Virgin Voyages’ second ship, Valiant Woman, continues the road’s distinctive cruise expertise that leaves an enduring, vivid impression starting from very good meals to highly effective leisure.
Valiant hosted the model’s first North American First Mates and Golden Ink Awards throughout a Caribbean voyage from Jan. 4-8 to honour its prime 100 North American journey advisors.
Whereas there have been no Canadian winners this 12 months, in December 2022, Sean Russo was hired as sales manager for Canada to supervise the Canadian gross sales territory, working with John Diorio, vice-president of North American gross sales.
“Virgin Voyages provides probably the most inclusive experiences on the market,” Russo informed PAX. “We wish Canadians to be happy to be themselves and ‘come as they’re’ as we wish to say to rejoice their uniqueness as people. It’s greater than promoting a cruise if you belief your travellers with our workforce. You’re serving to them reimagine what a vacation on the water can really be – a premium rockstar expertise with out stuffiness and formalities.”
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Russo recommended advisors spotlight the road’s adults-only (18+), relaxed, luxurious atmosphere, which additionally provides nice worth.
“Greater than $600 USD in worth is constructed into our voyage fare. Each crusing contains all gratuities, primary Wi-Fi, group health courses, leisure, important drinks and eating at 20+ eateries, together with six signature eating places with menus designed by Michelin-star cooks. There are not any buffets or giant predominant eating rooms. These are perks that put your Sailors on the helm of VIP remedy.”
For coaching, “Our Canadian First Mates are completely loving our Seacademy program,” he stated.
“This system contains 4 tiers damaged down into digestible 10 to 15-minute modules that enable advisors to simply full them at their very own tempo. Every module helps reinforce key messaging so First Mates can stroll away feeling well-versed within the model. Our information signifies that First Mates who full Seacademy are 15 instances extra prone to make a reservation.”
“We’re additionally proud that Seacademy has been acknowledged as one of many main cruise advertising teaching programs.”
The brand new Let’s Go E-book platform permits First Mates to make the most of Virgin’s client web site and simply full shopper bookings.
This expertise additionally lets Sailors make their very own reserving at a time that’s handy for them, and First Mates obtain the commissions.
Some First Mates have already carried out this expertise on their web sites, social media posts and promoting with devoted URLs and QR codes.
Virgin reviews that as much as 40 per cent of consumers rebook a voyage or create a placeholder.
“When Sailors ebook with certainly one of our First Mates, they obtain a notification to comply with up with that advisor and plan their subsequent getaway,” he stated.
Virgin will get five-star opinions on TripAdvisor and an total buyer satisfaction price of 95 per cent. “Cruise Critic additionally awarded us the very best cruise line for Finest Eating, Finest Nightlife and Finest for LGBTQ+ travellers,” famous Russo. The typical age of a Virgin passenger is 47 years outdated.
Doin’ it for the ‘gram
The two,700-passenger Valiant Woman has two swimming pools, a number of sizzling tubs and a big number of distinctive seating corresponding to open and personal cabanas, low-slung curved sofas, sunbeds, swinging chairs, hammocks and conventional loungers – in brilliant colors of crimson, purple and blue.
Since music is an enormous a part of Virgin’s historical past, a DJ is normally enjoying on the predominant pool and it could get loud and create a celebration ambiance, so the secondary pool is a quieter choice.
The road encourages health on board, however the iconic crimson operating monitor appears to command extra visible consideration than precise exercise. As an onboard comic jokingly stated, “It’s actually only for Instagram.”
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Under the monitor is a boxing ring, punching bag, basketball courtroom, teeter-totter and gear for calisthenics. And when your shoppers get sizzling from understanding, they will stand underneath certainly one of three outside drenching buckets.
One other Instagram-worthy characteristic is the big catamaran-style internet on the aft outside lounge space on Deck 16.
Your shoppers can stroll (or crawl) throughout it for spectacular views of the ocean under – and get photographs to show their bravery.
One other favorite aft space is the Dock on Deck 7 with its bar, sunbeds and loungers set in a soothing ambiance with panoramic views.
RockStar and Mega RockStar suite shoppers have entry to a personal, top-deck space on the bow that has premium sunbeds, cabanas, bar and lounge for an upscale expertise.
