Table Of Content
Scarlet Lady offers the usual cruise ship mix of windowless inside cabins, ocean-view rooms with large windows that don't open, cabins with private balconies and large suites. Cruise rooms sleep one to four guests, with twin beds that can be combined into queens and upper bunks. Scarlet Lady defies categorization when it comes to pricing, as well. Its cruise fares are more inclusive than your typical mass-market ship, and therefore more expensive than other mainstream lines. But it doesn't have the same vibe as luxury cruise ships that tend to cater to a retired, wealthy clientele, who are less active and not into dance parties or cutting-edge entertainment.
The best restaurants on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship - Business Insider
The best restaurants on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship.
Posted: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:36:00 GMT [source]
Virgin Voyages Tips and Things to Know Before You Sail
If you do find them, they're usually in a dead end, leaving you to retrace your steps to figure out a way across a deck. Unless they're a real Broadway show (found on the likes of NCL or Royal Caribbean), I'm usually walking out or picking them apart before they end. The public spaces on the ship invite you to grab a friend, a drink and chill for a while. It's also a ship for travelers with open minds, who embrace differences and aren't easily shocked or insulted. You'll find crew, from entertainers to waiters, who may be gender-fluid, tattooed, pierced or openly gay.
Both ships entertained with concerts, comedy sets, and acrobatics, but the Virgin Voyages shows were more immersive.
Virgin Voyages is committed to having one of the cleanest fleets at sea, by investing in clean efficient technologies and implementing policies to reduce our environmental footprint. You won’t find single-use plastics onboard our ships – we want everyone to make use of recyclable and reusable materials. Be sure to bring something red for Scarlet Night, whether that's a red dress, shirt or accessory. (Consider a red swimsuit if you intend to end the party in the pool.) Other themed nights include a pajama party and an '80s bash, so pack accordingly. The line advises passengers to come as they are, whether it's a sparkly dress or jeans and a T-shirt.
Cruises
Perhaps if the app were more intuitive, some of these issues could be mitigated. But I, who have successfully employed numerous cruise ship apps, had to ask a crew member to show me where to find deck plans in the Sailor App. In-app room service ordering was glitchy, but my cabin attendant hadn't left me a printout of the menu, so I never tried in-room dining. I prefer specialty restaurants with their individual menus, decor and vibe. But I also hate paying extra for meals when food is already included.
'Boutique hotel at sea': Virgin Voyages CEO hails Richard Branson's 'biggest endeavour' - Yahoo Finance UK
'Boutique hotel at sea': Virgin Voyages CEO hails Richard Branson's 'biggest endeavour'.
Posted: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 05:00:03 GMT [source]
The most highly sought after reservation on the ship is Gunbae, Scarlet Lady's Korean BBQ restaurant. Be prepared to make friends – all tables seat six, and your smaller party will be seated with strangers. That's OK because the communal dining and drinking games (you don't get the full experience if you don't play) aren't as much fun without a group. Scarlet Lady's entertainment impressed me with its innovation and its quality. The dancers were incredible; they moved about the stage like they were performing on "So You Think You Can Dance" (or other TV dance competition), not in your kid's high school dance recital. "Dual Reality," the Romeo-and-Juliet-themed show, was the first cruise-ship acrobatic performance I've seen that had a compelling plot; so many cruise lines throw dancers on hoops or silks in the air simply because they can.
Soft Drinks & Water
Due to its grand size, the Wonder of the Seas was packed with activities, most geared toward children. Inside was an arcade, an ice skating rink, laser tag, and an escape room. On the outdoor decks, there was a surf simulator, multiple rock climbing walls and water slides, and sports like ping pong, basketball, and mini golf. Adults could also enjoy dance classes ranging from salsa and swing to hip-hop and ballroom styles. Including the balcony, the cabin was 225 square feet with a queen-sized bed.
Eastern Caribbean Antilles • 8 Nights
I wouldn't even bother to sit out there – except for the striking red hammock hung from hooks bolted into the bottom of the balcony above. At 6 feet tall, I could stretch out completely and rock with the waves as the ship made its way through the Caribbean. Its presence made a forgettable, utilitarian room desirable and memorable.
Best dining. Best nightlife. And counting.
