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MSC YACHT CLUB

Step into the MSC Yacht Club, an exclusive private sanctuary onboard only accessible by key card. Here, you can discover elegance with luxury suites offering a 24/7 butler service. Enjoy curated menus in a private restaurant and unwind on the secluded pool deck. An elevated experience awaits you on a vacation that’s a step above.

WELCOME TO A WORLD OF LUXURY

Experience unparalleled service from the moment you check in. Gain access to priority embarkation and disembarkation, your own concierge team, a dedicated butler available 24/7, and premier room service delivered to you at any hour.

Enjoy access to areas that are exclusive for MSC Yacht Club guests during your cruise vacation. Delight in fine dining at our dedicated restaurant, unwind on a private sun deck, and admire captivating sunsets from the Top Sail Lounge.

When you choose MSC Yacht Club, you unlock unique exclusives, all-inclusive packages, and VIP access available only to you including entry to Ocean House Beach on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, our private island in the Bahamas.

Allow us to indulge you

Step into a world where your suite is just the beginning and where every detail is meticulously attended to.

AT YOUR SERVICE

Our butlers are prepared to meet your needs, whether that be bringing a late-night treat-or turning down your room. From the minute you step on board, your dedicated butler will be by your side for a memorable experience.

Ask your MSC Yacht Club concierge to secure the best reservations at all our incredible venues, including specialty restaurants, and consider it done. Revel in VIP seating for entertainment, partake in private shopping trips, and enjoy curated excursions.

Your journey with us is tailored to perfection, guaranteeing every moment is marked by exceptional comfort and convenience.

EXTRA TOUCHES

Allow our dedicated MSC Yacht Club team to bring your ultimate cruise vacation to life. We prioritize every detail, from the perfect pillow selection from our exclusive Dorelan® menu to a fully stocked personalized mini bar at your fingertips.

Any questions you may have can always be answered by our 24-hour concierge service, available to you from the moment you step on board.

EXCLUSIVITY AWAITS

Immerse yourself in elegant spaces and experience elevated design in a beautiful setting.

TOP SAIL LOUNGE  

The Top Sail Lounge is the ultimate place to rest and relax after shore excursions or days at sea. Throughout the day, take in crystal-clear panoramic views of the ocean while enjoying crafted drinks, gourmet finger foods, and desserts. At night, relish in exclusive access to live music and after-dinner drinks.   

When you visit the Top Sail Lounge, you'll have the time to unwind and watch the world sail by.

PRIVATE SOLARIUM

Recharge on a sundeck featuring dipping pools and whirlpool baths where you can cool off and lounge for total relaxation. Take in the sun and the ocean breeze with your preferred poolside beverage delivered right to your chair.

YACHT CLUB RESTAURANT 

With a dedicated restaurant on each ship, the MSC Yacht Club offers an elevated menu. Enjoy fine dining served with five-star service and a selection of beverages and wines from around the world.  

You can savor the finest flavors in a space meant for you—no reservations needed.

MSC YACHT CLUB’S OCEAN HOUSE

The MSC Yacht Club experience continues on land at the private Ocean House Beach on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. A serene space with ocean views, beachfront cabanas, and complimentary amenities.

COMFORT AWAITS

MSC Yacht Club offers guests luxurious onboard accommodations for the ultimate in comfort. Explore our wide range of staterooms to enhance your MSC Cruises luxury experience.

The Owner's Suites feature a spacious living area, a walk-in closet, a large balcony with a private whirlpool, and a panoramic glass wall. 

Every Royal Suite has a separate living area and all the comforts you would expect in first-class accommodations. 

These two-deck suites offer a separate living space with a double sofa bed, walk-in closet, and a balcony with a private whirlpool. 

These suites are ideal for families with children. They come with a separate sitting area and a bathroom with a bathtub.

These suites have also their own private balcony and all the comforts you expect in first-class accommodations. 

Guests on our newest ships can enjoy all the comforts of the MSC Yacht Club with an interior suite.

ALL-INCLUSIVE, ALL THE TIME

PREMIUM BEVERAGE PACKAGE

Our Premium Extra Package is included as an MSC Yacht Club benefit. Delight in a wide selection of beers, cocktails, wines, top-shelf liquor, and an array of non-alcoholic beverages.

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

Stay connected with a premium internet package from anywhere on board, an exclusive benefit for guests. Unlimited Wi-Fi allows you to browse on up to two devices.

THERMAL SPA ACCESS

Experience ultimate pampering at the MSC Aurea Spa, where you can enjoy complimentary access to the serene Thermal Suite, enhanced further by an exclusive 10% discount on all treatments.

explore further

Discover the best of both worlds as a guest of MSC Yacht Club. Enjoy VIP access to amenities throughout

your journey, from dining to captivating entertainment, while experiencing the personalized touch that

extends from your suite to every corner of the ship.

SIGNATURE DINING

Savor the flavors of exquisite specialty restaurants such as Butcher's Cut, Kaito Sushi & Teppanyaki, HOLA Tacos, and Ocean Cay.

Elevate your dining experience with exclusive perks like priority reservation times, premium seating, and the luxury of a personal butler escort if you choose.

TOP-TIER ENTERTAINMENT

As an MSC Yacht Club guest, there’s always more to discover. Get priority access to our show-stopping Broadway and Vegas-style shows brought to you by Carousel Productions at Sea.

Plus, you can always explore the myriad of entertainment areas on board, from thrilling water parks to trying your luck at the state-of-the-art MSC Casino.

PREMIUM WELLNESS

Unleash your active side by checking out our sports facilities, including outdoor walking tracks, basketball courts, and a fully-equipped gym boasting Technogym® equipment.  

For those seeking an even more tailored experience, indulge in specialty classes and personal training sessions, reserved by your MSC Yacht Club concierge team.

discover more

Journey to the ultimate destinations on board the MSC Yacht Club, whether it’s crossing places off your bucket list or delighting in quick weekend getaways.

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What You Need To Know About Cruise Butler Service On Different Cruise Lines

Let's take a look at cruise ship butlers and look at how the offerings on various cruise lines differs from one to another. Just like every other aspect of cruising, the butler service from one line to the next can be completely different. While west coast cruises have fewer options than what you might find in the Caribbean for instance, the good news is that in recent years we've gotten some of the newest and most luxurious ships at sea visiting our waters. Let's take a look at cruise butlers and if selecting a suite with butler service for your next cruise might be the perfect choice.

What Do Cruise Butlers Do?

Cruise butler services vary from one cruise line to the next but generally speaking, your cruise butler is your single point of contact to make whatever you want happen. Some folks may imagine their butler to be like those they've seen on TV while watching Downton Abbey but there is quite a range of how they will interact with guests. This includes classicly-styled professional english butlers on Silverseas to a more fun and modern Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Depending on the ship, cruise port, and cruise line, this can range from making arrangements for a special celebration, meeting you at the pier and escorting your and your bags onto the ship so you can avoid getting sweaty while bording the ship, setting up your in-room dining experience, and providing concierge type services so that you will never have to worry about getting that reservation for dinner or a show.

