We have sailed on Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, a couple of times now. Both of these cruises were in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. So, we were excited to test out the cruise line on a European sailing. When our originally booked cruise on Resilient Lady in Greece was cancelled, we jumped ship to a Mediterranean cruise on Valiant Lady. We have just returned and share all of the details in this Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review.
Ship Overview
Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady is the second vessel in this new cruise line’s fleet. This 110K gross ton ship can carry up to 2,700 passengers. Virgin Voyages is a forward-thinking, all adult cruise line that is open only to those 18 years of age or older.
Virgin Voyages mixes elements of both luxury cruising and contemporary cruising to introduce something new to the cruise market. The cruise lines offers a casual, yet personable and fun cruise that is certainly different.
Among the differentiators is the cruise line’s inclusions. The base fare covers all dining on the ship, basic WiFi, all service charges and gratuities, and all group fitness classes.
In our opinion, the dining is where Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady shines. The unique dining rooms offer an intimate atmosphere with some of the best food at sea. Among our favorites are The Wake steakhouse, Italian selections at Extra Virgin, and the tapas at Pink Agave. Each of these complimentary venues are more akin to specialty restaurants on other cruise lines.
There are also several unique spaces throughout the ship. Hands down, our favorite area is the Deck 7 Dock and Dock House. This quiet, upscale yacht club vibe is a perfect fit for the brand. It doesn’t hurt that this aft area has some amazing grilled snacks, some of our favorite bar drinks, and great wake views.
The entertainment is certainly different on Virgin Voyages as well. The signature shows still include Duel Reality, Untitled DanceShowPartyThing, and Never Sleep Alone. These are not your typical cruise shows but still a good time. We particularly enjoy Duel Reality.
Further, we are glad to see that Virgin Voyages is offering more entertainment options now. Valiant Lady has introduced the Ship Show. This variety act performance not currently on Scarlet Lady is a great addition to the entertainment line-up. Though, we didn’t think it needed to be paired with a meal given all the other great restaurant options onboard the ship.
Valiant Lady also features some common cruise shows. During our sailing, we had two headliner acts, a magician and a comedian. We really enjoyed both of their performances. Further, there is more live music throughout the ship, a performance by the Diva in the Manor, and other traditional cruise activities like karaoke, games, and trivia.
If you are looking to break free from the traditional cruise stereotypes and explore exotic ports of call, you should consider Valiant Lady. We had a great time on our Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med itinerary, visiting many ports of call that were new for us.
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Day 1
From One Cruise to the Next
For this Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review, we were meeting up with some friends who have been living overseas. We were also celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary during this trip.
With almost back-to-back European cruises, we had a one day turn around hopping from Norwegian Prima in Amsterdam to Valiant Lady in Barcelona. Luckily, we arrived in Spain (with our luggage) with only minor flight delays.
For our pre-cruise stay in Barcelona, we booked a room at the H10 Cubik hotel. This charming city hotel is not far from the cruise port and nearby the pedestrian La Rambla.
Unfortunately, we were too tired and a bit behind on work to explore Barcelona this evening. With a combination of travel fatigue and slow WiFi during our previous trip, we made the decision to get some work done and call it an early night.
Finally, it was the first time in over a week that we got 8 hours of sleep.
Normally, we would be up and out the door by 10 am to head to the cruise terminal. However, Virgin Voyages starts embarkation later than most cruise lines. In fact, boarding only starts at 1:30 pm for Barcelona sailings. With a 2:30 pm boarding time slot, we had all morning to ourselves.
A Late Start in Barcelona
Thus, we used our hotel’s late check out time to our advantage and got caught up on some work in the morning. Of course, we made sure to grab breakfast at the hotel restaurant too.
Around 1:45 pm, it was time to head to the port. With a short taxi ride, we arrived at the South Terminal where we could see Valiant Lady waiting for us.
Check-in at the terminal was fairly organized. We waited about twenty minutes in line outside to drop-off our luggage. From there, we made our way through security, then up to the check-in area. This entire process took about 35 minutes.
With our bands securely wrapped around our wrists, we officially stepped foot on Valiant Lady before 3 pm.
