Editor’s notice: TPG’s Bhawna Khowal accepted a free journey from Virgin Voyages to attend the Limitless Voyage on Scarlet Girl. The opinions expressed beneath are solely hers and weren’t topic to assessment by the road.
As a mother of two boys with a full-time job, a ladies getaway doesn’t exist within the high 50 gadgets on my to-do record. Even when it did break into the highest 5, all of the planning round the place to go, how one can get there and which actions to e-book would really feel like simply one other huge process I couldn’t match into my endless on a regular basis to-do record. However I undoubtedly wanted a break from my busy life and a few leisure with a buddy.
Simply as I believed I’d attain my breaking level, a buddy messaged me about happening a Virgin Voyages cruise to the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
I had by no means been on a cruise! After I was rising up in Southeast Asia, my household by no means thought of a cruise as a trip choice, maybe because of geographical causes and price. However as I realized extra about cruising, I found I needed to strive it. For a busy mother, it’s a time-saving choice the place you don’t want to spend hours planning an itinerary or selecting a resort with breakfast, affordable parking and a location that aligns together with your itinerary.
All these painful hours of planning and researching have been a giant cause why I don’t journey as a lot as I’d like.
Earlier than I may enthusiastically settle for the invitation, I needed to examine if my husband may handle if I went. Though my children are virtually impartial now (at ages 8 and 14), my household will not be used to me being away for nearly per week.
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My husband didn’t wish to say no. After a number of planning classes across the chores and obligations whereas I used to be gone, I used to be able to take off for my much-needed week of R&R.
The cruise lived as much as my expectations, and I got here again feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. For those who’re a lady looking forward to time together with her besties, listed here are 5 the reason why a Virgin Voyages cruise makes an excellent girlfriends getaway.
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A Virgin Voyages cruise presents actions for all sorts of vacationers
When planning a trip with girlfriends, it’s important to pick out a spot and itinerary that appeals to all members of the group. That manner, everybody can have a enjoyable and memorable expertise. Discovering a visit that everybody agrees on generally is a actual problem.
Considered one of my associates and her school associates have been planning a reunion for two 1/2 years and haven’t been capable of make it occur for simply this cause. I’ve now beneficial that they think about a Virgin Voyages cruise as a result of it presents one thing for everybody.
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Passengers watch a drone present earlier than Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Girl units sail. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
On the ship, spa-loving associates can take pleasure in wellness actions resembling sauna time, yoga courses and stress-free by the pool. Sporty varieties can strive some stunts within the boxing ring, take pleasure in a recreation of basketball on the outside court docket or work up a sweat throughout HIIT exercises. Your adventurous buddy would possibly get a tattoo, whereas the extroverts in your group could make new associates within the recreation room after which be part of them for a night singing karaoke. Night time owls can watch a fast-paced gravity-defying act after dinner – after which dance the night time away within the membership.
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The all-inclusive expertise makes budgeting simpler
A Virgin Voyages cruise makes planning a ladies journey simpler as a result of it’s an all-inclusive vacation package deal. It’s simple to see the total value of the journey from the start, with few shock bills popping up in the course of the journey.
Your cruise fare contains meals in any respect the eating places on board, Wi-Fi, suggestions for the crew and nonalcoholic drinks, resembling espresso, tea and soda.
If somebody within the group likes to maintain their health regime on monitor whereas on trip, they will select from a bunch exercise, an out of doors fitness center and a morning yoga class within the recent sea air — all at no extra value.
At night time, girlfriends in a celebration temper can take pleasure in dwell music, karaoke, dance performances and exhibits, even a poker lesson, without cost. A ladies journey can’t be full with out dancing the night time away in a membership. Virgin Voyages has acquired you lined with none membership payment; plus, the disco is just some steps away out of your cabin.
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BHAWNA KHOWAL/THE POINTS GUY
Foodies can select from Korean barbecue, a classy meal of steak and seafood, a brand new spin on Mexican delicacies, made-to-order pizza, an experimental meals lab, Mediterranean and beautiful Italian with out having to fret about how a lot the ultimate invoice will probably be.
