How We Book (& Bid) Yacht Club

[@edwardstrand165]

Congratulations Beth & Chris. My wife & I (since 2019) have only cruised on MSC. 100% agreed that for the $$$ they have the best thing going compared to the other lines. We are SELF-EMPLOYED so I try to get the most value for my money. I always pick the STARBOARD cabins, just for the awesome view of MSC's private island Ocean Cay. We had the blessed opportunity to grab the cabin suite 13284 aboard the 1st US sailing of the MSC Seashore in December 2022. Already booked MSC World America out of Miami FL, during your anniversary month (October 2025).

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Sounds like you both know how to do it right!!! You just can’t beat this experience for the money you pay. When are you cruising in October? We will be on Oct 18 with our group

[@donnamariebailey8762]

My husband and I just booked an inside cabin in the yacht club on the seascape. We have only cruised 2 times with NCL in a balcony. We gave up our balcony to try the yacht club experience. I’ve heard good things about MSC from a couple of people and we wanted to try it. Especially from what y’all are saying about MSC. I would like to say thank you to the both of you. With what MSC costs is a lot cheaper than it was from NCL with a lot more benefits.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Oh wonderful!! We stayed in the inside cabin this time so the videos we have coming out should be helpful. If you have any specific questions… just let us know ❤️❤️

[@donnamariebailey8762]

@@Taste-Try-Travel something that no one talks about is what is your choices in the bottle of liquor or wine champagne you get in the room. Maybe y’all can talk about this. I know that we get one. It’s just what kind are they? We are very much looking forward to going. We have one book this year with NCL. We like to go on our anniversary.

[@ronbowers7944]

We did Seascape in March in yacht club. We loved it and booked another on Seascape while we were on the cruise. It was for my wife's birthday and she really was pampered

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@ronbowers7944 wonderful to hear that Ron!! Thank you for sharing ❤️❤️❤️

[@TraipsingTara]

I sailed yacht club on Seascape last fall. It was amazing! I loved the lounge and pool deck. You’re going to love it!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yay thank you for that… we can’t wait ❤️❤️❤️

[@2good2eat]

I just wanted to thank you for your videos regarding Yacht Club! I learned so much from your channel! I originally booked Bella Interior about 80 days before embarkation. 2 days after booking I received the upgrade email. Decided to bid on YC Interior for the minimum amount. Then my bid was accepted 2 days later after I submitted our offer. It was so great to receive the congratulations email! We are saving a lot of money thanks to the upgrade program. Thank you so much again for all of the tips that you had shared.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Oh that is amazing to hear! We know you will have such a good time and doing it while saving money makes it even better!!! We have some videos coming out soon about our YC trip on Seascape.

[@jerrylesnau2414]

I purchases a 4 night cruise departing Aug 25 paying for inside cabin (cheapest cabin on the ship) along with the Easy Plus package. We got a free upgrade to Deluxe Balcony and the a couple days later we received an offer to bid on Yacht Club. We bid the minimum bid and got it so we really got a good deal

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

OMG that is amazing and the perfect way to enjoy YC… when you know it was a great deal. We hope you have an amazing time!!!!

[@backh2o]

We booked a guaranteed inside cabin for October. Received the upgrade offer last week for YC interior for $550. Finally after 5 days received the upgrade 🎉😊

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Gotcha so looks like maybe you can get upgrade offers with a guaranteed room. Must have been bad luck with our reservation 😬

[@backh2o]

​@@Taste-Try-Travel You will love YC on this ship! Can't wait to see how you like it!

[@tinaanderson5454]

We have been on the Seascape 3 times, all yacht club. It's an amazing ship! Everyone in the yacht club is so friendly and helpful.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Oh wonderful thank you so much!! We are excited 😊

[@ilovecruising2024]

Seascape Yacht Club staff was amazing in March. We celebrated our friend's birthday, and our Butler surprised her with decorations, towel animals, a cake, and a bottle of bubbly.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@ilovecruising2024 ah how fun. We are interested to see what they will do for our anniversary. Can’t wait to share ❤️

[@jackiewilkey]

