Scarlet Lady - Long Weekender 20th August 2021 - short review

peteukmcr · August 25, 2021

We sailed on Scarlet Lady on 20th August and here’s a short review (more detailed to come). I will be posting this in stages as I’m still writing up my full review as work gets in the way!

As a start when sailing with Virgin Voyages, you’ll find several different references to the things traditional cruisers are used to referring to, from balcony cabins which are known as “Sea Terraces” and “Rock Star Quarters” for suite accommodations, Guest Relations is known as “Sailor Services”, and the future cruise desk is “Get Lost”. Every crew member will welcome you with “Ahoy” and you are known as “Sailors”. You get the idea!

Pre-voyage preparations

We booked our short voyage (as Virgin Voyages refer to sailings) on the day of release and were allocated Sea Terrace 14094A. All the short voyages are for U.K. fully vaccinated adults only. Ours was known as a “Long Weekender” for 3 nights, Friday, Saturday and Sunday arriving back into Portsmouth on Monday.

Included in the fare was all soft drinks (sodas), WiFi, gratuities, and all dining as Virgin Voyages do not have speciality restaurants, but have several venues which require a reservation which could be done in advance via the app. We were also given $200 Sailor Loot (told you they use different terminology – on board credit to traditional cruisers).

As Virgin Voyages don’t offer drinks packages (no need to buy a soft drinks package as all these are included, except speciality teas/coffees) we purchased a ‘Bar Tab’ worth $300 in advance. As we sailed in 2021, we are known as “Sea Blazers” and so qualified for a bonus $125 which was added to the Bar Tab. So, for a credit of $425, this only cost us £225 (due to exchange rates). A good deal in our book. But note, the Bar Tab can only be used as the name suggests at bars, restaurants, and coffee shops for what Virgin Voyages class as “premium beverages”.

Pre-boarding process

It was also necessary to prebook an arrival and departure time and the earliest arrival time we could get was 3:15pm, but we could get an 8:30am departure slot.

As with all other U.K. sailings, it was a requirement to take a lateral flow Covid-19 test prior to boarding (all Sailors had to be fully vaccinated prior to travel) so Virgin Voyages arranged for this to be carried out away from the port just off the M27.

So, we had to travel to the Portsmouth Park and Ride area, which is basically on one side of the motorway, and then we would be shuttled over to the test site which is on the opposite side of the motorway. We were instructed not to arrive more than 1 hour prior to our booked time of 3:15pm.

So, we caught an Uber from Gun Wharf Quays arriving just after 2pm.

Here we joined a line to have our bags tagged that we wanted Virgin Voyages to transport to the ship. Having checked we were on the list, tags were handwritten and taken away as we boarded a coach to be taken to the test area.

We waited around 15 minutes for the coach to fill up and then we were off to be tested which did only take a couple of minutes to travel to the other side of the motorway.

When we got off the coach, we joined a short (ish) line to complete pre-departure “check in” which involved showing our passports and vaccination status. Contact details were taken so that our test results could be sent to us (email addresses and mobile telephone numbers). Then we joined another line to have the test.

Virgin Voyages access all your details online from the pre-departure check in you have just completed. The staff perform the nasal swab and then you wait with them to see the result start to appear on the lateral flow kit. This is what slows the whole process down, as each test takes a little longer.

Anyway, if your test looks like it will be negative, you are directed to another tent to wait for the results. Virgin Voyages staff then called people up by name which coincided with you receiving your test results via email. They placed a paper band around your wrist which proves to the staff at the actual cruise terminal that you’d been tested.

If you were the first of your party, staff went off to locate your “welcome pack” which contained your wristbands (individually engraved with your first name and made from fully recycled materials) to be used throughout the sailing to charge purchases to your onboard account and open your cabin door. The tip here is to wear the band with your name against your skin as it’s other side that scans better.

Check in

Onto another coach to be transported to the port which took about 5-10 minutes.

Upon arrival we then actually checked in and our bands scanned. No further security photo, nor credit card validation if you had already completed this on the app. If by any chance your welcome pack which included your band wasn’t available at the testing site, then it was available at check in.

Then onto security scanning (after our hand baggage was sprayed to be disinfected) and onto the ship! The whole process took just under 2 hours from arrival at the Park and Ride. Bearing in mind we waited on both coaches for them to fill up for approximately 30 minutes in total and travelling to the port another 10 minutes with a very quick checkin, so the testing process only took under 1.5 hours, which was good.

