Gretchendz

It's too peppery for me, for sure! But it has many fans.

Probably the easiest way is to find a TA who has a client who wants one. If the TA books lots of Virgin we can usually find someone for it in a few days or weeks. Then you call Virgin and keep your name on it but have the TA added as the TA. Then either the TA or the client reimburses you the $300 and the TA arranged to replace your name with the new client's. When I have done this I warn the new person that it cannot be transferred again so they need to be sure!

I have used VPN successfully on Lesser Antilles and Dominican Daze.

In case anyone is reading this thread, please know that MNVVs and their use changed for those purchased after January 31, 2024. To get the full $600 OBC benefit, you must book the new cruise within 60 days of purchase. The other old rules apply. It is still good for 2 years but the OBC is $300 if you book after the first 60 days.

Other online travel forums that focus on Virgin allow recommendations for TAs. Cruise Critic does not.

Yes

Totally agree. Most lines nowadays are LGBTQ friendly but Virgin is on anther level!

I'm on it too--totally agree! It was wonderful.

Totally depends on the TA you choose. Will some book you and forget you? Yes. FIND another. Lots of us will give you the same deals and be available and send you tips and secrets. Even better if they still Virgin themselves.

Many people feel this is true. I am on Princess right now and I am WISHING for the Virgin app.

UGH!

Here's the best explanation I have seen so far: https://vvinsider.com/introducing-the-virgin-voyages-sailing-club-for-2024-2025/

Not true. It is valid until April 7. The misunderstanding comes in because when it was first announced it effectively doubled the bar tab in effect at the time, which, as you know, is gone. However, you can still get it on new bookings, by applying the access key when you or your TA books using the access key. Link to the promotion: https://www.virginvoyages.com/l/delta-skymiles-offer. Terms I received from Virgin: Offer details 30% Voyage Fare Discount, per Sailor on cabin categories TX and below (not applicable to V1/I1) Free Promotional Bar Tab for Rockstar Suites & Sea Terraces (No lock-it in cabins within these meta-categories) Eligibility: New bookings made from March 11, 2024 (12:00 AM) through April 7, 2024 (11:59:59 PM) This offer is only for new bookings made during the eligible time period. The free Promotional Bar Tab is eligible on Rockstar Suites and Sea Terrace Meta Categories (No Lock-it-in cabins) and will be applied to Sailor 1. Combinable with: Loyalty Club Member Benefits Sea-Blazer Sea-Rover Club 485c Tour Operator Bookings San Juan Sailor Loot Promotion Although these promotions are combinable, Sailors will have to call in to take advantage of both. We do not have the ability for sailors to apply multiple Access Keys to one booking. Not Combinable with: First Mate Loot Influencer Access Keys Any other Sailor Loot Offers MNVV Australian Displacement Offers Circles If you have any questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reply to this email or drop us a line at 954-488-2955 (US), +44 (20) 30034919 (UK), or +61 (1800) 491708 (AUS) and we’ll be happy to help. P.S> Also not combinable with MNVVs.

Yes...and the price on the cruise may have changed. And if you had another promotion on it, depending on when you booked, you would likely lose that too.

Since they can be transferred to another person once, many TAs buy as many as they can and transfer them to their clients who have never sailed Virgin. The client reimburses the TA the $300, then the TA books the client on the cruise, and the client gets all the perks.

To get this promotion, you do not need to fly Delta at all. You just need a Skymiles account (the loyalty program, not the credit card). No need to have ever flown Delta. Just have your TA enter the Delta promo access code at booking. Then be ready to show proof you are a Skymiles member when you board.

And I assume you know about the value of buying a My Next Virgin Voyage (MNVV) certificate while on board if you are pretty sure you will sail with Virgin again within the next two years. It is so much more generous than most other line's programs. For those who don't know, you need to buy it while on board. You pay $300 which become applied to your next deposit AND you get a $300 price reduction on your next vooyage AND $600 on board credit on that next cruise. To get maximum benefit you must book next cruise within 60 days of buying MNVV. But if you delay you still get $300 OBC with the price reduction and deposit applied. $900 value for $300 is a pretty good deal. $1200 benefit for $300 is really good.

Sailor Loot only comes through promotions or from travel agents or from the use of a My Next Virgin Voyage or Extend the Glow certificates which are Virgin's version of a future cruise deposit. And honestly, Virgin has been cutting back on Sailor Loot promotions pretty dramatically lately. Many TAs can add it if you book through them, though. Bar Tab can be purchased before the cruise and only before. If you buy a $300 Bar Tab you get $350 credit, if you buy $200 Bar Tab you get $225 credit, or $100 Bar Tab you get $110 credit. And you can buy multiple ones. Example, if you bought two $300 Bar Tabs, you would have $700 Bar tab credit on board.

This is the first time, to my knowledge, that Delta and Virgin have run this. It started with Branson getting on a Delta flight and giving everyone onthe flight a free cruise, Oprah-style! I would not be surprised to see more. Delta sent out an email to their Skymiles members announcing it. The interesting thing with this one is you need to enter the access code in at the time of booking, but you don't really need to be a Skymiles member until you board.It's free and only takes a minute or two to join. It's hard to keep up with all the promotions that come and go. The best way to keep track is to 1) haunt this forum, 2) haunt the Virgin subreddit, or 3) find a TA who books a lot of Virgin and ask them to keep you informed.

If you used a First Mate, ask them to investigate. Sometimes things will show on the confirmation they can download for you that don't show on the app. If you booked directly, call Sailor Services.

I can feel the next question coming on 🙂 Here's the answer: Bar Tab Vs Sailor Loot A Bar tab is prepaid credit you have received through a promotion or purchased before the cruise. It is credit you can spend onboard toward the cost of alcohol, specialty coffees and teas, and fresh pressed juice. There is a promotion that allows you to pay before your cruise $300 towards your bar tab, you will receive $50 additional bar tab credit. There is also an option to buy $200 bar tab and receive an extra $20 bar tab credit. You can also purchase $100 bar tab and receive an additional $10 bar tab. Sailor Loot is what is typically called on board credit. This money can be spent on bar tab items but can also be spent on shore excursions (if you book them while on board), spa services, extra cost items in the restaurants such as a tomahawk steak, tattoos, onboard events that come with an extra charge, or to purchase items in the gift shops. Once you have spent your Bar Tab money, they will charge remaining drinks to your Sailor Loot. When that runs out they will charge your credit card.

Back to the original question. This is true. I have stayed in Sea Terraces where the bed came into the room closer to the door, and others where it was nearer the balcony. I prefered the latter as ther was even more open space, or so it felt. Unfortunately, I have not yet found a source of discovering ahead of time which room is which way. Even Virgin does not seem to have this notated anywhere. Here are pictures to illustrate. Closer to the door: https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/slideshow-cabin-members.php?ship=Scarlet-Lady&cabin=8158A Closer to the balcony: https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/slideshow-cabin-members.php?ship=Scarlet-Lady&cabin=8122A Supposedly they alternate, but I cannot confirm that.

They just announced they are reversing the decision 🙂

They just announced they are reversing the decision 🙂

In general, the past few months, Virgin has been clear with TAs on calls, that the days of virtually giving cruises away are over. I have clients who amassed huge amounts of bar tabs and on board credit last fall. Like, even more than I could spend, and I can spend pretty well! VV is saying they know they have a premium popular product and they need to start making money 🙂 While certainly prices on sailings that are not selling well may drop, expect prices to slowly increase over time. In general, expect to get the best prices booking early. If the price does drop, you can usually get it refared or cancel and rebook if you are before final payment date.