I’ve quickly gone from vacationing on shore to setting sail as an everyday cruise passenger. Regardless of changing into a cheerful household cruiser in recent times, I actually had no thought how I might react to leaving my youngsters again residence with their grandparents to step onto an adults-only Virgin Voyages ship with my husband. In any case, each cruise I’ve beforehand loved has been with our youngsters on Disney Cruise Line.
Given the kid-free coverage and edgy, adult-oriented slant to cruising the road affords, I wasn’t fairly positive what I might consider this crusing. Whereas I might think about the cruise being the most effective 4 days of my life, it additionally would not have stunned me if it was the 4 weirdest days I’ve ever had at sea, as the road affords a drastically completely different tackle cruising than what I am used to.
Finally, our cruise ended up being someplace within the center, providing many highlights, plus just a few downsides. Which particulars did I like, and which might use some work? Listed here are my favourite and least-favorite elements of Virgin Voyages cruises.
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Hated: Boarding
I’ve admittedly turn out to be a bit spoiled with Disney’s boarding course of as a concierge passenger, so I knew this expertise can be completely different. Nonetheless, even with that upgraded possibility factored out, I strongly disliked the boarding course of with Virgin Voyages.
In contrast to Disney Cruise Line, which allows entry into the terminal as you wait and staggers arrival instances so passengers are processed sooner, Virgin Voyages requires cruisers to face exterior — in my case, that meant within the Florida warmth — in roped-off rows primarily based in your time slot and wait till it is your flip to enter the terminal.
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Strains are allowed to type a lot sooner than the posted instances counsel, inflicting the world to get crowded quick. We arrived at 1:25 p.m., obtained by way of the surface portion of the road at 1:57 p.m., have been upstairs within the packed terminal at 2:11 p.m. and finally walked on board at 2:39 p.m. Had we not acquired a Group 1 boarding cross after determining the wristband state of affairs for these with standing within the Virgin Voyages program, we might have boarded in a later group.
Beloved: The range of passengers
Regardless of what some preliminary buzz and advertising and marketing might have indicated, Virgin Voyages just isn’t a ship completely filled with 20- and 30-somethings.
In truth, we met and hung out with of us of all ages, spanning from their 20s to their 80s. Passengers weren’t solely extraordinarily pleasant total, however they have been numerous in just about each observable manner.
Possibly a part of our impression stems from how starved for grownup interplay we have been up to now few years, however we discovered everybody we met to be fabulous. The folks on board actually have been a spotlight of the expertise for us.
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Hated: The cabin lavatory
Though our cabin was first rate sufficient, one a part of the house was borderline insufferable: the cabin lavatory.
Coming from Disney Cruise Line, which affords a split-bathroom format in most cabins so you’ve got two distinct areas that can be utilized on the identical time, we discovered this one tiny lavatory to be troublesome to tolerate.
In the event you’re cruising solo, it is tight however workable, however if you happen to plan on touring with one other individual, know that you will have restricted lavatory house to work with. Sharing the house with another person for days on finish rapidly turns into an disagreeable expertise.
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Beloved and hated: The swimming pools
Let’s begin with the nice components of the pool space.
With no youngsters on the ship, there are occasions when the primary pool and sizzling tubs will not be as busy as they’d be on a typical cruise. In truth, we frequently had them to ourselves when visiting early within the day, throughout standard port days and at night time.
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Nonetheless, the primary pool is certainly small for the variety of passengers on board.
Though our crusing was removed from full capability, the pool deck was overcrowded throughout prime pool instances. On sea day afternoons, count on body-to-body pool time if you happen to’re set on taking a dip.
To get round this inconvenience, do as we did and strategically time your pool visits so that you’re avoiding the height swimming hours.
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Beloved: The ports of name
If I by no means take a cruise to Nassau within the Bahamas once more, it’s going to be high-quality. I’ve nothing towards Nassau, however the vacation spot’s spread-out format and dear excursions make it a spot we really feel we have adequately skilled throughout earlier visits.
Our time with Virgin Voyages didn’t embrace a cease in Nassau, a lot to our reduction. I used to be thrilled to have Key West as a port of name on this crusing, as I have been to Key Largo however by no means as far south as Key West. It may be extraordinarily costly to go to Key West as an in a single day visitor, so having the ability to test it out with out paying lodge charges was phenomenal.
The dock is actually within the coronary heart of city, so I used to be in a position to stroll off and do a $50 group bike tour I booked by way of Virgin Voyages. However even if you happen to did not wish to do any organized actions, the guts of Key West is fairly compact. You’ll be able to rapidly get to a wide range of eating places, bars and noteworthy actions simply blocks from the dock, so it is simple to hop off, have some enjoyable on land after which hop again on the ship.
