msc yacht club equivalent

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NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club Which To Choose

Love the idea of sailing off on a luxury cruise but hate the idea of crowded spaces, long lines at the buffet or elevator and busy pool decks? The ship within a ship experience offered by many major cruise lines is just the ticket to enjoy an exclusive mega-yacht cruising experience without completely breaking the bank. Here we will compare two major cruise lines’ VIP offerings – as we go head to head with NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – The suites

Ncl haven vs msc yacht club – butler and concierge, ncl haven vs msc yacht club – restaurants and food, ncl haven vs msc yacht club – bars and lounges, ncl haven vs msc yacht club – onboard perks, ncl haven vs msc yacht club – private islands, ncl haven vs msc yacht club – other considerations, ncl haven vs msc yacht club – upgrade bids, ncl haven vs msc yacht club – the conclusion.

NCL and MSC Cruise Lines

Before we start with the head to head NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club here is a brief overview of the two cruise lines.

NCL is a US-based cruise line, known for its Freestyle Cruising style, no set meal times in any cabin class, less formal dress codes and excellent vibrant entertainment. On the newer ships in particular you can expect to find exciting features such as karting tracks, vast waterpark areas, outdoor cinema, sports decks and gaming areas. NCL is also renowned for its fine dining speciality restaurants with international flavours, along with numerous bars serving a wide range of beverages including NCL’s famous cocktails. Some of NCL’s older ships do not have Haven but some offer suites with the same perks as Haven. Find out more about crusing with NCL here .

MSC is an Italian cruise line which has grown exponentially in recent years, expanding its sailing from the Mediterranean to the US, Caribbean, South America, Africa and the Middle East. MSC ships are elegant and beautifully decorated, featuring classic Italian marble, elegant artwork and a sumptuous luxurious feel throughout. The new, recently launched ships feature internal promenades with ceiling light and sound displays and to compete with the US lines, waterparks, zip lines and a range of other high-octane activities. The older and smaller MSC ships do not have Yacht Club. All MSC ships have Aurea Class which includes some non-Yacht Club extras including a dedicated sundeck. Find out more about MSC cruises here .

Whether you choose NCL Haven or MSC Yacht club you are going to get a beautiful luxurious suite, spacious and sumptuously decorated, with the best linens, high-end branded toiletries, mini bars and coffee makers. On the newer MSC ships, huge duplex suites are available with private hot tub while NCL’s Garden Villas can accommodate up to eight people. Both lines offer the highest end of luxury with the Owners Suites boasting huge wraparound terraces and spacious entertaining areas. MSC also offers inside suites within its Yacht Club programme, a perfectly cost-effective option.

The Lowdown

So which cruise line has the sweetest suites? NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club. Difficult choice really as much depends on the ship. I personally love the 2-bedroom suites on NCL Epic – the bath tub and separate shower with floor to ceiling windows are something special (careful if you’re in port!) On MSC’s older ships the Yacht Club balcony suites offer excellent value for money while on the newer ships the large balcony suites and duplex suites are simply fabulous.

It’s time for battle of the butlers – NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club, in both you will enjoy the services of dedicated butlers and concierge facilities. This VIP service starts from the moment you drop your bags at the port. You wil be whisked through security into the dedicated check in area. Once you’ve checked in you can enjoy drinks and snack (depending on the port) in the emabarkation lounge and then be escorted to the ship. You will ride up in the special elevator to the Haven or Yacht Club lounge where you can relax or take a tour of the facilities before being escorted to your suite.

The role of the butler is similar on both cruise lines although with NCL the concierge or assistant concierge plays more of a role in escorting guests off the ship on port days and to theatre shows etc. With MSC this is included in the butler’s role.

In both cases the butler is your go-to for any requests, a particular snack you would like delivered in the afternoon, room service delivery, extra pillows or towels, while your room steward is responsible for general cleaning of the suite.

Butlers vary in visibility, some cruisers complain that they never see their butler, others comment that they see them too often! Remember it is hard for them to know exactly what each guest prefers so don’t be afraid to let them know. Have a chat with them and get to know them, having an excellent relationships with your butler can make all the difference.

NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club provide guests with portable phones they can use to contact their butler from anywhere around the ship. Fancy a burger poolside? Your butler will be happy to oblige.

The Concierge desk is the place to go fo dinner and show reservations, questions about your suite if your butler isn’t around, help with setting up onboard wifi, assistance getting on and off the ship on port days. In NCL Haven the concierge and his/her team are more hands on, where on MSC they operate more as a front desk for Yacht Club.

So which cruise line offer the best butler for your buck? It’s a real tough one. I have enjoyed the services of all my butlers on both NCL and MSC. Some have been more visible than others but no big deal for me. A female butler on NCL Epic was amazing when I picked up a flu virus on a cruise, bringing me chicken noodle soup every day. Butlers with MSC also double up as attendants in the Top Sail Lounge so you find yourself interacting with other butlers not just the one allocated to your suite.

As previously mentioned concierges on MSC generally provide a desk-based service, with the butlers escorting guests to shows etc. On NCL the concierge and assistants will perform this duty.

If pushed, I would say the personal attention from the butlers in MSC Yacht Club is possibly more noticable but I think it is more because the specific roles on the two cruise lines is slightly different.

Food is such a subjective topic so I am going to just share my own thoughts here and leave it for you to decide.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club and food. Both have dedicated restaurants where you can dine at any time during the opening hours. There is no need to make reservations and you will be seated at a table just for your party – unless you request to sit with another group. The restaurant is located in the main Haven/Yacht Club area in most cases but be aware on a couple of the older MCS ships, the Yacht Club restaurant is at the other end of the ship. Some cruisers do not like this but I always quite enjoy the stroll on deck or through the main decks of the ship on the way to and from the restaurant.

