jon81uk

there are plenty of good reviews on here as well as some where it is obvious that Virgin Voyages product isn’t for them, but that’s fine other cruise lines offer other styles of cruise. There are always vloggers getting things for free, that’s not unique to VV. For me, I’d never done a cruise before I went on VV summer 2021 and I’ve done three more since with two more booked. Six cruises with the same line in three years for me so they are doing things right for me. Great hotel style service, no constant announcements, no tips, great food and a fun inclusive atmosphere, without it feeling like they are trying to get even more money out of us.

My first ever cruise was on Virgin for one of the UK staycation cruises August 2021 and I’ve done three more since. Can’t see me easily doing a different line, no kids, no announcements, no tips, soft drinks included, nice modern looking cabins. I get some people love the cruise director making announcements on other lines but I’m quite able of working out what I want to do myself.

It’s not the first time VV have sought investment, I think the line is doing well and they see it as a good time to get investors following the news of winning all the cruise critic awards.

Not sure about calling but FaceTime worked well.

Cruise ships by default don’t go quickly unless they really have to. They always take it easy.

Some of the options in the daytime include the VHS 80s fun workout, dodgeball, 90s boyband class, colouring in a large canvas, summer camp crafts (friendship bands etc), trivia and gameshows. Then there are upcharge options such as Mexican loteria bingo, food playing class, cocktail class, painting with wine, coffee class, whisky tasting. VHS is a lot of fun and I loved dancing to NSync in the 90s boyband class.

There will be fewer bar staff at the pool bar onboard as they are at the bars at Bimini instead, as most people will go sit by the beach club pool instead. Razzle Dazzle offers brunch but is closed for dinner that night, as their staff do the lunch service at the beach club. So you might noticed reduced service onboard if you choose not to go to the beach club, but that’s because there is far more passengers at the beach club than on the ship!

Can use ship loot. It’s something like $25 for one set of cards (three grids per set per game), $35 for two sets and $42 for three sets. I might have got the actual numbers wrong but the first set is $20 something and it gets cheaper to get three sets. it’s four games with different rules for each such as getting a line, or a cross. Winnings increase each game and depends how many players. Final game will usually be at least $800 but can be $1200+. If you win it gets applied to your room account, then you can go to sailor services and cash out if needed. My husband won around $800-900 and we walked off the ship with $300ish in cash.

There is a steak sandwich only available at dinner. Burgers and salads are also available.

I think as the previous poster mentions the tables being close together they were at a table for two, but by another table who shouted across slightly to make conversation. We’ve had this at Razzle Dazzle where the tables for two are easily close enough to make conversation with neighbours.

Personally I would prioritise Pink Agave and then either Test Kitchen or Gunbae. The Wake and Razzle Dazzle can also be done for brunch. Extra Virgin is good, but Test Kitchen and Gunbae offer something different. Unless you regularly go to Korean BBQ anyway. Pink Agave is just my favourite anyway, the food is great.

I think it is to stagger the beds slightly so the headboard of one isn’t against the headboard of the next as the rooms mirror the neighbouring room.

It will be ship currency. On their website the offer is always about the benefit you get onboard so the $300/600 to spend in USD ship currency. Here in the UK we sometimes see adverts where they state “up to £456 of free drinks” or similar as they convert it, but that only appears in the advert not the website. Of course there is a chance they are doing things differently in Aus compared to UK but I expect it’s still the same. the offer terms are here https://www.virginvoyages.com/promotional-terms-and-conditions and are the same worldwide.

It depends if the bed is closer to the bathroom or closer to the balcony door.

The key word being redefine. Such as my previous example of other cruise lines trying to be luxury by enforcing dress codes. Virgin have redefined it by not having a strict dress code.

Guessing by half the bed you mean the chaise long part of the sofa?

There is a video or instructions in the tablet showing how to convert the bed, but we always just put a request in for the attendant to do it.

I’ve usually done quite similar, although never done Grog walk. Don’t forget you need to go to the muster point around 4pm, but you can watch the video in your cabin before that.

There is music around same as bars, cafes and restaurants have on land too. Sip champagne bar is generally quieter. The main pool will have DJs in the afternoon and be louder, the jacuzzi pool is a little quieter. The Athletic Club with the net at the rear is usually fairly quiet. Other than the pool DJs or when there was live musicians playing for set times, I didn’t think the common spaces were loud. Or no more than a bar or Starbucks would be normally

The app will show you the opening times of all restaurants and food counters. The paper guide which can be picked up from sailor services and the coffee bars will list most of them. but the basics for breakfast are The Galley food court stations - bagels, cereal oatmeal - yoghurts and fruit - pastries - pancakes, French toast, French toast burger - all day breakfast items and omelettes - bento boxes of fruit, granola, yoghurt. - breakfast burritos (chorizo or avocado) - ramen noodles - open or toasted sandwiches most are open through to 11am, all day breakfasts are all day. Razzle Dazzle -breakfast and brunch menu with vegan and meat breakfast option, veggie hash, waffles and some unique items. Plus lunch dishes like a fried chicken sandwich open to 1pm I think. The Wake - brunch with eggs Benedict’s, steak and eggs, French toast etc. More brunch that breakfast in my opinion. open to 1 or 2pm I think. Room service (Ship Eats) eggs, French toast. Yoghurt granola, pastries etc. $7 delivery charge unless you order charged for items like latte or cappuccino. best to pre-order room service breakfast the night before otherwise waits can be long. No room service on the last morning, but the waited service brunches are available.

the reference to dress codes was when talking about other lines not VV. I stated other lines insisted on forced dress for dinner, like you have said about Celebrity and Seaborne. Generally other lines sell themselves as “premium” by insisting on jackets for men etc. whereas VV as you say is more relaxed and don’t need those gimmicks to make it luxury or premium. personally the idea of dress codes like that puts me off doing any other cruise line, no matter how “premium” they are meant to be.

Scarlet Lady is doing the summer season with Barcelona as the home port. What happens in October 2024 we don’t yet know though.

I would suggest eating dinner early enough on Scarlet Night to be finished and at the Roundabout staircase for 9pm. That way you can see some of the pop up shows and entertainment, then relax with a drink or get a snack before the main party at 10.45pm

It’s more authentic Italian than that. Chicken Parm is an American dish not an Italian one. They do have simple pasta dishes such as Carbonara and Beef Bolognese (close to marinara with added minced beef) on the menu. Or there is a New York strip steak. Also the pasta dishes are fairly small so can be ordered in addition to a secondi main course, or you can try two different pastas.

Oh I agree forced dress code is the opposite of luxury and premium to me, but the lines who call themselves premium are more likely to insist on it. I’ve not really noticed Virgin use luxury, although I just looked and they do say “casually luxe” in the Instagram bio text. That’s a pretty reasonable description, they are very casual but offer some experiences that feel more luxe rather than mainstream. But overall the emphasis is on casual I think.