resstation

9 minutes ago, Abe67 said:

The Virgin Voyages App is out.


Sent from my iPhone using Forums

How do we get to the correct birth year when apps have that calendar instead of just writing it in??

4 minutes ago, cde48 said:

Another update from our friends...I asked how they like it, they said...”it’s very different. No cruise director, no announcements...more like a resort, than a cruise ship”. This ship has me super curious, and I’m not sure it would like it. The Galley is essentially a Buffet, for whatever way they want to spin it. But...if the price is right, who knows.

The Galley is not a buffet, unless the Virgin staff are outright lying. I have been to several VV meetings and at each, when speaking about the Galley, they describe it as a food hall with separate restaurants offering made to order menu items. Each restaurant is chef driven with a different chef in charge for each, vastly different than the mass cruise lines where one chef oversees all the offerings. They did away with the buffet concept to move from the enormous waste of food. It is not a buffet. The seating may seem like it because the tables are food hall style, not located in/beside the individual restaurants,  but centrally locatedfor all.

The VERY BEST thing (for me) about Scarlet Lady is that NOT everyone likes her!! She is NOT mass market and will not appeal to the masses. BRAVO! I don't even know if I will like her, but I am open minded. If I don't, no worries. Plenty will. Certainly won't be my last vacation. 

23 minutes ago, stitchcreek said:

Do you have the new pricing you could share?

Already did. Scroll up.

Live FB tour by Travel Weekly today at 3pm EST. 

"Latest images of #ScarletLady we can't wait to get on board today! 

Tune in to Travel Weekly's exclusive Facebook Live tour with Virgin Voyages from 3pm."

https://www.facebook.com/events/642867886473918/

3 hours ago, stitchcreek said:

The $9 the website quotes for a basic cocktail is interesting, highlighting again this image I found elsewhere online, which implies a higher price point...

 

Unless there’s a basic level that sits below standard that’s just not on here?

 

This is an older screenshot. They have since revised prices. 

12 minutes ago, rbt001 said:

Will the group need their phones for Bingo and Trivia?

No word regarding Bingo or Trivia or any other "typical" cruise entertainment. There is no cruise director. There is a "Happenings Cast". When I say it is going to be a COMPLETELY different experience, I'm not kidding. COMPLETELY different. I will personally either love it or hate it, but I can tell you I am VERY excited to at least try it. We have had a 4 night in September booked since the very first day reservations were taken, no discounts, no agency special perks. Since then, I have been invited to the Miami Inaugural 2 day cruise in mid March, before she starts taking paying passengers. I will finally have the answers everyone keeps asking me about and an idea of WHO would be happiest on this ship. Believe me, I will report. 

6 minutes ago, rbt001 said:

There's one point you miss:  VV is looking to attract those willing to pay for beverages a la carte.  Given that you aren't willing to buy alcohol a la carte, I can assure you that you are NOT someone VV would consider a valued guest.

100% true, and they have said as much, verbatim. Also, they are not marketing only to couples without children. They want couples who need a break from their children 🙂. Average age of those already booked is 47 (a true 47, not like the other lines who average the children's ages). They have created a new category of cruiser as well - Rebellious Luxe, A Category of One. 

At our meeting we did hit upon a slight snag. An agency had booked a group of 80 yr olds who are VERY interested in cruising with Virgin, but EVERYTHING, and I do mean EVERYTHING will be done by smartphone. No documents to print, no flyers on your bed every night, no brochure racks. They only have flip phones. 

18 minutes ago, creativegenius said:

 

Wha?!?! But I HAVE to Instagram from every cool corner of the ship. It is commanded!  🙂

They WANT you to post on social media, OFTEN. They have said it time and time again, at every meeting I have attended. 

Plain and simple. If you don't or won't cruise without a drink package, they are not your cruise line and THEY are not looking for YOU either. It is not a bad thing. They are a small, 1 ship (so far) line. They will fill their ship. As far as being "disappointed" with this or that - my goodness. If it's not one thing its another. Totally surprised some of you are cruising AT ALL. 🤦‍♀️🤣

1 hour ago, hotsauce126 said:

 

While I think their drink prices are good, their references for prices at boutique hotels and upscale restauratts prices still seem off. I've rarely seen $10 beers even in places like Miami and San Francisco. I'd say $7 is a more average price for a craft beer

I disagree. First, the Virgin Voyages prices include gratuity. Second, I was just in NYC a couple of weeks ago, cocktails averaged about $18 and beer about $11. Obviously, we are not talking about the corner pub, but apples to apples. 

13 minutes ago, AlyssaJames said:

 
I mean, that seems reasonable enough, especially something ridiculous like shaved truffles. I just have PTSD over NCL’s a la carte pricing, I guess. 

Tell me about it! When I saw all the charges on my NCL tab I thought I was going to explode. They add up FAST and it doesn't help that they overcharge and apologize. I'm over it.

7 minutes ago, AlyssaJames said:

Dang, not happy to see us starting off on the slippery slope. They’re going to get criticisms for their “all food included” verbiage. This is part of the reason I stopped cruising with NCL.

 

I’m still cautiously optimistic, but I’ve been defending their high fares in various places with the “all food included” and other inclusive claims.

 

FWIW the sample menus have been up on the website for a while. 
 

I think you’re fine sharing the info so far. Where the forum mods will bring the hammer down is if you try to promote your business. But you’ve been around a while so you probably know that. 🙂

ALL the menu items that have been published thus far are 100% included. For those who choose, there will be "over the top" menu items that can be purchased such as that tomahawk steak, shaved truffles on your pasta, caviar... 

Just returned from a Virgin Voyages boot camp with the sales team. From "the horses mouth", average age range of booked sailors 35-60, with 47 as the average. This is ACTUAL age as opposed to other cruise lines who take into account kids ages.

