From Yacht Club back to Bella! Is there any going back?! Live review MSC Virtuosa 17-24th March.

[ConnieTact]

Once we’ve sailed out tonight I’ve lost internet. I’ve never found it good on MSC so didn’t but package. So I’ll take notes during tomorrow’s sea day & post when we are in Hamburg on Sunday! 
Music is funky in Masters of the Sea! 

[Beamafar]

Never dawned on me before that the petit fours are only offered in YC.  Goes to show I don’t miss them when in steerage. 

[Beamafar]

Just now, ConnieTact said:

Once we’ve sailed out tonight I’ve lost internet. I’ve never found it good on MSC so didn’t but package. So I’ll take notes during tomorrow’s sea day & post when we are in Hamburg on Sunday! 
Music is funky in Masters of the Sea! 

Looks like he greened up for St Patrick’s Day.  🤣🤣🤣

[ConnieTact]

7 minutes ago, Beamafar said:

Looks like he greened up for St Patrick’s Day.  🤣🤣🤣

I couldn’t resist! These guys dressed me up for the photo! 😂🤣☘️

[ConnieTact]

Galleria getting all set for a party! 

[Beamafar]

Looks like they learned how to pull a pint of the black stuff.  We were on Meraviglia for her inaugural, when MSC first introduced it on draught.  However, the barman refused to pull it correctly, despite my DH explaining how and why it should be done properly. 

[Beamafar]

2 minutes ago, ConnieTact said:

Galleria getting all set for a party! 

🤩.  We were onboard Preziosa for St Patrick’s Day from Brazil.  The only place they decorated was the casino, with lots of signs wishing everyone “The luck of the Irish”. 🙄😁

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Following along. We are on our first ever MSC cruise on virtuosa end of march. Out of curiosity who is your go to TA?

[heatherb1958]

5 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Just found out- no! We are in Blue Danube on a table of 8! I requested they looked into a change and await to see outcome! Another major difference re YC and Bella! 😅

 

In all our MSC cruises we have never had a problem changing our table even when on Bella experience but we like to eat early so maybe that helps . I immediately go and check on boarding day to see if we like the location  , politely speak with the Maitre D and ask for a change if available if we don't.  As  an aside I think it is funny that in MSC's current media promotions they are actually showing the table we sat at for a week last September on Virtuosa , a table for 2 by a round window with fabulous views 😆.  

 

Edited March 17, 2023 by heatherb1958

[CruisingFox27]

7 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Just found out- no! We are in Blue Danube on a table of 8! I requested they looked into a change and await to see outcome! Another major difference re YC and Bella! 😅

Looking forward to hearing how your experience goes. We're booked on our first Fantastica experience next month. The fixed dining at shared tables is the least appealing element. 

[SirJackDaniels]

8 hours ago, Beamafar said:

I wonder if that’s the Aurea welcome onboard pack.  The Diamond bubbly doesn’t usually appear until some time during the cruise.  I really hope I’m not steering you wrong again (was gonna use the colloquial, but there are some on here who like to report me for using offensive terms).  I can see that the chocolate indicates it’s Diamond gift, though. 

I'm shocked that anyone has ever considered any of your posts as offensive, I've only ever found them interesting and informative, but there are some strange folk around I guess

[SirJackDaniels]

Hope you have a great cruise Connie and enjoying following your journey. Only ever done fantastica but trying to persuade the glw to splash out on a yc cruise, as an aside all the best people are from South Wales 😇

[Beamafar]

1 minute ago, SirJackDaniels said:

Hope you have a great cruise Connie and enjoying following your journey. Only ever done fantastica but trying to persuade the glw to splash out on a yc cruise, as an aside all the best people are from South Wales 😇

If it falls within your budget, you really do have to try it.  It really is a whole different experience.

 

For us, whether in YC or steerage, once we step onboard an MSC ship, we immediately feel ‘at home’.  I say that after sailing X (both times in suites), NCL, Azamara and Carnival.

 

MSC has a vibe of its own.  So, hoping, CT, that you enjoy it as much ‘downstairs’ as you did in YC.  Will have to wait for a couple of days til you’re online again for updates.  Hope you have more positive than negative news to share. 

 

 

[Saab4444]

France plans big srikes on March 23 again. Will Le Havre stop be replaced again?

 

[travelberlin]

22 hours ago, Beamafar said:

I wonder if that’s the Aurea welcome onboard pack.  The Diamond bubbly doesn’t usually appear until some time during the cruise.  I really hope I’m not steering you wrong again (was gonna use the colloquial, but there are some on here who like to report me for using offensive terms).  I can see that the chocolate indicates it’s Diamond gift, though. 

We have got the diamond sparkling wine usually on embarkation day with the Macaroons. Only the chocolate ship came later.

Ivi

[Beamafar]

17 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

We have got the diamond sparkling wine usually on embarkation day with the Macaroons. Only the chocolate ship came later.