The first stop was our stateroom to drop off our carry-on bags. One of the only benefits of late embarkation is that the cabins are ready as soon as cruisers board this ship.
For this cruise, we had a sea terrace stateroom, cabin 9066 Z. This aft cabin is located on the starboard side of the ship. The room layout and décor were similar to our most recent Scarlet Lady cruise. This is to say that the cabins have been enhanced since the initial launch of Virgin Voyages adding warmer tones for a more home-like feel.
With a load off my back (literally), it was time to explore the ship. So, we headed up to deck 18, where our friends met us soon after.
An Abbreviated Ship Tour
Before exploring the ship, we had some trip planning to do.
Of course, we had pre-booked all of our dining reservations pre-cruise. However, entertainment reservations can not be made until onboard the ship. Luckily, getting reservations for our preferred days and times was not an issue.
Then, we quickly reviewed shore excursions, as our friends had several of their tours cancelled right before the trip. In retrospect, we have to say that the Shore Things program is currently a bit underwhelming and disorganized.
Starting our ship tour at the very top of the ship like we always do, we scanned the main pool deck and a few additional areas before arriving at The Galley. By now, we all agreed it was time for a snack as we did not have dinner reservations until 730 pm tonight.
This food hall style casual restaurant is still one of our favorite eateries on any cruise ship. Although, my impossible burger was a bit disappointing.
During our snack, there was an announcement regarding the mandatory muster drill. So, we finished up and headed to our respective stations. We were assigned muster station F, at the Test Kitchen on Deck 6.
Following the muster, we collected a few additional photos and videos of nearby venues. This included a stop at the Redemption Spa, where we booked a thermal suite reservation for later in the week.
A Little Razzle Dazzle on Valiant Lady
By now, it was getting close to sail away time, and we still hadn’t unpacked yet. Thus, we made our way back upstairs to find that all our luggage had been delivered. We then spent the next hour or so unpacking.
Of course, this meant I had to watch sail away from our sea terrace. Not only did I miss the live music, but I also missed the free flutes of sparkling wine on the outdoor decks!
Tonight, we had dinner reservations at 7:30 pm at Razzle Dazzle.
Surprisingly, the restaurant was quite busy when we arrived. This seemed to be the overall trend on this Valiant Lady trip when compared to our previous sailings on Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean.
In fact, it took close to 45 minutes to get our first round of drinks. Overall, the food was on par with our previous visits to this vegan-friendly restaurant.
The crazy cobb salad has all the flavors and textures of this popular dish with a Virgin twist. Heidi ordered one of the “hidden” menu items, the butter chicken, which was paired with rice and papadum. My ginger beer roasted chicken was succulent and juicy. Though, the roasted cauliflower entrée makes for quite the photo-op!
Finally, the new winner for dessert was the razzle cake. This light and airy cake coupled chocolate mouse and a toffee topping for a sweet ending to our first dinner on Valiant Lady.
The First Night Onboard
The entire dining experience at Razzle Dazzle was just about 90 minutes. This put us out with a few minutes to spare before this evening’s show, the Untitled DanceShowPartyThing.
We headed to the Red Room on Deck 6 in time for the doors to open at 9:15 pm.
Part dance party, part social commentary, this hour-long production is high energy. The visually stimulating production openly mocks many elements of modern day life, along with poking fun at cruising.
I am more a fan of the show than Heidi, but it is still a much better night 1 show than the often stale and predictable Welcome Aboard show.
Out of the Red Room past 10:30 pm, we headed over to the Dock. While there were a few folks outside, we grabbed a few photos of the night sky and returned to the indoor Dock House for a round of drinks. This quiet space was the perfect place to chill and chat. By midnight, it was time for us to call it a night.
Tomorrow was our first port of call in Toulon, France.
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Day 2
Not the Tour We Planned
This Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review was a packed itinerary. We were calling in a new port just about every day, and all of these ports were also brand new for us. Thus, we wanted to make the most of our time.
Prior to this cruise, we booked a land and sea tour of Toulon, France. The ship was docking at 9:30 am, and our tour was scheduled to meet at 9:45 am.
