cantgetin

No, wine is not "free" unless you have an included bar tab.

We had a server on VV tell us that she makes three times as much on VV as on her previous tipped line. We've also had spa people turn down tips. saying that it was included in the service price (which it is). One of the questions on the email quiz after you are home is whether anyone asked or suggested a tip, which is strictly not allowed. The only people I've heard of having a problem on VV are the bartenders who have worked other lines because they are used to getting the 18% automatic grat AND an additional $1 or 2 per drink on those other lines. THeir salary is more than the salary+ 18% from the other lines, but they aren't getting the $1 per drink on VV, and some were making less due to that. Yes we have always tipped on other lines, but on those lines, tipping is expected. There is nothing to prevent you from tipping on VV other than it must be in cash--there is no way to add a tip to a charge. On the other hand, there is no reason to tip. As noted, their total pay is better than salary + tips on other lines. In addition they get many benefits--free wifi (which is huge), laundry products and toiletries provided, good food (all eat at the same mess rather than an officer's mess and a separate crew mess), ability to use guest facilities based on rank and how full the ship is, etc. Sure, there are women who have a preferred product and don't want the ship's shampoo, but the ship provides them with the same products the normal cabins get! All of this means that things they must buy on other lines, especially wifi, are part of salary on VV. Other than entertainment staff, which aren't tipped on any line, I haven't seen any less service on VV. In fact, I've generally seen more and better service. The entertainers tend to form their own little "clique" on many lines.... So yes, you can leave some cash in your room or hand it to your room steward. Since you will have a different server each night. there is no really good way to tip a server. But I wouldn't suggest it. What you should do is name those who have been good on your evaluation...name and position. I will sometimes ask if I can shoot a photo of their name tag so I don't forget (this usually gets huge smiles). I even say that I won't shoot their face, and show them the picture afterwards. Mentions in customer comments get them perks--sometimes as little as an extra hour off on a port day (which can be huge to crew members), sometimes bigger....sometimes enough will get a promotion, etc.

Their web site says 7 days. THe first time, I applied for each of us at the same time. My daughter's came thru in a few days, mine never did. I re-applied and got mine within a few days. If you don't hear in a week either contact them or re-apply

Very similar, with a few entertainment and decor differences. If I had a choice, I'd do RL but only because I've already cruised Scarlet and Valiant.

Checking inventory doesn't tell you all you need to know. For instance, there may be 100 people with "lock it in" rates that have not yet been assigned to rooms. You might see 300 empty sea terraces/ central sea terrace available, but you wouldn't know how many of those would ultimately be assigned to the "lock it in" people. It does give you a better idea on suites

Social club tends to show anything that is likely to be of broad interest--often sports but you won't know what in advance. They showed the coronation of Charles..but we were in Europe at the time so that made sense. You can get sports on your TV in the room, but again....what and when can be an issue

The pools are open and heated....close for bad weather and cleaning. Cleaning is middle of the night. VV pools have longer hours than many other lines

THese activities should show up on your app after boarding. The meet and greet is on the pool deck near where the sail away is located. PLEASE verify because everything on VV is subject to change, but this is how it has been on each of our sailings over the last 2 years.

The above info is correct. Winning bids have nothing to do with what you paid for your cabin originally, only what category you purchased. I'm aware of one person who went from an inside to an oceanview for $25. It really doesn't matter whether the site lists your bid as "weak" or "good." It matters what others bid and how many upgrades are available. Another thing to check is whether upgrades are available at port. In this case, you are told what the price will be and what the available cabins are. THe sales person will have access to a chart showing the various cabin categories and price depends on what category you are in and what you are going to. The advantage of this is that you know exactly what cabin you are moving into--this means you can avoid cabins in locations you consider less desirable and that someone who needs an accessible cabin can potentially move to a better level of accessible. The downside is that there is no guarantee that any upgrades will be available at the port and any available might be priced higher than those that were bids. We have been very fortunate with upgrades at port on other lines, and I was quite surprised to see huge signs at the terminal for our last VV cruise as it was the most full VV we'd been on. The goal of the line is to get the most they can from each passenger/cabin....and if that means an extra $200 in their pocket at port, they will go for it.

Cabin level has nothing to do with check in time or services once you board. You are probably already aware of the solo cruiser meet and greet just prior to the sail away party as well as the solo cruiser dinner hosted by Happenings Cast in Razzle Dazzle on the first night, no reservation needed. It used to be at 6:30, but I'd recommend that you verify the time. Both are good times to meet other solo cruisers. We had additional activities on each sea day, but I think that depends on the length of the cruise.

Strict, but if you have a late boarding time (3 pm or later) it is very likely that your group will be called before the actual time. You won't be able to jump past anyone in an earlier group, but you might be taken before your group time IF you have a later time.

