NCL Haven Cruiser trying out MSC Yacht Club, have questions

[wolft927]

So, Wife and I have sailed Carnival, RCCL, Princess, and have been exclusive to NCL Haven for the past few years. We love the Haven but their prices have gotten a little out of control. So we are going on the Seascape staying in the Yacht Club. We have already Tier Matched with MSC so we are going in as Silver so we got a 10% off the cruise off the bat (NCL could learn from MSC on this). We decided to book the inside Yacht Club mainly because the price was fantastic!!! We spend all our time out of the Cabin so we really wont miss the Balcony. With that being said I do have a few Questions:

 

1: Sailing in the yacht club you get double reward points?

2: I see the Yacht club pool is much nicer and bigger then most Haven Pools, Does it really get crowded up there?

3: Anyone Cruise Haven as well adn compare the yacht club dining room to the Haven Dining Room?

4: Also, it looks like there are formal nights on MSC, other then the formal nights are Bermuda Shorts and Polo Shirts allowed in the Dining rooms for dinner?

 

 

Would love any feedback or opinions anyone can give a new MSC and new yacht club cruiser. If the yacht club comes anything close the Haven, we will most likely be switching to MSC! Thanks again

[morpheusofthesea]

17 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

 

Would love any feedback or opinions anyone can give

We prefer the YC over the Haven. Haven menu is the same every day. One need not seek specialty dining as the YC menu varies from day to day. One can special order in advance, as in the Haven, but that special order takes 2 hours to arrive in the Haven (DW's standing order of a grilled chicken breast and one baked potato, 2 hours?). Guests in the YC will not be bothered by other YC guests that book more than one cabin, throwing footballs or frisbees like on the Haven pool deck. Bottled water is complimentary in YC. All the YC suites, lounge, restaurant and pool are together. New elevators are 'almost' express in the forward bank (YC). We were on March 19 2022 sailing, from deck 8 press deck 19, A,B,C ,or D elevator lights up; step toward lit elevator, empty elevator opens, walk in, no further deck buttons inside elevator for children to play with, express to deck 19. Every Madison theatre show has reserved seating, no reservations needed for YC guests. One will not see discarded, soiled plates and drink glasses left in hallways of YC. 110 YC cabins, counted 16 butlers during captains greeting in Top Sail Lounge, so plenty of service no waiting. Live music from TSL to YC restaurant during

dinner.

[BDL]

1: Sailing in the yacht club you get double reward points?  Attached is the point structure.  

2: I see the Yacht club pool is much nicer and bigger then most Haven Pools, Does it really get crowded up there?  We've done Haven once and now two Yacht Club cruises.  The pool was never very crowded when I was up there.  The most I ever saw in there was 3 or 4 people

3: Anyone Cruise Haven as well adn compare the yacht club dining room to the Haven Dining Room?  I think the dining room on MSC YC is better than the Haven. Loved the Haven dining but MSC is just fabulous. Food in YC was great.  

4: Also, it looks like there are formal nights on MSC, other then the formal nights are Bermuda Shorts and Polo Shirts allowed in the Dining rooms for dinner?  We did see more slacks on 'formal night' than shorts but lots of shorts and polo shirts for men most nights.  I either wore capris or a sundress.

We did balconies our two times but in December I've booked an interior YC for myself and my grown daughter.  Great price and same great service!

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

19 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

 

Would love any feedback or opinions anyone can give

On the MSC Seascape at the present moment reporting. See my "Observations from the Poop Deck". Will post another list of things as soon as I find it.

[morpheusofthesea]

29 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

we got a 10% off the cruise off the bat

You got the best part of the MSC Loyalty Program. The one complimentary specialty dining perk we rarely use as we find the meals better in the YC Restaurant.

Here is our list for those that might have missed it, that Yacht Club has all of them.

Never sailed on a MSC ship in a cabin outside the Yacht Club. But we can list now all the things to look out for when booking any cruise ship.

#1 E muster drill is better

#2 Two cabin cleanings per day

#3 No % charge for gambling unless using cash

#4 No extra charge for can sodas vs fountain drinks

#5 Reserved seating in the theatre for all shows

#6 Complimentary bottled water

#7 Reserved or ability to reserve pergola/cabanas on pool deck

#8 'Cushioned' pool lounges

#9 Escorts on and off ship avoiding long lines

#10 First to use tenders off the ship at ports that tender

#11 Dedicated restaurant that is so good one need not book Specialty Restaurants

#12 Service that does not involve 2 hours to complete a meal

#13 An attentive butler not hard to find when needed

#14 Cabins ready upon embarkation/ key cards in hand at checkin

#15 Dedicated restaurant OPEN port days

#16 Dedicated buffet to only suite guests

#17 Dedicated pool and sun deck only for suite guests with ample lounges

# 18 All the advantages of a mega ship with the exclusivity of a gated community

#19 walk-in shower not low profile tub/shower combo

#20 No non-suite paying Pinnacle/Zenith/Diamond passengers taking up prime real estate in the Yacht Club

#21 Elevator over-ride key cards for suite guests

#22 Pristine out island with NO bugs crawling all over cabanas

#23 short distance between cabin and restaurant decks

#24 At least a 100 sq ft balcony accommodating a cushioned lounge chair.

