We are booked for 2 weeks on Virtuosa in October - our first time with MSC and cost was the big factor. Your review was really useful, thanks. We normally use the speciality restaurants but based on your experience I don't think we'll buy a package but take a look once we are on board! One thing nobody ever mentions is the library, do MSC have one? It's usually my favourite quiet space on busy ships but a few lines seem to have stopped doing them - is kindle to blame maybe?
We have holidayed on MSC twice. I highly recommend the Aurea Experience which has priority boarding and disembarkation, anytime dining in a dedicated restaurant or main restaurant area, excellent waiter and room service, complementary access to the spa area and special sundeck, free room service, cabins with the best views, right to chose your cabin before the trip. Aurea is also a lot cheaper than Yacht Club.
Thank you for your great video 😊. I'm going on her on the 18th to the Norwegian Fjords. It's my first time on her and now I have an idea of what to expect.
If that's 18th of May or June it'll be out of school holidays - kids will still be aboard but it'll be a much calmer experience than going during holiday time! Have a great trip!
Hi matt I'm sailing azure deck12 cabin A746 single sole occupancy "balcony room " At the very bk of the ship 🚢 , is this all good for me on deck12? How close and accessible are the other decks for dining and event's? Isn't there a public area,just like the Fred olsen cruise 🤔 I was on that had free unlimited WiFi? Fred Olsen you had to pay for the cabin WiFi 😒 which wasn't as good as the public area's free Wi-Fi. Let me know any tips on especially saving monies seeing as I'm abroad from the UK? Thanks in advance. Your's David
Thanks David - all cabins win some and lose some when it comes to location - you'll be the correct end for the Main Dining Room but the wrong end for the theatre. You end up walking just about the same distance wherever your cabin is located to its not really something to worry too much about. No free wifi anywhere on P&O and the paid wifi will be really expensive. If its a port intensive cruise I'd encourage you to see if your roaming will work and whether that'll be enough connectivity for you. Otherwise, I generally spend very little on a cruise so don't really have money saving tips - except the obvious which is "don't buy anything!!!"
Thanks Matt. I'm with EE on pay as you go & I think that it's only £2 a day for the EU roaming add on, this way I get my data etc that I use in the uk 🇬🇧. I do predict that I shall have to take all of my pics 📸 from the 8day cruise 🛳 and post them up, when I get to port and my £2 a day reception picks up when we're actually in port. I'm not paying the alleged discounted Wi-Fi weekly prices onboard the Azura as it is way excessive and that's an alleged 10% discount. At a very TIGHT PUSH, should my wifi connection be absolutely horrendous in port, I shall take PLENTY of SELFIES 🤳 in Foreign countries and if I'm not able to turn my phone off flight mode and connect to social networks like WhatsApp and Facebook, then I shall be able to just pay £25 for the 4hrs and do this then. I cannot believe that Fred Olsen sailing from Rosyth around the Norwegian Fjords areas, had a public bar area and FREE WIFI it was ONLY £700EACH for me and my MUM to SHARE a ROOM. This time around I have a SINGLE sole occupancy room with a balcony on deck 12, through Barrhead travel COSTING £1'780 paid in FULL for 8days flying to Malta 🇲🇹 Thursday morning 🌄 why I'm not given even a public area to SIT onboard this COSTLY experience is "Beyond me " I'm just in the mindset now that the cruise 🛳 company p&o are going to try to squeeze as much cash 💸 out of me as possible. I shall just post up in the comments how the 8day cruising 🛳 experience is I'm a"brain injured veteran " from the "British army " Is there a person on site who is actually there to help out people's like myself who have learned to walk talk and read and write again or is this solely just a wham bam thank you mam to squeeze as much money 💰 as possible out me over the 8days as possible? Do we still need to take our passports on and off the ship 🚢 to be checked in @ the ports? I have a bum bag for this stuff being the passport? Spk soon David
Very easy - there's a "Manage My Booking" section on the website where you can specify your requirements. If that doesn't work for whatever reason, find your stateroom attendant as soon as you get to your cabin and ask them to reconfigure it! Have a great trip
Thank God my travel agent who knows me, cautioned me about this ship. I loved the itin that it allowed but that cabin re-routed me. What a mess!! I would have not liked 10 days in this jail cell!!
We are going on the Epic Dec 2024.. And we've decided to embrace the uniqueness of it. We figure someone can be using the toilet while someone else is showering and someone else can be brushing their teeth.. All leaving the others alone.. So, no, not exactly a fan of it, gonna make the best of it and pretty much sure we'll still have a great time!!!
