Now on a NYE cruise on Virtuosa…

[Stockjock]

We visited Ghent today instead of Bruges during our Zeebrugge stop. We had both been to Bruges and decided to try something different.
 

We really liked Ghent quite a lot, it’s a lot bigger than Bruges and more lively.
 

I’m sure that tourism is an important part of their economy, but it is not quite as touristy as Bruges would be.

 

Here are a few photos from our visit.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Stockjock

[Stockjock]

We are back on the ship, and we had what I consider to be our first major hiccup.  We have no running water in the room so toilets, showers, and faucets are not working properly. I’m not quite sure what’s going on because they haven’t announced anything.

 

Then, right after that, we had another issue, last night we had an 8 o’clock reservation booked for Indochine, but we decided to do it tonight instead since last night was gala night and they had a good looking menu. So she asked if I would like Indochine at the same time but today instead, and I said yes. Instead, they booked me a butchers cut one hour later. First world problems I know, but it’s a mildly annoying thing.

Not as bad as having the water I guess. They said they hope to have it restored within a matter of hours.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Stockjock

[showingdiva]

Ghent is lovely, isn't it.  My preference to Bruges.  Also like Blankenberge as an alternative.

[Stockjock]

Here are a couple of photos of our balcony, which is cabin 8105 on Virtuosa. I think it’s roughly 3 times as wide as a standard balcony and about twice as deep.
 

The lifeboats get on my girlfriend’s nerves, a little bit, but they really don’t bother me. the price I paid was almost the same as an ocean view cabin, so I don’t feel like I can complain. But because it’s winter, we really don’t spend any time out there. It would be great for the summer though. 

[elmsliebev]

6 hours ago, Stockjock said:

We visited Ghent today instead of Bruges during our Zeebrugge stop. We had both been to Bruges and decided to try something different.
 

We really liked Ghent quite a lot, it’s a lot bigger than Bruges and more lively.
 

I’m sure that tourism is an important part of their economy, but it is not quite as touristy as Bruges would be.

 

Here are a few photos from our visit.

looks lovely? Did you do a ship's tour or on your own please?

 

[Stockjock]

Here is MSC Virtuosa in port in Rotterdam, Netherlands this morning.  It was raining, so I had to run outside to grab the shot, and then run back into the bus, lol.

Edited January 4, 2023 by Stockjock

[Stockjock]

14 hours ago, elmsliebev said:

looks lovely? Did you do a ship's tour or on your own please?

 

We did the ship’s tour and it was pretty good, but my only slight criticism was that we got back pretty early and we could’ve used a little more time on our own. But overall I would say it was worth doing as a ship’s excursion.

Edited January 4, 2023 by Stockjock

[elmsliebev]

2 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

We did the ship’s tour and it was pretty good, but my only slight criticism was that we got back pretty early and we could’ve used a little more time on our own. But overall I would say it was worth doing as a ship’s excursion.

thanks, will have a look. Enjoy Rotterdam - I think I've worked out which is our cabin from your photo! 

[perakcruiser]

21 hours ago, showingdiva said:

Ghent is lovely, isn't it.  My preference to Bruges.  Also like Blankenberge as an alternative.

Zeebrugge is such a brilliant stop with countless options nearby. One of the few I would never stay on the ship.

[Stockjock]

Now that I am a MSC diamond tier, I shall never forget the beautiful pen provided as my membership gift from MSC Cruiselines. Nor shall I forget these luxurious slippers that are made from the finest Chinese paper-like material for somebody with very small feet.

[billybeachboy]

I don't know if you are a sauna user, I am but will not pay for thermal suites, I'm told there is a free on in the gym locker room, are you able to confirm that please?   (Please don't make a special trip if you don't use the facility).    Hope you enjoy the rest of your sailing.

[Stockjock]

Tonight is our last night on the ship, so here are a few photographs from our tour to Amsterdam, which was pretty good.

 

It took a while to get there, but the drive wasn’t too long, and they basically drop you off and give you three hours to explore on your own. We had no idea where we were going, but I think it would be difficult to get lost. We did end up in the red light District, and there were some “ladies” in the window showing off their wares.  But you can’t take pictures of them so  that’s the way the cookie crumbles. 
 

