Which Types of Ambiances to choose on an MSC Cruise?
- Delphine
- Apr 14, 2024
- 3 min read
Having the chance to live less than three hours away from Marseille, we chose to depart from this city for our cruises. Mediterranean itineraries generally include Italy, Malta, Spain, and France, for a duration of eight days.
Whether with Costa Cruises or MSC Cruises, the serviced cities and proposed itineraries are mostly the same. Personally, we opted for MSC, particularly for the décor and classes offered onboard. Indeed, with MSC, there are three "ambiances" of cabins and services available on the newest ships (on the Fantasia, Meraviglia, and Seaside classes).
Firstly, the Fantastica cabins are part of the standard class. They come with or without balconies (much cheaper as a result). For this range of cabins, two restaurants (or even three depending on the size of the ship) are included in the price and allow for breakfast and dinner. Regarding dinner, passengers choose a time for their meal, which remains the same throughout the stay, either around 6-6:30 pm or around 9 pm. For lunch, a buffet is available 20 hours a day, allowing for anything one desires at any time of the day. It should be noted, however, that apart from tap water, no drinks are included in this package. MSC offers beverage packages that can be daily or weekly but add a certain cost to the total cruise budget if one wishes to enjoy an aperitif, wine with dinner, and a digestif in the evening.
Next come the Aurea class cabins, which are a "well-being" class. These cabins are located in a dedicated space on the ship, sometimes at the back, sometimes in the middle, but most often on the highest floors. A restaurant is reserved for Aurea passengers, serving healthy and balanced meals and allowing for dinner at any time without reservation. Once again, drinks are not included in the price. It is also possible to have breakfast and lunch there. Additionally, passengers have access to a solarium reserved exclusively for them with a jacuzzi and sometimes a pool. The highlight of this Aurea ambiance is the free access for adults to the ship's thermal area.
Finally, the Yacht Club ambiance is the class offering the most services. The Yacht Club is located on the highest front decks at the front of the ship and constitutes a whole area accessible only with a membership card. The cabins are more spacious and a butler will be available at all times. A restaurant is located in this area and allows for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without time constraints. The beverage package is included in the Yacht Club ambiance, allowing for bottled water, fruit juice, wine, or even coffee and tea at will, and this in all areas of the ship and not just in the Yacht Club area. There is also a bar where breakfast can also be taken or where a snack can be enjoyed. Savory or sweet appetizers are available at all times of the day and evening, and they are also included. On the last deck before, a solarium including an outdoor bar, a pool, and jacuzzis is available. As a bonus, Yacht Club passengers can benefit from the thermal area for free.
The limited number of passengers in the Yacht Club creates a calm and serene atmosphere on this part of the ship, which truly allows one to relax and enjoy the cruise. Additionally, being able to consume whatever one desires without having to pay each time is highly appreciated. As for us, we preferred to pay a bit more to enjoy the tranquility of the Yacht Club ambiance and not have to spend anything else during the cruise (except for excursions or an ice cream or two in the ship's shops). Ultimately, when considering the daily consumption of aperitifs or snacks (pastries, biscuits, alcohol or tea/coffee, fruit juices) as well as the time spent lounging in the thermal area, the cost of the Yacht Club cruise is not as excessive as compared to the Fantastica ambiance, for which all these additional expenses would need to be added each day.
Some people prefer to take a Yacht Club cabin without a balcony, which is cheaper, and enjoy the benefits of this ambiance rather than having a balcony cabin in the Fantastica ambiance. Ultimately, it's a matter of budget, preference, and consumption habits on the ship. The advantage of cruises is that it's possible to find the formula that suits us best!