Another important role that many people like having a butler for is handling all the details for a private party in their suite.

While some butler services are more formal and reserved - as you might expect from a traditional English manor house, others try to be more fun and family friendly such as Royal Caribbean's Royal Genie.

Cruise Butlers Vs Concierges

At higher loyalty levels as well as various suite categories on most lines, guests will have access to a concierge who they can call to make reservations. While this is an absolutely fantastic service, a cruise butler is an active helper vs a passive one waiting for you to ask a question. 

Think of it this way. On the first day of your cruise, a butler might meet you in the shore-side VIP lounge, recognize you and already know your name. He will then carry your bags onto the cruise ship, bypass other people in line, and have access to a private elevator so you don't have any waiting. During this time he will be listening for cues as to what type of muffins you like in the morning, if you prefer drip coffee or capiccino, and what shows you are hoping to attend while onboard. By the time you have freshened up, he might have already made reservations for you and just need your confirmation for any details.

On the other hand, without a butler, once onboard you can call the concierge or visit the suite lounge and introduce yourself. Most concierges on cruise ships are absolutely fantastic and very talented at both making you feel welcome but also making reservations and arranging services.

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However, a concierge won't be there in the morning to make sure you don't have any last min requests or to provide an umbrella for your excursion since there was an unexpected rainstorm overnight.

Both may be able to offer similar types of help such as assisting with booking dinner reservations or reserving seats for a show, the level of service is not the same. While a concierge might be able to do some of these helpful tasks, they are not dedicated to you and are shared with other suite guests. Plus, a butler does way more than simply being your personal concierge since they are truely part of your overal vacation experience.

Butlers Are Not Cabin Stewards

Some people think that cabin stewards are butlers and that butlers take care of cleaning your cabin. While cabin stewards can often find basic items such as toiletries that you might have left at home or making sure that your ice bucket is always filled, their job is to clean your room and make your bed etc. Similarly, a butler may go into your room and set up a vase of flowers or a display of cookies, he (or she) isn't there to clean.

What Cruise Lines Have Cruise Butlers

Butler service is most commonly found on small ship luxury cruise ships such as Regent and Silversea. However, they are also increasingly found on ships that have "ship-in-a-ship" concepts like Norwegian Cruise Line's The Haven and MSC's Yacht Club. One key difference between butlers on big ship lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney, Celebrity, and MSC and those found on smaller ships 

Here are some lines that have cruise butler services available:

Royal Caribbean

You really do enjoy the "star" treatment when you book an upgraded suite on Royal Caribbean. The " Royal Genie " is part butler, part concierge, and is only available to guests booked in a Star Suite on one of the line's 24 ships. The star treatment starts before embarkation, where your genie will whisk your luggage away to be waiting in your suite when you arrive. Once onboard, your Royal Genie will book your dining reservations, arrange for your high-end shopping experiences and arrange for you to have the best seats in the house at entertainment venues. Celebrating a birthday, anniversary or honeymoon? Your Royal Genie will arrange for a special celebration just for you. Whenever you need the high-touch to make your cruise extra special, the Royal Genie is there to cater to you.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line's "ship within a ship", The Haven, offers a high-end luxury experience exclusive to guests booked in its suites. The Haven offers a 24-hour suite butler who will unpack your suitcase, pour your champagne and make your dining reservations. This butler serves all of The Haven guests, and is more like a suite-wide concierge than a personal in-suite butler. The Haven offers courtyard attendants who bring cold towels, fresh fruit and poolside refreshments in the suite's private pool area. In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line Haven's butlers offer in-suite dining service and evening turndown service for your enjoyment.

MSC Cruises Yacht Club

Butler service is an integral part of your experience when staying in one of the MSC Cruises Yacht Club suites on ships like MSC Seashore. Along with the assistant butler or cabin steward, your cruise butler offers services ranging from prepareing your room, delivering room service, ensuring that your mini-bar is stocked correctly as well as coordinating other details such as dinner reservations, laundry service or even helping to book shore excursions. Additionally, they will escort you to different destinations on the ship as well as assist you with debarkation by carrying your bags to the gangway.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney offers a sort of butler service for its concierge-level guests . While this is not a true pro-active butler service, it is a major step above a loyalty lounge concierge. The magic starts before you even board the cruise. Concierge guests get priority reservations for cruise excursions, dining and onboard activities. They also receive priority boarding on embarkation day and express debarkation. The onboard concierge will help book your dining reservations, make entertainment recommendations and greet you as you board and disembark in ports of call. While some cruise lines offer a personal, in-cabin butler, Disney's concierge is more of a service that concierge-level guests can access when needed.

Azamara Club Cruises

This high-end boutique luxury line is known for its upgraded amenities, and suite guests enjoy English butler service unparalleled on other cruise lines. Your personal stateroom butler will unpack your luggage, pick up your laundry, pour glasses of champagne upon your arrival and serve you in-suite afternoon tea. Your butler will also remember your preferences and attend to your every need. Did you mention that you love grapes? You may arrive to find a fresh bowl of grapes in your cabin after a long day ashore.

Celebrity Cruise Line

You will really feel like a celebrity with the butler service on this mid-luxury cruise line. In addition to packing and unpacking for you, your butler on Celebrity cruises will serve your meals, course by course, to you in your suite. Fancy enjoying breakfast while taking in a sunrise over the ocean? Your butler is there to make it happen. Available to suite guests, the butler will also handle shoe shining, dry cleaning and bring coffee.

Crystal Cruises

If you book a Penthouse deck suite on a Crystal cruise, you can enjoy the services of a personal, in-suite butler . Your specially trained butler will book your spa appointments, arrange cocktail parties for your group and offer a complete tea service in your stateroom. The butler will deliver your multiple course dinner to your cabin, and book your shore excursions, specialty dining and entertainment seating.

Cunard Line

Cunard Line has long since held the reputation for being the premier in British luxury, so it is no wonder that their butlers are so highly regarded by guests and critics alike. Guests in the Grill-level suites enjoy high-end service, and are assigned personal butlers who do everything from serving champagne on your verandah to helping you put on your cuff links for a formal dinner.

Regent Seven Seas

Trained by the Guild of English Butlers, the butlers on Regent Seven Seas cruises are second to none. If you make friends on the cruise and want to invite them back to your cabin, your butler will arrange for a private cocktail party in your suite, complete with champagne and chef-prepared delicacies. After the party, they will clean your suite while you enjoy the ship. The butlers on Regent Seven Seas cruises also book your spa appointments and basically take care of all of your needs during your voyage.

