LIVE, Resilient Lady- 6/4-6/11

[MeganGC1983]

1 minute ago, Roel94 said:

Been years I have flown coach. Never on BA.I would stave.I sometimes bring food on plane. 
 

BA even up,front forgets to feed you.I have used that call button many times for water. Or I get up,to get some so I can move.

 

oh global entry’ grest. Took me years but got it finally.

 

inwould hate that woman movie.I watch movies on plane 

Yeah global entry was down apparently today. That’s why the line was so long they said. I got up once to get another wine. The FA looked annoyed that I came behind her curtain. Umm I’ve seen you go in the bathroom 20 times with your cell phone… hush. 😆

Women Talking was about the Amish. I find them fascinating.  

[ninjacat123]

8 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I had the rice with the chicken. That other one was weird like a cold salad? Couscous maybe? Not a fan. 

Sounds like the rice dish was powerless.  I'm reading "Cruise Confidential" and the author notices the large amount of rice ingested.  I was waiting for the phrase "no rice, no power"😄 it's a great read!

 

Edited June 14, 2023 by ninjacat123

[ninjacat123]

8 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Yeah global entry was down apparently today. That’s why the line was so long they said. I got up once to get another wine. The FA looked annoyed that I came behind her curtain. Umm I’ve seen you go in the bathroom 20 times with your cell phone… hush. 😆

Women Talking was about the Amish. I find them fascinating.  

Have you been to Amish Country in PA?  Shoo fly pie,  Soooooo good!!

[MeganGC1983]

18 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Have you been to Amish Country in PA?  Shoo fly pie,  Soooooo good!!

Yes, I’ve been all around Lancaster as well as the Iowa, Amana colonies, several times. Good is amazing. 

[Roel94]

38 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Yeah global entry was down apparently today. That’s why the line was so long they said. I got up once to get another wine. The FA looked annoyed that I came behind her curtain. Umm I’ve seen you go in the bathroom 20 times with your cell phone… hush. 😆

Women Talking was about the Amish. I find them fascinating.  

First of all the FA on some flights just hide. On my very long haul from Japan they were good but when most were sleeping I was doing movies so I went up several time for water and ir bathroom. I drink a huge amount of water  so huge amount of trips. They get lazy about drinks. Also afraid to wake people.

 

I like Amish but the picture was hard to read the two lines .

I saw a Man called Otto. Tom Hanks..slow but good.

[MeganGC1983]

Made it home! Thanks everyone for following along. It was a fabulous trip. I’ll post a recap and highs and lows in the coming days, but I gotta SLEEP! 

[maluhia87]

3 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

 😆

Women Talking was about the Amish. I find them fascinating.  

Women Talking was a fantastic movie that should have won more awards. We read more about what actually happened after we saw the movie. 

[fethiyeden]

Thanks for a fabulous review as always. Your flights were like our normal travelling as we fly from Turkey so know your pain. We always have an extra internal flight to & from Istanbul too.

[luvcruzing]

Good morning, Megan.  Hope you were able to get some well-deserved sleep. Amazing how much you managed to experience in a compressed amount of time.  Thank you for letting us follow along with you and your husband on your travels.  

[MeganGC1983]

I slept but the adjustment process struggle is real. Got my oldest to cheer practice this morning, filled out my Virgin Voyages survey, and I’m working now. I’m also finding a lot more random souvenirs than I remembered purchasing. Are they reproducing in the luggage?! 😆

[Roel94]

22 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I slept but the adjustment process struggle is real. Got my oldest to cheer practice this morning, filled out my Virgin Voyages survey, and I’m working now. I’m also finding a lot more random souvenirs than I remembered purchasing. Are they reproducing in the luggage?! 😆

Takes about a week. Just eat when hungry as stomach is 6 hours ahead. Sleep all you can do is go to bed..close eyes and pretend to sleep. 

[Hogladyrider]

28 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I slept but the adjustment process struggle is real. Got my oldest to cheer practice this morning, filled out my Virgin Voyages survey, and I’m working now. I’m also finding a lot more random souvenirs than I remembered purchasing. Are they reproducing in the luggage?! 😆

....or are they from shopping while possibly under the influence? 😁

[AKR2011]

I'm happy to hear that you made it home safely. Thank you for sharing your awesome adventure with us ❤️⚓️

[AmyJA]

Thanks for the wonderful ride along Megan. I know I had a good time, so you and Mr. must have had a blast. 

[SenatorsFan]

As usual, it was great to follow along with you, Megan. I'm adding Greece to the bucket list. 😊

[Shaded Lady]

2 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I’m also finding a lot more random souvenirs than I remembered purchasing. Are they reproducing in the luggage?! 😆

They're like rabbits! Darned things multiply when you're not looking!!!

[MeganGC1983]

Greek donkeys for everyone. 😆

[MeganGC1983]

2 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

....or are they from shopping while possibly under the influence? 😁

Definitely. Plus, DH had put those in his bag… it was a magnet, shirt, earrings and dish towels from Turkey. He hung the dish towels on the dish washer. I was like “where did this come from?!” Reads tag… Turkey… “man I did good” lol I blame Miss Shirley for all that. I had white wine on the Pirate ship, then switched to red when we saw her in port. Never mix your colors. 😉

[MeganGC1983]

2 hours ago, Roel94 said:

Takes about a week. Just eat when hungry as stomach is 6 hours ahead. Sleep all you can do is go to bed..close eyes and pretend to sleep. 

