ConnieTact

I couldn’t resist! These guys dressed me up for the photo! 😂🤣☘️

I hope you have a great cruise anyway. Sorry the upgrade fairy hasn’t worked their magic yet!

Once we’ve sailed out tonight I’ve lost internet. I’ve never found it good on MSC so didn’t but package. So I’ll take notes during tomorrow’s sea day & post when we are in Hamburg on Sunday! Music is funky in Masters of the Sea!

Had early supper in Blue Danube! What did I miss? 🤔 Petite four!!! I love those in YC! they weren’t forthcoming with tea offers after the meal either but guess they have two more sitting to entertain. One bonus was we sat with one other couple from South Wales and we had easy and interesting conversation. If we were on a table for two we would have missed out on that! the food was every bit as good as YC and service very good too.

Hmmmm! Makes no difference to me but I wonder if those people will get short changed on their excursions? 🤔

Yes! It was Landon black label- top of the list - I’ll work my way through! Had some at meal tonight and now getting a glass in Masters of sea! I took a photo of all I am entitled to on drinks package!

That’s what I thought- usual diamond stuff. I prefer champagne by the glass anyway so Prosecco a bit wasted - unless I take it home! At least no flight!

There’s a bit of a damp smell in the bathroom. In comparison with YC, once, we checked into a YC1 and it smelled awful! It was a room fragrancer that must have dropped into the air con unit! We were swiftly moved cabin and all was fine. it will be interesting to see how quickly they respond to this musty smell in this class of room. I’ll post back!

All the latitudes perks seem to have been delivered all at once! macaroons went down well! Glad to have a kettle so got a couple of Lady Greys in!

I like your style! 😃

Unpacked and very happy with the cabin. Better than a YC inside, but obviously not better than a suite or duplex on YC! Our luggage was here and packing cubes are in drawers!

The ship didn’t dock until 12 noon so I am guessing we will leave late. We saw people getting off for MSC excursions so the ship would need to wait for them. Off to see the room & then the dreaded muster drill! 😂

Had good service and a pleasant chat with a staff member from South Africa in the Champagne bar. All similar to YC lounge. Then went to sit on loungers by the pool. The main difference was lack of drinks service (not that we needed it!) and no cushions on the loungers. The other guests were quiet and even one small family checking their kids were not too loud ‘for people to relax’. Once before we had a very loud child in YC and his parents let him be as loud as he liked! 😅

Just found out- no! We are in Blue Danube on a table of 8! I requested they looked into a change and await to see outcome! Another major difference re YC and Bella! 😅

Thank you! We just boarded and in champagne bar! It was very easy getting on. Not crowded and very quiet in the bar- so in comparison to YC- I think it’s fine! Cheers!

Got an Uber from station - only took 4 minutes to drive to port. Bags dropped off immediately! Also immediate check in! Then in seats and gives a packed lunch- so we don’t have to fight for it onboard! I’m amazed! Feels like luxury already! they just announced boarding has started!

Just pulled into Temple Meads station the largest in Bristol. There were lots of dressed up people waiting to go to Cheltenham horse Race. Even spotted some green outfits for St Patrick’s day! not sure I could face a beer at this time of day but would love a cup of tea! There’s no service on such a small train and I forgot to pick up my travel mug (full of Lady Grey tea!) on my rush out of the door! 😅

We’re on the train to Southampton! It’s just a small three carriage train and it’s fairly full due to the strike yesterday and the day before. We have seats though and can keep an eye on our small cases. The train driver smiled at me as he drew into the station. I then remembered my great grandfather was a steam engine driver all those years ago! Trains were very different then but drivers just as smiley!

Two small worries about todays travels! A text we both received yesterday from MSC to say don’t come to the terminal early as Virtuosa will arrive late today! Then, there has been industrial action on our railways in U.K. 😅 Last night, I looked at the Railway website- and little yellow warning triangle was placed on all our possible train journeys from Bristol to Southampton! Although we had bought tickets this promoted me to contact friends who live nearby (& who happen to be cruising in New Zealand now!) to ask if I can have a Plan B to drive down to Southampton and park outside their house! This plan B is now on stand by! Today I woke up to find that Virtuosa is now nearly arriving so panic over! Also our trains, although still showing triangles, are so far showing ‘on time’!

I’ll give you a wave LiquidWu if I see you being escorted past us by your butler! 😜👋🏽

He never wants us to leave!! If I could zip him into a packing cube I would! 😻😂 lit does hold up the packing though!

Thank you L1211.

Great! We are on Europa in January and are looking forward to it. The ship looks amazing! Hope you’ll do a review. Have a fab time!

Thanks for your encouragement Bigblue!

I’ve read that the metal fronted balconies are nicely sheltered too. Always good to try new things. Thanks for your kind words. I was in two minds whether to do one or not-so I’m glad I’ve started!