msc preziosa yacht club

Solent Richard's Cruise Blog

Welcome aboard and nice to meet you. My wife and I are seasoned cruisers having first dipped our toes into the world of cruising in 1990, a one week cruise on board the Cunard Countess. The majority of our cruising has been with two cruise lines, Cunard and P&O. We have, however, sailed on 21 different cruise ships, some many times over, on 11 different cruise lines while completing 619 cruise nights on board.

MSC Preziosa – Yacht Club Experience

My wife and I have recently returned from a cruise that gave us our first experience sailing with MSC….

…onboard the MSC Preziosa…

…and a chance to evaluate their Yacht Club facility.

This cruise was initially chosen for one particular reason: MSC are one of the few cruise lines that visit the island of Guadeloupe…

…which was amongst the 12 other islands this cruise visited, all in the course of 14 days.

And our reason for wanting to visit Guadeloupe?

My wife is a huge fan of the UK TV Series, Death in Paradise, and it was an ambition of hers to visit the village of Deshaies and surrounding area where the series is filmed. More about this in the ‘Itinerary’ section of this review.

Our package also included Virgin flights from Gatwick to Barbados which we later discovered was basically an MSC charter with an MSC ‘Registration’ desk at Gatwick Airport..

On arrival at Barbados the MSC organisation was equally slick and very good.  We were very soon allocated to a coach and transferred to the ship.

MSC pride themselves in offering the highest level of service to their ‘Yacht Club’ guests and this became apparent the moment our coach pulled up at the Bridgetown Terminal Building. As ‘Yacht Club’ guests we were greeted outside the terminal building and escorted to a reserved area and offered refreshment including champagne and chocolates while our booking details were checked…

…including an enquiry as to which UK national newspaper we preferred (more about that later).

I’d like to mention at this stage that we had at the time of booking also availed ourselves of MSC’s offer to match, for new MSC cruisers,  any cruise line’s loyalty scheme. This meant, by transferring our Cunard World Club status, we kicked off with MSC as ‘Diamond’ members…

I would certainly urge anyone considering an MSC cruise to avail themselves of this relatively easy to achieve process.

Having completed the formalities in the terminal we were introduced to our ‘Butler’ and escorted onboard. Our first stop was the Yacht Club Concierge Lounge where once again drinks were offered and the Senior Concierge gave a short briefing on his services before we were then escorted to our suite.

We had reserved, at the time of booking, a YC1 Deluxe Yacht Club Suite number…

The ‘Suite’ was a generous 344 Sq Feet with spacious storage …

…a walk in Wardrobe…

…Balcony…

…and ensuite bathroom …

…with full size bathtub, marble sink unit with more than ample storage beneath…

…and a good selection of bathroom toiletries…

As a Yacht Club suite, all beverages are complimentary. Drinks and nibbles in the suite are replenished daily along with the fruit basket…

We were to discover that we were in for some excellent nights sleep with the suite’s ergonomic mattress bed, fine sheets, and pillow menu…

I would add that it was only on arrival in our suite that we first set sight on our cruise cards. At this point we had not been asked to give any form of credit card authorisation, though we were requested to activate our ‘onboard account’,  within 48 hours, at one of the many machines around the ship: one of which was perfectly positioned adjacent to the Concierge Desk…

The Yacht Club on MSC ships is is effectively a ‘ship within a ship’…

…access to which is controlled via one’s cruise card…

On Preziosa, the main Yacht Club facilities included The Concierge, The Topsail Lounge,  The One Pool and the exclusive to Yacht Club guests restaurant, La Palmeraie.

The Concierge 

An area consisting of a central desk and a small lounge …

…complimented with  a useful Library…

Amongst the many services that I noted at the Concierge desk over our 2 weeks onboard was the making of reservations at restaurants,  issuing ship’s  excursion identification stickers for Yacht Club guests and coordinating butler escorts for those heading ashore with ‘private’ excursions.

The Topsail Lounge

Adjacent the Concierge Desk is the entrance to the Topsail Lounge…

…complete with an excellent bar…

…and barista service…

The Topsail Lounge proved to be our ‘social hub’ whether it was meeting friends for a pre-dinner drink, enjoying the panoramic views or just popping in for some light refreshment…

Indeed, the lounge offers a continental breakfast service from 7.00 am to 11.00 am while from midday there are continuous selections of delicious snacks available.

High tea  was served between 4.00 and 6.00 pm,  when a  butler in full dress uniform offers a  ‘white glove’ table  service…

For evenings there was always a programme of musical entertainment featuring various artistes who also performed around the ship…

The Topsail Lounge is an outstanding facility, not just for the exclusive position and  view, but the excellent service, facilities and of course, convenient proximity to one’s suite.

The One Pool Deck

I never quite figured out why this area was named as ‘The One Pool’: it seemed to me a strange anomaly as it really is a very good exclusive Sun Deck for Yacht Club guests…

…complete with pool…

…two jacuzzis…

…and a bar and dining area…

Apart from the normal bar opening hours, a snacks buffet was available throughout the day from 7.30 am to 10.00 pm while between midday and 3.00 pm individually prepared cooked lunches were available from the chef’s Gazebo…

On numerous occasions we received invitations to either Cocktail or Sailaway Parties at The One Pool…

They were all good fun and, in the main,  gave us a chance to meet and chat to our fellow English Yacht Club passengers…

…and particularly enjoying the music and early evening balmy Caribbean  atmosphere…

The final piece in the Yacht Club jigsaw was the dedicated ‘Private Restaurant’, La Palmeraie…

A dedicated ‘open seating’ restaurant with superbly indulgent menus where guests can dine at leisure. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner this was a classy facility with staff to match and was certainly up there on a par with Cunard’s Grill restaurants…

A selection of dinner menus…

…and a selection of dishes we ordered, including an Asparagus and Baked Tart starter…

and Beef Carpaccio…

All meals were accompanied by a good selection of complimentary wines…

A selection of main courses we chose, including Fillet of Sea Bass…

Veal Ossobuco…

And Octopus and Cuttlefish Stew…

Once a week the menu featured a selection by Michelin Chef Harald Wohlfahrt…

…seen here The Halibut and Carrot Mousseline…

…with Enoki Mushrooms.

Desserts were excellent, the genuinely homemade Tirimisu…

…featuring almost every night, while other offerings included the decadent ‘Opera Cake’…

…and the prepared table side Crepes Suzette…

And for those who crave cheese there was a first class selection on the Cheeseboard…

…every evening.

Our overall experience in La Palmeraie was simply awesome. The staff under the direction of maître d’hôtel Vicenzo Cinque and his assistant Ena, were truly exceptional and I make no apologies for mentioning the stand-out waiter, Sumit…

…who was a credit to MSC.

Life onboard

It would be easy to confine this review to the Yacht Club’s facilities but that is not our scene. We very soon discovered that there was a variety of entertainment to be found around the ship and we were determined to make the most of it.

With membership of the Yacht Club comes a number of additional benefits. Most important amongst these was the fact that you can order unlimited premium all Inclusive drinks, not just in The Yacht Club but from any bar around the ship.

Central to the entertainment has to be the Platinum Theatre…

…which, for Yacht Club guests, had a specially reserved section on the theatre upper level…

We found the ship’s Production Show Team…

…amazing. Over the 14 days onboard we watched 10 different production shows…

…and as can be seen from the above photograph there is a cast of 26 performers. During many shows an interval was programmed in for a number of incredible ‘ Cirque du Soleil’ style performances…

including this amazing balancing piece where the guy walked up the stairs with his partner balanced by one hand on his head…

Great Entertainment.

And if that was not enough we often met the performers again as they led the entertainment at the numerous late Deck Parties…

Musical entertainment certainly featured throughout the ship and one was often spoilt for choice whether it be in the Mixology Bar, The El Dorado…

…at the large aft  entertainment centre, The Safari Lounge…

…and the Atrium & Preziosa Bar…

But by far our favourite for variety and atmosphere was The Green Sax…

A great variety of music, reasonable dancing space plus the addition of two attractive ‘dance hosts’…

We additionally found an excellent venue for those who may like to indulge in a little people watching. Il Cappuccino…

…is the ship’s speciality Coffee Bar and is delightfully positioned on the edge of the Atrium on Deck 7…

Also a great venue for that night cap, an ‘Italian Coffee’…

There were two occasions when we ventured into dining areas that weren’t the preserve of Yacht Club guests. The first was the….

an American-style steak house serving select aged Linz heritage Angus beef and a selection of other dishes…

Earlier in this review it was mentioned that we had utilised the  MSC offer of transferring another cruise lines loyalty points. Well apart from the numerous (4) parties we were invited to this proved an immensely interesting benefit…

We made our reservation through the La Palmeraie maître d’hôtel who, to our surprise, arranged for the ‘Butcher’s Cut’  restaurant manager to brief us on the menu…

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience dining at ‘The Butcher’s Cut’…

…having been given a window table…

…our meal was further complimented by a good Malbec…

…choosing for starter a Baked Goat’s Cheese Tart…

…and two different cuts of Steak…

…cooked exactly to our taste…

…and followed by a most tasty dessert, Chocolate Lava Cake…

Our second outing to dine elsewhere was when we thought to try a pizza lunch in the Inca Buffet…

An impressive selection of 5 different pizzas to help oneself…

…and while there I couldn’t help noticing an impressive array of sauces on another counter…

Something for everyone.

What also impressed, apart from the variety of available food, was the waiter service. having found your table just press the buzzer…

Cheers then, Pizza done…

Well not quite. There actually is a separate Pizza restaurant onboard, the…

While being highly recommended for its high quality pizzas it does actually carry a surcharge to dine there…

However, as Yacht Club guests we discovered a loophole. We could order room service, any item, and there was no charge. The butler even came and laid up our table with cutlery and poured the wine…

And finally while covering entertainment, we did on two evenings end up in the Galaxy Disco…

…though surprisingly we found it a shade lacking in atmosphere…

…possibly due to the absence of a good DJ.

One bar that we did pass on numerous occasions and would have been tempted to use was the Al Fresco Garden Bar…

…aft on Deck 15. There was often good music ‘under the stars’ but this was the only bar where smoking was allowed which kind of precluded our patronage. We did on one occasion, however, give the patrons a dance exhibition in between some good banter with our musician friend ‘Scorpion”.

That basically ends our Yacht Club experience onboard Preziosa and it is time to move on to the…

As mentioned in the introduction this was a 14 night cruise with NO sea days…

We were scheduled to call at 12 ports, two of them, Fort de France , Martinique and Pointe a Pitre , Guadeloupe) twice.

Three of the ports would be ‘maiden’ calls for us ( Pointe a Pitre, Kingstown and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) . Others we had mostly been to on many occasions, some done to death.

