MSC Yacht Club Excels Others and Fosters a Better Blue Mind

[morpheusofthesea]

“What is a blue mind?

Water in the ocean, rivers, lakes and even baths can make us feel calmer, increase well-being and boost creativity. Blue Mind is the mildly meditative state people fall into when they are near, in, under or on water.

Water positively affects the mind and body, and the Blue Mind Theory provides ways people can use water to improve their well-being.

Blue Mind is the term used to describe the state of water-associated peace. Some of the ways water can produce physical and mental health benefits include:

Bodies of water trigger involuntary attention, which is essential to problem-solving and creativity.

Water increases the neurotransmitters dopamine, sometimes called the feel-good hormone; serotonin, also known as the happiness hormone; and oxytocin, described as the cuddle hormone; and decreases cortisol, described as the stress hormone.

Water is a source of awe that expands a person’s compassion.

The color, sound and feel of water can lower pulse rate and increase feelings of calmness.”

 

Great YC service promotes the “blue mind” better than the competition.

[morpheusofthesea]

Here is an example of the subtle differences employed in the YC that contributes to a better ‘blue mind’.

Butlers dressed as traditional butlers in ‘over the top’ Hollywood style costumes with white gloves. Evoking in YC guests an air of deserving Royal treatment. (and for most of us, receiving Royal treatment). For instance being addressed as’Sir’ Morpheus.

I have more. Can you spot any ?

[morpheusofthesea]

In a sequel to the last post. It just dawned on my feeble mind, that traveling in the YC also saves me the cost of buying  a Royal Title. 

Edited June 4, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[Robkat]

Morpheus OTS:  These are some interesting musings, which I read with interest and a little amusement.  DH and I have always thought of this Blue Mind state that you describe (or, quote the description) as the Negative Ion state, which also promotes a sense of well-being, a mild meditative state, a state of zen/calmness/happiness.  Happily, in addition to when you're near moving water, the NI state is also achieved near forests and other natural environments.

Where I'm not sure that we agree:  while I think the "white gloves" of the YC butlers (and all the rest of the amenities, for that matter) are impressive and do evoke a feeling of being pampered; for us, at least, they did not  contribute to any zen/calm/meditative feelings.  I will grant you that they are fun to see though.

The lovely thing is that, even if you are not in YC, by being anywhere on a cruise ship, you can experience the wonderful effects of the water.  

We always find your musings to be interesting reading, and this one was no exception.  

[morpheusofthesea]

Another subtle difference of the Yacht Club that it allows the “blue mind” to take hold faster and last longer while on board several MSC vessels, is the ambience of the Top Sail Lounge. Wall to wall, ceiling to floor glass windows spanning the bow of the ship and rising two decks with background music during the day featuring vocals by greats like, Ella Fitzgerald. Ever present butlers in crisp, clean livery providing instantaneous service. In the evenings a pianist, violinist or sometimes both, indulges one in an elegant meeting place before being escorted to dinner by one's personal butler, up a Swarovski jeweled lighted staircase into the loft-like YC restaurant above.

[morpheusofthesea]

17 minutes ago, Robkat said:

The Negative Ion state, which also promotes a sense of well-being, a mild meditative state, a state of zen/calmness/happiness.

Yes. Indeed. I am glad you brought this up. It adds to my list. I find that to enhance my "blue mind" lounging out on my shaded balcony over looking the endless ocean listening to the ship cutting its way through the water, I increase my negative ions by eating milk chocolate. " Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy." I stock up at the Venchi chocolate kiosk the first evening of my cruise. 

 Thank you for your kind words. 

[mscdivina2016]

I thought Blue mind is what you get when dealing with a crap customer service?

It's what you get with a crap IT department.

It's what you get after dozens of calls, no end result, promise of a call in 48-72 hours which never ever happens and an empty email address that also gets no response.

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

33 minutes ago, Robkat said:

 while I think the "white gloves" of the YC butlers (and all the rest of the amenities, for that matter) are impressive and do evoke a feeling of being pampered; for us, at least, they did not  contribute to any zen/calm/meditative feelings.

