I didn’t even notice that children weren’t on board because it just didn’t occur to me that anything should be noticed. The late-night spicy ramen, social atmosphere and fun ports more than made up for any hiccups. Despite some underwhelming aspects here and there, such as some design choices we didn't love and a very crowded pool area, we had a great time. Other than the cabin cleanings, the crew was more noticeable, too. We saw crew members on the basketball courts, eating in The Galley and just generally out and about around the ship even when they didn't appear to be on the clock, which helped create a more relaxed atmosphere. The bed was also rather hard and uncomfortable for my personal tastes, so much so that by the last night of our trip, I was ready to return to my more inviting setup at home.
Our most brilliant experiences
The Fab Suite, at 950 square feet, is essentially an oversized version of the Posh Suite. The extra space allows for additional seating areas in both the living room and bedroom. The Cheeky Corner Suite also comes in a range of sizes, 615 to 857 square feet, based on deck and balcony size. The 14 suites are at the back corners of the ship on decks 8 – 14, on either side of the Sweet Aft Suites. They measure 105 to 177 square feet and can sleep one (Solo Insiders) to four people (Social Insiders).
Carry-on drinks policy
Also included in basic fares are beverages, all eateries, group fitness classes. Customers are able to hold staterooms for 24 hours with no money down once they've placed a 20% non-refundable deposit. They also have a 7-day grace period allowing them to change bookings for any reason.
Your Cabin Awaits
The Sweet Aft Suite ranges in size from 416 to 661 square feet, depending on the deck and the size of the balcony. There's one Sweet Aft Suite on each deck between decks 8 and 14, and each is located smack in the center of the back of each deck. Balcony cabins are designated either regular, extra-large, centrally located or limited-view, and your cruise fare will change depending on which you choose. Cheeky Corner and Suite Aft Suites are also divided into Pretty Big Terrace, Even Bigger Terrace and Biggest Terrace classes. Not only do Virgin Voyages cruise cabins come with complimentary water, there are water stations across the ship where you can refill your personal water bottle.
Cruise departure date and names on bookings can be changed without fees or penalties. Shortly before opening the bookings on Scarlet Lady (Feb 14, 2019), Virgin announced all-inclusive deal policy by which cruises are sold "by cabin price". Fares are also inclusive of dining (shipwide / 20 options, some 24-hour), unlimited WiFi, all fitness classes. For 5-day itineraries, fares start from ~USD 250 pp per day (excluding taxes-fees).
What are cruise cabins (staterooms) like on cruise ships?
All rebookings made with the 200% FCC were fully refunded (200%) and additionally received 25% in FCC (to be used on another booking). Virgin Voyages also introduced the "Smooth Sailing Program" which allows for itineraries in 2020 (through December 16) the final payment dates to be moved to 60 days (previously 120 days) prior departure. Smooth Sailing also allows cancellations up to 48 hours (prior departure) with receiving a full (100%) refund in FCC.
The rest of the dining options, which had specialty offerings like sushi and juicy steak dinners, came at an additional price. But Royal Caribbean has a handful of smaller ships with a capacity of less than 3,000 people, including Rhapsody of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas. The smallest fleet of the cruise line's nearly 30 ships is Grandeur of the Seas, which weighs 73,817 gross tons and has a capacity of about 2,000 passengers, The Points Guy reported. In April 2022, I embarked on my first cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.
Outside Training camp is a boxing ring, props for alfresco body weight exercises, a sports court for basketball and an adult playground with swings and a seesaw. Back on Deck 15 by the wellness pool is another open-air workout space – especially good for show-offs since everyone lounging in that area can watch you sweat. Unfortunately for me, I could not get the room service option to function properly on my phone, so I could neither see the menu nor order in-cabin dining.
Virgin Voyages selling month-long cruises to remote workers: 'Work from helm' - Fox Business
Virgin Voyages selling month-long cruises to remote workers: 'Work from helm'.
Posted: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Inside cabins on Virgin Voyages cruise ships
You can find grab-and-go boxes in several locations on board, but the food selection is limited. The ship has a decided lack of signage; no deck maps or wayfinder screens by the elevator banks, not even the name of bars by their entrances. The layout of the ship is such that certain bars or venues are tucked away off the high-traffic corridors and can be difficult to find. If you do find them, they're usually in a dead end, leaving you to retrace your steps to figure out a way across a deck. Unless they're a real Broadway show (found on the likes of NCL or Royal Caribbean), I'm usually walking out or picking them apart before they end. The public spaces on the ship invite you to grab a friend, a drink and chill for a while.
The rooftop lounge in the forward ship was dotted with shaded loungers and multiple hot tubs with a private bar, panoramic views, and nightly happy hour. We spent every afternoon lounging on the rooftop between excursions and watched the sunset during happy hour with an intimate group of cruisers we befriended. On our sea day, when the pool was most packed, the lounge remained an empty reprieve, and we certainly felt like RockStars with our whims catered to at every turn. Cruise cabins, also known as staterooms, are your oasis within an oasis. And on our adults-only ships, these inner sanctums are equipped with cutting-edge technology like mood lighting and room keys in the form of a wearable band.
But our name goes far beyond the vivid, incandescent glow of the sea and the inevitable post-vacation glow we set out to give our Sailors. Each and every one of our ships rocks a beautiful and strong mermaid at its helm — and Brilliant Lady will be no different. So as we thought about the strength and resilience we’ve touched upon with our other mermaids, we also wanted to highlight the powerful intelligence of women across the globe. Like her three sisters who’ve come before, we’ve been extremely thoughtful about selecting her name; making sure that whatever we call her not only represents her, but represents the values and the beliefs we hold so dear. So it’s our absolute honor to introduce Brilliant Lady to the fleet.
No one understands what voyaging with us is like better than our Sailors. So instead of going on about everything that makes sailing with us an epic experience, we’ll let them do the talking.
Gazing out at the waves every morning, this is the closest you can get to the ocean (without the windblown hair). From the massive European king bed overlooking the sea to the custom hand-made terrace hammock, luxury and self care here are a serious art. A lavish Suite cheekily located at the corner of the ship for wrapping panoramic views of the wake (you’re welcome). Sun-drenched terrace yoga with new friends or (extra) dirty martinis at the full bar inside?
Sea Terraces share the layout of the other standard cabins, but the placement of the sleeping and living areas alternates in adjacent rooms. Some cabins have the bed by the bathroom and the desk by the balcony, while the rooms on either side will have the reverse layout, with the bed by the balcony and the desk by the bathroom. Whether this is your first cruise ever or your first with this cruise line, you'll want to familiarize yourself with Virgin Voyages' cabins and suites before you make that booking. Gone are the days of wiggling a key in a lock, or even digging through your wallet to find a key card. Our Sailors access their cabins with a smart wristband, which also gives them entrance to the ship itself after returning from Shore Things. Hotels and cruises ultimately offer vastly different vacation experiences, but their lodgings are cut from the same cloth.
