This ship is getting SHOCKING reviews. WHY? We Investigate the MSC VIRTUOSA

[@donnabendell7688]

We booked this for 11th may but after my husband saw your review he upgraded us to yacht club. I was so glad he did, the rest of the ship was so crowded and nowhere to sit. Loads of pushchairs wheelchairs and kids running round. We came down and looked at market buffet,the queue was 3 deep you couldn’t see what you were queuing for! There was nowhere to sit when you got your food. Again pushchairs everywhere. The noise was horrendous. The pool was packed and this was term time in beginning of may. I can’t imagine a med cruise! Your video saved our holiday. The yacht club was lovely the staff amazing and your butler well what a lovely man, Wasantah was. The restaurant was amazing. Norwegian kippers, no bones a must to try. Every meal was amazing. All the staff were so lovely, can’t fault yacht club at all. Going aboard looked awful so many people queuing. Our daughter said when we arrived I’m glad pops upgraded you. Yacht club boarding was amazing straight to Buck’s Fizz, so easy. Lady escorted us all the way. Thankyou again you are a lifesaver we had a great holiday because of your video

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Donna, I am so glad to hear it went well for you! Really lovely to hear. Occasionally we get comments from viewers who feel our video is critical of MSC, or one sided. But we do try to be as fair and objective as we can Thank you so much for reporting back after your cruise, we always love to hear from people!

[@CrescentSpoonz]

Loads of wheelchairs? Should all disabled people refrain from going on a cruise?

[@essflem]

@@CrescentSpoonz I think push chairs are strollers. I had to google this.

[@epicstewdios804]

Fantastic review, great British humor, love it. Thank you.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very kind, thank you!

[@steveloader]

Excellent and very fair review. We travelled on the voyage after yours and totally agree with what you are saying about the noise etc. our sanctuary was the aft section of the buffet, you could really escape the madness there. Thanks for the videos, I look forward to your next ones

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks Steve! It must be one of the biggest buffets at sea. I can't recall many that are of that scale and size, and range. We'll now add sanctuary to the buffet description!

[@brentshuffler1234]

@@ritzytravelguide Of course, this is an excellent reminder that, on all cruise-ships, there are areas and times of day/night that are away from the main crowds....and remarkably quiet and enjoyable....Willingness to walk an extra 100 feet can yield free tables, uncrowded food-stations, short/no queues, and much less noise.....Another place is the Library....the quietest place on any ship....Another great invention is the adults-only areas of any cruiseline/cruiseship.....

[@steveloader]

@@ritzytravelguide To be fair the rear deck and the sky lounge were about the only places that weren’t noisy!

[@ritzytravelguide]

That is true!

[@yasminedrexler8951]

Thank you for a fabulous review. I thought it was very professional, informative and balanced.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very kind of you to say. Thank you

[@sa6ab]

What a good video! I loved your retail therapy sarcasm 😂 and how you don't stress about filming other people, makes it more real and we can really feel the vibe like we're there

[@authunhx3129]

Good information, well presented. I normally prefer a cosy village pub with log fire but, on occasions, I would step into a packed beer hall in the Munich Oktoberfest. As long as you we know what we're letting ourselves in for, we can't complain. Your presentation shows us exactly what we're getting. Many thanks.

[@ritzytravelguide]

I love your analogy with a German bierkeller!! Thanks so much

[@sonnerthebest1]

What a great great video. The most informative video I’ve seen. I cancelled our family holiday on the virtuoso in July. Reading all the reviews it just sounded awful, which is a shame as the ship looks amazing.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, many thanks for your kind comments. Yes, you are spot on... it's a gorgeous ship, but MSC is stuffing way too many people on it.

[@nigelsknowledge]

Bill you are great, thank you for taking the time to make all these videos on cruising for us. I’m a disabled wheelchair passenger and have often thought about doing a review but it would be so niche I don’t think it would be worth the number of views.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Nigel, thank you so much for your kind comments, and I would absolutely encourage you to upload reviews. I do get asked about disabled cruising, and I'm not well placed to answer. So please do think of having a go. You'll probably get a lot of appreciation for it, and you'll enjoy the video taking and creation process!

[@LordFeckington]

My grandma, who is using a wheelchair, is treating me to a Mediterranean cruise on this very ship and I'm doing research on how to look after her aboard the cruise. Niche doesn't mean it won't be valued!

[@joyturnbull-eb8hh]

I was on the same cruise and thankfully we upgraded to the YC, I would have not been able to stand the crowds in the rest of a ship. However this was my 3rd trip on the Virtuosa and previously it wasn’t so busy. It is a beautiful ship, such a shame it was so full. I have to agree the disembarkation was absolutely chaotic and in the YC there was supposed to be priority disembarkation. One thing to remember though the price point is relatively low compared to other cruise lines, its a true statement particularly when cruising ‘You get what you pay for’

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Joy, good to hear from you. Yes, the ship really was rammed. Strange as it wasn't fully in the school holidays. There were a few Scots who were on vacation, but the rest of the holidays had not yet started. I heard that the next few sailings after that were even more full. God forbid!

[@nickprince8623]

How much extra is the YC, we are 2 adults and 2 children ?

[@Pantokrator2003]

I definitely recommend YC - been there 4 times so far. Never would do the 95% experience as shown in your videos. I like to enjoy all the offerings of a big cruise ship, but I also like a private, uncrowded cozy retreat.

[@stacysmith6800]

I'll be a first-time cruiser in November, so I have been watching many videos on cruising and have enjoyed your detailed videos. Wow. Six thousand people. I can't even imagine spending my money to be stuck on this ship with all those people. I think an older, smaller ship would be best for me.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Stacy, have a fabulous cruise in November!

[@juliewilson3237]

We recently had to cancel our Norwegian cruise in May on the Virtuosa and I have to say I’m glad I did !!! The cost was good but if it was anything like this , I know we wouldn’t enjoy it , especially my husband 🤦‍♀️😉!!! I think when we book again it will be with a much smaller ship and possibly with a different cruise line !

