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Host Carolyn

By Host Carolyn,
in MSC Cruises

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nafarrell

nafarrell

Posted
Posted

I just wondered for anyone that has departed from Southampton recently, the cruise we are taking is near full capacity, what sort of queue times should I expect? I am travelling with my family including my grandmother who is 81, she would have trouble queuing for say three hours on embarkation day.

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Caravan 37 Great Review Rare

Caravan 37

Posted
Posted
On 8/11/2022 at 10:25 AM, defbref said:

 

Antigen is a LFT

 

MSC Europe do not currently require a observed test, just a certified one (Experience from 3 MSC europe cruise in past 4 months).

 

Use a 'at home' fit to fly test with a provider like Randox and just do it in your hotel room, takes about 15 minutes after upload to get certificate back.

 

However things are changing rapidly in the cruise world at moment regarding testing with most other lines relaxing/removing procedures, you don't say when you sail, but don't be surprised if things change in the next few weeks.

 

 

Thanks here's hoping they do! We sail 25 Sept

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ConnieTact "Live from...." Rare

ConnieTact

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, lindylooellalouise said:

Where in Southampton can you print out your completed health questionnaire as we leave home the day before we embark so won’t have access to our printer is it correct MSC require the form to be filled out 6 hours prior to boarding?

Can you print the form at home and then fill it out with a pen 6 hours before? This is what we usually do. They just want that information to be up to date not the time the page is printed. 

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ConnieTact "Live from...." Rare

ConnieTact

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, lindylooellalouise said:

Hi I’m slightly confused about covid testing requirements 

we are fully vaccinated and had two boosters, so do we now still need to do a covid test before embarking our cruise from Southampton to Northern Europe,

Yes, Lindy you need a certificate to say you are Covid negative.

 

“Please note that all Guests over 2 years old will need to follow one of these requirements to be allowed on board.”

 

- Must provide a certificate of a negative RT-PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours before embarkation. Guests must bring the valid negative test certificate with them to the terminal.

 

Departures to Northern Europe from Southampton:
Antigen self-tests are accepted for embarkation ONLY if guests show evidence of negative test results on an official certificate.

 

When we are fully faxed and boosted and cruised with MSC recently to Northern Europe.
We got tests from Medicspot https://www.medicspot.co.uk

We did tests at home and went through an online procedure that included and uploaded photographs of out results. They then sent us a report to show to MSC on embarkation. 
I hope this helps.

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lindylooellalouise

lindylooellalouise

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Yes, Lindy you need a certificate to say you are Covid negative.

 

“Please note that all Guests over 2 years old will need to follow one of these requirements to be allowed on board.”

 

- Must provide a certificate of a negative RT-PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours before embarkation. Guests must bring the valid negative test certificate with them to the terminal.

 

Departures to Northern Europe from Southampton:
Antigen self-tests are accepted for embarkation ONLY if guests show evidence of negative test results on an official certificate.

 

When we are fully faxed and boosted and cruised with MSC recently to Northern Europe.
We got tests from Medicspot https://www.medicspot.co.uk

We did tests at home and went through an online procedure that included and uploaded photographs of out results. They then sent us a report to show to MSC on embarkation. 
I hope this helps.

Thank you Connie you’ve been really helpful just need to order my tests print my tickets and then we’ll be good to go👍🤗

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Waju

Waju

Posted
Posted
On 9/8/2022 at 11:30 PM, Nufc said:

We have cruise booked for October and really hopping the testing requirements is removed before then, vaxed and booster should really be enough. 

I'm hanging on and hanging on but no news yet 😕  I've only got 13 days left so not holding out much hope that they drop the covid tests!

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Waju

Waju

Posted
Posted

Can anyone please tell me if there are tea and coffee making facilities in the Virtuosa cabins?  The website seems to indicate not but, if my memory is correct, they did have them on sailings from Southampton.

 

Thank you.

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Cruiseforever11

Cruiseforever11

Posted
Posted (edited)
22 minutes ago, Waju said:

Can anyone please tell me if there are tea and coffee making facilities in the Virtuosa cabins?  The website seems to indicate not but, if my memory is correct, they did have them on sailings from Southampton.

 

Thank you.

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

Edited by Cruiseforever11
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Cruiseforever11

Cruiseforever11

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Posted
1 hour ago, Waju said:

Thank you!  You obviously love Virtuosa 🙂

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! 😊

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Bertie Doe

Bertie Doe

Posted
Posted
On 8/22/2022 at 5:17 PM, nafarrell said:

I just wondered for anyone that has departed from Southampton recently, the cruise we are taking is near full capacity, what sort of queue times should I expect? I am travelling with my family including my grandmother who is 81, she would have trouble queuing for say three hours on embarkation day.

We were on Sky P in June and Island P in August. It was well organised. In both cases, total queue times were less than 30 minutes. This was around lunchtime, when we got back from the buffet, our cases were in the cabin. We did arrive at the Southampton Terminal about one hour earlier than our allocated boarding time but Princess don't bother to check this. Other cruise lines may be more strict?

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HikingPete

HikingPete

Posted
Posted
On 9/24/2022 at 11:25 AM, cruising.mark.uk said:

Hello all,

We've just booked 21 nights on Virtuosa from Southampton in January 2023.  Does anyone know what the onboard currency for the bars, spa, casino etc is for these UK departures this Winter?  Is it £ or Euros?

 

Thanks in advance,

Mark

 

As of 4th November, its going to be Euros.

 

No idea if they will change it again, but Euros kind of makes the most sense.

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Cruiseforever11

Cruiseforever11

Posted
Posted (edited)

It will be Euros for the winter season from November and back to pounds come April. This is because the official starting point for the  winter season is Hamburg and then in the spring/summer season will be Southampton. On the Virtuosa in Dec and then back on her again in April.

Hoping though they don't remove the kettles in the room during winter season as that was a Southampton thing for the British Market. Love my cup of tea in the morning! 

Edited by Cruiseforever11
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Cruiseforever11

Cruiseforever11

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, Chrish2 said:

Other than prices switching between GBP to EUR are there usually any other changes onboard when the official starting point changes between Southampton and Hamburg? (thinking entertainment, food etc)

Not really in my opinion. The food maybe less focus on the British side of things but there is something for everyone and you won't go hungry. Usually they wouldn't have tea and coffee in the rooms on European cruises which they do when out of Southampton as a starting point because us brits like kettles in our rooms but I would be surprised if they go round, take them all out of the rooms for the winter season to then put them all back at the beginning of April. I'm hoping they won't anyway but I will find out in 38 days time when I'm back onboard.

I guess the other thing is it won't be all British on board. Having said that when I was on the Magnifica last Dec year on the same cruise there were more people getting on in Southampton then they had from Hamburg.

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bpb53

bpb53

Posted
Posted

Hello

We are travelling on Virtuosa on 2/12/22, it's a last minute booking for us and our 1st time on an MSC ship.   Does anyone know which terminal in Southampton it leaves from?

 

Do they have shuttle buses available when in port?  We are visiting Hamburg, Zebrugge, Rotterdam and Le Havre and just want to trot into the towns/cities under our own steam.

 

Could anyone advise on dress code ? the website seemed to give generic information on the possibility of a "white" evening and the possibility of other themed nights, but not specific to this cruise.

 

Any information would be most gratefully received, thank you

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