Anyone onboard?

[gumshoe958]

1 minute ago, johnnylikely said:

Wow, sounds fab! Are you happy with the onboard experience? V reassuring! The wake is probably my fave venue

Yes, more than happy. What @ChipLondonsaid - the crew are clearly delighted to finally be doing what they signed up for.

 

The ship is stylish, the food’s great and the service excellent. Not all the entertainment and activities are up my street but no-one’s forcing you to go to anything and what I’ve seen so far I’ve enjoyed.

 

My biggest gripe is with the wifi - it’s very, very slow, but they’ve acknowledged that with a note in each cabin explaining why. Normally they’d sell an upgraded premium wifi package apparently, but not on these UK cruises.

[johnnylikely]

2 minutes ago, gumshoe958 said:

Yes, more than happy. What @ChipLondonsaid - the crew are clearly delighted to finally be doing what they signed up for.

 

The ship is stylish, the food’s great and the service excellent. Not all the entertainment and activities are up my street but no-one’s forcing you to go to anything and what I’ve seen so far I’ve enjoyed.

 

My biggest gripe is with the wifi - it’s very, very slow, but they’ve acknowledged that with a note in each cabin explaining why. Normally they’d sell an upgraded premium wifi package apparently, but not on these UK cruises.

Wonderful wonderful! Great.

 

Do you know by any chance, or let us know if you do- is there poker in the casino? Not the machine dealt one (like blackjack) but poker against other people?

 

Thanks a billion! Enjoy the experience and thanks for the updates!!!

V reassuring! ;O)

[garymfreedman]

Scarlett lady casts off...

 

[Cherries Jubilee]

What kind of entertainment do they have? Do they give out a daily planner with the activities listed?

[LeLe_Is_Me]

21 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

There are toilets! But if it’s raining and the queue’s long, tough. Only the last bit is undercover.

Wow I must have missed your “Tough” response to the potential of standing 3hrs in a queue in potential heavy rain 😮

 

wouldn’t be tough for me as there’s no way I’d be boarding with a soggy case of clothes.

 

luckily virgins response  has been amazing and I am fully confident that they will iron out the issues.

[peteukmcr]

4 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

The buses exist, as obviously they have to return from the port having dropped people off after being tested.

 

The issue, I think, is that they don’t want tested and untested people using the same vehicles. But I did overhear a couple of drivers talking about a “dirty” bus and a “clean” bus so it’s conceivable they’re operating both ways. Don’t quote me on it though.

I've emailed Virgin Voyages to see what they say.

[LeLe_Is_Me]

Anyone on board that can explain how the OBC and Bar tab works once on Board.

 

ive got a $400 bar tab set up already (which can only be used at bars) and also $100 OBC (Can be used anywhere)

When we pay with the band how do I know what pot it comes out of?

where do we see balance? Is it on the cabin tablet?

 

Thanks 😊 

 

[wendyam76]

6 hours ago, LeLe_Is_Me said:

Anyone on board that can explain how the OBC and Bar tab works once on Board.

 

ive got a $400 bar tab set up already (which can only be used at bars) and also $100 OBC (Can be used anywhere)

When we pay with the band how do I know what pot it comes out of?

where do we see balance? Is it on the cabin tablet?

 

Thanks 😊 

 

You should be able to see it on the app. I have the bar tab and will say I’m paying for my mum’s drinks as she wouldn’t drink that much!

Wendy

[LeLe_Is_Me]

53 minutes ago, wendyam76 said:

You should be able to see it on the app. I have the bar tab and will say I’m paying for my mum’s drinks as she wouldn’t drink that much!

Wendy

On the App we have now? 
where would I find that as it’s not showing anywhere on mine.

 

when I log in on the website it only shows me the OBC under future voyages not the bar tab. 
 

thanks for helping x

[wendyam76]

Yes, the app rather than website. On the bottom right go to “me” - then top left “my wallet” - when you are onboard it says that you should be be able to see your account.

Wendy

[gumshoe958]

Having just disembarked after the official maiden voyage I thought I’d share my thoughts.

