Recap of our first ever Back-to-Back cruise and first time of the Virgin Voyages (VV).
Ship: Scarlet Lady
Trip Name & Dates:
Dominican Days April 1-6, 2022 (Approx. 680 passengers)
Fire & Sunset Soirée April 6-10, 2022 (Approx. 630 passengers)
Too Long; Didn’t/Won’t Read version:
It was different (by design) from every other cruise we have been on in the most wonderful ways. As long as you aren’t ultra conservative with regards to those of alternative lifestyles, and open to new experiences, you should have a great time. If you are looking for the traditional Caribbean cruise, you will be disappointed. With both the 4- or 5-day cruises, you will most likely leave wanting more, as you can’t experience all this ship has to offer. If you have ever wanted to try a cruise now is the time before the ships get back to full capacity.
Ship:
There was no giant atrium as you enter the ship. This allowed for better traffic flow throughout the ship. Cabins & Suites are on decks 8-14. Public area are decks 5-7 and 15, 16. Lots of outdoor seating areas around the ship on multiple decks. Not all areas were out in the open some, restaurants were tucked in areas behind shops or guest services. Ship was designed for social media and selfies.
Cabin:
We had a standard balcony on deck 10, starboard (z) side, about mid way between midship and aft. Overall felt smaller than other ships, bathroom was much smaller, but functional. Might be uncomfortable for the extra fluffy sailor though. Provided body wash, shampoo, and conditioner had a nice neutral smell and was a good quality. (My wife still used her own products though.) Rain shower was great too. The in-room tablet for controlling lights, TV, and curtains could use a little work. Mainly individual light control, better descriptions for scenes, and larger on-screen buttons. The hammock on the balcony was amazing and possibly the best part of the room. The only noise we heard was from other passengers, nothing from any shows or engines.
Crew:
Everyone we met was incredible. VV really takes care of the crew and it shows. Like passengers they get free wi-fi. Unlike some other lines, it is common to see crew about the ship in all areas while they are off duty. It’s nice to see people being treated as people. They do not have a single cruise director, but utilize The Happenings Crew. For us, this consisted of twelve people, seven aficionados and five influencers. You would find them about ship interacting, hosting events, performing, or just getting the party started. On our sailing the aficionados were: The Foodie, The Diva, The Hostess, The Artist, The Balancer, The Gamer, and The Doctor (Ryan, Wesley, Michie, TJ, Nate, RJ, and Dr. Audrey). The Influencers were: The Flare, The Bounce, The Hype, The Spark, and The Glow (Natalie, Kelsey, Joel, Matt, and Cash). Then there was the Unicorn, Terrelle. An amazing voice, who performed at some shows and with the house band, who were also fantastic.
Entertainment:
The main shows consist of Never Sleep Alone (NSA), Ships in the Night, Dual Reality, THEUNTITLEDDANCEPARTYTHING, Cocktails and Revelry with the Diva (parts 1 & 2), and Scarlet Night. Not all shows are available on all sailings. They are all fantastic and not like anything you have ever seen at sea.
Never Sleep Alone (NSA) – Cabaret vibe built around dating and relationship, with some audience participation
Ships in the Night – The closest thing to a traditional cruise ship show. Song, dance and moving backdrops.
Dual Reality – An acrobatic retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
THEUNTITLEDDANCEPARTYTHING – Theater in the round that moves around you. A dance show that includes a dance party.
Cocktails and Revelry with the Diva (parts 1 & 2) – In simplest terms, a drag show. High energy song, dance, and more.
Scarlet Night – This is the signature event. Wear Red, gather at the round about and then explore various entertainment acts around the ship. A different experience based on where you choose to go. Weather permitting it culminates with a party at the pool.
There are little pop-up shows that run about 15 minutes or so, and occur randomly around the ship. These have a street performer feel. I do wish there was some indication in the app of when and where you could see these. I only caught three and thought they were great.
In addition to the Unicorn and house band, we also had a guest performer on board, Flute Loops. We never saw an entire show, but what we did hear while walking by, was enjoyable.