Fulfill any craving
With greater than 20 eateries on board, there’s loads of locations to fulfill any craving. The meals is great due to a collective of Michelin-starred cooks. Creative meals presentation is equally spectacular.
There’s no predominant eating room or buffet. The Galley serves meals quickest with about eight eateries corresponding to Let’s Taco About It tacos, in addition to devoted eateries for burgers, sushi, noodles, soup, salads, sandwiches, all-day breakfast and extra. Purchasers order from a menu for many choices and are served their meal, however there are a number of grab-and-go decisions corresponding to sushi.
For finer eating there’s the Wake (steakhouse), Razzle Dazzle (signature restaurant with many vegetarian choices), Pink Agave (Mexican), the Check Kitchen (experimental), Gunbae (Korean barbecue), Dock Home (Mediterranean), Additional Virgin (Italian) and Solar Membership Café (Hawaiian).
Extra informal choices are on the Pizza Place, Social Membership Diner and candy treats are widespread at Lick Me Until Ice Cream and the Candy Facet.
Room service is offered for $5 and arrives in canvas tote baggage with picnic-like dishes and carafes. The informal fashion notably fits a picnic on a cabin balcony whereas swinging in one of many iconic crimson hammocks.
Drink up
Virgin doesn’t have conventional drinks packages for alcohol however does supply honest USD pricing corresponding to $5 beers, $9 cocktails and $10 wines (tip included).
Your shopper should buy a pre-paid $300 Bar Tab to get an additional $50 bonus (restricted time supply).
This onboard credit score have to be bought pre-cruise and isn’t out there on board. Drinks corresponding to water, juice, soda, drip espresso and tea are free.
Stunning bars embrace the Sip Lounge (champagne), the Draught Haus (on faucet), On the Rocks (martinis and cocktails), the Unfastened Cannon, Dock Home bar, Aquatic Membership bar, Health club & Tonic (bar and wholesome juices), Solar Membership (bar and frozen drinks) and the Crimson Bar.
“Daring acrobatic theatre”
Virgin showcases distinctive leisure and theatre venues in addition to performers corresponding to superb acrobats.
The present “Duel Actuality” is a high-energy “Romeo and Juliet” kind present with elaborate death-defying circus acts corresponding to climbing and swinging from poles, swings and flips from a large teeter-totter.
It’s presumably probably the most daring acrobatic theatre acts at sea of these not carried out on a skating rink or aqua-theatre.
The “Untitled Danceshow Partything” is a membership scene dance occasion in a theatre setting with no seats. The viewers stands across the stage watching the dancers and singers who carry out each on and off the stage. The fashion blurs the road between viewers and performers.
Virgin’s latest efficiency is “It’s a Ship Present” which is a mix dinner and selection present with acrobats, jugglers, curler skaters and singers, hosted by a comic. The present is featured at The Manor, a two-storey bar house named after Richard Branson’s first recording studio.
Pop-up leisure happens all through the ship indoors and out. “Scarlet Evening” is particular and options a wide range of leisure from performers to DJs all through the ship and shoppers are inspired to put on crimson.
Rockstar suites
There are inside, ocean view and balcony cabins from 105 to 225 sq. toes. RockStar and Mega RockStar suites vary from 352 to 2,167 sq. toes and embrace many additional perks.
Cabins showcase the ship’s brilliant color palette and furnishings lean towards comfy minimalism.
Space for storing is proscribed in smaller cabins so put together shoppers by offering photographs or descriptions to allow them to pack appropriately. Packing cubes may assist them keep organized.
Additionally level out that cabin configurations have a chair and miniature sofa, reasonably than a conventional sofa. Twin beds are positioned in a L form which may make one mattress do double-duty as a sofa.
Valiant Woman cruises from Miami this winter and returns to the Mediterranean for summer season.
Complementing Valiant and Scarlet, Virgin plans to launch two extra ships this 12 months – Resilient Woman and Sensible Woman – creating an thrilling, unforgettable Fab 4.
Diane Tierney has been on 84 cruises to 47 nations and has 118,000 followers on Instagram. Observe her at @Cruiseguru!
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