Scarlet Woman cruise ship overview: What to anticipate on board Virgin Voyages’ 1st ship

Scarlet Woman defies categorization with regards to pricing, as effectively. Its cruise fares are extra inclusive than your typical mass-market ship, and due to this fact dearer than different mainstream strains. However it doesn’t have the identical vibe as luxurious cruise ships that are inclined to cater to a retired, rich clientele, who’re much less energetic and never into dance events or cutting-edge leisure.

The minimal age to sail Virgin is eighteen years outdated, and the ship embraces its adults-only standing. You received’t discover children on board, but you can see board video games, an arcade, swings and limitless pizza and ice cream.

A typical concern I’ve heard is that Scarlet Woman is just for the younger and the hip. As a totally non-hip, mid-40-something, I can guarantee you that isn’t true. The goal demographic for this ship is extra about mindset than age.

In the event you’re somebody who likes to exit – to dinner, a present, a bar or a celebration – this social ship will likely be for you. Many eating places have communal tables designed to deliver folks collectively, resembling Gunbae, the place tables solely seat six and also you’re inspired to hitch in a ingesting sport along with your newly-met tablemates. The leisure is high notch, but it surely’s extra experimental and trendy than the standard song-and-dance cruise ship exhibits. Scarlet Woman isn’t a “learn in your cabin” kind of cruise ship.

It’s additionally a ship for vacationers with open minds, who embrace variations and aren’t simply shocked or insulted. Onboard comedians will push boundaries with their jokes. You’ll discover crew, from entertainers to waiters, who could also be gender-fluid, tattooed, pierced or overtly homosexual. Whereas the sex-themed cabaret is gone, the exhibits don’t draw back from sexual or R-rated themes.

I liked this in regards to the ship. Others might not.

What I liked about Scarlet Woman

Hammock on the balcony

It might sound minor, however the hammock on my cabin’s balcony made my cruise.

I usually really feel that balconies are wasted house. They’re nice for checking the climate, drying swimsuits and consuming room service breakfast – however I hardly ever spend a lot time hanging out on them. Normally that’s as a result of the chairs are upright and fabricated from steel (or steel and plastic mesh) and the veranda is small, and you’ll’t get comfy.

Not so with a hammock. I’m 6 ft tall and may absolutely recline in considered one of Scarlet Woman’s shiny pink, ethically sourced hammocks. The rocking of the hammock mixed with the rocking of the ship at sea, particularly early within the morning when the solar was low and the temperature excellent, was extremely soothing. I discovered myself plotting how one can get extra hammock time – fairly than merely forgetting I had a balcony as I busied myself across the ship.

Nooks

Scarlet Woman succeeds in creating intimate areas onboard an enormous ship, and I liked all of the inviting nooks I discovered on board. Generally, these nooks have been tucked-away bars, just like the Dock Home Bar, simply barely off the principle thoroughfare. Or, maybe they have been cute seating areas, just like the curtained-off tables on the Sip bar or day beds on the open-air decks.

The general public areas on the ship invite you to seize a buddy, a drink and chill for some time. I needed I had time to pattern all of them.

Leisure

I’m a Broadway buff, and I all the time go to the cruise ship exhibits. Except they’re an actual Broadway present (discovered on the likes of NCL or Royal Caribbean), I’m normally strolling out or choosing them aside earlier than they finish.

Scarlet Woman’s leisure impressed me with its innovation and its high quality. The dancers have been unbelievable; they moved in regards to the stage like they have been acting on “So You Suppose You Can Dance” (or different TV dance competitors), not in your child’s highschool dance recital. “Twin Actuality,” the Romeo-and-Juliet-themed present, was the primary cruise-ship acrobatic efficiency I’ve seen that had a compelling plot; so many cruise strains throw dancers on hoops or silks within the air just because they will. The way in which the staging and performer interplay engaged the viewers was authentic and sensible.

