Watchmen

If you add the splash of romance package you can board earlier. Also, I was always able to walk-in to any restaurant. Might need to wait twenty minutes, but you’ll get in. 

The steak from Punk Agave and EV is a toss up. Avoid the steak at the Wake. 

On 6/24/2024 at 12:55 PM, the_fh_mets said:

 

The Wake also has a few extra lunch items after 12. 

 

For the Wake in particular, I would suggest trying to book a brunch reservation when they open 45 days out. Razzle Dazzle's brunch doesn't book up as fast, and they also can usually accommodate walk-ins during brunch. 

 

Social Club has hot dogs and wings available in the afternoon. 

Are the hot dogs and wings any good?

On 6/18/2024 at 12:35 PM, CanadianCruiser21 said:

Repeat of what some others mentioned already:

 

- net

- boxing ring

- record store (I get it’s a virgin theme but didn’t see anyone there)

- does anyone really use the private karaoke? 
- the cabanas are too expensive and I heard there was black dust that would fall around there. 

also, sometimes the bathroom is too far away. I think for razzle dazzle, it was just a men’s bathroom outside and the women’s bathroom was on the other side. 

 

I used the swing because I didn’t have a hammock. I wish they put hammocks there instead. 

The karaoke was full a lot of the time and my group used it twice on our 7-night cruise. 

I’ve been on a few different cruise lines. None of them have had lap pools. Virgin’s pool is in line with the marketed party vibe. 

I’m Californian and my wife is Japanese. We’ve had a ton of Korean BBQ. Gunbae is fine. But for us, we were seated with a couple from Michigan and a couple from Wisconsin. They’d never had or heard of Korean bbq before. Instead of treating it like a fun adventure, they were hesitant and questioned everything. They ended up leaving early. So guess it’s not for everyone. 

The app isn’t great but not nearly as bad as many make it seem. 

Wake is terrible. Extra Virgin is amazing. 
 

PSA:  The spa doesn’t have a “hot tub.” The pool is just a “warm” pool for cooling off after being in the sauna and is useful to those who don’t want the icy cold plunge. My wife and spa snobs and love the spa on VL, but I know many get disappointed. 

I know the program is scheduled to end in 2024, but if you were to make an educated guess, will the program be extended into 2025?

People acting like there isn’t a crisis in the Red Sea. VV isn’t the only cruise line making adjustments. It may be that the changes impact them more because they’re a smaller line. 

You see the details when they open for booking. 

I had premium on Valiant last month with no issues. 

You should be able to go anytime they’re open. Check with your particular host. My wife and I are very critical of spas and had low expectations going in but it turned out to be one of our favorite things on the cruise. 

Try the Social Club and the bar on Deck 15 or 16, all the way aft. Get there early!

I was you all a week ago. While waiting to board we had some GREAT coffee at Cuatro Sombra in Old San Juan. Highly recommend!

6 hours ago, WatermelonSugarHigh said:

No cheeses to be had.  I miss the cheese course served many moons ago after dinner with the desserts on Princess and Celebrity.  And the after dinner coffee drinks. 

 

 I’m not a fan of the food court at all. Bento box always has the same three sushi types.  Why are they using so much plastic and putting everything in plastic containers? So wasteful. Why not just have all the foods sections like a buffet - and use plates? The court style is too kitschy and not at all functionally better.
 

it also seems half the stations aren’t open when we’re there.  Why is the taco bar open from 7 am- 11 am ? Who is eating tacos at 7 am? Same for paninis…

 

I have to say, so far it’s been fine but not great. 

The food court hours aren’t great. I know a lot of people return from excursions after 3pm but half the food court is closed, so they miss out if they want a snack. 

6 hours ago, WatermelonSugarHigh said:

We booked about a month ago so maybe later than most and after the of booking reserved restaurant seatings were starting. 
 What time is your preference for dining? We’d like to eat at 8 and have had no luck. I’ve seen 6 and 7 but we don’t eat that early. Plenty of seatings for two, but the third person blanks out the time slot on everything.
Funny, we were told there were over 2,000 on and that did seem too high.  Who really knows I guess except the purser.  
 

But if there are 1450 and we are having to eat between 9 and 10 and can’t see a show, that’s not a great sign.  We aren’t receiving a daily schedule or paper of any kind so not sure about the galley special.  
 

I don’t find that area very aesthetically pleasing anyway.  Feels like dining in a 80s mall food court. I don’t want to eat dinner in there.  
 

We had some decent shrimp and chicken skewers at Dockside today.  The little side tables or beds are not my idea of a comfortable dining experience. I’m not crazy about eating with my food on a bed or in my lap.  Call me picky but I like a real table. Pizza area kinda the same,  Richard must not like big tables that hold more than two plates.

The included WiFi is good and my husband who is not much of a gambler won $1800 in the casino last night, and my son $500- so I’m off for some nice champagne 🙂 🥂 hoping to find some nice French cheeses somewhere. 
 

 

We’ve been dining at 6pm. You’re right about it not being a good sign if there are only 1450 on board and you can’t get reservations except at odd times. I’m guessing the number I heard is wrong. 
 

I hear a lot of people prefer The Galley over the traditional cruise food court but I’m not sure I agree. On the fence with that one. 
 

We were fans of the chicken and shrimp at The Dock. The beef was a bit tough and the octopus was terrible. Pizza is hit or miss, as is the ice cream. The orange ricotta was good (it was the special Sunday). 
 

Did you find any French cheese?  A nice charcuterie would be perfect for The Dock or maybe Sip. 

We had no trouble booking restaurant reservations ahead of time, nor have we had trouble adjusting our reservations if needed day of. I’m on Valiant now and saw a post that suggested there were about 1450 on the ship. YMMV. 

4 hours ago, SueMo said:

We have Deep Blue Extras for having status on another line.  Our boarding time is the latest available (3:30 for a 4:00pm sailing).  The priority boarding as described by other posters works how?  Is there any way be can board earlier?

You’ll board after Rockstars. 

1 hour ago, sfspider said:

Can anyone who is just on board sailing out of San Juan share what time the sail away party was? With such a late departure, I was wondering when the pool party with drinks was so I could book dinner around it. Thanks.

It’s 6pm

Did you make reservations when you boarded or just walk in?

Have any men had the haircut and shave on board? How was it? I might do it just for fun and to feel pampered for an hour. 

Thanks, everyone. 

Hello! I keep hearing how terrible wifi and the app are. How’s premium wifi? For example, will we be able to stream YouTube videos, Netflix, and things like that?

My daughter just got off Scarlet Lady and said the food was bad. Not sure what it was though.