Up around 7:30 am, I grabbed our typical morning coffees and a few photos before getting ready. Heading down to the Chart Room for our meeting time, we were given pass card 10 and told to meet the tour pier-side.
On our previous Virgin Voyages cruises, we did not book any organized shore excursions through the cruise line. So, we were not sure what to expect. Overall, the tour was well-organized. Our tour guide had quietvox devices and seemed knowledgeable about the area.
First, the tour started with a 75-minute walk around the new and medieval parts of the city. We meandered by ancient churches, city markets and squares, and the coast. Along the way, the guide provided narration about the “major” historical events and points of interest.
It was then back to the harbor for an approximately 1-hour boat tour of the bay. This tour circled the nearby area passing the Naval station and several fortifications.
While the tour had been great so far, just like that it was over in about 2 hours, even though the shore excursion description indicated it was a close to 4 hour tour! So, this was a bit of a let down as we would have certainly booked a tour that was longer than 2 hours.
Lunch and More Exploration
After walking around the harbor for an additional 15 minutes or so, we decided to return to the ship. Once onboard, we made a b-line to the Pizza Place. Virgin Voyages has some of the best pizza at sea. Or, at least it did. Today’s version was not exactly on par with our previous pies from Scarlet Lady.
What better way to finish up our lunch than with some ice cream! Conveniently, the ice cream shop is right next door to the Pizza Place. My orange ricotta ice cream was amazing.
Following lunch, we took a short walk around the ship then took advantage of our balcony to get some work done this afternoon.
Subsequently, I ventured off to get some afternoon coffee and report our shore excursion issue to the Shore Things desk.
Dinner With a View
Tonight’s dinner was at The Wake for 6:30 pm. We were changed up and down to Deck 7 a few minutes early. Interestingly, the restaurant wasn’t all that busy.
Like I did the cruise before, I ordered the shrimp and grits entrée as an appetizer. The spicy Cajun style sauce and pan seared shrimp work perfectly together. Heidi did the wedge salad, which is prepared more like lettuce wraps.
For an entrée, I ordered the filet mignon, medium rare, with a side of mushrooms and French fries. The steak was expertly prepared and lightly seasoned. Predictably, Heidi did the only chicken dish on the menu.
For dessert, I tried the chocolate tart which was sweet and smooth, and Heidi stuck with Virgin’s twist on the familiar baked Alaska.
Like the night before, getting our drinks took a while. So, dinner this evening was over two hours by the time we left the restaurant. But, we were treated to a spectacular wake view sunset from our table at the restaurant.
A Pretty Standard Night on Valiant Lady
Similar to a traditional cruise, tonight there was a headliner act in the main theater. We do appreciate that Virgin has been adding more nighttime entertainment.
This evening, the comedian and mentalist, Ben Price, was set to perform at 9:30 pm.
His show was fun and entertaining. Actually, it was the closest thing to a traditional cruise ship show we have seen on a Virgin ship thus far. The 50-minute act included several card tricks and mind-reading illusions.
The one thing that the wife did not like was that the crew ushered you to seats based on when you arrived to the theater. Since you are not able to pick your own seats, we sat much closer to the stage than we typically do. Thankfully, none of us were called to be part of the show though.
Out of the theater, we found seats at On the Rocks where the Millennial Boomers were playing. While not the best band at sea, the play list was phenomenal. All the classic 80’s, 90’s, and pub-style songs filled the room for hours. It was a great backdrop to chatting with friends over cocktails.
Once the band officially called it quits around 1 am, we did too. Tomorrow was set to be a long day exploring two historic Italian ports of call.
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Day 3
Starting the Tour Without Us
Day 3 of this Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review had us docking in Marina di Carrara, a shipping area in the Tuscany region of Italy popular for the export of marble.
While this port is a stepping stone to many iconic cities, we chose a tour visiting Santa Margherita and Portofino. This would be the longest shore excursion of our cruise.
With a meeting time of what we thought was 9:30 am, we were up around 7:30 am and took our time getting ready and enjoying our morning coffee.
