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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.

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.

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.

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.

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MSC Grandiosa

Courtesy of MSC Cruises |

Find a Cruise on MSC Grandiosa

with a cruise advisor

Debuted in mid-November 2019, MSC Grandiosa hosts a whopping 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew members. On board, travelers can take advantage of two different pools, a water park, the Sportplex amusement park and a fitness center. Those seeking a thrilling, albeit less strenuous, entertainment option should check out a live show in the evening.

Grandiosa also boasts an especially large Yacht Club – a private section of the ship that offers exclusive amenities to members, such as a private pool and 24-hour butler service. Meanwhile, entertainment options for kids include seven different rooms (each designated for a different age group), a gaming room for teens and a Lego movie maker studio for children.

Guests can choose from a variety of staterooms, including standard Interior, Ocean View and Balcony rooms, as well as Family Cabins (perfect for up to six guests) and an array of Suite-category options. Each stateroom – regardless of size – comes equipped with Zoe: MSC's voice-activated assistant who can answer any questions cruisers have about their ship.

In addition to the main dining room and the Marketplace Buffet (which is open 20 hours a day), cruisers can choose to dine at several specialty spots, including Butcher's Cut for sumptuous steaks and HOLA! Tapas Bar.

Grandiosa sails through the Mediterranean and South America on upcoming voyages.

Pros & Cons

Diverse onboard amenities for cruisers of all ages

Passenger-to-crew ratio of almost 4-to-1

• Expert Rating » 3.5
• Traveler Rating » 4.0
• Health Rating » 4.5

MSC Grandiosa ranks # 5 out of 22 MSC Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 5 in Best MSC Cruises
• # 49 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 60 in Best Cruises to Europe
• # 82 in Best Affordable Cruises

MSC Grandiosa offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

MSC Grandiosa contains 14 decks. Find out which features are available on each MSC Grandiosa deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 67 guests have reviewed MSC Grandiosa , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

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.

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• MSC Cruises

MSC Grandiosa Aurea Suite or Yacht Club?

By MM888 , September 25, 2020 in MSC Cruises

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Hi all, I’m fairly new to cruising and would like your opinions on this please.    

We are looking to travel with MSC in Europe summer next year on the Grandiosa.  We are a family of 4, hubby and I plus our 2 children.  Our travel agent has given us some quotes: 1 bedroom Aurea Suite with whirlpool bath or add $1300 USD / £1000 GBP for a Yacht Club Deluxe Suite.    

I like the Aurea Suite because it has a separate bedroom and a large balcony.   Hubby thinks we should pay extra to stay in YC because of the added benefits.  A lot of the times the children will be at the clubs so he thinks we can enjoy the YC as well as other facilities.  Could you please chime in and share your thoughts and personal experience?  Many thanks

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We had a similar dilemma when we sailed MSC Meraviglia in the Mediterranean with our two young children. At the time, we could either get an Aurea Duplex Suite or a smaller Yacht Club Suite for about the same price.   

We chose the Aurea suite and it was 100% the right choice for us. It was absolutely fantastic to have extra space to spread out. And we loved having our very own jacuzzi tub. We’d sometimes be in it in the morning as we approached a new port. We’d order breakfast from room service every morning and enjoy it in our large balcony. Sometimes, we’d take a late night dip under the stars after a long day sightseeing.   

True, we didn’t have yacht club access, but we still had some perks like priority embarkation, access to the Aurea Spa’s thermal suite areas, as well as access to a private solarium deck. We were in a port intensive itinerary (all port days except for one sea day) so we didn’t use these perks as much as we would’ve liked. Outside of checking its location, we never used the solarium, but we did use the Aurea Spa a few times.   

The kids did enjoy going to the kids club, but because of the way activities were scheduled, and with so much to do around the ship, kids were never at the club for more than an hour or two. We’d either go pick them up because there would be a break in activities at the club, or there was something else going on around the ship that we really wanted to attend.   

