Live from the MSC Virtuosa 3 nights 31st July

[Cruiseforever11]

Hope you have as good a time as I've just had 2nd time. Just got back home off the very Ship you took a photo of this morning. Amazing picture by the way. 😀

Edited July 31, 2021 by Cruiseforever11

[wirral36]

23 hours ago, nikkiw60 said:

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.

 

Hi, sorry to ask but I can’t find the info anywhere at all. If on your travels you happen to see the timings for the kids club, Himalayan bridge, water park and casino, please can you post them ? I’m also trying to find out if the kids around the clock (late night kids club) is open. I’d be ever so grateful 

[Cruiseforever11]

56 minutes ago, wirral36 said:

Hi, sorry to ask but I can’t find the info anywhere at all. If on your travels you happen to see the timings for the kids club, Himalayan bridge, water park and casino, please can you post them ? I’m also trying to find out if the kids around the clock (late night kids club) is open. I’d be ever so grateful 

Hi Wirral36 when are you sailing? I've just got back from 24th cruise and I have kept all daily programs and daily activities sheets which should have when kids clubs things are open. If you can wait till tomorrow I will dig them out from the suitcase and take photos if any good and up load tomorrow.🙂

[jammer1000]

5 hours ago, nikkiw60 said:

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!

I think we will prepare to be in 2hr+ queue next Saturday then! Hope you got your dinner time changed. Have you managed to book any speciality restaurants and if so what was the process to book if you don’t mind me asking? 
Enjoy your first evening!

[wirral36]

1 hour ago, Cruiseforever11 said:

Hi Wirral36 when are you sailing? I've just got back from 24th cruise and I have kept all daily programs and daily activities sheets which should have when kids clubs things are open. If you can wait till tomorrow I will dig them out from the suitcase and take photos if any good and up load tomorrow.🙂

Oh wow thank u so much ! We’re on 7th 

[wirral36]

38 minutes ago, jammer1000 said:

I think we will prepare to be in 2hr+ queue next Saturday then! Hope you got your dinner time changed. Have you managed to book any speciality restaurants and if so what was the process to book if you don’t mind me asking? 
Enjoy your first evening!

Yes, I’ve tried booking restaurants via the app and ta but can’t. Keep being told to wait until on board  but other people advise they did the same and there was no availability at all for shows and restaurants. 

[Cruiseforever11]

41 minutes ago, wirral36 said:

Yes, I’ve tried booking restaurants via the app and ta but can’t. Keep being told to wait until on board  but other people advise they did the same and there was no availability at all for shows and restaurants. 

Ok I will get copies uploaded ASAP. Regarding shows and restaurants. On both cruises I have now done we went to the butchers cut as that was the only we wanted to do. We booked the day or day after getting on the ship on the t.v in the cabin. The first cruise we got a booking for a Thursday evening at 6.30 and this cruise I have just been on got a booking for the Tuesday lunchtime at 1pm. As for the shows there is someone down by reception that deals with booking shows. I didn't book any that you had to pay for but the ones in the Theatre book with ease again either on app or t.v in cabin. Maybe I've been lucky but had no issues and 1st cruise was no more than 1500 and 2nd cruise 50%capacity. 

[wirral36]

5 minutes ago, Cruiseforever11 said:

Ok I will get copies uploaded ASAP. Regarding shows and restaurants. On both cruises I have now done we went to the butchers cut as that was the only we wanted to do. We booked the day or day after getting on the ship on the t.v in the cabin. The first cruise we got a booking for a Thursday evening at 6.30 and this cruise I have just been on got a booking for the Tuesday lunchtime at 1pm. As for the shows there is someone down by reception that deals with booking shows. I didn't book any that you had to pay for but the ones in the Theatre book with ease again either on app or t.v in cabin. Maybe I've been lucky but had no issues and 1st cruise was no more than 1500 and 2nd cruise 50%capacity. 

Hmm I’m guessing 7th onwards will be busier. 