Silversea was the one of the first cruise lines to introduce butlers, and the service is available to guests on all of the line's nine ships. Silversea, a luxury boutique cruise line, trains its butlers in England before deploying them to ships that sail to every continent on the globe. These Guild of Professional English Butlers are among the best anywhere at sea. Silversea offers a pillow menu, and your in-suite butler will help you to select the right one for your sleeping comfort. The butlers serve breakfast, handle dry cleaning and book private sessions with the ship's personal trainer. Your butler will also serve your meals on your private verandah, offer you a choice of luxury bath accessories and discuss your dining preferences with the ship's chef. One of the most highly sought after experiences, Silversea has perfected the art of luxury at sea with its butler service.

Known for high-end luxury voyages to the most exotic and far-flung ports on the globe, Oceania cruises overlook no detail when it comes to high-class service. Each suite guest is assigned a personal butler who will take care of their every need, from drawing their bath for a relaxing soak after a long day, to pressing their tuxedos for dinner or helping them into their formal gowns. They arrange shoreside dining, arrange for your port tenders or host an in-suite cocktail party for you and your selected guests. With Europe-trained butlers, there is no request that is to challenging for them to handle.

Many other mass market cruises offer butler service for parts of the experience, for instance, we had a butler for our private beach villa at Half Moon Cay while sailing on Holland America Line. However, suite guests even in the very premium Pinacle Suites on that line do not offer butler service the same way as the brands listed above do.

Tiping Protocol For Cruise Ship Butlers

Any discussion of tipping on a cruise will bring out a wide variety of opinions. In part, this is because many services that you recieve on a cruise ship should honestly be simply built into the price of the experience. In many ways, this is the case with cruise lines establishing a protocol for "prepaid gratuities" where only the stingiest guest would consider ways to remove the tips even though it is really the crew members wages that are for some reason labled as gratuities. Even for these people - cabin stewards, bartenders, waiters, cruise excursion leaders, entertainment staff etc. - you should always consider paying more if they did something special for you that made your cruise more enjoyable.

However, when it comes to cruise butlers, and to a less extent concierges we're talking about a premium level of service that is actively designed to make your cruise experience special. Additionally, the typical cruise passenger that enjoys butler service is in a completely different financial category than the family of five packed into an inside cabin looking for every opportunity to save a buck.

As such, there is no specific guideline on how much you should tip your butler. However, the generally accepted minimum is $10-15 per day. From here, the sky is quite litterally the limit. It is not uncommon to tip $300, $500, or even more if you are actively using butler services and they are providing extrodinary service.

Some factors to consider with tipping your cruise butler:

Butlers (and concierges) are generally not part of the pre-paid gratuities pool. They are generally salaried employees and depending on the line may have a salary of between $2,500-$4,000 per month with tips adding to that number considerably.

While you can tip at virtually any point during your cruise experience, the common tradition is to tip at the end of your voyage the same way you would with any other crew member.

In some instances, your cruise ship butler may be shared by an entire group of suites and in other instances your butler is assigned just to you. This will greatly affect the level of tips that you are expected to reward their service with. It will likely also be in accordance with the level of personalized service that you recieve.

One note that confuses some people is that you may see notes such as that provided by MSC Cruises stating that crew do not need to be tipped. This may be something that is a difference between European standards and American. While it is true the your cruise butler does not "need" to be tipped, it is common curtesy to reward exhemplary service in this way.

Having A Cruise Butler Can Transform Your Cruise Experience

Cruise butlers aren't magicians and they sadly can't cause seas to be less rough or clouds to go away. Similarly, they can't make the ships stay in port longer or travel faster to the next destination. What they can do though is virtually everything in between. 

While some folks expect a level of service that is like what they have at home with a butler, personal chef, driver and other staff, for others this is an opportunity to splurge. Having a staff to take care of your every whim at home might cost hundreds of thousands of dollars but for a one week vacation it might be worth it to live like a VIP and never have to lift your finger.

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Inside the MSC Yacht Club – The Butler Did It!

When MSC Cruises first introduced the MSC Yacht Club onboard the MSC Fantasia , this “ship within the ship” concept was a first in the cruise industry. It’s also on their other “Fantasia class” ships – the MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and the MSC Preziosa . And it will be on their next ships.  When selecting the right accommodations for your group cruise, you might wonder, “Our group members are already booked in suites. What makes staying in the MSC Yacht Club more special?”  While sailing on the MSC Divina recently for my vacation, I stayed in the MSC Yacht Club. Yes, it provides an extraordinary, unique, exclusive luxury option for groups.

 Personal Touches Start at Embarkation

When arriving at the Port of Miami to embark the MSC Divina , the personalized touches began immediately.  At a special check-in area just for guests staying in MSC Yacht Club, I provided preliminary information. From there, one of the butlers took my carry-on bag, and personally escorted me to a special embarkation area inside where I did the rest of my check-in paperwork. The butler waited for me, then escorted me through the MSC Yacht Club Concierge lobby area on Deck 15 and to my suite.  He mentioned the butler for my suite would be stopping by and that happened just a short time later.

Bruce, the butler for my suite, made introductions and also mentioned that Chan, the junior butler would be assisting him.  I could reach out to them for any special requests, even down to additional help unpacking if needed.  Bruce provided details on the suite along with areas within the MSC Yacht Club and special VIP one-of-a-kind amenities. Within those first two hours, I could immediately tell butlers within the MSC Yacht Club took pride in roles. Professional, yet personable, and at my “beck and call,” the butlers and staff were making this the beginning of an extraordinary experience.

MSC Yacht Club Reception Area and Dedicated Concierge

Concierge Lobby

Located on Deck 15, the MSC Yacht Club reception area had a concierge available 24 hours a day. The concierge provided assistance from booking reservations for dining, to help with excursions, special requests and more.

When I was trying to decide on a few shore excursions to take, I talked with the concierge. He called the shore excursion desk, and they sent one of their staff members up to help me get my next excursion booked.  On the days when we were in port, guests staying in the MSC Yacht Club, including myself, were personally escorted down to disembark.

All-Inclusive Amenities for MSC Yacht Club guests

Complimentary alcohol and beverages are included for guests staying in the MSC Yacht Club.  Each suite has its own in-room mini bar, and items are replaced as needed and requested.  The One Pool, a private pool, deck and bar located on Deck 18, along with Top Sail Lounge located on Deck 15 had private hors d’oeuvres, along with continental breakfast, snacks, and more throughout the day.  Le Muse, a private restaurant just for MSC Yacht Club guests, had open dining times for breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring gourmet cuisine by European-trained chefs.

Top Sail Lounge

Located on Deck 15 and just off the reception area, the Top Sail Lounge soon became a favorite meeting place for many of the guests in the MSC Yacht Club, including me. The friend I was traveling with and I would meet there before attending one of the evening shows and it was fun just taking in the beautiful panoramic views.

This private bar and lounge offered occasional evening music along with other amenities. Continental breakfast and snacks were available throughout the day, along with high tea served between 4pm to 5 pm. From 5 pm to 9 pm aperitifs were served, with a special “Sweet temptation” (fruits and petit four) served from 9 pm to 2am.

