7 Nights Northern Europe from Southampton Cruise

My first cruise experience

Just got back from an unforgettable week with MSC Cruises (June 7–14) and wow – what an experience! My mum and I had the most amazing time on board. The staff were incredibly kind, the food was delicious and plentiful, and the entertainment? Honestly better than the West End! Huge shoutout to our amazing waiters at Table 743 (8:30 pm seating) in the Symphony Restaurant, as well as to Mbaki Joy at reception and Alexis Diaz, our lovely housekeeper. You are all truly special – MSC is lucky to have you, and thank you to many others who I don’t get their names. If I had to make one tiny suggestion, it would be to offer a wider variety of movie genres on board. Otherwise, it was a 10/10 experience – would absolutely recommend to anyone considering a cruise. And quick tip for first-time cruisers: get travel health insurance beforehand. A consultation on board starts at £90, so it’s better to be covered just in case! Already dreaming of the next one…

Yacht Club delights

Absolutely first class from start to finish. Have read other reviews but this is mine. We were in Yacht Club with a duplex suite. Arrived in car park at 1120 in lounge on ship by 1145. You are treated as a VIP throughout. The ship is beautiful and well maintained. The suite was just as expected. A minor issue with the jacuzzi on balcony soon sorted. Our butler looked after us very well. Anything we needed, phoned him or left a note. Everywhere on the ship staff eager to please, had been trained very well. We had an electrical issue all over ship leaving one port, kept informed and was soon sorted. RESTAURANTS Top Lounge excellent. Menu changed every day, staff big smiles always. Nothing too much trouble. Good variety of food. Butchers Cut Great steaks, well cooked. Fish dishes also excellent. Can sit out in galleria people watching or inside. Indochine best for speciality restaurants we think. French/Vietnamese style. Awesome Saw the ABBA tribute show, well worth seeing. The comedian was very very funny. Will mostly appeal to British audiences. Music act “Christo” was so so good. Lots of genres. Very entertaining A brilliant cruise throughout

Beautiful ship, wonderful experience

Second sailing with MSC, and it's a very enjoyable experience again. The staff are great. The ships beautiful, great pizza, and very inclusive kids areas. The prices are also excellent. I have 3 more MSC cruises booked into 2027 and I can't wait. The highlight for my young special needs daughter was definitely the splash park. From what I could see, it was popular with other families as well. The outdoor deck space was fantastic, with plenty of areas to get away from the crowds and just enjoy the views. We were Aurea, so had a separate anytime dining room. The service was excellent. My only gripe would be that the starters weren't great, but the mains made up for it. The evening entertainment was quite good. They put the show on 3 times an evening which means everyone has a chance to see it. The galleria was also beautiful, and my daughter loved watching the ceiling change. Looking forward to our next time on Virtuosa in August 2026!