In our case, there was no price difference between a larger Aurea suite or a smaller YC suite, and we still chose the larger Aurea suite. But had we been traveling without the kids, we would’ve gone with the Yacht Club suite since we would have uninterrupted time to truly enjoy it. But for a family cruise, having a larger suite to accommodate the entire family was the better decision. Hope you enjoy the Grandiosa! We truly enjoyed our family cruise in the Med. It was the perfect way to introduce our kids to the Mediterranean. 

How old are the kids as the bed for 3-4 isn't that big in a deluxe. YC benefits hard to beat.

Welcome to CC by the way.

Thank you Tapi and dexddd.  CC is wonderful, information is extensive and great advice from so many members.   

1 child is a teenager and 1 is 7.  Are the sofa beds different between Suits and YC Deluxe?

1 hour ago, Tapi said: We had a similar dilemma when we sailed MSC Meraviglia in the Mediterranean with our two young children. At the time, we could either get an Aurea Duplex Suite or a smaller Yacht Club Suite for about the same price.    We chose the Aurea suite and it was 100% the right choice for us. It was absolutely fantastic to have extra space to spread out. And we loved having our very own jacuzzi tub. We’d sometimes be in it in the morning as we approached a new port. We’d order breakfast from room service every morning and enjoy it in our large balcony. Sometimes, we’d take a late night dip under the stars after a long day sightseeing.    True, we didn’t have yacht club access, but we still had some perks like priority embarkation, access to the Aurea Spa’s thermal suite areas, as well as access to a private solarium deck. We were in a port intensive itinerary (all port days except for one sea day) so we didn’t use these perks as much as we would’ve liked. Outside of checking its location, we never used the solarium, but we did use the Aurea Spa a few times.    The kids did enjoy going to the kids club, but because of the way activities were scheduled, and with so much to do around the ship, kids were never at the club for more than an hour or two. We’d either go pick them up because there would be a break in activities at the club, or there was something else going on around the ship that we really wanted to attend.    In our case, there was no price difference between a larger Aurea suite or a smaller YC suite, and we still chose the larger Aurea suite. But had we been traveling without the kids, we would’ve gone with the Yacht Club suite since we would have uninterrupted time to truly enjoy it. But for a family cruise, having a larger suite to accommodate the entire family was the better decision. Hope you enjoy the Grandiosa! We truly enjoyed our family cruise in the Med. It was the perfect way to introduce our kids to the Mediterranean.     

Tapi, thank you so much for taking the time and give me so much helpful info to consider.  Your reasons for choosing the Suite are exactly why I am leaning towards the Suite, as well as it’s much cheaper.  Having a dip in the whirlpool in the morning sounds awesome!   

are the excursions in the Mediterranean mainly all-day or they vary?  We do want to explore so and do sightseeing so if they are mainly all-day excursions then we might not be able take advantage of the YC facilities all the time because I think there is only 1 sea day on the itinerary.  

sverigecruiser

1 hour ago, MM888 said: are the excursions in the Mediterranean mainly all-day or they vary?  We do want to explore so and do sightseeing so if they are mainly all-day excursions then we might not be able take advantage of the YC facilities all the time because I think there is only 1 sea day on the itinerary.  

They vary. We are booked on Grandiosa in July and will choose shorter excursions to be back around lunch. If shall go Into Rome it will have to be an all-day excursion and at least one portday we will stay on the ship. 

OP mentions "1 bedroom" which I suspect is what MSC now calls the "Suite with Private Whirlpool", and likely is not the two room true suite that MSC now calls the "Grand Suite with Private Whirlpool".  The smaller one room whirlpool suite will actually have less square footage than a YC Deluxe cabin.  Also all the whirlpool suites have the same small bathroom found in all other regular cabins.  I'd need to know the additional cost for the larger Grand Whirlpool suite, but for the price difference given above I would go for the YC Deluxe, the better drinks package plus all the other YC benefits makes it worth the extra money. 

Yes officially it is called the Suite with Private Whirlpool, a cabin with a lounge, separate bedroom, whirlpool in the balcony.    

