boring itineraries

[Knighton]

Why is it that every new ship on every cruise line starts out with the same old boring itineraries?  I really want to try Virgin but Key West, anywhere in the Bahamas and anywhere in eastern mexico or elsewhere on a western caribbean itinerary is a total been there done that many times for me.  And I don't feel it's a good idea to go to the Dominican Republic just now, due to all the weird illnesses.  If Virgin is trying to be different and innovative, then how about going someplace different?  I'm not keen on paying twice as much for a cruise to the same old same old just because it's a new ship with new bells and whistles. 

[twodjs]

Others have made the same comment. Keep in mind that part of Virgin's market is the first-time cruiser - so every port is new to them. Most of us who have cruised quite a bit have been to most every port in the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean. Where would you go in the Caribbean that has a developed port (please no tendering!) that would be different, innovative and accessible on a 4, 5 or 7 day cruise? Great wish, but none pop into my mind. Your ideas?

 

[Knighton]

I guess since all the lines seem to start everything somewhere out of Florida that does limit ports quite a bit.  I'd even prefer Southern Caribbean-those are the ports I haven't been to nearly as much.  Problem with that is it means cruises that have to be considerably longer than the 4-5 day ones they've got now if sticking with florida departure ports.  I'm sure Virgin won't want to do long cruises just yet.  Honestly if I could have it my way I'd say don't bother with ports at all and just make em all at sea days.  I'd be happy if the ship just did circles in the ocean for 5 days.  😄  That way every day has lots of activities right on the ship.

 

The only thing that might have attracted people more would have been the cuba itineraries the lines all had to cancel.  I've already been, so that wasn't attracting me to Virgin, but I do feel bad for those who had planned to go and now can't.

Edited June 15, 2019 by Knighton

[twodjs]

I agree about Cuba. Virgin would have been the newest ship going there. We went back in Oct. of 2017 and really enjoyed the experience. Hope the ban doesn't last long. I'm sure once more Virgin ships are available, they will be more creative with their itineraries, both the ports and lengths of their cruises. Just sea days are just fine with us, also! We already do that on cruises to Mexico - never get off the ship. 

[CruisingWalter]

For us, we're more interested in checking out the ship than the ports.  We were booked on a 4 day Havana Overnight cruise, but since the orange clown made the ban, we changed it to the 5 day Mayan Sol which includes Costa Maya.  That's the one port we really want to sail into so we can go walk the Mayan ruins. 

 

For us it's more about seeing what Virgin is all about than the ports of call.  Cuba is still a bucket list destination and once this administration is gone, that will be corrected I'm sure.  But for now, we're ok with the 'boring' ports of call, more time to spend on the ship checking out what it has to offer and see if it's a line we want to continue to sail.

 

[kgelner]

I'm pretty excited about Bimini, took a trip there once and thought the place was great - a special Virgin beach resort there sounds pretty amazing.

As for the Dominican Republic, I think it's safe to go as long as you are not staying in a resort there (where most of the problems seem to be happening).  I probably wouldn't drink anything there.

[Biker19]

On 6/15/2019 at 2:55 PM, Knighton said:

Why is it that every new ship on every cruise line starts out with the same old boring itineraries?  If Virgin is trying to be different and innovative, then how about going someplace different? 

How would a first timer (seemingly the demographic VV is aiming at) know that it's boring and not different?

[Knighton]

I guess they're not interested in stealing passengers away from other lines.  I want to see the new ship, but that's not enough to warrant spending twice as much as going on the same itinerary on Celebrity for me.

[hotsauce126]

Its not like they're all going to Nassau or something. These itineraries are only boring for the long-time serial cruisers who isn't really their target market

[Biker19]

19 hours ago, ronbe65 said:

I believe a first timer would not know why his/her first cruise should be on VV. All cruise ships are equally new/exciting/boring for first timers.

We were talking about ports, not the ship itself.

[S4POPO]

The original poster has stated an issue with the ports of call but hasn't mentioned any alternatives.  In addition, if you prefer sea days, then the solution is simple (stay on the ship.)

 

I do think VV is innovative with their stop in Bimini.

[Knighton]

As I stated in post #3, there really aren't too many alternatives since everyone seems to think new ships gotta sail out of florida and aren't doing anything but 4 nighters at first.  Like I said, Cuba would have been a big draw, but that's a no go now.  I wouldn't go to the Dominican Republic right now at all because of the numbers of tourists getting the same pulmonary edema for no reason at all.  And Key West is ok, but also one that lots of cruises go to.  Bimini might be ok, if they've got neat stuff to do there.  I would have made the cruises 7 nighters right off the bat and went to Grand Turk or maybe Puerto Rico along with their private place on Bimini.  And it's not truly an at sea day if we're in port.  There won't be any activities on board the ship like trivia contests, etc and the shops and casino won't be open because everyone will be off the ship.