September/October 2024


and for the star of the balcony, the red hammock. The hammock was an excellent addition to the balcony experience, a place where you could sit back and relax while watching the world go by. Fancy catching a sunset view? Relaxing in the red hammock is a go-to.


www.nitravelnews.com win-win!


Not quite a Broadway lover - never fear, there is also a 90’s boy band themed dance class.


The Red Room is the theatre area onboard Scarlet Lady, and during this cruise, I caught a performance of Ships in The Night, an interpretative dance performance describing the negative influence of technology on human connection and the physical search for a personal journey. Ships in the Night incorporates dance, lighting and a moving musical performance to encapsulate the feelings of a lost identity and the pursuit of happiness. A short performance that is sure to leave you reeling, the performances onboard Scarlet Lady are one of a kind.


Wellness & Relaxation Seeking to experience something a little bit different onboard, I booked


in for


an evening at the Redemption Spa located on Deck 5. This was my


first time ever availing of the spa facilities onboard a cruise ship but after a day of


Entertainment Virgin Voyages are highly regarded for their enriching and vast entertainment options.


exploring Cannes and a splendid dinner at the Wake, an evening spa experience was sure to be splendid.


Even before embarkation,


voyagers are made aware of two themed evenings onboard. During our 7 night French Daze and Ibiza Nights Itinerary, the two themed evenings included a Pyjama Party, and the most anticipated of all Scarlet Night.


Kicking off your cruise in true Virgin


Voyages fashion is the sail-away party which occurs on Deck 15 and 16, this upbeat and enthusiastic sailaway is the perfect way to embark on your week-long adventure. The sail-away party is the first splash of entertainment onboard Scarlet Lady, where cruisers are introduced to The Diva, Virgin Voyage’s resident drag queen, and the Happenings Cast, the up-beat team of entertainers who are sure to give you a performance to remember. Accompanied by a DJ, the sail-away party is a sure-fire way to get the party started!


A warm and cozy welcome to Scarlet


Lady, the Pyjama Party took place on the first evening of our cruise. A party where dressing-up is discouraged, it was time for us to put on our comfy pyjamas and don our slippers for the


Pyjama Party


which took place in the Manor on Deck 6.


While


the walk down from our cabin was first met with trepidation, as you stepped out onto the Roundabout area on Deck 6, it was a relief to


realise you


Scarlet Lady! On this


itinerary, Scarlet Night took


place on Thursday, and while the morning and afternoon were spent exploring the beautiful Palma.


Everybody’s evening


was reserved for Scarlet Night. Build-up first begins around 5pm when cruisers are invited to first hear the Myth of Scarlet Night, which tells the tale of a sailor who met an alluring Octopus goddess, the goddess sends her soul to the sky to become the moon, which is said to help sailors navigate across the seas. Guests can even head to the glam station to get some scarlet glitter make-up in anticipation for the night’s festivities. The Roundabout on Deck 6 and 7 is transformed, the lights are dimmed in red and tentacles begin to cascade down the star-case. The entire evening is set around the premise of the Octopus Goddess, with spectacular live dance performances,


and interactive weren’t


the only one who got the memo! Almost everybody onboard was partaking in the celebrations! From people having a quick drink in the


On The Rocks bar to the people making the most of the glistening entrance to the Manor as the perfect photo opportunity, Scarlet Lady was encouraging you to seize the moment rather than prioritise catching some Z’s. Besides? Who doesn’t love a party where they can just fall into bed after? Perhaps the most anticipated evening of all onboard a Virgin Voyages is Scarlet Night, the glistening evening where


everybody


cascades themselves in Scarlet


attire and


enjoys the quirky delights of the evening. Scarlet Night occurs on every Virgin Voyage’s ship - not just


story-telling involving the Happenings Cast. Guests are even invited to head to the performance of the Octopus Garden in the Red Room which tells cruisers the story of Scarlet Night using music to set the scene. Keep your eyes peeled for some special activities ongoing throughout the ship while onboard as members of the Happenings Cast invite cruisers to partake in amusing games and activities on Scarlet Night. Top Tip…always go with them! As the evening progresses, Scarlet Night makes a splash on Deck 15 & 16. From around 10pm, the party begins to progress towards the pool decks, so be sure to head up to grab a great spot! Enjoy performances from The Diva and The Happenings cast at poolside, and even witness a stellar show from the Octopus Goddess, who sings the iconic Scarlet Night anthem.


Some


cruisers choose to be spectators and others choose to make a splash- quite literally, as the party soon moves to the pool following the spectacle. Wanting to continue the party? The Manor also


hosts


a Scarlet Night club night, where some of the most perfect photo opportunities present themselves. So much so that the glittering mirror entryway to the Manor Nightclub on Desk 6, had a queue forming to catch the perfect photo of guests on Scarlet Night. Packed to the brim with unique


activities and bundles of character, I would encourage everybody to explore the ship on Scarlet Night as something fun is always up for grabs no matter what your style!


The cost of spa experiences vary, depending on time of the day and whether you are at sea or in port, but for an evening experience from 8pm until 12am, the cost was around $59 dollars. Peak times tend to be days at sea, leading to the Spa to be more expensive. But the evening experience was well worth the cost. Upon entering the spa, you are first taken on a tour of the facilities, which range from a hot-tub, two plunge pools, heated marble loungers, a steam room, a salt room, and a sauna. There is also a mud- room - and you are provided with your own mud which is enriched with minerals and antioxidants to make your skin glow! Staff are accommodating and provide you with excellent tips to help boost your circulation, providing you are brave enough to take a dip in the plunge pool of course! By far, my favourite features of the Spa were the salt room, hot tub and the heated marble loungers. The Redemption Spa was an ample opportunity to make the most out of my cruising experience onboard Virgin Voyages.


SEAS THE DAY | 45


Don’t be fooled, themed evenings are only a snippet of Virgin Voyage’s vast entertainment offering, in fact, throughout the week-long cruise there are heaps more activities to sign up for. These can all be accessed through the Virgin Voyages app, which provides a detailed itinerary for what is going on across the cruise - some might need bookings and others are simply first come first served! Perhaps my favourite activity onboard


was ‘Broadway Boogie,’ an event hosted in the Manor and taught by Kayla from the Happenings Cast. This event was a dance class teaching you some stellar dance moves from Broadway’s most notable musicals. A 45 minute activity, we got to learn some steps to the iconic Hairspray track, ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat.’


This


class was pretty easy-going and not too physically exerting,


making


it a perfect mid- day event to enjoy. Plus, you’ve got some amazing dance moves to show off so it’s a


Fun Fact : Scarlet Lady is named after one of Virgin Atlantic’s


first ever planes...


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