Joy/Encore Haven vs MSC Meraviglia YC

[skeeter195]

Our last 4 sailings have been in the Haven on the Joy and Encore.  We are trying out the MSC Meraviglia in the YC leaving this weekend.  For those that have sailed both can you say what you liked more and or less about each?  We booked this today and am scrambling for info on the YC and the Meraviglia.  

 

Thanks as always

[Two Wheels Only]

Meraviglia wasn't my favorite MSC Yacht Club ship but I did enjoy it more than I thought that I would. 

 

With the weather this time of year, I would easily prefer Joy/Encore since the Haven courtyard can be enclosed to enjoy the pool. Meraviglia's Yacht Club sundeck doesn't have a retractable roof so cold temperatures and wind make using the Yacht Club pool a no go. 

 

The Top Sail Lounge on Meraviglia is a bit more formal and not as bright as the Horizon Lounge on Joy/Encore but both offer great views, drinks, and snacks. 

 

Sundeck probably favors Meraviglia since the grill and bar are right there. For NCL Haven, the sundeck is "adults-only" (16 and up) so that could be a factor depending on your preference. 

 

Stateroom choice depends on what you are comparing. I had the Royal Suite on Meraviglia and was happy with the space and the hot-tub on the balcony. NCL's best suite on Joy/Encore is much larger (more bedrooms and more bathrooms) and has a better/larger balcony space although it doesn't have a hot-tub....might be a good thing considering what is happening with Prima/Viva...

 

NCL has more/better stateroom choices so even if not in the top DOS, the staterooms in the Haven have better options than those in the Yacht Club on Meraviglia. 

 

In my opinion, butler service is better in the Yacht Club while concierge service is better in the Haven. 

 

You will probably enjoy both lines as long as you are aware that the two lines do things differently even though, in concept, the Haven and the Yacht Club are mostly similar. 

Edited January 3 by Two Wheels Only

[skeeter195]

From the info I have gathered, researched today along with your responses I feel that I have a good idea of what to expect come Saturday.  I like the idea of multiple bars.  Also at times we felt like we wanted to grab something to snack on in the Haven but after 5 there was nothing to get easily.  The YC looks to have small bites almost 24 hrs.  

 

Thanks again for helping us out

[Glitchlo]

Room-NCL rooms are larger but all are very functional. NCL has larger self opening front door in Accessible rooms as well as at public restrooms. NCL has eating table and a little larger balcony
 

Sundeck/pool-NCL Haven pool has retractable roof with lounging chairs both inside and out. MSC has outside pool and sundeck. This gives NCL a hostile weather advantage. NCL also has chair lift at Haven (if you ask). MSC has no pool chair lifts. All MSC pools are salt water. 
 

Eating-MSC YC has a different menu each night. Haven stays the same making use of specialty restaurants more enticing. Food is great in both lines. MSC has a grill/buffet area on sundeck for breakfast and lunch making food VERY accessible while enjoying outside. NCL has outside dining in Haven restaurant but food on sun deck is limited to 2 or 3 sandwich types.
 

Drinking/Lounge-MSC includes mini bar in their pkg as well as a bottle of liquor. NCL does not. NCL has 1 bar in mid lounge. Joy has additional front observation lounge as does MSC. MSC has bar at pool deck and front lounge making service better. MSC has light entertainment at night in lounge. MSC package includes water (Italian bottled water in room and at dinners) and specialty coffees. NCL does not.
 

Crew/Service- Both have wonderful service but MSC seems to go out of their way to be friendly and are always there when you need them.
 

Spa- the MSC YC has daily access to the Thermal room. The NCL Joy does not have one and the Escape has a significant daily charge

Cost- MSC has far better value as their cost is about 2/3 that of Haven. Also MSC allows you to apply your OBC to the service charges implemented (crew tips)

Summation Haven vs Yacht Club-
1)NCL Haven is a little more wheelchair friendly due to pool chair lift and power doors.
2)Out of NY MSC goes to both Bahamas/private island (dock) and Bermuda where NCL only goes south to Bermuda. Their private island is only tender accessible making weather more of an issue.
3)NCL might be better option in hostile weather conditions.

