How to compare?

This spring I sailed in a Gorgeous Suite on Virgin Voyages, so when I sailed on Regent Seven Seas this summer, I wanted to find the most similar experience. The closest category on Regent Seven Seas for an apples comparison with Virgin Voyages’ Gorgeous Suite is the Regent Seven Seas Penthouse Suites. Both products are a premium version of each line’s onboard experience, and they feature similar benefits.

To keep things clean, I’m not going to compare every element of each line’s sales pitch. Things like in-room turntables or pillow selection are not what I’ll be focusing on here. In the hospitality industry, everyone likes to boast that they have the best stuff, and this is no exception.

As a Mega Rockstar, you can order dishes from the ship’s restaurant’s, like Extra Virgin. This is how it comes to your room.

Onboard Benefits Comparison

Pre-Cruise Benefits

Each line offers some pre-cruise benefits that are worth noting.

Intangibles

There’s plenty about every cruise line that just doesn’t quite match up with others in a neat 1:1 comparison. I’m going to try and describe some of what makes sailing each line special but isn’t something they clearly go head-to-head on.

Regent

The Seven Seas Explorer is their largest, and most extravagant, ship. It’s smaller than most cruise ships today so It’s easy to get your bearings no matter where you are onboard. Everyone guest who sails on this ship is in a suite. Every surface you see is elegant, even the common area bathrooms are done in marble. When you are at a bar or restaurant, your glass will never go empty, and you barely need to look toward a staff member before they are asking what you need. In short, you’ll want for nothing.

Here is my full write-up about our Regent sailing.

You will be one of only 700 or so guests, depending on how full the ship is. Nothing ever feels crowded because there simply aren’t many people. The environment that Regent curates is akin to a country club. Everything is quite relaxed, but in the evenings, more formal wear is expected in the common areas. The restaurants are quiet and often fairly private dining sessions. You’re never close enough to another table to overhear their conversation or vice versa. Posh and slightly reserved is an appropriate description for what it feels like on board.

The Regent Seven Seas Explorer observation lounge exemplifies their refinement.

Night life on the ship is calmer than many lines, dance parties and the like aren’t a part of the typical offerings. Live music is played in various areas, but the focus is often more on elegance than entertainment. However, having a quiet drink in the lounge while a piano is played is many folks idea of heaven.

Virgin Voyages Mega Rockstar

All of Virgin’s ships are chic and modern, there’s no air of stuffiness on these vessels. Although their reputation as “party ships” isn’t quite accurate, they certainly know how to have a good time. The legendary Scarlet Nights are something that you have to see to believe, and no other line throws a bash like that! Energetic but chill reverberates through every deck.

As a Mega Rockstar, you are made to feel special – like a big fish in a small pond. There are only 15 Mega Rockstar suites, and each has their own Mega Rockstar agent. You’ll get perks that no one else on the ship enjoys. The hosts at the restaurants make sure you are seated right away. You get first choice at seating for shows. Even when you fancy a trip to the spa, you can walk right in because Mega Rockstars have unlimited access.

Sailing as a Mega Rockstar just feels different. You arrive at the port by black SUV, pulling ahead of everyone and being brought right to the entry. You’re greeted, personally, by Mega Rockstar Agents who then check in with you every day to see if there’s anything you need. When you leave, that same agent takes your bags through the ship and all the way to the front of the disembarkation line. You stand out and feel it.

Is one actually better?

So, how Does Regent Seven Seas Compare to Virgin Voyages Mega Rockstar? You may have guessed this conclusion as you read, but there isn’t really a clear winner here. These may be two products that are quite close in offerings, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

The two lines offer hugely different products. Virgin Voyages is relaxed but vibrant, the epitome of chill. Regent Seven Seas is refined and elegant, but not, as we were told by staff, stuffy. The vibes are worlds apart.

And, despite what you may be thinking, neither one of these lines seems to be particularly youthful or wizened. On both Regent and Virgin there are plenty of young and old alike when I have sailed them. It isn’t age that separates these experiences, it’s presentation and ambiance.

I will say, I think that there is slightly more value in Regent Seven Seas’ offerings. It comes down to one thing and one thing only, included excursions. I had excursions at every port we stopped at and I certainly got between $500-$1000 dollars in value from it. That’s not trivial, but it isn’t everything.

At the end of the day, for my taste, I still enjoy Virgin Voyages more. I like the more relaxed atmosphere where I can wear shorts to dinner if I feel like it. I love dedicated running track on top of the ship. Even though I’ve never been much for parties, I still enjoy dancing my heart out during Scarlet Night.

How Does Regent Seven Seas Compare to Virgin Voyages Mega Rockstar? Well, there’s not really a comparison to Scarlet Night and that’s part of what makes this hard.

Regent was excellent, but it’s not made for me. The person who will enjoy Regent is the sort of person that enjoys a country club. If you love delicate piano played while you sip on glass of merlot, this is for you. Most of all, if you really don’t want a crowd of other passengers to share the ship with, that is who Regent is for.

The conclusion is that if you are spending enough money to sail as a Mega Rockstar or in a Penthouse Suite on Regent, choose the line that best fits your vibe.

The post How Does Regent Seven Seas Compare to Virgin Voyages Mega Rockstar? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

That tag line alone should give you a sense for what the ship and line are like. Marble bathroom surfaces, tiled entryways in the rooms, included drinks, even included excursions. I’ll do my best to describe the feel of the ship and what our time onboard was like, but this won’t be a review like many of the other articles I’ve written.

I mentioned that we were invited to experience this ship and that meant that we paid a significantly discounted rate. We also sailed as part of a larger group of travel agents, which meant that the entire ship was well aware of our profession and our affiliation with the group. I can’t say that we were treated any differently as a result, I rather doubt we were based on the experiences other guests described, but I can’t rule it out. Because of that, I can’t give you a review that I know I can trust. Instead, I’ll simply describe what it was like.

What’s the line all about?

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, RSSC, pitches itself as the most all-inclusive and luxurious line in the industry. It’s hard to argue that point with them either, given what’s included.

First off, every room is a suite. Even their most modest rooms are larger than any stateroom on other lines I’ve been on. The Princess mini-suites seemed to be the closest comparison to what RSSC’s entry level rooms are.

The rooms are all very luxurious, especially for a cruise ship. The bathrooms have marble surfaces, the beds come with a pillow menu, and every room has a balcony – at least on the Explorer.

Hotel Reception on the Regent Seven Seas Explorer

All your drinks are included, and every restaurant has a sommelier. They are happy to customize drinks with specific alcohols and brands, if they are available. The wines are recommended by the sommelier each night, but they will open other bottles if you don’t care for their selection.