[@ritzytravelguide]

@juliewilson3237 Hi Julie, judging by your comment you might like to consider a 'midsize' ship, with approximately 3000 or less passengers. You could consider: Princess, Celebrity, the new NCL ships, or if you're a traditionalist the new Cunard Queen Anne, which is offering European and Scandinavian itineraries this season.

[@juliewilson3237]

@@ritzytravelguide Thanks for your reply, I would really like to try Princess and maybe P&O if the price was reasonable.

[@ritzytravelguide]

@juliewilson3237 Good luck with your booking!

[@AmandaB3923]

Wow! We love cruising but this cruise we'd find these crowds and queuing challenging. Smaller ships would suit us better! Thanks for sharing.

[@ritzytravelguide]

The sheer numbers aboard did make it very challenging. Huge crowds everywhere. Difficult to find a calm place to relax, and we searched high and low every day. We would not choose a mega ship again, unless there was a really compelling itinerary that wasn't available on anything else

[@donnabendell7688]

We booking aurora po adults only .the virtuosa is exactly as he’s shown. We booked in term time ! . My husband upgraded us to yacht club which was amazing. Totally recommend. I did go downstairs 3 ventures. Noisy nowhere to sit. Kids everywhere. Looked in at Buffet but full and so noisy O

[@laurencelong]

Great and thorough non biased review

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks, much appreciated

[@laurencelong]

@@ritzytravelguide I am on the Virtuosa right now and loving it. I think it’s wonderful, I have never been on a cruise before so can’t compare it to anything else. But what a great experience 👍🏻

[@ritzytravelguide]

@laurencelong Hi Laurence, great to hear the cruise is going well! I just had a quick check on the vessel location.... you've been on a Fjords cruise. I'm sure the scenery has been spectacular!

[@laurencelong]

@@ritzytravelguide That’s right, Flåm especially looked amazing. We actually had a really fast disembarkation, my family and I all walked straight off the boat with no issues, maybe they have improved their processes or something. However the queue when we arrived at the start of the week to embark was really long and I think people were taking hours to move through it (we were extremely lucky to arrive in a minibus and were told to enter near the front of the queue). My sister noticed the staff were all Southampton terminal staff not MSC staff so actually not the cruise line’s fault it seems. Multiple of my group have now booked onto holidays on the Virtuosa again next year as we enjoyed it so much! I think we also did it at a good time as it was outside of school holidays so much fewer children and slightly fewer passengers I think.

[@ritzytravelguide]

I've not been to Flam, I must put it on my bucket list!

[@TasteTrekkerTales]

Great vlogs...really good info. We went on the 2 day 'booze cruise' it was busy to say the least!

[@ritzytravelguide]

I can imagine!

[@seannielsen6587]

At around 4:40 you showed the cruise card action point. What is that and why do they have it? Also does this type of system cause delays getting off the ship? I must say I am very much enjoying being a fan of your channel. Just started following you on FB too. We have not tried MSC yet but we may in the future. Thank you.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, great to hear from you. MSC is rather unusual amongst the cruise lines in that you have to activate a credit card, or payment card once you board, for expenses. It's an obscure system and I don't think terribly efficient. They could easily do it before your cruise started.

[@pauldupre8894]

Everywhere was rammed when we were onboard, the only peace we had was in our cabin. Over 1000 kids onboard and that was in school time not school holidays 😤😖

[@ritzytravelguide]

Wow. That does seem to be the issue, it's difficult to tactically book a quieter cruise, during school time, if the kids are on the ship instead!

[@ianward5272]

Unless it's a Southampton cruise, most of the clientele on MSC cruise ships are Europeans.. Italian, German etc and their school holidays are different to the UK

[@megann1416]

that sewing kit is actually very tempting, last year i went to portugal and needed to alter a dress and i spent ages in a mall looking for a sewing kit but couldn't find anything at all

[@LRX2]

We are going from Southampton passing by Alesund and Flam. Next week, 31/08. Hope not so crowded.

[@ritzytravelguide]

That's a great Fjords itinerary. Have an amazing time

[@JoshuaSethBotes]

I worked on that ship for 7+ months. Needless to say you really chose the wrong time to go. I have to agree that it should be better suited to handling 6000 guests, but the reality is that it only gets that busy during school holidays, summer holidays, halloween, and 2 weeks in December. Other than that it will be at around 1500-3000 guests. So sorry you had a bad experience.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, thanks very much for taking the time to comment, that is much appreciated. Sadly for us, on this occasion, we had no alternative dates to pick, as we were with family, and therefore restricted to holiday dates. This meant the cruise was heaving with people. It's a very beautiful ship, with really willing staff, but MSC is just putting too many people on board at peak times. The common areas, restaurants, and bars simply cannot cope. There's nothing to stop MSC capping passenger numbers at a more manageable number....but that of course won't happen. Many thanks again

[@ootandabook]

Hi there, we were just about to book this ship for 4th Oct- 16th Oct. This is during school holidays in Scotland but possibly not in England. I was wondering from your experience if you think it will be as busy then? (None of us are party animals and this review has opened our eyes a wee bit and made us think it maybe isn't the right vibe for our family 🤔). X

[@ritzytravelguide]

@ootandabook Hi, our trip was during mid July. Interestingly, Scottish school holidays had begun, but before the English and Welsh holidays. And it was still full. MSC ships almost always run 100% capacity during school breaks, so you might want to assume it will be full! If you have not yet booked, and you're a little bit anxious, a slightly less 'party' ship option would be: 1. P&O. Their ships Arvia and Iona are family minded. Also Azura and Ventura. 2. Princess Hope this helps!

[@ootandabook]

Thank you so much. Your review has really helped us out! X

[@ritzytravelguide]

@ootandabook You're very welcome!

[@dumisilembeje1918]

Thank you so much for this review… going on the Virtuosa this Thursday 22 Dec 2023 in Dubai . Hoping for a great time 🎉

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, have a fantastic cruise! From Dubai it should be a great itinerary. Please do let us know in the comments how it went, after your cruise!

