philsuarez

On 9/21/2022 at 12:46 AM, RichYak said:

As compensation, you will no longer need to take a covid test mid-cruise nor pay the $40 BTA fee. Everybody wins.

Ha unless you wanted to visit Bermuda.Have always found Lisbon a bit of a dump

I think you need to appreciate that we don't always get the same news here in the UK. Many people on the Facebook group for this cruise also had no notification. 

Like I said winners and losers. The cancellation notification seems to have been very sporadic. My actual own TA is on the cruise and she didn't know. We obviously view Lisbon like many view Bermuda. 

Thanks for that. Bermuda was a big deal I suspect for many Brits on the cruise. Most cruises from Southampton tend to visit Lisbon heading south hence not a very exciting replacement if you are from the UK. In my opinion they should at least offer a full cancellation and refund for situations like this. Personally never that bothered about where I go but this was a special trip for friends 60th so they are very disappointed 

Not in UK

Discovered this:-

https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-and-celebrity-cancel-bermuda-calls-over-testing-requirements/81556

I have several friends that were on this trip which featured overnight in Bermuda on route to Miami. No ones had any formal notification but the itinerary has now changed and no Bermuda! They get routes change but port call replaced with Lisbon not even another island. They are lived that not even been told officially. Does anyone know anything about the reason for change and if `Celebrity should offer some compensation as Bermuda will be the main reason most have booked this trip!

It probably makes more sense design wise just to build standard double berth cabins. That way they can be dual purpose 

Seems an awful lot more for what is essentially just enhanced dining! We’ve done normal Britannia class and food has always been very good. On some 12 night cruises it’s £5k extra per cabin. That’s crazy pricing

An inside YC would knock any other lower class of cabin out the park. Drink is included.

Armonia has no YC?

Maybe try one 

People generally start to disembark from around 0730hrs. You can walk self off with  lugage or leave later if collecting luggage from terminal.. I would book flight around  or just after lunch

Lesley and I had the pleasure of visiting Le Bellot whilst she was moored in central London on Thursday 19th May 2022. Has opened our eyes to small ship cruising! Beautiful interior with only 184 guests and every cabin has a balcony. We've done nearly 30 cruises but only on large mainstream lines. She was alongside HMS Belfast so London really meant London not a 3 hour trip from Southampton. We currently have a few other cruises booked but hoping for a Ponant cruise in 2023/2024. Big thanks to Nabil and Vlad from Ponant who organised everything. We were also joined by the Vice President of Ponant, Herve Bellaiche, which made for a fascinating chat. Pricing for suites on large ships seems to be creeping ever up so a balcony cabin on Ponant would be similar pricing with the advantage of luxury small ship cruising. Can't wait!

I have club class dining. Can use the app to make dining reservations in Concerto on Regal Princess in August 2021 but would this be in the club class area or just general dining. I'm thinking not to bother as its not clear.

I was so excited about this but pricing is totally out of sync with normal MSC pricing plus they are not offering YC insides. YC balconies are coming out at £3400 for 4 nights! Normal balcony is around £1500 for 4 nights in May. Seems very expensive considering I booked Club Class Junior Suite with Princess in August for £1440 for 2........however desperate to visit her.......doing my best to resist as I just don’t think the pricing is sensible!

Excellent news. I must be a cruise nerd as I thought this may happen

I took the plunge with a 4 night Princess as it was only £50 pp deposit. I can always convert this to a future cruise credit or book another short cruise especially if its Virtuosa!

It will really depend on what ship they deploy to UK. Currently due to be Magnifica which has limited suite options. If however they deploy a ship with a Yacht Club complex then it would knock a P & O experience for six. Love the YC which is a ship within a ship concept much like Haven on NCL. All drinks included, private lounge, butlers, private restaurant and private pool area with outside buffet. You get all the big ship amenities but then can retreat to an oasis of calm. That being said we have stayed in all types of cabin on MSC and have always had a great experience. Ships always very modern and food great. Normally a mix of nationalities and Italians can be very loud but this won’t be a problem on the UK trips. People tend to either really love MSC or hate it with a vengeance 

The suite offering on P and O is fairly poor in my opinion. Whilst the cabins are lovely you'd think they would include drinks in the price and enhanced dining other than breakfast (I must admit that was a highlight)

Iona actually has far fewer suites than Britania and the mini suites carry no enhancement what so ever

I am seriously considering a Princess but ideally want 7 nights at beginning of summer not the end. Sods law that I will commit to a 4 night and then Virtuosa will arrive in Southampton! Magnifica does not interest me so much 

The wait for news is doing my head in! Need to make an informed decision about which line to commit to but proving very difficult. My preference would be a YC sailing but if that doesn't happen then I might have missed out with P and O or Princess. Come on MSC spill the beans!

6 hours ago, Couple-Somerset said:

Virtuosa has just been given permission to lay up at La Havre until June.

 

Would be great to get that new ship sailing around the UK - we only sail Yacht Club with MSC so Magnifica no good for us.

We're due on Celebrity Silhouette out of Southampton late June but that's looking doubtful so a swap to YC on MSC would be good.

 

We are keeping fingers crossed for 2 x 7N with MSC from Florida in late August and September though as its wifes 50th.

We'd much prefer YC as well although would give Magnifica a shot if that was the only option. Seems to me that Virtuosa is ideally placed!

51 minutes ago, sidari said:

Phil ... More chance of Divina I would guess.

Not sure as Divina is due for Caribbean season which could go ahead 

I think it may be likely that MSC Virtuosa is redeployed to the UK rather than the summer season out of Kiel what with further lockdowns across Europe