Our first port of call , on Wednesday 19 February, was Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago…

…one of the ports that was new to us. But we had a plan…

We wanted to see the area around Woodford Square which included The Red House…

Originally dating back to 1844,   The Red House is the seat of Parliament in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Also bordering  Woodford Square is Trinity Cathedral…

…with its fascinating stain glass windows…

…and sacred stone labyrinth…

Our main focus though was to see the Magnificent Seven…

The Magnificent Seven are group of seven mansions located west of the Queen’s Park Savannah in the northern part of Port of Spain and is a group of architectural gems that in their heyday were a sight to behold. We saw all seven – here’s one or two examples to add to the Queen’s Royal College above and include Ambard’s House… 

…Whitehall…

…and Stollmeyer’s Castle…

Port of Spain was a good start to our itinerary and my wife’s Fitbit tells me we covered a total of 9.73 miles that day.

Our second port of call,  Thursday 20th February,  was Saint George, Grenada. ..

One of the Caribbean islands we had visited most, the first time being in August 1990 while on our first ever cruise onboard Cunard Countess. But in all those visits not once had I climbed up to…

…which dominates the town and has a bit of history…

There are some pretty good commanding views to be had as well…

…including out towards Grande Anse beach where we usually spend our visits…

Our third port of call, on Friday 21st February, was Kingstown ,  Saint Vincent and The Grenadines…

We had a plan that would entail a walk to Fort Charlotte which we spotted as we sailed into Kingstown…

Fort Charlotte is a British-colonial era fort standing some 601 feet above sea level, and checking my camera’s timings we did the climb…

…in an hour and 21 minutes…

We certainly enjoyed the spectacular views over Kingstown and back towards the ship…

The fort enjoys a panoramic view of the Leeward side of the island, including Kingstown, Young Island, the Caribbean, Bequia and the Grenadines.

Our fourth port of call, on Saturday 22nd of February, was Fort de France, Martinique…

It had been some 30 years since we last visited Fort de France and well before digital photography had gripped my interest. So this visit was looked at in the light of it being a first and the necessary research was duly undertaken and a map of our targets to see produced…

Not quite as accurate though as this was one of those ports where MSC embark new passengers and, as such, we berthed at a terminal that I had not anticipated, in the port area to the right of Fort Saint Louis…

It proved no great problem, the walk from the ship to the Bibliothèque was only 20 minutes and that included time to stop and photograph the ‘mess’ of iguanas along a road side waterway…

We easily made it to the Bibliothèque Schoelcher…

Built in 1887, this public library houses the works collection of the abolitionist Victor Schoelcher…

…and was pretty fascinating to visit…

The Bibliothèque also helped us with our bearings for our planned ascent of Chapelle du Calvaire…

…seen standing on the hill overlooking the town: central on the above photograph. It turned out to be not as simple as it may look as we needed to navigate a number of streets and blocks to find the path which leads up to Chapel…

Having arrived at the top…

…the views made the climb well worthwhile…

On our return to the town we took in a visit too The Pavillion Bougenot…

which is Martinique’s most famous old colonial building and the former home of sugar plantation  owner Emile Bougenot.

I should point out here that as Martinique is an insular region of France, where the  €uro is the currency it is also worthwhile noting that those visitors with European roaming mobile phones can utilise their monthly allowance without any further charge.

Our fifth port of call, on Sunday 23rd of February, was…

  Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe…

We’ve made it . In retrospect this was the island that was initially the sole reason for us booking the cruise. And why?

Well my wife is a great fan of the television series, ‘Death in Paradise’, and it is on Guadeloupe, in and around the village of Deshaies, that the series is filmed. There were initially a number of obstacles to be overcome for us to get to Deshaies . It is some 41 Km from Pointe a Pitre and while there is normally a local  bus service they don’t run on Sundays – the day we were visiting. Research directed us to a local tour guide, Mirva Lempiainen, whose web site is…

http://guadeloupeguide.com

…who, due to other commitments, couldn’t accommodate us on our dates. He did,  however,  recommended another tour guide, Krisztina Kovacs…

…who can be found via Facebook..

https://www.facebook.com/karibialmok/      or email…     [email protected]

Our visit to the garden complete we headed back into Deshaies for a full and  leisurely visit to those places that feature in the series…

And it was here that our luck really was in. The Saint Honore Police Station film set was actually open to visitors…

What an opportunity…

…we couldn’t believe our luck…

Naturally our next set to visit was to head down to Saint Honore’s beach and Catherine’s Bar…

…Cheers…

But we weren’t finished yet, there were a number of beaches to see on the way back to Point a Pitre, first the aptly named Grande Anse…

…where Krisztina successfully managed to negotiate me a part time job at one of the local ChiChi stalls…

…before moving on to  Plage de la Perle…

…which is the location for the ‘ Caribbean Detective’s beach hut home’, though,  as we knew before leaving the UK, it is dismantled after each series shoot.  Not to worry, we got the feel of the place…

Thanks also to Krisztina’s efforts and outstanding navigation we even managed to return in time to see parts of the Point a Pitre Annual Carnival…

Thanks once again Krisztina for giving us an outstanding service and  wonderful day:  and especially for your patience with the camera man.

FOOTNOTE: So good was our day out in Guadeloupe that I have written a FULL review of our first day in Guadeloupe and visit to the set of ‘Death in Paradise’. Here’s the link …

Death in Paradise

Our sixth  port of call, on Monday 24th February, was Road Town, Tortola…

One Caribbean island we have done to death on both cruise ships and on a two week shoreside villa holiday. But apart from adding to my collection of Preziosa photographs…

…there was a specific purpose to our getting ashore. Two years ago, while visiting onboard P&O’s Oceana, I found an electronics shop in the Tortola Pier Park and got a great deal on a Nikon camera…

On this visit I was delighted to find they had the full range of Apple 11 Pro iPhones and was delighted to do an excellent business deal  with Teddy…

After a few beers at the Coconut Lounge…

…all I wanted was to return onboard and play with my new boys-toy.

Just one other point of interest though. This was the second port in six days that we had found ourselves tied up alongside Fred Olsen’s Braemar…

…which was at the centre of one of the unfortunate coronavirus scares.

Our seventh port of call,  on Tuesday 25th  February, was Philipsburg, St Maarten…

St Maarten is another of those Caribbean islands vying with Tortola, Grenada and St Lucia that we have lost track of the number of visits. This for us was a good day then to clock up some walking and steps on my good lady’s fitbit while taking in a few local hostelries on the way…

…and…

I have to confess though that I had an urge to be photographed with  a pair of big beasts…

…and actually enjoyed watching and listening to the rousing choruses and whistles directed at us by passengers as Symphony of the Seas set off before us…

Our eighth port of call, on Wednesday 26th February, was Roseau, Dominica…

You guessed it, we’d been here before…

…on Queen Elizabeth in December 2010…

…so I can’t complain at MSC parking out at crap berths. But once again the walk did us good.

And on this occasion we did find Roseau’s ‘Old Prison’ which eluded us on the last visit…

…or at least, what is left of it…

Some things do change however. Back in 2010 we enjoyed a fun afternoon at a bar named CocoRico…

It’s still there but trading somewhat differently…

On this occasion the ‘Ruins Rock Cafe’ proved a much more exciting prospect…

…if not exactly packed…

Our ninth port of call, on Thursday 27th February, was Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis…

On previous visits we have done both beaches and historical sites such as Brimstone Hill Fortress…

On this visit though , apart from our daily exercising of my wife’s fitbit, photography was again the order of the day. One task was to try and capture the ‘Town Clock’ uninterrupted by vehicles negotiating the roundabout. Success at last…

We also had some fun along the waterfront watching the pelicans feeding off scraps thrown by a local fish vendor…

…and investigating an older style cruise ship that was berthed on Basseterre’s new jetty…

The ‘Freewinds’…

…is in matter of fact a floating recreational and training facility for the Church of Scientology…

She has an interesting history. Launched in 1968 as the MS Bohème  she had a disastrous start to her cruising life. Her maiden voyage from Stockholm to Miami was cut short when she hit an underwater obstacle in the Stockholm Archipeligo.  Her hull and fuel tanks were breached and lifeboats were used to evacuate all passengers from the listing ship and three days later she was refloated and towed to the Finnboda shipyard for repairs.

Our tenth port of call, on Friday 28th  February, was St John’s, Antigua…

We were on a mission. As with Grenada and Tortola, on our more recent visits to Antigua we had preferred days on the beach. We had however, in 1990, visited onboard the Cunard Countess and had taken a tour of Shirley Heights and English Harbour. That was before the advent of digital photography and that needed to be rectified.

Once ashore we negotiated with a local taxi guide for a days private tour.

Our driver, Paulson , turned out to be not just knowledgeable on the islands best view points, but also a walking, talking cricket encyclopaedia…

Whatever, we achieved everything on our list plus a number of other places of interest that Paulson had up his sleeve. Our main places were the view over English Harbour from Shirley Heights…

The Blockhouse…

…and the view over Eric Clapton’s home from The Blockhouse…

…and a bit of zoom…

Next up was Nelson’s Dockyard…

…taking the best it has to offer…

…while additionally having a little fun ourselves…

Our tour continued along the coastal road stopping at a number of beaches including Curtain Bluff…

…and Valley Church…

…before we returned to St John’s in time for a few beers at the waterfront ‘Harbour View Bar’…

Cheers Paulson, a great day out.

Paulson can be contacted and pre-booked via email:     [email protected]

Our eleventh  port day, on Saturday 29th February, was a return visit to Fort de France on the island of Martinique…

I arose early, and as it turned out, just in time to see the seaward side of Fort Saint Louis…

We retraced our steps from the previous week’s visit as far as the La Savane…

…a 12½ acre park fronting the Fort-de-France Bay. Formerly known as ‘Jardin du Roi’ its original purpose was to harbour scientific experiments on plants that were new to the colony at that time.

The statue above is of Pierre Belain d’Esnambuc the French trader and adventurer who, in 1635,  founded the first colony in Martinique. However, his statue is not the one that attracts the greatest interest. That honour goes to the one in the park corner adjacent the Bibliothèque , of the ‘headless’ Josephine de Beauharnais, first wife of Napoleon and Empress of France…

A short walk from La Savane can be found the island’s former colonial Palace of Justice, the renamed Espace Camille Darsières…

…fronted by a commemorative statue of Victor Schœlcher, with a child on the way to education.

And maybe a hundred yards down the road, Fort de France’s Saint Louis Cathedral…

Having inspected the cathedral internally I could not resist a photo shot at the reflection opposite…

We completed our DIY tour walking along the waterfront and circumnavigating Fort Saint Louis from the landward side…

Our twelfth  port day, on Sunday 1st March, was a return to Pointe A Pitre, Guadeloupe…

…and we planned a beach day.

