westguy99

I have back to back Med trips booked first one starting tomorrow. Big disappointment for me they did this especially on such short notice. How many people had plans with prebooked third party excursions screwed up. Makes no sense to do this with less than 1 week notice. 
 

This is a way to save money on fuel. More time so they can cruise slower. Maybe less port fees too. No way it is based on customer feedback. Like people surveyed said they wanted to leave Ibiza at 4pm instead of 6pm. If the ship leaves at 4pm it means you have to plan on being at the ship for 3pm. Cuts the day short. Not worth going to a beach club or much else other than lunch. I had to cancel my plans.  I suspect Virgin is bleeding so much money they are getting desperate. Glad I am using up all my credits this trip. Next they will be cutting the food quality. When they do stuff like this they will lose current customers and it makes the cruises less attractive to new customers. In the end bad for business all around. They already can’t fill the ships up. Bad move IMO. 

10 hours ago, HolsAddict said:

Can anyone tell me if the access key only valid on 2022 cruises? If that's the case I won't be able to benefit from ut as already have rebooked on the Valiant in October. 

It is only valid for 2022 cruises. You could book another cruise either before or after your current one for free to extend the cruise to a back to back or you can cancel your October cruise, get a FVC for what ever you paid for the October cruise which I think they give you at least a year from the cruise date to use and then book the same October 2022 cruise using the free cruise access key. You can then use the FVC from your canceled cruise to book a cruise in 2023. 

I am booked for two 7 day med cruises this summer. One in a regular balcony cabin and the other a rock star. I was able to book the Wake 3 times on each cruise.

If you are on a shorter cruise I would recommend hitting each of the restaurants once. They are all good. No reason to book any twice unless you are going for more than 5 days. 

Anyone have any luck getting a refund on travel expenses such as airfare due to the canceled cruises? They are offering up to $500 US per person. The webpage where I have submitted mine still does not seem to work (spinning wheel forever after submitting). Anyone get something accepted or get money back? If so how did you do it and was a booking receipt enough? 

1 hour ago, riverrat said:

 

Bayley said that the CDC shared some information with him in a call.

 

"The cruise industry sailing out of the US ports over the past 12 months and how many people have been hospitalized with Covid and how many deaths occurred from Covid from people who'd sailed on the industry's ships, which is in the millions," he said, "And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two."

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/cruise-line-drops-pre-cruise-covid-testing-rule/ar-AAZ9edh?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=6e28cddd174d4cfebb865cf64dc8591a

It probably should read "died with covid" which is what they actually keep track of. If someone fell over board and the body was recovered and had covid that would be a covid death. 

Here are my two bookings other sailors can use for $200 in free sailor loot. You can book directly with the booking link online through the VV website (just click it before booking) or call VV and use the link and booking number and email me for any other info you need. If you are not planning on going to the Med this summer reconsider. It is going to be great!

French Daze & Ibiza Nights
Barcelona • Marseille • Cannes • Olbia • Ibiza • Barcelona
14-21 Aug, 2022
7 nights

Booking link: https://virg.in/ofYR

Booking reference: 291374

Email: westguy99 at shaw.ca

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

The Irresistible Med
Barcelona • Toulon • Marina di Carrara • Ajaccio • Cagliari • Ibiza • Barcelona
21-28 Aug, 2022
7 nights

Booking link: https://virg.in/oxf2

Booking reference: 287994

Email westguy99 at shaw.ca

9 hours ago, NDUK said:

Hi Westguy, I'm trying to get in touch but can't DM (not sure why). Would you like to link our cruise to our mutual benefit? We're both on the spreadsheet for 21/08 Med on Valiant 

I just found out CC does not have direct message. My email is: westguy99 at shaw.ca

3 hours ago, NDUK said:

Hi Westguy, I'm trying to get in touch but can't DM (not sure why). Would you like to link our cruise to our mutual benefit? We're both on the spreadsheet for 21/08 Med on Valiant 

Sure if you can make it work. My booking number is 287994. My link in my previous post. Let me know if you need anything else. 

