bdever

29 minutes ago, jon81uk said:

one less sea day but same number of port days. The Scarlet Lady one has Gran Canaria but the Resilient one has Mallorca.

Ah! Got it! Thanks 😊 not sure if 1 more sea day is worth $2,838.00 in price difference on a standard sea terrace. At least for me it’s not.

I think it’s crazy by the way that Virgin hasn’t repriced that Scarlet May 2025 TA in light of the Resilient TA pricing?!?! Do you think the majority of people booked on Scarlet will lift and shift to resilient because of the pricing and 1 less port?

2 hours ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

The rates are decent too. 

Just booked the Resilient Lady 4/12/25 TA! I couldn’t afford the Scarlet Lady TA in May 2025 but this one has my name written all over it with the price being comfortably in my budget. I’m beyond the moon with excitement 😆

3 hours ago, Back to school said:

It’s a good question.  I’m going to call Sailor Service tomorrow.

March 14

Today’s the 12th but nothing on the site yet for Resilient Lady TA for 2025. Any ideas about the time the site will be updated?

On 3/8/2024 at 5:44 PM, CruisingWalter said:

 

● Laundry Service (Wash & Fold) (one bag per itinerary);

Hi Walter, to clarify that would be a total of 3 bags for the 3 unique itineraries over a month sailing?

I wonder if each show is going to be unique with talent in rotation? I’m booked on the TA that ha it on the itinerary for 4 different days.

Such a lucrative offer! I only wish my boss would let me work remotely for a month. I sent him the link and offered to go halves with him 🤣

2 hours ago, jwattle said:

It's certain agency affiliations. 🙂

Yes, the Top 100 can’t 

My understanding is that Virgin Voyages told their Top 100 agents that the 100.00 is no longer combinable with MNVV. 

9 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

I thought of something that might make a decision a little easier.  The NCL cruise is on the Sky, which is one of their older ships. From what I seen on YouTube videos, the cabins are extra small.  Also, if you like a more active cruise while onboard, it seems like Virgin offers more to do like yoga sessions, onboard parties, dance lessons.  While NCL does have some activities, IMO the activities are more subdued on NCL.  

Thanks so much for pointing this out. I did think about these things however this is a VERY port intensive sailing (assuming all goes as planned 😬) and only one sea day. Definitely will not be in the cabin much and going to bed early to be up at the crack of dawn to get off in port the next day. That’s why I booked an inside cabin. This is one ☝️ itinerary where I can say ship age, cabin size/category & onboard activities really don’t make a difference 😁

31 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Ignore my comment in #4.  I realize now that must be the Virgin itinerary.  Sorry about that.

Yes that is the VV itinerary 

3 hours ago, laudergayle said:

We are also booked on the 9-day Lisbon-Canary Islands.  My perspective is this.  Final payment is not due until 120 days out.  So we have plenty of time to monitor the good and bad of NCL before shelling out final $$$.
 

I am not 100% sure with NCL, but if you think you may want to cancel, don’t buy the NCL travel insurance until final payment.  I ran into an issue with MSC where I cancelled a cruise six weeks after booking and they wanted to reduce my refundable deposit by the amount of insurance. Evidently you only have s 30-day cancellation clause for the insurance.  
 

 

Thanks I am opting for 3rd party travel insurance 

2 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

Have you looked into Celebrity?  We took a similar cruise with this itinerary several years ago.  It was out of Southampton, I believe.  I think you would be much happier with Celebrity or one of the other lines you mentioned.

Thanks, I didn’t see anything like this itinerary for Celebrity but I will double check again 😁

1 hour ago, sunlover12 said:

August

Yes, that is the month Spaniards take annual holiday. Way younger crowds.

11 minutes ago, sunlover12 said:

Entertainment is more low key than what you may be used to but there is a show in the lounge every night starting at 9:30.  When the show is over the ship will be quiet at 10:30 especially if the next day is an early port day.  There are a couple of sea days on this itinerary so the Horizons bar at 10:30 could be livelier on those nights with the band playing. 

 

My opinion is that you will not feel out of place as a 49-year old. I was on a 7-day Med cruise last year on Nautica and I'd estimate late 40's the average age on that cruise. Many people who were in the prime of their careers. I'm in my late 60's and definitely felt like one of the older folks onboard.  You won't feel out of place as a solo either. 

 

Enjoy your cruise no matter which one you choose. 

Thanks what time of year did you sail?

1 hour ago, thebsinmiss said:

Small ships are great but they do not offer the things you seem to value.
 