[@karinafuller8819]

Looks like I’m going to be really happy to have a suite in the yacht club next week!

[@ritzytravelguide]

I think you will be! Have a great time! Let us know afterwards, how it was, we'd love to hear!

[@A152631]

Highly interested in this one seeing as its a week before we embark to the Fjords on her. It will nice to see another upload of not just the Yacht club.

[@ritzytravelguide]

We cover everything on the ship, so you'll have lots to see in the video. Have a great cruise!

[@garyatkinson5699]

I’m on the same cruise and so nervous as boat is full

[@ritzytravelguide]

@@garyatkinson5699 Head straight for the Sky Lounge, near the bar counter with the great tapas and sea views, and give your seat up for no-one! Wishing you a great trip!

[@EstebanPelota]

We were on the same cruise as you and so have been watching all your videos. Our disembarkation was exactly the same, in fact you filmed me waiting in line. However shortly after you passed an MSC representative came along telling everyone that the queue was moving on level 5 and advised us to go down there, so we immediately left the queue on level 6 and went down to 5. The queue was indeed moving and it felt like we got off the vessel in 10 minutes. Its another good video, but feels like a re-edit of the previous one with 90% of the same material. Looking forward to your videos of the different ports of call. It'll be interesting to see what we did differently and what we missed out on!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, ports of call coming in the next couple of weeks!

[@Swanseatravelcouple]

Another excellent video - as per my comment on your other video, we were quite apprehensive about our sept 30th sailing - luckily we’ve just won our upgrade bid on a yacht club cabin - can’t wait now really looking forward to our cruise. Keep up the good work!

[@ritzytravelguide]

That's great news Phil! So glad your upgrade came through. It should be a totally different experience for you in Yacht Club. Please do let us know how it went, when you get back!

[@Swanseatravelcouple]

Thanks Bill! I would really recommend bidding on an upgrade if you get the chance - we bid just over the minimum for an interior cabin suite and have been allocated a deluxe balcony suite. I’ll report back on the YC experience when we get back.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Wow, they allocated a balcony, on an interior bid!

[@colinbest8610]

I'm on the same Cruise, fingers x it's not as busy as in this vid.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hopefully not, as you'll be out of season!

[@ronaldboonstra4834]

Once you do Yacht Club...you dont want anything else on a MSC Ship. Honestly. We are Diamond with MSC and normally booked Aurea, wich is also very nice with a seperate section at the pooldeck on the bigger ships and your own restaurant with anytime dining , but YC is a world apart. Also sailed with Virtuosa Christmas 2022. Full capacity and over 6000 ppl inside because of the weather in north Europe. Crowded! Last may on Seascape booked the YC. What a relief! Nice and quiet with excellence service. Was well worth it.

[@ritzytravelguide]

We may give Yacht Club a try next year, if I can find an interesting itinerary. Perhaps the Dubai and Suez itinerary, as it has great port stops

[@jscwan]

going soon... so excited..

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi. Wishing you a good cruise. Which itinerary are you going on?

[@mark-davis-dc5rs]

We were on the 18th of May sailing from Southampton this year, our disembarkation was a breeze, we did self assisted, we left our cabin at 06:45, walked right off the ship without stopping once out of the lift and in our car by 07:06, not sure what happened for you, and obviously do not know what happened later in the day. We did find it very busy, however, there were plenty of places to escape and one thing to remember if it all gets too much when you go back to your cabin the 6000 people do not join you, we were lucky as we were offered a chance to upgrade to the Aurea deluxe balcony cabin on the aft of the ship so we could escape the mayhem and relax looking at where we had just been. The weather was perfect and a lot of the time you could not tell we were moving. I do not know about the Yacht Club the cost is prohibitive and you could get another cruise or more for the price difference, however I can see the attraction if you can afford it.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for your feedback Mark

[@traceysnaith4807]

My partner and I came off the Virtousa yesterday we had a great time the ship is beautiful, the staff friendly and the cleanliness and food is amazing

[@sdpryce]

Good to hear. How busy was it? Any tips? We are on it end of September.

[@traceysnaith4807]

The ship was busy, but I didn’t see the same person more then once, only at dinner times in the evening as you are given allocated table space in a certain restaurant, always found a table in the buffet with plenty to eat and the food was good

[@sodiumlights]

Cracking' video Bill.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks, most kind!

[@brendahollick9245]

Returned yesterday from the Virtuosa. This video is sooooooo truthful and accurate………in fact we are pleased we didn’t see it before we went……it is soooo noisy and crowded, although a beautiful ship.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, many thanks for your comment. Yes. A beautiful ship... but packed to the rafters. If only they limited it to 4000 instead of 6000 passengers. Naturally the price would be higher, but I wager many people would be prepared to pay 25% more, for a better experience. The ship is indeed beautiful, but that goes by the wayside if the experience is spoiled by the sheer numbers.

[@brendahollick9245]

This experience has put us off cruising. Only positive (apart from good cabin & cuisine) was the fact that it was casual dress most nights which suited us as our 3 suitcases were stolen from our car just 3 hrs before our boarding time. We had to make do with very little clothing all week. Nightmare holiday

[@ritzytravelguide]

@@brendahollick9245 OMG, your cases were stolen. God what an awful start to the holidays. Poor you. But, don't let the experience put you off cruising. Fabulous times are available at sea.

[@brendahollick9245]

@@ritzytravelguide we need to know which cruise line would suit us better and what do they call a cruise which caters for more reserved music tastes. We enjoy some modern music but prefer classical and we’ve heard some cruises include lectures on various subjects. Any ideas?

