Virgin Voyages May 24 Adriatic

[scarecrow]

Well, as it was a very BIG birthday year, I decided to do something out of my comfort zone and try a Virgin cruise. For anyone who has seen the TV show, when they first launched, it enough to put me off, but I had joined a FB group and there were lots of positive comments from the older generation, so I thought why not, your head feels 30 even if the bod does not. I later found out that the average age of a VV cruiser is 42, who would have thought that? Certainly not the demographic they were hoping for when they first launched.

We sailed on Resilient Lady, which was a bit like a battle ship on the outside, painted in Grey and not very pretty, but the inside spaces were beautiful. I’m a season cruiser and been on lots of different lines over the years. They are all different.

We had a very nice amount of OBC, VV kindly matched my lowly DCL Silver status and gave us a very nice amount of bar tab too, which I enjoyed, along with super fast wifi a coffee tab and washing allowance. I used what was left the bar tab as I’m not a big drinker to bring back bottles of wine for family, you had to use it or loose it.

I had booked a sea terrace room (balcony), which came with a hammock. In the room was an iPad that controlled the room lights, tv, air con etc.

The food was amazing, best I’ve had on any cruise ship and it was a totally different experience to other lines, no wake up calls, no announcements, no large theatre for shows (which I missed)m oh and no buffet. The buffet is called the galley and is very calm, no mad rush and food that is so yummy. They had everything from sushi to fruit to high end cakes,bento boxes to grab and go, all sorts. There was a little flag on the table and you put this up for service, or you could go yourself.

All staff could wonder around the ship and eat at any of the restaurants. Service was excellent. No main dining room, no tipping, free wifi and free room service, if you added a drink. Your food arrives in a bag, so no messy dishes left out in the corridor, everything goes back in the bag.

There is no cruise director, there is a whole cast of people called the happening cast, one of which is the Diva, what a hoot she was.

The things that need improving are the pool area, see photo below, very small and dull and the evening entertainment. What there was was excellent, but the same shows were repeated night after night. There are also three party nights and things going on in the night club, which weren’t for us, as we like to get up early.

Here’s a few photos.

Room service breakfast

French toast room service breakfast.

Free pizza, there was a speciality one each day along with the regular offerings.

Dessert at the Wake restaurant.

Scarlet night party

I forgot to mention the ports, these were stunning as always, we went to Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik and Split, sailing from Athens.

We enjoyed the cruise so much, that we’ve booked an 11 nighter for the summer and taking our grown up son with us. Oh forgot to tell you that bit, no kids allowed, well only big ones.

So if you’ve been sitting on the fence as to whether to try VV,then I would say go for it. Just remember it will be different and go with the flow.

[levtweeney]

Thank you for the trip report. I’m pleased you enjoyed it. I have to admit to not even looking at Virgin cruises before as I got the impression they were “party” boats and while I’m only 56 I would say my wild days are definitely behind me 😆 However I will definitely put them on the list for future reference.

I’m not sure about no theatre as I do like a show at the end of the night.

[Cutiepie]

Thanks for sharing. I think I will give them ago sometime

[2point]

Pretty much what we've heard from friends - the food is the highlight.

It's on the list for us, something that pushes the boundaries and trying to do something different is welcome.

Thanks for the report and the great pictures.

[scarecrow]

There are shows, but the places they have them are very small. The three main shows were very good, but that’s all we got, three. There were other types of shows but not what I would call a full cast type of show.

[gavvy]

What a nice review, your views seem the same I've heard elsewhere, really good food, entertainment a bit lacking but overall really good.

I'm notbsure what they were thinking with the pool though.

Do you know what the Casino was like?

[scarecrow]

It was very small, but the rumours are that Virgin are increasing their size. I would say from memory probably about 6 table games, including roulette and maybe 4 rows of machines. The casino club does status match to any other casino status you have and give free cruises etc like the other lines. There is a FB group somewhere.

[HiddenMickey35]

Thank you for your feedback and lovely photos too.

Somehow, that I booked it with my husband then my daughter decided to join with us with my son also mother in law. that is 5 of us are going to Athens next year. Scarlet Virgin Voyager cruise.