With some misinterpretation of the language in the push notification, we thought the tour met at 9:30 am, so we were a bit frazzled to learn that it was actually the departure time. When we arrived in the Roundabout at 9:30 am, we were told that we needed to hurry ashore as the bus was about to leave without us!
Thankfully, we managed to get seats on the bus just seconds before jetting off.
The approx. 1.5-hour drive from the port included narration about the region’s topography and history. Following the coast, and through several mountain tunnels, we arrived at our destination around 11 am. We would be taking the ferry from Santa Margherita over to Portofino for the morning portion of our tour.
A Picture-Perfect Day Ashore
There was a sea of people near the ferry station when we arrived. Along with other tours from our ship, there were cruisers from MSC Cruises and TUI as well. Luckily, our guide got us quickly boarded for the 20ish minute ferry ride.
Pulling up to the small harbor, it looked like something out of a movie. The iconic square and colorful buildings were the backdrop to lavish sailboats and yachts. The quaint cobblestone streets, cafés, and shops were quintessential Italian Riviera.
Thus, visiting this exclusive locale was certainly worth the extra transit time.
Here, we had two hours. We could either explore on our own or take a guided walking tour of the area for part of the time. We chose the latter which included a stop at the Church of San Giorgio and Castello Brown for an amazing lookout point high above the city.
For the remaining hour, we had free time to explore on our own. We took advantage of this time to stroll the streets. Along the way, we grabbed a few souvenirs and some gelato of course.
Unlike this morning, we were back to the meeting point extra early to ensure we did not miss the ferry back.
By 2:30 pm, we were back in Santa Margherita where we had just over 30 minutes of free time. Our tour guide first escorted us to the 16th century church. From there, we didn’t really have time to do much else.
This was the only downside of the tour. It would have been nice if we had more time to explore this beautiful city, especially since all aboard wasn’t until hours later.
With everyone accounted for, it was back on the bus for the drive back to the ship. Our bus pulled up to Valiant Lady just before 4:30 pm.
A Double Dose of Italian Cuisine
Exploring these seaside Italian towns would be enough for most travelers, but not us. To complete the day, we also booked dinner at the onboard Italian restaurant, Extra Virgin.
We had a cozy table for four at the aft of the restaurant. Like the previous nights, the restaurant was rather full and service seemed slow.
For starters, I went with the fried calamari, which is always superb. Also, Heidi and I split the meat and cheese board, opting for extra Romano cheese in lieu of gorgonzola. For an entrée, I tried a different pasta tonight, the gnocchi. While it was fine, I preferred the two other pasta dishes I have had at the restaurant before. Heidi went with her go-to pasta dish, the bucatini carbonara.
For dessert, our table ordered one of everything. For me, the bomboloni were the clear winner. These fried mini donuts were softer and lighter than the last serving I had earlier this summer on Scarlet Lady.
With our multiple courses, dinner lasted the predictable two hours.
Two Rounds of Music to End the Night
Following dinner, we grabbed some seats in the roundabout for the musical act Flute Loops. The show blended looping technology, guitar, vocals, and yes, a flute for a 60-minute performance.
This set ended around 10 pm. So, we finished up our drinks and strolled forward to the Manor where there was already a line forming for the Diva Show. Around the World in 80 minutes is the same show we saw on Scarlet Lady.
Of course, it was a different Diva. So, “she” had her own spin on this interactive cabaret performance. The production includes some audience participation, plenty of jokes, and is rather fun.
The show was over just before midnight, and it was time for us to call it a night.
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Day 4
Another Unimpressive Tour
Day 4 of this Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review had us stopping in Ajaccio, Corsica. Apparently, this is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. With few tour options available, we booked a city tour that included several stops pertinent to this French emperor’s life.
Completing my usual routine, we arrived at the meeting spot on Deck 7 a few minutes early for our 9 am tour. Grabbing our ticket, we exited through the forward gangway on Deck 4 to begin this historic excursion.
Overall, the tour was rather bland though. It began with a bus ride around the city during which we learned more about the island’s history and the military leader’s life. Our first stop was a lookout point with a replica statue of Napoleon commemorating his first military victory in Egypt.
From there, it was another 20 minute ride out to a park for some amazing views of the Gulf of Ajaccio and the Sanguinaires islands off the coast of Corsica.