The terminal operates a ‘taxi office’ point that, certainly on a Sunday, is run as one of the finest cartels your likely to meet away from Salalah . But never mind, we are on holiday and we joined ten others in a mini-bus for the 30 minute ride to the town of Sainte-Anne…

….and the Plage de Bourg…

While we had a good time we would, with hindsight, have chosen to pay a little more and returned to one of the beaches we had visited the week previously. On our return to Pointe A Pitre we spent a pleasant hour walking around some of the sights we missed on the previous week’s visit, including the Saint-John-Perse Museum…

Housed in a spectacular silver-latticework structure on the site of the former Darboussier sugar factory on Pointe -à- Pitre’s long-neglected waterfront is The Memorial  ACTe

It is a contemporary museum offering historical exhibits on the Caribbean’s slave trade & indigenous people and, on that subject, while walking towards it we also discovered this poignant wall mural to 1967 May Massacre…

…when, on 26 May 1967 , French police opened fire on striking workers in Pointe -à- Pitre.

Our thirteenth  port day, on Monday 2nd  March, was a call to Castries, St Lucia…

We were berthed at Pointe Seraphine on the opposite side of the harbour to the main town…

Castries is another of those ports that we have visited many times and done many excursions so, once more, it was time to clock up the steps on the fitbit…

…so off we set and eventually completely circumnavigated the harbour which afforded an opportunity to capture some great images of the ship…

…before stopping at a bar for some light refreshment…

…to aid our walk back to the ship.

Day 15 sees us returning to where we started this cruise, Barbados…

…but this was to be unlike any other disembarkation we have undergone. Indeed, it was so relaxed to be almost surreal. We had received very clear and detailed information on procedures and timings the main thrust of which was that we could remain in our suite till 10.30 am and then proceed to the ‘Top Sail Lounge’, where there was a full range of services,  until called for our transfer to Bridgetown airport.

This relaxed procedure wasn’t just applied to Yacht Club guests either. I spotted this board detailing Colour Tags disembarkation times…

…while walking on the deck mid morning. Also worth noting that our luggage, which had been placed outside our suite the previous evening, would not be seen until we arrived at the airport.

All in all a very impressive disembarkation and MSC are to be congratulated.

Where do I begin.  Well to say we were bowled over by the level of service we received would be an understatement. The whole cruise was excellent and our enjoyment simply proved way beyond our expectations.

Okay, this was in MSC’s Yacht Club and you pay for it but it just felt that in so many ways they went beyond expectations across the board.

For instance I had no idea that we would be offered our own personal choice of UK national newspaper…

…delivered usually before 7.30 am. Being an habitual early riser there was something almost decadent sneaking out of the suite and enjoying excellent coffee and a croissant in the Top Sail Lounge while reading a UK Newspaper before I would have we been home…

The ability to order complimentary drinks anywhere on the ship opened up the social horizons and to have your suite ‘nibbles’ replenished daily was just awesome.

Equally impressive was the ‘Butler’ reception at each port. Whether it was a Gazebo at the gangway…

or a private facility in a terminal…

…there was always the cold towel, a selection of iced drinks and chocolates on return to the ship.

Of all the services however, the one that most impressed was the ‘Escort Ashore’. We only availed ourselves of this on one occasion and that was in Guadeloupe when we had booked a private tour: the service operates equally for ship’s excursions.  Simply head to the Concierge Desk 15 minutes before the tour or excursion and be escorted ashore by a butler, avoiding any gangway queues or delays.

Food I’ve covered and, suffice to just repeat,  the La Palmeraie Restaurant staff and food were outstanding and certainly on a par with Cunard’s Grills.

And so to the the usual final question. Would we cruise with MSC again?

Simple to answer, yes we would and from what we saw outside of the Yacht Club we’d even consider that option should an itinerary on a ship with no Yacht Club  appeal to us: indeed we have already booked for 2021 where a 10 day itinerary with 4 maiden ports to us was on offer.

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Disclosure to potential conflict of interest:

It is common throughout the travel industry for travel journalists and many cruise bloggers to be provided with complimentary cruises for the purpose of their reviews.

Solent Richard has no ‘conflict of interest’ as he is not an accredited journalist, he pays for his cruises, and is happy to confirm that all his reviews are his own given without fear or favour.

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19 responses to “ msc preziosa – yacht club experience ”.

Wow! Another fabulous review from The Solent’s! Thank you!

Thanks Richard a great review.

Thanks for your blog Richard! We too love the Death in Paradise series and really enjoyed your photos of the Honore Police Station and Catherine’s Bar! Thanks for fulfilling your wife’s dream visit!

Sent from XFINITY Connect Mobile App

Anyone thinking of taking a cruise probably voted for donnie t-rump. Hey, there are millions of idiots out there, maybe you’ll fill the ships!

Hello Bill in Lockport, New York. I’d be delighted to help the cause The Donald as we in the UK are great fans of his particularly as he’s made those Europeans sit up and start paying for their own defence. Have a nice day.

Hi Richard, Thank you so much for your blog, I found it really interesting especially as I have been nervous of trying MSC having previously been Celebrity and Silversea cruisers. However your blog had definitely reassured me and I would now give it a go in the Yacht Club for sure. Hopefully this terrible Coronavirus will spare us all to cruise again.

Stay safe and happy

Regards Jan Fisher-Payne

On Wed, 25 Mar 2020 at 11:52, Solent Richard’s Cruise Blog wrote:

> solentrichard posted: “My wife and I have recently returned from a cruise > that gave us our first experience sailing with MSC…. …onboard the MSC > Preziosa… ***** …and a chance to evaluate their Yacht Club facility. > This cruise was initially chose” >

Fabulous review and photography as usual. Thanks.

Dear Richard – I always read your blogs with much pleasure and interest. I admire their detail enormously and envy your energy and enthusiasm – both of you so lovely.

There is something important to point out about The Yacht Club – in my case on MSC Seaview on 13th May – immediately after my 80th Birthday Party in the theatre at the V&A where my theatre company performed.

I booked direct – cabin 18013 and all went much as you describe.

I’ve cruised alone on almost every cruise line for over fifty years without anything but joy. I’m confident in joining tables whether of couples or singles and have always found people to spend time with.

So, having left everything in my cabin – kitted out in dark brown including the ceiling – I found my way to the club restaurant. I expressed a wish to be on a table of eight if possible. Oh no, the maitre d’ said – you will be dining alone. Why, I asked her. We don’t join tables at the Yacht Club. I’d like to leave this ship right now, I said. We were still in port. No, she said. You will meet people round the pool. This seemed invidious to me but, unfortunately, I demurred. I did meet one family to join for the first night – they took pity on me – then they disembarked and I ate every single meal alone after that. It rained most days, the pool area was deserted, and no effort was made on my behalf.

I booked directly with MSC, had long chats with countless personnel, and never, in any discussion or printed literature, was the fact that Yacht Club is not run like a usual cruise, mentioned.

It was miserable from start to finish. Concierge were sympathetic but could do nothing.

I met some other couples who thought that they were going to celebrate various anniversaries with new-found friends and they were disappointed also.

I’m just hoping that other single travellers don’t get tempted to try MSC Yacht Club after reading your excellent review.

Any other cruise line will take care of their lone travellers but, particularly, the new Saga Cruise Ships for those over 50 with 109 beautiful single cabins and a great atmosphere on board.

In terms of travelling on MSC without the Club – you’re braver than me. I now find the crowds a bit oppressive but, in years gone by, I cruised MSC and Costa although preferring Sea Dream!

Well – we’re not allowed to cruise now so I suppose it will be a while until a new blog appears but, perhaps, you could send us some recent ones as we now have more time to read.

All v. best wishes – Angela M.

________________________________

Thank you so much Ms Marber. I am in your demographic exactly, and your advice is greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much for the great review.

We are trying MSC for the first time, We wil be on the Preziosa In December for the 8 night Rio de Janeiro cruise.

Brian and Cindy Dietz Annapolis, MD USA

The detail of this blog will be of great benefit to others, not only to those going on an MSC cruise but also to those visiting the places you visited should they be with a different cruise line. It is astonishing to see how much time you have taken and how much detail you have gone into which at the end of the day is to help others, I am sure many will be very thankful to you. It also gives great pleasure to see how much you enjoyed your cruise. I have cruised with MSC one time and recently had a cruise booked which was then cancelled. My experience onboard was similar to yours, I cannot fault it and have memories which will last a lifetime. The crew were wonderful, always made me feel like an individual, it was an excellent all round experience. I had a lot of problems when I reserved the first cruise with MSC, their website would not function with iPhone, contacting them was impossible and they would not reply to emails, it was a terrible experience and I said I would never book with them again but once onboard, as previous, I could not fault them, so I booked again, that was a mistake. I again had horrendous problems which cannot be blamed on the virus as the problems started before any restrictions or cases onboard cruise ships. They would not respond to emails. When I phoned them they would be very polite and helpful until they realised that the problems were there fault, rather than trying to resolve the problems they just put the phone down on me. It is very sad that the shoreside of the business is so bad and yet the seagoing side is so good. I would go further than not recommending MSC, I would say avoid at all costs due to their diabolical customer service shoreside. If only they would address the shoreside of the operation things would be so different. I have sailed with other cruise lines and never had any reason to complain about anything.

Thank you for your comment Tony. Very sorry to hear you have had a bad experience with MSC Administration. I believe my mate Steven is in touch with you regarding assistance.

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Wow! I’m so jealous! We did same cruise in December 2019 and my biggest dream was to visit Death in paradise set. We booked MSC excursion to botanic gardens and deshesries. Disaster! Port strike caused 2 hour delay getting off ship and further hour delay leaving port. Gardens beautiful but coach journey to beaches a metal sign fell from luggage rack hitting me on head and causing concussion! MSC excursion staff did not deal with this well! We just drove past police station set and had to return to ship. I very much enjoyed seeing your photos!

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MSC PREZIOSA

Itineraries.

Northen Europe

Get ready to dive into one of our pools, let your hair down at the themed parties, treat yourself to something delicious in one of our amazing restaurants, and much more!  

MAin Features

Family & kids.

From the splash-filled fun and games of the Doremi Castle kids ’ aqua park and the high-speed thrill of Vertigo, one of the longest water slides on the seas, to the teens only disco and video arcade, there’s a world of enjoyment for children of all ages.

MSC Yacht Club

The most discerning guests may opt for the secluded luxury of the MSC Yacht Club , a “ship within a ship” consisting of exclusive suites, butler service, and dedicated facilities like a panoramic bar, à la carte restaurant and private pool and sun deck.

