showingdiva

I believe this only applies to US based ships currently. Certainly doesn't apply to Virtuosa / Euribia.

You will not automatically be seated at a table for 2 because that is how many of you there are. You may be on a 4, 6 or 8. If just the two of you dining is important to you for whatever reason, you will need to speak to the Maitre d' / restaurant manager, who will likely do their best to try to accommodate you if you aren't already on a table for just the two of you. Your initial table number and restaurant name, as Essiesmom has said above, will be on your cruise card at embarkation.

The soft serve ice cream / toppings in the Atmosphere Bar on the pool deck is included in the adult non-alcoholic drink package ex-UK.

5. Arcadia's prom deck

It's not too loud. Probably not enough to send your son to sleep, but not uncomfortable (I'm not a fan of really loud). Each one is performed every alternate day excluding embarkation / disembarkation days. You ideally want to be facing the stage, opposed to at the side of it, especially with Arkymea. You'll understand when you see it. Realistically, taking away the price of the included drink from the pre-pay price, the show is costing 25p. Definitely worth it.

Just from the point of view of visual effects, my favourite is Arkymea. Have seen it twice and Ajedrez once. Apologies, I'm teetotal, but the included mocktail the last twice I have been in the Carousel Lounge was Aloha - grapefruit juice, tiki mix, sweet and sour mix, rose syrup, tonic water. It's lovely.

You should have been able to select your bed preference when you booked. Did you do this through MSC directly, or via a travel agent? If you don't think you have selected a preference at any point, you will probably find that it's been set as a double. Just ask your cabin steward, as a double bed is two singles joined together. The MDR table - your allocated restaurant and table number will be on your cruise card. If it's not a table for 2 if that's your preference, speak to the maitre d', who I'm sure will be able to accommodate you in one of the restaurants. Juice is available in the Market Place buffet, definitely through breakfast service. Orange, pineapple, apple, grapefruit and ACE (tropical vitamin juice (it's lovely!)). It used to also be available at lunch too, but I haven't been on Virtuosa since last May. I've since been on Euribia, when it was only available at breakfast, so not sure if that is a fleet wide change or not. Unsure about the Voyager status, as I've not done a short cruise since the first post-covid resumption.

Getting it off my chest that I hate the term "influencer" with a passion. No-one "influences" me about anything. Ever. And it appears everyone and his aunt is a cruise blogger these days. However, from a light entertainment point of view, I do like Kevin and Stacey (One Couples Adventures) because they're down to earth and ask to film empty spaces early morning, Travel Blog Jamie because he appears very personable and Emma Cruises (but I do wish she would slow down and come up for air occasionally). The Ben and David MSC scenario, well others will say differently, but Ben's general dramatic negativity - you only have to read the titles of all their vlogs over most cruise lines - grinds on me like finger nails down a blackboard. Did MSC deal with it well? No, not really. But the histrionics were unnecessary. Cruise lines have made a rod for their own backs by facilitating all this by offering free / discounted cruises, effectively encouraging it all. One which, I suspect, they will struggle to regulate going forwards.

That's probably very true. Hospitals can close wards, isolate, deep clean and don't have carpet. Cruise ships have such a tight turnaround. So, it's back to soap and water and try not to touch your face (or anyone else's!).

Then apologies for wasting both our time. Essentially, if you want to take alcohol on board, swim with your baby in a pool etc, then go for it. I appear to be looking at these questions from two directions - having cruised out of Southampton on a MSC ship four times in the last three years, and that I work on board cruise ships in my home port including working closely with the rest of the team - security, baggage handlers, ship agents etc. I would never claim to being always right about anything, but here, I'm also often not wrong. A decade of experience and training and even more as the child of a captain. Main thing is to enjoy your cruise. Virtuosa is a lovely ship. If you can deal with potential consequences, life is too short not to live it.

" We have clear and simple rules to ensure pool safety. Babies in nappies are not allowed in the water and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Swimming caps are optional, but flip-flops should be worn around the pool (and can be purchased in the shops on board).

You have no chance of bringing on alcohol. Some will tell you they have successfully carried on a small amount of soft drink, but by luck more than anything else. I've heard tannoy announcements on embarkation day of cabin numbers that have had items seized and asked to report to reception to give them the procedure for eventual return. You also cannot bring alcohol on board after visiting a port - well, you can, but it will be confiscated until the end of the cruise. The amount you describe will attract attention. P&O and Cunard are different in Southampton because they do allow unlimited soft drinks and 1 litre of alcohol to be brought on board for personal consumption in cabins. It is, I'm afraid, very clear in MSC's conditions they do not.

