If anyone is having problems logging in and is getting the following message:

"The submitted form was invalid. Try submitting again"

Then try clearing your browser cache

Smurfies Latest Adventure

Anything about MSC cruises
User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10981
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by david63 »

One thing that MSC have got so wrong is handling disembarkation/embarkation at ports of call. Everyone is funnelled through one point and there are 5,000+ passengers. When we came back on board the queue to get off was literally half way round the ship and this was at around 11:00.

Fortunately being in YC we are fast tracked" everywhere mostly by being escorted to wherever we are going by one of the butlers.

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14257
Joined: January 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Onelife »

There will come a point where following the normal trends will start impacting on those who are willing to follow those trends. The more it happens the more cruise lines will think they can keep doing it. The “alternatives” will in time show a decline in their entertainment quality and the pay extra venues will become the only alternatives for decent entertainment.

Screw you!

User avatar

towny44
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 9681
Joined: January 2013
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by towny44 »

Onelife wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 17:13
There will come a point where following the normal trends will start impacting on those who are willing to follow those trends. The more it happens the more cruise lines will think they can keep doing it. The “alternatives” will in time show a decline in their entertainment quality and the pay extra venues will become the only alternatives for decent entertainment.

Screw you!
"In your opinion".
John

Trainee Pensioner since 2000

User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10981
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by david63 »

Onelife wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 17:13
Screw you!
I trust that does not refer to me

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14257
Joined: January 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Onelife »

david63 wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 22:21
Onelife wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 17:13
Screw you!
I trust that does not refer to me
Oop’s! I can see why you might have thought that David, but no it had no reference to you. My ‘Screw you’ comment is how I believe the cruise industry is treating its customers.

User avatar

Onelife
Captain
Captain
Posts: 14257
Joined: January 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Onelife »

towny44 wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 21:49
Onelife wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 17:13
There will come a point where following the normal trends will start impacting on those who are willing to follow those trends. The more it happens the more cruise lines will think they can keep doing it. The “alternatives” will in time show a decline in their entertainment quality and the pay extra venues will become the only alternatives for decent entertainment.

Screw you!
"In your opinion".
As always


Portsmouth
Senior Second Officer
Senior Second Officer
Posts: 802
Joined: August 2024

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Portsmouth »

Onelife wrote: 30 Jul 2025, 23:58
My ‘Screw you’ comment is how I believe the cruise industry is treating its customers.
I'm pleased you came back to explain Onelife....I thought you were having a pop at David when I read it :lol:

User avatar

oldbluefox
Ex Team Member
Posts: 12562
Joined: January 2013
Location: Cumbria

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by oldbluefox »

Ban him!!! 😂😂😂
I was taught to be cautious

User avatar

barney
Deputy Captain
Deputy Captain
Posts: 5853
Joined: March 2013
Location: Instow Devon

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by barney »

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Free and Accepted

User avatar

Stephen
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17829
Joined: January 2013
Location: Down South - The civilised end of the country :)

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Stephen »

Ban him twice for good measure.

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17075
Joined: February 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

I'd go for the hat trick

User avatar

Ray B
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3578
Joined: January 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Ray B »

That not nice getting on to OL.
I'm sure there is someone who likes him.
Must be someone.
There is someone surely. .
Got to be.
Hmm?
Don't worry, be happy

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17075
Joined: February 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

My friend says his uncle's neighbour likes him.


Portsmouth
Senior Second Officer
Senior Second Officer
Posts: 802
Joined: August 2024

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Portsmouth »

Hmm :think: maybe I should mention rule 1b to the gang of 5 :lol: :lol:

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17075
Joined: February 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

I think you'll find it's mutual banter. :wtf:
Last edited by Mervyn and Trish on 31 Jul 2025, 18:09, edited 1 time in total.


Portsmouth
Senior Second Officer
Senior Second Officer
Posts: 802
Joined: August 2024

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Portsmouth »

Mervyn and Trish wrote: 31 Jul 2025, 18:09
I think you'll find it's mutual banter. :wtf:
I know which is why I did the laughing emoji....Onelife is more than capable of replying.
I was just gently trying to wind you up :lol: :thumbup:


Portsmouth
Senior Second Officer
Senior Second Officer
Posts: 802
Joined: August 2024

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Portsmouth »

Maybe it's time to hear more from David.....I for one am interested about what else he liked or disliked on Virtuosa

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17075
Joined: February 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Portsmouth wrote: 31 Jul 2025, 19:33
Mervyn and Trish wrote: 31 Jul 2025, 18:09
I think you'll find it's mutual banter. :wtf:
I know which is why I did the laughing emoji....Onelife is more than capable of replying.
I was just gently trying to wind you up :lol: :thumbup:
😂😂😂

User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10981
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by david63 »

First off - Kate might be on board. This morning the arrival into port announcement was by a girlie!

