Yacht Club vs Regent Grandeur

[morpheusofthesea]

This should be exciting. Having read here and experienced the 'circus' that can happen during Spring Break on our favorite MSC Seaships we decided to try for our first time a new Regent ship. We tried the new MSC Explora for this past Christmas/New Years and in became another fast favorite. Highly recommend MSC Explora Journeys in any category. We find it very important to make out a list of 'must haves' for a cruise to be viable. For DW it has to be #1, bottled mineral water. Any brand, not this ship distilled stuff. Alphonse Karr 1808–90 "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. The more things change, the more they are the same." Thirty years ago on a cruise through Southeast Asia the staff and guests were getting stomach ailments as they do today. Sitting around the piano bar and becoming friendly with the piano player, he discreetly suggested we only drink commercially bottled water on cruise ships. So even today we request ,in writing, from the cruise line that we have commercially bottled mineral water in our cabin every day whatever the cost.

   We priced out Explora vs Regent vs Yacht Club and of course the winner is Yacht Club by a mile. But reading @styles27 and @Morgsmom and our own recent experiences with the YC being infiltrated by interlopers and friends and family of YCers residing outside the YC, and packed with unruly children, we decided to give Regent a try. We will see and report.

[Morgsmom]

Oh, do please keep us updated! We did not have an issue with unruly children (unlike some other recent cruisers) but rather with noticeable cutbacks and one outright lie from the head Concierge.  We also took issue with the fact that after the show starts in the main theater and the "ropes drop" it's a free for all in YC seating and anyone can come by and push their way in, DRINKS in hand (not allowed) and make us get up 10 times so that they can get seated 10 minutes late.  Maddening.

[morpheusofthesea]

29 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

We did not have an issue with unruly children

I'm just being kind. To us "unruly children" is anyone under the age of 50.

[Two Wheels Only]

RSS dress code prevents me from ever considering them....

 

Casual wear consists of resort-style outfits; some examples are jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Casual wear is appropriate for daytime both on board or ashore. Casual wear is not appropriate after 6:00 PM

 

[morpheusofthesea]

26 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

RSS dress code prevents me from ever considering them....

 

Casual wear consists of resort-style outfits; some examples are jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Casual wear is appropriate for daytime both on board or ashore. Casual wear is not appropriate after 6:00 PM

 

 'Whatever floats your boat' "means do what brings you joy."

Edited March 14 by morpheusofthesea

[PTC DAWG]

I really don't see much of a comparison here..one is a very small luxury cruise ship.should be very nice and very quiet..the other is an enclave on a giant ship with lots of things to see and do outside of YC...

 

I would take the YC experience most every time...

 

Regent and Silversea, not that might be a decent comparison, but has no place here.  

 

Oh and I'm 60, never had any issues with kids on my 3 YC cruises.  Have another one booked January of 25.  

[morpheusofthesea]

6 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

the other is an enclave on a giant ship with lots of things to see and do outside of YC...

Still thinking about this. "Lots of things to see and do outside of YC", eg. @Morgsmom points out the experience we all have in the theatre, people coming and going during the entire performance, having to get up and down and having drinks spilled upon us. Then there was the time our personal butler asked our plans for the evening and questioned whether we really wanted to go outside the confines of the Yacht Club suggesting options within the YC instead.

[PTC DAWG]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Still thinking about this. "Lots of things to see and do outside of YC", eg. @Morgsmom points out the experience we all have in the theatre, people coming and going during the entire performance, having to get up and down and having drinks spilled upon us. Then there was the time our personal butler asked our plans for the evening and questioned whether we really wanted to go outside the confines of the Yacht Club suggesting options within the YC instead.

I enjoy the casino and a good laugh at Karaoke…DJ during the day around the main pool makes for good people watching from time to time..

[morpheusofthesea]

23 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I enjoy the casino and a good laugh at Karaoke…DJ during the day around the main pool makes for good people watching from time to time..

Yes, we too enjoy being entertained, but do draw the line at being the entertainment.

