CalaDragonflyLady

59 minutes ago, crusinthrough said:

I thought there is a separate waiting area for RS guests that is different from the rest of the guests. 

There is, but non-RS still had to wait outside at first.

20 hours ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

Last June I qualified for DBE and was allowed early boarding on Valiant Lady out of Miami. It was nothing like my first two Miami boardings on Scarlet Lady. So, I arrived at port early (around 1 PM) and hung out for awhile. When 1:30 PM rolled around, they had me go inside the terminal. Once in there, I checked in with a VV agent at the podiums and was asked to go back outside to wait in the Priority Boarding line. After about ten or fifteen minutes, the line moved and I go back inside the terminal a second time and eventually up the escalators to the waiting/seating area. Is this how it's done now with the inside/go back outside and then wait in the corrals procedure? I'd love to hear from recent sailors out of Miami. Was your experience similar or was mine the exception?

Yes, since they are sailing fuller now, they don't have the indoor capacity to let everyone in at once.  Same thing happened to me, checked in but sent back outside to the DBE/SOR line, only the RS guests were directed to the waiting area inside.

If you purchase SPLASH OF ROMANCE you can arrive after Rock Stars and Deep Blue Passengers and ignore the original set arrival time.  OR if you have status with another cruise line, send it to VV for their status match program.  It's not an exact match but will get you into the loyalty club.

16 hours ago, singleflyer said:

As someone based in Seattle, I would love to see this.

 

Yesterday I did a 24 hour hold on a good deal on the Brilliant Lady Mermaiden Voyage out of Miami.  Only problem is airfare adds another $1k.  Suddenly it is much harder to justify.  

I feel your pain!  My flights from Portland OR to Miami then from San Juan to Portland OR for the non-closed loop Mermaiden are going to cost me more than the cruise 😞 

On 7/7/2023 at 9:47 AM, _tacocat_ said:

lol i 100% concur here.  we had ours starting at 11 the first time (ran late of course), so we only made it to chapter 1.  the other showing started chapter 1 at 10, and we were still pretty pooped after going to an 11:30 chapter 2 and a 1ish chapter 3!!

Haha, I feel ya, it was a late night for me, but I HAD to stay, Lola/Meggie and I bonded on the Valiant when she was my "Dr" Anna.  We met before her show then because she saw I followed her on IG (and I was giving out my dragonfly earrings to crew).  During her Lola performance I was sitting very close and left of the stage and she reached out and grabbed my hand for a split second, made me feel special for sure!

On 6/30/2023 at 3:13 PM, cantgetin said:

I know some people were not pleased with the "no kids" commercials' I found them cute.  I liked the "Now We're Voyaging" as it hit the demographic that VV is attracting right at their current average sailor age of 43 while showing some who appeared to be younger; I thought some of the early ads were too youthful and made it look like a ship full of 20 somethings.  This latest one just doesn't cut it.

Haha, I LOVE the "no kids" commercials, especially the ones with kids pissed off they have to wait until they're 18 to cruise VV 😛   So many people are put off by the vibe of the commercials making it look like the passengers are 20-30 somethings when most are 40-50 plus, but it varies so much.  I am a solo senior (62) not looking to hook up, IDGAF about the ages of my fellow sailors, haha!

As with other lines, those are CHECK IN times, not boarding times.  1:30 is the earliest published time I have seen.   

You can ask your hotel for 1pm checkout, many times they will do it free of charge, or a minimal fee; always worth asking.  SO FAR I have yet to be charged for late checkout!    It's worth double-checking the times of their transport, assuming it's free.  If it's not free, it's worth taking UBER or LYFT to the cruise port at the time you prefer.  

I did this VV Shore Thing.  While I enjoyed seeing the ruins and hearing what I COULD about the island history, it was very crowded.  There were numerous tour guides and groups and there was generally no regard for personal space.  Our tour guide did her best to respect other tour guides if they were already in a specific location, but other tour guides did not seem to do the same in return.  As we were leaving a specific location, they would stream into the area before we could get out instead of waiting until we were clear.  Now this might not seem like a big deal but the terrain was very uneven and narrow at many points, and we were trying to stay together as a group.  It wasn't as bad once we cleared the main housing structures.  

The ferry ride was ridiculously packed, nowhere to sit if you were late.  There was a bar where you could purchase food and drink, but if you didn't have a place to sit it was pointless IMO.  On the return trip I made sure to get back early to get a seat.  This was in May so it was a bit chilly; I would take a jacket if you're not sure.  There are no stores on the island, take anything you think you might need, especially water.

If I *ever* visited Delos again I would definitely do it on my own instead of with a group.  I definitely felt trapped and couldn't get pics of a lot of great things because there were so many people.  

I haven't seen the commercial but find the idea cringey at best.  She's known for being a high-maintenance diva.  I work in a heavily male-dominated field (longshore) and don't feel that her representation is in any way empowering.  She is clearly buddies with Branson because there's really no point.  

