November 10, 2025 - Always Good to be Home

 I am incredibly grateful to have a life where I love my home life as much as I love vacation life.  There are pros and cons to both.  But first, a quick review of the disembarkation process from the Resilient Lady.

Virgin seems to assume you know how disembarkation works.  I got a text on my Virgin app on Saturday afternoon, letting me know if I wanted assistance with my luggage, I should set it outside my cabin door by 10 p.m.  So, I did.

It also told me to reserve a disembarkation time.  I was very happy that while the 8:00 a.m. (earliest available time) times were taken, I was in the 8:15 group.  Which was a joke.  I headed to deck 7 at 8:05 to join my group.  I couldn't get there because there were lines of people already stretching to the Dock House (back of the ship).  There were hundreds of people already lined up.  I saw one staff member near the front of the line, directing people.  I'd guess more than half the passengers opted to save time and haul their own luggage off, which added to the mayhem.

The line moved fairly quickly and within 30 minutes, I was off the ship.  I grabbed a guy who helped me find my two bags.  He was ready to wait in line with me all the way to Customs and Border Patrol but I tipped him and turned him loose.

Normally, you go through Customs separately, but that was not the case.  There was one line whether you had Global Entry or not.  It was another 30 minutes in line for CBP and since I had my Global Entry card, getting through was fast.

I was helped by two friendly agents.  One was ready for a break and asked her partner to peek around the corner to see how long the line was.  She quickly reported that she couldn't see the end of the line.  I broke the news that the line extended all the way through the ship.  

Once I hit the door and felt the hot, humid air, I stepped aside to call Uber.  I chose one 9 minutes away.  I asked a young man which line to get in for Uber pick up.  He was the only rude person I encountered.  He was annoyed that I couldn't hear him say "Behind the trees".  I finally figured out he was referring to the other side of the street.  

If you have mobility issues, there are no accommodations.  Count on an hour of standing/walking.  Virgin, it would be helpful to have benches occasionally, for people to rest during the long lines.

The Uber line was a cluster.  There were about 100 people in a small area.  I'd just crossed the street and was trying to get to a place where I could see the area where the cars were arriving when my phone rang.  It was an angel in an Uber who, literally 90 seconds after I ordered Uber, was at the front of the line, waiting for me, and yelling "Over here, Mami!"  Ah, I'm home!  Where Puerto Rican Floridians call me "Mami" as a sign of respect/affection.  If you're an old guy, you're Papi.

15 minutes later, she dropped me at the Miami Brightline station.  What a contrast to the port.  Clean, quiet with people but no crowds.  I was second in line to check in and was able to change my ticket from 12:15 to 10 a.m.  I spent five minutes in the Premium Lounge then headed to the train.

It was an easy, comfortable 3.5 hour trip to Orlando.  Another 15 minutes to get luggage, then I ordered Uber.  It took an hour to get an Uber.  I cancelled the first two because after waiting, watching them get closer, they each took a turn and headed in the opposite direction.  By the time my guy arrived, it was pouring.  I got soaked getting my luggage out of the back (I told the driver to just back up to my garage door and I'd get the luggage - no sense in both of us getting wet) but was home.

10 minutes later, the rain stopped when I pulled up to get Buddy.  He and his pal Remy both lost their minds when I arrived, which was fun.

I spent Monday unpacking and getting settled.  By the end of the day, I'd gotten the house back to normal, stocked up on groceries and made some picadillo for dinner.  Sad I had to cook and make my own bed but happy to be home.

BTW, the drawing is today for Roland's lottery ticket.  If Virgin really does listen and respond, he'll win today.  Think about it, Virgin - if you have the power to do this, it will go viral.  All that free marketing!  If you can't magically arrange the ticket to win, Zelle is still an option.  $25,000,000 is nothing to Branson, especially since it's Canadian!

Photos!

I took this photo at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov 11.  I'm in my fleece Yeti robe because it is 36 and windy in Orlando.  Buddy is giving me the daily Butt Snuggle.  I missed him a lot.

No ocean but a beautiful sky last night.

I made picadillo, cheesy grits and had leftover KFC coleslaw for dinner. Happily, I like to cook.

On Sunday night Buddy was happy I was home but had trouble settling, wanting scratches and toys and a nap, all at the same time.

The train parallels A1A and provides some nice views.

There are four stops but they are fast.

Snacks on the train.  I paid for Premium and it was delightful.  I hear Brightline is in financial trouble and may go under.  I hope not because it is fabulous.

There's power and free WIFI.

The train was 3/4 full by the time we hit Fort Lauderdale.

