22-Day South America Cruise aboard MSC VIRTUOSA

Yacht Club Review

How good it feels to be loved

It started with our embarkation, or even a couple of weeks before the cruise itself. We received a pre-cruise survey asking if we were happy with our booking and were ready for our cruise. I pointed out some issues or areas for concern and the fact that our original booking was cancelled.

This eventually led to A goodwill gesture of on board credit, this was a great start to what

I already felt it was going to be a fantastic cruise.

It started at embarkation. This was an anniversary surprise for my lovely wife. She thought we were in the normal general population and started towards the back of the queue. I at the last minute decided to put on our yacht club luggage tags and guided her towards the yacht club tent.

Once we arrived, she was overwhelmed with excitement. It was made all the more special by the Yacht club staff. Who seemed so genuinely happy for us that we were going to experience the yacht club. One of the things that I perhaps didn't realise was that the Butler would be shared. In the marketing it appeared like the butler was going to be personal. However, being shared is perfectly understandable. And I don't think it took away from our wonderful experience.

Looking at the long long line, we certainly felt very special to be taken past all the lines straight to security and straight into the yacht club waiting area where we were given champagne and the snack of our choice, while they merely looked at our passports and our embarkation tickets before we waited for the rest of the yacht club guests or at least a large enough group for the Butler to his school on board.

The Butler took us straight to the muster station and to the top sail lounge, which we've heard so many wonderful things about. We sat and waited and then there was a big announcement to all the newcomers, and people who have experienced it before about what was going to happen.

Then someone came around, took our phones and immediately set us up on the internet very quickly and smoothly. I was a bit concerned about having to do this myself. But having it done for me made things much easier.

We were able to have lunch on the 1st day.

In the yacht club restaurant, just upstairs from the topsail lounge. One of the things I was concerned about was, would I be able to get a good quality burger in the yacht club restaurant? My concerns were immediately distinguished or eradicated by seeing a burger in the always available section of the menu. They asked me if I wanted it rare, medium, medium well etc.

I then knew that this was going to be a quality burger. If nothing else, this was already going to make for a wonderful cruise.

One of the things I also noticed is that everybody in the yacht club seems so happy. When you are experiencing such luxury, such attentiveness and such inclusions

It is very difficult to be sad.

The mood from everyone was so upbeat and positive because everyone was being made to feel so special and important.

We were then told that our cabin was ready. We originally wanted a duplex suite at wow my wonderful wife, however, our Deluxe aft balcony suite was fantastic because it was very spacious and had enough space for a lounger.

I have never had so much space in a cabin or suite before. With all our drinks, all our snacks. Our Butler was available to escort us to anything we needed. Whether it was the shops or events or restaurants or the theatre, there was also the option of not having the Butler. If you wanted to do things yourself.

One of the things that is very special about the yacht club is being escorted past all the queues and all the lines back of the ship after we had visited our ports of core. Just that feeling of you are special and it makes us feel very important and looked after. By the way, the concierge was always available and the maximum wait was perhaps one person in front of us, whenever we wanted something 24 hours a day, and even if our Butler was busy with another guest, the concierge was always available.

I needed a bowling slot for myself and my friend. My concierge was able to call the bowling attendant and get me a slot that was not scheduled at very short notice and escorted us to the bowling alley to make sure we were looked after our names were put on the screen and we were ready to bowl.

For this cruise, we used the tepanyaki for our diamond free speciality. Meal, I must say the performance was good.

But the food was nothing special. The flavours and the taste didn't seem that interesting. We will probably revert back to you Butchers cut on our next cruise in a few weeks time with the whole family.

The yacht club has a different menu every night, which makes us genuinely look forward to going to dinner to see what will be on the menu this time. We didn't even try out the pool deck because we were so busy enjoying the other amenities or our ports of core. Next time, we will book a longer cruise or a cruise with more sea days, so we can chill out on the pool deck and enjoy the buffet, the service, the burgers. And relax with our premium drinks package.

One of the things that did amaze me was the dilemma I had on the final night.

The restaurant was soon to close and also the future cruise desk was due to close at the same time. I couldn't be in 2 places at the same time. However, the concierge called the future cruise desk and arranged for a member of staff to come to the yacht club. Sit in the restaurant lounge area and sort out my future clues personally,

I don't think I've ever felt so important in my life also. Enjoying the shopping experience after buying items in the shop. I didn't really want to carry those items around with me for the rest of the evening nor did I want to travel all the way back to the cabin. To my surprise every time I bought an item, the shop assistant asked me if I wanted my Butler to collect the shopping for me. I definitely chose to use this service. So I was now free holding nothing, to enjoy the rest of my evening.

Room service was also incredible. I got all the food I wanted. All included drinks, sat on the balcony and had it all brought to me at no extra charge.

Outstanding service and fantastic food with the yacht club. I can say we were literally made to feel like a king or a Queen. There are so many inclusions with the yacht club. That is not available with other cruise line, sweet products.

What a wonderful experience. However, the tepanyaki wasn't that great, but it was free with my diamond privilege, so no harm done.

And the marketing of the Butler suggests you have your own Butler when the Butler is actually shared. This is not a problem at all. However, the marketing should be adjusted slightly to make this clearer. Definitely, maximum marks for the yacht club and MSC for a wonderful and fantastic experience.

I'd like to also mention that I am an expert reviewer, with both Google and TripAdvisor so this is not the ramblings of an emotionally excited guest, but someone who's experienced in reviewing cruises, hotels and restaurants. This is certainly a maximum 5 star experience which I will recommend to anyone.

Virtuosa has some good points and bad.

The ship is wonderful and plenty to do day and evening, shows we're good but only on for about 30mins, cabin were clean , all staff were friendly and helpful.

Getting onboard at the start of the cruise took 1hour 30mins, beds were double and not single as asked for, our group of 10 were not sitting together in main dinning room, as asked. Food was tasteless and cold, in both main dinning and buffet. You are not aloud to take wine glasses out of main dinning if you had not finished your drink, rushed to eat your meal because they wanted to set up for next sitting. Slow waiter service in adult only bar. Not easy to find seating in the bars. Area's in the buffet was shut sometimes so made it extra busy to not only get food but to find a seat.

I have been on Iona and Athem of the Seas, the service was not only good, the food was hot and lovely could not fault both ships in anyway.

Two people in our group it was there first Cruise and it has put them off going on another Cruise.

first time cruise with MSC (27th cruise with other cruise lines). upon booking, we chose Aurea suite on deck 8 on the stern which accomodated up to 6 people, but we cruised as a couple. We specifically asked if gluten free food was available (I am a coeliac) and Hays travel contacted MSC and we were assured it was available. Just before our sail date, having read reviews, we checked again with MSC, who told us we had to contact them through our booking agent! So, Hays travel rang MSC and again asked about gluten free meals. we were then told that none of the speciality restaurants (included in our booking grade) catered for coeliacs, and neither did the Buffet / Lido. Only one restaurant to which we were allocated, actually catered for my needs! Too late to cancel!

However, Fransiscus, our head waiter, had my meals made up in a segregated area free from contaminates such as wheat flour, which was acceptable and the food was good.

Breakfast? No chance! Nothing gluten free!

On the whole, the ship was clean, modern and had something for everyone; gym, spa, sports deck - even a formula 1 simulator