by: Anna from Family Cruise Deals
Yacht Club is MSC's "ship within a ship" concept, an exclusive area with just a few hundred guests, which is super luxurious with personal service and private facilities. It is an enclave of calm and luxury within a large, fun, busy cruise ship. The Yacht Club has a private pool, sun deck, restaurant and bar/lounge, but you can venture out into the rest of the ship whenever you want to, to do all the activities such as the water park, rope courses and mini golf.
Yacht Club was something we had wanted to try for a long time and we finally took the opportunity in May this year, to celebrate a family member's birthday. We still got out and about around the ship as usual, but loved being able to come back to Yacht Club to chill. Our Deluxe Suite was so spacious, and perfect for a family of 4.
We had always said a two night cruise would be too short for us, and not worth the drive and parking cost etc. However, this was until the stars aligned (dates/price) allowing us to take a two night mini break on MSC Virtuosa in Yacht Club. By booking Yacht Club for this bank holiday weekend escape we were able to almost double our time on board, making 2 nights work nicely for us.
A Yacht Club booking gave us priority boarding so we were on the ship at 10am Saturday, with a glass of Champagne in hand, giving us the whole of Saturday and Sunday to explore the ship and our port (Cherbourg). We then didn't disembark until 10am bank holiday Monday morning after a relaxed breakfast and a final swim in the pool.
Service within Yacht Club was excellent and we were well looked after by the butlers and concierge staff, although we didn't actually meet our own allocated butler until the last evening, sadly. I think this was just an anomaly of being on such a short voyage. The Yacht Club Director was very friendly and even gave our children some gifts to make the trip even more special (Yacht Club caps and MSC Doremi mascot cuddly toys). We received an amazing birthday cake in the restaurant on my daughter's birthday, and our cabin had been decorated for her when we returned to it that evening. Service was so personal, and really exceeded expectations.
We will definitely repeat the experience.
