NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club Which To Choose

Love the idea of sailing off on a luxury cruise but hate the idea of crowded spaces, long lines at the buffet or elevator and busy pool decks? The ship within a ship experience offered by many major cruise lines is just the ticket to enjoy an exclusive mega-yacht cruising experience without completely breaking the bank. Here we will compare two major cruise lines’ VIP offerings – as we go head to head with NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club.

NCL and MSC Cruise Lines

Before we start with the head to head NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club here is a brief overview of the two cruise lines.

NCL is a US-based cruise line, known for its Freestyle Cruising style, no set meal times in any cabin class, less formal dress codes and excellent vibrant entertainment. On the newer ships in particular you can expect to find exciting features such as karting tracks, vast waterpark areas, outdoor cinema, sports decks and gaming areas. NCL is also renowned for its fine dining speciality restaurants with international flavours, along with numerous bars serving a wide range of beverages including NCL’s famous cocktails. Some of NCL’s older ships do not have Haven but some offer suites with the same perks as Haven. Find out more about crusing with NCL here.

MSC is an Italian cruise line which has grown exponentially in recent years, expanding its sailing from the Mediterranean to the US, Caribbean, South America, Africa and the Middle East. MSC ships are elegant and beautifully decorated, featuring classic Italian marble, elegant artwork and a sumptuous luxurious feel throughout. The new, recently launched ships feature internal promenades with ceiling light and sound displays and to compete with the US lines, waterparks, zip lines and a range of other high-octane activities. The older and smaller MSC ships do not have Yacht Club. All MSC ships have Aurea Class which includes some non-Yacht Club extras including a dedicated sundeck. Find out more about MSC cruises here.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – The suites

Whether you choose NCL Haven or MSC Yacht club you are going to get a beautiful luxurious suite, spacious and sumptuously decorated, with the best linens, high-end branded toiletries, mini bars and coffee makers. On the newer MSC ships, huge duplex suites are available with private hot tub while NCL’s Garden Villas can accommodate up to eight people. Both lines offer the highest end of luxury with the Owners Suites boasting huge wraparound terraces and spacious entertaining areas. MSC also offers inside suites within its Yacht Club programme, a perfectly cost-effective option.

The Lowdown

So which cruise line has the sweetest suites? NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club. Difficult choice really as much depends on the ship. I personally love the 2-bedroom suites on NCL Epic – the bath tub and separate shower with floor to ceiling windows are something special (careful if you’re in port!) On MSC’s older ships the Yacht Club balcony suites offer excellent value for money while on the newer ships the large balcony suites and duplex suites are simply fabulous.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – Butler and Concierge

It’s time for battle of the butlers – NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club, in both you will enjoy the services of dedicated butlers and concierge facilities. This VIP service starts from the moment you drop your bags at the port. You wil be whisked through security into the dedicated check in area. Once you’ve checked in you can enjoy drinks and snack (depending on the port) in the emabarkation lounge and then be escorted to the ship. You will ride up in the special elevator to the Haven or Yacht Club lounge where you can relax or take a tour of the facilities before being escorted to your suite.

The role of the butler is similar on both cruise lines although with NCL the concierge or assistant concierge plays more of a role in escorting guests off the ship on port days and to theatre shows etc. With MSC this is included in the butler’s role.

In both cases the butler is your go-to for any requests, a particular snack you would like delivered in the afternoon, room service delivery, extra pillows or towels, while your room steward is responsible for general cleaning of the suite.

Butlers vary in visibility, some cruisers complain that they never see their butler, others comment that they see them too often! Remember it is hard for them to know exactly what each guest prefers so don’t be afraid to let them know. Have a chat with them and get to know them, having an excellent relationships with your butler can make all the difference.

NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club provide guests with portable phones they can use to contact their butler from anywhere around the ship. Fancy a burger poolside? Your butler will be happy to oblige.

The Concierge desk is the place to go fo dinner and show reservations, questions about your suite if your butler isn’t around, help with setting up onboard wifi, assistance getting on and off the ship on port days. In NCL Haven the concierge and his/her team are more hands on, where on MSC they operate more as a front desk for Yacht Club.

The Lowdown

So which cruise line offer the best butler for your buck? It’s a real tough one. I have enjoyed the services of all my butlers on both NCL and MSC. Some have been more visible than others but no big deal for me. A female butler on NCL Epic was amazing when I picked up a flu virus on a cruise, bringing me chicken noodle soup every day. Butlers with MSC also double up as attendants in the Top Sail Lounge so you find yourself interacting with other butlers not just the one allocated to your suite.

