cublet

1 hour ago, mcoler181 said:

Much to the wife's dismay England are likely to be playing when we are on Virtuosa, I'm assuming they will show the Euros on board somewhere.

 

Is there a sports bar like on Seascape with loads of tv's? If not, any idea where they might show it?

Hello,

MSC has said that they will be showing all the matches.

Virtuosa does have a bar called 'Sports Bar' on 16 but (a) I've never seen it in use, and (b) two people and the ship's cat in there and it would be crowded.

My money would be in the 'TV Studio & Bar' on 7.

Regards,

Cublet

25 minutes ago, Billy Baltic said:

A strike in France? Surely not!! 

Hello,

Hardly news, is it?

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

Thank you for that. Do you have first hand experience of La Locanda? I am wondering if the smell of the pizzeria side of it pervades the drinking (only) side of it?

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

As the MSC Preziosa doesn't have a Champagne Bar like Virtuosa and Euribia, can anyone with recent experience advise which of that ship's bars offers the best selection of Champagne and other sparkling wines?

Cheers!

Cublet

Hello,

That's why I suggested the Passport Bar as it's one of the few full bars with an espresso machine whilst the Cafe al Bacio is an espresso bar that serves (some) alcohol.

I think you'd have better prospects on MSC where almost every bar has an espresso machine.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

My money would be on the Passport Bar on Deck 3.

Regards,

Cublet

27 minutes ago, little britain said:

You have 14 points.

Your wife has 14 points.

Child 1 has 14 points.

Child 2 has 14 points. 
 

No one is “out” any points. 

Hello,

I've never read a dog complaining about not getting the points on a Cunard TA whilst in kennels.

Regards,

Cublet

On 5/7/2024 at 8:43 AM, Mark_T said:

... because for cruises that have the UK as their home port it is not legal to add a mandatory gratuity to the bar prices, so most lines use different prices for those cruises which already include the 15% and adjust package inclusions accordingly.<snip>

 

</snip>

Hello,

I've been trying to convince RCI of this for months but the pond life that, post covid, have replaced those that knew/understood (and been let go), will not have it. 😢

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

It was quite a few years ago on Constellation but I did an 'Extensive Wine and Food' cruise to France and Spain. The menus on board were supposed to be indicative of our ports of call.

It was officially stated by X that we could bring on-board wine from our various ports of call.

Whilst I have many France and Spain cruises under my belt, none since have been called the above.

Regards,

Cublet

52 minutes ago, Nikita4 said:

There is no priority with Diamond on normal port days. YC can go out first, but its to early to catch the train.

Hello,

Agreed - Diamond Priority Disembarkation is only at the end of the cruise.

If the ship arrives at 08:00 I very much doubt if Yacht Club priority disembarkation will do you much good either.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

Anyone joining me on this one to the sun?

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

Anyone joining me on this one to the sun?

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

Anyone joining me on this one to the land of 'fire and ice'? Well, not a lot of ice but plenty of sun on my previous visits!

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

Any more family and friends joining me on this one?

I don't know where we meet in the absence of the Champagne Bar and the meetings are not always announced in the daily paper.

Regards,

Cublet.

Hello,

Any more family and friends joining me on this one?

I don't know where we meet in the absence of the Champagne Bar and the meetings are not always announced in the daily paper.

Regards,

Cublet.

Hello,

Yes, the train station is very close to the berth.

I don't want to put a downer on your plans, but whilst the ship may arrive at 08:00, it has to be 'cleared' by the local authorities before anyone can disembark. The answer to how long that takes is 'how long is a piece of string?'. Not only that but, especially given the location, there might be a couple of thousand people wanting to do the same.

Regards,

Cublet

12 hours ago, MeTarzanYouJane said:

My partner and I have just booked our first ever cruise, on the MSC Virtuosa, and having browsed various parts of this forum I have questions about eating in the MDR. I understand that we may well not be on a table for 2, rather we could be on a table for 4,6 or 8. We're both introverts so it's not ideal for us to be on a shared table trying to chat to the others, but we will manage. Go and see the Maitre d' in either Blue Danube (deck 5) or Minuetto (deck 6) ASAP and he will do his best to accommodate you.

