After two very different, yet sort of similar sailings this year, I wanted to compare and contrast an MSC Yacht Club cruise versus a cruise on Explora Journeys.
TLDR; I find that I preferred the trip on Explora II for the solely dedicated elevated-luxury experience. That said, MSC’s Yacht Club has real strengths especially if you want “all the things” a big-ship resort offers. Below is a head-to-head of what mattered most to me: cabins, dining, service, public spaces and amenities, atmosphere, and who each product is actually built for.
Cabins & Comfort
Meraviglia Yacht Club (Inside Cabin): Yacht Club cabins are designed to feel more premium than standard cabins on many mainstream ships. MSC’s newest vessels feature a handful of inside cabins that are contained within the Yacht Club. This creates a rather affordable opportunity to gain access to The Yacht Club and all that entails. Now keep in mind that these are well above even a balcony cabin price range, and in fact rather on par with a standard suite (that doesn’t come with these perks). Like all inside cabins, this one still lacks the space, light, and exclusivity of a suite. The Yacht Club’s cabin bedding, finishing touches, and overall layout lifted the experience above standard inside rooms, (shout out for the stocked Nespresso classic in the cabin) but the interior location naturally constrained the sense of luxury, especially compared to Explora II’s suite-forward design language. Of course had I been in a balcony cabin, this write up would be certainly different.
Explora II (Ocean Terrace): Explora’s cabins and terraces feel intentionally residential and calm. Even in a standard Ocean Terrace cabin the lines are clean, the materials feel high-end, and the public expectation is uniform: the whole ship is “luxury.” That consistent environment makes smaller touches like lighting, storage, and soundproofing stand out. The balcony even has a full daybed in it. For me, this is where Explora began to win the comparison however I do acknowledge that this is a rather unfair comparison.
Winner (cabins): Explora II for its more cohesive luxury feel and better fundamentals even in a standard cabin.
Dining & Food Experience
Meraviglia Yacht Club: Yacht Club offers an exclusive restaurant that is a clear step up from MSC’s main dining at an ideal location on the ship. (Ok maybe the Panorama restaurant on deck 6 can closely rival that with its wake views). Service in the Yacht Club dining room and the dedicated lounge felt attentive, and the advantage is convenience, smaller crowd, and privacy. This is great for breakfast, a quiet dinner, or a late-night drink. When it came to variety and consistency, the Yacht Club’s biggest limitation was its single dining venue and relatively narrow menu. While the quality was solid and there were about five genuinely good choices available (changing every day of course), that selection began to feel restrictive over the course of the cruise. With no restaurant rotation dining in the Yacht Club could feel repetitive, and stepping outside the enclave only reinforced how uneven the wider MSC dining landscape can be, with some venues excelling while others fell short.
Explora II: Dining is central to Explora’s identity. The standard restaurants deliver thoughtfully executed menus across a range of venues, and every meal felt curated with a consistent culinary philosophy. For someone who values the food program as part of the luxury promise, Explora’s approach is far more satisfying since it has more distinct concepts, higher plating consistency, and service that matched the room.
Winner (dining): Explora II with its broader, more consistent culinary excellence.
Service & Staff
Meraviglia Yacht Club: Yacht Club staff were attentive and largely anticipated needs. Butler and concierge touches are real and meaningful for day-to-day convenience including luggage handling, priority boarding, and private lounge access all add up. But because Yacht Club is an enclave in a larger ship, the contrast between Yacht Club service and the ship-at-large can sometimes feel jarring. I did notice that with the limited guests in the Yacht Club, they do truly learn your name and your preferences. Whenever you walk into the restaurant for example, they greet you by your first name before you even say anything. That’s an attention to detail!
Explora II: The ship’s service culture is uniform and quietly elevated. Staff behavior, guest interaction, and on-deck hospitality all reinforced the same brand promise. There’s less of a feeling of “insider vs. outsider” because everybody on the ship is there for the same product and standard. There’s a consistent reserved elevated luxury all throughout that never lacks in any areas.
Winner (service): Yacht Club for personal concierge-style perks. And learning your name by the second day.
Public Spaces & Amenities
Meraviglia Yacht Club: This is the category where MSC really shines. The Yacht Club gives you access to a private pool and lounge, but you also still get everything Meraviglia has to offer: a massive two-level promenade, copious family amenities, water parks, and novelty attractions such as an F1 simulator (don’t ask about my lap times…or lack thereof). If you travel with kids or want an energetic, varied onboard entertainment calendar, Yacht Club + Meraviglia’s public spaces are unbeatable.
Explora II: Public spaces are refined, quieter, and intentionally small-ship in feel. Expect thoughtful public design, luxe materials, and fewer “headline” attractions. That’s part of why the ship feels cohesive as it’s curated, not cluttered. It’s less about thrills and more about atmosphere.
Winner (public spaces): Meraviglia; Yacht Club for variety and family-friendly amenities.
Atmosphere & Crowd
Meraviglia Yacht Club: Yacht Club creates a calm pocket, but step outside and you’re in a very busy mega-ship environment. If you enjoy a hybrid model, a private sanctuary plus a bustling ship, Yacht Club is ideal. If you want peace and exclusivity 24/7, the contrast can grate. None more so than whilst in port.
Explora II: Consistently low-key and elevated. Guests are there for slow, refined travel with late dinners, longer port stays, quieter public areas. The onboard demographic and programming support that mood.
Winner (atmosphere): Explora II for a true, uninterrupted luxury vibe.
Value & Who Should Book Which
- Book Yacht Club on Meraviglia if: you want private perks (butler, lounge, private dining) while keeping access to family-friendly programming, rides, and big-ship entertainment; you value children’s facilities or a huge selection of activities; you don’t mind a tradeoff on pure luxury consistency.
- Book Explora II if: you want an entire ship where every space, menu, and service cue aims at the same elevated standard; you prioritize dining, calm public spaces, and a residential-luxury feel across the whole ship; you want an adult-oriented, consistent luxury product.
Final Thoughts (and my personal take)
Explora II wins the “luxury cruise” crown in my book because the product is unified: the vessel itself is the luxury statement. Yacht Club is a brilliant product in its category as it converts parts of a mainstream, bustling megaship into a quieter, higher-service experience which for many travelers, that combination will be perfect. But because Explora lives and breathes a single promise across every cabin and restaurant, it takes the edge on refinement, consistency, and that “every moment feels premium” feeling.