Virgin Voyage - Valiant Lady
I absolutely love cruising and have had the pleasure of cruising on P&O and Royal Caribbean ships but I knew that Virgin Voyages offer a completely different concept to cruising and so I was intrigued to get on board and have a nosy around! So yes, it is a completely different style of cruising, but I absolutely loved it. So much so, that a post on social media just wouldn’t capture the day, hence putting pen to paper to write this blog.
First impressions:
For those of you who have cruised before, you’ll know that you usually walk into an impressive atrium. Virgin Voyages are a little different. Yes, it’s impressive upon walking in, but what’s different is that you’re straight into the bar area and live music. As soon as you step on board you get the feeling of luxury and elegance, but also a feeling that your time on board is going to be classy fun!
Who’s it for:
I would definitely be recommending this for a target market of around 25-45 years of age. It has a ‘hip’ vibe about it, so if you’re used to the traditional luxury of, let’s say a Celebrity or P&O cruises for example, these ships may feel a bit ‘party’. If you’re a ‘foodie’, this ship is Definitely for you and we’ll come on to dining later as it deserves a section of it’s own!
Adult by design:
Following on nicely from ‘who’s it for’, Virgin Voyages are all adults only. Unlike other cruise liners where they may offer families on board for certain sailings but be adult only for some of the seasons, Virgin Voyages were designed from the planning stage to be adults only all of the time and designed purely with adults in mind and you can see this in the detail: -Every balcony cabin has a hammock -Suites have their own music decks for your favourite vinyl’s whilst in your cabin -There are no buffet style eateries that may be popular with families. The dining is definitely catered for adults, with beautiful restaurants and stunningly plated food for the appreciative palette!
An adult’s playground:
It may be adults only, but there’s definitely a LOT of fun to be had on board. From walking in to the bar area and live music, you’re also on the same deck as the stylish casino. Entertainment starts during the daytime with incredible singers at the piano bar, guitarists giving Ed Sheeran a run for his money, a games area with plenty of board games and of course, enjoy a pre drink at the onboard pub and what I thought was really incredible was The Social Club. You’re very own games room with arcade games, air hockey, shuffleboard and more.
The Red Room:
No, this isn’t an extension of what I mean by ‘an adult’s playground!! The red room is the on-board theatre. I was fortunate enough to catch a show on board and it was totally different to what I’m used to from other ships. This is definitely a modern concept and has moved away from West End style shows. The team definitely put on a performance, but I would describe it as more of a Cirque Du Soleil style dance/drama. The show I saw was Duel Reality, a circus performance based on Romeo and Juliet, but other shows are very festival and concert styles.
The Manor:
The Manor is named after Richard Branson’s first recording studio. It’s THE place to be to party on into the evening. A two storey, three bar space where you can party into the early hours. Walking through the most glitziest of corridors is impressive before you’ve even got inside.
Dining:
What I was most impressed with about Virgin Voyages is that every restaurant is speciality, and every restaurant is included within the price you pay. I said earlier that the dining deserved a section of it’s own within this blog. It has over 20 eateries on board, all with stunning settings and even the casual pizzeria is classy and boasts an incredible Al Fresco dining experience for sunny days at sea. Talking of sunny days, the Ice cream at the ice cream parlour was delicious! I had the pleasure of dining in The Wake. It’s the steak and seafood restaurant offering the finest cuisine. I enjoyed a beautiful clam chowder, followed by fillet mignon with all the trimmings and to top it all off, a lemon cheesecake for dessert. It looked sensational and tasted the same. Definitely an Instagram worthy experience! Steak not your thing? Head to Razzle Dazzle for all things veggie or head over to Pink Agave for a Mexican experience. What really impressed me and what I’ve not seen elsewhere was The Test Kitchen. This is an experimental eatery with a laboratory concept. Make your own cocktails and plate beautiful dishes and be taught how to make them look incredible for your Instagram pictures before tasting these delicious creations.
Well-Being:
We’ve talked a lot about partying and entertainment, but there’s also room for plenty of R&R for both ladies and gentlemen. Take time to relax in the spa. There’s a separate room for manicures and pedicures with floor to ceiling glass to enjoy the views and for the gents, head to stubble and groom. For the more adventurous, never mind remembering the experience through photos…head over to Squid Ink and get a permanent memory inside this tattoo parlour.
Your own space:
So now you’ve read this, are you sold and ready to get on board? Then get in touch and ask me about a cabin that suits you. For something more modest ask me about the social insider, sea view cabins and the sea terrace cabin with balconies. All cabins have mood lighting, are spacious and are kitted out with the latest in cabin tech. Now let’s talk Rockstar quarters. The massive suite is very aptly named. I’ve never seen a suite quite so big and the balcony itself is bigger than my living room at home!! The Massive Suite allows you to relax in the lounge, play music in your own guitar room, has a bath and double shower, an outside shower, a jacuzzi and enough space to invite back the whole ship for your own personal party!! If you want a suite experience but not quite on this scale, the gorgeous suite or the corner suite are also big and just as impressive but on a smaller scale to the Massive Suite. Not sure which cabin to choose and which restaurant to dine in first? Don’t worry. That’s what my personalised service is for. Give me a call today and I can talk you through everything in more detail and find the right sailing for you.