I feel like I’m stealing

[Bazody1990]

Just booked 7 night Bahamas trip on the Meraviglia for November. Aurea balcony for two was $1800 with drink package, WiFi, $100 credit, taxes and fees. I feel like a thief that’s so cheap lol. For reference, we usually take a yearly trip to Disney World..but we are ready for a change, and Disney prices these days definitely aren’t cheap. Could explain my excitement over the $1800 MSC charge and all that’s included. 
We’ve never cruised before and from reviews I’ve read, MSC has its shortcomings compared to others. But for a price like that you can’t go wrong! 

Excited to explore these boards more before we sail 😊

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

If you're used to Disney pricing... You should upgrade to Yacht Club and you'll have a much better experience (and still a great value).

[edspec]

We used to do WDW a lot but then switched to cruising.  The Aurea experience on MSC is very nice, enjoy.  You will find many on this board that promote Yacht Club and while I'm sure it's lovely I wouldn't do that my first time with a cruise line.  Figure out if this is a vacation that you enjoy and if so then you can experiment w/ different types of experiences or cabins.  TBH, we've sailed in everything from interiors to suites with Genie service and we've enjoyed all of them. 

[awatt]

I second recommendation for YC. If Aurea price was a steal then maybe YC not much more. Totally worth it and lesx than cost of a week in WDW.

[Bazody1990]

9 minutes ago, awatt said:

I second recommendation for YC. If Aurea price was a steal then maybe YC not much more. Totally worth it and lesx than cost of a week in WDW.

 

14 hours ago, CruisematicVA said:

If you're used to Disney pricing... You should upgrade to Yacht Club and you'll have a much better experience (and still a great value).

I just priced out a YC deluxe balcony cabin and it was $5700…is that a good price for YC? Seems like a big jump from what I paid for an Aurea balcony cabin. 

[wolft927]

8 minutes ago, Bazody1990 said:

 

I just priced out a YC deluxe balcony cabin and it was $5700…is that a good price for YC? Seems like a big jump from what I paid for an Aurea balcony cabin. 

So $5700 is a good price when comparing it to say NCL Haven which typically is around $7k. We are trying MSC and the YC because we got the inside YC suite for $3200 all in. Now I think that is a great price for a ship within a ship concept. 

[awatt]

For a week that is average to good price. Its not the steal that Aurea is for that week.

 

Whether  its worth paying that much more for is entirely subjective.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

1 hour ago, Bazody1990 said:

 

I just priced out a YC deluxe balcony cabin and it was $5700…is that a good price for YC? Seems like a big jump from what I paid for an Aurea balcony cabin. 

 

Since your Aurea package comes with drinks and wifi already, I'd say YC does not justify a jump of nearly $4k.

 

$5700 is still a good deal for the level of service you receive and it would likely be a better overall experience, but if those are the two choices, I would go with the Aurea for $1,800 (and I'm the one who originally recommended YC).

 

If YC were in the $3k-$3500 range, I would jump on it because of the improved food and service you'll receive, but for an additional $4k you could dine in a specialty restaurant every night and still come out well ahead. 

[wolft927]

26 minutes ago, CruisematicVA said:

 

Since your Aurea package comes with drinks and wifi already, I'd say YC does not justify a jump of nearly $4k.

 

$5700 is still a good deal for the level of service you receive and it would likely be a better overall experience, but if those are the two choices, I would go with the Aurea for $1,800 (and I'm the one who originally recommended YC).

 

If YC were in the $3k-$3500 range, I would jump on it because of the improved food and service you'll receive, but for an additional $4k you could dine in a specialty restaurant every night and still come out well ahead. 

I agree, We even got rid of the balcony and simply got YC inside. Again, it was cheaper then a normal balcony on NCL> 

[JamieLogical]

You will see a lot of people hype YC on these forums, but my husband and I have found the non-YC experience on the Mereaviglia to be just fine. I can't imagine that the benefits of YC would be worth triple the price you are paying for your Aurea balcony! On a 7-day cruise that's over $550 more per day!

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

2 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

You will see a lot of people hype YC on these forums, but my husband and I have found the non-YC experience on the Mereaviglia to be just fine. I can't imagine that the benefits of YC would be worth triple the price you are paying for your Aurea balcony! On a 7-day cruise that's over $550 more per day!

Just out of curiosity - have you experienced YC or are you just guessing that it wouldn't be worth the upgrade?

