LIVE! - Valiant Lady Dec 16, 2023

[red lobster]

Following along, great review! Thanks

[ktinnc]

Boarding in 3 weeks out of San Juan so enjoying your review 🙂 

Edited December 19, 2023 by ktinnc

[Rewind]

We didn't have anything planned for San Juan as we have been here a handful of times already.  We do like walking the path along the water next to the fort so we started there.  We watched the new Celebrity Ascent pull into port while we were resting at the fort, then walked over to "The Walk of Presidents" in front of the Capital building.  We then walked back into the main part of town, swung by Chocobar Cortes to pick up some chocolate for our nieces for X-mas, and then back to the ship.

 

If you haven't been to Chocobar Cortes before, I highly recommend it - chocolate in EVERYTHING.

Also if you are looking for a Pina Colada, have to stop by Barachinas.

 

We were back on board by 3:30ish so we hung out on our balcony to watch Sky Princess and Carnival Mardi Gras depart.  Then we hung around until sunset and headed back out to see the holiday lights down the Paseo de la Princesa.

 

Walked back to the ship and past to the other side to grab a pick of Virgin's message to all, and then back on board again.

 

We went up to the galley for dinner tonight.  The burger place, diner and dash, bento boxes, and salad stations were open.  I had the special turkey burger with an onion rings and the DW got a salad with chicken.  A couple small desserts and then back to the room to rest before tonight's show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Went to the Untitled Dance Show Party Thing - I'll admit I'm not a dancer but I did try a few steps.  Who can resist a party train.

 

They do have a limited number of seats upstairs if you can't stand for long periods.  They open those up just a couple minutes before the show starts.  If you can though, it is a better experience being on the main floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rewind]

Not much going on today for us.  Today and tomorrow are sea days so we are just hanging around and being lazy.  There were a few people hanging out at the pool at 9:00am but it wasn't crowded.

 

We just did a quick breakfast up in the Galley; grabbed sandwiches from Hot Off The Press and a bento box of fruit.

 

More to come later - tonight is Scarlet Night.

[Rewind]

It has been a lazy day.  We hung out in our cabin for a good part of the day, relaxed in the hammock, had lunch in the galley, then found some loungers in a quiet spot on deck 7.

 

When we got back to the cabin, we did have a small holiday present (which I won't post a pic until this weekend in case there are readers getting on board this Saturday).

 

Scarlet Night begins in about a half hour.

 

[Rewind]

We didn't do a whole lot on Scarlet Night - we watched the opening in the Roundabout, went to see the Hostess sing the story in the Red Room, then wandered a bit before going back to briefly check out the dance party back in the Red Room.  

 

Our weather conditions had gotten bad enough that they moved the normal pool party into the Red Room.  I was kinda looking forward to the dance number at the pool, but as it moved to the Red Room, it got crowded so we didn't stay.

 

 

 

[Rewind]

I forgot to add these pics last night - we ate at Pink Agave again.  The steak was ok (I think it was better the first time we had it) but the Filet at the Wake is much better in our opinion.

 

Chocolate Tacos are still the best dessert at Pink Agave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rewind]

Not much going on today as it is a sea day.  We are just hanging out in our room relaxing, on deck chairs relaxing, and trying not to eat too much.

 

The Galley did have a decent Chicken Tikka Masala at lunch.

[Rewind]

Went to Extra Virgin for dinner and had meatballs, a couple pasta dishes, and a couple desserts - couldn't actually tell you the names of them without looking them up.  The pasta was very fresh and the desserts were good, but nothing really stood out.

And I don't know if they were short a server and/or a bar staff person but our service was slower than other venues (not our server's fault, he was working hard).  Do give you an idea of timing, we sat down just after 8pm and we're walking out at 9:50pm - just in time to make it to Duel Reality.

 

Duel Reality was a great acrobatic show.  It has a bit of a Romeo & Juliet / West Side Story thinly veiled storyline to it but really it is just about the acrobatic performances.  We haven't seen a bad show yet.

 

 

 

 

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Good morning from Bimini:

 

[hcps-osullivax]

Wow! I'm loving your trip details and photos - looks like you're having a great trip! My wife and I are gearing up for our own Valiant Lady sailing at the end of January, so thank you for getting us excited and sharing your voyage with us!!

[Rewind]

We made it home - but I need to finish up the last day at Bimini.

 

We booked the Cultural Heritage tour of Bimini through Virgin.  You meet the tour at the end of the pier right across the street.  They want you to be there 15 minutes early but also note that it takes 15 minutes to walk to the end of the pier - possibly more if you stop and look at the sharks in the water.

