Nestled along the shimmering shores of the Mediterranean, Marseille beckons with a vibrant past steeped in maritime lore. Its bustling port has been a hub of trade and cultural exchange for centuries, with influences from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East converging in its bustling streets. Blessed with a mild Mediterranean climate, Marseille offers a haven for sun-seekers year-round, while its labyrinthine alleys and bustling markets promise an authentic taste of French life. Beyond the tourist hotspots, hidden gems await exploration, such as the secluded coves of the Calanques National Park, where azure waters meet rugged cliffs in a breathtaking tableau.
Day 3
Barcelona
Barcelona, a city defined by its innovative spirit from the architectural wonders of Gaudto the bustling medieval streets of the Gothic Quarter, offers a vivid window into Spains artistic soul. The city benefits from a Mediterranean climate, ensuring pleasant weather perfect for leisurely explorations of its many districts. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian utilize Barcelona as a key port, giving travelers the chance to immerse themselves in a blend of modernist architecture and vibrant local life. An intriguing fact about Barcelona is its beach was artificially created in preparation for the 1992 Olympics, showcasing the city's ability to ingeniously reinvent itself while maintaining its historical roots.
Day 4
At sea
Day 5
Málaga
Day 6
At sea
Day 7
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Days 8-13
At sea
Day 14
Maceió
Day 15
At sea
Day 16
Salvador de Bahia
Salvador de Bahia, where the echoes of samba rhythms and colonial footprints lead you through cobblestone streets, offers a gateway to Brazil's soulful depths. With a climate that blesses it with sunny days and balmy nights almost year-round, Salvador invites you to immerse in a setting that's decidedly more authentic and untouched by the typical tourist overlays. Cruise lines often highlight Salvador as a living exhibit of Brazil itself, celebrating its vibrant Afro-Brazilian traditions and colonial architecture. A unique draw is the Elevador Lacerda, a historic art deco elevator that connects the city's upper and lower towns, providing stunning views of the bay.
Days 17-18
At sea
Day 19
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, the heart of Brazil's carnival fervor, offers a gateway into its celebrated past where the rhythm of samba was born and the streets tell tales of vivid festivities. The city's tropical climate invites travelers year-round, providing a warm welcome with its sun-drenched beaches and lush mountainous backdrops, setting it apart from conventional tourist destinations. It's here that visitors truly experience the vibrancy of Brazil, beyond the postcards, immersing in a locality vibrant with genuine interactions and community celebrations. Intriguingly, Rio is the only city in the world where the urban forest is denser than its urban sprawl, offering an unexpected green retreat amidst the city buzz.
Nestled along the shimmering shores of the Mediterranean, Marseille beckons with a vibrant past steeped in maritime lore. Its bustling port has been a hub of trade and cultural exchange for centuries, with influences from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East converging in its bustling streets. Blessed with a mild Mediterranean climate, Marseille offers a haven for sun-seekers year-round, while its labyrinthine alleys and bustling markets promise an authentic taste of French life. Beyond the tourist hotspots, hidden gems await exploration, such as the secluded coves of the Calanques National Park, where azure waters meet rugged cliffs in a breathtaking tableau.
Barcelona, a city defined by its innovative spirit from the architectural wonders of Gaudto the bustling medieval streets of the Gothic Quarter, offers a vivid window into Spains artistic soul. The city benefits from a Mediterranean climate, ensuring pleasant weather perfect for leisurely explorations of its many districts. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian utilize Barcelona as a key port, giving travelers the chance to immerse themselves in a blend of modernist architecture and vibrant local life. An intriguing fact about Barcelona is its beach was artificially created in preparation for the 1992 Olympics, showcasing the city's ability to ingeniously reinvent itself while maintaining its historical roots.
Salvador de Bahia, where the echoes of samba rhythms and colonial footprints lead you through cobblestone streets, offers a gateway to Brazil's soulful depths. With a climate that blesses it with sunny days and balmy nights almost year-round, Salvador invites you to immerse in a setting that's decidedly more authentic and untouched by the typical tourist overlays. Cruise lines often highlight Salvador as a living exhibit of Brazil itself, celebrating its vibrant Afro-Brazilian traditions and colonial architecture. A unique draw is the Elevador Lacerda, a historic art deco elevator that connects the city's upper and lower towns, providing stunning views of the bay.
