Anyone done a Virgin cruise?

Sandwichgen · 2024-09-08T11:50:23+00:00

Tempted, but it seems a very different sort of cruise line - no main dining room, very small and bare cabins. There also seems to be a heavy drinking ethos.

longdistanceclaraclara · 08/09/2024 12:58

It looks like a 'posh' 18-30s vibe to me.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 08/09/2024 19:18

From the extensive research I’ve done, you’re both wrong. I’ve never been on a cruise. Never seemed to be one to fit me (I’m 51). DH is more anti cruise than I am. We don’t like enforced group merriment. We don’t have young kids anymore and I work in a primary school so I definitely don’t want to be around a load of screaming kids in close proximity on a ship. Plus on some cruises now they allow kids to travel free in their parents cabin (or at least wirh just a small additional fee) which means the ship suddenly feels very overcrowded with long crews during the school holidays when I’d have to go. Plus I have absolutely no need for onboard ice rinks, high ropes, mini amusement rides etc so don’t see the point in paying extra for that as part of your fare. Neither do I feel I’m at the right stage of life for formal lectures on things like geology, or art classes and things like that. In fact I don’t require much in the way of entertainment as my main interest in cruising would be for the destinations and the food. Food has to be high quality.

I don’t like low quality all you can eat style of buffet and balk at the idea of having to spend a lot of extra money to eat at “speciality restaurants” which to me are just restaurants! But perhaps with a particular cuisine.

I don’t like formal anything. I’m on holiday, I don’t want to feel “on show” or uptight. I don’t want a captain’s dinner, or have very formal “whip the silver cloche off with a flourish and a gloved-hand” type of service. I just want to feel like the staff care if I’m having a good time even if that sometimes mean it’s quite informal. Informal is good, but I don’t want it TOO informal. I don’t want them plonking themselves down next to me on a sunlounger and calling me “mate”, or hugging me. I want the staff to be paid enough so that I don’t have to think about tipping because it’s included in the fare.

I don’t want to be surrounded by people just wanting to make the most of their drinks package and packing in the drinks from 9 in the morning so they get their “money’s worth.”

Virgin Voyages seemed to fit the bill. So we booked for next May There are plenty of YouTube videos showing you exactly what it’s like to sail with them. Yes it’s a bit alternative in some ways but we are open minded and go with the flow.

I can’t actually wait, and even DH is excited. The US short bahama cruises seem to be more party ish. The Med ones are full of all age groups, average age 55 I think.

Chewbecca · 08/09/2024 19:22

@CurlyhairedAssassin Try Oceania - I think they would meet your expectations too.

OP, we haven't cruised Virgin so can't comment. Just be careful if you wear your pineapple dress / shirt.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/09/2024 00:49

Thanks, @Chewbecca . We’ll see how we go with this Virgin one. I’m not entirely sure I like the whole idea of cruising AT ALL so this is a real test for us so I wanted to get it to as close a fit for us as possible. If we travel somewhere we really like to be there for a good few days and explore it thoroughly. Being whisked round the main sights with a few thousand other people all at the same time is not how I’d choose to explore a place. Having to stick to someone else’s schedule is not that relaxing in some ways although I can see the appeal of getting put on a coach and taken on an excursion can be easier in some ways.

Im not even entirely sure I’m up with the ethics of it all either. The energy consumption. The effect on the environment. The often detrimental effect it has on the places the ships visit: infrastructure on small islands like Santorini can’t cope, and the tourists off cruise go back on board at the end of the day so aren’t bringing in money for the hoteliers and the restaurants of an evening.

So we’ll see. OP, have a look at some YouTube videos and come back to say what you think. Virgin was recommended on a thread I saw here, I didn’t even know they did cruises a few months ago 😆

oh, I think the pineapple thing is one of those urban myths, much the same as pampas grass. MIL was joking about pineapples when she came back from a trip with a totally different cruise line and I’m pretty sure they ain’t swingers 😆

Original poster

Sandwichgen · 09/09/2024 11:21

Thanks all. Off to google pineapple …

OP posts:

Janedoe82 · 09/09/2024 11:27

I have a friend who is just back- their comments on Facebook were 'you need to be open minded. party ship'.
Seems to have had a good time though!

Illpickthatup · 09/09/2024 11:28

CurlyhairedAssassin · 08/09/2024 19:18

From the extensive research I’ve done, you’re both wrong. I’ve never been on a cruise. Never seemed to be one to fit me (I’m 51). DH is more anti cruise than I am. We don’t like enforced group merriment. We don’t have young kids anymore and I work in a primary school so I definitely don’t want to be around a load of screaming kids in close proximity on a ship. Plus on some cruises now they allow kids to travel free in their parents cabin (or at least wirh just a small additional fee) which means the ship suddenly feels very overcrowded with long crews during the school holidays when I’d have to go. Plus I have absolutely no need for onboard ice rinks, high ropes, mini amusement rides etc so don’t see the point in paying extra for that as part of your fare. Neither do I feel I’m at the right stage of life for formal lectures on things like geology, or art classes and things like that. In fact I don’t require much in the way of entertainment as my main interest in cruising would be for the destinations and the food. Food has to be high quality.

I don’t like low quality all you can eat style of buffet and balk at the idea of having to spend a lot of extra money to eat at “speciality restaurants” which to me are just restaurants! But perhaps with a particular cuisine.

I don’t like formal anything. I’m on holiday, I don’t want to feel “on show” or uptight. I don’t want a captain’s dinner, or have very formal “whip the silver cloche off with a flourish and a gloved-hand” type of service. I just want to feel like the staff care if I’m having a good time even if that sometimes mean it’s quite informal. Informal is good, but I don’t want it TOO informal. I don’t want them plonking themselves down next to me on a sunlounger and calling me “mate”, or hugging me. I want the staff to be paid enough so that I don’t have to think about tipping because it’s included in the fare.

I don’t want to be surrounded by people just wanting to make the most of their drinks package and packing in the drinks from 9 in the morning so they get their “money’s worth.”

Virgin Voyages seemed to fit the bill. So we booked for next May There are plenty of YouTube videos showing you exactly what it’s like to sail with them. Yes it’s a bit alternative in some ways but we are open minded and go with the flow.

I can’t actually wait, and even DH is excited. The US short bahama cruises seem to be more party ish. The Med ones are full of all age groups, average age 55 I think.

I think you'll probably surprise yourself. I've been on a couple of cruises and absolutely loved them. My DH hasn't been one but I've managed to convince him. We were looking at the virgin cruises. I like the idea of it being adult only. If we're holidaying without the kids I don't want to be bothered by other people's kids.