On the deck plan it looks like the YC Deluxe Cabin is smaller than the Suite with Private Whirlpool.  The Suites have premium drinks package.    

Putting the differences between the cabins aside for now, is it worth to pay the extra for YC for a Mediterranean cruise?  Or shall I put the money towards specialty dining, excursions, photo packages etc?  

. At the moment due to Covid you can only go on organised ship tours, if that makes any difference to you. Also it is restricted to Schengen countries we have no idea how long this will last.

I have only cruised in YC and if the ship is at full capacity that is the option I would choose . Your youngest can go to kids club the teen may get a little bored, there will probably be some other teens from Europe in YC but the entertainment for them is non existent in YC.

5 hours ago, MM888 said: Are the excursions in the Mediterranean mainly all-day or they vary?  We do want to explore so and do sightseeing so if they are mainly all-day excursions then we might not be able take advantage of the YC facilities all the time because I think there is only 1 sea day on the itinerary.  

They vary. Some excursions are only a few hours long while others are day long.

Because we were traveling with children, we decided to research each destination, avoid organized excursions, and customize our activities ashore. That way we came up with something that would be appealing to everybody.

For example, in Barcelona, we agreed to spend the morning at La Sagrada Familia (for the adults), have lunch, and then spend the afternoon at the FC Barcelona Soccer stadium (for the kids). In Malta, we found a company called Rolling Geeks which operates self guided tours of The Three Cities on golf carts equipped with GPS and audio commentary. It was a fun and easy way to explore. Everybody enjoyed it tremendously.   

I do recommend that you don’t try to do too much. You may be tempted to pack your days with activities, but since it’s a port intensive itinerary you may end up exhausted. Pick one or two things you’d like to see at each port, devote your time to that, and then allow yourself to return to the ship to relax and unwind a bit.   

9 hours ago, MM888 said: Yes officially it is called the Suite with Private Whirlpool, a cabin with a lounge, separate bedroom, whirlpool in the balcony.     On the deck plan it looks like the YC Deluxe Cabin is smaller than the Suite with Private Whirlpool.  The Suites have premium drinks package.     Putting the differences between the cabins aside for now, is it worth to pay the extra for YC for a Mediterranean cruise?  Or shall I put the money towards specialty dining, excursions, photo packages etc?  

MSC can be very misleading with the floor plan pictures which often are not accurate, hence the disclaimer "The image is representative only" .  The smaller Suite with Private Whirlpool does not have a separate bedroom and living area, the larger Grand Suite with Private Whirlpool does have a separate bedroom and living area with fold out couch that becomes the second bedroom.  Their sizes are Suite w/WP @ 290 sq ft, YC deluxe @ 312 sq ft, and Grand Suite w/WP @ 420 sq ft.  I really enjoyed the whirlpool tub on our sailing where we stayed on the ship for several days.  On a port intensive cruise where I planned on spending a lot of time off the ship I think both the YC deluxe and the Aurea WP cabins might equally not be fully utilized.  Both are an extravagance in different ways.

For most countries Aurea only gets Easy package.  If you are booking in the UK and getting the Premium drink package for Aurea that is comparable to the YC drink inclusions, the only significant difference is the mini bar and a Champagne available in YC. 

Half of my MSC cruises have been in the YC so I don't always feel the YC benefits are needed or worth the cost.  I've sailed Aurea and Fantastica a couple times each and enjoyed the experiences, although the Aurea experience for US bookings has diminished since my sailings.  I don't think I will book Aurea again but I'd perhaps consider it on Seashore.

I find little need for specialty restaurants when booked in YC, especially on a one week cruise.  Aurea guests on Grandiosa will be assigned the nicer aft facing restaurant on deck six, but they get the same food as all the MDR restaurants so a specialty meal or two might be wanted.  So for me the extra cost for YC can be subtracted from the cost of needing specialty meals in lower cabins.  YC cabins now include internet if that is something you planned on purchasing.  The other YC perks are much harder to put a price on.  I haven't sailed MSC in Europe yet.  I have two booked, one hectic itinerary and one where I'll stay on the ship more, but both are in the YC.  For me it has more to do with being on a large ship with so many people and crowds, that is where (in the past) the YC private areas and embarking/debarking the ship really paid off to me.

