periodic itinerant

It's more than just Brilliant that isn't showing up for me. I've been researching a cruise for Fall 2025 and created a spreadsheet of the ones I was interested in that included several of the Brilliant itineraries as well as a couple Med and the Scarlet TA. When I choose "all regions" for Sept-Oct-Nov 2025, none of them are showing up... I was just about to book one, but I've been super busy with 12-hour workdays and haven't had a chance to message the "first mate" I was intending to book through. I figured I'd get it taken care of this weekend, but maybe there is pricing adjustment in the works? If so, I'll need to update my spreadsheet. 😄

Pro tip: You can ask for both! It hadn't occurred to me to ask, but someone near me asked if they could have both, so I did as well. I'm glad I did, because it was a really nicely cooked piece of lamb (which is one of my favorite proteins), and seconding the comment above that the broth with the shrimp was wonderful. 

32 minutes ago, rebeccac said:

 

If you don't care about the pools, then obviously that is not a deciding factor for you. 

 

I have also cruised many lines and while I don't find all the beds extremely comfortable, I think the beds on VV are the most uncomfortable of any line I have sailed on (I have been on 9 different lines).  They are barely 4" thick and hard as a rock.  If that is your thing, it might not be an issue.  For myself, I will often sleep in the hammock at night, because at least I don't wake up with every part of my body in pain.  

 

What? The mattresses are a fairly standard thickness, just very firm. Personally, I think they are the most comfortable beds around. Extra firm mattresses are the best for my back and I slept like a rock. Everyone has different preferences, but saying "barely 4" thick" is just inaccurate.

6 hours ago, TYCruise said:

This is the best footage I've seen of the Brilliant Lady so far...

 

 

Gah, he zooms in a bit on some of the balconies, but not to the "slightly smaller" ones. I'm just really curious about what those will be like. I sail solo, and it will probably be fine for me, but I'm hesitant to book quite yet.

I'm eyeing the 10-day New York to Quebec City. I really hope it's at a price point that works for me, since I'd want to tack on some time in Quebec at the end.

I'm also really looking forward to them sailing out of my home base in 2026 and beyond. Overall really stoked about these new offerings!

On 4/30/2024 at 2:07 PM, cantgetin said:

The shops on VV are....just peculiar. I'm on board now and they are even more odd than normal.  They have about 3 styles of t-shirts and some hoodies along with a very limited selection of notepads, tote bags, etc. in the Logo shop.  It is half the size it used to be and really didn't have anything.  

I got a really cool Razzle Dazzle-themed coaster that sits on my work desk, so I have a constant fun reminder of vacation. I'd run out of loot between the spa and the tattoo... I'm not someone who ever shops on cruise ships as I've never wanted cruise logo items on any line before (and definitely not a luxury goods/watches/jewelry person). I feel like the VV brand has hooked me enough to want more of their stuff, so hopefully the logo store on my next will have a decent selection.

On 11/4/2023 at 6:59 AM, TheDarkestBlue said:

Here's a video unpacking breakfast from their first Ship Eats order - though it seems there is a zipper on the side to help unpack?

 

Yeah, the first time I ordered I didn't notice the zipper and really struggled to get the drink holder out and was probably swearing under my breath. In my defense, I hadn't had my coffee yet and my cabin lights were dimmed! I felt pretty stupid when I turned the bag around.

We were able to see quite a lot of stars just a few nights ago on Valiant. They turned down a lot of the lights at the Dock, but still had to have the upper deck lighting. The event really only barely mentions the actual location of any constellations, but instead the storytelling is more to create this nice calming atmosphere to let your mind wander a bit as you gaze off into the sky. I enjoyed it and found it really pleasant, but it is just entertainment.

I thought the roasted veggie salad and the burrata (with that lovely basil oil, not quite a pesto, drizzle) were really nice starters. My fish main with the crispy skin was also better than I was expecting for a "dinner show." 

I had a random fun interaction with the host later when we both happened to be in Squid Ink at the same time. He asked the tablet drawing guy (whose name is completely escaping me right now) if he could sketch out a Maryland blue crab on a stripper pole, and I let out a little yelp of laughter at the confused look on the shop guy's face. 

We ended up chatting briefly about his experience on the ship so far and such and he was a really sweet and personable guy (also having a hard time remembering his name, think it starts with D and is fairly long). I'm always fascinated by the career paths of all the different types of entertainers on ships and it feels like they are out and mingling around and able to enjoy the amenities so much more on Virgin.