[mushroom]

We have cruised multiple times on Regent Seven Seas and loved each time.  It definitely is a luxurious experience.  Then....we discovered the Yacht Club experience when we joined a group aboard Divina a few years ago.  Since then, we've only done YC and have saved a ton of money.  It's like comparing apples to oranges in my opinion.  RSSC's smaller ships are a big plus for people who like smaller and more intimate ports.  YC is a big plus for people who like a big variety of stuff to do while onboard.  Both are excellent choices so you must determine what it is you expect on your adventure.  

[morpheusofthesea]

44 minutes ago, mushroom said:

Both are excellent choices so you must determine what it is you expect on your adventure.  

Thank you for your view. Expectations. Most definitely. We enjoy being treated like Royalty and this is just how MSC Yacht Clubs' have spoiled us. Forty-five years of cruising 2 lowers on the inside and the first time in a Yacht Club (Divina) and we were 'star struck' and we were the stars. "All inclusive" is really a waste for us. We rarely get off the ship so included shore excursions is not a draw. We enjoy tipping for exceptional. over the top service. DW is a teetotaler and I gave up drinking when covid hit and obesity was thought to be a contributing factor. So included drink packages are another not used included item. A reserved cushioned pergola on the sun deck is a great perk, again I anticipate, will be sorely missed, as we read there are a multitude of chair hoggers on Regent. I find there are two kinds of 'entitled' persons, those that pay for the perk and are entitled to its benefits and those that do not pay for the perk and 'feel' 'entitled' to it by having sailed multiple times on the same cruise line.

[Georgia_Peaches]

I would not cough up the dough to cruise Regent in the Caribbean.  I prefer a larger ship with a less stuffy (?...I don't really know if it's stuffy..) atmosphere...and if on MSC, it's definitely going to be in the YC. 

 

Having said that, we are booked on the Grandeur for next April in a very port intensive Med cruise embarking in Venice.  The fact that the fare included business class air and ports not usually accessible by larger ships, not to mention included excursions...it seemed like a no brainer to give them a try.  My guess is, since we will be off the ship more than on, I will not miss some of my usual hang out spots available to us on our go-to cruise lines. I understand the casino is quite small...hopefully I will be too tired from the day's activities to miss it!

 

 I am very much looking forward to your report on the Grandeur!  Bon voyage!

[PTC DAWG]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Yes, we too enjoy being entertained, but do draw the line at being the entertainment.

Not sure why you would ever board a Mega ship in that case..they are all more alike than similar.  Actually, I prefer the size and vibe of Celebrity E Class…Happy in a non suite room on that line..

 

YC is the only way I roll on MSC. 

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

Not sure why you would ever board a Mega ship in that case..they are all more alike than (dis)similar.

Too true. Until we tried MSC Seaships and their exclusive Yacht Clubs which far exceed the Haven, Coastal Kitchen and Retreat. Found an attentive personal butler is indispensable for making sure we get to any venue ahead of time or they save us seats (table). I wish not to list all the services because many complain as it is that their personal butler is AWOL most of the time. We have never had a bad time inside the Yacht Club. Cannot say the same thing about the other 'ship within a ship' cruise lines. Suite class on RCCL we had to wait as the decks are closed until cabins are ready so no cabin key card to get into the suite lounge and wait. No concierge on duty to get into the suite lounge. High and mighty Pinnacles doing b2bs inside suite lounge sit and smirk sipping their drinks while we stand and wait for a concierge to arrive. Then when we arrive for a reserved dinner appointment we are told we have to wait as an unexpected non-suite Pinnacle came five minutes earlier and took our reservation. We no longer go on cruise lines that treat their suite guests like second class passengers.

Edited March 14 by morpheusofthesea

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

Actually, I prefer the size and vibe of Celebrity E Class…Happy in a non suite room on that line..

Completely agree!  In fact, we just booked a deluxe ocean view room on Beyond for a 10 night southern Caribbean in November.  I'm not a fan of the IV category, the PV was booked and the Retreat prices were ridiculous!  We looked at YC but could only find a 7 nighter...

[morpheusofthesea]

50 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

In fact, we just booked a deluxe ocean view room on Beyond

It compares very favorably. It comes down to just what one is really looking for and which line provides it. 

