 

I agree with this sentiment.  As others have posted, there is so much on Meraviglia to experience that I would have missed quite a bit if I had remained mostly in YC during my cruise.  No need to use the pools; no need to graze at the buffet; (viewing the offerings, is for me, interesting), watching the pool games--I enjoyed for awhile, attending the performances that interested me in the Main Theater was something I'd have missed if I had not done so, the Cirque show in the aft theater--had I not booked that, I would have missed something that I really enjoyed.  Drinks at the Meraviglia Lounge from time to time with the music there that was different than what we had in the YC Lounge:  I liked that.  Always pleased to be back in YC, however.  

 

10 hours ago, jules815 said:

We did go to the Meet and Mingle, which compared to other cruise lines, was the nicest one we've ever been to.

 

100% agree!  And, the Lounge in which it was held which overlooked the mid-ship pool of the Meraviglia was a delightful venue.  Free flowing drinks and really excellent canapes, i.e. some with caviar.  

[CGTNORMANDIE]

8 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

Thanks again everyone!

Will continue to consider YC on Meriviglia....

Could only probably manage a YC inside.   And It looks like some ships only have the bigger and more pricey YC cabins.

 

(I just mention the motion because, one of our last cruises was Deck 15 Forward in the Caribbean on Princess.

YES, there was motion up there!!!!)

Don’t feel bad.  All the cruises in YC that I want are already booked solid for 2022.  Not to mention that prices have doubled.  

[Toofarfromthesea]

On 6/2/2021 at 5:04 PM, Wishing on a star said:

Okay.  Thanks you guys!

I have enjoyed The Sanctuary on Princess,  which any passenger can book.

YC would be more exclusive.

The only thing is, I wish you wouldn't have to book a cabin up high and far forward in the ship.

More motion and probably more walking too.

If walking is a concern, be advised that on the Divina, while the YC lounge and pool deck are in the front, the YC restaurant is in the back of the ship, so you have to walk the length of the ship and back every time you eat there.  Later ships with YC have the restaurant in the front, within the YC enclave.  I'm not sure what other ships from the early days of YC also have the restaurant in the back.  Perhaps someone will chime in.

[rkacruiser]

6 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

If walking is a concern, be advised that on the Divina, while the YC lounge and pool deck are in the front, the YC restaurant is in the back of the ship, so you have to walk the length of the ship and back every time you eat there. 

 

That fact makes me reluctant to book a cruise on Divina.  

[CGTNORMANDIE]

9 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

That fact makes me reluctant to book a cruise on Divina.  

Divina is probably open.  The question is...are these high prices going to prevail or will they adjust as the pandemic eases?  

[Essiesmom]

18 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

If walking is a concern, be advised that on the Divina, while the YC lounge and pool deck are in the front, the YC restaurant is in the back of the ship, so you have to walk the length of the ship and back every time you eat there.  Later ships with YC have the restaurant in the front, within the YC enclave.  I'm not sure what other ships from the early days of YC also have the restaurant in the back.  Perhaps someone will chime in.

Fantasia class (Divina) was the first class to have Yacht Club.  EM

[CruiseIreland]

When we were on Divina, we used to enjoy watching the YC passengers being escorted to their dining room by the butlers. Most of them were mortified, to be fair. Very entertaining. Ken 

[Toofarfromthesea]

2 hours ago, CruiseIreland said:

When we were on Divina, we used to enjoy watching the YC passengers being escorted to their dining room by the butlers. Most of them were mortified, to be fair. Very entertaining. Ken 

When I was in YC on Divina the butler only escorted us the first time.  I didn't feel mortified, just as I never feel mortified sitting in a first class seat on an airplane as the coach pax file by during boarding.  It's too bad that rather than just enjoy what they have, some people have to be jealous of people who get more because they paid more.

[Toofarfromthesea]

7 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Fantasia class (Divina) was the first class to have Yacht Club.  EM

Is Divina the only one where the YC restaurant is at the opposite end of the ship from the YC enclave?

[hamrag]

2 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

Is Divina the only one where the YC restaurant is at the opposite end of the ship from the YC enclave?

No!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Looks like this thread is actually interesting!

We were considering the Meraviglia.  We would have to do an INSIDE to begin to swing YC.

I haven't checked all ships, but some of the others (DIVINA?) only have more expensive suites.  So we really would be priced out of YC.

 

Guests can brag or argue or be jealous or judgmental about what 'class' of cruiser they think they and others are.   I honestly would not care, and would ignore...  a total waste of my time on either side!

 

We would be doing some walking... Even on Meraviglea,  as nice as YC is.

Looking at photos/video/menues...  I am not sure I would be impressed and want to be super limited to that dining.   

Edited June 5, 2021 by Wishing on a star