Cruiseforever11

1 hour ago, Waju said:

Thank you!  You obviously love Virtuosa 🙂

The ship is beautiful but with covid last year and all the flights issues this year I have avoided travelling abroad I will have been on her 6 times come April that's not through choice that's because msc have changed ships so instead of the Preziosa Dec and Grandiosa April it's now and going to be the Virtuosa. Next year for my other cruises in July and October I'm on the Seaview and World Europa so looking forward to the change! 😊

22 minutes ago, Waju said:

Can anyone please tell me if there are tea and coffee making facilities in the Virtuosa cabins?  The website seems to indicate not but, if my memory is correct, they did have them on sailings from Southampton.

 

Thank you.

Yes they had tea and coffee in the cabins on the 4 times I've sailed on her from Southampton.

1 hour ago, Missymssy said:

Where can I see boarding time? I'm booked on October 15 sailing out of Naples italy, and don't see it on website 

You need to select your cruise and on the front where it says embarkation time.

2 hours ago, Dickuk said:

I have booked abparking for Southampton, is it best to let them take your cases at the car park or shall I keep them and give to the checkin at the terminal?
Last time I went YC via Southampton I was on the train but remember them taking our suitcases at checkin and they brought them straight to our room.
We arrived about 11.30 and was allowed straight on.
If I let the cases go at the car park they could be hours before they arrive I guess?
 

Take your cases to the YC tent outside the terminal very easy to spot as you cross the zebra crossing as they wrap (well they did mine on Thursday) yc sticker for the baggage handlers to know your luggage is in YC. 

I am on what was the Preziosa in Dec week before Xmas now to be the Virtuosa

She is a lot bigger than the Preziosa and newer.

The food Is fine in my eyes but its not about the food for me but for some people it matters that's what makes their cruise but everyone is different and expectations are different.

They are a European cruise line so there are lots of different things to try. Something for everyone. On longer cruises so 5 nights plus they do themed nights so for example they might do in the main restaurants a mediterranean night or an Italian night. There are also speciality restaurants (which you would pay for) from steak to Mexican to sushi and many more. If the main restaurants or speciality are not your thing then there is the buffet which does burger chips currys roasts cold meats cheeses pizza salads world cuisine and much more.

I personally think Msc is good value for money and for what i want to get out of a cruise. I have done all grades of cabins from insides right up to yacht club. 

Gratuities are included in the price regardless. If you really don't want to pay them you would have to go to customer service on board to sort to removing them. 

Children do go a lot cheaper than most other cruise lines too. 

They have kids clubs from babies right up to late teens on board too. 

There is an indoor pool covered which in December is where most people will be rather than the outside one unless the weather is really nice. The waterpark I don't think will be open at that time of year sailing up the English Channel but can't say for definite.

I went on this cruise last year on the Magnifica and still in covid mode so tours were limited mask wearing etc. We did our own thing just used msc for the transfers in to the towns. Hamburg we got there on a Sunday and nothing opened excepted for some of the Xmas markets, Amsterdam we used the transfer and then walked round the city ourselves we also did a canal trip which was a good way of seeing the city too. Bruges we never made it to port at Zeebrugge due to really bad weather hence why I am going again this year as never been there. Le Harve we stayed on ship only because the weather was just bad but planned to go to Rouen this time around.

Regarding the staff. I personally have never encountered rowdy staff and always found them to be helpful and chatty. Maybe I'm just lucky. I love their ships they are clean and yes at the mo you still have to do a antigen/pcr test before you board and yes that annoys some people and others aren't bothered but I guess its more to do with protecting their staff as if you have a crew with covid you have no cruise and experience would not be that great. All the staff still wear masks regardless. 

I have 10msc cruises under my belt and another 5 booked. If it was seriously that bad I am someone who would go elsewhere. 

I say try it then if you don't like it or it's not up to what you want out of a cruise then you don't have to cruise with them again. 

48 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

We have been given a late check (but as we just booked 2 days ago not at all surprising). That’s why I wondered about the strictness of timings. 

They never check the times to be honest. I have been on this ship 4 times and each time been given a different time. I travel down from Newcastle way normally on the day (very early!) And I check in when I get there. Never had an issue. 

Just got off the Virtuosa today and was in YC. We turned up at 10am for check in for yc and straight through. If your not in yc they were already queuing outside at 10. We had to be out of our cabin at 7am this morning, when we got on Thursday just after 10 we were taken straight to the yc lounge barely had time to finish my drink and one of the butlers came over to say cabin was ready.

You should be able to access it. It should be just your msc booking ref first name and surname and works on Virtuosa. I have just tried mine just to see if it was working ok as i'm on Virtuosa on Thursday and its worked OK. 

It's still a freebie on the uk site too for diamond members. 

