cantgetin

I was on the same sailing and the lines were by far the worst we've seen. Our experience was not quite as bad as yours, but.....the new system of not making reservations for shows and some other classes, but being "first come, first served" means that you have to show up 45 minutes or so early and line up. That resulted in me not doing a lot of things that I'd done on other sailings as I wasn't willing to stand in line. I don't want to get dressed for VHS or Zumba only to waste 45 minutes in line than not get in. I've read that the shows were "more full" with this system, but again, I hate it. When I had a reservation, I knew I'd have a spot. If I wanted a front row seat, I'd better show up early, but if I just needed to be in for a seat or activity, 10 minutes early was great. Embarkation--showed up at our scheduled time with priority and DBE. Due to need for wheelchair assist, were supposedly put on a list and sent to a less than great seat...but at least a bench outside. 30 minutes later, I saw the same crew member who told us that a different person was handling that now...went over and we weren't on the list. I was politely irritated, and we were taken quickly to an area inside where there were 3 terminal workers with 3 wheelchairs just standing around. Really? I'd understand if all were busy, but what's the point of standing around while people are waiting for them? Funchal--crazy lines,. but that was sort of beyond VV's control. The disembarkation was likely due to the later arrival and the late reboarding was due to the low tide....We watched from the balcony. It moved a lot faster than we expected. Lines for dinner reservations...guess we were lucky. We had reservations in advance, but did wait to change things. At dinner, never more than 2 or 3 groups in front of us. Guest Services--if there was more than one person ahead waiting, I'd come back later. Disembarkation was the smoothest we've ever encountered. We had an early disembarkation and no waiting...except that all the luggage had not been unloaded yet. I did read what you reported--that most people ignored their selected time and didn't leave till after 10 (we were at the airport long before that.) It is the first time I've gotten off VV without another sailing booked, and I'm really not eager to book another right now. Maybe I'm "cruised out." Or maybe I don't want to see a "full" ship as I've seen the experience deteriorate as each of my sailings was more full than the one before. There were MANY of really good things, but lines were not one of them. NOT standing in line had previously been one of the best things about VV.

As far as I can tell, the shuttle is gone. It hasn't been operating on our last 2 cruises.

I have not seen anything confirmed for 2027, just lots of rumors. Consult your First Mate to be sure, or to be notified as soon as 2027 is available. I will say that we were less than thrilled with our most recent cruise based on what VV provided. It was also the most full cruise we've been on. A lot of things were just more difficult with the more full ship (2348 sailors) and the "no reservations, get in line and wait for things" system. We couldn't move dining reservations, had to line up for VHS and Zumba 30-60 minutes early. On the other hand, there were some things that had improved.....and we had the usual great crew. I'm amazed at the variation we've seen in dining service and food quality depending on the cruise, and we loved having old friends on this sailing.

What Walter said. If the cruise fare is $2000 and you have an MNVV, the $300 cost of the MNVV gives you $300 toward the deposit PLUS $300 discount on the cruise fare....so you now have a cruise fare of $1400 remaining. This would be due in full by 120 days before cruising. The MNVV will also give you $600 in "Loot" which is onboard credit. You will see this when you look at your account on line and in your "wallet" after you board.

Hint for the beds--order a mattress topper from Amazon. They cost about $20 and come vacuum packed so take very little space. If luggage and flying is a problem, see if your hotel will accept a delivery for you and pick it up there. At the end of the cruise, take it home or give it to your stateroom host. (they like comfort too!)

I have a few friends that I wondered about....but was pleasantly surprised by one.

Interesting. I consider myself rather conservative, but what someone else is doing is not any of my business. I'd take it as treat everyone decently, as you'd want to be treated, and you'll be fine.

I'm hoping for better seating in The Dock. If you are older or even remotely challenged, you can't get up from those wooden things without doing a stunt like you would to get off the floor. THe beds make no sense to me other than for photos. There are very few bar stools. It could be a great place to hang out IF we could get proper seating. I'd also like to see some menu changes/upgrades.

Then skip the drag shows.....there is plenty else going on!

There is no membership number as far as I can tell. We've had DBE on all our VV cruises, including the most recent under the new benefits program, and never had a "number" attached in the way other lines do. The current program says it lasts thru 2025. No one knows what will happen after that. I saved my confirmation letter and have that available on line at the ports....only needed it once when they showed my cruise partner had DBE but didn't list me. Got it fixed with the letter. Note that the new benefits are per person, not per cabin....so sign up each person in your group who qualifies.

Have not experienced Mega in Athens, but boarding and disembarkation in Barcelona was smoother than Miami. I would expect your Athens experience to be the same.

The duck thing exploded on our recent TA. Bottom line, if you want to participate, do so. If you don't want to, there's no push to join. We've recently seen octopi and sea horses added to the duck hiding.

In my 60s. Got off my first VV with 3 more booked. I've now done all 4 TAs that VV has done so far. Longer cruises tend to skew a little older, but you'll see that on any line. There is plenty to do on VV, regardless of your age and taste. You may enjoy heavy duty work out classes or chilling on your hammock....or may things in between. It is a myth that VV is for a younger crowd. In 2022, the average age was 43 with a range of 18-90s. I think VV thought they'd attract a younger group and their early ads made it look that way.....not so. What there isn't--kids, beverage packages (no one trying to max out their package on a daily basis), rock climbing wall, go karts, ice rinks, Broadway style shows.