Laundry is included, daily, and so are the spa facilities, but not the services (like manicures). Perhaps the most unusual for a cruise line is the included excursions. RSSC provides a bevy of excursions to select from. As far as I could tell, they offer everything that the other lines would offer for excursions. Not all of them are included, but the ones that aren’t included are sold at discounted rates, presumably because RSSC is covering some of the cost.

Like I said, RSSC’s goal is to be the most all-inclusive line there is and they go a long way to ensure that they meet that. My time onboard the Explorer showed me their commitment to that.

Before you board

Once we got our room assignment, we were able to make our selections for the excursions. It was simple enough to do. Regent Seven Seas will have you create an online account and then you connect your account to the sailing you booked using your confirmation number. You may not have to do that, depending on exactly how you book, but we did.

Once your account is connected, it will show you the cruise itinerary and display all the available excursions. As I said, many excursions are included but not all of them. If there is a cost associated, it will be displayed clearly. The excursions have accurate descriptions, from my experience at least, and there are dozens to choose from. Selection was a simple click a checkbox followed by a checkout process.

I also experienced what to do if you want or need to change an excursion. One of the selections I made was cancelled before the cruise and I wanted to book something else. It’s not something that seems to be done online so I had to call Regent’s customer service. The call only took 5 minutes and was very easy to take care of and then I booked the new excursion I wanted.

Regent Seven Seas is so attentive to your needs, as I boarded on a very rainy and cold day in Whittier, the line provided umbrellas and carried my personal bags for me when they saw I was moving a lot of gear (mostly cameras).

Since our cruise was part of a familiarization program for travel agents, we didn’t get to experience booking our own dining. The Regent Seven Seas Explorer has three specialty restaurants that you can book dining times at. There is no additional charge for these restaurants but you do need to make reservations. Our times were scheduled by the program organizer to ensure that we got to experience all of them. Given the experience with the excursions, I can’t imagine that this part would be difficult or contain any major hiccups.

Regent Seven Seas, like many cruise lines, has options to arrange transfers to the port from hotels and book nights in hotels. We did not participate in that program but spoke to some who did and they said it was very typical of any line.

However, a word of caution to cruisers sailing from Whittier, AK on Regent… The dock for Regent in Whittier is brand new this year. We were the second or third cruise from the dock. The dock itself is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Regent’s parent company, and isn’t yet on most maps. As of writing, neither Uber nor Lyft have it, and Google Maps shows it as a location, but there is no address associated with it. This dock is also quite a hike from Whittier’s “downtown” and existing dock, so don’t plan on walking from town to the NCL dock. All this wasn’t made clear to us before we got there, so I wanted our readers to know about it.

There is also an app for Regent Seven Seas, but I wouldn’t bother with it as it seems to be, put politely, non-functional, put impolitely, utter crap. Regent’s team did seem aware of their app’s lackluster performance, so perhaps usefulness is on the horizon for it.

Onboard Experience

Let’s be plain about one fact, Regent Seven Seas is luxurious. With that luxury comes many things that you expect and several that, even I, an experienced traveler, did not.

All the interior public spaces are grand and considered. The walls have dark, rich, wood on them. The bathrooms are done in marble and have small, cloth, hand towels to dry your hands with – germaphobes, don’t be confused by this, you use one towel and then you put it in a hamper so it gets washed.

There are multiple lounges with live performers in the evening. A café with excellent espresso and leather chairs to relax in. A library with thousands of titles and several spaces for games and puzzles. On deck 11, there is an observation lounge and bar where you can sit and watch the world go by.

The entrance to the Regent Seven Seas Explorer Observation Lounge gives a good sense of the line’s luxurious atmosphere.

Their pool and hot tubs were not well used on our trip, since it was cold and wet for most of it, but they looked enjoyable, nonetheless. On the Regent Seven Seas Explorer, the spa is included, but the infinity pool on the back of the ship that’s part of it isn’t heated, so it wasn’t a very popular space either. The rest of the spa seemed quite nice, but I didn’t have much time to use it. As I would expect, the gym was top notch, for a cruise line, and I count it as the second best I’ve been to after Virgin’s.

The Regent Seven Seas Explorer Has A Nice Gym

The staff are incredibly attentive and the staff to guest ratio allowed them to be. Because all the rooms are suites, max passenger capacity is only 750. That means a staff to passenger ratio that is solidly luxurious.

What I found most remarkable about the staff is just how helpful they were. When boarding, staff were carrying any bags that they could, and, when they saw one of us struggling with a couple uncooperative bags, two of them rushed over and each of them grabbed one bag. They even escorted you to your muster station immediately after boarding to ensure you know where it is.

The single most remarkable thing I experienced was from the housekeeping staff. Our sailing was in Alaska, early in the season. It wasn’t frigid on the trip, but the heat remained on in our cabin the entire time. This meant that air was exceptionally dry and that we were quite uncomfortable. I was wishing I brought one of our travel humidifiers, but I didn’t, so I resigned myself to discomfort. Gretchen, thankfully, was less resigned to discomfort and asked the housekeeping staff if they had a humidifier and, to my utter disbelief, they did! That’s something I’ve never seen before.

Elsewhere online, I’ve read others comment that on Regent Seven Seas, if the staff can say “Yes,” they do. From what I saw, that’s true.

Suites

The only thing that you can book on Regent is a suite. They have a wide variety of suites to choose from, but even their most modest are quite nice. Their Veranda suite measures 220 ft² interior with a 90 ft² balcony and there’s a deluxe Veranda that offers 255 ft² interior.

Their most common suite is the superior/concierge suite with 330 ft² interior and a range of 85-130 ft² and they only get bigger from there. The Penthouse suites, are 450 ft² interior with a 110-170 ft² balcony. Larger still, Seven Seas suites are 580 ft² interior and 240 ft² balcony.

A bottle of champagne and some sweet treats greeted us as we entered our Penthouse Suite.

Still greater space is afforded to the Explorer suites with 645 ft² interior and 170-270 ft² balcony. There are also grand suites, which measure in at 850-1010 ft² interior and range from 280-920 ft² of balcony space.

It doesn’t stop there, the two-bedroom master suite, which we didn’t get to see, has 1065-1120 ft² interior and a 830-990 ft² balcony. But even that isn’t the top. That honor belongs to the two-bedroom Regent suite, which we also didn’t get to see, that has a stunning 3155 ft² interior space and a 1290 ft² balcony, all to yourself.

During our time onboard, we didn’t stay in a standard suite, we paid to upgrade to the Penthouse Suite level because that was the closest experience to a Virgin Mega Rockstar, which I recently sailed as, and we wanted to compare them.

