Help Me Decide which MSC Yacht Club Cruise!

[KarenGretz]

I'd love some opinions please!

It's mine and hubby's 15 yr wedding anniversary Oct 2024 and we're able to get away from the 5 kiddos for a week. I've sailed MSC 3 times (Seaside, Seashore and Meraviglia) and we've been on dozens of other cruises as well. But we've never been able to do something as luxurious as Yacht Club! Here's the 2 cruises to decide between:

 

Seashore

SUNDAY 10/13/24 Cape Canaveral

MONDAY 10/14/24 Ocean Cay, MSC Marine
TUESDAY 10/15/24 Ocean Cay, MSC Marine

WEDNESDAY 10/16/24 AT SEA 
THURSDAY 10/17/24 Costa Maya, Mexico 
FRIDAY 10/18/24 Cozumel, Mexico 
SATURDAY 10/19/24 AT SEA
SUNDAY 10/20/24 Cape Canaveral

 

------ or ------

 

Meraviglia

SUNDAY 10/13/24 New York
MONDAY 10/14/24 AT SEA
TUESDAY 10/15/24 Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda

WEDNESDAY 10/16/24 Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda

THURSDAY 10/17/24 Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda

FRIDAY 10/18/24 Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda

SATURDAY 10/19/24 AT SEA 
SUNDAY 10/20/24 New York

 

Seashore Pros vs Cons

We LOVE Ocean Cay and would love to overnight there! We'd have more time to experience the Yacht Club pampering there (private beach, beach club restaurant, etc) in addition to the 2 sea days.

We've been to Cozumel a dozen times and Costa Maya twice. They're meh.... We'll have a great time anywhere but those aren't too exciting for us. Also, Orlando is also meh.... We're not theme park folks, so we'd just fly in (redeye) and out ASAP afterwards. 

 

Meraviglia Pros vs Cons

We've never explored NYC and so we'd take debarkation day to do something fun in the city, most likely eat! (Yes, we know 1 day in NYC is nothing, BUT that can't be helped as we have limited coverage for all our kiddos.) We've never been to Bermuda.

Is 4 days in Bermuda too much? We're not big on formal tours. We love cruising because we can go to multiple places in 1 vacation, and get bored when we land vacation in 1 spot after a few days. Will there be Yacht Club amenities on ship while we're docked for 4 days?

 

Thanks for taking to time to help me out!

[Essiesmom]

Since you are coming from a hot place, and haven’t visited Bermuda before, I would go with that one.  A day on the ferry to St. George’s, another day the ferry to Hamilton, and still time for a beach if so inclined.  EM

[JUSRN]

As long as you’re in yacht club, it doesn’t matter which ship you’re on…..

But I think you’d love Bermuda!

[Heartgrove]

Make it extra special and cruise MSC from Italy (we prefer Genoa) to the Mediterranean.

[Hydrotx]

Bermuda is probably our favorite location to cruise to for east coast based ships. We have been a half a dozen or so times and we still have things planned for this trip which we havent been able to do before.  FWIW, we are on the october 2024 cruise in the YC.

Edited September 14, 2023 by Hydrotx

[dexddd]

Toss up.

[MsTabbyKats]

I am not a fan of Bermuda....water can be rough while at sea and Oct is past "the season".  Since I enjoy the pool deck buffets, that sailing wouldn't be for me. (LOL...I'm on the next sailing to the Bahamas.)

I'd go with the first cruise...for Ocean Cay.

In either case, you'll get the full YC pampering experience!

[KarenGretz]

4 hours ago, Heartgrove said:

Make it extra special and cruise MSC from Italy (we prefer Genoa) to the Mediterranean.

We had actually planned two and a half weeks from Italy into the Mediterranean. But we just can't get away from our family for that long. It's definitely on the bucket list!

