Christmas Markets (Christkindl Markets)

A European tradition that goes back centuries and is becoming popular in the US, Christmas markets are a staple for many people’s holiday. If you go to a larger city near you, though, it’s likely you’ll find one. A simple Google search for Christmas markets around a number of large cities revealed that almost every city seems to have one. Some are certainly larger than others and some are more established, but this is a great way to spend an evening. Getting chilled by the cold winter air, warmed by fire, and drinking warm wine or hot chocolate is basically my ideal evening.

Christmas markets are a perfect idea for Christmas family activities.

Concerts

Christmas concerts are such a staple of the holiday that entire bands exist to do nothing but that. If you’ve never done a Christmas concert, I truly recommend it, they are a blast! They are also plentiful. Here are some things to look for around you:

• Check out the local college or university hosting a concert with their music program.
• If you live near a city with its own philharmonic or symphony orchestra, without a doubt they will host a Christmas concert.
• Touring bands, like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra or Mannheim Steamroller are legendary for their Holiday concert series. Look up their tour dates and see if one comes near you.

Light Displays

Obviously, Christmas lights are one of the defining characteristics of the season. For many years now, public spaces like zoos and botanical gardens have been hosting illumination events that last the month of December. These events are all over the place and often get missed by people because they just didn’t see the flyer. These are often a fun evening of walking paths and some hot chocolate as you take in lighting display that would leave Clark Griswald feeling inadequate.

Don’t overcomplicate it – even taking a walk down the street makes for perfect Christmas Family Activities

Theater

Your first thought here is probably for the movies, which is certainly an option, but that’s not what I was referring to. What I mean is going to see a live performance of something like A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, or any of the countless Christmas themed plays that pop up every year all over the place. When I was a kid, my dad took my brother and I to see both The Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker (they were different years, to be clear). I still remember those evenings nearly thirty years later.

Ouch. I just wrote that sentence…

Regardless, I remember them, with great fondness and love. What I don’t remember much is going to see a movie near Christmas, which we also did. There’s nothing quite like a live performance to really capture your imagination and create a memory that lasts.

The post Last Minute Ideas for Christmas Family Activities appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

A Wonderful Surprise

Virgin had made it clear that the Brilliant Lady would have a new and unique, to the ship, dining option. Months of speculation by Virgin Voyages fans followed, all wondering what sort of cuisine would be featured. My personal bet was on an Indian restaurant. None of us in Far Far Away guessed Spanish, though.

Fortunately, Virgin Voyages Rojo puts its best foot forward and mostly nails it. Nichole and I had three dinners for our Rojo review on our voyage (that way, we could space out the dishes we ate) and we never tired of it.

Just like my article on Lucky Lotus, I’ll take you through the menu one course and one dish at a time and share my thoughts.

Jamon, Quesos, Pintxos (pincho)

Pintxos are small, snack size plates served in bars, especially in northern Spain. They are often served with a skewer or toothpick in them.

Having genuine Jamon Iberico on a cruise ship was amazing. I did not expect that when I went to do my Rojo review.

Jamon Iberico – Iberico ham is a mainstay in Spain and easily one of the most famous foods from the country. It’s also expensive to get in the U.S. If you’ve never had it, you really should try it while on the ship. They have real Iberico ham and it’s just so good. I encourage you to overorder this dish.

Chorizo Seco – A tasty mix of sweet and spicy (only slightly spicy) by combining dates and chorizo.

The conservas was the best surprise of the menu. I loved it!

Conservas – The description on the menu is exactly what you are going to get and it’s my personal favorite from this section of the menu. I’m not even much of a fan of olives, but I just ate this up.

Gambas en Escabeche – Since Nichole does not like shrimp, but I do, I was the only one to try this dish. The shrimp are delicious, as they have consistently been on Virgin’s ships, but not quite as good as the shrimp served at The Dock.

Jamon Croquettes – If you’ve never had a croquette, you absolutely must give them a try. A breaded, fried mix of cheese and ham. Do I really need to say more? Word of warning, it is possible to eat too many of these.

Get the oxtail, you won’t regret it.

Oxtail Montadito – These were a major standout and Nichole’s favorite of the pintxos. Amazingly tender, slightly sweet with the caramelized onions, served atop a crunchy crostini. We ordered this dish each meal, because they were just that good.

Tapas

If you missed the tapas craze from about a decade ago here in the U.S., you might not be familiar with the style. Tapas are small dishes meant to be appetizers or snacks and can be served hot or cold.

To answer the question that many of you are likely asking, yes, tapas and pintxos are similar and are related. Together they do make up two important parts of traditional Spanish cuisine.

Roasted Cauliflower Catalan – In Razzle Dazzle, they serve a deep-fried cauliflower, which I love. This is a, arguably, healthier alternative to the deep-fried dish. It is also very tasty. Like many of the options on the menu, it has a bit of sweet and savory in it. The biggest surprise is how much I liked the golden raisins, which I usually don’t.

A highlight of our Rojo review, the Patatas Bravas.

Patatas Bravas Ahumadas – Seasoned potatoes with a pimenton aioli drizzled on top. The snappy skin of the spuds cracking as you bite in. These were Nichole’s favorite tapas plate and another dish we ordered each time we were dining for our Rojo review. You cannot order enough of this in our opinion.

Beef Tartare – The second-best beef tartare I’ve had on a cruise ship. The only one better came from Chartreuse on Regent Seven Seas. Rojo still delivered a truly great tartare, and we heard many other patrons raving about it. If you like tartare, this will be a must order.

Pimenton Cheese – A lighter dish than you might think it is. The pimenton cheese is served with crostini, but I would recommend that you ask for some extra crostini. The plating is very pretty, but it leaves the ratio of cheese to bread tilted slightly too far toward cheese.

I was so happy to find that they knew how to cook octopus well during our Rojo review.

Pulpo a la Grill – I love octopus, and I’m used to being disappointed when I order it. More often than not, it’s grilled to rubbery, chewy imperfection. Not here, though, no. At Rojo, they know how to prepare octopus, and I loved having it readily available. I would encourage you to give this a try as it was my favorite tapas.

Platos Grandes

The large plates are the entrees of Virgin Voyages’ Rojo.

