🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

Get us in your inbox

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city and beyond

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

  • Things to Do
  • Food & Drink
  • Time Out Market
  • Coca-Cola Foodmarks
  • Los Angeles

I tried a ship-within-a-ship cruise experience and it was worth it for the endless perks—here’s why

The MSC Yacht Club affords travelers a totally different cruising experience, but you’ll have to splurge.

Erica Lamberg

I heard tales of luxury from people about the ritzy MSC Yacht Club , the ship-within-a-ship concept where discerning passengers enjoy their own area of the cruise ship that includes a dedicated restaurant, private lounge, separate pool and sundeck as well as private butlers and concierges to take of any whim while cruising. The elevated Yacht Club boasts priority everything while sailing MSC.

I sailed on a four-night cruise on the new MSC Seashore, a glitzy ship with Italian flair intermingled with references to New York City at every turn. Although the ship was well-appointed and had amazing dining, drinking and entertainment venues, and a bountiful Top Sail main buffet, thousands of passengers made the ship feel crowded at times, elevators were slow, and as I strolled through the general pools, they were boisterous and crowded.

RECOMMENDED: 10 things about cruising on an adults-only ship that might surprise you

Switch gears to MSC Seashore’s Yacht Club, passkey-protected for lucky guests, and is a 180 from the ship’s general spaces. Once you scan your handy Yacht Club wrist badge, or your room key, you’re instantly given entrance to a breathtaking retreat of 131 staterooms and suites. All this luxury does come at a price. Cruise fares will vary based on destination, time of year, and cabin category, but generally speaking you can expect to pay double for the Yacht Club. And from my experience, it’s worth it. Read more about why you should splurge.

You’re fast-tracked through everything

The Yacht Club’s exclusivity and impeccable service standard started from the moment I got dropped off at the Port Canaveral cruise terminal. There were hundreds of people waiting to board at 1pm on embarkation day. I saw in the distance a canopy that said MSC Yacht Club. My husband and I wheeled our carry-on luggage to the representative under the canopy. I gave her my name and within two seconds, she gave me a sticker to wear and up we ascended on the escalator to check in. Just five minutes later, I was directed to the dedicated check-in area for Yacht Club guests. To my right, I saw about 1,000 people serpentine through ropes to do general check-in. I felt a sense of relief; who wants to wait in that line? Five minutes later, a butler from the Yacht Club insisted on wheeling my luggage to board the ship and I was in my room in a total on 12 minutes from the time I stepped foot out of the car to my stateroom in the Yacht Club.

Relaxing and streamlined

In addition, Yacht Club guests have the freedom to get off the ship first for excursions. Your butler will happily escort you off the ship with a smile. Guests also can disembark on the last morning first, which is a big convenience. Your butler walks you right to the place you disembark, bypassing crowds and hassles. Port Canaveral is about an hour away from Orlando International Airport, and we took a 10 am flight home. We didn’t have to linger around until the afternoon for our flight home.

Another perk is that there’s a special seating area in the theater for shows. All the shows were excellent during my voyage. All other ship passengers have to make reservations in advance for shows but that’s not the case for the privileged Yacht Club passengers. As long as you arrive about 10 minutes before any show you choose, a crew member from the Club will allow you entry into a special roped-off section. Again, no rushing through dinner—you have the flexibility to plan your evenings your way.

MSC Seashore

Your Yacht Club package is packed with remarkable value

The price tag may sound daunting, but there’s lots of value there. All Yacht Club cabins and suites include a premium drink package that covers beverages up to $15. You can use this perk both in the Yacht Club and throughout the ship. In addition, your package includes a two-device Wi-Fi package, which worked well during my sailing. Finally, you get access to the thermal spa suite, which is a place to indulge after a day in port or a sea day. Commonly, there’s a taboo regarding mini-bars, but not in the Yacht Club. It’s stocked each day with the beverages you want; just tell your butler and consider it done.

You get perks ashore too

If your sailing includes a call to Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island, Yacht Club guests get an elevated experience there too. Yacht Club guests enjoy a private area, and a dedicated restaurant called the Ocean House. While other ship guests were hosted to a buffet of predictable fare, I enjoyed a lobster roll, and my husband chose carne asada. In my opinion, one thing that could be improved was the tram service to the Yacht Club’s private area. We were told the last tram back was 3:30pm if we didn’t want to trek a 15-minute walk in the heat. Since we were docked in Ocean Cay for the evening and weren’t sailing, I was a bit dismayed by this logistical quirk. I felt like I was keeping an eye on my phone to make sure I didn’t miss the last tram.

You have private areas with curated food and drink and outdoor spaces

Within the Yacht Club complex, there’s the Yacht Club Restaurant, Top Sail Lounge and the One Pool Buffet, which are all exclusive to Yacht Club guests. Obviously, the food and service are steps above other dining venues of the ship, I can vouch for that. Although the food is delicious, if you don’t want to pay extra to dine at the specialty restaurants or fuss in the main buffet, eating three meals a day in the Yacht Club restaurant can get a bit monotonous. The breakfast is the same daily, and lunch and dinner offer a menu with daily specials plus a few standby selections like a hamburger or pasta each day. Although the Yacht Club Restaurant concept is desirable, I would strongly suggest dining in other venues on board, especially for dinner. I thoroughly enjoyed specialty dining in Ocean Cay Restaurant, Butcher’s Cut, and Kaito Teppanyaki. I also want to mention that late afternoon high tea is offered daily at the Yacht Club Restaurant. It was one of the nicest I have experienced at sea.

MSC Seashore

Also available exclusively to Yacht Club passengers is the Top Sail Lounge, which offers panoramic water views and has chef-curated selections from morning through late night. We enjoyed popping into the lounge at all hours to try finger foods and sweets. The One Pool Buffet offers a more casual option for breakfast and lunch by the pool. The buffet has grilled fish, sandwiches and lots of delicious options if you want to dine outside.

There’s also an exclusive area with a private pool and two whirlpools for Yacht Club guests only. The sun deck loungers are very comfortable and I never had to worry about finding a lounger, there are ample. One issue I had was that there was almost no shade on the sun deck; there were shaded day beds for Royal Suite and Owners Suite guests, but beyond those, I couldn’t find any shade, which was disappointing.

You can justify the price at the end of your cruise

Overall, the best way to explain my enthusiasm for my MSC Yacht Club experience is this: it’s better to book an interior stateroom in the Yacht Club than a luxe cabin outside the Yacht Club. It’s worth the splurge and you return home feeling truly pampered and it’s money well-spent. And I make this prediction: Once you try a ship-within-a-ship concept like the MSC Yacht Club, you won’t want cruise any other way. Bon Voyage!

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Discover Time Out original video

  • Press office
  • Investor relations
  • Work for Time Out
  • Editorial guidelines
  • Privacy notice
  • Do not sell my information
  • Cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Terms of use
  • Copyright agent
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Manage cookies
  • Advertising

Time Out products

  • Time Out Worldwide

BRAND-NEW SHIP MSC WORLD AMERICA TO OFFER LARGEST AND LATEST MSC YACHT CLUB TO SAIL THE CARIBBEAN

• msc yacht club is one of msc world america’s seven distinct districts, offering a secluded sanctuary of privacy, exclusivity and luxury • the “ship within a ship” concept on board msc world america includes two luxurious owner’s suites, private bi-level sundeck, plus private bar and restaurant with stunning views.

Geneva, Switzerland – May 15, 2024 – MSC Cruises will bring its largest and most luxurious MSC Yacht Club concept to North American shores with the launch MSC World America in April 2025. MSC World America represents a leap forward for the cruise line’s popular World Class platform and will usher in a new world of cruising with re-imagined venues and concepts tailored specifically to the U.S. market. The new flagship will also be the first to feature seven onboard districts designed to let guests of all ages to choose their own holiday adventure and get the most out of their time on board. One of the ship’s seven distinct districts — the MSC Yacht Club — offers a secluded sanctuary within the excitement of the wider ship. Guests in one of the 152 luxurious suites can indulge in unparalleled personalised service and exclusive spaces for the discerning traveller. As the demand for elevated cruise experiences grows, MSC Cruises is taking the lead by enhancing its industry-leading “ship-within-a-ship” concept. Cristian Comirla, Brand Performance Director, MSC Yacht Club said , “ MSC World America will take our MSC Yacht Club product to new heights as the largest MSC Yacht Club in the North American market. With exclusive amenities, top-notch service and luxurious benefits, MSC Yacht Club offers a tranquil holiday for guests who prefer to have a more relaxing and secluded cruise experience, yet still have access to the excitement of the ship’s entertainment, specialty dining and other amenities. MSC Yacht Club guests on MSC World America will also have access to Ocean House at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, providing an elevated experience at our private island in The Bahamas with a private beach and restaurant coupled with personalised service. With an elevated onboard experience that extends once guests are ashore at Ocean Cay, there are so many benefits to sailing in MSC Yacht Club and we are thrilled to be offering the latest and greatest to MSC World America sailing in the Caribbean .” Highlights of the MSC Yacht Club on MSC World America include: Expansive sundeck – Guests will have plenty of room to relax and take in sea views with an outdoor space spanning two decks. The lower deck will feature a bar and grill with an expanded seating area where guests can grab a bite to eat for breakfast and lunch, or enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset. The upper deck is the perfect private oasis for lounging by the pool, taking a dip in the whirlpool or unwinding in a stylish private cabana. For the first time, MSC Yacht Club guests aboard

will be able to table service from the nearby bar and grill throughout the full sundeck area. Multi-room Owner Suites –the ultra-luxurious Owner Suites offer a beautifully-decorated bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and luxurious bathroom with a full-sized imperial bathtub. A separate living and dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows opens onto a spacious private terrace complete with a hot tub and al fresco dining area. Duplex Suites – MSC World America ’s MSC Yacht Club will contain duplex suites spanning two decks that are perfect for families or larger groups travelling together. On the lower deck, the dining and living areas offer ample space for relaxation with the added convenience of a guest bathroom. Upstairs, the main bedroom comes complete with its own bathroom. The suites also offer plenty of outdoor space for lounging and sunbathing with some suites even boasting a two-level private sundecks and a private whirlpool. The MSC Yacht Club Experience The MSC Yacht Club has been offering guests a world of privacy and exclusivity on board select MSC Cruises’ ships since the concept was introduced in 2008, while also allowing them to enjoy the wide array of entertainment and dining options on board. Guests staying in the MSC Yacht Club will experience unparalleled service from the moment they check in with priority embarkation, a dedicated concierge team, personalised butler service available 24/7, premier room service and private areas. A premium beverage package, high-speed internet, thermal spa access and priority access to the ship’s entertainment venues are all included as part of the MSC Yacht Club experience. Onboard, MSC Yacht Club guests will have access to private areas including the Top Sail Lounge where they can take in captivating panoramic views of the ocean while enjoying handcrafted drinks, gourmet canapés and desserts. The MSC Yacht Club Restaurant features an elevated menu with five-star service and a selection of the finest wines with sommelier service on-hand. When she sets sail in April 2025, MSC World America will sail to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ private island in The Bahamas. Ongoing improvements to the island — due to be completed prior to the ship’s launch — include an expansion of the Ocean House bar and restaurant, which is available exclusively to MSC Yacht Club guests. Additional amenities include a private beach area featuring sunbeds and cabanas with butler service.

Thank you for visiting MSC Cruises

Your browser may be out of date or not compatible with our new site and may not be secure.

For a better experience and to continue your booking with MSC, please update your browser by downloading the latest version below.

Thank you for visiting our site and we look forward to seeing you on board soon!

MSC Cruises

Firefox

How MSC’s private island experience is different for cruisers in suites

Ashley Kosciolek

Do you enjoy large cruise ships but still want to feel like you're in the lap of luxury? Passengers booked in MSC Cruises' Yacht Club cabins and suites have access to high-end amenities – both on the ship and off.

Butlers, exclusive dining and a private pool delight guests on board, but perks also await on MSC 's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , in the Bahamas. You can expect dedicated trams, towel service and a chance to book the nicest cabanas on the island, among other extras.

msc usa yacht club

Read on to find out how the MSC Yacht Club Ocean Cay experience differs from that of the average cruiser.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club beaches vs. regular beaches

msc usa yacht club

MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Reserve private island is home to seven (soon to be eight) beaches, and all are public, except one — Ocean House Beach, which is the Yacht Club's exclusive swath of sand. Beyond its exclusivity, the beach has a few other differences from the island's regular beaches.

There, use of lounge chairs and umbrellas is free. Chairs at the other beaches are also free and available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, umbrellas come with an extra cost.

Passengers must sign out towels on board the ship before heading ashore to Ocean Cay's main beaches. Yacht Club passengers can skip that hassle and ask for towels at the towel tent found on Ocean House Beach.

msc usa yacht club

Interestingly, I found that several of the public beaches were less crowded than Ocean House Beach. At the latter, chairs were positioned much more closely to one another. If you're willing to walk or hitch a ride on one of the island's trams, you'll find fewer crowds on the farther beaches than if you stick close to the ship.

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club food vs. regular dining

msc usa yacht club

Free lunch is included for all cruisers who visit Ocean Cay. For Yacht Club travelers, the Ocean House Restaurant — an exclusive waiter-served dining venue where passengers enjoy their meals on a shaded porch — exudes upscale beach vibes.

msc usa yacht club

During my visit, the menu included starters like crab ceviche, charred octopus and a salad with romaine, tomatoes, jicama, a poached egg and candied bacon in a citrus dressing. Mains featured locally sourced blackened mahi-mahi, lobster roll, carne asada, a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and one of the best burgers I've ever tasted during a cruise — a blend of Angus chuck, short ribs and grilled brisket with red onion jam and Monterey Jack cheese. Desserts consisted of creme caramel, mango cheesecake and chocolate cake with coffee sauce.

msc usa yacht club

The meals at Ocean House are definitely superior to the fare found at the Seakers buffet, which is where cruisers not staying in the Yacht Club can go for a beach barbecue that serves hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, macaroni and cheese, red beans, roasted potatoes and a slew of salads, drinks and desserts.

msc usa yacht club

The food is tasty, but lines can be long. An alternative is to head to one of several food trucks throughout the island. Some are free and dole out the same items offered on the buffet but with shorter lines. Others sell entirely different menu items — lobster grilled cheese, fried calamari, shrimp with watermelon, Caribbean ceviche and octopus salad — with the cost charged to cruisers' onboard accounts.

msc usa yacht club

Additionally — and also for an extra fee — a stand near the ship offers specialty coffee and ice cream. (If you're a coffee lover, trust me when I say you won't want to miss the Coco-Nilla Latte.)

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club cabanas vs. regular cabanas

msc usa yacht club

There are three types of cabanas on Ocean Cay: Ocean Cay Beach Cabanas, Ocean View Yacht Club Cabanas and Beachfront Yacht Club Cabanas. All three types are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

They can hold up to six people each and include cold water, beach towels and chairs, as well as floating mats for use in the water. As the prices increase, so does the number of inclusions. The last two types are only available for booking by Yacht Club passengers.

Ocean Cay Beach Cabanas, found on South Beach, North Beach and Bimini Beach, are the most affordable on the island at $250 for the day. They've got walls on three sides, and they're outfitted with cushioned couches. They include the basic amenities mentioned above, and anyone can rent them.

Next up are the Ocean View Yacht Club Cabanas, which cost $400 for the day and also entitle you to free lunch and drinks, as well as fresh fruit skewers, four sets of snorkel gear and four floating mats. They're found on the Yacht Club's private Ocean House Beach, so they're off-limits to non-Yacht Club guests.

msc usa yacht club

The most expensive, however, are the Beachfront Yacht Club Cabanas, located in a different section of the Ocean House area. They carry a $450 price tag but offer all the same extras as Ocean View Yacht Club Cabanas.

The draw? They're closer to the water and, therefore, have better views. Although they aren't on the main part of Ocean House Beach, they are still in the exclusive area, near the restaurant, so you don't have to go far to grab food.

Ultimately, the only thing being in the Yacht Club affords you in this case is the option to book more expensive cabanas.

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club trams vs. regular trams

msc usa yacht club

At 95 acres, Ocean Cay is sizable. If you're fit, you can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes, but if you don't have great mobility or if you're easily overheated, reaching some of the island's more remote beaches can be difficult on foot. That's why MSC offers tram shuttles.

Passengers in standard cabins will find tram stops with shaded waiting areas throughout the island. However, waits can be long, especially if many other people are also in need of a lift.

Yacht Club cruisers can take advantage of trams exclusively for the Yacht Club. They run between a special tent (with free cold water to sip while you wait) set up just inside the entrance to Ocean Cay and the Ocean House beach and restaurant area.

You can make special requests for stops, which the regular trams usually won't accommodate. For example, you might ask to go straight from the tent to South Beach for a volleyball game without stopping anywhere else first.

MSC Ocean Cay Yacht Club activities vs. regular activities

msc usa yacht club

This is the one category where the island's public spaces beat the Ocean House area by a mile. If you're looking for something to do other than eating, drinking or lazing by the beach, you'll have to head back toward the ship because there's not much going on in the exclusive areas.

Everything from massages, lighthouse tours and water sports equipment rentals to beach parties, volleyball games and shore excursions takes place elsewhere. However, perhaps that's by design. The Yacht Club is generally quiet, even on board, and the line likely prefers to keep the raucousness to other locations.

Bottom line

msc usa yacht club

The MSC Yacht Club experience is more exclusive than the standard one at Ocean Cay, with extras like butler service, dedicated trams, towel service, access to pricier cabanas and a private beach and restaurant with better food and shorter waits.

However, all of the action — shore excursions, pickup volleyball games, beach parties, the lighthouse show — happens in the areas that are accessible to everyone, which significantly levels the playing field.

Additionally, items like specialty coffee, ice cream and for-fee food truck orders cost extra for everyone — even Yacht Club passengers.

Overall, Ocean Cay offers a great day for anyone who enjoys the beach, regardless of cabin type.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

  • The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
  • The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
  • A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
  • 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
  • Top ways cruisers waste money
  • The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Everything you Need to Know about the MSC Yacht Club

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read my full disclosure  here .

MSC is the largest cruise company in Europe, and other parts of the world, and in the last 5 years, this cruise line has been trying to break into the North American market. MSC offers gorgeous ships, exotic itineraries at a fantastic price for all guests, but they also have perfected the ship within a ship experience with their yacht club. This is mass market cruising at its absolute best, and I’m excited to introduce you to MSC’s yacht club.

MSC Yacht Club

MSC offers a variety of rooms that include the yacht club experience- from interior cabins to royal suites, these rooms come with incredible perks that will elevate your cruise vacation.

I recently sailed on the MSC Grandiosa, in a duplex whirlpool yacht club suite. We sailed in the Mediterranean out of Barcelona, which was just incredible! I loved the yacht club and am excited to share more with you.

Harmony Skillman, Your MSC Yacht Club Travel Agent

Where are the MSC Yacht Club rooms located?

The MSC yacht club does require key card access- although not all yacht club rooms are behind the yacht club doors.

On the MSC Grandiosa, our duplex suite was located on deck 12, among the regular rooms. But most of the yacht club rooms are located within the private yacht club area, which on our ship was on decks 15 – 19.

One of the nice things about the MSC yacht club, is that interior cabins are offered- this is a great way to experience the MSC yacht club, at a lower price point.

MSC Yacht Club Interior Room

For families, I love the larger yacht club suites that can accommodate 4 guests. The duplex suite we had was amazing. Over 600 square feet, which is larger than two balcony rooms and for what it’s worth, I paid less for this yacht club experience than two Central Park view cabins on the Icon of the Seas .

We also had two full bathrooms, a living room, dining room, and balcony whirlpool tub.

MSC Yacht Club Duplex Whirlpool Suite on the MSC Grandiosa

What does MSC Yacht Club Include?

Besides having the amazing suites, what else is included with your MSC yacht club stay?

MSC Yacht club guests have a dedicated butler to assist with everything you need. When it’s time to get on or off the ship, they escort you, and you skip all lines.

MSC Yacht Club Butler

Room service and pizza delivery are included, and your butler brings everything to your room.

There is also nightly turn down service, and robes/slippers provided in your cabin.

When you book into the MSC yacht club, the drink package is included for all guests, as well as browse WIFI for two devices per guest. That’s an amazing value!

Yacht club guests (age 18+) have unlimited access to the hydrotherapy circuit at the Aurea spa. Hubby and I loved indulging in this!

On the ship, MSC Yacht club guests have a dedicated pool and sun deck, with a small buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. At the Yacht Club pool, there is a bar and pool side drink service as well.

MSC Yacht Club Pool on the MSC Seascape

For dining, no stress – MSC Yacht club guests have a dedicated ala carte restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food here was great, as was the service.

MSC Yacht Club Restaurant

Lastly, the MSC Topsail lounge is a great spot to grab a snack, drink, and listen to music each evening. They always have a small buffet of treats, continental breakfast, or appetizers available.

MSC Yacht Club topsail lounge

Not having to deal with crowds, and top service is what the MSC yacht club experience is all about! And I have to say, compared to the price of similar experiences like the Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line , suites on Royal Caribbean , or the Retreat on Celebrity Cruise Line you CANNOT beat the price point of the MSC Yacht Club.

Planning a cruise is tough! I know all the cruise lines and can help you plan to perfect sailing. 

Long Island Travel Agent

MSC Yacht Club Tips

You will want for nothing as an MSC yacht club guest, but here are some tips to maximize your time on board.

Visit the Topsail lounge on deck 16, for snacks, a great bar, and piano player/singer in the evening.

On Deck 16 you will find the concierge. They are amazing and can help with anything. I used them to exchange my large bills into smaller ones, to call for the butler, confirm excursions, and they assisted with an issue my kids’ had with their shipboard account. No waiting in lines at customer service!

The MSC Yacht Club restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I did find the operating hours are a little limited and do vary by day, so be sure to check the app or the newsletter they put in your room each evening.

MSC Yacht Club Pool Deck on the MSC Grandiosa

BUY MY SHIRT , SUNGLASSES

You meet in the yacht club for excursions and shows. The butlers then escort you and you skip all lines.

Before the cruise, you will receive an email to pre-order one bottle of alcohol, make your pillow, and newspaper selection.

Check out high tea offered each day at 4pm.

You will have a Coffee maker in the room, and a mini bar with water, soda, juice and beer. This will be restocked daily. But note, the food in mini bar does come with a small charge.

MSC Yacht Club guests do have the browse WIFI package for two devices included. If you upgrade to the stream package, have to do it for both devices, otherwise a device drops off your package. Also with MSC, you CANNOT toggle between devices (unlike on Holland America or Norwegian Cruise Line ). Once you sign into one device, that’s it.

You do tip your butler at the end of your cruise. Some guests will tip the MSC yacht club bartenders and concierges.

Get the fun pass for your kids. This is an MSC general tip, but it’s a great value. You get about $140.00 of value for $70.00 ( Exact a mounts may vary ).

MSC Yacht Club guests can order breakfast the night before. Fill out the order sheet and put the card on your door before 2AM.

They give you lots of water, which I so appreciated.

If you book an excursion through the ship, they don’t tell you excursion times until the night before. The butler will leave your tickets in your stateroom.

One night, we didn’t have reservations to the show (it was sold out) but they told us to meet in lounge 15 minutes before the start and they take you. There is a dedicated part of the theater for yacht club guests and we had no problem getting seats. This was for the complimentary theater shows.

If you are leaving the ship for a non-yacht club excursion, the butler will still assist with walking you off the ship. Our butler even took us all the way out to help get us in a taxi.

MSC Yacht Club Duplex Whirlpool Suite

SWIMSUIT LINK (Similar), SUNGLASSES

Is an MSC Yacht Club Upgrade Worth It?

Now that we’ve had a chance to experience the MSC Yacht Club, I don’t think I can go back to regular cruising! Upgrading to yacht club is 100% worth it. It’s really a great experience and you will not be disappointed in anything. Of course its always best to book your cruise with a travel agent . There are so many great ships and cruise lines and I can assist you with finding your perfect cruise. Your next sailing is a just a click away .

MSC Yacht Club

Have you sailed on MSC? Have you experienced the yacht club?

MSC Yacht Club

Follow Momma To Go on social media!     Twitter ,   Facebook ,  Pinterest,  and   Instagram

Please share:

Related posts:

Default Thumbnail

Related Posts

The ultimate guide to the adults only, all-inclusive resorts in montego bay, jamaica, how to plan an alaska cruise, tips for booking your universal orlando vacation, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Privacy Overview

South Marco Beach, Marco Island Florida

STAY IN TOUCH!

Subscribe via email to receive a message when new posts are published, and to receive great travel deals right to your inbox.

LOOKING TO PLAN YOUR NEXT GETAWAY?

Click the button below to get started on planning your next amazing vacation!

No spam, promise!

Travel Addicts Life

MSC Splendida Review: MSC Yacht Club Experience

We just got back from a seven-day cruise to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan on board the MSC Splendida, and today we will tell you all you need to know about MSC Yacht Club Experience! Is it really worth it? Watch us until the end, and you will find out! 

Today we will tell you all about our experience on board the MSC Splendida Yacht Club. But first, if you like travel-related blogs like this one, now is a great time to hit the subscribe button so you will never miss any future blogs.

Let’s begin: 

What is the MSC Yacht Club?

The MSC Yacht Club is an exclusive section of some of MSC’s cruise ships that offers passengers a unique, all-inclusive cruising experience. Some people refer to it as a ship within a ship or a luxury cruise to other luxury cruises.

The MSC Yacht Club section is typically located at the top of the ship, and it’s reserved for guests who are looking for a little extra luxury and a private club. It can only be accessed with the cruise card.

MSC Yacht Club

When you book a trip with the MSC Yacht Club, you’ll have access to a range of exclusive amenities and services. For example, you’ll have a dedicated concierge who will be available to help you with any requests you might have.

They’ll even walk you to wherever you need to go! You’ll also have access to a private lounge, which serves complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day.

But that’s just the beginning. The MSC Yacht Club also offers passengers exclusive access to a range of private spaces, including a private pool area, an MSC Yacht Club restaurant, and a bar. This means that you’ll be able to relax and unwind in your own private sanctuary, away from the hustle and bustle of the main ship.

But perhaps the best thing about the MSC Yacht Club is the level of service you’ll receive. The staff in this section of the ship are highly trained and attentive, ensuring that your every need is taken care of. Whether you need help with your luggage, want to book an excursion, or simply need a drink, the staff at the MSC Yacht Club will be on hand to assist you.

Our next topic for the Yacht Club Experience is:

Boarding MSC Yacht

One of the great perks that we noticed right away was priority boarding. In fact, when we arrived at the luxury cruise terminal, a butler was waiting for us and took us straight through immigration, check, and on the ship skipping the extra long line that other passengers had to do. Also, the butler explained to us how to use the dedicated elevator reserved for Yacht Club passengers. With this elevator, activated by our cruise card, we could go right to deck 15 or 16 without stopping on any deck in between.

Once we arrived at the dedicated MSC Yacht Club Lounge on deck 15, we were greeted with a glass of champagne while a very nice concierge lady explained to us all our Yacht Club benefits. We have to admit that the priority boarding process was incredibly smooth and efficient, with a very nice personalized touch.

Let’s move to our next topic of the MSC Yacht Club experience, and we will talk about:

We booked a Yacht Club Deluxe suite on deck 16. The cabin was quite nice, wide, and well laid out. The room had a nice couch and a little desk beside the private balcony.

MSC Yacht Club Cabin

The bed was very comfortable. We had a very nice walk-in closet with a lot of space for clothes and shoes, which we really liked.

The bathroom was wide and quite nice, with a bathtub. In our opinion, a nice big shower is better than a tub, but we know that a lot of people like to take baths. 

MSC Yacht Club Bathroom

The private balcony was nice, not the widest but big enough.  We noticed a couple of things that could be improved in the cabin. First, there were no electrical plugs by the bedside tables to charge the phones.

In fact, the only plugs available were by the desk, and there were two European and two American plugs there. Second, the wood paneling in the room made the room feel a little dark. Other than those minor details, we really enjoyed our cabin.

The next topic in our Review of MSC Yacht Club is

The Yacht Club Lounge 

On MSC Splendida, the Yacht Club lounge is on deck 15 all the way to the front. The area is really nice and well-designed. There is a concierge desk that takes care of all the yacht club passengers’ needs; more about that later.

Next to the concierge, there is a great big lounge with couches and tables. In the lounge, there are snacks available all the time. In the morning, they serve a light breakfast with cereals, sandwiches, and toast, and jam.

MSC Splendida Yacht Club Lounge

The lounge also has a nice big bar with complimentary drinks. We really enjoyed this area, especially on sea days we used it to work because it was really quiet and comfortable. It was also the best place for a pre-dinner aperitif.

Moving on to our next topic of the MSC Yacht Club experience:

The Yacht Club Pool

The MSC Yacht Club Pool is called “one pool” and is located on deck 18, right above the lounge. It is a very nice space with a pool, two jacuzzis, a lot of sunbeds, a bar, and a small buffet area where they serve food for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. On our cruise, during sea days in the buffet area, the head waiter of the Yacht Club restaurant was cooking fresh pasta and other lunch items in a buffet they set up by the pool. 

MSC Splendida Yacht Club Pool

We really enjoyed this area sunbathing, especially during the sea days. It is never super busy and always has sun beds available for us away from the huge crowds of the main pools on the ship.

The MSC Yacht Club Pool area is also incredibly private. In fact, we asked the concierge if it was possible to invite guests, and the answer was no. The area is for Yacht Club members only.

One Pool - MSC Yacht Club

Next, we will talk about:

The Yacht Club Restaurant 

On the MSC Splendida, the Yacht Club’s dedicated restaurant is called Olivo, and it is located on deck 15 all the way aft above the main buffet. We heard that on newer ships the MSC Yacht Club restaurant is located above or below the yacht club lounge, but on this particular ship it was outside the exclusive yacht club area. That’s probably because the MSC Splendida was the first ship to get retrofitted with the yacht club.

MSC Splendida Yacht Club L'Olivo Restaurant

The restaurant is open seating, and Yacht Club passengers can go anytime during opening hours. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

The specialty restaurant’s ambiance is excellent, very intimate and wide, with a lot of natural light. The service is absolutely impeccable. Every waiter is perfectly trained, knowledgeable and really friendly. 

Yacht Club L'Olivo restaurant service

In this restaurant’s menu, there are always one or two items that are not available on the menu in the main dining room; for example, on the second formal night, they served lobster that was not on the menu in the main dining room.

Moving on to our next topic of the MSC Yacht Club experience, we will talk about:

The Service for MSC Yacht Club Guests

The service at MSC Splendida Yacht Club is impeccable. The MSC Yacht Club perk is that a 24-hour butler service is available, which is really nice.

MSC Splendida Yacht Club Butler

We did not ask our butler to unpack and pack for us, but that is one of the butler services that they provide. We can totally tell that the butler service takes great pride in providing stunning service and that they genuinely care about their MSC Yacht Club guests.

Our butler Augustine was incredibly friendly and attentive, always available but never intrusive. Very well done! 

The concierge desk was there to take care of passengers’ needs. They were there to help with almost every aspect of the MSC cruise, from excursions to billing. 

This came particularly helpful the day before arriving at the port of Sokhna when the Egyptian border agent came on board to stamp everyone’s passports. We did not have to go to see the agent, but the concierge took care of this step for us to avoid the long lines. 

Also, the future cruise consultant was available at the concierge lounge by appointment for MSC Yacht Club passengers. Really stunning service. 

Our next item to review about the MSC Yacht Club review is:

What is Included in MSC Yacht Club?

One of the best benefits of MSC Yacht Club perks, aside from the amazing service, is the fact that it is a truly all-inclusive experience. In fact, when you book a yacht club cabin, you have the Premium Extra Drink Package included. The MSC Yacht Club offers a package that includes drinks up to €13 euros.

Now one thing to consider is that if you order a drink that costs €14, for example, you will be charged the whole amount, not the €1.00 difference as other cruise lines do. It also included is the premium internet package, with unlimited use for two devices per passenger.

Another thing that is included is unlimited access to Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa, even though on this voyage, people at the spa told us that we had to make a reservation before going. Now we brought this up to the concierge, and they said that it wasn’t true. We did not have to make a reservation. 

MSC Splendida Spa

The MSC Yacht Club offers gratuities and 24-hour room service. Basically, the only items not included were the excursions, spa treatments, onboard shopping, drinks over 13 euros, and the Casino.

