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MSC Virtuosa’s namesake comes from the word virtuoso, meaning someone highly skilled in any field of activity, and so MSC Virtuosa was named to pay homage to the skill and expertise of the MSC Cruises architects and shipyard partners at Les Chantiers de l’Atlantique who designed and built this innovative class of ships. This new cruise ship is one of the two largest in MSC Cruises’ fleet, along with her sister ship MSC Grandiosa, boasting an impressive array of guest features all coming together in perfect harmony to deliver the ultimate cruise holiday experience.
Embarkation - Very efficient at Horizon Terminal in Southampton. No need for Fast Track. Just 30 minutes from Car to Cabin. Re boarding the ship at ports of call can be slow at times simply due to the vast numbers on the ship and the necessary security measures. Disembarkation - Aurea Experience passengers are first to depart - after self disembarkation. Again very smooth and efficient. Bags were waiting for us and we were on our way home very quickly. Aurea Spa - Despite some uncertainty when booking, we can confirm that the Aurea Experience does allow FREE use of the excellent Thermal Suite. We made a reservation for 1 hour each day. Very enjoyable to have this each day. Dining - A major plus point was that the Aurea passengers were allocated the seperate Il Campo dining room (190 seats). Food was good - not great - but service could not be faulted. Had expected we might use Speciality Dining more due to previous reviews but only did this once - at Hola Tacos which was excellent. Il Campo also seemed to have its own kitchen so service was efficient and food was hot. Staff were always attentive and friendly. Wine was freely topped up. Superior dining experience to Main Dining Room where over 900 people sit and we saw long lines. We also heard it was very loud. The Minueto was busier than we had expected for breakfast - perhaps due to previous good reviews. Long lines to gain entry. The Market Place Buffet was vast - ample seating if you are prepared to sit further away from the main serving areas. We always found seating towards the rear of the ship. Great Pizza. The buzzer on the tables for drinks service never seemed to result in a server - but it was always easy to get a drink from the bar by the main entrance to the buffet. There was also a limited drink station positioned in the buffet service area itself. We never experienced the 30 minute waits some people have mentioned despite the ship being full. Cabins - well equipped and cabin steward was highly attentive. Room always clean and made up in a timely manner. Very impressed. Our Aurea cabin was also well located. Mid ships and 2 floors down from the buffet. Bars - Only experienced slow service in Sky Lounge. Have to order drinks through a server and they were understaffed and over worked. Catch their eye and ask politely and they will take your order but delivery was slow as it is the most popular bar on the ship. Staff were very charming though - just over worked! We found L'Atelier bar to be consistently reliable for available seating and good service. Overall - Aurea Experience was well worth the premium price. The Ship and overall experience exceeded our expectations considering prior reviews. Great value for money - but can imagine that the Bella and Fantastica experience on this specific ship could be very different. and seem much busier. We were on a huge ship but able to dine in an intimate dining room and enjoy the spa facilities. Can imagine that the Top 19 Solarium (outdoor) that is also exclusive for Aurea passengers would also be a welcome and relaxing retreat on a cruise when outdoor deck space is at a premium. Hope you enjoy VIrtuosa as much as we did.
Returned a few days from a 4 night cruise to France and Belgium and I have to say I still love this ship depsite noticing a few cutbacks in service from my previous cruise in 2022. Embarkation - 7 minutes from the time I set foot in the terminal to when i was on board. Loads of passnegers chose to do the self disembarkation and it could have been a night mare but it was very well managed. No doubt about it, Virtuosa is a beautiful ship from the galleria dome, to the silver and white atrium to the swarovski crsytal staircase to the illuminated wine cellar on the approach to the main dining rooms. There are always crew cleaning somewhere on the ship throughout the day (and possibly the night too). I received the same great service from the crew as I did on the previous cruise. Food service was fast in the main dining rooms and I never had to wait long for drinks service in any of the bars. The crew are friendly and polite and always immaculately turned out. My cabin steward kept my cabin spotless and there was cabin service twice a day, which you don't get anymore on some other cruise lines. I'm also impressed by the help and respect they give to disbaled passengers. No complaints about the food at all, never had a bad meal in the main dining room or the buffet. Decent portion sizes too. Didn't try any of the speciality restaurants but did hear people praising Hola, the mexican restaurant. The Virtuosa still does a banging hot chocolate :-) The entertainment I saw I enjoyed. Only saw one theatre show, the Abba tribute which was brillant (I actually thought their rendition of Waterloo was better than Abba's). The entertainment team also know how to create an atmosphere at the night time parties in the galleria. The cruise visited Cherbourg and Zeebrugge and spent 12 hours in each port, plenty of time for sightseeing. I made my own way into Brugges from Zeebrugge as it's easy to do and took the MSC transfer to Mont St Michel from Cherbourg (expensive for what it is but it's a 2.5 hour drive so advisable to take the MSC transfer). My cabin was called a studio interior. it's designed for solo travellers. It was perfectly adequte for me. The layout worked well (apparently it doesn't on some MSC ships). Now for the negatives :-( - you no longer get offered a hot drink at he end of your meal in the main dining room. -main dining room breakfast and lunch have been replaced with brunch from 9am-12noon (some people may see this as a positive as they can get breakfast after having a lie in but i prefer traditional breakfast and lunch) - the solo meet up is no longer hosted (if you turn up at the bar who's going to approach a table and ask if it's the solo meet up?), nor do MSC seat the solo travellers together anymore -my cruise card said "restaurant:unassigned", apparently this means I can turn up to any main dining room and ask to be seated but this was never explained, I found this out from seasoned MSC cruisers, queued with many others who were wanting to change their assigned dining time or thought they needed to be assigned a restaurant on board -alcholic drinks prices have gone up a lot Would I sail on Virtuosa again? Definitely, I have a fondness for this ship and the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Whether you’re looking for a duplex suite with private whirlpool bath, a sea-view balcony cabin or a family option, you’ll find it all on MSC Virtuosa.
