sandero

I received one band on 19th February for a cruise that should have started on 18th April. Of note, only one band came for our party of 2. I had a UK address where the app said they didn't post out to UK customers. 

It was a miracle it actually arrived, as the address label had my name, then a bunch of letters and numbers that included my postcode. Amazingly, it arrived, even though there's a load of addresses with the same postcode. Combination of sheer luck, and probably a lot of home shopping deliveries. But if the second band had the same address layout, probably explains why I only got the one.

For our previous cruise, no band was sent out, we were given bands at check-in instead. So if your bands don't arrive, don't worry. 

2 hours ago, UK_Cruiser99 said:

 

 

Yes I got the same email with the wrong name, you should have received another follow up email today with your correct name explaining the offer of a free cruise is still available.

Thanks, got that email a couple hours ago, and a second addressed to "Sailor" with a different code to use. 

Also of note, it makes mention of the Amsterdam voyage: "We also wanted to note — you may have heard about our 5-night voyage from Amsterdam to Portsmouth. This is, in fact, happening, and we’re excited to share details about it soon and you’re absolutely (and encouraged!) to join us on that for your complimentary voyage when that itinerary is open for booking."
 

59 minutes ago, 70KToM said:

Have you checked your email? I read this one was canceled also.

Those who booked direct with Virgin Voyages were cancelled, those who booked direct with Imagine Cruising (who are chartering the ship) have not been cancelled. As the OP made specific reference to the name of the voyage (Rock and Retro, whereas Virgin called it Coast the Canary Islands), I assume he's good to go. 

Thank you all for your posts.
    
I think Virgin Cruises knew about this far earlier than the email cancellation, as they stopped selling the second and third Coast the Canary Islands around 8th January, and they stopped selling the first Coast the Canary Islands around September/October last year. I thought at first the ships were sold out, but subsequently found that the first one was replaced with the private charter, the charter being in-between the UK MerMaiden on 18th March and Long Weekender for 1st April. There's also a Long Weekender from 29th April, so probably the TV charter is from 4th to 29th April? There's talk of a 5 day to Amsterdam, but I don't see that on Virgin Cruises yet. So could it be a three week charter to the TV company and a sailing to Amsterdam in April? 
    
Since the initial email, I've received an email addressed to Nicholas Joyce, which stated:

I wanted to personally reach out after yesterday’s cancelation because we understand how frustrating and disappointing this is. We know that taking time off from work and scheduling vacation is important and takes planning — and we pride ourselves on being the brand you come to and trust to make your time with us truly incredible. And to that end, it’s our goal to make things right when we miss the mark. We’d like to make this up to you by offering you a complimentary sailing on Valiant Lady during her 2022 season. You can choose any one of our amazing itineraries — from either the UK or out of Barcelona. The only thing we’d ask is that you pay the taxes and fees.

In addition to this complimentary voyage, you’ll still keep your Future Voyage Credit for another future sailing. If this voyage offer is something you’d like, use code <REDACTED> and visit VirginVoyages.com to redeem when booking.
 

This special code opens the door to:
• One Sea Terrace Cabin (taxes and fees excluded)
• Sailings currently available on Valiant Lady March 18 - Oct 16, 2022
• Your current FVC can be used to upgrade your cabin
• Not combinable with other promotions
• Based on space availability

Ultimately, we understand that we fell short here, and we hope you’ll give us an opportunity to make it up to you and experience everything our gorgeous Valiant Lady has to offer.

Gratefully,

Michelle Bentubo
SVP Travel Operations
Virgin Voyages 
 

So, assuming that was for everyone affected, and not a specific person that has inadvertantly been sent to everyone, then they have now offered a Sea Terrace Cabin on a 2022 sailing on the Valiant Lady. Not perfect for a RockStar booking, but certainly better than what was offered previously.

150% FVC, and doesn't include previous FVC. Has to be used up within a year, and with only two ships (one in EU, one in US), it's pretty much pointless for us to take. The cruise fare for this trip was higher than their weekly cruises in the med, so only way that offer is going to work for us is to take two cruises before next March, for EU, that's only good up to to October this year (since the ship sails to US for the winter). 

Of note, the last time they cancelled us, it was 200% FVC. https://www.virginvoyages.com/travel-advisories/stories/inaugural-season-update-july-2021. 

 

I'm just so gutted right now, just received this email for our cruise next month:

Ahoy Sailor,

We wanted to give you an important update about your upcoming Coast the Canary Islands, Spain, & Portugal voyage. Due to a private charter, unfortunately, your sailing aboard Valiant Lady on 4/18/2022 has been canceled. We understand this is disappointing and we’re so sorry for any inconvenience to your travel plans.

I just want to cry 😭 Cancelling just five weeks out. Cancelling for a private charter seems just so wrong. I can understand medical or engineering emergencies, but private charters are not that. 

When I heard that Gratuities was included and that it was Adults Only, that's when I first paid attention to the cruise line. I booked a cruise that ended up being cancelled, then did the Staycation, which confirmed this was the cruise line for me, and now booked for 2022. 

Some of those questions I can relate to!
 