[@ritzytravelguide]

@brendahollick9245 Cunard would certainly fit your criteria for lectures and music! We've been on a variety of different Cunard Cruises over the years, and they rarely disappoint. And they're not just for retirees. People from all ages go on Cunard. They have great live music, with different music genres. The QM2 even has a nightclub! They are one of the leaders in onboard lectures and talks. And if you wait for sales, their prices are surprisingly affordable. We also have enjoyed that 'style' of cruise with Holland America, and Oceania. Which have a similar feel to them. Also some of the Princess ships. By the way, we're on Cunard Queen Elizabeth next month. Keep any eye on our upcoming videos, and you can see if it would suit 🙂. In the meantime we have several existing videos on the Queen Mary 2. Have a peep at those. Start with this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5nJnIyfZ5qErMk

[@mark-davis-dc5rs]

We used the buffet, like you said we found the aft section inside and out, much less noisy, what we liked was the button you could push to get your drink ordered and delivered. We were not impressed with our allocated dining room so only used it once, we had two good meals in the speciality restaurants and one not so good, probably our taste rather than the quality.

[@paulm159]

A Well balaned review, we are booked for October on a 4 night cruise, was very worried after reading Tripadvisor reviews. Fell a lot easier now as we have booked the Aurea package. I'm still wondering if the upgrade to the Yacht club is an option as it's an extra £1,000.00. Now going to watch your other videos on this ship.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, the Aurea does give some useful perks, such as flexible dining times, access to private deck areas, and the Spa, and nice cabins. However, if you have the budget, AND you're going over a busy weekend or term break, you might like to spring for Yacht Club. The general rule of thumb: the shorter the cruise... the more likely it is to be a party/booze cruise!

[@Thealanmills]

Really good review! Lots of little tips. Thanks

[@ritzytravelguide]

You're welcome!

[@scottbonehead]

We did our first cruise last September on the world Europa, the buffets were absolute mayhem! Also didn’t enjoy all the pushing and shoving getting in and out of the lifts. Apart from that we loved the ship and the staff were brilliant 👌🏻

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Scott!

[@NamyDoesCruising]

Interesting video! We are on this ship again next week (first time was just after the pandemic). Luckily it’s not the Summer Holidays! That oozy cheese looked “grate”! 🧀 😂

[@ritzytravelguide]

It was! Have a great cruise. Hopefully it won't be too busy!

[@annemariewalsh7970]

Fantastic fair review, really enjoyed it thank you.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joanfreestone1707]

On some ships the passengers are not allowed to save sunbeds or seats in the theatre. I've only cruised on Cunard where there are more than enough seats for everyone.

[@ritzytravelguide]

All ships may need to start introducing some sort of anti sunbed blocking system. A traffic warden at sea!

[@Podgey25]

They always do it . Crew don't care.

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@Podgey25 I sailed P&O Arvia on a transatlantic in March which was very busy and because you have 6 consecutive sea days in hot weather the sunbed situation was awful. My other half was wakeful one early morning and went for a stroll at 5.30am expecting everywhere to be deserted yet came across about a dozen people laying their towels out on beds in the pitch dark. P&O policy clearly forbids it but absolutely nobody enforces it. Next time anyone says Germans are the worst sunbed hoggers just point them in the direction of a P&O cruise ship.

[@TrenaDavenport-b3j]

Brilliant video! I love watching cruise videos but I often say oh look how beautiful they are with nobody onboard 😂 So thank you for keeping it real… I deffo want to go on at half capacity 😅

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks so much Trena!

Great review! Nice to hear from an (apparently) educated, and well heeled cruiser capable of discernment, and judgment. MSC trolls in a dead space as the Italian equivalent of Carnival. The only possible refuge there is the garish confines of the Yacht Club, but, for nearly same money, you can be surrounded by cruising peers on HAL, Celebrity, Viking, etc. Keep up the good work!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks indeed for your comments, and for watching

[@7gatcliffe]

Great review sailed on her in April 2023 down to Spain and Canaries fortunate to be in YC suite cabin, to be honest YC was ok but sadly was not for us. Your review clearly highlights the lack of space on board away from YC our cruise has put us off cruising again have done 9 over the years.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for your comments Gareth

[@linderhewer-sf5bi]

We are going 7th September this year 2024....not sure what to expect 🙄.... Just make the best of it... We have been on other ships... Quite the same 😊

[@ritzytravelguide]

Have a great time!

[@Snowie72]

I hope the Virtuosa is pumping when I'm there haha. Hope your kids enjoyed it! Traveling with a 16 & 10 year old.

[@ritzytravelguide]

I tell you what, they really loved the climbing, and water sports. Kept them busy for hours. Have a great cruise. Let us know how it went for you. We always love to hear

[@JamieSiggers]

Love the review lots of information for someone who has never been on a cruise

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Jamie, great to hear from you

[@carmelfordham6195]

Loved.that.ship.beautiful.i.went.on.janurary.very.organized.food.worder full.staff.v.nice

[@spacedriver24]

Thanks Bill , really enjoyed your video. Never been on a cruise and don't think I ever will after watching

[@ritzytravelguide]

Has this really put you off?!

[@spacedriver24]

​@@ritzytravelguideAfraid so , all those people....my idea of hell. Love watching your videos though 😂😂

[@ritzytravelguide]

@alanbreeze4731 😁

[@sychanXXI]

Watch this movie went on my MSC Euribia cruise went to the back of the buffet all the time total saved my days! Thanks haha

[@ritzytravelguide]

You're welcome!

[@stingray490]

Great video.November 22, 7 nights 2300 onboard.June 3rd 14 nights,4500 onboard,going on 30th September for 15 nights Mediterranean,will let you know how many are onboard.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Great statistics! Have a fantastic time in September. Yes. please do let us know how it goes 👍

[@woods.3216]

My Mrs just booked a week in October before school holidays. Will it be busy!!!!???? Thanks for the video.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Very difficult to tell for sure, as many parents take their kids out of school during term time. But it should be quieter than summer

[@davidjohnbircher]

Hi, my name is David, and my wife & I are going on Msc Virtuosa on the 15th of October, 2023, 😊 my wife has just now had new knee replacement, she has an electric scooter, will stalf help us on board, with the Mustard drill, thank you for video tour. David John Bircher

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi David, I would be stunned if they didn't, on MSC or any other cruise line. I saw plenty of electric scooters on board, so they are clearly permitted. Give MSC customer services a call before hand, and I'm sure they will be able to help

[@SteveShaw-nh4sb]

The disembarkation yesterday went so smoothly, well sorted, from being at meeting point tomdriving out of car oark, 20-25 minutes, spot on from MSC

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for the feedback. Great to hear

[@markkirkpatrick6997]

I’ve booked it we go in a week Feels like we’re going to Benidorm now

[@ritzytravelguide]

Good luck, hopefully you've picked a week that's peaceful and relaxing, not too busy, and you have a great time! Let us know afterwards how it went!

