Sunday, March 31, 2024

Resilient Lady review: Virgin Voyages' third cruise ship

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It works well when the venue is relatively quiet; you don't have to queue for food or worry about food sitting around or contaminated tongs. On the other hand, when it's busy and you just want a quick meal before your tour, it can be hard to flag down a server and your food can take 20 minutes to arrive. Plus, there's no option for hot food that you plate yourself and take back to your room if there are no seats because you have to have a table to order food at The Galley.

Resilient Lady Rooms Are Sharp and Simple, Though Rockstar Suites Feature Luxe (Sometimes Quirky) Perks

However, the hangers were cheap wire ones coated in what appeared to be shiny black rubber, and they left bumps in the shoulders of my shirts. Storage, especially in the teeny-tiny bathroom, would have been difficult with two people sharing the room. Because of the weird furniture setup, under-bed storage for luggage is a no-go if you're planning to convert the bed to a sofa each day.

How much does it cost to go on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady?

In fact, multi-generational families (minus kids under 18, of course) aren't exactly uncommon either. Scarlet Night is the brand's marquee event and consists of a series of games, microtheater, torch songs, costumes and more across the entire ship. The line has described the show as "a hype music video disguised as an absurdist style dance party," and that pretty much sums it up.

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Sails To

However, I was truly impressed by Test Kitchen, a lab-like restaurant that focuses on presentation with some molecular gastronomy elements mixed in. The original menus, which alternate to provide different experiences on each voyage, were designed by chef Matt Lambert of New York City's The Musket Room. When you open the door to your room, the system is alerted to turn on certain lights and even to open the curtains at certain times of the day.

Lovely customer service from Nicholas

If you don't reserve times as soon as you board the vessel, you could find yourself relegated to the food court or eating at less desirable times that cut into the nightly entertainment. The number of activities is dizzying, and they often overlap, which means you'll likely have to pick and choose. Be warned that chances are good you won't be able to see and do everything you want to in a single sailing, but that's by design. Virgin Voyages has a high rate of repeat cruisers, and it's easy to understand why.

Scarlet Lady activities

The Dock House is an indoor lounge where you and your sweetie can sip cocktails flavored with figs and anise while nibbling on mezze, like beet hummus and watermelon and feta salad, and pretending you're in Ibiza. On the opposite side of Sailor Services from Razzle Dazzle, Pink Agave is the fancier alternative to the Let's Taco Bout It outlet in The Galley. The so-called "elevated Mexican" dishes come in small, medium and large plates, and you can mix and match them and share with your tablemates.

Scarlet Lady cabins and suites

Honestly, adults-only simply meant “adult time.” To us, that equated to a lot of relaxing, listening to live music, and reading on a lounge chair with a cocktail in hand. I didn’t even notice that children weren’t on board because it just didn’t occur to me that anything should be noticed. Beverages detected in your checked bags will be confiscated and returned at the end of your sailing. You will also have to do some online prep ahead of time in order to check in and select a time to arrive at the embarkation port on the day of your sailing.

This is a notch above the standard water-tea-coffee offerings in most other lines. The sold-out cruise featuring 1,400 cabins across 16 decks of Valiant Lady could have turned our vacation into a nightmare – trapped on a smaller cruise ship than, say, Oasis of the Seas, at full capacity worried us. But our fears were for naught because even during our one at-sea day, Valiant Lady never felt crowded. I have NEVER felt LESS important to a company than Virgin !! The cruise itself was ok and the service was alright.The ports were lack luster , excursions limited.The dinning availability was awful.

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Pulled a scam the day after the cancellation period

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). But you'll pay a lot more in "extras" if sailing on Freedom of the Seas, where specialty restaurants, gratuities and Wi-Fi are not included in the fare.

When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Passengers will not receive keycards unless they have access to Richard's Rooftop, an exclusive sun deck reserved for cruisers booked in Rockstar Suites. The Band — an adjustable cord bracelet with a scannable device attached — serves as 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, and it allows the crew to locate you when you use the shake for Champagne delivery service. Each FAC offers wider doorways, extra space for turning, emergency pull cords, transfer space next to beds and lowered cabin elements, such as closet bars, light switches and thermostats. AACs have the same amount of space as their standard counterparts, but they are outfitted with grab bars in the shower and near the toilet, shower seating and lowered room features like light switches and coat hooks.

These same servers also lead you in Korean drinking games (the first round of shots of Korean soju is on them). But the idea of a main dining room hasn't completely disappeared from the cruise world. On many ships, even when there are a lot of restaurant choices, there still is one or more "main" restaurants that is notably bigger than all the rest and where you will eat the bulk of your meals. The entertainment on Scarlet Lady also includes a lot of party-like events such as the everyone-wear-red-and-be-prepared-to-dance Scarlet Night Pool Party that happens on the second night of this itinerary.

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Like other companies within the Virgin family of brands, Virgin Voyages is trendy and chic, bringing passengers a perfect balance of over-the-top fun that doesn't veer into tacky. Its ships only allow cruisers who are 18 and older, and they attract a wealthier crowd. Resilient Lady, the third ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet, debuted in May 2023, and it's a doozy — in a good way.