1 hour ago, ociana said:

Nice! Was it just listed in your access keys when you logged on? 

 

I gave up being patient yesterday and called to get my bookings taken care of. The rep had to put me on hold while she reached out to a different team (not sure why we couldn't just call them directly) that was responsible for the FVC credits. After a three hour call we got everything but the free cruises taken care of from our two cancellations. I again wish there was more self service for this, but at least that step is done.

I went to my account on the Virgin website and under access keys there was a new one with no information other than it was an access key (it didn't say free cruise or anything). I clicked on it and it sent me to the booking page with all the cruises listed. I selected a sea terrace for the cruise I wanted and it came up as $240 total which was the taxes. I booked it, paid the $240 and that was it. 

Aug 14 to 21

Link below for $200 sailor loot. DM for booking number if needed. 

https://virg.in/ofYR

Just found the access key in my account and booked it. 

Has anyone received their free voyage access key yet after booking a 2022 with the FVC? Is there a set date to email them out? I was told by the Virgin rep they would email it which was last week but still nothing. 

5 hours ago, Chrish2 said:

Thats showing as Resilient Caribbean Holidays. If its the correct link I will fix the itinerary.

Link was incorrect (it was from my canceled cruise. Correct link: 

https://virg.in/oxf2   

13 hours ago, westguy99 said:

Aug 21st to 28th 2022 

The Irresistible Med
Barcelona • Toulon • Marina di Carrara • Ajaccio • Cagliari • Ibiza • Barcelona

 

https://virg.in/ox4K

 

DM me for booking reference if you call in to Virgin or you can do online with the link only. Get $200 is sailor loot! 

Link above is incorrect (it was from my canceled cruise). Correct link: 

Aug 21st to 28th 2022 

The Irresistible Med
Barcelona • Toulon • Marina di Carrara • Ajaccio • Cagliari • Ibiza • Barcelona

https://virg.in/ox4K

DM me for booking reference if you call in to Virgin or you can do online with the link only. Get $200 is sailor loot! 

When booking over the phone I gave the Virgin rep the link and I was told I needed the booking number too. They could not apply it to my new booking. I can see how the link works to book online but has anyone done this over the phone and what did you need or give them to do it?  

When booking over the phone I was told I needed the booking number. I tried to give them the link but the Virgin rep said they could not apply it to my new booking. Anyone do this over the phone and what did you need or give them to do it?  

It really depends on if you think no kids is a big deal or not. I have never been on Celebrity, I have sailed Virgin and I have sailed many other cruises in Europe in the summer and having kids on board is a HUGE negative for those without kids. There are tons of kids on cruise ships in the summer in Europe and not the best behaved kids (or maybe not the best parents).  For the no kids policy Virgin would be my choice. 

Virgin is going to be a younger vibe. You will have real DJs playing top trending music compared to Celebrity where you will have the wedding DJ from Philippines playing Margaritaville, etc. No silly games with some irritating entertainment staff and a microphone at the pool. Just music and a fun vibe on Virgin. I hear lots of complaints from people who have never actually sailed on Virgin about the pool but it was the most fun pool I have ever experienced on a cruise ship. Think W Hotel. In fact any other cruise ship I would maybe spend an hour at the pool and couldn't stand the screaming kids, irritating entertainment staff and people doing laps in the pool. On Virgin the pool was a blast.  

I think both itineraries have some nice ports but Florence and Rome are terrible cruise ports. Those are cities you want to go stay in for 5 or more days. Taking a bus there from a cruise port which is actually far away from those cities is a terrible way to see those cities and you will spend more time on the bus (hours) and waiting for them to assemble the group than seeing anything. 

So it depends on if you want something more classic with an older crowd and screaming kids or more trendy adult only oriented. If you are someone who goes to a trendy restaurant and complains the lights are too dim and the music is too loud then Celebrity may be your better choice. If you are someone who goes to a restaurant and is irritated by the screaming kids running circles around the room then Virgin may be your best choice. 

