I love to travel but hate the getting there. If I had a magic wand I'd have skipped the flight, layover, flight, hotel stay, and now, embarkation. I'd have just gone from my couch at home to the balcony of my cabin.
Sadly I don't have a magic wand but the "getting there" for this trip has been easy so far. Now, I'm checked out of the hotel and just have a couple of hours to kill before heading to the port. Since it is chilly and drizzling, I'm just hanging out in the lobby.
I highly recommend the Hotel Medinacelli. Staff is fluent in English and friendly. Rooms are typical size and were recently renovated. Plus, the location is great. In the Gothic Quarter, close to La Rambla and the port. There are plenty of restaurants and small markets within steps of the hotel. Also, internet is fast and my room was very quiet.
As I type this, it is mid-morning on Monday, October 26. I've been on the ship less than 24 hours yet it is starting to feel like home.
My first surprise as I approached the port in the Uber was that there was no traffic. Ever been to the Port of Miami? It can take an hour just to get from the port entrance to your ship, due to traffic. Even with three large ships in port, no traffic. However, as we turned the corner, I saw the line. OMG, that can't be good.
First there was a line to drop my luggage. That took about 20 minutes. On the bright side, there were no union workers asking for tips. Then, the line to check in. My boarding time was 2:45. We were warned not to arrive early because we wouldn't be allowed to board early. No kidding. I joined the back of the 2:45 line and felt for the people lined up behind me, with later times. It was about 3:15, BTW.
Once they let us in to the lounge there was a line for the security check then another line to check in. That was easy and I was on the ship by 4:30.
Last night I had a dinner reservation at Razzle Dazzle, what was originally a vegetarian restaurant, until they discovered there weren't enough vegetarians, apparently. I had a salad (only had a few bites because I really didn't like it) and the braised lamb shank which was excellent. The ship departed while I was eating.
I slept great, right up until 4 a.m. I ended up in the Arcade before 7 a.m., where I got to play the free Daytona race game. I was laughing out loud as I came in 40th out of 40 in the "Daytona 500". Which didn't bother the other two early risers who were laughing out loud as they played a game together. I plan to spend a lot of time in the Arcade.
Virgin advertises itself as being different from the other cruise lines. I've sailed Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity and over 400 days on Holland America, so I've been automatically making comparisons as I've explored the ship.
Here are some observations:
- I saw complaints on line that the cabin bathrooms are too small. They are tiny but fine for one person. Changing clothes in there? That would be a challenge, so you might want to consider that if you don't want to get naked with your cabin-mate. The shower takes up almost half of the bathroom, which makes it a good size with a giant rainfall shower head, a hand-held shower head and enough water pressure to give you a concussion.
- Another complaint I'd read is that the bed is too hard. It is very firm. And, heavenly, in my opinion. Nice bedding AND a spare blanket, which is a nice touch.
- I was excited to try the hammock chair on the balcony but a bit concerned about breaking a hip getting in and out. It is better than I expected and no broken bones so far. I will buying one for by the pool when I get home.
- In the last few years I've taken mostly longer cruises on Holland America (HAL). Passengers tend to be older and many are cranky and demanding. Virgin used to cater to a young demographic (30's-40's) but that is shifting, especially on a longer cruise that starts and ends in different continents. There are no children allowed on board and I've seen passengers who appear to be in their 20's and those in their 80's. So far, everyone has been very friendly, chatty and happy. Except the three older folks at breakfast who I listened to complain about everything from butter "Ugh, they are using American butter", to menu choices "They have NOTHING healthy to eat", which was absolutely untrue. My bowl of oatmeal/fruit for breakfast was just one of the many healthy options.
- Seating was designed for people with good abs. I've never understood beds as a seating option. You know like Vegas resorts that show people lounging on beds by the pool? That's what Virgin has a lot of. Plus low hassocks as chairs. There are some "regular" lounge chairs and regular seats but they are very limited. I'm imagining myself climbing out of the pool (which is more like a wading pond), like a glorious mermaid and then elegantly crawling up a plastic covered mattress to lie next to a fellow passenger. Nope.
- Crew on Holland America have a reputation for being cheerful and providing great service. So does Virgin crew. And the reputation is well-deserved. My cabin stewards, Julius (Filipino) and Konry (Indonesian) are great. And every crew member I've interacted with has been friendly and helpful. And, I've interacted with a lot of them as I wandered the ship and got lost on numerous occasions.
- My only big disappointment so far is there is no large, indoor space with great views, like the Crow's Nest on Holland America. So far, I haven't found anywhere indoors to take in a 180 degree view. BTW, instead of the Crow's Nest, that space seems to be the two largest suites on the ship.
Or...not. It is now Tuesday morning, October 28. I'm having an excellent time, but the WIFI doesn't seem to have enough "oomph" to do photos. I'll try again later. Just imagine lots of blue ocean. I've worked with IT professionals and am sure that "oomph" is the proper term.