The drag present was a hoot, and the DanceShowPartyThing was totally different than any cruise ship present I’ve ever seen and a lighthearted enjoyable time. The late-night jazz band on the On the Rocks bar stored the crowds engaged, and the crew knew how one can maintain the occasion happening the dance ground at The Manor – whether or not that was dancing on the stage wings or masking the gang with a big parachute.

Restaurant idea

I’m not a cruiser who adores the principle eating room. I desire specialty eating places with their particular person menus, decor and vibe. However I additionally hate paying further for meals when meals is already included. On this means, Virgin’s restaurant idea speaks completely to me.

Scarlet Woman has no essential eating room and no buffet. As an alternative, you can also make dinner reservations at considered one of its six eating places, or make a extra informal meal from the pizza parlor, meals corridor, snack bar (that includes wings and scorching canine) or the Dock and Dock Home lounge with their mezze menu. I liked that each night time I ate someplace totally different – one night time filet mignon on the stylish, upscale The Wake, the subsequent experimental dishes at Take a look at Kitchen or communal Korean BBQ at Gunbae.

Meals ranged from edible to wonderful, however meals have been all the time enjoyable. I felt like I used to be consuming out in a metropolis, fairly than at a resort convention middle, and that night-out vibe set the temper for the complete night.

What I didn’t love about Scarlet Woman

Lack of course

Scarlet Woman is a ship for unbiased vacationers who don’t want their fingers held or wish to be instructed what to do by a cruise director (there isn’t one). Whereas I liked the shortage of bulletins over the intercom system or on the finish of exhibits, I did really feel prefer it was straightforward to overlook out on issues on board.

Nobody tells you the way the ship works, though it’s nontraditional for the cruise trade. In the event you don’t know to get on board and instantly make reservations for all of the eating places, exhibits and health lessons you need, you can see your self locked out of meals and occasions you have been wanting ahead to.

The ship has a determined lack of signage; no deck maps or wayfinder screens by the elevator banks, not even the title of bars by their entrances. The format of the ship is such that sure bars or venues are tucked away off the high-traffic corridors and will be tough to seek out. In the event you do discover them, they’re normally in a useless finish, leaving you to retrace your steps to determine a means throughout a deck.

Maybe if the app have been extra intuitive, a few of these points may very well be mitigated. However I, who’ve efficiently employed quite a few cruise ship apps, needed to ask a crew member to indicate me the place to seek out deck plans within the Sailor App. In-app room service ordering was glitchy, however my cabin attendant hadn’t left me a printout of the menu, so I by no means tried in-room eating.

I can see first-time and older cruisers being particularly confounded by the shortage of steering on board. Whereas extra bulletins aren’t the reply, I’m certain Virgin Voyages may determine unobtrusive methods to present sailors a serving to hand.

No buffet

Virgin Voyages is decidedly anti-self-serve. Neither its ships nor its non-public seashore membership on Bimini within the Bahamas presents a buffet. The buffet substitute on Scarlet Woman is The Galley, a meals corridor with a number of themed stations. As an alternative of ordering on the counter, you discover a seat, flag down a waiter and put in your order, which will likely be delivered to you when prepared.

This idea works effectively when you will have time to kill or the venue is empty. However when The Galley is packed, resembling within the morning on a port day, it could take endlessly to be a focus for a server and longer than you’d count on to obtain your meal. Yow will discover grab-and-go bins in a number of places on board, however the meals choice is restricted.

I had the identical expertise at The Dock after a late tour; a number of of us waited far too lengthy for a waiter to seem and take our order – though a server had escorted me outdoors 5 minutes prior. As a lot as I’m not a fan of buffets, typically I simply wish to eat rapidly and get on with my day.

Associated: 11 issues I liked on Virgin Voyages — and 6 I type of hated

Scarlet Woman cabins and suites

Scarlet Woman presents the same old cruise ship mixture of windowless inside cabins, ocean-view rooms with giant home windows that don’t open, cabins with non-public balconies and huge suites. Cruise rooms sleep one to 4 company, with twin beds that may be mixed into queens and higher bunks. That’s principally the place the similarity ends.

