Your cruise was ruined...

[AdoraBelle]

5 hours ago, rbschultz said:

There is a cat with lasers coming out of its eyes on the VV webpage... if people can't figure out this is a millenial cruise line they're doing it wrong.

 

 

[crazycatlady11]

19 hours ago, AdoraBelle said:

 

 

 

They had me at "cat" lol.

[murfturf]

I'm excited for a more updated cruise line - and even though Hubs and I will be in our late 40's on the ship (I turn 47 on board next summer!) we hope we won't be the oldest! 

Edited February 25, 2019 by murfturf
oops - 47, not 27. I wish!

[resstation]

I hope we are!

[crazycatlady11]

Just saw on another thread that the ship will be "one giant orgy," it has no class and certain posters will never set foot on it. An old Billy Joel lyric is going through my head: "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than die with the saints. The sinners are MUCH more fun." All that pearl clutching is going to ruin those expensive necklaces 😅.

[ronrick1943]

On 2/20/2019 at 9:51 AM, resstation said:

Call it what you will, my money is on LOADS of complainers on the VV boards who didn't bother to research before booking. I often wonder how people like that get around in the world, but they do, surprisingly. It will be entertaining reading for sure.

 

If you don't research what your getting, that's to bad for those that didn't check.  

[AdoraBelle]

15 hours ago, crazycatlady11 said:

Just saw on another thread that the ship will be "one giant orgy," it has no class and certain posters will never set foot on it. An old Billy Joel lyric is going through my head: "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than die with the saints. The sinners are MUCH more fun." All that pearl clutching is going to ruin those expensive necklaces 😅.

 

I saw that. Escandalo!

[Eglesbrech]

On 2/20/2019 at 5:51 PM, resstation said:

Call it what you will, my money is on LOADS of complainers on the VV boards who didn't bother to research before booking. I often wonder how people like that get around in the world, but they do, surprisingly. It will be entertaining reading for sure.

 

I think you are spot on. People don’t do proper research and then they will get onboard and complain, moan and whinge endlessly and bring down the atmosphere for those who are there to enjoy it.

 

I have had a look at the publicity information and decided that it’s probably not a ship for me. There are some aspects I might really enjoy trying out but the general vibe is not aimed at my age group.

 

I will however be interested to read the first lot of reviews to see if the reality is different from the pre launch publicity. Based on reviews if I did eventually decide to try it out I would do so with my eyes open and in the full knowledge of what I was actaually  booking and likely to experience onboard.

 

 

 

 

[Midwestgal]

If someone is going to book this line and doesn’t do their research than shame on them. I’ve been part and following VIrgin Cruise from the get go so well well over 3 years .

As it developed and I can now see what it has to offer the line is not for me. 

This being said I know Virgin will be a huge success and will have loyal sailers , I think there was a need for this line. 

There are so many choices out there and not every line fits every cruiser needs . Personally I’m a Royal girl at this time in life .

 

point is nobody should knock it because it isn’t their jam .....research before booking.

 

happy sailing Scarlet Lady! 

[mnocket]

On 3/10/2019 at 3:02 AM, Eglesbrech said:

 

I think you are spot on. People don’t do proper research and then they will get onboard and complain, moan and whinge endlessly and bring down the atmosphere for those who are there to enjoy it.

 

I have had a look at the publicity information and decided that it’s probably not a ship for me. There are some aspects I might really enjoy trying out but the general vibe is not aimed at my age group.

 

I will however be interested to read the first lot of reviews to see if the reality is different from the pre launch publicity. Based on reviews if I did eventually decide to try it out I would do so with my eyes open and in the full knowledge of what I was actaually  booking and likely to experience onboard.

 

 

 

 

I agree completely.  When I first learned that Virgin was getting into the cruise business I was excited.  I thought it would be just what I was looking for (except for the lack of a casino).  However, as Virgin has provided more and more details about the ship I no longer think this is the ship for us.  I too will read the reviews with interest to see if my impressions are wrong.  

[ronrick1943]

On 3/14/2019 at 10:41 AM, mnocket said:

I agree completely.  When I first learned that Virgin was getting into the cruise business I was excited.  I thought it would be just what I was looking for (except for the lack of a casino).  However, as Virgin has provided more and more details about the ship I no longer think this is the ship for us.  I too will read the reviews with interest to see if my impressions are wrong.  

 

I tend to agree with you on this one--sounds great at first, but not a match for me.

[AL3XCruise]

While there will always be people that jump into a cruise without any research, I give VV credit for trying to market what will be unique.  A few minutes on their website should give people an idea of what they are about and if they will be a good fit.

 

When Celebrity launched the Edge, for instance, the experience their customers expected was well established.  When it got shaken up by the Edge, a lot of people reacted negatively.  Celebrity did say the Edge would be innovative, but I don't think they really articulated what would be changed or lost.  This may have been intentional; even though they were trying to appeal to a new demographic, they wanted to keep current customers booking on the Edge.   The result was a lot of seasoned Celebrity cruisers who did their research and still found the ship too different for their tastes.

 

VV is different.   For one, VV benefits from being an all-new brand.  They don't have previous customers who will be upset, nor any reputation other than the one they are making now.  VV also seems perfectly willing to target one demographic at the expense of others.  Celebrity seems to wallow around trying to appeal to its traditional customers, millennial, families, etc.  They try to tailor marketing to each group, and when they get on the ship they may find certain things disappointing.  VV has made it explicitly clear what experience they provide and effectively said "if this isn't for you, we respectfully suggest you go find another line."

 

Please note: I'm not trying to rag on Celebrity as I am a fan (I plan to sail with them again) and I understand the pressures to increase revenues, but the comments on the Edge introduction certainly show the strategy has a downside. Marketing is very complex, and customer satisfaction is not the only driver behind it.  Still, I think VV's more transparent and focused effort will alleviate some confusion seen when lines try to provide something for everyone.

 

 

[mnocket]

13 hours ago, AL3XCruise said:

While there will always be people that jump into a cruise without any research, I give VV credit for trying to market what will be unique.  A few minutes on their website should give people an idea of what they are about and if they will be a good fit.

 

I agree.  I think VV is doing a pretty good job of letting potential customers know what to expect.  

 

On the Edge, Celebrity took a big risk with the Infinite Veranda design.  They marketed it as making you feel more connected to the ocean - "bringing you to the edge".  There was a lot of up front marketing hype, but once people experienced the IV many felt it was just an ocean view cabin with a large window that could be opened halfway. There was actually less of a connection to the ocean than a traditional balcony.  I don't think the IV concept was targeted at a specific demographic (like Eden was) and it will be interesting to see if it finds its market.

[AL3XCruise]

On 3/23/2019 at 12:46 PM, mnocket said:

On the Edge, Celebrity took a big risk with the Infinite Veranda design.  They marketed it as making you feel more connected to the ocean - "bringing you to the edge".  There was a lot of up front marketing hype, but once people experienced the IV many felt it was just an ocean view cabin with a large window that could be opened halfway. There was actually less of a connection to the ocean than a traditional balcony. 

 

I think it definitely qualifies as a "divisive" concept: some love it, some hate it.  The concept art looked more appealing to me than photos I've seen, but I'll admit the idea has its place.  On a colder weather cruise I'd jump at the option of having a quasi-balcony that can become an extension of interior space, all with a big window.  In the Caribbean, not so much.  The marketing push behind IVs didn't help either.  Along with Eden and some other features, it all combined to give people an experience different than what they were used to and expected.

 

In addition to marketing, I think a mistake was going almost all-in on IVs with the Edge, especially considering the ship was intended to sail the Caribbean market!  It think a mixture of IV and traditional balconies, with the ratio determined by the ships intended market would make sense.  A bit like comparing RCI's Quantum and Oasis class.  The former has a lot more interior attractions for comfort in cooler climates, the latter has massive outdoor areas.  

 

 

 

[PederLin]

Hmm. The more I see the more I'm glad we pulled the plug on our  early deposit.

I really wanted to like this ship. Been a big fan of the Virgin brand ever since I worked at the Virgin Megastore in Tottenham Court Road back in 1980 ( I was working the till.  Sold an Adam and the Ants LP to Michael Caine one day (not a lot people know that) Good times. 

 

But cruising ? We did our first cruise back in 1995. Our Honeymoon. It was quite a thing to do back then. Flying to Puerto Rico from the UK. We have a lot of fond memories of that time and we've loved cruising ever since.

 

But our 25th anniversary next year will not be spent with Virgin. The whole concept of what they're doing is just wrong and alien to us.  Can't tell you how disappointed we are with that.

 

Anyways.  Good luck to all those that sail on her. 

 

 

[PederLin]

PS.  It's not that difficult but can anyone else spot the "Social Media Influencers" here?

[wwcruisers]

1 hour ago, PederLin said:

PS.  It's not that difficult but can anyone else spot the "Social Media Influencers" here?

I don't even know what that is..nor do I care...

[perditax]

On 3/29/2019 at 4:47 PM, PederLin said:

PS.  It's not that difficult but can anyone else spot the "Social Media Influencers" here?

 

 I guess by “social media influencer” you mean “paid shills”?

 

Or possibly you mean “people who are excited about the new cruise line, in direct defiance of my personal opinion, therefore must be paid shills?”

Edited April 1, 2019 by perditax

[kgelner]

On 3/29/2019 at 2:47 PM, PederLin said:

PS.  It's not that difficult but can anyone else spot the "Social Media Influencers" here?

 

So far everyone who has posted here is about as far away from being an "influencer" as you can get, I would guess not a single poster here matches the colorful hip marketing images Virgin is putting out.

 

Everyone posting here so far is too individualistic to make for a good "influencer".  Virgin will be very lucky indeed to find any influencers actually aboard the ships with all of the individuals just wanting some escape from a few common aspects of cruising, that Virgin has accidentally tapped into.  My instagram account for example has fewer than 20 followers, and I post maybe once every few months there.  Not like I'm going to be setting off a firestorm of booking by choosing any one cruise line.
 

[perditax]

I also can't imagine Virgin considering this particular site to be a good use of marketing money for the customers they're trying to reach. 

[resstation]

10 hours ago, kgelner said:

 

So far everyone who has posted here is about as far away from being an "influencer" as you can get, I would guess not a single poster here matches the colorful hip marketing images Virgin is putting out.

 

Everyone posting here so far is too individualistic to make for a good "influencer".  Virgin will be very lucky indeed to find any influencers actually aboard the ships with all of the individuals just wanting some escape from a few common aspects of cruising, that Virgin has accidentally tapped into.  My instagram account for example has fewer than 20 followers, and I post maybe once every few months there.  Not like I'm going to be setting off a firestorm of booking by choosing any one cruise line.
 

Right? Not only that but there is no need to announce your departure. If you don't like the ship, the vibe, the marketing, the lack of drink packages, the square footage of the closets, the material the bed linens are made from, the shade of red used for the promotional materials - WHATEVER- and you've decided you no longer want to sail on this line - just go. Be well. Enjoy the things you enjoy. Move on. (Reminds me of the people who announce their departure from their Facebook accounts. Why? Stop posting. There. Done. No drama.)

I have no idea if I will really love it or hate it, so we're giving it a try, but if there were things I knew I would not enjoy then why stay and make an announcement. I rather like that it is a truly unique product. There are so many generic, "made for everyone" cruises these days. We'll see. I'm interested in seeing the reviews after a couple of months of sailing. That will give us more real world information.

[mnocket]

On 4/1/2019 at 7:54 AM, resstation said:

Right? Not only that but there is no need to announce your departure. If you don't like the ship, the vibe, the marketing, the lack of drink packages, the square footage of the closets, the material the bed linens are made from, the shade of red used for the promotional materials - WHATEVER- and you've decided you no longer want to sail on this line - just go. Be well. Enjoy the things you enjoy. Move on. (Reminds me of the people who announce their departure from their Facebook accounts. Why? Stop posting. There. Done. No drama.)

I have no idea if I will really love it or hate it, so we're giving it a try, but if there were things I knew I would not enjoy then why stay and make an announcement. I rather like that it is a truly unique product. There are so many generic, "made for everyone" cruises these days. We'll see. I'm interested in seeing the reviews after a couple of months of sailing. That will give us more real world information.