This was the only sign for where to find Ubers.  It is across the street to the left of the entrance to the Virgin port building.  Ignore the hundreds of passengers lined up for transportation to the busses to the airport.  Do NOT head to the street where the HOHO bus is.

These guys were in a hurry.  I was waiting in line, in a doorway, in the line waiting to get down the escalators.  The gentleman on the right accidentally knocked my cane out of my hand as he and his partner shoved ahead in line.  Why they thought they were entitled to go ahead of everyone else in line, I have no idea.   Happy to report, based on the pass boards they were holding, they are not American.

Pro tip - do not book transportation before noon on disembarkation day.  Seriously.  When you push through the line ahead of all of us trying to get to the same place, people get annoyed and may post your photo on line.

I did not want to fight the crowds on the last morning for food.  Room service was not an option.  So I got the charcuterie box the night before from the Grab and Go fridge and had a quiet breakfast.

Last view from the balcony.

Every time I wear this blouse I get compliments.  It has cartoon cats on it.  A lady at the train station Premium lounge loved it.  I paid $4 for it a few years ago on Temu.

The big news - I lost 70 pounds in 2020-2021 and am determined to keep it off.  I LOST TWO POUNDS ON THE CRUISE!  My goal was to gain less than 5.  After two Michelin meals and 14 days of cruise food, I'm thrilled to be down 2 lbs.

The sea on our last evening was like glass.

I will not miss the crowds in the Galley.

Friday, November 7, 2025 - Still Cruising...With Calm Seas

 I woke up in the wee hours and tried to remember where I was.  Which hotel?  After years of traveling for work, it was not an unusual sensation.  But after a second, I remembered I was cruising and realized there was no movement.  All morning, we've had smooth sailing.

I'm enjoying another relaxing day.  Walking, eating and reading in the hammock.  Heaven.  

We've started getting messages about disembarkation.  I have very low expectations of a smooth, speedy process, given that handling queuing doesn't seem to be a Virgin strength.  Combined with US government agencies during the government shut down.  At least I have Global Entry, which should get me in the shortest line.  Then a quick Uber ride to Brightline, a 3 hour train ride to the Orlando airport and another Uber ride home.  

I don't want the trip to be over but am lucky that I love my "real" life as much as I love vacations.  Plus, it's always fun to watch Buddy lose his mind when he sees me.  And, we still have tomorrow!

Photos!

I'll miss the hammock on the balcony more than anything.

I do miss having a quiet, indoor venue for lunch, with a view and table service and no crowds.   After perusing offerings in The Galley and not finding a place to sit, I grabbed a roasted vegetable wrap and headed to my cabin.    

Grey skies but warm temps.  Perfect hammock weather.

After lounging around much of the day, I headed to a concert by Rock On, four guys who did rock covers.

They started in the audience.

And did a great job.  Terrific music, and had the crowd on their feet, singing along.  Very fun.

I'm the world's oldest groupie!  

Blue is the light theme tonight in the hallways.

I love clouds.

We're getting close.  I could happily cruise another week but we'd likely run out of gas and food.

I had a light dinner in Pink Agave, with Michael and Sue, a lovely couple I had dinner with the other night at the Test Kitchen.  When they get off on Sunday, they'll get on an RCI ship.  After that, they'll do a Celebrity cruise before flying back to London.  Sue has done 51 cruises.

I had delicious guacamole.

And a special - shrimp ceviche, which was also excellent.

I also tried the special dessert - pumpkin pie.  As our waiter, Alfredo, said- it's not Spanish but very tasty.

Back in my cabin, I headed to the balcony.  It's dark out there!  Too overcast for any moonlight.

And, there is a light mist falling.  Warm and humid, you can tell we're almost to the Bahamas.

Virgin Voyages vs Holland America

 I've cruised Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Virgin Voyages.  Of those, I prefer HAL and Virgin.  I'm basing this on my experience with longer cruises.  Since I've only done the current 14 day on Virgin, I can't talk about what the experience is like on their more typical 4-7 day itineraries.

Here are my thoughts about who wins, loses or ties in what I consider key categories.

Crew/Service - Holland America, by a hair.  Both lines have a "no tipping" policy.  Both brag about great service.  In my experience they are similar.  Crew is friendly, helpful and service oriented on both lines.  But, Virgin embarkation in Barcelona was a cluster.  Waiting in the sun for more than 30 minutes to embark in Las Palmas was a turn off. And, I've skipped several shows because there are lines to get in 30-60 minutes before the show.  That's a hard no from me.  