NCL Haven’s dedicated restaurant is calm and serene with no reservation required although at peak dining times (which vary greatly depending on the route) you may need to wait a short time for a table.

The food is excellent and you can usually request small adjustments to the dishes to suit your taste. The menu in the Haven Restaurant does not rotate and is the same every day, although there will usually be a daily special offered. As with other restaurants throughout NCL ships you can order extra dishes or swap appetizers for entrees etc.

The wine list is varied and the staff are happy to make suggestions or let you sample different wines.

The Haven Restaurant is open breakfast, lunch and dinner. All meals are table service although at breakfast there is also a small buffet serving pastries, cold meats/cheeses, cereal etc.

MSC’s Yacht Club Restaurant has a similar exclusive atmosphere and again is open breakast, lunch and dinner. There are tables to suit all group sizes and it is all table service.

The menu in MSC Yacht Club restaurant changes daily and often features themed dishes from the port of call for that day. There are also options such as steak and salmon that are offered daily. As with NCL special requests can usually be accomodated and you can order extra dishes.

There is an extensive wine list and most MSC Yacht Club restaurants have a dedicated somelier to help you choose the perfect wine to accompany your meal.

Up until recently NCL Haven restaurant food would have won hands down but on a recent NCL cruise I thought the quality wasn’t quite the same as on previous cruises. Anyway the choice is always excellent, portion sizes are about right and there is usually a tasty fish/seafood option but the same menu every day gets old quickly on a cruise longer than two weeks. We usually intersperse with speciality restaurants to break the monotony.

The fish and seafood on offer can be destination specific and I have been disappointed on NCL cruises in Europe but on a Caribbean or Transatlantic cruise the shrimp dishes are amazing and the chance to eat Mahi Mahi, (a fish not available this side of the pond) every day makes my cruise.

MSC Yacht Club

MSC is a European cruise line and the food reflects that, don’t get me wrong – I am European – but some non-Europeans may find the portion sizes too small, easily fixed, just order a second dish. The variety is great and there has always been a dish to suit my taste and that of my husband.

However, and this is where I get to the subjective part, I like my food packed with flavour, if it’s described on the menu as spicy shrimp, I want that shrimp spicy. To me I think MSC plays it a little safe, erring on the side of bland. Many times I’ve ordered what is described beautifully as though lots of passion has been put into the thought process, but when it comes to the execution it is somehow lacking. The exception is when it comes to pasta and pizza, both freshly made to perfection reminding you that you are on an Italian cruise line.

The above mostly relates to the appetizers and entrees, the desserts however are amazing, Italians know how to make decadent pastries, rich creams, mousses, gelato and of course the Tiramisu is to die for. I rarely eat dessert but on an MSC cruise it’s well worth a few extra hours in the gym not to miss out on a taste sensation.

Other Restaurants Onboard

Guests in NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club can of course eat at the other restaurants on the ship. NCL usually includes a couple of speciality restaurant meals in your cruise package whereas MSC only includes this for loyalty card holders. You can still pay for a la carte though. Suite guests can also take advantage of the main buffet. Personally I find the buffet on MSC ships a little manic and I don’t love the food choice. On NCL ships the buffet is excellent and it’s often where I will head to grab a quick breakfast or lunch rather than opt for the table service in the Haven restaurant (things to do, places to go!)

As I said earlier, whether food is good or not so good is very subjective and depends on a persons taste so no winner or loser here, give them both a try and make your own judgement.

When it comes to recreation areas in the battle between NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club both cruise lines are winners. Both offer exclusive bars, lounges and sundecks. The sundecks are themselves worth their weight in gold especially for sunlovers on a cruise with lots of sea days. No rushing early in the morning to secure a comfortable cushioned sun lounger, dedicated bar staff and drinks served in glass rather than plastic. Located at the front of the ship to make the most of the ocean views. Haven and Yacht Club sundecks are a real treat.

When it comes to the exclusive bar/lounges on both cruise lines, I have rarely found them busy, except on the evening of the officers’ cocktail party. In fact on most MSC cruises, we’ve been the only ones in the Top Sail Lounge for pre-dinner drinks which is a pity as the setting is beautiful and piano music or a singer sets the tone for a wonderful evening. Maybe its purely to do with timing, in southern Europe we eat very late so maybe when we are enjoying pre-dinner drinks everyone else is tucking into dinner.

The MSC Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge has snacks available all day up until midnight, breakfast is pastries, cereal and juices but other breakfast items are available to order. The pool deck has a sit up bar, a small buffet plus a chef cooking a daily special on deck and other items are available to order.

The Haven bar is usually a little busier and has its regulars sitting up at the bar both before and after dinner and the atmosphere is slightly less formal. Any snacks will be in the form of savoury crackers. The cocktails are more elaborate than on MSC. It is unusual to find live music in the Haven bar.

Food and drinks can be ordered in the Haven pool area throughout the day.

Both cruise lines are winners here, the exclusive bars and sundecks are worth every penny spent on the cruise. Elegant and sophisticated and with the feel of a private club. On sea days or when you prefer to stay onboard the sundecks on both cruise lines are a world away from the hectic atmosphere of the main deck.

Disclaimer here! You should check what is included with your cruise fare, offers vary and perks can also vary. Depending on your booking location the info below may not apply to your particular offer.

Guests booking NCL Haven will have similar general perks included to those of guests in the main part of the ship. These can include, two or three speciality restaurant meals, a number of hours free internet, beverage package, a small discount on an excursion and sometimes some onboard credit.

