NYC Scarlet Lady Dining March 7th Available

[Wannacruise81]

So it seems like you can make reservations for dinner at one of the restaurants onboard while it is docked in NYC on March 7th. Price is $60/person. If you live in NY and want to see what the ship looks like. Theres also a dinner and a show for $100 per person

 

[CruisingWalter]

Wow that's fun. Whoever goes, please take pictures and videos to share!  

[CruisingWalter]

Here are the four links for anyone in NYC who wants to make dinner reservations for March 7th on board Scarlet Lady. Links were posted on their LinkedIn feed.

 

The Wake: https://www.exploretock.com/virginvoyagesthewake?utm_medium=social_organic&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=virginvoyagessocial&utm_content=new york city

 

Razzle Dazzle: https://www.exploretock.com/virginvoyagesrazzledazzle?utm_medium=social_organic&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=virginvoyagessocial&utm_content=new york city

 

The Test Kitchen: https://www.exploretock.com/virginvoyagesthetestkitchen?utm_medium=social_organic&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=virginvoyagessocial&utm_content=new york city

 

Pink Agave: https://www.exploretock.com/virginvoyagespinkagave?utm_medium=social_organic&utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=virginvoyagessocial&utm_content=new york city

[CruiseMaven25]

Just RSVP’d for Pink Agave.  I didn’t see the show option though.  Hope we get to tour the ship as well!

[heathermiller86nj]

Does anyone have any info if we’ll be able to walk around the ship or see a show or if it is literally just dinner or brunch?  If I’m going to buy this I’d like to also see the ship.

[eroller]

Making a NY day of it and flying up from Fort Lauderdale.  Doing the Drag Brunch on Sunday the 8th then seeing Erika Jayne in Chicago right after before flying home that same night.  

[tx121]

5 hours ago, CruiseMaven25 said:

Just RSVP’d for Pink Agave.  I didn’t see the show option though.  Hope we get to tour the ship as well!

 

Here's the link for the show

 

https://www.universe.com/events/virgin-voyages-presents-another-rose-tickets-SRDWL7?ref=universe-discover&fbclid=IwAR2YhR6zDwXxCOxsn--n2n7isoEhKf4YFUKpEctHtr3F6jzpg-5NcndodeI

Edited February 23, 2020 by tx121

[eroller]

It's quite unprecedented how VV has opened the ship up to visitors. I haven't seen anything like it since before the ACHILLE LAURO hijacking back in 1985.  That pretty much eliminated visitors on cruise ships.  Yes there is a cost involved and credentials are needed, but still it's almost unheard of.  Usually you would have to be a high producing travel agent, employee, or a member of the media/press to be invited to a cruise ship inaugural event.  This presents a unique opportunity to anyone interested.  

 

I'm expecting complete chaos but hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised on March 8.  It's a lot of visitors to process just boarding the ship, not to mention managing all the reservations at four different dining venues and a show to boot.  Lets hope they have the staffing, training, and technology up to speed, or it could be a complete disaster.  

Edited February 23, 2020 by eroller

[Nyc2tropics]

15 hours ago, eroller said:

Making a NY day of it and flying up from Fort Lauderdale.  Doing the Drag Brunch on Sunday the 8th then seeing Erika Jayne in Chicago right after before flying home that same night.  

What is a Drag Brunch?

[CruisingWalter]

5 minutes ago, Nyc2tropics said:

What is a Drag Brunch?

 

A meal with Drag Queens. Usually involving performances and oftentimes audience participation. The Queens usually wander around and perform among the diners. Scarlet Lady is featuring Drag Queens onboard the ship with a Drag Brunch and Dinner. A few of the Queens have great Instagram accounts you can follow along.

[Nyc2tropics]

33 minutes ago, creativegenius said:

 

A meal with Drag Queens. Usually involving performances and oftentimes audience participation. The Queens usually wander around and perform among the diners. Scarlet Lady is featuring Drag Queens onboard the ship with a Drag Brunch and Dinner. A few of the Queens have great Instagram accounts you can follow along.

Gotcha. Thanks

[rbt001]

15 hours ago, eroller said:

It's quite unprecedented how VV has opened the ship up to visitors. I haven't seen anything like it since before the ACHILLE LAURO hijacking back in 1985.  That pretty much eliminated visitors on cruise ships.  Yes there is a cost involved and credentials are needed, but still it's almost unheard of.  Usually you would have to be a high producing travel agent, employee, or a member of the media/press to be invited to a cruise ship inaugural event.  This presents a unique opportunity to anyone interested.  

 

I'm expecting complete chaos but hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised on March 8.  It's a lot of visitors to process just boarding the ship, not to mention managing all the reservations at four different dining venues and a show to boot.  Lets hope they have the staffing, training, and technology up to speed, or it could be a complete disaster.  

This isn't so unprecedented as  you think.  Regularly Princess Cruises provides those that are interested a chance to tour the ship in port, enjoy lunch in the MDR, and get a picture, wander around on their own, as long as they disembark at 3pm, which is an hour prior to embarkation the the cruise.  IIRC, the cost is $50 and the particiapant receive a $50 credit towards a cruise if they book within a certain period of time.  Yes, it must be booked in advance and space is limited.

