Cruiseforever11

The ship is beautiful but with covid last year and all the flights issues this year I have avoided travelling abroad I will have been on her 6 times come April that's not through choice that's because msc have changed ships so instead of the Preziosa Dec and Grandiosa April it's now and going to be the Virtuosa. Next year for my other cruises in July and October I'm on the Seaview and World Europa so looking forward to the change! 😊

Yes they had tea and coffee in the cabins on the 4 times I've sailed on her from Southampton.

You need to select your cruise and on the front where it says embarkation time.

Take your cases to the YC tent outside the terminal very easy to spot as you cross the zebra crossing as they wrap (well they did mine on Thursday) yc sticker for the baggage handlers to know your luggage is in YC.

I am on what was the Preziosa in Dec week before Xmas now to be the Virtuosa She is a lot bigger than the Preziosa and newer. The food Is fine in my eyes but its not about the food for me but for some people it matters that's what makes their cruise but everyone is different and expectations are different. They are a European cruise line so there are lots of different things to try. Something for everyone. On longer cruises so 5 nights plus they do themed nights so for example they might do in the main restaurants a mediterranean night or an Italian night. There are also speciality restaurants (which you would pay for) from steak to Mexican to sushi and many more. If the main restaurants or speciality are not your thing then there is the buffet which does burger chips currys roasts cold meats cheeses pizza salads world cuisine and much more. I personally think Msc is good value for money and for what i want to get out of a cruise. I have done all grades of cabins from insides right up to yacht club. Gratuities are included in the price regardless. If you really don't want to pay them you would have to go to customer service on board to sort to removing them. Children do go a lot cheaper than most other cruise lines too. They have kids clubs from babies right up to late teens on board too. There is an indoor pool covered which in December is where most people will be rather than the outside one unless the weather is really nice. The waterpark I don't think will be open at that time of year sailing up the English Channel but can't say for definite. I went on this cruise last year on the Magnifica and still in covid mode so tours were limited mask wearing etc. We did our own thing just used msc for the transfers in to the towns. Hamburg we got there on a Sunday and nothing opened excepted for some of the Xmas markets, Amsterdam we used the transfer and then walked round the city ourselves we also did a canal trip which was a good way of seeing the city too. Bruges we never made it to port at Zeebrugge due to really bad weather hence why I am going again this year as never been there. Le Harve we stayed on ship only because the weather was just bad but planned to go to Rouen this time around. Regarding the staff. I personally have never encountered rowdy staff and always found them to be helpful and chatty. Maybe I'm just lucky. I love their ships they are clean and yes at the mo you still have to do a antigen/pcr test before you board and yes that annoys some people and others aren't bothered but I guess its more to do with protecting their staff as if you have a crew with covid you have no cruise and experience would not be that great. All the staff still wear masks regardless. I have 10msc cruises under my belt and another 5 booked. If it was seriously that bad I am someone who would go elsewhere. I say try it then if you don't like it or it's not up to what you want out of a cruise then you don't have to cruise with them again.

They never check the times to be honest. I have been on this ship 4 times and each time been given a different time. I travel down from Newcastle way normally on the day (very early!) And I check in when I get there. Never had an issue.

Just got off the Virtuosa today and was in YC. We turned up at 10am for check in for yc and straight through. If your not in yc they were already queuing outside at 10. We had to be out of our cabin at 7am this morning, when we got on Thursday just after 10 we were taken straight to the yc lounge barely had time to finish my drink and one of the butlers came over to say cabin was ready.

You should be able to access it. It should be just your msc booking ref first name and surname and works on Virtuosa. I have just tried mine just to see if it was working ok as i'm on Virtuosa on Thursday and its worked OK.

It's still a freebie on the uk site too for diamond members.

I might be able to help you on that. We are on the Europa 20th October maybe you could meet up with us. Here is my email message me and I will explain all 😊 sbcruise2022@gmail.com

You will enjoy that cruise it was the one we done in beginning of May this year. I can't remember if you saw our pics of our aurea suite we had right at the front. It is a cruise we would like to do again. I know what you mean about the YC prices they've really hiked them up. I have 5 cruises booked with msc 2 more this year and 3 next year. 4 of them are yc but I got good deals on them when they were trying to get people back. We were looking at cruises in 2024 for across the pond on one of the seaside class and yc is coming in at nearly 8/9k for a yc bal in the caribbean even before the flights are added on😳 So that won't be happening anytime soon.

