All Grown Up, My review of Virgin Voyages Adult Only Cruise Ship

ACTIVITIES ON BOARD

There is something for everyone, whether you are into fitness, games, music, or nightlife. Here are some of the activities you can enjoy on board:

Fitness: You can sign up for fitness classes from yoga to boy band dance class. The fitness center is large. If you feel the need to exercise what better way then to walk the treadmills and enjoy the amazing ocean views. Walk or jog on the track that circles the ship, play a game of dodge ball or shoot some baskets on the basketball court.

Game room: Ms. PAC-man brings back college memories. Spend some time playing vintage games like Ms. PAC-Man, car racing, shuffleboard, board games and puzzles. The game room is next to a sports bar that offers popcorn, Philly Cheese steaks, and a sports bar.

Hot tub area: The pool is open untim 12 AM and the hot tub is open until 2AM. If late night partying is not your thing then take an evening dip or relax in one of the hot tubs.

Poolside night dancing: Dance the night away at the nighttime pool parties. If quiet is what you prefer then try the hot tubs open until 2AM. I don't like crowds so I found locations where there were not crowded such a the hot tub late at night.

Poolside Tips:

* I discovered this tip on my last day of the cruise. The Poolside bar offers alcohol buckets, it will not only keep your beer cold but you get $5 off, they also have pitchers of sangria and mojitos.

*Don't forget your suntan lotion, the store was sold out completely. What do you do with your wet clothes? Bring your own clothes line hooks for your room.

*Bring your own water bottle, their are multiple water fill up stations.

*Shake for champagne is also an option, shake your phone and champagne will be delivered to you. (at an extra cost of course)

PARKING AND EMBARKATION

I boarded the Scarlet Lady out of the port in Miami

• Parking: Virgin Parking is the farthest lot in the port. To avoid the stress of a full parking lot get there early. Check in your bags across from the parking lot. I use my own luggage tags.

• Boarding: If you work through a Virtuosos travel advisor (like myself) you can get 'board anytime access, otherwise you choose a boarding time on the Virgin APP. The suites board first. Boarding was organized, smooth and easy.

Restaurants

There are over 20 restaurants to choose from. All are included in the cruise fare. There are no buffets or large dining halls. Restaurants that require reservations are:

The Wake: Is a sophisticated, upscale steak and seafood restaurant. My favorite dish was the clam chowder and steak.

Pink Agave: An upscale Mexican restaurant. I tried the freshly made guacamole which was so delicious that I didn't want to share as they restaurant suggest says they are a shared plate concept! Also delicisous was their chicken enchiladas. For those who do not like Mexican food they have a steak option. Try one of their mezcals or tequilas from their extenisve alcohol list.

The Test Kitchen: This laboratory-like restaurant that has no real menu and changes nightly. There is a vegitarian option. They will share the list of ingredients with you but you do not know what you will be served. My dinner consisted of a mushroom pate as a starter. Not to my liking but it was prepared beautifully. It is more about the experience and the anticipation of what is being served next. There is a beer and cocktail pairing option at an extra cost. I ordered the cocktail pairing but I didnt care for some of the drinks. Next time I would order what I know I like.

Razzle Dazzle: The restaurant has a bold colorful design with a vegetarian and gluten-free friendly menu. They offer some 'naughty' options, like fried chicken and a secret steak. The fried chicken was moist and had lots of spicy flavor.

Extra Virgin: Is an Italian Restaurant with a warm and inviting atmosphere. They serve homemade classic dishes like calamari, bolognese pasta, and tiramisu.

Gunbae: Korean BBQ was the only restaurant I didn’t try but other passengers said they enjoyed the food. Guests can cook their own meat and veggies at the table. If you are looking for a quiet place to eat this might not be for you, they play drinking games and it is known to be quite lively.

The Gallery- is a mix of more than eight mini restaurants. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed. If you need a break from the pool no problem. Just wear shoes and a cover up/shirt. It is a sit down and serve not a buffet line. There are options from burgers to ramen noodles. Soda drinks are self-service. I loved the Spicy Ramen dish! There is also a grab and go station so you can grab your to go breakfast, like a fruit, yogurt and granola options and eat by the pool or your favorite outdoor location.

*You are limited to one advanced dinner reservation at each restaurant, but if there is availability they will allow you to eat at the same restaurant multiple times. The restaurants are very accommodating for different food allergies and preferences. I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a table if I had reservations.