Haven-specific perks include a higher end beverage package, snacks delivered to your room daily, discounted laundry service, bathrobes, high-end toiletries in the bathroom, chocolates on the pillow at turndown service, fresh flowers, priority emabarkation/disembarkation, priority tenders, priority disembarketion on port days, special seating area in the main theatre, the aforemention butler and concierge service, dedicated Haven pool deck, Haven bar/restaurant, stocked mini bar, Nespresso coffee maker, souvenir cruise card wallet and Haven cocktail party with the ship’s officers. Guests who book one of the Owner’s Suites are also able to choose a bottle of spirit for their bar. Guest who book Haven Spa Suites also have access to the Mandara spa.

MSC has fewer general perks outside of Yacht Club. A bonus for those booking in the UK is that gratuties are included, which means there will be no daily charge appearing on your account. Loyalty card holders at a certain level will receive a meal in a speciality restaurant.

Yacht Club-specific perks are plentiful and include, free daily newspaper, chocolates on your pillow, box of macarons, a free bottle of spirit or champagne in your room, daily in-room snacks, bathrobes, pillow menu, priority emabrkation/disembarkation, priority tenders, priority disembarkation and embarkation on port days, high-end toiletries, dedicated seating in theatre, butler and concierge service, priority show and dining reservations, free internet for the duration of the cruise, officer’s cocktail party, room service included, Lavazzo coffee maker (not on all ships), stocked mini bar, still and sparkling water refreshed daily, Yacht Club bar/lounge and restaurant, dedicated pool deck and access to spa facilities.

While both cruise lines offer excellent perks to their VIP guests, MSC has the edge with the free internet and daily water. That being said the free speciality dining is a great offer on NCL although this is for all guests (depending on offer available at time of booking).

Both NCL and MSC have private islands in the Caribbean or Bahamas which are the for exclusive use of their cruise passengers.

NCL Great Stirrup Cay

Great Stirrup Cay is located in the Bahamas. This is a tender port and Haven guests will be given priority boarding. Drinks packages are accepted on the island and there is food available free of charge. There is no dedicated Haven area on Great Stirrup Cay but there is an area called Silver Cove where cabanas can be rented with prices starting at around $450 dollars per cabana.

NCL Harvest Caye

Harvest Caye is NCL’s private Island off Belize. Due to an agreement with the Belize goverment, drinks packages are not accepted on the island and food is not included. The idea is that the island helps the local Belize economy. Food and drinks can be purchased using US Dollars. There is no dedicated Haven area on Harvest Caye.

MSC Ocean Cay

Ocean Cay is MSC’s private island in the Bahamas. There are a total of eight beaches on the island, one – Ocean House Beach, is exclusive to Yacht Club guests along with a restaurant, sun loungers and parasols. Yacht Club guests can also pre-book cabanas from $450 and these include, food, drinks, fruit skewers, snorkel gear and floating mats. A tram will take Yacht Club guest to the beach from the port and back again.

Who doesn’t love a private island? All three offerings are excellent but MSC’s Ocean Cay takes some beating especially when it comes to facilities and services for Yacht Club guests. The service is as great as it is on the ship and the exclusivity is something not offered on NCL’s private islands.

Here are a few tips and things to consider when choosing between the two ‘ship within a ship’ offerings and what to look out for on each cruise line when selecting your suite.

If you want the luxury of the serenity and luxury of the ehanced service and being far from the madding crowd, MSC probably offers the best deals price wise, the Yacht Club inside suite options have a good lead-in price and the perks included such as free internet throughout the duration of the cruise can add to the cost effectiveness.

While I have always been a big fan of NCL Haven, the pricing has gone overboard (pardon the pun) in recent years. A transatlantic crossing in NCL Haven in spring 2023 cost almost double that of a similar crossing in MSC Yacht Club for a comparable balcony suite.

Choosing Your Suite

As I mentioned at the start of this piece, do your research before you book and make sure the research is specific to the ship. On both cruise lines there are suites without a balcony that instead have wall to wall, floor to ceiling windows, great views but if you enjoy the ocean breeze from the privacy of your balcony, these are not the suites for you. Front facing suites usually have balconies enclosed in glass for obvious reasons, again these will not suit some people.

NCL Haven offerings include aft-facing suites, if big balconies and fabulous views are your thing, these are often the lower prices Haven suites but be aware you will be located at the opposite end of the ship to the Haven proper and on the large ships that can be quite a treck.

Haven Spa suites are also usually outside of the Haven proper, instead located on the same deck as the Mandara Spa. On some older and smaller NCL ships including NCL Dawn, there is no dedicated Haven area, instead you can book a large luxury suite, enjoy breakfast and lunch in two of the speciality restaurants and still enjoy most of the Haven perks including butler and concierge service.

Be aware, NCL also has a category of accomodation called Club Balcony suites (formerly called mini suites) these are in the main part of the ship, are often slightly larger and with bigger balcony plus usually a bathtub. These are not Haven suites and include none of the perks.

MSC also has some suites located outside the main Yacht Club area, on some ships the Duplex Suites are in the main part of the ship as are the spa suites.

I couldn’t complete an article on NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club without mentioning upgrade bidding. Both NCL and MSC offer an upgrade programme subject to availablity. A few weeks or more before your cruise you may receive an email offering you the opportunity to bid for a higher category of cabin or suite. There is usually some kind of guideline as to what is a good or poor bid but it’s mostly up to you what you want to offer.

Many cruisers rely on the upgrade programme on all their cruises and are often successful. Personally it’s not for me, I like to hand pick my suite on a certain side of the ship and the anticipation and waiting would drive me crazy. I did try it once and it worked out great but I was probably unbearable to live with while I was waiting to see if my bid was successful!

