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But you'll pay a lot more in "extras" if sailing on Freedom of the Seas, where specialty restaurants, gratuities and Wi-Fi are not included in the fare. I also was impressed with the pasta dishes at Extra Virgin, the ship's Italian eatery. I ordered a side of carbonara to accompany my main course, a porcini-rubbed New York Strip steak, just to test it. I was pleasantly surprised to see the dish was made with bucatini, the long, narrow tube-like pasta that is considered proper for carbonara but often isn't used at Italian restaurants. But the idea of a main dining room hasn't completely disappeared from the cruise world.
Entertainment on Resilient Lady Ranges from Eye-Popping and Interactive to Existential Game Shows
The Galley's concept could use some refining, so be prepared. It works well when the venue is relatively quiet; you don't have to queue for food or worry about food sitting around or contaminated tongs. On the other hand, when it's busy and you just want a quick meal before your tour, it can be hard to flag down a server and your food can take 20 minutes to arrive.
Cruise News Recap: Carnival Tampering, Dining Changes, Evacuation
The table is next to a unit housing the mini-fridge and two small shelves, but there is no additional storage. Here, you'll also find a touch-screen pad where you can adjust the lighting and temperature of your room. That doesn't mean that I'm sure Virgin Voyages is going to be a success. It's possible that, despite the line's best efforts, the ship is still not cool enough for the young and the hip crowd that some have thought would be its natural market. At the same time, Scarlet Lady may turn out to be just a tad too cool for many people in my generation, even for those of us looking to have some fun.
Top notch experience
Much to my surprise, though, there was a fair mix of people on my sailing. Would the four-night cruise from Miami, with stops in both Key West, Florida, and Bimini, Bahamas, impress me enough to consider Virgin Voyages for future trips? Here's what I took away from the experience — and whether I'd cruise with Virgin Voyages again. Leading up to its maiden voyage in 2021, Virgin Voyages marketed itself as the cruise line for vacationers who otherwise weren't interested in traditional cruising. It aimed to appeal to those who were young and hip, wanted to party and craved an atmosphere without little kids running around. Scarlet Night is the brand's marquee event and consists of a series of games, microtheater, torch songs, costumes and more across the entire ship.
Found along The Roundabout on the second deck of Resilient Lady's atrium, Draught House pours pints of beer in a location that's equal parts central and tucked away. On-tap options include Heineken, Strongbow Hard Cider and Lagunitas IPA. One of the most impressive aspects of Virgin Voyages' rooms is that they're techy. Instead of a keycard, you'll have a fairly nondescript wearable that adjusts to fit your wrist like a friendship bracelet.
However, the average passenger enjoys looking chic and trendy, even when dressed down. There are no formal nights on board, but most people do change into something a little nicer for dinner. Beverages detected in your checked bags will be confiscated and returned at the end of your sailing. You will also have to do some online prep ahead of time in order to check in and select a time to arrive at the embarkation port on the day of your sailing. Of course, there's always the option to perfect your glow in one of the ship's two pools or on the open sun decks.
Miami Cruise Port parking
Upon a third voyage, these loyalty guests gain access to the Deep Blue Extras as well as additional onboard credit, and more. Sea Blazers sailed in 2021and are rewarded for participating in the cruise line’s inaugural season with automatic access to all perks, including a $125 credit added to any $300 bar tab purchased, for life. For seasoned cruisers missing a more traditional main dining room experience, The Wake hits closest to the mark, offering a 1960s steakhouse vibe. Meat and seafood are on the menus for both brunch and dinner, although some dishes carry an extra charge. When it comes to alcohol, gone are the days of drink packages.
But you don't see this sort of thing on the bigger ships operated by the likes of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Additionally, we didn't have to worry about extra tips, taxes or fees. Tips for the crew, spa services and more are factored into your cruise price, so what you see on the menu really is what you can expect to pay. While other ports of call vary based on the sailing, a constant for Scarlet Lady is a stop at its private beach club in the Bahamas.
