Sir Richard is at it again; introducing Virgin Voyages. Virgin Voyages debuts in 2020; Virgin Voyages is an adults only line with many of the unique twists you’d expect from Virgin Brands. Have you flown on Virgin Atlantic? Or, the former Virgin America? Get ready for Virgin voyages’ new twist on adults only cruising.
Fun, hip & not for everyone: Why Virgin Voyages is banking on being different
Fun, hip & not for everyone: Why Virgin Voyages is banking on being different – Posted by Travel Week Cindy Sosroutomo
Virgin Voyages is going to bank on a strong partnership wit the travel trade. They will start with the “Scarlett Lady out of Miami in 2020”. Further, Virgin Voyages target is young at heart adults…read more.
Virgin Voyages released the first pics from its first ship and it looks insane
Sir Richard is aiming to have this ship appear like a wellness retreat. As far as wellness goes, there are exciting new twists on onboard including fitness, and how about a spa with a DJ? Read More
Cruises: New cruise liner to DITCH buffet dining – and have this unusual option instead
Virgin Voyages will do away with buffet dining and formal attire! One of the ramifications of “buffet-less” dining is less food waste as this new cruise line seeks to be sustainable. Get ready to explore 20 different eateries and NO main dining room. READ MORE
Think of some of the best meals you’ve had at the best places. That is what Virgin Voyages is trying to create for their onboard experience. They’ve searched cities all over the world for their best dining experiences! Next, they set up theme dining experiences with Hollywood set designers. Read More
Virgin Voyages Will Build Fourth Ship
Travel Pulse Ana Figueroa (rendering courtesy of Virgin Voyages)
Virgin Voyages now has 4 ships on order even though their first voyage is not until 2020! There are two ships currently under production. Read More
Interested in further developments ? Future booking opportunities to experience Virgin Voyages for yourself? Be sure to contact me! And while you’re reading this, please check out another article about different types of cruise styles.
The situation that required preventing unacceptable flight connections.
I have two special long-time clients anticipating a life-long dream for three weeks in Brazil on an “upper premium” cruise. The cruise line was offering an unbeatable offer for air fare down to Rio de Janeiro and back from Miami – where the cruise ends. My special guests are in their 80s and I try to take special care to enure all transfers, and everything in between all points are covered for them. I received the air schedule, and the flights down to Rio de Janeiro are as expected with an overnight flight out of Miami.
The problem is with the flights coming back up from Miami. See for yourself:
Does this sound like a reasonable way to go home after getting off of a a three week cruise? Would you enjoy this flight itinerary? Now, imagine doing this flight connection in your mid to late 80s. Remember, I claim that I will eliminate you travel stress! Read on to see what happens.
The first attempt at preventing unacceptable flight connections
I immediately started researching one-way air from Miami back up to Newark; flights were expensive as this is the day before Easter. I found numerous connecting and direct flights with availability. I called the cruise line to strongly but politely request changing the flights for my guests. They told me they would charge a $175 per person “air deviation” fee. I will reveal a cruise industry insider’s tip right NOW! The “air deviation” fee is cruise line lingo for actually putting you on a flight that you’d like as opposed to putting you on whatever flights they feel like. (I rarely recommend cruise line provided “free” air but in some cases it is the way to go.)
The cruise line got back to me stating that there were no other flights available. REALLY! I told them to cancel the air back up to Newark and I”d take care of it on my own. A little while later, I noticed that they issued a refund for ALL of the flights. I called back desperate and asked them to reinstate the whole air itinerary. Remember, this case was one of the rare instances where the cruise line supplied air to Rio was unbeatable. They put all of the flights back on and that was it for round one.
The second attempt at preventing unacceptable flight connections
OK, it’s now day 2 and I feel great that my dear clients’ air to Rio is back on but I can’t have them coming back the night prior to Easter at Midnight from Miami. I carefully analyzed direct flights and flights with one stop from Miami back up to Newark. While the direct flights were crazy expensive, some of the better connections were via Tampa with a change of carrier which meant claiming and checking 3 weeks worth of luggage in with another carrier…forget it!
The final results for preventing unacceptable flight connections in this case
I decided to check flights from Fort Lauderdale up to Newark. I found a great direct flight on Jet Blue. While the cost was still high it was less than the direct flights from Miami and my guests would get back to Newark at a reasonable time with no stops. The clients approved the new flight; I booked it and made sure that the cruise line just canceled the air from Miami back up to Newark. Now my clients will just need to take a roughly thirty mile transfer up to Fort Lauderdale.