The penthouse suite is very lovely, to put it mildly, and it is the first suite level that comes with a personal butler. Our butler, Ryan, saw to our every need. He would bring us our room service when we ordered something, our laundry when it was finished, and anything else we thought to ask for.

Everything in our Penthouse Suite was lovely, especially the bathroom.

The sofa and chairs were quite comfortable and there was plenty of space to move around in. The mini bar was always kept stocked with drinks and clean glasses as well as still and sparkling water.

Interestingly, the bathroom came with dual sinks complete with two different amenity kits from two different companies. The shower had a rain head, a wand head, and six heads on the walls to really get that clean feeling. Everything in the bathroom was marble, of course, and it was a very nice space to do your makeup.

Storage space is not a problem, with a walk-in closet and drawers aplenty in every part of the room. Go ahead and pack your whole wardrobe, you can fit it in this room.

The only part I wasn’t particularly keen on was the bed. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but I can’t say it was notably comfortable either. I would say it is better than Virgin’s beds but not quite as good as Princess’ beds, with Princes still being the best I’ve slept at sea.

Food and Dining

There’s nothing quite as important as food on a cruise and there are plenty of options on the Explorer. I think it’s best to go through each location and discuss them briefly

Compass Rose (Main Dining Room)

I’ve never been in a dining room quite as gorgeous as this one. Décor doesn’t change the quality of the food, but it certainly makes it a nice place to be. Regardless, the adornments have nothing to make up for. Whether you are eating breakfast or dinner, it’s wonderful. For my tastes, this was the best meal I had on my sailing.

La Veranda and Sette Mari at La Veranda (Buffet)

La Veranda is a buffet and Sette Mari, which is what La Veranda becomes at night, is a blended dining style that I found a bit odd. Sette Mari has sit down dining with a server, but some portions of your meal are intended for you to serve yourself at a buffet. Although the food was quite good, I stand on principle that I don’t like buffets, mainly due to the higher chances for unsanitary conditions. I found this to be the weakest food on the ship and spent the least amount of time here.

Pacific Rim (Specialty Dining)

The entrance to Pacific Rim on the Regent Seven Seas Explorer

A Pan-Asian menu that features some bolder flavors. Of the specialty dining options, I had the best time here, even if it didn’t have the best individual dish. Unlike the rest of the ship’s provisions, I was able to add some heat to my curry. It wasn’t quite as “spicy” as I usually get from my local Thai restaurants, but it was spicier than most ship food gets – and yes, I asked for that. Those less inclined towards oral furnaces need not worry. The interior design of the restaurant is striking, making for a very contemporary experience, while not falling into the starkness all too common in dining establishments today.

Chartreuse (Specialty Dining)

Dining at Chartreuse was a bit like finding a unicorn in today’s culinary world because it’s a French restaurant. It’s uncommon, arguably rare to find a French eatery in the last decade or so, which made it a refreshing place to dine at. The furniture wasn’t my favorite, I found the chairs a bit uncomfortable. The food, however, made up for any lack in upholstery as it served the best dish I had while onboard. A pan seared arctic char prepared to perfection.

Prime 7 (Specialty Dining)

This is the steakhouse onboard, a rather ubiquitous sight on cruise ships these days. The food was as good as the best steakhouse, obviously, the menu emphasizes beef. More importantly, the wine selection was impressive. Should you ever visit, you will be spoiled for choice with reds.

Pool Grill (Quasi Buffet, Lunch Only)

I didn’t expect that I would want to highlight the hotdog that Regent served, but it was really good!

The pool grill seemed the most popular place for lunch on the ship, given that the seating was filled every day. It’s a rather odd setup for serving food though. There’s some dishes that are self-serve buffet style, like the salads, but then there’s things like burgers and hotdogs that are ordered with a server. Despite the strange mixed messages, everything I ate here was excellent, particularly the hotdogs, which I hadn’t expected. I still don’t like buffets, but the made to order portions were delicious.

One other thing to remember here: lobster nachos.

Coffee Connection

Although this café isn’t a full restaurant, it’s worth mentioning because it’s where most of the ship congregated each morning at one point or another. This is where lattes are obtained as well as some pastries. The cruise line likes to make a big deal out of their daily cronut, which changes each day, and passengers seem to enjoy. Personally, I didn’t think they were worth the fuss (and I don’t think they really qualify as a cronut either). The coffee, though, was the best I’ve had at sea, easily outstripping every other line’s cafés. If I’d had the time each day, I would have spent hours here each morning, doing some work or reading a book while sipping divine espresso.

Fresh pastries are always nice and the cafe on the Explorer had plenty.

Overall, the quality of the dining on the Explorer was blowing most other lines out of the water (pun intended). The only complaint I think is worth mentioning is that the specialty restaurants all seemed to have quite a long service time. Each dinner we had at the specialty restaurants was, at a minimum, two hours. I enjoy a lengthy meal, one that allows for discussion with my dining companions, but these meals pushed my sensibilities on that. We had several nights that were pre-planned by the coordinator for our group and we dined at 7 PM. We never made it out of dinner with enough time to see a show. Just something to keep in mind as you plan your meals.

Excursions, Drinks, and Other Extra Details

Since Regent is about the most all inclusive line there is, it’s prudent to cover how all inclusive they are.

Beverages

Almost all the alcohol and all soft drinks are included in your fare. There were a few scenarios, like tasting classes, where you paid extra for the drinks, but otherwise it was all included. This means that there is a refrigerator in the gym with bottles of Gatorade (or equivalent) that you can just take.

One word of advice, take the time to specify elements of your drink when ordering. For example, instead of asking for a dry martini, ask for an Aviation gin martini, with a lemon twist. If you specify the liquor, you will get better quality than if you don’t.

Excursions

The included excursions and the prorated paid excursions that I went on were fantastic! Some excursions were canceled, either due to weather, delays, or other issues, but what I did experience was excellent. I don’t imagine that these excursions are any different than what can be purchased through other lines or online, but Regent Seven Seas certainly worked with good vendors. On other lines I find that selecting excursions can be daunting task, mostly weighing the cost versus time, but on Regent, because many excursions have no added cost, it’s a lot more fun and encourages you to partake.

This excursion to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau included whale watching. It was amazing!

Shops and Casino

Both the shopping area and the casino are smaller than on modern cruise ships. The Explorer was a massive refit from an ship built in the 90s, so it’s from another era in it’s dimensions and layout.

If you are interested in the casino, they have all the basics you’ll want, just maybe not the variety of tables and slots other lines have. The casino room, however, feels a bit like you’re in a Bond movie, which is fun and worth something in my mind.