My room was a Sea Terrace, a.ok.a. an ordinary balcony room. The IKEA-inspired furnishings and mod décor made the room resemble a classy micro resort. For instance, the mattress is modular. On the cabin’s lengthy wall, there was a material headboard and a slender white platform with one thick armrest.

Twin beds will be arrayed in numerous configurations alongside the platform. I had two pushed collectively right into a queen with one-third of the platform as a bedside desk, however a triple may have a 3rd mattress jutting out perpendicular from the opposite two. Or, in case you plan on internet hosting an occasion in your cabin, or don’t like studying on a mattress, you possibly can ask your room attendant to strip the sheets and organize two daybed mattresses into an L-shaped sectional sofa.

Whereas virtually nobody makes use of the daybed format, the association means you’re sleeping on a sofa cushion fairly than a luxurious mattress. My mattress on Scarlet Woman was not the comfiest I’ve had on a cruise, however the sheets and cover have been advantageous and I slept effectively.

My room didn’t have a settee as different cruise ships might need. It had one upright chair within the nook and a vegan leather-based stool underneath the desk that doubled as desk and self-importance. The desk is subsequent to a unit housing the mini-fridge and two small cabinets, however there isn’t a extra storage. Right here, you’ll additionally discover a touch-screen pad the place you possibly can regulate the lighting and temperature of your room.

The one storage is within the closet space, and as in a micro resort, your garments received’t precisely be hanging behind closed doorways. One tall cupboard with a door homes 4 not-that-deep drawers and cabinets, lots of which home the protected, life jackets and additional towels. However your garments will cling from a rack behind a curtain that you simply possible received’t trouble to shut. In a single nook is a baggage stand with two cabinets, every with a wicker basket.

The toilet is tiny and in addition missing in storage. You need to use the one lengthy shelf beneath the sink or place your objects within the small house subsequent to the sink – there are not any different drawers or cabinets. I stored putting my rest room bag underneath the elevated cleaning soap dish and realizing the cleaning soap would drip on it.

The bathe has a rain head and a wand and one meager shelf. In the event you’re pleased with Purple Flower toiletries, you should use the offered dispensers of shampoo, conditioner and physique wash, and never have to fret about cramming all of your travel-sized bottles onto the tiny floor space.

I didn’t discover my cabin on Scarlet Woman to be overly inviting or cozy, and I used to be glad I didn’t need to combat for cupboard space with a journey accomplice. What saved the cabin was its balcony, or terrace as Virgin calls it.

The 45-square-foot terrace is furnished with two uninviting steel upright chairs and a spherical drinks desk. I wouldn’t even trouble to take a seat on the market – apart from the putting pink hammock hung from hooks bolted into the underside of the balcony above. That hammock was the whole lot. At 6 ft tall, I may stretch out fully and rock with the waves because the ship made its means by way of the Caribbean. Its presence made a forgettable, utilitarian room fascinating and memorable.

In the event you actually wish to dwell it up, you possibly can e-book RockStar Quarters or Mega RockStar Quarters, Virgin’s two classes of suites. These extra-large rooms include sights like music rooms, turntables, peekaboo showers with home windows to the ocean, fully-stocked bars and huge balconies. Perks embrace unique entry to the Richard’s Rooftop solar deck, entry to a RockStar Agent (i.e. concierge), precedence reservations for eating, onboard occasions and shore excursions and complimentary entry to the spa’s thermal suite.

Indulge your internal baby and order the coconut milk fairy toast with sprinkles and the loaded cookies mudslide, or take her to the adjoining Purple Bar for a popcorn old style, served in a cup designed to appear like the standard red-and-white striped popcorn luggage.

The one unfavourable is that service right here will be sluggish and inattentive.

On the other facet of Sailor Providers from Razzle Dazzle, Pink Agave is the fancier different to the Let’s Taco Bout It outlet in The Galley. The so-called “elevated Mexican” dishes are available in small, medium and huge plates, and you’ll combine and match them and share along with your tablemates. In the event you’re feeling adventurous, order the mezcal cocktail topped with crunchy crickets.

