Would you upgrade MSC Seascape YC from Royal to OS

[msweebee]

First ever cruise on MSC but was loyal X (S and M class only) in CS and Royal Suites pre C and even enjoyed NCL Haven in aft Haven on Escape.  Not in the Haven proper but booked for great wraparound balcony which worked magnificently for the cruise we were on.  Moving on now and decided to try MSC and love the layout of Royal and its spacious balcony; it is plenty big for the 2 of us.  My question is:  Would you upgrade if an OS became available and why?  I have enjoyed several of the "live" reports recently and really helped me make the plunge and book when I found a Royal Suite available.  We definitely always want more space and a separate bedroom but I am not convinced yet that I should grab that OS before it disappears!   Many thanks to MorpheusoftheSea, BestCatMom andDaKahuna and others - you have entertained me many evenings as I consider never leaving the confines of the YC...well until I have to disembark anyway!   

[Two Wheels Only]

Even if they were the same price, I'd take the Royal over the Owner's. The better balcony (can have breakfast on the large table) and better hot tub make up for the smaller interior space. The forward view of the Owner's is nice but I still choose the Royal.

[Georgia_Peaches]

On Celebrity we would often (as our budget would allow) book the RS because of the included specialty dining and the additional half-bath.  

My problem with both the RS and OS on MSC is that there is no extra powder room and no included specialty dining.  The trade off is a fully stocked bar with multiple bottles of liquor and a dedicated pergola reserved for you on the pool deck.  We are not big balcony users during the heat of the day so the increased size isn't a plus for us.  Therefore, I wouldn't find value in upgrading from a Deluxe balcony stateroom...and in fact, I'd consider an YIN simply because its so much cooler at night.

Having said all that, we have booked a duplex on World America because it has a second bath.  The balcony arrangement looks like something we might use as well.  

 

And finally, I have to say I just looked at pricing for Seascape for March 1 of 2026 and they are fabulous!  We have a hold on a YIN at $1625 pp (Military rate).  Haven't seen those prices in a long time!  Hint Hint:  @Best Cat Mom @DaKahuna @morpheusofthesea @RichYak and anyone else!

 

 

Edited October 4 by Georgia_Peaches

[morpheusofthesea]

11 hours ago, msweebee said:

Would you upgrade if an OS became available and why?

Well since you found our musings so entertaining, the truth of the matter is we only book the OS when we can not get the RS. Hence we book 1-2 years in advance. Now that DW has retired we have more flexibility on dates in the future. The windows in OS are slanted in and I hit my head everytime at least once. The heat generated through those windows is not tolerable in the summer months and the drapes must be drawn most of the day. We used to love the CS on Celebrity but the low profile tub/shower combo pushed us up to the RS, but the balcony was too small. Here is my list of the differences between the Retreats and Yacht Clubs.

These are the differences between Retreats and Yacht Clubs....#1 MSC Yacht Club Restaurant is OPEN port days. Celebrity Luminae is NOT open port days.

#2 MSC YC has reserved seating in the theatre for YC guests at all shows. Celebrity only Gala night.

#3 Royal Suite on MSC has 2 cushion deck lounges on the balcony. Celebrity RS can only accommodate 1 non cushioned deck lounger.

#4 MSC has reserved pergolas/cabanas for RS & OS.. Celebrity on sundeck; it is FCFS chair hoggers that get those.

#5 More attentive butlers on MSC . Celebrity hosts give one their telephone number which many times is forwarded to room service.

#6 Walk-in showers on MSC YC, Celebrity has low profile tub/shower combos in CS and SS.

#7 Elevator OVERRIDE key cards for suite guests on MSC. No such amenity on Celebrity.

#8 No non-suite paying Diamond card holders taking up real estate in YC venues. Celebrity has non suite Zeniths in our venues.

#9 MSC All suites are within a gated community with a short climb up or down to all venues. Celebrity depends on what ship.

#10 MSC a new pristine Ocean Cay out island with its own employees and no bugs crawling all over the lounges. Celebrity has mostly Nassau.

#11 MSC offers Individual escorts on and off the ship. Celebrity one must assemble and be escorted off in groups (always waiting for some straggler).

#12 For those that enjoy buffets MSC YC has its own buffet at the One Pool Deck

#13 Celebrity has one great feature that MSC lacks; Cafe al Bacio has no peer on MSC for its selection of 12-14 mouth-watering pastries.

#14 YC has the best entertainers on the ship providing evening music in the TopSail Lounge, nothing in the Retreat Lounge.

#15 YC Pool Deck has a pool, only Celebrity E-class ships have a pool.

#16 MSC YC has much better price than the Retreat

[kelly94942]

52 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

And finally, I have to say I just looked at pricing for Seascape for March 1 of 2026 and they are fabulous!  We have a hold on a YIN at $1625 pp (Military rate).  Haven't seen those prices in a long time!  Hint Hint:  @Best Cat Mom @DaKahuna @morpheusofthesea @RichYak and anyone else!

