Scarlet Lady first sailing from Miami. Anything you'd like to know?...

[sid_9169]

In exactly two weeks from today, I'll be boarding the new Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady on her very first cruise from Miami. If there's anything you would like to know, specifically, I'll do my best to find out and report back. I'll also be doing a (hopefully) epic Live Review whilst on board, so tune in here for that beginning soon... 

 

 

[happygolucky62]

Thanks for the offer of letting us live vicariously through your Inaugural Journey! I think, I may remember that you will be in a Suite. If so, could you please let me know something about the Rooftop? Like you, I have been cancelled numerous times so I will be sailing in the Massive Suite because of all of the rollover credit. From what I can tell, it looks like if you are standing in Richard's Rooftop, you may be able to look directly down onto the Massive Suite deck area. Just want to be prepared in case I have spectators from above! Enjoy yourself and thanks!

[sid_9169]

1 hour ago, happygolucky62 said:

Thanks for the offer of letting us live vicariously through your Inaugural Journey! I think, I may remember that you will be in a Suite. If so, could you please let me know something about the Rooftop? Like you, I have been cancelled numerous times so I will be sailing in the Massive Suite because of all of the rollover credit. From what I can tell, it looks like if you are standing in Richard's Rooftop, you may be able to look directly down onto the Massive Suite deck area. Just want to be prepared in case I have spectators from above! Enjoy yourself and thanks!

Unfortunately, I'm not staying in any kind of suite... I'll be staying in what they call an XL Sea Terrace, which appears to be slightly larger than a "regular" Sea Terrace. I do hope to try and get some pictures of Richard's Rooftop though, if at all possible...

[mnocket]

Appreciate you doing this.  One request.....  I've noticed that many people on CC tend to post pics taken when venues are empty (e.g. early morning, etc.) to highlight the ship.  I always like  pics that really show the onboard experience - not an empty restaurant - people eating in a  restaurant. Not an empty pool deck - people enjoying the pool deck.  You get the idea.  If you would be so kind as to include a few such pics in your Live Review it would be greatly appreciated.  thanks.

[denisey]

6 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

Unfortunately, I'm not staying in any kind of suite... I'll be staying in what they call an XL Sea Terrace, which appears to be slightly larger than a "regular" Sea Terrace. I do hope to try and get some pictures of Richard's Rooftop though, if at all possible...

Ooooh!  We have an XL Sea Terrace and I have not seen a lot of specifics on it.  I'd love to see pix, so I can compare to the Regular Sea Terrace!  Thanks!

 

I think my biggest question at this point is what is going on with COVID testing!  I know they did it at the port for UK cruises, but suspect we'll have to come armed with our own.  

 

Have a lovely trip!

[sid_9169]

39 minutes ago, denisey said:

Ooooh!  We have an XL Sea Terrace and I have not seen a lot of specifics on it.  I'd love to see pix, so I can compare to the Regular Sea Terrace!  Thanks!

 

I think my biggest question at this point is what is going on with COVID testing!  I know they did it at the port for UK cruises, but suspect we'll have to come armed with our own.  

 

Have a lovely trip!

We're less than two weeks from sailing, and they haven't even mentioned testing at all... Typical of their customer service, or I should say lack of costumer service...

[Kdiamond55]

I’ll be on the October 15-20 sailing. Did you get your bands and luggage tags yet?

[HaleyAtSea]

I'm definitely curious about the testing too! I swore on their website just a few days ago, it said testing would be happening at the port curtesy of Virgin Voyages. But now that is gone and my travel agent is saying we will have to do our own 48 hours before? Please let us know how this goes!

 

Also, I have heard rumors of hidden bars and would love to know if this is true, or if I'm going to waste the entire week trying to find one! Haha

[sid_9169]

4 hours ago, mnocket said:

Appreciate you doing this.  One request.....  I've noticed that many people on CC tend to post pics taken when venues are empty (e.g. early morning, etc.) to highlight the ship.  I always like  pics that really show the onboard experience - not an empty restaurant - people eating in a  restaurant. Not an empty pool deck - people enjoying the pool deck.  You get the idea.  If you would be so kind as to include a few such pics in your Live Review it would be greatly appreciated.  thanks.

I'll be taking and posting pictures at all times of day and night, with or without people...

[sid_9169]

1 hour ago, Kdiamond55 said:

I’ll be on the October 15-20 sailing. Did you get your bands and luggage tags yet?

According to the app, the bands will be picked up at the terminal. If you click on the part where it says "activate the band", it'll ask you to create a four digit code, that way your band will be ready to go right at the terminal... As far as luggage tags, I have no idea...

[LibrarianMonroe]

2 hours ago, HaleyAtSea said:

I'm definitely curious about the testing too! I swore on their website just a few days ago, it said testing would be happening at the port curtesy of Virgin Voyages. But now that is gone and my travel agent is saying we will have to do our own 48 hours before? Please let us know how this goes!

The website still says its at the port courtesy of Virgin.  https://www.virginvoyages.com/voyage-well#Caribbean-Sailings has it under health and wellness to dos as item 2, and again under embarkation prep item 5.  But if your travel agent says otherwise, now I'm worried.  (we booked direct so no agent to  keep us informed.)

[garymfreedman]

45 minutes ago, LibrarianMonroe said:

The website still says its at the port courtesy of Virgin.  https://www.virginvoyages.com/voyage-well#Caribbean-Sailings has it under health and wellness to dos as item 2, and again under embarkation prep item 5.  But if your travel agent says otherwise, now I'm worried.  (we booked direct so no agent to  keep us informed.)

