How MSC’s Yacht Club Makes The World’s 6th Largest Cruise Ship Feel Like A Boutique Hotel

Mega cruise ships have so much to offer, like dining options, activities and entertainment of every kind, but they can be overwhelming to luxury lovers who want to take advantage of all of those things without having to deal with lines and crowds.

MSC has figured out exactly how to appeal to those guests with The Yacht Club, the luxury ship within their newest and largest ship to date, MSC World Europa. With a gross tonnage of 215,863 and the capacity to hold 6,672 passengers and 2,138 crew members, the World-class MSC World Europa has already taken its place on the list of the largest cruise ships, coming in at number six – yet The Yacht Club somehow manages to still provide the intimacy and exceptional service of a small, boutique hotel.

Featuring 21 decks of fun, including the longest dry slide at sea, the ship is massive – something that is usually unappealing to me. I agreed to go with two of my friends on a week-long cruise to France, Spain and Italy as long as we stayed in the Yacht Club, and it was a fantastic experience. I was so impressed with the accommodations, the perks and, above all, the service that I am ready to plan another trip. Here’s why:

The Yacht Club butlers and concierges

The amenities, from its extras to its exclusivity, are top notch but the real secret to the Yacht Club is its impeccable service. Every single crew member is dedicated to meeting the needs of their guests and ensuring they have the best vacation, and credit goes to Yacht Club Director Melania Mauro, for leading them with professionalism and a wicked sense of humor.

Each Yacht Club suite comes with its own butler and Khin was such an integral reason for our trip’s success. I still feel bad that we didn’t get to say a proper goodbye and thank her for always going above and beyond. She booked reservations for us, walked us in to sold out shows and even took a secret shortcut to personally escort my friend to her bus when she was running late. She thoughtfully decorated my other friend’s suite for her birthday and made sure we all knew where we were supposed to be at what time for activities and excursions we had signed up for. She was the gold standard of what you would hope for in a Yacht Club butler.

The Yacht Club also has a concierge desk set up for any guest request and let me tell you the people behind that desk have the patience of saints. Shout out to Jimmy for always answering our stupid questions with a smile, for helping us work out schedules and for miraculously finding availability on shore excursions that were full.

Darwin, in the Yacht Club restaurant, made sure my friends’ vegan and vegetarian needs were met, always coming over to check in and chat. I wish we could send him his favorite Philly cheesesteak to thank him.

The Yacht Club Suites

My balcony deluxe suite on the 16^th floor was spacious and well-appointed, and casually elegant in neutral shades of brown and gray. The king size bed was just the right balance between firm and soft and I was able to select my own pillow from an extensive menu.

There was a ton of closet space, with lots of shelves and drawers, and the fridge was refilled daily with my preferred drinks. I liked coming back to a bowl of fresh fruit every day and a nighttime snack plus a square of chocolate on my bedside table in the evening. Yacht Club guests also get to choose a full-size welcome bottle of their favorite wine or spirit.

Since my friends were in the suite next to mine, we requested that the partition between our balconies be opened so we could walk back and forth to see each other. We spent many evenings just sitting and talking together outside and it was one of the most special parts of our trip. This is something to consider if you’re traveling with friends or family.

What’s included in The Yacht Club

Because The Yacht Club has its own restaurant, lounge, pool and sun deck, it’s truly an oasis. The private restaurant and lounge are connected via a stunning, Swarovski crystal staircase that creates a gorgeous, two-story space with floor to ceiling windows and an open, airy feel. The lounge is a great place to enjoy afternoon tea, a cocktail or just the views.

A drink package is included for The Yacht Club guests and, although our beverage of choice is Diet Coke, we got a kick out of visiting the hidden speakeasy (sorry, you’ll have to score an invitation yourself) and spending time in the Raj Polo Tea House. The under-the-radar venue is a lovely spot to settle in with a pot of tea and some freshly baked treats, all of which were included.

Another venue we loved was the Aurea Spa. Although massages and facials are extra (and well worth it), Yacht Club guests receive complimentary access to the Thermal Suite – an amazing area featuring everything from saunas to snow rooms to experience showers and a variety of pools and baths. We tried everything and spent an inordinate amount of time in the snow room because it is hot in Europe in the summer! It was so invigorating.

On a ship the size of MSC World Europa, one of the best perks of The Yacht Club was having our own pool and sun deck. We never had to claim a chaise before the crowds came because there was so much space, whether we preferred seats in the sun or the shade. It was a much more relaxing experience.

The benefits continued off the ship, too, as we were given priority boarding and disembarking as well as priority for shore excursions. We were escorted down to the buses, where we were first aboard, and we were welcomed back by a dedicated Yacht Club butler, who whisked us to the front of the security line. We truly felt like VIPs.

The food

Meals at the Yacht Club restaurant were delicious and plentiful but we also opted for a dining package that allowed us to try a few of the ship’s signature specialty restaurants. We liked the casual vibes of both Kaito Teppanyaki Grill and Sushi Bar and Hola! Tacos & Cantina and were blown away by Michelin starred chef Niklas Ekstedt’s green restaurant, Chef’s Garden Kitchen, featuring the world’s first hydroponic micro-farm at sea. I went all out, choosing a dinner featuring lobster and Wagyu, and it was absolutely worth the extra charges.

We also found ourselves making frequent stops at the aptly-named and all-too-tempting Pizza & Burger to grab a slice or some fries. Because it’s included in the cruise, it’s impossible to resist a quick bite.

The atmosphere

MSC is a European cruise ship company so it’s no surprise that World Europa was filled with mostly European guests. It was fascinating to hear so many languages being spoken and I actually loved listening to the songs they chose to sing during karaoke. I may have to create a new, international Spotify playlist now.

The only downside of this is that, because smoking is more acceptable to Europeans to Americans, there are more places to smoke on this ship – including an indoor bar – than on any I’ve encountered before. We had to call the concierge numerous times when we saw guests smoking on their balconies (something that is not allowed on any cruise ship). We even saw a woman trying to sneak an e-cigarette during lunch in the restaurant. I understand that cultures are different but fire is universally recognized as a serious risk on cruise ships and this was disconcerting. We were shocked to watch one man toss his cigarette stubs in the ocean — something that goes against every eco-conscious policy of MSC — and were glad to see those in charge take our complaints seriously and give warnings to those guests.

Sustainability

I appreciate that MSC is committed to promoting responsible cruising and has set a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. World Europa is MSC’s most sustainable ship yet, powered by cleaner fuel and integrating green technology – like wastewater purification and propellers that reduce underwater noise – throughout.

I’m already checking out new itineraries for another MSC cruise. The Yacht Club is available on many of their ships and I’m looking forward to experiencing all they have to offer — and then heading back to my peaceful little corner.