westguy99

For those who have traveled in a VV suite would RR be a major reason to book a suite? 

Just got off the New Years cruise on Scarlet Lady and loved everything about it. We were not in a suite so we didn't have access to Richards Rooftop but it looked dead when we walked by. My next VV cruise will be in a suite so I am wondering how is Richards Rooftop?

Initially I thought RR would be a big deal to have access to. But after being on the ship and watching online videos the place seems empty of people with no atmosphere. It is a pretty big space for a small amount of cabins and with the rest of the ship being so much fun are suites even using RR? Other than the free Moet is it a place you would want to go to over other areas of the ship? Are there actually any parties and some fun taking place or is it more a place you can always find an empty chair and relax. 

Seems like giving new benefits to get people to book is a smart idea to me. They have lots of empty cabins to fill. If you think it is such a screaming deal book a cruise in 2021. The life time benefit is like an extra $25 over a drink promotion they regularly run. And you need to book a second cruise to get it. Hardly anything to get worked up about.

2 hours ago, westguy99 said:

Any official reason for the cancelations? Is it just not enough bookings so they decided to cancel? Don't know how ships sitting empty and handing out 200% credits helps the bottom line. 

 

If that is the case they canceled due to low bookings Virgin has the most incompetent marketing team in the cruise industry. Could they have not just discounted further? Like offer 50% off for health care workers for example like MSC is. Offer better incentives for travel agents. You can't find Virgin on any travel agent sites including the big ones that have every other cruise line. 

 

If people won't book a cruise now after being locked down for so long are they going to book Virgin 6 months later with the same incentive and incompetent marketing? Sending out the same email about $600 in "free stuff" over and over for 2 years is not going to get it done. Makes me wonder if they will ever sail. 

I was canceled for the Valiant Lady New Years 8 night sailing. Looking at the Scarlet Lady 4 night News Years sailing the ship is about 15% booked based on the cabins still available. When I checked before the 4 night sailing had been selling better than the 8 night. 

My conclusion they canceled all these sailings because they weren't selling. Too many empty cabins so they cut capacity by canceling sailings. They should have dropped prices. New Years is the most popular time of the year to cruise the Caribbean and if they can't sell that then there is a problem. Bottom line poor marketing and obviously people see poor value in what they are offering. 

Any official reason for the cancelations? Is it just not enough bookings so they decided to cancel? Don't know how ships sitting empty and handing out 200% credits helps the bottom line. 

If that is the case they canceled due to low bookings Virgin has the most incompetent marketing team in the cruise industry. Could they have not just discounted further? Like offer 50% off for health care workers for example like MSC is. Offer better incentives for travel agents. You can't find Virgin on any travel agent sites including the big ones that have every other cruise line. 

If people won't book a cruise now after being locked down for so long are they going to book Virgin 6 months later with the same incentive and incompetent marketing? Sending out the same email about $600 in "free stuff" over and over for 2 years is not going to get it done. Makes me wonder if they will ever sail. 

Anyone know they will give a refund to anyone who had a deposit for a cruise based on this? I have a deposit down for a cruise in late 2021 that was transferred from a cruise I canceled previously in 2020. I have no problem getting the vaccine but would prefer to get my money back if I can use this as an excuse. 

I'm on the same sailing. I am not going to pay the balance if they require it at the end of August. I will cancel right before the due date. Hopefully they change this payment requirement considering it looks like there is a slim chance this cruise will even sail. 

17 hours ago, pcalv said:

With regard to chargeback, I've discovered through talking to my bank about a charge back, that VISA has excluded all chargebacks associated with COVID-19 circumstances, which bankrupcy due to COVID-19 would be applicable.  Here's more info https://www.visa.com.au/dam/VCOM/global/support-legal/documents/managing-disputes-through-covid-19.pdf

Bankruptcy regardless of cause is still covered by VIsa and other cards as a charge back. If you read your link it does not list bankruptcy as something that is excluded. 

I had an aft suite booked for the December 7 day New Years cruise. The price dropped $780 USD. Seems to be worth the high speed internet reduced to standard internet and no transport. I then checked the website to see how the other pricing changed. I was able to upgrade to a Cheeky Corner Suite and keep the price the same as I paid originally. Initially this CC suite was $2400 more. In the end I saved $2400 from the initial pricing to get the better suite. Not a bad deal for me.  