All these beautiful things provided to us in the Yacht Club contribute by relaxing our sensitive natures. I never enjoyed the sea as much 40 years ago traveling on two lowers on the inside. Walking through cluttered hallways of trays filled with soiled plates and half drank glasses. Standing in long lines waiting to see a guest relations purser, never finding an available deck chair unless I 'play the game ' and get up every morning before dawn and 'hog' our own. Never could get to a "Blue Mind" or experience "negative ions" when inundated by these types of things. Now find that being treated with 'kid gloves' is the way to achieve Nirvana.

[morpheusofthesea]

24 minutes ago, mscdivina2016 said:

I thought Blue mind is what you get when dealing with a crap customer service?

It's what you get with a crap IT department.

It's what you get after dozens of calls, no end result, promise of a call in 48-72 hours which never ever happens and an empty email address that also gets no response.

 

 

I guess back in 2016 you thought quite differently about MSC, hence mscdivina2016 is your 'handle'.?

 

P.S. Yes, if what happened to you happened to me I would definitely have a hard time attaining my "Blue Mind" state.

Edited June 4, 2022 by morpheusofthesea
P.S.

[rkacruiser]

22 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Water increases the neurotransmitters dopamine, sometimes called the feel-good hormone; serotonin, also known as the happiness hormone; and oxytocin, described as the cuddle hormone; and decreases cortisol, described as the stress hormone.

Water is a source of awe that expands a person’s compassion.

The color, sound and feel of water can lower pulse rate and increase feelings of calmness.”

 

 

An interesting post and the above quote does reflect some experiences that I have had in a spa with the very slow running of water in the relaxation/thermal suite area.  The sound, and if coupled with appropriate background music, is very soothing and relaxing, indeed.  (Time for a nap.)  

 

Just being a YC guest did not provide that same kind of feeling.  

 

4 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

indulges one in an elegant meeting place before being escorted to dinner by one's personal butler, up a Swarovski jeweled lighted staircase into the loft-like YC restaurant above.

 

I did not experience this.  I never saw anyone else who did as well.  

 

10 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

For instance being addressed as’Sir’ Morpheus.

 

I have been addressed as Sir rkacruiser on many cruises on many different cruise lines.  This is not a YC exclusive.  

 

4 hours ago, Robkat said:

Ion state,

 

It may be medically unwise for my "ion state" to be messed with too much.  Unintentional consequences possible with my medicines?  😀

[morpheusofthesea]

56 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

An interesting post and the above quote does reflect some experiences that I have had in a spa with the very slow running of water in the relaxation/thermal suite area.  The sound, and if coupled with appropriate background music, is very soothing and relaxing, indeed

Different strokes for different folks ? Slow running water always has me running in search of a 'head'.

 

59 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Just being a YC guest did not provide that same kind of feeling.

What kind of feeling did you get ?

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I have been addressed as Sir rkacruiser on many cruises on many different cruise lines.  This is not a YC exclusive.

Which other cruise lines ? I respect your opinions.

 

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I did not experience this.  I never saw anyone else who did as well.

Makes us wonder why we are being 'singled out' for such treatment. It obviously does not occur since you and anyone else never witnessed this ?

[Hlitner]

I enjoyed the OP's post :).  But I do digress.  My issue is that the "Blue Mind" feeling can (and does) happen on many other lines (we have been on 16).  While we are big fans of the Yacht Club (and will again be doing that in December) we have also had amazing experiences on other lines.  The ship within a ship model of the YC does exist on a few other lines.   And the OP should be aware that there are also some luxury lines where everything is YC or better quality.   Now we can look forward to giving Explora Journeys a try and seeing where it fits in the spectrum.

 

And by the way, when I am on Seabourn and ask for a double serving of caviar (which appears within minutes) I am getting something that is not experienced in the YC.  Just saying  :).