 

Our first stop was at Joe's Conch Shack.  Nice place to learn a bit about Conch, how they get them out of the shell, and a bit of info on how they use it.

The next stop was a small craft market, probably the best place we saw to pick up any souvenirs. 

 

Next was the Gallant Lady shipwreck from 1997 (the driver kept saying 1993, but all data says 1997 including our guides on our half of the tram).  

 

Then was a stop at the Dolphin House built by Sir Ashley Saunders, Poet Laureate.  We got to meet him and he loves to show people around the house (he lives on the first floor but tours the 2nd, 3rd, and roof).

 

Quick rest stop with a snack, and then back to the initial meeting point.  We walked back to the ship, ate lunch, and then went back out to catch the tram to the Bimini Beach Club.  It's maybe a 7 minute ride and they pickup on the dock and drop you at the front door of the club.  By the time we arrived around 3pm, they had run out of clean towels but we did find a pile of 5-6 left that were clean.  We found some available loungers - there were plenty at that time but we spaced ourselves out from others a bit.  Don't expect a real relaxing beach day here as the music from the pool area is quite loud.  The music did end around 4pm and we just lazed around for a bit.  We dipped our toes in the water but it was a high of 72F that day and the water was cooler so we didn't feel like getting completely in.  Around 4:30 we decided to head back and it did seem like the staff were starting to close up.

 

Back on the ship, we got cleaned up and headed to the bar at Razzle Dazzle as that is where my DW had her favorite drink of the trip, "The Old Sport".  After chatting with the bar tender a bit, we went to get in line for the Ship Show.  

 

Annoying comment - we are ok if you are holding a place in line for one or two people, but when there are two of you and you are holding spots for your party of NINE, let the rest of them get in the back of the line!

 

The show is a variety show with a set dinner menu (you pick chicken or fish).  There is a small band, a host, four dancers, and five other performing acts.  The food is good but portions are small (head to the galley after if you are still hungry) and the show is a great time.

 

Then it was back to the room to pack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shark:

 

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And now that it is X-mas eve day and the next set of cruisers are on-board, here is the surprise that was left in our cabin:

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I'm going to write up a summary of thoughts in the next couple days - I've got some notes to sort through but also have a couple last minute gifts to wrap and family events to attend.  But the quick highlights:

 

Virgin has amazing food.

Entertainment is outstanding.

Venues on the ship are great.

 

Not a fan of the overall layout of the ship - I think public space is lacking.

There are a LOT of daybeds but not many loungers.

 

More later!

[horseymike]

Great review and photos. Thank you very much.

[tbmrt]

On 12/21/2023 at 7:40 AM, Rewind said:

We didn't do a whole lot on Scarlet Night - we watched the opening in the Roundabout, went to see the Hostess sing the story in the Red Room, then wandered a bit before going back to briefly check out the dance party back in the Red Room.  

 

Our weather conditions had gotten bad enough that they moved the normal pool party into the Red Room.  I was kinda looking forward to the dance number at the pool, but as it moved to the Red Room, it got crowded so we didn't stay.

 

 

 

On our June cruise Scarlet Night was changed to the Red Room since there was lightning in the area.  Very disappointed and tired..So we skipped it.... Hoping to do the Scarlet Night  pool party on our February cruise from San Juan.

[NE John]

On 12/21/2023 at 2:19 PM, Rewind said:

Not much going on today as it is a sea day.  We are just hanging out in our room relaxing, on deck chairs relaxing, and trying not to eat too much.

 

The Galley did have a decent Chicken Tikka Masala at lunch.

Is there a Daily Program of things to do on sea days? From what I see on YouTube vids, there’s not a lot of public spaces to hang out. 
How is it onboard while at sea?

[jon81uk]

1 hour ago, NE John said:

Is there a Daily Program of things to do on sea days? From what I see on YouTube vids, there’s not a lot of public spaces to hang out. 
How is it onboard while at sea?

There is a programme in the app and can pick up paper one from the coffee bar. There is plenty of spaces across deck 7, 15 and 16.

[Rewind]

Unless it's raining...  🙂

 

Our first two days were rain so everyone was inside and decks 15 & 16 had nobody there (unless they were working out or in the Galley).

 

Deck 6 has the shops and the Casino and the bar under the stairs, but I'd say most people were on 7 either in the games area, the dock house, or the Sip lounge.  But yes, I do think inside spaces are a bit lacking on sea days.

[Rewind]

Just wanted to drop in - my full review was posted here:
https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=710287

 

Super condensed summary - we would sail Virgin again as long as the price is right.