Following this 30-minute stop, the bus took us by the beach and coast before the walking portion of the tour. This 45-minute trek weaved in and out of the city. Among the sites we passed were Napoleon’s boyhood home and baptismal church. There were also a few additional statues and historical landmarks along the way.
A Relaxing Afternoon in the Mediterranean
Our tour officially ended around noon. We then browsed a few of the vendors near the ship before boarding around 12:30 pm.
After a quick pit stop at the room, it was up to the Galley for lunch. Here, I sampled a custom-made salad and the pork tacos. Again, the selections did not disappoint. They were fresh and well-prepared.
This afternoon, we had a thermal suite reservation at 2:30 pm. Unlike other cruise lines, Virgin Voyages sells passes in 3-hour time slots. There is an early morning, late morning, afternoon, and evening pass. Given our tour was only 4 hours, we reserved the afternoon spot.
For us, this 3-hour block was perfect. While there were a few other couples, the Redemption Spa did not feel crowded.
We left the spa around 5 pm to get ready for our dinner reservation at Gunbae which was at 6:30 pm. We were eager to return to this restaurant as we had dined here only once during a media event last year.
However, we were invited to a “secret” magic show on the ship last night with the tickets indicating to meet at 8:10 pm sharp. Given our dinners had been taking around 2 hours, we agreed to get to the restaurant early in hopes of being sat ahead of our reservation so we could make the show.
Another Amazing Dinner
Thankfully, when we arrived at 6 pm, we were able to get seated. Gunbae is a communal dining experience, so we were sat with our friends and another couple. These Australian honeymooners were on their third week on the ship.
Our waiter came by to review the menu. For the most part, he just brought a little bit of everything for us to sample. None of us had any complaints.
In another fun twist, the dinner begins with a Korean drinking game. It is an engaging way to get everyone at the table talking and laughing.
Dinner consisted of items like spicy Korean chicken, a seafood “corn dog”, and rice as starters. On the grill, there was shrimp, squid, octopus, short rib, and pork belly. Needless to say, there was more than enough food!
While a bit rushed towards the end, we were able to sample the dessert, a sesame soft serve ice cream with toppings like caramel sauce and granola.
Out of dinner right at 8 pm, this gave us just enough time to get to the designated meeting spot.
Part of the In-Crowd on Virgin Voyages
One element of a Virgin Voyages cruise that we are not sold on are the random and unannounced activities and shows.
Sometimes, there are pop-up concerts or mini skits that sailors might stumble upon. There are also “secret” shows. These even more exclusive performances are unannounced and open to only a small number of sailors.
The night before, we struck up a conversation with the Charmer who performed a few tricks for us in On the Rocks where he invited us to one of these shows.
We arrived at 8:10 pm sharp where a crew member escorted our small group through restricted areas to the crew bar. Here, we were treated to an intimate 30-minute performance. It was certainly one of the more unique cruise shows. I mean, how often can you say you had a drink at the crew bar on a cruise ship!
Now for a Few Laughs
With this “secret” show over around 9 pm, we had an hour before our next planned activity, a comedy show in the Red Room.
Originally, we had Never Sleep Alone scheduled for 9:30 pm. Yet, we were notified during the day that the show was rescheduled to the last night of the cruise. Thus, we went from having no shows on Saturday, to two productions on the final evening, as Duel Reality was also rescheduled from earlier in the week.
Weighing our options, we decided to get cocktails at the Sip Lounge, as this champagne bar is not far from the Red Room. I went with my go-to drink, the Commonwealth Spritz. Heidi opted for an espresso martini.
A little before 10:15 pm, we made our way down to deck 6 to queue for the comedian Emmanuel Sonubi. When we arrived, there was already a good-sized crowd waiting to scan-in for the show.
This British comedian was not your typical cruise humorist. While he did make fun of cruising, he also weaved in a good amount about his personal life and experiences traveling.
Still, with a comedian and magician as “headliners” on Valiant Lady, the entertainment was more on par with major cruise lines which we appreciated.
The comedy show ended by 11:30 pm. As you could probably guess, we headed to bed, while our travel companions enjoyed the Virgin Voyages’ night life.