The One Pool

When I went up to The One Pool on Deck 18, I wasn’t expecting this expansive area, complete with a pool and hot tubs. A bar with seating was located on one side, and deck chairs were carefully laid out with ample room.  It was never overcrowded, and once again the staff members came by checking to see if guests needed drinks and beverages. The One Pool provided some extraordinary views for MSC Yacht Club guests to enjoy as well as relax.

 Le Muse Restaurant

As mentioned, Le Muse Restaurant had open dining, but if guests wanted to make reservations to secure a particular dining time or perhaps request a particular waiter? That was also easily arranged. By the third day, one of the waiters at Le Muse Restaurant became a particular favorite. When I mentioned this to the concierge, he was able to request that waiter along with our preferred dining time.

In addition to having different menu selections each evening, ongoing traditional choices were available as well. With this being a private restaurant, there was no rush to get through the different courses, and was a leisure, high quality dining experience.

More Special Butler Touches

On the second morning of the cruise, a friend was in the Top Sail Lounge enjoying breakfast, and called to see if I wanted any cappuccino. I mentioned that would be great, but instead of his bringing the cappuccino back to my suite?  One of the butlers delivered it to me promptly.

One evening while leaving the reception area and saying hi to one of the butlers, I casually mentioned I was heading over to Le Muse Restaurant for dinner. This butler personally walked me over himself.

While talking to Dhunraj Jeeto, one of the junior butlers, he shared a wonderful point that was part of his work ethic. Dhunraj said, “Service has to come from the inside out.”

Enjoying the Rest of the Ship

The MSC Yacht Club provides quiet exclusivity, but guests were still able to enjoy all the other areas of the ship. The MSC Yacht Club Daily Planner included services and hours for everything going on around the ship – entertainment highlights for the day and evening, services, activities and events along with hours for bars, lounges and restaurants.   With a wide array of lounges, entertainment, as well as diverse shows every evening, it was fun to take these in as well.

MSC Cruises’ New “Choose and Cruise” – Where the MSC Yacht Club Fits In

Earlier this fall, MSC Cruises launched their “Inclusive Experiences,”   four pricing levels which range from a la carte to all-inclusive.  This not only simplifies the pricing, but gives guests choices on what they want included. The MSC Yacht Club, their elite VIP Club level with all-inclusive amenities, isn’t priced substantially higher than their Aurea category, which is premium located balcony staterooms and suites. The all-inclusive amenities MSC Yacht Club includes as well as the “ship within the ship” ambiance are where this level shines.

A Terrific Option for Groups

If your group is looking for a bit more exclusivity, along with all-inclusive amenities, then the MSC Yacht Club is definitely one to consider. It’s taking the suite experience to a new VIP inclusive level. And after having had a chance to experience and enjoy it first hand, I’m admittedly a new fan. The MSC Yacht Club does provide the best of both worlds, and gives a refreshing definition of “The butler did it!”

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MSC Yacht Club – affordable luxury at sea

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What is MSC Yacht Club?

MSC Yacht Club is a unique and exclusive experience for travelers who want to enjoy the best of both worlds onboard MSC Cruises: the amenities and activities of a large cruise ship combined with the privacy and personalized service of a boutique hotel.

With its private lounge, pool, and restaurant, as well as its 24-hour butler service and range of exclusive amenities, the MSC Yacht Club is the perfect choice for travelers who want to experience luxury cruising with a cruise line that won’t blow your vacation budget.

Extra perks with your Yacht Club cabin

As a member of the MSC Yacht Club, you will enjoy numerous exclusive privileges. Beautifully appointed suites provide an oasis of comfort, designed by renowned architects De Jorio Design International. Your stay comes with 24-hour Butler Service and a dedicated concierge.

Some of the additional perks include:

• Priority boarding and disembarkation
• Unlimited drinks in all MSC Yacht Club areas and from your minibar with the Premium Extra drinks package .
• Complimentary access to the Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa

Away from the crowds in your own retreat

With access to various dedicated venues onboard, your MSC Yacht Club experience will provide a getaway from the bustling crowds of the main ship. Enjoy peace and quiet in your private lounge, bask in the sun on the private sundeck, or retreat to the exclusive pool area reserved only for Yacht Club members.

Some of the exclusive venues you can enjoy are:

• Top Sail Lounge: A stylish panoramic lounge offering complimentary beverages and snacks
• The One Pool: An outdoor area with a private pool, whirlpools, and sun deck
• The One Bar: An MSC Yacht Club exclusive bar providing a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

Yacht Club dining your way

Experience a world of cuisine tailored to your preferences while dining in the elegant MSC Yacht Club restaurant. You’ll have access to an exclusive restaurant, ensuring fine dining and a more intimate atmosphere to elevate your cruise experience.

Some dining highlights include:

• Flexible dining times to suit your schedule
• Gourmet menus crafted by award-winning chefs
• An extensive selection of wines, carefully curated by a team of sommeliers

What to Expect from Your Yacht Club Cabin

Types of suites.

MSC Yacht Club guests can choose among a range of luxurious suites; compared to other categories like Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea, the Yacht Club suites boast premium features and prime locations onboard.

In-Room Services and Amenities

In your Yacht Club cabin, you can expect the following:

• Egyptian cotton sheets and a selection of pillow options
• A fully-stocked minibar
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access
• Spacious closet and storage solutions
• USB outlets and a selection of both North American and European electrical sockets

Additionally, your Yacht Club suite provides you with a personal butler offering round-the-clock services for tasks such as packing and unpacking, arranging specialty dining, and scheduling spa appointments.

Enjoying the MSC Yacht Club Advantage

Benefit from added perks compared to other cabin types, like priority check-in/check-out and priority disembarkation at each port. Access to exclusive venues, such as the private Yacht Club lounge, pool, and restaurant, enhances your cruising experience and creates a personalized atmosphere.

These advantages, paired with the all-inclusive fares and premium drinks package, help make the MSC Yacht Club category worth the extra price tag. Many guests choose this category when they prefer to be away from crowds yet still on a large cruise ship.

Compare the price of MSC Yacht Club category cabins with, for example, standard balcony cabins with Royal Caribbean, and you may find the price difference is not that big.

Onboard Experiences

Msc entertainment – how does it compare.

With a variety of shows, live music, and performances, this cruise experience is designed to cater to your tastes and preferences, offering a wide range of entertainment options for you to choose from. You will, however, not find the big Broadway-style shows of other major cruise lines.

Wellness and Relaxation – stay fit even on vacation

MSC Yacht Club understands that your well-being is essential even when on vacation. As a result, the cruise offers state-of-the-art wellness facilities and programs for you to maintain your fitness regimen and achieve total Relaxation. Some of these facilities and services include:

• Fully-equipped gym
• Fitness classes and personal training
• Spa with various treatments and massages
• Exclusive relaxation area with private pool and sun deck

Membership Benefits and Perks

Priority access.

