4 Nights onboard MSC Virtuosa. Day 1; Embarkation & Yacht Club

And here we go! It's day 1 on my MSC Virtuosa cruise and we experience check-in and embarkation for Yacht Club (on board by 10.10am with hardly anyone about!), my first impressions of the ship, how you might spend a morning in Yacht Club when you embark including all the perks, a first look at my deluxe suite, pool-and cocktail time in the autumnal sunshine, al fresco lunch, how muster works on MSC, out and about on Virtuosa, dinner at the Yacht Club restaurant, my views on the paid show Ajedrez, too much to drink and a cheeky visit to the late night buffet! Come along with me and have a great first day onboard! Any Qs, drop them below!
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#msc #virtuosa #yachtclub #cruise #cruiseship #travelblogjamie

[@lizdyson3627]

Boring people get bored. Absolutely Brilliant Jamie.

[@danieloconnor3661]

Love it, can't wait for day 2!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you! Wednesday is the day!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

And here we go! I can’t wait to share my new series with y’all ❤

[@herenow6953]

Looks fab! Ok, I'm going to have to book a short 'try out' cruise! You've sold me!

[@scruff520]

Brilliant first day you had, looking forward to the rest of your cruise 😊

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It really was great!

[@Mazza240]

Loved the vlog thank you. The more I watch you on MSC the more tempted we’re getting to book up. I did have a wee giggle at you eating your pasta and talking to the video. Keep on doing what you’re doing xx

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’m here to give you the giggles 🤭

[@user-cs5dc3vh6d]

Thanks for the Vlog Jamie. Ahead of our cruise on MSC Virtuosa in December we have watched a lot of Vlogs. Yours is by far the easiest and most enjoyable to watch.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh wow how utterly fabulous of you to say this ❤️❤️❤️

[@natasha8966]

Always look forward to your uploads. First chance of watching this.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh let me know what you think!!

[@CamilleFarrar]

Thank you Jamie for getting me through the early weeks of my maternity leave with my newborn baby. I’ve watched a few of your P&O cruises and I’m enjoying this one. I can almost imagine myself on the ship, while I dream of someday going on my first cruise with hubby and the baby!❤ Keep ‘em coming, and btw, love your comment that “only boring people get bored” - very true!!👏👏

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh my god it’s my pet hate when people go on about being bored! Lol 😂 Congrats on the expansion to your family 🎉

[@elizabethbryan3821]

Wow wow wow..soo jealous..looks fabulous..daughter stayed in the yacht club on her honeymoon and loved it !!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s soooo Special ❤️❤️👀

[@lindaedge6674]

Great first vlog Jamie , loving your gorgeous room ❤

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you Linda - I loved my time onboard

[@lillekagehus392]

Oh it looks great Jamie. I am just back from a P&O cruise and have been looking at MSC departures from Kiel (I live in Denmark) so I wouldn't need to fly. Can't wait to watch more, I could also get used to be spoiled in the Yacht Club! Cheers!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I think I could get used to it too lol 😆

[@Alanw80]

Can't beat some bubbles to start the holiday. I absolutely love the staircase and the food looks lush. Likewise I'd feel strange if someone else unpacked my suitcase especially with some of the clothing I pack in it. I'd probably get told off by the staff too like you did when going upto the bar. I absolutely love the dome of the atrium. Look forward to the rest of the vlogs.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you Alan ❤️

[@angelacox-martin2789]

Looks brilliant! I think my favourite bit is always the breakfast order, don't know why! x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh I looove that part of a cruise ❤️

[@byllig]

Hi Jamie.....I do LOVE your vlogs!!!!!! I haven't cruised for such a long time (eeek....must be 30 years) so I'm making up for lost time and have two booked next year....Iona/March and just this morning booked MSC Virtuosa/August......soooooooo excited!!!!!!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Yeeeees how exciting!!

[@Peopleschoice601]

We were on MSC Seascape yacht club in January. I was amazing! Glad you enjoyed you time as well.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you 🙏

[@joyturnbull-eb8hh]

The tiramisu on board is awesome 👍

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s amazing!

[@Sharon1968]

Oh Jamie! The end of this is hilarious! Cheers! 🎉

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh which bit, Sharon?!