Hey Virgin Voyages,

I understand your phone line is busy so I have been trying to set up cruise through link below but after 24 hours it appears to still have been stuck with a spinning circle. I tried again and same thing. I need to book a cruise coming up soon so what do you recommend? Also how does it work with the cruise you choose. It only asks you which cruise with no cabin category information. 

https://vvprod.secure.force.com/rebookNreimbursement?_ga=2.118617226.2035671124.1654873457-258121184.1648652359&_gl=1*1uveq6w*_ga*MjU4MTIxMTg0LjE2NDg2NTIzNTk.*_gid*MjAzNTY3MTEyNC4xNjU0ODczNDU3*_fplc*ODRoT0slMkI4Y0RLWmJsUVJlZ1pDa3VYd25sTm9KJTJCZEwlMkZUdkJ4

27 minutes ago, periodic itinerant said:

I have questions about that part as well. The website clearly says you can pay in full by June 22nd and get 200% on that. I've only paid my deposit so far (was booked for the November transatlantic and full payment was due in July). I'm trying to figure out if I can pay somewhere in between the full payment and what I already have down for my deposit. 

 

I want to rebook for the Valiant transatlantic next fall, but I've calculated the best way to get to that fare with partial payment on my current booking... It kind of feels like cheating to make additional payment now just so they'll double it, but it seems like they are allowing that?

I logged into my Virgin Voyages account through their website and it showed my canceled Dec cruise in my itinerary. I had the option to pay in full or pay what ever amount I wanted up to full. I paid in full today. 

I am going to guess it is for new bookings. But you can get your 200% credit, then cancel your October 2022 cruise (and get a credit for that) and then rebook the Oct 2022 cruise as a new booking. With all the credit you can get a room upgrade. 

One other thing to note if you have only paid a deposit you can pay the full amount by June 22, 2022 to up your credit to the full fare. 

From the FAQ in the link below:

https://www.virginvoyages.com/travel-advisories/resilient-lady-new-launch-dates

For me I have only paid the deposit for a Dec cruise. If I pay in full I will get $6000 additional credit that I have 18 months to use on top of a free cruise if I book in 2022. That is 3 cruises for the price of one. Now I am just trying to figure out how I can take 2 cruises in 2022 and then another in 2023. It seems like a more that fair settlement to me. 

You can take a drink or bottle of wine anywhere you like after purchase. Back to your room or to a different area of the ship. 

"No testing before boarding, no masks, no distancing, no testing on board, nothing."

Wow they wouldn't allow you to get tested before boarding? Wouldn't allow you to wear a mask? Prevented you from distancing? Would not allow you to bring your own test kits on board?  Must be some new rules. 

"But just like I wouldn’t go to the same restaurant and same event every weekend night"

That would be a good point if you cruised back to back to back. Would you not go to a good restaurant a few months later and then again a few months later? I do.

The other cruse lines have different ships but the same or very similar restaurants and only one is typically free (the MDR and not very good) along with the buffet. With Virgin you get 5 decent included and different restaurants along with the Galley which gives pretty good variety and far and above any other main stream cruise line. You could go on 2 cruises and only go to each restaurant on Virgin 2 or 3 times for dinner which is less than most go to the MDR on a single cruise where many will dine there every breakfast and every dinner which would be 14 times on a 7 day cruise. That is repetitive. 

For entertainment the bands and DJs are different on each sailing with Virgin. I expect the shows will change over time. That may be the only thing that would be repetitive if they don't change. Although I think the shows are a small part of the Virgin experience and they would be at the bottom of my list as a reason to go on Virgin

Virgin also offers the most unique ports in Europe. Few main stream cruisers offer over nights and ports like Ibiza. 

Having said all that I expect there will be new different Virgin ships and new restaurants in the future. In the mean time I can handle going to 5 great restaurants a couple of times a year. I am booked on my second Virgin Cruise at the end of the year.