@Tapi, thanks for the advice.  Very sensible approach.  Sounds like I need to find the balance, explore and experience the culture at each port but make sure we enjoy the facilities on the ship as well.    

@Até , following what you said, I need to double check with the travel agent.  All info relating to the Suite with Private Whirlpool shows the bedroom and lounge are separate, and the Grand Suite with Whirlpool pool is a bigger cabin on different decks to Suite with WP.  I would be very disappointed if I went for the Suite with WP and turns out it’s not what it’s showing on the website/deck plan.

Is it true that in YC all the drinks in YC restaurant/bars etc are included but once you’re outside of the YC, any drinks and inc cream etc you order would be chargeable?    

It’s just that in the UK there are premium drinks packages included with new bookings.  Not entirely sure how things work (again need to check) but if premium drinks are not applicable to YC members and we have have to pay for drinks as soon as we are outside of the YC, then the Aurea Suite would be much more suitable and convenient for us.  We can get drinks and ice cream anywhere for the family rather than having to go back and forth to get drinks.    

So much research to do to make sure we are making the right choices to get the best cruising experience.

We were OK getting drinks outside YC and the premium pkge  is as you say incl in YC So wine at dinner is a choice of a couple of bottles and red or white predominantly Italian. Pre dinner drinks/cocktails included as is your nightcap. The champagne is Nicholas Feuillette.

You can get ice cream in YC on the Pool deck and not like the ice cream by the main pool on deck 15 which is soft serve.  

43 minutes ago, MM888 said:   @Até , following what you said, I need to double check with the travel agent.  All info relating to the Suite with Private Whirlpool shows the bedroom and lounge are separate, and the Grand Suite with Whirlpool pool is a bigger cabin on different decks to Suite with WP.  I would be very disappointed if I went for the Suite with WP and turns out it’s not what it’s showing on the website/deck plan.   Is it true that in YC all the drinks in YC restaurant/bars etc are included but once you’re outside of the YC, any drinks and inc cream etc you order would be chargeable?

On these class ships MSC initially had all the forward corner Aurea suites in one category called "Aurea Suite with large balcony" and it didn't take long for people to figure out there was tremendous size variation and some were not two rooms.  The deck plans used to show the cabins that had the room divider walls but for some reason MSC changed this.  After probably many hundreds of complaints MSC divided out the smaller one room cabins from the larger two room cabins, much like they have done with the Grand Suites.  The same happened with the slightly larger, more desirable layout YC Deluxe cabins on Fantasia class ships, now they are called YC Deluxe Grand suites.  I don't fault MSC for charging more for the more desirable cabins, I do fault them for not clearly identifying the differences and using misleading pictures because they don't have a clear rendering of certain cabins.   MSC does have pictures of the smaller Aurea suites w/WP yet they use the misleading floor plan instead. Travel agents are only as good as the information MSC provides.  They usually can't tell you things like if you want the main tub seat to face forward, out to sea, then get a cabin on the starboard side.

The YC drinks package is a variation of the Premium drink package and actually everywhere outside the YC you will actually have the Premium package.  This creates a few quirks depending on the ship.  One consistent quirk is that in the Top Sail lounge you can get true Champagne, usually NF, but on the rest of the ship it is not covered.  The same has also randomly happened to me with a couple higher end liquors over the years.  Other similar situations will be found like wines included in the YC are often not covered in specialty restaurants.  Unfortunately my YC experience has varied from ship to ship.  Some ships YC include gelato all over the ship, some do not.  On my last YC sailing the YC restaurant pushed a limited wine selection each day and getting what you wanted from the wines officially included became disturbingly difficult.  Never before had that problem in YC on other ships.  You just have to embrace that MSC can be very quirky.  I haven't heard if Grandiosa is still only filling the YC minibar at embarkation and charging after that, but that anomaly was reported earlier.