BUT the cost factor along with what they give, gives MSC a HUGE advantage and NCL better look at their pricing if they want to maintain NYC market share out of NY.

[RosieRoo]

Have sailed both. One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is the butler escorts you onto the ship right from the sidewalk. They also escort you off the ship at every port. Also their private island has a separate Yacht Club beach with restaurant and bar that you are transported to via golf cart. I think MSC has it all over NCL as far as value for the money. 

[JIMESOPUS]

The YC DSC is $14.50 while the Haven is $25. We also found the service much better on MSC.

The outdoor pool on the YC compared to the current ship in NYC the Getaway is the same. Still don't understand why out of all the ships in the fleet NCL keeps the Getaway here in NYC with the open courtyard.

PS if you love bread then the YC is for you

[zackarykeef]

I haven't sailed in Haven, but I've been in with friends and from what I've gathered, MSC YC is a much better value. I haven't sailed Haven because I think the prices are ridiculous...I'd rather cruise more often than pay that. YC has some extremely good pricing. My last YC was a week on Seashore and was $4900 total for 2 people.

 

Not only does it cost less, but I think you get more with YC. The beverage and internet is top notch. The restaurant menu rotates daily. There is a pool bar and grill. Access to the thermal suite included. Butlers who literally push others out of the way and take you directly on and off the ship at each and every port. AND...your key card gives you private elevator access throughout the entire ship, not just in YC. If you tap your card, an elevator will come straight to you and go to whichever floor you press without stopping. Outside the YC, the rest of the staff treats you like royalty when they see your key card.

 

I can't say enough good things about YC, and I can also see why those who have sailed on MSC without YC complain. They definitely cater highly to YC guests, and I didn't hate it 😂 

 

Their ships are stunning, the Swarovski staircases are stunning, and the Meraviglia is stunning (that was our first YC cruise)...you will enjoy for sure!

[skeeter195]

Wow.  Thank you for all of these responses.  We can't wait for Saturday, you guys have eased the second guessing we had of booking on a whim.  I know we will be comparing the Haven to the YC a lot I just hope not to much.  I am sure that we will favor the Haven at times and vice versa with the YC.  

 

Thanks again

[Glitchlo]

On 1/4/2024 at 7:04 AM, skeeter195 said:

Wow.  Thank you for all of these responses.  We can't wait for Saturday, you guys have eased the second guessing we had of booking on a whim.  I know we will be comparing the Haven to the YC a lot I just hope not to much.  I am sure that we will favor the Haven at times and vice versa with the YC.  

 

Thanks again

So how did your cruise go?

[Fogfog]

@skeeter195

So how did it go and how did it compare MSC to NCL? YC vs Haven?

[andychris]

Can’t wait to hear a review.

[dexddd]

It sounds like Arthur is now YC maitre d so things should be pretty good on Mera.

[skeeter195]

Sorry for not replying sooner to this.  Here is my comparison of the Haven vs YC and NCL vs MSC.  Our biggest fear was that we would be comparing the YC to the Haven all of the time(our last 25 cruises have been with NCL with the last 8 of 10 in the haven).  While we did compare it did not consume us and we had fun with it.  For the review lets call the Haven and YC "suite area"

 

The ship:  NCL

-Once outside of the suite area NCL has many more food options and things going on

-both designs are nice and easy to get around

Getting on and off the ship:  MSC

-group escort on the ship into the YC

-butler escort off the ship right to the exit door, wow

Snacks:  NCL 

-just having the local or osheehans makes this a no brainer

Pizza:  MSC

-not even close.  Just seeing the Mozzarella machine at work made the pizza better, not to mention the 8 or ten varieties and thin crust.  