Things you should bear in mind. If your bid is accepted, the money will be taken from your credit card immediately and there is no going back. You can not specify a particular cabin/suite, deck or location. With MSC if you already pre-paid for internet when you booked a regular cabin, you won’t get that fee refunded even though you now get free internet as part of the Yacht Club perks. On both NCL and MSC, if your bid to upgrade from a regular cabin to a Haven or Yacht Club suite is successful you will receive all the perks related to that.

You will only be offered to bid up to a certain level of cabin or suite, so if you book the lowest cost inside cabin you won’t be offered an upgrade to a Haven or Yacht Club suite. You could bid for a balcony cabin.

Really there is no conclusion to this NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club showdown, it is all down to personal preference, price or even itineraries on offer. Loyalty to a particular cruise line can also play a part especially when it comes to loyalty points and status levels. Bear in mind MSC status matches you from your status level on another cruise line so you can get in at a higher level from your very first booking.

My personal opinion when it comes to NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club is I love both and I wouldn’t cruise any other way. Price is definitely a consideration for me when I book, so with Haven becoming further out of reach I am leaning more to booking Yacht Club. That being said, I’m certainly not done with NCL yet and you will definitely see me at a Haven bar in the near future!

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Reader Interactions

September 30, 2023 at 10:24

Those Yacht club premium benefits sound incredible! I have heard any stories about how expensive is the interent during the cruise, so it is good to hear there are offers where this is included along with other perks. I have never been on a cruise myself yet, but your post really makes me want to try it!

September 30, 2023 at 14:45

Thank you! I hope you give it a try!

September 30, 2023 at 14:22

We usually travel on smaller cruise ships. But have been interested in looking at NCL’s Haven. Good to read to read this review of the Haven versus MSC’s Yacht Club. Free internet and water might be a swing factor for us with MSC. And interesting to read that the Haven pricing has gone a bit crazy. Good to now have another option with MSC.

September 30, 2023 at 14:44

We enjoy the ship within a ship experiences as it makes you feel you are on a smaller ship. We are booked in Haven on the NCL Joy transatlantic in January, can’t wait!

September 30, 2023 at 14:56

I’ve never been on a cruise ship and we’re planning to book one. You gave me a lot of idea what to look for. Thanks for the tips!

October 3, 2023 at 07:41

Thanks Gladis! I hope you find a nice cruise!

September 30, 2023 at 21:49

Both look amazing! I do hope to someday try out these ship-in-ship offers – unfortunately they are often a bit out of my price range. But I am definitely keeping my eyes open for a good deal. Thanks so much for this informative post!

Thanks Kitty! Keep an eye on MSC, they often have some good prices.

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NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club

Which is better, norwegian’s haven or msc’s yacht club.

Since our trip on the MSC Seaside, this has been the most asked question and I can understand why. They both look similar but which cruise line does it better? In my opinion, after sailing on the MSC Seaside, MSC does the “hotel in a hotel” experience the best and the Seaside has quickly become my favorite ship of 2018. Don’t get me wrong, we LOVE the Haven (we have sailed with NCL 16 times) and there are some areas where the Haven shines but keep reading if you want to see why I think the Yacht Club does suite level the best…

Embarkation from Port Miami – (Yacht Club Wins):

Yacht Club:  Embarkation in the Yacht Club was a breeze and is truly a first class experience. First, there is a special loop to drop off your luggage. We simply pulled into the special loop and there was a dedicated Yacht Club porter there waiting to take our bags. After parking the car in the garage, we came back to the same area where we dropped off our bags and a butler escorted us into the terminal. We were escorted through a private security line to the concierge waiting area (the waiting area was huge! Lots of chairs and space for everyone) .  While we were waiting to take our picture for our cruise card, we were handed champagne by our butler and asked if we would like any snacks from the snack table. Talk about a great way to start your vacation. After about 5 minutes, we had our cruise cards and our butler was leading us onto the ship. From there we had a direct butler escort all the way to the Yacht Club lounge (Top Sail Lounge) and again we were handed a glass of champagne as soon as we sat down. First class all the way.

The Haven:  Embarkation on NCL is the same for everyone, until you get past the security line. You drop your bags off with the porters and then proceed to the security line, like everyone else. We have waited in Norwegian security lines for up to 30 minutes. I am not complaining about the wait because it never bothered us but I did want to mention it because it is very different from MSC. After proceeding through the security line, you are directed to a small room dedicated just for Haven guests. It’s a small lounge where they have cookies, water, coffee and juice ( this area is very small. We have been forced to wait outside the lounge many times because there was no seating or space to stand inside the lounge ). After you receive your cruise card, you are then escorted to the ship by an NCL employee with a sign. They take you up to the ship security point and hand off the escort to a ship employee. The ship employee then escorts you to the Haven Courtyard where you gather for a group orientation about Haven perks from the concierge.

Overall Embarkation: Both companies have a completely different view on boarding the ship. MSC seems to take the stance that your vacation starts at bag drop off and NCL seems to believe your vacation begins once you arrive in the Haven Courtyard. Both are acceptable and great perks at the suite level but MSC seems to have embarkation perfected.

Staterooms/Cabin Size – (Haven Wins):

Before I start comparing, I want to point out that we stayed in a Yacht Club Inside Cabin on the MSC Seaside. This is the smallest cabin in the Yacht Club and something that the Haven does not have. We did make friends with a couple who let us tour their Yacht Club Deluxe Suite. I would compare the Deluxe Suite to a Courtyard Penthouse on a Breakaway Class ship so I am going to compare those cabins to each other and not our interior YC suite.