Before The Manor (nightclub) becomes just a nightclub, many of the evenings kick off with some sort of performance. So, it is worth being there as it open even if you don’t plan on dancing the night away.
Activities:
There is a lot to do throughout the day. Trivia, bingo, scavenger hunts, art tours, art classes, bar crawl (Grog Walk), tea times, fitness classes and much more. Most are free, but some do have a charge. Most, if not all, of these can be booked through the app.
While not 100% necessary, it would be nice for the fitness classes to add some sort of level to the description. (Beginner, Intermediate, Level 1, etc.) Also, especially for the yoga classes, have a second person walking around to help with form.
The only activity we wouldn’t do a second time was the Tea. While it was enjoyable and tasty, the price seemed a little high for what you get. You have both a tea ($19) and champagne ($35) options available.
The Grog Walk (extra charge) may happen multiple times during your cruise. You will visit four bars and get four drinks. It was a great way to get to know the ship and some fellow sailors.
If you can’t find anything else, there is an arcade, a huge collection of board games, foosball, shuffle board, the casino, fitness areas, and the pool.
Food & Drink:
No main dining room, but several restaurants each with its own cuisine all included. There are some items on the menu that will incur an extra charge. Extra Virgin (Italian), they host an appetizer event on some evenings. Razzle Dazzle (Veggie Forward but they do have meat dishes), I think they had the best bacon on the ship. The Wake (Steakhouse with some seafood options as well.), I splurged for the tomahawk steak and it was delicious. Sides are big enough to share. Pink Agave (Mexican), so good. The guacamole, the corn, the pork, and everything else on the menu was on point. If you are feeling brave try the cocktail with crickets. Gunbae (Korean BBQ), wonderful food and great for friends you came with or the ones you met on the ship. Small parties may be sat with other parties. Just order everything. The Test Kitchen, fancy fusion fine dining with flavors and food that is anything but ordinary. It was a great experience that I think everyone should try. However, it was a one and done for us, at least until they change up the menu. The blue cheese ice cream (so good!) made our head hurt because of the flavor and texture. Pro tip, try the ice cream, then try the sorbet separately, then have them in the same bite. For an upcharge you have some drink pairing options.
The Galley is their take on the traditional buffet. I would say it is like an upscale food court. Start by looking around and seeing what they have to offer, then grab a seat, scan the QR code and someone will be by to take your order. Because of the various food stations, your food may arrive at different times. While Razzle Dazzle and The Wake had great brunches, I preferred to hit The Galley for breakfast. Don’t be afraid to try/share the French Toast Burger.
Other food options around the ship are pizza, ice cream, poke bowls, small plates at the Dock and Dock House, and the Social Club Diner for sweets and snacks, like hot dogs, wings, pretzels, ice cream floats with alcohol, and a small candy counter. The app will tell you the hours that these are open.
There are many bars spread all over the ship. Each has its own feel and preset cocktail menu. One thing I found disappointing is that there really wasn’t a bar that offered the traditional umbrella/boat drinks. I think a pool bar had a slushie machine with a premixed cocktail, I heard it was inconsistent. It also seemed a bit challenging for some of the bar tenders to make off menu cocktails with more than 2 ingredients. For example, my wife had a very sour Bahama Momma and a friend of ours said her Mai Tai didn’t taste right. This even extended to the Beach Club at Bimini. I asked for a whiskey sour, and the response was, “How about a Lynchburg Lemonade?” While essentially the same drink, why not just start making it? It just seemed odd to me. With all that being said I did enjoy the drinks found on the cocktail menus around the ship.
Bimini Beach Club:
Since most (all?) Caribbean sailings stop here just wanted to add a little blurb. It is wonderful. A lot of that is tied to it being in Bimini and the beautiful water that surrounds the small island. In April, I found the ocean to be too cold, the pool however was great. They have several events while onshore. Lots of seats by the pool, plenty along the shore. Food was great and the menu gets changed about halfway through the day. My only complaint is that we leave the island too early. This would be a perfect place to get pictures of the ship at night and we have to be back on board before night falls. Not to mention that the bonfire lighting seems to lose something with so much daylight.
