showingdiva
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Everything posted by showingdiva
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Isn't it still the case that if wishing to transfer a deposit, the new cruise has to be within a 12 month period of the original booking?
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You will be fine and have a lovely cruise. Yes, she's a big ship with a lot of people, but once everything settles down after the first evening - because the majority of passengers are trying to find their cabin, their restaurant allocation, the theatre and their new favourite bar, it settles down. I would never have considered such a huge ship, or MSC, prior to the pandemic, but having now booked no's 4 and 5 on Virtuosa and having not long returned from Euribia, I can't have been too traumatised by the experience. I really am quite confused by some of the reviews. It's how a ship deals with an issue that is the crucial thing, not necessarily the issue itself (because things happen).. Crew on Virtuosa and Euribia have always been lovely. The Marketplace buffet gets busy around 1pm and for some reason, everyone congregates next to the food. I've always opted for self-disembarkation and never waited on either ship. The rest of disembarkation is done deck by deck working from the bottom to the top = all of which is explained in the information sheet delivered to the cabin.
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1st Cruise Ever! Northern Europe on Euribia 9th Feb
showingdiva replied to kknb4082's topic in MSC Cruises
Enjoy. She's a lovely ship. Prior to the pandemic shut down, I would never have considered a ship the size of Euribia / Virtuosa. If you have been to Bruges before, don't discount going to Blankenberge instead. Assuming you're embarking / disembarking in Southampton, you will likely be in Hamburg on a Sunday. Be prepared for there being nothing open, other than museums and Starbucks. As you say ... all weather dependant -
Adonia, now Azamara Pursuit, arriving in my homeport in Scotland. I've worked extensively as a port guide on the Azamara fleet over the last decade. Lovely ships and crew. Pleased to hear you're going for it. I wouldn't have hesitated either.
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Sorry to read this It must be pretty much up there with anyone's worst holiday nightmare, cruise or otherwise. I hope your husband has a good recovery.
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Things that once were at P & O but are now… GONE!
showingdiva replied to Bloated While Floating's topic in P&O Cruises ( UK )
Oh I don't know. Anyone who has stayed at West Quay will have witnessed a game of someone not realising the key card has to be scanned before the lift doors open on the way up. -
Things that once were at P & O but are now… GONE!
showingdiva replied to Bloated While Floating's topic in P&O Cruises ( UK )
Stayed at the PI West Quay for £58 a few weeks ago pre-cruise. -
From what you see from your cabin door, it's a wall with pictures. If you have a look on the Deck 12 deck plan, I'm not long back from a studio cabin 12106, which is on that side of the corridor. I heard absolutely nothing. I suspect it's a crew corridor. Delightful stewards all along that corridor, friendly, polite and smiley. You've also got passenger cabins below and above you. You'll be fine. Enjoy.
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Sorry, I meant the MSC cruise ex UK
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Others on here will be able to explain how to cruise with a baby. I happen to know from the P&O forum that you're cruising from the UK, and quite possibly on Virtuosa. There's a UK cruisers thread on this MSC forum (near the top of the page).for anything specific to the UK. However, if you haven't seen this ... https://www.msccruises.co.uk/blog/cruising-with-infants
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Delighted to hear all going well so far. I'm not sure why the next few Euribia cruises are leaving from the City Terminal instead of Horizon. Maybe some repair or maintenance work. As for the fruit, I don't do YC, but had noticed on Euribia in particular that the range everywhere was more than the usual suspects of apples, oranges, bananas etc. They seem to have a very large supply of kiwi fruit 🤣
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They won't deny you it (except for trying to bring it on board).
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I think asking at the buffet the first day, then adding it to your room service - order a couple of glasses and put it in your fridge. Buffet is your best bet. There's milk beside the coffee machines in the buffet (sorry, I'm not a tea / coffee drinker) or one of the drink waiters will help.
