Virgin Cruises The Resilient Lady
Virgin Cruises, the Resilient Lady is a beautiful one-year-old dream boat and a vast improvement from so many other ships on the water! Would you like to know the differences? Most cruises are pretty much the same, but Virgin Cruises has come out of the blocks on fire! As far as I can see they are very different in a few key areas. Here is what I found!
Virgin Cruise App
Virgin Cruises, it’s a new look in cruising! Right from the get-go it looks and feels different! Once the booking is complete you are directed to the Virgin Voyages app. This app is used for everything from checking in to booking excursions, dining experiences, and entertainment. Download the App straight away and stay connected. Thanks to the app my anticipation of what was to come was high. Virgin communicates the ships’ vibe well!
You will notice quirky little double entendres and lots of sexy innuendoes mixed with ship terms and humor to let us “sailors” know what we would be in for when we board.
Boarding
Whilst we were boarding the party continued with dance music from speakers as we awaited check-in. Staff greeted us with “Ahoy!” everywhere we went and our fellow sailors seemed to have the same buzz we did. No grumpy impatient check-in lines, even fellow sailors were cheery and ready to party!
On board, the ship was a revelation. Modern is not the right description. The Resilient Lady is more than modern, it is a “rockstar”. Multi-colored lighting, dark areas, light areas, projected images in the lifts, and colored strip lighting outside the rooms. Everything had a kind of understated, high-end nightclub appearance. The music was playing and people everywhere were smiling.
Virgin Cruise Cabins
Once checked in we viewed our room. We had selected the X-Large Sea Terrace. A balcony room with approx 225 square feet of space and complete with a Virgin red hammock.
The tech in all rooms is next level. Bracelets allow access to the room and are also used to sign into events and experiences. Inside the room a tablet allows you to control the ambient temperature of the room and various light settings including “hungover” lighting. Push buttons to open and shut curtains on the iPad and of course to use the television. Needless to say, there was nothing like this on P & O or Royal Caribbean!
Tech aside, the bed was fabulously comfortable with a luxurious white doona and ample pillows, throw cushions, and a large cotton wrap to use for cooler days on the balcony. The bathroom was quite large for a ship’s cabin and had a rainwater shower head and an adjustable handheld option. Toiletries were provided in refillable full-size containers which I like as there is less waste and plastic usage.
Beyond the regular cabins, achieving “Rockstar” status on Virgin Cruises is within reach through the purchase of suites. These exclusive accommodations unlock a host of extra privileges, including a complimentary in-room mini-bar, expedited ship check-in, early reservations for dining and entertainment, entry to a private pool area, and a range of additional perks that elevate the cruise experience to a truly luxurious level.
Virgin Restaurant Dining
Dining on a Virgin cruise is also very different. Firstly all the restaurants are included in your fare price. Yep, you read correctly, even the specialty and fine dining restaurants are included at no extra charge! You do need to book for these restaurants, and they are popular, but to ensure everyone gets an opportunity you can only pre-book once for each specialty restaurant.
I do have some tips on booking your Virgin restaurants before you travel, so you don’t miss out, and what to do if you don’t get booked in before you travel.
Other than the beautiful specialty restaurants, you will also find another 25 eateries. There are venues such as “The Sun Club Cafe,” “The Pizza Place,” “JuiceSea,” “The Dock House,” “The Grounds Club Cafe,” “Lick Me Til Ice Cream -Ice Cream Shop,” and “The Galley Food Hall.”
Buffet Free
There is no boring Buffet anywhere to be found. Instead, when you are not dining in a restaurant you will find a food hall-style Food Galley. Here you can find a Bento Box vendor, a Salad, or a Noodle bowl. Try wandering around to the North Indian Curry Takeaway or go for Chinese Takeaway. Choose to have pressed Turkish bread sandwiches or beer-battered chips and fries. Brioche Burgers at an American Diner or maybe American Ribs? Each is tucked away in their little corner.
After my meal was complete each night I made my way to the bakery and chose a final dessert… even if I had already had a 3-course meal. Sometimes I had to wait a little while until my first dessert had digested a little but I was always able to manage a second!
