• Wednesday 05 June 2024

On her most recent visit to Cobh, the Shandon Travel Cruise staff stepped onboard to check her out. Here's our cruise manager Ken's thoughts on this fantastic MSC ship, which he's sailed on several times:

"MSC VIRTUOSA what can I say, but WOW WOW WOW.

Virtuosa is a force to be reckoned with. Standing 18 decks high (15 of which are passenger decks), she also has 4 swimming pools: one of those is an indoor pool with a retractable roof. Plus, 21 bars & lounges, 9 outdoor hot tubs and more.

I have been lucky enough to have sailed on the VIRTUOSA three times before and it is and will always be one of my favourites. I have sailed the Fjords, Med and the Canary Islands on this beauty and it never disappoints. The staff and the attention to detail are superb.

On entering the VIRTUOSA you are met with a promenade with the longest LCD rooftop dome at sea. Throughout the day and night, the dome comes alive with music shows. Virtuosa has its own Aqua park, so kids and teenagers won’t be disappointed. It also has teen clubs, games rooms, plus Formula 1 simulators.

On this visit, we had dinner in one of the main dining rooms, and it didn’t disappoint. Service was impeccable and the staff are always amazing. If you haven’t seen ROB the robotic bartender, check out our pics from our visit on our social media pages. ROB is a robot bartender who speaks 8 different languages and can make any drink to suit your taste. He resides in the Star Ship Club.

There are so many restaurants to choose from onboard, Hola for Tacos and Tapas, and Butcher's Cut for steaks. There are Sushi and Teppanyaki restaurants... the choice is endless. Entertainment ranges from White Night parties to 70s-themed parties. At the back of the ship is the Carousel Lounge, a circular theatre/lounge which is a unique experience. From acrobats to dancers- you will be amazed.

Although such a big ship doesn’t appeal to everyone, it is truly remarkable what they have achieved here. Every taste is catered for, and it also has a separate Yacht Club for people who want a more exclusive experience. The yacht club experience comes with its own private area, your on-hand personal butler, and more. Ask us about upgrading to Yacht Club!

MSC VIRTUOSA sails from Southampton for Summer 2024 to the Norwegian Fjords, Spain and Portugal. With direct flights from Cork & Dublin, it’s also an easy connection. The MSC Virtuosa comes highly recommended."

For more information – call us on 0818 300205 or 021 4277094, or email cruise@shandontravel.ie. 

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