OTHER DINING OPTIONS NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

You can also order room service from the Ship Eats menu at any time. The Dock Side is alfresco dining, a great place to chill out, watch the sunset, have a drink or a Mediterranean style appetizer. It is located on the back of the ship where there is a small bar and comfy couches along with a few tables to eat.

Try a late night Pizza at The Pizza Place, or have a sundae at Lick Me Till Ice Cream Shop.

There are multiple bar options throughout the ship but if you like champagne check out SIP, the champagne lounge that also serves and afternoon tea.

Entertainment and shows:

Music and Entertainment: There were a variety of musical genres that you can find throughout the ship from afternoon to evening. You can listen to live bands in the bars, sing your heart out at karaoke, or take in a show in the Red Room. Remember, this is an adult only ships so the shows are designed for adults. The shows in the Red Room were personally not my favorite but others may enjoy the adult themes.

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Casino: There is a Casino on board which includes Poker Tables, Craps and Slot machines. If you need a drink there is a bar inside the casino.

EXCURSIONS AND TOURS:

I would suggest to pre-book your excurisons before your trip. We chose the tasting tour in Puerta Plata but there were other options. If you choose not to take an excursion/ tour, the port has plenty of shops for you to see and restaurants for you to experience.

Puerto Plata: Tasting tour- My husband and I choose the Tasting Tour in the Port Puerto Plata. I would say I enjoyed the rum tasting part of the tour the most. We were able to sample a variety of rum flavors. The local food tasting experience was fun and each stop we sat next to and met new people but I found the food to be average.

As we were visting different restaurants we made a stop at Umbrella street and Pink street, a fun photo moment. I was told that many people visit these streets for wedding ceremonies.

*TIP: If you’re going to buy rum to take home buy the bottles at the factory versus in town, you will get a much better deal. I thought the rum was smooth tasting and sampled many different flavors.

Bimini Island: One of the port stops is Bimini Island. You have the option to lounge on the private beach or relax pool side, both included in your fare. We choose the beach where it was quiet. The umbrella and chairs were set up for Virgin passengers only. Lunch was provided but the fish was horrible! It was probably the only food on the whole trip I didn't like. There was a large bar in the pool area for mixed drinks and a smaller bar by the food area for canned drinks and sodas (less crowded).

Tips: It was difficult to find chair on the beach or by the pool with umbrellas so get there early. I was told getting a drink took 20 minutes at the bar? The small bar near the food area offered canned beer, there was no wait.

ROOM REVIEW

Room Key: Once onboard, you will receive a bracelet which will act as your room key and purchases onboard.

Room Pros: The rooms were quiet, I did not hear any noise from the cabin next to me. The beds were comfortable. IPads controlled the TV and lighting. The balcony room was comfortable with a hammock and two chairs. The refrigerator is supplied with a carafe of water that they refresh daily. I also requested more hangers and a wine opener (you can bring two bottles of wine per room).

Room Cons: I was in the Sea Terrace, the bathroom was very small and very little counter space to store anything. The closet was across from the bathroom, so I used the closet drawers to store medicine and other tolietries. The empty luggage didnt fit under the bed so you need to get creative on where to store it. The distance between the end of the bed and the wall was tight. I also like to have an extra outlet so I bring my own power strip.

Bonus Preparation Travel Tips

• When I travel I like to bring a back pack to carry on fragile and essential items. In my backpack I bring my medication, a small bottle of sun tan lotion, my laptop, all my chargers in an organized bag, a water bottle, (Virgin has multiple water bottle fill up stations), first aid kit, extra band aids, Dramamine, for sea sickness, jewelry bag, and important papers like passports.

• Once on the ship setup their WiFi this is where you will make reservations for restaurants and shows. If you need help there are Virgin mates to help. If you board early you will be one of the first to make reservations and get your time preferences. The Virgin app is very helpful in keeping track of your reservations, purchases and itinerary or any messages from the ship.

• I like to bring my own laundry bag so that I can separate my dirty clothes from my clean clothes.

DISEMBARKATION AND CUSTOMS

Leaving was quick and easy, no waiting or line when departing through customs. We walked up to the camera where it scans your face and then we walked right through. No filling out forms.

Tip: Before you leave be sure to weigh your luggage if you are on a flight. I like to bring my own portable scale.

*Tip Perk: Working with a Virtuoso travel advisor gives you the perk to disembark any time you want as long as you are out by the last scheduled time.