On 10/15/2023 at 5:46 PM, notscb said:

I wonder if anyone who has cruised virgin more regularly could help us figure that out. It's good to know that there's a lot of music around as something I really enjoy about cruising is finding that quiet spot to relax, read a book and listen to the water.

I just got off the 14-day Valiant transatlantic, and could always find a chill, comfortable, and generally quiet place to read. Those places changed day-to-day and different times of the day depending on the programming of events. Sip, On the Rocks, and Dock House were my best bets in the daytime, occasionally outside the Galley aft. I think there was often some music playing at a low level when those places didn't yet have their bars open, but low enough that it didn't really register. It wasn't at all a full ship, so the ability to find quiet spots may have been easier. 

I also enjoy many of the loud activities on board, and liked that at pretty much any time I could be choosing between finding a reading nook or engaging in games, watching a show, etc. I really do wish that air hockey tables would be taken out of the Social Club though. That noise is really jarring no matter whether it's in a fun boisterous environment or not. I almost left some events because it annoyed me so much. I don't actually ever sing myself, but some folks kept playing air hockey while there was the hosted karaoke just a few feet away, and that seemed incredibly rude to the singers. 

3 hours ago, jon81uk said:

to check, do you mean Brilliant Lady as that ship was planned to do San Juan to Lisbon in 2024?

 

I thought Resilient Lady was always Greece and Australia.

Resilient Lady was supposed to do the Lisbon to San Juan TA in October of 2022, but the entire season's launch was delayed.

I was also booked on that one, and the 200% refund credit plus a few other promos got me onto a replacement Valiant TA (Barcelona to Miami) for this October instead. The way my refund and promos added up, I feel like I'm practically traveling for free this time!

9 minutes ago, eileeshb said:

I’m on the west coast of Ireland and avoid Dublin airport whenever possible. The difference in cost of parking alone makes up for the fares.

 

Ah, I think originally there was supposed to be a Seattle-Shannon route in the works, but they barely had a chance to get settled into SeaTac airport before everything shut down... I try to keep an eye on any airlines adding service to/from Seattle and we've had a few false starts unfortunately.

2 hours ago, eileeshb said:

My next cruise is out of Seattle so the flight options I had for getting back to my home airport in Ireland were less than ideal. I had 3 basic options..

cheapest: get a red-eye from Seattle to Boston, 10 hr layover , overnight flight from Boston to home. For early am on Monday

most ideal: noon departure from Seattle to London and connect back to Ireland for arrival Sunday afternoon but double the price and iffy at making it to seatac off the ship. 

actual chosen: early morning flight the day after disembarking to Boston, 3hr layover, get back to Ireland early am on the Monday. extra night accommodation still cheaper than the “ideal” flight. 
 

I don’t sleep on planes so that tends to heavily influence my flight choices.

I thought I'd read that Aer Lingus is re-starting their non-stop Seattle-Dublin route. If I recall, the service was only going to be a few days a week, and maybe not in time for your trip, but I figured I'd mention it. It was very convenient when I visited Ireland a few years back. 

2 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

I was on this exact sailing a year ago with less than 1000 onboard. Definitely spolied. Lol. That being said, I have sailed Bliss full previously, too, but this was very different!

 

Curious - were you one of the folks at the Cavern Club outside when we descended with the bar crawl?

I was with you doing the bar crawl! Meghan from Seattle. 🙂 I definitely slipped Putu a $20 for being game for doing that huge line up of shots. He was such a wonderful and funny bartender, and he was personally having a bit of a rough time on this sailing as he'd just had his contract involuntarily extended and couldn't go home to see his family when he was supposed to.

13 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

Curious - have you sailed NCL previously? I wonder if many (myself included) are comparing what it WAS to what it IS now? 

Only sailed one time before on NCL, in October of 2021. That was at about 60% capacity and it was glorious. I know those times are over.

I think I may just be lucky in that I naturally gravitate to the less occupied spaces. I'm not really interested in the type of entertainment/activities usually taking place in the Atrium or things like that. I just like to relax in relative quiet while looking at the water, read some books, chat with random people over drinks, see a show or two, and eat when the mood strikes (which I guess is generally not at peak meal times?). Between the Waterfront and the Observation Lounge, most of my needs were met without venturing into the places with lines. Some of my crowd avoidance was intentional, but mostly just serendipity?

I was also on this cruise, and sometimes feel like I was on a completely different ship than most of the reviews and FB group comments I see. Maybe because I was solo and was able to change my plans on a whim and head a different direction when I encountered crowds?

I was in the group of people able to wait inside the tent for embarkation, and was prompted to board very quickly once it started. Went right to my muster station to check that off and then straight to the Local. I belled up to the bar and got very quick drink and food service. From there I did a bit of exploration to get my bearings.

