Yacht Club -- visitors (on the ship, and Ocean Cay) ?

[morpheusofthesea]

On 2/4/2023 at 2:31 PM, L1211 said:

not the same as “my cabin”.  Could you bring someone to visit your hotel room when on a club floor, of course you can - it’s your room!

Perhaps the distinction that allows a suite guest to 'host' others in their suite cabins on most other cruise lines is because their suites are not part of the new design of ships. This 'ship within a ship' concept that 'insulates' suite passengers in an exclusive enclave reserved only for suite guests and allows for a most exclusive cruise experience. Some cruise lines without this 'insulated' gated community find it impossible to restrict cabin invitations and actually cater the 'shindigs' using the dedicated butlers/hosts, serving hors D'oeuvres and Champaign. These same cruise lines dilute their suite venues even further by allowing access to 'dedicated' suite-only areas to their most loyal customers, NOT in suites, called Pinnacles or Zeniths. Suite guests on these lines soon become annoyed and irritated and look for a more 'curated' suite experience like that found on MSC Yacht Club. This YC experience is so successful that MSC is building a fleet of ships only Yacht Club and called Explora Journeys. Where everyone can and will host numerous cabin parties I am sure.

Edited February 5, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[Bgwest]

18 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Perhaps the distinction that allows a suite guest to 'host' others in their suite cabins on most other cruise lines is because their suites are not part of the new design of ships. This 'ship within a ship' concept that 'insulates' suite passengers in an exclusive enclave reserved only for suite guests and allows for a most exclusive cruise experience. Some cruise lines without this 'insulated' gated community find it impossible to restrict cabin invitations and actually cater the 'shindigs' using the dedicated butlers/hosts, serving hors D'oeuvres and Champaign. These same cruise lines dilute their suite venues even further by allowing access to 'dedicated' suite-only areas to their most loyal customers, NOT in suites, called Pinnacles or Zeniths. Suite guests on these lines soon become annoyed and irritated and look for a more 'curated' suite experience like that found on MSC Yacht Club. This YC experience is so successful that MSC is building a fleet of ships only Yacht Club and called Explora Journeys. Where everyone can and will host numerous cabin parties I am sure.

As always, spot on, Sir. 

[no1talks]

40 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

" . . . a fleet of ships only Yacht Club . . . "

In fairness, and to keep expectations reasonable, there are differences between Explora's three tiers of accomodation: Suites, Penthouses, and Residences.

Per the FAQs on the Explora website, those in a Residence stateroom receive the following extras:

 

In-Suite Dining exclusive menu, including specialities from our onboard culinary venues.

In-suite full bar setup with a selection of premium spirits, wines and soft drinks.

In-suite welcome bottle of premium Champagne. (I guess lower rooms get mundane Champagne.😆)

24-hour butler services.
Unlimited complimentary laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing services.
Personal welcome by a butler and priority embarkation upon arrival.
Roundtrip airport transfers included (available up to a distance of 50 miles / 80 km from / to port). Airport security fast-track included (where available).
VIP lounge at embarkation (where available). 

Explora is definitely not "Yacht Club for everybody."

Edited February 5, 2023 by no1talks

[morpheusofthesea]

25 minutes ago, no1talks said:

Explora is definitely NOT "Yacht Club for everybody.

You forced me to compare our amenities between the Penthouses and the Residences. Yes you are correct. No butlers for the Penthouses. No fireplace (interesting), No tub. No double vanity (sinks). The only reservation we have is the butler. Will see if the concierge is as accommodating as a butler. Still have future Seascape YC bookings afterward. Will report.

[B_A_H]

34 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

This 'ship within a ship' concept that 'insulates' suite passengers in an exclusive enclave reserved only for suite guests and allows for a most exclusive cruise experience.

Your saying this made me think.  People who haven't sailed YC probably don't understand how separated it is from the rest of the ship.  Of the three separated experiences (Haven, The Retreat, and YC), YC is the most separated.  Those of us that have sailed YC are the most vocal about it's accessibility to outside guests because we've experienced the intent of the concept first hand. 

 

All of the suites on NCL are Haven and all the suites on Celebrity are The Retreat.  MSC offers suites outside the YC, some much larger.  On the Seascape for example, there are six suite category cabins outside the YC including a two-bedroom that's 537 sq ft.  I guess because they drew such a hard line on the separation of YC, MSC wanted to provide an alternative for situations like the OP started this thread with. 