Calabaza Asada – A lighter dish that doesn’t sacrifice any flavor as it dances on your palette. Squash is sort of my veggie GOAT, so I’m slightly biased here. The combination of everything here makes for a deeply savory dish, taking butternut squash away from more common and sweet preparations. I am going to figure out how to make this at home because I loved it so much. It does have cilantro in it, so if you are someone that doesn’t like cilantro, just skip this dish.

Char Artico Asado a la Plancha – Arctic char has become quite a popular fish lately. I’m seeing it pop up on lots of menus. I don’t know exactly why that is, perhaps it’s just a trend. Regardless, I like arctic char, and this is a nice preparation. The salsa verde, though, is what really makes this seared fish sing. It’s a simple serving that you can’t go wrong with.

The arrox con pitu de caleya. Nichole’s favorite dish during our Rojo review.

Arroz con Pitu de Caleya – Perhaps the heartiest of the dishes served, it will fill you up. A creamy rice serves as a bed to a roasted cut of chicken. Straightforward and simple. Each element done well. Nichole ordered this twice and it’s definitely her favorite of the entrées.

Costillas de la Matanza is a must try and it’s something that I wish was on the brunch menu.

Costillas de la Matanza – Not as heavy an order as you might think baby back ribs would be, which is good in my opinion. If you want more, you can always order another helping and they’ll be happy to bring it to you. The meat fell right off the bone, just like it should, and the harissa honey sauce combined with za’atar is divine. Funny enough, I’ve been making a similar sauce to this at home for several years.

Chuleton a la Parrilla – Ribeye steak prepared with Spanish flavor. The steak itself was nicely marbled, neither too fat nor too lean for the cut for a ribeye. It was very well prepared and certainly tasty, but both Nichole and I couldn’t help but feel that you’re shorting yourself by skipping the other options for this entrée.

Desserts

Sorbete de Maracuya – It’s not surprising that the passionfruit sorbet was smooth and refreshing. Afterall, Virgin makes their own ice cream and sorbets, and we all know those are delicious.

Arroz con Leche is not my usual favorite dessert but Rojo absolutely perfected this! I ate it at every dinner for our Rojo review.

Arroz con Leche – My personal favorite, which was surprising. It’s a rice pudding, which is a dessert I don’t usually care for, with coconut, which I also don’t usually care for. However, it’s topped with a brulee style cap of cinnamon sugar. That little addition made all the difference. I know that there are people who just can’t with rice pudding, but I would encourage you to give this one a shot. It really is different.

Basque Cheesecake – This was the most popular dessert we saw being served, so it’s obviously a crowd pleaser. This is not a New York style cheesecake, so it’s more fluffy and less creamy. Nichole and I both agreed that this was our second favorite option.

Flan de Queso de Cabra – I like goat cheese, but not everyone does. I’ve had a few flans made with goat milk over the years and they’ve never been as popular with others as they are with me. If you like goat cheese, it really comes through in this dessert and you’ll be enjoying yourself. However, if you are not a fan, I wouldn’t recommend.

Churros are a dessert that everyone sort of loves.

Churros – These were Nichole’s favorite dessert choice. Razzle Dazzle has done churros since they started, and their version has often been a divisive take on the dessert. At Rojo, though, the churros are a classic churro. Served in a tall cup with a hazelnut chocolate fondue at the bottom of the vessel. They are simple, delicious, and easy to order way too many of. This option will NEVER disappoint.

The One Failing

After Lucky Lotus, I was eager to try the brunch menu for this Rojo review. The new options on the Razzle Dazzle brunch menu made it really pop. I loved having the Lucky Lotus pan roasted vegetable dumpling in the morning. Savory dishes in the morning are frequently underappreciated in the U.S., so having some available in the mornings brightened up my day.

That’s why the choices on Rojo’s Razzle Dazzle brunch menu left me feeling like we were missing out on some better possibilities. The additions to brunch menu were; the jamon croquettes, which are always welcome; the roasted cauliflower Catalan, which also seems to fit the theme of Razzle Dazzle (a vegetarian focused menu); and the calabaza asada roasted butternut, which also fits the vegie theme.

At a glance, this seems like a good choice to go in the morning, but the flavors of all three dishes are largely the same. Mellow, smooth, and rich without going deep into savory notes. They’re not bad dishes, but it felt like they removed more diverse choices and put three similar plates in their stead.

A real waiting area for diners at Rojo. It’s a nice upgrade over every other restaurant on the ship.

What isn’t there from Razzle Dazzle, the avocado toast, the mushroom tartare, and the impossible burger all catered to different desires. They hit the palette in varied ways. The three choices for Rojo replacing them really limited what the menu can cater toward as far as diner choices. We didn’t find ourselves craving to go back each morning and opted to go to other breakfast spots. I hope that they tweak this menu a bit over time to bring some diversity back to the tastes.

A split conclusion

Virgin has also made small adjustments to the design of the restaurant to improve its function. There’s a small seating area for people to use while they wait for a table if there’s a backup. That’s an excellent change for walk-ins especially. No more waiting, awkwardly, in the hall.

The floor is a smoother surface than other Razzle Dazzles, so chairs slide in and out from the table quite nicely. I know that’s a small thing, but it’s nice to be able to easily adjust how close you are to the table.

Service was busy and quick. They don’t rush you at Rojo, but you won’t be waiting either.

The lighting is the nicest of any Razzle Dazzle version. Neither too dark in the evening nor too bright in the morning.

Rojo offers an amazing dinner. Even after eating there three times in just over a week, we hadn’t tired of it. Numerous choices and small plates, a signature of Spanish cuisine, is a perfect way to dine on a cruise. This goes double for groups because everyone can easily get things they like.

All that is why the disappointing brunch is a letdown. The good news is that it’s something that can easily be improved over time and, if it isn’t, there are other options. Still, I would not sleep on Rojo if you’re sailing the Brilliant Lady, it’s too good to miss. Maybe, sleep in though.

The post Rojo Review – Virgin Voyages New Restaurant appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Because Virgin has no traditional main dining room, you can eat in a different spot every night with no specialty dining fees. However, this creates the need for a reservation system, which has caused frustration for some guests. Today we pull back the curtain on Virgin Voyages dining reservations. We share how to book dining on Virgin Voyages.