With priority check-in and check-out, your arrival and departure will be as smooth as possible. Additionally, you’ll experience priority disembarkation and boarding on shore excursion days, and you’ll be among the first guests on the tender boats allowing you to make the most of your time in port and avoid long lines.

Loyalty Program

Your MSC Yacht Club membership comes with elevated benefits from the MSC Cruises loyalty program, including:

• All-inclusive fare : Your fare covers a wide range of amenities, including a premium drink package and Wi-Fi.
• Luxurious suites : Enjoy uncompromising luxury in suites designed by renowned architects De Jorio Design International.
• Exclusive areas : Access private club-members-only restaurant, pool, and sun deck, providing a more intimate and tranquil cruise experience.
• Personalized services : 24-hour butler and concierge services cater to your every need, such as dining and spa reservations, luggage packing and unpacking, and more.
• Comfort amenities : Relax with bathrobes, slippers, and a pillow menu in your suite.

By taking advantage of these MSC Yacht Club perks, you can transform your cruise experience into one that is a little more exclusive. For a great experience, we recommend the Yacht Club category on one of MSC’s newest cruise ships for your next cruise vacation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What perks come with the yacht club.

With the MSC Yacht Club, you can enjoy an exclusive cruise experience that includes priority check-in and check-out, departure and return on excursion days, a 24-hour butler service, and a dedicated concierge. You’ll also have access to a private club to enjoy room service 24 hours daily.

Is alcohol included?

The MSC Yacht Club provides a complimentary mini-bar in each suite, offering refreshments around the clock. In addition, you will have access to all-inclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, which are available in all Yacht Club areas, and an extensive beverage menu in the Yacht Club itself.

You no longer have to choose between the various MSC beverage packages; with Yacht Club, the Premium Extra drinks package is included.

What’s the dress code?

While onboard the MSC Yacht Club, the dress code varies depending on the time of day and the ship’s activities. During the day, you can wear casual attire, but it is recommended to dress slightly more formally for dinner and evening events. Be sure to check your daily program for any special events or themed nights that may require specific attire.

How much are gratuities, and should I tip extra onboard?

Gratuities are included in the MSC Yacht Club experience, so you don’t have to worry about additional charges. However, if you feel that a particular crew member went above and beyond to provide exceptional service, you may tip them extra as a token of appreciation.

What amenities are included?

The MSC Yacht Club offers a range of luxurious amenities to enhance your cruise experience. These include a private lounge, pool area, and sun deck reserved exclusively for Yacht Club guests. You’ll also enjoy Egyptian cotton sheets, a memory foam mattress, and a choice of pillows in your suite. Additionally, your on-hand 24-hour Butler and the dedicated concierge ensure you are well taken care of throughout your stay.

Is Yacht Club on all ships?

The MSC Yacht Club is available on most of MSC’s fleet of ships , providing an elite and luxurious cruise experience for those looking for that extra touch of elegance and exclusivity. If you’re considering a cruise with MSC, check whether the Yacht Club is available on your desired itinerary.

Meet the author: Sarah has created and booked hundreds of travel itineraries for thousands of customers during a career in the travel industry that spans 20 years. Having worked hand in hand with cruise lines, hotels, airlines and tour operators worldwide, she offers inspiring & detailed insights in the world of travel and tourism.

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• MSC Cruises

What does a Butler in Yacht Club actually do?

By angelofjoy23 , October 4, 2023 in MSC Cruises

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angelofjoy23

What does a Yacht Club butler actually do?  Like what do they do on their own vs what can you ask them to do?  A friend considering Yacht club just asked me and I figured you all would know best! 

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I think one of the best places to get information about Yacht Club is You Tube.  Just enter ship and Yacht Club.

cruisebeachgirl703

Butlers tend to differ. Have had 5 on NCL, 5 on Celebrity and 2 on MSC. Most recent MSC was great. Our experience was, greeted us in top sail lounge and escorted us to the cabin. Explained things about the room. Helps room steward turn over room. Restocks mini bar. Deliveries to room (invitations, newspaper, chocolates, etc). We asked and was brought a small cheese plate in the afternoon. Was the butler at Ocean Cay that escorted group off. Escorted us at disembarkation. I too would love to hear more firsthand experiences varying from what we had. Butler was great though, very happy.

A lot more than one on NCL.

Per above.  Plus escorts to shows if desired, escort off and on ship, bring drinks to room.  Ships like Divinia escort first night to restaurant.

MsTabbyKats

The butler does "too much".....escorts you everywhere so you "skip the lines", brings you pizza on the pool deck, delivers your drinks wherever you are, makes sure you're happy (if request is within reason).

I never sailed on NCL Haven...but I've heard people complain about "not seeing the butler" or "the butler wasn't good".  I don't think that happens in the YC....because if your butler isn't available...another one steps in.  They operate as a team.

Just try the Yacht club on MSC. You Will love it.

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said: The butler does "too much".....escorts you everywhere so you "skip the lines", brings you pizza on the pool deck, delivers your drinks wherever you are, makes sure you're happy (if request is within reason).   I never sailed on NCL Haven...but I've heard people complain about "not seeing the butler" or "the butler wasn't good".  I don't think that happens in the YC....because if your butler isn't available...another one steps in.  They operate as a team.

I have sailed the HAven many times, and have had great Butlers and ones that were ok. We dont need escorts other then on and off the ship in port days to skip the gangway lines, honestly we enjoy the Haven staff much more. Next Haven cruise is January and 1st YC is next september. 

2 minutes ago, wolft927 said: I have sailed the HAven many times, and have had great Butlers and ones that were ok. We dont need escorts other then on and off the ship in port days to skip the gangway lines, honestly we enjoy the Haven staff much more. Next Haven cruise is January and 1st YC is next september. 

I’ve done both, I think YC is better, the rest of the ship on NCL I enjoy more. I think it’s beyond dumb that the free at sea basic package in Haven doesn’t include sparkling or still water. 

7 hours ago, angelofjoy23 said: What does a Yacht Club butler actually do?

Who knows? We never saw ours!  😅  

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said: but I've heard people complain about "not seeing the butler" or "the butler wasn't good".  I don't think that happens in the YC....because if your butler isn't available...another one steps in.  They operate as a team.

Note that I'm not complaining about above, we had mostly great service. My impression is that everyone in YC was willing to help with anything.

Two Wheels Only

53 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said: I think it’s beyond dumb that the free at sea basic package in Haven doesn’t include sparkling or still water. 

You can have both without extra charge as long as it isn't from a bottle, can, or carton. The bartender in any bar will provide either type of water without charge even if you don't have any beverage package.

morpheusofthesea

8 hours ago, angelofjoy23 said: What does a Yacht Club butler actually do?