We were on Meraviglia in the YC interior suite this past June. We loved it so much we booked again for this November as it is our anniversary month (41 years). I feel like you in that we didn't ask for anything. Hopefully you will put out your review before our trip so we can get some more hints as what to ask for. We're chicken and booked interior and paid full price, less the voyager member discount. So happy it worked out for you, have a wonderful time. Oh and Happy Anniversary!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Thank you!!! And never say you chickened out… you booked the experience that you wanted and that is fantastic! We will try to push the envelope this time in a fun way of course. If we don’t get too many videos out before you go, please message me and will give you some updates 😁😁

[@apriltierney6051]

Thanks for the video! I think you are right about the guarantees. I booked an interior guarantee and have not gotten an upgrade email, whereas a lot of other people on my cruise have- but they have room numbers. My documents said it could be as late as 4 days before cruising when I get my number- ACK! At that point I don't think I would have much of a chance to upgrade. Crossing my fingers I get a room assignment soon and that it is a free upgrade and then I can bid from there- a long shot, but a girl can dream!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@apriltierney6051 absolutely!! We are crossing our fingers for you. Either way I’m sure you will have a blast 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@in2cruising]

I love you show , so different , so unique and Chriss is hilarious , he is like a big baby :) Love your vibes , I am a fan of MSC as well I have done all their ships in USA and also Did MSC World Europa on a MED Cruise this year , going to try the Yatch Clun for the first time in DEC this year :) Really Excited

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Oh thank you so much. We love sharing our passion of cruising with y’all. So excited for your new adventures!!!

[@leanne2894]

The sports bar on the Seascape was a rowdy spot at night when they had a singer. Best times!!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yes love the night life. Most times we don’t film… cameras away and just enjoy the night 😁😁😁

[@odkbull]

YAY!!! Congrats!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Thanks Norm ❤️❤️

[@Elisabeth_F_at]

Ooooh, I am so excited for you! We were in YC on the Seascape in March 2024. It was soooo awesome!! Greetings from Auatria to the nicest Butler ever Roberto - in case you meet him ;) I like your podcast very much! We were on the Euribia last year and just booked Aurea on the MSC America for net August 😍

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Wouldn’t it be great if we had the same butlers!!! Countdown to World America… we are all so excited 🎉🎉🎉

[@enidnunez4719]

I love you're videos I will be celebrating my 40 year birthday on the MSC seashore on october and I went all out booking yacht club after watching many videos. It will be my first MSC cruise so anxious to try it. And just to let you guys know you have a follower from Puerto Rico. 🇵🇷

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Well happy birthday and it will be an amazing time for you in YC!!! Thank you for your message! I know this might be a silly question since PR is pretty big… but would you happen to have a recommendation for a pina colada somewhere fun in old town San Juan? We are going there this next trip 😁😁😁

[@enidnunez4719]

@Taste-Try-Travel In old San Juan you can go to Barrachina Rest near The Fortaleza wich is the Governors house.

[@Jj-lo3zx]

gm Triple T , i. booked in yacht club because of you guys … i can’t wait praying for upgrade bid to get suite from interior , but we are yacht club ; )

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Great news!!! Hope you love it as much as we do!!

[@mismatmom]

Gosh darn! I agree on the price being so great. I really dont feel like its a basement cruise. Thanks for sharing. Only thing about aurea aft balcony is it is super skinny. Inside very spacious.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yes and those suites are as far away from the spa as it gets!!!

[@gloriatorres7488]

OMG we will be in Yacht Club on the Seascape in Sept for our 30th wedding anniversary! We are doing that same itinerary. I will look out for Chris and his cape around the pool! LOL

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

That's awesome! Happy anniversary (a month early😊) !!! Not surprisingly, Chris is having a hard time finding a "swim cape" on Amazon... 🤪

[@Controversialcruising]

Ooo I’m all ears!! I want to do yacht club!!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

You would love it… gotta get you on MSC ❤️❤️

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Also hope you had a great trip, can’t wait for the videos

[@RenéOlsen-e2h]

Thank you guys for the shoutout, we were pleasantly surprised to hear our names. Chris and Sharon made our trip a memorable experience to say the least, as well as YC was beyond all expectations, especially since we were influenced by you guys to try Meraviglia from New York. It was a fun experience to meet other people whom also were inspired to try the cruise experience due to you guys. We look forward to more videos about your cruise life and we hope we get to meet you on one of them some day! Best regards from Chris and Sharon's cruise-mates, Heidi and René from Denmark.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