 

In this case, I agree it wouldn't. However, if it was say $1,800 for a balcony + $600 for the drink package + $250 for wifi = $2,650 vs. $4k for YC...I would say it's worth it because of the improvement in service + food.

[JamieLogical]

2 minutes ago, CruisematicVA said:

Just out of curiosity - have you experienced YC or are you just guessing that it wouldn't be worth the upgrade?

 

In this case, I agree it wouldn't. However, if it was say $1,800 for a balcony + $600 for the drink package + $250 for wifi = $2,650 vs. $4k for YC...I would say it's worth it because of the improvement in service + food.

 

I haven't but my brother has. And the OP already said their $1800 price included drinks and wifi. There are definitely values to be placed on the benefits of YC vs. Aurea. But for $550 a day you could eat at specialty restaurants every day and still come out way ahead.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

6 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I haven't but my brother has. And the OP already said their $1800 price included drinks and wifi. There are definitely values to be placed on the benefits of YC vs. Aurea. But for $550 a day you could eat at specialty restaurants every day and still come out way ahead.

You should probably read things before offering commentary.

 

I clearly and specifically said that I do not recommend upgrading from Aurea to YC based on the prices.

 

My question to you was not in relation to that - I was asking a simple question...have you experienced YC for yourself.

 

We now know the answer is no. This conversation doesn't need to go any further than that.

 

Have a good day...Bon voyage!

Edited January 29 by CruisematicVA

[Tierun]

27 minutes ago, CruisematicVA said:

You should probably read things before offering commentary.

 

I clearly and specifically said that I do not recommend upgrading from Aurea to YC based on the prices.

 

My question to you was not in relation to that - I was asking a simple question...have you experienced YC for yourself.

 

We now know the answer is no. This conversation doesn't need to go any further than that.

 

Have a good day...Bon voyage!

Why be so hostile and dismissive? These boards are for friendly exchanges of information. Please be kind. Regardless of price, the YC isn’t for everyone, and the perspectives of yourself and others are invaluable to a MSC newcomer.

[MsTabbyKats]

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

You will see a lot of people hype YC on these forums, but my husband and I have found the non-YC experience on the Mereaviglia to be just fine. I can't imagine that the benefits of YC would be worth triple the price you are paying for your Aurea balcony! On a 7-day cruise that's over $550 more per day!

Neither DH nor I drink (ok...maybe he has 2 per cruise), we didn't use the spa (spa is included in YC) and I really don't like dining room food or specialty restaurant food (I get enuf of that at home)....   Despite all this...the YC was just so worth it for the peace and quiet and the service.  The pool deck, breakfast/lunch buffets were wonderful......and the pizza delivery upon demand!

 

For the record...we just got off a Carnival cruise with the masses...it was much better than expected.  And ditto for an NCL with the masses in Sept.  But, from now on, it's YC.

 

Pre-YC I did Mera with the masses...and was happy with it.  But, unless you try something, you don't know what you're missing.

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

1 hour ago, Tierun said:

Why be so hostile and dismissive? These boards are for friendly exchanges of information. Please be kind. Regardless of price, the YC isn’t for everyone, and the perspectives of yourself and others are invaluable to a MSC newcomer.

You're right. 

I was annoyed that they tried to correct me without reading my response where I said I don't think it's worth upgrading at those price points,  but I could have responded in a better way. 

I'll do better in the future. 

[morpheusofthesea]

7 hours ago, Bazody1990 said:

 

I just priced out a YC deluxe balcony cabin and it was $5700…is that a good price for YC? Seems like a big jump from what I paid for an Aurea balcony cabin. 

Don't know exactly but here is a post from another social media poster. "They accepted our offer and put us in the YC Deluxe balcony! So for the price of ONE YC person my wife and I are getting in (total cost $2600, the "rack rate" for that room is $5300)! Happy birthday to me!" Under title "Bidding upgrade to Yacht Club." This was 2 weeks before the sailing. During our disembarkation, we were escorted to the gangway by our butler. In the elevator he told us that the Yacht Club was almost sold out on the next cruise. There were 2 cabins available and one was the Royal Suite. So it appears everyone that bid got upgraded to the YC with only 2 left on embarkation day. So perhaps it is not too wise to nibble too early on those upgrade emails until 2 weeks before the sailing date ?