Perhaps a bit harsh?  I and several others have posted here that we have been following VV with great anticipation, hoping it would be a great alternative, only to conclude that it doesn't look like a good fit.  Is this a discussion forum that is open to all or an echo chamber for VV cheerleaders only? The ability to present opposing views is essential to meaningful discussion.  After expressing my view, I found it interesting that several others have come to the same conclusion.  One reason people post on forums is to get a sense of.... "am I the only one who feels this way?".  I'm sorry our posts irritated you and you wish we would simply go away.  However, I will continue to monitor this forum, and dare I say even occasionally post, as my impressions may change with additional information - especially once reviews start being posted.  

[resstation]

3 hours ago, mnocket said:

Perhaps a bit harsh?  I and several others have posted here that we have been following VV with great anticipation, hoping it would be a great alternative, only to conclude that it doesn't look like a good fit.  Is this a discussion forum that is open to all or an echo chamber for VV cheerleaders only? The ability to present opposing views is essential to meaningful discussion.  After expressing my view, I found it interesting that several others have come to the same conclusion.  One reason people post on forums is to get a sense of.... "am I the only one who feels this way?".  I'm sorry our posts irritated you and you wish we would simply go away.  However, I will continue to monitor this forum, and dare I say even occasionally post, as my impressions may change with additional information - especially once reviews start being posted.  

No. No. You totally misunderstood my post and I apologize to those who did. I was referring to a recent post where someone announced their departure. Simply that. I LOVE that we all have different opinions and that we can voice them here. What does irritate me is the drama. Why is it necessary? Did I  misunderstand that post? 

[mnocket]

10 hours ago, resstation said:

No. No. You totally misunderstood my post and I apologize to those who did. I was referring to a recent post where someone announced their departure. Simply that. I LOVE that we all have different opinions and that we can voice them here. What does irritate me is the drama. Why is it necessary? Did I  misunderstand that post? 

 

Misunderstandings are so easy on these forums.  Sorry I missed your point. 

 

VV is introducing a very different cruising experience - it is new and edgy and therefore somewhat controversial.   It sounds like we agree that controversial topics lead to much more interesting discussions.  Take for example the drag brunch. I've been to drag shows and found them fun, but I'm not sure what a drag brunch is.  Is it a brunch where the diners and servers dress in drag?  Is it a traditional drag show with food?  If so, are the performers just the entertainment staff dressed in drag or will they add professional drag performers to the staff?  I think we'll all have to wait until the sailings begin know the answers.  Until then we'll just have to speculate, but still I'm interested in what others think. 

[LandlockedCruiser01]

 

On 4/3/2019 at 3:47 PM, mnocket said:

VV is introducing a very different cruising experience - it is new and edgy and therefore somewhat controversial... (truncated)

Staunch Carnival fan here, adding his 2 cents.

 

Simply put, Virgin Voyages is trying to be what Carnival was 30 to 40 years ago: nontraditional within reason, quirky, and most importantly, FUN, while still maintaining the "Love Boat"-esque essence of cruising.  Carnival introduced things like hairy chest contests, silly line dances, and relaxed dress codes, while still keeping cruise traditions like assigned seats at dinner, dress-up nights, and pictures with the captain.  It struck a balance between innovations and what makes a cruise an actual cruise that appeals to adults.

 

Today, while still tooting their "Fun Ships" horn, Carnival is becoming the poor man's Disney Cruise Line.  There's a plethora of kids-centric activitites, draconian limitations on their drinks package, and a "floating Six Flags" vibe, especially on its newer, bigger ships.  Of course, it has enough holdouts that keep the party atmosphere on short cruises.  But their days are fading fast.

 

Into the limelight steps Virgin Voyages.  Like old-school Carnival, Virgin is creating a brand that's ahead of its time.  I do wonder if it'll have assigned seating at dinner.  It was what drew me to Carnival in 2012: the guarantee that I won't be eating dinner alone.

Edited September 24, 2019 by LandlockedCruiser01