MSC Aurea Spa

The award-winning MSC Aurea Spa is a haven of peace and pampering on board, offering beauty and wellness treatments to melt the tension away. The solarium provides an open-air alternative, for complete relaxation while you soak up the sun.

CABINS & SUITES

• Surface approx 14-19, balcony approx 3-12 sqm
• Sitting area with sofa
• Bathroom with shower or bathtub, vanity area with hairdryer
• Comfortable double or single beds (on request)
• Interactive TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar

Choose the cabin type that best suits you:

• Balcony Aurea (best ship positions, surface approx 18 sqm, deck 11 )
• Premium Balcony (surface approx 18 sqm, deck 8-13* )
• Junior Balcony (surface approx 14 sqm, deck 9-13 )
• Deluxe Balcony with partial view (surface approx 18-19 sqm, deck 8-13 )

*Some cabins have metal balustrade or half glass half metal balustrade

The image is representative only

Size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category)

• Surface approx 12-20 sqm
• Window with sea view
• Relaxing armchair
• Bathroom with shower, vanity area with hairdryer
• Premium Ocean View (surface approx 20 sqm, deck 5 )
• Deluxe Ocean View (surface approx 17 sqm, deck 8-13 )
• Junior Ocean View (surface approx 12 sqm, deck 8 )

Size, layout and furniture may vary (within the same cabin category )

• Surface approx 13-16 sqm, deck 5-13
• Bathroom with shower, vanity area and hairdryer
• TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar
• Deluxe Interior (surface approx 16 sqm, deck 5-13 )
• Junior Interior (surface approx 13, deck 8-13 )

ENTERTAINMENT

Restaurants & buffet, butcher's cut.

This American-style steak house serves select Linz heritage angus beef, gold standard in high-end angus beef thanks to the best genetics in breed. The highest quality product custom cut by master butchers and aged to perfection. The menu is inspired by the great plains and it is accompanied by bold New World wines and cocktails with swagger. 

Le Palmeraie

L'arabesque panoramic restaurant, the golden lobster, galaxy kaito.

Ranked by the Berlitz guide as “the best sushi at sea”, this charming venue offers deliciously authentic Asian cuisine prepared on the spot with only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. The menu includes Japanese dishes composed of nigari, sashimi, maki, futomaki, tempura, teriyaki and much more.

Bars & Lounges

Safari lounge, preziosa bar, diamond bar and library, il cappuccino, the green sax jazz bar, el dorado piano bar, galaxy lounge, top sail lounge, turquoise bar, aurea spa bar, phoenician plaza, millennium star casino, la playa preciosa, the one bar, {{deckplaninfoheader}}.

{{deckPlanInfoText}}

• 6. Diamante
• 10. Tormalina
• 13. Ametista
• 14. Smeraldo
• 15. Cristallo
• 16. Acquamarina
• 18. Topazio
• Junior Interior
• Deluxe Interior
• Junior Ocean View
• Deluxe Ocean View
• Premium Ocean View
• Deluxe Balcony with Partial View
• Junior Balcony
• Premium Balcony
• Deluxe Balcony Aurea
• Deluxe Suite Aurea with sealed window°
• Premium Suite Aurea with sealed window°
• Premium Suite Aurea with terrace and whirlpool
• Grand Suite Aurea with terrace and whirlpool
• MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite
• MSC Yacht Club Grand Suite
• MSC Yacht Club Executive & Family Suite
• MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite

B:  Cabin with bathtub ° Sealed panoramic window. • All cabins have one double bed convertible to two single beds. • 3rd bed available in all categories except for Junior Interior, Junior Ocean View, Junior Balcony, Deluxe Suite Aurea with sealed window . • 4th bed available in all categories except for Junior Interior, Junior Ocean View, Junior Balcony, Deluxe Suite Aurea with sealed window and MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite.

• Our ships offer the possibility of combining 2 or 3 connecting cabins based on the ship class. Call our Contact Center to choose the best accommodation for you. Ship configuration, data and descriptions may be subject to change depending on the season and on the destination and must be verified at the time of booking.

• Gross tonnage: 139,072 tons
• Number of passengers: 4345
• Crew members: About 1.388
• Number of staterooms: 1.751, incl. 45 for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility
• Length/Beam/Height: 333,30 m / 37,92 m post panamax / 67,69 m
• Maximum speed: 24.21 knots

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MSC Cruises

Mon-Fri 9am - 7pm EST Sat-Sun 9am - 6pm EST

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.

CARIBBEAN CRUISES

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES

NORTHERN EUROPE CRUISES

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For a better experience and to continue your booking with MSC, please update your browser by downloading the latest version below.

Thank you for visiting our site and we look forward to seeing you on board soon!

MSC Cruises

• CruiseMapper

MSC Preziosa cabins and suites

Msc preziosa staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

MSC Preziosa cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by MSC Cruises en-suite amenities and services.

The MSC Preziosa cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite with Angle Balcony

Layout (floor plan).

MSC Yacht Club Executive Suite|Family Suite with Windows

MSC Yacht Club Deluxe Suite

Grand Suite Aurea with Angle Balcony

Premium Suite Aurea with Window

SuperFamily Balcony Cabin

Category FLA "Super Family Fantastica Balcony" staterooms are two connecting cabins, which means 2 bathrooms and 2 verandas.

Balcony Cabin

Oceanview Cabin

Interior Cabin

Handicap|Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins

Follows the complete list of MSC Preziosa cabins for disabled passengers. They are listed as type and categories, with cabin numbers in brackets:

• I1-Bella Inside rooms: 8003, 8004, 8068, 8176, 8242, 9068, 9244, 10172
• I2-Fantastica Inside rooms: 10054, 10238, 11246, 12058, 12242
• O1-Bella Oceanview rooms: 5073, 5075
• B1-Bella Balcony rooms: 8266, 8271, 9211, 9213, 9214, 9216
• B2-Fantastica Balcony rooms: 9135, 9136, 9137, 9138, 10128, 10130, 10143, 10145, 10206, 10208, 10221, 10223, 11132, 11134, 11167, 11169, 11212, 11214, 12126, 12128, 12151, 12153
• YC1-Yacht Club Suites: 16005, 16006

Each of the handicapped staterooms features: larger size (compared to the non-accessible counterpart), wider doors (width 35 inches / 0,9 m, sitting-level keycard slot), wider turning spaces (5 ft / 1,5 m), ramped thresholds, beds with open bed frames, lowered vanity in the sitting area, amplified phones, captioned TVs, wider bathrooms (door width 35 inches / 0,9 m, roll-in shower, fold-down shower bench, grab rails, lower sinks and closet rods, raised toilets, hand-held shower head, seat height from the floor 0,4 m).

All ADA cabins also feature a convenient location near the elevators.

The ship’s gangways are all wide enough for most types of wheelchairs and disability scooters.

All decks provide elevator access.

All passenger lifts have visual, audio and Braille deck indicators.

During an emergency, dedicated crew personnel helps all disabled guests (also those with reduced mobility) to board the ship's lifeboats.

MSC Preziosa cabins review

MSC Preziosa cruise ship has a total of 1751 staterooms, including 134x Suites, 1133x Balcony, 116x Oceanview, 405x Inside. Most staterooms are Balcony (sized 190 ft2 / 18 m2), with cabin balconies sized 40 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest accommodations are the Yacht Club Royal Suites (400 ft2 / 37 m2, with wraparound terrace sized 170 ft2 / 16 m2).

The number of cabin categories is 16 (including SBG-Guaranteed Balcony).

Follows the review of MSC Preziosa staterooms as amenities, furniture and included (complimentary) services:

All passenger cabins as amenities offer twin beds (singles convertible to king, or double upon request), leather headboard, bedside tables and wall lamps, pillow menu, smart HDTV (infotainment system allowing Internet, bookings from the cabin, also itinerary/ports of call and tours/excursions information, movies on demand, live webcam views), direct-dial phone (onboard connections only), electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), hairdryer, mini-bar/fridge, closet/wardrobe, sitting/lounge area (mirrored vanity table, chairs), en-suite bathroom (WC, sink, shower), individual air-conditioning (thermostat controlled), Wi-Fi Internet access.

• MSC "BELLA cabins" are categories I1-Inside, O1-Oceanview, and B1-Balcony.
• MSC "FANTASTICA cabins" are categories I2-Inside, O2-Oceanview, and B2-Balcony. "Fantastica" accommodations as amenities also include 24-hour room service, 50% MSC cruise discount on fitness classes, special kids activities, free in-room dining (breakfast), priority dinner sitting.
• MSC "AUREA cabins" are category B3-Balcony, and additionally to the "Fantastica" amenities, also offer complimentary: Aurea Spa package, Thermal Area unlimited access, 60-min massage PP (max 2 per cabin), 20-min Solarium usage, welcome cocktail party, plus priority services (check-in, embarkation, tendering), bathrobes, slippers, luxury spa products, 24-hour unlimited drinks (specialty coffee, wine and beer, cocktails, soft beverages, gelato ice cream).
• MSC Yacht Club Suites enjoy all the "Aurea" amenities, plus: exclusive Suite lounge and restaurant access, exclusive sun deck and pool access (on Sun Deck 18, inclusive of bar service, free snacks, hot tubs), complimentary 24-hour butler/concierge service (dinner reservations, packing/unpacking, shopping).

Interconnecting "cluster cabins" are specifically designed for large families and family group travel. This new concept allows up to 3 cruise staterooms to be linked together and opened up. Preziosa ship's family cabins are in category SUPER-FAMILY (max occupancy 6 passengers, 2 connecting rooms, 2 baths/1 bathtub, 2 balconies).

The new SP3 category "Window Suite" cabins feature bow location (forward on decks 9-10-11), floor-ceiling slanted windows (non-opening), sitting area (with double bed and double sofabed), walk-in closet, bathroom with bathtub.

All Balcony cabins are with floor-ceiling glass doors opening to a step-out veranda with lounge furniture (2 deckchairs, 1 round table).

MSC Yacht Club Suites (categories YC3-Royal, YC2-Executive/Family, YC1-Deluxe) have a master bedroom, walk-in closet, marble bathroom (bathtub/shower), living room (double sofa, armchairs, TV, Nintendo gaming console. Some of the MSC Yacht Club suites are with floor-ceiling windows instead of balconies. Some YC1-Deluxe Suites are with obstructed view (due to lifeboats).

S3-Aurea Suites (Spa Suites) have bathrooms with bathtub/shower. Some of them are with windows instead of balconies, and some are with an obstructed view.

