Wildcatllamas

I have done a B2B previously with them without any issues. I had to cancel an excursion on my cruise last September and they sent me a message on the app to remind to come to Guest Services. They paid me in cash for the cancelled excursion.

2 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I don't drink wine, so that wouldn't work for me. I still haven't decided about buying an extra bar tab and, if so, how much. The $300 tab I have would only cover ~4 drinks per day, which is far fewer than I usually drink on a cruise, but I still don't know if I want to lock myself into feeling like I *have* to get my money's worth if I purchase an additional bar tab. On the other hand, if I don't purchase an additional bar tab, I know myself well enough to know that I will struggle with justifying spending the additional money per drink while onboard and will likely just deprive myself.

So, what you might do is add some money to your Sailor Loot. You can use that money towards drinks, coffee, shows, excursions or merchandise. I had $200 worth of Sailor's Loot left and took my friends with me to see Another Rose on our last night. I had a facial, manicure and massage to burn through more of it. So that way you have more options. You can have your TA add it or you can call Virgin and add it to your cruise.

I have had folks tell me that they have bought bottles of unopened wine with money they had left over so they could take it home with them. I haven't done it but on my cruise next December I might look at doing that. I have a friend who used to work for a wine distribution company and likes a good wine.

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

Exactly what I was thinking. And I think there's a good argument to be made for the notion that people on cruises with unlimited drinks very often imbibe way too much. The idea of "I don't want to keep track of how much I drink" can quickly lead to "I need to drink as much alcohol as possible like I'm in a drinking contest." 

I have traveled with people who do just that. Even on Virgin. They want to make sure they drink every drop they paid for or didn't. They are the first ones who say they don't have a drinking problem, but they have to have a glass of wine or a beer every night after work. On the weekend they'll have a couple or more. They like when others drive so they can have a drink when everyone goes out to dinner. My bachelor's degree is in Psychology and in addition to that I have had family members who were either the classic closet alcoholic or the full blown one. So I spent additional time studying it at the university. I even know a person who when their bar tab or 15 drink max was gone was asking people to buy them a drink - but they aren't an "alcoholic". I have always left money on the table when I have a drink package because I may have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner, so not a big drinker at all. 

I prefer the way Virgin does it, so when I do want a glass of wine I can order a nice one and not be told that my drink package doesn't cover that one and there will be an upcharge. 

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

That brings up an interesting point: if you order a drink because it sounds interesting (and you'll probably be able to tell from the ingredients whether you'll like it), but you ended up hating it, is the bartender really going to say "tough, you bought it, if you don't like it, you still gotta pay"? Somehow, I don't see Virgin's bartenders acting like that. 

I went to see Another Rose and I wasn't able to drink alcohol that night. So I was served their non-alcoholic cocktails. Oh my they were awful. One sip and you would gag. The folks with me each tried a sip and experienced the same reaction. We were up in the balcony and I had them lined up in front of me during dinner. When the show was done I mentioned to our waitress how bad they when she asked about them sitting there. She was so apologetic and said if I would have told her they would have fixed me something else. I was enjoying the show so much I didn't want to interrupt her serving food while I was enjoying the show. So I definitely think if a drink isn't what you thought it might be then let them know. 

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

$120,000 is low? Yikes, I must be poor!

You and me both! I find this promo a bit ridiculous. 

@MNcruisingcouple I found out through one of the threads here that the reason I couldn't order the lamb shank was that it was marinated in the sauce with pepper. So if the sauce is just something added after the meat is cooked then that would definitely be doable.

@MNcruisingcouple I'm a ribeye lover and it is sacrilege to cover the taste with a sauce. I do like the one in Pink Agave with the sauce on the side. But when I read the sauce for this one I was just "UGH". One, I'm allergic to black pepper so there goes an item that I would eat and two , if you have to use a sauce like that what is wrong with the steak.

1 hour ago, jon81uk said:

Lamb shanks are generally slow cooked in the sauce, sort of like pot roast, that would be why they can’t leave the sauce off, it’s been sitting in it while cooking. 

Thanks for the info. If they would have said that I would have understood. They do smell good though!

@Roel94 I wasn't a big fan of their menu then. Due to my black pepper allergy and gluten issues the only thing I could have was the fried chicken (hmm - but they swore it was gluten free). It was nasty though. It was rubbery and tasteless. And I'm not a vegan or vegetarian - tofu is not something in my book as doable. I really wanted to try the lamb shank without the sauce, but for some reason they claimed they couldn't leave the sauce off. 

Hmm. I was hoping for something better. I'll try it and may be pleasantly surprised.

16 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

Well, I went Black Friday shopping today and acquired my requisite ugly sweater and pajama bottoms for the Ugly Sweater PJ party, a red top (with kind of a nautical motif on it that reminds me of life rings) for the Scarlet Party, and a sparkly gold and black top for the We Fancy Party. So I think I am all set for clothing.

Now just remember - you aren't supposed to have any fun 😉. Enjoy yourself. I haven't cruised MSC, but I have most of the other major lines and there are things I feel that Virgin could do better but over all they usually are better on many important things to me.