1 hour ago, CaroleC said:

We haven’t done a Canaries cruise for several years so I’m looking forward to it. I know what you mean about the prices, I gulped when I checked them out for YC lol. We’ve just returned from a Med cruise on RC’s Wonder of the Seas out of Barcelona. That wasn’t cheap either but I guess you pay a premium for sailing on a new ship. It was absolutely fabulous and now I want to go on the World Europa!  We’ll probably wait though until she’s been in service a while and prices hopefully drop a little 🤞

I might be able to help you on that. We are on the Europa 20th October maybe you could meet up with us. Here is my email message me and I will explain all 😊

sbcruise2022@gmail.com 

4 minutes ago, CaroleC said:

I wish we could have afforded YC, however, the cruise is for 12 nights to the Canary Islands which, hopefully, will be nice and warm so a balcony was a must. Unfortunately, balconies in YC for this length of cruise were way out of our price range. Maybe one day 😉

 

 

You will enjoy that cruise it was the one we done in beginning of May this year. I can't remember if you saw our pics of our aurea suite we had right at the front. It is a cruise we would like to do again. I know what you mean about the YC prices they've really hiked them up. I have 5 cruises booked with msc 2 more this year and 3 next year. 4 of them are yc but I got good deals on them when they were trying to get people back. We were looking at cruises in 2024 for across the pond on one of the seaside class and yc is coming in at nearly 8/9k for a yc bal in the caribbean even before the flights are added on😳 So that won't be happening anytime soon.

1 hour ago, defbref said:

If your leaving from Southampton's Horizon Terminal (MSC usual terminal), then I believe the AUREA line doesn't start until after security, so you still have to queue with everybody else initially. YC do get escorted to front of queue for security and they then also have a separate area for check in up the stairs.

Yes thats right the same with Diamond we started after security. Yc which I will experience in a couple of weeks starts from dropping the luggage off.

1 hour ago, CaroleC said:

Just booked a 12 night cruise on Grandiosa for next April and have opted for an Aurea cabin. I know this gives us priority boarding, does this mean we can ignore the embarkation time of 1pm that has been allocated? Also, it states on the booking details our dinner time preference is first sitting approx 6:30, however, I wasn’t given a choice when I made the booking online. I understood we could dine at any time with the Aurea package. Please tell me I don’t have to ring MSC in an attempt to amend it.

 

 

Hi Carole hope you are well. Yes you get anytime dining ignore the 6.30 thing. Regarding the check in time in all the cruises I've done since the start up from covid no one once has checked what my check in time is and I know people turn up much earlier than their embarkation time. Also that time will probably change anyway so I wouldn't worry about it. There is a separate line for Diamond and Aurea guests so you will be fine.  I'm going on the mini cruise on 24th April on the Grandiosa with a load of family members(60th birthday celebration)in outside cabins and we have all got 10am check in but we will actually check in a bit later than that as everyone travelling down that morning. 😊

Aurea also has some suites with hot tubs on balcony.  The two premium grand suite on deck 12 right at the front of the ship have one of the biggest balconies on the ship which also comes with 2 sun loungers, 2 chairs and another seat which can be used as a foot rest or a table (if you're very careful!)

With Aurea also you get priority boarding and anytime dining and if ship is sailing full or near to capacity the Aurea guests have their own main restaurant. At present the Virtuosa is sailing at 80 - 85%% capacity.

Kettles with tea and coffee in all cabins during the summer season.

Food has been tweak to British tastes. The announcements for summer Southampton cruises are now in one language...English. 

Except safety announcements if needed.

Amazing video of the internal build of this cruise ship showing the vast amount of work that goes into building these giants in its raw state before all the glitz and glam go in. 

1 hour ago, shirleys8 said:

Hi, I have never cruised msc before most of my travels have been with royal Caribbean what I would like to know is I am looking at cabin on 11th deck 11135 which seems to be set back further than neighbouring cabin does this effect what can be seen to the left, is there a lot of movement on deck 11. 
thanks

 

Yes you won't be able to see round to your left see picture which is cabin 11135 on the Virtuosa, but you will have a lovely deep balcony and at that angle looking forward. I've stayed in these types of cabins at an angle for the bigger balcony. 

Also it's going to have some fancy Artwork on the outside. I shall be on this ship in July. 😊

3 hours ago, kernow said:

Thanks, sounds like you'll be on not long before us again😀

I'll look forward to hearing what you think.

Yes it looks like I'm stalking you!😊 i'm not though, it's my sister in laws 60th birthday so there is 7 of us going. 3 of them have never cruised before so just doing the 3 nighter. I'm not expecting to be that much different from the Virtuosa but it's still another ship I get to sail on and looking forward to it! 😊 

20 hours ago, kernow said:

We've booked a cruise on Grandiosa for May 2023. Booked on the phone directly with MSC, I asked the rep if this qualified for the 50 pp obc and she said yes but it will take a couple of days to show. Just wondered where I will be able to see it on my booking.

