jon81uk

I spent ages playing Daytona racing like I was 18 again.

I’ve not come across them as a list on the menu but by checking the various menus you can get an idea, for example On the Rocks lists all the whiskey and bourbon options and can see that Buffalo Trace is the cheapest. The only ones I can remember are Absolut vodka, Beefeater gin, Buffalo Trace bourbon, Bacardi rum.

It will tell you in the app what date the first update to the schedule will appear, it is usually 45 days out. That will only show the major shows like Duel Reality in general and in my experience changes several times. A week or two before sailing it usually adds in more activities but the live music and similar won’t show until the last few days before boarding and it all may change onboard.

If it also helps with cheaper drinks, as standard house spirits aren’t shown on the menu, spirit (Absolut vodka, Beefeater gin, Barcardi rum etc) with a free mixer (Coke, Sprite, tonic, juice etc) are US$8. Heineken is served in US standard 12oz measures, about 350ml which is about a standard can, they don’t serve the equivalent of a British pint.

There was an organised party taking place the Athletic Club one night, it is definitely possible to get VV to organise and reserve space for celebration gatherings.

There will be a separate line or entrance and dedicated check in desks even if not an “area”. At Barcelona there was a separate line and one X-Ray just for rockstar then desks specifically for rockstar sailors.

Onboard the ships all prices are in US Dollars. Wine lists vary by restaurant and wines are regularly out of stock, but the below site will give an indication (could be two years old so some prices may have gone up) https://profcruise.com/virgin-voyages-bar-menus-and-drink-prices/

Same as other shows if it is in the Red Room it’s best to book but walk in may be possible. If it’s in the Manor then capacity is lower so better to book.

UntitledDancePartyShowThing is the standing show on Scarlet and Valiant, but I don’t think the view from the balcony is great. But for standing at Untitled you can get in late without an issue most of the time. Duel Reality is seated and the balcony is for latecomers as the main seating can’t be accessed once the show starts.

The only food that is extra cost is things like seafood towers or platters, tomahawk steak or wagyu beef and truffles plus afternoon tea. I’ve never bothered though, you can eat very well without spending anything. Drip coffee, tea bags, Coke, Sprite, Fanta and juice from concentrate is included but loose leaf tea, espresso based coffee, hot chocolate, fresh juice, mocktails and all alcoholic drinks are charged for. Most cruises include some free bar tab in the current promotion though which can be used on any charged for drinks and if you pre-pay more bar tab you get a free bonus.

The major likes are fairly obvious, no kids, WiFi included, tips included, soda included, no main dining rooms (instead six unique dinner restaurants). But then no upselling, no announcements, modern cirque style entertainment, unique bars and spaces and modern bright cabins with great showers. Not much I don’t like but there are a few workshops that are actually just sales pitches (like a “posture” workshop that is just to sell insoles), the pools in the spa are too cold, the main pool is a bit weird (but the large jacuzzi is great). Sometimes service (especially in the Wake) is a bit slow or inattentive and occasionally drinks ordered from a server in a busy bar can take a while. But overall we’ve had a great experience across six voyages.

Yep as the bar is only filled once in regular rockstar you can just take what isn’t used. But this discussion is on mega rockstar where the drinks are almost unlimited and whether it is fair use or not to deliberately reserve drinks to take off the ship that you had no intention of drinking onboard.

Current sale is through to end of January.

The only one I would advise arriving early for is It’s a Ship Show. Generally for that show the earlier you are the better table (that suits your party size) you will get. In the Red Room it is less important to be early.

Although rockstars generally can take the left over mini bar with them (as it’s only filled once), I’m not sure if as mega rockstar you could just order multiple bottles with no intention of drinking them on the ship as it might be seen as an abuse of the mega rockstar bar. Someone who has already sailed as mega could probably comment better, but personally I wouldn’t expect to be able to take away more than the equivalent of one mini bar full.

There is a programme in the app and can pick up paper one from the coffee bar. There is plenty of spaces across deck 7, 15 and 16.

I would also assume similar to the current limited view rooms they will also price these smaller balconies cheaper than a standard terrace.

I’ve not seen any religious service acknowledged on VV. The only meeting is Friends of Bill W (Alcoholics Anonymous).

VV Insider have discovered that due to the lifeboats being pulled in on Brilliant Lady the balconies on deck 8 will be smaller, this means a new cabin type of slightly smaller balcony sea terrace. These rooms will be the same size interior as other sea terrace rooms, but smaller balcony, the big change though is those smaller balconies will come with two hammocks and no other furniture. https://vvinsider.com/brilliant-ladys-changes-revealed-to-support-new-destinations/

In reality if VV make changes it will to give the existing deep blue extra benefits to those who have done multiple cruises and then less benefits to those who have only done two or three. There isn’t much more they could offer on top so a reduction in benefits for some is more likely.

The point of actually assigning a boarding time only available to those with benefits is to solve the current issue where official documentation is that you just have expedited boarding via a dedicated line, but in reality you can turn up at 1.30ish. Assigning loyalty members an exclusive boarding slot would be easier, also not complicated to just remove certain slots from the general pool and make them loyalty (or splash of romance) only.

The whole thing of gaining status by cruising twice has been extended to December 2024 not just status match. Therefore I don’t see anything changing for at least the first half of next year as many will still qualify by sailing twice.

that’s changed then. Current loyalty program was due to end but I guess it’s been extended yet again.

The 2025 one was booked last week when the new itinerary was available for October 2025. April 2024 was booked a year ago and October 2024 when that went on sale last summer, didn’t do pay in full for any of them, but the October one is weirdly cheap anyway.

Done six with seven, eight and nine all booked.