Is Virgin Voyages a Potential "Threat" To Celebrity?

[PROCRUISE]

5 hours ago, Gimpy McFarlan said:

 

I would agree with terrydtx.  We have not sailed VO yet; however, based on what I know about VO they would be the best alternative Celebrity.  Smaller ships, focus on food and service, no casino, no smoking, interesting itineraries, modern design, no young children, etc...

 

Have sailed on the Viking Sea in the Caribbean. More expensive yes however, every cabin is a veranda, phenomenal food and service, very quiet, relaxing atmosphere, gorgeous ship throughout, no extra charges and free launderette usage, very simple evening entertainment, and I was actually able to get to know a large number of fellow passengers due to the much lower number of passengers onboard. Very impressive indeed.

[bluehengal]

We personally weren't wowed by the itineraries or price.  We were definitely turned off by the fact that they appeared to tout the fares as all inclusive,  but then state no alcohol is included.   To top it off, there are no drink packages offered.  I don't like the pay as you go plan.

[sakigemcam]

Speaking for ourselves (60 and 61 and think we are 35) - no because the marketing is OBNOXIOUS. I'm in marketing and this is SOOOO try hard it's painful! Like they are being as extremely hipster as they possibly can. Maybe we'll try them when they CALM DOWN LOL!

[Denny01]

Well, as we can see reading through this thread that when a comparison between an all-inclusive luxury type and a standard cruise line is done showing the all-inclusive is close in pricing, someone finds a legit standard SR price much lower with included packages, which then means there isn’t a very close comparison. Which also means.........pick a cruise for what you can afford and what it provides you in onboard enjoyment and itinerary. 

 

We are all so lucky to be able to afford this type of vacationing and to even consider doing  a more exclusive experience, or sticking with our baseline that meets what we are looking for. Personally, I measure things in how many cruises it costs! Does that ‘luxury’ cruise or that special itinerary cost me 2 or more standard cruises? Is it worth it? All subjective....and fun to think about doing

 

Den

[Denny01]

I guess what I posted above was so great, it came out twice!!

 

Den

Edited February 16, 2020 by Denny01

[chill6x6]

Maximum length of cruise is 5 nights....that rules me out automatically.  I need at least a 7 day cruise to be worth the trouble.

[Essiesmom]

15 minutes ago, chill6x6 said:

Maximum length of cruise is 5 nights....that rules me out automatically.  I need at least a 7 day cruise to be worth the trouble.

Oh, but there is one 7 day cruise - an Atlantis charter...EM

[cle-guy]

No.

[NMTraveller]

1 hour ago, chill6x6 said:

Maximum length of cruise is 5 nights....that rules me out automatically.  I need at least a 7 day cruise to be worth the trouble.

So they are booze cruises?

[Bo1953]

8 hours ago, Lightngsvt said:

Yes sir, I did.  The reason being the fare we are paying in Aqua for 7 days in Alaska is about the same as we have been paying for similar accommodations in the Caribbean.  And both are 2020 sailings.  Itineraries are apples and oranges, but in my specific case, prices are not.  This is cruise only, not considering airfare/hotel.

Okay, I have to accept this rather I understand it or not.

 

Our sailing in Alaska was quite a bit more than Caribbean, say by 20% or so... for same number of days and same cabin level.

 

bon voyage

[cruiseerf]

I know LOTS of seasoned Celebrity staff who have jumped ship over to Virgin.  Some wonderful people, quite sad that Celebrity let them go.  That said, we all follow the paths best for us..... I wish everyone well.  

[mickey89]

You don't get a bed on Virgin unless you book a suite............bit ridiculous to be honest.

Celebrity have nothing to be concerned about for sure..........another Virgin failure.

[udamom]

17 hours ago, Esprit said:

No casinos is a plus point for us and even in our 60’s we are seriously considering becoming Virgin sailors.

There is a casino onboard. I am a gambler and client of URComped and they are offering comped Virgin cruises.  I'm waiting to let a few months go by and see how others like it before deciding if it's something I'm interested in. If I lived in FL or close by I'd be going for sure.....but having to fly from CA the itineraries are a bit underwhelming.

[terrydtx]

13 hours ago, sakigemcam said:

Speaking for ourselves (60 and 61 and think we are 35) - no because the marketing is OBNOXIOUS. I'm in marketing and this is SOOOO try hard it's painful! Like they are being as extremely hipster as they possibly can. Maybe we'll try them when they CALM DOWN LOL!

Their TV commercials are so much like the ones for Sandals Resorts, all the people in them are fit and under 40 which is the market they are going for. .VV looks like a Sandal's crowd cruise. We are both 70 and neither VV or Sandals are for us. Even their website is geared for the younger crowd and very hard to navigate.