Moving on to the next topic of our MSC Yacht Club experience, we will talk about:

Yacht Club passengers have priority access to shore when going on an excursion. Basically, we had to meet our own personal butler at the sail lounge at the time specified on the excursion ticket, and he then took us to the gangway skipping all the lines for security, passport controls, etc.

MSC Excursion in Petra Jordan

Same thing on the way back from excursions. A butler was always by the gangway escorting us to the front of the line and back to our lounge. Now, this service is excellent because it allows Yacht Club Passengers to skip all the long lines, but there is a downside.

Since we were always the first passengers on the bus, we then had to wait on the bus for all the other passengers to arrive. Sometimes the wait was up to an hour. Now considering that some excursions on this itinerary required two and half hours bus ride, an extra hour before departure was quite long.

In our opinion, it would be better if MSC reserved the seats on the bus for Yacht Club passengers (they already know who they are) and let them off the ship when the bus was almost ready to go. 

MSC Cruises Ships

MSC Cruises is getting bigger and better. There are a lot of special things to discover on each MSC cruise ship when you go sailing with them as a member of the MSC Yacht Club.

Their huge fleets include:

MSC Seashore

MSC Seashore is like her sister ships, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview. Most of the places people go on the ship are different than before.

MSC Seashore has new places to play, eat and hang out outside. There are also more rooms for people to stay in and more space for everyone.

You can sit back, relax, and enjoy all that MSC Seashore offers. MSC Seashore is the first of two special ships. It has technology that helps it use energy more efficiently.

The MSC Cruise has been fitted with the fleet’s largest and most luxurious MSC Yacht Club, with almost 3,000 sqm of space, including a bigger solarium and a panoramic whirlpool.

MSC Seashore’s 13,000 sqm of outdoor spaces, from pools and lounge areas to Speciality Restaurant seating areas, bring guests closer to the sea than ever before, making them truly.

MSC Meraviglia

You can experience the ultimate sea adventure on MSC Meraviglia. This magnificent ship boasts incredible features such as gourmet dining, amazing entertainment options, panoramic areas, an ocean-view lounge, a two-deck “inside promenade” complete with an LED dome, and an amusement area attached to an outdoor water park.

Best of all, MSC Meraviglia features late-night and overnight stays on MSC Cruise’s exclusive private island.

MSC Virtuosa

The name MSC Virtuosa is from the word virtuoso which means someone who is very good at something. MSC Cruises gave it this name to honor the people who designed and built the ship. They are very talented and skilled.

This new cruise ship is one of the biggest in the MSC Cruises fleet. It has lots of special features that work together to give you the best vacation ever! Moreover, it’s the MSC Grandiosa’s sister ship.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the Yacht Club on board MSC is really excellent product. It not only allows passengers to enjoy a ship within a ship but also provides a great service that is much more personalized and attentive than what you’d expect with a standard MSC product.

The MSC Yacht Club allows passengers to avoid long lines for embarkation, excursions, or even restaurants. The downside is the price.

msc usa yacht club

The cruise costs almost twice as much as a regular balcony cabin. Everything is indeed included, but the price difference is quite steep. In fact, when you’re looking at this price point, luxury cruise lines now become comparables.

We really enjoyed our week on board the MSC Splendida Yacht Club and will do it again for sure, maybe next time on a different itinerary.  

We hope you enjoyed our blog, and as usual, if you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

Rick and Andrea

In March 2017, Rick and Andrea started Travel Addicts Life as a way to share their travel photos and videos with the world. And boy did it ever grow!  Today, we are proud to offer content here on Travel Addicts Life, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

Thanks for reading!

Rick & Andrea

Similar Posts

Cruise Ship Terminal of Vancouver BC – Visitor Guide

Cruise Ship Terminal of Vancouver BC – Visitor Guide

The Cruise Ship Terminal of Vancouver is a bustling port in the summertime, especially for Alaskan Cruises. It is located right downtown at Canada Place. Cruises to and From The Port of Vancouver Cruise ship season in the port of Vancouver starts from Mid April to the end of September. Almost every major Cruise line…

The Best Princess Cruises Parties!

The Best Princess Cruises Parties!

It’s no secret. We are big Princess Cruises fanatics. Indeed, we’ve sailed with Princess Cruises several times, and we always love the onboard parties. Those parties allowed us to mingle and meet fellow passengers and crew members. We love the opportunity to dress up a little and to take a lot of photos in our best outfits!…

Costa Diadema Cruise

Costa Diadema Cruise

Hello everyone, we just got back from our 11 day Mediterranean cruise on the Costa Diadema and in this article we we want to give you a complete review of our Mediterranean Cruise on board the Costa Diadema. We will rate every aspect of our cruise from 1 to 5 anchors! So let’s begin our…

Cruising the During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cruising the During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Is cruising possible during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic? Is it safe? What are the protocols in place to ensure passengers’ safety? Our answer is yes! It’s possible to cruise during COVID-19 pandemic. On April 18th, 2021, we returned from a seven-day Mediterranean cruise onboard the MSC Grandiosa. This article will explain to you all the…

When Will Cruising Resume in 2020

When Will Cruising Resume in 2020

Are you wondering when cruising will resume in 2020? To be sure, looking back on 2020, we will certainly remember it as the year the world stopped. Indeed, COVID-19 has re-shaped our way of life. From wearing masks and gloves to constant hand sanitizing and social distancing, three generations will be forever changed. To be…

Why I love Cruising! And Everything Else About It

Why I love Cruising! And Everything Else About It

Its no secret – people ask me, “Why do I love cruising,” and other related questions, like: “Why do I like cruising so much?” “What is it about cruising that you like?” “Don’t you get bored on a boat?” “Isn’t cruising just for old people?“ Here are my reasons why I love cruising. I hope…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Join the 250,000+ Travel Addicts Readers

This Cruise Life

Msc yacht club 2024 on board msc meraviglia.

' src=

To say we were pampered is the understatement of the year (although, considering it’s only January, fingers crossed there’s more pampering ahead)! We had the opportunity to sail MSC Meraviglia out of New York earlier this month; we were excited to check out the new-to-us cruise line. But what we didn’t expect: an upgrade to MSC’s exclusive Yacht Club!

What is the Yacht Club?

The Yacht Club is MSC’s “ship within a ship” concept that promises both privacy and exclusivity. The experience includes amenities most could only dream about: white-glove butler service, 24×7 concierge, an exclusive restaurant on the ship and on MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay, unlimited drinks anywhere on the ship, a private pool, hot tub, lounge deck, and so much more.

MSC Yacht Club 2024 On Board MSC Meraviglia

Upgrade Offer

In early December, just over a month from our sailing date, we received an email inviting us to bid on an upgrade . We were already in a balcony cabin, so it seemed odd bidding on an interior cabin – but that’s just what we did! We maxed out our bid on an interior Yacht Club stateroom in hopes that the upgrade fairies would grant our wish.

On December 13, 2023, that’s exactly what happened!

Thank you Twitterverse!!! You made our MSC Yacht Club dreams come true. Our upgrade was accepted this morning. Full review of the MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite and experience coming January! 💙💙💙 #thankyou #msc #yachtclub pic.twitter.com/ZNDRZcfKKH — This Cruise Life (@thiscruiselife) December 13, 2023

Yacht Club Check-In

Fast-forward a month to January 9, 2024 when we checked in to board MSC Meraviglia. Again, to say this check-in process was different would be a huge understatement. Unlike your typical check-in with long queues, growling stomachs, and throngs of people, we waited in our own lounge with champagne and canapés away from the crowds. We made sure to document the entire experience so that we could share it with you:

First Impressions

So what is it like to sail on a ship within a ship? Is the Butler actually a real person, or is it just a glorified room steward? And what exactly is a canapé? The first 24 hours on board was a whirlwind. There were so many new experiences – and so much food! Considering this was our first-ever MSC cruise, it was a GREAT first impression! You can check out our detailed review of that first 24 hours, along with what we thought about MSC Meraviglia:

Full Review to Come!

Now that we’re back on solid ground, we’re working on our full review of our 9-day sailing on board MSC Meraviglia in the Yacht Club. We’re going to cover the things that we loved, didn’t love, and a couple things that we hated about the ship and experience.

As always, thanks for joining this cruise life of ours and following our adventures! -Mark and Rocky

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

  • CruiseMapper
  • Cruise news
  • Cruise Industry

MSC Cruises launches premium excursions for Yacht Club guests

CruiseMapper logo

MSC Cruises has unveiled a new offering for guests traveling in the MSC Yacht Club, allowing them to book an exclusive selection of shore excursions designed to introduce them to new destinations, cultures, and people.

The MSC Yacht Club is MSC's "ship-within-a-ship" concept, providing a luxurious and private experience within elegant suites accessible only by keycard. This exclusive area features dedicated facilities including a sundeck, pool, restaurant, lounge, and personalized services such as a 24-hour butler and concierge desk.

Available on most MSC ships, the MSC Yacht Club offers a secluded retreat while allowing guests to enjoy the extensive amenities and entertainment options available throughout the vessel.

In alignment with the MSC Yacht Club experience, the company has introduced 90+ custom designed shore excursions available in various ports across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe, with plans to expand to other regions later this year. These excursions are conducted in small groups, providing a more intimate exploration of destinations. MSC Yacht Club guests benefit from priority disembarkation and private transportation, ensuring a relaxed and comfortable travel experience with all details meticulously managed.

The curated excursions offer diverse experiences, from creating personalized eau de cologne at a historic perfumery in Southern France, indulging in authentic Greek cuisine aboard a private catamaran in Santorini , to relaxing in a secluded cabana in tropical Jamaica. Categories of experiences include authentic culinary adventures, local artistry, architectural tours, and upscale adventure activities.

MSC Yacht Club guests can book these excursions in advance online, through the MSC Cruises contact center or their travel agent, or on board via the MSC For Me app (where available), the MSC Yacht Club concierge service, or the Shore Excursions desk.

Highlights among the new exclusive MSC shore excursions include destinations such as Cannes France ; Genoa Italy ; Akureyri Iceland ; Invergordon Scotland ; Cozumel Mexico ; and Falmouth Jamaica .

  • MSC Cruises

MSC Preziosa - Comprehensive Yacht Club Review

Solent Richard

By Solent Richard , March 26, 2020 in MSC Cruises

Recommended Posts

3,000+ Club

Solent Richard

Three weeks ago my wife disembarked from our first MSC cruise, 14 nights Yacht Club onboard MSC Preziosa around the Caribbean.

I have now written what I consider a full, frank and comprehensive review on our experience. Here is the link...

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2020/03/25/msc-preziosa-yacht-club-experience/

1800771824_MSCPreziosaFeaturedImage2.jpg.db89b7bfad750eec4b7c8918a4585b5c.jpg

I'd be delighted to answer any questions.

Thanks

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

portofrome

Thank you for your great review and photos!

Like

Thanks Richard and Barbara. Very comprehensive and useful.

:classic_biggrin:

WOW!!  Great review.  Very thorough and insightful.  Loved all the pictures. We were to do YC Prezioza this June but, had to cancel until next year. Still looking forward to doing our cruise. Now, we are more excited for next year.  Thank you so much for taking the time to post such a wonderful review.

1 hour ago, phissy said: WOW!!  Great review.  Very thorough and insightful.  Loved all the pictures. We were to do YC Prezioza this June but, had to cancel until next year. Still looking forward to doing our cruise. Now, we are more excited for next year.  Thank you so much for taking the time to post such a wonderful review.

So pleased I could give you a glimpse of 'the light at the end of the tunnel'.

Skier52

48 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:   Good morning Pete (as in Skier).   Long time no speak and hope you are well.   Now for the confession. It was your review, all those years ago, that gave me the original inspiration and idea to take my wife to Guadeloupe: I'd filed it in the memory bank.   Had you not appeared here I would have asked Wansbrough to pass on the link and thank you.   And as you probably noted from my review, we've already booked another MSC cruise.   Keep safe.   Richard      

That's an endorsement for MSC if ever I saw one.

it is heartening to see and  partly makes up for all the bashing i got on C.dot for flag waving for MSC .

CGTNORMANDIE

Wonderful review...wished I was there. 😀

On 3/27/2020 at 9:02 AM, Skier52 said:   That's an endorsement for MSC if ever I saw one.   it is heartening to see and  partly makes up for all the bashing i got on C.dot for flag waving for MSC . Pete

A yacht Club experience would have been out of their depths Pete.

Thank you so much for your wonderful review.  Feeling kind of low these days, what a pleasure it was.  I shared it with my husband and he also enjoyed it.

We have our first Yacht Club experience coming up in October and are looking forward.  Thanks again!

Hi Solent Richard........read your review with interest as we were aboard the Preziosa a month before you , 21st January.  Our reflections were somewhat different although I would agree that  Marie-Pierre and Summit were excellent, they were our butler and restaurant waiter as well.  We were fortunate to stay in 15031 just up the corridor from you, next time try to get one of these large square cabins as they are 50% bigger than the one you had, we even had a sun lounger on the balcony as it is so much bigger.

I would double check that your Virgin flight from Gatwick to Barbados was a charter.  Our MSC / Virgin Flight was a Scheduled flight (VS029/VS30) as MSC this year were taking a block of seats not the full allocation.  It is important as you will be able to claim Virgin Flying Club Air miles which we did, Premier gave us 8432 air miles (worth about £125).

We cruised Preziosa last year as well and the difference was astonishing, for the worse. The quality of the meat in La Palmeriae was extremely poor and like yourselves we dined in Butcher's Cut where the meat was superb but boy-o-boy did we all suffer in the YC restaurant, even 'Summit' advised us not to have many dishes as the complaints were endless.  

The Gazebo you mentioned was erected due to the complaint about the food on offer at the One Pool during our cruise. You benefited from the change of YC Directors, the new YC who change midway though our cruise (Thierry Fnu) made many changes which improved the situation.  The problem is you don't know which YC Director you are going to get, some are a disgrace to MSC.  

We also booked for Yacht Club 2021 and have subsequently cancelled, just not worth the money anymore.  

Cool Cruiser

Just thought I would add some feedback from our recent cruise.

My better half and I were on the cruise following Solent Richard, 3rd – 17th March in the YC. Flew VS29 ex-Gatwick – I will agree with Mickey89 that the flight is part MSC booked, but not completely as I noted several Virgin Holidays tags on baggage. We were heat tested before we entered the terminal at Barbados airport. No issue, quick and first of several such tests during the next fortnight.

Our view of the cruise was it was overall fantastic and we would both book it again in a flash. The itinerary leapt out of the page when we spotted it over a year in advance; so nice to see smaller islands and not the run of the mill ex-Miami mainstream ports.

We sailed Divina in YC in 2018 (Med 7 day cruise) and felt that the YC restaurant on Preziosa exceeded comfortably that we experienced on Divina. Sumit was out waiter too and a credit to MSC. Food taste is subjective, but when I read Mickey89's feedback I thought I was on the wrong ship. Maybe the change in TC Director impacted the food standard too, as it was pretty faultless.

We have travelled quite often in the Haven and our experience on Divina clearly awarded the restaurant medal to NCL, but on Preziosa we felt it was materially improved and at least equivalent to Haven, but with a far better choice as each day offers a new selection. Preziosa also offered three “everyday” options not listed including spaghetti bolognaise and filet.

One Pool chef always had a gazebo erected. We always breakfasted either at One Pool or TSL, never the restaurant. Lunch was normally at One Pool when not ashore. Always a good choice and always chef specials.

We too are Death in Paradise fans and took a tour with Merva, as mentioned by Richard in his report. An excellent day and one of our favourite private tour experiences without a doubt.

St, Kitts, Dominica, St. Vincent (Bequia) and St. Maarten we really enjoyed too.

The cruise had no Italians on board when we joined (some 550 would typically have been on board), but MSC had already reacted to the CORid-19 outbreak it seems. The first 11 days went as planned, but on the second weekend both Martinique and Guadeloupe only permitted disembarking guests to leave the ship at the end of their cruises. No new guest’s joined that second weekend. Transit guests were not permitted to leave the ship. Each day there were less remaining guests St. Lucia was cancelled and we had a slow sail to Barbados sea day on the last Monday. We have no issue with this, what else can MSC/ports do in such circumstances. My only issue would be the lack of communication from the captain – being more familiar with NCL we are used to daily dialogue from the captain, even in normal circumstances. It was notable the captain never delivered such daily updates, either during the normal phase of the cruise nor during the latter agenda impacted phase. Strange.

