Almost great!

Even though I characterized my embarkation experience as being somewhat bad, we have to be mindful of a couple of things. First of all, Virgin Voyages is a fairly new cruise line and they are still working out a few kinks. Secondly, traveling during the global pandemic definitely complicates things, and they are trying to do their best. a bit chaotic. As for my experience, I arrived much earlier than my pre-arranged arrival slot (you need to book your arrival time via the app, and the earliest I could book was 3pm, even though my flight arrived at noon). I was fully prepared to wait for my time, but some good people at Virgin were nice enough to let me in with an earlier crowd. Once you pass airport-style security and enter the terminal, you are put in a long line to register for your covid test. You start the test registration process by scanning a QR code and filling out a form on your mobile device to get a registration code. Once you get to the window and they match your info with the info you provided on the form, you get a piece of paper with your data. From there you're instructed to wait in another line for the actual testing. Once a nurse does your nasal swab, you are given a pink wristband and allowed to proceed to the boarding area, where you enter another line to get checked in. The COVID test is of a rapid variety, so the results are emailed to you quickly, while you're waiting for the line to register. When you get to the agent, you already have your test results email and from there the check-in process is quick. Most of the information is obtained via the app before your arrival, so the process is quick. When you finally get your band (a special bracelet with NFC technology) activated, you are allowed to finally board the ship. In fairness, all the lines move relatively fast, but the entire process still takes about 2 hours. I understand and appreciate the precautions Virgin Voyages takes to ensure a virus-free cruise, but I still wish they made the process a bit less stressful and time-consuming.

A lot needs to be said about the food onboard. One major difference between Virgin Voyages and other cruise lines is that there are no large dining rooms. Most lines offer traditional dining with set dinner times and extra-cost specialty restaurants. With Virgin, you eat at the specialty restaurants each night (if you're lucky to book them in advance) and there is no extra cost (unless you order some ultra-premium items from the menu or alcohol). You can choose from a steakhouse, Italian, Mexican, vegetarian, and Korean restaurants, as well as their experimental Test Kitchen. In my experience, the food and service at all restaurants were way above average. There is one catch. You can't go to the same restaurant twice, so if you want to eat steak every night at the Wake (the steakhouse), then you're out of luck. Besides the specialty restaurants, there is a cafeteria-style eatery on deck 15 called The Galley that serves a variety of food at different stations. You can get omelets, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, salads, sushi, ramen, pastries, and much more. Everything I tried at the Galley was pretty good. The portions are rather small, which may be a good thing, depending on your eating habits. The soft drinks and juices at The Galley are free, which is something other cruise lines charge extra for. In addition to a huge assortment of food, there are stations with pre-packaged salads, fruits, cakes, and sandwiches to go. I thought that was a really nice touch if you felt like eating in your room instead of the crowded cafeteria. And speaking of eating in your room, you can order room service (but be ready to pay a $5 delivery fee). Besides the restaurants and the Galley, there are other areas on the ship where you can get a quick bite. There is a cafe on Deck 16 serving poke bowls (very good!), there is a Starbucks-like coffee shop on Deck 7, and another area on deck 7 serving small portions of seafood (shrimp, octopus, etc.). The most entertaining restaurant onboard must be Gunbae, the Korean BBQ restaurant. The idea is similar to a Japanese hibachi, where the food is cooked on the table in front of you. While you wait for your food, the waiters play a Korean drinking game with passengers and pour free shots of soju (Korean rice wine). The food is delicious and a bit different, if you're into trying something new.

There are a lot of fitness options on the Scarlet Lady. You have your typical gym with exercise machines, you also have a separate area with stationary bikes for spin classes, then there is the "Training Camp" area for more focused training, and a whole area outside on Deck 16 that is set up like an old gym with some gymnastic equipment and even a boxing ring. You can even participate in yoga classes on Deck 17 (the Perch). Virgin Voyages advertises that all fitness classes are included (but there are some extra cost options as well). That may be true, but the classes fill up quickly, so unless you're quick to claim your space via the app (which may or may not work), you may be out of luck. If you are a fan of yoga, try booking a standup paddleboard yoga class in Bimini, it's very challenging.

There were some very good entertainment options onboard. The Traveling Nerd show features a memory champion that can solve a Rubic's cube in record time and memorize a deck of cards. The "Never Sleep Alone" show is edgier and relies on audience participation. The "doctor" running the show gives out sex advice and all audience members get a free condom. The "Ships" show got canceled, rescheduled, and then canceled again. Clearly, there are still some issues that need to be worked out. The best performance on board was the "Duel Reality" show featuring a cast of multi-talented performers. Not only they are acrobats, gymnasts, and aerialists, but they are also dancers and singers. The impressive cast members also perform throughout the ship, especially during the Scarlet Night. The blues band that performs in a small venue on Deck 6 is also great, and the lead musician tricks the audience with another guitar player, but I won't spoil it for you. The solo guitarist that performs around the ship is amazing, as I have never seen that kind of a guitar-playing style. There are DJs playing club and techno music, and some audience participation shows that are mildly entertaining.

Excellent service in specialty restaurants, all waiters are very attentive and ensure you get the best experience.

The Scarlet Lady is a bit different from many other cruise ships. The first thing you notice when you step onboard is the interior design. I would characterize it as understated. If you're used to huge atriums and over-the-top decor, the Scarlet Lady's design will seem underwhelming to you. Personally, I prefer the feel of understated luxury to flashy and sometimes tasteless interiors of some ships, so this setup worked well for me. Instead of huge open areas (like Royal Caribbean's street-like promenades), there are a lot of cool, small, and cozy places, so you will find yourself comfortable no matter where you go. The ship is brand new and still has that "new ship" smell, and the overall vibe is chic and modern. There is a lot of emphasis on fitness and wellness, and there is even an outside fitness area on deck 16, although I have not seen it utilized by many passengers. There are a few things that I didn't appreciate as far as the ship's amenities. The pool was very small and would get packed on sea days. There are no showers or changing rooms at the gym, and no steam rooms either. All of those things are available on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships, but for some reason, Virgin Voyages decided to eliminate those options. There were broken faucets in the restrooms, which was weird to see on a brand new ship

As a solo cruiser, I booked the cheapest option, the Solo Insider Cabin. I figured that I would only use my cabin to sleep in and spend as much time outside as possible. However, I underestimated just how small the cabin was. The typical cruise ship cabins are not known for their roominess, but my cabin must have been the most confined space I ever lived in. I am not a very large person (I am 6ft tall and wear size medium), but it was tight for me. Having said that, everything was laid out well and functional. The only exception was the shower that didn't drain fast enough so I always had standing water in my shower. Virgin offers many different levels of cabins, all the way up to Rock Star suites, so you get what you pay for.