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LibratPDX

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Posts posted by LibratPDX

  1. 16 hours ago, singleflyer said:

    As someone based in Seattle, I would love to see this.

     

    Yesterday I did a 24 hour hold on a good deal on the Brilliant Lady Mermaiden Voyage out of Miami.  Only problem is airfare adds another $1k.  Suddenly it is much harder to justify.  

    I feel your pain!  My flights from Portland OR to Miami then from San Juan to Portland OR for the non-closed loop Mermaiden are going to cost me more than the cruise 😞 

  2. On 7/7/2023 at 9:47 AM, _tacocat_ said:

    lol i 100% concur here.  we had ours starting at 11 the first time (ran late of course), so we only made it to chapter 1.  the other showing started chapter 1 at 10, and we were still pretty pooped after going to an 11:30 chapter 2 and a 1ish chapter 3!!

    Haha, I feel ya, it was a late night for me, but I HAD to stay, Lola/Meggie and I bonded on the Valiant when she was my "Dr" Anna.  We met before her show then because she saw I followed her on IG (and I was giving out my dragonfly earrings to crew).  During her Lola performance I was sitting very close and left of the stage and she reached out and grabbed my hand for a split second, made me feel special for sure!

  3. On 6/30/2023 at 3:13 PM, cantgetin said:

    I know some people were not pleased with the "no kids" commercials' I found them cute.  I liked the "Now We're Voyaging" as it hit the demographic that VV is attracting right at their current average sailor age of 43 while showing some who appeared to be younger; I thought some of the early ads were too youthful and made it look like a ship full of 20 somethings.  This latest one just doesn't cut it.

    Haha, I LOVE the "no kids" commercials, especially the ones with kids pissed off they have to wait until they're 18 to cruise VV 😛   So many people are put off by the vibe of the commercials making it look like the passengers are 20-30 somethings when most are 40-50 plus, but it varies so much.  I am a solo senior (62) not looking to hook up, IDGAF about the ages of my fellow sailors, haha!

    • Like 2
  4. As with other lines, those are CHECK IN times, not boarding times.  1:30 is the earliest published time I have seen.   

     

    You can ask your hotel for 1pm checkout, many times they will do it free of charge, or a minimal fee; always worth asking.  SO FAR I have yet to be charged for late checkout!    It's worth double-checking the times of their transport, assuming it's free.  If it's not free, it's worth taking UBER or LYFT to the cruise port at the time you prefer.  

    • Like 1
  5. I did this VV Shore Thing.  While I enjoyed seeing the ruins and hearing what I COULD about the island history, it was very crowded.  There were numerous tour guides and groups and there was generally no regard for personal space.  Our tour guide did her best to respect other tour guides if they were already in a specific location, but other tour guides did not seem to do the same in return.  As we were leaving a specific location, they would stream into the area before we could get out instead of waiting until we were clear.  Now this might not seem like a big deal but the terrain was very uneven and narrow at many points, and we were trying to stay together as a group.  It wasn't as bad once we cleared the main housing structures.  

     

    The ferry ride was ridiculously packed, nowhere to sit if you were late.  There was a bar where you could purchase food and drink, but if you didn't have a place to sit it was pointless IMO.  On the return trip I made sure to get back early to get a seat.  This was in May so it was a bit chilly; I would take a jacket if you're not sure.  There are no stores on the island, take anything you think you might need, especially water.

     

    If I *ever* visited Delos again I would definitely do it on my own instead of with a group.  I definitely felt trapped and couldn't get pics of a lot of great things because there were so many people.  

  6. I haven't seen the commercial but find the idea cringey at best.  She's known for being a high-maintenance diva.  I work in a heavily male-dominated field (longshore) and don't feel that her representation is in any way empowering.  She is clearly buddies with Branson because there's really no point.  

     

    And it is peculiar that as high tech as VV likes to be (LOVE the tablet and options for cabin service at the door), you would think their website AND app would work better.  But they have STILL not updated the website to show loyalty information, and there are constant complaints about the app.  And why is it that very little detail is visible on the website and most must be done on the app?  Even CCL lets you do a lot on the website.  

    • Like 2
  7. Ship: Resilient Lady

    Cabin#: 13260M

    Deck #: 13

    Cabin Category: Solo Insider

    Sleeps: 1

    Cabin Location: Middle

    Terrace/Window/Obstruction: N/A

    Noise Issues?: None

    Wind Issues?: N/A

    Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?: N/A

    Hammock: N/A

    Metal/Glass Terrace: N/A

    Advantages/Problems: Very cozy and compact little cabin, nice for one person on a budget.

    Would You Book Again?: Yes

    Comments:  I specifically requested and received a cabin with the headboard and bathroom on the right side.  The only issue I had was with packing at the end of the cruise; there was no place I could stage my suitcase and leave it there.

    • Like 2
  8. Ship: Resilient Lady

    Cabin#: 14142Z

    Deck #: 14

    Cabin Category: Central Sea Terrace

    Sleeps: 2

    Cabin Location: Starboard

    Terrace/Window/Obstruction: None

    Noise Issues?: None

    Wind Issues?: Yes

    Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?: No

    Hammock: Yes

    Metal/Glass Terrace: Glass

    Advantages/Problems: Close but not too close to the elevators,  This cabin had the bed headboard and bathroom on the right wall, which I prefer (since I sleep on the right side of the bed).  

    Would You Book Again?: Yes

    Comments:  I only got in the hammock once because it was a bit cold/windy on this trip (May ex Athens).

  9. I loved the show and food but I was seated red rose, right in front, and we got moved around, I was roped (hard to explain?) and I was too close to take in everything.  I will definitely choose black rose middle next time, so I will be able to see the show better.  

    • Like 2
  10. On 5/24/2023 at 6:32 AM, _tacocat_ said:

    13th VV coming up this weekend!  I’d only been on one cruise before and thought it was terrible.  Still won’t step on any other lines, but virgin is great!

    Dang, you're a 485C then, I'm envious!  Good for you and have a wonderful time!  

  11. I don't always get an email but you can Google "Virgin Voyages Upgrade" and check if you are eligible for an upgrade (it won't work until you are).  The best time is if/when you hear others on your sailing have received emails.  

  12. Keep in mind they are all subject to change, and that more things will be added when your sailing is 1-2 days away.  My sailing is 10 days away and almost all of the shows got switched around and times have been changed from 35 days ago when they were first listed.

    Also, once you board, even if a show is fully booked, you still may be able to get into it when you want because there are cancelations and no shows, just be sure to keep checking.  I was able to book a show because of cancelations and avoid the standby line.  

    • Like 1
  13. I think they are still working on their rewards package and that there will be benefits for Blazers and Rovers, but it clearly remains to be seen.  They may again extend the benefits expiration date.  However, I was told that if you got a killer deal (free cruise or deeply discounted) that the benefits would not apply.  The website DOES say that the bar tab bonus for both extends through 2024 at least.

  14. 1 hour ago, cantgetin said:

    No bonus added to free bar tabs.  Good wishes on getting the DBE extended.....it has already been extended twice, so who knows?

    The SeaRover bonus won't be added if you have a super sweet deal either, but that's ok.  My May cruise is a crazy deal AND pre-mermaiden, so I feel lucky to be included!  

  15. 3 hours ago, cantgetin said:

    If you are a Sea Rover, you should get the $100 bonus on all sailings thru 2024, and this should show up on your add ons.  Call them and have that bonus corrected, even if you have to cancel the bar tab and rebook it,

    In addition, if you are embarking prior to 4/30/2023, you should get Deep Blue Extras which includes a $100 free bar tab (no purchase required).  This will not show up on the add ons, it will be under the deep blue extras benefits after boarding.

     

    I remember they extended the Deep Blue Extras, hoping they go another month since I'm cruising in May.  In the case of my December cruise, the bar tab was a promotional freebie, so I don't know if the $100 SeaRover would still get added? 

  16. Haha, Sid (James I think?) and his review of his first VV cruise was why I booked one, there are probably over 80 pages now.  It goes back before COVID when VV got shut down before they got started and he had to rebook several times.  His food porn is amazing, and he got a ton of photos of the entire ship (Scarlet Lady) with no people in them.  

  17. 38 minutes ago, _tacocat_ said:

    The caveat with that is that it 100% will change as soon as you board.  If you get attached to that lineup and plan all reservations around it, you’re going to have to redo everything as soon as

    you get onboard!

    Haha, I know, at the very least, even if the show times stay the same, numerous things will be added to the schedule, and you meet people during the cruise you may want to dine with.  I don't get rigidly attached to my plans but I like having an outline to start 🙂  I make up an excel spreadsheet with the my dinner reservations and highlight the things I want to book once on board (IF - big IF - I am able to get the days/times I want).  

    • Like 1
  18. On 3/28/2023 at 6:16 AM, CruisingWalter said:

     

    2: Very frustrating for a lot of folks. Especially on their first cruise. You really do have to be ready to book your dinners at that 60 or 45 day mark depending on whether you're suite level or not. We have to tell our friends to be ready to go when the booking window opens. That being said you can usually change out your meals once you're onboard, but you have to go directly to the restaurant to make the changes.

     

    You can actually call to make changes to your reservations 🙂.

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