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Never sailed on Virgin Voyages and not quite sure what to expect? Maybe you’ve seen the advertisements and weren’t sure exactly how it compared to other major cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. I loved stepping out to see the ocean views the moment I woke up each morning, and retiring to my balcony at sunset restored my energy each night. But Royal Caribbean has a handful of smaller ships with a capacity of less than 3,000 people, including Rhapsody of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas. The smallest fleet of the cruise line's nearly 30 ships is Grandeur of the Seas, which weighs 73,817 gross tons and has a capacity of about 2,000 passengers, The Points Guy reported. Last summer, I sailed the Mediterranean Sea for seven days on a luxury Virgin Voyages cruise ship.
Photos Show What Sea Terrace Room on Virgin Voyages Cruise Looks Like - Business Insider
Photos Show What Sea Terrace Room on Virgin Voyages Cruise Looks Like.
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Sails To
While other ports of call vary based on the sailing, a constant for Scarlet Lady is a stop at its private beach club in the Bahamas. While some fellow cruisers we met enjoyed the restaurant, it was extremely underwhelming during our visit, serving the worst shrimp and grits I've ever had. Not to mention, the service was slow and seafood options were surprisingly limited for a restaurant that claims to specialize in steak and seafood. To find out the latest on Virgin Voyages' health and safety protocols, including those around COVID-19, visit the cruise line's cruise wellness page. You can also find out the latest on the world's major cruise lines by visiting Cruise Critic's guide to vaccine and testing requirements.
Virgin Voyages Awarded #1 Large Cruise Ship in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2023.
Back in those days (not to date myself), you could get on a ship out of Port Everglades and go into international waters to drink and gamble. Get a taste of luxury at the 20 onboard eateries, covering everything from Michelin-style dining to late night snacking. Or if you’re looking for some rest and relaxation time, book into the onboard spa and enjoy some time for you. There’s no party like a Virgin Voyages party so make sure you pack your dancing shoes and head to the onboard nightclub.
Reserve now. Pay later.
There was also a closet and drawers with plenty of space to store my belongings. In August 2023, I took a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship, sailing everywhere from Ibiza and Barcelona to ports in Italy and France, including Toulon, Ajaccio, and Marina di Carrara. In April 2022, I embarked on my first cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.
Outside Training camp is a boxing ring, props for alfresco body weight exercises, a sports court for basketball and an adult playground with swings and a seesaw. Above on Deck 17 is a jogging track and a space for outdoor yoga. Back on Deck 15 by the wellness pool is another open-air workout space – especially good for show-offs since everyone lounging in that area can watch you sweat.
As much as I'm not a fan of buffets, sometimes I just want to eat quickly and get on with my day. I can see first-time and older cruisers being especially confounded by the lack of guidance on board. While more announcements aren't the answer, I'm sure Virgin Voyages could figure out unobtrusive ways to give sailors a helping hand. The ship has a decided lack of signage; no deck maps or wayfinder screens by the elevator banks, not even the name of bars by their entrances. The layout of the ship is such that certain bars or venues are tucked away off the high-traffic corridors and can be difficult to find.
How much does it cost to go on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady?
As a result, you can dine at whichever restaurant you prefer at a time that works for you. Besides the main restaurants, there's the previously mentioned Galley, where you can savor everything from sushi roll bento boxes to 24-hour diner food. It is a hybrid of a grab-and-go and dine-in experience, meaning how you order will vary depending on which station you visit.
Throughout the ship, there are also complimentary water stations. Dining on Virgin Voyages ships is ticket price-inclusive - no extra charges are applied to any of the 20-plus onboard dining options. The cruise company doesn't believe in "paying more for great food", so it ditched traditional surcharges levied in specialty restaurants. All eateries offer "exceptional made-to-order eats" - complimentary. Instead, everything about the cruise can be tailored to adult tastes. Entertainment on the ship is more mature, such as drag shows in the nightclub.
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9 New Resilient Lady San Juan 2024-2025 Cruises.
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While there was lots to do and see, getting around to specific venues and activities overwhelmed me and left me feeling like I'd prefer a smaller ship. The 18-deck ship is 1,200 feet long, 210 feet tall, and 235,600 gross tons, with a passenger capacity of 7,000, according to the cruise line. I booked a cabin with only a window on the Royal Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages offer completely different experiences.
To start, there are no drink packages — and that was a big complaint I heard on the ship from folks who were used to sailing with other lines that offer unlimited drink inclusion options. Instead, Virgin Voyages offers a bar tab that you can load before you sail. Sometimes bar tab credit is also included with the sailing as part of a promotion. During your visit to the club, any drinks you order are charged to the ship, so bar tab credits you have during your cruise will work here, too.
Step onto the ship and you’ll likely notice that your other passengers overall are a little different than on some other lines. Compared to most lines, we think that Virgin Voyages sees passengers that skew younger and a bit more fashionable. But only the Virgin Voyages ship had an outdoor fitness area next to the playground with kickboxing bags and body-weight workout equipment nodding to athletic social clubs of the 1920s, according to the cruise line's website.
The way the staging and performer interaction engaged the audience was original and brilliant. I'm 6 feet tall and can fully recline in one of Scarlet Lady's bright red, ethically sourced hammocks. The rocking of the hammock combined with the rocking of the ship at sea, especially early in the morning when the sun was low and the temperature perfect, was incredibly soothing. I found myself plotting how to get more hammock time – rather than simply forgetting I had a balcony as I busied myself around the ship. The ship does not have a buffet or a cavernous banquet-style dining room. Kids are not welcome, but the adults-only ship gives grownups plenty of opportunities to play in both childlike and mature ways.
We weren’t the only ones who loved this spot; every passenger we spoke to said it was their favorite, and we failed to secure a second reservation due to its popularity. Additionally, we didn't have to worry about extra tips, taxes or fees. Tips for the crew, spa services and more are factored into your cruise price, so what you see on the menu really is what you can expect to pay. There are also no set dining times, restaurant rotations or dress codes, though you can — and should — make dinner reservations.
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