The shops were oddly pushy, even aggressive in their selling. They also didn’t offer anything different than on other lines, which I found surprising. I was expecting a bit more haute couture, if not by definition at least by appearance. What exists is the same as any other ship I’ve been on, plus some extra desperation on the salespeople’s part. We were browsing the items in the store and one clerk would not stop harassing us with pleas to try on various pearl necklaces, which we rejected each time. It drove us out very quickly, which is, perhaps, why I never saw anyone else in the store.

Laundry

I’ve mentioned already that the laundry is included, which is the best benefit of all. I love coming home and having hardly any laundry to do. You simply fill a bag, fill out a slip that tells them what’s in there, and it returns the next day. Oh, and it comes back hung or wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a box. All I can say is, it’s lovely.

Laundry is delivered on hangars or in a box on Regent Seven Seas. Don’t mind my shirt I left out on the bed…

If you’d rather take care of your own laundry, there is a launderette, complete with chairs and a TV so that you can stay with your clothes if you are so inclined. I didn’t feel the need to use it, but it seemed quite capable.

Entertainment

Unfortunately, because of a very busy schedule, we didn’t have time to participate in the entertainment on the ship. Looking over the acts and offerings it didn’t seem particularly special. Some of our colleagues did see one stand up show and said it was fine, but a bit bland. I imagine that designing entertainment for a ship with only 700 passengers, give or take, is hard. I don’t think the onboard entertainment is the highlight of the line, but I don’t think the people sailing Regent Seven Seas would be choosing a line based on its entertainment options either. That is to say, if you want spectacular displays of theater, look elsewhere.

Live music, however, is featured all throughout the ship in the evenings. The musicians onboard were mostly in the jazz or classical fields, but there was also dance music in certain areas. I adore live piano and that was easy to find; it makes for such a relaxing audio-scape.

Conclusions

Regent Seven Seas is the ultimate in luxury and it comes with a price tag to match. Like I said, our fare was heavily discounted because this was a familiarization trip, sponsored by the cruise line. The intent is to wow us and show us everything they can do. Coming away from the trip, I certainly feel that I know what the line is all about.

This is the place you go when you’ve had enough of upselling, small cabins, and being crowded with other passengers. None of that exists on Regent Seven Seas, the only catch is that you pay for it. When I looked at other, similar length sailings, typical prices began at close to $6,500 per person. Regent does give us the ability to offer unpublished deep discounts on select sailings.

When you compare that to what other lines offer for similar prices, it actually comes out ahead in many head to head comparisons. To be fair, a lot of that value comes from the included excursions because most lines included drinks, spa access, laundry, etc., in their similarly priced categories. I have a feel, though, that people choosing Regent are not necessarily looking for the best value. Instead, I think they are looking for the best experience.

This is the humidifier that the Regent Seven Seas housekeeping team found for us when we said the room was dry. I still can’t believe they could do that for us.

On Regent Seven Seas, guests will find an amazing experience, I can say that with certainty. It is an experience of luxury, refinement, and being pampered. It is, like all lines, tailored to fit a certain approach or style. Where Disney appeals to families, Virgin Voyages creates a kid free environment, Princess has something for everyone, while Regent is a country club on the waves. They resisted being called stuffy when they spoke with us and I don’t think it was, but the vibe is very much country club, nonetheless.

I’ve found in my travels, as I talk with others, people tend to choose their preferred line based on the vibes more than anything else. It makes sense to me to do that. You’re on vacation, if you want a raucous party, you likely wouldn’t want to be with Mickey Mouse. Conversely, if you want refinement and gentle jazz saxophone in the observation lounge, you likely wouldn’t choose a line that has a happy hour.

Regent will appeal most to the people that like that sort of environment. A quiet sophistication is the definition of this line and if that calls to you, you may have just found your home on the ocean.

The post Regent Seven Seas: Opulence On The Ocean appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Okay… we. We don’t actually say that. Still, booking a cruise during Wave Season makes a lot of sense. The cruise lines all roll out strong offers for January through March when most travelers book for the year. It’s consistently the best time to book.

There are plenty of sales that are being offered, but we want to highlight the promotions that we think our clients will have the most interest in. The are presented in alphabetical order, of course.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Offer: Save up to 30%, a value of up to $10,000 per stateroom. The sale also adds up to $600 onboard credit on select expeditions. Solo travelers also enjoy a Single Supplement from only 125% on many expeditions.

Eligibility: The offer is valid on select 2025 and 2026 expedition sailings. Must book by February 3^rd.

Our opinion: Atlas is a new line and we don’t have a long history to compare and see how “good” of a deal this is. However, we can say that for solo travelers this is quite a nice offer and if you’ve been thinking of trying Atlas, $600 in credit is not a bad deal.

Azamara

Offer: The luxury cruise line known for longer port visits is offering up to $1000 in onboard credit. How much credit you receive is based on which category of stateroom you book. The higher tier of room booked, i.e. suites, the more credit is offered. Lower tiers, such as interior rooms, get less, to a minimum of $200.

Eligibility: The offer is valid on select 2025 sailings and you must book by February 28^th.

Our opinion: We like this sale because it’s straightforward. Onboard credit is a known quantity and that’s always a good thing.

Cunard

Offer: Up to $800 Onboard Credit per stateroom. Plus, a Drinks Package and Hotel and Dining Service Charges are included when you book a Grills Suite.

Eligibility: The offer is valid on all of Cunard’s sailings, but you must book by March 26^th.

Our opinion: Once again, we like this sale because it’s straightforward. The suites earn more credit, but the offer is solid for all categories of stateroom. For a line that costs less than people often imagine, this is a handsome offer.

Princess

Offer: Up to 40% off and up to $200 onboard credit, plus FREE room upgrades and FREE 3rd & 4th guests.

Eligibility: The promotion ends February 28, 2025

Our opinion: The real deal here is the 3^rd and 4^th sailors are free. This means that a family of four can sail Princess for much less during this sale. It’s a great way to take a family vacation and we are impressed with Princess’ kids programs, which is often celebrated by family travelers.

Regent Seven Seas

Offer: Free 2-Category Suite Upgrade, 50% Reduced Deposits, and 20% Savings on Select Voyages

Eligibility: Available on all ships and destinations. Promotion ends February 28, 2025

Our opinion: Regent is the ultimate in all-inclusive cruising and this sale is allowing you to upgrade your suite while booking at a lower suite’s fare. Let’s be honest, if you’re booking Regent, you probably aren’t worried about a sale. Still, the offer is nice.

Seabourn:

Offer: Up to 15% savings, with up to $1,000 USD in shipboard credit per suite, along with reduced deposits on Seabourn Ocean voyages and Expeditions to all seven continents.