23 hours ago, gkbiiii said:

I posted this on Virgin's facebook page, I think I asked fair questions:

 

Virgin Voyages Based on Sir Richard's near bankruptcy, the refusal of the UK to bailout Virgin Atlantic; what guarantee is their that our money is safe, Virgin will actually sail their first voyage, and that your cruise line will make it to 2021? I am deeply concerned, due to your horrible contract provisions, which are an absolute disgrace for a Luxury Line! Again based on the sad state of the Virgin Group, how can we purchase a cruise with you, knowing that our funds are safe and that the product will be as described at booking? You cheapened suite benefits, removing both the comped liquor setup and limo transfers to the pier. I really want to like Virgin Voyages, but I am deeply concerned, as a Miami Beach resident. George

If Virgin Voyages or any cruise line was to go bankrupt you would get a full refund through your credit card. It is called a charge back. It allows you to get your money back if you’ve paid for a service that you’ve never received. The prerequisite is that you’ve used a credit card as a method of payment. That is it. So you can stop spamming this site and others with your deep concerns about Virgin Voyages going bankrupt. If they do and you paid with a credit card you get all your money back. Somehow I doubt you have booked with them anyway. 

1 hour ago, eroller said:

 

If you say so.  We shall see. 

Even worse off than the cruise lines will be the major US airlines. Domestically net bookings are down about 70%. Now comes the Europe air travel ban.  I would hate to be an airline employee. Even if you keep your job we could see the union contracts ripped up, pensions gone. Bankruptcy changes everything. We shall see. 

https://onemileatatime.com/united-airlines-domestic-bookings-down-70/

On 3/10/2020 at 11:45 AM, eroller said:

if you think this is somehow beneficial to VV you are sadly mistaken.  They will be lucky to survive.  I hope they have some non-skidish investors with very deep pockets.  

Funny how people are talking about Virgin surviving with 1 ship yet to sale and no issues with CV. All the major cruise lines stock prices down close 70% from the highs and their going to pay huge to borrow money going forward with junk status on their bonds. Could be game over for RCL and Carnival. Virgin will be the last of them to go under. 

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/royal-caribbean-may-be-cut-to-junk-by-s-p-on-virus-travel-impact-1.1403246

Although Coronavirus  is terrible news for all cruise lines I would argue Virgin will the least impacted. At worst it is a delay on the launch of one ship. CV will hurt a cruise line with 10 or 20 ships much more than Virgin. It will also hurt companies which all they do is cruise like RCL or NCL over an long established company like Virgin where they have different revenue sources and one ship is a small part of their business plan.

With Italy being locked down and Asia being ground zero cruise lines with ships in those areas will also be hurt much more than Miami or Caribbean itineraries. Where would you rather cruise from right now Italy, Asia or Miami? 

The lines that have documented issues already with CV are now damaged goods especially with those ships. So far VV has no documented cases, no quarantines and no canceled sailings. The fact they have not sailed in the middle of this is a huge advantage. 

Finally I think the fact VV differentiate themselves from the most other cruises by being adults only helps them. I would also guess the people most likely to not travel/cancel are those with kids and the elderly who are not VV customers. 

Not good news for VV but they will be the least impacted and I doubt it will be more than a blip in their history. Other cruise lines may go bankrupt. 

A review from someone who is a little less bitter. Maybe because they got a suite.  

1 hour ago, ronbe65 said:

 

 

 

If you want to build a cruise ship you build a cruise ship.

If you want to build a bunch of gimmicks you build a bunch of gimmicks.

 

Happy cruising!

What a boring looking ship. No atmosphere. If I want to go in a lap pool with no music or atmosphere I will go to the YMCA. 

I will take the Virgin any day with a pool that keeps the lap swimmers and pool waders out. You can sit and relax by the pool, with a DJ pumping out nice tunes. No obnoxious person hanging by your feet in the pool or kids splashing around in their nappies and cruise worker yelling into a mike playing the same dumb games over and over again. Worst of all is the people these cruises and pools attract. I have been on the main stream cruisers and never spent more than 5 minutes by the pool. 

Like Richard said. Virgin is for those who don't like main stream cruises. I think the best part about Virgin so far is the people it is not attracting. 

4 minutes ago, eroller said:

Oceania's Riviera.  1250 pax.  Very nice size pool. 

 

 

Scarlet Lady's main pool looks much nicer to me. About the same size without the ability to do laps. Then the there is the round pool which the Riv doesn't have. 

25 minutes ago, eroller said:

My most recent cruise was on MSC MERAVIGLIA.  The ship had five pools.  One glass enclosed and one reserved for suites.  The four pools for everyone were of a decent size, the smallest being the aft pool.  I think even it was larger than the sole pool on SCARLET LADY.  Pools are a big deal to me as I really enjoy swimming and sunning on a cruise.  I can't image why Virgin felt that tiny pool would be sufficient on a ship carrying thousands of passengers???   