Was talking to the YC Director (aka YC boss) and he said that there were 1,700 kids on board this cruise and the same next cruise. Some of the passengers on this cruise are the "Benidorm at sea" brigade.

One thing that you cannot criticise this ship for is the cleanliness - we get our cabin/suite carpet hoovered every day - unlike P&O where there has been bits on the carpet at the end of the cruise that were there at the start. The same can be said about the rest of the ship - it is spotless.

If you ever though that photos were expensive on P&O then, unless things have changed, you are looking at around the £20 mark for a picture - however they do have facial recognition so that your photos are matched to you.

Today we were in Malaga (the least said about that the better) but one good point was that as they used the air-bridge there were virtually no queues to get off. There is an excellent shuttle bus organisation and certainly in Malaga there was at least one shuttle bus that was accessible.

No body count as far as I am aware, although there was an ambulance on the dockside yesterday! Will have to wait until tomorrow as the murders normally happen on a Friday. Still not found the one and only crew member that works everywhere. For information security do not scan your cruise cars on deck as you get off the ship as you actually get off from one of the lower decks.

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17075
Joined: February 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

I'm beginning to think that programme is fiction rather than documentary.

User avatar

Stephen
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17829
Joined: January 2013
Location: Down South - The civilised end of the country :)

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Stephen »

Cruise cars to get off the ship, that’s posh ;) :D

User avatar

Ray B
Senior First Officer
Senior First Officer
Posts: 3578
Joined: January 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Ray B »

Stephen wrote: 01 Aug 2025, 07:45
Cruise cars to get off the ship, that’s posh ;) :D
Exactly what I was thinking, I know David is in the YC, but even over Saga you don't get one of them.
Still ,enjoying David's posts. It's a bit confusing though, one minute it's all whistle and bells ,then he tells us the Benidorm brigade are on board with 10,000 kids.
The food is some of the best presentations he's seen on a cruise, but a selection of pasengers look like they dress in hand me downs like someone's cast of string vest, but on Black tie night they are all dolled up.
It do sound like you are having a good time David, keep it up. :thumbup:
Don't worry, be happy

User avatar

Topic author
david63
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10981
Joined: January 2012
Location: Lancashire

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by david63 »

OK - the cruise cars was a typo after a few all inclusive glasses of wine and you all knew exactly what I meant and it was in respect of the TV program.

Well it looks like I have managed to survive another day as has everyone else = no murders and it is Friday a.k.a. murder day.

Despite exhaustive searching of the ship I have been unable to locate the venue where Jack "performs" - but I will keep on looking all in the interstes of my followers!
Ray B wrote: 01 Aug 2025, 19:45
It's a bit confusing though, one minute it's all whistle and bells ,then he tells us the Benidorm brigade are on board with 10,000 kids.
Actually it is 1,700 kids.

The point is that on MSC there are two ships in one - the YC and "cattle class". Like all cruise lines there are good points and some less good points and being so new to MSC it is trying to find the balance. Overall our view is that good outweighs the bad.
Ray B wrote: 01 Aug 2025, 19:45
The food is some of the best presentations he's seen on a cruise,
Yes for us the food is good but food is always subjective.
Ray B wrote: 01 Aug 2025, 19:45
but a selection of pasengers look like they dress in hand me downs like someone's cast of string vest, but on Black tie night they are all dolled up.
That is probably one of the big downsides of MSC that there is no pretence to have a dress code and what little code is not enforved even in YC - a guy walked into the YC bar tonight in torn jeans.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is one thing that MSC is very keen on and that is asking about allergies. You get asked at every meal even when that waiter has served you before.

Today we were in Alicante where it was hot. Yet again the British abroad do no favours for anyone - walking around the town with no shirts on and covered in tatoos.

User avatar

Mervyn and Trish
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17075
Joined: February 2013

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

david63 wrote: 01 Aug 2025, 21:32
Today we were in Alicante where it was hot. Yet again the British abroad do no favours for anyone - walking around the town with no shirts on and covered in tatoos.
And I bet the men are just as bad.

You're doing well to survive. It's usually the wealthy guests who get bumped off.

Yes I'm sure the night spot is a studio set. Clever lighting and camera angles to hide the fact there are only a dozen extras in the audience.

But never mind Jack, where's Kate hiding?

User avatar

Stephen
Commodore
Commodore
Posts: 17829
Joined: January 2013
Location: Down South - The civilised end of the country :)

Re: Smurfies Latest Adventure

Post by Stephen »

David wrote:
Today we were in Alicante where it was hot. Yet again the British abroad do no favours for anyone - walking around the town with no shirts on and covered in tatoos.

And that was just the women

Return to “MSC”