victory2020

Thank you, this helps! Wondering about the 1 hour thermal session..........

Hello, am looking at booking Virtuosa out of Southampton as a solo. What can anyone tell me about ship & port. Does MCS offer transfers to LHR? Can you bring a bottle of wine onboard? Do they have solo get togethers? What is the price range of excursions? Are onboard purchases (& tips) in EU or Pounds or dollars? I have done status match so I am Diamond. I would appreciate tips, thanks

Do you need to buy tickets in advance?

Have just started looking into cruise out of Southampton then flying to Amsterdam. I see Southampton airport has a couple of flights but LHR has more & they're cheaper. Would you recommend that I do ship transfer to LHR instead of Southampton? (that flight wouls be around 5pm)

Thank yiou. The cruise is from Southampton UK so I'm also trying to gather as much info on the port also. I have never sailes out of there. I'll go find the roll calls now.

Do you mind if I ask a couple of newbie questions - how much are tips on onside cabin? Can you seardh excursions & prices before booking? Looks like there are 2 dining times, early seems to be open dining as late is 9:30? I have matched my Princess status which gets me the highest on MSC, any real benefits to that? Looks like there are no roll calls for MSC?

What were the terrible flights compared to the ones you want to book? What itinerary?

These are requests from the Asian crew, observe what they bring back to the ship from ports.

If you want to get them something they love snacks, potato chips, nuts, cookies & candy. Also the instant soup cups. These are all things that have been requested when I ask them what they would like.

I'm having trouble also, want to add OBC to booking. Wi;; I be able to do this by phone?

Thank you, I couldn't seem to find that on their website

So you can buy obc from your TA in advance?

7 day

Questions are not related , but at what point do they charge a cancellation fee? Departure is Sept 27 & final payment is in June. Also, can I pre pay tips for just one person? I will be adding shareholders credit & figured I would be using that for part of the gratuities but wanted to get as much out of the way as possible

I have used what's app with the regular NCL wi fi package

Interesting that you weren't allowed in early. I was there in September & walked up half hour early & told to go ahead in. I believe the tickets go on sale the first Thursday of the month, go to their website for info

Used teledoc which ended up being free with Blueshield insurance. Gave me 2 meds - promethazine HCI cough syrup & benzonatate capuses. At least the coughing fits are better.

No Starlink on the Joy. Slow internet & could not make internet calls like I could on Princess.

His show was added because Footloose was cancelled. I was only able to make reservations for one of the comedy shows during the cruise but was able to get in standby line 20 minutes before showtime & got in every time. The cold I got had turned into probably the worst cough I have ever had, Went to the doctor today for medication. I now remember a waiter that had to leave our table because he was having similar coughing fit/

Yes, I think it was because of cold weather, is it like that on Alaska cruises? We never did get to enjoy the observation area.

I was on this cruise also. Found it to be too crowded everywhere, including people trying to pack into the elevators. We ended up walking most stairs but I still came back with a cold(at least not covid!). We got to the port just after 11:30, were directed to the parking at berth 49 & waited a few minutes for the standing room only shuttle. When we got to check in we walked right on to the ship. Rooms took forever to be ready.

It appears you have to change busses?

Exactly. I was on the 5 day right before you & the only hiccup we had is that we had to drive to berth 48 & park there since that is where we disembarked. Didn't have to wait in long line & proceeded right onto the ship after checking in.- arrived in terminal about noon.

Just got off the Joy, Ocean Blue limited it to one app, salad & dessert only.

We were literally the first ones off the ship(room was right around the corner) & there were no taxis yet. Glad to know they got there soon after. We just walked to our car, didn't take long at all.