I am sitting at the MSC Yacht Club Grill, an exclusive open-air eatery atop the 2-year-old MSC World Europa, when I begin to wonder if my butler, Lanto, can read my mind.
Sure, it would seem to bend the laws of science, but it might be true. How else could he know that my companion and I were feeling a chill? He has just arrived, unrequested, with sweaters from our suite six decks below. That is just what I was thinking we needed.
Whether Lanto really can read my mind or is just the most observant and diligent butler in the history of cruising — did he see us walk out of our rooms underdressed for a chilly morning, enter our room to find the perfect pullovers and then track us down to deliver them? — it is a remarkable display of service (or mind reading). And it's not an outlier.
Time and again on this seven-night sailing around the Western Mediterranean on MSC World Europa — one of the world's biggest and most venue-packed cruise ships — I have been wowed by both the personalized service and the luxury touches.
I am notably staying in the MSC Yacht Club, the exclusive "ship within a ship" luxury retreat found at the front of MSC World Europa and more than a dozen other MSC Cruises ships.
It is a high-end hideaway only open to top suite guests that's home to luxurious suites with round-the-clock butler service, a stunning private bar and lounge overlooking the ship's bow, exclusive dining venues and a secluded private sundeck.
It also comes with priority access to all the many venues and attractions spread across the rest of the massive vessel, from premium seats at shows to hard-to-get, prime-hour dinner reservations at top eateries.
For a vacationer who loves a big-resort experience and is willing to pay a bit more for that extra "first class" experience, it may be the ultimate cruise offering. And the best part? The MSC Yacht Club is available on more ships sailing out of North America than ever before, making it even easier for U.S. travelers to indulge in this luxurious experience.
MSC World Europa isn't the only MSC Cruises ship where you'll find an MSC Yacht Club, and the Mediterranean isn't the only region where you can sail in one.
As of April, MSC Cruises will have a record 15 vessels with exclusive MSC Yacht Club areas sailing in regions around the world ... and that includes the U.S.
The list of ships with MSC Yacht Clubs will soon include seven vessels sailing in North America, including ships sailing out of such close-to-home ports as New York; Miami; Port Canaveral, Florida; and Galveston, Texas.
This will include the new, much-awaited MSC World America — the biggest MSC Cruises ship ever to sail out of a U.S. port. A sister ship to MSC World Europa, it'll be operating seven-night
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When New York–based interior designer Athena Calderone realized her 50th birthday and 25th wedding anniversary would coincide last year, she knew the double milestone called for a party. So she and her husband, Victor, a DJ and music producer, planned a two-pronged, nine-day trip to Italy. They began with an intimate vow renewal in Umbria and then let the festivities roll in Rome with 50 of their closest friends. “That city holds this rich historic legacy, and I feel like our love does too,” Calderone says. Here she shares the locals-only spots that drove the itinerary and the “opulent and over-the-top” hotel where guests danced till dawn.
Lufthansa's swanky new jets featuring its all-new first-class cabin — complete with a suite for two passengers — are finally getting set to touch down in the U.S.
The notion that long-distance train travel is a thing of the past—especially in the U.S.—is being challenged by Amtrak. With growing interest from travelers, the U.S. national rail company is shifting its focus and investing heavily in improving its long-distance service. This includes enhancing iconic routes like the California Zephyr, which stretches from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Crescent, which links New York City and New Orleans.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s distinctive brand of American architecture is peppered throughout the country. With more than 532 designs, the greatest concentration is in his home state of Wisconsin, which has a trail through eight sites, including his first home and studio, Taliesin in Spring Green, as well as around Chicago, where he launched his career in 1887.
I was a Diamond Medallion member for years but fell to Platinum Medallion when Delta Air Lines introduced higher qualifying requirements for elite status. Even so, most of my domestic flights are still on the airline, thanks to its extensive network from my home in New York City. And Delta has always made it right whenever I've faced an operational meltdown or other issues.
Captain Kate McCue, the first woman from the United States to take the helm of a cruise ship, will soon become the first person to captain a Four Seasons yacht.
Luxury rail company Rocky Mountaineer is rebranding as Canyon Spirit with an expanded route connecting Denver to Salt Lake City in 2026, the rail company told TPG.
The sun had begun its leisurely descent over Bodrum Town on a September afternoon when I started going back over my list, making sure I hadn’t missed anything. A stroll along the marina, pausing to take a video of a forest of Turkish flags fluttering in the wind: check. Bites of kabak cicegi dolmasi and enginar kalbi on the terrace of a restaurant overlooking gulets bobbing in the harbor below: delicious. Browsing leather shoes and handwoven towels in the labyrinthine bazaar: my credit card statement would attest to that. Satisfied, I started mapping out the route back to the hotel, working in a stop at a posh Turkish delight shop a friend in New York had recommended. I turned to my mom, ready to lead her out of the bazaar, when I noticed her hesitate.