sidari

9 hours ago, RBrowny said:

Fingers crossed, although won't be too upset if it's not. 

I seen this on Facebook, looks pretty scary to me. Stay safe!

We had to do the same going the other way on the Orchestra, the promenade deck was closed for three days and the doors were locked so no one could get out.

Bea ... Now you see me, Now you don't ... 😁 Looks like Bea is still having issues getting on the boards.

So, today, we received our Aurea Welcome bubbly and a chocolate bar with the Aurea logo on the (navy) box. This was after I went to Guest Services yesterday to enquire if we were going to get one. I’d also mentioned that we had only received one chocolate Diamond bar, despite us being entitled to one each. Well, we received 2 (black boxes). along with the Aurea Welcome items. As a result, we now have 4 choc bars. “

Take note of this photo, folks. It’ll feature in an update I’ll post later.”

Answers to those Questions from Bea.

“Thanks for following along, folks. Appreciate the kind comments. G - our POCs are Muscat Jeddah, Naples and Civi. However, we’ve been to Aqaba and can’t recommend Petra highly enough (if you haven’t been). Be prepared for a 2km walk (if memory serves - which it normally doesn’t ) over very uneven, broken, rough terrain, before you finally come to the Treasury.

Pompey Sailor - we will do Butchers Cut (as usual - I’m too picky an eater to try anywhere else).

Foxy - now that you mention it (Dalek, that is . Hadn’t seen it that way till now. Thanks a bunch for image.) As for Dave - Mr B said he feels like he’s on holiday with him. Believe me, you haven’t experienced the flush on these loos.

I am getting emails containing the first few words of the posts on here since I managed to contribute personally lol, so, if anyone wants me check anything out, forget the niceties and just keep it to simple words.”

Europa Itinerary.

Graham ... Bea said that she won't be commenting on the port stops, no idea if they have any tours booked on the Europe side, have passed on your comment.

Muscat/Oman.

Once again Bea has no external wifi so not able to comment herself.

It seems that there are changes to the cabin A/C, also it appears that the sliding window is locked for some reason. The control panel doesn’t indicate the temperature for setting. Just a dial to turn from cold to hot. The cabin doesn’t cool done much during the day at the lowest setting.

Next Instalment ... 

Something to note for those who are booked to sail WE. The shampoo is impossible to get a lather from so you might want to consider bringing your own. I never normally bother as I find it doesn’t matter, as the ship’s water deadens my hair no matter what I use.

Also, the soap dispenser at the sink is badly designed. The nozzle is directed towards you so you get splashed with it. You have to cover it with your hand when using. It should really be on the underside of the pump”.

“This is a little delicate: The automatic flush on the public loos is extremely sensitive and flushes while in use, so you get almost sucked in with the vacuum - and a wash at the same time. ”

“Just to add - the bodywash foams up nicely on a sponge”.

Today's Update from Bea.

“We are very happy with our room steward. He has looked after our requests such as face flannels, missing robes, missing aroma room diffuser (he said they were in short supply but would seek one out for us ). He even thoughtfully got extra ice to put in the bucket for the bottle of bubbly and put the bottle back into the ice bucket (I had taken it out to dry off the bottle). He’s everything we like about a good room steward. Oh …. I had pre purchased the ‘Back home clean again’ 10 piece package, hoping that I could use it to get our clothes ironed. When I asked him if it would be possible to use it for that purpose he said he would try. And he did! The package was €22, one shirt costs €4.90 to get ironed. We got great value using the package.

“I love the cabin layout. The divider between the bed and couch and the lovely desk set-up on the other side of the bed Lots of storage space and the shower is fabulous.”

“There’s a make-up mirror - with a light - on an adjustable arm at the desk. The drawer contains the hair dryer - a lovely spot to work in when getting dolled up, tucked out of the way”

 

 

43 minutes ago, Captain-John said:

Also, do you have any idea of how full she is and does she 'feel' full so far or is there enough room for everyone to spread out?

CJ ... Bea says that the ship is at full capacity.

2 hours ago, RBrowny said:

What we like to hear! Yeah, my partner is a bit fussy and we've heard that like the chicken curry has bones in, is this something you've noticed? The food sounds absolutely lovely though

Bea ... said that there are no bones in the Curry ... Mr had a Thai chicken curry today and there were no bones in it (we’re back onboard the ship so no CC.

Today's Update from Bea who is hoping to post herself later as there is Wifi on Sir Bani Yas island but has no idea just yet if she will have the same log in issues with the CC boards.

Our Diamond bubbly arrived this morning with macaroons and ONE bar of chocolate

Other way around 14 in Europe.

Further Update ... 

A Bea boo boo I'm afraid, the Old drink package is still in use on Europa until the ship reaches Genoa and the top price is still 13 Euros for the P.E package.

Latest update.

Bea was trying to locate the entrance to the Aurea sundeck, seems it is not well sign posted. Found it. Turns out we were in the right place originally. You need your card to access from the elevator (but the sign only indicates for YC cards and the one I used on one access door wasn’t working. If I’d tried the other door (which I looked at it and it only said YC card so I didn’t try it) I would have got in. Instead we’ve walked the length and breadth of the ship!