 

As has been well documented, the pre-boarding testing process on Friday was horrendous. But I won’t dwell on that. VV know it went wrong, acknowledged they let us down and made a nice gesture by way of apology. I hope the tweaks they’ve made as of today make a difference.

 

As for the ship, the standout for me was the food. The restaurant concept works, and while I get that many traditional cruisers enjoy dressing up and eating in the same place with the same people every night, I never have. I ate dinner in The Wake, Pink Agave and Extra Virgin, and breakfast in Razzle Dazzle, and all four were superb. Imaginative menus and far better quality than the main dining rooms on other equivalent lines. The only disappointing thing food-wise was The Galley which I think is supposed to feel like a trendy food court but, for me, didn’t quite hit the spot (apart from the salad bar which is great).

 

The other standout was the crew. Without exception they were friendly, motivated and eager to please - above all they just seemed genuinely happy to finally be doing what they signed up for more than 18 months ago. I had a long chat with my waitress last night who said 85% of the crew who were on board pre-shutdown chose to come back, which seems impressively high.

 

So what needs attention: the app, firstly - as many have already experienced pre-cruise, it’s very buggy and given that your time on board revolves around it in terms of checking out the daily schedule and booking shows, restaurants etc, they need to sort it out urgently. 

Likewise the wifi - it’s fine in port but at sea it’s very, very slow. There was a note in the cabin explaining why (wrong type of satellite or something!) but for a line that makes much of trying to appeal to Generation Instagram, that’s another thing for the priority list.

 

Entertainment was an interesting one. What I saw, I liked: a guy called Tom Crosbie (The Performing Nerd) who I’ve seen before in Edinburgh and is right up my street but may be a bit too niche for a cruise ship. Duel Reality, the main show, is great - circus with attitude. The bingo with Abi the Hostess was a laugh and the band (Buster Shuffle) were excellent and went down very well. Again, VV have tried to be different so lovers of the traditional song & dance production show and covers bands will be disappointed. And a lot of the entertainment is meant to be spontaneous - you’ll be sitting having a drink and a magician will wander up or a couple will start singing on the stairs. But I felt there was too much emphasis on “adult” entertainment - yes I know it’s an adults only line but things like talks on how to incorporate play into your sex life and how to communicate erotically, and the sex-themed cabaret show just didn’t do it for me! But hey, maybe I’m just an old prude. Overall though, I thought they needed more crowd-pleaser entertainment and activities, while still keeping that Virgin difference.

 

So - would I return? Yes I would (and I am!) - I loved the chic, modern style of the ship, its laid back, relaxed vibe, the food and the crew. But I wouldn’t want to do more than 3, 4 or 5 nights - for me, there wasn’t enough to do for a week or longer. And they really need to sort out the tech, which is fundamental to the VV concept. But I admire them for daring to be different. Traditional cruisers who like what they like may find it’s not for them. But there’s no shortage of alternatives. This is an attempt to win a new crowd, and I really hope it works.

 

[johnnylikely]

12 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

 

Having just disembarked after the official maiden voyage I thought I’d share my thoughts.

 

As has been well documented, the pre-boarding testing process on Friday was horrendous. But I won’t dwell on that. VV know it went wrong, acknowledged they let us down and made a nice gesture by way of apology. I hope the tweaks they’ve made as of today make a difference.

 

As for the ship, the standout for me was the food. The restaurant concept works, and while I get that many traditional cruisers enjoy dressing up and eating in the same place with the same people every night, I never have. I ate dinner in The Wake, Pink Agave and Extra Virgin, and breakfast in Razzle Dazzle, and all four were superb. Imaginative menus and far better quality than the main dining rooms on other equivalent lines. The only disappointing thing food-wise was The Galley which I think is supposed to feel like a trendy food court but, for me, didn’t quite hit the spot (apart from the salad bar which is great).

 

The other standout was the crew. Without exception they were friendly, motivated and eager to please - above all they just seemed genuinely happy to finally be doing what they signed up for more than 18 months ago. I had a long chat with my waitress last night who said 85% of the crew who were on board pre-shutdown chose to come back, which seems impressively high.