The Haven: Cabin space in a Courtyard Penthouse Suite in the Haven is wonderful. The cabins are a great size for a suite. They are not huge ( we still talking about a one-bedroom room ) but they are large when you compare them to other cruise ship cabins.  You get a king bed, a huge closet and a really nice bathroom. The storage is also plentiful in the Haven Courtyard Penthouse. I love the layout especially with the walk through closet and I love that the bathroom comes with a bathtub. Very nice overall space (except the balcony. The balcony is very small. Enough room for 2 chairs and a small coffee table.)

Yacht Club: Cabin space in the Yacht Club is small. The Deluxe Suite is much smaller compared to the Courtyard Penthouse. There is a queen bed, a small closet and a decent size bathroom. The bathroom has a shower (no tub combination) and the sink is made of marble, which is nice. I believe the Yacht Club bathroom is a little larger than the Haven but the tub is nice to have to soak in and I don’t have to do a split in the shower to shave my legs.

Overall Cabin Size: The Haven wins this category but just by a hair. The rooms may be smaller in the Yacht Club but I don’t really spend a lot of time in the room, so this one is not that important to me. If you can only sleep on a king bed, then the Haven is for you. If you need the tub, then the Haven is for you. I liked our Yacht Club cabin very much (even though it was an inside cabin) because we got access to all the Yacht Club amenities but if cabin size is really important to you ( as in, you never leave your room, EVER ), you may want to stick with the Haven.

Amenities – (Yacht Club Wins):

Let’s talk stuff you get with your suite. This category is all about the extra perks you get with your suite and hands down, the Yacht Club wins this by a mile. There are so many perks that you get in the Yacht Club and here are just a few:

• Private, exclusive area – Stating this is putting it mildly. Not only do you get a private area, you get the whole front of the ship on Deck 16, 18 & 19. Seriously, the entire front of the ship. Deck 16 – You have access to the Top Sail Lounge. This lounge is the largest, private lounge you have ever seen and it is absolutely gorgeous. There is a full length bar, a piano, plenty of seating and to top it all off, floor to ceiling glass windows that overlook the front of the ship. And there is even an outside portion to the lounge. There are loungers and chairs so you can enjoy the sea air and you still get served by the Top Sail Lounge Staff. And I cannot say enough great things about the staff in the lounge. They were always attentive to your needs and very friendly. We always love talking to ship crew and the Top Sail Lounge crew is top notch. Deck 18 – You have access to the gorgeous and huge Yacht Club Restaurant. The restaurant sits on top of the Top Sail Lounge and has views that look out the front of the ship. If you time dinner just right, you will have the most amazing sunset meals and you can even catch a sail away if you leave a port a little later in the evening. We were even able to see sail away from Miami with the wonderful later time that MSC leaves the port ( it was raining when we left Miami but I can imagine how amazing the Miami sunset would be leaving on a nice day. Sail away from Miami is beautiful during the day but a sunset sail away would be even better ). Deck 19 – The pool area in the Yacht Club is the largest area I have ever seen dedicated to suite level guests. The pool area features a nice size pool, a huge sundeck, a full length bar and a grill that serves breakfast, lunch and snacks. If you walk closer to the front of the ship, there are two additional hot tubs (with the most amazing views) and there is plenty of tables and loungers throughout the entire deck. This area is so pretty. Pictures do not do it justice. Again, I can’t believe there was so much space dedicated to the Yacht Club. MSC really got this one right. Plenty of space for everyone to relax and soak up some sun. ( speaking of sun, if you don’t like the sun, there isn’t a lot of shade on the sun deck. They don’t have umbrellas or anything like that to cover you. They do offer private cabanas that have a cover. This is an upcharge but, if you are a pool person, the amenities are pretty cool. There is a sign at concierge that explains al the benefits you get by purchasing a private cabana. )
• Dedicated concierge – the concierge is different from NCL. The concierge is run more like a front desk rather than a private person helping you out. I liked this concept a lot. It added to that “hotel in a hotel” feeling. We have met some amazing concierges on our NCL journeys and they were wonderful. You do not get that same interaction on MSC but we do not use the concierge a lot on NCL so this was a great way to ask questions
• Mini-Bar Included – this was a HUGE perk for us in the cabin. It was really nice to grab an orange juice or soda in the morning or mix a drink later at night. The mini-bar also came with a handful of snacks like mixed nuts, Pringles and assorted chocolate snacks which was so great. I didn’t know I needed the mini-bar until it was included with the Yacht Club.
• Chocolate – Oh the chocolate. So much chocolate. From chocolate ships to chocolate pillow snacks, you had access to chocolate galore. If you love chocolate, MSC is definitely for you.
• Gelato – Yep! All you can eat gelato is included with the Yacht Club. This is typically an up-charge item on a cruise ships but it is included on MSC. And it is truly the best gelato I have ever tasted (yes, I have been to Italy and this is still the best gelato ever) .
• Pizza – Ok, this one is for everyone on the ship but it was hands down the BEST pizza at sea so I consider it to be an amenity. I think the only thing better than pizza on the Seaside would be New York City pizza. Seriously, it was the most amazing snack. The pizza was available at the regular buffet and it was also available at the family buffet during late night. I can’t tell you how many times we ended the night with a fantastic slice of pizza and sat out on the deck in front of the Top Sail Lounge watching the stars. It was the perfect way to the end the night.
• T op Sail Lounge Snacks – there were snacks in the lounge available morning, noon and night and these were in addition to the snacks and food offered at the pool. Breakfast snacks had everything from pastries to mini-pancakes. Lunch had mini-sandwiches, vegetables and fruits. Dinner had sushi, sandwiches, and they would later bring out small desserts. Usually more chocolate. Yum!
• Priority Elevator – MSC allows Yacht Club guests to use their key card to make the elevator a private access elevator that will be called directly to the floor where the card was used. We used this feature time and time again and it was so nice to have direct access to floors, instead of stopping on every floor as you go.  (we are aware of such perks in the Haven but it is not talked about. We have used this feature twice on the Epic. However, we were instructed on how to call the priority elevator from our butler on MSC)
• Afternoon Tea – I didn’t know I liked afternoon tea until we experienced it. It was such a lovely thing to do on a ship. Tea was served at 4pm in the Top Sail Lounge. A butler would come over, offer you a nice selection of teas, you chose your tea and then he/she would proceed with the service. We were also served an arrangement of awesome snacks and pastries with our tea. It was truly delightful and something that I recommend everyone try if available.
• Priority Seating in Theater –  this is a great perk on NCL and one that I wish MSC would adopt. It is really nice to know that you have a dedicated area in the theater that you don’t have to wait in line for. I like how the seats are opened to everyone at the 5 minute mark and I think this could easily be implemented on MSC. Waiting for the shows was the only thing that really made me feel like I was not in a suite level room. I am not above waiting in line for anything but I do not like when I arrive 35 minutes before the show begins, stand in line and then get pushed out of line 5 minutes before the doors open by someone who is impatient and feels like they don’t have to wait.
• Private Concierge – the Haven concierge is a totally personal experience. The concierge knows your name, your schedule, if it’s your birthday, etc. These are important things and a very nice amenity on NCL. The concierge on MSC is like the front desk of a hotel. They are always eager to help with any information or anything you need, but they do not know who you are. It is a far less personal experience.

