cantgetin

I didn't measure it, but I don't think they are that close. They are close, but I didn't have any trouble getting in without bumping a different table, and my servers had no trouble standing between the tables. On the other hand, it is possible that they adjust the number of tables based on how full the cruise is. I know other lines do that.

We got off our first VV sailing with 3 more booked (not certificates, selected dates). We had done at least 45 cruises on 5 lines before, but none compare to VV at this stage in our lives.

Anything is possible, but my guess is that they identified a pricing glitch in one or more cabin types and took it down while it is being fixed.

OK, I just got the notification from VV that my cancel/rebooking went thru. I saved $374 on my cruise fare, kept my $600 in Loot, and added a $600 bar tab. I've got a great "first Mate" (agent)

We were never allowed to check in early and then walk on. We were allowed to drop off bags with the porter and take the shuttle....then return at our assigned time. YMMV

I read about Branson's problems a few days ago, but he has only a minimum investment in Virgin Voyages. Virgin Voyages had serious growing pains due to Covid, but my guess is that they are getting on their feet now as many cruises have more than 2000 passengers on board and they closed bookings for at least 4 April sailings as they determined that the ship was at the capacity where they could give good service (over 2000, but nowhere near the 2700 max). Of course they were losing money when the ships were sailing with 1000 on board, but I think that period has ended. They've also figured out who their real audience is, which is somewhat different than the target audience in their initial marketing. Obviously they will continue to tweak it and make improvements, but they seem to have landed on their feet. But with 2 more ships launching this year, money in reserve is a good thing,

Good point!

The cruise IS eligible. We had DBE on our last cruise....it took about a week for them to add it to the April 22 TA on the "my account" section of the web site after the announcement that DBE was extended. If you booked on points, a casino rate, etc. you may not qualify. I have a MNVV (rebooking on board) and cash reservation.. It still does not show up on the app, but I've played that game before. The app, in my case, has always been wrong until boarding, then corrects itself. THe web site is right, so I shoot a picture f that in case I need proof at boarding. If you don't see it in a few days, call your agent (if you used one) or VV directly.

Her motivation is irrelevant. She's dead. What matters to Sailors is that the balconies are safe. You can't "accidentally" fall from one. You have to do something intentional, whether that is climbing on furniture and jumping over, climbing on furniture and sitting on the railing to take a photo, being thrown off, or something similar. Unless you are 7 feet tall, you can't fall over the balcony, sit on the balcony, or anything like that without climbing up on furniture to get there. I feel sorry for her family, the crew, and all the Sailors who had their vacation impacted by her actions. VV has done everything it can to provide for those who were affected by her actions, and they deserve credit for that. If VV opted to remove the balcony furniture due to people who would mis-use it, people would move chairs from the room to the balcony. I hope that they don't take such a stance due to one irresponsible person.

No, they look it up on their tablet. You just give them your name. They verify your name and cabin number and direct you based on that.

Short and sweet....plenty of time to go slowly, fish out any overcrowded small boats that happen along the path, etc.

The activities that involve alcohol typically have a cost. Others are free. On the 14 night TA cruise they added additional daytime activities not listed above. They knew that with 8 sea days, they needed to keep us busy!

As above, if you show up at 2 with a 4pm time, you'll be offered a line to stand in or a shuttle to Bayside shopping area--your choice. You WON'T have a chair, it is a standing line. When everyone who has a time earlier than 4 has been boarded, you will be checked in and allowed to board...but it won't be close to 2 as boarding doesn't start till 1:30. It will likely be somewhere between 3 and 4. And yes, the do check your time. There are a few exceptions--people in Rockstar Suites board first right at 1:30 or any time later that they arrive. If you have purchased the Romance package, you can board when you arrive. If you qualify for the Deep Blue Extras loyalty program, you can board a 1:30 or any time after that. (If you don't know what this is, go the the VV site under Loyalty....but it ends at the end of April 2023)

Absolutely, all departments have staff meetings on embarkation day before the doors open. There are schedule changes and such based on number of passengers....so any forward facing crew member will know the number.

The report last night said she went off deck 14 and landed on deck 7, THis would make sense as 7 extends farther out. But anything is possible and I'm sure all reports are not accurate.

OK, the cruise has probably been taken off line, so your agent cannot find out how many cabins are available AND if you call VV, the agent on the phone won't be able to see it. That leaves reading the tablet upside down at check in. The tablet will show check in XYZ of QRS. The second number is the number booked. The first number is the number who have checked in. Alternatives to get bookings....as soon as you are on board, try to book whatever reservations you want on the app. If the app goes wonky, you can go to the red desk on 7 to book shore things and you can go to the individual restaurants to make reservations there. Usually the app works fine after boarding, Since there are 2 of us, we each take one task--one will book dinners while the other will book shore things, spa, or whatever we need. You may have to wait till shortly before 6 to go to the restaurants. They do open about 35% of reservations at boarding. We go to our room and drop our carry ons....then we go to The Galley and work on reservations while we wait for the food. What I do know is that there are supposedly 4 cruises in April that have been taken off line even though it is not time to do that yet because VV had declared them "full." I know that my upcoming cruise is supposedly 82% full and they are not booking any more. What I don't know is whether that is 2200+ cruisers (82% of 2700) or 82% of cabins booked (because there can be 1 person in a 2 person cabin or 2 people in a 3 or 4 person cabin. The number won't vary much either way; it puts us at 2000-2200 best guess, 10 days ago they were saying we were at 1800 with 4 cabins open, so they've added a lot as the cruise nears.

Don't count on any schedule until you are on board. The one on the app in advance is just a preliminary.

The prize is definitely 90% of the money bid to buy the horses. They may get a drink as well.....

The house does take 10% of the pot....so you get 90% of the money if you win. THe auction starts at $50 and goes up to $500, but at above, the horses normally go for $150-$300.

I quit scheduling anything before 10.

That's why I didn't mention RD for dinner. It was open every evening on our last cruise, but I wasn't sure if this was the new normal. Very early on, the ship stayed at Bimini well into the evening, so that might explain why RD used to be closed.

You would have to be quite tall to be able to even lean over the railing. The railing hits me at bust level, so there is no way I could bend at the waist to lean over. I could not possibly fall while leaning on the railing. Perhaps a 7 foot tall male could bend at the waist and lean over. Every incident I've ever heard of where someone "went" overboard from a balcony involved alcohol and either standing on furniture or intentionally climbing over the railing as some sort of a stunt. There is no way for someone to go over accidentally.

As a Mega, the host is supposed to come to you in your suite, but there is nothing preventing you from going to the meeting in the lounge should you opt to do so. In either case, the suites, like all other rooms, are available at the time of boarding.

This sounds like your agent is ripping you off. Did you pay additional money to the agent/agency for their services? There are agencies in the US that try to do this and make you sign a service agreement including non-refundable fees to them. That is not the norm as most agents make their income from the commission they are paid by the various cruise lines, and VV's commissions are more than the norm. VV Does allow you to "trade promotions" at least up to 120 days prior to sailing. It usually involves a cancel and rebooking.

The services on the ship remain as if it were any other port day. That means the shops are closed and there are fewer people working at the bars and some of the food outlets. They don't need as many people at the other food outlets as most people are on the island. However, the outlets remain open, Razzle Dazzle serves breakfast, but then those personnel go to work on the island.