showingdiva

It sounds like you would really prefer a table for 2. If you go to your allocated restaurant (which will be on your cruise card on embarkation), speak to the restaurant manager / maitre d', they will do everything they can to find you one. It may not necessarily be the time you originally chose. Do, though, bear in mind that the tables for 2 are positioned very close together. Explain you would prefer somewhere quiet if at all possible. I am sure they will do the best they can. I've never been coerced into buying drinks for a table on rotation, not even on the QM2. However, if you do find yourself on a larger table, then it would only be good manners to let the restaurant know if you aren't arriving, for whatever reason. Do try Hola! if you get the chance on Virtuosa (tables for 2 are available).

I'd put good money on Arbeania. There has to be a sponsorship deal out there somewhere with some supermarket / vegetable packer. A hull with artwork like the AIDA smiley ships. On topic though, aren't P&O and Cunard two of the few left cruising out of Southampton who do allow spirits to be brought on board?

Yes, you can have your Southern Comfort and coke and your wife a Diet Coke, but you will need both cruise cards to order them. Ordering two soft drinks on one card is generally accepted. Doubles, I don't know (I'm teetotal). As for bringing soft drink on board. In this case, cruising out of the UK. MSC make it very clear in their T&Cs that bringing any form of drink on board is prohibited. Their argument is that if you have a drink package, why would you want or need to attempt to bring any on board? The other issue is that would you want to risk it in your suitcase, especially if it ends up being loaded at the bottom of a huge cage onto the ship. Taking it on as hand luggage is much more noticeable. The more you attempt to take on board, the more attention you're going to draw to yourself. You can have two cans of Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta or Sprite on each card from any venue, round the clock. Your worst case scenario - they confiscate what you're trying to bring on board, you get the walk of shame to reception to be notified and they give you it back at the end of the cruise. If that's the risk you want to take ......

Me too. Still do. Every year.

Yes it does. It comes under the "wide range of hot drinks". Hot chocolate also included - but not the Jean Philippe ones in the chocolate shop. Energy drinks are indeed listed twice .. whoever typed it must have been having palpitations on all the caffeine 🤣

If the Starship Club is classed as a "signature venue", then the alcohol free package wouldn't work. If it's "a bar" then it would. I suspect it's the former. *The Alcoholic Free Package can be used in our bars, self-service buffet, main restaurant and on private islands, but not in the specialty restaurants and signature venues.

I believe this only applies to US based ships currently. Certainly doesn't apply to Virtuosa / Euribia.

You will not automatically be seated at a table for 2 because that is how many of you there are. You may be on a 4, 6 or 8. If just the two of you dining is important to you for whatever reason, you will need to speak to the Maitre d' / restaurant manager, who will likely do their best to try to accommodate you if you aren't already on a table for just the two of you. Your initial table number and restaurant name, as Essiesmom has said above, will be on your cruise card at embarkation.

The soft serve ice cream / toppings in the Atmosphere Bar on the pool deck is included in the adult non-alcoholic drink package ex-UK.

5. Arcadia's prom deck

It's not too loud. Probably not enough to send your son to sleep, but not uncomfortable (I'm not a fan of really loud). Each one is performed every alternate day excluding embarkation / disembarkation days. You ideally want to be facing the stage, opposed to at the side of it, especially with Arkymea. You'll understand when you see it. Realistically, taking away the price of the included drink from the pre-pay price, the show is costing 25p. Definitely worth it.

Just from the point of view of visual effects, my favourite is Arkymea. Have seen it twice and Ajedrez once. Apologies, I'm teetotal, but the included mocktail the last twice I have been in the Carousel Lounge was Aloha - grapefruit juice, tiki mix, sweet and sour mix, rose syrup, tonic water. It's lovely.

You should have been able to select your bed preference when you booked. Did you do this through MSC directly, or via a travel agent? If you don't think you have selected a preference at any point, you will probably find that it's been set as a double. Just ask your cabin steward, as a double bed is two singles joined together. The MDR table - your allocated restaurant and table number will be on your cruise card. If it's not a table for 2 if that's your preference, speak to the maitre d', who I'm sure will be able to accommodate you in one of the restaurants. Juice is available in the Market Place buffet, definitely through breakfast service. Orange, pineapple, apple, grapefruit and ACE (tropical vitamin juice (it's lovely!)). It used to also be available at lunch too, but I haven't been on Virtuosa since last May. I've since been on Euribia, when it was only available at breakfast, so not sure if that is a fleet wide change or not. Unsure about the Voyager status, as I've not done a short cruise since the first post-covid resumption.

Getting it off my chest that I hate the term "influencer" with a passion. No-one "influences" me about anything. Ever. And it appears everyone and his aunt is a cruise blogger these days. However, from a light entertainment point of view, I do like Kevin and Stacey (One Couples Adventures) because they're down to earth and ask to film empty spaces early morning, Travel Blog Jamie because he appears very personable and Emma Cruises (but I do wish she would slow down and come up for air occasionally). The Ben and David MSC scenario, well others will say differently, but Ben's general dramatic negativity - you only have to read the titles of all their vlogs over most cruise lines - grinds on me like finger nails down a blackboard. Did MSC deal with it well? No, not really. But the histrionics were unnecessary. Cruise lines have made a rod for their own backs by facilitating all this by offering free / discounted cruises, effectively encouraging it all. One which, I suspect, they will struggle to regulate going forwards.

That's probably very true. Hospitals can close wards, isolate, deep clean and don't have carpet. Cruise ships have such a tight turnaround. So, it's back to soap and water and try not to touch your face (or anyone else's!).