 

However I've been reading about general etiquette in cruise MDRs and have questions please! 

Have i understood correctly that they won't start serving until all people at the table have arrived? So you are treated like a group of friends at a restaurant would be? Correct

 

I read somewhere that it is etiquette to take turns buying a bottle of wine for the table each evening - I assume/hope we can opt out of this and just order our own non alcoholic drink, or single glass of wine? Never heard of that one before - probably started by someone that wanted somebody else to buy the drink!

 

Apparently if we won't be eating in the MDR the next evening we must [must, no - should yes for the reason stated above] let our table mates know so they aren't waiting for us to arrive, but what if we don't know at that point that we won't be there the next day? What if we decide during the day that we'll eat at the buffet that evening? From watching cruise vlogs I had the impression that people happily move between eating at the MDR and buffet on different nights, making the decision on the day about where to eat, but it now seems you need to know in advance so you can tell your table? No, don't worry about it just do it. After about 15 minutes the waiter will have stopped waiting and take the orders from whoever's there.

 

Are there shared tables for breakfast and lunch? And if so do you get given a fixed time to arrive and have the same rule about waiting for all the table to arrive before any orders are taken? Breakfast and lunch are open seating (a free-for-all) and you will most probably be at a table for 2 anyway.

 

Thank you so much for any answers, and apologies if they are very basic questions! 

Hello,

See above in BLUE.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

The standard 'pour' is well over a land-based double so no need to ask for one.

Regards,

Cublet

1 hour ago, Chan50 said:

Perfect, thank you for such a prompt response.

 

Is soft drink and water available in the lounge through the day with the tea and coffee?

 

 

 

Thank you

 

 

Hello,

No soft drinks. Water may be available from a glass water dispenser - but a great emphasis on the word 'may' as one is not regularly there.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

In the Concierge Club/Suite Lounge, tea and coffee are available throughout the day, temperament of the coffee machine permitting. Drinks are usually served from 17:00 - 20:00. The 20:00 is more 'fixed' than the 17:00 - if they are ready earlier then they will serve earlier. Suite grade doesn't come with a drinks package so you can't drink anywhere else 'on the house' (unless you are going to a 'presentation' and some cheap swill is offered to you as you enter).

Regards,

Cublet

13 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

Every bar can make cappucinos and lattes. There are espresso machines and coffee grinders at every bar on MSC.

Hello,

Not quite every - The Champagne Bar has no coffee machine but I did spot a jar of Nescafe instant coffee.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

Closest will be the coffee station(s) in the buffet on deck 15 (24hr).

First 'freshly brewed' will be the Infinity Bar on deck 5 that opens at 6.00.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

They could always keep it in Southampton for longer.

Regards,

Cublet

Hello,

You have to pay for WiFi but you can be assured you will receive umpteen fliers trying to persuade to buy a mini package. But you will probably be within range of a land transmitter for most of the daylight hours.

If you do want to purchase on board then head for 'The Hub' on deck 6 at the Photo Gallery on the port side.

Re alternative food venue: The Champagne Bar, deck starboard side, from 5.30pm has offers including oysters and other seafood delicacies (on longer cruises anyway) along with Champagne pairings (Lanson Black Label included in P+ package).

A word of warning: The drinks' T&Cs currently say you only have to pay the excess cost on any drink you buy over over the level included in your package. However on Euribia earlier this month they were charging the whole whack. Whether the website T&Cs are out of date(*) or the ship was 'going native' I don't know but check before you order.

Regards,

Cublet

(*): The current Bar Manager on Virtuosa is ex Royal Caribbean who are past masters in not keeping their website up to date.

Hello,

Having said that, you should go to the Jean Philipe cafe if only to marvel at the (probably new) 'vintage' coffee machine. It must take an awful lot of polishing.

Regards,

Cublet