UK Cruiser looking into UAE (Doha) MSC Virtuosa Feb 2022 - Advice/thoughts

[johnnylikely]

Hi all! Hope you're well!

I've done MSC Virtuosa this summer in UK and loved the ship (food was hit and miss).

Due to my partner working in Doha, we are looking into a 7 night UAE cruise Virtuosa.

Does anyone have any info/tips on UAE cruises with MSC

Whats the crowd that goes- is it UAE or international tourists etc? Food menus etc

Is the casino even open?

Any info would be greatly appreciated! Especially from UK cruisers as I'm from England x

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

We're taking this cruise in December, originating from Dubai with Doha as one of our ports. We actually took this itinerary in February, 2020 when it was operated by MSC Bellissima. At that time covid19 was just breaking out so after Dubai & Abu Dhabi, port stops in Doha & Bahrain were cancelled and we spent an extra day at sea and an extra day back in Dubai. As you know, Bahrain is no longer a stop as it's been replaced with Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

 

The passengers are very international with a lot of Europeans. We were among the few Americans on board. Yes, the casino and bars were all open.  I don't have the menus because we pretty much always just eat in the buffet. 

 

All in all, it's a regular cruise.

[johnnylikely]

3 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

We're taking this cruise in December, originating from Dubai with Doha as one of our ports. We actually took this itinerary in February, 2020 when it was operated by MSC Bellissima. At that time covid19 was just breaking out so after Dubai & Abu Dhabi, port stops in Doha & Bahrain were cancelled and we spent an extra day at sea and an extra day back in Dubai. As you know, Bahrain is no longer a stop as it's been replaced with Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

 

The passengers are very international with a lot of Europeans. We were among the few Americans on board. Yes, the casino and bars were all open.  I don't have the menus because we pretty much always just eat in the buffet. 

 

All in all, it's a regular cruise.

Great stuff, thanks so much for the reply! ;o)

Keep me updated with your upcoming cruise. Thx!

[kernow]

14 hours ago, johnnylikely said:

Hi all! Hope you're well!

I've done MSC Virtuosa this summer in UK and loved the ship (food was hit and miss).

Due to my partner working in Doha, we are looking into a 7 night UAE cruise Virtuosa.

Does anyone have any info/tips on UAE cruises with MSC

Whats the crowd that goes- is it UAE or international tourists etc? Food menus etc

Is the casino even open?

Any info would be greatly appreciated! Especially from UK cruisers as I'm from England x

We did the UAE cruise in 2017 on Musica, have also done similar on RCL and Costa. Passengers are largely European (including British) with a few others from all over. Everything onboard is exactly like anywhere else in the world. It's our favourite winter cruise area, thought about Virtuosa after loving her in the summer but didn't want to risk it with all the uncertainty over travel this year.

[CruiseIreland]

Alcohol will not be served while the ship is in Saudi waters. This is in the FAQs on MSC website:

"In respect to the Saudi Law, alcoholic drinks will not be served during the stays in Saudi Arabian ports. Our long list of non-alcoholic drinks will be enriched to offer even more tastier drinking choices when the ship stays in Saudi Arabian ports."

[sidari]

1 hour ago, CruiseIreland said:

Alcohol will not be served while the ship is in Saudi waters. This is in the FAQs on MSC website:

"In respect to the Saudi Law, alcoholic drinks will not be served during the stays in Saudi Arabian ports. Our long list of non-alcoholic drinks will be enriched to offer even more tastier drinking choices when the ship stays in Saudi Arabian ports."

But the price of the drink packages will no doubt remain the same.

[perakcruiser]

We will take this cruise in January. 

 

The prices are very attractive, I expect a lot of Italians and EXPO tourists. I figured out already how to go to the EXPO and back from Dubai port and Abu Dhabi port, it is very easy and the shuttle busses are free. 

 

But if @KINGBOBOFTHENORTH could enlighten us about the EXPO to the boat in Abu Dhabi route when  back, that would be great. 

 

By the way, if this cruise is cheaper from Abu Dhabi or Dubai, choose the cheaper one, the connecting buses are free throughout the EXPO as mentioned. 

[8420PR]

The Middle East cruises are very similar to summer Mediterranean cruises - lots of passengers from Italy, Spain, France, Germany, UK and elsewhere - different languages and culture - with the food, entertainment, ships services and program similar to the Mediterranean.  I love it, but it is not everyone's cup of tea.

 

The UK specific things that MSC did on Virtuosa this summer won't be there - e.g. comedy nights, roast dinners on the menu, UK entertainment.

 

If you do book don't forget all the cruises are currently offered with the 5+15% voyagers club discount.

[johnnylikely]

Thanks everyone!!! You'll all been mighty helpful!!!! x😍

[perakcruiser]

4 hours ago, 8420PR said:

If you do book don't forget all the cruises are currently offered with the 5+15% voyagers club discount.

Oh yes, and at least in some markets even more:
 

 

5%+15% OFF + ONBOARD CREDIT €/$50 PER PERSON* + DOUBLE POINTS

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

On 10/24/2021 at 7:02 AM, perakcruiser said:

We will take this cruise in January. But if @KINGBOBOFTHENORTH could enlighten us about the EXPO to the boat in Abu Dhabi route when  back, that would be great. 

 

 

EXPO 2020 just opened this month so it did not exist when we were there last year. Not sure why you'd want to go to it from Abu Dhabi when you can go to it from Dubai. There is a Dubai Metro stop just for the Expo. (I realize you may embark and disembark your cruise in Abu Dhabi and thus wish to visit the Expo from that emirate.)

[perakcruiser]

On 10/27/2021 at 9:05 AM, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

EXPO 2020 just opened this month so it did not exist when we were there last year. Not sure why you'd want to go to it from Abu Dhabi when you can go to it from Dubai. There is a Dubai Metro stop just for the Expo. (I realize you may embark and disembark your cruise in Abu Dhabi and thus wish to visit the Expo from that emirate.)

Yes, we start the cruise from Abu Dhabi. 

[adam7392]

Recently booked 12th feb roundtrip Dubai.  Note Qatar have now put UK and UAE on their red list meaning anyone travelling from those countries needs 2 days quarantine in Qatar.  Therefore affects every passenger as everyone will have visited Dubai.  Obviously lots can change from now to Feb but expect that if this situation remains Qatar can't possibly be a stop.