showingdiva

I'm neither a bad nor nervous traveler, but as a solo QM2 traveler for a central location, have had a sheltered mid-ships balcony, which I liked as not a sun worshiper. However, as far as the Deck 3L single cabins are concerned, I would - and do - whatever possible for one of these.

I didn't realise you were back on board Virtuosa so soon. I was originally booked on this one too, but changed when it was announced she was staying in 2023, so had longer to fit in my next cruise(s). Have a fantastic time, enjoy another few Daiquiri Zeros in between the medicinal champagne.

The Iona Fjords cruise I am still currently (long story) booked on, because I wanted a specific cabin - one with the curved balconies (didn't want to end up on the infamous deck eight) is currently £919 more expensive than when I booked on release. £160 more OBC on offer now, but I can live with that.

Do you know .. it's how I realised I had developed a thing for them 🤣

Given quite a few cruise lines have done away with trays in buffet areas, try eating alone (for whatever reason) and trying to balance a couple of courses and a drink on a plate. Go back for something and one or both of two things happen -, someone takes your table as soon as you stand up or a member of staff clears the table.

If the cruise you are looking at is a short one, they have a different vibe to any longer ones, irrespective of the ship. I've done 11 cruises on Arcadia, of different lengths - and she's still my favourite P&O ship. For what it's worth, I'm not "older". The only time I'm in bed by 10pm on a cruise ship is if we've decided to have room service / movie night. She has one of the nicest theatres at sea, the smaller Globe, a little cinema and there's certainly been plenty people around in the Crow's Nest. If the price is good, a port to stop off in ... go for it. I also work in the NHS in Scotland. Any cruise and a bit of respite from it all is definitely worth it.

Thank you for your review of your time on Iona. For all the pluses you mention, it seems there are still a few issues. However, it was your sentence above that struck me. Because in the three cruises I've done in the last 13 months (none of which on P&O), I have found myself incredibly thirsty too, again the entire cruise. I am teetotal and pescatarian and don't add salt to meals. I was panicking it was just me. I was worse on MSC Virtuosa, a ship of not dissimilar age to Iona than I was on Queen Mary 2. Would be interested to hear if anyone else other than you or I have experienced this.

Guernsey is a lovely little place. It's a tender port, the ships have to anchor a fair bit off shore (20 minutes or so), and as ships are getting bigger and bigger, actually getting on a tender can be a really long process. Queuing for a couple of hours isn't unheard of.

The Mayflower air bridge .. 50% metal, 50% yellow and black masking tape.

To be fair, I wouldn't have thought that tanking up and down the English Channel at 28 knots in one of, if not the busiest shipping separation lanes would be a safe idea.

You have my every sympathy that your (and others) plans have been disrupted by the change of ships in the UK from Preziosa to Virtuosa. Nor can I deny that MSC's UK customer services and website can be frustrating and confusing. However, I do think your capital letter title about not touching MSC Virtuosa is not the ship's fault, nor is the experience on her indicative of the customer service you have received shore side. I can assure she's a beautiful ship inside and out. I do hope you get a satisfactory conclusion.

If you think our inclement weather on the final Channel morning was bad, when I returned home, our port (Edinburgh) had an unexpected visitor on Saturday morning - Hurtigruten's Maud. She was supposed to be making her way up to Norway, but on Friday night / into Saturday morning, they encountered horrific weather in the Channel (bear in mind this is a ship used to the northern most parts of Norway and the Antarctic), and the captain sensibly made the decision to head for a port. By the time she docked on Saturday morning and I arrived for work around 8am, I actually saw passengers touching the tarmac on the dock as they got off the gangway. By their own admission, a lot were "terrified" at the ship rolling / pitching all night.

What I forgot to mention is that while at reception, another passenger was complaining (loudly) and showing photos of her obstructed view stateroom, which her travel agent had booked. Said passenger was very angry about the lack of view, and had contacted her travel agent, who said it was Cunard's fault the obstructed view statement was .... obstructed.

