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

worth every mile

Texas Hill Country route beckons as most scenic road trip in the U.S.

Photo by J. Amill Santiago on Unsplash

It doesn't get more scenic than the Hill Country.

A new comprehensive guide on the best road trips in America has unveiled two scenic routes through the Lone Star State that should be on everyone's must-see list.

The new guide from luxury lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler spotlighted 17 ultra-scenic road trip routes across the U.S. that are "worth every single mile."

Hill Country Route
The first Texas road trip on the list is the Hill Country Route, a 300-mile trek starting in Lampasas, with stops in Marble Falls, Fredericksburg, Austin, and New Braunfels, and ending in Brenham. Travelers can spend as few as three days traversing the Hill Country Route, visiting "award-winning vineyards and boutique lavender and olive tree farms," or they can linger for a week or more by making additional detours in other small Texas towns.

Condé Nast Traveler recommends Hill Country staples like Blue Bonnet Café in Marble Falls and Truth BBQ in Brenham as the two can't-miss good eats that road trippers have to try for themselves. As for lodging, the magazine makes three recommendations: Tyson’s Corners Retreat Cottage, a 35-acre horse ranch in Lampasas, glamping resort Onera Fredericksburg, and the newly reopened Faust Hotel in New Braunfels.

Onera Fredericksburg offers modern lodging like The Diamond. Photo by Jeff Jones

Typical attractions like Enchanted Rock outside Fredericksburg obviously made the list of stops to make along the way, but the report also digs into other niche destinations.

"History buffs can walk the sprawling grounds of the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch, rich with mighty live oaks and environmentalist Lady Bird Johnson’s wildflowers; pair it with a trip to his Presidential Library, which offers a glimpse of how the former president wanted to be seen by history," the report's author wrote. "And if you're road-trippin' in the summer, don't miss a visit to Krause Springs. It’s a beautiful campsite and also a natural swimming spot, with a lot of gorgeous springs to dive right in."

Route 66: St. Louis to Amarillo
A second ultra-scenic road trip that includes Texas is the portion of Route 66 from St. Louis, Missouri to Amarillo. Some travelers don't have time for the full 2,448-mile stretch from Chicago to Los Angeles, so Condé Nast Traveler says the St. Louis-Amarillo route is the "most underrated stretch" that can be completed in just two days.

No trip through Amarillo is complete without a stop at Cadillac Ranch. Cadillac Ranch/ Facebook

The 756-mile route cruises through the Lake of the Ozarks and Oklahoma City before ending in the Yellow Rose of Texas, giving road trippers ample opportunities to see the sights, enjoy a "classic American meal" at a roadside diner, or try some St. Louis-style barbecue.

At the end of the trip, the report recommends Amarillo's The Barfield, Autograph Collection for a "quiet luxe" hotel stay, or this rustic converted Silo Barn on Airbnb.

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worth every mile

Texas Hill Country route beckons as most scenic road trip in the U.S.