 

On my recent Divina cruise, other than shows, the casino, and the gift shop, I had zero interaction with the rest of the ship.  YC is truly independent and literally a "ship within a ship."  I've spoken to people who've done the Haven and Retreat that have also done YC.  They've pointed that distinction out as well.  

 

MSC was first out of the gate with a separated experience.  It was lambasted as a return to the old multi-class ocean liners and dilutive of the common experience shared by everyone (so was specialty dining, BTW).  It must have been successful because NCL and Celebrity followed.  Someone saying they are "anti-class system" and booking away from lines that offer it is swell.  But what's been discussed here is how far is too far in enforcing the YC barrier.  I guess the real question is once the barrier becomes gray and subjective, can exclusivity (and the additional cost for it) even be maintained?   

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

My initial query was answered early on - yet I see a good bit of continued discussion, much of which  fine tunes and helps to explain the product and the feelings of, and reasoning behind, a segment of YC guests.

 

I hope that our YC (well, MSC in general) experience doesn't disappoint, as it appears that there are a lot more MSC ships coming down the pike !!

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[morpheusofthesea]

36 minutes ago, B_A_H said:

Someone saying they are "anti-class system" and booking away from lines that offer it is swell.  But what's been discussed here is how far is too far in enforcing the YC barrier.  I guess the real question is once the barrier becomes gray and subjective, can exclusivity (and the additional cost for it) even be maintained?   

Yes, that thought crossed our mind until no1talks brought to our attention that "Explora is definitely not "Yacht Club for everybody."" Found that the additional cost to get the butler benefit on Explora would cost an extra $5000 total /week to upgrade to the lowest cove residence on the trip we are booked on. I think for $5000 I would look the other way for a time at the "graying of the barrier". The enforcers of the barrier I have found to be 'milktoast' in their enforcing.

 

1 hour ago, no1talks said:

Explora is definitely not "Yacht Club for everybody."

 

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, B_A_H said:

All of the suites on NCL are Haven...

 

Not always. It depends on the ship.

[L1211]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

You forced me to compare our amenities between the Penthouses and the Residences. Yes you are correct. No butlers for the Penthouses. No fireplace (interesting), No tub. No double vanity (sinks). The only reservation we have is the butler. Will see if the concierge is as accommodating as a butler. Still have future Seascape YC bookings afterward. Will report.

Well, as long as the fortress to the YC enclave holds secure and the gates to the isolated enclave are not breached and no shindigs are hosted in private cabins, I expect the experience will be exquisite…. Do enjoy! 

[morpheusofthesea]

12 minutes ago, L1211 said:

no shindigs are hosted in private cabins,

Oh, 'shindigs' may be hosted in private cabins in the YC and many are, just that the invitees must reside within the enclave. (Or at least they are supposed to ). Infractions occur all the time.

[JAGR]

18 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

...serving hors D'oeuvres and Champaign.

I have to admit that I am amazed sometimes with your posts!  You go to great lengths to find the "right" words, highlighting the preferred words in quotation marks, and yet, you at times, "Cry, 'Hovoc!,' and let slip the dogs of war (grammar soldiers)."  Too many hors d'oeuvres may have spoiled you, for again you have brought one of the sister cities that is home to the University of Illinois into play.  I'll drink a glass of champagne to that! 😁

[Morgsmom]

On 2/4/2023 at 4:18 PM, carlmm said:

Long live segregation, or what does this mean? No fraternization betwwen tue class.

There are all kind of reasons why one might invite a guest to his or her cabin. Some might be really private and certainly not the business of you, any other guest or even MSC.

 

All I can say is if you want to fraternize, you can have your "really private" encounter in the other guest's cabin.  Problem solved.

[Georgia_Peaches]

On 2/2/2023 at 11:30 PM, L1211 said:

How could you not have guests to YOUR CABIN that you Paid FOR???   Wow…. 

delete

Edited February 6, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[morpheusofthesea]

6 hours ago, JAGR said:

Cry, 'Hovoc!,'

What is Hovoc!

[morpheusofthesea]

6 hours ago, JAGR said:

You go to great lengths to find the "right" words,

Yes, though I try to find the right words doesn't mean I always look for the right spelling. What was it Mark Twain said about spelling words?

[JAGR]

13 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

What is Hovoc!

Good catch!  Well played, sir!  Well played! Lol

[RandomUser123]

If I spent all this money I would not some low level commoner to enter my luxury grounds.