[@Sharon1968]

@@TravelBlogJamie The bit where you’d had vodka! 🎉

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@Sharon1968 lol 😂

[@markkirkpatrick6997]

Great blog going away 3nd of June looking forward now 1st time Cruise

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Have a great time

[@angharadkat3]

Managed to spot myself and my partner on the sunbeds at 23:15! I have no idea how I never spotted you😩 loving the vlogs though and it’s so great to look back on what was a great week, thank you🙌🏻

[@TravelBlogJamie]

So pleased you’re enjoying! Maybe you’ll be in all 5 of the vlogs 😂

[@torpoint100]

Love It Thank you Jamie

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you 🙏

[@pauline__dickson]

Oh my 😱😱😱 #belvedere 🤣🤣🤣. You do make me laugh! I love that you are a rule bending rascal 🤣🤣. Another great entertaining, informative vlog. Looking forward to the next ones....😊

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank youuuuuu

[@MarinaAndJoeGo]

Thanks for another brilliant video Jamie, what an exciting embarkation day! The Yacht Club experience looks absolutely amazing 🤩 It's enough to tempt us if the price is right!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It was so so special on YC ❤️

[@MarinaAndJoeGo]

@@TravelBlogJamie it really looks it 🤩

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@MarinaAndJoeGo this is one I can unreservedly recommend

[@MarinaAndJoeGo]

@@TravelBlogJamie 🤩

[@DavidAdkins78]

I'm excited to go on the Virtuoso in a couple of weeks for the 26 day cruise to Dubai.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh how amazing!!! Envious of this one ☝️

[@DavidAdkins78]

@@TravelBlogJamie it was a great price and will be my first time to Europe. Looking forward to London first 😀.

[@kittenspy]

Just booked Virtuosa for next month. Sadly not yacht club though! Will watch the rest of these vlogs with interest.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Enjoy ☺️

[@janajames3865]

Am I the only one , who has watched so many of these videos, they try to guess what Jamie is going to have for dinner? 😁 Another great video, totally selling me MSC Yacht Club.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh that’s so funny 😂 I need to make this a part of my next series 😆

[@pauline__dickson]

Knew it'd be soup for starter 😂

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@pauline__dickson lol 😆

[@flo3799]

Fun video. I think you may need a detox when you get home but good to see you enjoying yourself.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’ve definitely had a detox!

[@suzy_c]

Looks amazing! I could just eat a slice of pizza now 😂

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Exactly what I’m doing right now 😂

[@sl64642]

I really believe trips are what you make them. You get out what you put in and if you are a misery you will have a miserable time. Keep smiling and enjoying life

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙏🙏🙏

[@JayneGadsby]

Hi Jamie love watching your channel I’m looking to book Virtuosa for beginning of next year and wondered if you could tell me if they do all the announcements in several languages as I’ve done MSC a few times but never from the UK and I’d be really grateful for your advice. Many thanks x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

From the U.K. and this particular cruise it was just in English

[@JayneGadsby]

@@TravelBlogJamie thank you so much x

[@dancourt4792]

Loved your vlog Jamie, and really like the Yacht Club.......enjoy x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank youuuu

[@buttercupzr]

Thanks Jamie!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙏🙏🙏

[@alywax_fan1555]

Omg u crack me up the dancing nut scene followed by the very strong vodka oops moment😂😂😂yacht club looks amazing. How do u compare MSC to P&O Jamie x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Hmm I don’t think it’s a comparison easily made as they are so so different - no yacht club on P&O for a start! I think MSC food is getting better so P&O need to watch out! MSC definitely more of a party vibe

[@chrismatthews9351]

Hi Jamie - love the vlogs! So, we’re booked to go on the Virtuosa in July in YC. Can’t wait and YC looks amazing. However… the rest of the ship in many reviews we’ve looked at leave us a bit concerned. We’re not ‘party animals’ (hence why YC was so appealing) but equally, we don’t want to be stuck in YC. How did you find it when ‘at sea’? We want to spend time with our 7 year old in the water park (he ‘loves’ the water) but was it super crowded a lot of the time? Many other vids we have seen show the whole boat ‘heaving’ most of the time - wherever you go. We’re almost at D-Day when the balance has to be paid and wondering whether to commit or not? We’ve sailed with both P&O (Arvia last yr) and RC a few times and love cruises. If it wasn’t for YC I don’t think this would be for us. Dilemma!!! Hope you can help…

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Hi hi - I think first and foremost you need to watch the next parts when I actually go to the waterpark and other areas of the ship, busy or not, I think this would give you the answers you’re looking for from a point of view perspective!

[@berniehanrahan5701]

Hi Jamie, absolutely agree that boring people get bored! Its what you make of it yourself 😊 Love your vlogs and i always click the like, it annoys me so much to see all the views and only small percentage have liked! One question for you, do you book your cruises yourself or through travel agents? TIA 🙂

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Thank you 🙏 Always direct - I’ve had some bad experiences when I’ve not gone direct and I like having overall control!

[@berniehanrahan5701]

Oh and I had to Google what Charlie Alpha means, it's a security threat caused by a medical emergency 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@berniehanrahan5701]

Thank you for the reply, I had a greek isles cruise booked direct with Royal Caribbean for May but I had to cancel as I wasn't finished treatment but I'm going to re-book for next may. Who does greek isles better do you think, Royal Caribbean, MSC or other?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@berniehanrahan5701 I honestly don’t think there’s a difference in this 2 cruise lines

[@careerprofessional]

Hi Jamie, I am looking at an MSC Euribia cruise over New Year. We were disappointed with the main dining (early sitting) on MSC Preziosa because the service took too long and we missed shows - so we just ate in the self-serve diner. My sister had a similar experience with MSC. Have you heard what the service on Euribia is like? Many thanks. Love the channel.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Hi! To be honest I haven’t heard how the service is going on Euribia and my experience is that service levels on any ship or cruise line can change significantly and quickly. I’ve had great and awful on the same ship. Sorry!