 

So what needs attention: the app, firstly - as many have already experienced pre-cruise, it’s very buggy and given that your time on board revolves around it in terms of checking out the daily schedule and booking shows, restaurants etc, they need to sort it out urgently. 

Likewise the wifi - it’s fine in port but at sea it’s very, very slow. There was a note in the cabin explaining why (wrong type of satellite or something!) but for a line that makes much of trying to appeal to Generation Instagram, that’s another thing for the priority list.

 

Entertainment was an interesting one. What I saw, I liked: a guy called Tom Crosbie (The Performing Nerd) who I’ve seen before in Edinburgh and is right up my street but may be a bit too niche for a cruise ship. Duel Reality, the main show, is great - circus with attitude. The bingo with Abi the Hostess was a laugh and the band (Buster Shuffle) were excellent and went down very well. Again, VV have tried to be different so lovers of the traditional song & dance production show and covers bands will be disappointed. And a lot of the entertainment is meant to be spontaneous - you’ll be sitting having a drink and a magician will wander up or a couple will start singing on the stairs. But I felt there was too much emphasis on “adult” entertainment - yes I know it’s an adults only line but things like talks on how to incorporate play into your sex life and how to communicate erotically, and the sex-themed cabaret show just didn’t do it for me! But hey, maybe I’m just an old prude. Overall though, I thought they needed more crowd-pleaser entertainment and activities, while still keeping that Virgin difference.

 

So - would I return? Yes I would (and I am!) - I loved the chic, modern style of the ship, its laid back, relaxed vibe, the food and the crew. But I wouldn’t want to do more than 3, 4 or 5 nights - for me, there wasn’t enough to do for a week or longer. And they really need to sort out the tech, which is fundamental to the VV concept. But I admire them for daring to be different. Traditional cruisers who like what they like may find it’s not for them. But there’s no shortage of alternatives. This is an attempt to win a new crowd, and I really hope it works.

 

 

Thanks for your thoughts! Consensus seems to be a solid onboard experience, great food but sketchy entertainments.

I'm a little iffy about the emphasis on sexy time, and I'm no prude...

Glad to hear it's great overall. Boarding in two weeks!

[Cherries Jubilee]

14 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

 

Having just disembarked after the official maiden voyage I thought I’d share my thoughts.

 

As has been well documented, the pre-boarding testing process on Friday was horrendous. But I won’t dwell on that. VV know it went wrong, acknowledged they let us down and made a nice gesture by way of apology. I hope the tweaks they’ve made as of today make a difference.

 

As for the ship, the standout for me was the food. The restaurant concept works, and while I get that many traditional cruisers enjoy dressing up and eating in the same place with the same people every night, I never have. I ate dinner in The Wake, Pink Agave and Extra Virgin, and breakfast in Razzle Dazzle, and all four were superb. Imaginative menus and far better quality than the main dining rooms on other equivalent lines. The only disappointing thing food-wise was The Galley which I think is supposed to feel like a trendy food court but, for me, didn’t quite hit the spot (apart from the salad bar which is great).

 

The other standout was the crew. Without exception they were friendly, motivated and eager to please - above all they just seemed genuinely happy to finally be doing what they signed up for more than 18 months ago. I had a long chat with my waitress last night who said 85% of the crew who were on board pre-shutdown chose to come back, which seems impressively high.

 

So what needs attention: the app, firstly - as many have already experienced pre-cruise, it’s very buggy and given that your time on board revolves around it in terms of checking out the daily schedule and booking shows, restaurants etc, they need to sort it out urgently. 

Likewise the wifi - it’s fine in port but at sea it’s very, very slow. There was a note in the cabin explaining why (wrong type of satellite or something!) but for a line that makes much of trying to appeal to Generation Instagram, that’s another thing for the priority list.