5 minutes ago, rbt001 said:

Resstation, did they mention any on board food or entertainment events that WILL have an upcharge, like a dinner show or cooking classes in Test Kitchen?  I don't mean the expected extras, like spa treatments.

Yes, a few of the restaurants will have menu items that will cost extra, like the enormous tomahawk steak at one of the eateries (but the filet, 14 oz rib eye and several other items will be completely free of charge). There are menus "out there". Virgin Voyages - No Kids Cruising is a group I manage on another site. Menus are posted. There will also be a dinner show that will be extra but there is not information that can be shared yet. If this information is not permitted, please let me know. I don't want to step on any toes but want to share the information. In my opinion,  this will be a cruise company unlike any other. I am VERY excited about it.  I just disembarked from the Norwegian Escape on Saturday, and although the cruise was good and the service was great, we were nickel and dimed to death - $30 a day gratuities, $300 wifi, added gratuities on every chargeable item PLUS a blank line for extra gratuities...it was ridiculous. Not to mention the $280 the spa overcharged "by mistake". I am so looking forward to this welcome change. 

4 minutes ago, AlyssaJames said:

Did they mention anything about the drag brunch? Is that still happening? If so, do you know if it will be an upcharge event?

 

Did they have any anticipation of when the app will be out or onboard experiences will be bookable? I sail in about 35 days and still can’t book anything through the website.

Drag Brunch is still happening - they are saying it will be on one of the sea days. No more information available. The app is still not available and they are feverishly testing things out on their current "test" voyage. Since no one has actually been on the ship until last week they are in limbo right now. 

Just returned from a Virgin Voyages invitation only boot camp (for agents). Yes, the bar tab promotion (pre-purchase $300 bar tab, get $100 free for a total of $400) DOES apply to the "Shake for Champagne" and the drink prices all include gratuity, without ANYTHING TO SIGN like other ships where they present you with a check and an extra gratuity line. ALL 20 eateries are included, wifi is included, gratuities are included, group workouts, entertainment and basic beverages are included. 

Well   $7
Absolut, Beefeater, Olmeca Altos Blanco, Buffalo Trace, Bacardi Superior

Call    $9
Tito’s, Tanqueray, Jack Daniels,

Premium $11

Ketel One, Hendricks, Patron Silver, Johnnie Walker Black

Super Premium  $13-$15+ 
Stoli Elit, Hennessey VS, Casamigos Silver

There was quite a bit of information and I am happy to answer any questions.

1 hour ago, perditax said:

For what it’s worth, this thread was originally satire, speculating on what kind of complaints we would hear from the “traditional” cruisers. 

 

If it’s turned into a legit complaint thread, I’m not surprised. For a while there was one guy who would bump every single thread here with an explanation of why he would never sail VV.

 

The idea that a cruise line would be launched without their specific needs being catered to really galls some people. 

THANK YOU! Yes, I'm the OP. Satire, exactly. Boy oh boy, did that light a fire!

11 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I have already said as much repeatedly in this thread....

 

 

I take the drink package as one of my Free at Sea perks, so I only have to pay the service charges on it, which total $20 per person per day.

Oh yes, understand. One cruise line is way too limiting for us, but I understand. I haven't read through this thread and just got on a few days ago because there seemed to be quite a bit of activity on it. Curious why you are still responding on the thread if you're not interested? Bon Voyage, wherever and however you choose to go. Cruising is a ball, ANY cruising! 

19 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Not sure how this info really applies. A brunch with one type of unlimited specialty cocktail that has CBD oil in it? Or the $9-900 champagne on demand? Both of those have pretty much zero interest to me. I only like champagne in my Mimosas and certainly not at $9/flute! And it's a hard pass for me on anything involving CBD.

Clearly, you should move on. This is not the cruise for you. We are going on a Norwegian cruise next month. How do you get a $20 a day drink package??? For those who do like the offerings of Virgin, an NCL cruise would just be another cruise. Same ol', same ol'. And that's perfectly FINE. As I said, we are going next month (and Royal in April). Looking forward to check out Virgin - who knows, we may hate it but I very much am looking forward to giving it a shot. 

If you feel that this cruise would fit your preferences in every other way, then buy onboard credit in advance for the amount you would normally pay for a drink package on another cruise line. You won't have to nickle and dime the entire time, you can check your balance and increase it onboard if need be. Yes, you would eventually have to check your balance but it does make it easier than calculating every drink. I love drink packages, but I love the new, innovative, kid free opportunity and I'm going to take it! 

Any travel agent is able to select specific cabins also.

For everyone complaining about drink packages and not being able to relax and having to tally every drink. You can create YOUR OWN drink package. It can include ANYTHING you want with no limitations. How? Buy onboard credit in advance. You know your own drinking habits. Calculate how much you think you will drink, buy a little extra. If there is credit left over on the last day of your cruise, buy your ship souvenirs then or go on a binge. LOL It may not be perfect, but you don't have to worry about each and every drink. Some cruise lines have drink packages that are not unlimited, so you would still be counting drinks on those lines anyway. 

33 minutes ago, hotsauce126 said:

 

I've got some bad news for you

HAHAHAHA!!  Now that was funny. 

7 minutes ago, clo said:

I talk to SO many people who are determined that they don't like a particular cuisine or dish but, upon quizzing them, they've never tried it.

Not only that but some have tried the dish and didn't like it - THAT preparation. I've always told my son, if you don't like something the first time you try it, try it again when someone else has made it. You never know if the first taste was not made well. It took me YEARS to finally like okra. LOL  I kept trying them all different ways. Turns out I DO like them - but only pickled.