abbeydoo

Thank you everyone. I have no recollection of specifying twin beds but sounds easy to sort out on board. Sturdy drinks bottle will be packed!

Have a last minute 2 night cruise booked on the Virtuosa for next weekend. Have not sailed MSC before and there are a couple of things I haven't been able to work out. I'm sailing in a deluxe interior with the fantastica package. - beds. I cannot see where I can select twin beds rather than a double. - MDR meals. Will put party of two be able to request a table just for us? Sharing a table with others is not our preference. -drinks. My package is tea, coffee, water in the MDR. I am assuming/hoping some type of juice will be available at the buffet throughout the day? - Voyager club. I was fortunate to have my status matched with gold from Carnival platinum. Looking at the terms of the programme I will not be able to access many perks as the cruise is only two days and I booked at short notice? Any feedback gratefully appreciated.

Really helpful, thank you.

I'm aware that benefits for an elite cruise are for two. However, will have three people in the cabin this time and wondered if the transport benefit will stretch to three? Feels a bit weird sending third person off in an Uber.

I too am currently on the ship and have a different perspective to the OP. BUT, but, but, but.....I probably have a lower bar of just needing cleanliness, no work, sunny weather, cocktails on tap and on this trip, a good travel companion. What I really like - decor; although it is a lot more plush than other carnival ships and unless cleaning, and I mean thorough cleaning is a regular occurrence, I can imagine the ship will look grubby in a couple of years. There is so much material. Love main dining room decor too. Crew - all the crew I've interacted with have been super polite and helpful. I could never have a job where I need to remember the names of thousands of people and their preferred drink (or could be the fact I'm at the bar a lot). Fellow cruisers - although carnival has no control over this, other cruisers on this trip are great. There was an argument on lido one afternoon, security came but the guys shook hands and went about their business in under 5 mins. Bars - so many cool new drinks. Spicy mango Bellini anyone?? Terrazza area - loving my cabana. Have fallen out of the hammock twice. Wish there was a pool and not just hot tubs. What I don't like so much - lido buffet - I find the layout rubbish. Was on the celebration earlier this year and thought buffet layout was far more sensible. Food in general - it's not awful by any means and wholly subjective but I'm yet to have food served piping hot and I'm finding the MDR menus so so. Terrazza area - needs a gate between the general area and cabanas. Not enjoying the randoms walking past shouting 'oooh what's this, private rooms', I don't want to fall out the hammock in front of them and I don't want to hear loud voices. What I really don't like - Manhattan cruise terminal. Could've just been this cruise but in comparison to other terminals I've departed from, I found this terminal chaotic. Hoping debark is not the same. Casino - I'm both a smoker and degenerate gambler. You can find the casino by using your nose, the smoke small travels and lingers. I have been in ship casinos with much better filtration. It is also very hard to find a machine let alone one you want to play on at peak times. I also remain baffled why a non smoker sits next to me when I am smoking and produces theatrics when there is a non smoking section (not perfect but at least will not have a smoker next to you) and a whole non smoking casino annexe. Breakfast omelette - no jalapenos! This is obviously what has broken my whole cruise. And whilst I have not gone myself, queues for comedy shows are always really long. I also periodically smell weed. Doesn't bother me, I'm just jealous. All in all, I'm loving the ship.

Brilliant, thank you!

Hello, Can I ask whether you purchased the two days only and the price? I need to do the same as may need to work one day but would love to disconnect the rest of the time. Thanks!

Oh, that doesn't sound great. Have booked my slot for 2pm so hoping to have a quick muster, drop off bags and have lunch after the rush.

You can count on me 😁

Fab thank you. I'll go for a 2pm arrival.

I do love a Guy's burger but I shouldn't really eat them. It is the salad bar I'm after. Bizarrely, I eat really quite healthy on a cruise, ignoring the copious amounts of alcohol.

Have an amazing trip!

I'll be on the Pride from Dover.

What time does the buffet close on embarkation day please? I planned to arrive late (for me) at around 2.30pm.

I'm sure Carnival will provide coach transfers from other airports to LHR. Realistically, as you have already mentioned unlikely to get a landing slot at Heathrow. Stansted and Luton are more likely to have capacity and with provided coach transfers it's an inconvenience but not difficult.

Interesting post and sorry to jump in on your thread OP. I am intolerant to soy, fish and seafood and I've found avoiding soy really difficult when cruising. Is it possible for you to share more information around how that particular intolerance was managed? Plain salads are relatively safe for me but much of the oil used on board appears to be soy so I'm affected by not just the actual food but how it's cooked too. Most cruises I try my best to just minimise intake through trying to make best guess food choices. I was really excited when the allergy tablet arrived but it just shows me how little I can eat. I've not been offered the opportunity to pick food for the next day or special prep so didn't even know it was a thing!

Thank you

Thanks for your great review so far. Can I please ask how was the Terrazza Cabana area, especially in the evening, with regard to random people wandering past Cabanas? Although I am excited to be booked in one later this year, videos suggest there is not a physical barrier like a card entry system between Terrazza Carnivale and the cabanas, is that correct?

I'm British and have been on around 10 Carnival cruises. Me and my (now grown) kids love them, although my eldest is trying RC for the first time this summer. Everyone is really friendly, my youngest struck up a friendship on board when she was 13 years old - 10 years' later and a big pond between them they are still in contact. I find people are really interested to hear about where you are from. I'm also black british so have another layer of history that people are keen to learn about. I met a Canadian woman last cruise whose great grandmother had lived about 10 mins from where I grew up, prior to emigrating, so I was able to tell her all about it. I do find the food tricky on occasion. In my opinion USA uses far more additives in their food than UK, which my tummy feels. After what I considered awful food on the Pride last summer in terms of taste, temperature and general presentation, the Celebration earlier this year was fantastic in all of the places we ate, including buffet. Comedy shows vary by comedian and I do not always get all of the cultural references but I've been to some of the comedy shows where I am rolling in laughter, others not so much. For me, the PG shows were funnier than the 18+ shows, which were just swearing. I swear like a builder so it doesn't really rouse a laugh from me. I very much recommend Carnival and have not experienced any negativity being British

Thank you! I have a Terrazza cabana for this cruise so doubly excited :)

Called back today, my daughter was added to my booking in minutes with expected taxes and gratuities added. Thanks for all your thoughts.

Thanks all. Unfortunately I do not have a PVP. Someone offered to be one for me last year - great, had never used previously but thought could be useful. He helped me book a cruise, I called him back next day, left three messages and hasn't called me back for ooh, would be 8 months now 😂. I don't think being in the UK would change anything. Carnival no longer has their UK site so assume I sign general T&C's. I agree, I've effectively paid for the second pax so why cannot not make that a reality? Not a solo cabin at all. I've got a king bed as my preference. I also thought Carnival didn't 'do' single cabins as like other lines. I think I'll try again on the weekend and cross my fingers I find someone who can put in a little effort. If not I may politely raise a complaint.

Ah that's a shame but thank you

I'm cruising solo under a casino rate. As solo I needed to pay for double occupancy - fine as a 100 pp. My daughter has now asked to come with me. When I called carnival to add her to the existing booking the person on the phone was unable to do without changing my rate code and making cost go up quite considerably. I was transferred to the casino and the person I spoke to said no, nothing they can do. Does this sound familiar or correct to anyone or should I try and call back and hope someone more helpful answers?

Great to hear, thank you.