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Not only did I leave hungry and disappointed, but I wasted food I would have otherwise consumed. Still, I was frustrated by service issues during the voyage. Perhaps these could be chalked up to the fact that it was an inaugural cruise where workers were still acclimating to the flow and timing of things like food prep and delivery. My biggest complaint was that it consistently took way too long to receive food throughout my sailing. Capable of carrying up to 2,770 passengers at max capacity, the 110,000-ton vessel rises 17 decks.

Resilient Lady activities

The eatery offers upscale Mexican fare with a mezcal-heavy drink menu, all designed by famed chef and Phoenix food scene legend Silvana Salcido Esparza of the Barrio Cafe. Resilient Lady is packed with fun activities that let you play like a kid during the day and stay up late to enjoy more adult-themed entertainment by night. On the schedule, you'll find pastimes like '80s-themed aerobic workouts, '90s boy band dance classes, dodgeball tournaments and summer camp arts and crafts.

Scarlet Lady cruise ship review: What to expect on board Virgin Voyages’ 1st ship

Scarlet Lady's entertainment impressed me with its innovation and its quality. The dancers were incredible; they moved about the stage like they were performing on "So You Think You Can Dance" (or other TV dance competition), not in your kid's high school dance recital. "Dual Reality," the Romeo-and-Juliet-themed show, was the first cruise-ship acrobatic performance I've seen that had a compelling plot; so many cruise lines throw dancers on hoops or silks in the air simply because they can. The way the staging and performer interaction engaged the audience was original and brilliant.

Great experience

It's also appropriate to tip anyone who delivers room service (or Champagne), as well as tour guides on shore excursions. The result is that the Mind Mangler, a character from a land-based show, can now be found on board Resilient Lady. Although he's a magician, the performance is more about comedy than magic, playing on tropes like magicians' planting of audience members to help them with their tricks. A fellow traveler at my table doesn't eat meat or fish, so she was presented with pumpkin jus with pumpkin and carrot risotto instead of the lamb or shrimp selection.

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Night Puerto Rican Daze & Caribbean NightsDetails

It's also a ship for travelers with open minds, who embrace differences and aren't easily shocked or insulted. You'll find crew, from entertainers to waiters, who may be gender-fluid, tattooed, pierced or openly gay. While the sex-themed cabaret is gone, the shows do not shy away from sexual or R-rated themes. The line unabashedly courts LGBTQ+ travelers, and that inclusivity is on display in Virgin's entertainment casting as well.

Second Icon-Class Ship Will Have a Furry Family Member

If you step up to Resilient Lady's Mega Rockstar suites, extras include separate bedrooms and living areas, and perks like an electric guitar and high-end sound system. Rockstar Agents -- essentially a cross between a butler and concierge -- are available for suites on Resilient Lady and score rave reviews from previous passengers. All suites provide access to Richard's Rooftop (which is, in fact, only for Rockstar Quarters guests).

When my best friend suggested we needed some one-on-one girl time, we knew we wanted to spend a week in the Caribbean sun and escape winter’s wrath. Always one to enjoy Sir Richard Branson’s hotels and airlines, a trip aboard the Valiant Lady seemed like an ideal match. I’m surprised that such a nice experience can be ruined due to corporate greed. I called customer service and now they are refusing to honor their agreement and give me a refund.

More about Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady

Sometimes you just need those steam-tray eggs, grabbable bagels and premade pancakes, and you don't want a waiter-served meal. The ultimate in casual dining, The Galley is Scarlet Lady's answer to the cruise ship buffet. It's more of a food hall with multiple themed stations (noodles, tacos, soup and salad, burgers, etc.) where you order by flagging down a waiter. 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. Toast yourself with a glass of bubbly while you dine like a king on clam chowder, roasted bone marrow, filet mignon and lamp chops.

Everyone raves about the meatballs, the pappardelle pasta and the ricotta bomboloni (like Italian donut holes). 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.

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To put that in perspective, Resilient Lady is only slightly more than one-third of the size of the largest cruise ships afloat. With so much included in the cost of the cruise, the spa is one of the few places on board where guests may find themselves spending money. A variety of classic spa treatments are available from massages to seaweed wraps, as well as a blowout bar, medi spa, sauna, mudroom, and more.

RockStars get the first access to book restaurants and experiences and are moved to the front of the line for any shows that do not require reservations. Considering the booking window opens 45 days before the sailing date, and that passengers in the know set their alarms to begin booking as soon as the app launches, this first access alone can be worth its weight. So I prepared myself, by buying lots of medications for motion sickness. The food was amazingly fresh, the ship was immaculately clean, the staff were awesome.

Then there's "Lola's Library," a cabaret-style variety show created by Ceilings Entertainment, which runs the Mayfair Supper Club at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Join sexy librarian Lola, her assistant Dewey and cleaning lady Mary, who keep the library open after hours for some off-color fun while they try to foil a book bandit who keeps stealing tomes. Along the way, you'll encounter pole dancers, aerialists, Jack the Stripper and a band of gay dwarfs.

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