 

Entertainment was an interesting one. What I saw, I liked: a guy called Tom Crosbie (The Performing Nerd) who I’ve seen before in Edinburgh and is right up my street but may be a bit too niche for a cruise ship. Duel Reality, the main show, is great - circus with attitude. The bingo with Abi the Hostess was a laugh and the band (Buster Shuffle) were excellent and went down very well. Again, VV have tried to be different so lovers of the traditional song & dance production show and covers bands will be disappointed. And a lot of the entertainment is meant to be spontaneous - you’ll be sitting having a drink and a magician will wander up or a couple will start singing on the stairs. But I felt there was too much emphasis on “adult” entertainment - yes I know it’s an adults only line but things like talks on how to incorporate play into your sex life and how to communicate erotically, and the sex-themed cabaret show just didn’t do it for me! But hey, maybe I’m just an old prude. Overall though, I thought they needed more crowd-pleaser entertainment and activities, while still keeping that Virgin difference.

 

So - would I return? Yes I would (and I am!) - I loved the chic, modern style of the ship, its laid back, relaxed vibe, the food and the crew. But I wouldn’t want to do more than 3, 4 or 5 nights - for me, there wasn’t enough to do for a week or longer. And they really need to sort out the tech, which is fundamental to the VV concept. But I admire them for daring to be different. Traditional cruisers who like what they like may find it’s not for them. But there’s no shortage of alternatives. This is an attempt to win a new crowd, and I really hope it works.

 

 

Thanks so much for your official review. I hope they add more entertainment. It sounds like I would enjoy everything else.

[peteukmcr]

17 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

 

Having just disembarked after the official maiden voyage I thought I’d share my thoughts.

 

As has been well documented, the pre-boarding testing process on Friday was horrendous. But I won’t dwell on that. VV know it went wrong, acknowledged they let us down and made a nice gesture by way of apology. I hope the tweaks they’ve made as of today make a difference.

 

As for the ship, the standout for me was the food. The restaurant concept works, and while I get that many traditional cruisers enjoy dressing up and eating in the same place with the same people every night, I never have. I ate dinner in The Wake, Pink Agave and Extra Virgin, and breakfast in Razzle Dazzle, and all four were superb. Imaginative menus and far better quality than the main dining rooms on other equivalent lines. The only disappointing thing food-wise was The Galley which I think is supposed to feel like a trendy food court but, for me, didn’t quite hit the spot (apart from the salad bar which is great).

 

The other standout was the crew. Without exception they were friendly, motivated and eager to please - above all they just seemed genuinely happy to finally be doing what they signed up for more than 18 months ago. I had a long chat with my waitress last night who said 85% of the crew who were on board pre-shutdown chose to come back, which seems impressively high.

 

So what needs attention: the app, firstly - as many have already experienced pre-cruise, it’s very buggy and given that your time on board revolves around it in terms of checking out the daily schedule and booking shows, restaurants etc, they need to sort it out urgently. 

Likewise the wifi - it’s fine in port but at sea it’s very, very slow. There was a note in the cabin explaining why (wrong type of satellite or something!) but for a line that makes much of trying to appeal to Generation Instagram, that’s another thing for the priority list.

 

Entertainment was an interesting one. What I saw, I liked: a guy called Tom Crosbie (The Performing Nerd) who I’ve seen before in Edinburgh and is right up my street but may be a bit too niche for a cruise ship. Duel Reality, the main show, is great - circus with attitude. The bingo with Abi the Hostess was a laugh and the band (Buster Shuffle) were excellent and went down very well. Again, VV have tried to be different so lovers of the traditional song & dance production show and covers bands will be disappointed. And a lot of the entertainment is meant to be spontaneous - you’ll be sitting having a drink and a magician will wander up or a couple will start singing on the stairs. But I felt there was too much emphasis on “adult” entertainment - yes I know it’s an adults only line but things like talks on how to incorporate play into your sex life and how to communicate erotically, and the sex-themed cabaret show just didn’t do it for me! But hey, maybe I’m just an old prude. Overall though, I thought they needed more crowd-pleaser entertainment and activities, while still keeping that Virgin difference.

 

So - would I return? Yes I would (and I am!) - I loved the chic, modern style of the ship, its laid back, relaxed vibe, the food and the crew. But I wouldn’t want to do more than 3, 4 or 5 nights - for me, there wasn’t enough to do for a week or longer. And they really need to sort out the tech, which is fundamental to the VV concept. But I admire them for daring to be different. Traditional cruisers who like what they like may find it’s not for them. But there’s no shortage of alternatives. This is an attempt to win a new crowd, and I really hope it works.