The ship’s food court-styled dining, found on Deck 15, was nothing like a traditional food court. Instead of pizza, burgers, French fries, and chicken fingers, the Galley featured Bento Boxes at Bento Baby, made-to-order salads at Daily Mix, and açai bowls at The Sweet Side. We could even find freshly made juices at Juice Sea on Deck 7 and poke bowls at Sun Club Café on Deck 16. Beneath one bed were two large drawers, and the closet/armoire featured another set of drawers so that everything had a place. We couldn’t fit our suitcases under the beds, but because of all the drawer space, we could fit them into the closet. While the vanity space in the bathroom was almost non-existent, we used two baskets from the closet to hold our toiletries on the shelf below the sink to keep things organized and within reach.
The lightweight device (RFID wristband) is mailed to all passengers and is complimentary (keepsake). In April 2019 was contracted V-Ships Leisure USA (ship management company) which is part of V-Group Ltd (vessel management and support services provider, industry's first with a dedicated cruise ship division). V-Ships Leisure is responsible for Virgin ships' technical support/management and crew sourcing. Wartsila's "Dynamic Maintenance Planning" system allows maintenance works to be scheduled based on remotely (real-time) monitored and analyzed vessel performance data. This allows extending service intervals (when onboard equipment doesn't require maintenance). One of the cruise ships' features is the advanced clean energy system provided by the Swedish company Climeon Ocean.
Pretty much every night there's a themed party in The Manor or out on deck, but the ones you need to pack for are the PJ Party and Scarlet Night. Scarlet Lady's first-night pajama party is optional, but if you do want to get your Virgin vibe going on day one, pack a pair of party PJs and head to the Athletic Club bar on the first night. The Deck 6 casino is a hopping place at night, partly because it's located between The Red Room performance space and On the Rocks Bar, with the entrance to the Manor nightclub just opposite. Beginners and high rollers alike can sign up for gaming lessons or poker tournaments at the WPT at Sea Poker Room in partnership with the World Poker Tour. However, hands down the most fun you'll have gambling on the ship is at Bingo With The Diva, Scarlet Lady's resident drag queen.
The two most popular bars on board each night are Sip, the Champagne bar (which also serves wine and cocktails), and On The Rocks, which is central to everything and usually has live music. If you want to get a buzz at a venue that's buzzing, choose one of these for your nightcap. You will certainly have many opportunities to spend your Bar Tab on board, whether that's wine with dinner, a morning latte or a cocktail at On the Rocks while you listen to live music. Drinking is a key component of Scarlet Lady's nightlife, but as far as I saw, most people embraced the fun but drank responsibly. Razzle Dazzle is a vegetarian-forward restaurant (with several, no-longer-secret meat entrees) open for brunch and dinner.
The late-night spicy ramen, social atmosphere and fun ports more than made up for any hiccups. Additionally, unlike Disney Cruise Line, where cabin attendants make it a point to get to know you and your preferences, Virgin Voyages lacked the same personalized service. I never interacted with a person in charge of our cabin, as it would be serviced while we were out (after pushing a button that sent the request to the crew) by a person that, to us, remained nameless and faceless. As far as I'm concerned, cruises are for eating — and Virgin Voyages offers numerous places to dine on Scarlet Lady. With menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs, the responsibly sourced food makes it easy to strike a balance. From their first-to-sea Korean BBQ and elegant steakhouse to the 24/7 diner, Virgin Voyages take food, and the experience around it, seriously.
Look for booking promotions that include a free Bar Tab of a certain amount or give you bonus money on top of what you prepay. Neither its ships nor its private beach club on Bimini in the Bahamas offers a buffet. The buffet replacement on Scarlet Lady is The Galley, a food hall with several themed stations.
But only Wonder of the Seas had dazzling ice skating shows, thanks to the in-house rink. On board the Valiant Lady, the artwork matched the ship's design style with a bold color scheme contrasting a red theme and modern works in a variety of mediums, from iridescent mirrors to sculptures. Similar to Royal Caribbean's buffet, there were several stands with a wide range of offerings. But unlike Wonder of the Seas, the meals were made-to-order, making them taste fresher, in my opinion. Now that I've experienced the calming environment of a cruise free of screaming children, I don't think I'll ever take a family-friendly voyage again without children of my own. Meanwhile, all Virgin Voyages ships are the same size, according to the company's website.
On-island entertainment is available as well, though I can't speak to what happened as the afternoon wore on, as we hit our sun quota by midday. However, rumor has it there was a pool float party that occurred after our departure. While I appreciated the array of options at our disposal, I found the quality of the food and service to be hit or miss. Some restaurants I loved so much that I went back a second time; at others, I took a solitary bite of food before deciding to move on. Beyond the evening entertainment, the vibe was similar to what you'd find in Las Vegas.
No comments:
Post a Comment