You may have heard complaints about the difficulties of making reservations. It’s true, it can be difficult at times, but Virgin has been making it better recently.

Fortunately, we have some hacks and work-arounds for you so you can enjoy your fabulous Virgin Voyage.

Shrimp at the Dock

Tip 1: Booking Before You Sail

If you have a regular cabin, you can begin booking reservations at midnight E.S.T. at 45 days before your sailing if you have an Essential fare. If you have a Legacy booking (booked before October 7, 2025) or a Premium fare, you may book at 60 days before sailing. If you booked a base fare you must wait until 15 days before sailing. If you are a Rockstar (suite) guest, the dining window begins 60 days out.

If you are a Far Far Away Travels client, we send you a reminder email the day before.

Virgin only opens about 30% of the reservations before your sailing so when you get on board you can often get many more. Don’t fret if you don’t get what you want immediately.

You can book dining through the app or your online web account. We think the web account is easier and faster. If your reservations are linked with friends in other cabins you will be able to make reservations for others at the same time. If you want bookings linked, ask your travel advisor or call Virgin.

Pro Tip: If you do not get what you want, keep checking back as people cancel and change all the time.

How Many Reservations Can You Make? It depends on the length of your voyage:

-Up to five nights: You may make one reservation per restaurant

-Six to eight nights: You may make two reservations per restaurant

-Nine nights and more: You may make three reservations per restaurant

But that’s how many reservations you can hold. You could eat in the same restaurant every night as a walk up if you wanted. Or eat in two different restaurants the same night as long as one is a walk-up. The variety is what makes Virgin fun.

Tip 2: Virgin Voyages Dining Booking On Board

Remember, about 70% of the reservations will open up on boarding day.

As soon as you get on board, go into airplane mode and get on the ship’s wi-fi. Make as many reservations as you can.

Another option is to visit Razzle Dazzle on deck 5 where there will be staff to assist you.

Pro Tips:

-As soon as you are on board just sit at the first place you see and start booking. You can see your cabin later.

-If you are traveling with others and your reservations are linked, divide up the work.

–During the cruise things will open often so keep checking if you don’t have what you want. 

–If you have a reservation and decide not to use it, be kind and cancel it in the app so someone else can have it.

Baked Alaska at the Wake

Tip 3: Walk Up

Failing all else, try a walk-up. If they can get you in, they will.  Two people dining together have the advantage here as larger tables are more likely to be filled.

We prefer to dine early but I book late reservations when they are all that is available.  Then we go to the restaurant(s) early and see if we can do a walk in. More often than not, they can accommodate us. Of course, when I get in earlier, I go into the app and cancel the later reservation so someone else can have it.

Tip 4: If All Else Fails

Finally, if you fail to get a reservation some night, you still have options. The Galley now serves full dinners (prime rib, beef wellington, butter chicken, turkey, etc.). The entrees for each night will be posted in the printed daily schedule you can pick up at the deck 7 Grounds Club or the Shore Things desk.

Now that you know how to book dining on Virgin Voyages, it’s time to discuss your other food options.

Tip 5: Other Options

Of course there is the Galley with its many great choices. But there’s more.

Pro Tip: At the Galley you can line up at each food spot to order. But you can also just sit at a table, raise the little red flag and someone will come take your order and serve you.

The pizza place makes fresh to order pizza. They will box it so you can eat it there or take it anywhere you like. It’s so much better than the heat lamp pizza one often gets on other cruise lines.

And there is 24/7 room service, called Ship Eats. There is a $10 delivery charge for Ship Eats but if you order at least $10 worth of drinks, specialty coffees, or other extra charge items, the fee is waived.

The Dock on deck 7 has delightful appetizers at no charge. People love the shrimp, polenta, beef skewers and more. There is a daily Opa hour with Mediterranean specialties.

Most people never find it, but on deck 15, near Richard’s Rooftop, is the Sun Club. They have poke and bao. It is open most afternoons.

Desserts at the Galley

Tip 6: Virgin Voyages Dining In Rooms

There is no rule against having food in your room that you did not order from room service. In fact, you will have a dorm style mini-fridge.

There are to-go boxes at the entrances to Galley to take to your room. There is also one at the entrance to the Dock. There are bento style boxes of sushi, fruit, veggies, desserts, salads and charcuterie.

The Social Club has candy, popcorn, pretzels and hot dogs you can take or eat there.

The Grounds Club Coffee shop on deck 7 has many pastries you can take to your room. We have a special love for the almond croissants. You can also get desserts from the Galley.

No one says a word if you get food in the Galley and take it to your room.

Ice Cream Included on Virgin Voyages

Tip 7: Ice Cream Included

Many cruise lines charge you extra for gelato style ice cream, but not Virgin.There is a steady rotation of flavors each day with key lime pie and brown butter being two special favorites. Enjoy the friendly service and the name “Lick Me Till Ice Cream.”

And if that’s not enough, there are handmade popsicles in the Galley.

Special Pro Tips:

• Make your reservations first for the Wake, Pink Agave and Extra Virgin if you are on the Valiant Lady or Resilient Lady.
• If you are on Scarlet Lady, target Lucky Lotus too.
• If you are on the Brilliant, target Rojo.
• Try to dine early on Scarlet Night as the main festivities start around nine p.m.
• If the entertainment schedule is released, check it out to plan your dining around it. Most shows begin at 7:30/8:00 and are repeated at 10 p.m.
• Dinner shows in the Manor are usually only booked onboard. There is an extra charge, mainly to cover the included drinks.

Learn More about Virgin Voyages:

Virgin Scarlet Lady Lucky Lotus Review

Virgin Brilliant Lady Rojo Review

Virgin Voyages Splash of Romance – Is it worth it?

Virgin Voyages Fitness

Virgin Voyages Alaska

Virgin Voyages Entertainment

Want to book a Virgin Voyage cruise with us as your travel advisor?

The post Everything You Need to Know About the Virgin Voyages Dining Reservation System appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Originally named after the high contrast, black and white camouflage paint experiments on wartime ships, Razzle Dazzle, the restaurant, aimed to serve up amazing vegetarian and vegan dishes. Unfortunately, much like the attempts at stealth it’s named after, the concept didn’t work as well as initially hoped.

