showingdiva

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this incident. From the families and colleagues of the two ships involved in the collision, to those searching including the master and crew of Iona.

From the ship side, only waited 5 minutes for the bus. The bus park is undercover. From the city, again no. Walked out of nearby Starbucks and two buses arrived at the same time and got on the first after others had got off. In fairness, it had stopped raining by that point.

Just back from Euribia. It's 12 euros for a return trip. Drops off / picks up by the station. Takes about 25 minutes each way. Hamburg is like a giant construction site. There is nothing around the Steinwerder terminal, and even if there was, because so many embark / disembark in Hamburg, it's busy ... unlike the city. There is nothing doing on a Sunday (especially a wet one). Sorry if I'm not selling it, but if (and it's a big if) I went back, would do an excursion instead.

Yes, you will have plenty time to make that flight. Disembarkation on Virtuosa usually goes by deck, the lowest first (although would question whether it actually works that way in reality with that number of people). You could always self-disembark with your luggage, which is early. If you want / need to stay in a hotel - either Premier Inn West Quay, which is near the Horizon Terminal, or something near the airport. I do exactly the same journey, but by train. I've never had a problem with taxis in Southampton - I always seem to end up with a driver who has been to Edinburgh / knows someone who lives in Edinburgh.

I've found embarkation day a bit crazy once everyone is on board. A lot will never have been on the ship before - and she's a big ship - so stairs, lifts, corridors etc are busy due to people getting lost. After the first day, things are calmer. I've never seen lots in the plunge pool at the aft (the elephant one - those who have been on board before know what I mean). The outdoor pool at the pool bar and the indoor one can be busy. If you're hoping for uninterrupted lane-style actual swimming from end to end, you might get that opportunity very early morning, but otherwise probably not. Virtuosa has proven very popular since she unexpectedly ended up in the UK towards the end of the pandemic. She was originally for the Mediterranean and Dubai (hence the European and US plugs). Most cruises are very near to full.

I think it's just another MSC website gremlin. The above thought about TA holding being perfectly plausible, with any unsold then allocated to Bella. However, my favourite extended balcony cabin on Virtuosa never appears anywhere. It's like a door to Narnia. I've twice had to phone and ask for it.

I've worked on board Norwegian Dawn a couple of times this season as part of my home port hospitality team. She is a very casual ship. You don't mention if you just don't like tendering, but when you arrive in Edinburgh (Newhaven Harbour), we use our local excursion ship to help with tendering of the larger ships. She's a lot bigger than a ship's tender, and a very smooth journey. Forth Belle

I thought P&O were the champions of the non-disclosure agreement about virtually everything. Everything crossed the new passengers embark, Britannia leaves on time and they all have a lovely holiday.

Unfortunately, there will likely be some in that "chosen" group who cannot fly for one reason or the other. Which is, of course, the reason they (and I would have had to include myself in that number) cruise from the UK.

I love their posts. Very down to earth couple. They've been on Virtuosa a couple of times. In keeping with this being on a P&O thread, they've also reviewed Iona, Britannia and currently Arvia.

Haugesund was my least favourite Norwegian port - not helped by my visit there being on a Sunday (non-P&O cruise) The hop on / off bus stops right next to the ship. Otherwise, the walk into the town over the bridge isn't far

Viking Mars was in our port (Newhaven, Edinburgh) today. I am sorry to say that the crew member died from his injuries. Thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. Chaplains were on board first thing this morning to assist with crew welfare.

Have no fear. She's clean and beautiful. No pagers or queues just to eat. Hola! tacos are amazing and your son will be in pasta heaven.

Yes, cash is fine, although while Virtuosa is home ported in Southampton, the currency on board is British Pounds,

That's why I mentioned that included gratuities were applicable to UK passengers sailing out of the UK. It wasn't clear where you originate from. If your gratuities aren't included, then they will be added to your ship account, along with any other purchases, and will need settled at the end of your cruise.

Service charges on MSC (certainly out of the UK for UK passengers) are included in the cruise fare. So you won't have any extra charges for that on your bill at the end of the cruise if this is your case. What will be on your bill are any non-included restaurants, drinks if you don't have / want a drink package, gelato, casino and purchases in any of the shops, excursions etc. You get your MSC card at check in. It will be scanned when you board the ship the first time, and each time you get off at ports. If, for example you want a drink, when you order it, you will be asked to scan your MSC card. If you have a drink package, the cost is added to your bill, but then taken off to balance it back to zero. If you don't have a drink package, it will add to your bill like a tab, and you will get a balance at the end of the cruise which will need settled before you disembark - or you can pay in (by cash or card) a credit amount at the beginning of the cruise when you register your card. I assume virtual debit cards can be used just like an ordinary one. Just be careful when registering a debit card, because it will automatically hold an automatic charge of £250. The best idea is to go to Guest Services, where the ATM machines are when you embark. They have staff around to help you.

You can register your credit / debit card before your cruise or at one of the ATM machines on board. Your MSC card is used for all purchases, including signing for any drinks you have as a pre-bought / included package, The same card also scans you on and off the ship at ports, opens your cabin door and needs put into the slot to work the cabin lights / air conditioning. What you owe at the end of the cruise is taken off the card you have registered.

Self-disembarkation carrying own luggage is early. The day before leaving, you will be given information with your daily ship newspaper on your disembarkation time, time to put luggage out etc. As a general rule on Virtuosa, the higher the deck your cabin is on, the later your disembarkation. This is a big ship, so other than those who opt for self- disembarkation, which from memory is around 7.30am, there has to be a degree of traffic management. The last deck is around 10.30am, but it does vary slightly from cruise to cruise.

I received one from Cunard today

Opening hours are 7pm until "late". Whilst it could be argued that it is better to be above something than below it on a cruise ship, if this room change is as a result of a TA error, I would be asking them to move at least one or two decks higher into the main passenger decks.

I often (on average tree times a week) have both coastguard and air ambulance helicopters fly past my office window (NHS emergency department). Even in a modern building, once they're on the helipad, you can feel the ground floor corridors vibrate underfoot, four floors below, and we have to shut windows with the coastguard helicopter (they are huge beasts close up!). It's little surprise the immediate area on a cruise ship is evacuated. I hope Arvia's medivac recovers quickly. As others have said, would not have been an easy decision.

Would hate to think post-autumn 2024 would spell the end of Virtuosa in the UK.

Sorry to hear that not everything is going to plan on Virtuosa. I'm still very much wearing rose coloured glasses after a recent wonderful Fjord cruise on board her (my third Virtuosa holiday in 18 months). I can understand what would draw people to YC, although personally, I'm not keen on its location, being a mid-ship, relatively low deck kind of passenger. That said, I'm also a believer that every passenger should receive exception service, But as a solo traveller, a good Fantastica balcony is very acceptable. Thank you for taking the time to post during your holiday. I hope all the little irritations are sorted quickly.

I don't have a problem with P&O trying to attract a different audience post-pandemic, or that they have followed others into the huge ship, mass market. But from reading reviews, and bearing in mind the devastating toll that covid had on all cruise lines and how they are trying to recoup losses, P&O still seem to be all over the place in certain aspects. Personally, when I book, I want to choose my cabin and its location, and as a solo traveller, when booking, don't want to be exploited because I am and want a nice balcony cabin or charged double because a cruise line doesn't think I will spend money on extras. Are P&O solely guilty of this? Absolutely not. But on my current chosen cruise line, I can have all that, and have just had the holiday of a lifetime in the fjords for the same price that P&O want me to float around the English Channel then pop into Zeebrugge for four days for the same price. P&O - I will be back, Just not in the foreseeable.

MSC Euribia was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique