cantgetin

60 days is for suites; 45 days is for the rest of us.  Yes, there are  a select few in regular cabins who can get suite perks.  These typically include "influencers", high level TAs, 485 members, etc.  It has nothing to do with DBE

6 hours ago, Wildcatllamas said:

I have traveled with a friend and we slept head to feet. It worked just fine. Only issue is the beds are super firm. Think dorm room beds. 

Your cabin host will put a folded up comforter under the sheet if you ask.  Alternatively, get a mattress topper from Amazon (twin size is about $20), they come vacuum packed so take up little space.  You may be able to have it shipped to the hotel you are using the night before; contact hotel to see if this is possible.  You can pack it up to take home or donate it to your room host.  There have been mixed responses, but in general, VV does not seem to have foam mattress toppers available for guests, only the comforters.

Could be sold out, bought out by a charter, or just being worked on at corporate for a few days.  In the past, they have been very generous when VV canceled a cruise in, giving a wide range of options for you to choose from as well as a bunch of loot.  However, past performance does not guarantee future results.  The problem is that they haven't covered airfares, hotels, etc. that had been booked.  You'd have to see what your travel insurance says about a cruise canceled by the line.  If it doesn't cover, you could still be out thousands, even with VV refunding every penny of your fare or allowing you to book a more costly cruise at the previously paid price.

I'm with you in guessing that something is going on.

12 hours ago, cruisinagain1960 said:

The problem with the suites, as I understand it, the beds cant be separated.  If they could that could possibly be an option.

This is correct.

2 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

All my reservations are in. Hoping they don’t get cancelled. 😬

Well, I've never had that happen......good luck.

I agree that the beds in the accessible cabins are lower than ours at home.  I have the exact measurement if I go searching for it.  If a couple inches will make a difference, you can put a foam mattress topper on your bed....they start as low as $17 on Amazon.  Depending on your investment, that can give you 2-3 inches.  They come vacuum packed so are easy to bring on board.  At the end of the cruise, you can either take a vacuum pack bag to carry it home or donate it to your room host.  But that's only good for about 3". You can rent a device that puts a hanging bar over the bed (medical supply companies have these) so she can use that to help her get up, or get a 4 pronged cane to use to get up...or a rollator/walker next to the bed.

Suites open at 60 days.  All others open at 45 days.  DBE doesn't change reservation dates.  And no, bids for upgrades are not normally addressed until very shortly before the cruise.

I'm thinking your 60 day notice was a mistake or you didn't read it carefully.  Most likely, a mistake.....they happen on VV.

3 hours ago, Flafun888 said:

 But I will say I'm not one to participate! Not in karoke, nor as volunteer from the audience. I read that Virgin's shows and entertainment heavily involves the audience? Just want to be prepared to sit waaaay in the back or avoid those shows! I prefer to watch vs be pressured to join in.

I've never been pressured to participate.  Yes, there are participation shows, but  there is no force to participate....and I don't sit way back. My experience is that if you are jumping around and waving your hands, you might be called on.  If you are just sitting there, they'll leave you alone.

11 hours ago, DarrenM said:

Does anyone know ow if you can use your bar tab to pay for the extras in the restaurants?

Bar tab is good on beverages only--alcoholic or not.  The only other thing it can be used for is the high tea at Sips, and that's because it is billed as a bar item

You can't use it for "treat yourself" items.  Those will come out of Loot though.

2 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

On a short cruise, this is the restaurant I would skip!

Ditto....we liked the Kalbi, but nothing else was all that great.  Oh course, each person has an opinion on that.  And the atmosphere is great if you are with the right group.  We did it once with people from the FB group--no one I knew, but we are all unofficial friends from the group, so that worked.

I concur with the above.  You WILL be at a 2 top except in Gunbae and possibly Test Kitchen.  You can ask for one in Test Kitchen.  You will be asked about allergies at each meal and snack.  They are really good about allergies.

Yes, a cabana includes $100 in alcohol regardless of any tab you have...I think $500 for a cabana is a waste, but that's personal opinion. Swim shoes also personal, not needed.

