MSC Virtuosa - Tips on avoiding busy areas and crowds?

[moto50]

I really dislike busy areas and crowds, has anybody been on MSC Virtuosa that can give some tips on specific places/times of day on board that are usually less busy or any nice secluded areas that we can drink? Or any other tips on avoiding kids and crowds?

I'm prepared for it to be busy and understand that it is part of being on a large ship, but I can't help but worry a bit and hearing some advice about how to avoid some of the crowds would really help me look forward to the cruise (14th April!)

 

Cheers!

[Cruiseforever11]

There is an adult only lounge on deck 16 which can get busy in the evenings but no kids.

 

The Virtuosa lounge deck 6 is the busiest place on the ship in the evening. The whole of the Galleria Virtuosa in the evening is where the main parties/discos take place on deck 6 and very busy if ship is full.

 

The pub also deck 7 can be busy in the evenings too. The t.v/studio bar on deck 7 they do karaoke in there but not till about 10ish but before that it can be ok for a drink but seating a bit hit and miss.

 

There are the outdoor spaces like the Horizon Bar at the aft of the ship and the main pool areas but this time of year a bit chilly. The inside pool area upstairs maybe OK. 

 

If your in Yacht Club then the yc lounge is the quietest place personally on the ship. 

 

It's going to be busy in the evenings if the ship is full at this time of year as weather not great for the outside unless you wrap up really warm. In the summer not so bad because they move some stuff like white night outside in the evening. 

 

I've pointed out the main areas others may agree or disagree and may have some other useful tips. I've been on the ship enough times and back on again in 13days time. Loved everytime busy or not busy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[moto50]

Thank you - it's good to know where gets busy. We are in a Fantastica balcony suite, is the adult only lounge available for us? I previously read it was Aura only.

 

I enjoy sitting outside even if it's chilly so I'm happy to hear that is an option to get some quiet time. 

 

Hoping there are some bars open very late so I can drink late and get up late, avoiding some of the breakfast rush.

[hamrag]

51 minutes ago, moto50 said:

I really dislike busy areas and crowds, has anybody been on MSC Virtuosa that can give some tips on specific places/times of day on board that are usually less busy or any nice secluded areas that we can drink? Or any other tips on avoiding kids and crowds?

I'm prepared for it to be busy and understand that it is part of being on a large ship, but I can't help but worry a bit and hearing some advice about how to avoid some of the crowds would really help me look forward to the cruise (14th April!)

 

Cheers!

I am wondering if you booked the wrong ship, unless it's a Yacht Club booking....you do know the Virtuosa has 6000+ passengers on board? 

 

As has been reported deck 6 is absolutely heaving in the evenings, particularly at theatre show end when everyone exits into the Galleria area because that is the only way in and out the theatre. The bars are very busy, and the few quieter areas with seating around the atrium and staircase are generally fully occupied.

 

The Sky lounge on deck 16 is very noisy, and very busy in the evenings. The least busy bar is the champagne bar.

[moto50]

1 minute ago, hamrag said:

I am wondering if you booked the wrong ship, unless it's a Yacht Club booking....you do know the Virtuosa has 6000+ passengers on board? 

 

As has been reported deck 6 is absolutely heaving in the evenings, particularly at theatre show end when everyone exits into the Galleria area because that is the only way in and out the theatre. The bars are very busy, and the few quieter areas with seating around the atrium and staircase are generally fully occupied.

 

The Sky lounge on deck 16 is very noisy, and very busy in the evenings. The least busy bar is the champagne bar.

 

Be sure to read the original post when replying, I'm fully aware of what I've booked, just asking for some tips. Cheers!

[hamrag]

1 minute ago, moto50 said:

 

Be sure to read the original post when replying, I'm fully aware of what I've booked, just asking for some tips. Cheers!

I did, that's the reason I mentioned the YC and also the Champagne bar in my response. 🙄

 

Now I see your post, confirming it's the Fantastica experience you have booked, sent whilst I was responding.....have a good one!.

[kernow]

L'Atelier bar has not been as busy as some of the others on deck 6 when we've been onboard but never been on at full capacity. I would think next week may be a bit quieter as the schools will have gone back.

[insidecabin]

1 hour ago, moto50 said:

I really dislike busy areas and crowds, has anybody been on MSC Virtuosa that can give some tips on specific places/times of day on board that are usually less busy or any nice secluded areas that we can drink? Or any other tips on avoiding kids and crowds?

I'm prepared for it to be busy and understand that it is part of being on a large ship, but I can't help but worry a bit and hearing some advice about how to avoid some of the crowds would really help me look forward to the cruise (14th April!)

 

Cheers!

We are on this cruise, if you want a mini tour embarkation or 1st sea day give us a shout.

 

First thing it has been confirmed that the ship is not going to Amsterdam so should be in Southampton on time and boarding at 10am is a real possibility.

 

There may be some stragglers of families that take their kids out of school/young  and the international passenger will still be about as still embarking multiple port,  numbers no idea hopefully down from the 6k this week

Report is there are 3k to get off Southampton.

 

 

Before Easter they were running 3.5k -4.5k and generally no problem they only tend to go 6k plus when the kids can cruise.

 

Having done a few now even when packed in the school hols we managed by adapting a bit.

 

The ship tends to start to close down 12:00-2:00 and that's where the Attic(aft 23:00) and casino are the late night early morning drinking spots, not done the Attic and the casino is smoking so avoid.

 

Inside day time even sea days there are spots that are quiet, the pub opens at 10am/11am  other bars stagger eg some at 6am champagne not till 4pm 

 

Depending on weather the outside Atmosphere(pool) bar has loads of seating as does Horizon(at the back)  evenings from 5pm both of those tend to be available as it has been cold.

 

The core time for shows and dinner 17:30-10pm that's when there tends to be more space around the ship as people get ready, eat and show.

 

As said the Galleria  and Virtuosa lounge are the main event places and get packed but that's where the fun is big party has been 10:30.

 

 

We get into a routine around our late dinner(7:30/7:45) the last 2 times, before dinner plenty of spots, after dinner pretty busy, do the late show after dinner  and then people are thinning out a bit by 10:30. 

 

.

Our late spot even when in YC has been Masters you sometimes have to stand for a few mins but people are moving on all the time.

 

Daytime anywhere that feels ok, I like outside but it has been very cold

 

18:30 Virtuosa where the party band have  a 30min pre show set, then we go change  

 

Sky lounge the Adult only can be mixed, when loads of kids the families tend to stay away so quieter.

Evening they have been having a Jazz style entertainer and it has been very pleasant to hang out pre dinner after changing,  I think it gets a lot busier later, then dinner show bar. 

 

 

Buffet there are a few tricks, it gets busy, sometimes crazy.

 

We used to go right to the back as most find food and a seat close,   at the back there is outside seating alsways sace when chilly.

 

There are side options in the buffet  that can work as people don't double back after going in.

 

Last cruise we changed to the tables right next to bar they seem to stay empty longer and you have no problems getting drinks as every waiter goes past you, its a few steps to order at the bar, good people watch space.

 

Go all the way round the food stations  as there are some items that are only in one or two places you get a feel for where the stuff you like is, this one we are thinking of trying the MDR for breakfast and lunch as reports are its ok(usually not our eating time).

 

 

The indoor pool can get busy, walked through a few times last cruise and there were  seats available a lot of the time(2 levels). 

 

Look out for the theatre shows afternoon sea days, if still on Eclipse are still on they do a Beatles set in Carousel lounge one night. 

[moto50]

Amazing info, thank you for this - I feel much more reassured and looking forward to it. Grabbing a drink would be great, I feel like I've tonnes of questions but in reality I should just be patient and find out things for myself 

[insidecabin]

11 minutes ago, moto50 said:

Amazing info, thank you for this - I feel much more reassured and looking forward to it. Grabbing a drink would be great, I feel like I've tonnes of questions but in reality I should just be patient and find out things for myself 

Part of the fun is exploring new ships.

 

New to cruising often miss much of a ship for days.

 

We miss stuff because we have our routines.

 

You can't be everywhere all the time.

 

[Frenchy34]

Some great advice, does anyone know how priority boarding works  please ?

[Frenchy34]

On 4/11/2023 at 8:01 PM, insidecabin said:

We are on this cruise, if you want a mini tour embarkation or 1st sea day give us a shout.

 

First thing it has been confirmed that the ship is not going to Amsterdam so should be in Southampton on time and boarding at 10am is a real possibility.

 

There may be some stragglers of families that take their kids out of school/young  and the international passenger will still be about as still embarking multiple port,  numbers no idea hopefully down from the 6k this week

Report is there are 3k to get off Southampton.

 

 

Before Easter they were running 3.5k -4.5k and generally no problem they only tend to go 6k plus when the kids can cruise.

 

Having done a few now even when packed in the school hols we managed by adapting a bit.

 

The ship tends to start to close down 12:00-2:00 and that's where the Attic(aft 23:00) and casino are the late night early morning drinking spots, not done the Attic and the casino is smoking so avoid.

 

Inside day time even sea days there are spots that are quiet, the pub opens at 10am/11am  other bars stagger eg some at 6am champagne not till 4pm 

 

Depending on weather the outside Atmosphere(pool) bar has loads of seating as does Horizon(at the back)  evenings from 5pm both of those tend to be available as it has been cold.

 

The core time for shows and dinner 17:30-10pm that's when there tends to be more space around the ship as people get ready, eat and show.

 

As said the Galleria  and Virtuosa lounge are the main event places and get packed but that's where the fun is big party has been 10:30.

 

 

We get into a routine around our late dinner(7:30/7:45) the last 2 times, before dinner plenty of spots, after dinner pretty busy, do the late show after dinner  and then people are thinning out a bit by 10:30. 

 

.

Our late spot even when in YC has been Masters you sometimes have to stand for a few mins but people are moving on all the time.

 

Daytime anywhere that feels ok, I like outside but it has been very cold

 

18:30 Virtuosa where the party band have  a 30min pre show set, then we go change  

 

Sky lounge the Adult only can be mixed, when loads of kids the families tend to stay away so quieter.

Evening they have been having a Jazz style entertainer and it has been very pleasant to hang out pre dinner after changing,  I think it gets a lot busier later, then dinner show bar. 

 

 

Buffet there are a few tricks, it gets busy, sometimes crazy.

 

We used to go right to the back as most find food and a seat close,   at the back there is outside seating alsways sace when chilly.

 

There are side options in the buffet  that can work as people don't double back after going in.

 

Last cruise we changed to the tables right next to bar they seem to stay empty longer and you have no problems getting drinks as every waiter goes past you, its a few steps to order at the bar, good people watch space.

 

Go all the way round the food stations  as there are some items that are only in one or two places you get a feel for where the stuff you like is, this one we are thinking of trying the MDR for breakfast and lunch as reports are its ok(usually not our eating time).

 

 

The indoor pool can get busy, walked through a few times last cruise and there were  seats available a lot of the time(2 levels). 

 

Look out for the theatre shows afternoon sea days, if still on Eclipse are still on they do a Beatles set in Carousel lounge one night. 

 

[bluenose66]

On 4/11/2023 at 7:01 PM, insidecabin said:

We are on this cruise, if you want a mini tour embarkation or 1st sea day give us a shout.

 

First thing it has been confirmed that the ship is not going to Amsterdam so should be in Southampton on time and boarding at 10am is a real possibility.

 

There may be some stragglers of families that take their kids out of school/young  and the international passenger will still be about as still embarking multiple port,  numbers no idea hopefully down from the 6k this week

Report is there are 3k to get off Southampton.

 

 

Before Easter they were running 3.5k -4.5k and generally no problem they only tend to go 6k plus when the kids can cruise.

 

Having done a few now even when packed in the school hols we managed by adapting a bit.

 

The ship tends to start to close down 12:00-2:00 and that's where the Attic(aft 23:00) and casino are the late night early morning drinking spots, not done the Attic and the casino is smoking so avoid.

 

Inside day time even sea days there are spots that are quiet, the pub opens at 10am/11am  other bars stagger eg some at 6am champagne not till 4pm 

 

Depending on weather the outside Atmosphere(pool) bar has loads of seating as does Horizon(at the back)  evenings from 5pm both of those tend to be available as it has been cold.

 

The core time for shows and dinner 17:30-10pm that's when there tends to be more space around the ship as people get ready, eat and show.

 

As said the Galleria  and Virtuosa lounge are the main event places and get packed but that's where the fun is big party has been 10:30.

 

 

We get into a routine around our late dinner(7:30/7:45) the last 2 times, before dinner plenty of spots, after dinner pretty busy, do the late show after dinner  and then people are thinning out a bit by 10:30. 

 

.

Our late spot even when in YC has been Masters you sometimes have to stand for a few mins but people are moving on all the time.

 

Daytime anywhere that feels ok, I like outside but it has been very cold

 

18:30 Virtuosa where the party band have  a 30min pre show set, then we go change  

 

Sky lounge the Adult only can be mixed, when loads of kids the families tend to stay away so quieter.

Evening they have been having a Jazz style entertainer and it has been very pleasant to hang out pre dinner after changing,  I think it gets a lot busier later, then dinner show bar. 

 

 

Buffet there are a few tricks, it gets busy, sometimes crazy.

 

We used to go right to the back as most find food and a seat close,   at the back there is outside seating alsways sace when chilly.

 

There are side options in the buffet  that can work as people don't double back after going in.

 

Last cruise we changed to the tables right next to bar they seem to stay empty longer and you have no problems getting drinks as every waiter goes past you, its a few steps to order at the bar, good people watch space.

 

Go all the way round the food stations  as there are some items that are only in one or two places you get a feel for where the stuff you like is, this one we are thinking of trying the MDR for breakfast and lunch as reports are its ok(usually not our eating time).

 

 

The indoor pool can get busy, walked through a few times last cruise and there were  seats available a lot of the time(2 levels). 

 

Look out for the theatre shows afternoon sea days, if still on Eclipse are still on they do a Beatles set in Carousel lounge one night. 

Thankyou for this information we are on the cruise end of september so looking for quiet spots