MSC Cruises is a Swiss global cruise line based in Geneva, Switzerland, with U.S. cruises departing from Miami, Port Canaveral and New York. Next year, they will add Galveston to their port repertoire. 

I hadn’t heard of MSC Cruise line until they reached out to me last year, and every time I mentioned it to someone in Texas, no one was familiar with it. So let’s change that.

I feel like you’re either a cruiser or a staunch anti-cruiser. People are either all in on cruising or despise the idea of vacationing on a city-on-the-sea. But what if you could have all of the benefits of cruising, visiting four different countries in a week from the comfort of one closet and cabin, access to a great restaurant every night, heaps of top-shelf nightly entertainment, and you could pair that with all of the benefits of cruising on a small ship? 

That’s really what MSC Cruises offers with its Yacht Club. Yacht Club is like a small ship within a large ship. Just like I mentioned on this TV segment, the Yacht Club experience of MSC Cruises is very comparable to taking a journey on a small cruise line. Some of the things that I love about cruising on a small ship, such as really getting to know specific crew members and other passengers, one can experience cruising as a Yacht Club member of MSC Cruises.

The luxury experience of the MSC Yacht Club starts weeks before your sailing. They send emails reminding you to sign up for various accouterments. And one week prior to your sailing, you get an email asking you to fill out a form indicating your preferences for your daily newspaper, mini bar selections and even pillow choice!

Membership has ample privileges within the Yacht Club. From getting to board the ship early, being served drinks and snacks while you wait to go aboard, access to 24 hour butler service, getting a fast pass to disembark for ports and come back aboard the ship, it’s all available to Yacht Club cruisers on MSC Cruises.

A week-long cruise is just about the only trip I will take where I will actually unpack my suitcase into drawers and hang up clothes in a closet. I love being able to unpack a bag and have the world at my fingertips, essentially. For someone who likes to explore a new area like I do, and enjoys dancing, shows, and other live music options, vacationing on a cruise ship features all of these perks. 

All up in the club

I didn’t have to experience any of the vacation buzz kills of a cruise (long lines, big crowds, no space at the pool) within the Yacht Club of MSC Cruises. I adored having a special part of the ship where we could enjoy our own delicious restaurant with the same server that we got to know really well. Edgar took great care of us, along with the rest of his team. I also loved the uncrowded pool deck at the Yacht Club pool on deck 20. I loved really getting to know and trust our two butlers who also served as our cabin stewards, Meri and Mark.

But I also really enjoyed having access to features outside of the Yacht Club. The MSC Seascape features five specialty dining options, all with a different flare.

Butcher’s Cut is a traditional steakhouse featuring prime cuts of beef alongside hearty, cheesy sides, such as jalapeño cream corn, mashed potatoes, and mac & cheese. Do not bypass their cheese rolls in the bread basket. Those, paired with an Oberon Cabernet, provide a delicious start to a wonderful dinner.

Kaito Sushi Bar features one of the most unique concepts I’ve ever seen in dining. I’m not even a raw sushi fan, but I was entranced by their conveyor belt, carrying colorful plates of raw sushi around the restaurant. Within this concept, one can choose eight plates of sushi to enjoy. If you’re like me and not a raw sushi connoisseur, you can order off the menu and enjoy fabulous dishes like fried rice with chicken, tempura veggies, or a fresh carrot salad.

Ocean Cay is the private island of MSC Cruises, and also the name of their seafood restaurant on board. One of their most popular features is their Sea Bass, which comes to the table as a whole fish and is carved out onto individual plates, definitely serving two people. Starters include savory crab cakes, and as always, dinner ends with a sweet dessert.

But if you are cruising within the Yacht Club, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner ordered off a menu within the Yacht Club restaurant on the 18th deck. Not only is the food above par, the service is absolutely exceptional, and the view of the ocean is like no other on the ship. If you happen to miss the two-hour window for a meal, you can access a buffet up at the Yacht Club pool on the 20th deck.