In reality, the salon, spa, on line casino, retailers, bars and tattoo parlor are the one locations the place you may spend cash on board. Ebook throughout the precise promotion and Virgin Voyages offers you “Sailor Loot” – onboard credit score to spend on drinks or different purchases.
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You may spend time by yourself or hang around with your pals
Whilst you take pleasure in a pleasant nap by the pool in the course of the day, your buddy can select to take part in pub trivia or play foosball. You would possibly want to sip a cocktail at a bar whereas your bestie pampers herself within the salon. Even when you do totally different actions in the course of the day, you may nonetheless meet up for dinner and night enjoyable.
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The Lagoon Pool at Bimini Seashore Membership. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
The identical is true when the ship docks for a day in port. Your girlfriend group can plan to take a tour, go to the seaside or discover in port collectively. Or, you may join excursions by yourself by way of the cruise line, understanding you gained’t be alone even when you break up up. This can be a nice choice when one buddy needs to be lively and check out browsing or snorkeling whereas one other buddy needs a lazy day at a seaside membership.
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Virgin Voyages is adults-only
Girlfriend getaways are a great way to disconnect out of your on a regular basis life — particularly your mother duties. If I’m going out for a dinner date with my husband and I see another person’s youngster being naughty or cute, it at all times jogs my memory of my children. Then my mother intuition kicks in, and I name dwelling to examine on them or begin worrying in the event that they’re okay. Not having any children round offers me a complete psychological break.
As a mother of two, children swimming pools, children golf equipment and youngsters menus outline my typical trip. This stuff don’t exist on Virgin Voyages.
The swimming pools, sizzling tubs, swings, board video games, video arcade and ice cream parlor on board are meant just for grown-ups to take pleasure in. The one folks singing, screaming or playing around are all around the age of 18.
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The pool on Scarlet Girl. BHAWNA KHOWAL/THE POINTS GUY
When the whole ship is designed for grown-ups, it has a very totally different vibe than common cruise ships which may have one adults-only pool or solar deck. Naughty signage provides extra humor to the expertise.
I like my children, however I don’t thoughts a couple of days’ break free from them — and everybody else’s children, too.
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The onboard leisure and nightlife are very good
In case your girlfriend group loves nightlife, you’ll love a Virgin Voyages cruise. The leisure choices on the ships are certain to impress and preserve you all having enjoyable nicely previous your regular bedtime.
You can begin your night with an immersive and fashionable acrobatic or dance efficiency. Or, maybe you want to giggle collectively at a comedy or drag present.
Later within the night, you would possibly transition to a dance social gathering within the membership or up on deck. Perhaps your girlfriends will wish to coordinate outfits for the PJ Celebration or Scarlet Night time.
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A shot from the Scarlet Night time social gathering on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Girl. BHAWNA KHOWAL/THE POINTS GUY
In case your ft determine to surrender in your social gathering footwear, sneak out to hitch a bunch of on line casino gamers attempting their luck. Who is aware of – you would possibly win sufficient cash to fund one other cruise!
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Backside line
Life strikes sooner than you notice. I can’t recall the final time I went on a trip with my girlfriends. While you’re busy with work and household, it is simple to procrastinate planning a visit. All of the sudden, years have passed by, and also you by no means acquired away.
A cruise can take away obstacles since you solely want somewhat effort to plan a much-needed break with a buddy. With a lot to do on board and in port, and so many selections taken care of for you, you may actually calm down and reconnect with your pals.
Virgin Voyages was my first cruise, and it has certainly set the benchmark. When I’m able to sail once more with an even bigger group of girlfriends, Virgin Voyages can be my first alternative, particularly because the cruise line is including extra ships and locations to its record.
However first I could have to take a household cruise — if I don’t wish to see a revolution in my home for protecting all of the enjoyable to myself.
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