 

Hnak

[mscdivina2016]

15 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

I guess back in 2016 you thought quite differently about MSC, hence mscdivina2016 is your 'handle'.?

 

P.S. Yes, if what happened to you happened to me I would definitely have a hard time attaining my "Blue Mind" state.

Actually I ran many cc meet and greets and would always change my handle until CC did not allow that anymore so I got stuck with it.😁.

I still like the YC product I now just use a TA.

I was not going to sail with them ever again but I am now booked on 3 again over the next 11 months. Big family cruise, birthday gift cruise and a 14 night Saudi cruise all in YC.

[frank808]

1 hour ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Actually I ran many cc meet and greets and would always change my handle until CC did not allow that anymore so I got stuck with it.😁.

I still like the YC product I now just use a TA.

I was not going to sail with them ever again but I am now booked on 3 again over the next 11 months. Big family cruise, birthday gift cruise and a 14 night Saudi cruise all in YC.

Never say never??

[morpheusofthesea]

12 hours ago, Hlitner said:

The ship within a ship model of the YC does exist on a few other lines.   And the OP should be aware that there are also some luxury lines where everything is YC or better quality.   Now we can look forward to giving Explora Journeys a try and seeing where it fits in the spectrum.

Thank you for your reply. It was your post a few years ago (2017 ?) that prompted us to book the YC in 2018 and greatly value your opinions ever since. Found the YC 'enclave' more like a refuge, a castle with no real need to wander outside its 'walls'. Several steps above the Haven and just one step above the Retreat. Going to try HAL's N.Amsterdam (Pinnacle suite), Regent Mariner (MS), Regent Grandeur (GS), Explora 1 (GP) and Oceania Sirena (OS) to compare. Our we making any mistakes?

 

P.S. Never acquired a taste for caviar. Only service that funnels to a greater "Blue Mind" experience.

[Hlitner]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Thank you for your reply. It was your post a few years ago (2017 ?) that prompted us to book the YC in 2018 and greatly value your opinions ever since. Found the YC 'enclave' more like a refuge, a castle with no real need to wander outside its 'walls'. Several steps above the Haven and just one step above the Retreat. Going to try HAL's N.Amsterdam (Pinnacle suite), Regent Mariner (MS), Regent Grandeur (GS), Explora 1 (GP) and Oceania Sirena (OS) to compare. Our we making any mistakes?

 

P.S. Never acquired a taste for caviar. Only service that funnels to a greater "Blue Mind" experience.

My goodness, folks who share my point of view which is to take advantage of all the variety within the cruise industry.    What has kept cruising exciting and fun, for us, has been always trying new things and itineraries.  I still am amazed when I hear some fellow cruisers tell us they are bored with cruising and/or travel.  They are usually the same folks who are stuck in a rut of only trying 1 or 2 cruise lines and few itineraries.  

 

I cannot see DW and I spending the big bucks for a Pinnacle Suite on HAL but we do know other HAL cruisers who love the Neptune and Pinnacles.  Just keep in mind that HAL really lags the industry when it comes to the amenities that go along with the expensive suites.  You will generally get a fabulous suite and access to the Neptune Lounge.  But that pales by comparison to some other lines that have special decks, ship within a ship areas (MSC, NCL, Cunard, etc).  The issue I have discussed with some others (and debate within myself) is whether paying for an expensive suite on a mass market ship makes a lot of sense since, in the final analysis, you are still on a mass market ship, dealing with the crowds, etc.   So the question comes down to whether it makes more sense to book a comparable or even lower cost suite on a luxury line (i.e. Seabourn, Silverseas, Regent, Sea Dream, or the new Explora Journeys?   Although we have yet to answer this question in our own mind I will admit that I do prefer the luxury lines.  Consider that we just spent 27 days on the Seabourn Ovation for less than $400 per person/day.  Compare that to what it costs to get a large suite (which would be larger than what we had on Seabourn) on a mass market ship.  But on that luxury ship there are no crowded venues, service is terrific everywhere on the vessel, and we always seem to make good friends and meet really down to earth folks on the luxury ships.  Go figure.   Another issue, for us, is that we love to socialize on cruises and spend very little waking time in our cabin/suite.  We have found that while the extra space of a large suite is nice, we seldom take advantage of the space since we are rarely in the cabin.  Perhaps that is why a normal Yacht Club Suite really suits our style.  Rather than hanging out in the suite we are usually found in the lounge or up on the pool deck.