I would not be surprised if Virgin did not even know what they were doing still.. They are disorganized as far as planning things goes-No covid excuses.. It is Management..

[HaleyAtSea]

12 hours ago, LibrarianMonroe said:

The website still says its at the port courtesy of Virgin.  https://www.virginvoyages.com/voyage-well#Caribbean-Sailings has it under health and wellness to dos as item 2, and again under embarkation prep item 5.  But if your travel agent says otherwise, now I'm worried.  (we booked direct so no agent to  keep us informed.)

Ah okay--I knew I had seen it somewhere on the website!

 

And my travel agent did mention that it's been changing a lot and that she will update us closer to. I really hope they continue to offer testing right at the port as that would obviously be most convenient!

[sarakenny]

14 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

According to the app, the bands will be picked up at the terminal. If you click on the part where it says "activate the band", it'll ask you to create a four digit code, that way your band will be ready to go right at the terminal... As far as luggage tags, I have no idea...

I'm on the cruise after you - they app says they will be mailing my band. 

[sid_9169]

1 hour ago, sarakenny said:

I'm on the cruise after you - they app says they will be mailing my band. 

Mine said the same thing until yesterday... Everything with them has been a moving target it seems...

[marcoigna]

On 9/23/2021 at 7:56 AM, happygolucky62 said:

Thanks for the offer of letting us live vicariously through your Inaugural Journey! I think, I may remember that you will be in a Suite. If so, could you please let me know something about the Rooftop? Like you, I have been cancelled numerous times so I will be sailing in the Massive Suite because of all of the rollover credit. From what I can tell, it looks like if you are standing in Richard's Rooftop, you may be able to look directly down onto the Massive Suite deck area. Just want to be prepared in case I have spectators from above! Enjoy yourself and thanks!

would love to see your full report - we also have the Massive Suite but on the Resilent Lady from Lisbon to San Juan - cant wait ... i am sure it is going to be amazing for sure - - - - 

[RaftingJeremy]

i’m on the 24th sailing and just wondering about the embarkation process.  testing at the terminal? or somewhere close by?  trying to firm up some plans. 

[garymfreedman]

50 minutes ago, RaftingJeremy said:

i’m on the 24th sailing and just wondering about the embarkation process.  testing at the terminal? or somewhere close by?  trying to firm up some plans. 

Hey RaftingJeremy. I'm on the 24th, and my Travel Agent keeps me updated. AS I hear things, I will post. I doubt that VV even knows yet what they will do for testing on the 10/24 voyage.

[RaftingJeremy]

20 minutes ago, garymfreedman said:

Hey RaftingJeremy. I'm on the 24th, and my Travel Agent keeps me updated. AS I hear things, I will post. I doubt that VV even knows yet what they will do for testing on the 10/24 voyage.

haha. i would hope they have a plan but i doubt it haha 

[ceilidh1]

I'm really interested in how much you would "guestimate" would be appropriate for a bar tab - I know that you like high end liquor and can definitely drink more than I can, so I'm thinking that if I gauge what you use as a high-end solo it might give me an idea of how much to add for my BFF and I. Ultimately, I want to be able to drink as I wish and not have to worry about having a bill at the end...you know, like a drink package??? Sigh.

[sid_9169]

3 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

I'm really interested in how much you would "guestimate" would be appropriate for a bar tab - I know that you like high end liquor and can definitely drink more than I can, so I'm thinking that if I gauge what you use as a high-end solo it might give me an idea of how much to add for my BFF and I. Ultimately, I want to be able to drink as I wish and not have to worry about having a bill at the end...you know, like a drink package??? Sigh.

Of course, they don't have a traditional drink package, so you have to purchase in $300 increments to get $400 in credit... For a four or five night cruise you could probably get away with one "package" for each person and come pretty close...

[Janthere]

So excited for you to be on the first sailing! I too was booked and cancelled on a million times but unlike you gave up on VV but now I have severe FOMO! Will be reading everything I can to see how the first few sailings go. One small request if I may - I love to play video poker but haven't seen any photos of any VP machines in the casino. Someone said there are only 2 and they are in the indoor smoking room. It would be great to see a photo of them and confirmation if they are in fact the only 2 in the casino. Many thanks in advance and have a fabulous cruise! 🙂 

[sid_9169]

5 hours ago, janbear said:

So excited for you to be on the first sailing! I too was booked and cancelled on a million times but unlike you gave up on VV but now I have severe FOMO! Will be reading everything I can to see how the first few sailings go. One small request if I may - I love to play video poker but haven't seen any photos of any VP machines in the casino. Someone said there are only 2 and they are in the indoor smoking room. It would be great to see a photo of them and confirmation if they are in fact the only 2 in the casino. Many thanks in advance and have a fabulous cruise! 🙂 

I will see what I can do... I don't spend any time in the casino, but I will see if I can track this info down.

[HaleyAtSea]

I am curious if any of the cabin walls are magnetic? I am trying to brainstorm cabin organization as I know storage in the cabin is limited. (Specifically for sea terrace cabins!)

[Biker19]

22 hours ago, HaleyAtSea said:

I am curious if any of the cabin walls are magnetic?

All cruise ship walls are typically ferrous metal to which magnets will stick.