" Will be cruising on the World Europa from Barcelona on 27th of this month. First time in YC. Won a bid from a Bella interior cabin to a YC interior but have ended up with a deluxe cabin suite! Paying around $1300 per person in total, such great value." (another poster)

[PhotoFlo]

We have a deluxe balcony on Seashore in two weeks.  Just got an offer to bid for YC and am considering it.  I already purchased a drink package and wi-fi.  If accepted in the YC, can I get a refund for the drink and wi-fi package I previously bought?

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

51 minutes ago, PhotoFlo said:

If accepted in the YC, can I get a refund for the drink and wi-fi package I previously bought?

LOL

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

7 minutes ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

LOL

What's so funny about their question King Bob?

[bluecontrolman]

I felt a bit like this with the first MSC cruise I went on. It was just a three night med cruise in April, sea-view cabin with no frills or packages, but it only cost £162 per person! Just an unbelievable price for accommodation and all your meals, let alone a cruise ship to explore and new places to visit every day.

 

The one i've booked for April this year is 4 nights and premium all-inclusive drinks and was £475 each. Only an interior cabin this time, but I wasn't fussed about a tiny porthole.

 

But $1800 is even cheaper than that per day/person! If they accept my upgrade offer for a junior balcony we'll be paying £1300 for a 4 night cruise in a worse cabin! 

Edited January 30 by bluecontrolman

[Selion]

17 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

You will see a lot of people hype YC on these forums

I feel the bigger the ship, the more valuable YC becomes.  We had our worst cruise experience ever on the World Europa due to crowding.  I can't help but wonder if we would have had a much better experience if we were in YC.  At least for us, we didn't appreciate the YC private areas as much as we should have prior to the World Europa cruise.

 

Going on the Euribia in 3 months and we are in Aurea again.  We'll see if the experience is tied to YC, or tied to the class of the ship.  I'm leaning towards the latter.

[MsTabbyKats]

@Bazody1990

What I find (and hear) is that MSC gets a lot of "large foreign groups" who, culturally, differ in manners than Americans (cutting in line, pushing, crowding elevators, hoarding in the buffet)...which, imho, is why "going with the masses" may not be pleasant.

 

This was true in 2019 when I had a regular balcony on the Mera and this was true when I was in the Mera YC.

 

If you can deal with a smaller cabin I'd go for the YC interior.  I don't know your budget...but it's a lot less than the YC deluxe balcony!  And you get all "the extras" (drinks, wifi, spa etc)

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

19 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

@Bazody1990

What I find (and hear) is that MSC gets a lot of "large foreign groups" who, culturally, differ in manners than Americans (cutting in line, pushing, crowding elevators, hoarding in the buffet)...which, imho, is why "going with the masses" may not be pleasant.

 

This was true in 2019 when I had a regular balcony on the Mera and this was true when I was in the Mera YC.

 

If you can deal with a smaller cabin I'd go for the YC interior.  I don't know your budget...but it's a lot less than the YC deluxe balcony!  And you get all "the extras" (drinks, wifi, spa etc)

I can confirm this as accurate.

 

I was on the Meraviglia back in November 2023 and while in line at a buffet, a foreign woman pushed her way in front of me. I politely told her, "m'am, the line starts back there."

 

She looked at me, looked at the back of the line, and just said, "I don't want to wait in that," and got whatever food she wanted before she left.

 

Honestly - that cruise was the worst I've ever been on (still had a great time) and had sworn off MSC. But then, the casino gave me Diamond status (after one cruise) and 4 free comp'd cruises and so now I'm back with MSC.

 

For my upcoming cruises I have a YC Deluxe Suite on the Seascape (with my wife and kids) followed by an interior cabin in gen pop on the Seashore, so it will be very interesting to see how these two experiences compare being back-to-back.

[steveknj]

21 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

You will see a lot of people hype YC on these forums, but my husband and I have found the non-YC experience on the Mereaviglia to be just fine. I can't imagine that the benefits of YC would be worth triple the price you are paying for your Aurea balcony! On a 7-day cruise that's over $550 more per day!

 

I think for a lot of people, they want that completely pampered experience rather than just a "normal' vacation.  I don't care about that sort of thing, especially at 3x the price.   It depends on what type of experience you are looking for.   So the OP talked about taking trips to WDW.  If those trips included the top hotels, the Contemporary, the Floridian or that type, then a week in a "typical" cruise cabin might feel constricted.  But if they go to WDW and stay in one of the less expensive to moderate hotels, then the YC experience, might be more than they need.  But everyone wants something different from their experience.  I can't speak to that.