As previously mentioned concierges on MSC generally provide a desk-based service, with the butlers escorting guests to shows etc. On NCL the concierge and assistants will perform this duty.

If pushed, I would say the personal attention from the butlers in MSC Yacht Club is possibly more noticable but I think it is more because the specific roles on the two cruise lines is slightly different.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – Restaurants and Food

Food is such a subjective topic so I am going to just share my own thoughts here and leave it for you to decide.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club and food. Both have dedicated restaurants where you can dine at any time during the opening hours. There is no need to make reservations and you will be seated at a table just for your party – unless you request to sit with another group. The restaurant is located in the main Haven/Yacht Club area in most cases but be aware on a couple of the older MCS ships, the Yacht Club restaurant is at the other end of the ship. Some cruisers do not like this but I always quite enjoy the stroll on deck or through the main decks of the ship on the way to and from the restaurant.

NCL Haven’s dedicated restaurant is calm and serene with no reservation required although at peak dining times (which vary greatly depending on the route) you may need to wait a short time for a table.

The food is excellent and you can usually request small adjustments to the dishes to suit your taste. The menu in the Haven Restaurant does not rotate and is the same every day, although there will usually be a daily special offered. As with other restaurants throughout NCL ships you can order extra dishes or swap appetizers for entrees etc.

The wine list is varied and the staff are happy to make suggestions or let you sample different wines.

The Haven Restaurant is open breakfast, lunch and dinner. All meals are table service although at breakfast there is also a small buffet serving pastries, cold meats/cheeses, cereal etc.

MSC’s Yacht Club Restaurant has a similar exclusive atmosphere and again is open breakast, lunch and dinner. There are tables to suit all group sizes and it is all table service.

The menu in MSC Yacht Club restaurant changes daily and often features themed dishes from the port of call for that day. There are also options such as steak and salmon that are offered daily. As with NCL special requests can usually be accomodated and you can order extra dishes.

There is an extensive wine list and most MSC Yacht Club restaurants have a dedicated somelier to help you choose the perfect wine to accompany your meal.

NCL Haven

Up until recently NCL Haven restaurant food would have won hands down but on a recent NCL cruise I thought the quality wasn’t quite the same as on previous cruises. Anyway the choice is always excellent, portion sizes are about right and there is usually a tasty fish/seafood option but the same menu every day gets old quickly on a cruise longer than two weeks. We usually intersperse with speciality restaurants to break the monotony.

The fish and seafood on offer can be destination specific and I have been disappointed on NCL cruises in Europe but on a Caribbean or Transatlantic cruise the shrimp dishes are amazing and the chance to eat Mahi Mahi, (a fish not available this side of the pond) every day makes my cruise.

MSC Yacht Club

MSC is a European cruise line and the food reflects that, don’t get me wrong – I am European – but some non-Europeans may find the portion sizes too small, easily fixed, just order a second dish. The variety is great and there has always been a dish to suit my taste and that of my husband.

However, and this is where I get to the subjective part, I like my food packed with flavour, if it’s described on the menu as spicy shrimp, I want that shrimp spicy. To me I think MSC plays it a little safe, erring on the side of bland. Many times I’ve ordered what is described beautifully as though lots of passion has been put into the thought process, but when it comes to the execution it is somehow lacking. The exception is when it comes to pasta and pizza, both freshly made to perfection reminding you that you are on an Italian cruise line.

The above mostly relates to the appetizers and entrees, the desserts however are amazing, Italians know how to make decadent pastries, rich creams, mousses, gelato and of course the Tiramisu is to die for. I rarely eat dessert but on an MSC cruise it’s well worth a few extra hours in the gym not to miss out on a taste sensation.

Other Restaurants Onboard

Guests in NCL Haven and MSC Yacht Club can of course eat at the other restaurants on the ship. NCL usually includes a couple of speciality restaurant meals in your cruise package whereas MSC only includes this for loyalty card holders. You can still pay for a la carte though. Suite guests can also take advantage of the main buffet. Personally I find the buffet on MSC ships a little manic and I don’t love the food choice. On NCL ships the buffet is excellent and it’s often where I will head to grab a quick breakfast or lunch rather than opt for the table service in the Haven restaurant (things to do, places to go!)

The Lowdown

As I said earlier, whether food is good or not so good is very subjective and depends on a persons taste so no winner or loser here, give them both a try and make your own judgement.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – Bars and Lounges

When it comes to recreation areas in the battle between NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club both cruise lines are winners. Both offer exclusive bars, lounges and sundecks. The sundecks are themselves worth their weight in gold especially for sunlovers on a cruise with lots of sea days. No rushing early in the morning to secure a comfortable cushioned sun lounger, dedicated bar staff and drinks served in glass rather than plastic. Located at the front of the ship to make the most of the ocean views. Haven and Yacht Club sundecks are a real treat.