Never been on the other two, but currently won't see past Virtuosa. Pre-covid I would have laughed at the thought of the size of her. Now been on three trips since (+ one on Euribia), three more booked. Wouldn't book on any ship during school holidays. Great pizza. Always manage to find somewhere quiet, aside from the balcony. Virtuosa has developed some "British-isms" since her arrival in 2021. In this, they include the new Abba show (even though they're Swedish!). The Market Place buffet. One learns quickly to avoid peak times and sit near the front or back (everyone congregates around the food .... it ain't disappearing!). And Hola. A great specialty restaurant. Remember that Virtuosa's maximum number includes all bunk beds being occupied too, which they often aren't.

I loved Cherbourg. Nice walk into the city (15 mins or so). Lovely park and marina, the submarine Le Redoubtable, aquarium and museum and restaurant / cafe in La Cite de la Mer next to the cruise terminal (which in itself is architecturally really interesting).

Not something P&O (or any other cruise line) can be blamed for not managing. I work with cruise ships in my home port and we had a turnaround ship yesterday morning. Nowhere near the size of Iona but still a tight schedule for everyone. The point being made on this thread, is that if people just decide to do their own thing, when and where they want, it creates unnecessary pressure for staff on board the ship and ground services such as baggage handling and security off the ship.

I haven't self disembarked from a P&O ship, but have from Cunard and MSC, and the times to do so are quite early. The ships tend to arrive at their scheduled times - it's all quite a choreographed ballet .. passengers need disembarking, stores need to be delivered, etc. Your 9.30am train time is perfectly doable with self-disembarkation, but you will have to observe the time that P&O allocate. However, my main reason for posting is that there are 4 large ships disembarking in Southampton on the 29th June - Iona, Ventura, MSC Virtuosa and Sky Princess. Iona is at Ocean Terminal - even with "light" luggage, that's quite a walk, and irrespective of whether you walk or get a taxi that Southampton Central may be very busy that morning.

Not guaranteed. Could be part of the latest round of cut backs. Still, the excursion coaches could get closer to the gangway.

No mistaking, she's a big ship with a lot of people. The first evening is always a bit crazy, mainly because people are trying to orientate themselves, but can't help "misplacing" their cabin, restaurant, theatre etc. But it settles, when they find their favourite bar, etc. There will always be quite a lot of children. She's marketed as a family ship. However, on these dates, English schools won't have broken up yet, and Scottish schools will only just be about to. I would predict the cruise will be around 90-95% full, given some upper berths (bunks, fold out sofas etc) won't be occupied. Her size takes most aback to begin with, no matter how much they've cruised before. But she's a beautiful ship. Enjoy!

Oooohh ... keyboard warrior. I'm recovering from eye surgery. Not much I type makes too much sense at the moment.

On embarkation day on Virtuosa, there's a central point beside L'Atelier for booking restaurants. I've only ever used it then, so unsure how long it's available there. Deck 6 on the galleria.

Congratulations to everyone who has been tempted by a new itinerary or ports and registered. 2026 isn't that far away. I fully understand why some cannot commit that far in advance for a number of reasons. For me, it's a bit of carpe diem. Something to look forward to and enjoy the thought of planning for. P&O, I will come back to you at some point. Honestly. But MSC's Mr Paradiso does keep returning my lovely white ghost to me every summer .....

If you are in the P&O site, you can change the cabin type to whichever you prefer. There's a blue filter bar near the top that says "Ports to Visit", "Ships" and "More Filters" - the drop down arrow allows to change to "Cabin Type"

Captain Hashmi. A man no-one would dare to defy and a steadfast presence around the ship. I recall a very succinct message on embarkation when the late Queen Elizabeth had just passed away - to say that there was a condolence book, there would be no sailaway celebrations or horns, and that it was his ship, and therefore we were in mourning accordingly.

In Hamburg, MSC use the Steinwerder cruise terminal. Currently on a winter cruise loop for MSC Euribia, but soon by MSC Preziosa. I'm pretty sure it's MSC Poesia that's going to / from Warnemunde over the next couple of years.

Arcadia was my favourite P&O ship by a long way. So many cruises and so many happy memories on board. I'm not old ... just like Arcadia, a little bit creakier than I used to be ..