Eligibility: The promotion ends February 18, 2025

Our opinion: For those interested in sailing to exotic locations, like Antarctica, or trying a truly luxury cruise, this is a good time to do it. Like we’ve said repeatedly, onboard credit is a dependable offer because you know what you’re getting, and a low deposit isn’t a bad thing either.

Viking:

Offer: Viking is offering reduced fares on river, ocean, and expeditions cruises. There are also additional perks available on select sailings, including free international airfare and a deposit of $25.

Eligibility: Offer ends on January 31^st, 2025.

Our opinion: We can’t say too much about the reduced rates, because rates are always changing, but if you select a cruise with the free airfare, that’s a good deal. Airfare is pricy and that’s a way to save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

If you would like to book Viking ocean with us as your travel advisor, use this link.

Virgin:

Offer: 80% off a 2nd Sailor and up to USD $300 in Bar Tab based on voyage length, with longer voyages awarding more credit.

Eligibility: Available on all 2025 and 2026 voyages. Offer ends on January 30^th, 2025.

Our opinion: Getting any amount of Bar Tab is always good and a very popular promotion for the company. Having sailed Virgin quite a bit myself, $300 can go a long way in drinks.

If you would like to book Virgin with us as your travel advisor, you this link.

Windstar

Offer: Windstar is offering an interesting sale. If you book with them you’ll have a choice of three options; onboard credit of up to $1,000 per suite; a night at a hotel before or after your cruise; a complimentary All-Inclusive experience (only available when booking a  Premium Suite).

Eligibility: Offer ends on March 31^st, 2025.

Our opinion: Since you always want to arrive at least one day before a cruise leaves, this seems like a can’t lose deal. When a luxury cruise line is offering to put you up in a hotel for a night before, take it.

As I said, there are dozens of Wave Season sales from different lines and the ones presented above are from the lines our clients sail the most. If you are interested in offers from lines not listed above, please reach out to us. During Wave Season, many lines run a series of flash sales rather than static offers, making it difficult to present them here.

The post We Love These Wave Season Sales appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

A white Christmas is not your speed? Looking to escape the winter blues? Or are you just looking to take advantage of the kids being off of school for a while? Change the Christmas trees for palms and consider one of the many popular destinations for a Christmas vacation.

Cruising for a Tropical Christmas

While last-minute cruise deals are much harder to find than in the past, they still exist. You do need to be flexible as to dates and cabins. 

Virgin Voyages Bimini Beach is beautiful.

Richard Branson’s new cruise line is winning every award in sight and they do things differently. Virgin Voyages has done away with the main dining room and buffet; every night is specialty dining with 20+ eateries.  And there is no extra charge for any of them! Virgin fares include crew gratuities, wi-fi, group fitness classes, gelato-style ice cream, and much more.  No one under 18 allowed but adults are encouraged to embrace their inner child. Virgin sails the Caribbean out of Miami. Contact us about December sailings, and we will put together some special offers not available by booking directly through the website.

Celebrity Cruises, the upscale cruise line known for its food and excellent service, still has space.  When you sail in December you enjoy traditional holiday meals created by a Michelin-starred chef and decorating with no prep or cleanup. You experience festive holiday shows and carolers. Everyone gets to enjoy downtime during the holidays to spend with those who matter most. Corks pop on New Year’s Eve.

We love Princess Cruises because it not only offers a high-quality cruise experience, but also lets us help you pile up the perks. The December 16 sailing of the new Sky Princess looks especially fun for a tropical Christmas. If booking Princess be sure to consider the high-value Princess Plus add-on.

A Hawaiian Tropical Christmas

If you’re looking to stay in the U.S. for Christmas, look no further than Hawaii for a tropical Christmas vacation.

Hawaii Wants Visitors

After the devasting Maui wildfires, tourism to Hawaii has understandably declined.  As a result, flights and accomodations are much more inexpensive than usual.

Now the islands are asking for the support of the traveling community and are making excellent travel offers for the holiday season. Also, you can our Best Hawaiian Travel Tips. We also share how to choose the best Hawaiian island to visit.

Christmas in Mexico

Because of its strong Christian traditions, Mexico is a fantastic place to get into the Christmas spirit without dealing with the Christmas weather.

A Tropical Christmas in Brazil

As another strongly Catholic nation, Brazil knows how to do Christmas. While not as famous as their Lent celebration, Carnival, there is a lot to do in Brazil for Christmas. And the weather is warm enough to hit the beaches.

Attending a “Missa do Galo” (Midnight Mass) at one of Rio’s historic churches, such as Candelária Church or the Metropolitan Cathedral can be ver memorable.

Merry Christmas for the Santa Chamelon

Subdued Tropical Christmas Choices

If you are looking for a relaxing tropical vacation with fewer Christmas-themed festivities, consider traveling to some of the non-Christian parts of the world. Malaysia and Vietnam offer beautiful views and beaches without decking the halls.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

The post You Can Still Have a Tropical Christmas in 2024 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We work with travel suppliers who offer packages with all-inclusive resorts and with non-stop chartered flights to and from Cancun, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.  You save time and money.

Save time and money on your next beach vacation

Direct Flights

For people in the Midwest, there are direct flights from 13 locations including Columbus in Ohio, Lansing in Michigan, and Rockford in Illinois. You won’t need to worry about having a four-hour layover or losing your luggage when changing planes. The average flight time is four hours each way and most flights arrive at the destination before noon, so you have time to enjoy the resort the day you arrive.  Many returning flights leave after 12 p.m. so you have time to enjoy a relaxing breakfast at your resort before heading to the airport. And best of all, these direct flights are available from major airports across the U.S.

Resorts For Every Budget

You have a variety of resorts to choose from. You can find resorts available for about $2,000 a week for a couple all the way up to beautiful exclusive resorts that can cost upwards of $10,000. There are both family-oriented resorts as well as adult-only ones available. Of course, resorts with direct beach access are a premium. All resorts have some form of upgraded room categories for an added cost that include butler service or exclusive beach areas. Many have the much-loved swim-up suites!

And many packages will include transfers to and from the airport and other perks such as a champagne breakfast or discounts on services. You can always add private transfers to and from the airport, rent a car for a day or 2, and pre-book excursions as well.

Cancun is waiting

Groups Get More Perks

Many of these all-inclusive resorts will offer resort credit and other perks for groups of 12 people or more (six room minimum). In some cases, each room will receive resort credit even if members of your group fly in from different airports. There are resorts that will still apply credit to the room if a couple needs to arrive a day later or leave a day earlier than the rest of the group.