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My three-hour bike tour with Key Lime Bike Excursions was capped off with an included slice of key lime pie on the Key Lime Pie Firm, which I savored earlier than wandering over to Conch Republic Seafood Firm to have some scrumptious coconut shrimp. Key West was an extremely easy-to-navigate and pleasurable port that I’d fortunately return to once more.
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Our cruise additionally included a cease at Bimini, a less-crowded Bahamian island that is residence to Virgin Voyages’ personal seashore membership. To get to the membership, all you must do is hop on the complimentary tram on the port.
Like Nassau, you will discover stunning seashores right here. But Bimini’s quieter setting makes it simpler to actually unwind whereas lounging on the gentle sand and swimming within the crystal-clear water. To not point out, the seashore membership’s stunning pool and attractive (complimentary) meals add to the sensation of treating your self whereas on trip. What’s to not love about all of that?
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Hated: The app’s fixed crashing
Once I learn complaints about Virgin Voyages’ app earlier than the cruise, I admit I could have rolled my eyes. How a lot can an app affect the enjoyment of your cruise?
Nicely, when every thing from ordering room service to registering for dinner or actions is housed in that app, it seems that it could actually have an effect on you quite a bit.
When the app labored, it was helpful and a very good option to keep on prime of all of your bookings and every day schedule. Nonetheless, when it grew to become completely unresponsive at the least a dozen instances, I discovered myself beginning to stress. It was not the sensation of whole rest I search whereas on trip.
On a number of events, I resorted to restarting my cellphone in an effort to repair the issue. However a lot to my disappointment, my cellphone was not the issue. It was a widespread difficulty that others skilled, too, so mentally put together for this inconvenience and set your expectations accordingly.
Beloved: Most meals and the full of life Korean restaurant
Lots of the meals and eating places on the ship are fairly incredible. Whereas there have been some culinary misses, for essentially the most half we loved the venues we visited.
That stated, there was one restaurant specifically that deserves its personal love letter: Gunbae.
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At this Korean barbecue joint, dinner is served in cubicles that you simply share with fellow cruisers. We initially thought this sounded just a little bizarre, however we ended up totally having fun with the idea, because it invitations you to socialize with others whereas on board.
That will help you get to know your seatmates, the employees organizes a ingesting sport for everybody to play that’s each simple and enjoyable. As soon as you have turn out to be acquainted, you will dine on an array of Korean barbecue staples which can be simply as memorable because the environment they’re served in. We beloved the meals a lot that we ended up visiting twice throughout our cruise.
However Gunbae wasn’t the one eating venue we loved. Lots of the eating places we tried served meals we would order once more. Even after they did not, the plethora of choices out there made it simple sufficient to maneuver on to the following dish once we have been lower than impressed.
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Beloved: The observe
Once I’m on the highway (or at sea), I attempt to keep just a little extra lively, so working above the ocean on the 1/6-mile observe that goes all the best way across the ship was a wonderful option to begin the day.
As a result of this can be a devoted house, you do not have to fret about bothering of us who’re enjoyable in close by deck chairs as you jog by.
For a exercise past the observe, Scarlet Girl affords a basketball court docket, boxing ring and out of doors space with weights, punching baggage and different gear. Moreover, passengers have entry to a big indoor health club with every thing from train bikes to a row of treadmills, must you want to interrupt a sweat indoors.
You may as well join group exercise courses. They replenish quick, so make sure you make your class reservations as quickly as you board.
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Beloved: The hair and nail salons
Cruise charges for Virgin Voyages embrace suggestions, that means the listed worth for a service is precisely what you will pay. I used to be an enormous fan of this pricing system, as understanding that one thing actually prices $59 makes it simpler to stay to a price range.
Since I did not should consider taxes and costs for add-ons like hair and nail providers, I might simply examine the price of these extras to what I usually spend again residence. Finally, the charges have been comparable, so I made a decision to deal with myself to a pedicure and a hair wash and blow dry whereas on board. Each the hair salon and the nail salon have been top-notch areas, providing relaxed atmospheres and very good service by the crew.
Hated: The spa
Just like the hair and nail salons, the spa additionally affords an array of providers which can be priced to incorporate suggestions. Nonetheless, I discovered my expertise on the spa to be disappointing total.
The therapeutic massage itself was OK at greatest. Moreover, the altering room state of affairs was removed from good because of the small altering rooms and lockers offered within the compact communal space.
The thermal spa space was additionally a letdown, because it was practically as crowded because the pool space throughout standard instances. Entry is offered at an inexpensive fee or as a part of packages just like the “Romance Bundle,” so it was a busy space that lacked the tranquil, enjoyable setting I might hoped to search out.
Beloved: The completely relaxed strategy to cruising
With Virgin Voyages, you don’t rotate by way of assigned eating places, have night photo-ops by onboard photographers whereas at dinner, hear frequent bulletins or have strict costume codes to comply with.