The quality of the meals at every hour of the day was second to none. There was no such thing as filling the plate with cheap white carbs alongside tiny servings of protein. Brett came to me with a gorgeous plate of smoked salmon, avocado, and capers for a bagel. The bagel was warm and fresh and his plate was piled with salmon. When I asked for fruit I was given lush servings of fresh berries with my rockmelon, watermelon, and honeydew.
On other cruises, it has been difficult to find anything of substance beneath platefuls of iceberg lettuce, pasta, white rice, and white bread. The food on Virgin Cruise Australia Resilient Lady was exceptional, it was next-level quality and lifted the bar exponentially.
Bar Tabs
Virgin does drink packages a little differently from most cruises. Whilst some cruise lines offer drink packages for the period of the cruise, Virgin allows you to set a Tab. Unlike a drinks package, you can use your bar tab to shout anyone a drink. This can be handy if you have leftover funds near the end of your cruise. A tab doesn’t compel you to keep drinking hard to get the most out of your package.
To make the Bar Tab option a little more attractive Virgin will also offer to throw in on your tab for you. Depending on how much you put on your tab, they will also “kick in” and add to the tab for you!
Fitness
Virgin Cruises also has a fabulous gym on board and so many fitness classes. Oh, and they are not only your average classes. Yes, they have yoga and spin classes. Plus they also include barre and other high-impact cardio classes, and they also have some fabulous classes you may not have tried yet. Have you tried Bungy Fitness? Imagine being suspended on a bungee cord for your exercise class, part gymnastics part playtime!
Gym workouts are another item that’s included in the cost of the fare! Classes must be booked ahead of attending, use the app to select the class of your choice. The gym can be accessed anytime. Here are tips for accessing gym classes.
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Virgin Entertainment
Cheeky, risque, and daring define the entertainment scene on Virgin, as it’s an exclusively adult cruise. If you anticipate mundane, vanilla content, prepare for a delightful surprise. The entertainment promises not only belly laughs and blushing moments but also occasional hand-over-the-mouth shocks, all crafted in the spirit of amusement.
With a myriad of shows to choose from, the variety is vast. Despite our best efforts to catch a show every night and even sneak in an afternoon performance or two, we couldn’t manage to witness the full spectrum of offerings. The entertainment on Virgin Cruise is a tantalizing mix that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
We had no problems using the app to book into the shows and were able to get our first preference for all the times.
Virgin Joie De Vie
What truly sets Virgin Cruises apart from the competition is something I have termed the Virgin “Joie De Vie,” a unique essence that encapsulates the Joy of Life. This distinctive quality is the hallmark of the Virgin experience, making it stand out in a league of its own. They go above and beyond all expectations at every turn. Every moment onboard I was squeaking with absolute, unexpected delight. Whether it was from glee at seeing a waiter dancing in the restaurant completely randomly (not a performance… he was just doing a happy dance).
The barista sings, “I’ve got the power!! boom… boom, boom, boom! I’ve got the power!”
Also, the waiter at Gumbae offered us a complimentary drinking game over dinner, even though we didn’t have a bar tab.
The thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift. We returned to the room to find a card and cookies. It was so touching and unexpected. I loved how the lift was lit up welcoming Valentine’s Day!
Everything was designed to put a smile on our faces. This is the Virgin Joie De Vie.
I heard that Virgin Cruise Lines encourages its staff to keep and show their personality. I can say the personality of the cruise shines through and makes the voyage worlds apart from others!
Are you a virgin?
I could not have enjoyed my Virgin Cruise more. The Virgin Voyages cruise is dynamic and an absolute game-changer in the cruising industry.
From the moment you step on board, the vibrancy of the ship and its crew sets a refreshing tone that guests respond to positively. The seamless integration of technology through the Virgin Voyages app, the luxurious cabins, inclusive dining options, the unique Bar Tab approach, and a commitment to quality fitness and entertainment redefines and lifts the expectations of what a cruise should provide.
A Virgin Cruise isn’t just a voyage; it’s a pulsating adventure, it’s a rush of dopamine, and an unabashed celebration of the joy of travel. This cruise line has successfully injected a dose of excitement, humor, and sophistication into the cruising experience, ensuring that each passenger becomes part of an unforgettable journey that sails far beyond the ordinary.
It will be very difficult to sail on another cruise line after you have tried the Virgin experience! Take a look at where you can travel with Virgin. Next time I will be a Rockstar!
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