Virgin Voyages! The most laid back cruising you can get?

The Cruise Market has grown so much in the last ten years, and no matter whom you have cruised with in the past, no matter who you speak to they will say it is different today to what it used to be. So may say it is not what it used to be and I have to admit I would agree, I am a little old fashioned and love the ships of old, such as the Oriana or the Aurora in the P&O fleet, there is something about having the open sweeping decks on the back and the more traditional style of cruising.

Today’s ships are more about the freestyle, modern feeling cruising, not that I don’t like that, but I feel that the connection with the Ocean on some ships has been lost.

Once it used to be years before a new ship came out, but recently we have learned that Virgin Voyages has signed a contract at about a value of 700 million euros for construction of the fourth new ship to be in the fleet, that’s right a 4^th ship and the first one is not even due for a couple more years.

2020 will see the launch of the ‘Scarlet Lady’ the first Virgin ship, then the second in 2021, 3^rd in 2022 and then finally the 4^th at the end of 2023.

All 4 ships will be identical and they will be sisters in the fleet, so the Scarlet Lady has to go down well, or if could mean big problems for Virgin in the years to come but from looking at what’s on board I don’t think she will disappoint although I think she will attract a younger market with an outdoor gym and the first Tattoo Studio at the sea on board.

All four of the ships will be approx. 110,000 gross tons and have around 2770 passengers, which is less than a ship of this size can carry which is refreshing and most new ships are about getting as many people on board as possible.

Virgin has also announced that there will be no main dining room, or as they put it – no boring buffets – which is one of the thing I disagree with as I love a good buffet to go and grab a snack, the reason behind this is to eliminate the stuffy formalities – however, I would have to disagree that a buffet is stuffy.

Food is such as high point of a cruise or any holiday – after all some like to eat much later than others, what are they going to do to let people have the option of dining after dark? We will have to wait and see.

The will be no fee for Speciality restaurant and they will have an array of dining options and guests will have the option to enjoy your meal at a table or at the Bar – again not sure how I feel about being at the bar, with people eating and drinking! But this is what their feedback has told Virgin what people want. So far 9 dining venues have been released and offer an array of tastes from around the world.

So what do we think – will you be onboard? I am still yet to be convinced