MSC Preziosa cabin and suite plans are property of MSC Cruises . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

• Cruise Ship / MSC / MSC Preziosa / transportation

MSC Preziosa Yacht Club Deluxe Cabin. My video tour, photos and review

by Gary Bembridge · March 26, 2013

Watch: click here

The Yacht Club is a ship-within-a-ship concept on-board the large “Fantasia” Class ships in the MSC Cruises fleet. On the Maiden Voyage of the MSC Preziosa I travelled as a guest of MSC in one of the staterooms in the Yacht Club. It was a Deluxe Yacht Club room (15003). In my video review and tour you will  hear me talking a bit more about what the Yacht Club is, and then take you on a your of the cabin

Positives : Plush room, comfortable, good choice of TV channels and interactive TV, great butler service, free mini-bar, free daily paper, small but handy balcony to chill out on, decent storage space – and access to all the other Yacht Club benefits like quiet spaces, dedicated lounge, restaurant and deck with pool.

Negatives : I would recommend you do not stay in 15001, 15003 or 15005 as underneath these the Spin Classes are held in the gym. At 8am and 5pm each day the music from the class is heard loudly in the room. I have mentioned this to the MSC people as think it is easily solved by moving the spin class further back in the gym. So it is possible this issue will be addressed – but to make sure avoid these rooms.

In another posting I will take a tour of the Yacht Club in more detail to share more about the premium experience on the MSC Preziosa.

MSC Preziosa Yacht Club Deluxe Stateroom 15003

You can follow all my MSC Preziosa articles and videos on the Tips for Travellers Official MSC Bloggers Page and, subscribe to updates by email: click here

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Gary Bembridge

I grew up in Zimbabwe, but I have been based in London since 1987. My travel life spans more than three decades and that includes more than 95 cruises. In 2005, I launched Tips for Travellers to make it easy and fun for people to discover, plan and enjoy incredible cruise vacations. And the rest, as they say, is history. I have the largest cruise vlogger channel currently on YouTube, with more than 3 million video views per month.

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• MSC Cruises

PREZIOSA Yacht Club - Which Deck is Best?

By mnocket , February 11, 2019 in MSC Cruises

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I am looking at booking a Norwegian Fjords cruise on the Preziosa in 2020.  I notice that already all but one YC cabin on deck 16 is already booked, while there is still a good choice on deck 15.  This leads me to believe that deck 16 is preferred for some reason. Is this a fluke or is deck 16 really the better choice?

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CruisingFox27

Fluke. It really is personal preference. On deck 15 you are closer to the TSL, Concierge and the main entrance point. You need to go up 2 floors to the Pool and One deck. The cabins are below other cabins.

On deck 16  you need to go up or down one deck to all of the facilities and the cabins are below a public deck i.e. One Pool Bar etc.

We sailed on 16 last year and had a fabulous cruise. I am certain had we had a cabin on 15 we would had the same experience.

The best YC1 Preziosa cabins are 15028, 15029, 15030, 15031, 16032, 16033, 16034, 16035. Remember MSC state they retain the right to change your cabins (see T&C), so get it in writing that they will not move you other than for extraordinary reasons if you are able to choose one of these larger cabins.   Doesn't really matter which deck but would tend to avoid Deck 16 due to leisure deck above.

Thanks for the replies.

Jody75.....  as might be expected your suggested cabins are already booked 😒   Good tip though.

Norwegian Cruiser 73

We have just returned from a wonderfuk cruise in YC onboard the MSC Preziosa and we stayed on deck 16. Very quiet but you could from time to time in the late evening hear that crew were moving deckchairs around on the pooldeck above as also indicated by jody75. 

I was one on deck 16 and the next time I have a cabin on deck 15. I thin deck 15 is better, you are nearer at the Top Sail Lounge and den Concierge.

On Fantasia I was only on deck 15 in den YC.

We had cabin 15030 and wouldn't think  twice about getting the same cabin in the future.  As others stated you are close to the lounge as well as the concierge.

2 hours ago, nealjr said: We had cabin 15030 and wouldn't think  twice about getting the same cabin in the future.  As others stated you are close to the lounge as well as the concierge.

Did you experience any noise from people in the corridor, entering YC or going to and from the TSL?

No, that was never an issue.

14 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said: Did you experience any noise from people in the corridor, entering YC or going to and from the TSL  ?

No that was never an issue.

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Welcome to the land of sheer silent whiteness. Its vast expanses are filled with fresh Arctic air, howling winds, and the spirit of true adventure. Come with us to the lands of the ancient Khanty and Mansi tribes that survived in this harsh climate of the Nether-Polar Urals . See the mountains that defy any logical or geological reason for their existence. Experience the wonders of this sparsely populated land where you can hardly see a human trace. Welcome to Yugra!

Flora & Fauna

Water resources, landmarks and tourism, major mountains, mount narodnaya, mount zaschita, mount neroyka, the pyramid mountain, samarovskaya mountain, ski and sports facilities, protected sites, reserves, national and natural parks, rivers and lakes, major cities, khanty-mansiysk.

The Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area – Yugra (KhMAO) is located in the central part of the West Siberian Plain, stretching from west to east from the Ural Range to the Ob-Yenisei Watershed. The vast areas of this plain, as well as the Lower Priob region, are considered one of the most recently inhabited areas.

The Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area (KhMAO) was established in 1930. Its name comes from two main northern indigenous peoples – the Khanty and the Mansi. From 1944 it was legally part of the Tyumen Region , but in 1993 the Area received autonomy and became a full-fledged territorial entity of the Russian Federation. It is a part of the Urals Federal District. The administrative centre is the city of Khanty-Mansiysk , whereas the largest city is Surgut. The word Yugra was introduced to the name of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area in 2003 to pay tribute to the old name used by the locals to call the territories lying beyond the North Urals.

The KhMAO borders the Komi Republic in the north-west, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in the north, the Krasnoyarsk Area and the Tomsk Region in the east and south-east, the Tyumen Region in the south and the Sverdlovsk Region in the south-west.

The area of the territory is 534,801 sq.km, the length from north to south is 800 km, from west to east is 1400 km. The population of this huge territory is 1,674,676 people as of 2020, which is the same amount as people living in Barcelona or Munich.

The main part of the territory is a huge, poorly dissected plain where absolute elevation marks rarely exceed 200 meters above sea level. The western part of the KhMAO territory is characterized by low and middle mountainous terrains with some Alpine relief featured in the Subpolar Urals. Here are ridges and spurs of the mountain system of the North Urals and the Subpolar Urals. The maximum absolute elevations are on the border with the Komi Republic . Mount Narodnaya (1,895m) is the highest peak.

More than 800 species of higher plants grow in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area . Almost the entire territory is covered by taiga forests that occupy about 52% of the area. Spruce, fir, pine, cedar, larch, birch, alder grow here. In the northern parts of the area, the composition of the vegetation is greatly influenced by perennial permafrost. Light lichen grasslands which are used as deer pastures are widespread there. Tundra dominates in the mountainous and hilly areas. River floodplains and lowlands are characterized by meadow vegetation, the so-called water meadows. High floodplains of large rivers are mainly covered with woods that mainly feature willows, birches and aspens. Forests and swamps are rich in berries and various valuable plants, most of which are used in traditional indigenous medicine.

The animal world is typical for the Russian taiga zone. There are 369 species of vertebrates. Mammals are represented by 60 species (28 of them are commercial species). The most common and valuable of them are wild reindeer, elk, fox, sable, fox, squirrel, marten, ermine, Siberian weasel, polecat, mink, weasel, otter, hare and others. Wolverine and West Siberian river beaver are included in the Red Book of Russia.

There are 256 bird species in the region, including 206 sedentary and nesting species. Some rare bird species are listed in the Red Book. There are 42 species of fish in rivers and lakes. Of these, 19 species are commercial, among them are starlet sturgeon, lelema, muksun (whitefish), pelyad, chir, lake herring, wader, tugun, freshwater cod, pike, ide, roach, bream, fir, perch, ruff, golden and silver crucian carp, carp (carp is grown in the cooling ponds of the Surgutskaya and Nizhnevartovskaya hydroelectric plants). Sturgeon is listed in the Red Book. There is an abundance of mosquitoes and gnats in the area, the greatest activity of which is in the second half of summer.

Yugra can boast of over 2 thousand large and small rivers, the total length of which is 172,000 km. The main rivers are the Ob (3,650 km), the Irtysh (3,580 km). These are some of the largest rivers in Russia. Other significant rivers include the tributaries of the Ob (the Vakh, Agan, Tromyogan, Bolshoy Yugan, Lyamin, Pim, Bolshoy Salym, Nazym, Severnaya Sosva, Kazym rivers), the tributary of the Irtysh (the Konda River) and the Sogom River. Ten rivers are over 500 km long. All the Yugra rivers with the exception of the rivers in the Ural part of the region are characterized by rather slow currents, gentle slopes, some surge wave phenomena, spring and summer floods. The Ob River basin extends over a distance of 700-200 km from the mouths of its tributaries. Such abundance of water facilitates the appearance of floodplain swamps and seasonal lakes.

The region's swamps are predominantly of the upper and transitional type. Those water basins occupy about a third of the region. About 290,000 lakes with the area of more than 1 ha are surrounded by swamps and forests. The largest lakes are Tursuntsky Tuman, Levushinsky Tuman, Vandemtor and Trmemtor. The deepest lakes are Kintus (48 m) and Syrky Sor (42 m). However, most of the lakes (about 90%) are modest and quite small and have no surface runoff.

The area is rich in resources of fresh, mineral and thermal underground waters, which are still insignificantly used.

The climate is moderately continental. Winters are harsh, snowy and long, and summers are short and relatively warm. The territory is protected from the west by the Ural Mountains but its openness from the north has a significant impact on the climate formation because cold air masses from the Arctic freely penetrate the area. The flat character of the terrain with a large number of rivers, lakes and swamps also has its impact. Most of the precipitation falls during the warm seasons. But even with a small amount of precipitation, their evaporation is very low, which as a result contributes to the formation of the zone of excessive moisture throughout the Yugra. The snow cover is stable from late October to early May, its height varies from 50 to 80 cm. The region is characterized by a rapid change of weather conditions, especially in transitional seasons (autumn and spring), as well as during the day. Late spring and early autumn frosts are rather frequent and can happen even until mid-June. Average January temperatures range from -18ºC to -24ºC (0 F to -11 F) and can reach -60ºC to -62ºC (-76 F to -80 F) when the northern cold air masses break through. The average temperature in July, the warmest month of the year, ranges from +15ºC to +20ºC (+59 F to +68 F) and on very rare days can reach a maximum temperature of +36ºC (+97 F). The prevailing wind direction is north in summer and south in winter.

The weather in the mountains is quite changeable and cool even in summer. The best time to visit the region's mountains is between July and mid-August.

