15 Nights *FULL BOARD* Transatlantic Cruise to Caribbean £662pp - MSC Virtuosa (One Way) 2 Adults 8 Nov 2024 from Southampton

It is a good price but the price of a flight home could be extortionate . Probably better going through a proper agent who will quote for flights and transfers too.

I'm literally sat in a Premier Inn lobby waiting to check in after a fantastic 12 day transatlantic cruise from New York.  We love these type of cruises, might not be for everybody but you get to see some fantastic places and relax for a very good price, with like minded people.  Would highly recommend.  

10 days at sea on this class of MSC ship in the winter is not something I could recommend. It's hard to even relax lazily with winter temperatures outdoors and everywhere indoors being permanently packed.

You can always see where the ship goes once it arrives and then book a back to back cruise that would get you to a more convenient country for the return flight OR get off in Antigua as it will be cheaper than getting back from Martinique!

Also beware that on this cruise you have very few ports to visit so it WILL be a cruise, there are 6 sea days in a row and people do go a bit mad when they don't get off the ship, it stresses out the crew especially in the bars as normally each day people are off the ship and they get a chance to stock up and sort stuff out, 6 days is non stop and very tiring for them, some people get bored and play up, I have no issue with sea days and enjoy them but everyone is different so bear that in mind.

I recently did a full Caribbean circuit before a repositioning cruise to Marseille, so 27 days and that included 6 sea days.

Oh, and I have just come off the Virtuosa yesterday, that was my 8th trip in a year on it and back on this Saturday for a week, its a beautiful ship and too beautiful for some people who don't appreciate it. At the end of the day it is NOT the cruise ship or crew that are the problem as they are all hard working, it is the PASSENGERS, you just don't know what you are going to face, could be a load of stag or hen do's (more chance of them on a short 2 / 3 night cruise) or could be a longer cruise with selfish older people that just complain, it is what it is and you or the ship can't choose the passengers (unless you charter it) so make the best of it, your next identical cruise could have a totally different vibe to it.

If you sat down and looked at what it takes cost wise to invest in, design build and run one of these ships you would soon see that cruising is far too cheap, you are in a billion $ machine, with amazing engineering and state of the art equipment from the engineering to propellors to tens of miles of cabling for lighting to waste disposal to kitchens producing more than 28,000 meals a day with an open buffet running for about 16 of those hours, never mind the fuel, licensing and compliance with SOLAS regulations that requires ongoing training, berthing costs, crew training and costs including safety and security, sales and marketing costs, insurance, as well as the safe storage of all food stuffs at the correct temperature to produce these meals, and all this prepared out in the ocean. I guess some people couldn't even calculate how many toilet rolls would be required on a weeks cruise, public toilets, cabins and not forgetting the 1,700 crew that actually live in the bilges of the ship where there is an unseen city, even these toilet rolls need sourced, delivered to a dock and stored, what if your delivery never arrived? and that is just ONE item! just absolutely amazing!

And some people may moan that there isn't a straw or something, absolutely pathetic and wouldn't last half a shift as a bartender on there where they work 12hr split shifts non stop for 8 / 9 months living away from their home and families in the bilges of the ship, some in the laundry don't see daylight for days on end, and maybe lucky to get the odd half day off!

Without crew there would be no cruising, not many European people would do the job for what they get paid, so it's a matter of mutual respect as they also need us to cruise and pay their wages, maybe when on board ask some of the crew how THEIR day has been, I think you will be amazed at how they appreciate you appreciating them (edited)

November crossing?

Terrible reviews of this ship on TripAdvisor. Don't believe me, just take a look. (edited)

I’m on the lookout for a solo equivalent of this cruise. Did one last December and it was awesome.

How much is a flight home?

How does MSC compare to Norwegian?

One way lol

Is American style tipping expected on this assuming the usual clientele is American?