Virgin Voyages: Learn WHY & HOW to Book Dinner and Shows ASAP - You Will Thank Me!

Heading on a Virgin Voyages Cruise you will want to ensure you learn how to make dinner reservations and show reservations ASAP! This video will walk you through how to use the Virgin Voyages App specifically to book restaurants and shows onboard the ship. The two most important things you can do prior to and at the beginning of your cruise. Failure to book these as soon as you can could mean you might not get into their restaurants or have to eat at very odd times.
Filmed onboard Virgin Voyage's Scarlet Lady. @VirginVoyages
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[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Thank you for the great advice Brandon!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Thanks Mitchell!

[@brantthompson199]

Thanks for the tips Brandon!! We are sailing in November so I’m setting my alarms on my calendar.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Yes!! Do NOT miss this day. Will mess up the entire vacation!

[@loriharvitt]

Awesome review! Thx for app turorial. Quick and to the point, I appreciate your video.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Glad to help and love just telling people what I am going to talk about, and then talking about it :-)

[@tracicobbevans-gp6kf]

Thanks so much!!! We're going on our first Virgin Voyages cruise in October. I'm so glad I searched to find out what I needed to do ahead of time. I set an alarm to remind me. Counting down!!!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You are off to a great cruise!!

[@tracimorgan3695]

this is helpful for my upcoming cruise, thank you!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

My pleasure Traci!

[@faleciahenry9646]

Hi. Great information. You mentioned things I haven't heard, so thanks! Also, thanks for actually showing where to look for things within the app!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed and like the style of the video. Hope you have a blast on Virgin Voyages

[@Pinupred21]

Sailing in November to Bimini, definitely using all your tips 😊

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Love it Maria!!! Hope you have a blast!

[@a.Janine.pretty]

Going on my second one in DEC love VV and agree with booking the SECOND the opening appears on your APP

[@johnbowling921]

I cannot stress this enough. I'll be on Scarlet in 3 weeks and I booked my dining as soon as it opened, shortly before midnight 45 days prior to the cruise. I went back a day later just to check and all time slots were booked. Set a reminder and be on the app as soon as reservations open up.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You got it John!! Don't try to do it 30 days out, you will not get a reservation.

[@ltarleton7527]

I did the same.....and make sure you know the time zone too. Something told me to check before midnight because I live in the Midwest, and sure enough....it was open to make reservations.

[@BrodeyDoverosx]

More slots open up when you get on their local wireless network.

[@BrodeyDoverosx]

I’m assuming the time zone is EST?

[@greenbrown7776]

That's just insane. They built a ship. Everyone pays a high rate. But only the savviest and fastest get to enjoy the amenities?

[@BAngieB1]

Great tips

[@ScottLara]

Great tip!!! Appreciate you!!!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

My pleasure!

[@kathryncashner3294]

Hints on dining reservations....if the app is wonky, your TA (First Mate) can make reservations for you thru their portal. You can also do it by calling shoreside sailor services during their working hours and they can do it for you. Also, you can go to the restaurant when it opens at 6 or even the day before and ask if they can work you in for the next night/later that night. Then you aren't a "walk in" as you made a reservation. For shows, there is a standby line. There are always people who made reservations and then don't show up.....if you want to take a chance, that is an option. Just curious....if this is your third standard, paid cruise on VV, you should be a Sea Rover meaning that you get the Deep Blue Extras. You can also get Sea Rover thru a status match if you have loyalty on another cruise line. Among the benefits are that Premium wifi is included, $10 per day in credit at the Grounds Club, a free $100 bar tab (on top of anything you bought), etc. I'm sure you knew this, so I'm guessing that this is a comped/casino/otherwise seriously discounted cruise for you in which case the Deep Blue Extras aren't applied. But for normal cruisers...if you have loyalty on another line, go to the VV website and scroll down to "Loyalty." You'll find the application for the status match there. They need about a week to process it before your first cruise. THis is in effect till the end of 2023.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You got it! I did the match program after my first cruise with Virgin! It is a game changer and provides a lot of nice perks that I moaned about not having on my first sailing! Great tips too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqGlnoaDq62oncU

[@BardWannabe]

Truth. I was happy to see when you were scrolling through that the bungee class was back; that had been missing from my last couple cruises. I don’t know why they don’t offer that class around the clock as so many people would like to do it.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

They probably would. It did look like a lot of fun! I did not do it but next time will be on the lookout for it!