Hi great video. My daughter found you as we’ve booked her onto a deluxe balcony on deck 10 for the fjords. As a frequent Virtuosa sailor, just a couple of points of clarification. The nesting set is a coffee table and a stool. There is no plug next to the bed other than the USB, but you can ask Guest services for an extension lead to plug in your C-Pap machine and finally….the retractable clothes line is a God-send for many who don’t want to pay for the laundry service and wash their smalls in the sink 😀
Cheers!!! I get annoyed about not being able to charge my phone overnight beside the bed but you're right, a c-pap is a non-negotiable so its good to hear the cruise ship has anticipated this need!!! And I agree the washing line is handy, provided it reaches the slot!
Hi Matt. I’m a cruise virgin but am put off by the tipping and gratuity issues. Can you put together a video that explains this and illustrates any differences between cruise lines.
Thanks Richard.... Americans do tend to get carried away with tipping and most cruise lines are American so its a frequently raised topic in cruise circles!!! Not a bad idea for a video actually thanks.... In the interim, I'm British and hate tipping so I prepay gratuities and consider it to just be part of the fare. The cruise line then takes care of how that tip is distributed. Then when I'm on board, I am really stingy, mostly as tipping doesn't usually occur to me as its so uncommon in the UK. It's not a bad idea to tip a few bucks early on in your favourite bar with your favourite barman as that can generate a positive return over the rest of the cruise... And if you develop a relationship with your cabin attendant, a few dollars a day is much appreciated. But on P&O and I think also Cunard (also British) - no tipping is needed aboard at all. Hope that gives you an idea - its not something to be too worried about - crew members don't hover with their hand out in the way the movies would have you believe bellmen do in US hotels!
Very informative, Matt. Not a cruiser, but I would consider giving this line a try. Need a challenge? Get through a cruise relying on finding free WiFi when ashore.
You may stand out a bit on Norwegian sitting by the pool in a tailored blazer.... Before the channel I would always rely on shore wifi - I'm quite stingy!!! But these days I do sort of need it so usually buy it, unless the itinerary has a port every day
Good video. The no-tipping policy and dress-code are pluses for overly-formal me. The Royal Navy used to have a standing invitation to place one of its officers on a P&O cruise-ship for a week or two. One of my post-career regrets was not having volunteered for it. Seemed like an opportunity for a lot of fun.
I think it would be complete culture shock to spend a week on a cruise ship having been in the Royal Navy for years!!! If you want formal, check out Cunard....
Was on the Gem for 9 days, Caribbean, 2 weeks ago. Usually cruise Holland America, but friends highly recommended Norwegian. I was disappointed. Norwegians inside cabin was smaller, no hair conditioner, body lotion or robes. Food was okay in main but buffet not so good & outside deck burger was horrid. Entertainment okay, on par with HAL. Too much upselling & not enough free activities on Norwegian. Only $50 off for one person for an expensive excursion of $125 each was not a great deal. Overall HAL has better, food & service & cabins. 16:26 Probably won’t be cruising Norwegian again.
Thanks for that - HAL is a tricky line to try if you live in Europe - a few Med cruises but not very many... The important question though is whether Norwegian was much cheaper than HAL??? And you're right - the $50 tour credit sounds brilliant but I fear NCL just puts the price of all of their excursions up by $50 to get their money back!
This particular cruise was a little cheaper because of a discount offered on the “have it all” package. Also, I suspect because it was an older, less desirable ship.
In three weeks I will take my second cruise on the Epic. I agree with everything you said about the bathroom(s) design. The added inconvenience for the fellow traveler is that you are trapped in the cabin whenever your fellow cruiser uses the facilities unless you want to walk in one them. Having the sink outside of the area also means that cabinmates cannot get out of the way. The Epic does have a fun set up for the bars and public areas. The Encore is my favorite ship with the large observation lounge and the large spa.
I have spoken to them actually.... They are certainly on the to-do list - I fear I'm not cool enough for them but that's exactly the sort of customer they should have aboard to review them!
Hello Matt, Thank you for your informative Virtuosa cruise videos. Your honest, unbiased approach really stands out, and I find your channel uniquely helpful. I have sent you an email through your blog if you don't mind with some questions I have about my upcoming trip on the Virtuosa. I would really appreciate it if you would find the time to read it and reply. Thank you!
This will really be fun for us 4 musketeer friends. We sail Jan 21, 2023. We also plan to use the showers and toilet at the gym which is at rear of our deck. We have 14023 on starboard side. Can I sleep diagonally on the balcony if I bring my air mattress? 😅
Thanks Marl - sorry for the slow response! The main theatre shows are all included in the fare, as are the venue performers and anything that takes place in a communal area. The VIrtuosa has a secondary venue up the back of the ship which is an extra fee - although I did pay for that show on my second cruise on the Virtuosa and it was quite good, and I thought it was worth the fee!