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Day 5
Back in Italy
For Day 5 on this Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review, our island hopping continued. Today, we were docking at the Italian island of Sardinia. As you would guess, we had an excursion booked through Virgin Voyages. Our tour of the Old and New Towns of Cagliari had a departure time of 10 am.
Like most organized tours, we began the day with a history of the island and its time under various empires’ rules. Along the way, we drove up to the Basilica of nostra Signora di Bonaria. Although, while other tour groups got out to take pictures, we remained on the bus.
From here, it was a panoramic drive as the bus ascended to Molentagius Park. Here, we had a quick 10-minute photo op with views of both the south and north sides of the city.
Next, the tour made an unannounced stop for food and drinks, which included a pastry and coffee or beer.
Then, our bus dropped us off at the Porta Cristina where we began our approximately 1-hour walking tour of the castle. Here, we were able to view various historical structures that are intertwined with more modern buildings and landmarks.
This walk culminated with 30 minutes of free time in a commercial area. It was just enough time for us to grab a quick souvenir.
A Smorgasbord on Valiant Lady
The bus returned to pick us up around 2pm, and we were back onboard Valiant Lady by 2:30 pm.
Again, our plans tonight were slightly altered. We knew ahead of time that tonight was going to be the Scarlet Night party. So, we booked dinner at Pink Agave for 6 pm.
Once onboard, we learned of the new Ship Show in the Manor, which we reserved for 7:45 pm. However, we later also learned that this show included a three-course meal. Now, we had two dinners for this evening.
We spent the next few hours relaxing, doing a little work, and donning our finest red attire.
Dinner and Dinner and a Show
Arriving at Pink Agave, we agreed to “go light” as we had a second meal in a couple hours. Although, Pink Agave is one of my favorites on Virgin Voyages. Thus, the waiter easily convinced the four of us that he would bring out two of all the small and medium plates.
Good thing we stopped him from bringing the large plates!
Quickly, our table was overflowing with food. We had plates of Mexican corn, guacamole, tuna, seared shrimp, chicken enchiladas, as well as lamb tacos, marinated smoked pork, and papas con chorizo.
It became apparent that none of us were saving room for that second dinner.
When our waiter arrived with dessert menus, we all agreed that we would get dessert at the show instead.
By the time we arrived at the Manor, the line for the show was stretching down towards the theater. After a short wait, the crowd was checked in and parties were escorted to tables. After being seated, we ordered a round of drinks and advised our waiter that we were only doing dessert tonight.
The Ship Show was not at all what I expected.
This intimate show included a band featuring perhaps the best singer on the ship. There was also a small group of dancers and several variety show acts. These unique performers ranged from balance and strength acts to a magician and a bicycle trickster.
We all thoroughly enjoyed this 90-minute Ship Show. However, we also agreed that it didn’t need the food element. Plus, the menu was rather bland when compared to all the great restaurants on the ship.
Scarlet Night on Valiant Lady
The showed ended right around 9:15 pm, so we roamed a bit eventually making our way to the Social Club for some karaoke hosted by the Diva. Then it dawned on me; now was the perfect time to order the SH-OCT-A-PUS from the nearby Loose Cannon. This “drink” serves 5 people and comes on a giant octopus.
Finishing up this Instagram-worthy drink, we stumbled upon a personal concert near Sip. This short serenade was over just in time for us to get a front-row view for the pool party.
This Scarlet Night pool party is always high energy, complete with a giant octopus overlooking the activity. Starting with some dancing by the Happenings Cast, partygoers soon have their chance to jump in the pool to join in on the fun.
While we stayed to people watch and enjoy the music for a bit, we later moved to someplace quieter.
Enjoying a drink and conversation at the Dock House, we were ready to call it a night around midnight.
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Day 6
A Slow Start to the Day
Day 6 of this Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review was a partial sea day, followed by a late day arrival in Ibiza, Spain.
This morning, we slept in until 8:30 am. I grabbed some coffees and last remaining videos while Heidi got ready. By now, the outdoor decks were already getting busy. This was a far cry from our experiences on Scarlet Lady where the ship was only sailing at 30-50% capacity.