[@tstv205]

Thank you 😊

[@NadsBaje]

Thank you for this. It was helpful to see parts of your schedule as well. I am not in the US, but when I select View Ship Spaces > Eateries > it tells me it opens up at 12am EST so that helps.

[@dancooper41]

Brandon, great tips, but I’d just add not to panic if it looks like all the reservations released 45 days out are booked up. They hold back a substantial number of slots for release closer to sailing date and even more are released once the voyage has started. I’ve spent over 5 weeks on Virgin ships over the past year and never had a problem getting into the restaurants I wanted, or making changes on the fly once the cruise is underway. But I agree, it’s best to get everything nailed down as early as possible.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Dan, I hope this is the case but it has not been my experience. I have seen and heard many people turned away or provided the dreaded 5pm or 10:30pm dinner times as their only options. Life is 10x easier if you are able to quickly log in, grab some reservations and know you have plans. Figuring it out onboard can be stressful, especially, if you are not familiar and trying to figure it out. Out of curiosity, how did you do your 5 weeks B2B? I keep asking myself if I would enjoy spending multiple weeks on Virgin in a row and not sure how I feel about that.

[@dancooper41]

@@TheWeekendCruiser Hiya Brandon. No I didn’t do any B2Bs. Did the Valiant Lady westbound Transatlantic last October (14 nights), the Eastbound TA in April/May, (15 nights) and a week on Resilient Lady May/June in the Greek Islands. All of those had about 1500 - 1800 pax. Reservations might have been tighter on sailings with more pax. But I love the long transatlantics!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

@@dancooper41 That is awesome Dan and that is still a good chunk of time on Virgin for one go! Glad you had a blast!

[@GerstbeeTravel]

Great to see this. Does it tell you the show times when you're booking dinner reservations?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Of course not! You have to check the shows first and then go in and hope there is a time that allows you to make that :-) I can't tell you how many times I would switch in and out of the reservation to check lol

[@shumston]

Circus Olè!

[@runaway21]

Also - I have family member that is going to be joining the Duel Reality cast! Do you know if I would be able to book tickets to see the show multiple times during my cruise?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

That is awesome you will have family on the ship! I would let them know and you should be able to get special treatment and multiple shows. Offer to take them to dinner one night 😜

[@MelissaC269]

Are most shows at 6 pm? When it's 45 days out and you can book dining, will they also list the shows and the times so that we can coordinate the dining with the shows? Thank you so much!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

There shows are not at a set time and do variety. Some shows are even dinner theater shows where you eat as well.

[@MelissaC269]

@@TheWeekendCruiser oh wow! interesting! Thank you.

[@beckstr71]

Too fast and the dinner rsvp part I needed didn't provide enough info because you were already on the cruise, and everything was booked/grayed out.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Important question: 45 days in advance of the day that your cruise starts, but what time zone are they using? If it is a Miami cruise would I use eastern daylight time or is everything base on the time zone at their corporate location? I would guess that some things will fill up so fast that a three hour time difference is a big deal. Thank you so much, Brandon!

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

I have not timed it that far but I would imagine in the app it is 45 days from the time zone you are in? At least that is my best guess!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@TheWeekendCruiser I think that it would be the same time for everyone across the world. That’s the way Yosemite’s reservations work.

[@ltarleton7527]

I wondered the same as I live in the Midwest. I was waiting till midnight but something told me to just check before the central time and I did. The app was open for booking dinner reservations. The prime 6/7 o'clock times were mainly gone so definitely check.

[@dara_the_cruisingcatlady]

is Virgin doing weekend cruises out of Florida?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

I WISH!!!! This was a 5-night sailing leaving on Friday, Monday was a holiday, and I worked remote on Tuesday, and back home Wednesday morning. They do have a 4 night that leaves on Thursday that I really like to Key West I want to try as well.

[@user-nw7dm4ib3k]

What if you are going with a couple do you both have I try to book same time same restaurant?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Once onboard, you can also coordinate with the matre de of the restaurants to accommodate but I recommend linking and doing everything prior to boarding if possible. Even if you don't link, and you can get reservations around the same time, I would hope you would be okay.

