LIVE Virtuosa 13/5/22 7 nights Norwegian Fjords

[CaroleC]

1 hour ago, kernow said:

Carole, I know you had a similar JS to us on Anthem last Oct. I think the YC balcony feels like a similar size to that although the balcony on here is not as deep.

Hi Julie, yes we did have a JS on Anthem in October. I love them, I didn’t realise YC balcony cabins were a similar size. We were in a standard balcony twice on Virtuosa last year and that’s what we’ve got booked when we sail on Preziosa over New Year. Will definitely look at prices for YC balconies in the future.

 

 

Edited May 14, 2022 by CaroleC

[Cruiseforever11]

1 hour ago, CaroleC said:

It will be hard going back to a standard balcony, having a suite spoils you lol. So glad you enjoyed it. We’ve had suites on RCL several times, albeit junior ones, and really miss the extra space when I feel the price doesn’t justify booking one. I looked at what the 2 bedroomed suite I’ve just bid on would cost and it’s over £8.5k! 😳

I know thats what Nick said and the hot tub we said we wouldn't use....it got used nearly everyday! 😁

Our cabin cost just over £3k for 12nights with p.plus drinks plus we had obc too. However this cruise was booked over 2yrs ago and it was on the Magnifica back then but on there the suite would of been the best there was.

To us worth every pound. 

 

Just need to add on Magnifica I wouldn't of got a hot tub. If this was booked on the Virtuosa it would of been nearer 4k.

Edited May 14, 2022 by Cruiseforever11

[CaroleC]

2 hours ago, Cruiseforever11 said:

I know thats what Nick said and the hot tub we said we wouldn't use....it got used nearly everyday! 😁

Our cabin cost just over £3k for 12nights with p.plus drinks plus we had obc too. However this cruise was booked over 2yrs ago and it was on the Magnifica back then but on there the suite would of been the best there was.

To us worth every pound. 

 

Just need to add on Magnifica I wouldn't of got a hot tub. If this was booked on the Virtuosa it would of been nearer 4k.

Wow, £3k for 12 nights in a suite with drinks and OBC included. Bargain! I’d be really happy with that price.

[kernow]

13 hours ago, Cruiseforever11 said:

I know thats what Nick said and the hot tub we said we wouldn't use....it got used nearly everyday! 😁

Our cabin cost just over £3k for 12nights with p.plus drinks plus we had obc too. However this cruise was booked over 2yrs ago and it was on the Magnifica back then but on there the suite would of been the best there was.

To us worth every pound. 

 

Just need to add on Magnifica I wouldn't of got a hot tub. If this was booked on the Virtuosa it would of been nearer 4k.

Fantastic deal, we've paid a bit more than that for 7 nights in YC!

[kernow]

Good morning, we were woken up a few minutes ago by the fog horn as we approach Haugesund, the captain had told us there would be a lovely sail in from 7 but we can't see a thing.😲.

 

Yesterday was lovely and sunny with clear blue skies. The air was a bit chilly but in a secluded spot in the sun it felt quite warm so we along with many others spent a few hours outside. I even went and changed into shorts.

 

In the morning we had asked the concierge about the Spa thermal area which YC (and Aurea) have access to. She said we have to book one hour slots so we went at 2pm. It is now fully open and there is a good choice of different areas, a couple of bubbling pools, various steams, saunas, showers  ice showers and different beds. It was nice but for me personally I don't think It would be worth paying for a pass especially as you can't just go on the spur of the moment.

 

It was elegant night (the only one on this cruise), we dressed up but I'd say only around 50 per cent of people around the ship dressed up, more in YC. We went to the theatre for 'Italiano', for some reason I could really feel movement (although it wasn't rough) so I went back to the cabin. Mark stayed to the end of the show and really enjoyed it. I didn't feel great so we ended up missing the silent disco. 😭

I feel fine this morning so no idea what happened as I don't normally get seasick unless the seas are really rough.

 

Fog is just clearing a bit, think we are just docking so off to breakfast.

 

This was delivered to the room yesterday afternoon, lemon meringue pie, delicious.

[kernow]

Dinner pics.

[Raj.K]

On 5/13/2022 at 9:21 PM, kernow said:

We used Lloyd's pharmacy, purchased them online and uploaded the results.  It was very easy in the end.

Great to know. Thank you. 

 

Did you also have to upload insurance documents during online check-in or show at the port?

[kernow]

1 hour ago, Raj.K said:

Great to know. Thank you. 

 

Did you also have to upload insurance documents during online check-in or show at the port?

We were able to check in without loading insurance,  I did have it all printed out at the port but they didn't seem that interested in it  at least not like last year.

[kernow]

Back onboard sfter a morning stroll around Haugesund, a pleasant little town. TBH being Sunday very little was open but it was nice just to walk around for a couple of hours. According to the signs the walk into town was 1km from the Dock but it didn't seem far. There was a shuttle (not sure if it was free or a charge) and also we noticed the land train ride picked up in front of the ship. 

Weather has picked up and the sun is just coming out. I was planning to order a pizza from room service but had misread the sheet and didn't realise you can't get them until 6 pm so we came to the buffet. Everything here is very good, I even noticed they do a Sunday roast. Staff are still serving you which I like. Have seen lots of complaints in other forums but have no idea why!

 

My only slight negative today was a long, slow moving line to get back on the ship. They only had one scanner available and we're making people remove coats etc. Perhaps something they could improve on.