[nikkiw60]

5 hours ago, wirral36 said:

Hi, sorry to ask but I can’t find the info anywhere at all. If on your travels you happen to see the timings for the kids club, Himalayan bridge, water park and casino, please can you post them ? I’m also trying to find out if the kids around the clock (late night kids club) is open. I’d be ever so grateful 

 

1 hour ago, wirral36 said:

Hmm I’m guessing 7th onwards will be busier. 

Will have a look tomorrow for this.

[nikkiw60]

3 hours ago, jammer1000 said:

I think we will prepare to be in 2hr+ queue next Saturday then! Hope you got your dinner time changed. Have you managed to book any speciality restaurants and if so what was the process to book if you don’t mind me asking? 
Enjoy your first evening!

We are only on for 3 nights so not doing the specialty restaurants even going to forgo our complimentary one.

[wirral36]

Just now, nikkiw60 said:

 

Will have a look tomorrow for this.

Thank you so much. Someone on Facebook said this wasn’t happening but they were on board in June/July so it may have changed. They also said kids club was very restricted 

[nikkiw60]

Saturday night dinner.

 

[nikkiw60]

For any  smokers the Sky lounge has a smoking room.

 

[wirral36]

1 minute ago, nikkiw60 said:

For any  smokers the Sky lounge has a smoking room.

 

Is the casino open every day/evening ? Do u know if cash can be used in the machines ?

[nikkiw60]

10 hours ago, wirral36 said:

Is the casino open every day/evening ? Do u know if cash can be used in the machines ?

It opens at 7 and I believe so.

[nikkiw60]

Random breakfast buffet items. Including plates of smoked salmon/ lox!

[nikkiw60]

Daily Planner for Sunday.

[jammer1000]

Great pictures thank you, hope you are having a good time 

[defbref]

How busy is it Nikkiw60 ? I was on the Virtuosa in June with about 800 passengers and it was bliss, with superb service everywhere mainly because there was about 2 members of staff to every pax!

 

Have another cruise booked on Virtuosa in sept and wondering what the differences will be.

[Beamafar]

I've never seen smoked salmon at the buffet before.  I'll be keeping an eye out for that in future! 👍

 

Hope everything's going well, Nikki, and you're enjoying your time onboard.

[nikkiw60]

23 minutes ago, defbref said:

How busy is it Nikkiw60 ? I was on the Virtuosa in June with about 800 passengers and it was bliss, with superb service everywhere mainly because there was about 2 members of staff to every pax!

 

Have another cruise booked on Virtuosa in sept and wondering what the differences will be.

ITs busy by the pool as is a lovely day. But you can find quiet areas on the ship. ITs not at full capacity though as they are not using all the MDR’s.

[nikkiw60]

10 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

I've never seen smoked salmon at the buffet before.  I'll be keeping an eye out for that in future! 👍

 

Hope everything's going well, Nikki, and you're enjoying your time onboard.

Not only smoked salmon on the buffet but I believe we have also gone back to surf and turf with lobster for one of the elegant nights!
I am enjoying it immensely just to be back on a beautiful MSC ship is enough!

[nikkiw60]

1 hour ago, jammer1000 said:

Great pictures thank you, hope you are having a good time 

Am having a fabulous time! And yes I am doing a lot of posting but this is part of my cruise experience for me!

[nikkiw60]

39 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

I've never seen smoked salmon at the buffet before.  I'll be keeping an eye out for that in future! 👍

 

Hope everything's going well, Nikki, and you're enjoying your time onboard.

Btw Bea I am so pleased to be back in contact with you again we enjoyed meeting for drinks last time on Meraviglia.

 

[Beamafar]

Just now, nikkiw60 said:

Btw Bea I am so pleased to be back in contact with you again we enjoyed meeting for drinks last time on Meraviglia.

 

Same here, Nikki.  Isn’t it great to be talking cruises again.  I’m envying you right now.

 

We were to sail on Virtuosa next week to Norway but it was swapped out with Seaview so we cancelled.   Probably was for the best;  at the time that final payment was due we were in lockdown so I wouldn’t have paid the balance then, anyway.