[@tinkymelsadventures89]

Cruises will always be packed in during the holidays. We purposely go outside of the holidays so we don't have a full ship. We've sailed on Virtuosa 3 times now and never had issues. It's a beautiful ship, and if you go with a relaxed mindset, and take the day as it comes, you shouldn't have any issues. We always find a seat somewhere on the ship, and avoid buffets at the peak times and have never found any issues. Love the ship, love MSC ❤ looking forward to our May sailing. ❤

[@ritzytravelguide]

Have a great cruise in May!

[@tinkymelsadventures89]

Thank you 😊😊😊​@ritzytravelguide

[@peter58murray]

were on this ship in 3 weeks ,will defo try the buffet tip.BTW every issue people have listed about this ship we have seen every time on Royal Caribbean and PO cruises, there all exactly the same for what we have seen

[@ritzytravelguide]

Have a great cruise! Please do let us know afterwards how it went

[@dianed6876]

We had a very similar experience on the MSC Seashore in February 2024. Disembarkation (a routine event) was so chaotic it demonstrated MSC could not handle a true emergency. Therefore we are unlikely to return to MSC.

[@ContraNovae]

Yet another great review. One wonders if you spend more time on land or sea?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks! Though it was tough, at times, trying to remain fair and balanced with this review... when there were quite a few things annoying me with the cruise! Slightly more time on land 😂

[@Rudy_Nuff]

Very informative and professionally done vlog. I was considering booking this ship but thanks to your honest and thorough review, I think I will choose an alternative one lol .

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thank you so much for your kind comments about how the video was produced!

[@desmo9159]

Did a cruise on the bellissima, same effort it was an absolute nightmare you would need zanax after a night out on it

[@KateDevine-lx8em]

Thank you for your detailed and honest video my family of 5 will be on this first time cruise in September

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hope you have a fantastic time

[@glenncorrie3765]

Excellent video. We were on same trip but in YC, and had a totally different amazing experience but obviously comes with a price. Disembarkation for us was easy only ten mins from ship to car but understand there was a mixture of problems with both problems with one airbridge at Southampton being out of use and some passengers trying to disembark before allotted time. You are right though it was busy!!!!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Glenn. Many thanks for your comments. Very valuable feedback. YC passengers seem to be having a much different experience to the rest of the ship!

[@brentshuffler1234]

glencorrie3765, thanks for sharing your observations and experiences. How much was the Yacht Club experience versus Aurea or the basic category (e.g., per person for a week)? Did you think that you got good value for money overall?

[@robinhamilton556]

I have done two cruises on the Virtuosa, a 14 night, and a 3 night, I also used the open deck buffet at the rear of the ship, a good place to dine. The one thing I thought you may have included are the smart lifts [ elevators ] which tell which one will serve you quickest, and also the exterior ones either side mid ship. Apart from that an excellent guide to this ship, and so true. Well done you.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Robin, many thanks for your comments, and your mention about the smart lifts is absolutely correct, I should have talked about them!

[@stingray490]

Hi Bill,just off the 15 night cruise on Virtuosa.Captain told me there were 4992 on board,just over double occupancy.i estimated around 80 school children on board,god knows what job they will get in the future.Had great time as usual. Weather in the med was like summer,28C/82F.I think any more onboard would spoil it.Phil.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Phil, many thanks for your report. That's just about a manageable number. When it gets to 5000+, things start to go wrong. Glad to hear you had a great time and the weather sounds like it was gorgeous for you! We are just in Barcelona, about to board. This time on Cunard QE. It's shoulder season in the Med, so shouldn't be too busy

[@adoody28ify]

They've definitely upped their game since 2016! The main dining room food on the Fantasia was borderline inedible and the only thing at the buffet that was half decent was the pizza.... And that's not including what I call the "Floater" incident in the main pool. My top tip for that cruise was to hide in the cigar lounge. Almost nobody invaded the sanctuary of that space and it had a bar too.

[@ritzytravelguide]

I don't recall the later MSC ships having a Cigar Lounge 🤔

[@adoody28ify]

@@ritzytravelguide well that's a shame because it was honestly the best room on the entire vessel

[@leeturner2954]

I was on the ship the same time as yourself during my 6 months on. I work on the bridge and navigate.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, great to hear from you. Well done getting under that Lisbon bridge 🌉, it was a fantastic arrival to the capital! Also, great job getting us out of Southampton on Day 1 with strong winds....I remember the Captain saying it was the only ship that dared to venture out that evening

[@leeturner2954]

@@ritzytravelguide Ahh yes! Captain Chris Pugh was determined!!

[@stevenwinmill8289]

Iv been on this cruse 2 times on 24th October 2024 im going to go there a 3rd time and i still love it!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Have a great trip. Where is your cruise going this time?

[@JJ-yq1pr]

Been on this ship twice , the last time was very busy and the food was very poor, best way I would describe it is butlins on a ship.

