Live from the MSC Virtuosa 3 nights 31st July

[nikkiw60]

Happy days!
We have just arrived in Southampton ready to board tomorrow morning. Our boarding time has been changed for 13.40 to 12 noon and our Fantastica cabin has been changed to deck 10.

This is th current view from our hotel window. It’s a PandO ship no idea which one though! The first ship I have seen since leaving the Meraviglia in November 2019!

On this mini cruise I am travelling with my elderly dad, we have left Matt at home looking after Daisy our dog.

 

[Beamafar]

Hope you have a fab time, Nikki.  Haven’t seen a cruise ship since Mera, either.  Seriously hoping that changes in October   🤞. 
Bon Voyage. 

[jammer1000]

Following along, we embark next week so very interested. Have a great time. 

[nikkiw60]

8 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Hope you have a fab time, Nikki.  Haven’t seen a cruise ship since Mera, either.  Seriously hoping that changes in October   🤞. 
Bon Voyage. 

Thanks Bea!

[nikkiw60]

4 minutes ago, jammer1000 said:

Following along, we embark next week so very interested. Have a great time. 

Thank you we hope to.

[defbref]

20 minutes ago, nikkiw60 said:

It’s a PandO ship no idea which one though! 

 

 

 

Its the Iona, I think

[portofrome]

Bon Voyage!

[kernow]

Following along, have a great time.

[annarack]

Which terminal are MSC using please?  Have a great trip.

[colsky]

2 minutes ago, annarack said:

Which terminal are MSC using please?  Have a great trip.

Horizon

[tesni]

Have a great time! Look forward to following your trip. 🚢

[nikkiw60]

For anyone overnighting in Southampton, I recommend the restaurant Porters is a cheese and charcuterie board restaurant. The service is fabulous and a wonderful selection of British cheese and charcuterie.

[showingdiva]

5 hours ago, defbref said:

 

Its the Iona, I think

 

Yes, it's Iona in the photo, with Queen Elizabeth behind her at the QE2 berth.

[GRANNYOFSIX]

So happy for you and your Dad!!  Have a fabulous time!  Looking so very forward to your live posts!!  Thanks for doing this Nikki 🙂

Edited July 31, 2021 by GRANNYOFSIX
made a spelling mistake

[nikkiw60]

9 hours ago, colsky said:

Horizon

Just woke up to her gently gliding past the window so from the Holiday Inn we should be able to walk to the terminal.

And no I am not giddy or excited…..

[nikkiw60]

[ConnieTact]

1 hour ago, nikkiw60 said:

Just woke up to her gently gliding past the window so from the Holiday Inn we should be able to walk to the terminal.

And no I am not giddy or excited…..

Beautiful! I’m excited and I have another 35 days left before I go back on Virtuosa!

I certainly would be if I were in your shoes now! 😀

Hope you have a smooth embarkation and enjoy that beautiful ship!

I will enjoy reading your posts!

[Teampayne2]

We’re also going to be on this cruise 😃 we’re seasoned Carnival Cruisers and it’s our first time on MSC, have a great cruise 

[nikkiw60]

Phew! Just been locked out of my account! 
We are now in the queue to check in. Still no priority boarding for Diamond. 
First queue to leave luggage then new queue to check in .

Got here at exactly 12 noon after walking from hotel.

[nikkiw60]

My dad is almost 89 and walks with a stick but he still has to stand in line with the rest of us, no priority queue unlike in Miami. 
We have just had temperature checked and now in queue for covid test.

[nikkiw60]

Sat in queue waiting for covid test results. No Black or Diamond cruise card just a plain blue one. Also first thing is trip to Maitre D to change dinner time to later sitting.

1 hours and 45 minutes and we are finally on board.

Interestingly they have actual nurses doing the covid tests!

[nikkiw60]

2 hours ago, nikkiw60 said:

My dad is almost 89 and walks with a stick but he still has to stand in line with the rest of us, no priority queue unlike in Miami. 
We have just had temperature checked and now in queue for covid test.

We did get fast tracked once inside.

[black forest]

Very good to hear that they cared about your father and put you on the fast track. Looking forward to your experiences. Enjoy your cruise! 

[nikkiw60]

Just been to the spa re if we get the comp hour to find out my family name has been imputed incorrectly so I have gone back to first time cruiser level… just spent half an hour at desk services to get it sorted! Quite a few other people in queue for the same problem! 
Maybe this is why we haven’t even got robes in the cabin!

We have now all had to go to our cabins to watch the muster drill on TV.

On a U.K. cruise you get a kettle in the cabin an Yorkshire Teabags and Nescafé coffee.

Also they gave me an MSC pin!
Would be nice to get the Prosecco and strawberries to impress my dad! I am easily pleased…

[dexddd]

Have a great time.