Transatlantic updates

[Tyler414]

1 hour ago, cantgetin said:

Yesterday afternoon was interesting.  We reported someone smoking pot on their balcony which was so dense that we went inside and closed the door.  Security arrived 10-12 minutes later, by which time the smell was gone.  We later learned that it has been an issue in several areas of the ship with multiple reports daily.  One person had a go-pro on a stick and posted a poorly lit photo of the supposed offender in the balcony next to theirs.  Wish they would at least take it to the smoking area..

Someone on FB is whining about this too, they said they snitched as well.

[jon81uk]

On last Octobers TA we had the opposite issue with the Galley times. Turned up at 10.35 to find almost all the breakfast food gone, I wanted a bagel but that counter had closed and we had to make do with toast. 
 

I think they’ve taken my feedback onboard though if they now aren’t clearing breakfast until 11.30!

[cantgetin]

It isn't that I care what time they do it, it is that they need to be consistent....same time each day and at each station.

 

[DSGDSG]

11 hours ago, cantgetin said:

 

 

Yesterday afternoon was interesting.  We reported someone smoking pot on their balcony which was so dense that we went inside and closed the door.  Security arrived 10-12 minutes later, by which time the smell was gone.  We later learned that it has been an issue in several areas of the ship with multiple reports daily.  One person had a go-pro on a stick and posted a poorly lit photo of the supposed offender in the balcony next to theirs.  Wish they would at least take it to the smoking area....

 

This brings up something we were wondering about. While smoking and vaping isn't allowed anywhere indoors here, for whatever reason, people think it's perfectly ok to vape standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers, blowing their smoke so everyone else can breathe it in, and what's worse, employees/management doesn't seem to care.  It drives us nuts.  Is this happening on ship too? How willing is the crew to keep people from vaping amongst others?

[cantgetin]

Haven't had any vaping issues on this cruise or the previous.  We had one episode of balcony smoking on the last cruise (come on people, how hard is it to go to a smoking area?).  I've experienced 2 episodes of pot smoke, and others on board have reported more on the other side of the ship.  There is a lot of security at night time party/entertainment events and they are willing to remove offenders.  What happens after removal from the event, I can't address.

[_tacocat_]

2 hours ago, DSGDSG said:

This brings up something we were wondering about. While smoking and vaping isn't allowed anywhere indoors here, for whatever reason, people think it's perfectly ok to vape standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers, blowing their smoke so everyone else can breathe it in, and what's worse, employees/management doesn't seem to care.  It drives us nuts.  Is this happening on ship too? How willing is the crew to keep people from vaping amongst others?

Yep, seems to be especially bad in the casino every time I’ve been on.  Like zero attempts to hide it.  Crew won’t do anything about it either in my experience!

[TYCruise]

 

3 hours ago, DSGDSG said:

This brings up something we were wondering about. While smoking and vaping isn't allowed anywhere indoors here, for whatever reason, people think it's perfectly ok to vape standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers, blowing their smoke so everyone else can breathe it in, and what's worse, employees/management doesn't seem to care.  It drives us nuts.  Is this happening on ship too? How willing is the crew to keep people from vaping amongst others?

If you think vaping is bad, you won't believe what your breathing in from the ships funnel.💨

Edited April 28, 2023 by TYCruise

[cantgetin]

Interesting day from a food standpoint.  The Galley service was great at lunch.  We did dinner at Extra Virgin.  Good service, but the pasta was barely warm.  It wasn't "refrigerator cold" like it was last time, but certainly not a serving temperature.  We told our wonderful server that we were fine (she offered to have it remade, etc) ...then headed to Razzle Dazzle where they were able to let us do a walk in for entrees and sweets.  They had an amazing desert special, and everything there was lovely.  Major points for RD.  We went on the app and canceled our next Extra Virgin night--they only get to mess up twice!  Rebooked for elsewhere.

 

FYI, The Galley is posting the evening special in the daily paper listings.  For the lunch specials, you still need to walk to the stations and check them out.  There are multiple lunch specials each day.  So no, it is not 15 days of the same food choices.

Scarlet Night has been moved to the Red Room because it is "too cold" on deck.  I agree, it is sweater or jacket weather up there, not fancy clothes.

[dazadelaide]

 

If you think vaping is bad, you won't believe what your breathing in from the ships funnel.💨

 

Yes but funnel smoke isn't blowing in my face from 8 inches away

[bdever]

4 hours ago, dazadelaide said:

 

If you think vaping is bad, you won't believe what your breathing in from the ships funnel.💨

 

Yes but funnel smoke isn't blowing in my face from 8 inches away

I think the person posting this was trying to make the distinction between breathing fuel exhaust and water vapor. 