You both are so sweet… we are happy to know you through this channel. Can’t wait to meet up in person ❤️

[@susanamorijon3258]

Watching now full support ❤

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@susanamorijon3258 thank you 😊

[@AllisonBowers-jp3mf]

You are going to feel very spoiled on Seascape! We loved our trip in March. We requested got the table right by the staircase every evening and we loved watching people stumble up and down while eating dinner. 😂😄😂 The butlers and staff were awesome! Ask for some extra chocolates for turn down time, they hooked me up!!!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@AllisonBowers-jp3mf ha ha you are the second person that talked about that table. Will definitely have to try 😊 we like getting to the dining room early so we don’t have to wait 😁😁😁 Happy to hear you both enjoyed it so much. Extra chocolates…. or a pizza. Something will be waiting for us 🤪🤪🤪

[@dexcom5705]

So excited for you! I am at this moment on the Seascape now in YC. I have an interior cabin and won it by an upgrade bid too! If you would like any photos or video so you can see a “ preview” for planning let me know. I have today and tomorrow left and we disembark on Saturday. This is our first YC trip and it has been nice so far! What is an email I can send the pictures I have taken so far to?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Hey there… so glad to hear you are enjoying the Seascape! [e-mail] or dm through Facebook or Instagram Thanks 😊😊😊

[@vincentclausen2250]

While we had really good experiences in Bella on Divina and Fantastica on Seaside pre Covid and pre Americanization, we book Yacht Club straight up from now on. The elbow room is gone on the bigger ships so it makes a difference.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yes cruising is so very popular now that “space” is at a premium… YC gives you that 😁😁😁

[@bmlaurent32137]

Great video! I realized when you say booked you mean paid in full. Our cruise on the Seashore is in Feb so we make final pmt in Oct. That's when I assume I can go to the upgrade site to see if I'm eligible. One last ❓. I booked with a travel agent. Will I still be able to get the upgrade or do I have to try to do it thru the TA. Love and Blessings always, Marlene

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Well hi Marlene. Sorry sometimes I’m not super detailed even when I think I am. Yes we booked less than 90 days so had to pay in full. No options to upgrade will be sent out until reservation is paid in full. If you get an upgrade email, it will come directly to you and the email you provided when you booked and/or the email connected with your loyalty status. . You will not miss it when you book with a TA. Crossing our fingers you get a bid option and are successful ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jdavid2003]

Good information but need to understand more about the timing? #1- When you waiting for your upgrade, I assume you had paid the balance of your guaranteed balcony as my understanding is that you won’t get an upgrade offer until you are paid in full & within 75 days of cruise? #2-When you switched from the guaranteed balcony to Aurea balcony was the Aurea balcony guaranteed or did you pick the location when booking? #3 Also, when you booked the Aurea balcony were you able to apply all the funds from the guaranteed balcony to the Aurea balcony since you had paid in full? #4- when you are talking costs, are you always referring to double occupancy & does that include all the fees including gratuity (hotel service charge) as it’s my understanding since July 1 they are now including all fees at booking. Thanks for all your insights!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@jdavid2003 hi so let me see if I can fill in the blanks… We booked and paid in full about 80 days out. You have to be paid in full if you are 90 days from cruise or sooner. We originally booked a balcony guarantee. When I talk money they are rounded numbers and for both Chris and I, including tax and port but never gratuity. Then two weeks ago I paid $520 or so for both of us to upgrade from the balcony guarantee to an Aurea balcony with an actual cabin number. This was straight out and not a bid situation. That night I received the email to bid to several higher suites or YC. Because I was already at an Aura level balcony… it was an average price of $560 per person to upgrade to a YC interior. We put in for that and it was accepted yesterday morning. I hope that answered your questions but if not, let me know. Happy to give as much info as needed to be of help.

[@jdavid2003]

Thanks - to upgrade from guaranteed balcony to Aurea Balcony, is that a phone call to MSC, or done online? Also, I thought starting July 1 that are adding gratuity/hotel service charge upfront?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@jdavid2003 my travel agent helped with changing my category from balcony guarantee to the Aurea balcony cabin. The new law that passed “no surprise law or honest pricing law” will include tax and port fees but not gratuity. You will still have to pay that.