A Personal Example

I want to go to Cancun in January. I’m starting with my sister in Wisconsin. There are no direct flights unless I want to drive 2 hours to O’Hare in Chicago. I could catch a flight in Milwaukee at 5:30 a.m. but transfer in O’Hare where I have a three-hour layover. Or I can catch a 7 a.m. flight with a layover in Atlanta arriving in Cancun at 3 p.m.

Fortunately, there’s a better option.

I can book a 5-day non-stop vacation to Cancun from Milwaukee. Leaving Milwaukee at 6 a.m., I will arrive in Cancun about 11 am. I can be on the beach by lunchtime. My flight back home 5 days later leaves Cancun at noon, and I would be home by 3 p.m.

I choose the Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa with an Allure Junior Suite with an ocean view. I’m receiving perks including in-room champagne breakfast, 25% spa discount per person and shared transportation to and from the airport.  I’ve also received a bit of a discount on the room.

My cost before travel insurance (which I will definitely purchase) and checked baggage fee would be about $1,650 per person. How can I beat that? My 5-day weekend in Seattle last year cost much more than this for just flights and hotel.

If I don’t like this resort, there are many others that I can choose. 

A standard room at Riu Lupita for 2 people (including airfare) costs about $1,000 per person before luggage fees and travel insurance. Or I could choose a Junior Suite at Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen for $2,500 per person.

Ready To Plan?

If you are considering an All-Inclusive Vacation, give us a call or email karen@farfarawaytravels.com. We will be happy to provide options for you.

Looking For other Tips for Saving?

Our Airfare Secrets

Two For One

Surviving Air Travel

The post Save Money and Time on Your All-Inclusive Vacation appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Looking for the way to get the best airfare prices? Check out our 6 Insider Secrets for Getting the Best Airfare.

Tip 1: Don’t Fly!

If you can, drive! Seriously, if your destination is a day’s drive or less, it may be the better alternative. Besides, a road trip can be fun.

Tip 2: For a Better Air Travel Experience, Use the App

Download and use the app for your airline. With it you can get your boarding pass, change seats, track your bags, see your incoming plane, and change a flight. Best of all, if your flight is cancelled or you miss a connection, you can often rebook from your phone. It beats waiting in the long line to talk to an agent. Good use of the app can be one of your strongest tools for surviving air travel.

Tip 3: Leave Early

Fly MUCH earlier than you need to – a whole day early if it’s important!! Remember, airline meltdowns have caused people to miss weddings, funerals, cruises, international connections, and graduations. If you must be somewhere, spend the extra money and go a day or two early.

Tip 4: Take that 6 a.m. Flight (Ugh!)

Fly the first flight in the morning so you have all day to be rebooked if things hit the fan. Yes, that means it might be a 3:00 a.m. wake-up, but morning flights cancel less often.

Tip 5: Watch the Weather

Remember, a single storm can shut down a whole airport. If severe weather is expected, you can often rebook to another flight. Check your airline’s website to see if a “weather waiver” is in effect.

Tip 6: Longer Layovers

In the past, a one-hour layover was sufficient at many airports. That 1-hour layover is no longer enough for 2023 air travel because so many flights run late for so many reasons. Look for layovers of at least two hours.

Tip 7: Avoid New York

We love visiting New York but you should avoid connecting at any New York area airport, especially Newark. In recent years, there is a 50/50 chance your flight will cancel or you will miss your connection. And if you get stuck there for an extended period, expect the restaurants to be expensive and the airline clubs jammed with people. For all these reasons, we try to avoid EWR, JFK, and LGA.

Tip 8: Be Nice!

One of the most important tips for air travel is to be nice! People are less likely to want to help you if you are mean to them. Tensions are high. You are frustrated and staff are exhausted. Besides, the delays are usually not their fault. A “please” and a sympathetic word can do wonders to get you the help you need.

Tip 9: Use Your Carry-On

If you can manage it, don’t check a bag—if you experience multiple cancellations a checked bag may not make it with you anyway. On the other hand, make sure your carry-on fits the airline’s size policy.

Don’t be the person who holds up the whole flight because you can’t figure out how to make your too-large carry-on fit in the overhead. We don’t like that person. In fact, we usually bring a carry-on that fits under the seat in front of us so we don’t have to fight for overhead bin space.

Tip 10: Buy Travel Insurance

If you don’t want to risk missing out on your dream cruise, make sure to protect your investment with travel insurance. But generally, it is not a good idea to purchase it from the airline as you can get better coverage for your whole trip from a third-party insurer.

Think carefully about how much money you have spent on your non-refundable trip and consider purchasing travel insurance to cover it. Airline and cruise company insurance can be more expensive than purchasing from a third-party provider. A knowledgeable travel agent can help you find the best insurance for your needs and budget.

Also, if you travel more than once a year, annual multi-trip plans can be very cost-effective. That’s what we use.

Tip 11: Get the Best Seat

For 2024 air travel, on most airlines if you buy the cheapest seats (usually called basic economy) you have no right to sit in specific seats. Read the rules when you purchase your ticket. If sitting together is important, buy the ticket that lets you do that.

Do not expect strangers on a crowded plane to change seats with you, especially if they paid for that window seat. And if you do need to ask, ask nicely. You have no right to demand someone give up their seat and you certainly have no right to plop yourself down in that seat without permission.

Tip 12: Buying Your Air from Third Party Sites

If a flight is oversold, and no one volunteers to give up their seats, who do you think is the first to be bumped? It will not be the people who bought directly from the airline, it will be those who bought from a third-party site like Kayak, Expedia, etc.

Tip 13: Bring a Sweater

Planes are often cold. Even if you are heading for a sunny beach Layering is your friend. They will NOT turn the plane’s temperature up just for you! We always carry a Pashmina.

Tip 14: The Restroom!

Although this should seem obvious, we see people on many flights ignore this advice. Wear shoes to the restroom because you don’t know what liquid is on the floor. Also, don’t leave debris in the restroom. And, put trash in the receptacle and use a towel to wipe the sink.

Tip 15: Thank the Staff

A thank you note or a $5 gift card can brighten their day beyond measure. We know people who take small boxes of chocolates to give to deserving staff.

Also, if someone goes out of their way to help you, write down their name and send in an email note of praise to the airline. It matters as sometimes they will get perks or promotions because of your praise!

Tip 16: The BEST Tip for Air Travel

We saved the best tip for last. And shockingly few air travelers are aware of this important tip.

Last year when air travel melt-downs frustrated tens of thousands of travelers, the U.S. Department of Transportation stepped in. Not only did they tighten some rules, the got most of the U.S. domestic airlines to agree to provide you certain benefits if your flight is cancelled or delayed. Just visit the Airline Customer Service Dashboard and enter the specific airline. Then you can see what your airline has promised you if bad things happen.