No big shows/production numbers

Average age of the cruisers is definitely higher than yours

Can't really comment on solo passenger ratio but bet it is very low.

Most of the bars shut down by midnight 

Our last cruise had a string quartet playing at various times, afternoon/early evening

Pianist in the main bar shut it down by 10 or 11 pm 

 

By the way Oceania is owned by NCL  Supposedly they are run independently but I have to think a lot of the issues being blamed on NCL head office could leak over to O.  

Ah, thanks! Explains the very similar itineraries 

Hi everyone,

I am new here and haven’t sailed Oceania. I have sailed with Carnival, Princess, and Virgin Voyages with a Royal Caribbean transatlantic later this year. I am 49 years old and solo. I’m thinking seriously about booking a solo on Sirena for October 2025 10 day Med. I am already booked on an NCL 12 day Med for the same period but with all the bad press NCL has about missing ports I’m having second thoughts. The NCL itinerary is amazing 🤩 and it is $4k. The Sirena is $4.7K and I’m also looking at a Virgin Voyages 10 day for $5.4K. All have similar itineraries. My questions are:

 1. Will there be other solos on Oceania my age? Age 45-55?

2. I like to dance & listen to Latin music, go to shows, comedy at night onboard and stay entertained until about midnight including hot tubs at night. Will Sirena hold my interest?

3. Would the transition from sailing on ships of 2,800+ capacity to one of 700 capacity be a hard transition?

4. Should I reconsider the NCL Sky itinerary or consider the Virgin Voyages one instead?

Thanks for your honest input.

Thanks, is this deal limited to cabin type? For example central sea terrace?

15 hours ago, Lustate said:

it’s on sale and has been for months through Atlantis cruises. It’s a confirmed charter booking. 

I didn’t see any 2025 itineraries on their website.

1 hour ago, TripsYouMustDo said:

 I also never pay for the extras I listed above (the only thing I buy above the basic cruise rate is internet for 1 device). So for me VV rates will never be a good deal compared to RCCL. But if you were to do all of the add-ons I mentioned, the rates are comparable.

I agree, there is no way I can justify spending $1176.00 for Free at Sea + which essentially for me would be the cost of sparkling water and unlimited WiFi when there is only 1 sea day on the 12 day sailing. So I’m content with the all in NCL fare of $4,036.56 + $280 gratuity for 2 people in an inside cabin. This happens to be the same price for an insider on Scarlett lady for the 10 day summer itinerary. So it boils down to itinerary and time of year. June vs November/December in the Med. The NCL itinerary is insane though, which is why I’m leaning towards it. That and the fact I’ve never done an NCL cruise before.

I hate to admit it but Walter is right. I recently booked a 12 day sailing on NCL Sky for 11/24/25 Lisbon to Barcelona with stops in 3 Canary Islands, 2 Moroccan ports, Cadiz, Ibiza, Motril, Valencia, & Mallorca. Inside cabin for 2 people and free at sea promotion for 4,036.56 before gratuities. While a lot less ports and a 10 day versus a 12 day, I could get on Scarlett Lady with a similar itinerary in the summer of 2025 in an Insider for $4,230. On the NCL to include gratuities, unlimited WiFi, essential drinks included, and additional specialty dining I would also need to upgraded to the Free at Sea + promotion for an additional $1176.00 and it still excludes gratuities.

Some might argue that the shore excursion credit’s, unlimited open bar, the 2 extra days and 5 additional ports might be worth staying with NCL. I’m on the fence right now. I love NCL’s itinerary compared to VV but outside of the itinerary, VV offers way more value. 

Ship: Valiant Lady

Cabin#: 8102 Z

Deck #: 8

Cabin Category: Sea Terrace 

Sleeps: 2 Bed is by the balcony.

Cabin Location: (Port,  Starboard, Forward, Aft): Starboard / Aft

Terrace/Window/Obstruction: yes but minor and not advertised as such

Noise Issues?: None

Wind Issues?: None

Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?: No

Hammock: Yes  

Metal/Glass Terrace: Glass

Advantages/Problems: larger balcony but slightly obstructed view

Would You Book Again?: Yes 

Comments: Loved the location one deck up from 7 between aft and midship elevators. Quick easy access to Dockhouse and everything on deck 7! Don’t believe the hype about noise issues being 1 deck above 7! This location was very quiet! 

15 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

Our flight on Level/Iberia just landed, and we cleared immigration in less than 5 minutes. The flight was fine. Great crew, ok food. Premium Economy is the way to go….loads of legroom.

 

Exactly! Was able to stretch out and actually sleep 😴 for 5+ hours