Returning with caffeine, our first order of business was some breakfast. Heidi went with an omelet and hash browns, and I ordered the breakfast burrito. Similar to our previous experiences, it took much longer to get the items from the taco stand than the other stations in the Galley.
Once we finished breakfast, we headed to the Dock. Unfortunately, all of the prime seats and daybeds were already taken. So, we ended up getting seats on the starboard side of Deck 7 near the lifeboats.
Here, we enjoyed the sea breezes and shade for a few hours while doing some work.
A Sea Day on Virgin Voyages
In the mid afternoon, I was getting a bit antsy, so I went for a jog outside. Up to Deck 17, I was amazed at the crowds near the pool and the Athletic Club. This was certainly the busiest we’ve seen a Virgin ship yet.
On my way back, I grabbed a quick salad and pizza for dinner. Tonight, we had a shore excursion that met at 7:15 pm. According to the description, the tour included a “tapa bite” and sangria. So, we wanted to make sure we had something to eat before leaving the ship.
One thing we don’t like about Virgin Voyages is the lack of ship-wide announcements. The cruise line relies heavily on the app to send reminders. This is fine, when the app works.
While we hadn’t received a notification yet that we were able to go ashore, we could see sailors exiting the ship a little after 7 pm. Thus, we grabbed our gear and descended towards the gangway.
At first, we weren’t sure exactly where the meeting spot for the tour was, but a Shore Things team member guided us to the correct spot. For those going into town on their own, there were shuttle buses running all night long departing from the same area.
A Night Out in Ibiza
Per the tour description, this tour was supposed to include a drive to a beach club to watch the sunset with a glass of sangria. Then, we would drive to the historic walled city for a walking tour.
Our Mercedes van left a little after 7:30 pm with all 19 passengers onboard. As we started the drive, it was clear we were not going to make it to the viewing spot in time to catch the sunset. Further, the tour guide indicated we were going to do the city walk first then get our food and drinks.
At first, we were disappointed by this change of plans. However, as the night progressed, we came to appreciate the new schedule.
It took about 30 minutes to get to the entrance of the Dalt Vila gates. During the drive, our guide provided the typical island history. Once at the top, we were able to watch the sun set slowly behind the hills.
After capturing some great photos, we set off on a two-hour downhill stroll through this walled city. Along the way, our guide pointed out various fortifications and bastilles providing a complete overview of this 16th century city. Plus, the twilight offered a unique backdrop to the gorgeous UNESCO world heritage site.
By the time we got to the gates at the base of the city, we could see the surrounding nightlife. This modern square is home to several restaurants, bars, and shops. Technically, the real nightlife is about 5 kilometers away though.
But for us, this was our night out. We certainly did not have plans to head to one of the many popular nightclubs in Ibiza.
Our tour concluded at the patio of a hotel for a glass of sangria and what turned out to be a table-full of tapas.
Following our snack, we met up with our friends who were not far away. They had dinner at a marina side restaurant and were now at a nearby bar. As midnight approached, we all agreed that we would get one more drink, but back on the ship.
It took a little walk and investigation to find our bus shuttle’s meeting point. But, after a short wait, we boarded the transport for the 10-minute ride back to Valiant Lady.
Once onboard, we ended up grabbing a few drinks and closing down the bar at 2 am. I can’t recall the last time we have been up this late on a ship!
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Day 7
A Late Start to Our Day
Today was our final day of this Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review, and it was off to a late start!
Even though we had no official plans for the day, we set the alarm for 9 am.
Valiant Lady was docked overnight in Ibiza with a departure at 6 pm this evening. At first, Heidi was keen on returning to the city today to explore in the daylight. However, I felt there was nothing else for us to really do off the ship.
Somehow, I got her to agree with me. Once we made the decision to stay onboard, we got ready and headed to breakfast.
Having the Ship All to Ourselves
The Galley was not very busy, so we had high hopes that we could find seats outside at the Dock today. Thankfully, we were correct. We easily secured a bed with an umbrella in the shade. The weather outside was beautiful, and we had picturesque views of Dalt Vila right from the Dock.
