a ship within a ship

European cruise line unveils luxury upgrade for new Galveston ship

As a Europe-based cruise line sails closer to its Galveston debut, it has revealed another amenity to lure travelers looking for a premium experience. When the MSC Cruises’s ship the MSC Seascape begins sailing in November, it will include a luxurious upgrade option.

Called MSC Yacht Club, the ship-within-a-ship experience offers 32,000-square feet of private space within the ship. Those paying for the privilege get access to a Yacht Club-specific pool, restaurant, and the Top Sail Lounge. They get also get butler service, and an on-ship concierge to assist with booking dinner reservations, seats at entertainment venues, and on-shore excursions.

“The MSC Yacht Club was the industry’s first luxury ship-within-a-ship concept and it’s still the best,” MSC Cruises North America president Lynn Torrent said in a statement. “The white glove treatment starts the moment you get to the port, and it continues until you disembark at the end of the cruise. Our guests love the spacious suites, exclusive areas, and personal attention that makes the MSC Yacht Club so sought after. Our travel advisors tell us cruisers appreciate being able to enjoy that luxury experience alongside all the amenities we can offer on a large, resort-style ship like MSC Seascape. It’s the best of both worlds, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Galveston.”

While these sort of amenities are common on luxury cruise lines, they tend to sail smaller boats. Travelers who upgrade to Yacht Club still get all the other benefits of sailing on a ship with over 2,200 cabins. They include:

Robotron: An onboard, amusement park-style ride that suspends riders 175-feet above sea on a robotic arm that flips, spins, and rotates.
Six theater productions
11 “dining venues” and 19 bars and lounges
Six swimming pools, including an infinity pool with ocean views
7.500 square feet of space for children ages 0 to 17

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise line. The privately-held company operates 23 ships worldwide.

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

The MSC Seascape begins sailing from Galveston in November.

galveston cruises

BBQ News

Acclaimed Texas barbecue joint now available on American Airlines

American Airlines

Pecan Lodge sandwich, soon to be served sky high.

Award-winning Dallas barbecue will soon be served in a lofty new location: on an airplane. Pecan Lodge, the acclaimed BBQ restaurant in Deep Ellum, will be featured on select flights aboard American Airlines.

According to a release, the Fort Worth-based airline is adding Pecan Lodge as an option on certain flights out of DFW bound for New York.

Pecan Lodge is the perennial Dallas BBQ favorite that opened in Deep Ellum in 2014, known for its smoked brisket and "Hot Mess" loaded baked sweet potato. The restaurant's nods include being featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. When Tom Cruise came through Dallas in 2025 on a tour through Texas to promote his new film Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, where did he stop? Pecan Lodge.

The partnership with American begins in February for passengers in first class on flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The offering will consist of a barbecue platter with brisket, smoked sausage, mac & cheese, coleslaw, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

They'll replace that with a new item for March consisting of a chopped brisket sandwich with green beans, potato salad, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

The options are available only via preorder, beginning January 11 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The Pecan Lodge partnership is the latest in American's commitment to elevating its customer experience. Other recent new menu additions include Champagne Bollinger and Lavazza coffee, both in lounges and in flight.

In a statement, American SVP of Customer Experience Design and Strategy Rhonda Crawford offers high praise for the barbecue brand.

“As we celebrate American’s centennial anniversary in 2026, we’re looking forward to delighting our customers in new ways that honor unique regional tastes, beginning right here in our home state through one of the most beloved barbecue restaurants in Texas,” Crawford says. “Our customers deserve nothing but the best, and Pecan Lodge is certainly that.”

airport barbecue