Table Of Content
- David Lewenz room 8202Z review of his experience
- Will I have to bring my wallet around the ship to tip?
- What I loved about Scarlet Lady
- What are the cabins like? Will I feel comfortable?
- The Resilient Lady Deck Plan Features Intimate Spaces for Meet-Cutes, Dates and Friend Hangs
- Second Icon-Class Ship Will Have a Furry Family Member
- Resilient Lady cabins and suites
The Band — an adjustable cord bracelet with a scannable device attached — is your room key and charge "card" when you sail. It's also used to scan you on and off the ship when you go ashore. More importantly, perhaps, it allows crew members to locate you when you shake for Champagne delivery.
David Lewenz room 8202Z review of his experience
I am generally not a fan of cruise ship buffets, but a five-night cruise on Scarlet Lady gave me new appreciation for them. 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. Scarlet Lady is a ship for independent travelers who don't need their hands held or want to be told what to do by a cruise director (there isn't one).
Will I have to bring my wallet around the ship to tip?
The pricing for this cruise line is done a bit differently, charging for cabins that have the capacity for up to 3 passengers (or 'sailors' as the line refers to its passengers). With rates that hover around $1,300 per cabin for 4-5 night trips, Virgin is poised to become the perfect upscale yet affordable vacation for a friends group looking to experience some new destinations. If you really want to live it up, you can book RockStar Quarters or Mega RockStar Quarters, Virgin's two categories of suites. These extra-large rooms come with attractions like music rooms, turntables, peekaboo showers with windows to the sea, fully-stocked bars and large balconies. Perks include exclusive access to the Richard's Rooftop sun deck, access to a RockStar Agent (i.e. concierge), priority reservations for dining, onboard events and shore excursions and complimentary access to the spa's thermal suite. Scarlet Lady succeeds in creating intimate spaces onboard a big ship, and I loved all the inviting nooks I found on board.
What I loved about Scarlet Lady
Resilient Lady offers a standard selection of accommodations, albeit with cutesy names. Toward the end of the voyage, I made my way into The Galley — a food court-style setup with several varieties of cuisine — and ordered an open-faced banana Nutella sandwich and a drink for lunch. The drink arrived with no issues, but after a half-hour wait for my meal, I flagged down a waitress who informed me my order had been lost. One night, when I ate at Razzle Dazzle, the ship's vegetarian-forward restaurant, I waited nearly 30 minutes to receive my main course after I had finished my starter.
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I shouldn't be surprised, given Virgin's British origins, but I figured tea was not hip enough for the line. Tea service does cost extra – more if you want Champagne with your goodies – and I suggest you make it your lunch because it's way too much food for a snack. You get a full three-tiered tray with scones, finger sandwiches and too many sweets for one person to consume in one sitting. The Wake is the most traditional of Scarlet Lady's restaurants. It's your "get dolled up and eat steak" venue, with a glam vibe and large windows overlooking what else but the ship's wake.
Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady Dress Code
The mood of the cabin changes with a quick swipe as lighting presets add a playful touch with one designed for social media photoshoots and another for hangovers, maybe the most useful feature I found on this party ship. The staff at Virgin are so incredible especially Karina our Rockstar agent! The crew onboard a Virgin Voyages ship are there to serve and make you feel welcome. But, in a twist from most other cruise lines, they are also encouraged to be themselves, allowed to engage in more friendly and casual interactions with guests. If that conversation includes colorful language, it’s not a fireable offense. One of the most common questions among those planning a cruise is, Are drinks included?
On the cabin's long wall, there was a cloth headboard and a narrow white platform with one thick armrest. I had the same experience at The Dock after a late excursion; several of us waited far too long for a waiter to appear and take our order – even though a server had escorted me outside five minutes prior. As much as I'm not a fan of buffets, sometimes I just want to eat quickly and get on with my day.
"Fantastic voyage aboard the Scarlet Lady! So different from any other cruise line. Every sailor we met loved the “adults only” voyage and would definitely plan on booking again with Virgin in the future." "The food was wonderful, some places a little interesting. Several options in food, events, seating, workout areas, seating outside of plenty, spa was amazing, staff was always polite, helpful and made the experience amazing." Virgin Voyages has no official dress code and advises passengers to come as they are, whether it's a sparkly dress or jeans and a T-shirt.
While much of the ship is well-designed, with stylish, contemporary spaces, there are a few areas that are so minimalist as to appear almost unfinished. The elevator hallways, in particular, are so plain, unadorned and brightly lit that they give off the air of a hospital ward. There also is a noticeable lack of signage around the ship, to the point that it took me two days to discover one tucked-away bar called The Loose Cannon. Virgin Voyages' app isn't much help when it comes to getting you around, either (nor is it particularly intuitive). There are $2,000-a-night luxury ships such as Crystal Cruises' new Crystal Endeavor that include the cost of dining in all of their restaurants in their fares.
On Virgin sailings, you prepay your bar tab before you set sail, and the amount is debited from your final onboard bill. If you go over it, you pay per beverage like at any shoreside bar. Although you don't have to prepay, the line will often give you extra funds if you do. Virgin Voyages is known for its creative fitness classes, such as an '80s-themed workout where crew and guests don legwarmers and neon leotards to set the mood.
I prefer specialty restaurants with their individual menus, decor and vibe. But I also hate paying extra for meals when food is already included. In this way, Virgin's restaurant concept speaks perfectly to me. Scarlet Lady defies categorization when it comes to pricing, as well. Its cruise fares are more inclusive than your typical mass-market ship, and therefore more expensive than other mainstream lines. But it doesn't have the same vibe as luxury cruise ships that tend to cater to a retired, wealthy clientele, who are less active and not into dance parties or cutting-edge entertainment.
Cruisers are not allowed to bring their own liquor or beer on board. As part of a new concept called Festival Stage, the vessel also has a series of limited-time engagements that, on my voyage, included shows by Irish performer Abandoman. This musician and comedian chose audience members to interview and then created freestyle raps about their lives, on the spot, which had everyone in stitches. Upcoming acts include comedy-magic hybrids, acapella singing groups and Tape Face — an "America's Got Talent" finalist who does an entire comedy routine with his mouth taped shut. Held in The Manor, this three-hour nightclub activation is divided into three consecutive one-hour chunks offered a few times per sailing so passengers can come and go as they please. Another of my favorite food experiences on Resilient Lady was The Pizza Place.
There's also something for everyone, as the ship has over 20 different spots to grab a bite. Expect classy, Vegas pool party vibes at Virgin Voyages' exclusive The Beach Club at Bimini, a destination on most of its voyages. The music is loud, drinks are prominent and the free WiFi around the pool ensures easy access to social media. The music is great and goes beyond standard Top 40 hits and Caribbean beats.
Smoking is not permitted in passenger cabins or on stateroom balconies; anyone who doesn't adhere to that policy will receive a $500 fine and could be subject to early disembarkation without a refund. If you're a Resilient Lady passenger who's also a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport that's valid for at least six months from disembarkation day in order to cruise due to the ship's international departures. No matter where you look, there's something that will drop your jaw. In fact, the show was so good that I went back to see it again on the final night of the voyage. If you want to attend, it's best to reserve a spot ahead of time on the Virgin Voyages app. Also worth mentioning are Test Kitchen's mixology classes, where you'll learn how to create a social media-worthy cocktail, and the Grog Walk, a hosted bar crawl that will take you to the vessel's most popular watering holes.
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