Ivi

It’s a long time since we’ve received it on embarkation day, Ivi.  The cruise was almost over one time before we received it.  Choc ships usually delivered with it.  Maybe depends on embarkation port. 🤔

[Saab4444]

6 hours ago, Saab4444 said:

France plans big srikes on March 23 again. Will Le Havre stop be replaced again?

 

strike of course...

[Gatordad1967]

On 3/16/2023 at 6:30 AM, ConnieTact said:

Our last four MSC cruises have all been in Yacht Club and we are sold on the product. Last week challenged that, when I noticed a super, last minute deal, offered by a Travel Agent. It was priced much less than MSC were listing, so I acted fast! The deal was for balcony at the same cost of inside so we went for that.

It was priced so well -We couldn’t believe our luck!

 

Then, reality dawned on us- we would not be sailing in Yacht Club! 😅 “Wot? No Butler?!” 😂

 

Further to this, I looked at what a guarantee Bella balcony may look like and it showed those enclosed metal ones! This prompted me to fill in all our details and ‘check in’ as we were only 7 days away! Immediately, our cabin number showed on my booking, and to my amazement and delight, it was an Aurora Balcony located midship- one of the best! 

 

We have been on Virtuosa three times and this will be the fourth, but the first time not in Yacht club! We had a balcony cabin on one of Grandiosa’s first sailings, but that was before we experienced the joys of yacht club and we haven’t looked back….until now! Everyone said, “once you’ve been in yacht club there’s no going back!” Well, let’s see about that! 

 

Follow along if you like, as I compare the same ship at two different levels. We are leaving from Southampton on Friday, and stopping at Hamburg, Bruges, Rotterdam and Le Havre.

yeah, YC is more addictive than anything...... We've done Bella, and then tried YC.  Been in YC ever since, and sailed in a regular balcony on Celebrity, but had YC Fomo there.

 

[travelberlin]

3 hours ago, Beamafar said:

It’s a long time since we’ve received it on embarkation day, Ivi.  The cruise was almost over one time before we received it.  Choc ships usually delivered with it.  Maybe depends on embarkation port. 🤔

Maybe it does depend of the embarkation port. Last time was last year embarking from Hamburg. We will see how it goes from Santos.

Ivi

[insidecabin]

We did the last 2 weeks, they have been giving these 7n cruise away,  under £300 some dates balcony under £400 premium drinks £170.

 

Our Bella week was fine, got diamond stuff first day, floppy bags last night.

We just do everything we can when not in YC.

 

Second week in YCI got lucky as cabin availability have been rare on these 7n trips took a while for one to come up on a date we could do.

 

The ship has been around 3500 plenty of space and seats even on sea days Easter will probably get crazy with kids.

 

Go see your YC mates and see if they can accommodate you they were doing  chargeable upgrade(don't go to guest services)

Our Bella to YCI precruise min bid was around 500pp

 

Next winter is looking ok base price up a bit  drinks are cheaper.

 

 

[ConnieTact]

On 3/17/2023 at 8:43 PM, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Following along. We are on our first ever MSC cruise on virtuosa end of march. Out of curiosity who is your go to TA?

Hi FamilyCruiserUK! 
Here’s a cryptic clue as I’m not allowed to say the name on CC!

My travel agent sounds like a very cold house that eskimos live in! They sometimes have fabulous deals. I’ve booked many cruises with them but so as o booked directly with MSC and NCL too. 
Glad to have you here!

[ConnieTact]

On 3/17/2023 at 7:45 PM, Beamafar said:

Never dawned on me before that the petit fours are only offered in YC.  Goes to show I don’t miss them when in steerage. 

They’re a daily treat for me! I often have cheese plate and petite fours for dessert. A tasty morsel indeed! 😋

[ConnieTact]

21 hours ago, Saab4444 said:

France plans big srikes on March 23 again. Will Le Havre stop be replaced again?

 

I wonder that too! I’ll try to find out and post back!

[ConnieTact]

5 hours ago, insidecabin said:

We did the last 2 weeks, they have been giving these 7n cruise away,  under £300 some dates balcony under £400 premium drinks £170.

 

Our Bella week was fine, got diamond stuff first day, floppy bags last night.

We just do everything we can when not in YC.

 

Second week in YCI got lucky as cabin availability have been rare on these 7n trips took a while for one to come up on a date we could do.

 

The ship has been around 3500 plenty of space and seats even on sea days Easter will probably get crazy with kids.

 

Go see your YC mates and see if they can accommodate you they were doing  chargeable upgrade(don't go to guest services)

Our Bella to YCI precruise min bid was around 500pp

 

Next winter is looking ok base price up a bit  drinks are cheaper.

 

 

Looks like you struck lucky! I wonder how much extra you paid for YC while onboard! 
I must admit, I am enjoying the extra room in the balcony so will stick to my experiment for now & save my £££ for next cruise in May!

[ConnieTact]

Just arrived in Hamburg! I loved seeing the port this morning from the balcony although too cold to stay out there long in my dressing gown!