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You can't get a bottle in port, as MSC do not allow any liquids to be carried on board. There's a paper breakfast list in your cabin that you hang on the door handle the night before if you wish continental breakfast (and the time you want it). If you've booked Bella, they will make a small charge for delivery, but Fantastica and above it's free. I'm pretty sure milk is on it. Either way, I can't imagine they would be petty and deny a small child a drink of milk at any time if you ask either the cabin steward or the buffet for it.
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Is MSC really as crowded/chaotic as is painted in this YouTube review
showingdiva replied to nielgirl's topic in MSC Cruises
The ship in the video, MSC Virtuosa, sails out of the UK in the summer, and a Meraviglia-plus class ship sister to MSC Grandiosa and the new LNG MSC Euribia. I've done three on Virtuosa and one on Euribia. Two further booked on Virtoosa. Pre-pandemic, I would have laughed (nervously) at anyone that suggested these ships to me Yes, they're huge and there's a lot of people, and a very wide age range. However, I've found that the only real chaos is the first night. As most passengers will be new to the ship - and some on a ship for the first time ever, they're getting lost / confused because they can't remember where their cabin / restaurant / soon to be favourite bar is. It settles. I've often found myself on my own in lifts, and found a quieter spot to eat. If you want to dance with the crowds in the galleria, fine, but if not, there's another 300 odd metres of ship that's quieter. I've never been in Yacht Club because I can't justify the cost given I'd never use the facilities to the maximum and I'm teetotal. Loved the cabins I've chosen in Fantastica grade, always had great room stewards and quiet time on the balcony if necessary. I have PTSD, so if Virtuosa (and Euribia a few week's ago) were that bad, I would be first not to cope. -
Norovirus is running rampant round hospitals up and down the country at the moment. Like the latter cases during the covid pandemic, it mainly seems to be patients with co-morbidities arriving with it, rather than contracting it whilst there, but it's horrendous to contain. Our Reactive cleaning teams have been very busy these last few weeks. With cruise ships, it may sound like all too familiar advice, but try to only use the cabin toilet, keep washing hands with soap and water (because alcohol gel isn't going to help here) and don't touch your face.
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Seaside diverted toward Nassau for medical event
showingdiva replied to kaprin02's topic in MSC Cruises
I hope the person evacuated makes a full recovery. Never an easy decision to medivac, especially involving a helicopter. -
Not Quite Live From Iona in the Med (G336) - The i-Player Version
showingdiva replied to TigerB's topic in P&O Cruises ( UK )
Thank you for posting this. A great review and photos. And a magnificent cat with talented handwriting. -
Studio balcony cabins - Virtuosa / Euribia / Grandiosa
showingdiva replied to showingdiva's topic in MSC Cruises
Below the Marketplace would be a no go in any cabin to be honest. It's a very busy place and the noise of chair scraping is bad enough in it, let alone under it. That said, the under cover outside area, which these solo cabins are under is a very underused area for some reason, certainly on Virtuosa and Euribia, weather / temperature permitting. I've decided to just absorb the cost of a standard cabin as solo occupancy. I appreciate it's not doable for everyone though. -
Studio balcony cabins - Virtuosa / Euribia / Grandiosa
showingdiva replied to showingdiva's topic in MSC Cruises
Thanks. I've read thought it, but the ship is Meraviglia, very similar but not quite. I think I'm talking myself out of it in favour of my usual mid ship balcony. The aft location and the connecting door are the main off putting factors, -
Does anyone have any experiences of these? The connecting door bothers me, as does the thought of the ones on deck 14 as they are underneath the Marketplace. Also both Virtuosa and Euribia have a bit of a wiggle at the aft end (certainly in the Marketplace). They're very much worlds apart from my usual mid-ship, single occupancy ones, but the price is quite attractive on certain cruises. Thanks in advance.
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Just watched the video. Good grief! Personally, I wouldn't book YC as I know I wouldn't take full advantage of what it offers, and am teetotal. I disembarked Eurbia four weeks ago, and whilst I much prefer Virtuosa, I had a good week away, back in my favourite port of Rotterdam and exploring MSC's newest ship. I am also pescatarian, and can honestly say I've never experienced a lack of choice dilemma on either ship - including in Hola!, where they were more than accommodating.