Cruise Luxury special
restaurant serves breakfast,
lunch and dinner. The lounge
offers cocktails and afternoon
tea and there’s further choice
at the poolside grill on Yacht
Club’s sundeck.
Keeping pace are the
spacious suites. Mine is done
out in chocolate brown paired
with pale wood laminate.
While not the most chic at sea,
it’s generously appointed, with
a walk-in shower and good-
sized balcony, plus decent wi-fi
and my choice of full-sized
bottle of booze for the minibar.You don’t have to go for a top
suite, either. There are inside
cabins so you can enjoy the
Yacht Club lifestyle in more
modest accommodation.
Some guests barely leave
Yacht Club, but there’s a
lot going on elsewhere on
the ship. A lift whisks me
down to the spa, nine decks
below, where the calibre
of treatments exceeds
expectations: a basic
30-minute massage does
wonders for knotted
shoulders. Better still, the spaextends a 10 per cent discount
to Yacht Club passengers, or
40 per cent if booking pre-paid
packages. As a Yacht Club
guest, you get free access to
the saunas and steam rooms.
Further incentives to
engage with the ship’s facilities
include a £10 casino credit and
a free go on each of the Virtual
Games Arcade’s simulators
and attractions, which range
from ten-pin bowling to VR
headsets for immersive
zombie battles. Yacht Club’s
all-inclusive privileges extend
to almost every bar on the
ship, the only exception being
Starship Club, which is
manned by “Rob”, the heavy-
pouring robot bartender. The
four speciality restaurants,
though, command a cover
charge, from £39 for a single
restaurant to £91 if you opt for
a package for three.
Not everyone will appreciate
some of the more mainstream
attractions, but there’s no
denying there’s stacks of
fun to be found all over the
ship. And if the noise, lights
and crowds become a bit
overwhelming, it doesn’t take
long to retreat back to Yacht
Club’s serenity. For individuals
or groups who like travelling
in style but appreciate more
atmosphere than is typical for
a luxury line, the appeal is
obvious. As for me? I’ve been
converted.James Litston was a guest of
MSC Cruises. Three nights’
full board, departing from
Southampton on September 24,
from £1,049pp in Yacht Club
(msccruises.co.uk)Yacht Club passengers
can enjoy the spa, a
spacious suite, VR
games and the Top SailI lounge, below
t’s 11pm and MSC
Virtuosa’s Galleria is
packed with an up-for-it
crowd, dancing and
singing along to hits
from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Above them, LED screens
that fill the length of this
two-storey space’s arched
ceiling are ablaze with
psychedelic shapes in
swirling, neon colours.
Matching them in brightness
are the jumpsuits and flares
worn by entertainment staff
who are leading the dancing
from podiums and balconies.
It’s going down a storm
with the multigenerational
revellers: from grey-haired
grandparents and excited
kids to a group on a hen do —
everyone is having the time
of their lives.
I’ve never experienced such
high energy on a cruise
ship. I’m more used
to sailing on ships
where the price-
point filters out
more youthful
demographics.
You won’t find
massive knees-
ups and neon-clad
dancers on more
luxurious lines and
indeed, with a capacity of
6,300 passengers, MSC
Virtuosa is the sort of
megaship I’d usually avoid.
But, there’s a twist. I’m
staying in MSC’s Yacht Club,
the “ship within a ship”
enclave that offers an
environment to rival more
traditionally high-end cruise
lines, while providing access
to far more facilities than
smaller ships can
accommodate.
With more inclusions (from
drinks to a butler service) than
the ship’s other passengers
might enjoy, Yacht Club is
designed to attract a
discerning clientele. This
means that it comes at an
elevated price. But does the
concept genuinely live up to
its swanky aspirations?
It certainly impresses in
style and atmosphere. Spread
across the ship’s three upper
foredecks, the 103-suite
complex benefits from a
concierge team and a choice of
secluded spaces exclusive to
Yacht Club guests. Its Top Sail
lounge and mezzanine
restaurant, connected by a
spiral staircase whose risers
sparkle with Swarovski
crystals, are elegant and airy
with panoramic views. Turned
out in slate grey with white-
gold accents, the 120-seatMORE SHIPS
WITH VIP SUITES
THE RETREAT CELEBRITY CRUISES
With interiors by Kelly Hoppen, The
Retreat on Celebrity’s ships, especially
the three newest vessels, Edge, Apex
and Beyond, is a haven if you’re
looking for a level of additional luxury.
Accommodation ranges from the Sky
Suite, a light-filled studio, to two vast
Iconic Suites on top of the bridge,
with entertaining space and an
outdoor hot tub. Retreat guests eat at
a fine dining restaurant, plus, there’s
access to a lounge for canapés andall-day drinks. The Retreat Sundeck
(on the newest ships) has its own pool.
Details Seven nights’ all-inclusive on
Celebrity Edge from £3,285pp in
The Retreat, sailing round-trip from
Rome to Spain and France, departing
on June 25 (celebritycruises.com).
Fly to RomeROYAL SUITE CLASS ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean’s newest vessel,
Wonder of the Seas, is the world’s
biggest ship, so you may welcome
the tranquillity of two decks
dedicated to the highest-paying
passengers. Perks include access to
the serene Coastal Kitchen restaurant
and a suites-only sundeck with a
sea-facing pool. The top suitescome with butler service and are
extraordinary; the Ultimate Family
Suite (price on application) sleeps ten
and has a slide, cinema and karaoke.
Details Seven nights’ full board from
£2,184pp in a junior suite, sailing
round-trip from Rome to Spain and
France, departing on October 13
(royalcaribbean.com). Fly to RomeTHE HAVEN NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
NCL was one of the pioneers of suite
enclaves and offers variations on the
Haven on all ships. Accommodation
ranges from a spa suite with balcony,
to the three-bedroom Garden Villa,
sleeping eight, with an outdoor hot
tub and grand piano. Guests have
access to a cocktail bar, an exclusiverestaurant and a sundeck with pool
and hot tubs. Your butler can book
speciality dining and show tickets.
Details Ten nights’ all-inclusive
on Norwegian Escape from £4,074pp
in The Haven, sailing round-trip
from Rome to Greece and Malta,
departing on September 2,
including flights (ncl.com)
Sue BryantSHIP
THE
SHIP
Can you enjoy all the facilities of a megaship, but still escape the
crowds? James Litston checks in to a VIP enclave to find out
3
Yacht Club is
designed to
attract a
discerning
clientele
IVAN SARFATTI/MSC; STEVE BEAUDET/NCLWITHIN A
A Garden Villa hot tub in The Haven