I will tell you about our cruise experience on the Persian Gulf on the liner MSC Virtuosa. How we prepared, what impressions we had, how much money we spent, what we could save money on.
Our weekly route was as follows –
Dubai, beach island Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi, a day at sea, Dammam (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar) and again Dubai.
From this list, Saudi Arabia needed a visa, but that port of call was cancelled. Something didn’t work out for the Saudis there, either with the protocol or the port wasn’t ready to accept liners.In the season the cruise programme includes Bahrain instead of Dammam.
Preparation
First time on a cruise without preparation. It has its own nuances, its own format, its own rules.
The price of any cruise includes accommodation in a cabin of the chosen category, meals throughout the day, swimming pools and Jacuzzis, all kinds of entertainment and service.
Additional charges include unlimited drinks package (including non-alcoholic children’s drinks), spa services, service in some restaurants.
If you do not take the drinks package, then in bars and restaurants their cost (+15% for service) will be included in your onboard bill. In this case you must put a deposit on your cruise card. Settlement on board is in Euros only.
Cabin selection
The cheapest cabins are internal cabins without a window and without your choice, i.e. the cabin is assigned by the cruise company. It can be upgraded to a more expensive cabin, or it can be given a cabin with disadvantages. In short, this is the “fortune” system.
On Virtuoso we took an external cabin without a window, but with the right to choose the deck and number. They are more expensive.
Exterior cabins with a window are even more expensive. I don’t see any sense for their overpayment. I assure, you will not sit at the window on the liner.
With a balcony, it is cool, but for this pleasure and the price is much higher.
So we looked at the window in any bar. We bought a package of drinks))
There are 21 bars and 10 restaurants on Virtuoso.
Insurance for travelling abroad.
You can get it right at the cruise application stage. But we usually buy separately, there is such a site “Turtle. ru”. Important! In the insurance you should specify “the whole world”, because when the ship is at sea, it is outside a certain country.
Airfare
You have to look for different options, otherwise the flight will be more expensive than the cost of the cruise. In my experience, tickets are cheaper three weeks before departure. There are many airlines flying to Dubai, direct flights from different cities (Sochi, Makhachkala, Kazan, etc.) You can look at low-costers, charters or with a transfer – Azerbaijan Airlines, Mahan Air, Wizz Air.
Finding an inexpensive flight means to significantly reduce your budget.
We flew Aeroflot miles, which made our Persian holiday much cheaper.
Money
I advise to get a Union Pay card, necessarily in yuan. In Rosselkhozbank they issue free of charge. They are valid in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Euros are used on the liner, dollars in the Emirates. You can also buy dirhams in Sber.
Board card should be topped up in cash (euros), it is easier to withdraw the balance later.
If you have bought a package of drinks, you may not need a board card. But there are some great sales out there. For example, branded perfume at half price. And all purchases only through the on-board card.
Shopping gallery on MSC Virtuosa with an interactive dome
I highly recommend reading the cruise forum “Navimba” before the cruise, there is a lot of useful information there. If you take your time, you will be ready for everything!
CRUISE
About three days before the cruise we received the cruise documents. Everything is described in detail – what, where and how. Specific step-by-step instructions.
In the port
On arrival, you have to hand over your luggage and check in, just like at the airport. There are representatives of the company working in the hall, they help in any question. At check-in they take your passport and give you a cruise key card. This is a document for all days of the cruise. The card is used to enter/exit from the liner and in the cabin, the card should be attached when ordering drinks, pay for purchases on board, etc.
If you lose the card, it is not so terrible, they will replace it at the reception.
But it is better to have a copy of your passport. In any case, the photo of the passport in the phone should definitely be.
Tip. Luggage is delivered to the door of the cabin, but when it happens, it is unknown, usually in the evening. So we prepare some kind of bag/backpack beforehand, which we take with us. These are things that are needed immediately – swimming costumes, clothes to change, etc.
Meals
There are two options. You can go to the restaurant according to the schedule, and you can eat in the buffet, where the schedule is free, buffet, self-service. The hall is huge, divided into several zones.
You take the food yourself, alcoholic drinks are brought by the waiter.
In the restaurant, of course, much more comfortable. You are assigned a table, waiters serve you, the service is restaurant-like.
On our cruise there were many tables for two, it is pleasant.
Dinner in the restaurant in two shifts – the main at 18:30 and late at 20:30.
Sample menu.
Entertainment
Pools, gym, circular deck, sports fields, kids club, shopping arcade, theatre, bars, restaurants… A lot of things on board))
Specifically about the liner itself my review – there is such a prospect – at least a little bit to live beautifully!
There is something going on all the time during the day. To let people know about it, a poster of the day is delivered to each cabin every morning.
There will be at least three themed parties on the cruise. These are gala dinner, Arabian night, white party.
The cruise itself is structured so that at night you are at sea, and in the daytime parking in ports according to the cruise itinerary.
There will be a day at sea. This evening, as a rule, there is a gala dinner.
What to do in the evening
This is a significant cost item. Excursions on the liner sell, but they are very expensive. If you want to save money on the cruise, choose free attractions and independent excursions. Or group with other cruisers, the same Navimba forum will help you here.
There are no restrictions to come/go from the liner during the berths, even at night, the main thing is to be on board without being late to the “all aboard” hour.
Before leaving Dubai
On our cruise the first two days and the last two days Virtuosa was in Dubai. The port was open 24 hours a day.
Let me tell you what we saw for free.
1) From Rashid port there are free shuttles to Marcato Mall and back. From the mall not far to La Mer beach. We spent the day there.
2) In the evening we took a taxi to Festival City Mall and watched the free IMAGINE light show.
3) We took a taxi to Madinat Jumeirah, this area is called “Dubai Venice”, very beautiful there.
4) There was a free shuttle to Dubai Mall (now I think not). Went here on a previous cruise. We wandered around the shopping centre.
We saw the fountains.
The best places here I advise to take in advance. We looked from the 2nd floor of the shopping centre, from the Apple Store.
We didn’t go up to the Burj Khalifa, we only evaluated it externally. The highest!
I wrote separate reviews about all these places. But in general there are so many interesting things in Dubai, it’s impossible to list everything. However, many attractions cost good money.
SIR-BANI-YAS
An island in the sea with full beach service, including free WiFi and barbecue.
Besides beachcombing, safari tours are offered. A wildlife park has been created on the island and many hornbills live there (goats, antelopes, gurnards, oryx, etc). And also damans and giraffes.
I saw the photos, there are a lot of animals.
We got sunburned on the beach the day before, we didn’t go to the island. There are umbrellas there, but still open space.
But on the ship this day almost nobody was left, all Jacuzzis and pools were ours.
And the last thing
Before the first confirmed cruise you should register in the loyalty programme of MSC Voyagers Club. There will be discounts, there will be plushies))
That’s all I have. If there are any questions, I will answer.
Thank you for your attention. Good luck to everyone!
