Live: From Virgin Voyage's Scarlet Lady! Hear my initial thoughts!
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Will be talking through my initial thoughts on Virgin Voyages, how I like the Scarlet Lady and some of the differences I am seeing between Royal Caribbean and Virgin.
Great questions on how to compare Virgin Voyages to Royal Caribbean!
Glad you are liking VV overall so far! 🥳
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Celebrity end of year!
Brandon I enjoy your videos. You are a natural for UA-cam. I look forward to watching more as your channel grows.
Aww thanks Mildred!! Greatly appreciated!! Will always remember your name as it was my Grandmothers name 😊
Brandon, missed your live but congrats to your 1st Virgin cruise. Bet you’ll go back to Scarlet or her sister/s for more. Enjoy. June
I sure hope so! had a blast! No worries on missing the live. I messed up and didn't advertise it correctly lol Sorry about that!
Your eyes always so beautiful, especially when wearing a bright blue shirt!
Great Info ~ Thanks Brandon. It’s interesting when you try another cruise line, it really illuminates all the extra things we get with our Pinnacle status (especially the free drinks) 🍹
haha it really does! Will make a video specifically on what I missed from Royal. Most are C&A benefits.
So happy for you! Enjoy!
19:44 FYI the Sea Terrace (X?) has a smaller bathroom & balcony (as well as layout as far as closet placement) 🆚 the Sea Terrace XL that you’re in 🧐
Good to know! I think it is just a Sea Terrace and a Sea Terrace XL. Don't want anyone confusing it with an IPhone 😂
Hi Brandon - Carnival is doing 3 night sailings out of Port Canaveral and Miami, so you're clear to give it a try one weekend. However, the Carnival Conquest and Liberty are older ships.
I will have to check it out. My schedule is pretty packed at the moment. To go on another cruise line I normally have to plan well in advance or cancel something. If Carnival would reach out and invite me, I would be there ;-)
This was awesome 👏!
Great insight and comparisons. I don't really think Princess qualifies as Premium. CCL's answer to premium is Holland America. And I do feel VV is a premium product. They are different from the rest, but premium in that the food is way better than mass market, and they don't nickel and dime you.
Thank you! Interesting on Princess, I have always considered it premium as Carnival is the mass market for their line. However, maybe the different is that Carnival is MORE mass market, and that a step up for carnival's premium to Princess, doesn't need to step up as much to be a differnet Carnival tier. Things that make you think!
I missed your second try live but appreciate this post.
Sorry with all the confusion on trying to get the Live to work! Next time, I will ensure I have a solid plan sooner lol
Brandon!!!!!! Yay!
PS. I finally hit the subscribe button, i am here so often...so why not 🙂...k, back to the video
hahaha Thank you!!!! Always glad when someone makes us official ;-)
Hey Brandon
I also prefer a busier cruise. Doesn’t feel right when venues aren’t busy.
Right? Luckily, I just wanted to relax on this cruise but any other cruise, it would have been dissapointing.
Hello Brandon... Sorry missed the live but glad you are enjoying Virgin. I am thinking of trying her some day soon. #replay
You should!!! I had a blast on her! No worries on the Live! I didn't advertise it correctly lol
HI Brandon - glad yiou are having fun. It really sounds like you are ready for a big change o it will beintereting to see where you land. Enjoy your comments because they are NOT political and you have an understanding of business necessities and you look out for nice experiences and treats. Please try Carnival. Your take would be especially interesting. We've done Royal and Princess and prefer Royal. We just reached Diamond level. Do you know if Diamond is part of a dedicated entrance door in Miami? Thanks
Thank you and always a pleasure! I am truly open to Carnival and would enjoy giving them a sail. Terminal A in Miami has a Suite and Pinnacle entrance. If you show up early before boarding, they might put you in a diamond section but I have not seen this happen often.
OMG....Sweet Caroline.....lol..lol..lol. You are right about that!! Royal does indeed have that " please everyone " play list. ..lol..lol
Nails, on, a, chalkboard.
We love to see your beautiful face!!! Was waiting for this
Awww, so kind!! Thank you!
They are having a “no single supplement” sale right now. Hate that the 4 days don’t surround any holidays or start on Wednesday. Want to book but trying to maximize my time.
Totally get it! The vacation time game is alive and well!!! I play it as best I can as well!