[@ElizabethLopez-zk9ud]

I would love to see the Ireland video , is it posted on KZbin?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@ElizabethLopez-zk9ud yes, if you go to our channel page, there is a tab “playlists”. Almost to the bottom is NCL and Ireland

[@ilovecruising2024]

Chris, you could be a squatter for sure in the Yacht Club Grand Deluxe Balcony's walk in closet. You could fit a twin bed in it.😂

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

😂😂 let’s not encourage his crazy 😂😂

[@ilovecruising2024]

@@Taste-Try-Travel 🤣🤣🤣

[@stefanschuster4996]

We booked Aurea Balcony on the Euribia, because we think it's the perfect Match between Comfort and Price. We asked for an Upgrade to Yacht Club... MSC told as an additional Price in the same Amount we paid now! They offer us Cabins in the Upgrade Program to bid for only in the Aurea Category. We travel in about 45 Days ... we hope we could give a bis for the Yacht Club. We can see there are plenty of Cabins free.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Did you get an email offering you different categories to upgrade too? They don’t send them to everyone but hoping you get one soon. If not, I’m sure you will love Aurea… we’ve heard that is a great ship 😁😁

[@stefanschuster4996]

@Taste-Try-Travel We only got one Mail. They only offered us Aurea. We are fine with Aurea. We cruised in July with the World Europa with Aurea and that was great. We will wait and see what will happen. Thank you for your Videos ...

[@karengretz5867]

I feel like your bottom line price is what the YC Interior would have cost had you booked it 12+ months ago. Or in other words, that's what I'm seeing for pricing for YC Interior next Fall..... Great Job Beth!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

So we ended up saving quite a bit with the bid process… we paid just over $3k for both of us.

[@JosephDickersonUX]

We have upgraded every time we have gone on MSC, and both times we bid for YC Interior we got a YC balcony. Just increased our bid for our Sept cruise, because 16 YC balconies are still available less than a month out. Hoping third time's the charm.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ah you know how to play the game… love it!!! That happened the first time for us but I’m kinda ok with interior this time so we can experience both.

[@JosephDickersonUX]

@@Taste-Try-Travel If we get upgraded for my bday cruise, that would be great. If not, we will still have a good time. In YC again in Jan! And yeah.. Ixnay on talking about the great aluevay.

[@michelehaase5197]

We are not big-time cruisers, but have decided to go on MSC yacht club based on TTT videos. We are going to book an interior room and keep fingers crossed for the upgrade to the balcony. It sounds like Joseph’s experience, this is hopefully a high probability. Do you have suggestions about which rooms in general to book - which floor is best or the nuances of each, which side of the ship right or left which side is the side that docs at the island), etc.? or is there a site that would provide that information for us? Thank you very much for your happy positive attitudes and presentation.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

That’s awesome! You will have such a wonderful experience in YC!! As far as location of the room, right side of the ship will face Ocean Cay (most of the time). We love being on the same floor as the YC lounge… in just a few steps, we can grab a coffee or one of their wonderful canapés they have throughout the day or simply sit down and relax and listen to some Music. The lounge is located on different floors depending on the ship, so check out the deck plan for the ship you’re sailing. Have a wonderful holiday… and let us know of your adventures onboard! 😊🤩😊

[@apriltierney6051]

Joseph, how did you know how many YC balconies were left, if I may ask?

[@JosephDickersonUX]

Got upgraded to the YC Interior this AM but it was still showing the Bella benefits... So I called and the support woman said "you upgraded just the cabin, not the experience." I was like, WHAT?! I have upgraded to YC three times in the past and that has never happened before - we always got the YC experience. How would they even police that? "Sorry, you can't eat in the private restaurant, you just have a YC cabin." I asked for a supervisor and after a long time on hold the woman came back and said "it can take up to 3 days for the experience to be updated" which has NEVER happened to me before - it almost immediately updated. I hope they have not changed how upgrades work, cause otherwise I am going to be very angry. So I'm going to check back in three days and call again if it still shows Bella experience. Very frustrating.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@JosephDickersonUX hey there. This is not uncommon for MSC. The agent was incorrect… if you got the upgrade to YC, you get YC benefits… period. It does take a bit for their system to update itself. Mine sayid YC cabin with Aurea experience for almost a week and then I got an email where it was all correct. Please don’t worry. You got in… YAY!!! MSC has never been known for their great computer system or smart customer service agents.

