Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Cruises & Cruise Holidays

virgin cruise

It had one upright chair in the corner and a vegan leather stool under the table that doubled as desk and vanity. The table is next to a unit housing the mini-fridge and two small shelves, but there is no additional storage. Here, you'll also find a touch-screen pad where you can adjust the lighting and temperature of your room. But if you, like me, are tired of (or turned off by) the same-old cruise ship formula, this ship might just offer the cruise vacation you didn't know you were looking for.

virgin cruise

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP

Finding your cabin on the ship can be a little confusing your first time sailing Virgin Voyages due to the numbering convention used. One hard part of creating a new cruise line is getting customers that are loyal to another line to give it a shot. Since cruise lines give perks to customers that have sailed often, getting them to jump to try another is difficult. In a twist, Scarlet Night is where you wear your best red and the ship turns into a red-themed party.

What’s the Atmosphere Like on the Ship?

If you wait until the day of a show or even just a couple of days before dinner, then you aren’t likely to get a spot. This can include things like bar credit, premium wi-fi, daily coffee credit, and more. On-island entertainment is available as well, though I can't speak to what happened as the afternoon wore on, as we hit our sun quota by midday.

Resilient Lady's inaugural cruises 2022

On other cruise lines, a deck party might attract a couple hundred guests, but on Virgin's Scarlet Night, pretty much everyone turns out. If you want to feel like a rockstar, you can rent one of the private cabanas on Deck 16. Each costs $250 for a full day and can be reserved at Sailor Services on Deck 5. Inside, you'll find daybeds for lounging and a drinks cooler prepped with fresh-pressed welcome juices. Scarlet Lady has all the requisite poolside and sun deck bars, including ones offering smoothies and juices after your indoor or outdoor workout. Scarlet Lady's Happenings Cast (ie, the entertainment team) lead Grog Walks around the ship that are a mix of pub crawl and icebreaker games so you can meet your shipmates.

Virgin Voyages

I wouldn't even bother to sit out there – except for the striking red hammock hung from hooks bolted into the bottom of the balcony above. At 6 feet tall, I could stretch out completely and rock with the waves as the ship made its way through the Caribbean. Its presence made a forgettable, utilitarian room desirable and memorable. I didn't find my cabin on Scarlet Lady to be overly inviting or cozy, and I was glad I didn't have to fight for storage space with a travel partner. What saved the cabin was its balcony, or terrace as Virgin calls it. The IKEA-inspired furnishings and mod décor made the room resemble a trendy micro hotel.

The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Virgin Voyages ship

They're great for checking the weather, drying swimsuits and eating room service breakfast – but I rarely spend much time hanging out on them. Usually that's because the chairs are upright and made of metal (or metal and plastic mesh) and the veranda is small, and you can't get comfortable. Extra bathroom space with completely separate toilet and rainshower chambers. "The best vacation I have ever had. The adults only experience immediately elevates any cruise experience. The fine dining and exceptional service there is truly no better way to vacation."

virgin cruise

For 2024, Scarlet Lady will be based in Barcelona (taking the place of Valiant Lady), offering two western Mediterranean itineraries that mostly focus on stops in Spain and France. Virgin Voyages got its start offering short sailings to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Miami, and that's still the line's biggest cruise destination focus. In fact, one of Virgin Voyages' two vessels currently in operation, the 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady, does nothing but short sailings to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Miami. One great thing about the cruise is that a lot is included in the fare.

You won't find the usual cruise experience on board

Virgin Voyages is on a mission to create the world’s most irresistible travel brand. We’re seeking to redefine what you should expect from a holiday at sea and create an Epic Sea Change For All. Despite some underwhelming aspects here and there, such as some design choices we didn't love and a very crowded pool area, we had a great time. Other than the cabin cleanings, the crew was more noticeable, too. We saw crew members on the basketball courts, eating in The Galley and just generally out and about around the ship even when they didn't appear to be on the clock, which helped create a more relaxed atmosphere. Unless you splurge on a pricy RockStar suite, you'll be placed in a cabin that looks modern but otherwise seems fairly standard, other than the fancy mood lighting.

The best restaurants on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship - Business Insider

The best restaurants on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship.

Posted: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:36:00 GMT [source]

Instead of ordering at the counter, you find a seat, flag down a waiter and put in your order, which will be brought to you when ready. The expansion of Virgin Voyages sailings in the Bahamas and Caribbean this year meant the line could send more ships back and forth between Europe and North America than in the past. That's created an expanded lineup of so-called "repositioning" cruises across the Atlantic that feature many sea days. I’ve sailed a variety of cruise lines throughout the years, beginning with my first voyage as an 18-year-old living in Fort Lauderdale when my mother took me on a nighttime sail. Back in those days (not to date myself), you could get on a ship out of Port Everglades and go into international waters to drink and gamble. RockStar Suite passengers benefit from complimentary food service, exclusive bar and outdoor terrace lounge, VIP beach cabanas.

Kick back and enjoy the Suite life with uninterrupted sea views (really...even the bathroom has an ocean view). From the massive European king bed overlooking the sea to the custom hand-made terrace hammock, luxury and self care here are a serious art. Sun-drenched terrace yoga with new friends or (extra) dirty martinis at the full bar inside? Before the tour, you should start thinking about how to stock your bottomless bar for stargazing in the hot tub —because there's no dream that this suite, and your RockStar Agents, can't make a reality. Experience a sun-drenched, adrenaline-rushed day in Puerto Plata, soaring across the amber shores and azure waves of the Atlantic Ocean on zip lines.

The bed was also rather hard and uncomfortable for my personal tastes, so much so that by the last night of our trip, I was ready to return to my more inviting setup at home. The bathroom was quite small, to the point where it bordered on being a claustrophobic experience. In addition to featuring more than 20 grab-and-go spots and traditional sit-down eateries, there's the large Galley venue with various vendors arranged in a way similar to what you'd find in a food court or buffet.

Would the four-night cruise from Miami, with stops in both Key West, Florida, and Bimini, Bahamas, impress me enough to consider Virgin Voyages for future trips? Here's what I took away from the experience — and whether I'd cruise with Virgin Voyages again. So much is included on your cruise, but one area that isn’t — alcoholic beverages. Virgin Voyages does charge for these, but there are a couple of things to know. You’d expect that a ship focused on adults might have different entertainment, and in this case, you’re right. In fact, we found that most often the atmosphere can change depending on time of day.

Much to my surprise, though, there was a fair mix of people on my sailing. Still, I had no idea what to expect as I stepped onto Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady. Overall, the crowd seems to skew younger — and more upscale — than most cruises. The atmosphere — ranging from the vibe on the ship to food to entertainment — definitely caters more to adult tastes.

The perfume can be also purchased (only online - via ItSmellsLikeShip.com) for USD 50 per bottle. All net proceeds from these sales go to Ocean Unite (non-profit foundation of 30+ political leaders and business tycoons). If you choose to purchase "specialty liquors" in the ports you visit, you may bring these on board but they will also be held for you until the last night of the cruise. Make sure you adhere to customs regulations about how much alcohol you can bring back into the country from abroad.

"The entertainment is unique and feels like something you would see or experience in a major city like NYC, Miami, or London." The Greek Islands itinerary, called Greek Island Glow, includes stops at Santorini, Rhodes and Mykonos, as well as a visit to Bodrum, Turkey. Resilient Lady will continue to be based in Piraeus, alternating between eastern Mediterranean itineraries that focus on the Greek islands and the Croatian coast, respectively. Instead of a plastic card you have a stylish bracelet that you wrap around your wrist and keep on with the anchor clasp.

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