Virtuosa is an amazing ship. It's not just the fun gimmicks like the robot bartender or the design your own chocolate bar, but she's designed with great viewing spaces to sit and watch the sea. The galleria is a beautiful inside shopping precinct with the shops and restaurants along it and the dome which plays 3 minute shows was absolutely incredible - people started spontaneously applauding after each show.
Although the robot bartender is a gimmick and expensive at the price (not included in the drinks package) it was fun to do, but what really impressed me - and will impress any star trek fan - is the level of detail they've put into the interactive table, which shows a spacefaring cruise fleet with all the details of the ships. You can even drag and drop the various planets and stars floating past into your own interstellar cruise, which then gives you details of each planet and shows a video of a shore excursion on the planet. The amount of thought that has gone into this is breathtaking.
I was in the yacht club and the cabins are the biggest I've seen at sea; very noticeably bigger than competitors on NCL. The yacht club dining room was a mere minutes walk away and commands fantastic views over the front of the ship. Fresh bread was brough at each meal, made on board and a wide variety of different types. I'd heard about, and seen, terrible things about MSC's food but every meal I had was delicious. There was great variety and plenty of it - alongside the snacks the butler kept bringing, there was one day where I couldn't face a full meal and just snacked from the cabin fruit bowl.
Massive and well designed cabin. At 28sq ft this is the biggest cabin I've had, and it's designed to feel even more spacious using mirrors and colours. There is a huge walk in shower in the bathroom accessed by an internal corridor made up of the spacious wardrobe on one side and shelving on the other.
The tv is large and new, with full interactive features for booking shows etc and the menus for each meal. There is a well stocked mini-bar, which is included in the yacht club fare. There's a good coffee machine with a variety of options to suit you. The bed is comfortable with good quality linen and, unlike most cruise beds, didn't dip in the middle where they've joined two frames together.
There is a decent size sitting area with a table, which is where most of the snacks are served.
The balcony is not terribly large, but in keeping with most other ships and fits two upright chairs and a small table/footstool, and of course you have access to the private yacht club sun terrace with bar/grill, sun loungers and pool... I did notice that there are ships beams that run down the centre of every alternate balcony - 16007 doesn't have that so your view is uninterrupted and worth making sure you book it over its neighbouring cabins. You can also look down into the ship's control centre when docking and departing port, which adds an interesting element to the balcony.
There was no noise from any other part of the ship. I would definitely book this cabin again.
A pleasant coach trip to Stormont and along the Ards peninsular, along one of the sea lochs. We were only allowed off for two photos stops, due to coronavirus restrictions.
Tour along the jurassic coach to lyme regis. Pleasant views and two stops, including a walk down to the sea front. Nice to be off the ship, but not the most spectacular excursion. However, quite adequate in a coronavirus context.
Trip to Chester and Port Sunlight, which included a walk around Chester's historic high street, and a brief photo stop off the coach in port sunlight. Interesting commentary and experience.