Boarding Valiant Lady in San Juan Puerto Rico | Solo Cruise! (March 2024)

Welcome to Mer Cruises Solo! Today is boarding day in San Juan, and I'm getting onboard the Valiant Lady, a ship I've been on once before. This cruise goes to quite a few new ports for me (itinerary below) and I'm so excited to be back on Virgin, a cruise line I absolutely LOVE! Come along with me as I show you the boarding process, explore the ship, enjoy some champagne at the sail away party and have dinner at Razzle Dazzle! There's never any shortage of excitement on Virgin, but plenty of chill to be found too :)
Day 1: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day 2: Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Day 3: Pointe-A-Pitre, Guadeloupe
Day 4: Bridgetown, Barbados
Day 5: Castries, St. Lucia
Day 6: St. John's, Antigua
Day 7: At Sea
Day 8: San Juan / Disembarkation
*NOTE: At the time I filmed and edited this video I commented that Virgin ended their status match program in December of 2023, but as of this week (April 3, 2024) they announced that it has been reinstated and their sailing club (loyalty program) has changed. For more information, check out this website: www.virginvoya...
#virginvoyages #valiantlady #cruise #solocruise
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🎬 Filmed with:
📸 Sony ZV-1F Camera
📱 iPhone 14 Pro Max
🎶 Music: Epidemic Sound

[@Valerieesquilin]

Never been on Virgin, learning so much from this video and excited to see so many comments excited about San Juan Port, thanks Mer!!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting! 😄

[@FraserAtSea]

Love this - I've been wondering for a while what it would be like to board in SJ, so thank you for this. You've settled my nerves!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thanks so much, Fraser! It went much smoother than what I had heard prior to arrival 😊

[@DaytonFrost]

Ive been obsessed with the thought of solo cruising. You’re filling the void until I pull the trigger!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Love to hear this!! That’s the whole reason I started vlogging my cruises 😊 thanks so much for watching!

[@markbradley4179]

Same here

[@markbradley4179]

Another great video! Don't forget to introduce yourself and your channel at the start of each video 🙂

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@markbradley4179 This is great feedback, thank you! :)

[@markbradley4179]

❤

[@Cory69]

just booked resilient lady from san juan for next march !! can't wait to go

[@lorrainehowes7231]

Thank you for sharing! My sister and I were on the Valiant Lady cruise out of San Juan in February. We were also booked on the Brilliant Lady, but when they rescheduled, they automatically moved us to the same sailing on the Valiant Lady. As with you, we were also able to match our Norwegian status to obtain Deep Blue Extras.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@lorrainehowes7231 hope you got a lot of onboard credit and bar tab for the switch! That was definitely a benefit of getting moved over to Valiant!

[@lorrainehowes7231]

@@MerCruisesSolo We didn't receive anything for the change, but we had $800 bar tab ($600 at purchase and $200 deep blue extras) and $200 onboard credit for a survey I completed prior to my cruise. Sad thing is, my sister and I don't really drink so we only used $319 of the bar tab by the end of the cruise. We have booked another cruise, this one on the Brilliant Lady from Los Angeles to Vancouver and think our $200 deep blue extras bar tab and our $100 onboard credit will be just fine 🙂. We love Virgin Voyages as so much is included in the price.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@lorrainehowes7231 oooh that sounds like a lovely cruise, and I agree, so much is included it’s very hard to use the sailor loot or bar tab! Hope you have a great time on Brilliant Lady! 😊

[@kimkirksey3018]

I heard you can ask for a mattress topper for the bed.

[@markbradley4179]

This video was so good I decided to watch it again!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

So glad you enjoyed it!!

[@kimkirksey3018]

I am so excited to do a solo cruise on Virgin Voyages 1 day. Thank you for sharing.

[@kimkirksey3018]

Beautiful view

[@rhondalyn100]

I sailed on the Valiant Lady a month ago...one of my fav drinks was a Fig Sour at the Dock...I saw it on your menu. Good thing i *booked this cruise* today! Going out of San Juan early next year! The things I will do to have another yummy Fig Sour! Love this vid series...VV is the best!!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Amazing! You are in for a good cruise 😊

[@chrishiggs7351]

Great video. The ship looks really cool.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thank you!

[@francescabaca1722]

Que disfrutes tu nuevo viaje 🛳⛴🛥

[@jdb316]

Sailing on Virgin Voyages is definitely on my bucket list. I've heard it's a very different experience from legacy cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, etc. Looking forward to seeing your videos.

[@julianfoster4064]

Great video!! Love watching these cruise Vlogs!!!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thanks Julian!! 😊

[@a.Janine.pretty]

Gurl Ima be right there second cruise with VV leaving from San Juan soooo excited for my 8night Caribbean Cruise❤

[@c.p379]

❤❤❤

[@c.p379]

Found your channel today! ❤

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Welcome!! 😊💕

[@tinadesigns1]

Right before you said, "I love this ship," I thought that:) Great minds think a like. Hahaha, great video!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

It’s such a gorgeous ship! 😍🛳️

[@rebeccabarnes3289]

Your dad shared this on Facebook. I've never thought I'd enjoy a cruise but you've sold it! I've wanted to travel alone and this seems like a good way to start. The safety of being on a boat and not getting lost or taking a dangerous route alone appeals to me. Is it easy for you to make friends? So you can have company if you want to do things as a group?

[@MerCruisesSolo]

That’s exactly why I love cruising so much! Yes it is! I’ve always found it very easy to make friends if I’m in the mood to socialize, and if not, I just bring a book with me to read :)

[@northwestman1]

Enjoyed your video Mel. Was curious how Virgin does their Muster drill?

[@MerCruisesSolo]

It’s very easy on Virgin! You just watch the safety video (either via app or on the TV in the cabin) and scan your wristband at your dedicated muster station. Easy peasy 😊

[@northwestman1]

@@MerCruisesSolo thank you 😊. Sorry I called you Mel Mer. Keep your videos coming; I really enjoy them

[@AmylaLoLa25]

So the sail away party its done before the cruise depart?

[@MerCruisesSolo]

For this cruise it was, yes, because we didn't sail away until 8:30pm so they held it earlier in the evening (before dinner reservations started).

[@AussieInUS]

Is your lens cap clicking against the camera mic? Anyway thanks for the video.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

It was the wrist strap against the camera mount 🤦🏻‍♀️ didn’t realize it at the time of filming, will be better about it in the future!

[@Parkhopper1985]

Like #7!!!

[@brianfoster4434]

How is the single supplement on Virgin?

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Right now it’s pretty high, depends on the sailing, but they do run reduced solo rates occasionally so I would keep an eye on their promos!

[@AlbertoBerio]

Puerto Rico is the Best place in the caribbean for good local puertorrican Food. Being in the old San Juan and the first restaurant that you visit...a Mexican restaurant? I dont get it.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

I'm (mostly) vegetarian so I'm somewhat limited in what I can eat. Being unfamiliar with Puerto Rican food, I wasn't sure if there would be any dishes that would work for me. Also, this wasn't the first place I went, I had lunch at a different restaurant right after I arrived and it was very good!