Review! Nah, sounds more like a deliberate winge to me. My experience of Azura, was very good, staff were always attentive, food as you say was very good, yes, I met P & O veterans who said "P & O have lost it, things have gone downhill?" but I must say, I as a new P & O customer did not have any problems. Yes things were dated? but at 10 yrs old, not outrageous. Ok, I agree, portion sizes were small, but every meal was 3 courses, so I am glad I did not end up looking like a pudding, and we were seated as a couple about 90% of the time,. your comments about the buffet are accurate, but all in all, this is a complaint video, not meant to be a review, unless you are deliberetly putting people off,and that will not do, as it is the best value for money cruise out there.
Certainly not a "deliberate winge"... And you seem to agree with most of the negative points I make in this video... Been back on P&O very recently (videos coming) and it was really quite good...
Good work as usual Matt, LOL at the medical centre comment, will be on the Silhouette in a weeks time so that was helpful. Keep up your quality content, really enjoy your style
First ever cruise september 2023. Aged 67 and 68. Found everyting great. Immacutately clean. Staff friendly, food and entertainment really good. Have already booked next two cruises. Totally love 💘
I'm very happy for you!!! I've gathered since making this video that the scrutiny came about because of our stops in the Canary Islands - a well known destination for people who tend to forget cigarette allowances.... Although industrial action certainly compounded the issues
Came across your channel by accident just tonight, I just came back from my first ever cruise 2 weeks ago (7 nights). Whilst I was generally pleased with it a few bits did annoy me (perhaps thats because I was a cruise novice) such as no padding inside the wardrobes to stop hangars banging against the back/doors on choppy days. I did the alcohol free drinks package, which in hindsight was probably an error as I would have spent less had I just paid each time. But overall, it was good. Agree that the buffet wasnt the best laid out and did lead to queues but the food I was pelased with, but I did find the buzzers to call for bar service were very intimmitent and about half of them seemed to not work. And indeed, you're right that the solarium gets very full on days where the weather isnt so great. Whether this is the same for all crusies, I thought my steward was very good as well. I think though that my biggest gripe is, and this isnt aimed at MSC, but Im not sure crusies are good for solo travellers such as I was as that one certainly, was full of families, so it felt quite isolating even if you were around 4000 other people 24/7.
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it! I have to say that MSC has done a better job of filling their ships since I had my 2 trips with them so there are now some grumbles about how crammed certain areas can be at certain times... I've not been solo on a cruise for many years but have one coming up so will look to make a video about the experience - I guess your personal comfort with talking to strangers is key to success... I'll always have an excuse of retreating to my cabin to edit videos if I get a bit lonely!!!
The ship's excursions are always easiest, although they can be expensive. Viator is a good place to look for excursions - previous reviews can be helpful. But any guide or tour operator that's been doing it for a while is likely to be reliable and will know to get you back to the ship in good time!
Bit slow to reply but its not 2024 yet!!! A day or two in Rome before boarding and a day or two in Athens on disembarking would be great if you have the time - they're both tricky places to see on a cruise stop as they're a bit of a distance from the ports and are both major cities with lots to see.... Otherwise, have a great time!
Your experience on Azura was exactly the same as we encountered on their new ship Iona. Cost cutting, less staff and a general watered down experience. Been on many P&O cruises and this was the first where we noticed the reduced standards. Yes we understand the industry have billions to find following the covid years, but we definitely noticed the cuts. Great video.
Great Video. Cruising, I suspect, is not my idea of enjoyment. I have only been on a ferry from Ireland to England, and we got stuck halfway through due to a storm with all the employees screaming, we were all going to die. And before that, we took the QE2 from NY to England and flew the Concord home. But that Ferry has scared me off of floating on the water. But it is fun to watch your videos even if I probably will not put your info to good use.
Thanks Mikie!!! Ferries are a lot smaller than cruise ships, and I suspect cruise employees have much better customer service training than ferry workers, but if its not for you, its not for you!!! Although the QE2 must have been fun!!!
That is nothing next to what we had in 2014 in Italy, after the ferry from Greece arrived at Ancona, 3 hour wait on our bus with italian border guards with Machine guns, looking for illegal immigrants from Africa who had climbed under the undercarriage of the bus - a African American guy on tour was harassed by the guards until the tour operators speaking frantic Italian speakers had to convince 'Frontieri" that he was a Black American and not a Nigerian overstayer. Turned out our friend was Portorican and could only speak Spanish hence the suspicion. I got a couple of looks because of my brown Maori skin and big Maori lips - but was left alone. - Racism pure and simple. I was penalised for TWB = Travelling while Black or Brown.
Thanks for sharing that... Must have been a very difficult experience.... But as in so many cases, the authorities are in charge and are immune to criticism.... Would anything happen if you formally complained? No.... Will the border force people in Southampton that caused this face any consequences? No....
