LIVE Virtuosa 05/06/21 the first 7 night sailing.

[kernow]

So it's the end of our first day and we're really impressed. The ship is beautiful and manages to still feel like a ship despite it's size. Lots of windows to view the sea and great outside space.

This evening we went to the Capriccio show not expecting much but it was excellent, 3 italian tenor type singers who could really sing.

 

We're crawling along at 7.3 kts at the moment heading to Portland tomorrow. 

[LawDog61]

Hello! I dropped by the MSC board (I am a Princess cruiser) hoping to find a review or blog. Looking forward to following yours along.  Thanks so much for bring a little cruise ship to us beached sailors.

[Lindypops]

16 hours ago, kernow said:

Cheers! Our first cocktails in the sunshine. This is certainly a beautiful ship, love this aft pool area. 

Apparently there are only 700 boarding today with more getting on in Liverpool on Tuesday.

Yum yum 

i will be joining you in Liverpool on tuesday travelling solo.

Very  excited 

looking forward to hearing how things are going in the next couple of days.

have arranged to meet up with others on tuesday at 5 pm at the main pool bar if you can make 😊

Linda

Edited June 6, 2021 by Lindypops

[nooosey]

I'm looking forward to boarding in Liverpool on Tuesday, it's my first MSC cruise. It will be great to be on a cruise again, the ship looks quite spectacular.

[kernow]

Good morning everyone. 

 

We had a wake up call a little while ago from the fog horn going off intermittently. It's stopped now as we are coming into Portland.

Apologies for not giving much info yesterday,  we were so excited to be onboard a ship again we seemed to be rushing about everywhere to see everything. From today I'll post the daily programs, I won't bother with other things unless people specifically ask as I think a lot has been posted already. I will get the MDR menus at some point as asked

Yesterday we ate in the Yacht club for dinner and the food was very good and the service was amazing. In fact the service is great all around the ship, the staff seem really pleased to be back at work again. Before the show last night the cruise director and hotel director came on stage to do a welcome speech. The CD mentioned that at the moment there are more staff onboard than passengers, something that will probably never happen again!

The forecast does not look so good today  so we'll be staying inside. We're hoping they will show the F1 race this afternoon and we have booked Hola for our anniversary dinner tonight.

Going to get ready to go for breakfast now, I'll add the daily programs shortly.

[kernow]

To those boarding soon, you're going to love it😁

[kernow]

[kernow]

[JP82]

20 minutes ago, Couple-Somerset said:

(groan) just as I thought - Rikki Jay and Soul Sisters appear to be doing the whole season as community service for crimes against entertainment.

A bit unfair as Soul Sisters weren't too bad, other than some of their wardrobe choices.

 

And - the good news is that with Rikki Jay appearing virtually every night, John Bishop will be able to catch his show too this week (err maybe not, I think he'll be re-whitening his teeth instead).

 

It's going to be interesting to see how many get to see John Bishop though as even with only 1,000 onboard, it would involve 4 reduced-seating theatre shows to get them all in.

 

Need to be quick with the pre-booking on your stateroom tv to get him booked !!

We get it. You didn't like what they wore.... Move on.

[kernow]

39 minutes ago, Couple-Somerset said:

(groan) just as I thought - Rikki Jay and Soul Sisters appear to be doing the whole season as community service for crimes against entertainment.

A bit unfair as Soul Sisters weren't too bad, other than some of their wardrobe choices.

 

And - the good news is that with Rikki Jay appearing virtually every night, John Bishop will be able to catch his show too this week (err maybe not, I think he'll be re-whitening his teeth instead).

 

It's going to be interesting to see how many get to see John Bishop though as even with only 1,000 onboard, it would involve 4 reduced-seating theatre shows to get them all in.

 

Need to be quick with the pre-booking on your stateroom tv to get him booked !!

I don't think the John Bishop shows are available to those who didn't book through Imagine. The concierge told us they are a private event run through a separate company. She said she would see if she could get us tickets but we haven't heard back yet. We did see him walking around the deck yesterday so he is onboard.

 

The F1 is showing live later in the pub and in the casino.

[kernow]

For the person who asked somewhere about the depth of the YC pool.

Mark is 5ft 10 and standing in the deepest part.

[wirral36]

3 hours ago, kernow said:

For the person who asked somewhere about the depth of the YC pool.

Mark is 5ft 10 and standing in the deepest part.

Thank you for this. It was me who asked because I was worried it may be too deep for my children. Thank u for being so kind to post this. 

[Lindypops]

8 hours ago, nooosey said:

I'm looking forward to boarding in Liverpool on Tuesday, it's my first MSC cruise. It will be great to be on a cruise again, the ship looks quite spectacular.

it is also  my first MSC  done lots of other  lines .