When it comes to the exclusive bar/lounges on both cruise lines, I have rarely found them busy, except on the evening of the officers’ cocktail party. In fact on most MSC cruises, we’ve been the only ones in the Top Sail Lounge for pre-dinner drinks which is a pity as the setting is beautiful and piano music or a singer sets the tone for a wonderful evening. Maybe its purely to do with timing, in southern Europe we eat very late so maybe when we are enjoying pre-dinner drinks everyone else is tucking into dinner.

The MSC Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge has snacks available all day up until midnight, breakfast is pastries, cereal and juices but other breakfast items are available to order. The pool deck has a sit up bar, a small buffet plus a chef cooking a daily special on deck and other items are available to order.

The Haven bar is usually a little busier and has its regulars sitting up at the bar both before and after dinner and the atmosphere is slightly less formal. Any snacks will be in the form of savoury crackers. The cocktails are more elaborate than on MSC. It is unusual to find live music in the Haven bar.

Food and drinks can be ordered in the Haven pool area throughout the day.

The Lowdown

Both cruise lines are winners here, the exclusive bars and sundecks are worth every penny spent on the cruise. Elegant and sophisticated and with the feel of a private club. On sea days or when you prefer to stay onboard the sundecks on both cruise lines are a world away from the hectic atmosphere of the main deck.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – Onboard Perks

Disclaimer here! You should check what is included with your cruise fare, offers vary and perks can also vary. Depending on your booking location the info below may not apply to your particular offer.

NCL Haven

Guests booking NCL Haven will have similar general perks included to those of guests in the main part of the ship. These can include, two or three speciality restaurant meals, a number of hours free internet, beverage package, a small discount on an excursion and sometimes some onboard credit.

Haven-specific perks include a higher end beverage package, snacks delivered to your room daily, discounted laundry service, bathrobes, high-end toiletries in the bathroom, chocolates on the pillow at turndown service, fresh flowers, priority emabarkation/disembarkation, priority tenders, priority disembarketion on port days, special seating area in the main theatre, the aforemention butler and concierge service, dedicated Haven pool deck, Haven bar/restaurant, stocked mini bar, Nespresso coffee maker, souvenir cruise card wallet and Haven cocktail party with the ship’s officers. Guests who book one of the Owner’s Suites are also able to choose a bottle of spirit for their bar. Guest who book Haven Spa Suites also have access to the Mandara spa.

MSC has fewer general perks outside of Yacht Club. A bonus for those booking in the UK is that gratuties are included, which means there will be no daily charge appearing on your account. Loyalty card holders at a certain level will receive a meal in a speciality restaurant.

Yacht Club-specific perks are plentiful and include, free daily newspaper, chocolates on your pillow, box of macarons, a free bottle of spirit or champagne in your room, daily in-room snacks, bathrobes, pillow menu, priority emabrkation/disembarkation, priority tenders, priority disembarkation and embarkation on port days, high-end toiletries, dedicated seating in theatre, butler and concierge service, priority show and dining reservations, free internet for the duration of the cruise, officer’s cocktail party, room service included, Lavazzo coffee maker (not on all ships), stocked mini bar, still and sparkling water refreshed daily, Yacht Club bar/lounge and restaurant, dedicated pool deck and access to spa facilities.

The Lowdown

While both cruise lines offer excellent perks to their VIP guests, MSC has the edge with the free internet and daily water. That being said the free speciality dining is a great offer on NCL although this is for all guests (depending on offer available at time of booking).

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – Private Islands

Both NCL and MSC have private islands in the Caribbean or Bahamas which are the for exclusive use of their cruise passengers.

NCL Great Stirrup Cay

Great Stirrup Cay is located in the Bahamas. This is a tender port and Haven guests will be given priority boarding. Drinks packages are accepted on the island and there is food available free of charge. There is no dedicated Haven area on Great Stirrup Cay but there is an area called Silver Cove where cabanas can be rented with prices starting at around $450 dollars per cabana.

NCL Harvest Caye

Harvest Caye is NCL’s private Island off Belize. Due to an agreement with the Belize goverment, drinks packages are not accepted on the island and food is not included. The idea is that the island helps the local Belize economy. Food and drinks can be purchased using US Dollars. There is no dedicated Haven area on Harvest Caye.