The Yugra of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area has a huge natural resource potential. These are oil and gas deposits, forests, gold and iron ore deposits, as well as bauxites, copper, zinc, lead, niobium, tantalum, brown and hard coal deposits, rock crystal, quartz and piezo quartz, peat deposits, etc. The region has plenty of natural resources. In terms of natural gas reserves, the Yugra ranks second in the Russian Federation after the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District .

The industry is dominated by oil and gas production, power generation and processing industries, including woodworking except for pulp and paper production.

The Khanty-Mansi area has very developed tourism of all kinds. There is a modern infrastructure for cultural exploration as well as for active recreation.

Fans of sports and eco-friendly tourism will be able to conquer majestic mountains and raft down picturesque rivers, enjoy the beauty of nature in nature reserves and natural parks. The hills and mountains of this area open up endless opportunities for skiing and snowboarding.

The mountainous part of the Subpolar Urals located on the territory of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area is very beautiful. The highest peaks of the Ural Mountains are situated here.

Being the highest point of the whole Urals, Mount Narodnaya (1,895 m), also known as Naroda and Poenurr and translated as People's Mountain is territorially situated in the Subpolar Urals, on the border of the Yugra Area and the Komi Republic . It is the highest point in European Russia outside the Caucasus. This leads to its large topographic prominence of 1,772 metres (5,814 ft).

The top of the mountain is half a kilometre from the border towards Yugra. As for the name of the mountain, scientists could not come to a common opinion for a long time, so there are two versions. According to one version, in the Soviet years, an expedition of pioneers gave the mountain a name in honour of the Soviet people - Narodnaya (the stress is on the second syllable). According to the other version, even before the arrival of the first Soviet tourists, the peak was named after the River Naroda (the stress is on the first syllable) flowing at the foot of the mountain. The Nenets peoples called the River Naroda Naro, which means a thicket or a dense forest, and the Mansi peoples called it Poengurr or Poen-urr, which translates as the top, or head. The maps used to refer to it as Mount Naroda or Mount Naroda-Iz. Nowadays, it appears everywhere as Narodnaya.

In the 1980s, someone set a bust of Lenin on the top of the mountain. Its remains can be found there to this day. There is one more symbolic relic there – some Orthodox believers erected a worship cross on top of Mount Narodnaya after a Procession of the Cross.

The slopes of the mountain are steeper in the north-east and south-west and there are many steep rocks on them. The south-eastern and northern parts of the mountain are more gentle but they are also covered with scree. Be vigilant and careful when climbing! On the slopes of the mountain, there are many not only boulders but also caverns filled with clear water as well as ice. There are glaciers and snowfields. From the north-eastern part of the mountain, you can observe Lake Blue near which tourists and travellers like to make bivouacs.

Mesmerizing with its beauty and inaccessibility, it attracts many tourists and fans of active recreation. This majestic mountain is quite remote from the settlements, so getting to it is not an easy task. The mountain is located in the Yugyd Va National Park , so it is necessary to register in advance and get a visit permit from the park administration. How to get to the park administration and get a permit, read the article on the Yugyd Va National Park .

Mountain Zaschita (1,808 m) is the second-highest peak in the Ural Mountains, after Mount Narodnaya . Mysteriously, the name of the mountain, which roughly translates as Defense or Protection Mount, does not correlate in any way with the Mansi names of the nearby mountains and rivers. The origin of the name is unknown. There are some speculations but we will consider just one of them. On the map of the Northern Urals which was made by the Hungarian researcher Reguli the closest peak to Mount Narodnaya was called gnetying olu. Its location coincides with that of the present-day Mount Zaschita . The name gnetying olu in the Mansi can be deciphered as a mountain on which there is some help from ice. The mountain is believed to protect deer grazing on glaciers from mosquitoes. So, early topographers called the mountain more briefly – Mount Defense. Indeed, the slopes of this mountain are covered with a lot of snow and glaciers (the Yugra, Naroda, Kosyu, Hobyu glaciers and others). And it is here that the Mansi shepherds bring their deer which can rest on glaciers and snow. Summarizing all the above, we can say that Zaschita Mount is to some extent protection for deer from mosquitoes. The very name Zaschita appeared on maps with the beginning of hiking tours in the Subpolar Urals.

Mount Neroyka (1,645 m) is 100 km from Neroyka village, the closest tourist base to this peak. In the 1950s, people who were engaged in quartz mining near the mountain worked and lived in this base. Later, a gravel road was built from the village of Saranpaul to the mountain for large-scale development of the quartz deposit. In recent years, the road has not been much used and is practically not cleaned from snow in winter. There has been a plant built 20 km down from the mountain for primary processing of quartz with the use of nanotechnologies. There is an annual big camping event near the mountain. It is organized by the Tourism Department of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area. You can have a 1-hour helicopter ride to the mountain from the village of Saranpaul. Should you wish to fly from the city of Khanty-Mansiysk , be prepared to fly over the taiga for 2.5-3 hours.

Quite inquisitive tourists happened to discover, by a lucky chance, a Pyramid similar to that of Cheops but four times bigger. It is located on the territory of the Narodo-Ityinsky Ridge. The closest to the pyramid is the village of Saranpaul. The sizes of the found pyramid are as follows: the height is 774 m, in comparison to the Egyptian pyramid which is 147 m; the length of a lateral edge is 230 m whereas the Egyptian pyramid is 1 km. The pyramid is located precisely according to the cardinal directions, there is not a single degree deviation at that. The origin of the pyramid is unknown, scientists are still making assumptions. No traces of human activity were found near the pyramid. The only way to get here at this time is by helicopter.

Samarovskaya Mountain is another wonder that is baffling many people. It is dividing the city of Khanty-Mansiysk into northern and southern parts. Few now living residents know that in the old days the highest part of the modern city used to bear a plural name of the Samarovsky Mountains among which there were Mount Palenina, Komissarskaya, Miroslavskaya, Filinova, and Romanova. Originally, there was a village called Samarovo amidst these mountains. Until now, many issues bewilder both residents and scientists. How could a mountain form in the middle of the West Siberian Plain? What is inside it? Won't the weight of the buildings erected on the top of the mountain affect its height? The uniqueness of Samarovskaya Mountain is that it consists of numerous large stones, boulders, rocks that are absolutely foreign to this area. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on the mountain’s origin.

The Yugra is very famous for its ski resorts, the main of which are:

• The Cedar Ravine ski resort (Surgut city, Naberezhny Ave. 39/1)
• Three Mountains (Trekhgorie) ski resort (30 km from Nizhnevartovsk, Ermakovsky settlement)
• Stone Cape (Kamenniy Mys) ski resort (near the city of Surgut)
• Pine Urman ski resort ( Khanty-Mansiysk , Sportivnaya Str., 24)

The far-away lands of the Yugra are the blessed sanctuaries for many animals as the area is rather hostile to a human There are reserves, natural parks, wildlife sanctuaries here that aim to protect the national treasures of the lands. Having visited these regions once, you would crave for coming back again and again to feel that unique sense of unity with nature, to forget about the urban fuss and and hustles whatsoever. The harsh but beautiful nature of this extraordinary area leaves an indelible trace in the soul of every person.

On the territory of the district there are 25 specially protected natural areas, the most famous of them are:

• The reserves are two: the Malaya Sosva Reserve and the Yugan Reserve, the latter was established in 1982 as the largest reserve of taiga landscapes. The purpose of the reserves was to study unobtrusively and carefully preserve the endemic flora and fauna without disturbing natural processes. Hunting and economic activities are prohibited here, which is important for the preservation of natural ecosystems.
• The natural parks are the Samarovsky Chugas Nature Park, the Siberian Sloping Hills (Uvaly), the Numto (also called Lake Numto), and the Kondinskie Lakes.

These reserves and natural parks offer tourists their own excursion programs to make visiting their territory much more enjoyable and educational.

The Samarovsky Chugas Nature Park is located in the center of Khanty-Mansiysk , on a small hill between the Ob and Irtysh rivers.

The territory of the Siberian Sloping Hills (Uvaly) natural park is 350 km away from the city of Khanty-Mansiysk . You can get there by helicopter or by plane. The office of the park is located at 7a Pionerskaya Street, Nizhnevartovsk.

The Kondinskie Lakes Natural Park is located 380 km from Khanty-Mansiysk . Half of the park is covered with swamps, but there is also a recreational area. There you can rest, swim, do some amateur fishing, picking berries (cowberries, cranberries) and mushrooms is permitted. There is only one independent walking route here, it runs for 3 km in the deep forest. It is a cool place for kids since the park is equipped with sports grounds, a pool and a small zoo where the kids can interact with brown bear cubs. What else, try the TaiPark, it is a rope course running at the height of 2.5 meters, having 15 stages, the full length is 125 meters. There is an opportunity to order water walking tours in the town of Sovetsky, which can be reached by train from Khanty-Mansiysk .

The Numto Nature Park is located almost in the center of the West Siberian Plain, in the Beloyarsk district of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, 300 km from the city of Surgut and 200 km from the town of Beloyarsk. It is located on the border of Yugra and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area. The administration of the park is located at 2, Beloyarsky micro-district, 4a. The territory of the natural park is a treasure trove of archaeological and ethnocultural monuments. As of today, there have been discovered 20 architectural monuments, including fortified and not fortified settlements, places of worship abandoned by the peoples who lived here from the Stone Age to almost the present day. Researchers have also found 65 monuments of ethnic value, the main of which are worship objects, sacred places and cemeteries.

The Malaya Sosva Reserve includes several subordinated territories and sanctuaries, including Lake Ranghe-Tour. The reserve offers a 4-km walking guided route that gets the visitors introduced to the typical features and characteristics of flora and fauna of the region. The route is called Bear Trail and you can spot bears there (don’t come close though, we’ve already written how to behave if you meet a bear in the wild). Also, you will see the River Malaya Sosva, some marshes, ancient cultural monuments and other nice sights. Permission to visit the reserve can be obtained from the administration of the reserve at Lenina Str. 46, town Sovetskiy.

As to the Yugan Nature Reserve , it is inaccessible to common hikers who are afraid of flying since there are no roads to it. The only way to get there is taking a helicopter ride. You also must obtain a permit in the administration of the reserve, go accompanied by employees of the reserve, and only on special transport of the reserve (motorboat, snowmobile). The central manor of the Reserve and the administration are located in the village of Ugut. To get to this village, you should first go to the town of Surgut, then go to the town of Pyt-Yakh, and from it there is a road to the village of Ugut. It is about 100 km from Ugut to the southern border of the reserve i, and another 25 km to the nearest cordon. The administration works from Monday to Friday. You can request a permit via mail at [email protected] , order a guided tour at [email protected]

The Yugra lands are heaven for water sports aficionados. They can have some awesome fishing or go rafting along such rivers as: the river Naroda, the Deep Sabun, etc.

