When we sailed on MSCMediterranean shipping company The world’s largest privately held shipping company. MSC have both cruise and shipping operations. Virtuosa during a rainy March, the British pub quickly became one of our favourite spots. With an extensive selection of beers, wines, spirits, and mixed drinks, it’s a haven for those seeking a refreshing beverage. Additionally, they serve a small yet delicious selection of snacks. For those without a drinks package, the pub offers daily specials, including up to 20% off various drink brands.
The venue
The design of the pub is pretty reminiscent of a stylized British pub. Offering a variety of seats and tables. There are bar stools at the bar and along a breakfast bar-type seating area. Some two and four-seater tables with normal armed chairs and some alcoves surrounded by deeply upholstered bench-style seating. There is a dedicated little area for an entertainer who visits a couple of times a day. With a small dance floor area in front of the entertainer’s cubby.
The decorations include reproduction pub signage for different beer companies. Various pictures and maps adorn the rest of the walls. The end where the entertainer performs features cabinets full of books, model ships, and knick-knacks.
The drinks
In the pub, you could get the majority of the drinks that were available from the ship-wide drinks menu. There were also some extras not available anywhere else on board and the draught Guinness was especially good. Murpheys, Newcastle Brown ale, Lagunitas IPA and a cider were also available on tap. John Smiths was available in a can and quite a few different beers, including some from Birra Baladin in bottle.
Birra Baladin appears to be the chosen craft brewery to be stocked on the ship. They did have several different craft styles available including pale ales and a Belgian dark strong. Unfortunately, it tasted like they used the same yeast for the Belgian Dark Strong and the Pale ale. This meant the pale ale wasn’t really clean enough for the style. Anyway enough beer geekery. The bar stocked a decent range of spirits for fans of mixed drinks. Wines were also available, although I didn’t check how wide a wine selection they had here.
Prices here were around €9 for a draught beer or glass of wine. €9.50 for a bottle of beer. Mixed drinks were the same as around the rest of the ship.
The food
There are four main snack offerings in the bar, a hot dog, two different burgers or fish and chips. There was an additional charge for food, however, these prices were not excessive. A Sir burger, cheeseburger or fish and chips were €4 and a hot dog was €2.50. You also got a side of fries with your burger/hot dog or large fries/chips with the fish.
All the food here was good, especially the fish and chips. You got several chunks of proper fish fillet coated in a nice crispy batter. Sachets of ketchup, mayo, salt and pepper were also provided so you could pick what condiments you wanted.
The entertainment
There are several televisions above the bar which were normally showing a selection of sports or news channels with subtitles. When satellite signals permitted, they would also show major sports games here. On our cruise, they showed the Liverpool vs Manchester United game, much to the delight of Liverpool fans. Less so for the Man U fans who watched their team lose 7-0.
Each evening there would be live music, with an entertainer to the fore of the venue. This was Dario on our cruise who played a selection of contemporary and classic songs. As the evening went on the drinks flowed for a while, you could often hear folk singing along or dancing on the small dance floor area. Check your daily planner for times and details, however, on our cruise, Dario would be there from about 7:30 PM.
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