cantgetin

There are a very lot of good things about VV, but some not so good. Public seating in many areas is about looking good in photos and not comfort. The Dock is especially bad--there are relatively few bar stool seats; the rest are those bed things and wooden seats a very small distance off the floor. When you hit my age, the rule is that you don't get on the floor unless you know how you are getting up again! In many locations the seating is too deep--if you sit all the way back so you have back support, you can't bend your knees. THey are just weird. There are a few places with comfortable seating, but that's not the overall ship. I only saw one unisex bathroom on the ship, and it was a one seat deal (not a room with multiple stalls). Most were clearly marked as to which sex. My complaint would be that they are often hard to find until you learn where to look. Best feature--the hammock.

As Jon said you can drop luggage early...starting at 10 or 11 and then go to lunch or whatever. Normally late boarding runs "early," so if you show up around 3, it is likely that you'll be able to board with little or no line. Hopefully if there is a problem with your early flight, there are later ones that can get you to BCN on time.

THe only thing I will say is that you were on the tour rather than the ship...I do get it that the tour was sponsored by VV, but all excursions are operated by outside companies. The tour guide should have shut it down right away

There is a lot more to a room than size. Layout is VERY important. Some ship cabins have a significant amount of wasted or unusable space while others are well designed.

The only official numbers I've seen from VV were for 2022...they said the average age on board was 43 with a range of 18-90s. I have some data on the specific cruises I was on related to age. I honestly never felt that any of it mattered, and doubt that they collect anything other than that which is government required (age and sex). There will be about 2000 people on board. Some of them will be like you in some ways. Some will not be like you. If that matters to you, look at a different line.

True that there is no nightly turn down service BUT if you need anything at any time, you can request it thru the tablet in the room, thru the app, or with a phone call. If it is something you want regularly, let your host know and they will take care of it. There is an "on call" team at all times and a partial team in the halls in the evening for those requests.

English is the language on the ship. Yes, many languages are spoken by the crew to the point that if someone couldn't handle English, they could find a crew member to help. The only public announcements on the ship after the muster drill are emergency announcements. IF there is an announcement, it will be an unscheduled "must inform everyone" thing, but any normal stuff is on the app, on posts at the gangway, and electronic signs in elevators and a few other locations on the ship. All guest facing crew speak English.

Age range on VV has been 18-90s. If you are willing to take a "You be you" attitude and not worry about what other people choose to do, you're fine. If you don't like drag, don't go to diva shows--there is plenty more to do. If crew with piercings or tats are going to offend you, this isn't your cruise line. As far as PDA, I haven't seen anything in our 2 months (broken up into weeks) of cruising on VV that I hadn't seen on Disney. Want to dress up--do it. Don't want to--wear shorts and ts anywhere on board. It isn't about age, it is about attitude.

Computer stuff--video games, AI, etc.

Our favorite is the Kalbi (marinate beef). You'll be offered a choice of ordering off the menu or having server bring you "the favorites." Do whatever suits you. This is NOT real Korean BBQ as we had in Asia, but is OK. It can get noisy. If you don't like eating with strangers, put together your own party of 6 with others you've met on the cruise. A lot depends on the mix at the table. Our first time, we were with a family group of 4. 3 did not speak English and one translated enough for the server. Lots of smiles and nods. The next time, we were with a person who shared my daughter's hobby and they hit it off great. Others have been good to great.

The April VV TA had 2348 sailors on board (capacity totally full is 2700). It was the most full VV sailing I've been on. although I do know that some shorter sailings have sold every available cabin. We've been on TAs on other lines that cruised full. People are learning that these are great cruises and good/great values.

There are no main dining rooms, no buffet. The food is fixed fresh when you order it. In The Galley (food court), you can go to the various stations and order yourself or have a seat and place your order with a server. There are 6 included restaurants which would be specialty dining on any other line. You can make reservations beginning 45 days before your cruise. They do take walk ups on a space available basis. Each restaurant has a different theme/type of cuisine. In addition, on each of our cruises The Galley has had a nightly dinner special as well as multiple lunch specials. There are other places around the ship to get small plates, snacks, pizza, wings, etc. Everyone has different tastes in food, but each restaurant had something we liked. There are many sites where you can see the menus on line. Daytime entertainment varies with length of cruise...music, trivia, games and fun in The Social Club, Sea Horse auction and race, lots more. And don't forget the marvelous hammock with a good book.

Earplugs are essential

You can do it on the app 45 days before embarkation. Your TA can do it for you thru their portal. or you can call Sailor Services and they can do it. You cannot do it on line. It is 60 days for suites. IF you don't get what you want, no worries--they open additional slots at embarkation.