However, like all good companies, when something doesn’t work, you pivot. Virgin has done exactly that by changing the concept to serve Chinese cuisine and renamed it Lucky Lotus.

The more relaxed, but still dynamic decor of Lucky Lotus.

Why the change?

I want to be clear; I like Razzle Dazzle and it’s still around on the Valiant Lady and the Resilient Lady. Scarlet Lady, though, now has Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle.

Virgin takes customer feedback seriously and customers said they wanted a Chinese restaurant. The same customers also had lukewarm reactions to the Razzle Dazzle dishes. And so, Virgin called an audible and changed the evening menu.

Ah, yes, it’s important to note that the brunch menu for Razzle Dazzle is still mostly the same. That’s because the same customers that said they weren’t thrilled about dinner, were also very clear that they really liked the brunch.

The lightly updated brunch menu at Razzle Dazzle, which it’s called in the morning.

Still, the brunch menu did receive a few updates. Now you can order fried rice, dumplings, and wonton soup. All of them are delectable options and add more savory breakfast choices. Rest assured, though, that the favorites of fried chicken, buckwheat waffle, and the ever-divisive bacon are all still there, as are the rainbow churros.

Is Lucky Lotus any good, though?

In short, yes. Very much, yes!

As research for this article, I ordered, almost, everything on the menu over a series of meals. I had a companion with me (my mom!), so I got her thoughts on it as well. We have different palettes, but we enjoy many of the same foods.

Lucky Lotus Menu.

Here are my thoughts by course:

Starters

The apps are so tasty in Lucky Lotus that it’s not even fair. Truly, you can’t go wrong here and trying to pick a favorite is painful! I can confidently recommend just getting all the apps as an option for your dinner. Lots of folks do that on the ship, just order appetizers and eat small portions until you’re full.

Peking Duck Bao Buns – 11/10 no notes! If you like duck, these are an instant success, and they took my top spot.

Those bao buns are something else!

Honey Sriracha Sticky Ribs – A very close second and they have some heat, but not a lot by my standard so don’t be scared by that.

Pan Roasted Vegetable Dumplings – These are a little different than other dumplings, they come with a crispy wafer on top and that truffle soy sauce is excellent! They serve these on the brunch menu, and I had them each day I had breakfast at Razzle Dazzle.

The dumplings are very easy to love, especially at brunch – which is when this was taken,

Trio of Lengcai – Pickled vegetables are a staple in starters and a perfect and refreshing way to start a meal. The lotus root was not something that I’d had before and it was really delicious. These took my mom’s top spot!

Kabocha & Chicken Wonton Soup – I love a good wonton soup and this certainly delivered. The portion on this was much larger than a starter typically is, it really could be a main course for many people. Like the dumplings, this soup is on the breakfast menu as well and it’s a great way to start the day.

Crispy Walnut Prawns – Another larger starter than you might expect, definitely a good one to share. Obviously, if you don’t like shrimp, this one might not be for you. I don’t like shrimp, but I was surprised to like it quite a bit. My mom, who does like shrimp, said it was excellent.

Mains

The entrees at Lucky Lotus are varied and quite different from any other restaurant on the ship. Two of them we didn’t try, the Blossoming Sweet & Sour Fish and the Grilled Ribeye, we simply didn’t have enough time to. The other four were all good enough to make a reservation there a must do on any voyage.

Stir Fried Rice Noodles – This is the final dish that is available on both the dinner and brunch menus. I admit, there’s nothing really special about fried rice, but it’s a reliable favorite for a reason. The inclusion of noodles adds a little something special to it, and if you turn to stir fried rice as your comfort food or your typical breakfast, you’ll find just what you’re looking for.

The Stir Fried Rice Noodles are a hearty start to the day (notice the Razzle Dazzle bacon).

Buddha’s Delight – Ya know, tofu gets a bad rap and it’s completely undeserved. When handled correctly it’s amazing and this dished nails it! I also love the inclusion of asparagus into any meal – just sayin. Not to mention, this was my mom’s favorite.

Szechuan Hot & Sour Noodles – This is a standout! I always love a good hot and sour soup, but this steps it up to a whole other level. Look at those peanuts! The whole dish just pops and was my personal favorite.

Hot and sour soups are a staple of Chinese restaurants and you will love this one – I promise.

Five Spice Pork Chop – Another dish that brought some heat, but only just enough, not too much. Although the portion looks small, the dish is quite filling. We split one and it had both of us stuffed. If you like a breaded and fried meat, you can’t go wrong here.

Conclusion

Virgin Voyages took a gamble here and it paid off in a big way. When you’ve invested all the time Virgin has into figuring out their food suppliers, menus, chefs, process, and everything else that goes into a restaurant, changing all that isn’t your first instinct. I’ve worked in food service, starting anything is scary in that world, there’s so much that goes into it. Retooling your whole concept is almost as scary. It’s a big investment of time and money. Everyone gets retrained, a new menu is created, and new supplies are sourced. Not to mention that the entire space needs to be redecorated!

Razzle Dazzle is often listed as the most skippable restaurant and, even though it works for my tastes, I understand the sentiment. Lucky Lotus, on the other hand, I don’t think will be listed as “skippable.” These are quality dishes, made well, with wide appeal.

What this tells me is that Virgin is in for the long haul on this. They listened to feedback and changed course. They didn’t pull their punches in retooling but they also didn’t overcorrect by scraping the entire concept. That’s the sort of approach that’s keeping them as my favorite line to sail.

Well done!

The post Virgin Voyages Menu Changes – Lucky Lotus Review appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Honestly, if you always wanted a pool at home, this might be the most hassle free way to get it.

And, just how much is this package? As you might imagine, it’s not cheap. It’s, wait for it…

$120,000

That’s right, for the low, low price of one and a half Cybertrucks, you can cruise as much as you want for an entire year. And there will be fewer breakdowns! Honestly, you can’t afford not to get this package!

Joking aside, what do you get?

Alright, it’s clear that this is beyond extravagant, but curiosity is fun, so here’s the low down.