As I stated above we would rebook the YC without a doubt – we would book the same cruise again and same ship. The YC versus Haven is an interesting debate often seen on CC; we like both and both have pro’s and con’s we feel. I like the TSL, my wife less so; we both like the One Pool bar/eating area; Haven has more room options and is more family focussed (family suites), but generally is a lot more expensive; champagne included in the YC is a nice bonus. First world problem, but both being nice to experience.

  • 4 weeks later...
On 3/30/2020 at 4:34 PM, mickey89 said: Hi Solent Richard........read your review with interest as we were aboard the Preziosa a month before you , 21st January.  Our reflections were somewhat different although I would agree that  Marie-Pierre and Summit were excellent, they were our butler and restaurant waiter as well.  We were fortunate to stay in 15031 just up the corridor from you, next time try to get one of these large square cabins as they are 50% bigger than the one you had, we even had a sun lounger on the balcony as it is so much bigger. I would double check that your Virgin flight from Gatwick to Barbados was a charter.  Our MSC / Virgin Flight was a Scheduled flight (VS029/VS30) as MSC this year were taking a block of seats not the full allocation.  It is important as you will be able to claim Virgin Flying Club Air miles which we did, Premier gave us 8432 air miles (worth about £125).   We cruised Preziosa last year as well and the difference was astonishing, for the worse. The quality of the meat in La Palmeriae was extremely poor and like yourselves we dined in Butcher's Cut where the meat was superb but boy-o-boy did we all suffer in the YC restaurant, even 'Summit' advised us not to have many dishes as the complaints were endless.     The Gazebo you mentioned was erected due to the complaint about the food on offer at the One Pool during our cruise. You benefited from the change of YC Directors, the new YC who change midway though our cruise (Thierry Fnu) made many changes which improved the situation.  The problem is you don't know which YC Director you are going to get, some are a disgrace to MSC.     We also booked for Yacht Club 2021 and have subsequently cancelled, just not worth the money anymore.  

Thanks for your input Mickey. Much appreciated.

I hear what you say about Thierry Fun, the YC Director, I got on with him like a house on fire.

On 3/31/2020 at 6:00 PM, Had01 said: Just thought I would add some feedback from our recent cruise.   My better half and I were on the cruise following Solent Richard, 3rd – 17th March in the YC. Flew VS29 ex-Gatwick – I will agree with Mickey89 that the flight is part MSC booked, but not completely as I noted several Virgin Holidays tags on baggage. We were heat tested before we entered the terminal at Barbados airport. No issue, quick and first of several such tests during the next fortnight. Our view of the cruise was it was overall fantastic and we would both book it again in a flash. The itinerary leapt out of the page when we spotted it over a year in advance; so nice to see smaller islands and not the run of the mill ex-Miami mainstream ports. We sailed Divina in YC in 2018 (Med 7 day cruise) and felt that the YC restaurant on Preziosa exceeded comfortably that we experienced on Divina. Sumit was out waiter too and a credit to MSC. Food taste is subjective, but when I read Mickey89's feedback I thought I was on the wrong ship. Maybe the change in TC Director impacted the food standard too, as it was pretty faultless. We have travelled quite often in the Haven and our experience on Divina clearly awarded the restaurant medal to NCL, but on Preziosa we felt it was materially improved and at least equivalent to Haven, but with a far better choice as each day offers a new selection. Preziosa also offered three “everyday” options not listed including spaghetti bolognaise and filet. One Pool chef always had a gazebo erected. We always breakfasted either at One Pool or TSL, never the restaurant. Lunch was normally at One Pool when not ashore. Always a good choice and always chef specials. We too are Death in Paradise fans and took a tour with Merva, as mentioned by Richard in his report. An excellent day and one of our favourite private tour experiences without a doubt. St, Kitts, Dominica, St. Vincent (Bequia) and St. Maarten we really enjoyed too. The cruise had no Italians on board when we joined (some 550 would typically have been on board), but MSC had already reacted to the CORid-19 outbreak it seems. The first 11 days went as planned, but on the second weekend both Martinique and Guadeloupe only permitted disembarking guests to leave the ship at the end of their cruises. No new guest’s joined that second weekend. Transit guests were not permitted to leave the ship. Each day there were less remaining guests St. Lucia was cancelled and we had a slow sail to Barbados sea day on the last Monday. We have no issue with this, what else can MSC/ports do in such circumstances. My only issue would be the lack of communication from the captain – being more familiar with NCL we are used to daily dialogue from the captain, even in normal circumstances. It was notable the captain never delivered such daily updates, either during the normal phase of the cruise nor during the latter agenda impacted phase. Strange. As I stated above we would rebook the YC without a doubt – we would book the same cruise again and same ship. The YC versus Haven is an interesting debate often seen on CC; we like both and both have pro’s and con’s we feel. I like the TSL, my wife less so; we both like the One Pool bar/eating area; Haven has more room options and is more family focussed (family suites), but generally is a lot more expensive; champagne included in the YC is a nice bonus. First world problem, but both being nice to experience. Stay safe.

Good afternoon HAD.

Humble apologies for not responding sooner and many thanks for your comprehensive addendum: it made very interesting reading, particularly the comparison with NCL's Haven.

Up till this cruise we were ardent Cunard Grills fans and while I'd never abandon them entirely we thoroughly enjoyed our 'Maiden' MSC. The real advantage for us is the wider itineraries on offer with MSC.

So pleased you gave Mirva some business and I trust you enjoyed Sainte Honore as much as we did: You'll never believe the 'brownie' points I received from my wife.

Funnily enough we were due to fly to Split this morning to join an Emerald Waterways cruise along the Dalmatian Coast. Just so pleased we made the full Preziosa when we did.

Take care and thanks again for your input. 

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

  • Welcome to Cruise Critic
  • Hurricane Zone 2024
  • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com Summer 2024
  • New Cruisers
  • Cruise Lines “A – O”
  • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
  • River Cruising
  • Cruise Critic News & Features
  • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
  • Special Interest Cruising
  • Cruise Discussion Topics
  • UK Cruising
  • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
  • Canadian Cruisers
  • North American Homeports
  • Ports of Call
  • Cruise Conversations

Announcements

  • New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Ask Me Anything About

Victory Cruise Lines!

John Waggoner_Approved Headshot.jpg

Ask Your Questions Today;

See answers beginning August 12th

VCL-logo-color.jpg

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

budapest_parliment_XFrancophileX.jpeg

Click this photo by member XFrancophileX to share your review w/ photos too!

Parliament, Budapest

Features & News

LauraS

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 02:31 PM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 11:32 AM

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 07:31 AM

LauraS · Started August 15

LauraS · Started August 14

20240820_084719.jpg

Cruise Planning

Find a cruise, popular ports, member reviews.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

  • Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
  • Find Your Roll Call
  • Meet & Mingle
  • Community Help Center
  • All Activity
  • Member Photo Albums
  • Meet & Mingle Photos
  • Favorite Cruise Memories
  • Cruise Food Photos
  • Cruise Ship Photos
  • Ports of Call Photos
  • Towel Animal Photos
  • Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
  • Write a Review
  • Live Cruise Reports
  • Member Cruise Reviews
  • Create New...

msc usa yacht club

  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Newsletters
  • Sweepstakes

This Brand-new Ship Has One of the Largest Yacht Clubs in Its Fleet, Endless Adventure, and a Glass-bottomed Bridge

MSC Seascape just set sail — here's what it's like on board.

msc usa yacht club

Christine Burroni

The MSC Seascape may share many similar — or even identical — features with its predecessors, but when it comes to luxury, the fleet’s newest vessel certainly leveled up. The new ship sailed on its inaugural journey with guests from Rome to New York City this past weekend and will go on to sail out of Miami to the Caribbean for future trips.

While the European cruise line has become known for its luxury ship-within-a-ship concept, called Yacht Club , the Seascape boasts one of its largest clubs with 131 suites — with five categories to choose from — taking up 32,000 square feet. Located at the front of the ship, most exclusive Yacht Club spaces, like the private dining area or pool deck, are afforded sweeping ocean views.

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

In addition to a private restaurant with a regularly changing menu, and both indoor and outdoor lounge space, passengers who make a Yacht Club reservation are treated to expedited embarkation, 24-hour butler and concierge service, and access to the spa’s Thermal Suite where a sauna, steam room, and whirlpool awaits. Members will also have access to the ship's Top Sail Lounge for coffee, tea, and light bites at any time of day.

Yacht Club guests also enjoy the ship's premium drink package, an unpacking or packing service, a morning newspaper delivery of their choice, and the ability to select a specific pillow for customized comfort.

Sailing the blue water of the Caribbean while tucked in a super-exclusive setting may seem exceptionally relaxing, but the MSC Seascape also offers just the opposite for those looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush — with an extreme thrill ride and virtual reality experiences.

Adrenaline junkies can take a ride on the ship's Robotron , an attraction unique to the ship that will bring riders nearly 175 feet above water and flip upside down, moving in all directions to offer unobstructed 360-degree views. 

Those looking to keep their feet on the ground can still get their adventure fix with a walk across the Bridge of Sighs, a 72-foot-high glass-bottomed bridge.

The MSC Seascape is also home to a variety of virtual reality experiences. Riders can choose from Formula 1 racing, a flight simulator, and motorcycle riding.

“ MSC Seascape is an exciting addition to our fleet of Seaside Class ships with its elevated onboard experiences that will surprise and delight all ages," Ruben Rodriguez, President, MSC Cruises USA exclusively told Travel + Leisure. " From one of the largest and most luxurious Yacht Clubs in our fleet to interactive, high-tech experiences like the first Robotron at sea and immersive VR experiences, MSC Seascape brings unparalleled entertainment and thrills to our guests.”

Elsewhere on board, the ship’s interior is very similar to that of MSC’s other vessels, like the line's one-year-old MSC Seashore, including its Times Square–inspired décor, Swarovski crystal–adorned staircases, and Atrium space where live entertainment takes place.

Fans of the ship's fleet will also recognize its signature restaurants including Butcher's Cut steakhouse, Ocean Cay seafood restaurant, and more. Its lively sports bar is the perfect spot to catch any game around the world — and there are 18 other bars and lounges on board, some of which offer live music.

MSC Seascape journeys set sail from Miami to the Caribbean where passengers can visit the company's private Bahamas island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Related Articles

msc usa yacht club

MSC Cruises Drink Packages & Prices (UPDATED)

 On a recent MSC Cruise, I booked an aft balcony with a special rate that included the “Easy Package”. I really had no idea what to expect since I never booked an MSC Cruise with a beverage package in the past.

Upon embarking, I was told by staff how the Easy Package didn’t include much and couldn’t be used at a specialty dining restaurant. With that information, I paid a nominal upgrade on the spot to the “Easy Plus” package to make sure I had more choices and that I could use the package while dining in every restaurant.

So is a drink package on MSC worth it? Let’s find out!

compare MSC Cruises Drink Packages

About the drink packages:

MSC Cruises offers a variety of drink packages for their cruises, including the “Easy” package, “Easy Plus” package, “Premium Extra” package, an Alcohol-Free package for minors, and a Minors package. The packages range in price and offerings, with the Easy Plus package allowing for more choices and access to specialty dining restaurants. Recent changes include gratuity now being included in the pricing. It’s important to understand what each package includes and excludes before making a decision.

Quick things to know:

  • MSC Cruises offers various drink packages like the “Easy,” “Easy Plus,” “Premium Extra,” Alcohol-Free, and Minors package.
  • Prices range from $19/day for the Minors package to $85/day for the Premium Extra package.
  • The Easy Plus package offers more options and includes access to specialty dining restaurants for an additional cost (best value)
  • Drink package prices include gratuity
  • Drink packages CAN BE USED on Ocean Cay
  • If your package doesn’t cover the drink cost, just pay the difference!
  • The Mini bar in the cabin is not included in any package
  • Everyone in the cabin needs to purchase the same drink package (excluding minors)

MSC Drink Package Prices

Depending on which you choose, you can get a package for as little as $19/day (Minors) – but the most popular package is the Easy Plus Package which starts at $61/day. The good news is that MSC Is running quite a few promotions that INCLUDE the Easy Plus Package ! Take a look at their promotions here.

What do the drink packages on MSC cruises cost?

Package NameCost Per Person – Purchased in Advance
Easy Package$46 /day or $49/day for short sailings
Easy Plus Package$61 /day or $64/day for short sailings
Premium Extra Package$85 /day or $88/day for short sailings
Alcohol-Free Package$28 /day (21 yrs +) / $30 for short sailings
Minors Package$19 / day (3-20 yrs old) / $21 for short sailings

We’ll be posting accurate European prices shortly, as they have also changed recently.

MSC Cruises Drink Packages Compared (NEW 2024 prices)

There are 5 drink package options that MSC Cruises offers on its ships including the “Easy” package, “Easy Plus” package, “Premium Extra” Package, and the Alcohol-Free Package (with a different price for minors and adults)

  • See : MSC Cruises Bar & Drink Menus with Prices

Easy Drink Package

The “ Easy Package ” is the most basic alcoholic beverage package on MSC Cruises with a cost of $46 per day per adult and is sometimes offered at no charge as a promotion. (This package is $49 per day on short cruises of less than 6 nights and is even more expensive if purchased onboard)

Liquor choices that go into mixed drinks are generic and sometimes off-brand.

The upside to this beverage package is that it also includes bottled water, soft drinks & juices as well as espresso, coffee cappuccino, and other hot drinks (tea, hot chocolate, etc.) With many cruise lines when purchasing a drink package, they often exclude bottled water and coffee drinks. 

So if you are a heavy coffee drinker and enjoy bottled water with a few beers throughout the day, this is likely your good choice. 

This is the package that was included on my Meraviglia cruise with the base cruise fare. Initially, this seemed like a good option as it covers the basics, but some restrictions were inconvenient enough to make me upgrade to the Premium Plus.

An important exception to the Easy Package!

  You CANNOT use the Easy beverage package in any of the specialty restaurants . So if you want a gin & tonic at dinner, you’re out of luck. Even more bizarre, bringing a beverage to dinner is specifically prohibited forcing you to purchase any drinks regardless of price for the time you are in a specialty restaurant. 

MSC Easy Drink Package Menu & What’s Included

The Easy drink package entitles you to any beverage up to $7.50 ( sort of ). For your convenience, menus throughout the ships have a section specifying what’s included in the easy beverage package. However even though some beer prices by the bottle are $7.50 or less, those are EXCLUDED from this package. Strange, right?

For beer, with the Easy Drink Package, the only option is Heineken Draft or sometimes Miller Light, and the wines are off-label or inexpensive brands only marked as “chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel Rose, Cabernet, or Merlot (Plus a random label of sparkling wine or Prosecco). So if you’re not picky, this package may be sufficient. 

Martini | Gin or vodka, dry vermouth, olive or lemon peel Manhattan | Whisky, red vermouth, Angostura bitters Daiquiri | Rum, lime juice, sugar syrup Cosmopolitan | Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime Sidecar | Brandy, triple sec, lemon juice Screwdriver | Vodka, orange juice Margarita | Tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, lime juice Moscow Mule | Vodka, lime, ginger beer Cape Cod | Vodka, cranberry juice Mimosa | Sparkling wine, orange juice Gin Fizz | Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, soda Pink Lady | Gin, lemon juice, grenadine Sea Breeze | Vodka, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice Caipiroska | Vodka, diced lime, sugar Blue Hawaiian | Rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, coconut cream Tequila Sunrise | Tequila, orange juice, grenadine Bloody Mary | Vodka, tomato juice, salt, pepper, tabasco, Worcestershire sauce Long Island Iced Tea | Vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, cola Mojito | Rum, fresh mint, lime, sugar, soda Piña Colada | Rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice Strawberry Daiquiri | Rum, strawberry purée, sweet & sour mix

Alcohol-free cocktails included

Nojito | Lime, fresh mint leaves, sugar, Mojito mix, club soda Magic Island | Pineapple, orange and lemon juice, grenadine, Sprite Cuddle on the Beach | Peach purée, orange juice, cranberry juice Royal Punch | Passion fruit purée, pineapple juice, cranberry juice Fruit Smoothie | Orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, fresh banana, guava juice, mango purée Coco Colada | Fresh pineapple, coconut cream, pineapple juice, milk Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri | Strawberry purée, sweet & sour mix, sugar syrup

Beer Included in the MSC Easy Drinks Package

Heineken draft beer (ONLY)

For this package, even though bottled beers are less than the price cap of $7.50, they’re specifically excluded. Mindblowing, right? It just adds to the confusion about the MSC Drinks packages.