I have cruised Celebrity and Princess. IMHO, VV is far above Princess. The age group is much younger than I experienced on Celebrity. The line it is closest to in my experience is Disney (without the kids), and in fairness I've seen many ups and downs on Disney over the years. The food on VV beats any line that I'm experienced with. I do relate to you having a favorite ship where you know the crew and it feels like "coming home." We had that for many years pre-covid. But the switch to VV is worth it, particularly with the staff changes on our favorite ship. As to costs on VV, shop and be willing to wait for specials. THe "mass market" vs "premium" is really a word game. VV is different than any other line cruising from the US. Bottom line--great food, great service. You need to be a bit open minded and willing to have fun to enjoy this line, and it helps to not compare it to others.....it is different! Most recent Scarlet Lady sailings have been right about 50%; I can't speak to the one that you are on. The Bimini Beach Club is a private resort which VV rents out in its entirety when it has a ship at the port. All the services, etc. are provided by VV on those days and it works as an extension of the ship...and has 2 large pools. The red for Scarlet Night can be as simple as a handkerchief in your pocket or a pair of socks or a full outfit. Some people wear costumes (one guy a devil costume), another a bathrobe. Like most things VV, anything goes. And you are welcome without red on Scarlet Night or in street clothes at the PJ party. The only thing I wish VV had that it doesn't is a self service laundry. That doesn't matter on a 5 night cruise, but does on a 14 night or perhaps if you are going from VV to another ship as a sort of B2B. It has definitely become my "go to" line. It is rather like being at WDW when you realize that the food at the sit down restaurants is so much better than at the character buffets....you grow up!
Benefits of the bar tab....ALL gratuities are included on VV. This means drinks, spa, as well as the normal. So if the menu says $9, you are charged $9 and no one has their hand out for more. On most lines, if the menu says $10, you're charged $11.80 (10 + 18%) The bar tab can be shared with anyone you wish....your cabin mate if you have one, or if you have money left at the last night, share with your new best friends. The bar tab also covers things like specialty coffee, tea, and fresh squeezed juice as well as activities like the Pub Crawl or the beverage pairing available at some restaurants. THe "bonus" you get on the $300 bar tab ranges from $50 to $125 depending on the current special. If you are thinking about VV, there is currently a nice deal on sailings during 2022 which includes a 50% discount on second passenger, no single supplement, and $100 bonus on the bar tab. The ship also has 40 solo cabins across several categories that normally sell for only slightly above 1/2 of the 2 person rate (very small single supplement, but smaller cabin) These do sell out quickly. OH, one other VV hint. If you order room service (food served to your room) there is a $5 delivery fee BUT if you order any item that has a charge of at least $5, the delivery charge is waived. If you don't want anything now, order a fresh squeezed OJ and pop it in the fridge till the next morning! The Galley (food court) does add "special of the day" items on longer cruises in addition to the "normal" items. For example, in addition to the three normal tacos, they add a 4th which differs each day of the week. The special items do not appear on the shorter cruises.
If anyone cares, the average on VV from inception till end of June was 47 with a very wide range from 18 to 80s, about 50% of cruisers are married. The typical VV Sailor is 40s -50s. The new ads are definitely more focused to that age group. Ship capacity is 2700, so even at 50% it is far fewer people than one of the Royal or Princess ships.
Thank you for this! I just got off Celebrity, and definitely want to try Virgin for my next trip. I enjoy flying Virgin too. Love the 18+. It's definitely premium compared to Carnival/Royal/Norwegian. Love the all inclusive pricing.
I should have had you on as an interview to prepare me to go on Virgin! Had a great experience and look forward to sailing her again! First video will be up tomorrow.
Hi Brandon. I know you mainly do weekends, but any chance you might try a Western Med itinerary at some point?
Hey G! Funny enough, I am on Vision of the Seas September 2nd out of Barcelona! Good timing!
I would love to see what you wish you brought on the cruise?
So far, I think I am up to a red outfit and pajamas. lol
How come I missed this Live!!!
I think I'm flying too much!! 😅🙈
haha making all the money so you can go on more cruises!
@@TheWeekendCruiser the next One, with you!? 🤣😜
There's no shame at all in trying new cruise ships. Enjoy!
I am interested to see how Virgin Voyages is compared to Celebrity too!! Very curious which one will win!