JetBlue Airways Flight 506 320
Ft Lauderdale (FLL)
Newark Liberty (EWR) 01:45pm – Sat, Apr 19
04:52pm – Sat, Apr 19 Nonstop Coach
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Must see sites?/experiences? Do you care about lines? size of crowds?
Do you want to explore on your own? with a group? some of both?
VACATION TRAVEL DINING
Ah, for the love of dining!
Want to eat like a local?
Are buffets OK? Full-service a la carte dining?
Wine and food paring? degustation menus?
Special Dietary Needs/requests?
Need a gym to exercise or facility that offers certain classes?
Is this list a Lot of questions?
Hope you are getting some insights into why I ask so many questions! The more I know about you and your travels, the better the job we can do working together to plan the right trip that will have you coming home with happy memories to replay again and again.
Last question, where are the INTERNET travel specials and those the travel deals on ORB-TRAV-EDIA? I get the same “deals” you get. Let’s work together, to plan the right trip for you. Start right below!
Here is a list of the Top 10 Differences of Small Ship vs. Large Ship cruising according to webinar presented by Variety Cruises covering accommodations, dining, entertainment, itineraries, excursions, and more. We’re going to focus on the small ship difference as big ship cruising get most of the press!
While the demand for big cruise ships continues to increase, there’s also an increased momentum for the intimacy of small ship cruising. (Refer to our River Cruise article.) Similar to the difference between a boutique hotel and a sprawling all-inclusive resort, large ship offerings innately differ from small ships, and the choice is based on YOUR preferences.
Variety Cruises M/Y Harmony G
1) Accommodations Beautifully appointed boutique-style accommodations all have large windows or portholes and many river ships offer balconies.
2) Dining Think intimate, casual meals including delicious local recipes. Smaller ships may restock the pantries on a daily basis from local markets with fresh goods. Many Variety Cruises itineraries are half board—breakfast and one meal—depending on the schedule, encouraging guests to explore the culinary offerings ashore. Why rush back to the ship for a free meal and miss out on the local cuisine and culture?
3) Service & Crew With a crew-to-passenger ratio of 1-to-2, service is about as personalized as it can get. By the first day you’ll find yourself on a first-name basis with the captain and the crew. On the ground, local reps are your personal ambassadors to every region.
4) Services & Amenities Small ships and mega-yachts have inside and outside dining areas, a spacious sundeck, a swimming platform, lounge areas, a bar and multiple observation decks. Some have a spa and fitness center. While there is on board entertainment, your vacation is all about what you experience on shore. The ships aren’t the destination—they’re only the best way to get there.
5) Itineraries Small ships take you to smaller, more authentic ports. The combination of famous with off-the-beaten-track is key, and it’s made possible because of the small ship size (i.e., well known Mykonos paired with Folegandros, also known as the “Secret Santorini”.) Fewer countries are visited allowing a more in-depth experience of the cultures, the communities and the cuisine.
6) Swimming
Compare this to a large ship pool! A quick swim stop in the Aegean Sea for guests aboard the Galileo.
Your captain will drop anchor next to beautiful secluded beaches
or coves (weather permitting), where you can dive right off the yacht
from our modern swimming platforms. Hint: our pool is actually the Aegean Sea!
7) On Board Entertainment Vegas stays in Vegas: Variety Cruises offers a fancy Captain’s dinner, local cuisine night with local dances, daily lectures, a library room, free Internet, delightful daily swim stops, ample sun deck space and more for an enjoyable on board stay. Onshore, naturalists and on board experts help you explore the region through lectures and discussions.
Big ship cruising is great for families with younger kids. There’s never a dull moment between the casino, the Vegas style shows, the arcades, the entertainment teams, the fitness classes, the rock climbing, and much more.
8) Excursions Shore excursions are composed of small intimate groups—no waiting in line. Guests have ample leisure time at each of the ports and are encouraged to explore on their own, with the cruise director’s full help and guidance. Major cruise ships are usually too massive to dock directly in most ports. Time-consuming tenders are employed daily to help hundreds (or thousands) of guests get to shore…and back again.
9) Embarkation/Disembarkation Our yachts usually dock right in the village ports,where guests can walk on and off the ship at their own pace. No massive cruise ports; we opt for private yacht ports all the way. Thanks to their size, large ships are only affected by very extreme weather conditions.
10) Weather High winds may impact scheduled itineraries; some might think this is a down side of small ship cruising. However, our Captains are experts at redirecting the itineraries when necessary in the best and safest way possible, often allowing guests to discover secluded, secret destinations. Variety Cruises, essentially sails with the wind, just like private yachts and sailboats.
Want to more information about Variety Cruises, river cruises, or something else? Start planning your next trip today and complete our travel planning survey below.