There are two ways one has to go on tour. One can congregate in the Top Sail Lounge and wait for a 'group' to be taken down the elevator to the gangway by an available butler. The problem with this method is there is ALWAYS some inconsiderate fellow guest holding up the group. But if one has a GOOD personal butler who takes the time to 'inquire' what ones plans are the night before and finds out one has a tour the next morning versus one that 'enquires' in a general way. The one that 'enquires' will direct one to the TSL. The one that 'inquires' will offer to meet one at the appointed time at ones cabin for a personal escort down to the bus or private car.

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:   You can have both without extra charge as long as it isn't from a bottle, can, or carton. The bartender in any bar will provide either type of water without charge even if you don't have any beverage package.

Be careful in the Haven Bar. I asked for two bottles of still water and had to give him my cruise card and got charged for a mudslide. Maybe he was expecting a tip?

If one is lucky enough to book a suite in the Yacht Club and get a good butler one is in for a real treat.To follow anyone around is a physical impossibility. Our butler on one cruise had 13 cabins to 'attend' to and on another had 19. They ask if there is anything in particular one wants on ones initial introduction. Those that have notepads are the best. Like what one prefers their mini fridge stocked with, type of afternoon snacks and at what time, time of tour to get off ship escort saving one getting caught in a 2 1/2 hour line waiting for a tender in ports like Grand Cayman. They make sure your dining table is ready for your dinner and escort you at that prescribed time. They make sure your pizza is delivered to your cabin hot with dishware, silverware and napkins. They take care of any laundry or pressing and suggest pricing variables and timing. They can get you any seating in any venue. Should one rent a cabana they make sure that it will be set up before one reaches it. If one is missing any luggage and later it is found and is 'flagged' for security check in the bowels of the ship's security along with 50 other crew and guests in a security line, they escort one to the front of the security line and stay with one the entire time and carry the bag back to ones cabin ( minus any contraband). If anything a butler makes one most comfortable and makes for a more enjoyable cruise.

Another butler story, when they had butlers on Celebrity. 

We felt the same way the first time we had a suite with a butler, until..... I wanted the furniture changed on the balcony to accommodate a lounger instead of chair and foot stool.  The wifi service in the cabin was terrible, posters replied they had same problem in same cabin, had to go across hall to library to get on-line. Told butler of problem, he boosted the signal to the cabin. Booked a cruise 48 hrs before departure at full tariff only to get on board with no perks (no wifi, no beverage package, no gratuities, no OBC), went to concierge and all they could do was add everything just mentioned to our shipboard account at full prices. (DW thought I booked cruise only, called me a cheapskate in front of pretty concierge). Asked butler what deck, Guest Services ? Asked me why ? Said there will be a very long line at Guest Services, it was embarkation day,  please allow me to escort you around the long line to a purser directly. It is just the little details that your butler becomes a 'genie' granting your every desire.

  P.S. Yes, Guest Services was able to contact shore and confirm I had the full perk package. (DW did not apologize for her prior remark....c'est la vie )

44 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:     P.S. Yes, Guest Services was able to contact shore and confirm I had the full perk package. (DW did not apologize for her prior remark....c'est la vie )

rule one: The wife is never wrong. 

rule two: When the wife is wrong, rule one applies. 

59 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:   You can have both without extra charge as long as it isn't from a bottle, can, or carton. The bartender in any bar will provide either type of water without charge even if you don't have any beverage package.

I’m fully aware of that..I want my Pelligrino.. 🙂

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said: I’m fully aware of that..I want my Pelligrino.. 🙂

I don't care what the brand it.....another perk of YC is that you can walk all around the ship and get a fresh bottle of water at any bar.  A bottle...not a glass.......

MisterBill99

8 hours ago, DaKahuna said: rule one: The wife is never wrong.  rule two: When the wife is wrong, rule one applies. 

This reminds me of my feelings about MSC the first (and until now only) time we sailed with them, not in a YC cabin.  I've seen your rules in other forms, substituting customer to wife at the Stew Leonard's grocery stores in CT/NY/NJ. On our MSC sailing, the customer was always wrong. Looking forward to being in YC next year where my understanding is that the customer is indeed always right.

Brighton Line

MSC Butler service was IMHO better than NCL though I did miss the doorbell NCL has since my butler knocked so softly I missed her half the time.

My butler heard us talking about a show and even made the reservation for us, we didn't have to contact the concierge. 

She would see us leaving, ask where we were going, and escort us no matter where on the ship. Even to a meet and greet for another group (can't mention here) to the closed Brass & Anchor and stayed a few minutes to say hi to non-YC guests there. 

7 hours ago, MisterBill99 said: Looking forward to being in YC next year where my understanding is that the customer is indeed always right.

Yes, the dichotomy between being inside the Yacht Club and outside the YC makes all the difference in the world. We get all the yes(es), they get all the no(s).

P.S. Inside the YC we get a genial YC director, outside the YC they have a host of "Sluggos".

15 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said: I don't care what the brand it.....another perk of YC is that you can walk all around the ship and get a fresh bottle of water at any bar.  A bottle...not a glass.......

Exactly..I was joking about the brand. 

Do you get the same level of service if you're in an inside YC cabin vs. a duplex suite?

26 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said: Do you get the same level of service if you're in an inside YC cabin vs. a duplex suite?

I sure hope so first MSc cruise and we have inside YC suite 

Captain-John

Just on the escort front, I have opined many times on these boards that I don't need or want an escort to the restaurant etc.

One previous butler was incredibly persistent despite being told politely and firmly several times an escort was not required - 'let me do my job' was the reply. Well part of doing the job is working with the guest to provide a level of service they need/are comfortable with. We don't like being beholden to a dinner time for example and just leave the cabin when we are ready/feel like it. However another butler on Meraviglia was fantastic and anticipated our needs (or lack thereof, we are fairly 'hands off') and worked accordingly.

We are back in YC on World Europa in a few weeks and I will report back on the butler services that are provided for us and compare to previous experiences. We were also in Haven this April/May so have a fairly recent compartor.  The thing I am most looking forward to is the four cheese pizza delivered to the stateroom - call me simple. 🤷‍♀️

5 hours ago, MisterBill99 said: Do you get the same level of service if you're in an inside YC cabin vs. a duplex suite?

Absolutey! 

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Tipping in Yacht Club

By JazzDrew , March 31, 2015 in MSC Cruises

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We are happy repeat MSC cruisers, but our July 2015 cruise on the Splendida will be our first Yacht Club experience. Would appreciate any suggestions about tipping our butler, above the standard service charge automatically added to our bill. We are happy to tip well for good service, just need some guidance on what is "right" to do.

Apologies if this is already posted somewhere and I didn't find it. Thanks in advance!

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Cruisergal1208

We have been in the Yacht Club several times and we tipped several butlers that served us in the Top Sail as well as our own butler. We did this at the end of the cruise. The amount depended on the level of service received as some did more than others. Hope this helps.

I too plan to tip the Butler(s) in cash over and above the service charge, but I too would like an idea of how much. Are we talking $100 or $500? Just need to know how much extra cash to bring. I would like to find a general consensus about how much is considered reasonable.