19 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

Why not post them here?

She's a blogger.

5 minutes ago, rebeccac said:

 

I just recently had the Eggplant Parm on Resilient and mine was so undercooked, I could barely cut it, so I guess it is feast or famine with the cook on the eggplant.  I agree the flavor was not good.  

 

It was also the first time they would not allow me to take the sauce from the gnocchi dish and put it on spaghetti.  We were told by a manager that they are no longer allowing customization (not sure if that was everything or just the pasta).  Overall, other than the soup, it was not a good meal.  We left and went up to the Galley.  

I was so looking forward to Eggplant Parm and that was such a let down. I was on the Resilient the end of September, so I wonder if it is the cook.  I did make up for it by getting two different sorbets. 

8 minutes ago, KKB said:

My friend is celiac & I am gluten sensitive so a bigger deal for her than I.

She knew exactly how to handle it!

LOL I'm not a big dessert person, but he was so happy I took both!!

My nephew has celiac and I have been diagnosed with Non-Celiac gluten intolerance. Fancy words for I have a lot of the genetic markers for celiac but just not enough. So I can sure understand what you both were dealing with.

35 minutes ago, KKB said:

You just alert the Maitre D'--he will tell you what is available to be made GF.

We get the menus for the next night & order.

We were on 2 weeks on the Caribbean in 2021 & the Maitre D' was so apologetic the 1st week that they had been unable to secure GF flour. The 2nd week he brought me an extra GF dessert EVERY NIGHT to try to make up for it, lol. 

On both of my cruises that might have been the problem because they weren't able to accommodate much of anything gluten free. If I do another cruise on Princess I will probably just notify they ahead of time. Two desserts - yum!! 

10 minutes ago, KKB said:

Princess is exceptional for gluten free as well.

When I sailed on them in 2022 and 2023 they didn't have that great of selection. I hope that they have improved it.

I and a friend had the Eggplant Parmesan at Extra Virgin on Resilient Lady out of Portsmouth the end of September. We each took one bite and had the waiter take them away. They were mushy with a horrible flavor. Not something I would recommend to anyone. 

I have to eat gluten free and Virgin and Celebrity have been the best cruise lines for gluten free options and service.

I just got an email that they are once again offering the 14 day window to get a MNVV. The onboard credit is now as follows: 4-5 nights $150, 6-8 nights $200 and 9+ nights is $250. I'm surprised that they brought it back because they seemed to be pretty adamant about once it was gone it was gone.

10 hours ago, Gretchendz said:

 

Only an hour? I did 5 the other day...their phones are blowing up. Between return of Bar tab, great solo  prices, bigger paid in full discounts. and lower prices, people are booking hot and heavy.

I did the option for a call back. The first time was 45 minutes and then got cut off as soon as they answered. I did the call back request a second time and that was almost an hour wait. I took the agent about 40 minutes to get everything done for me but in the end my client was happy. I just carry my phone with me as I am doing my ranch chores.

I have been on Scarlet and Resilient so I am going to say since they were identical and would be representative to Valiant.

I like the Wake, Pink Agave and menu A in the Test Kitchen. I do enjoy Extra Virgin but there is a lot of food there, so be selective. Between the appetizer, charcuterie board, the pasta selection and then the main it will be tough to even think about dessert. I will usually skip either the pasta or the main and then go with one of the sorbets for dessert.

I love a good steak and I have ordered the filet and hanger steak at the Wake and they both have been excellent. But if you like your steak beyond medium then you probably wouldn't enjoy those. Any of the lean steaks should never be cooked beyond med rare as they will dry out. So stick with the fattier cuts like the rib steaks. I really love the rib steaks at Pink Agave and Extra Virgin.

Razzle Dazzle is great for brunch, but I'm not a fan of their dinner menu. I will be curious to see how they change it to the Chinese menu.

Gunbae has good food, but it isn't a place to try and visit with your table mates. The noise can be really obnoxious between the loud music and the drinking game.

15 hours ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

 

Oh well, tried to go pepperless on Valiant Lady two weeks ago and the server was nice enough to go into the kitchen and ask and basically told me they said no because it's already prepared that way. Anyone else have luck with this on Valiant Lady? I skipped bacon that day, but the waffle was good.

Out of the 4 times we ate brunch in Razzle Dazzle on Resilient I asked for the bacon without pepper each time and they were able to do it 3 of those time. The fourth time was disembarkation day and they were just to busy. They always had to go back and ask if they could make some up and it takes about an additional 20 minutes. I would tell the wait staff that they had done it for my before and they would go with that.

@CastleCritic I was looking at that one as well. I decided I needed a way to celebrate my birthday so opted for the one in May.

12 hours ago, Alegeeter said:

What a prices like?

As absurd as the first Brilliant sailings that were released?

The price I booked is actually a little cheaper for a Sea Terrace then a 10 night Princess cruise in May 2026 with the Plus package. So very comparable.

I just booked the Alaska Awe on May 11th. I'll spend my birthday on that cruise.