 

 

I’ll add my thanks to your review. Great to read you enjoyed the restaurants you chose as we have these booked too. I agree the app needs attention as it’s got worse over the past week. 

[drewdawg199]

Has anyone onboard noticed or asked about the lack of furniture on the suite balconies?  I specifically noticed that the cheeky corner suite only seems to have two small chairs on the balcony instead of two sun loungers and sofa that are shown in the renderings and floor plans on their website.  

[sid_9169]

On 8/9/2021 at 9:11 AM, gumshoe958 said:

 

Having just disembarked after the official maiden voyage I thought I’d share my thoughts.

 

As has been well documented, the pre-boarding testing process on Friday was horrendous. But I won’t dwell on that. VV know it went wrong, acknowledged they let us down and made a nice gesture by way of apology. I hope the tweaks they’ve made as of today make a difference.

 

As for the ship, the standout for me was the food. The restaurant concept works, and while I get that many traditional cruisers enjoy dressing up and eating in the same place with the same people every night, I never have. I ate dinner in The Wake, Pink Agave and Extra Virgin, and breakfast in Razzle Dazzle, and all four were superb. Imaginative menus and far better quality than the main dining rooms on other equivalent lines. The only disappointing thing food-wise was The Galley which I think is supposed to feel like a trendy food court but, for me, didn’t quite hit the spot (apart from the salad bar which is great).

 

The other standout was the crew. Without exception they were friendly, motivated and eager to please - above all they just seemed genuinely happy to finally be doing what they signed up for more than 18 months ago. I had a long chat with my waitress last night who said 85% of the crew who were on board pre-shutdown chose to come back, which seems impressively high.

 

So what needs attention: the app, firstly - as many have already experienced pre-cruise, it’s very buggy and given that your time on board revolves around it in terms of checking out the daily schedule and booking shows, restaurants etc, they need to sort it out urgently. 

Likewise the wifi - it’s fine in port but at sea it’s very, very slow. There was a note in the cabin explaining why (wrong type of satellite or something!) but for a line that makes much of trying to appeal to Generation Instagram, that’s another thing for the priority list.

 

Entertainment was an interesting one. What I saw, I liked: a guy called Tom Crosbie (The Performing Nerd) who I’ve seen before in Edinburgh and is right up my street but may be a bit too niche for a cruise ship. Duel Reality, the main show, is great - circus with attitude. The bingo with Abi the Hostess was a laugh and the band (Buster Shuffle) were excellent and went down very well. Again, VV have tried to be different so lovers of the traditional song & dance production show and covers bands will be disappointed. And a lot of the entertainment is meant to be spontaneous - you’ll be sitting having a drink and a magician will wander up or a couple will start singing on the stairs. But I felt there was too much emphasis on “adult” entertainment - yes I know it’s an adults only line but things like talks on how to incorporate play into your sex life and how to communicate erotically, and the sex-themed cabaret show just didn’t do it for me! But hey, maybe I’m just an old prude. Overall though, I thought they needed more crowd-pleaser entertainment and activities, while still keeping that Virgin difference.

 

So - would I return? Yes I would (and I am!) - I loved the chic, modern style of the ship, its laid back, relaxed vibe, the food and the crew. But I wouldn’t want to do more than 3, 4 or 5 nights - for me, there wasn’t enough to do for a week or longer. And they really need to sort out the tech, which is fundamental to the VV concept. But I admire them for daring to be different. Traditional cruisers who like what they like may find it’s not for them. But there’s no shortage of alternatives. This is an attempt to win a new crowd, and I really hope it works.

 

 

Thank you for your straight forward thoughts on the ship that I've been waiting to sail on for so long. Seems that they really need to get the internet problem solved, as apparently everyone relies on it for basically everything... I hope and pray that everything goes well, and I finally get to step on board in October, after being cancelled on seven times already...

[mnocket]

I'm glad to hear about the quality of the food.  Good news indeed!  My lingering concern is how will this concept work when they are sailing at full capacity.  I wonder if there will a problem getting reservations at the popular eating venues?  Only time will tell.