[@maracavicchia6785]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to make this video while on your holiday. I have booked a 5-day cruise on the Virtuosa for the next May half term. That is the only option for my family as my daughter is in full-time education. We'll also be traveling with the 4 grandparents. It will be our first cruise for us. We live in London and did a few trips to Disneyland at pick times, so I am (probably really naively! ) counting on our skill of crowd management :D My question is as we are all in the Aurea experience, would that help make this family trip more enjoyable? Also, if you don't mind, how does it work the process of leaving the ship on your on-port days? would that be a nightmare? I am trying as a first-time cruiser to get information about it but I don't seem to find much info about it. Thank you so much for your time!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, the Aurea experience will certainly help in terms of privileges and space : 1. Dedicated private deck area. Ample sun loungers, as it has its own space. Also has its own private jacuzzi hot tubs. 2. Aurea allows you to change your dining time in the Main Dining Room. Lower categories do not. 3 Aurea is a more peaceful deck experience However, the rest of the ship is the same for all passengers (except Yacht Club, which is a category above Aurea) In holiday periods such as you are on, expect pools to be very busy, ditto the buffet, bars and common areas. The Sky Bar is a refuge you should seek out! Concerning Port days, the first 40 minutes will be busy, getting off, with lines. Outside of that it eases off. Remember to book everything you might want to do in the MSC app, whilst aboars. Especially the evening theater shows. There is limited seating, and you must book. Morning breakfast is far more relaxing in the Main Dining Rooms, if you have time. Far less hectic than the buffet. Hoping it's not too busy for you!

[@maracavicchia6785]

@@ritzytravelguide thank you so much for the quick reply! I will let you know how it goes :D

[@amywilson7109]

Me and my son are going to be on that 5 day cruise too! 🛳 it's also our first cruise! I'm looking forward to it but also anxious as it's just myself and my son xx

[@ritzytravelguide]

@amywilson7109 Wishing you a great time 😊

[@amywilson7109]

@@ritzytravelguide thankyou so much xx

[@SarinaWheatman]

Thank you for your fair comments about MSC Virtuosa, some of the hype was off-putting and as I booked this ship for a trip in October I was quite worried. I feel re-assured.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks so much for watching

[@imsbvs]

I have booked a cruise on this ship, have paid for in advance the two shows in the Carousel theatre, also for a spa pass and a massage treatment. You don't mention the spa, is there a reason?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there. The Spa actually looked very nice. Upmarket and well done. We didn't try it, but it seemed professional, with extensive facilities. I didn't show the Spa footage, as the video was already running quite long!

[@SuperJerry001]

I've been on the Meraviglia twice from ny and both times it was like that smh!

[@LouiseTopF]

Just got back of this cruise ship was a great atmosphere I have 3 adult kids with me had a fabulous time family friendly it is more lively compared to other cruise ships but it added to the ship staff were amazing from start to finish this ship was amazing ❤

[@ritzytravelguide]

Glad to hear you had a great time!

[@mmatthew6792]

Hi there, loved this review, but could you clarify, was the jacuzzi in the inside of the main part of the ship close to one of the swimming pools, or was it part of the Yacht club?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, can you give me the minute and second time on the video, so I can see what you are referring to?

[@mmatthew6792]

Hello yes, the time is from 20.53- 21.24 near the inside pool of the ship

[@ritzytravelguide]

@mmatthew6792 Hi, that's the indoor pool, it's part of the main section of the ship, with free access. It is not Yacht Club

[@mmatthew6792]

Hi thanks for yr response- it has helped a great deal!

[@user-lg7es5gr3w]

Excellent video. Glad to see real actual video. Sooo crowded and information was so helpful. Too noisy for me.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, thanks for the compliment on the video. Yes indeed, busy and noisy for a large portion of the time

[@cidevids]

Headed from South Hampton to Cherbourg, Zeebrugge, Amsterdam and back this upcoming late June and into July. Hoping to just day trip at the ports with one day at sea.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hopefully not busy for you

[@flobrez2470]

That’s exactly how the pools were on the carnival ship elation I was on a couple years ago. Both jacuzzis were filled with kids you could not get in them. Even on port days they were full. The pool was always crowded. They only had one pool. On the four days there I got to use the pool maybe once. Never did get to use the jacuzzis. Next cruise I board will be child free.

[@julietomo5116]

Just got back from a lovely cruise on the virtuosa, didn't have any problems getting off, we chose to get up early and take our luggage off with us, had breakfast at 6am in the buffet, and could leave anytime between 6.45 and 7.30. We joined a short queue at 6.55 and were off the ship and on our way to our car by 7.10am. A very organised experience for us. The crew was great, overall a very good experience.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Julie. Thanks so much for that. Amazing how the experience of disembarkation varies from person to person, with MSC. We've heard back from people who had opposing ends of the extreme! So glad it went well for you 🙂

[@its_frida]

Where is the video of all Restaurants? I can´t find it. I can only find the bideo about the speciality restaurant.

[@RaymondPrichard-z4e]

Very clean ship and the buffet is far better than P&O and the shows are also better than P&O but the MDR service was awful and the food was cold. We loved the decks for sunbathing but there was hardly anywhere to sit in the evenings as it was so busy. Won't rush to go back.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, agreed the buffet is very good, huge variety

[@ilovemydressinggown9715]

We are going on here in 5 weeks. 😢 for our 20th wedding anniversary. We going to belgium its a mini cruise.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hoping it goes fabulously for you 🙂

[@ilovemydressinggown9715]

@ritzytravelguide hoping so too, as its not any kind of hoilday here I'm hoping it will be less busy. I'm going in thinking positively xxxxx

[@ritzytravelguide]

@ilovemydressinggown9715 Quite right, positive thinking!

[@cupcakefan1106]

We traveled on this cruise in 2022 on a weeks trip in October it was so Good from arrival to departure that we went again same time in 2023 .Never been on a ship before and I would recommend this trip .Only problem on second trip was the dinning arrangement they gave us 9.45 far too late for most people .This was a cut above most airline package tours and by the way we are in our mid Seventies

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, many thanks for your message, good to hear from you. Glad to hear your cruise went well!

[@jetdriver]

Very well done I’d say and a quite balanced review. This ship doesn’t look remotely like my idea of a good time. Too many people, too much noise, lines everywhere and a predictable disaster of a disembarkation process. I’ll add that unless you missed it there seems to have been no communication from the staff as to the long wait to get off the ship. That’s utterly inexcusable.

