Scarlet Lady / Live / Solo - Oct 6 - 10 2021...

[sid_9169]

I'll show you a few features of the Virgin Voyages app, in which all of your online check in is accomplished... I say "features", but the truth is that it doesn't work at all sometimes... Here are the steps for your actual check in...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the travel documents, you just take a picture of your passport, and it automatically reads and deciphers all of the text. Once it's done, it asks you to double check it, and you can edit some of the fields if necessary.

 

For the payment method, you can choose between cash and credit card. If you choose cash, you'd likely have to wait in line at Sailor Services once on board to fund your account. I just went ahead and entered my credit card information, as I don't want to waste one bit of my vacation waiting in line if possible...

[sid_9169]

Once everything has been filled in, you'll see it checked off on the home page...

 

 

They were supposed to mail out The Bands to your home address along with your luggage tags, but apparently now they'll be handled out at the Port. To "activate The Band", you'll enter a four digit security code, and you're all set... In theory, anyway. We'll see once I get there...

 

 

[sid_9169]

...

 

Edited September 28, 2021 by sid_9169

[pl281]

Random question - I'm not cruising until March but I started the whole process - it's only showing partially complete on the passport page - and that still after re-installing the app - will that start working as we get closer?

[TravelGirlinDallas]

Oops, wrong thread.

Edited September 28, 2021 by TravelGirlinDallas

[sid_9169]

1 minute ago, pl281 said:

Random question - I'm not cruising until March but I started the whole process - it's only showing partially complete on the passport page - and that still after re-installing the app - will that start working as we get closer?

Have you finished checking in for all 6 steps? When I took a picture of my passport, there were some fields that weren't complete, and I had to enter it manually... Also, it seems that different things happen at different times for many people when it comes to the app. They really should have done a better job with it, considering that they had an entire extra year and a half to do it.

[sid_9169]

Just now, TravelGirlinDallas said:

Crimson Restaurant, for the YTD diners:

 

 

 

 

 

Strawberry soup, fried shrimp, and the cheese plate for dessert. This was the first time I had tried the cheese plate, since I'm normally a big fan of dessert. But I was curious after hearing so many people talk about it. It was good. Brian ate the bleu cheese for me. 

 

 

 

After dinner, we enjoyed listening to the violin trio that was playing in the lobby. 

 

 

Sunset on our first night back at sea.

 

 

I think that you may have this confused with the Tribe page... 

[TravelGirlinDallas]

Just now, sid_9169 said:

I think that you may have this confused with the Tribe page... 

Yep, sorry. I just edited.

[sid_9169]

Less than a half hour to go at work now... My mind is permanently affixed to the dinner I'm about to enjoy this evening. I'm thinking prime bone in ribeye, lobster mashed potatoes, their giant onion rings, and maybe even something green... Maybe... And, I normally drink red wine with my steak, but I'm in a margarita mood today... They're also going to have a birthday lunch for me tomorrow at work, since my "big day" fell over last weekend... Also, I didn't tell them about it, since it's honestly not my favorite day of the year. Getting older... Thinking about past mistakes... Trying my best to keep moving forward. That's one of the reasons that this cruise is sooo important to me right now. I haven't had any sort of vacation, or even a day off this entire year, except for the day that I moved earlier this month. I NEED this more than ever right now...

 

 

[kpark895]

Following right along - can't wait until you actually board!

[blarko]

Following....

[sid_9169]

 

On February 27th 2020, the Virgin Voyages app finally became available… Many thought it would never be released, and there was no communication from the cruise line itself. I found out about it right here on the Cruise Critic message board. I was able to begin my check-in process immediately upon logging in. I chose my port check-in time, from the options available.  The earliest time slot was 2:00 pm, so that’s the time I went with. From what I understand, their debarkation process will be more “relaxed” than the other lines, who try to get you off the ship as soon as possible… 

 

Another part of the check-in process requires you to “take a selfie”, which for some, is probably among their favorite things to do. For me? Not so much… You are also asked to take a picture of your passport, as well as enter your emergency contact info. There’s another section that asks about your travel plans prior to and after the sailing. Interestingly, I entered my flight information, and it thought I was flying to Birmingham Alabama… I guess there’s still a few bugs to work out in the system. Finally, comes the section where they present to you the “cruise contract”, which I wish there was a version of online, as trying to read all of this legal gobbledygoop on a tiny phone screen is quite tedious… Basically, you just click “agree” and hope that none of the bad stuff you signed on for never happens. 

 

I wish that there was a way to just do all this stuff online, rather than through a phone app. To be honest, the app is the one thing that excites me the least about the entire Virgin Voyages experience so far... Apparently, this will be the only way to accomplish many of the things that are normally done online. I’m not sure how older people, who don’t have smartphones, will be able to do their online check-in, as well as many of the on board features that will require the app. 

[sid_9169]

We'll just call this my "few days after" birthday dinner... Starting out with a margarita.

 

 

[sid_9169]

For the uninitiated, I guess that I should have warned you that it might get weird... My traditional bathroom selfie, minus my face...

 

 

And, while we're here, the rest of the bathroom...

 

 

[sid_9169]

Switching it up to their specialty strawberry margarita...

 

 

[AmyJA]

3 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

...

 

yep...I'm old.

[AmyJA]

1 hour ago, sid_9169 said:

Switching it up to their specialty strawberry margarita...

 

 

How was it?

[prbffd28]

I don't want to jinx the cruise so I'm only going to say, hooray for another Sid Live review!! FINALLY! Your report on Encore as well as your responses to my questions during our planning for Encore in Feb of 2020 were lifesavers. I'm really looking forward to your take on the Virgin experience as we are seriously considering giving it a try.

Thanks for taking us along!!

[sid_9169]

I'm back now from my gluttonous after birthday dinner at Chop's Steakhouse... Stuffed to the gills, and maybe a little bit buzzed, but not drunk. I guess that you could say that I went "all the way" as far as dinner for one while sitting at the bar. I decided to skip the salad and appetizers and go straight for the real deal. The prime bone in ribeye...

 

 

 

Their famous lobster mashed potatoes, with what appears to be an entire lobster worth of meat...

 

 

The giant onion rings, with a side of their special homemade sauce...

 

 

And, just to say that I did have something green, the Brussels sprouts and mushrooms...

 

 

 

[sid_9169]

Even though I was only at a single seat at the bar, my meal definitely exceeded my allotted space. I switched back to the regular margarita when the meal arrived...

 

 

Everything was fantastic, and exceeded my expectations in nearly every way possible. I also have enough leftover for a huge meal for dinner tomorrow. I guess that there goes my plan of trying to lose a couple of pounds before the cruise. When I had enough, I asked for some boxes, but then this arrived... A giant piece of cheesecake. Just what I needed to get ready for swimsuit season... Anyhoo, I couldn't refuse it at this point...

 

 

When I looked closer at it, I couldn't quite make out the second word, but it definitely wasn't "birthday".... I'm pretty sure that it said "happy anniversary", but it tasted the same nonetheless, and it ended up being free, so who cares...

 

 

 

[sid_9169]

I'm back home now, and settling in for another drink or two... I have to work tomorrow, but I had trouble sleeping last night, and I definitely need to pass out tonight...

 

 

[soccersharon]

Following!  Looking forward this!

[sid_9169]

[meatball_nyc]

Happy Anniversary....Birthday....Cruising Soon Day....

 

Its all good. Glad you had a great dinner, Sid. Looked amazing. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.

 

Hope you get a good night’s sleep then off to the ole salt mine tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

[odie1024]

@sid_9169, your meal and drinks looked fantastic. Happy Birthday!