Boarding Scarlet Lady

We boarded Scarlet Lady by tapping our band at the entrance on deck 5, walked through Sailor Services, whilst being welcomed by enthusiastic crew members, and up in the elevators (all lit in different colours with display screens showing water bubbling away) to deck 14 to locate our “Sea Terrace” on the port side (or A as Virgin Voyages refer to it, starboard side is referred to as Z). Big letters at the entrance to the corridors direct you to the correct side.

As we approached our cabin, we saw a large screen with doorbell, cabin number and a symbol showing you where to scan your band. There is also a lighted strip that will change colour depending on how you set the control from inside (more on that later). Just tapped our band, the symbol went green, and the door unlocked, and we were in our Sea Terrace for the first time!

As we entered, we saw that our bags we’d dropped off at the Park and Ride were already in the closet area.

Remember this ship uses a lot of technology and one of them is that the curtains at the terrace doors are operated electronically. And there is a motion sensor in the room, so if they are closed during the day (which they do automatically when you are out of the room) once you enter, they open automatically!

Not long after we arrived our attendant came and introduced himself and acquainted us with the controls for the room via the tablet.

Sea Terrace 14094A

Upon entry the décor is minimalist. There was a hanging rail to the right with a small set of drawers with several hangers. This area is covered by a purple curtain, not doors. The main light switches are located here, but you most often didn’t need to use them (see below). There are 2 buttons here that you can use to illuminate the panel outside to door to indicate if you are not to be disturbed (red light) or want your room cleaned (blue light).

Next is a floor to ceiling cupboard with a set of shelves. Your life-vests, pool towels and in room safe (very generous size) took up 3 shelves. Inside the door was a full-length mirror.

All the furniture (including the walls) except for the closet area and headboard are white. Splashes of red, such as the stool under the desk are in evidence. No pictures hung on the walls, just a couple of coat hooks and a large TV.

3 lights are above the bed with several recessed lighting strips in the ceiling, around the mirror above the desk and above the bed which are used to generate the different mood lighting scenes that are available using the computer tablet located above the desk (more later).

To the left as you entered the cabin was the bathroom with the air conditioning control outside (again didn’t need to be used if you used the tablet).

On entering the bathroom there was a large mirror extending the full width of the wall with built in lighting down each side. The toilet was to the left and the shower to the right with a glass door, large rain head shower and separate nozzle. A small shelf with 3 dispensers for hair shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. All found to be excellent quality. No rail to assist with shaving though.

The toilet was quite large compared to other ships and so extended quite a way along the available floor space.

The countertop contained the wash hand basin, and 1 shelf that included a soap dish (black bar of soap provided). A tissue dispenser was provided too.

Underneath was a shelf with waste bucket and spare toilet rolls and tissues. There was also a narrow opening that contained striped pink hand towels with white face cloths marked “Make up” wrapped around them.

A towel rail above the toilet housed the bath towels and the shower mat on the shelf under the sink. Great lighting, but a little snug!

The main area of the room is what some people may find strange. The “Seabed” was already made up as a king size, and is long, unlike on some cruise ships where they are rounded at the end to give more space at the end between the bed and the wall. There is no sofa, but a single armchair opposite the desk area which is curved! A red stool is tucked underneath. A couple of narrow shelves containing glasses and items for sale. A small fridge is house in a cupboard (not stocked, but this can be on request) with an ice bucket, 2 carafes of water and glasses above.

So back to the bed. No bedside shelving but a wide low shelf in between the bed and the armchair. But this is where the flexible “Seabed” setup comes into play. You can request (via the tablet – told you lots of things are controlled this way) that during the day the bed is split, and one part swung around to become a sofa. In the evening this can be made up in this position as a bed, so if you want twin beds, one will be at right angles to the other. It is not possible to have the traditional twin bed set where the beds are parallel to each other.

Alternatively, the “Seabed” can be swivelled back to form a king size bed.

Then onto the sea terrace, accessed by sliding doors. The terrace is deep with 2 small metal chairs and table. Tucked away in the corner is a hand woven (the weavers name will be written on a label) bright red hammock. A fun addition to the terrace furniture.

OK, so I keep mentioning the “tablet” that appears to control lots in the room. It does, from opening and closing the curtains (good blackout types) behind nets (not electronically operated), to changing the room temperature, the lights (including creating several ‘moods’) operating the TV with various options for films, series and live TV news channels and requesting services/maintenance from your room attendant. Room service is done via the app once you have connected to the ship WiFi (see below).

There is also a traditional telephone on the desk to contact sailor services etc.