Food - Virgin, by a hair.  I'm enjoying the variety of "specialty" restaurants on board Virgin, although I do miss a sit-down table service lunch option on board, like the Main Dining room on HAL.  I've had great meals on both lines and also a few clunkers.  For me, the Test Kitchen, Gumbae and the take-away fridge in the Galley tip the scales to Virgin.   Holland has classic food loved by us geezers but Virgin has some unique and creative options that I'm loving.  Holland America needs to try the tacos in the Gallley, then revisit their sad "taco bar".  The downside with Virgin is the difficulty in getting reservations for the "specialty restaurants".  And, I do miss free afternoon tea on HAL.

Bottom line, both are cooking for thousands so you're not going to get gourmet food.  But if you want tasty eats, you can't go wrong on either line.

Balcony Cabins - Tie.  Again, a close call.  Balconies are of similar size.  So are the cabins. Virgin gets HUGE points for the hammock chair on the balcony.  But why no closet door?  And, if there are two people in the cabin, one is going to be sitting on the bed, since there's only one chair.  And, the bathroom is functional for one but so tiny.  And, storage is fine for two for a seven day cruise, but is limited.

Virgin gets points, though for the walk-in shower with giant rainfall shower head and hand-held wand for those of us who think using a giant rainfall shower head is like being water-boarded. Plus, the weird configuration of the beds takes up valuable cabin space when you opt for one bed.  I do prefer the firmness of the Virgin bed and it doesn't feel like two beds shoved together (although it is.)  I also really miss bedside table drawers.

Virgin also scores with technology.  I love the control pad and all the cool lighting/drape modes.  When I walk into my cabin at night, the lights automatically come on.  Virgin is light years ahead of HAL when it comes to technology.

In terms of decor, it's like comparing a Kimpton to a Ritz Carlton.  Different but which you prefer comes down to personal taste.

Pools - Holland America.  The pools on Virgin are, at best, cocktail pools.  Great for standing in them with a cocktail but you cannot swim in them.

Loyalty Programs - Holland America.  The highest level on Virgin matches mid-tier on Holland.  Then again after five four-day cruises, you have top status on Virgin.  You have to cruise 400 days on HAL to get free laundry.

Itineraries - Holland America, by a mile. Virgin tried longer itineraries when they first began but their target market wasn't buying.  Holland has world cruises and unique itineraries around the world, with a much bigger fleet.  Virgin has newer ships (a big plus) but they're big, so can't go to smaller ports.  And, they've made a business decision to focus on 4-7 day itineraries.  Shorter than I prefer.

Accessibility - Holland American, by a mile.  I haven't found a way to get to decks 16 and 17 without taking the stairs.  HAL focuses on seniors and makes it easy to navigate the ship in a wheel chair or scooter.  The downside?  There are often a lot of wheelchairs and scooters.

And, let's talk seating.  Almost every other passenger has mentioned the rather unique and challenging seating.  Lots of daybeds.  Lots of deep couches that mean you can't bend your legs.  

Overall Vibe - Virgin, by a mile. Virgin doesn't allow passengers under the age of 18.  They cater to a younger crowd, although on this Transatlantic, there are a lot of us who qualify for AARP.  Still, there's a good mix of 20-somethings to seniors, which I enjoy.  HAL can feel a bit like a retirement home on their longer cruises, although they are working to attract a younger crowd.

I also love that there are no announcements.  Other than announcements in public areas about crew drills, it is like staying in a hotel, with no one waking you up to announce you've docked.

I also love the diversity on Virgin.  I was trying to imagine Bingo with the Diva on a HAL ship.  I suspect the many HAL cruisers from The Villages would have a collective stroke.  Tattoos?  Colorful hair?  Fine with me.

And, there's no Cruise Director.  Instead, there's the Happening Cast.  They lead activities and are around, just making sure everyone is having fun.  Seriously, the Halloween bash?  With free face make-up to get you in the mood?  Stellar.

Entertainment - Virgin. This is not your grandparents entertainment.  Expect games and cultural references that Boomers won't get.  Expect risque humor.  Some "bad" words.  And, entertainment that breaks the stereotypical cruise ship fare.  

The App - Virgin, by a mile. HAL has a history of nautical experience going for it but they need a lot of work on their technology, from their website to the app.  It is not helpful to have a messaging system if there are no notifications that you have a message.

Virgin also invested a lot in lighting and cabin technology.  Even on the newest HAL ships, there seems to be no interest in the types of technology that would appeal to generations past Boomers.

Public Areas - Holland America.  HAL gets the nod because of the Crow's Nest.  And, the Lido, which can be covered during bad weather.  Virgin has a lot of areas to hang out, but I haven't found many with comfortable seating and a view.

