MSC Virtuosa Cruise Reviews - Reviews

Book a yacht club cabin if you can afford it. You will get a luxurious experience.

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.

it was a great trip. we enjoyed all of the ports of call

MSC could be a stellar experience if they improved their food and service as well as ability to accommodate the large quantity of people exiting and entering the ship in ports. Will not use them again until they get better reviews in these areas.

Food was horrible. 2 of our party of 6 had food poisoning on different nights. Their buffet would never pass health inspection. Not many activities to do on the ship if you do not get off in port.

Per the travel requirement provided by MSC Cruise (msc-booking@email.msccruisesusa.com), it reads like all Ukrainian citizens can visit the ports of call on this itinerary without Schengen visa and no stipulation about the specific type of passport required. As the wife (with US citizenship) to a Ukrainian husband, little did I know this only applies to biometric passport holders. I purchased the cruise as a surprise Christmas trip for my husband, who had never been on a cruise. After we left our bags at the front of the cruise terminal for check in, we were disappointed to find out at the embarkation desk that my husband wasn’t allowed to embark, so we couldn’t get on the boat. We were also traveling with my parents who are almost 80 years old. When I mentioned that they need someone to take care of them on the boat without us there, it would have been nice if someone would at least try to understand what will their needs be. Instead, everyone seems to look the other way when this was brought up and provided an option that my parents could give up the cruise and leave with us as well. One of the staffs suggested we visit the embassy the next business day to see if we could get a last minute visa, and rejoin the cruise from a different port. We took that suggestion, so I encouraged my parents to continue to go onboard, which they were very reluctant but did so in the end. We waited almost 2 hours to get our bags back out from the boat and left the cruise terminal without being able to experience the cruise, which I am sure would have been wonderful. As for the last-minute visa suggestion, no such thing exists, we just ended up spending precious time doing research, asking around, and visited different embassies to no avail.

We got Covid on this ship. They also don’t care about you.

Lovely Middle East cruise to escape the cold in the UK! Really enjoyed it and will definitely do a similar cruise again so we can visit the ports ourselves once covid restrictions change!

Cruising in MSC was a horrible experience. Not sure how AA will align with such a horrible company. Had problems with billing, paid for picture package that I was never able to get, paid for drink packaged that allowed me to drink only on type of beer, guest service was bad. To top off, we felt like in prison because we were forced to use only their excursions. Talking about COVID control environment but then put 6 busses in a tour in Lisbon. Won't use this line ever again.

