Cruising isn’t for everyone and I certainly didn’t think it would be something I would enjoy. Being stuck on one ship with minimal time to explore different places, hmmm not sure. My mind was changed when I took a Virgin Voyage cruise in December this year, 2021. Virgin Voyages have only started sailing this year in 2021 and I was lucky enough to be invited on the Virgin Voyages – Scarlet Lady. Boarding the cruise in the Port of Miami on a round trip which took six days in total. We visited the island of Cozumel in Mexico, as well as the island of Mimini, in the Bahamas. This included three full sailing days in total with one day each to explore each of these places.
So what do you actually do on a Virgin Voyage cruise? How does it work? Well let’s start right from the beginning before we even get to the embarkation day. Once you have booked your Virgin Voyage cruise you will get granted access to the Virgin Voyages app. Don’t be fooled by this app, it is fantastic. Before you leave your home country you will also get sent your Virgin Voyage cruise on-board band. I will get back to this in a moment. Before you journey to the Port of Miami, Virgin Voyages will ask you to upload all your passport information, COVID documentation, a photo of yourself and a payment method. You sign a disclaimer (again to do with COVID 19) to say you are well. You also choose the time you want to board the ship on your first day. Once you have everything uploaded, your band for the cruise should be sent to your home address, from your home you can activate this. If you don’t get your band before-hand, don’t panic, read on.
TOP TIP: be sure to watch out for all your emails as Virgin Voyages will give you offers of the bar tabs while you are on board. Some of these are great offers; for example you can prepay a three-hundred dollar bar tab and they will give you one-hundred dollars free. Who doesn’t love the sound of that?
All your food, soft drinks and most entertainment/classes are included free of charge with the purchase of your cruise. This also includes gratuities. However alcoholic drinks are not included which is why you would want to pre-pay one of the tabs if you can.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: if you don’t get the band delivered to your address DON’T PANIC you can pick this up when you board the ship at check in. HOWEVER you will not be able to set up one of these bar tab offers on the day you arrive you will need to call Virgin Voyages in advance to embarkation day, to get this set up on your account and you can do this even if you don’t have your band.
So, you’ve uploaded all your documentation, you’ve pre-ordered your bar tab and you’ve arrived for check in for your Virgin Voyage cruise. Our cruise ship was the Scarlet Lady so if you hear me mention this name don’t think I’m talking about some random woman, I’m talking about the ship. Your check in time has arrived, usually from two pm in the afternoon in thirty-minute slots. If you are running late don’t worry they want to try and space everyone out, but you won’t be denied boarding because of it. Your checked baggage will go off separated, similar to a flight, and you will board with your documentation (again) and your hand luggage. They will also ask everyone to do a antigen COVID test before boarding (this is free of charge from Virgin Voyages) and you will head to the check in area after that to get all set up and finally get your results. If you are all clear you’re welcome on board. The check in is where you will get your cabin number and they still check the payment details of your band (and give you the band if you didn’t already get this sent to your home). On the day you board they will hold two-hundred and fifty dollars on your card and this will then be given back to you at the end of the Virgin Voyage or taken off your tab.
On our Virgin Voyage Scarlet Lady we got a ‘Central Seaview Terrace Stateroom’. There were two of us staying in this, you can select how you would like the bedding set up; whether that is one king bed or a twin room. This was very spacious with plenty of space for us to sprawl out; putting our shoes in one place, suitcases in another and emptying our clothes out into the closet space provided. The terrace has a small table and chairs as well as a hammock. Everything inside the room including curtains, lighting and the TV are controlled by an iPad which is located on the dressing table area.
There are many different options for the types of rooms you can go for. Depending on your price, needs and number of party members. You can also select the aft or forward of the ship, inside stateroom (no window) or outside stateroom (with terrace or window). Usually the best option is to go for a terrace to have a bit of your own outdoor space. Also the central part of the ship means you will tend to feel less ocean movement while on board.
When you are all settled in it’s time to explore the ship and the app! When you are checked in the app will open up the whole week plan for you and this is when you need to act quickly and decide what you want to do. You will need to put your name down for all the events, classes and shows you want to see, and you’ll want to do this as quickly as possible because they will sell out. Some of the extra activities will come with a cost such as bingo but these will be clearly displayed on the app. You can still have access to the performances like the cirque de soleil style show which Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise call ‘Duel Reality’. They also have unique shows such as ‘The Performing Nerd’ and ‘Never Sleep Alone’. I won’t say anymore but you won’t want to miss these.
When you aren’t taking part in a fitness class or being the audience of one of the shows; EXPLORE. The Virgin Voyage Scarlet Lady is a huge ship, you have two different pool areas with live DJ’s if you are just wanting to have a relax and meet some new faces while you sip on a frozen pina colada. If you want to stay out of the sun head to any one of the other bar areas or the Casino to enjoy a beverage down below instead. When it’s time for food you have over twenty different places to choose from and then it gets dark, it’s time to head to the nightclub.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Signature restaurants need to be booked in advance. You don’t want to miss out on any of them. You can even do this before you leave your home when you are adding in your documentation, they will open up the shore excursions and the restaurants a couple of months before you embark on your Virgin Voyage cruise.
TOP RESTAURANTS:
- Agave Mexican Restaurant
- The Wake Seafood and Steak Restaurant
- Gunbae Korean BBQ Restaurant
- The Test Kitchen
- Extra Virgin Italian Restaurant
If you don’t have time to visit one of these at dinner have a look to see if they have any lunchtime slots available.
Right speaking of getting off the ship above, do you have to do a shore excursion? Nope you don’t, the crew will give you a time you need to be back on board for, but the rest of the day is up to you. At Bimini in the Bahamas Virgin Voyage Scarlet Lady have their own private beach club. This is exclusive for the cruise guests only. They still make it a great day off the ship though, they bring a DJ and performers to interact and keep the crowd going throughout the day. Drinks and food are the same their as it is onboard. Food included free and drinks add to the band. It’s so nice to be able to leave your cabin and all you have to think about is your phone and a bit of lippy.
When you disembark on the last day everyone needs to be off the boat by a certain time. Your band will be charged automatically on this day. Whether you have gone over your tab or didn’t prebook a tab in the first place.
I think I have covered all the important points but if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me via my ‘contact me’ page.
LEAH HANCOX 