VV's thing is to avoid "single use plastics." THey use many plastics on board; the containers for all the "to go" boxes are plastic. The difference is that they are not "single use" plastics. THey are cleaned and re-used. OK, I don't do ducks...I think they are rather silly and I don't need extra stuff in my luggage. But if ducks make some people happy, I don't see the harm in it for those who enjoy it. Not sure what all the fuss is about. One of the "themes" of Virgin seems to be "you be you." On one cruise over a year ago, we learned that there was a sort of contest where the crew managers were hiding marked ducks in obscure places. Crew members who found and turned in a duck got a small reward as this signified they were cleaning thoroughly. They were initially puzzled when unmarked ducks started showing up as passengers were hiding them. They ended the crew game. I can't claim this was true, but it was told to me by a crew member.

Many of the terminal people have tablets and they can look you up by your name. THey will ask you to show them the app because that 's easier....but if the app is being wonky or if you don't have your phone or whatever, they can look it up. They can also do this to verify DBE or other priority boarding status. When you are actually inside checking in, they need your passport. They can see everything else on their screen based on the passport name. FWIW, when the app is misbehaving, it becomes a lot better as soon as you log on thru the ship's wifi.

Interesting. The cruise where we saw 3 managers standing around we were seated and waited 45 minutes before anyone came to take our order. Dinner took 2 1/2 hours they were so slow. Interestingly there was a late middle aged may with a much younger woman at a table in the same cluster. For most of the night, there were 4 crew members around that table....large seafood tower, lots of alcohol. We didn't go back there for the rest of the cruise.

As of the beginning of May on Scarlet they were still doing the "first come, first served" system with lines. I did not like standing in line 45 minutes before an event to hope to get in.

I was on the same sailing and the lines were by far the worst we've seen. Our experience was not quite as bad as yours, but.....the new system of not making reservations for shows and some other classes, but being "first come, first served" means that you have to show up 45 minutes or so early and line up. That resulted in me not doing a lot of things that I'd done on other sailings as I wasn't willing to stand in line. I don't want to get dressed for VHS or Zumba only to waste 45 minutes in line than not get in. I've read that the shows were "more full" with this system, but again, I hate it. When I had a reservation, I knew I'd have a spot. If I wanted a front row seat, I'd better show up early, but if I just needed to be in for a seat or activity, 10 minutes early was great. Embarkation--showed up at our scheduled time with priority and DBE. Due to need for wheelchair assist, were supposedly put on a list and sent to a less than great seat...but at least a bench outside. 30 minutes later, I saw the same crew member who told us that a different person was handling that now...went over and we weren't on the list. I was politely irritated, and we were taken quickly to an area inside where there were 3 terminal workers with 3 wheelchairs just standing around. Really? I'd understand if all were busy, but what's the point of standing around while people are waiting for them? Funchal--crazy lines,. but that was sort of beyond VV's control. The disembarkation was likely due to the later arrival and the late reboarding was due to the low tide....We watched from the balcony. It moved a lot faster than we expected. Lines for dinner reservations...guess we were lucky. We had reservations in advance, but did wait to change things. At dinner, never more than 2 or 3 groups in front of us. Guest Services--if there was more than one person ahead waiting, I'd come back later. Disembarkation was the smoothest we've ever encountered. We had an early disembarkation and no waiting...except that all the luggage had not been unloaded yet. I did read what you reported--that most people ignored their selected time and didn't leave till after 10 (we were at the airport long before that.) It is the first time I've gotten off VV without another sailing booked, and I'm really not eager to book another right now. Maybe I'm "cruised out." Or maybe I don't want to see a "full" ship as I've seen the experience deteriorate as each of my sailings was more full than the one before. There were MANY of really good things, but lines were not one of them. NOT standing in line had previously been one of the best things about VV.

As far as I can tell, the shuttle is gone. It hasn't been operating on our last 2 cruises.

I have not seen anything confirmed for 2027, just lots of rumors. Consult your First Mate to be sure, or to be notified as soon as 2027 is available. I will say that we were less than thrilled with our most recent cruise based on what VV provided. It was also the most full cruise we've been on. A lot of things were just more difficult with the more full ship (2348 sailors) and the "no reservations, get in line and wait for things" system. We couldn't move dining reservations, had to line up for VHS and Zumba 30-60 minutes early. On the other hand, there were some things that had improved.....and we had the usual great crew. I'm amazed at the variation we've seen in dining service and food quality depending on the cruise, and we loved having old friends on this sailing.

What Walter said. If the cruise fare is $2000 and you have an MNVV, the $300 cost of the MNVV gives you $300 toward the deposit PLUS $300 discount on the cruise fare....so you now have a cruise fare of $1400 remaining. This would be due in full by 120 days before cruising. The MNVV will also give you $600 in "Loot" which is onboard credit. You will see this when you look at your account on line and in your "wallet" after you board.

Hint for the beds--order a mattress topper from Amazon. They cost about $20 and come vacuum packed so take very little space. If luggage and flying is a problem, see if your hotel will accept a delivery for you and pick it up there. At the end of the cruise, take it home or give it to your stateroom host. (they like comfort too!)

I have a few friends that I wondered about....but was pleasantly surprised by one.

Interesting. I consider myself rather conservative, but what someone else is doing is not any of my business. I'd take it as treat everyone decently, as you'd want to be treated, and you'll be fine.