I didn’t have the traditional dinner expertise at Further Virgin, the ship’s Italian restaurant, as a result of themed crusing I used to be on, however I nonetheless acquired to strive a few of the venue’s well-liked dishes. Earlier cruisers inform me Further Virgin is a shock favourite as a result of Italian eating places are so ubiquitous, however Virgin’s model delivers with fabulous dishes. Everybody raves in regards to the meatballs, the pappardelle pasta and the ricotta bomboloni (like Italian donut holes).

Probably the most enjoyable dinner I had was at Take a look at Kitchen. In the event you like surprises, and also you’re prepared to show management over your dinner to a chef, you’ll like this experimental restaurant as a lot as I did. The menu reads like this:

• Corn
• Salmon
• Beetroot
• Shrimp/Lamb
• Asparagus
• Strawberry

That’s it. You can also make changes for dietary restrictions, however your waiter will deliver out dishes with every of these objects starring in it in an uncommon means and can announce what you’re consuming after the plate is about in entrance of you. The drink pairings are price the additional charge; you possibly can select from cocktail, wine, beer or alcohol-free pairings, and so they’re all very good.

The Wake is probably the most conventional of Scarlet Woman’s eating places. It’s your “get dolled up and eat steak” venue, with a glam vibe and huge home windows overlooking what else however the ship’s wake. Toast your self with a glass of bubbly whilst you dine like a king on clam chowder, roasted bone marrow, filet mignon and lamp chops. Seafood lovers ought to splurge on the extra-fee towers of lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels and crab. The Wake chocolate mousse dessert was the winner at our desk.

The Wake additionally serves brunch and lunch, however I wouldn’t suggest it for breakfast. The menu is tiny and fancy, principally variants of eggs Benedict, a decadent brioche French toast, steak and eggs and a vegan dish. No fruit, no bacon, no oats. The waiter got here round with a tray of off-menu pastries midway by way of our meal, fairly than when he served our espresso and tea. As well as, the restaurant’s place low on the ship and above the engines means you are feeling and listen to the vibration of the ship rather a lot and all of the cups and saucers have been rattling.

Scarlet Woman additionally has a supper membership expertise known as It’s a Ship Present, which takes place in The Manor. Virgin describes the expertise as a mashup of an old-school selection present and a late-night discuss present, with dinner, comedy and music.

The Dock and The Dock Home are twin eating places rocking the Mediterranean resort vibe. The Dock Home is an indoor lounge the place you and your sweetie can sip cocktails flavored with figs and anise whereas nibbling on mezze, like beet hummus and watermelon and feta salad, and pretending you’re in Ibiza.

The Dock is the out of doors extension, with the identical menu; recline on day beds or take pleasure in a tete-a-tete at low wood seating areas whilst you take pleasure in grilled shrimp and falafel accompanied by cold-pressed juices or power photographs loaded with turmeric and ginger. The meals was gratifying, but it surely took endlessly to get served mid-afternoon after a tour.

The last word in informal eating, The Galley is Scarlet Woman’s reply to the cruise ship buffet. It’s extra of a meals corridor with a number of themed stations (noodles, tacos, soup and salad, burgers, and many others.) the place you order by flagging down a waiter. It might probably get complicated since you do need to order in particular person from the dessert and breakfast bakery/yogurt counter and from the popsicle cart, and there are grab-and-go bento bins, salads, wraps and snacks, which you’ll be able to eat together with your sit-down meal or take with you.

The Galley’s idea may use some refining, so be ready. It really works effectively when the venue is comparatively quiet; you don’t need to queue for meals or fear about meals sitting round or contaminated tongs. Then again, when it’s busy and also you simply need a fast meal earlier than your tour, it may be exhausting to flag down a server and your meals can take 20 minutes to reach. Plus, there’s no possibility for decent meals that you simply plate your self and take again to your room if there are not any seats as a result of it’s important to have a desk to order meals at The Galley. Generally you simply want these steam-tray eggs, grabbable bagels and premade pancakes, and also you don’t need a waiter-served meal.

