News & Expert Advice

MSC Yacht Club: A ship-within-a-ship

MSC Splendida

I just returned from a 4-day cruise that sailed from Athens, Greece to Genoa, Italy. It was aboard a relatively unknown product for the US cruise marketplace but one that promises to become a household name in years to come…  MSC Cruises is now the third largest brand behind Carnival corporation (and its multiple brands) and Royal Caribbean International (and its brands).  MSC is owned by MSC container company, the 2nd largest private shipping company in the World based out of Naples, Italy. It is owned by the Aponti family of Geneva and is Europe’s favorite contemporary/premium brand.

MSC sails seasonally from the U.S. Due to it’s unknown status they have had a rough go of it because they have had to offer the lowest price points in our market to attract passengers and has suffered by largely not attracting the right customer on its ships.  Lower price points attract a lower caliber of traveler in most cases. This is not a judgment statement but a known fact.

MSC Ships offer a solid 4-Star (contemporary) cruise experience with premium and luxury elements (yes, please read-on). They offer a great European style cruise experience that is fun filled,  great entertainment, and an affordable onboard experience.  Drinks and other onboard facilities are less expensive than other competitive US based brands. The MSC fleet of ships are among the cleanest in the World. Each ship goes into dry-dock every 2 years to ensure it is not only spotlessly clean but “eco-green”. BTW, no other cruise line goes to this extreme measure.

MSC has one of the newest fleets of ships that I would compare to traveling to Europe and staying in a fine European hotel. The staff all speak English but guests come from a myriad of countries across the board. There is only one public announcement made each day at 4:30pm but is made in 5 languages. This is truly a United Nations travel experience.

I just sailed on the 1.5 year old MSC Splendida christened  in July of 2009 by MSC godmother, Sophia Loren. This 135,000 ton mega ship has gorgeous lines and looks like a huge yacht. She is gorgeous inside and out. There are 1636 cabins and suites and she sails year round in the Mediterranean along with her slightly 7 month older sister, the MSC Fantasia. These two ships are gorgeous masterpieces filled with exciting Italian décor, style, and sparkle inside and out. They are superb reflections in modern shipbuilding, design, and Italian style!

MSC Cruises is on a fast track to build new ships and will invest nearly $5 billion dollars in new builds over the next few years but has a very special niche product that I am going to introduce today. It is called the MSC Yacht Club and is found only on the Fantasia and Splendida (twin sister ships and MSC’s biggest ships). It is a special ship-within-a-ship. The Yacht Club consists of 72 suites found on decks 16 and 17 (and 3 panoramic suites on Deck 12)  in an enclave that is a card access area for guests in the Yacht Club suites. These are very special accommodations and offer something unique in today’s cruise experience. All of these suites range around 300-600 square feet and give guests intimate butler service (all butlers are trained in Holland and are true professionals). Door-to-door welcome service for meet and greet on the pier and a quick whisk to the guests lovely suite along with luggage-no waiting in lines here-EVER! This key only access enclave for Yacht Club members offer an ALL-INCLUSIVE cruise experience with beverages, alcohol, mini-bar, private restaurant for all meals, private large concierge lounge called the panoramic over the bow view Top Sail Lounge that has its own bar, continuous elegant snack, meal service, daily high tea, and so much more. The Yacht Club entrance is flanked by a large 2 story spiral staircase made of gold colored Swarovski crystals valued at $3000 Euro per step. There is private access to the Aurea Spa with priority spa appointments, free access into the Thermal Suites and Turkish Sauna, and there is The One Pool on Deck 17 that offers Yacht Club an oasis of a gorgeous private pool, Jacuzzi’s, sunning, area, bar with complimentary beverages, and meals-all with incomparable butler service! It was great to have this amazing enclave of elegant services in supreme style and luxury but have the ability to “Go Downtown” to enjoy the ships other venues, entertainment, and activities.

The suites are all decorated in rich jewel tones and have a smart retro Italian design. They are spacious and have a flat screen interactive Samsung TV with Nintendo, walk in closets, Masciano sheets and bathrobes, fine Delorean mattresses and pillow, 24-hour room service, complimentary fully stocked mini-bars, spacious marble bathroom, nice sized balconies and 24-hour butler and concierge service.

THE BEST PART

The butlers may seem a bit much for some guests but this is truly where MSC Yacht Club shines. I encountered the most gracious butler service ever! My assigned butler was Titan, a gracious Indonesian man who was trained at the Butler’s Academy in Holland and has been providing this type of service for 12 years. He was kind, sensitive, and never overbearing. I always looked forward to seeing his smiling face and being escorted around the ship to my reserved showroom seats, or going to the gift shop to pick my up some Excedrin when I had a headache. He also escorted me on and off the ship through any possible lines or delays. I was surprised to see him at the gangway waiting for me to take my parcels of shopping items back to my suite after a shopping spree in Palermo, Italy! MSC provides this service to all Yacht Club members including a private arrival and departure area where you and your luggage are delivered to your suite in tandem – this never happens even on the most luxurious of ships. I am now a fan of this NEW 5-star product and will come back time and time again as it is quite affordable compared to booking a suite on almost any other line. Please note that the Yacht club with butler service is only available on MSC Fantasia, Splendida, and the NEW Divina coming in May 2012.

So, I just gave you a thumb nail sketch about these amazing ALL-INCLUISVE services that are available for a very reasonable price compared to other cruise lines and are only 10-15% higher priced than MSC’s standard suite accommodations. The latter do not have Yacht Club access. This exclusive enclave can be had for 7-days in the Mediterranean from just $3999 per person for a MSC Yacht Club suite including airfare, All-Inclusive beverage program, private transfers to and from the ship, full amazing butler service, all private facilities, dining, lounge, and pool, a day prior hotel departure with hotel stay, and a $100pp onboard credit. No other cruise line can touch this luxury value.

MSC Yacht Club (a solid 5-Star+ Experience) is perfect for any cruiser who is sailing on a contemporary or premium class ship in higher accommodations but looking for something extraordinary. It is great for small ship luxury guests who are taking their multi-generational family members on a cruise who want exclusivity but still can “Go Downtown” to enjoy the ships other activities, incredible entertainment, and other facilities that are more contemporary and offer a (4-Star Experience). I highly recommend this one-of-a-kind cruise experience in the MSC Yacht Club!