 

  

 

 

The Mergviglia holds 4500 people and has 4 pools. One pool is in the yacht club which is restricted to yacht club guests only and is very small. One of the 3 for regular guests is indoors. None are adult only.  There are 2 outdoor pools for the 4325 people filled with kids who are not in the yacht club. I will take Virgin thanks. 

Richard Branson has said who his target market is. Do you think it is you or the 27 cruises Vlogger? I don't. 

21 minutes ago, eroller said:

 

 

It's a big hot tub.  There is seating in the center (X-shape) and around the outside.  You won't be able to swim it in.  Just sit in it like a regular hot tub.  

If you come on a boat to swim in the pool you are not Virgins target market. The only thing more irritating than kids in a trendy pools is the person doing laps. 

The outlet is about 1.5 feet from the headboard and 2 feet from the second side table. A standard iphone cable is 3 feet. 

The closet is adjustable. The curtain can slide away from the wall. She set the curtain and clothes to block the switch for the video. Regardless the lights are automatic. They turn on automatically when you enter the room and turn off after you leave. New technology. These type of lighting is common now. As a bonus you adjust the light brightness and mood with the tablet as well I suspect the DND. There is a switch beside the bed for turning on and off at night with ease. Hard to believe someone could spend 5 minutes on the lights without mentioning any of the cool features like the tablet controls, mood lighting, automatic on/off, etc. If given the choice between this set up and a standard old cruse line set up no comparison. Anyone who thinks differently is not Virgins target market. 

33 minutes ago, Tatka said:

Majority of ships do have adult only pools and they are used.

There are two pools on the ship, both adult. That is one more adult pool than most ships, no? 

2 hours ago, eroller said:

 

 

For those interested in the cabins, the reviewer does talk quite a bit about them in her video.  Puzzling is the lack of draw space, charging points only on one side of the bed, low beds so you can't store you cases under them, and most of all the main light switch for the cabin being located in the closet.  The bathroom is VERY small.  

 

And that pool.  So so tiny for thousands of passengers.  This really needs addressing on the next ship.  I just can't imagine what they were thinking.  

 

All in all an interesting video, and from a 25 year old.  

Problem is the review is not accurate at all. You can have your own opinion but you can't just make things up. 

First she talks about no bedside tables and a place to put her phone on. In the video there is clearly a bedside table (which is movable) and has her phone on it right next to the bed. There is also a permanent very large lower table to the right hand side of the bed which she could have put her glass on rather than the arm rest on the left hand side. Yes it is differnt but clealry there are 2 usable beside tables for drinks and phones. 

Next she states there is only one plug on one side (the left) of the bed. There is another plug about 2 feet away from the right hand side of the bed you can see in the video. So there are plugs on both sides of the bed or within reasonable cord length. 

Okay there are no drawers but there are lots of small shelves in the closet. Serve the same purpose. Personally I prefer a shelf so I can see where everything is. 

She shows how the luggage won't fit under the bed but the bed is in the sofa formation (looks like one bag will fit). If you slide it into the double bed formation the there would be room for 2 bags under it. 

Yes the bathroom is small but the x large balcony suite has a larger bathroom as do all the suites.  

She was obsessed with the light switch behind cloths in the closet but she is the one who pushed her 2 jackets against the light switch and pushed the curtain to the end to cover it. She deliberately covered the switch. You could easily just pull your cloths and curtain back 6 inches to allow access if you really wanted to use the light switch. But the lights are controlled by the tablet and are automatic. They turn on and off automatically when you come and go. Your room key or sensors know when you are there. There is also light switches beside the bed in addition to the tablet. There is no need to use the light switch at the door. 

She doesn't like the restaurant booths because people have to move to get in and out if there are more than 2 people. That is the way booths work. People seem to like them because I see them in restaurants everywhere and they are the first table to go.  

She calls the food court a buffet but it is clearly a food court concept with different quick service restaurants. Would you call a food court in a mall a buffet?  Nope, a buffet has trays of prepared food with spoons and tongs. Nothing like that is on Virgin that I have seen. 

She states there in only 1 pool for 4000 people when the ship holds max 2800 people and she shows 2 pools in her video. Then she states most ships have 5 pools. I am not aware of any mid size ships that have 5 pools. Most have 2. 

She concludes she would take this cruise if it was priced similar to RCL or Norwegian and says 4 night cruises start at $1400. I am not sure if she is referring to a balcony cabin for 2 people on the pricing but pricing would be similar if you include the drinks, tipping, specialty meals and wifi on RCL or NCL.  

Contrary to what she states she is not the target market. Virgin is not targeting 25 years olds who have taken 27 cruises already who think $1400 is too expensive for a cruise. She is exactly what they are not targeting.