The pass allows you to book any voyages you want on Virgin for an entire year. They make it clear that they WANT you to spend 365 days onboard. They actually say, “For $120,000 USD you and a guest can swap on-land living expenses for up to 365 days of sailing…” With the Virgin Voyages Unlimited Cruising package, they really want you to live on the ship.

If you buy the pass, you’ll get a Sea Terrace cabin on any cruise you book. You also get Deep Blue Extras, which comes with premium wi-fi, laundry service, and two specialty coffees a day (that means lattes). You’ll also get $100 bar tab on each itinerary you book, so that’s a little money back in your pocket! Sort of…

With Virgin Voyages Unlimited Cruising, you can trust that the coffee will always be good.

Here’s a list of all the perks:

• Laundry Service – If it’s the same as the Deep Blue Extras, it’s one wash bag per voyage, even on long itineraries. There’s a lot of room in the bag, but it’s not laundry service every day. But you might not have to do laundry for a year!
• Premium Wi-Fi – It’s fast. Fast enough for streaming video.
• Priority Boarding – between itineraries, depending on local laws, you may have to disembark. This means you can get back on the ship faster.
• Pre-voyage & onboard support – This is essentially elevated sailor services. It’s nice, but hopefully you’ll never need it.
• Bar Tab Credit – A $100 bar tab for each itinerary you sail. Whether it’s a four night itinerary, or a 16 night transatlantic, you get $100. So, sometimes this is a bigger benefit than others.
• Two specialty coffees per cabin per day – This means 2 lattes or other specialty coffees or teas per cabin per day. Drip coffee is included in the voyage fare and is available in The Galley and every restaurant.
• Exclusive Cocktail Event – Indulge in a VIP night with other Annual Pass holders. To be clear, this event happens on every voyage, but I have no idea how many people might actually be there. It could be a rather lonely affair.

If there’s a year to have a Virgin Voyages Unlimited Cruising Package, this is it.

Starting in the fall of 2025, Virgin Voyages newest ship, The Brilliant Lady, will be cruising from New York and Miami. While in New York, the Brilliant Lady will sail to Boston, Quebec City, Eastport, Halifax, and Charleston. It will move to sail from Los Angeles in the spring, right near the end of the annual pass.

A full year of delicious foods, that you never have to clean the dishes for. That’s almost $120,000 in value right there.

In the meantime, you can enjoy transatlantic cruises! Sail the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, without changing ships. Why not make it a round trip sailing between the two if you want to! If you want to learn more, reach out to us at our contact information below.

The post Virgin Voyages Unlimited Cruising? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

First thing first, it is beautiful. The ocean views and sea breezes are the obvious draw for everyone who lives here. I, personally, have never been a fan of the balmy climates of the south eastern states, but I get why many people like it. My first steps into the city were on a humid evening outside the airport and, by comparison to my home in a northern state, it was practically a sauna.

Truth be told it’s not actually my first time here, but it also kind of is. In spring of 24 I took a cruise that ended in Miami and then flew out from Fort Lauderdale. It is my first time in the Miami airport and I can say with certainty I prefer FLL over MIA.

The Miami Airport Kind Of Sucks

Don’t get me wrong, most airports suck. Newark is terrible. Charles DeGaulle is a labyrinthian hell. LAX is less of a mess than it was, but it’s still not great. Long story short, airports are rarely the highlight of a journey.

MIA isn’t as bad as some places I’ve been (I’d flown frequently through Detroit when they still had the smoker fishtanks), but Miami wasn’t a nice experience. The bathroom I used was dirty and, yes, I mean dirty by airport bathroom standards. There was (I hope) water all over the floor and it didn’t seem to come from flushing the toilet, not that that would have been an improvement over other possibilities. Although I’m nitpicking here, by my estimation, every surface just looked rough, like it needed a fresh coat of paint. It just made everything feel rundown and neglected.

On a positive note, I can say that the signage was good. I never felt lost or confused in the airport. That’s an important element of any airport, so it’s a good thing that everything is clearly marked here. Travelers won’t get led astray or wind up confused by twists and turns.

Fortunately, if you’re taking a Virgin Voyages cruise from Miami, you have a choice of airports. Fort Lauderdale, FLL, and Miami International, MIA, are both close to Miami’s downtown. MIA is a little closer, but FLL is not much farther and, like I said, is nicer to fly through. My advice is, use FLL if the price makes sense, because it can be quite cheaper to fly into, and even if it isn’t, consider it an option anyway.

The worst part of my stay in the city is what happened next though.

Beware This Common Scam When Taking A Virgin Voyages Cruise From Miami

If you aren’t a frequent traveler, you may not know this pathetic ploy, so look out. Here’s the scam: the cab driver will fake like their meter is broken and then charge you an arbitrary amount at your destination. A driver tried to pull this on us, but we travel regularly, so it didn’t work. I pushed back on his claim that the meter wasn’t working and only paid him what I calculated was the rate – remember that mileage rates are posted clearly and you can do the same thing.

This is a common scam, both on you and on the cab company that the driver works for. It’s also likely a tax dodge, just to make you a little extra irritated. If you see a driver trying to pull this, you should ask to be let out. You can also calculate the rates yourself, using that little calculator you have in your pocket and Google Maps. For safety, we always recommend that you plot your destination from the airport so you can keep track of drivers and make sure that they are going where you expect them to.

An old scam like this is a sad attempt at bilking travelers and you shouldn’t fall for it. I haven’t seen someone try this in years, so it surprised me. Obviously, it also left a bad taste in my mouth about this city and the airport. My recommendation, take an Uber or Lyft where you can see the fare beforehand. Scamming cabbies can take a hike.

Downtown Hilton

Any seasoned cruiser knows to arrive the day before your cruise departs, and we agree with that advice. That meant that before we got on our Virgina Voyages Cruise from Miami, we needed a hotel. In Miami there’s a downtown district that caters explicitly, if not exclusively, to the port. We chose to stay at the Hilton in that district, known as the Downtown Hilton. We booked a decent rate of around $200 for the night, which isn’t exactly budget, but it is a typical rate for the area. The room was nice, and the beds were comfortable. The flooring was in good condition, and frequent travelers know how important clean flooring is.