I did think it was a pretty good tour, and as mentioned, you do get three hours to explore before getting on a canal cruise for an overview of the area.
 

I will say that the line was unbelievable getting back on the ship at Rotterdam and I’ve posted a couple of pictures that probably don’t really do it justice.

[Stockjock]

30 minutes ago, billybeachboy said:

I don't know if you are a sauna user, I am but will not pay for thermal suites, I'm told there is a free on in the gym locker room, are you able to confirm that please?   (Please don't make a special trip if you don't use the facility).    Hope you enjoy the rest of your sailing.

Unfortunately, I cannot confirm that. My girlfriend did use the one hour thermal, spa pass, but it was not really her thing.

[perakcruiser]

51 minutes ago, billybeachboy said:

I'm told there is a free on in the gym locker room, are you able to confirm that please?  

Been on the Virtuosa in November, used the gym everyday, did not recognize a sauna. Or even a locker room except the one in the spa.

[no1talks]

1 hour ago, Stockjock said:

"...that’s the way the cookie crumbles."

For the sake of the ladies, I most sincerely hope nobody's cookie was crumbling.

👨‍⚕️

[billybeachboy]

11 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

Been on the Virtuosa in November, used the gym everyday, did not recognize a sauna. Or even a locker room except the one in the spa.

Thank you for the reply (the locker room is apparently very well hidden I'm told via this forum so no surprise you haven't found it)  🙂

 

[Stockjock]

So before we get off the ship, I asked the bartender for two mimosas.  He said, “We don’t do cocktails sir”.

 

So I saw a bottle of champagne and a carton of orange juice right next to him, and I asked, “Is that orange juice?”  And he said “yes”, and I asked, “Is that champagne?”, and he said “yes”, and I said “that’s all Mimosa is? orange juice and champagne”.

 

And he said “Sorry, but we don’t do cocktails sir.”

 

So I asked him if I could order two glasses of champagne and orange juice and make my own mimosa, and he said yes, you can order that so I did, lol.

[Nunagoras]

1 hour ago, Stockjock said:

So before we get off the ship, I asked the bartender for two mimosas.  He said, “We don’t do cocktails sir”.

 

So I saw a bottle of champagne and a carton of orange juice right next to him, and I asked, “Is that orange juice?”  And he said “yes”, and I asked, “Is that champagne?”, and he said “yes”, and I said “that’s all Mimosa is? orange juice and champagne”.

 

And he said “Sorry, but we don’t do cocktails sir.”

 

So I asked him if I could order two glasses of champagne and orange juice and make my own mimosa, and he said yes, you can order that so I did, lol.

Another of those "little mysteries", LOL!... But if he was one of the buffet bartenders, he was actually technically right once on MSC the buffet bars don't usually make cocktails there... Have a nice return home!...

Edited January 5, 2023 by Nunagoras

[Stockjock]

1 hour ago, Nunagoras said:

Another of those "little mysteries", LOL!... But if he was one of the buffet bartenders, he was actually technically right once on MSC the buffet bars don't usually make cocktails there... Have a nice return home!...

Yes he was a bartender in the buffet.  Another little MSC life hack, lol.
 

Edited January 5, 2023 by Stockjock

[Nunagoras]

5 hours ago, Stockjock said:

Yes he was a bartender in the buffet.  Another little MSC life hack, lol.
 

Yeah! I see! I have had a similar situation back in the day with one of them. Actually about making one of those coffee, milk, chocolate, cream and sugar concoctions, on the likes of a mocaccino, or a chococcino!... Again: I just went down to the near be MDR bar that acted like a specialty coffee specialty bar, asked what I wanted and had a lovely MDR breakfast there instead!... Actually at that time, and that was far before the pandemic, they had a light but nice small buffet there. Do they have MDR breakfast buffets now, or is it still full a la carte?

[Morgsmom]

@Stockjock Thank you so much for this review!  A tiny (not really related question) - could you please ask your beautiful girlfriend where she got her puffer jacket from?  We just booked the Grandiosa for February and I'm looking for just such a jacket. thanks in advance!!!!

[Stockjock]

I will check.  I think the jacket is Michael Kors, but I'll ask where she bought it.