[cantgetin]

We are now close enough to Europe that my computer is automatically logging on to Cruise Critic UK, and on other sites all the ads are in Spanish.  I have to manually send it back to US sites, and some of those say that I can't reach them from my current location,

[cantgetin]

When did they turn the ship around?  

[moomoocow]

On 4/27/2023 at 3:12 PM, Tyler414 said:

Someone on FB is whining about this too, they said they snitched as well.

By your language I assume you think it’s ok to smoke pot on your balcony - despite clear instructions from VV that this is not allowed. Consideration for your fellow sailors would be nice. 

[Mr305]

There’s an Instagram post about Valiant Lady stating that the ship encountered a severe wind storm.  Pictures show quite a bit of damage to upper deck furniture and pool area.

Edited April 30, 2023 by Mr305

[CineGraphic]

There's a thread on FB.

Someone initially claimed it was a tornado. (It was a waterspout)

Several others on board chimed-in saying they didn't feel or hear a thing.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Mr305 said:

There’s an Instagram post about Valiant Lady stating that the ship encountered a severe wind storm.  Pictures show quite a bit of damage to upper deck furniture and pool area.

 

[Janthere]

8 minutes ago, Mr305 said:

There’s an Instagram post about Valiant Lady stating that the ship encountered a severe wind storm.  Pictures show quite a bit of damage to upper deck furniture and pool area.

Wow that must have been quite a waterspout burst! Hoping no one was hurt!

 

 

[Mr305]

Another ship just behind Valiant Lady has significantly changed course.  Celebrity forum has an Apex TransAtlantic thread going on, also nearby.

[Mr305]

Someone got pictures of the potential waterspout from a friend aboard Valiant Lady, see Apex TranAtlantic thread in the Celebrity forum.

[cantgetin]

It looked quite scary, but the seas were not very rough.  We received a notification to stay off open decks.  Yes, the suites at the front of the ship had furniture on the balconies flipped and shifted, and several had water come into their cabins (they have been moved to new cabins).  The balconies are all wet. Furniture on open decks shifted, flipped over, etc.  It only lasted a few minutes, and the ship remained relatively stable.  We watched it from behind a pane of glass.  Bottom line, it looked worse than anything we felt.  And despite some reports, the ship was NOT hit by a tornado (as was reported on one site)

[Rogueperson]

I'm glad i found this thread.  I'm looking to book the transatlantic for next year, probably in the next two days or so once my TA gets pricing for next year on Scarlet Lady.  It will be my first one on Virgin, but the price is amazing!  I was a little hesitant to do such a long cruise on my inaugural Virgin cruise, but the price made it worth it. 

 

I'm new to this board, but I don't see many live threads.  I will more than likely do one while i'm onboard so that should be interesting.

 

Thanks for the preview.

[cantgetin]

26 minutes ago, Rogueperson said:

I'm glad i found this thread.  I'm looking to book the transatlantic for next year, probably in the next two days or so once my TA gets pricing for next year on Scarlet Lady.  It will be my first one on Virgin, but the price is amazing!  I was a little hesitant to do such a long cruise on my inaugural Virgin cruise, but the price made it worth it. 

 

I'm new to this board, but I don't see many live threads.  I will more than likely do one while i'm onboard so that should be interesting.

 

Thanks for the preview.

We have had active cruise chats on other platforms.

 

[cantgetin]

These dinner specials are AMAZING.  Most of the restaurants are offering at least one special each night...often both an entree and a dessert.  Tonight Razzle Dazzle had some sort of chicken entree special which we did not get and a "to die for" chocolate pecan pie which we did.  A few nights ago it was a very rich chocolate cake with Chantilly whipped cream.

The Galley is having several lunch specials each day as well as at least one dinner special.  The dinner special is listed on the daily newsletter; to night is is Indian shrimp curry.  

The specials are. a nice way so that other than Gumbae, no place feels like the "same old" food each time....unless you want to order off the standard menu.

[CineGraphic]

3 hours ago, Rogueperson said:

I'm new to this board

 

Welcome..... I see you're from Silver Spring, MD. 20902 was home for me in the 60s.

[CineGraphic]

55 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

The specials are. a nice way so that other than Gumbae, no place feels like the "same old" food each time

 

I could eat the grilled shrimp from the Dock for all 14 days if need be. lol.

[Rogueperson]

2 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

Welcome..... I see you're from Silver Spring, MD. 20902 was home for me in the 60s.

Life long resident.  Born in 20901, moved from there to Gaithersburg for a couple years, went to UMD, came back, bought a house in 20906 which is still considered Silver Spring, though Rockville and Olney are actually closer than downtown Silver Spring for me.