On the Drinks front ... Champagne is included - NF is on the menu but Jacquart is in the bar on deck 8 (told they’re running low. That was only for this region I’ve been told); Monopoli in Top 20. Both quite passable and I’m happy that they’re included. Also, my favourite onboard red, Cicogna, is only €10, so it’s covered (if it’s available ). Janneau XO is also included, so I’m happy, so far, with the package (though I do see some drinks at €14 which is quite sneaky).

Bea has sent photos of her Aurea Infinite Ocean view cabin on Deck 14.

OK Folks Bea has boarded Europa today but cannot do a live from due to not being able to see the CC Boards which may or may not be down to MSC blocking it as they do with Hotspots. Bea has said that she will try to send me updates to add to this thread and will deal with items on the ship but not the ports of call, she will also try and answer any questions posted on this thread.

The first thing they encountered was this "Something I’ve never experienced before - only Aurea and Diamond could board when we arrived at around 10.30. Everyone else was sitting waiting in the terminal"  she did mention that YC had it's own desk.

The Europa is today running with the New Drink prices of a Maximum price of 14 Euros for the P.E package, also Bea confirms that if you buy a drink above the 14 Euro limit you only pay the difference plus the 15% gratuity. Below are the New price lists.

Aurea has two Dining rooms, Le Dunes for those sailing in the Suites and Bubbles on Deck 6 for the other Aurea guests.

7 hours ago, LiquidWu said:

I can rule out a change to another port instead of Hamburg, we are already there.

What has not yet been mentioned here is the total closure of the Elbe Tunnel. Steinwerder will be difficult to reach as a result. Plan extra time.

We took a taxi in 2017 from the ship and back 

2 hours ago, Ulsteinvik said:

Is there any information whether tomorrow's pilot strike will affect the departure of the Virtuosa in Hamburg? Tomorrow from 6 p.m. the pilots will be on strike until Tuesday. There are rumors that Virtuosa could get stuck in port.

 

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Warnstreik-im-Hafen-beendet-doch-der-naechste-kommt,warnstreik2298.html

Maybe a change of itinerary or an earlier departure.

24 minutes ago, mvh said:

Or just pay the lousy dollar per drink and don't waist your time complaining, Why are so many people splitting hairs on this. No one is happy about it, but this is absolutely ridiculous, You are spending thousands on you trip and are going to worry to the point of ruining your vacation over an extra $100 {if that)? Just deal with the increase, it is happening everywhere every day. Let's blame MSC for the price of eggs too.

 

If you have already paid the new price and been refused the drinks within the package why should anyone pay even more.

2 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

I need a drink 🍹😂

I think MSC are too busy pushing out another ship and joining the Guinness book of records to be bothered about the mess they have once again created. Leaving staff onboard to take the flak.

4 hours ago, JAGR said:

Similar to what we are doing for DW.  On the overall points, I am just waiting for Dave @sidari to work his magic with his friends at MSC to get us put into the new, higher level that has been in planning by MSC's superb IT department (😉) for the last few years.  I think the elite level is Cubic Zirconium, or pyrite.

John ... I believe it will be Schwarzkopf with a see through card ... 😁 

Speaking to a TA earlier today who also runs his own pages on social media re the specials after my post had the comments turned off, he tells me that having spoken to MSC earlier this week it would appear that after the price increases the wrong info was added to the drink packages details, he was told that the omission would be corrected by the ends of this week, we shall see 

12 minutes ago, Captain-John said:

I have the PE package for a Nov '23 cruise that was booked in Jan '23 and no such exclusion is noted, apart from, oddly, Hola! Tacos & Cantina, same as your confirmation Bea.

 

 

I will be turning up with a glass in each hand already filled to Hola Tacos, and same if it applied to the other specialities. Is Butcher's Cut not a 'signature venue'? So confusing.

 

I don't understand how, being the same 'titled' package, they will be able to differentiate based on when people booked. If the package had a different name, sure, it would be more obvious to the crew but I can't see how this would easily be put into practice short of taking an order, scanning the card and confirming back to the guest if it's chargeable or not.... which I imagine will lead to a bit of upset and/or wasted drinks!

 

 

It could be that the drinks code for the P.E from 27th February will have a different number to those booked prior to the 27th to show that drinks are not included in the S.R's.

Another sneaky back door change.

I was just nosing through our booking and our P.E drink package is included in the speciality restaurants, when you look at the P.E drink info now that the prices have increased the Speciality restaurants are no longer included! 

Anyone else spotted this new unannounced change?

10 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Is the limit indicated where you log into your booking?  Ours for next week shows the limit as €13;  our October Med cruise shows it as €14.   PE was included in the fare so I can’t say whether we’re paying the old or new drinks package price.

 

As the changeover hasn’t rolled over across the fleet, yet, the situation is still unclear.  

Bea ... On our tickets it says 14 which is likely to be pounds sterling but on the app it still says 13 euros ... 😂Looks like the Hamster needs changing on the wheel.