Finally, you can use the comprehensive dashboard to compare airlines.

Secret Tip 17: The Coolest Secret

This one is so cool we made it a secret number 17. Take a European style two prong plug even if you are not going to Europe. What???

The reason is because the power ports on the plane can fit a variety of plug types and the U.S. ones tend to get worn down the most either because they’re used the most or Americans are more impatient in their handling of cords. But the European sockets are nice and tight. The sockets on most planes will work with either type, but the European ones actually work!

Want to know more about our airfare secrets and hacks? Check out the secret to visiting two destinations for the airfare for one and our 6 tips for getting the best airfare deal.

The post 16 Tips for Surviving 2024 Air Travel appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Family Fun

Destination 1: Orlando,

Of course, one of the popular spring break travel ideas is Orlando, chock-full of family fun. There’s Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and the very cool Discovery Cove. But planning a trip to any of the parks can be daunting. There are many choices and much to know to plan a great trip. So your family does not miss out on the best ways to visit, and getting you the best value, please contact our Orlando specialist, Karen Dziadosz-Evans. Karen has achieved the highest training levels with the Orlando theme parks, keeps track of the continuing park changes, and travels to Orlando herself, all so she can help you plan the perfect trip.

Also, don’t forget California’s Disneyland. We love it for it’s more manageable size. And there are many attractions in Southern California especially in San Diego.

Cruises provide a great experience at a great vlaue

Destination 2: Cruise

Whether you are looking for a family cruise or adults only, we can help you find the right cruise for you. You can sail from Florida, California, New Orleans, Galveston, New York, and more. We work with all the cruise lines but especially love the adults-only Virgin Voyages, Disney Cruise Line, Princess, and Celebrity.

A cruise is the perfect way for a multi-generational family to travel together. The kids will have a great time in the children and teen programs while the parents and grand-parents can relax by the pool, go to games and events or just chill on the balcony. No driving, no packing and unpacking, no figuring out where to eat or where to sleep. It’s all there for you.

Whale in Hawaii

Destination 3: Hawaii

After the devastating Maui fire, many visitors understandably canceled plans to visit the gorgeous Hawaiian islands. Now the islands are asking visitors to return. Because of the decline in visits, prices for flights and accomodations are the lowest we have seen in years. If you have always wanted to visit Hawaii, but felt you could not afford it, you should consider visiting soon.

In fact, West Maui has reopened, except Lahaina, of course. We have seen many special offers for all of the islands and would be happy to share them with you.

Destination 4: All-Inclusive Resorts

Sandals Resorts are considered some of the best all-inclusive resorts. Sandals’ luxury beach resorts, set along the most gorgeous tropical settings and exquisite beaches in Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados and Curaçao, feature unlimited gourmet dining, stunning and unique luxurious suites, exceptional bars serving premium liquors and wines, and every land and water sport, including complimentary green fees at their golf resorts and PADI®-certified scuba diving at most resorts.

Not ready for Sandals? We represent virtually every all-inclusive resort and can help you sort out the best for you.

Destination 5: Mexico

Mexico is always considered one of the best places to travel for spring break. It is renowned for it’s beautiful resorts and beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean shores. Mexican all-inclusive resorts are very high value for the discerning traveler who wants to rest and refresh on the beach. We can help you decide which is best for you.

Destination 6: Something Different

How about some different spring break travel ideas?

This can be a great time to visit Washington D.C. and its amazing array of museums. Or how about some of our country’s world-famous National Parks?

Spring is a delightful time to take a European river cruise. Experience the charm while the crowds and prices are down.

Or how about that fantastic Galapagos cruise you’ve been dreaming about? It’s a good idea to go soon as they are discussing limiting access.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

The post Spring Break Travel Ideas appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Cruising for a Tropical Christmas

While last-minute cruise deals are much harder to find than in the past, they still exist. You do need to be flexible as to dates and cabins. 

Virgin Voyages Bimini Beach is beautiful.

It’s the new Richard Branson cruise line that is winning every award in sight. Virgin Voyages has done away with the main dining room and buffet; every night is specialty dining with 20+ eateries.  And there is no extra charge for any of them! Virgin fares include crew gratuities, wi-fi, group fitness classes, gelato-style ice cream, and much more.  No children allowed but adults are encouraged to embrace their inner child. Virgin sails the Caribbean out of Miami. Book a balcony cabin through us on December sailings, and you will receive $300 toward your beverages, and $100 on board credit from us.

Celebrity Cruises, the upscale cruise line known for its food and excellent service, still has space.  When you sail in December you enjoy traditional holiday meals created by a Michelin-starred chef and decorating with no prep or cleanup. You experience festive holiday shows and carolers. Everyone gets to enjoy downtime during the holidays to spend with those who matter most. Santa brings gifts to all the kids and the halls will be decked to perfection. Corks pop on New Year’s Eve.

We love Princess Cruises because it not only offers a high-quality cruise experience, but also lets us help you pile up the perks. The December 16 sailing of the new Sky Princess looks especially fun for a tropical Christmas. 

A Hawaiian Tropical Christmas

If you’re looking to stay in the U.S. for Christmas, look no further than Hawaii for a tropical Christmas vacation.

Hawaii Wants Visitors

After the devasting Maui wildfires, tourism to Hawaii has understandably declined.  As a result, flights and accomodations are much more inexpensive than usual.

Now the islands are asking for the support of the traveling community and are making excellent travel offers for the holiday season. Also, you can our Best Hawaiian Travel Tips. We also share how to choose the best Hawaiian island to visit.

Christmas in Mexico

Because of its strong Christian traditions, Mexico is a fantastic place to get into the Christmas spirit without dealing with the Christmas weather. We can find you an all-inclusive resort at a Four Diamond Cancun resort for under $4,000 per couple, including air.

A Tropical Christmas in Brazil

As another strongly Catholic nation, Brazil knows how to do Christmas. While not as famous as their Lent celebration, Carnival, there is a lot to do in Brazil for Christmas. And the weather is warm enough to hit the beaches.

Attending a “Missa do Galo” (Midnight Mass) at one of Rio’s historic churches, such as Candelária Church or the Metropolitan Cathedral can be ver memorable.

Merry Christmas for the Santa Chamelon

Subdued Tropical Christmas Choices

If you are looking for a relaxing tropical vacation with fewer Christmas-themed festivities, consider traveling to some of the non-Christian parts of the world. Malaysia and Vietnam offer beautiful views and beaches without decking the halls.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

The post You Can Still Have a Tropical Christmas in 2023 appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Remember, there’s no perfect response due to fluctuating dynamics in travel. However. we offer some value-based strategies for travelers in pursuit of the best deals.

