My wife, Becky, and I love to travel. In our many years together, we have been on dozens of amazing adventures. Our latest, a cruise aboard Virgin Voyage’s Scarlet Lady, was the pinnacle.
Separately, my wife and I have been traveling our whole lives. We both came from families who valued memories over materialistic things. By age 10, we had seen a large portion of the continental United States. Continuing the traveling trend into our adult lives was something that came naturally.
The Big Shutdown
On March 15, 2020, the world began shutting down due to Covid-19. We left Disney World that morning, and later that afternoon the park closed. Over the next few days, it became evermore clear that normal life, including our ambitious travel plans, might never be the same. Fast-forward a few months later, however, and we were back in Orlando, Florida, standing at the gates of Universal Studios – in masks – on reopening day. Our adventures had resumed, and we had some additional great trips, but they were nothing compared to our time aboard the Scarlet Lady last December.
A New Era in Travel
We hadn’t cruised alone without our kids since 2011, so when we had an opportunity for a couple’s retreat, we jumped at the chance. The ship had only been cruising officially for three weeks at the time of our boarding. So, we flew to Miami, stayed the night, and boarded the Scarlet Lady the next morning. We had been vaccinated and Covid tested, so we were not required to wear masks, and it suddenly became like old times.
The ship was different from all others we had sailed on. It was designed with adults in mind, and no one under 18 was allowed onboard. Also, because we were sailing during a pandemic, the ship was at half-capacity, which meant everything was available more readily, and there was more room to move about. It was also easier and faster to get on and off the ship at ports along the way.
Eat, Drink, and Swim!
One of the best parts about the Virgin Voyages cruise was the food and drink offerings. Unlike most cruise lines, all of the restaurants were included in the price, and drink packages were much cheaper than what we were used to. Furthermore, there were no buffets – a staple of any pre-pandemic cruise. Every restaurant and all general dining areas had table service. It felt like a luxury, although the personalized service was more about Covid protocols.
The ship’s itinerary featured a few fun days at sea aboard the ship, but we also stopped at several amazing ports along the way. The coolest and most fun was a stop at Bimini, an island in the western Bahamas. The cruise line had a private, all-inclusive resort there, and we ate, drank, swam, and relaxed on a private beach all day. It was 85 degrees in December, but surprisingly the water was a bit frigid. That didn’t stop us from swimming in both the ocean and the pool. It was amazing!
“Our adventures had resumed, and we had some additional great trips, but they were nothing compared to our time aboard the Scarlet Lady last December.”
Let’s Party!
Nightlife aboard the Scarlet Lady was incredible. Unlike other cruises, the fun didn’t end at midnight. We danced the night away every night to a variety of different genres and styles of music provided by disc jockeys, live bands, and Broadway-level performers. There were acrobatic acts, plays and shows, and endless entertainment in every corner of the ship. Not to mention, there was a game room with video games from the 80s and 90s, which was a bit nostalgic. Our favorite amenity onboard was the private karaoke lounge. We let it all out, singing at the top of our lungs until our throats hurt. The best part? No one else could hear it!
Pump it Up!
We care deeply about our health, and the gym was the best we’ve seen on any ship. As we approach 50, we cannot afford to take days off – at least not many. Onboard the Scarlet Lady, that was never a problem. The full-size gym was split into cardio and strength training sections, with one being on each side of the ship, near the front. The windows were floor to ceiling, so while we worked out, we had the most amazing view on Earth. In addition, the equipment was top-of-the-line. From treadmills, to ellipticals, to weight machines designed to target every body part.
Take a Load Off!
When it was time to kick back and relax, there were plenty of areas on the outer decks with lounge chairs and beautiful views in every direction. In addition, the pools were huge compared to other ships we’d been on, so we swam a lot, which was very relaxing. We also had a balcony room, allowing for private relaxation with a view. They were furnished with hammocks, and we took advantage of this amenity often.
We Just Called to Say We Love You
We still have two children who live at home, so communication reliability was very important to us. Virgin did not disappoint. The Wi-Fi onboard was top-notch, so speaking with them each day was a breeze and a pleasure, and knowing they were okay helped us relax. We’ve never had a communications package this amazing on any cruise. Talk about an anxiety destroyer!
What’s Next on the Bucket List?
Since returning home, another cruise is all we can think about. One hope we have is to sail on Carnival’s Mardi Gras, their largest cruise ship, but there are so many cruise lines and destinations to choose from, it will be difficult to decide what to do. This time, we might even take the kids…or maybe not!
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