The change to "Grand" and regular W/P suites has been recent so I looked at a few examples and found that it seems MSC only calls the cabins on deck 12 "Grand Suites w/ private W/P".  Those cabins are the largest square footage but I do know most of the other decks do have a separate bedroom from living area.  So it is very possible to get a two room cabin under the non-grand designation.  From past research I have seen decks 9, 10 and 13 are smaller but still can have the two room design on some of the Meraviglia ships.  Unfortunately MSC changed the deck plans and cabin renderings so that I can no longer tell which cabins on which ships had the one room design, I assumed those were the ones excluded from the grand designation.  It's also possible the one room versions had so many complaints that MSC did away with that design and that is why it is no longer seen on any website plans.  But anyway, I now feel pretty confident that the non-grand W/P suites on Grandiosa will have a separate bedroom and living area.

We had a deck 12 Port side Aurea Suite with the curved balcony and hot tub on Meraviglia Xmas 2019, those are the largest of the then Aurea Suites and have a separate bedroom and living room plus walk in wardrobe as well As bedroom wardrobe, the downside was the vanity unit in the living area was actually smaller than a Bella cabin despite having at least a three foot space at the side of it. The change of name to Grand in my opinion is just a money making gimmick.

As Emma's Gran said in an earlier post currently you cannot leave the ship in ports unless you are on an organised ship tour, whether this will change remains to be seen.

Thanks for all your info and sharing your own experience.  Definitely given me more to consider and research on before deciding.   

@Ate, thanks again for the detailed info.  I spoke to my travel agent and he said the Suites in Deck 12 are larger than the Suites on Deck 9, 10 and 13, all have a separate bedroom to the lounge, matching what you said.  This has now given me more confidence to book if I am choosing the Suite with Whirlpool.    

@sidari, it does not make sense why the rooms don’t have bigger vanity units when there’s plenty of room.

it is very hard to know what it’s going to be like in Summer 2021, what the new normal and cruising experience will be like.  It’s good that the MSC has the Flexible Cruise Programme so bookings can be amended under the programme’s terms and conditions.

Hi all, I have a side question please  

With a Future Cruise Credit, it is likely that my booking will have some money left for Onboard Spend and Onboard Credit is in £GBP.  I would like to find out how would the Onboard Credit be treated.  Am I correct that on the Mediterranean cruise the spending is all in Euros?  If so does the MSC use a reasonable conversion rate so that I’m getting the best out of the Onboard Credit?  If the exchange rate is poor then I might use the FCC differently.    

Please could you let me know or point me to the thread if this has already been answered.  Many thanks 

• 2 weeks later...

On 9/26/2020 at 4:52 AM, Até said: MSC can be very misleading with the floor plan pictures which often are not accurate, hence the disclaimer "The image is representative only" .  The smaller Suite with Private Whirlpool does not have a separate bedroom and living area, the larger Grand Suite with Private Whirlpool does have a separate bedroom and living area with fold out couch that becomes the second bedroom.  Their sizes are Suite w/WP @ 290 sq ft, YC deluxe @ 312 sq ft, and Grand Suite w/WP @ 420 sq ft.  I really enjoyed the whirlpool tub on our sailing where we stayed on the ship for several days.  On a port intensive cruise where I planned on spending a lot of time off the ship I think both the YC deluxe and the Aurea WP cabins might equally not be fully utilized.  Both are an extravagance in different ways.   For most countries Aurea only gets Easy package.  If you are booking in the UK and getting the Premium drink package for Aurea that is comparable to the YC drink inclusions, the only significant difference is the mini bar and a Champagne available in YC.    Half of my MSC cruises have been in the YC so I don't always feel the YC benefits are needed or worth the cost.  I've sailed Aurea and Fantastica a couple times each and enjoyed the experiences, although the Aurea experience for US bookings has diminished since my sailings.  I don't think I will book Aurea again but I'd perhaps consider it on Seashore.   I find little need for specialty restaurants when booked in YC, especially on a one week cruise.  Aurea guests on Grandiosa will be assigned the nicer aft facing restaurant on deck six, but they get the same food as all the MDR restaurants so a specialty meal or two might be wanted.  So for me the extra cost for YC can be subtracted from the cost of needing specialty meals in lower cabins.  YC cabins now include internet if that is something you planned on purchasing.  The other YC perks are much harder to put a price on.  I haven't sailed MSC in Europe yet.  I have two booked, one hectic itinerary and one where I'll stay on the ship more, but both are in the YC.  For me it has more to do with being on a large ship with so many people and crowds, that is where (in the past) the YC private areas and embarking/debarking the ship really paid off to me.