[@TraciLynnHall]

When and how do you purchase the premium wifi? Im wondering if i can already be on the premium wifi as soon as we board that way I have the better internet to make the reservations! 😊 Although, I have never had a single issue using the app. I keep hearing everyone say that the app is terrible, but I've never had any issue. I have a google pixel 7 pro. My cruise is coming up in June so i havent experienced how it works onboard, but so far its worked perfectly for me. I get on there all the time just out of excitement and my lack of patience 😂😋

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You should be able to buy the wifi in advance from their website. Though, when connecting to the internet, it will also give you this option to upgrade.

[@TraciLynnHall]

@@TheWeekendCruiser Thank you!! 😊

[@travelwithdebandnick]

i saw on the planner that the grounds club too closed at 7pm, if its the same on resilient lady on our december cruise i will be pretty cross. i am used to having barista style coffees up until midnight on a ship then reopen again around 6am, if they are the opening hours on virgin, thats enough to make me seriously think about cancelling our honeymoon cruise, which i would be heartbroken to do as was looking forward to it so much :( can you please advise if that is the regular timing that the cafe opens and closes

[@dancooper41]

In my experience, Grounds Club 2 on Deck 7 often closes by early evening, but the other Grounds Club in the Galley on Deck 15 is open later. This could vary depending on whether it’s a sea day or a port day, etc.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Debbie! Do not fear!! Grounds Club Coffee does close earlier than I like too (LOVE my espresso!). When I went in search of coffee later in the night, I found it at Sip, the Champagne bar! You can't see it in the video as it is closed but behind the brass screen, is a really nice espresso machine for you and I believe it is open till midnight!

[@travelwithdebandnick]

@@dancooper41 awesome sounds great :) thank for letting me know :)

[@travelwithdebandnick]

@@TheWeekendCruiser now you're talking hehe thank you so much for letting me know :) that's the best news ever :)

[@caroldiamond5814]

We’re booking our excursions right now. We started at midnight 1/10 and a lot are already booked. It’s been a pain. What was your experience excursion bookings??

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

I have not booked excursions through Virgin Voyages yet. Only done ports I am familiar with in the Caribbean. Check out GetYourGuide or Viator to see if they have a tour you like. 3rd party but should not be an issue.

[@runaway21]

Are these specialty restaurants or do you need to book reservations in order to eat at all?

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

If you have been on other cruise lines, they feel like a speciality restaurant. However, they are included in the price and you will need to make reservations.

[@PeterAhrens-sd3ot]

This booking policy seems really strange to me. I would love to go on a VV cruise, but I don't wanna waste my time after embarkation with my phone, trying to book shows.....I just want to enjoy the ship. The restaurant booking also seems bizarre. Half of the sailors didn't have the chance to make a reservation and now they are on vacation and stressed out because they have no idea where to eat.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Yeah, It is their biggest win and greatest downfall. I hate the stress of it.

[@user-nw7dm4ib3k]

What are you going with a couple and want to eat dinner at the same time and same place??

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You will need to link your reservations, which can be done in the app or by calling in. This will allow you to make reservations for 4 and each person will appear to be added to the reservation.

[@BrodeyDoverosx]

I can select the time, but it never loads. Other people can book, but I can’t. Epic bullshit. You can see red for 6pm, grey for 6:30pm and red for 7pm

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

Hey Brodey, there app is very buggy! One thing that worked for me one time was turning off my phone and rebooting. Not sure what changed but it worked. Good luck as I would be very frustrated too.

[@greenbrown7776]

So what you're saying is some 2,700 people will book on this trip but only 1,350 (I'm making numbers up) can actually get into the specialty restaurants and shows on any given night. The other half will have to make do with something else. Eating in the galley, their rooms and reading books, playing board games, etc. So you're on this buggy app, on your damn phone yet again and 45 days before you ever leave, you already have to plan your time on board in detail -- leaving no room for spontaneity and serendipity. Not in the mood for Mexican that night -- SORRY, you were 47 nights ago when you booked it. Sounds very stressful and a lot like work and not a lot of fun.

[@TheWeekendCruiser]

You got it! It is VERY stressful. Food is their biggest win and biggest downfall. My analytical mind would love to know that ratio!

[@mercyd8217]

That’s almost every cruise line I wouldn’t say this is a VV specific issue. We cruised NCL and there were no reservations available at all!