VIRGIN VOYAGES: SCARLET LADY

What’s it like sailing on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady? There’s no better way to experience it than to take crew member’s suggestions! Often times when I go on any trip, I like to explore on my own while taking recommendations from outside sources such as blogs and social media. This time, however I decided to seek advice from internal sources. For my Dominican Daze cruise with Virgin Voyages, I decided to ask three random crew members some questions. I was curious to see their thoughts and perspective since they offer an insider’s point of view.

The questions I asked were simple: What is your favorite part about working with Virgin Voyages? And what is your tip in making the most of the cruise? 

VIRGIN VOYAGES CREW MEMBERS AND THEIR THOUGHTS:

I didn’t have a strategy when approaching crew members, so I simply went with whoever I had the most interaction and conversations with. The first person I asked was Cebile, who is from South Africa. She was my server at Test Kitchen, which is a laboratory like eatery. My dining experience was fabulous and I planned my trip to experience all the dining options on the cruise. And I have to admit that there’s nothing like Test Kitchen. All of the courses were unique and the pairing of the flavors were uncommon, but went together perfectly. Make sure you try all the restaurants on Scarlet Lady to get the full experience of what the ship has to offer!

Cebile’s personality was a a ray of sunshine! She said that her favorite part about working with Virgin Voyages is the crew. They all get along really well and make the job fun. I could also see the interactions between her and the other colleagues and staff at Test Kitchen were authentic. And her advice for making the most of the cruise is to explore the ship. She also hinted that there are secret venues throughout the ship. Unfortunately I was not able to find any of them successfully, but I was very determined in the process!

EXPLORING THE SHIP

I took Cebile’s advice and my sister and I spent some downtime on sea days to roam around the decks of Scarlet Lady. It was fun to see corners and spaces that weren’t obvious in the floor plans or on the Virgin Voyages app. The best part about exploring is that you notice small details and admire the decor throughout the ship. I felt like a kid at a candy store, just having fun and seeing what else I could come across!

The Dock House is my favorite part of the ship because the space and ambiance was different from the other sections. I loved the greenery, the warm tones, the plant decor and the inviting atmosphere. If I could summarize myself in interior decor, the Dock House would be it! There were very few people there at any given time because most sailors spent time on the outside decks.  However, if you ever need a break in between the days or have some work to do, I highly recommend spending time at The Dock House. It’s a quiet space and gives you a sense of peace. They also serve mediterranean food, which I didn’t have a chance to try, but this is also a dining option to consider.

TAKING EXCURSIONS ON LAND

The second person I approached was Daniel from Shore Things. Given that he was the shores excursion expert, I was not surprised when he said his suggestion to all sailors is to take advantage of the shore excursions options. He further explained that even if nothing interests you or is available, there are plenty of other options from other tour companies. For example, he suggested to rent a golf cart at Bimini, Bahamas. Daniel believes that’s the best way to explore the island. Even though I didn’t do that, I did book the cable car excursion at Puerto Plata and had an amazing time!

Whatever you choose to do on land, I think that’s up to you! But if you’re traveling to a place that has culture, I recommend taking a city tour or do some type of excursion that allows you to see the destination from a local’s perspective. My cable car excursion was about 4 hours, which still left me time to do whatever I wanted. When I asked Daniel what his favorite part about working at Virgin Voyages was, his answer was the same as Cebile: the crew. He seemed to love his job and the people he worked with. Daniel had great energy and I loved chatting with him!

ATTENDING SHOWS ON THE SHIP

One of my favorite parts about my cruise with Virgin Voyages was my visit to the thermal spa. I went in the late afternoon on the day we arrived at Puerto Plata. It was a great time to visit because there weren’t a lot of people. After a long morning, it was rejuvenating to relax in the sauna, steam room and the whirlpools. I also received a Swedish massage the next day, and I met Jasmine, who is from England. She started working with Virgin Voyages in December 2021.

Jasmine’s favorite part about working on the ship is the crew as well. It was reassuring to hear that all three crew members (who weren’t aware of my questions beforehand or each other’s answers) had the same response. It goes to show that working at Virgin Voyages must be a great and fun environment! Jasmine recommended to attend the shows on the ship, both the smaller ones and the large ones at the venues.

My sister and I did pop into shows throughout the day where we listened to music and went to see a performance at the Red Room one night. It was an interesting show with a great message of unity, friendship and love. All of the tricks and dances were outstanding! I was blown away by the talent on stage and it was an entertaining show to say the least.

MY PERSONAL ADVICE:

My advice on making the most of a cruise is to take all the suggestions from the crew members. You might already be doing what they suggested while traveling, but it’s still a good reminder. When it comes to cruising, it can be overwhelming with the floor plans, line up of events, shore excursions, etc. However, if you take it day by day and plan it accordingly where you spread out your explorations, then you will be able to enjoy it more. At least that was the case for me! All in all, I really enjoyed my Dominican Daze cruise to Virgin Voyages and I’m so grateful for them hosting me. It was a beautiful trip with the perfect amount of days and itinerary. Virgin Voyages also has many options for cruises so if you’re looking to book a sailing, you can have a look at all their voyages here.