Scarlet Lady cruise ship review: What to expect on board Virgin Voyages 1st ship
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Virgin Voyages offers a library of port excursions you can book through its app. While they generally deliver decent value for your money, you’ll want to consider whether you want to explore the port on your own or have a tour guide leading you for the day. Virgin Voyages offers a shuttle at each port that runs approximately every 30 minutes to and from the city center. Guests also needed to book their disembarkation slots through the app, but the crew members didn’t seem too strict on timing. Marseille was our first port, and we had approximately 10 hours before we had to return to the boat. Other itineraries only have partial sea days built into the schedule, like my French Daze & Ibiza Night cruise.
The captivating calm of the Caribbean.
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. While the sex-themed cabaret is gone, the shows do not shy away from sexual or R-rated themes. The minimum age to sail Virgin is 18 years old, and the ship embraces its adults-only status.
Virgin Voyages finally is starting up cruises out of Miami after more than a year of delays
Instead, you can purchase a Bar Tab in advance, which is onboard credit you can only spend on drinks on the ship and at Virgin's Bimini Beach Club in the Bahamas. 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. 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.
Virgin Voyages reroutes Resilient Lady to avoid Red Sea, assesses other cruises - Seatrade Cruise News
Virgin Voyages reroutes Resilient Lady to avoid Red Sea, assesses other cruises.
Posted: Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Carry-on drinks policy
My friend and I shared a 225-square-foot Sea Terrace suite and from the photos, it looked like we’d have some trouble squeezing in clothes for two. But we were pleasantly surprised upon arrival, as the suite was filled with plenty of space to accommodate all of our clothes and toiletries. When my best friend suggested we needed some one-on-one girl time, we knew we wanted to spend a week in the Caribbean sun and escape winter’s wrath. Always one to enjoy Sir Richard Branson’s hotels and airlines, a trip aboard the Valiant Lady seemed like an ideal match. "I loved my experience with Virgin Voyages. I have previously cruised with many other cruise lines. This cruise had the best entertainment and food."
Scarlet Lady is peppered with restaurants and bars, and it's possible you won't be able to try them all in one sailing. Do your research in advance because some venues are easy to miss if you're not looking for them. Dining and drinking are highlights of your time on board, so you'll want to visit as many bars and restaurants as you can. I loved that every night I ate someplace different – one night filet mignon at the classy, upscale The Wake, the next experimental dishes at Test Kitchen or communal Korean BBQ at Gunbae.
More to Cabins Beside the Iconic Red Hammock
If you Google Virgin Voyages, you may find earlier articles indicating that adults-only cruises are meant for raunchiness. My friend’s husband read too many comments about “swingers,” “in-cabin toy packages,” and other tales that made him wonder why we chose Virgin. We, and the people we met on board, laughed at those exaggerated stories. From customized cruise packages and all-included luxury to epic rewards and delicious discounts, our programs are designed for any kind of wanderlust.
How Is Virgin Elevating Cruise Dining?
To take advantage of the offer, you first must head to the Virgin Red app and tap "redeem," where you see it promoted. A member of the Virgin Red team will then email you an access key within 48 hours that you will use to book a cabin using the points at the Virgin Voyages website. Cruises can be a bit tricky to book with points (especially if you like maximizing their value), so it’s awesome to see these Virgin Voyages cruises offer excellent redemption value. The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. On the other hand, the cheapest cruise (the Adriatic Sea & Greek Gems cruise departing on June 11) is currently on sale for $2,378.
Reserve now. Pay later.
Every ship has a Guest Services desk (on Virgin Voyages it’s called Sailor Services) that can help you with any question you might have on the ship. This can cover anything from having to switch rooms due to being over the nightclub to fixing your onboard account. Finding your cabin on the ship can be a little confusing your first time sailing Virgin Voyages due to the numbering convention used. In a twist, Scarlet Night is where you wear your best red and the ship turns into a red-themed party. There’s red lighting everywhere, entertainers performing around the ship, and everyone is dressed up. 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.
Furthermore, the strict no-tipping policy was fantastic, so you know the price you pay is exactly what you’ll get. The bars were just as gorgeous as the restaurants and the rest of the ship. If you don’t have a prepaid bar tab, you can expect to pay around $15 per cocktail. For non-drinkers like me, there are plenty of spirit-free options.
As much as I'm not a fan of buffets, sometimes I just want to eat quickly and get on with my day. No one tells you how the ship works, even though it's nontraditional for the cruise industry. If you don't know to get on board and immediately make reservations for all the restaurants, shows and fitness classes you want, you will find yourself locked out of meals and events you were looking forward to. Scarlet Lady is a ship for independent travelers who don't need their hands held or want to be told what to do by a cruise director (there isn't one).
All your meals will be included, as well as free onboard Wi-Fi, gratuities and entrance to all onboard shows. We love great deals at Upgraded Points, especially when one comes around for something that usually is a bit tricky to get on points — like cruises. No one understands what voyaging with us is like better than our Sailors. So instead of going on about everything that makes sailing with us an epic experience, we’ll let them do the talking. Yoga, meditation, cycling, HIIT classes, and more — all your group fitness classes are covered.
We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. I’ve sailed a variety of cruise lines throughout the years, beginning with my first voyage as an 18-year-old living in Fort Lauderdale when my mother took me on a nighttime sail. 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. Passengers will not receive keycards unless they have access to Richard's Rooftop, an exclusive sun deck reserved for cruisers booked in Rockstar Suites.
If you've been building up your Virgin Red points, you might want to take advantage of this deal. All cruises are adult-only and all-inclusive (including taxes, fees, surcharges, tips…everything except for alcoholic beverages). Here are some of the entertainment highlights of my five-night Caribbean cruise.
Cruise fares include all meals, soda, basic Wi-Fi and crew gratuities, but it's not a luxury product filled with opulent decor, sedate travelers and a stuffy vibe. Onboard entertainment will include sexual innuendos, F-bombs and queer themes. Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise (18+) that includes all meals, non-alcoholic drinks, tips, Wi-Fi, fitness classes and shows in your price.
If you act soon, you could drop the effective cost to 62,000 points. That's thanks to current transfer bonuses from American Express (through June 14, 2023) and Chase (through June 15, 2023). Both offer a 30% transfer bonus, meaning transferring 62,000 points from either program (or a combination of the two) would give you 80,600 Virgin Points — enough for the cruise packages. Now through August 31, 2023, you can book one of four Virgin Red cruises.
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