However, it wasn’t all good news. I know it’s common in hotels, but the furniture was fairly scuffed up. There was also a lamp on the desk which was, put politely, crap – it flickered and seemed to work only when it felt like it. I would turn it on and it just… wouldn’t. Then I would walk away and it would turn on without any intervention from me. Lamp and scuffs aside, the room was a decent enough place to sleep.

The hallways, though, were marred, and marred badly. Well beyond what I think is normal. Take a look at these pictures.

Putting on my Poirot mustache (if you don’t get that joke, you’ve missed some good books and movies), I think it’s either the housekeeping carts or the luggage carts, possibly both. No matter the case, it does raise a few concerns for me about how well cared for the hotel is. If scuffs on the wall are not addressed, what else might be ignored? I get it, they’re just scuffs on the wallpaper in the hall. The room conditions are more important than the hallway, but seeing the hallways like this doesn’t inspire confidence, no matter how you look at it. What it suggests to me is that management is either inattentive or cheap. Guard rails or new carts could fix this long term and some new wallpaper and staff training could fix it short term.

Jumping back to the good news, the hotel restaurant was nice. The menu wasn’t exactly daring, but it had something for every traveler and the food was pretty tasty. Prices were high, because of course they were, but not excessively so – nor were they higher than the surrounding area restaurants. The staff was extremely attentive and our server, a lovely woman from Macedonia, spent time talking with us about her country. We discussed history for about twenty minutes together, I think she was happily surprised that a couple of Americans knew about her country, its past, and its present. In any case, she made the evening for us and she is almost enough to recommend the location all on her own. Alas, one amazing staff member does not make up for poor management. I’d stay somewhere else in that area when I inevitably book Virgin Voyages from Miami again.

Virgin Port Terminal

If you weren’t aware, if you book a Virgin Voyages cruise from Miami, they have a dedicated port terminal. Anytime a cruise line has their own terminal at a port, things are bound to go more smoothly than when they don’t. I’m happy to report that there’s no exception here.

Is this a marketing image of Virgin Voyages from Miami? Yes, it is. But, I can’t get that sort of picture myself and it gives you a good idea of the terminal. It really is nice!

Terminal V, because of course it’s “V”, is easily accessible by car. If you’re the type of person who thinks, “I don’t mind a bit of a walk from the hotel,” let me dispel any illusions of that. You cannot walk to this terminal. Plan for an Uber or Lyft to take you there (I can confirm that the Lyft app has an option for Terminal V). I also recommend that you don’t plan on getting there too long before your boarding time, here’s why.

1. Virgin’s staff is excellent, and they run a… tight ship! So when you’re boarding time says 4:00 PM, it means that’s when your boarding group starts the process. Get there thirty minutes beforehand at the earliest.
2. There is precisely zip to do at the port. There are no restaurants, no shops, no entertainment. Nothing. Okay, that’s not entirely true, but what is there is inconvenient to get to. So, unless you just love, love, love, standing outside in the humidity of Florida, find another thing to do between checkout time at your hotel and boarding the ship. We met some folks at Gunbae who went and got massages while they waited for their boarding time, so there’s an idea for you.

Once inside the terminal, everything is as smooth as velvet. Bags get handled easily. Your personal check-in is like clockwork. Once you’ve passed security, the upstairs waiting area is comfy and, if you’re a Rockstar (that means that you’ve booked a suite), you even get your own lounge with complimentary food and beverages. I didn’t book a suite so I can’t say if they were good or not, but it looked nice from the outside!

Truly, a dedicated port terminal makes the whole process much easier for everyone involved. The staff know where everything is for that terminal and how it works. Each line has their own boarding process and bespoke terminals are built around accommodating that process, rather than trying to adapt a generic space to it. I’ve sailed from several other ports that are not bespoke, and it’s always been rougher going than any time I’ve sailed from one that is.

Is having a dedicated port terminal a reason to pick one cruise line over another? Maybe not, but I can say that it doesn’t hurt! Virgin remains my favorite of the major cruise lines. Their service is just a bit better. They have an atmosphere that’s just a bit more chill. And those Lady Ships, they’re just a bit cooler.

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Condé Nast Traveler named Chicago the best American big city to visit. Not only did they rave about Chicago, but they also hailed it as one of the ultimate holiday season destinations – and we’re wholeheartedly on board with that! So, without further ado, here’s our guide to Christmas in Chicago!

Bursting with boundless energy, a Chicago holiday season is unlike any other. Here are some of our cherished Chicago holiday events and traditions! With its vast array of top-notch restaurants and bars, spectacular museums, shopping havens, and exhilarating events, your Christmas in Chicago will surely help you make great memories. Thanksgiving in Chicago is fabulous too! 

Christkindlmarkt are always a magical experience you don’t want to miss!

The European Christmas Market in Chicago

Chicago has a European-style Christmas market! We think the Christmas market is a must visit for any Chicago visitor. Officially called Christkindlmarkt, the original is on Daly Plaza, although two other locations have been added as well. Modeled after the European Christmas markets, it has vendors from Germany. Looking for Krampus items? You will find them here! 

And not only can you buy great holiday gifts and ornaments, but it’s also a fun place for a drink or a snack. You will find candies, cookies, pretzels, potato pancakes, sausages, and more.  You must try the gluhwein, a mulled wine you can get in an adorable souvenir mug.

Once you Have enjoyed the Market, it’s only a couple of blocks to Macy’s where you can check out the famous holiday tradition, the Macy’s holiday window displays.  

Chicago Christmas Shows

Of course, you can see A Christmas Carol and the Nutcracker, but there is also Christmas with C.S. Lewis and plenty of other holiday shows.

And if you have been wanting to see Hamilton, it is back through January 28.

If the symphony is more your speed, make sure to check out the perennial favorite at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Christmas Parades

Chicago has terrific parades. We love the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on November 23^th, because they light the magical lights on Michigan Avenue as the parade proceeds south; but the Thanksgiving Day parade is awesome too.  

Always on the first Sunday in December, make sure you don’t miss the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade, which helps do fundraising for the Toys for Tots charity which helps bring joy into the lives of underprivileged children across the country. Motorcyclists are encouraged to join, with the entry fee just being an unwrapped toy donation. 