 

Some random pics of Haugesund. 

[kernow]

[kernow]

Buffet pizza, sorry I forgot to take a pic before I started eating.

[corky&linda]

Is there a big mix of nationalities on board or is it mostly Brits on this cruise?

 

Also, I read somewhere about a weekly seafood buffet lunch in YC. Any news on that?

 

Do you get a newspaper delivered to the cabin every morning? 

 

Thanks.

[kernow]

13 minutes ago, corky&linda said:

Is there a big mix of nationalities on board or is it mostly Brits on this cruise?

 

Also, I read somewhere about a weekly seafood buffet lunch in YC. Any news on that?

 

Do you get a newspaper delivered to the cabin every morning? 

 

Thanks.

There are more nationalities than I was expecting. Brits are the majority but have heard people speaking several other languages too. Announcements are in English and Portuguese. 

Yes we get a newspaper delivered every morning, butler asked the first day which one we wanted.

 

Have not seen a seafood buffet, will let you know if we do. The YC grill has fish every lunchtime.

[kernow]

By the time we left Haugesund the sun had come out so we went up on deck for cocktails. 

Some sailaway views.

[kernow]

Last night we went to see Arkymea, one of the paid for shows in the Carrousel lounge. We had pre purchased it online for £9 pp, it's £15 pp onboard. For the price you also get a Signature cocktail. We had assumed we would be able to choose a cocktail from the normal Signature menu onboard but that is not the case. As you enter the lounge they have 3 trays with pre poured drinks, can't remember the names but a rum based one, a vodka based one and a non alcoholic one. They are not drinks off the normal menus and we didn't think they were anywhere near as good as the cocktails we've been having around the ship. A lady who came in with us asked if she could just have a G&T and they told her to go and get it herself from the Casino bar! Top tip, get your preferred drink before you go in and take it with you😀. 

Moan over, the show was excellent and worth going to see, very talented performers and something different. I think all ages would really enjoy it.

 

We then went for a late dinner in the YC restaurant, we ended up being the last table in there and leaving at almost 11 pm, there was a beautiful sunset just before we left.

[ConnieTact]

4 minutes ago, kernow said:

Arkymea

I’m so glad you enjoyed Arkymea - we loved it! Definitely worth the extra £9 and great to have something a bit different to see. Are you going to the other show Ajedrez too? We liked both (& saw them twice already!) and will book to go again when we sail in June because they are so entertaining. We liked the music they perform before the show too!

[kernow]

3 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

I’m so glad you enjoyed Arkymea - we loved it! Definitely worth the extra £9 and great to have something a bit different to see. Are you going to the other show Ajedrez too? We liked both (& saw them twice already!) and will book to go again when we sail in June because they are so entertaining. We liked the music they perform before the show too!

Not doing the other one this cruise, I'm sure we will be back on here again so will save it until then. Are the 2 shows similar with the same performers?

[ConnieTact]

38 minutes ago, kernow said:

Not doing the other one this cruise, I'm sure we will be back on here again so will save it until then. Are the 2 shows similar with the same performers?

Yes, they are similar and both as good as each other. If you’ll be back then that’s a treat to come! I didn’t mind the cocktail in there. Now I can’t wait to be back onboard! 😅

I'm enjoying your live review! 

[kernow]

Just back on the ship after spending the morning in Gerainger. Wow, it is so beautiful here and we are so lucky to have a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. 

There is a visitor centre as you get off the ship with lots of tours and things to do so don't worry if you haven't pre booked anything.There is also a hop on/off bus. 

We decide to walk to the waterfalls, we just did the first one with the steps up and then took the road down. You can continue another 3 km to see more if you are feeling energetic. Even just where we walked the views are fab.

I have so many pics but will just post a few.

[ConnieTact]

Great pictures! It certainly looks great in the sun!

[little britain]

Wow! I need sun glasses 👓 just to look at the blue in those pics! Stunning! 
Following along with your YC experience! 
Hugs to you both 

LB x

[kernow]

The chocolate ships are back on Virtuosa, when we returned to the cabin last night these were waiting for us😃.

[kernow]

Last night we had dinner in Butchers Cut with pre dinner cocktais in the Atelier Bar. It was an excellent meal, the restaurant was quite busy and had a nice atmosphere. Around and about the ship in the evenings there is much more going on than last year, more like cruising pre covid.

[Raj.K]

3 hours ago, kernow said:

Last night we had dinner in Butchers Cut with pre dinner cocktais in the Atelier Bar. It was an excellent meal, the restaurant was quite busy and had a nice atmosphere. Around and about the ship in the evenings there is much more going on than last year, more like cruising pre covid.

That looks amazing!

 

Could you please help with the queries below?

 

1. We are a family of 4, all of us are Voyagers Club Diamond members. Voyagers Club privilege says members can enjoy a speciality restaurant dinner (members + 1 guest of the same cabin no as diamond members). Does this mean we could have two free speciality restaurant dinners? If we know this, we can pre book additional speciality restaurant meals as necessary.

 

2. The "high tea" in the Yacht Club used to have a nice variety of loose tea leaves options some years ago. What is this experience on the Virtuosa like now please? 

[corky&linda]

Are those chocolate ships due to you being diamond voyagers? Or does everyone in YC get them?

 

Also, how much is it to buy a photograph onboard?