We sample MSC Yacht Club, travel’s ‘best-kept secret’

Back for more

Virtuosa’s debut season in the UK last year was such a hit it has returned for this summer, sailing ex-Southampton itineraries after a winter season in the Middle East and offering a range of two-night mini cruises, seven nights in the Norwegian Fjords or 14 nights in the Western Mediterranean. 

Last year’s launch was also the “first opportunity” to showcase the Yacht Club to British and Irish cruisers, says Steve Williams, MSC’s director of sales for UK and Ireland. 

“Within the travel agent community, I think it’s always been something of a best-kept secret. But [to sell Yacht Club] it’s about knowing what great value it offers. [Agents] need to know what is included and what the benefits are,” he adds.

As Yacht Club guests, we enjoy priority boarding, while champagne and chocolate-coated strawberries await us in our deluxe suite. It has a good-sized balcony, lounge-come-bedroom, memory foam mattress, Egyptian cotton sheets, MSC’s own brand of bathroom toiletries and – to our delight – an in-cabin Bluetooth speaker from which we can play our own tunes via our smartphone.

The all-inclusive experience also extends to fine dining in the exclusive mezzanine restaurant (try the smoked Norwegian salmon for breakfast and sliced tuna steak at dinner) and access to a private pool area with whirlpool bath plus a buffet and grill offering Mediterranean fare.

One of the highlights is champagne afternoon tea in the lounge. We are presented with a range of loose-leaf tea, from green and peppermint to jasmine and Darjeeling, and invited to take in the different aromas before choosing one to be served alongside unlimited glasses of bubbly and delectable mini sandwiches, scones, macaroons and tarts – all against the backdrop of the endless blue ocean thanks to the panoramic windows.

Something for everyone

If clients can tear themselves away from the Yacht Club, they will find an amazing array of experiences elsewhere. For margaritas and tacos, point them in the direction of speciality restaurant Hola! Tacos & Cantina, while the theatrical style of Kaito Teppanyaki is sure to delight families (also supplementary). Chocoholics will find bliss in the Jean-Philippe Chocolate & Cafe, while retail therapy is available in the Galleria promenade.

Upon arrival in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, we decide we’d prefer to indulge onboard, but guests have the option of booking excursions that will allow them to explore the Channel Island.

As a wellness enthusiast, I make sure to squeeze in a workout in the gym, whose 6,000 sq ft of space with its varied range of machines and equipment ensures I have enough room away from others to conduct my own 20-minute high-intensity drill.

This is followed by a pampering session in the Aurea Spa, featuring an invigorating massage and time in the Thermal Suite. We wander around, marvelling at the beautifully decorated space, which includes two steam rooms, two saunas, two relaxation rooms, two aromatherapy rooms, salt room, snow grotto, walk-through shower and two thalassotherapy pools. (Passes are included for Yacht Club guests, but are normally €40pp per day.)

That night – our last onboard – MSC throws a White Party and this time we place ourselves in the crowd in the heart of the Galleria, under the flashing LED sky and dance the night away because there is nowhere else we’d rather be.

Book it: MSC Cruises is offering a three-night round-trip cruise from Southampton, calling at Cherbourg and Bruges. Fares start from £329pp for an inside cabin or £1,019pp for the Yacht Club, departing 24 September 2022, msccruises.co.uk