3StepDam44

Yes I agree, I checked online that it wasn't School Holidays but somehow I got it so wrong. The Ship is indeed very beautiful and the Staff are hardworking and lovely. We have also sailed on the Magnifica and loved it.xx

Our Cabin on the Virtuosa was 2 away from the Panoramic Lifts. Really great could not hear anything and it took us straight up to the Pool Deck. Great.

Well Hi to all the Cruisers out there. We have just returned from the Virtuosa, the very same Ship we sailed on last June. The Sailing was packed beyond anything I have ever seen in 20 years+ Cruising. I believe there were 5,600:+ Passengers onboard. We thought it was term time, but evidently in Scotland and other parts of the UK it was Half Term. Embarkation: was really quick because Covid Tests etc are no more. We were supposed to have a Temperature check, but this did not happen. The Staff in the Terminal did check our Vaccine status which was good. However, on board so many people were coughing, sneezing etc. 70+ Staff Members were off sick with Covid. Once onboard, I knew immediately, that I would have to lower my expectations in terms of overall Cruise experience. The Muster was as it has been since Sailing resumed last year, and we watched the Video and then reported to our Muster Station to Check in. From here, it really went downhill. Trying to get a drink in the Champagne Bar was more like a Rugby Scrum. People were 10 Deep queuing and the Staff were overwhelmed. Subsequent evenings though, this Bar at 5:00 pm was the only one we could have a pre-Dinner Drink. Ruth in particular was marvellous in her approach and professionalism. Dinner: Opera Restaurant. Early Seating. We were seated in a Walkway and every 5 Seconds we were bumped on our Arms by the Hundreds rushing by. There was no dress code whatsoever. I know it's a very personal thing now, but for Men to wear Football Shorts /Tops on an "Elegant" Evening is awful. Some were sitting with their Legs up on their Chairs like small Children do! We asked to move seats and it took 4 nights for this to happen because the Ship was so full. Waiters did their best, but they simply didn't have the time to even listen to your order half the time. It took on average 1 Hour before the Main Course arrived, by which time we were fed up of all the loud shouting and carrying on that we left and never had Dessert. The only Dining experience that we enjoyed was the Butcher's Cut (Lunchtime) as part of our Diamond Perk. Wonderful food and calm elegant experience. The Ports were really nice, La Rochelle, Bilbao, La Caruna and Le Havre. I think MSC organised the Shuttles etc. really well but the queues to get back on board were horrendous! The Shows had improved since our previous Sailing which was a nice surprise. There were 3 Shows per Night so if booked, we always found a Seat. After the Shows though, there were no Seats anywhere and it seemed like the only other Activity was a Mass Party in the Galleria with Thousands of People rubbing Shoulder to Shoulder. Not the experience we really want. Usually we love the Silent Discos etc. but not on this Cruise. Everyone we spoke to had the same opinion, that there were simply far too many Passengers onboard for this Ship. On Royal Caribbean Oasis Class, yes the inside of Ships are bigger/wider and can accommodate vast amounts of people. On the Virtuosa, the inside spaces are simply too small/narrow. The Carosel Lounge is now a paying Venue which it wasn't before. Disembarkation: Disaster Darling. Hundreds of people couldn't be bothered to place their Luggage outside the night before and brought it down to the Gangway for Self-Assist but not at 7 am (which was the time), but at 8, or 9 etc. Perhaps if MSC made some announcements the night before outlining the procedure for disembarkation this may have helped those who were First time Cruisers because I really think they didn't understand that the Number you are assigned means going to a designated Area and then being escorted off the Ship. We are Diamond Members and had Number 1. People who had Number 6 were called before us and it was absolute chaos. Because of this dis-organisation, there were so many angry Passengers waiting in the Terminal at Southampton, for their Luggage to be brought from the Ship which never usually happens if people disembark at their designated time. We queued for nearly 2 Hours down in the Atrium. Not good. The 1,500 Children onboard were very well behaved on the whole, but the experience of so many Passengers really lowered the whole experience. Queues, rowdy drunken behaviour which seems to be how it is going now. With the Drinks Packages available, so many people are taking Cruises then before. Nothing wrong with that, for me it's the best way to travel. However, what was once a thing of style and beauty is reduced to a much lower drunken experience with no consideration of others. People running into the Lifts and leaving Wheelchair users waiting, Eating Burgers and Pizza whilst walking about the Ship, Swigging Bottles of Beer whilst going up and down the Lift/Stairs. These were things I never used to see. Forget about Washing Hands / Hand Sanitizers etc. Some people refused point blank to do it. We were told by Staff and Passengers who were taking longer Cruises on the Ship, that there was an awful lot of Covid onboard. My Husband is now up in Bed (3 Days post Cruise) with Covid for the first time. We wore Masks everywhere because we are still careful, but this couldn't prevent him being infected because of the amount of Passengers and also the lack of pre-cruise Testing. It was a real shame, because we know what a beautiful Ship the Virtuosa is and how the Cruise can be. The one last year was magnificent. Staff told us that the previous sailing had 3,500 Passengers which was far more comfortable. I know Cruise Lines are trying to claw back the revenue they lost but at what cost to the Passengers who enjoy the Cruise experience. Would I sail with MSC again? It's very doubtful now.

Great Tip. All done. Thank you. Happy Cruising.🥂

Thank you.x

Thank you. That could have been tricky with our Cases if it was far. Happy Cruising.😀

Hello, Just received a Text to say Virtuosa on Sunday 16th now sailing from Horizon and not City Terminal. We have booked our Car Park in the City Terminal. Does anyone know if they are close together? It's not easy to see on the Map. Thank you. xxx😁

~Thank you.x

Hello, We are sailing on 16th October Virtuosa. It looks as if Testing is no longer required to Board but Website says still advisable to do so. Can anyone who has sailed since 1st October shed some light please. Very confusing. Thank you. x😊

Hello, that is all good to know. We liked the Champagne Bar when we sailed on her last year, it was a good place to get a pre-Dinner Kir Royale. One question please, do we still have to download the MSC App to book Shows etc? On the Web Check-In there is no mention of it this time or at least I cannot see it. I think some of these Ships really do not have enough Seats in certain Areas; we found that on the Anthem especially in Boleros Bar! Thank you both for the Feedback.🤩

Oh, sorry to hear that. Hope you still enjoyed your Cruise.

Hello, we are due to sail on Virtuosa in a couple of weeks and just wondered what to expect nowadays. We were on this Ship last June when Passenger Numbers were very low. Is there anyone on the Virtuosa currently who can offer what the experience is like i.e. getting drinks in the Bar and Queues etc. I guess I'm trying to prepare myself so that it's not a shock!! Do you know how many Passengers are onboard? Have a good Sunday everyone. 😊

Oh, we are booked on the Virtuosa 16th October and was hoping for at least a pre-Cruise Test just to be safe. Already in the UK the Cases of Covid are on the rise! We sailed 3 times last year and felt quite safe with Protocols in place. I have seen on other Boards that some people are going about the Ship concealing the fact they are Positive for Covid.🙈 For those of us who have not had the Virus it is still a worry. I agree with the point on Norovirus, we have seen what that can do to a Cruise. Please wash your Hands. Oh well, it won't stop us going on our Cruise because we love it.xxx