Uncompromising spa offerings

As a Yacht Club member, you can visit the thermal area of the spa each day if you like. Now, I found this name confusing, thermal area. What this amazing section of the spa offers is a relaxing water circuit that rivals some of the best spas I’ve ever visited. Sensory cold plunge showers to a dry sauna and a bubbling hot tub, to even a snow room where you actually sit among flakes of fresh snow, this water circuit provides the perfect respite from a busy ship and a busy life. I do recommend spending an hour a day in this thermal area if you can fit it into your busy cruise schedule. It’s a wonderful way to give a gift to your nervous and circulatory systems by way of the wonder of water.

In addition, I recommend booking a 50-minute Balinese massage. This smooth, relaxing bodywork is the perfect compliment to your cruise. I would recommend treating yourself on the first day at sea, to really fall into a relaxed vacay mode.

So many countries, so little time

I truly love getting to sample so many different countries on a one-week cruise. The Seascape’s Caribbean cruise docks at Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and MSC’s private island called Ocean Cay.

When it comes to excursions, I would urge you to book those as early as possible in order to get your first selection. However, it is possible to add excursions on board as well. I highly recommend rafting down the Martha Brae River with a guide for a very peaceful excursion at Falmouth, Jamaica. And make sure you bring your patience so that if mother nature decides to visit with bad weather, be okay with a pivot if needed and be flexible. 

Here’s another excursion tip, if your flight is leaving later in the day when you disembark the ship, which is usually around 8 a.m., consider booking an excursion to enjoy a hop-on hop-off tour of the city. We were able to fill our time between getting off the ship and going to the airport with a very interesting tour of Miami this way.

Here are some of my most favorite MSC Cruise travel tips:

• Make use of the Yacht Club (YC) priority elevator, where you simply scan your wristband for quick access. 
• Enjoy getting to know the YC crew, representing 65 countries.
• Within our Yacht Club cabin, I found the largest cruise ship bathroom I’ve ever experienced, with an actual vanity counter and rainwater faucet in the shower.
• While sitting on a chaise lounge at the YC pool deck, enjoy an offer for sunglasses cleaning.
• At Gala Night, enjoy lobster from New Zealand and snails from Indonesia.
• Nowhere but on a cruise ship, can you catch trivia, dinner, another game of trivia, a dance class and then a comedy show.
• Ask for a pool towel to take with you to the beach when you port and grab a few water bottles.
• Use the lending library behind the YC concierge desk.
• On the island of Ocean Cay, which was the last stop, YC members experience a special area on the island with their own staff and lunch.

As the welcome letter says, “The MSC Yacht Club offers the exclusivity and privacy of a members only club, where you can relax and feel pampered in an all inclusive experience. We invite you to savor the exquisite Mediterranean and international recipes at your private à la carte restaurant. Enjoy your favorite beverage, gourmet bites and afternoon tea as you take in the panoramic views from the comfort of the Top Sail Lounge. Soak up the sun at the One Pool sundeck while sampling a wide selection of refreshments. Unwind and recharge at the MSC spa with complimentary access to the thermal area.”

I would surely cruise again with MSC Yacht Club. It is a club where all the cool kids hang out and I’m happy to wear this member’s only jacket.

Fun Facts from MSC Cruises:

• MSC is the third largest cruise line with a fleet of 23 modern ships offering sailings around the world and in the U.S. from Miami, Port Canaveral and New York.
• In November 2025, MSC Cruises will begin sailing from Galveston with 7-night Western Caribbean sailings onboard MSC Seascape.
• Launched in December 2022, MSC Seascape is a great ship for families with outstanding entertainment and activities including Robotron, a thrilling amusement ride available at sea for the first time, fun shows and a variety of specialty dining options.
• In April 2025, MSC Cruises will also be launching its newest flagship from Miami, MSC World America – the cruise line’s largest ship sailing in the U.S.
• Many U.S. sailings visit MSC Cruises’ tranquil private island in The Bahamas – Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, where guests can connect with their natural surroundings and enjoy a variety of activities from snorkeling to paddleboarding and kayaking.

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Cover Photo courtesy MSC Cruises 

Marika Flatt, Outstanding Austin Communicator 2021, is the Travel Editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. She began her travel writing career in 2002, and can be seen as a contributor on TV shows across Texas, such as Great Day Houston, San Antonio Living, Spectrum News, Good Morning Texas, KVUE, Daytime (FOX), and Studio 512! She enjoyed cruising with her cabinmate, Finn.