Amounts are a personal thing but I will give you an idea of what we did. For our regular stateroom butler, 50-100; his assistant, 20-30; for those in Top Sail that served us on a regular basis, 20-30; in Le Muse, we tipped our table servers 20-30, the Maitre de, 30-50,(last time he took care of some special requests); the wine steward, 20-50 depending on how much we use him for special wines not regularly served. We didn't tip outside of the YC areas where we might have had a drink. These butlers are trained to supply your slightest need and it makes it very special to be greeted by name and they have your "usual" ready for you. Of course, if you use the One Pool/Bar, then you may wish to tip those serving in this area also. Another item, I tipped $2 for room service delivery. Liked to have coffee while getting dressed. Went one morning to the Top Sail to get coffee to carry back to cabin and the butler there would not let me - he carried it for me!!

Hope this helps. Would be interesting to see what others say. :)

I will be on the April 4 sailing. We always tip extra but it depends on the service and level of interaction we have with a staff member. In Le Muse, do you tend to have the same waiter and assistant or does it differ from day to day? It is always easier with the former. We also tip the staff at the kids club if they are doing a good job. I will try to remember to share when I get back.

In Le Muse we always had the same table and servers for dinner but it might vary for breakfast and lunch since you don't have a standing time for those meals. If our regular servers were on duty at that time, they would come over to greet us, even if not serving our table.

Our tips also were based on the service and level of intereaction with staff members. We are very outgoing and all of the staff enjoyed talking with us, telling us jokes, and sharing about their families. Some passengers seemed to be all "business" and not there to converse with the staff. To each his own, as they say.

JuneauWhatIMean

I'm new to MSC and will be on the Divina, in the YC, this December with my husband. (I can't wait!:))

Can gratuities be paid through your onboard account or do the stewards/butlers/servers, etc. prefer cash?

I'm new to MSC and will be on the Divina, in the YC, this December with my husband. (I can't wait!:))   Can gratuities be paid through your onboard account or do the stewards/butlers/servers, etc. prefer cash?   Thank you!   Alison

There is a daily house keeping charge per person that is automaticly added to your onboard account. I think this thread has been about the extra tipping above the daily charge.

Sorry, I knew that but I wasn't clear. I meant the 'additional' gratuities or tips. :o

LOL... Yes, the extra tips were given in cash. :) MSC tries to discourage tipping extra but we do it anyway.

Welcome Juneau!!! You can pre-pay your gratuities if you like or have the daily service charge added to your onboard account. We prefer the latter so we can earn points towards our rewards membership. If you feel the service you received is above and beyond your expectations,,you can tip extra to that individual.

Exactly Cruiser!! We brought our butler and room steward into our stateroom to tip them,,,we have heard that any cash tips must go into a pool to be split.

When on a 7 night cruise in the Med in the YC of Divina, I gave additional tips to

Butler:- €5 per person per night Total €70

Butler's Assistant :-€2 pppn Total €28 (rounded up to €30)

Waiters (two of them who served us every night) €50 each (covered both guests)

Head waiter: €25

Wine waiter we did not use his services

Waiters in Topsail lounge, we had no special relationship with any individual waiter

Concierges:- We gave remaining turkish lira (worth approx €40) plus all our loose euro coinage (approx. €20). It was well received

total gratuities above daily service charge approx €285 (approc $300 for two guests for 7 nights)

Thanks for the help Cruisergal1208, Mike, and Pete. ~:D~

(Sorry I hijacked your thread JazzDrew:cool:).

We are happy repeat MSC cruisers, but our July 2015 cruise on the Splendida will be our first Yacht Club experience. Would appreciate any suggestions about tipping our butler, above the standard service charge automatically added to our bill. We are happy to tip well for good service, just need some guidance on what is "right" to do.   Apologies if this is already posted somewhere and I didn't find it. Thanks in advance!

We will be with you in the Yacht Club on the 29th July. We have done many cruises mainly with NCL and MSC.We always book the YC with MSC and find the service very very good. As already said by others we tip extra at the end of the cruise subject to the service we get.

Judy and I look forward to meeting you.

Through CC we have done many meet and greets but never with MSC. I don't think they get involved with organising anything on board.

When I was on NCL Pride of America we tipped our Butler $100 and gave our favorite bartenders $20-$40. We called the butler in the day before our cruise ended and thanked him and gave him the extra. This is what I plan on doing for my cruise April 11th on Davina. Good service is worth the extra money!! $12 dollars a day split seems so little for what they do.

Thank you to all who were kind enough to share your experiences, this is very helpful. (Cruisergal1208, Parallax, Mikesa1721, Skier52/Pete, Crzyfrk62). We agree completely that good service should be recognized and $12/pp/pd seemed low for the extra service we've heard the Yacht Club offers, which is why we wanted to get an idea up front to be prepared with sufficient cash.

JuneauWhatIMean.....LOL and no worries! We obviously had the same questions!

Thanks again, and Happy Easter to all!

Hi, We will be with you in the Yacht Club on the 29th July. We have done many cruises mainly with NCL and MSC.We always book the YC with MSC and find the service very very good. As already said by others we tip extra at the end of the cruise subject to the service we get. Judy and I look forward to meeting you. Regards Laurence

Hi Laurence and Judy -- Andy and Arlene look forward to meeting you!. We started a Roll Call (Splendia 29 July from Hamburg) if you'd care to join. It has also been our experience that MSC doesn't organize a M&G. When we were on the Divina in July 2014, several CC members took the initiative to organize our own meeting. With both of us being in Yacht Club, I'd think we should be able to connect.

Let's stay in touch. Cheers!

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Russia's Nuclear Deterrent Command Center Imperiled by Winter Freeze—Report

A Russian nuclear deterrent command center in Moscow has been imperiled by power outages that have impacted more than one-quarter of the region's cities amid freezing temperatures, a Russian Telegram channel has reported.

The VChK-OGPU outlet, which purports to have inside information from Russian security forces, reported that the 820th Main Center for Missile Attack Warnings—part of the Russian Space Forces, a branch of the country's Aerospace Forces—near Solnechnogorsk in Moscow is without power.

It serves as the space forces early warning network against potential ballistic missile attacks.

The development comes as Russians are reported to be suffering from power outages in their homes in the Moscow region caused by technical issues at plants amid subzero temperatures.

On January 4, a heating main burst at the Klimovsk Specialized Ammunition Plant in the town of Podolsk, which is about 30 miles south of central Moscow. Since then, tens of thousands of Russians are reported to have no heating in their homes.

Affected areas include the cities of Khimki, Balashikha, Lobnya, Lyubertsy, Podolsk, Chekhov and Naro-Fominsk, a map published by a Russian Telegram channel and shared on other social media sites shows.