Obviously we don't know when you requested the match and would need to research which match was in effect at that time. BUT if you have the email that says you get DBE, I would contact them. They will either give you DBE or admit their mistake. They never claimed to "match" that package that other cruise lines gave for any given level...but to "match" by placing you in their loyalty program. I used the top tier on another cruise line, and the DBE that I got thru VV was better than the benefits that other line was giving me. Other line used to have good benefits, but they had decreased over time. My logic is that we have spent thousands of dollars gaining loyalty status on other lines. Anything that VV was giving us on our first cruises with them was indeed a great benefit. If you don't drink premium coffee, you can choose premium tea or hot chocolate. You can use your benefit to treat a crew member who is waiting in line (they pay full price if they get it in guest areas, but may not have time while on break to run back to crew area where it is cheaper). Or you can just not use it. Your choice. That huge bag of laundry is a great benefit on a 14 or 15 night cruise, not worth much on a 3 or 4 night. I agree that Blue Extras is not much.....but again, it is something.

My TA will do it at midnight EST when the portal opens. What I do is to send her the list of what I'd like to have on which night and approximately what times in advance. She understands that I will try to do it thru the app, but if the app crashes, I'll shoot her a message and she will take over from there. She also knows that if I say 8:00, that means get it as close to that time as you can. FWIW, the most I've been able to do on my own is 3 nights, then the crash. Will it be full or not by the next morning? That depends on how full your cruise is and how many people jump on trying to make reservations at midnight. My first cruise, I didn't do reservations till the next morning on the phone to VV (different TA for that first cruise). I had no problem, but that cruise was only half full. Since than, no problem with getting reservations, but I was doing it at or near midnight.

It is named for the shade of red used on the ships. It is a specialty loyalty group, well above the Deep Blue or other programs. It was supposedly the first 99 people who booked on VV with Richard being number 100, but somehow has now expanded to more people than that.

Thanks...I just knew my friend was wearing all 3 on one cruise.....and I definitely know that some people with black bands do not qualify either by purchasing suites or being 485c. VV hands those out to people they choose for whatever their reasons may be.

A lot seems to depend on who your agent is.

I' ve done a total of 12 TAs, but figured the question applied to Virgin Voyages. I've seen huge increarses on other lines as well. THe good thing on other lines is these cruises are typically when schools are in session so most of the kids on board are infants and toddlers--not the ones who can run around without parental supervision.

I've been on all 4 of the TAs between Barcelona and Miami. October 2022--1300 sailors April 2023 1500 October 2023. 1851 April 2024. 2100 I'm sure the round numbers are not exact, but they are what we were told. We could definitely tell a difference on the April 2024---too full for my liking!

Yes, people often report getting upgrades at all sorts of bid levels. It is totally a matter of what is available and how many bidders are trying to get them. On our last cruise, there was a suite available that could have been an upgrade at the terminal--must have been a last minute cancelation. In that case, VV has determined a price based on the type of cabin you originally booked and what you are upgrading into.

Surely you have read on the website what is included, so are just looking for hints. Be at the port at 1, check in thru the rockstar entrance (if in Miami). BCN did not have a separate entrance but did have a separate waiting area. You only get the one bar set up, but you can request all the mixers, cans of soft drinks, etc. that you want. Rooftop every night will have a happy hour with drink choices. You basically shouldn't have to wait in any lines. You an be escorted off the ship at all ports and at the end of the cruise. Shows that don't have reservations, your rockstar agent will move you to the front of the line. Let them know of anything you want; worst they can do is say No>

Well, I never saw anything good from her....we were boarding the ship on a day when she was on board filming a commercial. This was after she changed the date. Boarding was delayed by more than an hour, large areas of the ship were closed off in order to complete the filming, and we departed late after her limo picked her up outside the terminal. I think I saw that commercial run once, then they didn't appear to be using her any more. I never understood her purpose.

The old bands had sayings....there were 4 or 5 available. Prior to that, they were sending them to you in advance with your name on them, but that stopped (I'm guessing because too many people were either not receiving them or forgetting them). Most recent ones are plain red for us normal people, black for people who have access to Richard's Rooftop, and purple, I think for 485c. Note, not all people with black bands are staying in suites--they give Rooftop to others that they consider appropriate--content creators, some First Mates, etc.

As above, somewhere between 35% and 50% of dinner reservations are held back until embarkation. You can make reservations as soon as you can log onto the ship's wifi using the app or you can go to the restaurant that has a help team--normally Razzle Dazzle, but on our most recent cruise was Pink Agave. As you said, you won't starve. There are also nightly specials in The Galley ...some of them are really good.

It is EASY. No, you won't get a print out. You will get a medical form on the app 24 hours before your cruise. If you have completed everything on the app, you will just need to show your passport and credit card at check in. If there is any problem that can't be quickly resolved at the check in desk, they will send you to a help desk...but this is mostly for people who have not checked in on the app. They once had a problem with my photo--it took all of 10 seconds for them to take another one with their tablet. You will not get any luggage tags. The porters will supply those when you get to the terminal.

Any increased port charges show up under the taxes. I think price differences are based on the real or anticipated popularity of a cruise. For instance, the first few times of a new port are likely to be quite popular and increase costs. I don't remember which one I looked up for 2025, but the price was double what we paid for 2024....and that was enough for me to decide to not do it. IF you know you are doing a TA in each direction 5-6 months apart, you can often book round trip plane tickets, which can make the international portion of the flights far less costly.