cantgetin

$50 bar tab is nothing....looks like a way to get you to book. Disney used to send out all sorts of surveys. Some of the items from surveys were incorporated into the cruises....but as much as 10 years later! Obviously they are looking for info, but probably not as important as they'd like you to believe.

You are more likely to hit the people eager to get off at 7 or 7:30. People tend to fit into one of two groups--either off as soon as possible or stay on almost as long as permitted (have a nice breakfast, etc.). And that obviously depends on your travel plans.

You are correct....I always think of a gty or lock it in as likely to get the obstructed view.....which is often not the case at all.

I agree....or maybe we were just too entranced with their new way of doing things. Our upcoming cruise is the last VV we have booked, and we have no plans to book more at this point. I don't mind the sea days. I've had it with their badly malfunctioning tech--make dining reservations 45 days out, but the app never works long enough to get the reservations made. Enter all your pre-travel info....and when you look a month later, it has all disappeared. As of this morning, my account is non-existent on their web page. Fortunately, I have screen shots of everything and my travel agent is on the same cruise we are on should there be an issue. That, combined with multiple episodes of tiny charges (51 cents to $2) showing up after we paid in full....being removed....then showing up again later....I'm just tired of dealing with it. We have another cruise booked on another line....and I may bounce back to VV after that experience. But for now, my feeling is that they've had 2 years to fix their crap and haven't managed it.

The medical declaration is rather new--since they hired a disability director (they kicked him off the ship when he tried to cruise solo, then realized their huge screw up and hired him). I was not happy with the form at all as it did not address our needs.....it addressed what the cruise line thinks they need to know and not any of the pain points we have encountered. I've seen plenty of people with scooters and a few with electric wheelchairs on VV..no problems from anything I could tell.

Very little is the same. If you want Royal only red in color, you won't be happy. If you want a new experience and don't compare everything to other lines, you may love it. I'd suggest watching some YouTube videos--Where's Walter Travels are the best I've seen. He has one on Scarlet Lady in general and one on food. They are a little old, but there have been very few changes....and the ships are essentially the same other than a few decor changes. A few basics....No nickel and dime spending, no announcements, no cruise director, few queues, no kids, all restaurants included, tips included, shows included, all on board activities except those that include alcohol are included, no go karts, no climbing walls, no "sales" from the shops out in the halls, No KIDS, no beverage packages (there is a bar tab option), gratuities included, wifi included, efficient boarding IF you arrive when scheduled, etc. There is no main dining room. There are 6 restaurants where you sit down and are served. Reservations work best but they take walk ins. No buffet....they have a food court area called "The Galley.: I don't know what you mean by "We are D+ on both lines." There is no such designation on VV. IF you mean that you applied for the status match, you have been awarded Sea Rover status on VV, which gives you a perks package called "Deep Blue Extras." These are NOT the same perks you get on any other line....the "match" doesn't match the perks, it matches the fact that you have loyalty status. DBE gives you premium wifi (unlimited amount), priority boarding, $100 bar tab complimentary, one bag of laundry washed and a bit of pressing or dry cleaning, a cocktail party, $10 per day credit in Grounds Club (specialty coffee and tea), and a few other things.

My entire account is missing as of this morning....on the web and the app. I'm so done with their crap. I'll deal with it when I arrive in Miami.

I've read everything from 2 weeks to 2 days prior to sailing....but as above, it can change until the time you actually check in. You may be offered the ability to bid on an upgrade....and it may or may not be worth your while to bid. On our last cruise, we met at least 3 cabins of people who had not bid but got moved from a Lock It In gty to a central sea terrace. A lot depends on how full your sailing is.

There are huge variables. First, disembarkation does not start at 6. It starts at about 7 assuming that Customs clears the ship promptly. 7 is for people who are carrying off their luggage (these people can leave at any time.). If you are placing your luggage outside your room the night before you will select a disembarkation time on the app. From there....assuming you show up at the check out line at your appointed time, it can be as quick as 15 minutes from entering the line to being out of the terminal or as long as a couple hours...and I am not kidding. We have never encountered a delay in Customs or baggage claim. Our delays have been in getting off the ship and down to the baggage claim/Customs area. FLL to cruise terminal took us about 45 minutes; we hit one small area of traffic delay. That was a weekend, so your traffic experience may vary. If I had a noon flight out of FLL, I'd select 7am self disembarkation and pick up outside the terminal at 8. You may be waiting a bit for your ride, but you'll be on your way as fast as reasonably possible. The problem is that you might encounter a long line of people wanting to leave early.

A lot of the "deals" are decreasing....amount of complimentary bar tab, loot on MNVV, on new purchases.

It depends on why you want the Splash of Romance. If you will use the thermal suite and want the Moet, that equals the cost. You already have priority boarding and Splash will get you on board maybe 3-5 minutes earlier. So you are looking at the valur of a few munchies that you can't get anywhere else and the juices that you can get with your bar tab if you don't have SOR. Bottom line, if you wouldn't use both the Moet and the thermal suite, it isn't worth the deal Getting a bottle of wine has had varying results for us. We were told in one restaurant that it couldn't happen, but we got one from room service. (unopened). Others have gotten it from the same restaurant that refused us. We've never tried with Liquor. If you buy in the duty free shop, it is on loot and held until the last night.

