Table Of Content
Although the menu was experiential, the dishes delivered didn’t wow us, especially when multiple servers lifted individual smoke-filled glass tops to be what seemed like a side dish of fresh peas and egg yolk. Our style was definitely the more lively, shared plates scenes. Beneath one bed were two large drawers, and the closet/armoire featured another set of drawers so that everything had a place. We couldn’t fit our suitcases under the beds, but because of all the drawer space, we could fit them into the closet. While the vanity space in the bathroom was almost non-existent, we used two baskets from the closet to hold our toiletries on the shelf below the sink to keep things organized and within reach.
Sail from Barcelona or Athens
Relax around the pool, or watch the sun sink over the horizon from the Sunset Bar. On Edge-series ships, you can dine on BBQ favorites at the al fresco Rooftop Garden Grill, or sink into a sofa with your favorite cocktail on the Magic Carpet, with ocean views on three sides. Choose The Retreat for the ultimate in luxury, with access to a private sundeck, exclusive lounge, and fine dining restaurant, Luminae at The Retreat. White sand beaches, sapphire-blue sea, the rhythm of reggae on the breeze, and the clink of ice in a rum punch are just a few experiences you’ll have on a Virgin Islands cruise.
All Food
Enjoy luxurious staterooms, cuisine, and service as you discover St. Thomas, St. Thomas, The British Virgin Islands and Fort Lauderdale. Climb, snorkel, swim, bike or chill in some of the world’s most beautiful places. "We loved the ship and everything about it. We tried all the restaurants and it is difficult to select one as a favorite - as all had exciting menus and sooooo good food - freshly made of high-quality ingredients." The Virgin Islands, located to the east of Puerto Rico, were originally named by Christopher Columbus, who called them the “Archipelago of Saint Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins”, in honor of Saint Ursula and her followers. The archipelago is politically divided with some of the islands under British rule and the rest under American rule.
Why Cruise to the U.S. Virgin Islands With Celebrity Cruises
Once the hangout of pirates and buccaneers, these laid-back islands are devoted to the pleasurable pursuits of sailing, snorkeling, shopping, or simply snoozing in a hammock strung between two coconut palms. The rooftop lounge in the forward ship was dotted with shaded loungers and multiple hot tubs with a private bar, panoramic views, and nightly happy hour. We spent every afternoon lounging on the rooftop between excursions and watched the sunset during happy hour with an intimate group of cruisers we befriended. On our sea day, when the pool was most packed, the lounge remained an empty reprieve, and we certainly felt like RockStars with our whims catered to at every turn. The islands are divided between Britain and the U.S., and each has its own personality. Divers will love St. Croix, while sleepy St. John is all lush rainforest and sugary beaches.
Ferry Schedules & Times
Our most cosmopolitan island, St. Thomas has something for everyone. Enjoy the best shopping in the Caribbean, visit the Wreck of the Wit Shoal II, take a 700-foot skylift ride, and stand-up paddle board off beaches like Magens Bay. Rum distilling and the Virgin Islands go hand-in-hand, where you’ll find fascinating distilleries and flavor-packed rum cocktails to try.
At Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, you can take a walk through history, hike some of the most breathtaking scenery on the islands, and explore the various salt ponds, mangroves, and coral reefs. We were told he always greets his ships when he’s on the island, sometimes with fireworks. The Virgin Islands is one of the top spots in the Caribbean for both snorkeling and diving. From Tortola, dive the RMS Rhone, now a thriving coral reef teeming with fish.
VIPA gets green light for cruise port expansion - Dredging Today
VIPA gets green light for cruise port expansion.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
For two hours, we could take advantage of Redemption Spa’s steam room, sauna, salt therapy room, mud bath room, hot and cold plunge pools, and heated Turkish marble lounges. Sharing a room with a friend is always a tricky proposition, but even more so in the tight quarters of a cruise ship. My friend and I shared a 225-square-foot Sea Terrace suite and from the photos, it looked like we’d have some trouble squeezing in clothes for two. But we were pleasantly surprised upon arrival, as the suite was filled with plenty of space to accommodate all of our clothes and toiletries. Honestly, adults-only simply meant “adult time.” To us, that equated to a lot of relaxing, listening to live music, and reading on a lounge chair with a cocktail in hand.