The Naroda River is 140 km long. It is the left tributary of the Manya River located in the Ob River basin. The river has its origin on the south-western slope of Mount Narodnaya . It is a mountain-taiga river with rapids, swifts, numerous rolls, which attracts interest among water tourists. However, it is usually not rafted very often.

The Deep Sabun River flows through the territory of the Siberian Sloping Hills Nature Park. The park has developed multi-day water routes. It is possible to raft along the river in summer and to go skiing along it in winter.

The Kondinskie Lakes are a system of lakes along the left bank of the Konda River. The largest lake is the Arantur, with pine forests on the northern side and sandy beaches well equipped for a nice relaxing me-time. The water heats up well in summer. The small river Okunevaya and the river Maly Akh flow into the lake. The Maly Akh comes in on the west side and connects lake Arantur with Lake Pon-Tour. This lake is the richest in fish, and there is also a parking lot for fishermen here. The streams connect Pon-Tour with small lakes Krugloe and Lopukhovoye. When you look at Lopukhovoe lake, you feel as if you have found yourself in a fabulous place: more than half of its surface is covered with white lilies, as well as yellow flowers of the water-beans. Then the river Big Akh, which flows into the river Konda, connects all the lakes into a single system. Along the river there are many archeological monuments such as forts and settlements which have paths to them. The southernmost lake of the park is Ranghe-Tour.

Yugra is not the easiest destination and not the most accessible, but the effort is well worth it. You should first get to the capital of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area – the city of Khanty-Mansiysk either by air or by train.

Khanty-Mansiysk is based on the premises of the former village Samarovo founded in 1582. It used to be the territory of the Khanty people and a pit stop for coachmen who rode their wagons across the country. The village was founded by Russian Count Samara, thus the name Samarovo. The modern city actually began to develop in 1930 because amidst the Siberian taiga there finally started to appear stone houses on the high bank of the Irtysh River. In 1940, the village was renamed into Khanty-Mansiysk by the name of the peoples living on this territory – the Khanty and the Mansi, and in 1950 it received the status of a town.

The city has several attractions. Mount Samarovskaya is probably the biggest natural and scientific wonder. It divides the city in two parts and causes many concerns for urban developers who always wonder whether this mountain can move making the buildings slide or even sink in.

Another beauty is the century-old cedar grove that is within the city limits. The grove is a part of the natural park Samarovsky Chugas. The word chugas in the language of the Khanty means a lonely hill in the low river floodplain.

The park is one of the main attractions of the city, it hosts an open-air ethnographic museum called the Torum Maa, a cultural and tourist complex called Archaeopark, a biathlon center. Kids and adults, nature lovers and fans of culture love this place dearly.

A memorial sign to Yugra's discoverers is installed on top of the Samarovsky Chugas. It is a tall stele pyramid divided into three portions. On the lower level, there is a restaurant, on the second level is a small museum, and on the third level there is an observation deck, 40 m above the ground, with a magnificent view of the Irtysh River and the river port. The pyramid is decorated by the bas-relief depicting the discoverers of the region, from the 16th-century Count Samara to the geologists of the 20th century.

Another trademark of Khanty-Mansiysk is the State Museum of Nature and Man. The museum hosts a gallery and a workshop of a famous artist G. Rayshev.

The city has a lot of small monuments generously spread around the city. There is the Khanty family resting on a camp, this monument is near the airport building. You can take a pic at the Golden Tambourine located at the intersection of Gagarin Street and Mira Street. Connoisseurs of culture should also visit the Sun – the Theatre of Ob-Ugrian Peoples, it is the world's first professional theatre of Khanty and Mansi peoples. And if you are travelling with kids, the Khanty-Mansiysk Puppet Theatre is a must-visit. In the period from May to October, you can take a boat ride to the confluence of two rivers – the Ob and the Irtysh. Yugra Service Co. operates such cruises, you can find more information locally at their address Tobolsk Trakt street 4, Khanty-Mansiysk .

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Nizhnevartovsk city, Russia

The city of Khanty-Mansi okrug .

Nizhnevartovsk - Overview

Nizhnevartovsk is a city in Russia, an administrative center of Nizhnevartovsky district of the Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug. It is the second largest city of the region.

The population of Nizhnevartovsk is about 280,800 (2022), the area - 271 sq.km.

The phone code - +7 3466, the postal codes - 628600-628615.

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21 March, 2020 / Nizhnevartovsk - the view from above .

History of Nizhnevartovsk

In 1909, Nizhnevartovskaya pier was built, and a small settlement was formed close to it. A few decades later, in March 1961, Megionskoye oil field was discovered in the area.

On February 24, 1962, the administrative center of the district was transferred from the settlement of Laryak to Nizhnevartovskoye. It was due to the fact that Laryak was located too far from main transportation ways.

On May 20, 1965, the first exploratory oil well was drilled near Lake Samotlor, close to Nizhnevartovsky; it gave an oil fountain on May 29. On April 2, 1969, industrial production of oil began at Samotlorskoye deposit promoting the development of Nizhnevartovsk. In 1971, an airport was opened. On March 9, 1972, the settlement became a town of Nizhnevartovsk.

At the end of the 1970s - early 1980s, due to gradual exhaustion of oil in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, the Western Siberia became the main center of the oil extracting industry. A lot of Tatar and Bashkir oil industry workers and their families moved to Nizhnevartovsk. This is the reason why these nationalities prevail in the population of the city today. In 1980, the city received a regular train to Sverdlovsk (Ekaterinburg).

In 1996, a theater was opened in Nizhnevartovsk - Nizhnevartovsk Drama Theater. In 2002, the construction of a large railway station was finished. On August 1, 2008, great astronomical event took place in Nizhnevartovsk - a total solar eclipse.

Pictures of Nizhnevartovsk

Nizhnevartovsk city scenery

Author: Yuliya Sedelnikova

Nizhnevartovsk scenery

Author: Anna Prikhodko

On the waterfront of Nizhnevartovsk

Nizhnevartovsk - Features

The largest oil deposit in Russia - Samotlorskoye - is located in Nizhnevartovsky district. That’s why Nizhnevartovsk is sometimes called the oil capital of Russia. Nizhnevartovsk is one of the few Russian regional cities exceeding the administrative center of its region (Khanty-Mansiysk) by population.

Nizhnevartovsk climate is temperate continental. Summers are short and cool, winters are long and frosty. Springs and falls are short. The average temperature in January is minus 25.8 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 18.2 degrees Celsius.

Nizhnevartovsk international airport is one of the largest airports in Russia. There are regular flights to Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, St. Petersburg, Tyumen, Ufa.

The record volumes of oil production in Nizhnevartovsk

In 1978, about 1/3 of all oil extracted in the USSR was from Samotlor oil field. The record (158.8 million tons per year) was achieved in 1980.

By 1980, one billion tons of oil was extracted, by 1986 - 2 billions. Later, the extraction decreased due to oil deposits exhaustion.

Today, about 20% of all Russian oil is extracted in Nizhnevartovsky district, about 45% - in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region in general.

White nights in Nizhnevartovsk

Since 1976, the festival “Samotlor nights” (white nights) is regularly held in the city. In 2014, the festival lasted two days (June 14-15). The event usually involves a number of various folk festivals, concerts, and exhibitions.

Peoples Friendship holiday is held on the street with the same name. It begins with a parade of various non-governmental and ethnic organizations. World War II veterans as well as veterans of the oil industry, honored citizens of Nizhnevartovsk, and young people take part in the parade too.

On this day, you can find special “ethnic platforms” on Peoples Friendship Street. They reflect culture of various nationalities living in Nizhnevartovsk.

Nizhnevartovsk views

Nizhnevartovsk view

Nizhnevartovsk street

Alley of Honor of Aviation Equipment in Nizhnevartovsk

Author: Nesmachnykh Konstantin

Attractions of Nizhnevartovsk

The most interesting sights of Nizhnevartovsk are:

• The Palace of Arts. The square in front of the palace with sculptures and a light and music fountain is one of the favorite places of rest and photographing (Lenina Street, 7);
• The monument to Samotlor explorers, built in 1978. It is a 12 meter statue of a worker on a 10 meter pedestal made of granite. In his risen left hand the worker holds a bowl with burning fire. A capsule with a letter to descendants is placed under the ground at the foot of the monument. It will be opened in 2018. This monument is located on Glory hill;
• The monument to the first oil well R-1;
• The Alley of Honor of Aviation Equipment. You can find helicopters Mi-1, Mi-2, Mi-4, Mi-6, Mi-8 as well as an airplane An-2 here;
• The monument to Nizhnevartovsk sportsmen opened on March 10, 2002, when the city turned 30;
• The monument to Tatar poet Musa Dzhalil;
• The sculptures Yardman, Violinist, and Artist can be found on Lenina Street, in the center of the city, near “Arts Palace”;
• Nizhnevartovsk Drama Theater (Sportivnaya Street, 1);
• Ordinary Miracle Theater (Lenina Street, 7);
• Museum of History of the Russian Life, the most interesting museum in Nizhnevartovsk (Pervomayskaya Street, 15);
• Nizhnevartovsk Museum of Local Lore, closed for repairs at the moment (60 years of October Street, 4p);
• Church of the Nativity (1993-1998, 60 years of October Street, 68).
• Ski Complex Three Mountains;
• Natural Park Sibirskiye Uvaly.

Nizhnevartovsk city of Russia photos

Nizhnevartovsk monuments.

Monument to Samotlor explorers in Nizhnevartovsk

Yardman sculpture in Nizhnevartovsk

Violinist sculpture in Nizhnevartovsk

Nizhnevartovsk places

Nizhnevartovsk Railway Station

Author: Dmitry Bald

Nizhnevartovsk airport

Church of the Nativity in Nizhnevartovsk

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Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug — Yugra [lower-alpha 1] , commonly shortened to Khantia-Mansia, is a federal subject of Russia (an autonomous okrug of Tyumen Oblast ). It has a population of 1,532,243 as of the 2010 Census . [4] Its administrative center is located at Khanty-Mansiysk .

Administrative divisions

Demographics, settlements, ethnic groups, vital statistics, external links.

The peoples native to the region are the Khanty and the Mansi , known collectively as Ob-Ugric peoples , but today the two groups only constitute 2.5% of the region's population. The local languages, Khanty and Mansi , are part of the Ugric branch of the Finno-Ugric language family, and enjoy a special status in the autonomous okrug. Russian remains the only official language.

In 2012, the majority (51%) [7] of the oil produced in Russia came from Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, giving the region great economic importance in Russia and the world. It borders Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug to the north, Komi Republic to the northwest, Sverdlovsk Oblast to the west, Tyumen Oblast to the south, Tomsk Oblast to the south and southeast and Krasnoyarsk Krai in the east.

