That sounds like the Yacht Club on MSC and to be honest by day 3 I was bored rigid and had left the group of 9 extended family I was with to make more use of the rest of the ship. They were of the impression that because they'd paid for the Yacht Club they should stay in it. It meant they saw next to nothing of anything else going on on board. Yes there were advantages to it. Better meals, private restaurants, lounge facilities, private area on the ship so no crowds, easier boarding, afternoon tea served very nicely, no waiting in crowds to get on and off off the ship in ports, a good amount of laundry included in the price, and your Butler who was there to make your experience all the more enjoyable. I couldn't be bothered with that aspect of it but it could be down to the fact that in the region where I live Butlers are to be found in most good hotels so its not much of a novelty to have one on holiday.
That particular cruise was a back to back round the Western Caribbean out of Miami.
Since then Ive done other cruises, alone, and Ive always gone for a Balcony cabin as anything else would be too stuffy for me. But there is also the fact I love to lie there in the middle of the night with my balcony door open just listening to the waves and watching the storms.
Just a few days ago a friend I made on my first cruise contacted me and asked if I fancied one next summer and Ive said yes but I wont be doing the Yacht Club. She was a bit disappointed because she always does the Yacht Club but I think she'll enjoy being part of the main body of the ship because it really is more lively.
Re tipping, it will automatically added to your bill as a service charge but its nice to tip your waiter something extra if you use room service. You are also expected to tip your Butler on top of your service charge at the end of your cruise. Not that you're told you should but sometimes things dont have to be mentioned to be understood.