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We didn’t feel like we had to dress to the nines or that meals were completely over the top when dining every evening. The restaurants are very hip, exciting, and social environments. Our favorite was Extra Virgin, “Elevated Italian,” on Deck 6. From crispy artichokes with caper aioli and charred lemon aperitivo to the secondo porcini-rubbed New York Strip with Calabrian chili butter, farro and sauteed escarole, we raved about every bite. We weren’t the only ones who loved this spot; every passenger we spoke to said it was their favorite, and we failed to secure a second reservation due to its popularity. Of course, a sea day wouldn’t be a sea day without a visit to the spa, and Valiant Lady offered an easy and inexpensive way to enjoy the spa with its Thermal Suite Pass.
We think our detour was due to being the last excursion of the day. An archaeology program at Virgin Islands National Park explores the human habitation here, dating back to around 1000 BC. This small island has been the home to African and Caribbean cultures, as well as European colonial leaders, at different times through the centuries. You can learn about everything from the earliest inhabitants to the underground railway and emancipation in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
This schedule displays the information for all three islands together. Rent a private Ocean View Cabana for a luxurious beach day you'll never forget. "I loved my experience with Virgin Voyages. I have previously cruised with many other cruise lines. This cruise had the best entertainment and food." Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are home to hundreds of species of beautiful tropical fish like angelfish, parrotfish, and blue tangs, which make for great underwater viewing. You can even find sea turtles drifting through the deep blue and rays skimming across the seabed around St. Croix. You may spot dolphins, too, particularly during the winter months. The U.S. Virgin Islands are home to some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. St. John’s Trunk Bay is known for its clear turquoise waters, while St. Thomas’ Magens Bay is popular for its white-sand shores and lush greenery.
You'll also learn about the establishment of the Virgin Islands National Park and the Coral Reef National Monument in more recent years. The rich and diverse culture of St. Croix is something everyone should experience. You can spend the morning touring the Whim Plantation or snorkeling around Buck Island and the afternoon diving at Cane Bay or enjoying local cuisine at one of many restaurants. Virgin Islands, you'll find excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.
Although we didn’t stay in a RockStar suite, which are at least double in size, feature a bottomless in-room bar, and have marble bathrooms with Peek-a-Boo showers (and sometimes a bathtub), we did get RockStar VIP access. We had decided to make our vacay a week of self-improvement, promising to partake in the ship’s more than 100 free exercise classes. We also swore we would utilize the open-air track on Deck 17 called The Runway, join the calming morning yoga sessions on The Perch, and visit the ship’s gym, B-Complex. Virgin Voyages is pretty gung-ho about its scarlet red hammock on the balconies, but having the hammock hanging down made it feel even smaller for both of us to enjoy the space at the same time. It is a petty complaint, considering we were hardly ever in our suite, but the only time we would be in the hammock was when the other was in the shower.
Visit Fort Christiansvaern in St. Croix, or take a dip in the warm, clear blue waters at Cane Bay Beach. Get ready to rejuvenate mind and body in every sense on a luxury cruise with Celebrity. The only areas that ever felt crowded were the pools at the Aquatic Club and Gym and Tonic, which is pretty typical of any cruise ship, especially on sea days. But besides feeling like we had the ship to ourselves, there was the feeling of inclusion aboard Valiant Lady. We tried a similar excursion in Barbados but were disappointed when the catamaran took us in view of the ship, deposited us on a crowded beach, and then sailed us back after a quick swim, claiming the waves were too rough. We later discovered others who took the same excursion and sailed further afield through the same company.
The diversity was evident with and felt by the passengers and crew, and it seemed everyone was simply happy to be together at sea. I miss Valiant Lady and her crew and hope to sail with Virgin Voyages again soon. One word of caution is that many of the excursions are extremely large and crowded.
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