Sodas Included in the Easy Package

Sodas by the glass, Fruit juices by the glass, Still or sparkling mineral water

Other beverages included

Espresso, Decaf espresso, Cappuccino, Decaf cappuccino, Caffè latte, Glass of milk, Hot chocolate, Hot tea

Is the Easy package worth it?

That really depends. If you drink basic cocktails such as Gin & Tonic, Bloody Mary, Screwdriver , etc, and aren’t picky about the liquor used, the Easy Package may work for you. 

Easy Plus Drink Package

The Easy Plus Package cost is $61 per day , ($64 for shorter cruises of 6 days or less) but you can upgrade from the Easy package for about $23/per day per person

With this beverage package, you can order drinks in specialty dining restaurants as well as anything included in the above Easy package. There are caveats, more on that later.

Any beverages up to $10 are included in this package which gets you all of the beer options, more wine options, and some frozen drink options that aren’t available in the most basic drink package.  There is also a larger range of liquor brands, cordials, and martinis available at this price point.

The Easy Plus Package is the most common drinks package because it includes just about everything that a typical drinker would order. Even better, this package can be used in specialty dining restaurants as well. With recent changes to the beverage packages, the cruise line now allows you to order a drink that is not included in the package and only pay the difference (plus gratuity)

This is what we ultimately upgraded to from our included Easy Package. It was well worth the upgrade not only for the more inclusive offering, but for the simplicity of not having to think about what we were ordering and if it was included.

In addition to the Easy Package, you can also order the following:

Cocktails included:.

Sapphire Martini Bombay Sapphire gin, Martini dry, olive or lemon peel Appletini Absolut Classic and Absolut Vanilia vodka, apple sour liqueur, sweet & sour mix Royal Manhattan Crown Royal, Martini Rosso, Angostura bitters Cuban Daiquiri Bacardi Superior white rum, lime juice, sugar syrup Absolut Cosmo Absolut Citron vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, Rose’s lime Spanish Sidecar Cardinal Mendoza brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice, sugar syrup Screwdriver Made in USA T ito’s vodka, orange juice Classic Margarita Jose Cuervo silver tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, lime juice Dutch Mule K etel One vodka, lime, ginger beer Absolut Cape Cod Absolut Classic vodka, cranberry juice Mimosa Blossom Absolut Mango vodka, Galliano, orange juice, prosecco Bombay Fizz Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, soda Ultimate Pink Lady Beefeater London Dry gin, lemon juice, pomegranate syrup Caribbean Breeze Ketel One vodka, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, lime Masters of the Sea Caipirinha Premium cachaça, diced lime, sugar Blue Hawaiian Punch Bacardi Superior white rum, Malibu coconut rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, coconut cream Aperol Spritz Aperol, prosecco, club soda, orange slice Jalisco Sunrise Jose Cuervo silver tequila, orange juice, grenadine Absolut Bloody Mary Absolut Classic vodka, tomato juice, salt, pepper, tabasco, Worcestershire sauce Ultimate Iced Tea Smirnoff vodka, Bacardi Superior White rum, Beefeater gin, Jose Cuervo silver tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour mix, cola Bacardi Mojito Bacardi Superior white rum, fresh mint leaves, lime, sugar, club soda Mudslide Absolut vodka, Kahlúa coffee liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream, heavy cream Baileys Alexander Baileys Irish Cream, dark crème de cacao, cream

Frozen Drinks:

Mango Tropical Trooper Cruzan mango rum, peach schnapps, triple sec, mango juice, fresh mint Rock Lobster Malibu coconut rum, banana liqueur, grenadine, fresh banana, pineapple and orange juice, Gosling’s Black Seal rum Ultimate Piña Colada Bacardi Superior white rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, fresh pineapple B.B.C Bailey’s Irish Cream, Bacardi Superior white rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice, fresh banana Original Strawberry Daiquiri Bacardi Superior white rum, strawberry purée, sweet & sour mix Miami Vice Miami’s hottest drink: half Strawberry Daiquiri and half Piña Colada Frozen Toblerone Bailey’s Irish Cream, macadamia nut syrup, Swiss white chocolate syrup, cream

Beer Included in the Easy Plus package:

Miller Lite USA Budweiser USA Bud Light USA Coors Light USA Michelob Ultra USA Heineken Netherlands Corona Extra Mexico Dos Equis Mexico Red Stripe Jamaica Stella Artois Belgium

Samuel Adams USA Yuengling Lager USA Newcastle Brown Ale England Blue Moon USA Beck’s Germany Peroni Nastro Azzurro Italy Pilsner Urquell Czech Republic Guinness Pub Draft Ireland Angry Orchard Apple Cider USA Heineken 0.0 Netherlands

MSC Easy Plus Package Menu

This is an example of the Easy Plus menu from within the MSC mobile app. Just know that you are entitled to anything up to $10. See the complete list below.

MSC Easy Plus Drink Package Menu

Receive Our Monthly CruiseLetter

Including cruise reviews, travel tips, and cruise deals

Premium Extra Package

This drinks package allows you to purchase any beverage up to $16 , however, it comes at a high cost of $85.00 / day per person (this can be as much as $104/day if you are on a short cruise and purchase onboard). You can upgrade from a lower-cost beverage package for the difference in price, i.e. if you have the easy package, for approximately $43/day you can upgrade to this Premium package.  (Note: Prices have changed as of March 1, 2023, and this information reflects the newest pricing)

While this package covers most top-shelf liquor, there are still quite a few wines and drinks that are more than $16, so it’s not as inclusive as other cruise lines’ most premium drink packages.

MSC Premium Extra Drink Menu

Most premium liquors can be purchased with this package including Grey Goose, Aviation Gin, Belvedere, etc. (see the menu below). However, there are still plenty of drinks that are strategically priced above $16, making this package far from all-inclusive. Additionally, most of the champagne and decent wine on board is significantly more than the limit allowed by this package. It’s hard to make sense of this package unless your tastes are squarely within the more premium liquor brands included.

A bonus of these drinks packages is the discounting on bottles of wine (25%), but the reality is good bottles of wine are generally only available at The Butchers Cut Steakhouse, so unless you are dining there regularly, that benefit is minimal. 

In addition to the Easy Package & Easy Plus Package, you can also order the following beverages:

Drinks included in the premium extra package:.

Aviation Martini Aviation gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, fresh lemon juice Hemingway Daiquiri Zacapa 23Y rum, fresh lime juice, grapefruit juice, maraschino liqueur Santa Teresa Manhattan Santa Teresa 1796 rum, orange bitters, red vermouth Gold Rush Woodford Reserve bourbon, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup MSC Signature Martini Disaronno liqueur, Grey Goose vodka, Licor 43, lemon peel Mule Le Poire Grey Goose Le Poire vodka, fresh lime juice, ginger beer Shanghai Margarita Patrón Silver tequila, agave nectar, fresh lime juice, fresh ginger zest Chili Passion Caipirinha Premium caçhaca, lime, raw sugar, hot chili sauce, passion fruit, jalapeño

Ultimate Mai Tai Appleton Estate rum, Bacardi Superior white rum, Disaronno liqueur, pineapple and orange juice, sweet & sour mix, grenadine Purple Rain Bacardi Superior white rum, Finlandia vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, peach schnapps, blue curaçao, sweet & sour mix, grenadine Coco Loco Bacardi Oakheart spiced rum, Malibu coconut rum, Piña Colada mix, mango purée, fruit punch Jamaican Paradise Appleton Estate rum, Malibu coconut rum, Jose Cuervo silver tequila, Midori melon liqueur, blue curaçao, sweet & sour mix Miami Beach Iced Tea Bacardi Superior white rum, Beefeater gin, Smirnoff vodka, Cuervo silver tequila, blue curaçao, sugar syrup, Sprite Sunset Beach Malibu coconut rum, raspberry liqueur, orange and pineapple juice, grenadine Tropical Tease Midori melon liqueur, Malibu coconut rum, banana liqueur, pineapple juice Emerald Mariachi 1800 Reposado tequila, blue curaçao, lime juice, passion fruit syrup, pineapple juice Mango Mojito Bacardi mango rum, mango purée, fresh mint leaves, lime, club sod a

You ONLY pay the difference in price for a beverage not included in your MSC DRINK package

You can now get a credit towards any drinks not included in your MSC Drink package!. The credit towards a drink is $8 per drink for the Easy Package, $10 per drink for the Easy Plus Package, and $16 per drink for the Premium Extra Package.

For European cruises the credit you get is 7 Euro for the Easy Package, 9 Euro for the Easy Plus and 14 Euro for the Premium Extra package on MSC.

Alcoholic-Free and Minors Package on MSC Cruises

You might be interested in the non-alcoholic package if you’re not a drinker or when traveling with children. This package offers non-alcoholic cocktails, sodas, energy drinks, juices, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. This package doesn’t apply to specialty restaurants unless it’s for a minor whose group purchased the Easy Plus or Premium Extra alcoholic package. So be prepared to pay for your soda when dining at the Butcher’s Cut, even if you have this package.

These prices will vary if booked on the ship on the day of sailing. Usually by an additional 10% or more. Short sailings are considered anything less than 7 days.

This table of prices is pretty mind-numbing and takes the fun out of figuring out what package is right. Why there are different prices for different lengths of cruise is bizarre and just another way that MSC tends to overcomplicate everything.

  • Read : More about MSC Cruises
  • See : MSC Bar Menus

In Summary, My experience with the MSC Drink Packages

Originally, I thought the Easy package would be sufficient for our cruise, but discovering the limited beverage options and the fact that you cannot use the package in specialty dining restaurants, we chose to upgrade to the Easy Plus.

Overall this was a good choice, because of the wider variety of options and the ability to use in a specialty restaurant. However, it’s important to know – that when using the Easy Plus in a specialty restaurant like Butcher’s Cut, you must order off of the wine/drink menus in that restaurant!

If your favorite glass of wine isn’t available in the restaurant, you are forbidden to bring anything from an outside bar, which really makes no sense. This is something that they do NOT TELL YOU when upgrading from Easy to Easy Plus on the ship.

Normally this wouldn’t be a big issue except there were very few options on beverage menus that were covered by the Easy Plus package.

Drink Calculator – Are drink packages worth it on MSC?

Let’s find out if getting a drink package is worth it or not by using our handy drink calculator! Simply choose the package you plan on purchasing and estimate how many drinks per day you might consume and see if you “break even”

  • Choose the package type you are considering. We’ve entered the package price per MSC Cruises but you can adjust the daily charge if you are getting a promo on the package price.
  • Enter the number of cruise days
  • Estimate your consumption of each type of beverage. We’ve put the average beverage prices based on the Drink Menus, but you can adjust this if you know you like more expensive drink options.

Easy Package includes:

Specific drinks listed on the easy drink menu (found here).

Selection of classic cocktailsSoft drinks and fruit juices by the glass
Draught beerBottled mineral water
Selection of house wines by the glassClassic hot drinks (espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte, hot tea)
Mixed drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails

These drinks are sort of “vague” in some respect, so definitely look at the MSC Drink Menus article , where there is a unique menu for the Easy Package.

The Easy Package covers all of the above served in the bars, buffet and main restaurant as well as Ocean Cay and other exclusive destinations. This package CANNOT be used in specialty restaurants.

Easy Plus Package includes:

Bottomless beverages priced up to $10 all day long.

Popular Frozen DrinksA wide variety of draught and bottled beers


Classic CocktailsNon-alcoholic cocktails
Well SpiritsSoft drinks
LiqueursMineral water
CordialsCoffee drinks (latte, espresso, cappuccino, etc.)
Selection of wines by the glassHot chocolate and hot teas
10% discount on bottles of wines purchased on board

The Easy Plus Package can be enjoyed in the bars, buffet, main restaurant and specialty restaurants , Ocean Cay, and other exclusive destinations.

Premium Extra Package includes:

Premium beverages priced up to $16.

Extensive variety of frozen and classic cocktailsOur entire selection of draught, craft and bottled beers
Premium brand spiritsSoft drinks, fruit juices, mineral water and energy drinks
Liqueurs and CordialsCoffee drinks (latte, espresso, cappuccino, etc.)


Selection of wines and champagne by the glassHot chocolate and hot teas
25% discount on bottles of wine and champagne purchased on board

The Premium Extra Package can be enjoyed in the bars, buffet, main restaurant, and specialty restaurants as well as Ocean Cay and other exclusive destinations.

Estimate Your Daily Consumption:

Each field contains the average price found on most MSC ships in US Dollars.

Remember! Any drink not within your package limit, you pay the overage cost plus the service charge! If you tend to drink nicer wines or cocktails, you can adjust the average price of each beverage in the corresponding boxes! This helps give you a more accurate idea of your possible spending. (15% gratuities on European, Emirates, South Caribbean, Red Sea, South America (Brazil and Argentine) and Far East itineraries, and 18% gratuity on North America itineraries.)

Each field contains the average price found on most MSC ships. For the Premium Extra package, all drinks up to $15 are included. If you tend to drink nicer wines or cocktails, you can adjust the average price of each beverage in the corresponding boxes – Remember, for anything over the included price, you pay the difference plus a service charge or gratuity (15% gratuities on European, Emirates, South Caribbean, Red Sea, South America (Brazil and Argentine) and Far East itineraries, and 18% gratuity on North America itineraries.)!

You haven’t broken even on the Easy Package yet!

You BROKE EVEN on the Easy Package!

You haven’t broken even on the Easy PLUS Package yet!

You BROKE EVEN on the Easy PLUS Package!

You haven’t broken even on the Premium Extra Package yet!

Beer Lovers Need Easy Plus on MSC

Other MSC Drink Package Helpful Information

MSC Cruises Drink & Bar Menus With Prices (2024)

MSC Cruises Drink & Bar Menus With Prices (2024)

MSC Cruises Drink & Bar Menus With PriceS – UPDATED We spent a lot of time on a recent voyage with MSC Cruises trying... Read This

Phil Crane

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our Monthly Cruise Digest?

35 Comments

On MSc how much doe sit cost if you buy a beer or a soda pop per purchase since i do not drink much alcohol at all and maybe two sodas a day

Wayne – You can get a beer for about $7.50 and a soda for $3.00-$3.50 + gratuity. You can see the MSC drink menus here

How do you know if the drink you order is within the 10$ limit on the easy plus package? Do the bartenders tell you? I would hate to get a bill for the extra few dollars if not covered. Thanks!

Hi Robin, They are very good about telling you right away if anything you order isn’t in the package, but the menus are also scattered around everywhere, and you’ll quickly learn what types of drinks are extra. I found that the selection of drinks wasn’t incredibly huge, so I knew fast what they had that I liked, and which were going to cost a little more.

I don’t drink alcohol but would like the occasional soda. Is it possible to purchase just individual drinks without the packages?

Hi Peter, Absolutely! If you take a look at the MSC Drink Menus (here) – on the first menu, flip to the last page. You’ll see the list of sodas and other beverages. It’s definitely not worth a package with the occasional soda.

Hi! Sailing in a couple days. Just want water and maybe a MOCKtail or 2 for a day. I wasn’t clear on how much mineral water is included per day or how to access. No soda, tea or coffee for me. The calculator did not offer the nonalcoholic package so wanted your recommendations- I do need to drink alot of water. Can I bring any sealed bottled water aboard? Is there gratuities on bottled water as well and how big are the bottles? Thanks in advance!

Hi Amy – Good point on the calculator – we’ll fix that and add the non-alcoholic package! At about $28 per day for the non-alcoholic package and a water being about $3.25 + gratuities, You’d end up needing to buy about 7 bottled waters per day to “break even”. (They are the large 17 oz sizes you’d get in a restaurant, so it’s a pretty good value) The non alcoholic cocktails are included as well and are usually about $7 to my recollection, but here’s the menus for MSC Drinks . (the first menu flips through to all the non-alcoholic in the back of the menu) – About bringing water, etc. MSC Is one of the only cruise lines that literally allows no beverages to be brought on the ship. Enjoy your cruise! I hope this helps.

We are looking at doing a cruise with our teens in the spring. We don’t drink alcohol, so is it worth buying a drink package? We would like access to sodas, juices, anything non alcoholic, so wondering if you’d advise to get a drink pkg or not. Thanks!