Whilst you do have to make reservations for some issues (most of which aren’t out there till you board), your cruise is what you make of it at a tempo that’s totally yours to set, which I totally loved.
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Hated: The bar tab
Many fellow sailors we met have been sad that Virgin Voyages didn’t supply limitless drink packages. Disney Cruise Line does not have these both, so I did not miss having one thing I’ve by no means tried. Nonetheless, I used to be not a fan of the cruise line’s bar tab strategy.
Previous to your cruise, you may add cash to your bar tab, which leads to you getting a bonus quantity to spend. The idea sounds nice in idea, however in observe, it was inconceivable to understand how a lot you’d actually spend on drinks. Consequently, a bit of our funds ended up going to waste since we could not switch them to different onboard prices or a future cruise.
Beloved: The brand new standing perks
Regardless of encountering just a few issues when it got here to the execution of a number of the perks we acquired by standing matching into the brand new Virgin Voyages Crusing Membership, total, we discovered the advantages to be fairly incredible.
By matching my Disney Castaway Membership standing, we got Group 1 boarding, premium Wi-Fi, a every day $10 credit score for espresso drinks, an invitation to an unique social gathering (with free drinks), one bag of free laundry and a free “Shake for Champagne” order, which might’ve in any other case value us $95.
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All of those complimentary advantages saved us just a few hundred {dollars}. To not point out, it was nice to go residence with some clear garments for as soon as.
Beloved: The free onboard video games
It has been a very long time since I spent any measurable period of time enjoying video games that did not contain my youngsters. However by the tip of the crusing, we had our fill of all of the classics, together with air hockey, shuffleboard and numerous arcade video games.
Given the varied choice of choices, we by no means discovered ourselves ready for a machine to turn out to be out there, leaving us extra time for a spherical or two of arcade favorites like Ms. Pac-Man. And sure, these video games are all included — no quarters required.
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Beloved and hated: The ‘Shake for Champagne’ characteristic within the app
As beforehand talked about, one of many standing perks we acquired was a complimentary “Shake for Champagne” profit. Whereas I did not totally hate the perk, because it provided free bubbly, it did have some annoying glitches.
I naively thought that once you shook your Virgin Voyages app, your order would arrive inside 5 or 10 minutes. Since we have been sitting inside just a few ft of a bar once we shook the app, I assumed our order would fall inside this presumed arrival window.
Nonetheless, the service gave the impression to be standard and was not coming immediately from the bar, leading to delays. It took a complete of 41 minutes for the Champagne to reach. And whilst you wait, there are not any real-time updates on the app, so it is inconceivable to guess how lengthy supply will take.
As soon as the bubbly was dropped at us, it greater than hit the spot, so if you happen to do not thoughts a wait, positively give it a attempt.
Beloved: The worth
We booked this cruise as a result of we needed an reasonably priced grownup getaway. In contrast to different kinds of holidays involving flights, inns and even meals, cruises are usually extra budget-friendly, as a lot of your bills are lined by the cruise fare.
For instance, the ocean terrace room we booked for this four-night crusing from Miami to Key West and Bimini value us $1,400 — or $175 per individual, per night time.
Sure, a few of your alcohol will add to that whole, however you may typically get a drink credit score included together with your reserving. Plus, you will have alternatives to partake in particular gatherings with free alcohol, such because the sailaway social gathering. Even if you happen to do not, you will discover that drink costs on board are much more cheap than they’re at most resorts, as many drinks value between $6 and $10.
Had we stayed in Miami at an honest lodge and gone out for meals or ordered room service for 4 nights, we might have seemingly spent far more than $1,400. Consider our visits to different seashore locations, and it is secure to say our out-of-pocket prices would’ve soared previous what we spent on this cruise.
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If you wish to save extra, individuals who sail with Virgin Voyages in November 2022 get a $300 drink credit score for every cabin. Plus, you will get a reduction of as much as 50% utilizing a code from the Bilt program.
Backside line
There is not any denying that Virgin Voyages does issues a bit in a different way. From its bar tab idea to its emphasis on socializing with different sailors, the cruise line affords many facets that you will seemingly love and others chances are you’ll hate.
We beloved much more issues than we did not, which helped us really feel like we obtained our cash’s price. In truth, we have been so impressed with what we skilled on board that I fortunately put down a deposit for a future cruise. Since I locked in that subsequent crusing earlier than our first one ended, we’ll obtain an excellent bigger low cost and extra inclusions subsequent time round.
So long as you go into your cruise understanding that there could also be just a few hiccups alongside the best way, odds are you will have a enjoyable time filled with recollections you will cherish for years to return.
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Originally published at Irvine News HQ
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