Disco, a Diva, and dancing. Scarlet Lady 11/15-11/19

[Jezo]

I am sitting on the Brightline right now headed to Orlando.  I can't feel my legs.  I can hardly keep my eyes open.  Exhausted.  I haven't been to bed before midnight in days, pushing until 1 or 2 in the morning when I am normally in bed by 930.  I have been on maybe a dozen cruises across RCL, NCL, MSC, and Cunard as a youngling.  In our 40s.  Inside cabin on deck 10, Splash of Romance upgrade. 

 

That was a crazy trip.  

 

Scarlet Night was one of the greatest parties I have ever been to, cruise ship or not.  The opening ceremony, the interaction with all the happenings staff all in character, the show in the red room, and the dance party at the pool.  I didn't get in the pool but was up on the ledge around the pool and danced the entire time amongst the octopus.  Wow what a night.  The staff had a blast.  There also might have been some extras to learn the true story of the sea queen if you meet the right person....  

 

The Heartbeat show in The Manor.  I thought it was just going to be another night at the club.  I had no idea what was going to happen with all the dancers and singing.  I left that so excited to be a part of the crowd.

 

The Diva.  Over the top and ridiculous.  Did the meet and greet, went to the around the world show, and saw some singing.  

 

Went to the disco circus and saw everyone decked out like it was the 70s ready to dance the night away.

 

PJ party, was the first night and didn't know what we were getting into but still had a blast.

 

Dual Reality circus show, it was a fun show, being I am not into the usual cruise ship show this one was a joy to watch.

 

The Galley - went for breakfast in the morning and enjoyed it.  Would go in the afternoon to load up on sushi.  Didn't try much else because that was all I needed.  Did ramen once, was okay.

 

Gunbae.  Are you a social butterfly and want to play drinking games?  You'll have a blast.  The food was Korean-lite.  It was good but if you are used to going to authentic Korean joints it won't blow you away.  This isn't a a complaint.  Was so much food no one at the table could move by the end.  You could ignore all the social aspects of you want but I can't comment on that experience.  We had everyone taking together.  Do this on your first night so you can meet a few folks and see them during the trip.  Drink up.

 

Razzle Dazzle.  Spent about 5 minutes here because we had to run to get a spot for the opening of Scarlet Night at the staircase.  Looked like a fun spot but threw everything down my throat and ran.

 

The Wake.  The most traditional of restaurants.  Do you like steak and sides and that style of meal?  Want to feel a little more upscale?  You'll like it unless you are like the people sitting next to us who complained about every piece of food they put in their mouths.  Was amazing to listen to how much they thought everything had no flavor.

 

Test Kitchen.  It's an experience.  Just go into it with an open mind.  It's going to take another two hours.  Try everything.  A couple of people next to us gave up a quarter of the way.  Server had fun explaining it all to us and seeing what we thought.

 

The Dockyard.  Went here when we boarded.  Shockingly good.  Give me more of those steak things pleass.  Pro-tip the outside area in the back of the ship right behind it also servers the same food so sit out there if you can find a seat, raise a flag, and enjoy the view.  Can't find a table?  Look for folks with these big wooden open seats and ask to join them.  You'll make friends.  We never did that but several people did ask to join us.

 

Pizza joint.  Please don't order 25 pizzas at 130 in the morning while everyone is coming out of the clubs.  I know you can but still, don't.  Everyone will hate you.  After dancing and drinking it's a good late night snack to take back to your room and sit in bed eating while watching Thor.  It will be packed late at night so just prepare yourself for that.

 

Snack place by the arcade, the social club?  Popcorn, pretzels, hot dogs, cake pops, rice crispy treats, and so on.  It's exactly what it sounds like.

 

Um, what else?  I need a nap.  We shook for champagne.  Splash of Romance had a champagne cocktail hour.  Everyone else with the package must have not been tempted by the allure of champagne so only 15 or so folks showed up.  Fine by me.  The bar staff kept both of my hands full of drinks for the entire hour and we got to hang out and chat with the Scarlet Lady and The Bounce.  No one was paying them any attention so we talked to them the entire time.  Lovely people.  

 

Went to the main pool once during the sea day to see if what the internet told me was true, and it was.  The drunk party people contain themselves there during the day.  We observed it from above but dared not go into what looked like an MTV Spring Break wild time.  I like my drinks more than I should but this was too much.  If you want drunken twerking and people falling over on each other boozing go for it but I consider myself a more sophisticated alcoholic.   

 

Inside room was fine.  Bigger than what we were expecting and had no issues with anything.  The room was a cot like others have said but I could sleep on a floor if I needed to so it wasn't much of a deal breaker.  Watched lots of movies.  Live TV is limited to BBC News, BBC HD, and two ESPN channels.  Tons of movies on demand though so we stuck with that.  Did room service once.  $7.  Was just what we needed.

 

Bimini Beach Club.  Just know this is not Virgin’s private beach club.  It's a beach club shared with Hilton, I think.  When a VV ship is in port they get exclusive use of it so you won't be around non cruises but this isn't a Virgin establishment.  They just use it for the day.  If you don't get there early you will have a rough time getting a seat.  The main pool will be packed and the beach crowded.  You'll need to fend for yourself, grab what chairs you can, be willing to drag things around the sand, and make room for yourself.  Or send a sacrificial member of your party on the first tram over there to grab a premium location and pass out while waiting for everyone else to show up.  Main pool expect dancing, loud music, the happening staff to be dancing up and everywhere, and a crazy float party.  Don't know what all the complaints are about the food.  We had the lechon, rice and beans, and the curry stew soup something something.  Ate it all.

 

I can't think of anything else.  I did my people watching throughout the rest of the ship so can answer some questions.  I'm tired.  I want a nap.  I don't even know what mistakes I made in this post.  I'm not proof reading it.  I'm writing to keep myself awake so we'll all just have to deal with what errors I might have made.

 

I don't really consider this a cruise, not in the traditional sense.  Don't go in expecting a standard experience you have been on before.  

If I had to summarize the whole trip using only one of my photos it would be this.  

 

Bring your ear plugs, an open mind, your dancing shoes, and go have fun.

 

[jon81uk]

Sounds like you had an epic time and that is an amazing summery of why VV had had us coming back for six cruises and two more to come! It’s just so much fun!