Hi Diana – Basic tea, coffee, water is included in the fare but soda, specialty coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages aren’t included. There IS an Alcohol free package for $28/day per person +/- which is quite a bit less than the other drink packages. HOWEVER, MSC Often does a promo with the “easy” package or “easy plus” as a perk for a bit of an extra charge. Doing the math, you’ll often find that the little higher rate on a cruise that includes the drink package is far less than buying the package separately. For example, on a 7 day booking I looked and the all included fare was about $37/per person per day more expensive and the drink package was included as well as wifi and onboard credit. More benefits for less money for sure! SO be sure to check that pricing and use our drink calculator for MSC (here) to see if you even drink enough soda/non-alcoholic things to make it worth it.

Your calculator doesn’t take into account that they add a 15% gratuity to each drink, and the package includes the gratuity.

Hi Brad, thanks for the comment, we’ll make a change to the formula to include the gratuity in the calculations!

Is there a time limit in between each drink? Like a waiting period of 10/15 minutes?

Hi Sarah – There is not. We would often try a drink of the day or some specialty, hate it, and immediately order something else.

Hope this helps!

I want to get the easy drinks package but my husband cant drink due to Ill health. Do MSC take this into consideration or will we have to both buy same package.

Hi Karen – Normally with a medical notice from a doctor, the second person doesn’t have to purchase an alcohol package. HOWEVER, MSC rules change… sometimes depending on who you speak to. My experience with this is that they will request you purchase the EASY package for yourself and the NON ALCOHOLIC package for your husband. But it will have to be done by phone, and whether they ask for medical proof will likely depend on who you speak to at the time. I had friends traveling with us that were in your exact situation and they were not asked for proof but were in fact told the non drinking person has to purchase a non-alcoholic package.

Is Redbul available at no additional cost in the easy plus package?

Yes, my recollection is that energy drinks were included with the Easy Plus!

So for my wife who does not drink any alcohol is the minor package the best? Based on the menu the easy plus package covers a variety of beers is that correct vs only Heineken on the easy package.

Hi Jason, they (MSC) will likely require the Alcohol-Free Package as I believe the Minors package is truly teens and below. They’re basically the same thing, you’re just getting penalized for being a grown up 🙂 – That said, the Easy Plus package you are considering does cover all of the beers. There wasn’t a beer served that wasn’t covered by the Easy Plus. And yes, Heineken is the only thing available on the Easy Package. So if you’re a beer drinker, it’s worth looking at the Easy Plus. BUT! Keep in mind, the specials that MSC runs sometimes include the beverage packages and it may be cheaper to go ahead and book with those specials rather than cruise only and adding an Alcohol-Free Package + Easy Plus package. Even if your wife doesn’t take advantage of the alcohol, she can have all of the non-alcoholic beverages she wants and in the end the total price may be less on the promotion. Hope this helps!

If you purchase a non-alcoholic drink package, do you pay the difference for an alcoholic drink or the full price?

Hi Tom – The non alcoholic package won’t work to apply anything towards an alcoholic beverage purchase. However if you have the most basic beverage package (Easy), you can pay the difference for drinks that are more expensive than what is covered by the Easy (this is new for 2023)

Thank you, kind of what I thought. I’d have to to go easy plus since the easy package is not inclusive of some of the non-alcoholic drinks I would like.

Interesting! I’m curious about what non-alcoholic drinks you like that wouldn’t be included in the Easy Package? In our experience, everything non-alcoholic was included in the Easy Package (but there may be something I’m missing!) 🙂

What to do if one person drinks and other doesn’t on the same cabin?

Typically everyone of age in the same cabin must have the same drink package. The cruise line will make an exception for medical reasons. Mostly they don’t want one person getting the package and sharing the drinks with their cabin mate 🙁

Thank you for all of this information. It is very hard to navigate all of this from MSC website. I am not a big drinker so I wasn’t sure if the packages were necessary. Your drink calculator is very helpful . If you could answer a question: there are no frozen drinks on the easy drink menu. Does that mean there is no option for frozen margaritas?

Hi Claudia, I’m glad this information helped! We were able to get frozen drinks without a problem, as long as the liquor type was in the basic package. They didn’t distinguish between frozen or on the rocks with things like Margaritas and Daiquiris.

We are sailing to Rome from Durban 20th April and have bought 18 of the 18 unit packages, my question is does a unit mean a short and a mixer, ie, rum and coke or it that 2 units.

Hi Jennifer, we’ve done both Europe & USA cruises on MSC – and in our experience, a rum and coke was in fact a single drink. I know in Europe, it’s common to sell the mixer separate, but that does not seem to be the case on MSC Ships. I hope this helps & enjoy your cruise!

My husband and I are booked to sail from Durban in April on msc Orchestra 25 day cruise to Genoa. Please can you advise if drinks packages are on offer on the ship or if we pay per drink and are soft drinks free? If we pay per drink can you email prices so that we can work out a budget, many thanks.

Hi Ann! When you login to your MSC account you should see a way to pre-purchase the packages. If you wait until you get on the ship, they will be about 20% more expensive! We did the “easy” package which covered sodas, specialty coffee, bottled water, and quite a few basic drinks, but upgraded on another trip to the Easy Plus which gets you better beverages and allows you to use the package in the specialty restaurants (which you can’t with the basic Easy package). We put together a handy drink calculator for MSC (See the drink calculator) so you can estimate your budget based on how you normally consume. This will let you know really fast if you’re going to make the drink package worth it! I hope this helps.

Their top package used to include everything but full bottles of wine. Last time on Miraviglia it included everything on the champagne bar menu including $20 drinks. On the Seaside it used to cover the specialty chocolate drinks and gelato. Mildly disappointed. Used to be the best package. Bartenders loved it because they could make the high dollar stuff most people won’t try

I feel your disappointment! When we were on the Meraviglia , the whole drink package was so confusing that even some of the staff weren’t sure what to include or not. I had hoped they’d simplify it, but the new packages with prices were just released, and it’s still a head-scratcher.

It will be our first time on a cruise. Reading your tips is being mind and eye opening. We will make sure to have every single detail well calculated before we proceed. Thank you! Great website!

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

msc usa yacht club

MSC Cruises’ MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know

Compared to some of its closest rivals, MSC Cruises has a relatively modest loyalty program.

Unlike the frequent cruiser programs at Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , the MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program doesn't offer its members a free cruise after reaching the top tier. It does not offer a massive discount on the single supplement charge for solo travelers, as Royal Caribbean offers its top-tier members, nor does it grant priority access to onboard shows.

For more cruise guides, reviews and news, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Still, the MSC Cruises loyalty program offers several valuable perks at higher levels, including a complimentary meal in an extra-charge specialty restaurant once per cruise and priority access to tenders in ports.

The MSC Voyagers Club program also allows you to status match your way into one of its top tiers — something that no other major cruise line loyalty program offers.

Ways to earn points

The points-earning system for MSC Voyagers Club is a bit convoluted, as the number of points you earn on any given cruise depends on various factors.

For starters, you earn points based on the length of the cruise you take and which MSC Cruises "experience" you book. As regular MSC Cruises customers know, the line offers four onboard experiences, each with different inclusions and price points. Bella is the most basic — and least expensive — experience available. MSC Yacht Club is the top experience available. Experiences called Fantastica and Aurea are in between.

For sailings of four nights or fewer, each passenger in the cabin will earn the following number of points depending on experience type:

  • Fantastica: 400
  • MSC Yacht Club: 800

For sailings of five to nine nights, every guest will earn the following number of points depending on experience type:

  • Fantastica: 700
  • Aurea: 1,000
  • MSC Yacht Club: 1,500

For sailings of nine or more nights, they'll earn the following number of points depending on experience type:

  • Fantastica: 1,000
  • Aurea: 1,500
  • MSC Yacht Club: 2,000

In addition to the above, you can also earn points for extras when spending money on MSC Cruises ships or when booking in advance of sailing. You'll earn 100 points for every $150 you spend on prepaid and onboard expenses.

One caveat: Only the MSC Voyagers Club member who makes the final payment for onboard expenses will receive those points. For expenses for prepaid services that apply to all cabin occupants (and not single occupants), points will be equally distributed among the cabin occupants.

For example, say the total amount of prepaid onboard services that apply to all cabin occupants before the cruise is $600. If there are four cabin occupants, the spending for the points calculation of each member will be $150, which is equal to 100 points.

Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises ships and itineraries

The final way to earn points is by updating your contact details up to 72 hours before departure on your next cruise. This will earn you 100 points.

All points, including for the cruise, onboard spending and updating your profile, will pop up in your account about 10 days after the cruise is completed.

MSC Voyagers Club tiers and benefits

There are four tiers to the MSC Voyagers Club program:

  • Classic : 1 to 2,199 points
  • Silver : 2,200 to 4,299 points
  • Gold : 4,300 to 9,999 points
  • Diamond : 10,000 or more points

As is typical for cruise line loyalty programs, the entry-level tier (Classic) doesn't provide many truly valuable rewards. By far, the most alluring benefit at this level is the 5% discount members receive when booking future sailings. (This discount is not valid for MSC Grand Tours and when booking Tandem cabins, which are specially discounted cabins that parents can book for kids.) That's real savings every time you book a cruise.

Additionally, Classic members receive:

  • An extra 5% discount on Voyagers Exclusives sailings made six to nine months before departure
  • An MSC Voyagers Club e-newsletter
  • MSC Voyagers Club personalized luggage tags for embarkation in the e-ticket
  • An MSC Voyagers Club card
  • An invitation to a "welcome back" cocktail party
  • A dedicated number to call on board
  • Discounts on many packages and amenities, including onboard pictures, digital accessories, Wi-Fi and spa and fitness offerings
  • An MSC Shops discount (for each $50 spent in any onboard shops, you will receive a $10 discount)

Note that the MSC Shops discount has a lot of fine print. The discount is not combinable with promotions available on board and is not available for spending on tobacco products and electronics. It's also only valid on the first day of a cruise. That final point prompts us to downgrade the value of this perk considerably.

Upon reaching the second tier of the program, Silver, you get a couple of additional perks. The most notable to us is a $50 onboard credit per person, plus double MSC Voyagers Club points, for all bookings made more than 12 months before departure. (If you book nine to 12 months in advance, you get the $50 credit but not the double points.)

The Silver level also brings an unspecified milestone reward and all the perks of the lower-tier Classic level.

Related: Everything you need to know about MSC Cruises cabins and suites

You will be a member of the Classic level as soon as you take a single cruise, as it takes only 1 point to reach the Classic level. You also might be able to reach the Silver level in just one cruise if you take a long voyage of nine nights or more, pay for the top MSC Yacht Club experience and do a modest amount of onboard spending.

Still, a more typical cruiser sailing seven-night trips at a mid-tier Fantastica or Aurea experience level would need two or three cruises to reach the Silver level.

The elite level that makes a difference

Being loyal to MSC Cruises starts paying off in a more meaningful way once you reach the Gold level of the MSC Voyagers Club program. Even here, though, the rewards are still relatively modest.

The Gold level comes with one solid perk: priority disembarkation in ports where a tender boat is required. This can make a real difference in your cruising experience, as it means you can get off the ship much faster in some cases than the majority of other passengers. That will allow you to maximize your time in tender ports.

Additionally, Gold status brings all the perks of the tiers below it plus:

  • A complimentary one-hour thermal area session once per cruise
  • A complimentary gift
  • A complimentary photo taken during the "welcome back" cocktail party
  • A complimentary birthday cake when it's your birthday

It could take you as few as two cruises to reach the Gold level if you sign up for longer sailings and pay for the top MSC Yacht Club experience. Someone sailing seven-night trips at a mid-tier Fantastica or Aurea experience level would need four or five cruises to reach the Gold level.

The best elite perk with MSC Voyagers Club

Alas, there isn't a "wow" perk in the entire MSC Voyagers Club menu. As noted above, unlike some lines, MSC Cruises doesn't award top-tier members with truly high-value perks such as a free cruise. Still, MSC Voyagers Club's top Diamond status tier does come with a few enticing benefits.

Our favorite perk in the entire MSC Voyagers Club program is the complimentary dinner at a specialty restaurant that comes with Diamond-level status. That said, be warned that the complimentary dinner comes with a lot of fine print (so much fine print, in fact, that to use it verges on the ridiculous).

The complimentary dinner, in theory, is for you and a cabinmate. However, among the fine-print caveats is that two Diamond members staying in the same cabin don't get two free dinners.

If you and your spouse are both Diamond members, and you dine together using the perk, MSC Cruises counts that as you both using your perk for that one meal. That said, if you had two other people staying with you in the same cabin, you and your spouse could each use your perk to take one of them out for the free dinner, resulting in two free dinners for your cabin.

Additionally, the complimentary dinner privilege at specialty restaurants might not be available on all ship classes. Members under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at dinner. Also, drinks are not included with the complimentary dinner, nor are you allowed to bring outside drinks into the restaurant.

Related: The 6 types of MSC Cruises ships, explained

Should all that prove too confusing, MSC Voyagers Club Diamond status thankfully also offers two other solid perks:

  • A priority line for boarding on embarkation day
  • Priority disembarkation at the end of the cruise

Diamond level also provides all the perks of the tiers below it plus:

  • Courtesy bathrobe and slippers available during the cruise
  • A complimentary dance class
  • An invitation to an exclusive Diamond Party
  • Late cabin checkout on disembarkation day
  • A chocolate gift

Someone sailing seven-night cruises at a mid-tier Fantastica or Aurea experience level would need to take about eight to 10 trips to reach the Diamond level, depending on onboard spending.

In contrast to every other major cruise line loyalty program, MSC Cruises customers do not get "forever status" once they reach a certain tier of the MSC Voyagers Club. Once achieved, your status is only good as long as you take a cruise at least once every 36 months.

If you don't take a cruise once every 36 months, you will see your points in the MSC Voyagers Club disappear and your entire account erased. You'll have to reenroll and start all over again.

This is a notable difference from other cruise line loyalty programs, as "forever status" is one of the great allures of such programs. Many airline frequent flyer programs, by contrast, require loyalty members to requalify for status each year.

MSC Voyagers Club status match

As noted above, the MSC Voyagers Club program allows you to status match your way to its top tiers — something other major cruise line loyalty programs don't offer.

If you show proof of a high loyalty program status level with a competing cruise line, a hotel company or even a booking site such as Expedia, you can catapult your way from no status to a top-tier status with MSC Cruises in a jiffy. A high status level at an airline, alas, won't get you a status match at MSC Cruises, with a handful of exceptions such as a high status level at Air China.

This MSC Cruises status match, to us, is a big deal. It's one thing that sets MSC Voyagers Club apart from other cruise line loyalty programs.

The status match process at MSC Cruises is simple. Go to the dedicated enrollment page for MSC Voyagers Club status matching at the MSC Cruises website. You'll find a short online form where you enter some personal details (including name, birth date and address) and details about your status level with another loyalty program. You'll then have to upload a picture of your membership card for that program (or, if you don't have a membership card, a screenshot of your online account page showing your name and status).

That's it. Within a few days, you'll get an email or text welcoming you into the MSC Voyagers Club program at a status tier that matches your status with the other brand.

The dedicated enrollment page lists more than 60 loyalty programs from which you can status match into the MSC Cruises loyalty program. They include such cruise line loyalty programs as Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society and Carnival Cruise Line's VIFP Club program . Your status in the loyalty programs run by such major hotel chains as Hilton , Hyatt and Marriott also can be submitted for a match.

MSC Cruises doesn't offer a chart showing which tier of its loyalty program you will receive based on your tier at each of the other brands. Our staff members at TPG have had luck matching into the top Gold or Diamond tiers of the MSC Voyagers Club program from high levels of competing programs. One TPG editor received top Diamond tier status in the MSC Cruises program as a match to World of Hyatt Globalist status, for instance. Another staffer received Gold status in the MSC Cruises program as a match to the Diamond level in Royal Caribbean's program.

You can enter your status in only one program when seeking a match, so pick the program in which you have the highest status level.

Bottom line

MSC Cruises offers some decent perks in its four-tier loyalty program, including discounts and onboard credits when you book additional cruises. It also allows cruisers to status match their way to the top tiers of the program.