Service – (Yacht Club Wins):

We absolutely love the crew on NCL and we have made many, many lifelong friends but the service in the Yacht Club was top notch. The servers were always attentive and you were always being asked if there was anything more that you needed. We never had to wait for a drink, food, snack or any cabin related items. It was truly a first class experience. This service is hard to put into words. I guess it was a feeling that we were important and our vacation mattered. Service in the Haven is a little different. We have always received great service but after experiencing MSC, I can now say that service felt a little forced in the Haven comparatively speaking. More like “this is what I have to do” versus “what I want to do for you”.

Service is one of those areas that is not really quantifiable. It is hard because every week can be a totally different experience based on the mood of the crew. Maybe they are having an off week or maybe something happened at home. Whatever the reason, the crew cannot be on their A game all the time. We had a great week on the Seaside but I know this could be different with the exact same crew during a different week. Everything just came together perfectly for our Seaside cruise.

Food – (Yacht Club Wins)

Food is always an interesting topic because it is subjective. What I like, you may not like and vice versa. I want to point out that we are not foodies at all. We like good tasting food but it doesn’t have to be fancy. I just want food that tastes good and is cooked well.

Yacht Club: Food in the Yacht Club Restaurant was amazing. Breakfast was ok (although I was brought Fruit Loops without ordering. That goes back to the amazing service)  in the Yacht Club but lunch and dinner were always wonderful. I especially enjoyed how the dinner menu would change nightly but there was a fixed side to the menu as well. I had always head on NCL people complaining about how the menu never changes. This never bothered me until MSC. It really is nice to have the change but it is also nice to know that there is a fixed menu so I can always have something that I like, even if I don’t like the new menu items. There was also something awesome about being surprised each night for dinner and getting to decide what delectable dish you were going to order (they do have the menus posted by lunch time but I never wanted to read them because I liked the surprise) .

Talking about the food I loved the most – I had the most amazing lobster I have ever had on a cruise ship or even on land. It was cooked to perfection and had the best sides. Sean had an amazing steak that night as well and I saw a bunch of people order them together. Perfect surf and turf!

The Haven: Food in the Haven is great and it is always great. You never have to worry about will my steak be cooked correctly, will I need to send this back or that back. Nope. NCL is consistently great when it comes to the Haven Restaurant. Like I just mentioned, I never knew I would like a changing menu until MSC but now I understand the frustration that the menu never changes. One thing that hands down NCL does better – Breakfast!! The best eggs, bacon, breads, etc. NCL does breakfast right!

Disembarkation – (Yacht Club Wins)

Disembarkation is probably the biggest reason we like to sail at the suite level. There have been more times than we can count where we have been included or have seen some kind of violence while guests are waiting to disembark the ship, standing in the walk off line. Shoo, there is nothing worse than having your vacation ruined by some idiot who is mad at the world and thinks they deserve to get off the ship before everyone else. Priority disembarkation solves all of this. You get to wake up in the morning, leisurely have breakfast and then casually walk off the ship. Both NCL and MSC have great disembarkations but MSC is a little more personal.

Yacht Club: On the last day of our cruise, we walked out to the concierge area (the front desk) and the concierge called our butler. Our butler and room steward took our luggage (we did walk off) and escorted us to the gangway to leave the ship. That’s right. We had a personal walk off from our butler and room steward. It was amazing. They walked us right past the walk off line and we were out the door just like that. It was a nice way to say a final goodbye to these 2 people that took such great care of us all week.

The Haven: Disembarkation begins by everyone waiting in the concierge, lounge area. Once the order has been given, the concierge walks a group of guests down to the gangway. The concierge uses the crew elevator and escorts you down to the security line. This is where you merge into the big line of guests who are doing non-priority walk off. I always feel a little bad cutting in line in front of these people. There are usually words thrown at us like “must be nice” or “why do they get to cut in front of us? We have been waiting for 2 hours”. These comments make disembarkation a little less than enjoyable but you don’t have to deal with it too long and you are off the ship.

Overall Disembarkation: Overall, I really like the way MSC handles leaving the ship. It is a first class experience and you get to go through security by yourself, while they keep the mass line farther back from the exit. There is no mass merge with the crowd and therefore, no harsh words heard at the end of a great week. I also really liked saying goodbye and hugging our butler and room steward at the gangway. It was just a nice way to end our cruise and had me walking away with a smile.

Overall Feelings

We love both NCL and MSC. We have a lot of history on NCL (16 sailings to date) but MSC has opened our eyes to some things that we absolutely love but didn’t know we loved until this cruise. We always like to compare our experiences to other things in life for reference. Overall I would compare the service on the Seaside to be first class and I would compare the Haven to be business class. Both will give you an amazing experience and provide you a great vacation but MSC does the “hotel in a hotel” experience a little bit better than NCL. We love both cruise lines and I cannot wait for our next Haven and Yacht Club cruises!

previous post

Anthony Fontenot

Thanks for this great revue Stef. I love NCL and always stay in the Haven. But in ‘19 I’ll stay in the Yacht Club twice, and I’m really looking forward to it. In addition to the things you mentioned, the Yacht club is apx. $3,000.00 cheaper than the Haven. So while I truly love NCL, MSC just might win me over. Thanks again!

I agree. NCL Haven has gotten WAY too expensive for us. Yacht Club seems to be the same price as the Club Class on Princess. I’ll choose Yacht Club.

Linda Sisco

Looking forward staying in YC on Splendida in Septmber of 2020. Thanks for the wonderful comparison.

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• Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Retreat vs MSC Yacht Club

By FamilyAtSea.travel , February 17 in Celebrity Cruises

Recommended Posts

FamilyAtSea.travel

We have our first cruise in the Retreat coming up and as I learn more about it, I'm shocked at how much less you get even though it costs double what a comparable cruise in the Yacht Club on MSC costs. 

For reference, we will be on the Equinox for 9 days in June across Italy/France/Spain, staying in a Sunset Sky Suite. I know the Equinox Retreat isn't as nice as the Edge-class ships, but that doesn't change the amenities listed below.

The big things I'm seeing that Yacht Club has that the Retreat is missing:

- Reserved seating in the theaters with an escort from your butler (we don't need an escort, but still)... Sadly you can purchase this additionally with Premium Access even if you're not in a suite.

- Priority boarding/disembarking at the ports (you can also purchase this with Premium Access)

- Dedicated butler service (we are staying in a Sky Suite and as of now, these are not offered on the Equinox, which we'll be on)

- Spa access

- In-room mini bar included + a bottle of premium liquor

I understand the gen pop areas of Celebrity are better than MSC, but it seems like Celebrity really cuts a lot of corners for a service that costs double what it does on MSC.

I'm still looking forward to the cruise, but I was expecting more from Celebrity.

Sussex Cruiser

As premium access states...

• *YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO THESE BENEFITS: Before purchase, refer to your stateroom category amenities and your loyalty status to confirm.

Just now, Sussex Cruiser said: As premium access states...   *YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO THESE BENEFITS: Before purchase, refer to your stateroom category amenities and your loyalty status to confirm.

That wasn't my question, but our Sunset Sky Suite only has reserved seating on Chic night and it doesn't come with any priority boarding at ports (unlike Premium Access which gets both every day).

Where Premium overlaps is with Internet access (if I could purchase it at a lower price without Internet access I would, but I'm not going to pay full price for something where I already have the main cost).

Ex-Airbalancer

Do a search there a lot of threads about this already 

Just now, Ex-Airbalancer said: Do a search there a lot of threads about this already 

I didn't see anything that specifically called out the differences in a concise list like this.

Figured it may be helpful in the future for people who find it via Google.

One of main reviews 

2 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said: One of main reviews   

Yeah, if you search for "Yacht Club" as a topic in the Celebrity forum there are exactly 3 topics that come up... Mine, the one you just linked, and another that doesn't include much.

It's really not extensively discussed as you implied, but this one is very informative (I'm currently reading through it now).

2 hours ago, CruisematicVA said: The big things I'm seeing that Yacht Club has that the Retreat is missing:

I'm sailing YC for the first time next month, but IMO you missed three of the biggest features missing from Retreat on Equinox: 

- Dedicated YC pool

- Dedicated YC buffet

- YC restaurant open on port days

I would add that the YC lounge looks like it blows any Retreat Lounge out of the water AND has nightly entertainment AND has a true bar that you can sit at if you want to. I'm also looking forward to a true ship within a ship concept where the staterooms are within the YC enclave, not in general population like Retreat.

21 minutes ago, RichYak said: I'm sailing YC for the first time next month, but IMO you missed three of the biggest features missing from Retreat on Equinox:    - Dedicated YC pool - Dedicated YC buffet - YC restaurant open on port days   I would add that the YC lounge looks like it blows any Retreat Lounge out of the water AND has nightly entertainment AND has a true bar that you can sit at if you want to. I'm also looking forward to a true ship within a ship concept where the staterooms are within the YC enclave, not in general population like Retreat.

I didn't include it because I knew that was an Equinox problem vs all Retreats on Celebrity, but you're absolutely right.

With no pool and no bar in the Retreat Sundeck on Equinox I don't think we'll spend more than 5 minutes on there (just enough to see the space and then leave).

I have sailed extensively in Retreat on Celebrity.  I am currently onboard MSC Meraviglia sailing my second Yacht Club cruise.  In my opinion, MSC Yacht Club is a far superior experience than Celebrity Retreat….for half the cost.  

5 minutes ago, CruisematicVA said: I didn't include it because I knew that was an Equinox problem vs all Retreats on Celebrity, but you're absolutely right.

It's not just an Equinox problem, it's all of S-class and M-class, which is the majority of Celebrity's fleet. Only E-class has pools on the Retreat Sundeck. And no Celebrity ship has dedicated buffets.

