Within the Spring of 2020, we have been excited to get an invite to cruise on Sir Richard Branson’s new cruise line, Virgin Voyages, and its debut ship, Scarlet Girl. Then the pandemic hit, and you already know the remainder of that story.
Quick ahead to the Fall of 2021, and whereas at Seatrade Miami, we had the chance to tour Scarlet Girl, in addition to meet Sir Richard. Nonetheless, it wasn’t a cruise. So this 12 months, occurring three years later, we determined to have a good time Pam’s birthday with a five-day cruise on Scarlet Girl.
Was it definitely worth the wait? Positively, sure. In a phrase, we have been “wowed.”
Our cruise began at Virgin’s lovely new Terminal V on the Port of Miami. Situated proper by the expressway in sight of downtown, it serves as a digital billboard, a first-rate instance of Branson’s advertising and marketing genius.
We did discover the embarkation course of a bit of cumbersome. “Sailors” are assigned a time to board and lined up in response to these instances. Although our cruise was round 50 p.c capability (almost 1,500), it took some time to get boarded. It didn’t assist that on a regular basis we spent loading our information to their app by some means wasn’t acknowledged once we acquired there. Expertise — it’s nice when it really works.
Talking of which: As a substitute of a room card, you’re given a small system on a rope which you’re instructed to hook round your wrist. It opens your door and will get you on and off the ship. We discovered it awkward to connect — particularly when you have a small wrist like Pam — however which may be simply us.
As soon as onboard, you virtually instantly really feel a brand new vibe taking on: Chill. The temper is laidback, in a casually upscale setting. On Scarlet Girl, you gained’t discover massive public areas, like multi-story atriums and huge theaters internet hosting Broadway reveals. As a substitute, it’s crammed with superbly appointed, intimate settings conducive to grownup dialog, enjoyable or having fun with a drink.
Particular emphasis on “grownup.” The principle issue that separates Virgin from different cruise strains is it’s important to be at the least 18 to sail, which many friends instructed us was the rationale they selected Virgin.
One other distinction — there are not any specialty eating places. All of the venues onboard are included within the fare, as is fundamental WiFi, water and sodas and gratuities. We discovered the meals total to be above common, with one thing for each style. Specifically, we favored Pink Agave (Mexican), Razzle Dazzle (American), Further Virgin (Italian) and The Wake (steak and seafood).
On Deck 15 you’ll discover The Galley, a meals courtroom the place we frequented for breakfast and lunch. As a substitute of buffets, you sit down and order from a menu. Service right here, and ship-wide, was distinctive. There’s one sit-down restaurant on this space: Gunbae, a Korean BBQ expertise the place friends sit round a flameless grill and pattern numerous Asian specialties. It’s meant to be enjoyable and interactive, and begins with a ingesting recreation. Be ready — it will get loud.
One distinction from different cruise eating places — the menus are fastened and don’t change. And you’d be sensible to order your desk upfront by way of the Virgin app. Stroll-ins are on an area out there foundation.
A couple of extra notes on meals: All of the menus place a emphasis on wholesome selections. The pizza is superb at The Pizza Place on Deck 7, and you could find one thing open, or room service, 24/7, which we favored. And don’t miss the ice cream on Deck 7, proactively named “Lick Me Until Ice Cream.” So good.
For the reason that clientele is all-adult, the reveals onboard are usually racier and extra edgy. There are plenty of aerobatics concerned as effectively. With the venues smaller, the reveals, which it’s important to reserve by way of the app, refill shortly. Actually, nearly all of them have been marked “offered out” for our cruise. It didn’t matter a lot to us — they aren’t our cup of tea for essentially the most half — however that should be disappointing for different friends who little doubt really feel shorted.
An actual spotlight of our cruise was having access to Richard’s Rooftop, the retreat on Deck 16 reserved for rock star suite friends and VIPs (thanks, Virgin). Moreover the new tubs, lounging areas and bar, day by day from 5:30-7 pm, it’s “bubbly time” when you may get pleasure from limitless Moet champagne (and you know the way Pam loves her champagne). Service there, as you would possibly anticipate, was excellent. And never a nasty place to observe the sundown.
A spotlight of each voyage is Scarlet Night time. Friends are inspired to put on purple and be a part of within the shipwide festivities, which embody roving jugglers and dancers, purple lighting and huge, blow-up tentacles, all culminating in a dance get together by the ship’s swimming pools beside an enormous, inflatable octopus. Get together-goers splash to the hits previous midnight, when the festivities transfer indoors to The Manor membership into the wee hours.
When friends aren’t partying, there are a lot to locations to train and work out, in addition to a spa. Like Sir Richard, friends can get together exhausting however deal with a wholesome life-style on the similar time.
One of many ports we have been set to go to was Puerto Plata within the Dominican Republic, however Hurricane Fiona had different concepts. So we detoured to Costa Maya. However the most effective place we visited was Bimini, the place Virgin maintains a non-public seaside membership. The water and seaside there have been spectacular, and we have been capable of get pleasure from it on the rock star retreat space, which made it that significantly better.
We had a Sea Terrace stateroom on Deck 12 with a non-public balcony, which included a purple hammock in a single nook that we each put to good use. The room options up to date decor and a stunning quantity of cupboard space. You may modify the lighting, request room service or watch TV from a pill. You don’t get many channels, but it surely does characteristic a big library of films.
There are deliberate actions in the course of the day to select from, however the true watchword for this cruise is “rest” and doing your individual factor. Scarlet Girl has a cruise director, however they’re so laidback you in all probability gained’t discover.
One other factor of word — we have been having a drink within the Sip Lounge when the ship’s magician sat down at our desk and entertained us with some fairly superb card tips. Afterwards, he gave us a card and instructed us to be at a sure place at a particular time for “one thing particular.” We have been instructed to look for a lady carrying a purple scarf and current the cardboard to her.
On the appointed time, a bunch of us gathered and we adopted the red-scarfed lady up and down staircases to a room within the crew space, the place our telephones have been sealed up in pouches earlier than we may enter.
The magician entered and proceeded to entertain us with some mind-blowing magic. Fairly cool. One other side of a Virgin cruise: Count on the sudden.
Little doubt a Virgin cruise isn’t for everyone — few cruises are. However if you’re searching for an edgier expertise, crafted for an grownup viewers, Virgin could also be simply the ticket, as Sir Richard would possibly say.
PHOTOS: All images by Gerry Barker
- At Gunbae you prepare dinner round a flameless grill
- Your room secret’s a fob on a rope
- Watching the sundown at Richard’s Rooftop (Cowl picture)
- The non-public seaside membership at Bimini
- Anybody for an ice cream?
- The Scarlet Night time pool get together
Ed. Notes: See cruises right here:
Scarlet Girl Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
Virgin Voyages Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