The suites with whirlpool all have seperate bedrooms, but the Grand suites are bigger. The grandsuites are on the 12th deck. De rest is on 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th deck...AND ALL HAVE SEPERATE BEDROOMS 

On 10/12/2020 at 4:43 AM, korpo024 said: The suites with whirlpool all have seperate bedrooms, but the Grand suites are bigger. The grandsuites are on the 12th deck. De rest is on 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th deck...AND ALL HAVE SEPERATE BEDROOMS 

Read post #15.  At one point MSC had Meraviglia floor plans/renderings showing some of the smaller "Suite with large balcony" cabins showing a one room design.  I cannot say if they were ever built that way or possibly changed at some point.

ETA:  I think this was an old rendering, there was also a floor plan.

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MSC Grandiosa deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

MSC Grandiosa deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by MSC Cruises deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the MSC Grandiosa cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on MSC Grandiosa staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

MSC Grandiosa (2019-built) is the first MERAVIGLIA PLUS-class vessel in MSC Cruises fleet , with sistershps MSC Virtuosa (2021) and MSC Euribia (2023).

MSC Grandiosa cruise ship deck plan shows 2421 staterooms for 4888 passengers (max capacity is 6334) served by 1704 crew-staff. The boat has 18 decks (15 passenger-accessible, 11 with cabins), 14 restaurants and food bars (including 5x MDRs dining rooms and 5x specialty), 21 lounges and bars, 4 swimming pools (1x sliding roof-covered, 1x MSC Yacht Club), 9 Jacuzzis (outdoor whirlpool hot tubs), 32 elevators (19 passenger lifts, including 1x MSC Yacht Club and 2x panoramic / glass-walled lifts in the Atrium).

MSC Grandiosa decks are named after the world's most famous painters.

The following official MSC Cruises YouTube video release reviews the "Meraviglia Plus" class liners as best features and shipboard amenities.

• Among the dining options are “Butcher’s Cut” (new American steakhouse); new pastry bar/creperie (by celebrity chef Jean Philippe Maury), new “Kaito Sushi” restaurant, new “Kaito Teppanyaki” restaurant, a 20-hours a day open buffet restaurant.
• The 4 swimming pools include a 25-m / 80 ft long Atmosphere pool, a 10-m / 33 ft long indoor pool (Bamboo pool) and the aft-located Horizon pool – the most generous open-deck area at sea.
• Weekly, a total of 12 “Cirque du Soleil” circus acrobatic shows will be presented in the dedicated “Carousel Lounge”. The lounge is located aft on deck 7 (Promenade) and has capacity 120 seats for dinner (plus additional 290 seats reserved for drinks).
• Balinese Spa complex is an 1100 m2 (11840 ft2) sized wellness area.

Each Meraviglia- and Meraviglia Plus-class ship is fitted with a total of 114 Interactive screens, 244 info screens, 31 virtual screens, 81 video wall monitors, 3050 iBeacons, 700 WAPs (wireless access points), 1200 CCTV cameras.

