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Any NEWS on VV? Please post it here...

wwcruisers

By wwcruisers,
in Virgin Voyages

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kgelner

kgelner

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, AdoraBelle said:

 

 

I don't know who these dudes are and am not affiliated, but there's some pretty extensive walk-through footage overlaid with VR/CG renderings. 

 

That was a good one!  I also enjoyed the similar yet slightly different take from Emma Cruises below - I have never seen her (or that couple you posted) before, but found them both looking for videos of the tour...  Emma even appears a number of times in the video you posted as they were all touring at the same time and she is also very enthusiastic about the trip:

 

 

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timf2001

timf2001

Posted
Posted
43 minutes ago, SC_GAY_Cruiser said:

so just an interesting note.......I went to VV.com to dream about booking one of their future cruises and was surprised that instead of cruises available from April - Oct 2020, now they are only available through June 2020 on the website.    Interesting......

 

 

You can still select and view sailings through October, but the range defaults to April - June.

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AdoraBelle

AdoraBelle

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Posted (edited)

https://www.businessinsider.com/virgin-voyages-ceo-on-no-gratuities-recruitment-and-environment-2019-2

 

“Beyond the creative and management teams, McAlpin contends that Virgin Voyages will stand out from its contemporaries for the way the company treats its crew and customers. That begins with gratuities. Mainstream cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean charge guests a set daily gratuity. For Carnival, it starts at $13.99 per day, per person. At Royal Caribbean, it starts at $14.50 per day, per person. At Virgin, it's $0.

 

“Not requiring gratuities does two things, it creates a better experience for our sailors because they don't have to worry about paying gratuities," McAlpin said. "But also we are able to pay our crew salaries so they won't have to worry about whether they are going to make enough money this month."

 

(McAlpin is a former DCL president, now CEO of VV.)

Edited by AdoraBelle
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Biker19

Biker19

Posted
Posted

The former president of Metro Cruise Services and Royal Caribbean veteran Juan Trescastro has been appointed to a new role at Virgin Voyages.

Reports to Diana Block

As senior director, itineraries, destinations, government relations and shore excursions, he reports to to Diana Block Garcia, VP revenue, itinerary & destination, and another Royal Caribbean veteran.

Trescastro had joined Metro as SVP business development in June 2017 and was promoted to president in 2018. As earlier reported, he was succeeded in the Metro job by Anthony Newman.

17 years at Royal Caribbean

Earlier, during 17 years at Royal Caribbean, Trescastro held senior port roles, ultimately, VP worldwide port operations for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Pullmantur Cruises.

He was responsible for more than 8,000 ship calls per year, spanning 475 ports in 107 countries. He also was instrumental in the development of the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey, as well as Terminal 18 at Port Everglades.

Trescastro left RCL in early 2016.

 

http://www.seatrade-*****/news/news-headlines/juan-trescastro-in-new-gig-at-virgin-voyages.html

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Biker19

Biker19

Posted
Posted

 

Virgin Voyages is returning to its Virgin brand roots by creating a music experience aboard Scarlet Lady that features a record shop, a private karaoke/gaming lounge and curated music and performances by up-and-coming artists and trendsetters.

Music residency program

A residency program will feature performances by world-class talent on ship and at destinations including The Beach Club at Bimini. Last month, Virgin announced the Grammy- and Oscar-winning DJ, songwriter and record producer Mark Ronson has committed to four performances at The Beach Club at Bimini in 2020.

The residency lineup will include the multi-platinum chart-topping artist, DJ, producer/remixer MK (Marc Kinchen), who has committed to one performance in 2020. The Grammy-nominated electronic music duo Sofi Tukker, known for 'Best Friend,' have also signed on.

Sonic identity

With the Virgin brand’s deep-rooted history in music, Virgin Voyages’ sonic identity will come to life aboard Scarlet Lady. Each space will have its own energy, developed by tastemakers and brought to life by up-and-coming talent and special guest performances. Virgin's sonic identity will have a home in electronic music, but also will incorporate other genres.

By 'electronic,' the line means all electronically programmed sounds, even those of more classic eras, and the early innovators of the sound from rare disco tracks, through to the '80s and other important periods. Calming sounds will be incorporated at the appropriate times to ensure moments of relaxation and rejuvenation.

WhiteLabel Creative

The brand is expanding its Creative Collective from design, food and entertainment to now include music. This entails WhiteLabel Creative, a group of music industry insiders who specialize in sensory branding and cultural programming for hospitality and lifestyle experiences. WhiteLabel Creative is responsible for developing the background sounds across Scarlet Lady and securing DJs for The Beach Club at Bimini’s residency program.

Voyage Vinyl

Scarlet Lady's record shop, Voyage Vinyl, will let sailors experience all eras and genres of music at personal listening stations. Limited-edition curated albums and special editions of classics will be on sale, along with music magazines, headphones and record players.

Voyage Vinyl also will double as a performance spot for live sets mixed by Scarlet Lady’s resident DJs.

The Groupie

Sailors can let loose at The Groupie, the ship's karaoke, gaming and movie lounge. Designed by Roman Coppola as a modernist take on a Japanese-style karaoke room, the venue will be available for booking.

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perditax

perditax

Posted
Posted

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-cuba-travel-restrictions-20190417-story.html

 

Travel to Cuba will now be limited to family visits, restricting those deemed as “veiled tourism,” said a high-ranking official who spoke on condition of anonymity. That could signal the end of cruises, which started to operate during the Obama years because of an expansion of the categories of travel allowed.

 

Oops.

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kgelner

kgelner

Posted
Posted
57 minutes ago, perditax said:

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-cuba-travel-restrictions-20190417-story.html

 

 

 

57 minutes ago, perditax said:

 

 

Oops.

 

I wonder if they could switch the Cuba cruises to leave from Bimini instead so they didn't run afoul of US regulations on visiting Cuba.

Virgin is luckier than other cruise lines, since the launch is still a ways off we may be back to being able to visit Cuba by then.

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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

Posted
Posted
On 4/17/2019 at 3:46 PM, stitchcreek said:

I asked on VV website’s chat feature if the news would affect our itinerary and they said not to worry, we’ll still be visiting Cuba...

 

 

It's not their decision and even they don't know for certain at this point.  It's up the US government and right now the new restrictions are a bit vague.  When they are better defined only then will all the cruise lines know for certain.  For now they are all playing "wait and see" and it's a bit premature for VV to tell you they will be visiting Cuba for certain.  

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stitchcreek

stitchcreek

Posted
Posted (edited)
5 hours ago, eroller said:

 

 

It's not their decision and even they don't know for certain at this point.  It's up the US government and right now the new restrictions are a bit vague.  When they are better defined only then will all the cruise lines know for certain.  For now they are all playing "wait and see" and it's a bit premature for VV to tell you they will be visiting Cuba for certain.  

 

Hmmm... in that case I don’t like that they weren’t just honest with me about this...

Edited by stitchcreek
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perditax

perditax

Posted
Posted

No direct link yet, but today’s marketing email to me from VV shows what seems to be their first upcharge venue, a coffee shop. Email only so I can’t link to the image, but it shows what’s clearly a price board behind the counter. 

 

They do only mention “drip coffees” as included in their early materials. Hopefully this isn’t the first flake in an avalanche of upcharge items 

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