Still, the MSC Voyagers Club program is not nearly as robust a frequent cruiser program as those offered by such rivals as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

  • The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
  • The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
  • A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
  • 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
  • Top ways cruisers waste money
  • The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

MSC Meraviglia

MSC World Europa

msc usa yacht club

Courtesy of MSC Cruises |

msc usa yacht club

Find a Cruise on MSC World Europa

with a cruise advisor

Cabins on MSC World Europa

MSC World Europa offers a wide range of accommodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite w/Whirlpool-Deck 16-18

Decks: Deck 16 Bern,Deck 18 Athens

Category: YC3 Size: Approximately 549 - 624 sq. ft. with Balcony of 452 - 549 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed large balcony with private whirlpool bath and outdoor dining area double sofa bed to sleep additional guests wa

MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite w/Whirlpool-Deck 16

Decks: Deck 16 Bern

Category: YJD Size: Approximately 495 sq. ft. with Balcony of 301 - 334 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Two-floor stateroom. On main floor: open living and dining room comfortable king size bed bathroom with shower and hairdryer; on second fl

Premium Suite Aurea w/Promenade & Ocvw-Deck 11

Decks: Deck 11 Moscow

Category: SLP Size: Approximately 291 sq. ft. with balcony (overlooking the Promenade) of 97 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request sitting area or separate living room with

Deluxe Interior-Deck 15-21

Decks: Deck 15 Brussels,Deck 16 Bern,Deck 18 Athens,Deck 19 Paris,Deck 20 Lisbon,Deck 21 Valletta

Category: IR2 Size: Approximately 164 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have two pullman beds to sleep additional guests bathroom with shower and hairdryer in

Deluxe Balcony with Partial View-Deck 15-16

Decks: Deck 15 Brussels,Deck 16 Bern

Category: BP Size: Approximately 183 sq. ft. with balcony of 32 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that can be

Deluxe Balcony-Deck 9-10

Decks: Deck 9 Dublin,Deck 10 Vienna

Category: BR1 Size: Approximately 183 sq. ft. with balcony of 32 - 108 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that

Deluxe Suite Aurea w/Promenade & Ocvw-Deck 16

Category: SRP Size: Approximately 215 sq. ft. with balcony (overlooking the Promenade) of 75 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 guests standard Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request private balcony overlooking the Promena

Balcony Aurea-Deck 10-16

Decks: Deck 10 Vienna,Deck 11 Moscow,Deck 12 Copenhagen,Deck 14 Prague,Deck 15 Brussels,Deck 16 Bern

Category: BA Size: Approximately 183 sq. ft. with balcony of 32 - 86 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that ca

Deluxe Balcony-Deck 16

Category: BR4 Size: Approximately 183 sq. ft. with balcony of 32 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that can be

MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite w/Whirlpool-Dk 16-18

Category: YC4 Size: Suite 16002 approximately 1119 sq. ft. with Balcony of 517 sq. ft.; Suite 18001 approximately 840 sq. ft. with Balcony of 699 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed large balcony with private whirlpool bath a

MSC Yacht Club Duplex Suite-Deck 16

Category: YCD Size: Approximately 495 sq. ft. with Balcony of 65 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Two-floor stateroom. On main floor: comfortable king size bed open living and dining room balcony bathroom with shower and hairdryer; on second f

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite-Deck 15-21

Category: YC1 Size: Approximately 269 sq. ft. with Balcony of 54 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request sitting area with sofa or single or double sofa bed to sleep addition

Grand Suite Aurea w/Terrace & Whirlpool-Dk 15-16

Category: SXJ Size: Approximately 377 sq. ft. with balcony of 260 - 377 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request sitting area with double sofa bed to sleep additional guests sp

Grand Suite Aurea w/Terrace-Deck 11-14

Decks: Deck 11 Moscow,Deck 12 Copenhagen,Deck 14 Prague

Category: SXT Size: Approximately 377 sq. ft. with balcony of 398 - 495 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request sitting area with double sofa bed to sleep additional guests pr

Grand Suite Aurea-Deck 9-10

Category: SX Size: Approximately 377 sq. ft. with balcony of 86 - 99 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request sitting area with double sofa bed to sleep additional guests priva

Premium Suite Aurea-Deck 12-14

Decks: Deck 12 Copenhagen,Deck 14 Prague

Category: SL1 Size: Approximately 269 sq. ft. with balcony of 43 sq. ft. Occupancy: Up to 6 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request double sofa bed to sleep additional guests bunk beds or sofa that can

Junior Suite Aurea-Deck 9

Decks: Deck 9 Dublin

Category: SM Size: Approximately 183 sq. ft. with balcony of 140 - 226 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: Comfortable king bed that can be converted into two single beds on request sitting area with sofa single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa

Deluxe Balcony-Deck 14-15

Decks: Deck 14 Prague,Deck 15 Brussels

Category: BR3 Size: Approximately 183 sq. ft. with balcony of 32 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that can be

Deluxe Balcony-Deck 11-12

Decks: Deck 11 Moscow,Deck 12 Copenhagen

Category: BR2 Size: Approximately 183 sq. ft. with balcony of 32 - 108 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that

Deluxe Balcony w/Promenade & Ocvw-Deck 15

Decks: Deck 9 Dublin,Deck 10 Vienna,Deck 11 Moscow,Deck 12 Copenhagen,Deck 14 Prague,Deck 15 Brussels

Category: PV Size: Approximately 172 sq. ft. with balcony of 54 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 guests standard Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request balcony with Promenade view spacious closet bathroom with shower and hairdryer

Deluxe Balcony w/Promenade View-Deck 15-16

Category: PR3 Size: Approximately 172 sq. ft. with balcony of 54 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 guests standard Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request balcony with Promenade view spacious closet bathroom with shower and hairdryer

Deluxe Balcony w/Promenade View-Deck 12-14

Category: PR2 Size: Approximately 172 sq. ft. with balcony of 54 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 guests standard Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request balcony with Promenade view spacious closet bathroom with shower and hairdryer

Infinite Ocean View-Deck 12-14

Category: VL2 Size: Approximately 215 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that can be converted into bunk beds t

Deluxe Ocean View-Deck 10-12

Decks: Deck 10 Vienna,Deck 11 Moscow,Deck 12 Copenhagen

Category: OR2 Size: Approximately 172 sq. ft. Occupancy: 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that can be converted into bunk beds to sleep additional guests wind

Deluxe Ocean View-Deck 5-9

Decks: Deck 5 Berlin,Deck 9 Dublin

Category: OR1 Size: Approximately 161 - 172 sq. ft. Occupancy: 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that can be converted into bunk beds to sleep additional guest

Studio Ocean View-Deck 5-14

Decks: Deck 5 Berlin,Deck 9 Dublin,Deck 12 Copenhagen,Deck 14 Prague

Category: OS Size: Approximately 129 sq. ft. Occupancy: 1 guest Amenities: Single sofa bed window spacious closet bathroom with shower vanity area and hairdryer interactive TV telephone Wi-Fi access available (for a fee) mini bar and safe. Fantastica expe

MSC Yacht Club Interior Suite-Deck 15-16

Category: YIN Size: Approximately 161 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 guests standard Amenities: Queen bed which can be converted into two single beds on request spacious closet bathroom with shower and hairdryer spacious closet interactive TV telephone safe minibar

Deluxe Interior-Deck 5-14

Decks: Deck 5 Berlin,Deck 9 Dublin,Deck 10 Vienna,Deck 11 Moscow,Deck 12 Copenhagen,Deck 14 Prague

Category: IR1 Size: Approximately 164 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have two pullman beds to sleep additional guests bathroom with shower and hairdryer in

Studio Interior-Deck 11-19

Decks: Deck 11 Moscow,Deck 14 Prague,Deck 16 Bern,Deck 19 Paris

Category: IS Size: Approximately 108 sq. ft. Occupancy: 1 guest Amenities: Single sofa bed bathroom with shower vanity area and hairdryer interactive TV telephone Wi-Fi access available (for a fee) mini bar and safe. Fantastica experience amenities: Disco

Deluxe Balcony w/Promenade View-Deck 10-11

Decks: Deck 10 Vienna,Deck 11 Moscow

Category: PR1 Size: Approximately 172 sq. ft. with balcony of 54 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 guests standard Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request balcony with Promenade view spacious closet bathroom with shower and hairdryer

Infinite Ocean View-Deck 10-11

Category: VL1 Size: Approximately 215 sq. ft. Occupancy: 2 3 or 4 guests Amenities: King bed which can be converted into two single beds on request some staterooms also have a single sofa bed or two bunk beds or sofa that can be converted into bunk beds t

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

msc usa yacht club

Rhapsody of the Seas

msc usa yacht club

MSC Bellissima

msc usa yacht club

MSC Grandiosa

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Experts puzzle over why Bayesian yacht sank. Was it a 'black swan event'?

Portrait of Cybele Mayes-Osterman

The Bayesian set off on a leisurely cruise around Italy's southern coast on a sunny day in late July.

The luxurious super yacht − which boasted one of the largest masts in the world and carried a crew of business moguls, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his family and a chair of Morgan Stanley − set sail from the Amalfi Coast, bound for Sicily.

Less than a month later, the ship had sunk 160 feet under the water , leaving its cook dead and six of its passengers, including at least two Americans, missing and prompting a massive search that has drawn international attention.

Now, experts are trying to piece together why in the early hours Monday the Bayesian was quickly pulled under the waves amid a storm that saw at least one tornado spin up over the water.

Breaking news to start your day smart. Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Briefing newsletter.

A perfect storm led to Bayesian sinking, experts say

The combination of unlikely factors that could have contributed to the ship's fate constituted a "black swan event," Matthew Schanck, chairman of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told USA TODAY.

The Bayesian was well-built: A 2008 product of Italian ship maker Perini, it was constructed in accordance with international maritime standards and commercially certified by the U.K.'s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, according to Schanck.

The bout of bad weather that swept the area when the ship went down was also out of the ordinary in the northern Mediterranean, "which isn't renowned for prolonged, significant stormy weather," he said.

"The fact that those two elements have then resulted in the foundering of a super yacht is pretty extraordinary," Schanck said. "These things don't happen every day."

After the ship sank just before 5 a.m. local time, 15 people, including a 1-year-old, were pulled from the water. Some were rescued from a life raft by the crew of a ship docked nearby.

Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook and a native of Antigua, was found dead, according to authorities.

As of Tuesday, six people were missing, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. Several missing passengers were involved in Lynch's trial on fraud charges, including Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley chair who served as his character witness, and one of Lynch's attorneys. Lynch, accused of fraud after he sold his company to electronics giant Hewlett-Packard, was acquitted of all charges weeks ago.

Who is Mike Lynch? UK entrepreneur among those missing after superyacht sinks off Sicily

Tornado formed over unusually hot water

Storms in the area that night may have whipped up a water spout, a tornado over the water , according to local meteorologists.

It was likely triggered by the water's unusual warmth, said Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist who served in the Navy.

"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence," he said. "But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water."

At 83.7 degrees, water in the area was more than 3 degrees hotter than average on the day the Bayesian sank, likely the result of climate change, Shema said.

"Hurricanes can form at 80 degrees. This was almost four degrees higher than that," he said.

The water spout may have spun up when cooler air dropped from mountainous places nearby onto the hot water, he said. "A water spout is a vortex, basically like a tornado, spinning real fast, sucking up water and moisture as the column rises," he said.

Although water spouts only reach around 120 mph, as compared with tornadoes on land, which can reach up to 300 mph, "you don't need 200 mph to sink a ship," he said.

"Even an average tornado, 120 miles an hour, that's a lot of wind," he said, "which would heel the boat over for sure."

Water spouts spring up suddenly, Shema said. Before they strike, winds can be slow, but "once the water spout comes over, bam, it's on," he said.

Before sunrise, the ship's crew may not have seen the water spout coming. "The visibility was probably a big factor," he said.

With the windows of the yacht opened, as they likely were in the hot weather, the water spout could have triggered water that flooded through the portholes, Shema said, causing the ship to sink.

Tragedy strikes: Scramble to find survivors after Bayesian yacht sinks off Sicily coast

Search continues, but shift to recovery phase approaches

Italian authorities said the Bayesian was probably at anchor when the storm struck, meaning it couldn't maneuver and ride the waves, according to Mitchell Stoller, a captain and maritime expert witness. Other ships in the area that turned on their engines rode out the storm, he said.

"When you're at anchor and you see weather, you start your engine and you put the wind on the bow. You don't let it get on the side," he said.

Schanck said another key question concerns the position of the keel, a heavy weight underneath the boat that acts as a counterbalance to keep it upright, when the ship sank. When lifted, "that's going to affect the stability of the vessel, because, obviously, you've now raised the center of gravity of that vessel," he said.

The Bayesian was floating over 160 feet of water at the time, deep enough that the keel would likely be deployed. But the fact that "the vessel heeled over so heavily makes me question that," Schanck said.

The cause of the disaster may not be known until the ship can be examined in more detail, experts say. Prosecutors in a nearby town have already opened an investigation.

Schanck said investigators will have plenty to work with once the operation moves into a recovery phase.

"The vessel is intact and in good condition on the seabed," he said. "There's a lot of eyewitness accounts from other vessels in the area and the shore."

As the search entered its second day on Tuesday, the rescue effort may shift in that direction soon. "I suspect, later on, today or tomorrow, we'll probably see some mention of a recovery operation being stated," Schanck said.

The decision to would depend on whether rescuers find signs of life in the ship and air pockets or survivable spaces, Schanck said. At this point, survivors on the water's surface looks unlikely. "My professional opinion is that the casualties will be located within the vessel," he said.

"There is a risk versus benefit in all maritime search and rescue incidents," he said. "Where we start transitioning to a recovery phase, that line shifts."

Contributing: Reuters

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

Mon-Fri 9am - 7pm EST Sat-Sun 9am - 6pm EST

About MSC Cruises

We’ve called the sea our home for over 300 years. It’s a place of wonder, discovery, and delight. But it’s also a place that needs protection. On an MSC Cruise, our guests don’t just create unforgettable memories, visit incredible destinations, and enjoy the finest hospitality - they also have a chance to make a difference. From our experienced crew members to our engineers, to our expert ship builders, we’re securing the sea’s tomorrow by taking positive steps today.  

Discover the Beauty of Cruising With MSC Cruises

Our company

We are the world’s third-largest cruise brand as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa, with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. We are also the fastest-growing global cruise brand with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, we are part of MSC Group , the leading privately held Swiss-based shipping and logistics conglomerate with over 300 years of maritime heritage. We employ over 30,000 staff globally and sell cruise holidays in many countries around the world. Each of our highly qualified masters draws on the company’s experience to navigate our fleet of ships.

Our Cruises

At MSC Cruises, our love for the sea goes back many generations. And we are eager to pass this passion on to future generations. That’s why we are dedicated to making each of our cruises a voyage of discovery and unforgettable emotions for every guest. We offer an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience, where you can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programs and the latest user-friendly technology on board.  With our cruises you can decide where to go and for how long. Choose among the best cruise destinations, with a wide variety of itineraries mapped to reveal the sights, sounds and flavors of the world's most intriguing cultures. Our ships sail year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean (visiting also Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private island in the Bahamas). Our seasonal itineraries include Northern Europe, South America, southern Africa, Asia, North America, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Red Sea.