Yes thats right the same with Diamond we started after security. Yc which I will experience in a couple of weeks starts from dropping the luggage off.

Hi Carole hope you are well. Yes you get anytime dining ignore the 6.30 thing. Regarding the check in time in all the cruises I've done since the start up from covid no one once has checked what my check in time is and I know people turn up much earlier than their embarkation time. Also that time will probably change anyway so I wouldn't worry about it. There is a separate line for Diamond and Aurea guests so you will be fine. I'm going on the mini cruise on 24th April on the Grandiosa with a load of family members(60th birthday celebration)in outside cabins and we have all got 10am check in but we will actually check in a bit later than that as everyone travelling down that morning. 😊

Aurea also has some suites with hot tubs on balcony. The two premium grand suite on deck 12 right at the front of the ship have one of the biggest balconies on the ship which also comes with 2 sun loungers, 2 chairs and another seat which can be used as a foot rest or a table (if you're very careful!) With Aurea also you get priority boarding and anytime dining and if ship is sailing full or near to capacity the Aurea guests have their own main restaurant. At present the Virtuosa is sailing at 80 - 85%% capacity. Kettles with tea and coffee in all cabins during the summer season. Food has been tweak to British tastes. The announcements for summer Southampton cruises are now in one language...English. Except safety announcements if needed.

Amazing video of the internal build of this cruise ship showing the vast amount of work that goes into building these giants in its raw state before all the glitz and glam go in.

Yes you won't be able to see round to your left see picture which is cabin 11135 on the Virtuosa, but you will have a lovely deep balcony and at that angle looking forward. I've stayed in these types of cabins at an angle for the bigger balcony.

Also it's going to have some fancy Artwork on the outside. I shall be on this ship in July. 😊

Yes it looks like I'm stalking you!😊 i'm not though, it's my sister in laws 60th birthday so there is 7 of us going. 3 of them have never cruised before so just doing the 3 nighter. I'm not expecting to be that much different from the Virtuosa but it's still another ship I get to sail on and looking forward to it! 😊

Hi Kernow hope you are well. I've booked yesterday for Grandiosa for 24th April next year a group of us. My obc didn't go on straight away but went on overnight so it was there this morning. So yes you should get it.😊

There are no ports which require a tender. From what I saw when we went in May people who had wheelchairs etc got on and off on a different deck that could be used for wheelchairs etc. However I advise to check directly with msc. There is a section on msc under special needs which gives more info but I would phone and double check with msc directly as they will need to know anyway but you know your situation better than anyone and what your husband can and can't do. Moving around the ship you will be fine. Tours again they will say if they are wheelchair friendly but I guess that they are for people who can get on and off a coach unaided and the wheelchair goes in the boot. Regarding the ports and walking around they were all wheelchair friendly. (This is based on when we went and where the ship was docked as can't guarantee you the ship will dock in the same spot in the ports as ours did but gives you an idea) Vigo the Ship is right there in the town and there are lots of coffee shops and shops etc that was the best in being the closest for walking anywhere. Lanzarote (Arrecife) a good mile only and a bit, only half a day there but there is a few shops and coffee shops in the Marina bit you can walk too which is on the way into the town. Funchal you can see the town but you have walk round the port a good 15mins depending how fast you walk. The town its self is lovely and worth the visit. Gran Canaria a nice walk along the front and back. We didn't do much that day. Tenerife and Lisbon we were on tours all day so not sure of the distance walking wise from ship into town. It's a lovely cruise and well worth it. but re getting on and off ship and the room speak MSC directly.

Cheers to you all! 🥂Maybe one day we will all meet up again with Carol & Mick too 😃

Glad you had a fabulous time and thank you for the pics and updates. So looking forward to Fjords next year. I shall be back on board in 68days time and my 1st time in YC with my daughter so looking forward to it. 😊

Ah thank you so much that's really helpful. We aren't going till July next year but it's good to get as much research done as possible especially if its going to save some pennies! 😊

If you see them again which i'm sure you will can you ask if they booked in advance with msc or independently and if independently roughly how much? This is something I definitely want to do when we go to Flam next year. Pictures btw are stunning 😊

It's only one. Both husband and I are diamond. We couldn't do the freebie on his card and then go to another restaurant and do a freebie on my card. Its done per cabin and only once per cruise.