Bottom line, I'll happily cruise both lines again.  I'd love to cruise Virgin more but until they add some longer itineraries, I'll stick with HAL.  And, will look forward to next year's Transatlantic cruise on the Scarlet Lady.

 

Monday, November 3, 2025 - Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean

I just love Monday mornings, don't you?  Nothing to do today but eat, relax and be waited on, hand and foot.  I love retirement.  But retirement on a cruise with 8 consecutive sea days is epic.

I don't want to brag, but apparently my blog has power.  I posted that I didn't like the lights on at night on the balcony.  The next night...lights off.  Then I posted that even though they'd cleaned the balconies while we were in Valencia, they needed it again because of the sandstorm in Casablanca.  Yesterday, they cleaned my balcony.  I also posted that I missed having a map available, showing where we are.  Today, there is a giant electronic map, tracking our progress across the Atlantic.

Thank, you, Richard Branson, for paying attention and following through.  Not to be greedy, but if you're still reading, could you arrange for my friend Roland to win a big enough lottery to bring he and the ones he loves joy?  If it's easier to just Zelle a few million, that works too.

While we wait to see if Mr. Branson, who owns a very awesome cruise line, is still listening, here are photos!

I love to wake up, push a button on the tablet and have the curtains open.  To this view. At 6:30 a.m.  

It was clear, sunny and about 70 at 6:30.

I went for my morning walk and came across a candle charging station.  Pro tip:  bring a non-flame candle.  I love mine in the evenings.  I'd love having all these tea lights even more.  Just saying, Richard.

The daybeds around the ship encourage lounging and napping.  This lady was sound asleep.

Someone asked where I am.  Here!  Just six more days of the Atlantic before Miami.

Ahhh.  Anybody read Charles Martin?  I'm reading the second in the Murphy Shepard series, "Letter Keeper".  Excellent cruise material.

If you have status on another cruiseline, Virgin "matches", which means giving you their mid-tier level, Blue Extras.  One perk is a free specialty coffee, per day.

Then the sea looked like this, so I came inside.

Another pro tip:  book a cabin with the seating area next to the balcony.   This is great, but I prefer the chair next to the sliding door.

And, about half an hour after being completely in the clouds?  The sun is back.

I didn't have dinner reservations this evening.  I checked the app and it was a miracle - I got a 6:15 p.m. res at the Pink Agave, a modern Mexican restaurant that is supposed to be one of the best on the ship.  Still hoping to get into Extra Virgin, the Italian restaurant that is supposed to be the best onboard.

For lunch, I headed to the Galley and got this Thai curry with pork, vegetables and noodles.  I asked for some chili on the side.  

With the addition of the chili, this curry was great.  I'd happily pay for it in a restaurant on shore.

And, the clouds are back.  We expect the weather to be windy and changeable for the entire cruise.

I grabbed a chocolate mystery bowl from the take away fridge on my way out of the Galley.

OMG good!  Chocolate mousse.  I almost grabbed the Tres Leches but this would be hard to beat.  If you love chocolate, this is the bomb.

I lucked out and got a reservation at Pink Agave.  This is the entrance.  On my way to the restaurant I got a notice that my reservation had been cancelled.  WTH?  It took a minute to figure out, I'd set my clock back an hour last night, based on the list of time changes they gave us on embarkation day.  Seems they changed it so I spent the entire day an hour behind, lol.  Since we're "falling back" again tonight I don't have to do anything, since I'm already there!  And it's a good vacation when you can go all day without being on time to anything.

My table and seat were odd, I thought.  See that rounded end of the banquet?  My table for one was set up one an end just like that.  Comfortable and since I faced the entrance, it was great for people watching.

I went with the Bistec for the main course.  My waiter, Alfredo, who was from Cancun, so I got to practice my Spanish.  

I started with the corn (esquites).  And finished with the chocolate taco.

Everything was tasty and the steak was large, flavorful and cooked medium rare.  After all the raves I'd heard I was expecting a bit more.  Don't get me wrong, it was a good meal with great service.  But I won't dream about any of those dishes like I will about the strawberry/wasabi dessert from the Test Kitchen.

The steak was well-cooked and flavorful.  I prefer my steak a bit less saucy, though.

The corn was good, IMHO, but not great.

Like the Test Kitchen, the restaurant has lots of large windows but isn't open during the day when you could enjoy the view.

The chocolate tacos with cherry sauce were tasty but didn't taste like dulce de leche as described in the menu.  The cherry sauce was delicious and a good addition.

I was surprised that the restaurant was not full, given how hard it is to get reservations.  It's a lovely setting with Latin music playing, not too loudly.