I was also on this QM2 short break, one that was re-booked from a previous cancellation for obvious reasons. This was my third "post" pandemic cruise, the other two being on a different ship / cruise line. My experience does vary slightly, although I do agree that check in was unnervingly quick considering passenger numbers (although some had already embarked in New York). Boarding pass and passport only. I was asked if anything had changed since I completed my health declaration online (no), had I recently done a LFT (yes, that morning), and did I have a vaccine certificate (yes, and I waved it at him, but he didn't actually ask to see it). No mention of insurance purchased (yes). Covid - did I hear large amounts of coughing etc .. well, no, not really. I should at this point admit that I work for both the NHS and the cruise industry, so am possibly a bit more observant of these things. Did I wear a mask? Yes. At all times during embarkation / disembarkation, around the ship and in the theatre. Capt Hashmi made a very polite request about this in one of his addresses to the ship. Ports / itinerary. I have to confess to be delighted to being in Rotterdam (for the second time this year). It's one of my favourite places. Being a bit of a "ship geek", I love the sail in and out taking hours, the buzz of the River Maas and docking next to the Erasmus Bridge. Bruges - been so many times, I went to Blankenberge via the courtesy bus. Really enjoyable morning, some nice shops and the weather good enough for a stroll on the beach. I do concur it would have been nice to have gone into Cherbourg, even for half a day, rather than coast the Channel - but working in a UK port, I understand only too well the cost of berthing fees for any size of cruise ship, which would invariably put the overall cruise price up a bit. I was using this short break as literally that, a short break - away from internet, so had no intention of buying their wi-fi, because from past experience, it's always been like old fashioned dial up. There's probably a couple of hamsters on a wheel in the engine room, peddling like mad to charge the router, that's the kind of speed it does. The crew. I found them all lovely. My cabin steward was chatty and friendly, and just the right amount of presence. I know exactly who the OP is talking about (the trainer was standing behind them) as the trainee in the purser desk, but we were all that new to the job person once. Much painting and varnishing going on. I did find the MDR (Britannia) menu a bit uninspiring, and the choice in King's Court limited, but I certainly didn't starve. Cunard, like quite a few cruise lines, have been adjusting their interpretations of dress, and what they call it, for a few years now. It's all getting a bit muddied in translation. So, yes, I loved being away, loved being reunited with QM2, and am booked again next year for another little break.

The single KC cabins on QM2 with the double round windows are fabulous though. Been in both (just back from a single cabin) and a single occupancy balcony, and would choose the single cabin every time. They are at a premium though.

Now I'm back in (not so) sunny Scotland, I was about to ask your final verdict on MSC (I was thinking about you at my sailaway, as Balmoral was sandwiched at the Horizon Terminal between Queen Mary 2 and Anthem of the Seas). However, your reply here says everything. Pleased all worked out for you eventually.

Yes. Definite compliance amongst staff (I notice these things - I work both for the NHS and in the cruise industry). Perhaps they've also had a "chat" from Captain Hashmi, who in his daily passengers also mentioned the flags were flying at half mast, the books of condolence and that out of respect there would be no horn sounding on departure.

I just disembarked Queen Mary 2 this morning. One of our stops was Zeebrugge / Bruges. Cunard do, in fairness, operate a free shuttle to the station at Blankenberge, which I took the option of, but I stayed in Blankenberge, and I'm really glad I did. Okay, the lovely weather helped, but nice shops - including chocolate ones, a lovely beach to walk along and pretty Church and park opposite the station.

Just off QM2 this morning, albeit on a short Europe cruise. Captain Hashmi, in one of his daily announcements, mentioned that passengers should be mindful about mask wearing in places like the theatre, planetarium, lifts, buses, crowded places etc. There was more mask wearing after that, but I was still very much in the minority (passengers) - all crew (and I) in N95's. That said, I can't say I heard much coughing, sneezing etc anywhere around the ship.

I arrived in Southampton yesterday as you left. Virtuosa was last to leave, although partly due to bunkering still going on until 5pm, the Saga ship Spirit of Adventure at Mayflower taking an eternity to turn round and pass her - and a container ship delaying them all. Ironically Iona left on time, which is probably the first time this year.

We all thought "she's 96 in failing health .. we are prepared for this happening at some point". Turns out .. we weren't prepared at all. A fellow equestrienne, avid fan of horse racing and a knowledgeable breeder of thoroughbreds and Britain's rare breed native ponies. Rest in peace Ma'am. Re-united with your beloved Philip. Long live The King.

Delighted you are still enjoying the weather, the ship and the pasta. I'm sure you're not missing Scotland too much .. but it's been a week of torrential rain and thunder / lightning. Balmoral is due to make her escape out of dry dock on Friday morning.

Ah yes ... the strawberry daiquiri zero mocktail. Just sit me in a corner and line them up. I've not found any of the MDR's too cramped, but I've never been on her at anything near full capacity, so have always felt a bit of space. The theatre shows, yes, I too felt they went off on a bit of a tangent, the New York one especially, but just resolved myself to take it as the bright, enthusiastic whatever it's meant to be. Delighted you are (so far) enjoying your holiday and the ship.

90 minutes is a long time to stand waiting to embark. At least MSC have acknowledged there was a problem. Anyone (rightly) thinking 90 minutes is long, I would suggest never booking any cruise going to Guernsey. On any size of cruise ship. Ever.

Have a lovely holiday on the beautiful Virtuosa. If it's any consolation after the Fred woes, it's grey, murky and wet in Rosyth. Enjoy!