MSC Cruises, MSC Virtuosa Review

MSC Virtuosa

Just returned from a great cruise to the Norwegian fjords. Paid for negative lateral flow test required within 48 hours prior to boarding and the usual requirement for COVID travel cover and proof of vaccination on boarding. Given an early boarding time of 10 - 11am and no delay on boarding. We travelled as a group with two other couples and each had the Premium Drink Package included and were in balcony cabins on deck 9, a good choice. The shows in the theatre had to be booked, either via the MSC app (which worked very well) or via on board screens, and were excellent. Two shows a night and very professional cast, great singers and dancers with a huge repertoire from popular music and dancing, classic opera songs and even a ballet production! Also had a group of Irish-dancers on one show.
The food was excellent in the main dining room and the servers were great. A good choice of wines and the drink package included some good quality lagers and spirits. We enjoyed a lovely steak meal in the Butchers Cut restaurant, free by virtue of our MSC Voyagers Club membership, but would have been happy to eat all meals in the main restaurant or even the buffet where the food was of a high standard. Would happily sail again on the Virtuosa, which was in excellent condition. Just to say that there was no compulsory mask wearing for guests, but the staff all wore masks, so it was a return almost to pre-COVID cruising but with only about 2000 guests, so a very pleasant experience.