Edited February 17, 2020 by terrydtx

[sanger727]

23 hours ago, 4774Papa said:

You could be right.  If many passengers get tattoos, that would keep me away from the pool.   I can't stand tattoos.

 

My prediction is that the tattoo parlor will be short lived. The only people who would get a tattoo on a cruise are people who don't get tattoos. A cruise is the worst possible time to get a tattoo since you need to keep a fresh tattoo out of the sun and water!

[4774Papa]

21 hours ago, cruisingator2 said:

I think Virgin is going to attract first time cruisers who are younger (Gen Y). I don’t see them as a threat to any of the cruise lines. Their prices will keep those who usually cruise with the bargain lines away. I personally have no interest at this time but I will wait on the reviews before making a final judgement. I don’t think I fit their client profile.🙂  I love the look of their first ship. Different and in this industry, that’s a good thing in my book. 
 

With that said I am trying MSC in April and May. One out of Europe and one out of Miami. Both in the YC. I can’t bring myself to pay X’s suite prices anymore. I have read that the YC dining room is not as good as Luminae but we’ll survive. 😉 

Virgin's prices are not as outrageous as they first look, since you pay for a cabin, not for each passenger.  Also, many other costs that are extra on other lines are included.  Still, unless they offer more crises than the Caribbean and Med, we will probably not use them.

As for MSC, we have friends that took MSC and said the food was the worst they had been served on any cruise, ever.  They said that they lost weight on the cruise, since they lost their appetites.

 

As for Viking, as long as their fares are what they are, we won't be cruising with them, don't care how good they are.

[terrydtx]

39 minutes ago, sanger727 said:

 

My prediction is that the tattoo parlor will be short lived. The only people who would get a tattoo on a cruise are people who don't get tattoos. A cruise is the worst possible time to get a tattoo since you need to keep a fresh tattoo out of the sun and water!

A tattoo on a sun,  beach and water cruise itinerary?  You are right get one and stay out of the sun and water for the balance of the cruise. Also since tattoo providers are really artists, how good will the one on a ship be? Just a gimmick to appeal to more of the under 40 crowd.

[terrydtx]

34 minutes ago, 4774Papa said:

s for MSC, we have friends that took MSC and said the food was the worst they had been served on any cruise, ever.  They said that they lost weight on the cruise, since they lost their appetites.

We heard the same thing from friends who did a MSC Yacht Club cruise, that plus all of the smoking allowed on the ship will keep them and us from ever doing one.

[Mike981]

18 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Were you comparing it to the Edge and Apex pricing?

No, Reflection.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

3 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We heard the same thing from friends who did a MSC Yacht Club cruise, that plus all of the smoking allowed on the ship will keep them and us from ever doing one.

 

The only place smoking was allowed in Yacht Club on MSC was outside.  Same as Celebrity.  Don't get the complaint.

[Denny01]

Funny how MSC works its way into many Celebrity threads that have nothing to do with MSC. I don't spend any time over on other cruise forums telling them, especially when not asked, why Celebrity is better or worse. Odd.

 

Den

[terrydtx]

45 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

The only place smoking was allowed in Yacht Club on MSC was outside.  Same as Celebrity.  Don't get the complaint.

It was a Mediterranean cruise and our friends said the majority of passengers were European and there were a lot of smokers compared to HAL and Celebrity.

[twodjs]

And smoking is permitted in the casino on MSC at the discretion of the casino manager. Celebrity is 100% smoke-free.

Edited February 17, 2020 by twodjs
added MSC

[NCTribeFan]

I haven't sailed X yet (my cruise isn't until March 2021!).  But I visit here just to see what's going on. 😁

 

My DD's BFF is currently working on Scarlet Lady.  She did a couple of stints a few years ago on NCL Epic (she's in the theatre department as a costumer).  Of course, she wants DD, my SIL, and even me (in my late 60s now) to come on a sailing.

 

But the prices!!  No way!  While I'm trying to get away from Carnival (so tired of the same old, same old yet I have another 34 nights booked within the year), I still have to strongly consider pricing.

 

I'm doing my 4th on HAL at the end of April, under a great casino fare.  I personally prefer to pay-as-you-go rather than have prices built in for things included that I don't want or need.  I don't consider it "nickel and dime" to pay for what I use!

 

Anyway, it will be interesting to hear what she thinks about working on VV.  She's in her early 30s and recently married, so she's not there to hook up!  Well, at least I don't think so!! 😇

[twodjs]

NCTribeFan - the prices on VV are not outrageous - prices are per cabin, not per person. They are very comparable to prices on other lines when a new class of ship debutes. You complain about the same old, same old but you are booked for 34 more nights of the same old. Why? We were on Carnival once - NEVER AGAIN! Break the mold and take that money and spend half the nights on a much better experience. You will never go back.