We want you to discover the world in absolute style, comfort and safety. That’s why we are constantly expanding and improving our fleet, not only to give you a greater choice of destinations, but also to offer you an amazing state-of-art cruising experience wherever you go. We have a modern fleet of vessels combined with a sizable future global investment portfolio of new ships. The current ships across our classes of ship include: MSC World Europa , the first MSC World Class ship introduces a completely new, ground-breaking platform that brings together innovative technologies and industry-first design features including its unique Y-shape. MSC World Europa, delivered in November 2022, is the first LNG-powered vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet and one of  the most environmentally advanced to date. MSC World America  will be the second in the cruise line’s innovative World Class when she launches in 2025, offering contemporary cruising in the Caribbean from Miami, with new, immersive and unique experiences at sea.  MSC Virtuosa , is one of our latest ship of our fleet, delivered in February 2021. With a total guest capacity of 6,334 passengers, she is the largest ship in the MSC Cruises global fleet. Her sister ship MSC Grandiosa  (from the Meraviglia Plus Class), came into service in November 2019. The smaller sister ships MSC Meraviglia  and MSC Bellissima  were the first two Meraviglia Class ships that came into service in 2017 and 2019. In 2023 another ship, MSC Euribia , powered by LNG joined the Meraviglia Plus Class fleet. MSC Seaside (2017) and MSC Seaview  (2018) rewrite the rule book of cruise ship design, blending indoor and outdoor areas to connect guests with the sea like never before. With a guest capacity over 5000 passengers, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview add a game-changing element to MSC our fleet. Two additional larger Seaside EVO ships, representing a further enhancement of the prototype, will have a capacity of 5,632 guests. The first one, MSC Seashore , was delivered in 2021. Her sister ship, MSC Seascape  joined in December 2022. The four Fantasia Class ships – MSC Preziosa  (2013), MSC Divina  (2012), MSC Splendida  (2009) and MSC Fantasia  (2008) – are large-size and modern ships. MSC Preziosa and MSC Divina can accommodate 4,345 guests, while MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia carry 4,363 guests. The Musica Class ships MSC Magnifica  (2010), MSC Poesia  (2008), MSC Orchestra  (2007) and MSC Musica  (2006) carry around 3,000 guests each. The fleet is completed by the Lirica Class ships – MSC Sinfonia  (2005), MSC Armonia  (2004), MSC Opera  (2004) and MSC Lirica  (2003) – each carrying around 2,000 guests. The fleet is projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025.

Sustainability

Charting a sustainable future

We have long been committed to environmental stewardship with a long-term goal to achieve zero emissions for our operations. We are also a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies, with the objective to support their accelerated development and availability industry-wide.  

Our commitment to sustainability goes above and beyond our efforts to reduce our environmental impact. It is also reflected in the way we support our employees and those who choose to travel with us, as well as how we interact with our partners and the communities and places we visit. 

This second phase investment plan is increased from €5.1 billion to €9 billion with the signing of a letter of intent to build a further four World class ships.

This second phase investment plan rose to €9 billion with the signing of a letter of intent to build a further four World class ships, each using liquified natural gas as energy source.

We consolidate our second fleet expansion plan with orders for two additional Seaside ships and a fifth Meraviglia vessel, bringing the total investment for the 2014-2026 period to €11.6 billion.

MSC Cruises consolidates its second fleet expansion plan with orders for two additional Seaside ships and a fifth Meraviglia vessel, bringing the total investment for the 2014-2026 period to €11.6 billion. Due to be delivered in 2021 and 2023, the two Seaside EVO ships will present an evolution of the successful Seaside platform and have a capacity of 5,646 guests. The fifth Meraviglia ship, which was delivered in 2023, has a capacity for 6,334 guests. Like the World class ships, she is equipped with a of LNG-powered engines.

Completion of MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore and strengthening our commitment to sustainability.

Despite the challenges of the Covid pandemic two new cruise ships joined our fleet in 2021 – MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore. We also advanced with our ambitions to grow our portfolio of cruise terminals, which allow us to anchor our presence in marquee homeports and offer the best service to guests while enabling us to foster a front-to-end integrated experience. In November, we opened the doors of the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban, South Africa. We also obtained final clearance to start building our exclusive cruise terminals in Barcelona and Miami as key embarkation ports in the western Mediterranean and the Caribbean. In 2021, we also took an important step forward on our journey to ustainability and reinforced our desire to be an industry leader in this field.

Delivery of MSC World Europa, the first LNG-powered ship of our fleet and introduced technologies to reduce our impact on the environment.

In 2022 we were delighted that we finally saw the restart of the entire fleet and progressively and safely ease Covid restrictions. We also continued to make significant progress along our sustainability journey. Over the year, we launched two new ships. In October, we took delivery of the MSC World Europa, the first to be LNG-powered. It features a pilot solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and incorporates a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system – which reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% by converting the gas into nitrogen and water – and shore-to-ship power connectivity, which allows MSC World Europa to minimise engine use at ports wherever the portside infrastructure is available. In November, we took delivery of the MSC Seascape MSC Protectours, our dedicated excursions that are specifically designed to educate our guests and promote responsible tourism and responsible travel become more widely available. 

MSC Foundation

Life-changing programs worldwide

As a family-owned company with a global seafaring heritage that dates back to 1675, we care passionately about the seas and have a real love of the beautiful places and inspiring cultures we take our guests to explore all over the world. This has led us to launch many life-changing initiatives over the years.

The MSC Foundation was founded in 2018 to lead and coordinate these conservation and humanitarian commitments worldwide, developing the longstanding philanthropic partnerships of all the MSC Group companies and launching many new initiatives.  

Latest News

Asia & australia, - bangladesh, - australia & new zealand, - kazakhstan, - singapore, thailand, philippines, malaysia, indonesia and vietnam, - sri lanka.

MSC Cruises Belgium Boulevard Internationalelaan 55F – 1st floor 1070 Brussels, Belgium Phone: +32 (0)2/401.89.30 Reservation Dpt. for Travel Agents: Phone +32 (0)2/401.89.20 Fax +32 (0)2/401.89.23

https://www.msccruises.be/

Usit Colours building Bulgaria 2000, 1 Yoan Pavel II Sq., Sofia Phone +359 2 903 9196 Premier Tours   43 Bregalnitsa Str 1606 Sofia - Bulgaria Phone:+359 29201215 CONTITRANS M. Ltd 25B Yakubica Str Lozenec 1164 Sofia - Bulgaria Phone:+359 29627518 Travel Holidays Ltd. Bulgaria, Burgas 8000  -  39 Lyuben Karavelov Str. Phone +359 (56) 824 814  - 824829

Europa Tour Professional 183 Rakovski str 1142 Sofia - Bulgaria Phone: + 359 888515113

Travel Agency Blue Seas Ltd Varna, Bulgaria  4 Dubrovnik street, entr.1, office 1 Phone: +359 52 300452 New Travel Agency  Ltd 92 Levski Bld  1504, Sofia Bulgaria Phone: +359 24640400/1/2 - +359 24640405

Cruise GURU   14 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.,fl. 5, office 519 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Phone: +359886068888

CRUISEWAY TRAVEL SA 193, Kifisias Avenue & 24, Iereos Dousi Str, Marousi, 151 24, Athens, Greece T: +30 210 32 59 900 F: +30 210 32 59 999 Web: www.cruiseway.gr [email protected] NAVIHELLAS CRUISE CENTER (MSC Partners) 83, Iroon Politechniou Ave. GR 185 36 Piraeus, Greece Phone: + 30 210 4284391 [email protected] BlueSun Travel & Consulting A: 3, Stadiou St. - 1st Floor Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece 10562 T/F: +30-210-3254642 E: [email protected]

MANESSIS TRAVEL (MSC Partners) 4, Filellilon Street 10557 Athens - Greece Phone: +30 210 3211 777 Fax: +30 210 3211 527

VERSUS TRAVEL Ltd (MSC Partners) 7, Filellinon Street 10557 Athens - Greece Phone: + 30 210 3232 800 Fax: + 30 210 3232 450 CRUISE EXPERTS (MSC Partners) 6, Paleologou Benizelou str 10556, Plaka, Athens, Greece Phone: +30 210 3259900

- Lithuania

- netherlands.

MSC Cruises the Netherlands B.V. Polarisavenue 35 2132 JH Hoofddorp The Netherlands Phone: +31 23 71 11 510

https://www.msccruises.nl/

- Scandinavia

- switzerland, - united kingdom & ireland, middle east & asia, - south africa, - united arab emirates, north america, south america, - argentina, thank you for visiting msc cruises.

Your browser may be out of date or not compatible with our new site and may not be secure.

For a better experience and to continue your booking with MSC, please update your browser by downloading the latest version below.

Thank you for visiting our site and we look forward to seeing you on board soon!

MSC Cruises

Firefox

IMAGES

  1. What It's Like to Take a Luxury Cruise With MSC Yacht Club

    msc usa yacht club

  2. What It's Like to Take a Luxury Cruise With MSC Yacht Club

    msc usa yacht club

  3. [4K] MSC Yacht Club

    msc usa yacht club

  4. What It's Like to Take a Luxury Cruise With MSC Yacht Club

    msc usa yacht club

  5. This Brand-new Ship Has One of the Largest Yacht Clubs in Its Fleet

    msc usa yacht club

  6. An Inside Look at MSC Yacht Club's Exclusive Benefits

    msc usa yacht club

COMMENTS

  1. MSC Yacht Club Luxury Cruises

    Explore our wide range of staterooms to enhance your MSC Cruises luxury experience. MSC World America. The Owner's Suite. The Owner's Suites feature a spacious living area, a walk-in closet, a large balcony with a private whirlpool, and a panoramic glass wall. Approx Sq. Ft.*: 840-1,119 interior / 517-670 balcony. 4. LEARN MORE.

  2. Luxury cruises MSC Yacht Club: exclusive cruises

    MSC Yacht Club Sundeck & Pool. The MSC Yacht Club Sundeck & Pool is an exclusive luxurious outdoor area with captivating swimming pool, spacious sundeck, and relaxing large hot tubs for an remarkable luxury cruise experience. In the MSC Yacht Club you are provided with exceptional service, including fresh towels and cleaning sunglasses while ...

  3. I Tried the MSC Yacht Club and it Was Worth it for the Endless Perks

    The MSC Yacht Club affords travelers a totally different cruising experience, but you'll have to splurge. Written by Erica Lamberg. Friday January 26 2024. Share. Copy Link.

  4. MSC Yacht Club Perks: 10 Amenities Worth the Splurge

    The luxurious MSC Yacht Club -- where passengers have their separate section of the ship, including a lounge, pool and restaurant -- was introduced on MSC Fantasia, when it debuted in 2008.

  5. Cruises

    And for a unique luxury travel experience, the MSC Yacht Club is a ship-within-a-ship that features private access, 24-hour butler service, exclusive venues, and more. Set sail on our newest and most sustainable cruise ships, and take part in environmentally friendly shore excursions , all which contributes to our long-term goal of achieving ...

  6. What is the MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises' luxury suite area?

    Upcoming vessel MSC World America (2025) also will have the Yacht Club. The largest Yacht Club in the fleet is on MSC World Europa, offering 152 suites. The second-largest is found on the line's two Seaside EVO Class ships, MSC Seashore and MSC Seascape, which each have 131 suites.

  7. Msc Cruises Further Elevates Its Exclusive Msc Yacht Club Offering

    Geneva, Switzerland (March 10, 2021) — With each new ship, MSC Cruises strives to enrich the guest experience, and with the Company's two newest ships — MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore — MSC Cruises will elevate the exclusive MSC Yacht Club.As extended versions of their sister ships, both ships' designs have allowed for the expansion of the MSC Yacht Club to include more public space ...

  8. MSC World America Yacht Club|MSC Cruises

    Geneva, Switzerland - May 15, 2024 - MSC Cruises will bring its largest and most luxurious MSC Yacht Club concept to North American shores with the launch MSC World America in April 2025.MSC World America represents a leap forward for the cruise line's popular World Class platform and will usher in a new world of cruising with re-imagined venues and concepts tailored specifically to the ...

  9. What is MSC's Yacht Club Ocean Cay cruise experience like ...

    The MSC Yacht Club experience is more exclusive than the standard one at Ocean Cay, with extras like butler service, dedicated trams, towel service, access to pricier cabanas and a private beach and restaurant with better food and shorter waits. However, all of the action — shore excursions, pickup volleyball games, beach parties, the ...

  10. MSC Yacht Club: Is It Really Worth It?

    The MSC Yacht Club duplex suites are humongous, with more than 600 square feet of interior space and nearly 250 square feet of exterior space, with a whirlpool-boasting balcony. There are two ...

  11. Everything you Need to Know about the MSC Yacht Club

    This is an MSC general tip, but it's a great value. You get about $140.00 of value for $70.00 ( Exact a mounts may vary ). MSC Yacht Club guests can order breakfast the night before. Fill out the order sheet and put the card on your door before 2AM. They give you lots of water, which I so appreciated.

  12. MSC Splendida Review: MSC Yacht Club Experience

    On MSC Splendida, the Yacht Club lounge is on deck 15 all the way to the front. The area is really nice and well-designed. There is a concierge desk that takes care of all the yacht club passengers' needs; more about that later. Next to the concierge, there is a great big lounge with couches and tables.

  13. MSC Yacht Club 2024 On Board MSC Meraviglia › This Cruise Life

    Yacht Club Check-In. Fast-forward a month to January 9, 2024 when we checked in to board MSC Meraviglia. Again, to say this check-in process was different would be a huge understatement. Unlike your typical check-in with long queues, growling stomachs, and throngs of people, we waited in our own lounge with champagne and canapés away from the ...

  14. MSC Cruises launches premium excursions for Yacht Club guests

    The MSC Yacht Club is MSC's "ship-within-a-ship" concept, providing a luxurious and private experience within elegant suites accessible only by keycard. This exclusive area features dedicated facilities including a sundeck, pool, restaurant, lounge, and personalized services such as a 24-hour butler and concierge desk. ...

  15. Comprehensive Yacht Club Review

    March 20, 2008. Hampshire, England. #1. Posted March 26, 2020. Three weeks ago my wife disembarked from our first MSC cruise, 14 nights Yacht Club onboard MSC Preziosa around the Caribbean. I have now written what I consider a full, frank and comprehensive review on our experience.

  16. MSC Voyagers Club

    Join MSC Cruises Voyagers Club and earn special perks. Login Hi, {0} Sign out. 877-665-4655. ... MSC Yacht Club 800 points 1500 points 2000 points Onboard services prepaid ... USA | English. Corporate | English Argentina | Español Armenia ...

  17. This Brand-new Ship Has One of the Largest Yacht Clubs in Its Fleet

    Courtesy of MSC Cruises. In addition to a private restaurant with a regularly changing menu, and both indoor and outdoor lounge space, passengers who make a Yacht Club reservation are treated to ...

  18. Everything you need to know about MSC Cruises cabins and suites

    MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suites. The largest and most impressive of all MSC's cabins are the Owner's Suites found in the Yacht Club. Offering an impressive 840 to 1,119 square feet — larger than ...

  19. MSC World Europa Cabins & Staterooms on Cruise Critic

    Splurge: If money is no object, the MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite is the crème de la crème of shipboard accommodations, rivaling those found on purpose-built luxury ships. Huge open decks with ...

  20. MSC DRINK Packages & Prices

    Easy Drink Package. The "Easy Package" is the most basic alcoholic beverage package on MSC Cruises with a cost of $46 per day per adult and is sometimes offered at no charge as a promotion.(This package is $49 per day on short cruises of less than 6 nights and is even more expensive if purchased onboard) Liquor choices that go into mixed drinks are generic and sometimes off-brand.

  21. MSC Cruises' MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know

    MSC Yacht Club is the top experience available. Experiences called Fantastica and Aurea are in between. For sailings of four nights or fewer, each passenger in the cabin will earn the following ...

  22. MSC World America

    Number of guests: 6,762. Number of staterooms: 2,626. Number of crew members: 2,138. Length/Beam/Height: 1092 ft / 155 ft / 223 ft. Discover a new world of cruising in 2025 with our newest cruise ship MSC World America. Cruise from Miami to the Caribbean on a ship designed for immersive and enriching experiences at sea.

  23. MSC World Europa Cabins

    MSC World Europa offers a wide range of accommodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs. Contents MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite w/Whirlpool-Deck 16-18 Decks: Deck 16 ...

  24. Why Bayesian super yacht sank, leaving 1 dead, 6 missing

    The luxurious super yacht − which boasted one of the largest masts in the world and carried a crew of business moguls, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his family and a chair of ...

  25. About MSC Cruises Mediterranean cruise company

    05/25/2022 MSC WORLD EUROPA TO FEATURE AN ENHANCED AND FUTURISTIC MSC YACHT CLUB 05/23/2022 MSC WORLD ... MSC Cruises USA INC. 6750 North Andrews Avenue, Suite 100 Fort Lauderdale, Florida FL 33309 USA Phone:+1-954-772-6262 Fax: +1-908-605-2600 / (954) 958-1077.

  26. PDF First Floor Tale Numers Second Floor Tale Numers Msc Open House Fall

    MSC OPEN HOUSE FALL 2024 FIRST FLOOR TABLE NUMBERS 1-001 025: 12t Ma Hallway 1-026 054: 1s Floo Mai Hallway 1-055 063: Respec Lunge 1-064 076: Copy Corner Hallway FLO Rudde Exhibi Hall KFP Kyl Fiel Plaza SD Simpson Drill Field