THey were not "FRESH pressed juices." They are "COLD pressed juices" and are poured out of a carton. They were available at only 2 bars during particular hours. My understanding is that the program has now changed and that the juices on the SOR program are no longer the Cold press that anyone can buy for $11-13, but rather are additional options to the standard fresh pressed which sell for about $6. Still limited to 2 bars and particular hours. Don't buy the program for the juices. If you would purchase the Moet and the thermal suite passes anyhow, consider the juice and munchies an added treat. If you won't use the Moet and/or thermal suite, it definitely isn't worth the package cost.

In my experience, longer cruises on VV skew older and have less of a party atmosphere. I am in my 60s, and got off my first VV cruise with 3 more booked! There is a varied group on board, and always something to do whether that was relaxing on the hammock with a book, playing in the arcade, going to an exercise class, etc. There are lots of places to hang out, each with a bit or its own atmosphere. There's a lot of being a kid again--arcade, social club, summer camp activities, etc.

Royal vs. Virgin would be a "no brainer" for me. I'm a 60 something with no body embellishments and not a partier. In fairness, I have no loyalty status on Royal, but have done more than 50 cruises on various other lines. VV--no kids, free wifi, essentially all included except alcohol. No drink packages = no people trying to max out their package. We do have Deep Blue Extras (loyalty on VV), so get some freebies there. They are offering a status match to the intro loyalty level, I believe. You can get any food served without the sauces. etc. There are more "plain" things being offered--for instance, The Galley has a grilled chicken breast plain at lunch and dinner. I don't hate kids. I hate the 10% of parents who allow their kids to run wild, trash beverage stations, push every elevator button, run thru the halls screaming, etc. Don't talk to me about "adult only" areas unless there is a cruise line that really enforces ALL such areas. If you want Broadway style shows, climbing walls, race tracks, ice rinks, etc. VV is not for you. But I'm old and don't use those things, so see no point in paying for them.

We have always had next day return with DBE until the most recent TA. This was also the most full cruise I'd been on, and I suspect that many of us had the idea of doing laundry about half way thru. We were advised in advance that it would be a 2 day return. There were 2348 sailors on board. Price for same day is $50 per bag.

Whether or not late embarkation is a benefit depends on your situation. If you live in FL and are driving or taking Brightline to the port, it may mean that you don't need a hotel. For us, it means that we can sleep late at the hotel after our travel day; we often request a late check out. No need to get up early to get to port. On the flip side, we enjoy a nice breakfast before heading to the airport. We don't need to be up at 6 am to go to a slimmed down breakfast menu and be rushed out of the dining room. Agreed that the benefits are much fewer if you have an earlier flight home. Our return flights from MIA are generally 1-3pm departures, (the choice is 7am or afternoon usually!) so the late disembarkation works great. We also like having cabins ready when we board--no need to pack a "day bag" or lug around your carry on. Of course, the trade off for late disembarkation is a late embarkation. It works well for us.

Midnight EST supposedly but sometimes anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes earlier than that. When the app crashes, your TA can make your reservations for you or you can call VV the next morning and they can do it. Note that I said "when" and not "if." 4 VV cruises, and the app has crashed every time while booking dining. I usually get 2 or 3 nights booked, then it dies.

No, you won't be asked to come back. You will be standing in a line based on your scheduled arrival time and will be able to board when everyone with a time earlier than your's has been processed. There is a very good chance that you will check in and board prior to your scheduled time, but not 2 hours earlier. They do ask you to arrive no more than 30 minutes before your scheduled time.....again, worst case, you stand in a line for your time slot. On our cruises, the first scheduled terminal arrival time has been 1:30. Most of the time, we have been in our stateroom by 2pm. VV does things differently, and there are good and bad aspects to those changes. First, your cabin will be ready when you board. You can go there immediately, drop your carry ons. freshen up, and go to lunch. Secondly, you will not be kicked off the ship at 8am on your last day; the latest disembarkation time is typically 10:30. This makes for a MUCH nicer morning for those with afternoon flights, and the ability to get off as early as 7:30 is still available to those who want it.

Can't address whether people will be back... I've been on all 4 of the TAs that VV has had so far. On the first 3, the average age was 43-45. I have no explanation on this one except that 55 was the stat from Sailor Services, along with 2348 sailing. Maybe the word has gotten out that VV is not just for 20 somethings who want to party hardy (at least on the long sailings). That perception scared off a lot of us at the beginning. Shorter cruises do have a younger crowd. The other thing is that for those of us who booked early, this was the least expensive of the 4 TAs.....maybe that interested the older crowd. On the other hand, one way that VV attracts the younger group is/was their excellent wifi. We qualified for free premium, but the price increase for premium might have scared away some who planned to work while cruising. Standard wouldn't have been good enough for zoom....at least when I tried it.

The Wake was better on the transatlantic just completed. No more long delays and meals taking forever. But yes, there are better steaks in other restaurants.

THey say "next day" but on the recent TA it was 2 days. THursday nite was the last time to send it for Sunday departure. Same at midpoint--send Saturday, get back Monday. On previous VV cruises it was next day as long as turned in by noon

We always found Princess "just OK." Good for Alaska where the attraction was the scenery and wildlife, but the ships themselves were nothing to be excited about. Good for Japan. Entertainment barely OK except for Japan cruises. Food....ok...We did upgrade to a suite on one cruise, and that was better dining.

Not sure what you are looking for in demographic. Typical on VV is average age of 43. On our recent transatlantic we were told it was 55. It was definitely an older crowd than our provious TAs on virgin.