Hope it is OK as have heard various reports about MSC some good some bad .

going with an open mind 

there is another thread for the 8 june from Liverpool, hope to meet some folks about 5 pm in the bar next to the main pool if you are interested.

[ziggyuk]

@kernow if you get to see any execution prices onboard it would be handy to know. We are not buying in advance so we can use the OBC once on the ship, the internet says there is a 20% saving buying in advance so it would be good to know if that is a true reflection of the difference in price.

 

Do I recall you purchasing the funpass? We have bought one (just one to share) for our cabin, if you did buy it, it would be great to know how you get on.

Have a great time, sounds like you are 🙂

 

[kernow]

26 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

@kernow if you get to see any execution prices onboard it would be handy to know. We are not buying in advance so we can use the OBC once on the ship, the internet says there is a 20% saving buying in advance so it would be good to know if that is a true reflection of the difference in price.

 

Do I recall you purchasing the funpass? We have bought one (just one to share) for our cabin, if you did buy it, it would be great to know how you get on.

Have a great time, sounds like you are 🙂

 

Just checked in the app. Liverpool has sightseeing for 49.99 and Chester for 55.99. Greenock has Glasgow for 49.99 and Panoramic Lochs for 52.99.

 

I did purchase a fun pass but haven't used it yet, I'll let you know when we do.

[wirral36]

Silly question time - I know you can spend pounds on board on the U.K. sailings but do the casino machines/anywhere else take euros aswell ? Just thinking I’ve got euros left over from years ago. May aswell use them if there’s a chance.  I know on royal Caribbean u can use cash in various currencies in the machines. 

[kernow]

CD has just announced that there is some space for the 7PM John Bishop show tomorrow and it's open for booking now on the app on a first come first served basis. The concierge told us earlier that she would reserve a space for us.

[Lolou127]

It’s lovely to read your updates, I’ll be watching out for you sailing up past us in NW Wales towards Liverpool!
do you know if the intention is to increase the number of passengers as the cruises go along and all is ok? Also we’re you able to use your Covid vaccine card to prove you’d been vaccinated?

[CaroleC]

7 minutes ago, Lolou127 said:

we’re you able to use your Covid vaccine card to prove you’d been vaccinated?

That’s all I had to show when we checked in for our 24th May sailing. I had downloaded the NHS app as proof too but wasn’t asked for it as the card was sufficient.

[ziggyuk]

22 minutes ago, kernow said:

Just checked in the app. Liverpool has sightseeing for 49.99 and Chester for 55.99. Greenock has Glasgow for 49.99 and Panoramic Lochs for 52.99.

 

I did purchase a fun pass but haven't used it yet, I'll let you know when we do.

 

That is great news, thank you, I was expecting much more, the panoramic lochs for example is £49 pre order so at £52.99 onboard that's nothing.
Really look forward to hearing how you get on with the fun pass, we are not into simulators or other video games so will probably use all of ours on the bowling alley.

Thanks so much, now get back to those cocktails 🤩

[CaroleC]

33 minutes ago, wirral36 said:

Silly question time - I know you can spend pounds on board on the U.K. sailings but do the casino machines/anywhere else take euros aswell ? Just thinking I’ve got euros left over from years ago. May aswell use them if there’s a chance.  I know on royal Caribbean u can use cash in various currencies in the machines. 

Oh that’s a good question. We have a lot of left over Euros too, be handy if hubby could use those in the casino instead of Sterling as it’s not like losing ‘real’ money lol.

 

 

Edited June 6, 2021 by CaroleC

[lopar]

Thanks for all the updates, is making me even more excited for boarding on Saturday! From looking at your daily from Southampton it looks like the speciality restaurants are open for lunch on boarding? Did you happen to notice? Would love to get to Hola cantina if we’re on in time. 

[kernow]

5 minutes ago, lopar said:

Thanks for all the updates, is making me even more excited for boarding on Saturday! From looking at your daily from Southampton it looks like the speciality restaurants are open for lunch on boarding? Did you happen to notice? Would love to get to Hola cantina if we’re on in time. 

I didn't notice but will ask when we go tonight.

 

Next time we go past the casino I'll look at the machines to see the currency.

[wirral36]

7 minutes ago, kernow said:

I didn't notice but will ask when we go tonight.

 

Next time we go past the casino I'll look at the machines to see the currency.

Thank you, I really appreciate it. 

[wirral36]

Is anyone on deck 15 that can post some pics ? Wondering if it’s noisy and if deck 15 at the front is above the bridge ?