[Wansbrough]

On 8/9/2021 at 2:11 PM, gumshoe958 said:

 

So what needs attention: the app, firstly - as many have already experienced pre-cruise, it’s very buggy and given that your time on board revolves around it in terms of checking out the daily schedule and booking shows, restaurants etc, they need to sort it out urgently. 

Likewise the wifi - it’s fine in port but at sea it’s very, very slow. There was a note in the cabin explaining why (wrong type of satellite or something!) but for a line that makes much of trying to appeal to Generation Instagram, that’s another thing for the priority list.

 

Entertainment was an interesting one. What I saw, I liked: a guy called Tom Crosbie (The Performing Nerd) who I’ve seen before in Edinburgh and is right up my street but may be a bit too niche for a cruise ship. Duel Reality, the main show, is great - circus with attitude. The bingo with Abi the Hostess was a laugh and the band (Buster Shuffle) were excellent and went down very well. Again, VV have tried to be different so lovers of the traditional song & dance production show and covers bands will be disappointed. And a lot of the entertainment is meant to be spontaneous - you’ll be sitting having a drink and a magician will wander up or a couple will start singing on the stairs. But I felt there was too much emphasis on “adult” entertainment - yes I know it’s an adults only line but things like talks on how to incorporate play into your sex life and how to communicate erotically, and the sex-themed cabaret show just didn’t do it for me! But hey, maybe I’m just an old prude. Overall though, I thought they needed more crowd-pleaser entertainment and activities, while still keeping that Virgin difference.

 

So - would I return? Yes I would (and I am!) - I loved the chic, modern style of the ship, its laid back, relaxed vibe, the food and the crew. But I wouldn’t want to do more than 3, 4 or 5 nights - for me, there wasn’t enough to do for a week or longer. And they really need to sort out the tech, which is fundamental to the VV concept. But I admire them for daring to be different. Traditional cruisers who like what they like may find it’s not for them. But there’s no shortage of alternatives. This is an attempt to win a new crowd, and I really hope it works.

 

 

 

We would return too but the deal would have to be great.

The app was very up and down, no deck plan on it and its not exactly the best to navigate with lots of things are tucked away.

We had a Sea Terrace and the bathroom was tiny but functional. Great shower though

No much storage in the cabin but plenty if USB  charge points. Could do with more around the ship as my battery was constantly needing a charge.

Entertainment, we saw the band (name escapes me) on Friday who were okay but then never saw them again. Dual Reality was excellent but was there ever anything else on in the Red Room?

Food was good but were told in Razzle Dazzle there was only the single menu. I assume this was the same for all restaurants. Only The Wake and Razzle Dazzle were open for Breakfast Lunch and dinner. I would have liked to try the others and given it was 3 sea days they could have  opened them to allow others to experience.

[CroozFanatic]

Curious about the onboard booking incentives - my future Virgin Voyage, or any mention of a loyalty program. Thx.

[gumshoe958]

50 minutes ago, CroozFanatic said:

Curious about the onboard booking incentives - my future Virgin Voyage, or any mention of a loyalty program. Thx.

$300 deposit gets you $300 discount off a future voyage and $300 OBC for the current voyage.

 

You don’t have to select the actual future voyage there and then - you have a year or two to redeem the offer. And you can lay down up to four deposits.

 

It’s only valid for standard balconies or better though - not insides, ocean views or obstructed balconies.

[peteukmcr]

2 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

$300 deposit gets you $300 discount off a future voyage and $300 OBC for the current voyage.

 

You don’t have to select the actual future voyage there and then - you have a year or two to redeem the offer. And you can lay down up to four deposits.

 

It’s only valid for standard balconies or better though - not insides, ocean views or obstructed balconies.

Sounds very similar to NCL Cruise Next program.

[rebeccac]

Are the deposits refundable if you don't end up using them for a booking within the two years?

[gumshoe958]

27 minutes ago, rebeccac said:

Are the deposits refundable if you don't end up using them for a booking within the two years?

Someone on board now could probably check but my recollection is they’re non-refundable.