 

We do have a future HAL booking in a Signature Suite (their smallest suite) and would likely turn down any upsell offer to a Neptune or Pinnacle.  Another issue with HAL is that folks in most regular cabins can simply pay a supplement for "Club Orange" and buy their way into some of amenities you get with a Pinnacle for a fraction of the cost of a suite.  We recently thought about trying a large suite on one of the newer Celebrity ships until we analyzed the cost per person day!  It means paying luxury ship prices for nice benefits on a mass market ship.  And then consider that you can cruise in MSC's Yacht Club for less than $400 per person/day but those Celebrity Suites (that get you all the benefits) can cost 3 times that price!!

 

Hank

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

We do have a future HAL booking in a Signature Suite (their smallest suite) and would likely turn down any upsell offer to a Neptune or Pinnacle.  Another issue with HAL is that folks in most regular cabins can simply pay a supplement for "Club Orange" and buy their way into some of amenities you get with a Pinnacle for a fraction of the cost of a suite. 

 

Having booked a few HAL Signature Suites and one Neptune Suite, I prefer the Signature Suite for the length of most HAL cruises.  For the Neptune Suite, the amount of storage space available would be most appropriate for a long cruise.  My opinion of Club Orange:  much ado about little except it's a revenue generator for HAL.  A member of one of my cruises Roll Calls had booked a Pinnacle Suite and joined our Cabin Crawl.  Visited it; lovely; but, does one really need such accommodations for a short cruise?  

Edited June 5, 2022 by rkacruiser

[Hlitner]

5 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Having booked a few HAL Signature Suites and one Neptune Suite, I prefer the Signature Suite for the length of most HAL cruises.  For the Neptune Suite, the amount of storage space available would be most appropriate for a long cruise.  My opinion of Club Orange:  much ado about little except it's a revenue generator for HAL.  A member of one of my cruises Roll Calls had booked a Pinnacle Suite and joined our Cabin Crawl.  Visited it; lovely; but, does one really need such accommodations for a short cruise?  

I do understand that we each have our own needs, wants, bucket list, etc.  If money is no object we would opt for the largest most glorious suite on every ship and in hotels :).  But, like many folks we do not have unlimited resources and look for the things that are of most value to us.  A large suite (on the scale of a Pinnacle) has little value to DW and I whether we are on a ship for a week or 3 months.  We once had a very nice Signature Suite on the Prinsendam (the SS cabins were special on that ship) which included a large L shaped sofa.  At the end of that 2 month cruise DW remarked that we had never even sat on that sofa :).  As used to be our practice on HAL ships we spent a good part of our waking time in the Crows Nest (our hangout on the P'Dam).  The last thing we wanted to do was lay around our suite since, to us, that is a lonely way to spend a cruise.  I am around DW every day so when we are on a cruise we both enjoy being around a lot of other folks.

 

But we do know some cruisers that prefer to spend much of their time alone and in their suite.  They order room service breakfast, lunch, and even many dinners.  DW and I have spent more than 1300 days on cruise ships and have never once had room service lunch or dinner and rarely order room service breakfast.  Regarding the breakfast our problem is we tend to get up at different times and have no clue, when we go to bed, what time we will want to have breakfast or what we want to eat :).

 

I agree with what you say about Club Orange, but there are some who like the experience.  But this gets back to my other post where it is actually less expensive (when compared to a Pinnacle) to cruise on high end luxury lines where you get an entire luxury vessel as opposed to a Neptune Lounge that does not even have free drinks.  