The okrug was established on December   10, 1930, as Ostyak-Vogul National Okrug ( Остя́ко-Вогу́льский национа́льный о́круг ). In October 1940, it was renamed the Khanty-Mansi National Okrug . In 1977, along with other national okrugs of the Russian SFSR , it became an autonomous okrug (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug). In 2003, the word " Yugra " was appended to the official name. [8]

The okrug occupies the central part of the West Siberian Plain .

Principal rivers include the Ob and its tributaries Irtysh and Vatinsky Yogan . There are numerous lakes in the okrug, the largest ones are Numto , Tormemtor , Leushinsky Tuman and Tursuntsky Tuman , among others. [9]

The northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude traverses the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

Population : 1,674,676 (2020); [10] 1,532,243   ( 2010 Russian census ) ; [4] 1,432,817   ( 2002 Census ) ; [11] 1,268,439   ( 1989 Soviet census ) . [12]

Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug has an area of 523,100   km 2 , but the area is sparsely populated. The administrative center is Khanty-Mansiysk , but the largest cities are Surgut , Nizhnevartovsk , and Nefteyugansk .

The Indigenous population ( Khanty , Mansi , Komi , and Nenets ) is only 2.8% of the total population in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The exploitation of natural gas in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug has attracted immigrants from all over the former Soviet Union. The 2021 Census counted 17 ethnic groups of more than five thousand persons each. The ethnic composition is as follows:

Population of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug: [13]

Historical population figures are shown below:

Source: [15]

According to a 2012 survey [16] 38.1% of the population of Yugra adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church , 5% are unaffiliated generic Christians , 1% of the population adheres to the Slavic native faith (Rodnovery) or to Khanty-Mansi native faith. Muslims (mostly Tatars ) constitute 11% of the population. In addition, 23% of the population declares to be spiritual but not religious , 11% is atheist , and 10.9% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question. [16] According to recent reports Jehovah's Witnesses have been subjected to torture and detention in Surgut. [18]

In Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, the primary transport of goods is by water and railway transport; 29% is transported by road, and 2% by aviation. The total length of railway tracks is 1,106   km. The length of roads is more than 18,000   km.

• Hockey Club Ugra
• List of Chairmen of the Duma of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

Related Research Articles

Khanty-Mansiysk is a city in west-central Russia. Technically, it is situated on the eastern bank of the Irtysh River, 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from its confluence with the Ob, in the oil-rich region of Western Siberia. Though it is an independent city, Khanty-Mansiysk also functions as the administrative centre of Khanty-Mansiysky District, and the administrative center of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra.

Nyagan is a town in the northwest of Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located near the Ob River and 230 kilometers (140 mi) northwest of Khanty-Mansiysk. It is named after the Nyagan-Yugan River, a tributary of the Ob River. Population: 63,034 (2021 Census) ; 54,890 (2010 Russian census) ; 52,610 (2002 Census) ; 54,061 (1989 Soviet census) .

Megion is a town in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra, Russia, located at the altitude of 45 meters (148 ft) above sea level, on the right bank of the Ob River, 380 kilometers (240 mi) east of Khanty-Mansiysk and 760 kilometers (470 mi) northeast of Tyumen. The area of the town is 50.51 square kilometers (19.50 sq mi) and the nearest airport is in Nizhnevartovsk. Population: 49,449 (2010 Russian census) ; 46,566 ; 39,783 (1989 Soviet census) .

Yugorsk is a town in Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located in the northwestern part of the East-West lowland, 420 kilometers (260 mi) from Khanty-Mansiysk. Population: 34,067 (2010 Russian census) ; 30,285 (2002 Census) ; 24,928 (1989 Soviet census) .

Sovetsky is a town and the administrative center of Sovetsky District in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located 470 kilometers (290 mi) west of Khanty-Mansiysk, the administrative center of the autonomous okrug. Population: 26,495 (2010 Russian census) ; 23,230 (2002 Census) ; 21,123 (1989 Soviet census) .

Lyantor is a town in Surgutsky District of Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the Pim River, 625 kilometers (388 mi) northeast of Khanty-Mansiysk, the administrative center of the autonomous okrug. Population: 38,992 (2010 Russian census) ; 33,011 (2002 Census) ; 22,071 (1989 Soviet census) .

Pokachi is a town in Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the right bank of the Vatyegan River, 350 kilometers (220 mi) east of Khanty-Mansiysk and 800 kilometers (500 mi) northeast of Tyumen. Population: 17,171 (2010 Russian census) ; 17,017 (2002 Census) ; 11,536 (1989 Soviet census) .

Kogalym is a town in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the Inguyagun River 325 kilometres (202 mi) northeast of Khanty-Mansiysk. Population: 58,181 (2010 Russian census) ; 55,367 (2002 Census) ; 44,297 (1989 Soviet census) .

Beloyarsky is a town and the administrative center of Beloyarsky District in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the Kazim River, northwest of Khanty-Mansiysk, the administrative center of the autonomous okrug. Population: 20,283 (2010 Russian census) ; 18,721 (2002 Census) ; 20,534 (1989 Soviet census) .

Raduzhny is a town in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the Agan River, 475 kilometers (295 mi) northeast of Khanty-Mansiysk and 975 kilometers (606 mi) northeast of Tyumen. Population: 43,399 (2010 Russian census) ; 47,060 ; 43,726.

Pyt-Yakh is a town in Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located on the east bank of the Bolshoy Balyk River, southeast of Khanty-Mansiysk. Population: 41,488 (2010 Russian census) ; 41,813 (2002 Census) ; 17,101 (1989 Soviet census) .

Beloyarsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the nine in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Tyumen Oblast, Russia. It is located in the north of the autonomous okrug. The area of the district is 41,574 square kilometers (16,052 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Beloyarsky. Population: 9,766 ; 9,493 (2002 Census) ; 8,927 (1989 Soviet census) .

Khanty-Mansiysky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the nine in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia. It is located in the center of the autonomous okrug. The area of the district is 46,400 square kilometers (17,900 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Khanty-Mansiysk. As of the 2010 Census, the total population of the district was 19,362.

Kondinsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the nine in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Tyumen Oblast, Russia. It is located in the south of the autonomous okrug. The district is 55,170 square kilometers (21,300 sq mi). Its administrative center is the urban locality of Mezhdurechensky. Population: 34,494 ; 35,018 (2002 Census) ; 36,640 (1989 Soviet census) . The population of Mezhdurechensky accounts for 32.1% of the district's total population.

Nizhnevartovsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the nine in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia. The area of the district is 118,500 square kilometers (45,800 sq mi). Its administrative center is the city of Nizhnevartovsk. Population: 35,745 ; 33,508 (2002 Census) ; 28,288 (1989 Soviet census) .

Oktyabrsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the nine in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Tyumen Oblast, Russia. It is located in the western central part of the autonomous okrug. The area of the district is 24,500 square kilometers (9,500 sq mi). Its administrative center is the urban locality of Oktyabrskoye. As of the 2010 Census, the total population of the district was 32,224, with the population of Oktyabrskoye accounting for 11.3% of that number.

Sovetsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the nine in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Tyumen Oblast, Russia. It is located in the southwest of the autonomous okrug. The area of the district is 29,768.74 square kilometers (11,493.77 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Sovetsky. Population: 48,059 ; 44,720 (2002 Census) ; 73,247 (1989 Soviet census) . The population of the administrative center accounts for 55.1% of the district's total population.

Surgutsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the nine in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia. It is located in the center of the autonomous okrug. The area of the district is 105,190 square kilometers (40,610 sq mi). Its administrative center is the city of Surgut. Population: 113,515 ; 106,624 (2002 Census) ; 74,685 (1989 Soviet census) .

Uray a town in Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, located on the Konda River 350 kilometres (220 mi) from Khanty-Mansiysk. Population: 39,457 (2010 Russian census) ; 38,872 (2002 Census) ; 37,198 (1989 Soviet census) .

Agirish is an urban-type settlement in Sovetsky District of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia. Population: 2,856 (2010 Russian census) ; 2,831 (2002 Census) ; 3,592 (1989 Soviet census) .

• ↑ Russian and Mansi : Ханты-Мансийский автономный округ — Югра, Khanty-Mansiyskiy avtonomnyy okrug — Yugra; Khanty : Хӑнты-Мансийской Aвтономной Округ
• ↑ Президент Российской Федерации.   Указ   №849   от   13 мая 2000 г. «О полномочном представителе Президента Российской Федерации в федеральном округе». Вступил в силу   13 мая 2000 г. Опубликован: "Собрание законодательства РФ", No.   20, ст. 2112, 15 мая 2000 г. (President of the Russian Federation.   Decree   # 849   of   May 13, 2000 On the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in a Federal District . Effective as of   May 13, 2000.).
• ↑ Госстандарт Российской Федерации.   №ОК 024-95   27 декабря 1995 г. «Общероссийский классификатор экономических регионов. 2.   Экономические районы», в ред. Изменения №5/2001 ОКЭР. ( Gosstandart of the Russian Federation.   # OK 024-95   December 27, 1995 Russian Classification of Economic Regions. 2.   Economic Regions , as amended by the Amendment   # 5/2001 OKER. ).
• 1 2 3 Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том   1 [ 2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol.   1 ] . Всероссийская перепись населения 2010   года [2010 All-Russia Population Census] (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service .
• ↑ "Об исчислении времени" . Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации (in Russian). June 3, 2011 . Retrieved January 19, 2019 .
• ↑ Official throughout the Russian Federation according to Article   68.1 of the Constitution of Russia .
• ↑ В Ханты-Мансийском автономном округе добыта 10-миллиардная тонна нефти
• ↑ "Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 25, 2003 No. 841" (in Russian). Official website of the President of Russia .
• ↑ Google Earth
• ↑ 2020 Russian Subjects Population
• ↑ Federal State Statistics Service (May 21, 2004). Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов   – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3   тысячи и более человек [ Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000 ] (XLS) . Всероссийская перепись населения 2002   года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian).
• ↑ Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989   г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров [ All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers ] . Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989   года [All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. 1989 – via Demoscope Weekly .
• ↑ "Russian Census of 2021" . (in Russian)
• ↑ Перепись-2010: русских становится больше Archived December 25, 2018, at the Wayback Machine . Perepis-2010.ru (2011-12-19). Retrieved on 2013-08-20.
• ↑ Russian Federal State Statistics Service
• 1 2 3 "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia" . Sreda, 2012.
• ↑ 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps . "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. Archived .
• ↑ "7 Jehovah's Witnesses Brutally Tortured in Russia, Spokesman Says" . February 20, 2019.
• Official website of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra Archived June 6, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
• Official site of Khanty-Mansi Duma (in Russian)
• Informational website of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra (in Russian)