A choice of 10 dining venues promises something special for every taste including a brand new Indochine restaurant concept - a delicious take on the Vietnamese classics with a French twist.
Seek the extraordinary and make your cruise holiday an unforgettable adventure.
We offer an incredible choice of shore excursions to suit every taste: whether you prefer adventure, nature, culture or history, we’ve designed something for you and the whole family.
From Culture & History and our breathtaking Scenic Routes, to our Active & Adventure tours and the discovery of Natural Wonders, to Sea & Sun’s relax, our Something Special experiences and our Accessible Tours, you can enjoy the treasures of each destination in your preferred way.
We’ve also established the MSC Family Explorer Club, Excursions Explorer Package and MSC Bike Adventours, which are unique to our line and available on selected MSC Cruises' itineraries.
MSC Virtuosa will offer a superb choice of entertainment for the whole family, from days in the water park or sports centre to evenings in the super-amusement park or the multi-purpose karaoke bar, comedy club, TV studio & bar.
21 bars: 5 outdoor bars with breathtaking view and 16 indoor bars, each offering a unique experience including the first humanoid Robotic Bartender at sea. The robot will be at the centre of an immersive bar experience and will entertain guests in eight different languages.
MSC Aurea Spa with its thermal area, professional massages, body treatments, facials and beauty services.
Panoramic gym equipped with the latest Technogym machines, 5 outstanding pools and the TOP 19 Exclusive solarium
SPA & BEAUTY
Feeling healthy and looking your best is a part of the MSC Cruises experience. Try something new, like high-tech beauty treatments, a soothing sauna or enjoy a Balinese massage. Book now one of our spa packages and take advantage of our pre-boarding rates.
SPORT & FITNESS
A voyage with MSC Cruises brings you the leisure time and the facilities to maintain and build your fitness thanks to a wide choice of Sports Facilities and a state-of-the art Sports Centre with fabulous sea views. You can admire the panorama, burn off calories and keep in shape. Whether you prefer to train alone, love a workout in company or live to compete, you’ll find just what you need.
PLEASE NOTE:
In order to grant the best experience to our guests, all Thermal Area experiences are available by appointment only.
Access to the MSC Aurea Spa is only permitted for guests over the age of 18.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Due to the increased Health & Safety measures in order to grant a safe cruise for all our guests, depending on ship-class, the following experiences will be closed until further notice: Steam Rooms, Heat Baths Whirlpools, Ice & Snow Experiences. Saunas, Salt Relax Room, Harmonic Relax Rooms, Experience Showers, Heated Loungers will remain open to our guests.
MSC Cruises is known for its award-winning family offering and has a long-standing partnership with the LEGO Group to design the kids club areas as well as on board activities. Discover all activities and services for children, tweens, teens and their parents
CRUISES FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS
MSC family cruises are designed for parents and children to enjoy fun times together and quality time separately. That's why we’re proud to have built a renowned reputation as a company that knows how to create the best cruises for kids.
Today we continue to deliver on that reputation by paying extra attention to the needs of children, tweens, teens and their parents: so book your cruise and immerse in a World of Discovery!
To ensure family activities run in a safe environment, some onboard services are subject to changes based on local regulations or other restrictions, in the context of the COVID-19 situation.