[@brentshuffler1234]

jetdriver, to me, it also speaks to the issues affecting mega-ships: there are many positives, including diversity, variety of cuisines, amazing entertainment, and uses of technology, but, on the negative side, too many people in key areas: pools, buffets, and showrooms. The cruiselines have expanded the size of ships from 2,000 passengers all the way to 7,500 plus with Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas....but have not correspondingly increased the number and size of swimming pools, the number and size of the hot tubs, the size of the fitness-centre, or the number of times that main shows are given, or the size of the showrooms.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, I totally agree that of the main issues with megaships is that they have not increased the size of the common, key areas. 6000 people using the same sized facilities that are used on a 3000 passenger ship!

[@ritzytravelguide]

Yes, there were too many lines, and too many packed venues. Despite being a huge ship, it didn't often feel like it. Too many people in the common areas

[@emilyhughes9492]

What month did you go on the ship, I’m due to go on this exact trip on the 27th July wondering how busy it’ll be 🙈

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there.... end of July, the same time as you! Be prepared!

[@JayYoutube1]

Fantastic Video! You are such a nice guy! What was your job before? Narrator in TV? 🎉🤗 I can agree on much, cos we sailed with Virtuosa in February. When we reached Le Havre the ship went so full that it took us 20 minutes to find a place even in the aft part of the buffet. Very crowded and annoying. Problem 2: Only a few bars include the drinks package. I sailed twice on the beautiful Splendida, where practically every bar had the possibility for you to use the drinking packages and also has more bars for 4000 people. So Splendida never feels full even she is full. On Virtuosa it's the "Virtuosa Bar" that you showed and the "Sky Lounge" so everyone seemed to go there all the time... 🥴 The rest we agree totally and here comes a tip: For a million clicks per video give your daughter more screentime.. 😅🙋‍♂️

[@ritzytravelguide]

My daughter is quite shy!

[@Luc.Paredis]

Thanks for this review. Now I realise that you should (must) stay away from such nightmares ! I will never ever book a single day in such 'accommodations'. A review of minus 10 would be too good.

[@MichellePhilips-k7e]

Agggh, dreading is now as we’ve booked and hadn’t realised it’s October half term! Can’t afford yacht club

[@ritzytravelguide]

Fingers crossed it won't be packed.... but in all honesty it probably will. Patience required. Ohmmmm!

[@pdre2]

What a shock. We went to see what a cruise is like. The Virtuosa is superb. The staff were excellent. The food was also very good. No-one told us it was a booze cruise. Loud, thumping music non stop. However, I think if we'd been prepared we would have enjoyed that aspect. Our departure was on time, and as we only took hand luggage, we left the ship first, before anyone else. We were almost home while you were still queueing. How much luggage do you need on a ship? The allowance of two hand luggage bags EACH, was more than adequate. In summary. Would we now do a proper cruise? Yes probably. On a different operator recognising that the vessel wouldn't be as new or glitzy, and not a two night trip where it's party, party, party, so we could get some relaxation.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Many thanks for your detailed review. Good insights

[@jackietanner2121]

We've sailed on this ship. We had an amazing time. Despite reading so many negative reviews.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for your comment. It's good to hear all sides

[@kirstynettleton1079]

I know you said you had a fab time but how would you say you found the ques Swimming pool busyness

[@stephenblakemore7876]

I went on this ship for 2 weeks last year and it is a lovely ship but my only complaint is that 6000 passengers is far too many people for a cruise ship. Meal times were utter chaos and trying to get a sunbed was virtually impossible.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Yes, agreed it's a great ship, but needs to be capped at a maximum of 4500 passengers. It gets overwhelmed and can't cope beyond that.

[@Pkindee2011]

Interesting review. I have been on Virtuosa twice already this year and back onboard for Christmas out of Dubai. My experience was nothing like this, but then I would not cruise peak season/school holidays. That said I am onboard for Christmas. Embarkation and disembarking has not been a problem, but I know there have been a couple of major problems this year including Border Force holding things up when they boarded and found contraband belonging to passengers! The crew onboard are outstanding and work so hard. MSC have created a booze cruise atmosphere with their mini cruises out of Southampton and us Brits are using them a hen And stag breaks. Crew dread these sailings and take a lot of abuse with guests banging on bar doors at 7am to get their first drinks and people drinking themselves into a stupor and vomiting everywhere. Much of this is down to guest behaviour I am sorry to say. Yes the ship looks ridiculously busy and lacks seating when at capacity. They have addressed this on Euribia and repurposed the Carousel Lounge and lost ‘Rob’ and his overpriced cocktails 😂

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi there, many thanks for your detailed thoughts. I think you are absolutely correct in that sailings out of Southampton are being used as a booze cruise by many passengers. We heard many comments from those aboard they were shocked how rowdy, and out of control fellow cruisers were being. Unfortunately, due to the sheer numbers aboard, with 6400 being a normal capacity at busy times, there just aren't enough places to house everyone. The loungers, bars, and restaurants get hopelessly crowded. Wait times, and frustrations then shoot up, and people start to feel quite angry. The Dubai loop should be fascinating set of port stops. Please let us know how that goes Thanks!

[@dumisilembeje1918]

I’m from South Africa and I’ll be on board as well for Xmas in Dubai 🎉

[@JayYoutube1]

​@@dumisilembeje1918 The Splendida is currently in South Africa. She is so beautiful and I like her more.

[@karlreading3201]

I’m on her for a short break to Rotterdam in sept. Previous cruises have been Azura, Ventura, sky princess and QM2… I think I’ve made a mistake with virtuosa….. from what I’ve seen on here I think I’m dreading it lol

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Karl, really hoping for you that your sailing in September, (after schools go back) you'll catch a break, and have a less full ship. Let us know how it goes. Fingers crossed for you.

[@ianward5272]

How did it go?