[mushroom]

We've recently returned from the Bermuda cruise in Yacht Club.  While on board, we booked the Costa Maya and Cozumel cruise for next year, also in Yacht Club.  I agree with the previous poster who said when you're in Yacht Club it doesn't really matter.  Personally, I much perfer the destination of Bermuda over CM or Coz.  However, I love Ocean Cay.  Seasonally, I think you'd enjoy staying "south" for the time you are aboard.  For that reason, I'd say go on Seashore. However, if you're like me...you'll enjoy the Yacht Club's private pool deck more than anything else!  Both great choices, however.

[Heartgrove]

43 minutes ago, KarenGretz said:

We had actually planned two and a half weeks from Italy into the Mediterranean. But we just can't get away from our family for that long. It's definitely on the bucket list!

We love the YC on the Fantasia class. Last year we were on the Splendida and today boarded the Preziosa. Next year we have booked the Divina for the Fall 2024 Grand Voyage and trying to decide on the Fantasia, or Splendida again before returning to the US.

[Edhoff]

Go with #1 Ocean Cay (YC) experience the best every. Four days in Bermuda😝.

[Whinenowine]

Hi, all--I'm new to MSC YC:  is there any real difference btwn YC on the various classes of MSC ships?  i.e. is the YC any better on the newer Seaside and Meraviglia-Plus classes vs the older ships?  I ask because (oddly enough) I'm also looking at these two ships for a Feb '24 cruise and wonder if itinerary is the only main factor.  Thanks in advance.  

[Whinenowine]

Just now, Whinenowine said:

Hi, all--I'm new to MSC YC:  is there any real difference btwn YC on the various classes of MSC ships?  i.e. is the YC any better on the newer Seaside and Meraviglia-Plus classes vs the older ships?  I ask because (oddly enough) I'm also looking at these two ships for a Feb '24 cruise and wonder if itinerary is the only main factor.  Thanks in advance.  

KarenGretz--sorry don't mean to hijack your thread, so seemed like the best pace to ask the question.

[Essiesmom]

Disclaimer…I haven’t sailed in YC.  But I do know that the first class to have YC - Fantasia class…the YC restaurant is located outside of the YC proper.  And that class does not have any inside YC cabins.  There are two YC window cabins that out outside also.  Also that on the latest class, World, they have double the number of YC cabins without increasing the amount of common spaces.  Otherwise, I guess it is itinerary, layout, departure port…. EM

[deliver42]

I can only answer on the Seashore, which we were on. The YC was fantastic. Lots of room, nice pool area, wide choice of cabins, from inside to large suite, The deluxe suite isn't much larger than a normal balcony room, but very comfortable. The YC crew was great, and couldn't do enough for the guests.

[dexddd]

The newer ships vs say Divinia, yes, better.  Restaurant by lounge vs in back of ship.  Ceilings higher in lounge.  On Seaside outside seating in front of lounge.  Pool area much more shade.

[iwtobek]

Can't comment on the MSC Meraviglia. Sailed MSC Grandiosa last year (she is a Meraviglia-Plus class ship) and MSC Seashore this year, both times in Yacht Club. We definitely enjoyed the Seashore better for these reasons:

- the restaurant is nicer, the view of the outside feels more open in the Seashore

- the decoration of the room fits our tastes better (but of course the Grandiosa is older… and MSC ships age fast)

- the pool was night&day: bigger and nicer overall on the Seashore

- sunbeds were more comfy

 

Two little downsides because there are reasons to prefer the Grandiosa:

- YC area is smaller, it's easier to roam from the pool to the Top Sail Lounge should you need to

- if you're annoyed by cigarette smell, be advised the casino in the Seashore is in the atrium AND for some reasons MSC allows smoking there like if it's the 30s — almost a deal breaker for us, it smells bad every day and you can definitely smell it in the shops and bars around that area

- we thought we would love the open area on the Top Sail Lounge but didn't — we preferred the One Pool, and be advised it smells cigarette

- shade can be a problem on the upper deck

- not sure about the ships you're into, we found out onboard Jean-Philippe is not everywhere

[Whinenowine]

Thx, all for the feedback so far.