I found what would become my "regular" bar at the outside Cavern bar on the Waterfront. The bartender Putu was my favorite on the ship. I spent a fair amount of time out there. In general, if you wanted nice lounging space for reading, relaxing, or chatting (with roaming bar servers) or an active and friendly bar scene, the Waterfront was the place to be. I guess this is where my lifetime as a PNWer comes in handy, since I would just put on a jacket and be perfectly comfortable with the temperatures. I expected to spend more time at a variety of venues (like the Brewhouse or seeing music), but had such a nice time with lovely people around those Waterfront spots I didn't want to leave most afternoons.

I was in a solo studio and my room attendant, Wilson, was regularly visible in the hallways and always greeted me. He also always had my cabin done late morning to early afternoon. My cabin was ready and luggage at my door quite a bit before they announced things were ready. Again, I feel like I really lucked out compared to what I heard from so many others on the ship.

I did not have a consistent eating schedule throughout the cruise, sometimes getting breakfast right when things opened up early in Taste or Savor (with again no wait) or just before breakfast service was going to end. This wasn't really a plan on my part, just the way things worked out. Or a really late breakfast at the Local one day at nearly 11 because I'd slept in... Same with dinner, occasionally very early at a specialty, or closer to 9 at Taste or Savor. At most, I only had about a 5-10 minute wait for any table, whether solo or with friends.

Most evenings were finished out with cocktails in the Observation Lounge at the bar, and those bartenders varied from excellent to just okay (huge variation in the quality of the Old Fashioneds I was served). But the service time was pretty consistent and I never felt I had an unreasonable wait for a drink there. 

I was able to make the entertainment reservations I wanted for Jersey Boys and Six and had good seat selection. Right up in the second row for Six and found several of the gold floaty things they drop at the end of the show in my cabin the next morning. 😄 They must have stuck to my clothes and shoes. 

I had a 10:00 shore excursion in Victoria and walked right off the ship with no line to meet it at that time. We went north up the island for some wine tasting. It was an enjoyable, if not the most exciting, excursion. The wineries and cidery were picturesque and we had really lovely weather. 

I got up early the final day to pack as I just couldn't make myself do it the night before after a rousing evening with new friends. The buffet was mostly empty when I headed up for my caffeine and bacon fix. I had also signed up for the Vancouver city tour on disembarkation day (mostly just for convenience since I've been to Van many, many times). It wasn't the most coordinated, but again kept us from waiting in long lines getting off the ship.

I was a bit frustrated by the number of kids literally running the halls, dodging and weaving through. Challenging each other about how many stairs they could jump down in one go. Also some (I assume unsupervised) kids were yelling and tossing things from the buffet off deck 16 and landing down on the Waterfront deck 8. At first I thought it had been some overboard vomit, but luckily just uneaten Indian food, including full pieces of naan and lots of chickpeas... I later learned that there was nowhere near the capacity needed in the kids club, but that doesn't make the rest of the ship a playground. 

All in all, I had a great time on this cruise and didn't experience many of the frustrations others had. But I do think I will pay more attention to school schedules in the future.

On 3/10/2023 at 4:37 AM, cara-cruiser said:

we are booked at NCL Star for a greenland cruise in 08/23. Currently we have received a itinerary change. Greenland and the scoresby sound will be canceld. "Due to newly imposed vessel restrictions in Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland".

They don't provide a refund or FCC. We are deeply disappointed.

Frankly, I'm amazed large cruise ships were ever able to call at Ittoqqortoormiit. It's a very small village of only a few hundred. I went there on an expedition ship with around 120 passengers, and we overwhelmed the place while "in port." I can't even imagine what a whole NCL ship would do there.

13 minutes ago, nosaturn said:

is $150 a decent price for those tattos?

Most tattoo shops I'm familiar with (Seattle area) have a $150 minimum, and an average hourly rate around $200-250. So while that flash sheet looks pretty basic, charging a $150 minimum isn't out of line at all.

On 2/27/2023 at 11:31 PM, cruiser3775 said:

It's not reading the book that's sad, it's dining alone with no-one to talk with.

I actually often enjoy dining alone with a book. Not always - I often like company and conversation, but part of my "getting away from it all" vacations involve solitary enjoyment of meals.

I agree that it would be sad if you are really wanting some interaction, but wanted to toss in another voice that it isn't necessarily a sad thing and I wouldn't want anyone to pity my chosen solo meals.

On 2/24/2023 at 10:53 AM, kdblondie said:

First time Alaska/NCL and only my 2nd cruise ever.