 

Hank

[rkacruiser]

20 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Different strokes for different folks ? Slow running water always has me running in search of a 'head'.

 

Or, what's leaking?  

 

20 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

What kind of feeling did you get ?

 

In Post #15, you said "Found the YC enclave more like a refuge...." without the need to go beyond the castle unless I chose to do so.  That was the feeling that I had.  

 

I did choose to lower the "drawbridge and cross the moat" to join the common folk on frequent occasions and I was always glad that I did.  The plentiful entertainment options, the freshly made pizza, and bartenders who made a better Bloody Mary and were more personable than the YC bartenders were the reasons.  But, then, trying to lower the drawbridge to re-enter the castle, sometimes my "magic watch" was not always willing to cooperate with the request on my first, second, etc. request.  

 

21 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Which other cruise lines ? I respect your opinions.

 

HAL, Princess, and Carnival are the lines.  By whom?  It's the Filipino crew members who are most likely to address me that way.  I had a Thai Cabin Stewardess on Coral Princess in 2019 who also addressed me that way sometimes.  

 

This post refers to the one below.  (CC is acting weird and I can't get it below the quote.)    Maybe my experience was just my cruise?  The Butlers working?  (I did experience a Butler whom the Concierge instructed her to escort me to the Cirque du Soleil theater and seat me.  She resisted; she was told to do her job.  Which she did.  I witnessed this interaction between the two of them, so it is not my imagination.)

21 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Makes us wonder why we are being 'singled out' for such treatment. It obviously does not occur since you and anyone else never witnessed this ?

[rkacruiser]

17 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We once had a very nice Signature Suite on the Prinsendam (the SS cabins were special on that ship) which included a large L shaped sofa.  At the end of that 2 month cruise DW remarked that we had never even sat on that sofa 🙂

 

😀    My traveling companion and I enjoyed one of her SS staterooms on a Holiday Cruise, 16-19 days, don't recall the length for certain.  That was exactly our experience.  Neither of us used the sofa.  There were sufficient comfortable chairs in which to sit.  Trying to use the sofa would have required moving the multitude of small decorative pillows.

 

23 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

As used to be our practice on HAL ships we spent a good part of our waking time in the Crows Nest (our hangout on the P'Dam).  The last thing we wanted to do was lay around our suite since, to us, that is a lonely way to spend a cruise

 

That was my hangout on the Prinsendam as well.  If I was not in a deck chair on the deck aft of the MDR or on the open deck on the same deck as the Main Lounge, I'd be in the Crow's Nest.  Nadine preferred our veranda.  We enjoyed some pleasant breakfasts there.  

[Hlitner]

2 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

😀    My traveling companion and I enjoyed one of her SS staterooms on a Holiday Cruise, 16-19 days, don't recall the length for certain.  That was exactly our experience.  Neither of us used the sofa.  There were sufficient comfortable chairs in which to sit.  Trying to use the sofa would have required moving the multitude of small decorative pillows.

 

 

That was my hangout on the Prinsendam as well.  If I was not in a deck chair on the deck aft of the MDR or on the open deck on the same deck as the Main Lounge, I'd be in the Crow's Nest.  Nadine preferred our veranda.  We enjoyed some pleasant breakfasts there.  

I cannot resist telling this tale.  One year we were on the Prinsendam for its 62 day Grand Med cruise and spent an awful lot of time in the Crow's Nest.  About a year later we happened to be back on the Prinsendam for another (shorter) cruise.  As we were sailing away, DW and I headed up to the Crows Nest for a drink and the view.  As we walked in the lounge one of the bar tenders quickly said, "do not say a word.......and then he rattled off our favorite drinks and our cabin number from that Grand Med cruise.  He than apologized for not remembering our names :).  My quick response were that names were unimportant but knowing our drinks was a big plus.

 

Hank

[morpheusofthesea]

8 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

But we do know some cruisers that prefer to spend much of their time alone and in their suite.

