Live Review-MSC Yacht Club on World Europa 12-19th January 2024 -Mediterranean

[ConnieTact]

Wow! I never expected Bethzienna to sing one of her favourite (& my absolute favourite) Italian/Scottish musicians Paolo Nutini’s song, 10/10! 
I am SO impressed! Great taste! (Well, I admit I am in Paolo’s fan club!😂). If you’ve not heard him- check his varied music out- he’s a fab singer and songwriter. 

 

[ConnieTact]

Dinner was great and made even more good by having expert advice, from wine expert William, on wine pairing on our personal choices. It pushed me to try wines I wouldn’t normally and that’s what the experience of having a sommelier is about. We don’t pretend to know a lot about wine and, his guidance and advice was appreciated as was the explanations of his choices. 

[ConnieTact]

We told the butler what we wanted and she delivered! All this back at the cabin- even the shirts ironed in just a few hours! 

[laudergayle]

Wow…I can see why people love YC.  We typically just do balcony…but I splurged and booked a Grand Suite Aurea for November.  I guess I’ll just have to get our own treats 😂.  Really enjoying your LIVE.

 

BTW I would have requested macarons … yum!

Edited January 12 by laudergayle

[Raintree]

Is there a walking track on Europa?  Thank you.

[ConnieTact]

5 hours ago, Raintree said:

Is there a walking track on Europa?  Thank you.

Yes! There is one on every MSC ship I believe. We will be checking that out today so I’ll post some pictures and let you know what it’s like. 

Edited January 13 by ConnieTact

[ConnieTact]

8 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Wow…I can see why people love YC.  We typically just do balcony…but I splurged and booked a Grand Suite Aurea for November.  I guess I’ll just have to get our own treats 😂.  Really enjoying your LIVE.

 

BTW I would have requested macarons … yum!

The Grand Suite Aurea also looks good. I saw there is a different restaurant for Aurea too and that looked good. 
You can also put an upgrade offer in for a YC inside, less space but all the perks and extra spaces within YC. It is great to go to the general ship activities and then afterwards, walk through the doors of YC to a more serene environment.

There are only seven inside cabins in YC and this time we have one of them! It is certainly small compared to a balcony but we are not in it for long so, for us, it’s absolutely worth it.

We have stayed in Duplex suites, balcony suites and interiors and are happy in them all! 
PS I did mention macaroons but I think they normally come once but it’s always worth another try if they don’t appear tonight! We had them on our bar snack plates and on Petit Four dish last night. 

[ConnieTact]

Our butler, Laksmi, is fabulous! She is so responsive and does everything she can to help. She delivered our breakfast pastries and cereal on the dot of 9.30 and has just brought our newspaper. She’s checked with us when it suits us to have our morning room clean and will escort me to my appointment in the spa. This is always worthwhile, and a great perk of YC, as it means you don’t have to queue when you get there to check in. I’m having a manicure and pedicure.

we discovered there ate not as many English channels available on this ship as on our recent sailings on Virtuosa on October and Euribia in December. Laksmi said this could be because this ship is sailing Europe it may be why. We’ve settled with CNBC which has got some good interviews on it. 

[ConnieTact]

The hair and nail salon is well equipped and comfortable. Best of all is that the nail technician I had, Philisile, was the best I have met on a MSC cruise! To be honest., the heavy sales pitches alongside unwanted opinions of workers telling you what I need to buy to improve whatever condition they can summon up, has left me wary of going to a MSC spa again for a treatment. I even felt a bit apprehensive about what I was getting myself into this morning! Philisile restored my confidence and instead, we enjoyed a comfortable conversation about our family lives and work. 
At the end, when she mentioned the free skin analysis available on sea days, she laughed along with me when I declared, “I’d rather live in ignorance! I don’t wanna know!” 😂

She’s a star and an asset to MSC spa team and I wish her well. I hope one day she is in a position to train others. Her style is the best and should be sought after, as I now look forward to my next appointments. 
Later I will print the price list for salon treatments. It’s always best to book in advance as it’s cheaper and tips are included. Also, don’t forget, if you’re in YC you have 10% discount on onboard prices. 