Less a parade, but no less spectacular, check out the Morton Arboretum’s Illumination display. 

New Year’s Eve

Finally, New Year’s Eve always brings great fireworks off Navy Pier. These fireworks can be enjoyed by anyone with a clear view of the pier, but you can get up close and personal on the pier itself. 

If you’re the party type, a lot of Chicago hotels hold New Year’s parties, but perhaps the biggest, most famous of them is the one held at The Drake Hotel, just off Michigan Avenue.

Chicago’s many bars and restaurants also will be hosting their own parties. There are so many choices, you’ll have a hard time just choosing one! 

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Where and When?

European Christmas markets can be found throughout northern Europe in Germany, Austria, France, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the even the United Kingdom. Generally, they run from mid-November to a few days before Christmas. However, a few will run until New Year’s.  We use this helpful annual guide to make sure the ones we want to visit are open when we go.

Our favorite country for European Christmas markets is Germany. After all, Germany is the country that developed most of the traditions that Americans follow for celebrating Christmas.

Fairy Tale Dioramas In Lubeck Germany

What Will You Find at a Christmas Market?

Every market has a distinct vibe. Some are very child-oriented with carnival rides for the kids. Others are high-end shopping extravaganzas.  There are medieval themed Christmas markets, which are great fun. We saw one in Lubeck that featured adorable fairy tale dioramas.

In many traditional markets, especially in smaller towns, there will be at least one vendor selling household goods.  Of course, most will sell beautiful ornaments for your Christmas tree.  And it is a rare German Christmas market where you don’t see vendors selling giant Gingerbread necklaces with sayings in frosting like “Princess” or “I love you.”

You’ll see stands like this everywhere

Christmas Market Food and Drink

There will be food, almost always with vendors roasting sausages and wurst. Usually, there will be fried fish and vegetarian options. Try a flammkuchen, a flatbread usually topped with cheese, onions, and ham. Of course, you can get them topped with a variety of other items. By the way, you will often see a German favorite, currywurst. We are not fans.

You will find baked goods, including German pretzels, usually called bretzels.

Most markets will have stollen, gingerbread, and marzipan. Oddly, you will probably not find peppermint candy canes. But don’t fret, there are so many other treats.

Be aware the some of the treats are regional in nature, so you may not find everything we mention here at every market.

One of our favorites is a delightful sugar dough treat called Baumstriezel, also known as Chimney Cake. Picture this– spiraling wisps of yeasted dough, twirled lovingly around a cylindrical spit, and baked till it hits that golden brown sweet spot. You end up with a confection that’s caramelized just right on the outside and fluffily soft on the inside! Don’t blame us if you’re left wanting more!

The Divine Baumstreizel

And you MUST try the ubiquitous warm gluhwein, which is mulled wine. You can add a shot of rum or other liquors to make it even better. While there will be many outdoor stands, some will have a big indoor tent or temporary building where you can sit and warm up. The significant consumption of gluhwein appears to be the point of many Christmas markets. It does warm your tummy!

What’s The Best Way to Visit Christmas Markets?

We think the very best way is to take a special river cruise with a Christmas market itinerary. Imagine waking up each morning in a new town with new markets to explore! No packing and unpacking as your hotel is your transportation.

We love AMAWaterways which offers many Christmas market cruises. If you have never taken an AMAWaterways river cruise, you can read about our experiences here.

Popular Viking cruises also offers many Christmas Market itineraries.

Christmas Markets to Consider

Trier, Koblenz, and Mainz are particularly famous and are large markets. We loved the several markets in the charming Lubeck in northern Germany. Berlin has MANY markets to choose from and we have gone to most of them! In fact, if you tire of Berlin’s, Potsdam and Dresden are short train rides away so you can visit more. We also enjoyed markets in Erfurt and Weimar.

Strasbourg is a charming French town along the Rhine featured on many river cruises. It is a picture-perfect town for a Christmas market visit. And of course, there is the famous Romantic Road with lovely markets.

We hope you love these best Christmas markets in Europe as much as we do.

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

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

While you’re in Europe, visit some Great Art in Paris not the Louvre.

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In 1985, Premier Cruise Lines partnered with Disney to make a cruise. Since then, more and more family and kid focused cruises have come online. But I’m an adult and I don’t have kids of my own and I don’t really want a cruise loaded with a bunch of kids running between wave pools. Fortunately for those of us wanting a kid-free vacation, Virgin Voyages decided to buck the trend. They are an adult only cruise and it’s a great decision. 

The biggest thing is that it makes Virgin Voyages, a very new player in the world of cruising, stand out by offering something different. Without kids on the ship, it allowed Virgin to design a more relaxed, adult focused atmosphere in a lot of ways. We’ve already sailed with Virgin twice because of how nice it is and here’s why. 

Tons Of Options For Food

I know I said that I don’t have kids of my own, but I am the oldest of 5 and I’m the oldest by A LOT. With that sort of age difference, it meant that I helped raise all my younger siblings. Changing diapers, making meals, keeping them clean, picking them up from daycare – I was another parent. One thing I know about kids is that they often like eating the same foods day after day. It’s why buttered noodles and chicken nuggets are on every kids’ menu. As an adult, though, you probably want a little more variety in your meals or at least a little more choice.

Adult tastes are better met on an adults only cruise.

The dining experiences, plural, is where Virgin definitely shines. Unlike many other cruises, a main dining room does not exist. Nor does the buffet (thank God!). I was delighted to see that Virgin Voyages flipped the script on cruise cuisine and offered something I really looked forward to. As an adult only cruise, menus on Virgin are designed with adult tastes and desires. 

Onboard, there are over 22 places to eat – all of them offering a different menu. Everything from quick service counters to sit-down breakfast and dinners is part of the dining experience on Virgin Voyages. The dinners at any of the 6 sit down restaurants feel, and taste, like top-notch date night destinations. The bars are WELL stocked, with excellent selections and variety. 

Everything I just mentioned, except alcohol, is included in your fare. There are no specialty dining restaurants, which cost extra on other lines – often between $60-$100 MORE to eat at one of them. There are a few menu items with an up charge, such as a tomahawk steak, but those are quite rare. 