In the event you’re catching some rays and don’t wish to quit your spot within the solar for lunch, The Solar Membership Café is a simple pool deck grab-and-go possibility for anybody who likes poke bowls.

However the actual casual-dining winner is The Pizza Place, churning out oven-fresh pizzas day and night time in a light-weight and ethereal house. I used to be a fan of the white truffle and egg pizza; the amusingly named “fairly fly for a white pie” additionally had staunch supporters. Seize a premade salad and take your pie out to the adjoining open-air patio to take pleasure in it within the Caribbean sunshine.

The pizzeria is positioned on Deck 7, the place all of the enjoyable meals is. Proper subsequent door is the Lick Me Until Ice Cream outpost the place you possibly can select from a altering roster of hand-scooped ice cream and cone flavors. My favourite was the important thing lime pie ice cream. Down the corridor is The Social Membership Diner satisfying all of your bar meals cravings with scorching canine (together with vegan ones), hen wings and tender pretzels. You may also order sweets like cake pops and steal sweet out of a jar (besides it’s not stealing if it’s free and meant so that you can take).

One in every of my favourite traditions on land or sea is afternoon tea, and Scarlet Woman presents a surprisingly spectacular one at its Sip Lounge. I shouldn’t be stunned, given Virgin’s British origins, however I figured tea was not hip sufficient for the road. Tea service does price further – extra if you’d like Champagne along with your goodies – and I recommend you make it your lunch as a result of it’s means an excessive amount of meals for a snack. You get a full three-tiered tray with scones, finger sandwiches and too many sweets for one particular person to eat in a single sitting.

The menu of JoJo unfastened leaf teas presents a pleasant number of caffeinated and natural teas. (I’ve been on fancier cruise strains that provided tea luggage fairly than unfastened leaf tea.) Nonetheless, my tea oversteeped because the waiter forgot to go away the chain of the tea ball outdoors the pot and I couldn’t get it out till I drank sufficient to achieve in with out burning my fingers.

Scarlet Woman does provide room service for a charge. You may order through the Sailor App. Sadly for me, I couldn’t get the room service choice to operate correctly on my cellphone, so I may neither see the menu nor order in-cabin eating.

Bars

Virgin Voyages doesn’t promote drink packages as typical cruise strains do. As an alternative, you should purchase a Bar Tab upfront, which is onboard credit score you possibly can solely spend on drinks on the ship and at Virgin’s Bimini Seashore Membership within the Bahamas. Search for reserving promotions that embrace a free Bar Tab of a specific amount or offer you bonus cash on high of what you prepay.

You’ll actually have many alternatives to spend your Bar Tab on board, whether or not that’s wine with dinner, a morning latte or a cocktail at On the Rocks whilst you take heed to dwell music. Consuming is a key element of Scarlet Woman’s nightlife, however so far as I noticed, most individuals embraced the enjoyable however drank responsibly.

Scarlet Woman’s Happenings Solid (ie, the leisure crew) lead Grog Walks across the ship which can be a mixture of pub crawl and icebreaker video games so you possibly can meet your shipmates. They do incur an additional charge to cowl drinks, however they’re insanely well-liked and promote out rapidly. Attempt to e-book the one early within the cruise to satisfy folks and get the lay of the lounge panorama.

The 2 hottest bars on board every night time are Sip, the Champagne bar (which additionally serves wine and cocktails), and On The Rocks, which is central to the whole lot and normally has dwell music. If you wish to get a buzz at a venue that’s buzzing, select considered one of these in your nightcap.

I liked the tucked-away Dock Home Bar for a pre-dinner drink and its outdoors extension, The Dock, for day ingesting whereas lounging on a solar mattress. The Grounds Membership is Virgin’s nod to Starbucks, with all of the caffeine and baked-good carbs you crave.

Restaurant bars of be aware are Pink Agave, with an unlimited tequila and mezcal menu and a few wonderful margaritas, and the Purple Bar at Razzle Dazzle with its loopy concoctions, such because the Popcorn Outdated-Usual (topped with precise popcorn). The Social Membership Bar allows you to embrace your internal baby – if stated baby may drink alcohol – with alcoholic milkshakes and floats topped with sweet and cookies.