 

 

 

What a great deal!  I'm looking at the following week, which would (likely) be my daughter's spring break, and it's $2800pp.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

And finally, I have to say I just looked at pricing for Seascape for March 1 of 2026 and they are fabulous!  We have a hold on a YIN at $1625 pp (Military rate).  Haven't seen those prices in a long time!  Hint Hint:  @Best Cat Mom @DaKahuna @morpheusofthesea @RichYak and anyone else!

 

I can't help but wonder how annoying it would be for the rest of the YC to have all of us hoodlums on the same sailing 😂

[msweebee]

Thank you for all of your comments which confirmed why I believed YachtClub RS to be a perfect fit for our preferred cruising style.  Had a chuckle over the Celebrity CS tub/shower combo; with my height being vertically challenging it also was my deciding factor in moving to the X RS category plus so much nicer bathroom plus 1/2 husband bath on S class. But pretty sure I would not bump my head in the OS though, but thanks for that tidbit.    MorpheusoftheSea I had printed off your 16 differences between YC and Retreat was convinced that we needed to try MSC!   

[Two Wheels Only]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

...the truth of the matter is we only book the OS when we can not get the RS.

 

I faced a similar situation. I was ready to book but both RS were "taken" according to the website. I called the concierge service to book the OS. He could see that one RS was just being "held" but hadn't actually been booked. He removed the hold and booked it for me. I saved a couple thousand just by making a phone call. If the website wasn't being difficult...(more than usual, anyway), I would have booked the OS online.

 

Long story short, even if the RS appears to be unavailable, double check just to be sure.

[morpheusofthesea]

2 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

even if the RS appears to be unavailable, double check just to be sure.

You always have great advice. Thank you.

[mnpurple]

7 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

And finally, I have to say I just looked at pricing for Seascape for March 1 of 2026 and they are fabulous!  We have a hold on a YIN at $1625 pp (Military rate).  Haven't seen those prices in a long time! 

Well, you have me searching! Wondering how it is going out of Galveston. We were there a few years ago for a land vacation and I didn't love it...but new YC!

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 minutes ago, mnpurple said:

Well, you have me searching! Wondering how it is going out of Galveston. We were there a few years ago for a land vacation and I didn't love it...but new YC!

I wondered that too. We have to fly either way so Florida or Tx makes no difference to me. But I’m not familiar with Galveston at all. The prices look good enough to consider it. We haven’t made up our minds yet but I’m thinking the prices will only go up. 

[chrisgp999]

8 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Well since you found our musings so entertaining, the truth of the matter is we only book the OS when we can not get the RS. Hence we book 1-2 years in advance. Now that DW has retired we have more flexibility on dates in the future. The windows in OS are slanted in and I hit my head everytime at least once. The heat generated through those windows is not tolerable in the summer months and the drapes must be drawn most of the day. We used to love the CS on Celebrity but the low profile tub/shower combo pushed us up to the RS, but the balcony was too small. Here is my list of the differences between the Retreats and Yacht Clubs.

These are the differences between Retreats and Yacht Clubs....#1 MSC Yacht Club Restaurant is OPEN port days. Celebrity Luminae is NOT open port days.

#2 MSC YC has reserved seating in the theatre for YC guests at all shows. Celebrity only Gala night.

#3 Royal Suite on MSC has 2 cushion deck lounges on the balcony. Celebrity RS can only accommodate 1 non cushioned deck lounger.

#4 MSC has reserved pergolas/cabanas for RS & OS.. Celebrity on sundeck; it is FCFS chair hoggers that get those.

#5 More attentive butlers on MSC . Celebrity hosts give one their telephone number which many times is forwarded to room service.

#6 Walk-in showers on MSC YC, Celebrity has low profile tub/shower combos in CS and SS.

#7 Elevator OVERRIDE key cards for suite guests on MSC. No such amenity on Celebrity.

#8 No non-suite paying Diamond card holders taking up real estate in YC venues. Celebrity has non suite Zeniths in our venues.

#9 MSC All suites are within a gated community with a short climb up or down to all venues. Celebrity depends on what ship.

#10 MSC a new pristine Ocean Cay out island with its own employees and no bugs crawling all over the lounges. Celebrity has mostly Nassau.

#11 MSC offers Individual escorts on and off the ship. Celebrity one must assemble and be escorted off in groups (always waiting for some straggler).

#12 For those that enjoy buffets MSC YC has its own buffet at the One Pool Deck

#13 Celebrity has one great feature that MSC lacks; Cafe al Bacio has no peer on MSC for its selection of 12-14 mouth-watering pastries.

#14 YC has the best entertainers on the ship providing evening music in the TopSail Lounge, nothing in the Retreat Lounge.

#15 YC Pool Deck has a pool, only Celebrity E-class ships have a pool.

#16 MSC YC has much better price than the Retreat

You have confirmed my observations/suspicions regarding the short comings of the OS.  We always book a RS and if given the option to upgrade to an OS, we will politely decline.  Like you, we book our cruises as early as possible to ensure we get the cabin of our choosing.