Food - all of the restaurants are included, there are no "upcharge restaurants" like on other cruise lines, I think I saw two food menu items in total with a charge (Fresh Truffles in the Extra Virgin for example) but otherwise nearly all food in all restaurants is included. Someone posted the menus from the Portsmouth sailings for you to get an idea:

Drinks - All soft drinks, pre-pressed jucies, simple tea/coffee (what the cruise calls Basic Bevvies) is included in the price. Alcoholic drinks, you'd be looking at around $9 for basic up to $13 for cocktail type drinks. Link above also shows the drinks prices. 
 

Entertainment - the main show was a circus type act (there are plenty of youtube videos for you to see if it is something you don't want), there was also a couple risqué type shows, and a comedy show (in the theme of a Late Night Show). Other entertainment included a games area with hundreds of different types of games available (stuff like Cluedo, Monopoly, Scrabble, Carcassonne, humanity card games, I think I saw some obscure games there like Rail Baron, a Horse Racing game I think I saw like 30 years ago...) there was a games arcade with lots of the old style arcade games (including Donkey Kong, Pacman, golf and driving) all free to play, and a couple of air hockey tables (although I felt the air wasn't very good coming out of it, making it a little hard to get a rythmn going). I can't comment on if there was any cheesy gameshows, if there was any, I didn't see them, but that may be because I wasn't looking for it as it wasn't my cup of tea. In other entertainment, theres a range of nightclub type venues if you want to party. The music was pitched at people from our era (the 40-somethings) so you may feel the music is surprisingly okay. I didn't hear a single song that I thought "turn it off".
    
Dresscode - There's a Scarlet Night where wearing red and black is hinted at, that's the "closest" to a formal night on the ship. Formal isn't the right word for Virgin's take on it, it's just something red. Many sailors wore red t-shirts, and for me it was a red polo top. It also wasn't mandatory, I saw people dressed in non-Red attire too. 
    
Pool - For me, that was the big negative for the cruise ship as the pools were quite small, but if you're not interested in the pools, then that's not going to be a problem for you.
    
Destinations - Hard to recommend without knowing what you seek. For me, Tenerife was always somewhere my partner had wanted to go, so the 2022 UK to Tenerife Sailings came out of the blue and was very welcome news. Outside that, we liked the idea of Gibraltar, beaches of Malaga and I always wanted to see what the fuss about Ibiza was about, so it comes as no surprise to say we were originally booked on the 2021 Spanish Obsession, which we will likely reprise in 2023. 

On 8/11/2021 at 10:58 AM, luv2cruzuk said:

 I guess the hot tubs are for the Mega Rockstars!

Only the two Massive Suites had private hot-tub. Other Mega Rockstars had two hot tubs in Richard's Rooftop and a couple two-person sized hot tubs in the spa.
 

On 8/18/2021 at 4:17 AM, marcoigna said:

@ChipLondon   Great suite.  We have for TA on resilient lady 

 

- was a full bar included

- how was ur Rockstar agent

- being forward - was there enough wind shields to make balcony usable when traveling - did u feel u could entertain friends in ur suite

eith the use of minibar of room service 

- can u order cocktails to ur suite

- did u utilize the private transfers

- how as the checking process

The Mega-Rockstar Gorgeous Suite came with about a dozen different bottles as pictured below. The fridge was also filled with a selection of beer and soft drinks. The room also had all the cocktail making equipment (two drawers of it), and we were told we could have whatever drinks was required to make our desired cocktails. There was an in-app Room Service, with no delivery charges applied for Rockstars, and that menu listed a few cocktails on it. 



Our Rockstar agent Eugine was brill, every request we sent his way was fulfilled. Even a niche request that he probably never expected to have, and will probably never get again (unless he's our Rockstar agent next time, that is)

Balcony, the only issue was when the wind picked up, the hammock would strike the edge of the balcony making a clunk noise every time it did so, and we couldn't see a way of securing it. You can feel a little of the wind from the deck-chairs, but we didn't have a problem with it. 

We didn't utilise the transfers as there was a limit of 50 miles, as as we were coming from more than 50 miles away, we decided to drive all the way instead. It would have been nice if Virgin gave you free parking at the port as an alternative to the private transfer, parking was only £25 after all and it would have been a nice gesture, but no indication of that. Maybe if we asked...

Check-in: For the Covid-19, when we arrived in Portsmouth P+R, we got an any-time pass (12.00pm to 5.30pm) so we went straight across to stage 2. There was no suggestion of a seperate queue for Rock-stars, so that was in same queue as others. When arriving at the terminal, contrary to what was suggested, we had to join the same queue as other sailors. There was what looked like a possible by-pass lane if they moved all the posters away, but that wasn't to be. There wasn't anything like lanyards or different looking bracelets to visually distinguish you as a Rockstar or MegaRockstar, it was only when they scanned your bracelet did the crew know you were rockstars, so it would be hard for shore-side crew to direct you to private check-in areas prior to scanning you in (if there was any, that is!)

I've just come off the cruise with a rockstar suite, one week ago I had nothing booked in terms of restaurants or shows, as every attempt on the app was met with an error. After reaching the room on day one, we were able to book some restaurants and shows, for those that were "fully booked", the concierge arranged a booking for everything we wanted, and also arranged second and third visit for our favourite.