MSC Yacht Club Review: Was the Upgrade Really Worth It?
- Jessica Tacher
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
We just came back from a short 3-night cruise on the MSC Seascape, and after sailing with MSC many times before, we finally did the one thing we had always skipped: the Yacht Club experience.
Spoiler: it was a mix of “wow, this is amazing” and “hmm, not quite what I expected.” Here’s the full story of how we ended up there, what the experience was like from start to finish, and most importantly, whether or not it was worth it.
How We Ended Up in the Yacht Club
We originally booked a balcony cabin at the last minute. I had already purchased the drink package (because let’s be real, I enjoy a few drinks on my cruise, and now even my kids are Pina Colada lovers). With such a short itinerary, our main goal was simply a beach day at Ocean Cay, the private island that’s honestly the main reason we keep coming back to MSC.
The next day, I got the usual “Bid for an Upgrade” email. Normally, I ignore these unless it’s from an inside to a balcony or maybe a super cheap junior suite. But this time I nearly fell out of my chair:
👉 A Yacht Club upgrade at 60% off.
👉 Minimum bid? $300 per person.
👉 Only charged for the first two adults.
If you’ve ever looked at YC prices before, you know this is unheard of. I had never seen a YC offer under $500 per person. Doing some quick “girl and travel math”: the drink package I bought was $550 for all of us. That alone made the YC perks outweigh everything else.
So, without hesitation, I hit that bid button. The next day, I literally jumped around when the acceptance email arrived and immediately canceled my drink package.
What Exactly is the Yacht Club?
MSC calls the Yacht Club a “ship within a ship”—basically a luxury bubble inside their otherwise family-friendly, busy ships.
Here’s a breakdown of what comes with YC:
✓ 24-Hour Service
Priority embarkation & disembarkation
A dedicated concierge team
24/7 butler service
Premium room service
✓ Exclusive Venues
Private YC-only restaurant (sit-down breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Top Sail Lounge with panoramic views
YC-only pool deck with hot tub and bar
Thermal spa access
✓ All-Inclusive Perks
Unlimited drinks (no 15-drink limit!)
Wi-Fi for two devices per cabin
Access to Ocean House Beach at Ocean Cay
Sounds dreamy, right? Let’s get into what it was actually like.
Embarkation Day: A Taste of Luxury
As soon as we arrived at the terminal, the difference was obvious. There’s a separate Yacht Club check-in booth (you’ll recognize it by the elegant navy blue and gold branding).
Unlike other guests, YC passengers don’t have set check-in times. You can arrive any time during embarkation hours. We showed up around 10:30 a.m., breezed through passport control, and were handed our sleek YC wristbands. These were everything: our room keys, drink passes, access to YC-only spaces, and even our “magic elevator key.” (Yes, the elevators prioritize YC wristbands, so they’ll open just for you and skip all other floors unless another YC guest requests one. Huge perk.)
From there, we were escorted to the YC lounge area in the terminal, where sparkling wine, juice, water, and cookies were waiting. After a short wait, a butler took us to complete the muster drill (literally just scanning our cards—done and dusted) before leading us straight into the Top Sail Lounge.
Snacks, desserts, and a full bar were already waiting. It felt like we had skipped the chaos of embarkation day and landed in our own private cruise ship.
First Impressions of Our Butler
Here’s where things started to dip a little.
We watched as other butlers came to personally escort YC guests to their suites, but ours never showed up. After about 1 hour, I finally asked one of the hosts if we could go see our room, and a different butler stepped in to take us there. He explained our actual butler was “very busy” and would meet us later.
When he finally did show up, he was friendly and charismatic—but always in a rush. We weren’t expecting someone to unpack our bags (though butlers will do this for you), but ours didn’t even offer. When we asked for a nightly “midnight pizza” with wine, and cappuccinos in the morning, he jotted it down quickly, gave us the mini-bar rundown, and darted off again.
It wasn’t bad service, just not Yacht Club service.
Dining in the Yacht Club
This is where MSC truly won us over.
The Yacht Club restaurant is a world apart from MSC’s main dining rooms or buffet. The food was consistently high quality, beautifully presented, and the service was polished. No, it wasn’t Michelin-level dining, but compared to regular MSC dining, it was a massive step up.
The Top Sail Lounge was another highlight: chic, quiet, with floor-to-ceiling windows at the very front of the ship. Drinks came fast, snacks were always out, and the vibe was pure relaxation.
The Yacht Club Pool Deck
If you’ve ever felt cruise ships are too crowded, the YC pool area is the answer.
At one point, there were maybe 10 people total on the entire deck. The pool itself wasn’t heated (and yes, it was cold), but the large hot tub overlooking the bow? Completely empty. No fighting for loungers, no noise, no chaos—just peace.
One funny moment: my husband got “dress coded” at breakfast in the YC restaurant. He wore a tank top because we were heading straight to the pool. Apparently women can wear tank tops, but men have to cover their shoulders. A small hiccup, but good to know if you plan to dress super casually.
Shows & Evening Entertainment
Normally, guests have to reserve their show times. Not YC. You just call your butler, and they’ll escort you straight to your seats 15 minutes before showtime.
This is also where we noticed the gap in butler service again. Other butlers walked their guests in, got them drinks, and waited after the show to escort them back. Ours? He just dropped us at the door and left. Again, nice guy, but not quite the “above and beyond” service you’d expect in YC.
Ocean Cay with Yacht Club
Ocean Cay is always gorgeous, but Yacht Club guests get a serious upgrade here too.
Instead of rushing off early for loungers, we took our time at breakfast. When we were ready, our butler escorted us off the ship, where YC staff had golf carts waiting. Cold water, comfy chairs, and shade were ready at the staging area while we waited for the ride to the far side of the island.
At Ocean House, YC guests have access to:
A private restaurant (with indoor seating and AC—rare on the island!)
Two bars
Towels, loungers, and umbrellas already set up
Two private beach areas
The food here was a major highlight: lobster rolls, mahi-mahi, fish tacos… but the carrot-rum cake stole the show. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’d pay Yacht Club prices just to eat that dessert again.
The only downside? The beach in front of Ocean House is rocky. Great for snorkeling, not so great for swimming unless you bring water shoes. Luckily, YC also has a sandy beach nearby with calmer water, perfect for families.
My one real complaint: while you can stay on the island until 8 p.m., the last golf cart back is at 4:00 p.m. You can walk back, but it’s a bit of a trek.
So… Is the Yacht Club Worth It?
Here’s my honest take:
✅ At the price we paid ($300pp)? 100% yes. Don’t even think twice.
✅ The food, drinks, and private spaces easily justified the upgrade.
✅ The Ocean Cay perks were a game-changer.
Would I pay full Yacht Club prices for a short 3-night cruise? Probably not—unless it was just my husband and I, celebrating something special, or I wanted total relaxation.
For a longer itinerary though? Absolutely. Between the included drinks, Wi-Fi, dining, and exclusive spaces, the value stacks up quickly.
But here’s the warning: once you experience the Yacht Club, it’s really hard to go back to the “regular” ship.
✨ Final Word: If you ever see one of those rare discounted upgrade offers to Yacht Club—don’t walk, run to accept it. And if you’re already curious about trying it for yourself, I can help you book the perfect Yacht Club sailing.
👉 Contact me today and let’s get your spot reserved in the MSC Yacht Club.
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