[mnpurple]

@Georgia_Peaches For a night or two before a beautiful cruise it would be fine I'm sure - especially if the price is right! We had driven from MN and through Texas and it just wasn't my favorite state - too dry overall.  We've gotten more used to being in Florida and would spend some of the winter there too.  However, we really enjoyed our drive from Galveston to Panama Beach afterward.

[Bgwest]

9 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

On Celebrity we would often (as our budget would allow) book the RS because of the included specialty dining and the additional half-bath.  

My problem with both the RS and OS on MSC is that there is no extra powder room and no included specialty dining.  The trade off is a fully stocked bar with multiple bottles of liquor and a dedicated pergola reserved for you on the pool deck.  We are not big balcony users during the heat of the day so the increased size isn't a plus for us.  Therefore, I wouldn't find value in upgrading from a Deluxe balcony stateroom...and in fact, I'd consider an YIN simply because its so much cooler at night.

Having said all that, we have booked a duplex on World America because it has a second bath.  The balcony arrangement looks like something we might use as well.  

 

And finally, I have to say I just looked at pricing for Seascape for March 1 of 2026 and they are fabulous!  We have a hold on a YIN at $1625 pp (Military rate).  Haven't seen those prices in a long time!  Hint Hint:  @Best Cat Mom @DaKahuna @morpheusofthesea @RichYak and anyone else!

 

 

Note that the military rate does not apply to RS or OS. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

9 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

Note that the military rate does not apply to RS or OS. 

Ah good to know!

[morpheusofthesea]

20 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

Note that the military rate does not apply to RS or OS. 

A few promos are not combinable, but by booking on board one gets the 5% + 5% which is within $20 of a full 10% off military equivalent plus $200 OBC +$50 +$50 Voyager club. Plus 1 year free move.

Edited October 4 by morpheusofthesea

[lgdesign]

10 hours ago, RichYak said:

I can't help but wonder how annoying it would be for the rest of the YC to have all of us hoodlums on the same sailing 😂

I would join that group in a heart beat!

[RichYak]

43 minutes ago, lgdesign said:

I would join that group in a heart beat!

I was honored to be included. I feel like I’m sitting at the cool kid’s table for lunch all over again. 

[no1talks]

16 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

The trade off is a fully stocked bar with multiple bottles of liquor

I wouldn't call it fully stocked, GP. Two whiskies, two vodkas, two gins, red & white wine, and bubbly is what comes with the suite.

However, there are six "base liquors" and MSC omits three. I'd be more impressed if they took away a vodka, gin, and whisk(e)y while adding a rum, tequila, and brandy. I'd be even more impressed if YC could accomodate a request for an assortment of stuffed olives (aside from the the standard pimento) for martini use.

Of course, one may have an enthusiastic butler and a bottle swamp might be possible. Absent that, I would not call it a proper bar.

Edited October 5 by no1talks

[morpheusofthesea]

"I could never join any club that would have me as a member". Groucho

[Best Cat Mom]

On 10/4/2024 at 8:25 AM, Georgia_Peaches said:

I just looked at pricing for Seascape for March 1 of 2026 and they are fabulous!  We have a hold on a YIN at $1625 pp (Military rate).

I just took a look. Repeating same 7-day itinerary and seems would have to reserve separately per "our" travel agent website for a B2B, though a phone call may yield a different answer. We had been Galveston-curious since we've never been there before. Have you booked anything yet? We are fully booked for 2025, but have openings for March/April and October/November in 2026. I know @morpheusofthesea is drive-only for cruising but maybe some others -- hint, hint, @DaKahuna or @MonsterJoe? -- might be interested as well.

 

PS: Love the new avatar for Monster!

[no1talks]

8 minutes ago, Best Cat Mom said:

...but maybe some others -- hint, hint...

 

Sorry, BCM. Until I retire and rid myself of a very busy career, we can do but one vacation a year. The 2026 cruise is chosen and it will be on Grandiosa, in the original version of a YC duplex suite. (The YC duplex suite has been updated and returns in World ships.)

 

I hope you and BCD find some CCers with whom to cruise in cahoots. 😁

[Best Cat Mom]

3 minutes ago, no1talks said:

we can do but one vacation a year.

We will be glad to follow your Grandiosa travels in 2026 here on CC. Buon viaggio!

[MonsterJoe]

We were going to take 2026 off from cruising, but I can be very persuasive....

[Georgia_Peaches]

18 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

We had been Galveston-curious since we've never been there before. Have you booked anything yet?

I've got a hold on a YIN for March 1, at approx. $1600 pp, which I think is outstanding!  The OBC is $300, which is lower than past amounts but still nice to have.  I haven't pulled the trigger on the deposit just yet because I want to do some research on the logistics of getting from the airport in Houston to the port of Galveston which is 50 minutes away.  Once we figure that out, I think it will be a go.  The Mexico itins are among my favorite as we simply love Cozumel for the quaint little square downtown.  Only downside of this itin is no Ocean Cay stop and DH loves his beach time.  Will have to look into some beach day opportunities if we go this route.