[@JosephDickersonUX]

@@Taste-Try-Travel Heh, as soon as I read your comment they sent me an updated receipt with the YC benefits. YAY!

[@floridacruisers7705]

😂😂 Chris you need to get a recurring account with an Amazon lamp company 😂😂

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@eddieorivera2011]

Can you find out what happened to the drink and wifi bundle?? Recently I was looking to book a cruise and its only cruise only fares??? I’ve been trying to find out but can’t find nothing!! What happens to the wifi and drink price??? Thanks. Eddie

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@eddieorivera2011 hi Eddie… I’ll have to look further into it. Just now I pulled up some Caribbean cruises this fall and it gives two options… cruise only and the other is just adding drinks. No wifi in that second package. MSC must be making some changes. I’ll respond back when I know more. Beth

[@farab4391]

"You can't just make it up" ... 🤣

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

😂😂

[@LindaHoffman-c4v]

So how much did you save by bidding and not just booking the yacht club

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

We saved $800-$1000 per person

[@annefridh4817]

How big difference did the bid total end up from just booking YC outright?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

We saved $800-$1000 per person 😁😁😁😁

[@michaelgore115]

SO - what MSC Ship has the best Yacht club & overall experience What is the BEST non US itinerary for these big ships What is the Best Yacht club cabin position anything else recomended is highl appreciated

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@michaelgore115 good morning Michael! We are boarding Seascape YC today so will have some in depth videos coming out soon about this class. We do have a series on Meraviglia YC that will give you some good visuals of that Class. MSC began in the Med so those are great itineraries but very port heavy. Norwegian Fjords are beyond beautiful. Because the YC is all at the front of the ship, honestly we haven’t come across a bad cabin. We like to be on the decks with either the restaurant or lounge just to be ridiculously close to food 😂😂😂😂 The upside of booking YC directly is you can pick your cabin. If you go the bidding route like we do, you just get what they give you. Tune in to some great videos coming out soon 😁😁😁

[@michaelgore115]

@@Taste-Try-Travel Enjoy!🥰

[@ecfire745]

I have seen so many people booked inside Bella and then got email offer to upgrade to yacht. I am just wondering, if I booked a fantastic inside cabin, will I receive such offer to bid email if there is such available? The bid is for all class cabins right?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Hi there. Yes the bid can have Fantastica cabins or suites, Aurea balconies and suites and Yacht Club. Unfortunately we don’t know the algorithm they use or the magic combination to book to end up with the best option

[@shantellbarnett]

I've been waiting for a month to hear about if I won the Yacht Club bid. And its showing only one room left. 😢

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Crossing our fingers for you!! You can’t quite go by what cabins you see available online. I think they keep some back but don’t know for sure. When we bid and upgraded on Meraviglia there were 2 cabins showing available to book and when we were assigned our upgraded it wasn’t to either of them.

[@mskimmie316]

I purchased a balcony Fantasia. If i get upgraded to yact club will u get refunded for additional drink package or no bc it's part of the deal

[@jerrylesnau2414]

You will not get your Easy Plus funds back but you will get the Premium Beverage and Premium WIFI as part of your Yacht Club experience. If you had not originally purchased the Easy Plus package, you minimum bid to upgrade would have been higher

[@mskimmie316]

@@jerrylesnau2414 gotcha thanks

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Just what Jerry said 😊😊😊

[@leahcramer8191]

So if I booked the aurea with a suite and drink package can I cancel the drink pkg even after I get the bid

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

@@leahcramer8191 so if you book the rate that includes the drink package and wifi from the start… no the drink package is built into the rate and cannot be refunded. We planned on at least trying to upgrade to YC where drinks are included so we booked basic rate. Then we added a drink package. Once we won our bid to YC we were able to request a refund for the drink package.

[@karlinagy2306]

If you bid up to yacht club, do you get less voyager points? Mt first cruise with Msc last month, we booked a balcony fantastica experience & then changed it to aurea. Only received points for fantastica for the 7 days.

[@phishingwithphilthy]

The people want MSC! Lol

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@ml66b]

I love your channel but you videos are way too long.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Hey there. We try to keep our vlogs from our cruises between 20-30 minutes since we don’t like long videos either. The only ones we do longer are our podcasts, which this one is. Typical podcasts are 1 hour long, so we try to keep below that around 50 minutes. These offer more details, more stories and more personal info about us.