Deck layouts

Deck 04 - picasso-tendering-hospital-crew, deck 05 - caravaggio-cabins-lobby, deck 06 - leonardo da vinci-dining-shops, deck 07 - michelangelo-promenade-spa-carousel lounge-casino, deck 08 - monet-cabins, deck 09 - van gogh-cabins, deck 10 - miro-cabins, deck 11 - dali-cabins, deck 12 - raffaello-cabins, deck 13 - goya-cabins, deck 14 - magritte-cabins-bridge, deck 15 - cezanne-lido-pools, deck 16 - velazquez-sports-yacht club1, deck 18 - gauguin-kids-teens, deck 19 - degas-waterslides-yacht club2.

MSC Grandiosa deck plans are property of MSC Cruises . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

MSC Cruises promo codes and coupons for June 2024

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Ready to set sail? Our MSC Cruises coupon codes can help you enjoy big savings on your next cruise vacation. With destinations across the globe including the Mediterranean region, Northern Europe, Canary Islands, and beyond, you can visit exotic locations coupled with luxurious accommodations and entertainment on-board your ship. Whether you’re looking to embark on a romantic getaway or a family-friendly trip, check out our MSC Cruises discount codes to save on your waterfront experience.  

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What are the most popular MSC Cruises?

MSC Cruises is an especially popular cruise line thanks to its impressive fleet of large luxury ships. A few of the most popular MSC Cruises include:

• MSC Euribia : The sustainable cruise ship runs on liquid natural gas and sails through Northern Europe, including picturesque cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Paris. The MSC Euribia has 10 dining venues, 21 bars, five pools, a water park, theater, casino, and dedicated kids’ area. 
• MSC Virtuosa : One of the main attractions of the MSC Virtuosa is the F1 Simulator that delivers a serious adrenaline rush on a virtual racetrack. Other highlights include a 4D cinema, Himalayan Bridge adventure, 10 dining concepts, the Carousel Lounge with live entertainment from acrobats and dancers, and the MSC Aurea Spa.
• MSC Grandiosa : This large cruise ship is known for having a robust list of public spaces for entertaining, dining, and more. It features 11 dining venues, an amusement park, comedy club, karaoke bar, indoor promenade with LED dome, and several shopping outlets. 

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Are MSC Cruises all-inclusive? 

It depends on what cruise ship and package you book! In general, the base packages for MSC Cruises include accommodations , meals, live entertainment, port stops, and access to different on-board activities. Port excursions, specialty drinks, and Wi-Fi are not included in base packages. For most MSC Cruises, you will have the option to book an All-Inclusive Deluxe Drink package that allows you access to a wide variety of beverages at no additional cost once aboard your ship. For even more access, the MSC Yacht Club offers an all-inclusive luxury cruise experience with special perks like 24-hour butler service and dedicated concierge, priority check-in and check-out, and more. Be sure to check out our MSC Cruises coupon codes to score big savings so you can feel better about treating yourself to a few upgrades!

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MSC Cruises Unveils 2025-26 US Winter Sailings

M SC Cruises will have a record-setting seven ships sailing around the United States for the 2025-26 winter season, with ships homeporting in Miami, Port Canaveral, New York City and Galveston.

MSC Grandiosa will make its U.S. debut from Port Canaveral, while the cruise line as a whole will be celebrating its first-ever season sailing from Galveston with MSC Seascape. MSC World America will also have its first winter season sailing from Miami after the ship’s debut in April 2025 .

Most itineraries will visit Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve , which is getting several enhancements and updates at the moment. During the 2025-26 winter, guests will be able to take advantage of new excursion centers, a snorkel and dive center, new food and beverage options and an expanded Ocean House bar and restaurant for MSC Yacht Club guests.

“We are delighted to provide our guests more choices than ever before when it comes to embarkation ports, ships, itineraries and destinations, making it easy to find the perfect cruise,” says Rubén A. Rodríguez, president of MSC Cruises USA. “Combining world-class entertainment, dining and amenities onboard with the fantastic updates coming to Ocean Cay makes for an incredibly exciting future, which is perfect for everyone from first-time cruisers to our most devoted fans.”