When we fly in the day before and want to sleep, get over jet lag, etc. we stay at the Barcelona Hotel Aeropuerto by Melia. They have a complimentary shuttle from the airport and will happily put you in a cab to the terminal. I'm not aware of any. hotel that has both a shuttle from the airport and to the cruise terminal, They are near public transportation, but we didn't want to mess with that. Good wifi, there is a restaurant, fitness center, etc. if desired. We've also used the Best Western Airport--better restaurant selections but their airport shuttle only runs in the morning! On our last trip we shared with a friend and got an extra large cab for 50 Euros--won't do that again, The trip before, it was 22 Euros for a "normal" size cab which is plenty for 2....it will be more than 22 as there is a fee for the cab to enter the terminal area that VV is using now. (boo hiss). If we are coming in and want to do tourist stuff, we stay in the Las Ramblas area. THere is a bus from the Columbus statue at the base of Las Ramblas to the cruise terminal but that means juggling luggage, etc. Just get a cab from the hotel. With a 2:45 terminal arrival time, I'd show up at 2 or a little before. Boarding will start at 1:30. It is not unusual for those with later times, like yours, to be able to check in and board a little earlier. VV's recommendation is to not show up more than 30 minutes early, and that IS accurate if you have a 1:30 time...but boarding goes very quickly and once all the priority boarders are taken, you're ready to go!

We used Lyft and had no trouble. We hit one bad patch of traffic and it took less than an hour. Of course this was a weekend, People swear by the Brightline, but for us the Lyft was easier. We waited at the cruise terminal about 5 minutes for the car to arrive, The cost was about $50 but I won't pretend to remember exactly. We were warned that it would be $150, but that was from someone trying to get us to book their shuttle....

I'm old....and found an amazing agent. On VV, they are called First Mates. Mine is all about customer service, and ranked in the top 10 on VV in 2023.. Given the level of pre-boarding frustration on VV, a good one is a great person to have on your side. As above, we aren't allowed to recommend people here. Ask your new friends on board or on other social media sites.

I was able to rebook an upcoming cruise some time ago....MNVV transferred over. I saved $400. But that change was made a year ago. Since then, the cruise has greatly increased in price. However, it is down $1000 from the top price I've seen for a Sea Terrace.

Yup I've had it happen where I lost all my preboarding info too. If you call sailor services oryour travel agent, they MIGHT be able to book dinners for you (if there is anything left for "in advance." The good news is that a huge number of reservations are held back until after boarding. If you go to Razzle Dazzle on deck 5 after boarding, they can assist you with getting the reservations you want or changing what you've already booked. I had so much trouble with the app this time that I reached the point of "I don't even care any more." If it is anything other than an unbelievably great cruise, it may well be my last on VV....mostly because I'm tired of fighting with the app and the wheelchair assist issues.

Officially you are allowed to bring 2 bottles per cabin at embarkation. We are aware of more than a few people who brought 2 bottles per person and were not stopped. But no, not allowed at ports of call.

The app on board is a lot better than in advance. I had so much trouble with the pre-board app this time that if VV hasn't fixed the other thing that has been a problem for us, I likely won't be booking another cruise with them. There are many things I like, but I was so angry and stressed at the app this time that it just isn't worth the hassle. They've had more than 2 years to fix it, so really no excuses. The other problem is a wheelchair assist issue.....so we'll see......

That's exactly what I was going to say.....I've only seen it used once by a woman who appeared to be doing some sort of shadow boxing. Not sure where the gloves came from.

The hotel that I use depends on my trip. If I am flying in the day before and just getting on the cruise the next morning, I want to sleep and recover from jet lag. I typically use Hotel Aeropuerto by Melia because they have a complimentary airport shuttle, food available if I wish, English speaking staff, are on a bus line, pizza delivery to the hotel (used to be to room, now to lobby) etc. They will arrange a taxi for me to get to the cruise--about a 20 minute drive. If I am coming in several days early and want to do the tourist stuff, I'll stay in the Las Ramblas area...taxi to ship is easy. The closest hotel to book is the World Trade Center hotel--quite pricey and you'll still need transportation. There is a shuttle bus from the Columbus statue at the base of Las Ramblas, but it will only save a few dollars and you'll have to get to that location somehow.

I've seen no more bookings available, but there were a few seats in the Red Room.

There are no drink packages on VV, but the bar tab concept is a lot more flexible and, unless you are a heavy drinker, cheaper. In addition, most recent bookings have included a complimentary bar tab in various amounts. The email should tell you what is included. If you are not getting a bar complimentary bar tab or you feel it is not enough, you can purchase bar tab in advance. Depending on the amount you purchase, you will get a bonus added based on the amount you purchase and any loyalty status you have (ranges from $10 on $100 purchase to $125 on $300 purchase with top loyalty status). The down side to a bar tab is a "use it or lose it," so if you don't think you will spend a given amount, don't buy it. If it is complimentary, it doesn't matter. On past cruises we have been able to purchase unopened bottles of wine from room service and take those home. Yes, we could buy the same wine for a lot less at home, but this is "free" as it is with complimentary bar tab. Makes a good hostess gift if nothing else. You do need to be aware of the regulations in your disembarkation port.

It wasn't the former printed menu vs. new menu that I had issues with. It was the fact that there were item available previously that weren't on the original printed menu but were available every night....and are not available now. Oh well...it is what it is....

I've seen VV cruises in a Sea Terrace range from $75 pp per night to $350 pp per night. The lower costs are becoming harder to find. I haven't seen anywhere advertising 60% off. I've seen 60% off second sailor in same cabin--very different!. VV does include a lot that is "add on" cost on other lines, so you need to do a little work to get as good a comparison as possible.

Be careful what you wish for. THe "secret" changes in RD are not to our liking, although the deserts are better. I don't guess it would do any good to print the test kitchen menu--we still wouldn't know much! Fully agree that The Wake and Pink Agave could use some tweaks.