Slowly, the sun moved across the sky, turning our shady spot into a sunny and warm locale. Thus, we decided to head in for some air conditioning around 2 pm.
Tonight, we had dinner in the Test Kitchen at 6:30 pm. This is the only Virgin Voyages restaurant we had not tried on previous sailings, mainly because of Heidi’s picky palette.
Given the longer sailing, the Test Kitchen’s menu does change mid-cruise. So, this menu did look a little more appealing. Still not sure if she would eat anything though, I grabbed us some late afternoon pizzas just in case.
The next task on our agenda was the most dreaded activity of the trip, packing. This time, we were not hopping to another cruise. Rather, we had to prepare for our return flight back home.
With a scheduled 9 am disembarkation time the following morning, we opted to do self-assist and carry our bags off the ship.
Experimenting With the Test Kitchen
Upon our arrival at Test Kitchen, the waiter reviewed the menu, as well as the optional drink pairings. To make things simple, our table did two wine and two cocktail pairings.
While it is a 6-course fixed menu, there is an optional vegetarian menu. So, the rest of us stuck with the normal menu, and Heidi ordered the vegetarian menu.
The six courses consisted of very interestingly prepared small plates. Among the favorites at the table were the corn, salmon, lamb chops, and the strawberry dessert.
While not our favorite restaurant on the ship, I am glad we were able to test it out. Oddly, the pacing of the dinner felt a tad rushed at times, as we would be finishing our drinks while the next pour and course were already being delivered.
Still, the entire experience did last two hours. So, we made our way to the Red Room immediately after for our 9 pm showing of Duel Reality.
A Busy Final Night on Virgin Voyages
Initially, we purposely left the last night open with no shows. However, due entertainment schedule changes, we now had two shows tonight.
Following Duel Reality, we had a reserved spot for the 10:30 pm Never Sleep Alone “seminar” in the Manor.
As always, Duel Reality did not disappoint as the performers were amazing. Finally, we were on the blue team. Unfortunately though, I think the view from the red side is better.
Still, watching the various strength and circus acts set to the Romeo and Juliet story never gets old. While we did enjoy the Ship Show, Duel Reality still remains our favorite.
On the flip side, Never Sleep Alone is still a turn off for the wife. This final showing was rather tame though, partly due to the crowd, as the show was barely half full.
We secured balcony seats to ensure we did not become part of the show. Even though we had a six-course drink pairing at dinner, our friends insisted we do a round of shots before the show. This is where things started to go downhill.
Following Never Sleep Alone, we agreed to get one more farewell drink at On the Rocks before calling it a night. Somehow, that one drink turned into a close to three hour spirited conversation.
So, it was nearly 3 am when we returned to our cabin.
Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review – Disembarkation
We’re Not Going to Make It
Our flight home wasn’t until 6:45 pm today. This late departure meant we planned on exploring Barcelona for a few hours. The original plan was to leave our bags at our friend’s hotel and tour Sagrada Familia along with a little additional sightseeing before heading to the airport.
All of those plans went out the window when our alarm went off at 8 am.
Struggling to get out of bed, we both felt the aftermath of last night. Heidi was a bit worse off than I was this morning. So, she passed on coffee and breakfast, and we eventually made the decision to skip our booked tour of the church. We decided to head straight to the airport where we could rest up until our evening flight.
While we did have to wait a while for an empty elevator, the rest of disembarkation was smooth sailing. We were off the ship and in a line for a taxi in 10 minutes. The taxi queue was another 15 minute or so wait. With a short ride to the airport, we were at BCN a full 7 hours before our flight.
On Our Way Home
Thankfully, the rest of our day improved.
It was a long 8 hour flight, but we arrived back in the U.S. without any issues. Still a bit tired, we were ready to be home. Although, it was going to be a short week before we were back out to sea. At least this time, the cruise was departing from our homeport of Boston, MA.
Comments
Did you enjoy our Virgin Voyages Irresistible Med Cruise Review? Have you sailed on Valiant Lady? Drop us an anchor below with your thoughts on this new cruise line.
This is insanely helpful as we just booked this very cruise today! 🙂