   We enjoy a dedicated restaurant open for 3 meals per day, not one that closes for lunch port days.(MSC)

   We enjoy Cafe Al Bacio (Celebrity)

   I enjoy a cushioned cabin balcony deck chair lounger  (MSC) see photo below of balcony RS/X

   We enjoy reserved theater seating for every performance (MSC)

   We enjoy more evening entertainment venues rather than game shows (MSC)

   We enjoy a better Wifi that works(Celebrity) Heard MSC is now Starlink

   We enjoy a private 'out' island. (MSC) Heard Celebrity is using RCCL Island

   We love key card elevator over rides (MSC)

   We like a 'gated community' (MSC)

P.S. Butler/host said 'NO' to cushioned lounger on balcony of Royal Suite. $19,000 for 1 week cruise and received a 'NO'. Never received a 'NO' from anybody in the Yacht Club.

Edited March 14 by morpheusofthesea
P.S.

[cruisebeachgirl703]

That is disappointing about the lounger. Even with having lounger on NCL and Celebrity, Butler's on MSC are better. 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

23 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We priced out Explora vs Regent vs Yacht Club and of course the winner is Yacht Club by a mile. But reading @styles27 and @Morgsmom and our own recent experiences with the YC being infiltrated by interlopers and friends and family of YCers residing outside the YC, and packed with unruly children, we decided to give Regent a try. We will see and report.

 

The two experiences are just too different to compare (Regent vs YC). One is the Club Level at a Holiday Inn Express, the other an Aman Resort. We gave up on Regent because I enjoy being casually dressed, that means shorts whenever possible. I don't mind dressing for dinner in an MDR, but I like a buffet as a dinner option too (so I can wear shorts), and I really don't like having to wear long pants just to get a drink and listen to some lounge music in the evening.

 

Some people like dressing up all the time, I am not one of them.

 

I have not experienced "interlopers" in our two YC trips, or maybe I didn't notice, but our experiences were acceptable, and more than acceptable for the value.

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, KeepCalmBearOn said:

 

The two experiences are just too different to compare (Regent vs YC). One is the Club Level at a Holiday Inn Express, the other an Aman Resort. We gave up on Regent because I enjoy being casually dressed, that means shorts whenever possible. I don't mind dressing for dinner in an MDR, but I like a buffet as a dinner option too (so I can wear shorts), and I really don't like having to wear long pants just to get a drink and listen to some lounge music in the evening.

 

Some people like dressing up all the time, I am not one of them.

 

I have not experienced "interlopers" in our two YC trips, or maybe I didn't notice, but our experiences were acceptable, and more than acceptable for the value.

Quite understandable. Too different to compare? I’ll give it ‘the old college try’. Presently sitting in Terminal J. Terminal opened at 10:30am 11am checkin. Self serve water, coffee, and tea. No Prosecco or Champagne. No nuts, etc like Yacht Club. No butler service. The check in process they kept our passports. Maybe because Key West CBP will be coming on board for a face to face clearing just a day before we come back to Miami?

ps oh yes there are two vending machines for chips and soda

Edited March 15 by morpheusofthesea
Ps

[Georgia_Peaches]

55 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Self serve water, coffee, and tea. No Prosecco or Champagne. No nuts, etc like Yacht Club.

Huh...I guess it's the little things (maybe not so little?) one becomes used to.  I am disappointed to read this...

[Georgia_Peaches]

3 hours ago, KeepCalmBearOn said:

One is the Club Level at a Holiday Inn Express, the other an Aman Resort.

And yet, no prosecco or champagne in the embarkation lounge...like with YC.  This is a score in the YC column in my book.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Quite understandable. Too different to compare? I’ll give it ‘the old college try’. Presently sitting in Terminal J. Terminal opened at 10:30am 11am checkin. Self serve water, coffee, and tea. No Prosecco or Champagne......

 

I get unlimited Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top Brut, and every other alcoholic drink, or coffee/espresso drink or non-alcoholic drink on Regent for the whole cruise. And since the RSS Granduer is only 746 passengers vs MSC World Europa at 6,762 passengers, you really aren't in the terminal that long.

 

But even if I was, I'd trade off length of cruise Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top Brut for the MSC terminal plonk.

[FLCruiser97]

Anxiously waiting for your "Observations"

[Georgia_Peaches]

3 hours ago, KeepCalmBearOn said:

I get unlimited Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top Brut

Ok, now that is impressive..

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, FLCruiser97 said:

Anxiously waiting for your "Observations"

Welcome home.