Good day We have cruised 5+ Times in passed 10 years with different Cruise lines , which we all loved, but this one is reallly BAD let me start to say, the vessel is beautiful , but how MSC operates it terrible : 1. All cruise lines are off course have a money making concept - which we understand but this one is next level A> we had a pre - purchased easy drink PACK which many drinks in it - per person 220 EURO but very limited places to order - as actually only one place in the interesting area DECK 6 to order from - RESULT LONG QUES - as at all the other places you have to PAY - and they dont tell you beforehand in the BAR - so with your drink you get a bill - THEY CAN SEE on the cruise card what package you have and every venue YOU have to PRE- announce your package to avoid a BILL or even at the venue if you order a Vodka with ice - they try to serve you the PAID One - WHY ?? as they can see your package WHY they pour a VODKA ABSOLUT if a VODKA SMIRNOFF only covered under your package - , B as said in the dome where many restaurant and BARS where only 2 !!!!!!!!!!you could get drinks with your EASY PACK - !! for us 2 adults + 2 kids this package cost 680 EURO !!! and all que C 1 bar below was band and where some nice activity wss going on but MAX 70 seats for 5500 !!! guest - so impossible to sit , - all other venues down stair EXTRA PAID !! D we also had a package for the children - where icecream was included - but the only venue sold ice cream whihc was in the package was on deck 15 and always closed - so the children had to BUY ice at deck 6 at 6.99 euro as extra charge - ............ E at the moment you left your cabin the MONEY machine started - every corner you where pushed to buy A - B - C-D yes other cruise lines had simular but LESSSSSSSSSSSS pushing and all the Key areas to make your own pictures around the stairs they BLOCKED with cords so you could not stand tehre to make a picture UNLESS you boughta 120 euro pack from them .... F The food - we were with full amount of passengers 5600 on board and with only 2 venues to eat - MARKET PLACE ( buffet) and SYMPHONY( seated) it was extreme crowded in the market place - several times on different hours stood in QUE and no seats to sit with your food in hand - and then to get a drink - you had to stand in line again in que to order a drink - as only few waiters walked around to order via mobile comp - and delivery tok easy 20-25 min QUALITY food - very AVERAGE - 90 pct days same - i am not a culinair demanding person - but some food was very simple - also in the MAIN dining room SYMPHONY - off course i compare with other cruise lines i sailed on - ENTERTAIMENT --- Very very poor - only really one venue with live music - and where you cant SIT - to full on deck 6 since only 70-80 places impossible to sit the the SHOWS - simple camping cabaret - no variation every show same only theme changes per country one day they sing song in Italian next day simualar setup with French songs - but ALL CABARET style - so not like other crusie lines where you could really compare the shows highend shows on broadway or west end , - On other cruise lines many venues with MUSIC performers - comedians - magicians - piano players etc - here NOTHING like that - Again unless you paid for a show euro 17.50 PP ( which was in my case even 30 min before showtime cancelled due to lack of PAID customers ..... ) so very very poor entertainment Nightclub on deck 18 attached to the TEENAGE CLUB - was small and logical all TEENAGERS were here 90 pct as it was attached to there open Teenage club - SPECIALITY RESTAURANT many cruise lines you have 1 or 2 venues you cna try for free during your cruise - BUT here you PAY $$$$$$$$ idea sushi restaurant was 85 euro Per person set menu + 15 pct TAX so 400 euro EXCL drinks as the easy pack whick costed 660 EURO Was NOT covering drinks in the SPECIALITY restaurants So all was focused on $$$$$$$$$$ in an irritating way . - even came accross people who sailed many times before on MSC and they even complained on all above items , So MSC good luck - chasing as wolfs behind peoples money , unfortunate you lost me as a customer ,, I hear you thinking - Sir you cant compare a cruise line where you paid much more per person with MSC - unfortunate not the case the money difference was in 3 cases same and other cases Fraction higher - so no MSC is not CHEAPER and with all the extra you have to PAY for and NO normal entertainment it is MUCCCCCCCCCHHHHH MORE expensive - oh forget to say Bowling 45 euro hmmmm nice , So my suggesting is AVOOOOOOOOOOOOOID MSC !!!!! dont sail this ship all SUB STANDARD !!!!!! beside the ship themselves whihc is nice but how it is operated and lack of space to sit makes it terrible !

The cruise was sold as 'pearls of the North' (I guess 'places damaged by ww2' is too depressing). Some ports were more 'pearls' than others. The ship mostly docked in industrial ports but that wasn't a problem for us. We walked a lot and used public transport. The ship itself is a definitely a pearl and has its charms, but it wasn't full. Being on Virtuosa when it is fully booked might not be so charming. Some of the spaces on the ship are clearly not set up for larger crowds. The music everywhere on the ship was good and the volume at shows was better than on any other cruise we've been on before (i.e. not at a volume as if every passenger is deaf, but just a normal decent volume).

Very dissapointed compared to other cruise lines we have sailed with.

Mini cruise, 3 days with our parents and 7 year old

Great cruise, food in MDR needs to improve as does the service. The ship is huge and amazing though.

Fantastic ship, hopefully the service will improve in the future

MSC seem to get a bad rep, however I found with the traditional cruise set up, they were fantastic. Crew engagement was the best yet. We will be definitely looking forward to booking our next with them.

MSC value is good. Staff was great. Food was decent. Like any cruise line, you can get nickel and dimed to death, but that's your choice.

Cruise is great value for money; having recently cruised with Celebrity there isn’t a huge difference in Service or food quality.

Passengers and crew were outstanding. Didn't hear one argument/dispute. Almost everyone said excuse me, pardon me or thank you when appropriate. The people on this cruise were more well mannered than the ones I encountered on my recent Queen Mary 2 cruises. I hope to book additional cruises on this ship after I see how my upcoming 14 night cruise goes. 🤞

Fantastic cruise. Enjoyed all aspects of the ship and experience.