Don’t Do It

Item: MSC Virtuosa
Rating: 2.6
Author: jamesrhodes

MSC Virtuosa Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe

jamesrhodes

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 13

Overall rating:

2.6 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Northern Europe (Southampton Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 15, 2024

Ship: MSC Virtuosa

Cabin number: 12009

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 4 months ago

Review summary

Stay away from MSC or atleast any of their ships coming out of England. The cruise director summed it up the first night/show: this is a British ship and if you don’t have British tastes you’re on the wrong boat.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Smooth

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Food was atrocious. I’ve never had such bad food in my life. Main dining, buffet, and specialty restaurants all awful.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

There was no entertainment; essentially one show a day 30 minutes long and always 10 minutes at start of show upselling

Entertainment

1 out of 5

If you enjoy stage shows look elsewhere.

Children's Programs

4 out of 5

Pretty good for the kids

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

I gave an average score. The room attendant was the only person who was customer focused.

Ship Quality

2 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Good cabin.

Ship tip

Don’t book MSC

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Ports of call

Southampton (London), England

1 out of 5

Do not recommend staying here the night before.

Thumbs Up 1

Skagen, Denmark

1 out of 5

Nothing to do. If you been to Freeport it’s the same.

Thumbs Up 0

Oslo, Norway

4 out of 5

Copenhagen, Denmark

4 out of 5

Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium

3 out of 5

Disembarkation

2 out of 5

11 Comments

M998 2 months ago

MSC tries to cater to different markets. Differences between cruises from the UK, US, and Mediterranean. Has nothing to do with being a UK ship. In November it dies the Caribbean and I am sure they cater more toward the US market.

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Cruisers4Lyfe 3 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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CruisingScouser 4 months ago

Went on a around UK cruise on this ship in 2021, didn't have any issues or problems whatsoever, are you compering you problems with other cruise companies?, I do have another cruise booked on this ship next your & most of the reviews I have read are positive.

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javawoody 4 months ago

Appreciate your comments

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Skooby 4 months ago

@gizmo..... that's so true. It's good not to judge an entire cruise company based on one cruise from certain ports. And the Yacht Club would be a whole lot better on any of MSC's ships or any of their routes.

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Gwbigdog 4 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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gizmo 4 months ago

Every one is different and we love MSC, you need to try yacht club before you write off MSC.

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Skooby 4 months ago

Thanks for your review. It's true that this ship, out of the UK is not very good. MSC ships operate differently in each region. The British like certain things and North America cruisers like certain things and have mandated that they happen on all those ships in those regions and personally have destroyed the Italian MSC brand. I have two cruises coming up on this ship, and only booked them because of their itinerary in Northern Europe and to fill in time between my QM2 voyages.

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HeavySeas 4 months ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise experience

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karlgrgurich 4 months ago

Eek

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cruising2004 4 months ago

Sorry you were disappointed with your cruise.

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