Above the desk were US and European power sockets together with USB charging points, and there were more near the bed on either side with at least 3 outlets. So enough for charging, in fact so many I didn’t need my 4-way USB adapter I normally use!

mnocket · August 25, 2021

Great job! Looking forward to the rest of your review👍

peteukmcr · August 26, 2021

A little bit more…

Virgin Voyages App / Onboard Wi-Fi

Prior to boarding the app provided limited functionality, but once onboard when you join the Scarlet Lady Wi-Fi, more functions became available, including access to your “Wallet” which detailed any “Sailor Loot”, “Bar Tab” funds and therefore, the credit available to you. In addition, all transactions were listed.

However, one of the other main uses is the ability to scan the numerous QR codes located on what look like drinks coasters situated in restaurants, bars, lounges and in your room.

Once you scan these you are directed to web pages that display menus or information.

The app must also be used to check what activities are planned for the day, some encourage reservations, some not. Large display screens around the ship also show Scarlet Lady’s activities ‘at a glance’. A daily paper newsletter is not provided by your attendant.

Access to Wi-Fi is included in your cruise fare and to be fair to Virgin Voyages they had left a notice in each room apologising if internet access was slow, intermittent, or unavailable. This is because the satellite proving the service expected the ship to be in sunnier climes like Florida and the Caribbean!

To be fair, we found the service to be OK, only the app wasn’t always connecting reliably in the room but worked great in the public areas.

Safety drill

At this point it is worth pointing out that not until you have watched the safety video on either the TV or your mobile device, (and acknowledging you have done so) and attended your muster station where your band is scanned, would all the options on the tablet be available.

An announcement was made when the muster stations were open.

Being Virgin, the safety video is different from anything we’ve seen before. All lines have developed ways of providing the safety message electronically to reduce people congregating in large groups in proximity of the muster station. But Virgins is like a rock show! Very different, very musical, but it covers all the relevant information.

Once we had done this we headed to our station. Both the app and the sign on the back of the door detailed which venue we had to visit. Ours was station ‘G’ located in The Social Club on deck 7. Our bands were scanned and in small groups, we were advised of our lifeboat number (12), its location (last on the port side aft) and how to put on our life vest, which of course is a different design than you are maybe familiar with.

peteukmcr · August 26, 2021

Dining

Scarlet Lady has numerous dining venues, from full restaurants for which reservations are encouraged, to casual venues located around the ship, normally close to bars and lounges.

It is worth remembering all dining venues are complimentary, although some do have an upcharge for something special, such as $25 for a “bottomless Brunch” at The Wake.

One great practice was that regardless of where you ate, the servers always asked if you had any food allergies or special dietary requirements before taking your orders.

There is a large casual venue on deck 15 called “The Galley” with various dining areas with a variety of furnishings. Virgin Voyages have changed the traditional buffet concept to host a variety of ‘street food’ stalls.

All seating places have table numbers and so you order from a menu and your food is delivered to you.

The only things you collect yourself are pastries and desserts. At breakfast a member of the team is normally making their way around the Galley offering tea/coffee/juices.

Alternatively, you can serve yourself at the beverage dispensing areas. There is also self-serve beer and wine options (you scan your band to charge your account).

The Galley opens early and closes in the early hours. Outside of this if you want a ‘midnight’ snack after partying, the Pizza Place on deck 7 is open until 1:30am!

There are 10 options available from Tacos, Burritos, Burgers, traditional eggs, and bacon to noodles and lite bites. There is also a takeaway coffee stand (extra charge).

On the same deck is Gunbae, a more formal Korean barbeque restaurant where each table has its own hot plate to enable diners to cook their own food.

On deck 16 there is the Sun Club Café offering healthy bowls for those enjoying the outdoor areas.

peteukmcr · August 26, 2021

Deck 7 Dining

Moving onto the lower decks, there is casual dining at The Dock & Dock House where there are mezze style bites offered either straight from the grill or from a cart taken around the space.

The Dock is the outdoor space with bar at the aft of the ship with a variety of seating including day beds, sofas and traditional tables and chairs and great wake views. There is also a ‘grab and go’ chiller where you can find an assortment of snacks such as wraps, cheese, smoked salmon, and chicken salads.

Further along is the “Social Club” diner offering dogs and snacks, then there is the “Pizza Place” providing freshly made pizzas and this area also has seating outdoors.

The “Grounds Club” offers speciality coffees with cookies and croissants.