And it is peculiar that as high tech as VV likes to be (LOVE the tablet and options for cabin service at the door), you would think their website AND app would work better.  But they have STILL not updated the website to show loyalty information, and there are constant complaints about the app.  And why is it that very little detail is visible on the website and most must be done on the app?  Even CCL lets you do a lot on the website.  

Also, SQUID INK is tucked in the corner where the sundry shop was on previous ships instead of being across from the roundabout.........

Ship: Resilient Lady

Cabin#: 13260M

Deck #: 13

Cabin Category: Solo Insider

Sleeps: 1

Cabin Location: Middle

Terrace/Window/Obstruction: N/A

Noise Issues?: None

Wind Issues?: N/A

Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?: N/A

Hammock: N/A

Metal/Glass Terrace: N/A

Advantages/Problems: Very cozy and compact little cabin, nice for one person on a budget.

Would You Book Again?: Yes

Comments:  I specifically requested and received a cabin with the headboard and bathroom on the right side.  The only issue I had was with packing at the end of the cruise; there was no place I could stage my suitcase and leave it there.

Ship: Resilient Lady

Cabin#: 14142Z

Deck #: 14

Cabin Category: Central Sea Terrace

Sleeps: 2

Cabin Location: Starboard

Terrace/Window/Obstruction: None

Noise Issues?: None

Wind Issues?: Yes

Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?: No

Hammock: Yes

Metal/Glass Terrace: Glass

Advantages/Problems: Close but not too close to the elevators,  This cabin had the bed headboard and bathroom on the right wall, which I prefer (since I sleep on the right side of the bed).  

Would You Book Again?: Yes

Comments:  I only got in the hammock once because it was a bit cold/windy on this trip (May ex Athens).

I loved the show and food but I was seated red rose, right in front, and we got moved around, I was roped (hard to explain?) and I was too close to take in everything.  I will definitely choose black rose middle next time, so I will be able to see the show better.  

I just use the clock app on my phone, it's charging by my bed and I use it for the sound machine app as well.  Less things to pack.....

On 5/24/2023 at 6:32 AM, _tacocat_ said:

13th VV coming up this weekend!  I’d only been on one cruise before and thought it was terrible.  Still won’t step on any other lines, but virgin is great!

Dang, you're a 485C then, I'm envious!  Good for you and have a wonderful time!  

Interesting - are you sure the date/year is correct?   Since NSA is no longer in production it may be that it was entered in the schedule ahead of time and hasn't been corrected yet if it is a schedule for 2023.

Some shows are fully booked, but if you check the day or night of the show, there may be cancellations.  I was able to get into a previously fully booked show without having to wait in the standby line by checking the status of the show the same day/night.

I don't always get an email but you can Google "Virgin Voyages Upgrade" and check if you are eligible for an upgrade (it won't work until you are).  The best time is if/when you hear others on your sailing have received emails.  

Keep in mind they are all subject to change, and that more things will be added when your sailing is 1-2 days away.  My sailing is 10 days away and almost all of the shows got switched around and times have been changed from 35 days ago when they were first listed.

Also, once you board, even if a show is fully booked, you still may be able to get into it when you want because there are cancelations and no shows, just be sure to keep checking.  I was able to book a show because of cancelations and avoid the standby line.  

I think they are still working on their rewards package and that there will be benefits for Blazers and Rovers, but it clearly remains to be seen.  They may again extend the benefits expiration date.  However, I was told that if you got a killer deal (free cruise or deeply discounted) that the benefits would not apply.  The website DOES say that the bar tab bonus for both extends through 2024 at least.

1 hour ago, cantgetin said:

No bonus added to free bar tabs.  Good wishes on getting the DBE extended.....it has already been extended twice, so who knows?

The SeaRover bonus won't be added if you have a super sweet deal either, but that's ok.  My May cruise is a crazy deal AND pre-mermaiden, so I feel lucky to be included!  

3 hours ago, cantgetin said:

If you are a Sea Rover, you should get the $100 bonus on all sailings thru 2024, and this should show up on your add ons.  Call them and have that bonus corrected, even if you have to cancel the bar tab and rebook it,

In addition, if you are embarking prior to 4/30/2023, you should get Deep Blue Extras which includes a $100 free bar tab (no purchase required).  This will not show up on the add ons, it will be under the deep blue extras benefits after boarding.

 

I remember they extended the Deep Blue Extras, hoping they go another month since I'm cruising in May.  In the case of my December cruise, the bar tab was a promotional freebie, so I don't know if the $100 SeaRover would still get added? 

As tacocat hinted at, it's more about plumbing than anything else, not about headboards (lol), they just happen to be on the same wall as the bathrooms.  I prefer the headboard and therefore bathroom to be on the right wall, since I sleep on the right side of the bed, so I don't have to walk around the bed in the middle of the night 😛   

I wonder when that will show on my account for my current cruises; right now it only shows the standard $300 plus $50.  OR if I got a super sweet deal, does it apply at all?  I am a SeaRover 🙂 

Definitely second TacoCat, order Ship Eats the evening before for 5am for your coffee and pastry.