It's always interesting how different people have different experiences on a sailing. We are a late 50s/early 60s couple and also just returned from the NYE Valiant sailing. We didn't spend time by the pool, so we didn't experience the atmosphere there. But everywhere else we were on the ship we didn't see the shirtless/shoeless crowd or anyone getting sick. We met straight/gay/lesbian couples from a variety of age groups and demographic backgrounds and almost everyone was already a loyal VV fan. This was our second VV sailing -- we also sailed Valiant in early December 2022. We didn't notice a difference between that cruise demographic or "vibe" and the NYE one.
We'll be back on VV in May for the short four-night Key West itinerary, and I wouldn't be surprised to find a different atmosphere on that sailing since shorter cruises often have a ramped up party crowd. .