I'm flying in from SF to SEA and arrive at 8:30 am. Can I drop my luggage off at the terminal and go to breakfast somewhere? Is there anything close by the terminal? Would love to see "the Market" or is it called Pike's Place? Is that close enough to the terminal?

TIA

If you are talking to a Seattle-ite, you can call it The Market, Pike Place, or Pike Place Market, but do not ever call it "Pike's Place." 🙂 It's a bit of a pet peeve for locals when people add the possessive. Just one of those things...

I was assigned a cabin on 14 so I contacted VV through chat a few days ago and asked if I could be moved down a deck or two. The cs agent replied that she could move me down to the same spot but on 12, told me the cabin number etc. She said she'd made the change and updated my booking, but checking on both the app and website it still has my old cabin number. As I know they are prone to technical issues, I figured I'd give it a few more days to see if it updates. 

For those who have had them move your cabin, how long did it take to reflect on your booking? 

23 minutes ago, westguy99 said:

 

I logged into my Virgin Voyages account through their website and it showed my canceled Dec cruise in my itinerary. I had the option to pay in full or pay what ever amount I wanted up to full. I paid in full today. 

Yes, it definitely seems possible when I log into my account. I read elsewhere on social media that you can also convert unused Future Voyage Credit into Sailor Loot, but I haven't seen that anywhere official. If I pay my current one in full, I'll have lots leftover with 200% FVC. But if I can use that for excursions, spa, booze, etc. it gives me even more incentive for me to pay in full now. They get the benefit of having my money for another year and know I'll spend with them eventually.

46 minutes ago, Ryangthelion said:

We had part paid the cruise and we were planning to pay the rest of the balance by the end of the week. By some miracle I had logged in two hours before the cancellation email and paid my half and my partner was going to pay the other half on Friday. I called and got a call back 7 hours later and rebooked for a cruise out of Miami in December, but when I asked about what the website said at the bottom of the page of cancellation FAQ’s; it said that you can ‘pay the entire amount before June 22nd to get the 200% on the total amount’ the agent said the cruise was cancelled and that there wasn’t any remaining balance as the cruise no longer existed. 

 

I have questions about that part as well. The website clearly says you can pay in full by June 22nd and get 200% on that. I've only paid my deposit so far (was booked for the November transatlantic and full payment was due in July). I'm trying to figure out if I can pay somewhere in between the full payment and what I already have down for my deposit. 

I want to rebook for the Valiant transatlantic next fall, but I've calculated the best way to get to that fare with partial payment on my current booking... It kind of feels like cheating to make additional payment now just so they'll double it, but it seems like they are allowing that?

I don't have much cruising history, but I have done a cruise to Alaska on Princess, just got off NCL to Bermuda, and then have done two expedition cruises to the Arctic (Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland with G Adventures) and Antarctica (Quark Expeditions). So I don't have anywhere near the cruise experience under my belt that many on Cruise Critic do. I do lots of land-based travel, and try to mix adventure, culture, great food & bev experiences, unique/off the wall lodging, with a bit of luxury or comfort mixed in.

I didn't pay much attention to the specifics of VV when the initial marketing came out, but just kind of gathered they were going for a different style and to mix it up a bit. I have flown Virgin once and enjoyed the twist on the flight experience just in terms of style, how you ordered food/drink, etc. I recall thinking the pricing on VV was a bit more than I wanted to pay as a solo traveler, and shorter cruises in the Caribbean aren't really that appealing to me. 

They came back onto my radar as cruising was starting back up this year. The inclusions were the big draw for me (all food, internet, standard tips...). The variety and quality of the dining is what I want in a vacation. Korean, "upscale" Mexican, an outdoor lounge that serves grilled octopus? Yes. The fact that everything is geared for an adult experience, but with fun details. And then I got a marketing email that included a blurb about transatlantics that caught my eye. I clicked through and saw the 11-day Lisbon-Canaries-Madeira-San Juan itinerary at only $1100 for a solo! That's a bargain any way you slice it. So I booked the solo, but am considering switching up to a sea terrace for another ~1400ish. Still a great deal.

Obviously I'm not someone who has a preferred cruise line and I'm just trying things out to see what fits. I won't know if VV does until November 2022, but I'm looking forward to it!

57 minutes ago, SwimmingDragon said:

 I am also going on the night cruise into the Bermuda Triangle (can’t wait!) with my DH and DD later that same day.

I'm planning on doing this one too, but haven't booked it yet because I couldn't decide which night to do it. I hope it is cheesy and "mysterious."