43 minutes ago, jcpc said: I have sailed extensively in Retreat on Celebrity.  I am currently onboard MSC Meraviglia sailing my second Yacht Club cruise.  In my opinion, MSC Yacht Club is a far superior experience than Celebrity Retreat….for half the cost.  

I wish people would quit talking up the YC…it’s not good people, trust me.   🙂

1 hour ago, RichYak said: I'm sailing YC for the first time next month, but IMO you missed three of the biggest features missing from Retreat on Equinox:    - Dedicated YC pool - Dedicated YC buffet - YC restaurant open on port days   I would add that the YC lounge looks like it blows any Retreat Lounge out of the water AND has nightly entertainment AND has a true bar that you can sit at if you want to. I'm also looking forward to a true ship within a ship concept where the staterooms are within the YC enclave, not in general population like Retreat.

Don’t do it…. 🙂

Stem to Stern

I am only really going to comment here on the food and service in Luminae.  We all already know YC pool deck and Top Sail Lounge blow The Retreat non-equivalents out of the water.  We have not sailed in The Retreat on board Equinox since our return to cruising cruise in October 2021, but Luminae blew us away.  Food and service lived up to and exceeded our pre-pandemic suite experiences on S-class ships.  Luminae on board Summit just this past December was also a mindblower.  The food in the YC on Seascape was just okay for us.  There wasn’t much on the menu that excited and delighted us.  Since the cruise you are doing is Europe, personally I could not imagine myself spending much time on The Retreat Sundeck or partying late into the night at whichever evening venue would appeal most.  Our port days in Europe tend to start early and we return to the ship exhausted.  I would not be too concerned with theater seating on board Equinox.  There are two seatings for the show nightly.  I think many passengers are too tired or too busy maximizing their drink packages to bother attending the shows.  I do not typically find the theaters on board the S-class ships to be packed like the theater was on my recent Seascape cruise.

Bead Pirate

I wish people with MSC Yacht club experience would just not respond to these threads. We sail both lines in retreat (on Connie now) and in Yacht club. We get on MSC for B2B in 3 weeks.

There absolutely is no contest here. Yacht Club wins hands down on every issue / test.

The more we talk about it, the more folks we will have attempting to get our coveted Yacht Club rooms.

Opps, I just did the very thing 🙂  

REDSTRIPETYPE

Did I read somewhere that Celebrity Elite status can get free upgrade to the Yacht Club?

14 minutes ago, REDSTRIPETYPE said: Did I read somewhere that Celebrity Elite status can get free upgrade to the Yacht Club?

I have never heard that..or read it. 

10 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said: I have never heard that..or read it. 

They were doing status match, but not sure I've seen mention of it as of late.  I don't remember reading anything on what that status gave you. I thought YC was equivalent to Retreat Status and only available by type of room book, but I have Zero knowledge of YC

Gordoncruickshank

4 hours ago, RichYak said: I'm sailing YC for the first time next month, but IMO you missed three of the biggest features missing from Retreat on Equinox:    - Dedicated YC pool - Dedicated YC buffet - YC restaurant open on port days   I would add that the YC lounge looks like it blows any Retreat Lounge out of the water AND has nightly entertainment AND has a true bar that you can sit at if you want to. I'm also looking forward to a true ship within a ship concept where the staterooms are within the YC enclave, not in general population like Retreat.

Having been in the Suite experience since it was introduced and having also travelled in the YC in a RS, I can confirm that the YC lounge certainly beats the Retreat hands down. You have a proper bar and enough staff to serve drinks to whoever want one, or more. There is continuing changing entertainment throughout the night which we found enough for what we were looking for. The pool deck does have a buffet with hot and cold offerings although we didn’t try this as in the Med we found the food covered in wasps etc but as long as you watch what you are taking it should be ok.

We have 3 MSC YC cruises booked for 2015 in the Caribbean which will be a slightly different experience as they will not be doing the continuos daily disembark and embarkation at every port.

There are currently two Live Reviews of Celebrity Cruisers that are currently on MSC.   @DaKahuna and @JamieLogical .    Will be interested to read all three comparisons.   We each have our own perspective of a cruise.    

9 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said: They were doing status match, but not sure I've seen mention of it as of late.  I don't remember reading anything on what that status gave you. I thought YC was equivalent to Retreat Status and only available by type of room book, but I have Zero knowledge of YC

You are correct..

12 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said: They were doing status match, but not sure I've seen mention of it as of late.  I don't remember reading anything on what that status gave you. I thought YC was equivalent to Retreat Status and only available by type of room book, but I have Zero knowledge of YC

MSC do a status match. Before we did our cruise in 2019 I think the matched Elite and plus to Diamomd level but that had changed to gold level, the one below black, when we cruised. I doesn’t give much at whatever level you are at.  

What is more important is that you get 5% discount if you are a Voyager club member even if you have not cruised with them before so you have to join that before you book the first cruise although we did get the discount added after the booking. Here is a link to the benefits.

https://www.msccruises.co.uk/manage-booking/msc-voyagers-club/members-benefits

59 minutes ago, REDSTRIPETYPE said: Did I read somewhere that Celebrity Elite status can get free upgrade to the Yacht Club?

Celebrity Elite gets you MSC Gold status.

I got Diamond on MSC by status matching some hotel status that I got from one of my business travel CCs.

Jeremiah1212

The problem with Yacht Club is you’re stuck in Yacht Club. If YC is too sleepy for you, once you pass those doors you find yourself on Carnival 2.0 which is a hard pass for me. 

2 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said: The problem with Yacht Club is you’re stuck in Yacht Club. If YC is too sleepy for you, once you pass those doors you find yourself on Carnival 2.0 which is a hard pass for me. 

That too is my only pause…

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