Scarlet Woman has all of the requisite poolside and solar deck bars, together with ones providing smoothies and juices after your indoor or out of doors exercise.

Scarlet Woman actions

Scarlet Woman doesn’t overwhelm you with scheduled actions when the vessel is at sea. As an alternative, the ship turns into your playground so that you can take pleasure in nonetheless you want.

The highest decks (15 – 17) are the locations to go for health, enjoyable within the solar or a mixture of each. The Deck 15 Aquatic Membership is the place you’ll discover an ordinary pool and a well-being pool (basically a big whirlpool), surrounded by day beds and lounge chairs. Extra sun-worshipping house will be discovered one deck up, together with on the Athletic Membership Bar in the back of the ship the place you possibly can perch on round sunbeds or a suspended catamaran internet with views to the wake under.

If you wish to really feel like a rockstar, you possibly can lease one of many non-public cabanas on Deck 16. Every prices $250 for a full day and will be reserved at Sailor Providers on Deck 5. Inside, you’ll discover daybeds for lounging and a drinks cooler prepped with fresh-pressed welcome juices. Your devoted cabana attendant can deliver you towels and meals.

Then again, if understanding is core to your trip beliefs, Scarlet Woman presents loads of choices, however the health areas aren’t related the way in which you suppose they could be, so have a look at a deck plan earlier than you throw in your sneakers.

The Deck 15 B-Complicated health middle is split into two halves: Burn + Bike portside, with a biking studio and cardio machines, and Construct + Steadiness starboard, with resistance machines and a studio for yoga, meditation and bungee lessons. Take the steps as much as the Coaching Camp group health house, the place you’ll discover HIIT lessons.

These are simply the indoor choices. Outdoors Coaching camp is a boxing ring, props for alfresco physique weight workouts, a sports activities courtroom for basketball and an grownup playground with swings and a seesaw. Above on Deck 17 is a jogging monitor and an area for out of doors yoga. Again on Deck 15 by the wellness pool is one other open-air exercise house – particularly good for show-offs since everybody lounging in that space can watch you sweat.

Virgin Voyages is understood for its artistic health lessons, resembling an ‘80s-themed exercise the place crew and company don legwarmers and neon leotards to set the temper. As with the Grog Stroll and prime eating instances, group exercises additionally e-book up rapidly, so reserve them as quickly as you possibly can. Additionally in contrast to the lessons you might have tried on different cruise strains, Virgin’s are aimed toward energetic, youthful adults, not seniors. You’ll work exhausting, and you may be sore the subsequent day.

Scarlet Woman’s Redemption Spa can also be damaged up and scattered across the ship. The primary venue is tucked away on Deck 5 on the opposite facet of the elevator financial institution from Sailor Providers, Pink Agave and Razzle Dazzle. You’ll discover therapy rooms for massages right here, in addition to the thermal suite.

I extremely suggest reserving a three-hour cross to the suite and having fun with the sauna, steam room, salt room, mud room and extra. There’s nothing like taking a cup of mud (which appears like a chocolate milkshake) and rubbing it throughout your physique (or your accomplice’s – that is Virgin in any case) within the firm of strangers. You received’t want three hours, so think about exhibiting up a bit late to keep away from the frenzy at the start of every session.

The Deck 6 on line casino is a hopping place at night time, partly as a result of it’s positioned between The Purple Room efficiency house and On the Rocks Bar, with the doorway to the Manor nightclub simply reverse. Newbies and excessive rollers alike can join gaming classes or poker tournaments on the WPT at Sea Poker Room in partnership with the World Poker Tour. Nonetheless, fingers down probably the most enjoyable you’ll have playing on the ship is at Bingo With The Diva, Scarlet Woman’s resident drag queen.

Different actions on board embrace trivia and solo traveler meetups. You may also hit the Excessive Avenue outlets for sundries, emblem put on, hammocks, MAC cosmetics, designer garments and purses, hair and skincare merchandise and alcohol.