Suite area dining:  MSC

-while the food itself is technically prepared and presented better on NCL the changing menus on MSC get the nod here. 

-The addition of fresh pastas daily also gives MSC an edge. 

-Some food on MSC is bland. I believe that is due to them following the European salt and sugar standards for restaurants.  Just add salt and or pepper at times and all is good

-The small outside MSC buffet on deck 18 was always open for breakfast and lunch no matter the weather 

In room dining:  NCL

-Both offer 24 hour room service but on NCL ordering off of the Haven menus are never a problem MSC must be ordered off of the regular room service menu mostly

Drinks:  NCL

-We may have had bad luck but the we had a hard time getting drinks made properly on MSC.  The simplest of drinks like a cosmo or gimlet had bartenders and servers asking what was in it.  NCL is always 95% spot on with drinks

Perks:  MSC

-top shelf drink package, fully stocked and replenished mini bar, a full bottle of spirit of your choice for the room, bottle wine or champagne every other day in your room all included on MSC.   Daily snacks the same on both.  Escorted to shows and off of the ship the same.  

Butler:  MSC

-We have had great butlers on NCL but our butler on MSC was twice as good as our best NCL butler.  We are never needy and always appreciate what our butler does for us.  He did so many little things for us but was never bothering us if that makes sense.  Always there at the right time some how.  Again our NCL butlers have all been great except for one who was horrible.  Maybe we just got lucky on MSC but wow.

Entertainment: MSC

-We always liked the NCL entertainment but within the last few years we rarely go to the theatre anymore.  We are on a 15 day prima cruise soon and I do not know what we are going to do honestly, maybe the price is right will be fun. NCL lounge and club acts are also getting to be the same old thing.  It was probably just different on MSC but we attended 4 theatre shows and multiple small act shows and enjoyed them all. 

Casino:  MSC 

-All of my NCL cruises have been casino comps.  Lately though their comps are declining rapidly with what seems like a "mystery spin" as to what you may comped next.  My Haven comps have now mostly become balcony or club balcony comps for more play.  MSC casino comps are very simple to understand, bet or play this and you get this, simple.  A YC comp is a little bit easier to get than a Haven comp it appears.  Casino management is much more approachable and friendlier than NCL.  People are different and I may have gotten lucky on MSC for my cruise.

Price:  MSC

I had to pay full fare minus a small discount for this cruise and it was still cheaper than an NCL comped cruise upgrading to the Haven.  For a comped cruise NCL charges a $20 per day fee plus all of the other taxes, gratuities on drinks and dining, etc so a 9 day comped cruise these charges come out to be between 1-1.2k(2).  The MSC 9 day cruise cost was $360(2) total for all taxes, fees, etc.

 

Final thoughts: MSC by a hair

-We like NCL and we will stick with them but not exclusively.  There are things that NCL needs to do or MSC will overtake them once people find out.  The casino is the big thing.  Casino revenue is huge on ships and NCL has a big piece of the floating casino game.  MSC though is better in ways.  Gamblers like to be given things even if small, they like to be recognized, MSC does this better. 

-I do not have sour grapes with NCL, heck I won over 100k on NCL in November and I actually lost money on this MSC cruise.  Winning and losing is part of the game.  

-Maybe we just got lucky with this one MSC cruise. 

 

 

 

 

[Two Wheels Only]

7 minutes ago, skeeter195 said:

Some food on MSC is bland. I believe that is due to them following the European salt and sugar standards for restaurants.

 

That is one of the issues that many Americans can't get over. There's also a lack of typical comfort food that many American cruisers want.

[skeeter195]

We loved the "European" style and rarely needed to add salt.  No big deal though if we wanted to, just grab a shaker and all is good.  

[TrinaLC]

7 hours ago, dexddd said:

It sounds like Arthur is now YC maitre d so things should be pretty good on Mera.

Arthur!!!