 

As for anticipating chaos for this event.... I doubt it.   While we don't know how many individuals they will permit for these different events, I'm sure it will be less than the 2,700 or 2,800 passengers they expect to process for each cruise.   They will have/had two days in Dover and Liverpool for dry runs.

 

 

[RocklandCruiser]

2 hours ago, creativegenius said:

 

A meal with Drag Queens. Usually involving performances and oftentimes audience participation. The Queens usually wander around and perform among the diners. Scarlet Lady is featuring Drag Queens onboard the ship with a Drag Brunch and Dinner. A few of the Queens have great Instagram accounts you can follow along.

I am reserved for the March 8 brunch.  It doesn't say anything about brunch with drag queens for this event.  Just a 4 course Brunch.  I am cool with it either way, but i'm just saying this particular event may not have drag queens.  

[eroller]

27 minutes ago, RocklandCruiser said:

I am reserved for the March 8 brunch.  It doesn't say anything about brunch with drag queens for this event.  Just a 4 course Brunch.  I am cool with it either way, but i'm just saying this particular event may not have drag queens.  

 

 

Mine specifically states "Bottomless Drag Brunch".  

 

 

[eroller]

48 minutes ago, rbt001 said:

This isn't so unprecedented as  you think.  Regularly Princess Cruises provides those that are interested a chance to tour the ship in port, enjoy lunch in the MDR, and get a picture, wander around on their own, as long as they disembark at 3pm, which is an hour prior to embarkation the the cruise.  IIRC, the cost is $50 and the particiapant receive a $50 credit towards a cruise if they book within a certain period of time.  Yes, it must be booked in advance and space is limited.

 

As for anticipating chaos for this event.... I doubt it.   While we don't know how many individuals they will permit for these different events, I'm sure it will be less than the 2,700 or 2,800 passengers they expect to process for each cruise.   They will have/had two days in Dover and Liverpool for dry runs.

 

 

 

 

I'm Elite on Princess and familiar with the Bon Voyage program.  It's quite different than what VV is doing.  First it's not for an inaugural event, and second you have to essentially be sponsored (either by a sailing passenger or a travel agent).  Not just anyone off the street can decide visit which is essentially what VV is doing.  It's also capacity controlled and I have had my request declined  because they had already met the max visitor allotment.  Crystal Cruises also allows visitors, but not during a turnaround day and only with prior authorization from a sailing passenger that requests it.  Again you have to sponsored by a sailing passenger so not just anyone can decide to visit the ship.  Currently the program is suspended due to CoronaVirus concerns.  

 

As for the chaos, yes I'm expecting it.  I've sailed many times from Pier 88 in NYC and it tends to be chaotic even with the most experienced cruise lines during a normal and typical embarkation.  VV is hardly experienced, and this is something that has never been done before.  In addition to random people like myself paying to visit the ship and have a meal onboard, the ship will also have travel agents and the media onboard taking tours, dining, and any other special events planned.  It will be a lot of people to manage in a non-typical environment by a cruise line that has zero experience.  There are also 3rd parties involved that are processing the dining reservations and another for the security clearance, so VV will be dependent on all their systems working and integrating like a charm.  So if it's not chaotic than awesome, but I would rather set my expectations low and be pleasantly surprised.  

Edited February 23, 2020 by eroller

[RocklandCruiser]

2 hours ago, eroller said:

 

 

Mine specifically states "Bottomless Drag Brunch".  

 

 

 

Oh!  My "Bottomless Brunch" is at Wake.  I didn't know there was another brunch option.  Sounds fun, have a great time!

Edited February 23, 2020 by RocklandCruiser
need to add spaces

[eroller]

41 minutes ago, RocklandCruiser said:

 

Oh!  My "Bottomless Brunch" is at Wake.  I didn't know there was another brunch option.  Sounds fun, have a great time!

 

You too!  I’m really looking forward to it.  

[Seawishes]

On Virgin Voyages instagram, people were asking in the comments if they'd be able to explore the ship before or after dinner, and VV was answering comments saying ship tours would be available.  I made reservations for dinner at Pink Agave and then brunch at The Wake the next day.  So excited!

[eroller]

8 minutes ago, Seawishes said:

On Virgin Voyages instagram, people were asking in the comments if they'd be able to explore the ship before or after dinner, and VV was answering comments saying ship tours would be available.  I made reservations for dinner at Pink Agave and then brunch at The Wake the next day.  So excited!

 

 

 

Happy to hear this!  It would be a missed opportunity on their part if they didn't offer this.  I would imagine many of us booked the dining experience more so to see the ship than the actual dining experience, although I'm looking forward to both. 

[Wannacruise81]

23 hours ago, Seawishes said:

On Virgin Voyages instagram, people were asking in the comments if they'd be able to explore the ship before or after dinner, and VV was answering comments saying ship tours would be available.  I made reservations for dinner at Pink Agave and then brunch at The Wake the next day.  So excited!

I wonder if they will charge extra to tour the ship?

[eroller]

5 minutes ago, Wannacruise81 said:

I wonder if they will charge extra to tour the ship?

