LIVE REPORT Christmas Markets-MSC Euribia 1-8th Dec 2023 -New Ship-YC Balcony suite

[ConnieTact]

Hi @Cruiznrightalong

i went to Deck 16 to see about the fun pass.

i spoke to Nelly C who was very friendly and helpful.

she said you can buy the fun pass online or when you get here. She gave me the flyer to show you.

She said anyone in your children in your family can use it even if not is same room. 
also, you may wish to put a block on the account for the children when the credit limit has been reached or you would get charged to your room for any extra spends.

she said the bowling lane costs £25 for a session but you can have up to five people playing, if there is ten of you then you can hire both lanes and play against each other. Not bad for a fiver each.

I took a couple of photos to whet your appetite!

 

 

[ConnieTact]

While we were at the amusement desk, there was an announcement. Sadly due to a strike, Zebrugge will be closed so the ship cannot sail there tomorrow.

it is too late to organise anything else so we will be sailing straight to Le Havre on Thursday and have a day at sea tomorrow.

this is sad for some, who were going g to disembark tomorrow. They are now faved with a choice to either get off and get complimentary transport to Rotterdam The Hague airport, or they stay on until Le Havre. Either way travel plans for them will be changed and have to be rebooked. It’s at times like this one needs insurance. 
I hope not too many people are off the ship today oblivious that they may have to come back onboard only to have to disembark minutes later! 😱

We walked around the walking track to get some exercise before back to the room.

Also, we saw the swing bridge open earlier and a tall boat sailing through.

 

[boogybaby]

I will be gutted if we miss Bruge next week, thank you for posting all this great information, hope it doesn’t spoil your enjoyment.

[ConnieTact]

1 hour ago, boogybaby said:

I will be gutted if we miss Bruge next week, thank you for posting all this great information, hope it doesn’t spoil your enjoyment.

Thanks Boogybaby. No- it’s fine for us as we have been to Bruges before and we’re only planning to go to a local chocolate factory!

We has an announcement that we are going to be in Le Havre for 2pm tomorrow instead. If anyone was going to Paris this could be good news as a longer stop.

i just feel for those affected who are getting their cruise cut short or have the hassle to reorganise their travel plans at the last minute.

also, the folk getting on tomorrow will now need to travel to Le Havre rather than Bruges at short notice!

anyway, here’s another food picture! 😊

Edited December 5, 2023 by ConnieTact

[showingdiva]

I was on Euribia's first sailing out of Southampton mid-October.   The ship was never scheduled to go to Zeebrugge on that sailing     We had two full days in Rotterdam instead, then on to Le Havre.

[Cruiznrightalong]

6 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Hi @Cruiznrightalong

i went to Deck 16 to see about the fun pass.

i spoke to Nelly C who was very friendly and helpful.

she said you can buy the fun pass online or when you get here. She gave me the flyer to show you.

She said anyone in your children in your family can use it even if not is same room. 
also, you may wish to put a block on the account for the children when the credit limit has been reached or you would get charged to your room for any extra spends.

she said the bowling lane costs £25 for a session but you can have up to five people playing, if there is ten of you then you can hire both lanes and play against each other. Not bad for a fiver each.

I took a couple of photos to whet your appetite!

 

 

You are amazing! Thank you so much for this detailed information and pictures. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this! Looks like great fun!

[Cruiznrightalong]

16 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

We have an early excursion today. The ship arrives at 8am and we meet at 8.20/8.30 to disembark to get on the coach. This is an organised MSC trip.

the first ship organised shuttle also has the first leaving time at 8.30am today.

If you have sailed with MSC before and have Gold or Diamond status you are said to be given priority status tio disembark at ports. The issue here, is that unless you’re in YC and getting escorted off with the butler, you would need to push in front of others in the queue and this may not be easy!

I would say a sensible thing would be to allow up to an hour to be sure you were off. Are you thinking of booking things for certain times?

we tend to have late starts and wander off the ship when crowds have gone so I dint have too much experience of the morning rushes! 
I’ll keep an eye open today and report back if anything is helpful to know.

We also like to get back onboard an hour before the official ‘All Aboard’ time.

We have watched ‘pier runners’ and it doesn’t look fun for them (although admittedly quite amusing to watch! 😜).

 

This is our first time sailing with MSC, so this is great information. We are renting a car in Southampton through Turo, and the car owner is meeting us at the port terminal. We were trying to figure out the best time to tell him to meet us, but the best customer service could tell us was it could be three hours after arrival that we are cleared to get off the ship. That did not seem right to us. The times you gave are more in line with my thinking.

 

Thank you so much!

[ConnieTact]

19 minutes ago, Cruiznrightalong said:

This is our first time sailing with MSC, so this is great information. We are renting a car in Southampton through Turo, and the car owner is meeting us at the port terminal. We were trying to figure out the best time to tell him to meet us, but the best customer service could tell us was it could be three hours after arrival that we are cleared to get off the ship. That did not seem right to us. The times you gave are more in line with my thinking.

