Come Sail Away
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Virgin Voyages isn’t for everyone but if you don’t necessarily love traditional cruising it may be for you. I will admit that cruising isn’t my top vacation of choice. I am a beach girl and given the choice, I will choose a warm, sunny destination 95% of the time. Y’all, I absolutely loved this cruise!
recently had the opportunity to cruise again after a little more than three years and while some things have changed, some things felt exactly as they used to be.
I decided to take a chance and experience the new Virgin Voyages cruise line on the Scarlet Lady. This is an adults-only cruise line for ages 18 and up, and it breaks all of the rules of traditional cruising in the best ways possible. This cruise line is intentionally different – they don’t offer the traditional programming that most cruise lines have, you won’t hear announcements of the latest happenings over the sound system, and there are no paper daily schedules or towel animals in your stateroom. The shows are edgy and creative, one show borders on being a bit risqué, and the entertainment doesn’t fit the usual cruise line mold. The vibe is very cheeky so having a sense of fun and a sense of humor is a must. Virgin Voyages prides itself on its inclusions (all onboard dining, WiFi, gratuities, basic beverages, and fitness class are all included in the price), amazing food, pop-up experiences, and inclusivity, and they did not disappoint. I made it a point to attempt to try all of the food on the ship and even with six days onboard I failed because there are so many options. I’m more of a foodie and my cabinmate for the sailing is less of a foodie, and everything we ate was delicious so the food options definitely have something that everyone will enjoy. Our favorite activity of the cruise was the 80’s VHS Workout class complete with leg warmers, side pony tails, and shake weights. We laughed just as much as we exercised.
The best part of this sailing is it is the first trip I have taken in almost two years that felt ‘normal’. Everyone on the ship was vaccinated including 100% of the staff, they were operating at about 50% capacity, and all guests were tested at the port immediately before embarkation, so I felt as confident as I could that there was an incredibly low risk of contracting COVID. We were all masked up at the port but immediately upon entering the ship everyone but the staff was no longer required to wear masks while onboard. It was frankly an odd feeling to be around people and not be masked up, not have to worry about bringing my mask with me, interacting normally with people in the lounges or restaurants or shows, not feeling stressed about COVID. The very best part of the experience is that I walked away hopeful and excited that we can see a way to eventually getting back to our pre-COVID, normal lives. Right now might be a great time for you to safely sail - on Virgin Voyages or one of the other cruise lines with strict protocols in place – so make sure to consider cruising for your 2022 vacation plans!
Heather Meliski is a travel agent specializing in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Australia, the South Pacific, cruises, theme parks, and more. She lives in Smyrna with her husband two sons. Heather@yellowshoetravel.com FB @heatheryellowshoetravel IG @yellowshoetravelheather
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