DO you have loyalty on Royal?  If you apply for status match, you can get Blue Extras for your cruise (NOT Deep Blue Extras, which is a higher status).  Go to "loyalty" on the VV web page to apply.

If you will use the champagne and the thermal suite, SOR is worth the cost.  If those aren't big deals to you, it is rather expensive.  Yes, shake for champagne works, but delivery speed varies based on how busy they are.  SOR boards either right after suites or right after Deep Blue...we've seen it both ways.  Bottom line, you would board between 1:30 and 2.  We have usually been in our cabin before 2 with Deep Blue.  SOR gives you a separate waiting area at the terminal.

This is a great YouTube for more info...a little out of date in a few spots, but not much.  Well done, detailed, and based on accuracy rather than "Look at me" or  personal opinios,

6 hours ago, wolfie11 said:

The maple-glazed bacon in Razzle Dazzle is very, very dangerous!!! 

I've had the bacon be great, but sometimes it is very peppery.  I asked on the last cruise whether it could be made without the pepper--no problem.

There are pastries in The Galley and The Grounds Club (7th floor). The ones in Grounds Club as especially good...but they do rotate so you may not see your favorite every day.

3 hours ago, madmedic said:

First VV cruise on Scarlet Lady in July. Where would my hubby go for a cooked breakfast including fried eggs and bacon? I prefer a fresh cooked omelette 😋.

The Galley has fresh made to order omelets.  Served with bacon, sausage, etc.  Razzle Dazzle has eggs and bacon, but not omelets. The Wake had Benedict in several varieties.  The Galley may have some alsol

1 hour ago, madmedic said:

Also booked a sea terrace. How do we check that ours definitely will have a hammock? Virgin just states that almost all have one. 

In all fairness, I would not book any sort of balcony cabin without the hammock.  Seriously the best feature in the rooms.

VV didn't do themselves any favors early on with their ads making the ships look like one big party for 20 somethings cruising on Daddy's money.  I don't think the passengers they have coincided with those they thought they were going to have.

We have enjoyed each of our VV cruises, and each has been somewhat different....a big menu change (not for the better in our opinion), people we met, quality of the same activities depending on who was in charge, etc.   We don't find a party atmosphere, if by that you mean excessive alcohol.  Yeah, it happens on any line, but as there are no drink packages, there are no people trying to max out their daily limit.  Yeah, it does happen sometimes toward the end when people have a lot of bar tab left.

I would call myself older and fairly conservative.  Some of the Diva shows were hysterically funny (bingo, for instance) or really good (cabaret with Carlos)...well, anything with Carlos).  Some Divas have been obviously better than others.  Some of the shows have been a little crude for my taste, so I won't see them again.  As you said, if a little innuendo is a problem, this isn't the line fo you.  Most of the crew and Happenings Cast have been great....an occasional not so much.  Some of the comedians were good, one I walked out of (we were at the back and not obvious).  In general, there is nothing on VV that you won't see in an adult show on Disney other than the Diva stuff.  And no passenger behavior in public areas that you won't also see on Disney (I've been shocked at some of what I saw there!)

People are different.  I was telling my friend about VV when she asked...she's an elderly, Bible Belt Baptist.  Before I gave any details, I told her that she might not like some parts of it because....Her comment was along the lines of, "Do you think I never saw or experienced any of that?  I was a theater major and half my friends in the department were gay.  I just don't tell my friends at church about it."

So yeah, if knowing that there are all kinds of people on VV and some of them may be different from you is a problem, it may not be your cruise line.  On the other hand, if you can be decent toward someone over dinner and around the ship regardless of their appearance or life choices, you may find a new friend who is covered in tats or have a lovely dinner seated next to and chatting with a gay couple.  Yes, you need a bit of an open mind to cruise VV....but not much more open than other lines.

There are a very lot of good things about VV, but some not so good.  Public seating in many areas is about looking good in photos and not comfort. The Dock is especially bad--there are relatively few bar stool seats; the rest are those bed things and wooden seats a very small distance off the floor.  When you hit my age, the rule is that you don't get on the floor unless you know how you are getting up again!  In many locations the seating is too deep--if you sit all the way back so you have back support, you can't bend your knees.  THey are just weird. There are a few places with comfortable seating, but that's not the overall ship.