I happen to fall into this category. We enjoy a large enough cabin with room to dance, a separate bedroom and a quiet large balcony helps me attain a "Blue Mind". The balcony must be at least 100 sq ft and not be bulk head so my ocean view is intact when in an inclined position. Prefer total shade, so rotate from cabin to YC pool deck cabana of Seashore type ship vs Divina RS (bulkhead type). Each of the above ships and cabins fit this criteria without going to a higher category suite, they are the very minimum. "The best laid schemes of mice and men..."  No one can prevent cabin neighbors from smoking on their verandas or coughing up a storm in the cabana next door, so an attachable deck chair umbrella is invaluable when one must seek refuge again in ones cabin balcony in the sun.

[mama4five]

On 6/5/2022 at 6:48 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

I happen to fall into this category. We enjoy a large enough cabin with room to dance, a separate bedroom and a quiet large balcony helps me attain a "Blue Mind". The balcony must be at least 100 sq ft and not be bulk head so my ocean view is intact when in an inclined position. Prefer total shade, so rotate from cabin to YC pool deck cabana of Seashore type ship vs Divina RS (bulkhead type). Each of the above ships and cabins fit this criteria without going to a higher category suite, they are the very minimum. "The best laid schemes of mice and men..."  No one can prevent cabin neighbors from smoking on their verandas or coughing up a storm in the cabana next door, so an attachable deck chair umbrella is invaluable when one must seek refuge again in ones cabin balcony in the sun.

Enjoying your idea of "Blue Mind" and have felt that state on all our previous cruises while staring at the endless blue horizon from our balcony.  We are fairly new to cruising, having taken our first cruise in January of 2019.  We have since taken 3 Princess cruises and one NCL cruise.  We leave for our first MSC cruise this Saturday on the Seashore and in YC.  Since you are the Poster Child for YC, I thought I would ask for your advise for us newbies.  What tips do you have for us to truly enjoy the best that YC offers?  Do we need to reserve the cabanas on the pool deck?  Any tips for using the thermal suites?  Honestly any info I can glean from you will be greatly appreciated.

 

Nancy

[morpheusofthesea]

36 minutes ago, mama4five said:

  We leave for our first MSC cruise this Saturday on the Seashore and in YC.  Since you are the Poster Child for YC, I thought I would ask for your advise for us newbies.  What tips do you have for us to truly enjoy the best that YC offers?  Do we need to reserve the cabanas on the pool deck?

Am presently onboard. Posting under a new thread "Is That All There Is ?" And am coming to the grand conclusion that the YC on this Seashore is all there is. Do not bother to reserve any pergolas at the One Pool Deck as with 290 YC guests there are many available and guests are using them on a first come first serve basis without paying. One can tell if the pergolas are reserved by the pool attendants 'fixing' them up with towels and drinks ahead of time. Haven't seen anyone removed for 'squatting'. Might be a different story at Ocean Cay.  Find tipping $ invaluable on any cruise ship to get the service flowing in our direction (before, during and at the end of the cruise). Not going to spend $10,000 on one week cruise to save $1500 on extra tips. This turns a so-so experience into a Royal experience.

[morpheusofthesea]

6 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

 I thought I would ask for your advise for us newbies.  What tips do you have for us to truly enjoy the best that YC offers?

The problem with tipping in advance is basing your tip on the assumption that the service provider will be your service provider for the entire trip. Did not know our maitre d' was a 'temp' or waiter is repositioned to another venue, or steward is quarantined. Find tipping invaluable in the beginning for tour guides and bus drivers. I tip the same whether the gratuities are included or not included. The gratuities, DSC (discretionary service charges) are the $$ going to all those 'behind the scenes' like chefs and those cleaning the railings, etc that one would not tip or come 'in contact with'. I find tipping those I come in contact with very easy. I just put myself in the role of the service provider providing me the service and the amount I think I am worth for the service I provided. I generally tip myself $100-$200, one time I was only worth $20 for the weeks cruise.