 

Thanks.

Hi Kernow hope you are well. I've booked yesterday for Grandiosa for 24th April next year a group of us. My obc didn't go on straight away but went on overnight so it was there this morning. So yes you should get it.😊

11 hours ago, Nickymmm said:

Hello all,

We are looking at a 12 night Spain/Canaries cruise departing Southampton on 23 October.

Husband is a full time wheelchair user and we have found an accessible balcony room available on a Fantastica rate.

We would take a hoist onboard which we understnad would be fine in a reduced mobility cabin.

Ports are Lisbon, Funchal, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz Tenerife, Arrecife Lanzarote and Vigo.  I can't seem to find anywhere which might tell me which ports may be tender only - I appeciate this may change.

Does anyone have any experience of a similar itinerary?  We know that whhelchair accessible tours are difficult to find and so we are happy to do our own thing if shuttle buses are available into the towns etc.

Any other accessible tips or knowledge from MSC cruisers would be welcome too!

Many thanks.

There are no ports which require a tender.

From what I saw when we went in May people who had wheelchairs etc got on and off on a different deck that could be used for wheelchairs etc. However I advise to check directly with msc. 

There is a section on msc under special needs which gives more info but I would phone and double check with msc directly as they will need to know anyway but you know your situation better than anyone and what your husband can and can't do. Moving around the ship you will be fine.

Tours again they will say if they are wheelchair friendly but I guess that they are for people who can get on and off a coach unaided and the wheelchair goes in the boot. 

Regarding the ports and walking around they were all wheelchair friendly. (This is based on when we went and where the ship was docked as can't guarantee you the ship will dock in the same spot in the ports as ours did but gives you an idea)

Vigo the Ship is right there in the town and there are lots of coffee shops and shops etc that was the best in being the closest for walking anywhere.

Lanzarote (Arrecife) a good mile only and a bit, only half a day there but there is a few shops and coffee shops in the Marina bit you can walk too which is on the way into the town.

Funchal you can see the town but you have walk round the port a good 15mins depending how fast you walk. The town its self is lovely and worth the visit.

Gran Canaria a nice walk along the front and back. We didn't do much that day.

Tenerife and Lisbon we were on tours all day so not sure of the distance walking wise from ship into town.

It's a lovely cruise and well worth it.  but re getting on and off ship and the room speak MSC directly. 

4 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

You’ll love YC- it’s worth every penny. We raised a glass to you in the champagne bar - of Hugo Spits of course! 😜😂

Cheers to you all! 🥂Maybe one day we will all meet up again with Carol & Mick too 😃

Glad you had a fabulous time and thank you for the pics and updates. So looking forward to Fjords next year. I shall be back on board in 68days time and my 1st time in YC with my daughter so looking forward to it. 😊

1 hour ago, kernow said:

Book the railway independently on this site. MSC do a trip but it's only one way (down) on the train, it also includes a coach trip and lunch and is much more expensive (although we spoke to people who did it and they enjoyed it).

https://www.norwaysbest.com/flamsbana/timetable-and-fares/

Ah thank you so much that's really helpful. We aren't going till July next year but it's good to get as much research done as possible especially if its going to save some pennies! 😊

1 hour ago, ConnieTact said:

After dinner we found our friends in the French bar and joined them for a catch up. They had been on the Flam train and thought it was very worthwhile. Cleverly prepared, by reading up the best spot to sit (the right hand side) they had stayed onboard the train so they had same views in the way back. I asked how this was possible and they explained the train doesn’t turn around at the top! They had booked in advance but we hadn’t, and by the time we looked in the morning of arrival, it seemed the train was sold out on the times we could safely go. We always make sure we are back to the ship an hour before we need to! If we are ever back in Flam, I would try the train on their recommendation. 

I spoke to a woman in the yacht club who said she was rather disappointed the train wasn’t older. The history of the development of the railway is easily discovered in the free museum in port. I’m sure this one, is the most comfortable having seen old pictures of the others! 
photo credits @ziggyuk (from Flam scenic train ride) 

If you see them again which i'm sure you will can you ask if they booked in advance with msc or independently and if independently roughly how much? This is something I definitely want to do when we go to Flam next year. Pictures btw are stunning 😊

32 minutes ago, GonzoWCS said:

Still looking for an answer to this one too!

 

Cheers

It's only one. Both husband and I are diamond. We couldn't do the freebie on his card and then go to another restaurant and do a freebie on my card. Its done per cabin and only once per cruise.