 

 

Honestly I don't see how they could stop anyone with a dining reservation from touring the ship.  They won't have enough staffing to escort each and every person to and from their perspective dining rooms to the gangway, and there will be tons of people roaming the ship making it very easy to blend in.  Then you might actually have to use the bathroom ... and what would stop you from roaming around before or after using the bathroom?   Besides all that, seeing the ship is what this is all about, and I doubt VV would miss out on that opportunity.  Now they may try to get an extra buck out of you for a tour ... I wouldn't put that past them.  I hope not.  That would be kind of tacky after already paying for a dining reservation and being on the ship anyway.  

[rbt001]

On 2/23/2020 at 3:49 PM, eroller said:

 

 

I'm Elite on Princess and familiar with the Bon Voyage program.  It's quite different than what VV is doing.  First it's not for an inaugural event, and second you have to essentially be sponsored (either by a sailing passenger or a travel agent).  Not just anyone off the street can decide visit which is essentially what VV is doing.  It's also capacity controlled and I have had my request declined  because they had already met the max visitor allotment.  Crystal Cruises also allows visitors, but not during a turnaround day and only with prior authorization from a sailing passenger that requests it.  Again you have to sponsored by a sailing passenger so not just anyone can decide to visit the ship.  Currently the program is suspended due to CoronaVirus concerns.  

 

As for the chaos, yes I'm expecting it.  I've sailed many times from Pier 88 in NYC and it tends to be chaotic even with the most experienced cruise lines during a normal and typical embarkation.  VV is hardly experienced, and this is something that has never been done before.  In addition to random people like myself paying to visit the ship and have a meal onboard, the ship will also have travel agents and the media onboard taking tours, dining, and any other special events planned.  It will be a lot of people to manage in a non-typical environment by a cruise line that has zero experience.  There are also 3rd parties involved that are processing the dining reservations and another for the security clearance, so VV will be dependent on all their systems working and integrating like a charm.  So if it's not chaotic than awesome, but I would rather set my expectations low and be pleasantly surprised.  

So you're the "glass half empty, and quickly evaporating" kinda person.

 

That "anyone" can reserve and participate should be no more alarming than anyone being able to fly on a commercial airline.  Reservations close 72 hours before the event, so the guest list along with their government ID info can be presented to TSA for screening, just as a passenger manifest.  Note VV clearly states that anyone who does not present the same government ID as provided in their reservation will be denied boarding-- even if they have a ticket.

 

To state that VV has zero-experience is to believe that the entire staff was born yesterday and never has worked in the industry.

 

Sir Richard Branson has launched a number of successful businesses, and he is absolutely passionate about having a cruise line. I think he deserves more credit than you're comments suggest.

 

For all those lucky enough to attend, I hope you're wrong and that the evening is successful.

 

 

[eroller]

1 hour ago, rbt001 said:

So you're the "glass half empty, and quickly evaporating" kinda person.

 

That "anyone" can reserve and participate should be no more alarming than anyone being able to fly on a commercial airline.  Reservations close 72 hours before the event, so the guest list along with their government ID info can be presented to TSA for screening, just as a passenger manifest.  Note VV clearly states that anyone who does not present the same government ID as provided in their reservation will be denied boarding-- even if they have a ticket.

 

To state that VV has zero-experience is to believe that the entire staff was born yesterday and never has worked in the industry.

 

Sir Richard Branson has launched a number of successful businesses, and he is absolutely passionate about having a cruise line. I think he deserves more credit than you're comments suggest.

 

For all those lucky enough to attend, I hope you're wrong and that the evening is successful.

 

 

 

 

I prefer to expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised if all goes well.  I stand by my comments that there are a lot of things that can go wrong, and that Virgin Voyages has very limited experience.  Yes there are other Virgin brands, but this one is new and they are doing something that no other cruise line has done before.  I would expect some chaos and disorganization even from cruise lines that are experienced and well established.  Many cruise lines can't even get right a normal embarkation process, something they do every single week.    

 

I'm booked for a brunch and will be sure to report back on the experience and my impressions of the ship and food.  

 

If it all goes smoothly, then that will speak very well for Virgin Voyages.  

[PistolPete13]

Does anyone know if the Scarlet Lady will be departing from NYC on Sunday (3/8) evening or Monday morning?  I would love to get some photos of the new ship as it passes the NYC skyline but I'm unable to find any departure information from my normal go to ship schedule site.

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/new-york-port-98

 

Thank you,

-Pete

[AlyssaJames]

11 minutes ago, PistolPete13 said:

Does anyone know if the Scarlet Lady will be departing from NYC on Sunday (3/8) evening or Monday morning?  I would love to get some photos of the new ship as it passes the NYC skyline but I'm unable to find any departure information from my normal go to ship schedule site.

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/new-york-port-98

 

Thank you,

-Pete

 

Hey Pete--loved your Escape photos last year. So much that I reflexively 'liked' your post above without even reading it. 

 

Virgin's current tour is a little odd in that this isn't a real 'itinerary' (that I can tell), and sometimes it's been difficult to know when they will arrive or depart without watching their instagram stories closely.