[@mrst5814]

Spontaneously booked a MSC Virtuosa cruise for the summer school holidays without checking reviews as I was seduced by the glitzy aesthetics. I've sailed with P&O and Royal Caribbean before so MSC would be completely new to us. We're quite introvert so we're not sure if this ship will be for us. Also, after watching the chaos for disembarkation, I worry that should the worst happen, could they get everyone off of the ship quickly and safely. We can't really afford to lose the deposit but I'm now thinking it might be best. Happy to listen to any comments on these worries.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi, well first of all I wish you a happy, and enjoyable cruise. Regarding your concerns, it is absolutely worth emphasising that our experience may be totally different to yours. If you sift through all the comments to this video, the feedback is roughly 50/50. Meaning approx half had a great time, and the others pretty much hated it! With MSC there seems to be no halfway house! This very much confirms our conclusions when we made the video, that MSC has a tendency to be rather inconsistent and definitely not to everyone's taste. They are a mass market line, meaning that at full capacity their ships can, and will, feel very full. Especially during school holiday time, as a lot of their cabins will be booked as quad capacity, 4 sharing. I think it's going to require a lot of patience, on your behalf. I don't know that being 'quite introverted' means that you will dislike it. More it's a case of how you cope with the crowds. It's going to require a huge amount of patience on your behalf. Also strategy: which parts of the ship you go to at various times. You can guarantee the pools will be at peak capacity if the weather is even half decent. At night the bars will be particularly full, and the buffet will be crazy at peak times. You're really going to have to try and work out how to utilise various parts of the ships outside of peak times. Unfortunately it's difficult for me to give you any other advice as MSC is a mass market ship and frequently full. Good luck!

[@sallan29]

I think i've viewed this video 4 weeks too early, because after watching you disembark Bill, I'm thinking it would be have made perfect Halloween viewing, as for me personally it looked a nightmare, (horror movie) Surely MSC could operate a better procedure than that for disembarking? On a positive side, this video was as always from Ritzy Travel, most entertaining and informative.

[@ritzytravelguide]

How funny! Halloween video! Thanks so much for your comments

[@Theother1089]

I've been on her, the ship is great, but sometimes there's too many people aboard, don't go from Southampton.

[@neilmacmillan3257]

Absolutely no way! Thanks for the video. Well done.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks Neil. We'll count you out of MSC!!

[@neilmacmillan3257]

@@ritzytravelguide Very keen to see your review of Celebrity new vs old. Excellent work and much appreciated.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Comparison video voming in the pipeline. We just sailed past Celebrity Ascent earlier this morning, which is visiting Portofino today, like us. Interesting to see a large modern ship, rright next to us on the 'little' Azamara Pursuit.

[@alangauld6079]

I am booked on this for a 14 day cruise in October. I booked because it was crazy cheap(around £50/night) and so my expectations are low. We've cruised on most of the budget lines and a couple of mid-price and even on RCL we were packed like sardines in Norway because it was too cold for folks to go outside. It often took 30 minutes just to get a coffee, and often near impossible to find a seat nearby to drink it!. On Costa we had a lovely cruise for 4 days then the ship suddenly filled on day 5 and the last few days were like your video. It's a simple fact that budget lines cram as many as possible onto the ship. However, we never go near the pool or the main thoroughfare if we can avoid it, we eat in the main dining room most of the time and usually hang out in the library (if there is one) after dinner in the evening. I've booked a balcony so if it's busy during the day we'll probably just sit out there. I go on cruises mainly to visit the ports of call, sea days are a necessary evil to be endured. I enjoyed your review and it has given me some useful tips on places to go (eg. aft at the buffet!). Good work.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lauracretu5630]

Hi May I know how much you paid for 14 days in October ? Just curious for the difference .thanks

[@alangauld6079]

@@lauracretu5630 £750 for 14 nights for an inside. £1100 for the balcony.

[@pauladitchburn1589]

I got off in sep. found the ship yes it was loud ,the staff was very good at entertaining,the free entertainment was spot on , got on in no time ,found the buffet food Luke warm . Beef tough . Disembark no problem,no cues.

[@ritzytravelguide]

MSC's embarkation /disembarkation seems a total lottery. Reports back swing wildly from great to dismal.

[@jeremy1350]

Hello. Ben and David sailed the Norwegian Viva in the Haven. In their review of the ship, the Haven did not live up to the price they paid for the cabin. There were many Negatives to sailing in The Haven suites. The ships offerings were less than stellar. They were not pleased at all.

[@dgaither3838]

Wish you did a review of the yacht club. Wonder if all the loungers were taken in thr Yacht Club?

[@ritzytravelguide]

Sorry, wasn't travelling Yacht Club on this cruise. Several people have asked me if I can review it. Might see if I can do that early next year on a different MSC ship

[@JohnSmith-ef8nr]

I did a 2 night booze cruise on this ship, it had lots of loud music, party's and very drunk people, it was great fun so i booked another one. I was first off the ship no problems. It was a nice change from P&Os floating retirement homes where your not allowed to have any fun, and there enforced dress code.

[@czeital]

went on this ship in May 23 - it was great - went on this ship in June 24 -there was a big drop in standards in my opinion

[@ritzytravelguide]

Thanks for that report. What had dropped over that period?

[@PortsladeBySea]

It’s a wonderful looking cruise ship but there are far too many passengers onboard and insufficient staff. They pack you in like sardines. Service is utterly appalling and the main buffet is a total battlefield, not only to get food, but to try and find a vacant table and seats, but headline cruise prices are low 😢🐟🌊

[@ritzytravelguide]

Yes prices are low. That's the conundrum

[@craighill3588]

Just came back from a 5 night cruise during holiday half term as I have a child. I noticed the same staff on board. Worst cruise of my life. I felt stressed even before getting on which took 2.5 hours. Queuing 40 mins for breakfast. Unable to book spa treatments convenient despite pre booking. Delayed excursions, luggage I eventually had to collect myself. I could go on…. Positive was the food and cabin cleanliness. Buffet is what nightmares are made of. First and last MSC.

[@ritzytravelguide]

Hi Craig, many thanks for letting us know how your cruise went. Sadly, it's a recurring theme, with so many people venting on exactly the same annoyances you mention. You'd think MSC might pick up on these frequent COMPLAINTS all over the net, not just here. Whilst you were travelling over a school break, it doesn't really seem to matter, as we are equally getting the same comments no matter what the time of year is