I had a few days like that on the trip. I’d lay there, eyes closed, couldn’t shut my mind off even though my body was so tired. 
I’m up and forcing myself to function. I’ll sit and work for an hour, then go unpack or whatever else to keep moving. If I straight sit and work, I may doze back to sleep. 

[MeganGC1983]

Greek wine made it in the suitcase and is tucked in the fridge. 

[MeganGC1983]

For @Roscoe13 and I don’t even drink coffee. 

[MeganGC1983]

Recap: 

Athens (pre-cruise): short lived but definitely a great preview of what was to come. Hotel Thissio will be where we stay if we ever go back to Athens. Amazing hospitality and the rooftop/room views were amazing. 
If you are going to Europe get the FREENOW app. With taxis and ride shares on the same app, it really helps getting around. 
Cruise: Wow! As this is my first cruise with VV during a ship’s inaugural season, I don’t have anything to compare it to, but the cast/crew hit it out of the park.

Their food, on previous sailings, had all ready set a high bar, but this sailing was perfection. The only things I could complain about were a few delays in The Galley and zero bars being open late on Mykonos night. That’s it.
They are actively adding more activities during the day… I know that’s been a big complaint. Loteria Gigantic (margarita/tequila bingo at Pink Agave) was SO much fun. The entertainment was stellar. Persphone is beyond words. Lola’s Library was random and funny and “Dr. Anna” can SING! We Fancy and Klub Rubix are both great additions to the Manor party scene. 

The ports were like a dream. The only port I would do differently was Rhodes, but we still had a great time and saw a lot. You must watch the sunset in Santorini and Mykonos.
Side note: we learned at the cooking class that everything to Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes comes from Athens, so do your shopping there. Mykonos especially is EXTREMELY expensive. 
The cabin was a great location (deck 10) and the bathroom was small, but I all ready knew that. Gotta love the hammock!  
The cooking class excursion was top notch with tremendous food, the host was “everything” and we learned A LOT! 
Athens (post cruise): I’m glad we stayed to see more and rest from the ship. Moxy was decent. It was a really neat place in a great location, but the music from the roof was ideal. Good thing I was hungover/exhausted. 😉 You have to go to the Acropolis and see the history there. Pictures don’t do so much of this Justice. The view of Athens from there alone was worth the 20 euros to get in. Sure there are crowds, but there was a crowd everywhere we went. I try to take pictures to block that out for memory sake. The restaurant at Monastiraki Square was fantastic. Again, if we go back, we would eat there again. Music was superb, food was 10/10 (I mean I took my leftovers to eat later, that never happens on vacation), I was definitely serve more that a liter of wine (and only for 7 euros), and they gave us dessert and shots! Hospitality was on point here! 
London: So cool. Definitely will return. The Commodore Hotel, for the price and location, was exactly what was needed. Would we stay there again? No, but it served its purpose. Was it worth getting kicked out of Westminster Abbey? Yes! 😆 I’ve watched Christmas mass and Roy’s weddings and whatever else there dozens of times. There was no way that I wasn’t going to go in when they were open for prayer service but not touring. Hopefully no one finds that disrespectful. I promise I was very polite with with going in and sneaking out. 
British Airways: 🙄 I really don’t have too much good to say about too many airlines, but the cancellation, at the beginning and the service, the rest of the time, was garbage. The only good thing about them was the food! 
Overall, this trip was a 9/10. You need to go to Greece. The culture, hospitality, history, and landscape are so much more than words can describe. And Virgin Voyages made this once in a lifetime trip even more spectacular. 
Thank you all for following along. I love being able to share this with all of you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. If I missed your comment during my shenanigans, let me know and I apologize. Next up… as far as I know… is the Carnival Celebration in September for 6 days. Thanks again! 

[MeganGC1983]

Highs:

1. The ship food- so good

2. the crew- From Alejandro to Milam at casino bar, they step it up from previous voyages being personable. 
3. sunsets at Santorini and Mykonos- gorg! 
4. the hospitality in Greece- the people in Athens, Santorini and Mykonos were soo kind. 
5. The ship entertainment- they are making improvements and it shows! 
Lows:

1. British Airways- between the cancellation before the cruise to the lack of service for 6ish hours on the flight… they need help. 
2. the prices in Mykonos- this place was expensive yall. 
3. the beach club at Rhodes- they just rubbed me the wrong way. $40 for a lounger and no you can’t just have cocktails at a table… I’ll spend money but not when you treat people rudely. 
4. the water temperature- I know it’s early in their season, but it. Was. Cold. Took my breath away several times. 
5. the ship internet- I’m still not sure why it never prompted me to join at the beginning of the voyage. I could use the app, I could use some other internet aspects, but not CC or some other things I can’t say here. I had to hard reset the phone for it to finally ask me. Hard to do that when you are doing a live and living and working, etc. 

 

[MeganGC1983]

Also it took some work but the FABULOUS Greek restaurant at Monastiraki Square is listed everywhere as Bairaktaris restaurant. If you go to Athens, GO THERE! 

[BohJang]

I loved your review.  I have been to Greece and it was so fun to see those beautiful places again in your eyes.  Glad you're home safely.