I only saw one unisex bathroom on the ship, and it was a one seat deal (not a room with multiple stalls). Most were clearly marked as to which sex.  My complaint would be that they are often hard to find until you learn where to look.

Best feature--the hammock.

1 hour ago, madmedic said:

We have a 4pm check in time because we booked late. Is it possible to get them to take our luggage off us if we arrive at the Barcelona port around 11 am then go and have lunch or will they expect us to wait till nearer our check in time? 

As Jon said you can drop luggage early...starting at 10 or 11 and then go to lunch or whatever.  Normally late boarding runs "early," so if you show up around 3, it is likely that you'll be able to board with little or no line.  Hopefully if there is a problem with your early flight, there are later ones that can get you to BCN on time.

THe only thing I will say is that you were on the tour rather than the ship...I do get it that the tour was sponsored by VV, but all excursions are operated by outside companies.  The  tour guide  should have shut it down right away

There is a lot more to a room than size.  Layout is VERY important.  Some ship cabins have a significant amount of wasted or unusable space while others are well designed.  

19 hours ago, Caitlyn64 said:

I am considering the 5-night voyage (the UK) on Virgin Resilient Lady from September 3rd - 8th. I've heard mostly positive reviews about Virgin, but do have some concerns regarding the demographics of those that sail. Could you provide me with an average breakdown of passengers that choose Virgin, and specifically, the trip I have in mind? What is the breakdown of gender, age, sexual identity, etc. This trip would be to celebrate my 40th birthday, and I would be traveling with my boyfriend (age 49). We are both white, heterosexual, and between the ages of 39 - 49.

The only official numbers I've seen from VV were for 2022...they said the average age on board was 43 with a range of 18-90s. I have some data on the specific cruises I was on related to age.  I honestly never felt that any of it mattered, and doubt that they collect anything other than that which is government required (age and sex). There will be about 2000 people on board.  Some of them will be like you in some ways.  Some will not be like you.  If that matters to you, look at a different line.

True that there is no nightly turn down service BUT if you need anything at any time, you can request it thru the tablet in the room, thru the app, or with a phone call.  If it is something you want regularly, let your host know and they will take care of it.  There is an "on call" team at all times and a partial team in the halls in the evening for those requests.  

English is the language on the ship.  Yes, many languages are spoken by the crew to the point that if someone couldn't handle English, they could find a crew member to help.  The only public announcements on the ship after the muster drill are emergency announcements.  IF there is an announcement, it will be an unscheduled "must inform everyone" thing, but any normal stuff is on the app, on posts at the gangway, and electronic signs in elevators and a few other locations on the ship.

All guest facing crew speak English.

Age range on VV has  been 18-90s.  If you are willing to take a "You be you" attitude and not worry about what other people choose to do, you're fine.  If you don't like drag, don't go to diva shows--there is plenty more to do.  If crew with piercings or tats are going to offend you, this isn't your cruise line.  As far as PDA, I haven't seen anything in our 2 months (broken up into weeks) of cruising on VV that I hadn't seen on Disney.

Want to dress up--do it.  Don't want to--wear shorts and ts anywhere on board.
It isn't about age, it is about  attitude.

11 minutes ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

I'm sorry,

 

I'm sorry, but I have to ask now....what is your daughters hobby? 😸

Computer stuff--video games, AI, etc.

Our favorite is the Kalbi (marinate beef).  You'll be offered a choice of ordering off the menu or having server bring you "the favorites."  Do whatever suits you.

This is NOT real Korean BBQ as we had in Asia, but is OK. It can get noisy.  If you don't like eating with strangers, put together your own party of 6 with others you've met on the cruise.  A lot depends on the mix at the table.  Our first time, we were with a family group of 4.  3 did not speak English and one translated enough for the server.  Lots of smiles and nods.  The next time, we were with a person who shared my daughter's hobby and they hit it off great.  Others have been good to great.