Rio de Janeiro, the heart of Brazil's carnival fervor, offers a gateway into its celebrated past where the rhythm of samba was born and the streets tell tales of vivid festivities. The city's tropical climate invites travelers year-round, providing a warm welcome with its sun-drenched beaches and lush mountainous backdrops, setting it apart from conventional tourist destinations. It's here that visitors truly experience the vibrancy of Brazil, beyond the postcards, immersing in a locality vibrant with genuine interactions and community celebrations. Intriguingly, Rio is the only city in the world where the urban forest is denser than its urban sprawl, offering an unexpected green retreat amidst the city buzz.
MSC Virtuosa’s namesake comes from the word virtuoso, meaning someone highly skilled in any field of activity, and so MSC Virtuosa was named to pay homage to the skill and expertise of the MSC Cruises architects. MSC Virtuosa belongs to the “Meraviglia Class”, where the impressive array of onboard experiences come together in perfect harmony with the space and the destinations, to deliver the ultimate cruise holiday experience. In addition, MSC Virtuosa is featured with an advanced wastewater treatment system, and she is actively contributing to impactful environmental conservation and humanitarian programs at the MSC Foundation Centre on board.
Took my wonderful elderly parents on this 5 night cruise , knowing this would probably be our last holiday together.
Having to use wheelchairs/ walking aids and managing the effects of memory loss meant that a cruise on board a beautiful ship was the best choice to make some lovely memories.
Watching my dad's face during the theatre shows and watching him tuck into what seemed like a mountain of his favourite food in the buffets made us all smile.
The practicality of always having bathrooms at hand and having designated areas in theatres for those with mobility difficulties made it all very easy.
We all loved the opulence of the ship, and enjoyed sitting at different bars listening to music. We also watched a stunning sunset from the sky bar one evening as we left Rotterdam.
Wonderful memories which I will always treasure x
I’m sure loads of people love this ship ,
I went with 5 girlfriends for our yearly short break !
It’s glitzy
It’s big , very big! and was also very busy.
The various standard entertainment areas not very big and not enough seating anywhere.
Cabins were fine
Staff were kept constantly busy .
Food was not great - not enough menus to go around
Veggie options in main dining room were poor.
Buffet was total mayhem .
The cleaning staff tried their best.
We used the spa facilities, they were fine .
The last night we were at the very small disco .
Full glasses were taken on the dance floor.
Spills and the inevitable broken glass!
The DJ simply said if you are dancing bare foot be careful as there is broken glass on the floor.!
No please clear the floor as we need to clean .
Seemingly no health and safety.
We left !
On the plus side disembarkation the following morning was really easy and speedy. Hooray!
We had fun, we are not old stuffy grannies but all agreed not to use such a big ship for what appeared to be a short booze cruise again!
I took 64 people on this cruse
It was a wonderful experience for everyone
The ship was great and very clean
Food was excellent and chose was enormous
All my group enjoyed them self and not single person had a bad word about all all seven days
Room was thoroughly cleaned every single day
Sheets and towels changed everyday
Great experience
Staff very friendly and service in restaurants was excellent
Thank you to all the staff and hope to have a another holiday with MSC very soon
MSC Cruises offers a stylish and affordable way to explore Northern Europe, with itineraries that blend cultural capitals, scenic coastlines, and historic towns. The cruise is ideal for travellers who want a taste of multiple countries in one trip, with the comfort of returning to a floating resort each night
My most recent cruise was on MSC Virtuosa, this ship is amazing in every way. From the minute you board you are enveloped in the most stylish Italian luxury, the Swarovski staircases are absolutely stunning and every corner of the ship has been lovingly thought out. But, what makes this ship even more special to sail on is it's friendly, professional crew members who go out of their way to make your cruise experience one to remember.
