Ships at the MSC VIRTUOSA MSC CRUISES
Delegates at the Clia Conference will be stepping on board three ships offering ex-Southampton sailings this year
FRIDAY, MAY 20
The lowdown: The Meraviglia-Plus class vessel was the first cruise ship to sail again in UK waters in May 2021 after a 14-month pause during the pandemic. This summer, it will once again offer ex-UK sailings. The ship has a range of eye-catching features including the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea and an LED sky dome in the promenade.
Facilities: MSC Virtuosa has five pools, which can comfortably accommodate more than 1,000 passengers at a time. The line also claims the ship has “one of the biggest and most intricate waterparks at sea”. Elsewhere, the exclusive MSC Yacht Club area, which features on 13 of the line’s ships, is also present on Virtuosa. The area is available to Yacht Club members and includes suites, 24-hour butler service, a dedicated concierge and access to the thermal area in the MSC Aurea Spa.
Restaurants and bars: Virtuosa has five speciality restaurants, including street-food concept Hola Tacos and Indochine, which offers classic Vietnamese dishes with a French twist. Other venues are American-style steakhouse Butcher’s Cut, Kaito Teppanyaki and Kaito Sushi Bar. There are 21 bars and lounges. Passengers can match champagne with caviar, oysters and crab at the Champagne Bar, while the Sky Lounge offers molecular cocktails in art deco-inspired surroundings. British pub Masters of the Sea offers a choice of more than 40 beers.
Cabins: When it comes to the 2,421 cabins, Virtuosa has got everyone covered. There are connecting cabins sleeping up to 12, studio cabins for solo passengers, plus Royal Suites for those with lavish tastes. Elsewhere, there are 1,322 balcony cabins and 190 family cabins for up to 10.
Key selling points: MSC offers casual, European-style cruising with a British twist. Expect a mix of northern Europe itineraries from Southampton this summer. Prices for the seven-night June 25 departure lead in at £549. A £96 ‘trilogy’ dining package allows passengers to eat at a speciality restaurant, enjoy a cocktail and watch a Carousel Production at Sea show.
MSC Virtuosa in numbers Q 331 metres long Q 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew Q Five outdoor bars and 16 indoor bars Q 1,168sq m retail space (largest shopping area at sea) Q World’s first humanoid robotic bartender at sea
10 May 2022
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
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