Act now: 3-night Virgin Voyages "teaser" cruises on sale
Unless you closely follow cruise news, you're probably only half-heard about Richard Branson's forthcoming Virgin Voyages. But, if you've at all listened to what Branson and his team are developing, you know a voyage aboard the cruise line's first ship, Scarlet Lady, will be something out of the ordinary.
Virgin Voyages -- with its no kids allowed mandate -- is betting that it can make cruise vacations cooler and more compelling, especially for millennials who may have historically avoided these sorts of getaways.
For those at all interested in this sort of vacation, there's great news: Two new short "teaser" cruises have been added to the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady's agenda. Last February, the ship's April 1 inaugural sailings went on sale.
However, if you act fast, you have the opportunity to sail even sooner on one of two three-day Miami round-trip voyages. You can sail March 26–29, 2020 or March 29–April 1, 2020 on a sneak-a-peek sailing. The two itineraries are the same: Depart in the evening from Miami on Day 1, spend Day 2 at the Virgin Voyages-designed Beach Club at Bimini, spend the third day at sea and disembark back in Miami on the fourth morning.
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You can book anything from a solo Insider Cabin to a larger Sea Terrace, RockStar Suite or Mega RockStar Suite on both sailings. Several TPG staffers snagged cabins as soon as we heard they were on sale.
The onboard experience promises to be a departure from more traditional cruise ships that still offer set tablemates, predetermined dining times and hairy-chest contests by the pool. Instead, you could head to the Squid Ink tattoo parlor to get some ink...
... or attend a drag-queen brunch or spend the day at the beach club on Bimini.
Virgin Cruise fares also pack a punch with included (and unlimited) Wi-Fi and nonalcoholic beverages (still and sparkling water, non-pressed juices, sodas, teas and drip coffee). All dining venues are included (no supplements for "specialty dining") and even tips are included in the cruise fare. The cruise line will also roll out a loyalty program.
If you've been thinking about trying Virgin Voyages (and aren't afraid of early-sailing kinks), now is the day to book one of the available three-day "give it a try" itineraries. Voyages for one start at $1,150 and voyages for two start at $2,300. The least expensive cabin available for the official maiden voyage on April 1 is about $3,800.
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