Today there is an unparalleled demand for travel, increasing the challenge of locating bargain pricing. Regarding airfares, read on as we reveal our most fruitful money-saving technique.

Here are some general principles concerning the best time to book travel.

Best Time to Book Air Travel

Historically the best price for air is one to three months before the trip for domestic US flights and two to eight months for international flights. For peak season dates like spring break, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, you should look three to seven months out for domestic and four to ten months for international. Many factors, such as the popularity of the flight, can impact prices.

Remember, most airlines release their flight schedules about 330 days before the flight.

Generally, Tuesday is the best day of the week to buy your tickets. But we have a great hack for helping you save regardless of when you buy. Keep reading as we share it below.

Best Time to Book Cruises

The cruise industry is booming. Ships are full and prices are rising. This means it is no longer true that the best deals are last minute. Several prominent cruise lines are saying their prices will never go down as the want to encourage early bookings.

While you may still find some last-minute deals, more and more, the best deals go to those who book very early. We recommend booking as early as possible with a refundable deposit. This means if a better offer does come along later, it can be “refared” or canceled and booked at the better rate.

A travel advisor who specializes in cruises can help you watch the sales. Then if you have booked with a refundable deposit and it is before the final payment date, your travel advisor can often get the new offer applied.

The Best Time to Book an All-Inclusive Resort

Either book very early (nine months or more in advance, especially if you want to stay during peak seasons like Christmas and New Year’s) or take a chance on last-minute deals. Beware of deals too good to be true, particularly last minute sales through sketchy online booking engines. If you find one, ask a reputable travel agent to review it for you before you book.

To maximize your travel budget, try to visit an all-inclusive in the spring, summer, or early fall.

In general, the Dominican Republic offers the lowest prices. For Mexican all-inclusive resorts, the best prices tend to be if you buy in November and December.

Finally, remember that travel scams are everywhere on the internet. Use a trusted travel advisor.

Hurricane Season

August through October is prime time for hurricanes and tropical storms. This makes it a less expensive time to book an all-inclusive in the Caribbean, but you also run the risk of traveling during a hurricane. So if you decide to try your luck with hurricane season, you will save money but make sure you read all the fine print about refunds and cancellations, and consider purchasing a travel insurance policy.

How You Can Get The Best Price on Airfare

This is what we do for our personal travel, and it saves us hundreds of dollars every year.

To research an airfare, we go to Google Flights and enter our information. Once we find a flight or two that meets our needs, we hit the “Track Prices” button and enter our email address. As prices go up and down, we receive alerts. Google Flights even tells if the prices are typically high or low for that flight. Finally, if your plans are flexible, there is a nice grid that allows you to see the lowest priced date combinations to get the best price on air.

We set alerts for our personal travel after we have booked a flight. Be sure to only use airlines that let you rebook with no cancellation fee. Most will give e-credits for the difference if the fare comes down. But you need to know when that fare drops. The flight alerts make it easy. Doing this has saved us hundreds of dollars.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

Want to learn more? We share 16 Tips for Surviving Air Travel and 6 Tips for getting the Best Price on Airfare.

Want cruise tips? Check out our best cruise tips.

Going to Hawaii? This is the year.

Everyone wants to visit Alaska, and they should!

Need new luggage? These are our picks–with tips.

The post When Is the Best Time to Book Travel in 2024? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Although the cruise line tends to have a younger demographic, seniors have lots of fun on board.  For example, when was the last time you got to play for free in a video arcade featuring 1980’s games? How about Foosball? You can try over 20 places to dine with no specialty restaurant charges.

We’re currently writing a series of posts about Virgin Voyages cruises and today we’re sharing the many ways to save. So, if you’re looking for a memorable and fun cruise experience, check out Virgin Voyages cruises!

Relax!

Big Discounts if you Book Early and Pay in Full

If you book more than 180 days before the cruise you will receive a 10% discount. If you pay in full within 2 hours of making the booking, you save another 10%. Details here.

Free $50 Bar Tab

If you buy a $300 bar tab BEFORE your cruise, Virgin will add a free extra $50. Voila! You have a $350 bar tab credit.

Check With Us First

On select cruises we can add $100 extra free Sailor Loot for you to enjoy on your Virgin Voyage. Sailor Loot is on board credit you can use on drinks, shore excursions, gift shops, pretty much anything during your cruise.

What’s a MNVV?

My Next Virgin Voyage (MNVV) takes the future cruise deposit program to the next level.  It is the perfect way to get the most value out of your next cruise. This lucrative program gives you $1200 in value for just a $300 deposit.

While you need to purchase the certificate for a future cruise while on board, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading.

When you use the MNVV certificate, the $300 you paid for it is applied as your deposit on your next cruise. Then, on top of this, Virgin discounts that next cruise by another $300 and then they add $600 more in on board credit. Yes! For $300, you got an extra $900 in value.

Note that these can’t be refunded for cash but can be transferred once.

MNVV’s are also an excellent reason to book your next Virgin cruise with us.  That’s because we purchased several on our last cruise so that we can offer them to our Virgin cruise clients. This means you can book a Virgin Voyage with us, pay the $300 deposit and we will apply the certificate to your cruise. Ta da!

Once your deposit is made, your cruise cabin costs $300 less and you have $600 to spend onboard toward drinks, shore excursions, gift shop purchases, and more.

Do You Have Status with Another Cruise Line?

Do you have high level status on another cruise line? If so, Virgin will give you a very nice status match.  It’s called the Sailing Club.  Visit their web site to see if you qualify. If you qualify, sign up for some excellent free special perks. 

If you qualify, you receive Deep Blue Extras, which means priority boarding, a free (very large) bag of laundry, $10 per day in specialty coffee and tea credits, premium wi-fi, an exclusive cocktail party with free champagne and sangria, and an extra $100 Bar Tab for free.

In addition, there is a limited time offer for Sailing Club members. When you book any new voyage by October 31st, 2023 and sail by December 31, 2023, you’ll get an additional 10% off your voyage.

How About a Splash of Romance?

For $200, you can add a Splash of Romance package which includes:

• Priority Boarding
• Wristband set
• Curated daily cold-pressed juices
• Two 3-Hour Thermal Spa Passes
• A Shake for Champagne
• Exclusive Sail Away Hour
• Sultry bites

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

We share our favorite travel secrets and tips every week. You can see them all here.

Read Why We Love Virgin Voyages

Why I Love Virgin Voyages

Learn About Food and Drink On Virgin

The post Ways to Save on Virgin Voyages appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.