“Lick me Till Ice Cream” provides several flavours of complimentary ice cream, sorbets, and frozen yoghurt available in a selection of cones (red velvet, vanilla, chocolate etc) and cups.

Afternoon tea was served in “Sip” the champagne too.

Deck 6 Dining

Restaurants on this deck include “The Wake” which is the glamourous Steak and Seafood eatery and Martini Bar. The entrance is down a grand staircase from deck 7 and has great wake views. Open for Brunch (extremely popular), Lunch and Dinner, reservations recommended.

“Extra Virgin” is a casual restaurant and wine bar serving elevated Italian cuisine on the starboard side with the “Test Kitchen” on the port side. This is a Cooking Lab/Restaurant and Experimental Bar where it is part cooking school and part eatery with classes and evolving tasting menus. Cocktail classes are held here too (supplement).

denisey · August 26, 2021

Thanks for the great information! It sounds like you really enjoyed your cruise!

mnocket · August 26, 2021

Great descriptions of the ship's features👍 If you have the time, could you discuss a bit about how you spent your days onboard? I'm enjoying reading your posts🙂

peteukmcr · August 27, 2021

18 hours ago, mnocket said:

Great descriptions of the ship's features👍 If you have the time, could you discuss a bit about how you spent your days onboard? I'm enjoying reading your posts🙂

As we had no port visits, we spent the time taking videos for our video channel, relaxing outdoors, watching performances like Duel Reality in the afternoon instead of evening, dining in the evening, attending the parties that took place, but other than that (time did wizz by), just relaxing. There is lots to do, but we use cruise time the relax and recharge.

peteukmcr · August 27, 2021

Deck 5 Dining

Here you’ll find “Razzle Dazzle” on the port side, with a bright and striking entrance. This is primarily a vegetarian restaurant serving lots from plant-based dishes to indulgent meats and sweets. The entrance is bright and striking.

On the starboard side is located “Pink Agave” with a stunning illuminated entrance and serving elevated Mexican dishes and a Mezcal Bar. The food is certainly not just Nachos and Tacos but extremely tasty, sophisticated plates.

During such a short sailing it was impossible to sample all the dining options, but those we did visit offered food of a very high quality matched with fantastic service from the staff.

We had breakfast and lunch in The Galley, Brunch in The Wake together with dinner. Our other dinners were in Extra Virgin and Pink Agave. Late night pizza from the Pizza Place too. Reviews of food are very subjective, but we have to say that in our opinion the quality, presentation, and taste of everything we ate was exceptional.

Entertainment

Scarlet Lady doesn’t have a traditionally designed theatre, but the “Red Room” is a performance space with tiered seating on either side of the floor that becomes the stage. We only saw ‘Duel Reality’ which is an exceptional acrobatic show, not to be missed, but other shows are held here.

“The Manor” is a two-storey venue that hosts live music, comedy acts and at other times is a full-on nightclub.

Close to the “Roundabout” (which is the spiral staircase connecting decks 6 & 7) light-hearted quizzes are held, music played a DJ close to the Voyage Vinyl record shop.

Various ‘parties’ are held in the Aquatic Club (pool deck), from a ‘Glam Retro’ pool party to the extravagant ‘Splash of Scarlet’ a full-on pool event framed by a huge blow-up Octopus!

There is also impromptu entertainment throughout the ship on the lead up to the pool party. Splash being the operative word as sailors are encouraged to dance, dive, and jump into the pool!

Other events are staged around the pool when temporary stages are erected at various times of the day, so you need to check the planner either on the app or on the screens displayed around the ship.

Live music is also performed near bars such as ‘On the Rocks’ on deck 6.

Private Karaoke is available in “The Groupie” on deck 7 close to the Red Room.

There is a fairly large casino with numerous ‘slot’ machines and gaming tables.

Bars and Lounges

There are 12 bars and lounges (not including those in the main restaurants).

All have the normal beverages available with some speciality drinks and cocktails unique to each bar.

Deck 16

The Sun Club (overlooking the Aquatic Club pool)

Athletic Club (located aft)

Deck 15

The Aquatic Club

Gym & Tonic

Deck 7 – all with sea views

Dock House (indoor bar with a laid-back Mediterranean beach style)

The Dock (outdoor bar overlooking the wake with day beds, tables chairs and sofas)

Loose Cannon (in the style of a Dive bar)

The Social Club with nearby arcade games

Draught Haus (a tap room)

Sip (a stylish champagne bar)

Deck 6

On the Rocks (described as a cave bar but with sea views on one side)

Casino bar

peteukmcr · August 27, 2021