 

Thank you so much!

Thanks for your feedback! Let us all know how you get along with your first MSC experience! I hope it’s great! 

[insidecabin]

French strikes hit Virtuosa last winter numerous sailings.

The one that got diverted to Amsterdam had us return to Southampton late.

Also people from Amsterdam boarded at Rotterdam only to return to Amsterdam

 

Logistics for Le Havre embark was messed up a few times.

 

We now make sure our Southampton parking is covered well into the afternoon or any onward transport is not too early.

 

Fun pass is better value bought ahead, available once booked.

 

[ConnieTact]

Good Morning from the English Channel! 😅 We weren’t expecting to be back so soon! We’re making good progress towards our extended stop in Le Havre and we are now here.

[ConnieTact]

I woke up to this beautiful view this morning.

 

[ConnieTact]

I couldn’t resist popping out in the balcony to take a few more snaps. Although we are happy in an inside cabin, the extra treat of sunsets and sunrises from a balcony are appreciated, even if it’s too cold in December to enjoy them from outside! Thanks MSC for the double upgrade! 👍

 

[ConnieTact]

“I don’t want to hear your opinions and I don’t want to buy anything!” I said firmly to hairdresser the fully engaged with her sales pattern. Sadly, this appears to be the norm for MSC spa staff to criticise, in order to then provide the costly solution to whatever ‘dry or sensitive condition’ they have mustered up! This is not the relaxing and enjoyable customer experience one had looked forward to! Customers happily spend their hard earned money on treats and want to feel special during them and this type of pushy sales technique ruins that! So much better to receive a warm welcome, have someone show interest in you and compliment rather than be criticise. Let people leave the salon feeling a million dollars! 

During manicures, pedicures, massages and now hair appointments on MSC, I have come across the same issue. I now make sure I have my nails done before a cruise and have learned to stop the sales patter before it gets legs! “I don’t want to buy anything!” Seems to stop them in their tracks. I just don’t want to go through that every time. 

On returning to the cabin, MrCT said, “Oh no! That’s a shame. It was meant to be something nice for you.”

He then told me it did look lovely though! I was happy with the result and the 10% yacht club discount, which wasn’t applied on my last cruise on Virtuosa but, I might just pack my own hair products and do it myself next time! 

[ConnieTact]

 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by ConnieTact

[ConnieTact]

The show last night was Jukebox Jive and was fine. The singers sounded loud enough and the visuals from the screen behind were bright and cheery. 

The yacht club area was being well guarded by the butlers but when the show started, and the rest of the seats were full, people were being guided in front of the secured area.  The latecomers were taken around and up to seats behind, filling up the remaining empty yacht club reserved seating area. Apart from disturbing the show for all those who paid extra to have that area, doesn’t that encourage late arrivals? People were led in 5 minutes, 10 minutes and even 15 minutes late! Surely the door could be closed and people told to come back for a later show. This would ensure an undisturbed performance for those who had made the effort to be there on time, and would show respect for the live performers too.

Here’s some pictures from last night.

[ConnieTact]

Yesterdays lunch. I chose a ‘bunless’ burger. 

[ConnieTact]

Pre dinner snacks.
 

[ConnieTact]

Last night we popped into the Yacht club lounge and had pre dinner snacks and listened to piano music.

Then we went to the theatre show and to the first set from Roberto in the Master of the Seas pub.

 

 

[ConnieTact]

Dinner photos!

[ConnieTact]

The C arousel lounge was packed full last night. We stayed for a few songs of the fabulous Christina Rogers backed by the big band. What a fantastic sound. That woman is hugely talented and MSC are lucky to have her guesting. Even luckier were those who bagged the seating! When she asked who had seen her earlier show that night, most people cheered. I guess the others, who didn’t see her, were those of us standing! 

Her performance was powerful and outstanding. It was difficult to leave the show and we wished that the two performances had been ticketed and would have allowed everyone to have enjoyed it. I know it would mean clearing the venue but ultimately would please a lot more guests. 

Another idea would be to use the wrap around screen above and around the venue, to project her image so those who were in non stage facing seats could look up and watch their performance from these. 

[ConnieTact]

Christina Rogers
 

Edited December 6, 2023 by ConnieTact

[ConnieTact]

Lastly we watched some of the Sunshine party from the deck above! 
the 60s, 70s, 80s, party is often the highlight of them all on MSC cruises. The sunshine party looked like it reached those dazzling, cheerful heights! 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by ConnieTact

[ConnieTact]

Arriving Le Havre! Reversing in! 

[ConnieTact]

Warm enough to eat on balcony & watch the captain’s parking skills! 😂

 

[ConnieTact]

….and we arrived! We have an overnight in France and the sun is shining.