What Is The Atmosphere On An Adult Only Cruise

It’s hard to pin the atmosphere of a Virgin Voyages cruise as any one thing. Let me give you an example of a typical day at sea to illustrate. 

On a sea day, I’d typically wake up at around 8:30, handle my morning ablutions and go to breakfast by 9AM. Razzle Dazzle had my favorite breakfast menu, so I went there most days. I’d order a refreshing smoothie and drip coffee and then dig in to a delicious buckwheat waffle. By 11 I would be on the outdoor track for a couple miles then switch to a rowing machine for another 30 minutes. 

There’s a more concerted focus on providing excelent fitness options on Virgin Voyages adults only cruises.

After cleaning up, my wife and I would go grab some lunch from one of the various counter service restaurants. Lunch was followed by a magician performance in a champagne lounge and then we played video games in the free arcade until the speed puzzle game. We would rest in our room for a while before dinner, which was typically a relaxed hour and a half affair. The evening closed out with us going to a diva show and then singing karaoke in a private booth. 

A day like that is equally relaxing and exciting and can’t be summed up in a single sentence. More than anything, the general ethos of Virgin seems to be, come on board and relax. If relaxing means the gym, they have a wonderful one. For those who prefer lounging in the sun, you can spend your whole day doing that. People who like parties have plenty to choose from. None of those things dominate the ship but they, and many more things besides, are all available.  

I’ve seen a lot of online chatter trying to discern what a Virgin Voyages cruise is like. I think that’s because there’s a question mark for a lot of people about what “adult only cruise” means. The answer is that an adult only cruise means a mix of sophistication, childish indulgences, and a heavy dose of recharging your batteries. Virgin’s passengers are a diverse bunch, just like the world really is. What we all wanted on the ship was a little “me time” and some nice people to be around. 

Not Having A Dress Code Is Incredibly Relaxing

Another way that Virgin distinguishes itself is there is absolutely no dress code. Well, okay, you do have to wear clothes, but there’s nothing dictating the style. You also can’t wear your swimwear in restaurants, for the very practical reason of Virgin not wanting to soak their seats in pool water. If you want to glam it up for the evening, go for it! Perhaps a tank top, shorts, and thong sandals are more your speed, that’s cool too. Just wear what you want! 

Virgin Voyages is serious about making you feel comfortable, so if you want to wear pajamas up to The Galley restaurants, feel free. I’ll admit, at first, whenever I left my room, I would be dressed like I was going out and running errands or going to a casual dining place. After a day though, I really got into it and began to truly relax. I wore my pjs around in the mornings and shorts with a tank to dinner. I felt more comfortable that way. Other people wore smoking jackets and evening gowns while out for their meals. 

Dressing how you feel is a very liberating thing that I think a lot of us don’t fully appreciate. Being able to just wear what I was comfortable in made me so much calmer. I know it’s seems like a small thing, but I was chatting with a woman one morning at breakfast and I think she hit the nail on the head with this. She was so happy that she could wake up in the morning and she didn’t put on her mom clothes.

What to Learn More About Virgin?

We sail and discuss Virgin often! Check out articles including Everything to Know About Virgin Voyages New Loyalty Program and Virgin Voyages – Learn More and Restore Work Life Balance With A Month Long WFH Cruise and Virgin Voyages Full Review – Virgin Remarkably Sets A New Bar and Food and Drinks on Virgin Voyages. And of course there’s Why I Love Virgin Voyages!

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Bursting with boundless energy, a Chicago holiday season is unlike any other. Here are some of our cherished Chicago holiday events and traditions! With its vast array of top-notch restaurants and bars, spectacular museums, shopping havens, and exhilarating events, your Christmas in Chicago will surely help you make great memories. Thanksgiving in Chicago is fabulous too! 

Christkindlmarkt are always a magical experience you don’t want to miss!

The European Christmas Market in Chicago

Chicago has a European-style Christmas market! We think the Christmas market is a must visit for any Chicago visitor. Officially called Christkindlmarkt, the original is on Daly Plaza, although two other locations have been added as well. Modeled after the European Christmas markets, it has vendors from Germany. Looking for Krampus items? You will find them here! 

And not only can you buy great holiday gifts and ornaments, but it’s also a fun place for a drink or a snack. You will find candies, cookies, pretzels, potato pancakes, sausages, and more.  You must try the gluhwein, a mulled wine you can get in an adorable souvenir mug.

To learn more visit here. 

Once you Have enjoyed the Market, it’s only a couple of blocks to Macy’s where you can check out the famous holiday tradition, the Macy’s holiday window displays.  

Chicago Christmas Shows

Of course, you can see A Christmas Carol and the Nutcracker, but there is also Christmas with C.S. Lewis and plenty of other holiday shows. Don’t miss Christmas favorites like Pentatonix or the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey. 

And if you have been wanting to see Hamilton, it is back! 

If the symphony is more your speed, make sure to check out the perennial favorite at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Merry, Merry Chicago. If you’re a Home Alone fan, there is even a symphony performance of music featured in the film at a Home Alone Concert.  

Christmas Parades

Chicago has terrific parades. We love the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on November 18^th, because they light the magical lights on Michigan Avenue as the parade proceeds south; but the Thanksgiving Day parade is awesome too.  

On December 3^rd, make sure you don’t miss the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade, which helps do fundraising for the Toys for Tots charity which helps bring joy into the lives of underprivileged children across the country. Motorcyclists are encouraged to join, with the entry fee just being an unwrapped toy donation. 

Less a parade, but no less spectacular, check out the Morton Arboretum’s Illumination display. 

New Year’s Eve

Finally, New Year’s Eve always brings great fireworks off Navy Pier. These fireworks can be enjoyed by anyone with a clear view of the pier, but you can get up close and personal on the pier itself. 

If you’re the party type, a lot of Chicago hotels hold New Year’s parties, but perhaps the biggest, most famous of them is the one held at The Drake Hotel, just off Michigan Avenue.

Chicago’s many bars and restaurants also will be hosting their own parties, there’s even a New Year’s Eve in the Sky at the bar atop the Hancock Center. There are so many choices, you’ll have a hard time just choosing one! 

Ready for More Great Travel Tips?

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

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