MSC Ocean Cay

Ocean Cay is MSC’s private island in the Bahamas. There are a total of eight beaches on the island, one – Ocean House Beach, is exclusive to Yacht Club guests along with a restaurant, sun loungers and parasols. Yacht Club guests can also pre-book cabanas from $450 and these include, food, drinks, fruit skewers, snorkel gear and floating mats. A tram will take Yacht Club guest to the beach from the port and back again.

The Lowdown

Who doesn’t love a private island? All three offerings are excellent but MSC’s Ocean Cay takes some beating especially when it comes to facilities and services for Yacht Club guests. The service is as great as it is on the ship and the exclusivity is something not offered on NCL’s private islands.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – Other Considerations

Here are a few tips and things to consider when choosing between the two ‘ship within a ship’ offerings and what to look out for on each cruise line when selecting your suite.

If you want the luxury of the serenity and luxury of the ehanced service and being far from the madding crowd, MSC probably offers the best deals price wise, the Yacht Club inside suite options have a good lead-in price and the perks included such as free internet throughout the duration of the cruise can add to the cost effectiveness.

While I have always been a big fan of NCL Haven, the pricing has gone overboard (pardon the pun) in recent years. A transatlantic crossing in NCL Haven in spring 2023 cost almost double that of a similar crossing in MSC Yacht Club for a comparable balcony suite.

Choosing Your Suite

As I mentioned at the start of this piece, do your research before you book and make sure the research is specific to the ship. On both cruise lines there are suites without a balcony that instead have wall to wall, floor to ceiling windows, great views but if you enjoy the ocean breeze from the privacy of your balcony, these are not the suites for you. Front facing suites usually have balconies enclosed in glass for obvious reasons, again these will not suit some people.

NCL Haven offerings include aft-facing suites, if big balconies and fabulous views are your thing, these are often the lower prices Haven suites but be aware you will be located at the opposite end of the ship to the Haven proper and on the large ships that can be quite a treck.

Haven Spa suites are also usually outside of the Haven proper, instead located on the same deck as the Mandara Spa. On some older and smaller NCL ships including NCL Dawn, there is no dedicated Haven area, instead you can book a large luxury suite, enjoy breakfast and lunch in two of the speciality restaurants and still enjoy most of the Haven perks including butler and concierge service.

Be aware, NCL also has a category of accomodation called Club Balcony suites (formerly called mini suites) these are in the main part of the ship, are often slightly larger and with bigger balcony plus usually a bathtub. These are not Haven suites and include none of the perks.

MSC also has some suites located outside the main Yacht Club area, on some ships the Duplex Suites are in the main part of the ship as are the spa suites.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – Upgrade Bids

I couldn’t complete an article on NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club without mentioning upgrade bidding. Both NCL and MSC offer an upgrade programme subject to availablity. A few weeks or more before your cruise you may receive an email offering you the opportunity to bid for a higher category of cabin or suite. There is usually some kind of guideline as to what is a good or poor bid but it’s mostly up to you what you want to offer.

Many cruisers rely on the upgrade programme on all their cruises and are often successful. Personally it’s not for me, I like to hand pick my suite on a certain side of the ship and the anticipation and waiting would drive me crazy. I did try it once and it worked out great but I was probably unbearable to live with while I was waiting to see if my bid was successful!

Things you should bear in mind. If your bid is accepted, the money will be taken from your credit card immediately and there is no going back. You can not specify a particular cabin/suite, deck or location. With MSC if you already pre-paid for internet when you booked a regular cabin, you won’t get that fee refunded even though you now get free internet as part of the Yacht Club perks. On both NCL and MSC, if your bid to upgrade from a regular cabin to a Haven or Yacht Club suite is successful you will receive all the perks related to that.

You will only be offered to bid up to a certain level of cabin or suite, so if you book the lowest cost inside cabin you won’t be offered an upgrade to a Haven or Yacht Club suite. You could bid for a balcony cabin.

NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club – The Conclusion

Really there is no conclusion to this NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club showdown, it is all down to personal preference, price or even itineraries on offer. Loyalty to a particular cruise line can also play a part especially when it comes to loyalty points and status levels. Bear in mind MSC status matches you from your status level on another cruise line so you can get in at a higher level from your very first booking.

My personal opinion when it comes to NCL Haven vs MSC Yacht Club is I love both and I wouldn’t cruise any other way. Price is definitely a consideration for me when I book, so with Haven becoming further out of reach I am leaning more to booking Yacht Club. That being said, I’m certainly not done with NCL yet and you will definitely see me at a Haven bar in the near future!

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