[@careerprofessional]

Tnx for getting back to me. Cheers@@TravelBlogJamie

[@JohnBuckley-sb4zs]

Hi Jamie..Just past your cabin 18009 there is a main door. Do you know where this goes and if you get any noise from people using it? Extremely tempted with the Yacht club!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Sorry John I didn’t check that out so not sure - couldn’t comment on the noise from it either. But just can say yacht club is a fantastic experience

[@aabsurdity8817]

Okay, nerd talk: As a former worker in the lift industry, I spent my week on P&O Iona throwing a fit every time I went near the archaic elevator system. Whoever set those things up was having an absolute laugh. P&O want to get someone with half a brain onto that ship to get them working properly... Seeing the elevator group run by a proper destination control system at 22:15 brings joy to my little nerd heart. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Haha! It’s a joy to use these elevators, I must say!

[@williamham8311]

What’s even better about yacht club is you scan your cruise card on the lift button so it comes as a priority and goes straight to your intended deck without stopping at loads of levels

[@lizdyson3627]

Do the beds Seperate Jamie. I'm tempted but would need accomodation for my carers. that would be 3 unrelated females.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

This cabin only sleeps 2 though

[@jsmith1071]

Paid performances? What is the world coming to! 😂 Looks a beautiful ship though.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍

[@lawaynesplace]

With the Yacth Club package do you still have ot pay the daily/end of cruise gratuities? Plus as a single passenager do you have to pay almost twice the pay for the same service a couple would automatic get?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

No, gratuities included in fare. You can of course give more. My fare wasn’t double cost as a solo and I bid the absolute minimum for the upgrade. I also wasn’t in a solo cabin, so it wasn’t a bad deal. However, usually I don’t think MSC are great for solo passengers in terms of cost. Need to look around for a decent deal.

[@achmadosman9807]

Glad to see that you have managed to slip away from the grouch. Enjoy

[@TravelBlogJamie]

What?

[@Bessie66]

Hi Jamie, my first impressions were “wow, top deck” - which do you prefer?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I don’t really have a preference to be honest, as long as I’m not under / above a bar or lounge!

[@blogtamara]

As a solo traveler. Where did you leave your keycard when going off the waterslide?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

With my things - it would be no different if you were with others and you all went on the slides

[@Mazza240]

Morning Jamie ☕️

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Hey hey 👋

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Are you well?

[@Mazza240]

@@TravelBlogJamie all good thank you. Hope you have a great weekend xx

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@Mazza240 you too!

[@akajasonbourne]

You didn't miss out with Agnes she was rough. As a consequence we didn't dock in Belfast but gave us extra time in Reykjavik which was a bonus.

[@orchardmakeup7078]

Looks great. Where are you sailing to? Has MSC got better? 🤗

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s to Zeebrugge / Portland. Has it got better? What in particular?

[@orchardmakeup7078]

@@TravelBlogJamie I saw loads of blogs saying don't go there, but maybe the new shops are better? Only been on P&O so far. X

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@orchardmakeup7078 you saw loads of blogs saying don’t go to Bruges??

[@orchardmakeup7078]

@@TravelBlogJamie 😂 no The MSC ships.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@orchardmakeup7078 I mean I don’t understand those reviews but each to their own - clearly with so many ships in the fleet and more coming they can’t be doing that badly

[@TheSpanishChannel]

❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🤗

[@suecameron3124]

Jamie you didn't spray your pillow 😲

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I don’t want to be a one trick pony 😎

[@lizdyson3627]

Not been on MSC or Princess but wouldn't you expect an Italian cruise line to have the best Pizza? It's subjective of course.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I would, yes

[@caphaenaddiction]

FYI Charlie Alpha is a medical emergency, we use the same call sign

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’m familiar with this - it was my attempt at humour

[@caphaenaddiction]

@@TravelBlogJamie hearing “Charlie” 1st can add some fun

[@caphaenaddiction]

@@TravelBlogJamie just curious was it you that was supposed to be at the front of the ship when Solent Ships was doing a stream?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@caphaenaddiction it was me, and I was in the top sail lounge

[@akajasonbourne]

I hope your neighbours were appropriately punished for their selfishness and downright stupidity.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Well they eventually stopped! I think they’d had complaints from other cabins too

[@elainelloyd3341]

Great vlog, the ship looks amazing (how fabulous are the sparkly stairs !)

[@johnkelly1083]

You'd think people would have more sense.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@elainelloyd3341 they are suuuuper spaaaarkly lol 😆