MSC Yacht Club: a new dimension in luxury that has taken cruising to another level

The trend-setting concept of the MSC Yacht Club, specially designed as a distinguished sanctuary for guests seeking peace, privacy and exclusivity but with entrée to all that large cruise ships offer, has added a new dimension in luxury to the MSC Cruises fleet of ultra-modern ships.

 

Devised as an entirely self-contained private club area on the foredecks of the ship with sweeping sea views, butler serviced superior suites, a private lounge, a dedicated restaurant, bar, swimming pool, deck and private lift access to the MSC Aurea Spa, the concept has become a benchmark of exclusive travel since first launched in the Fantasia class flagships, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida.

 

The multi-award winning concept has been taken to even greater heights in the build of the newest ship in the class, MSC Divina, to be christened in May 2012. It will bring to three the number of top of the range MSC Yacht Club featured ships cruising year round in the Mediterranean Sea.

 

“We developed this distinctive concept to reflect the luxury of sailing in an authentic private club environment in which members can be pampered in every way, yet have the freedom to enjoy the myriad facilities, fun and exciting razzmatazz that our large cruise ships are famous for,” said Ms Barbara Muckermann, Chief Marketing Officer of MSC Cruises.

 

Muckermann said it was a rare accomplishment to be able to give VIP guests the best of both worlds especially in a recessionary world where the perception of luxury had taken on a new meaning. Memorable experiences had become more meaningful than the acquisition of possessions and travel had undoubtedly become the ultimate experience.

 

“Cruising was born as an upscale experience and still is. But today’s mindful consumer spends with confidence and redefines what is truly luxurious. He looks for quality, longevity, top-grade materials, understated luxury and, most of all, authenticity. These are qualities that mirror our company values and something we are proud to deliver not only in MSC Yacht Club but throughout our ships,” she said.

Ms Muckermann was speaking at the 10th annual International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) currently being held in Cannes, France, from 5-8 December 2011. The ‘invitation only’ event is the leading annual business to business event for the global luxury travel community attended by the world’s most elite travel buyers and sought after suppliers.

 

In the three years since MSC Fantasia was launched in 2008, and followed by MSC Splendida in July 2009, the MSC Yacht Club concept has been hailed as a popular blueprint for the finest of cruising experiences for passengers travelling alone, as couples or even as families.

 

The private club ambience, luxurious facilities and comfort pervades the 71 state-of-the-art Italian designed superior suites with their private balconies opening to the ocean. They are literally little islands of opulence where guests can relax and enjoy picturesque sea views and vibrant ports, discovering new territories while feeling as if at home.

 

Luxuriously spacious and designed with careful attention to details, materials and purpose designed works of art and décor, the MSC Yacht Club suites range from Deluxe to Executive & Family to Royal categories. Amenities are designed for guests of all ages, including a complimentary mini-bar with soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, a Nintendo Wii console, marble spa bathrooms, Egyptian cotton bed linen, and a Dorelan pillow menu and much more. What’s more a 24-hour butler service assists guests at all times during their cruise from packing and unpacking, priority embarkation and disembarkation, dinner reservations to shopping at a selection of stores on the ship, and more. The 24-hour Concierge is also readily available for MSC Yacht Club guests for excursion coordination and ground transfers.

 

MSC Yacht Club guests also enjoy their own One Pool and solarium complex, a Top Sail panoramic private lounge serving gourmet snacks all day, and the dedicated Olivo restaurant, where they can savour gourmet cuisine with a menu catering for the fussiest of fine diners. A private lift gives direct access to the MSC Aurea Spa where guests have free access to the thermal suite of saunas and steam rooms.

 

MSC Yacht Club aboard MSC Divina will be redesigned to host 69 suites and feature a multi-tasked Top Sail Lounge of nearly 300 square meters where special guests can enjoy gourmet and fine dining but also be a place where conferences and enrichment programmes such as dance and art can be held.

There is no better way to discover the beautiful destinations of the Mediterranean Sea than with these three magnificent MSC floating palaces and MSC Yacht Club.