#25 You mentioned this....PRICE.

Edited June 14, 2023 by morpheusofthesea

[morpheusofthesea]

32 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

 

1: Sailing in the yacht club you get double reward points?

The problem with Loyalty Programs.

Just to add to why the diminished perks. From an analytics consultancy " Using Data analytics, financial modeling and consumer surveys to analyze the effectiveness of Loyalty Programs. The relationship between customer behavior and profitability found some distortions in the Loyalty Program. The way customers were using the program meant the highest spending and longest term customers weren't always getting rewarded proportionately for their value at the same time other customers that were earning rewards passively without spending enough to make it profitable for the business."

    This data analysis indicates that loyalty programs are rewarding the least profitable guests..

  One will be seeing this trend continue on land and sea.

[Shippy]

10 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

The problem with Loyalty Programs.

Just to add to why the diminished perks. From an analytics consultancy " Using Data analytics, financial modeling and consumer surveys to analyze the effectiveness of Loyalty Programs. The relationship between customer behavior and profitability found some distortions in the Loyalty Program. The way customers were using the program meant the highest spending and longest term customers weren't always getting rewarded proportionately for their value at the same time other customers that were earning rewards passively without spending enough to make it profitable for the business."

    This data analysis indicates that loyalty programs are rewarding the least profitable guests..

  One will be seeing this trend continue on land and sea.

I doubt reward points matter to most YC guests

[morpheusofthesea]

4 minutes ago, Shippy said:

I doubt reward points matter to most YC guests

Only to those that like to walk around the ship with their black card taped to their foreheads.

[mnpurple]

1 minute ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Only to those that like to walk around the ship with their black card taped to their foreheads.

Hey! I taped my YC card to my forehead when walking around!  Of course I made sure to have on my Tiara too - LOL

[Brighton Line]

I've sailed Haven in the Haven proper and in Haven suites outside the Haven like aft facing and I just did my first YC and MSC cruise. 

MSC is hands down a better experience. The YC "crew" are much more friendly and personable than I experienced with the Haven. If you don't like that and want a stiff upper lip butler they will do that too. 

I truly missed the doorbell, yup the doorbell that NCL has for their haven suites as my butler knocked so softly LOL. Not having to hand over your cruise card to order a drink at the YC bar/restaurant/Pool Deck is an unspoken plus. Sit down in the lounge and there is my drink in hand without asking.

 

I will let the price difference speak for itself. 

[mscdivina2016]

On 6/14/2023 at 1:27 PM, wolft927 said:

So, Wife and I have sailed Carnival, RCCL, Princess, and have been exclusive to NCL Haven for the past few years. We love the Haven but their prices have gotten a little out of control. So we are going on the Seascape staying in the Yacht Club. We have already Tier Matched with MSC so we are going in as Silver so we got a 10% off the cruise off the bat (NCL could learn from MSC on this). We decided to book the inside Yacht Club mainly because the price was fantastic!!! We spend all our time out of the Cabin so we really wont miss the Balcony. With that being said I do have a few Questions:

 

1: Sailing in the yacht club you get double reward points?

2: I see the Yacht club pool is much nicer and bigger then most Haven Pools, Does it really get crowded up there?

3: Anyone Cruise Haven as well adn compare the yacht club dining room to the Haven Dining Room?

4: Also, it looks like there are formal nights on MSC, other then the formal nights are Bermuda Shorts and Polo Shirts allowed in the Dining rooms for dinner?

 

 

Would love any feedback or opinions anyone can give a new MSC and new yacht club cruiser. If the yacht club comes anything close the Haven, we will most likely be switching to MSC! Thanks again

There is no Formal night.

 

There is a "Let's try and sell pictures night", AKA Elegant dress night.

 

[mnpurple]

Our family enjoyed the YC more than Haven. We were on NCL Pearl and Getaway. The Pearl isn't the full Haven experience, but we enjoyed what was offered and liked the 2-BR family suite. There was really no bar service in the pool and sundeck areas, which was a bummer. Getaway was more crowded and although they did have some beverage service in the deck area, it was pretty slow and quicker to grab your own.

 

We were on Seaview and Divina YC. It just felt so much more spacious and staff way more attentive. Meals change daily in the restaurant, so no repeating. They will also bring drinks to your room and you have a fully stocked mini bar, neither of which is offered in Haven. There are better snack options in the YC and not just the cookies and candies offered in Haven.

 

Just a few of the comparisons off the top of my mind.

[no1talks]

On 6/14/2023 at 1:16 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

"Only to those that like to walk around the ship with their black card taped to their foreheads."

 

And those who are waiting for Explora to finish "finalizing" their loyalty plan.

 

If Explora accepts MSC points to one degree or another, points built up beyond the black card ceiling may have value.

 

Or, Explora may deny any familial connection to the poor unfortunates still cruising on MSC.  😜

[luv2sailAgain]

Not the OP but. . .

I was trying to decide what kind of cruise to plan for the future. YC sounds great! Thanks for the informaiton!

[wolft927]

So just checked my booking and the tier match is in, i recieved 4000 points which makes me silver so after this cruise will received 3,000 points ( booked more then 12 months out so get double points) so will be at gold after 1 cruise.