Scarlet Lady activities
Virgin Voyages takes a reasonable approach to passengers bringing drinks on board. Each guest may bring on board a maximum of 12 sealed 12-ounce or smaller cans or cartons of nonalcoholic beverages (water, sports drinks, soda, non-alcoholic beer, etc.) and two 750mL bottles of wine. If you're a U.S. citizen on one of Scarlet Lady's round-trip Miami sailings, you'll need a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo ID to sail. Pretty much every night there's a themed party in The Manor or out on deck, but the ones you need to pack for are the PJ Party and Scarlet Night. Scarlet Lady's first-night pajama party is optional, but if you do want to get your Virgin vibe going on day one, pack a pair of party PJs and head to the Athletic Club bar on the first night. Scarlet Lady's Redemption Spa is also broken up and scattered around the ship.
The pappardelle was lighter and chewier than my previous experiences, which I preferred. And there was just the right amount of sauce not to overpower the flavor of the pasta itself. I didn't feel overstuffed after my meal, as I often do when eating pasta. I hadn't heard of Cochinita Pibil before my cruise, but now, it's one of my favorite Mexican dishes. The pork seemed to melt in my mouth, and the pico de gallo was a refreshing touch to the otherwise hearty entrée. For dinner one night, I ordered the Cochinita Pibil, a traditional Mayan dish that originated in the Yucatán Peninsula in 400 AD, as Business Insider previously reported.
Additionally, you'll find casual spots that serve ice cream, pizza, poke bowls and more. You can also order room service; the food is complimentary, but there's a $5 delivery fee. Besides the main restaurants, there's the previously mentioned Galley, where you can savor everything from sushi roll bento boxes to 24-hour diner food. It is a hybrid of a grab-and-go and dine-in experience, meaning how you order will vary depending on which station you visit. The entertainment we experienced fell somewhere between PG-13 and R, though we admittedly headed to bed by 11 p.m., so perhaps offerings leaned more X-rated as the night went on. Like many people, I went into my cruise expecting most passengers (or "sailors," as the line calls them) to be millennials based on the flashy marketing I've seen from the line.
Soft serve in sikhye (a sweet flavor made with malt and rice) and black sesame varieties is also offered with black sesame granola, miniature marshmallows and miso caramel for dessert. Like other companies within the Virgin family of brands, Virgin Voyages is trendy and chic, bringing passengers a perfect balance of over-the-top fun that doesn't veer into tacky. Its ships only allow cruisers who are 18 and older, and they attract a wealthier crowd. On the surface, it's not much different from its two older sisters, Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Anyone who breaks the rules will be fined $500 and may be disembarked at the next destination, with no refund for missed days on the ship and no compensation for lodging and/or airfare back home. Internet access is also included on your Scarlet Lady cruise.
Being Virgin, the Lady ships also feature Squid Ink, a tattoo parlor; a giant outdoor daybed; and pressed juices made to order at Gym & Tonic. There is a 24/7 diner onboard for late-night cravings, as well as an ice cream shop and coffee house. The idea of room service has been replaced by Ship Eats, a set menu that is operated by the app and can be delivered anywhere onboard for a $5 surcharge.
I've been on more than 150 cruise ships; here are my first impressions of Scarlet Lady, the first-ever Virgin Voyages ... - The Points Guy
I've been on more than 150 cruise ships; here are my first impressions of Scarlet Lady, the first-ever Virgin Voyages ....
Posted: Sat, 09 Oct 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The main venue is tucked away on Deck 5 on the other side of the elevator bank from Sailor Services, Pink Agave and Razzle Dazzle. You'll find treatment rooms for massages here, as well as the thermal suite. On the other hand, if working out is core to your vacation ideals, Scarlet Lady offers plenty of options, but the fitness areas aren't connected the way you think they might be, so look at a deck plan before you throw on your sneakers. But the real casual-dining winner is The Pizza Place, churning out oven-fresh pizzas day and night in a light and airy space.
The typical stay at Bimini — where the line holds DJ-led pool parties at its private beach club late into the day — extends until 8 p.m., which is later than most ships stay at Bahamian ports. Virgin Voyages adults-only scene changes up the attitude and energy of everyone onboard, giving the whole experience an exclusive, club vibe. The ship doesn't lack for anything you'd find on your standard cruise, with plenty of uniquely themed bars (a dozen to be exact), two pools, plenty of hot tubs and a nightclub as cool as any I've seen on more solid ground. The guests on my sailing were from all walks of life and notably younger. To me, Test Kitchen is the most impressive free option on board, especially given that there were six courses, the ingredients were high quality and anything this frou-frou normally costs a bunch of extra money on other cruise lines.
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