[ConnieTact]

We had a late lunch in outside pool grill bar, which was hot and delicious but did take 35 minutes to arrive because a large party got their order in before us. 

did have to ask twice for my champagne but honestly, I’m grateful to be in the position to be able to have a glass at lunchtime, so I’m not complaining! 🤣

 

[laudergayle]

7 minutes ago, ConnieTact said:

It’s always best to book in advance as it’s cheaper and tips are included. Also

Do you feel compelled to tip extra? Tipping expectations have become excessive here in the US.

[ConnieTact]

1 hour ago, laudergayle said:

Do you feel compelled to tip extra? Tipping expectations have become excessive here in the US.

Extra topping is discouraged by MSC and certainly not expected by staff. I usually have small £5 or €5 notes to hand out to staff on last day and often tip butler more, if they are good. 
Also we have tipped waiters if especially made an impression and some to sommelier and YC manager- again if they made an impression & went out their way with a request. 

European cruises are different that US ones and when we book from UK tips are ‘prepaid’. 
occasionally we may give €1 for a drink outside YC - if delivered promptly or with a smile! 
We never feel it is expected though. 
With spa treatments - it is so clearly 15% added, I feel that’s enough.

I have to say all staff have been very appreciative if we have given them tips.

 

[ConnieTact]

8 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Yes! There is one on every MSC ship I believe. We will be checking that out today so I’ll post some pictures and let you know what it’s like. 

Ok! If the MSC information is correct then we can’t find a walking track on this ship!

 

Lots of dead ends at every turn! We asked an outside member of staff and he said no, you can jyst walk around the decks. 
We even looked in the gym but nothing like that in there!

 

 

 

[ConnieTact]

Warming up with snacks and hot drinks now. Beautiful sunset but really cold out there!

 

[ConnieTact]

14 hours ago, Raintree said:

Is there a walking track on Europa?  Thank you.

There is apparently one on Deck 20 midship! Somehow that escaped us when we were exploring, looking for it! We must have gone with end! We’ll try again and report back! 😅

[ConnieTact]

Aurea Spa price list.

[ConnieTact]

So, we decided to have a relaxing day onboard. We have been to Marseille many times before so didn’t feel we missed out.

Here is a few snaps from earlier, and our sail out from the port. 

[ConnieTact]

[ConnieTact]

Some snaps from last night.We enjoyed the guitar playing and song choices of Henning in Masters of the sea pub. 
There was a silent disco last night.

Chocolate store ‘Jean-Philippe Chocolat & cafe’ looked fabulous as always on MSC ships,  and smelt out of this world!There were photo opportunities with the stars in the promenade! 

[ConnieTact]

Yacht Club is definitely not overcrowded! Here is the Top Sail Lounge at 8.25 tonight! 
I guess most people eating or at shows. Duo Cousins entertaining well.

[Mezqal]

Good evening, how about the Restaurant, ís it overcrowded or ís there allways a table available?

 

On wich deck do you have your cabin?

 

Your Reports are very usefull, so thank you very much for Postings 🤗

[ConnieTact]

Our cabin is on 15. Dining always had spaces and many free tables. We later both nights around 8.30pm. Service is good, great waiter and sommelier, William has made our mealtimes great! 
Here was tonight’s offering. 
 

Sorry about the upside down cheese photo! Too late to fiddle with! Goodnight! 😴

Edited January 13 by ConnieTact

[Av8tor]

11 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

There were photo opportunities with the stars in the promenade! 

Cat Woman or just your plain ol' Dominatrix??   Inquiring minds want to know...

[ConnieTact]

Last night we saw the magic show which didn’t hold our interest much. The constant flow of late comers and getting up and fine to let them past was wearing. why do they let people in, even half an hour late? 

[morpheusofthesea]

7 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Last night we saw the magic show which didn’t hold our interest much. The constant flow of late comers and getting up and fine to let them past was wearing. why do they let people in, even half an hour late? 

It could have been worse...you might have had a more enjoyable show compounding your frustration.