Other Russian media outlets reported that in Moscow, residents of Balashikha, Elektrostal, Solnechnogorsk, Dmitrov, Domodedovo, Troitsk, Taldom, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Krasnogorsk, Pushkino, Ramenskoye, Voskresensk, Losino-Petrovsky and Selyatino are also without power.

The Telegram channel said that at the 820th Main Center for Missile Attack Warnings, "the crew...is on duty around the clock."

"It is here that the decision on a retaliatory nuclear strike is executed," the channel said.

Newsweek could not independently verify the report and has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry by email for comment.

Power outages have also been reported in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, in the country's western Voronezh region, in the southwest city of Volgograd, and in Rostov, which borders Ukraine, a country that Russia has been at war with since February 24, 2022.

On Sunday, two shopping malls in St. Petersburg were forced to close because of problems with light and heating, reported local news outlet 78.ru. Hundreds of other homes in the city have had no electricity, water or heating for days amid temperatures of -25 C (-13 F).

Russian authorities have also been forced to compensate passengers of a train that ran from Samara to St. Petersburg (a 20-hour journey) without heating during -30 C (-22 F) temperatures. Videos circulating on social media showed carriage windows frozen over. A passenger also said the toilet didn't work during the trip because of frozen pipes.

Do you have a tip on a world news story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Russia-Ukraine war? Let us know via [email protected].

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Why were so many metro stations in Moscow renamed?

Okhotny Ryad station in Soviet times and today.

The Moscow metro system has 275 stations, and 28 of them have been renamed at some point or other—and several times in some cases. Most of these are the oldest stations, which opened in 1935.

The politics of place names

The first station to change its name was Ulitsa Kominterna (Comintern Street). The Comintern was an international communist organization that ceased to exist in 1943, and after the war Moscow authorities decided to call the street named after it something else. In 1946, the station was renamed Kalininskaya. Then for several days in 1990, the station was called Vozdvizhenka, before eventually settling on Aleksandrovsky Sad, which is what it is called today.

The banner on the entraince reads: "Kalininskaya station." Now it's Alexandrovsky Sad.

Until 1957, Kropotkinskaya station was called Dvorets Sovetov ( Palace of Soviets ). There were plans to build a monumental Stalinist high-rise on the site of the nearby Cathedral of Christ the Saviour , which had been demolished. However, the project never got off the ground, and after Stalin's death the station was named after Kropotkinskaya Street, which passes above it.

Dvorets Sovetov station, 1935. Letters on the entrance: "Metro after Kaganovich."

Of course, politics was the main reason for changing station names. Initially, the Moscow Metro itself was named after Lazar Kaganovich, Joseph Stalin’s right-hand man. Kaganovich supervised the construction of the first metro line and was in charge of drawing up a master plan for reconstructing Moscow as the "capital of the proletariat."

In 1955, under Nikita Khrushchev's rule and during the denunciation of Stalin's personality cult, the Moscow Metro was named in honor of Vladimir Lenin.

Kropotkinskaya station, our days. Letters on the entrance: "Metropolitan after Lenin."

New Metro stations that have been opened since the collapse of the Soviet Union simply say "Moscow Metro," although the metro's affiliation with Vladimir Lenin has never officially been dropped.

Zyablikovo station. On the entrance, there are no more signs that the metro is named after Lenin.

Stations that bore the names of Stalin's associates were also renamed under Khrushchev. Additionally, some stations were named after a neighborhood or street and if these underwent name changes, the stations themselves had to be renamed as well.

Until 1961 the Moscow Metro had a Stalinskaya station that was adorned by a five-meter statue of the supreme leader. It is now called Semyonovskaya station.

Left: Stalinskaya station. Right: Now it's Semyonovskaya.

The biggest wholesale renaming of stations took place in 1990, when Moscow’s government decided to get rid of Soviet names. Overnight, 11 metro stations named after revolutionaries were given new names. Shcherbakovskaya became Alekseyevskaya, Gorkovskaya became Tverskaya, Ploshchad Nogina became Kitay-Gorod and Kirovskaya turned into Chistye Prudy. This seriously confused passengers, to put it mildly, and some older Muscovites still call Lubyanka station Dzerzhinskaya for old times' sake.

At the same time, certain stations have held onto their Soviet names. Marksistskaya and Kropotkinskaya, for instance, although there were plans to rename them too at one point.

"I still sometimes mix up Teatralnaya and Tverskaya stations,” one Moscow resident recalls .

 “Both have been renamed and both start with a ‘T.’ Vykhino still grates on the ear and, when in 1991 on the last day of my final year at school, we went to Kitay-Gorod to go on the river cruise boats, my classmates couldn’t believe that a station with that name existed."

The city government submitted a station name change for public discussion for the first time in 2015. The station in question was Voykovskaya, whose name derives from the revolutionary figure Pyotr Voykov. In the end, city residents voted against the name change, evidently not out of any affection for Voykov personally, but mainly because that was the name they were used to.

What stations changed their name most frequently?

Some stations have changed names three times. Apart from the above-mentioned Aleksandrovsky Sad (Ulitsa Kominterna->Kalininskaya->Vozdvizhenka->Aleksandrovsky Sad), a similar fate befell Partizanskaya station in the east of Moscow. Opened in 1944, it initially bore the ridiculously long name Izmaylovsky PKiO im. Stalina (Izmaylovsky Park of Culture and Rest Named After Stalin). In 1947, the station was renamed and simplified for convenience to Izmaylovskaya. Then in 1963 it was renamed yet again—this time to Izmaylovsky Park, having "donated" its previous name to the next station on the line. And in 2005 it was rechristened Partizanskaya to mark the 60th anniversary of victory in World War II. 

Partizanskaya metro station, nowadays.

Another interesting story involves Alekseyevskaya metro station. This name was originally proposed for the station, which opened in 1958, since a village with this name had been located here. It was then decided to call the station Shcherbakovskaya in honor of Aleksandr Shcherbakov, a politician who had been an associate of Stalin. Nikita Khrushchev had strained relations with Shcherbakov, however, and when he got word of it literally a few days before the station opening the builders had to hastily change all the signs. It ended up with the concise and politically correct name of Mir (Peace).

The name Shcherbakovskaya was restored in 1966 after Khrushchev's fall from power. It then became Alekseyevskaya in 1990.

Alekseyevskaya metro station.

But the station that holds the record for the most name changes is Okhotny Ryad, which opened in 1935 on the site of a cluster of market shops. When the metro system was renamed in honor of Lenin in 1955, this station was renamed after Kaganovich by way of compensation. The name lasted just two years though because in 1957 Kaganovich fell out of favor with Khrushchev, and the previous name was returned. But in 1961 it was rechristened yet again, this time in honor of Prospekt Marksa, which had just been built nearby.

Okhotny Ryad station in 1954 and Prospekt Marksa in 1986.

In 1990, two historical street names—Teatralny Proyezd and Mokhovaya Street—were revived to replace Prospekt Marksa, and the station once again became Okhotny Ryad.

Okhotny Ryad in 2020.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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