[Tracy]

IMHO this will be a disaster for VV ( much as dynamic pricing has been with VS) . A lot of the fervent VV loyalists on the forums are very unhappy too.[/quote]

Im very interested to see what the cheapest pricing tier will look like. If its cheaper than the current tier, happy days. If its the same price as current tier then its definitely a downgrade so there will be some very unhappy people.
Im finding virgin no cheaper than other cruise lines now so after my virgin transatlantic next month, my next booked cruise is with celebrity for the first time 🙂

[Tracy]

I stuffed up a couple months ago and got the nectar first, then the gold card. No gold bonus allowed 😱

[Tracy]

@PaulB, I checked yesterday and it was still £690. Checked just now and the insider cabin is now £868. The better offer now is £930 for sea terrace I’d suggest…

[Tracy]

@PaulB, I booked with cruise nation for that price. Seems to still be available…

[Tracy]

@Dragonlady, my 2 back to back cruises got classed effectively as one cruise starting at one port and ending at another port (New York to Miami). According to us maritime law and the jones act, in the case of different starting and ending ports both within the us, the ship must visit a “distant” foreign port and none of the stops on the cruise were classed as “distant” enough so no-one can sail them back to back according to VV. I was gutted I had to cancel 😭
We’re from Scotland so will probably be warm enough lol. Hats and gloves rather than bikinis I think…

[Tracy]

@jkt best price I could find was with cruisenation. Think it’s still this price today….

[Tracy]

@Dragonlady, lol, have pulled the trigger and booked the Reykjavik cruise, insider price dropped to £690 for the 11 nights….
Had to cancel my back to back cruises New York/Quebec/Miami due to stupid maritime law 😭, so this is the replacement.

[Tracy]

Just received an email from virgin voyages with details of the new itineraries in place of these cancellations…6/7/8 night itineraries. All shorter, maybe the longer cruises weren’t that popular?

[Tracy]

@Baflyerihgstayer, Virgin voyages mentioned both PVSA and Jones act to explain the restriction on the 3 back to back cruises….

[Tracy]

Looks like it’s not an issue for me any more…had to cancel my flights and back to back cruises anyway…
Had started looking at staying in Philadelphia instead, easy access by train and a city I have never visited before….never mind 😭

[Tracy]

Cancelled my flights then phoned Virgin Voyages who confirmed that there are 3 back to back Brilliant Lady itineraries restricted by maritime law including my back to backs.
I think it should be made clearer on the website as back to back voyages are pretty common.
Guess my UK cruise agent knows nothing about US cruise law…..

[Tracy]

@masaccio, that room for my dates is $740pn 😂. I would be able to use 20% off but still nearly $600pn. I’m just wanting someplace half decent, sub £250pn for a couple nights before I jump on a cruise….not even all that bothered about seeing NYC, been there and done that.

[Tracy]

@davefl mimosa looks decent and £235 per night for my dates. Another hotel I can find is Aloft Harlem at £180pn with TUI hotels (no idea if they are decent to deal with), hotel seems to get pretty rubbish reviews online though and is $1500 for the 3 nights direct with Marriott 😱

@MichaelC, my dates are 20-23. I really grudge paying £250 plus for a budget hotel lol but beggars can’t be choosers I guess.

[Tracy]

@SwissJim, unfortunately with dynamic pricing as an example, 60k jersey city, 80k+ manhattan (Hilton). IHG pretty high too and I’d have to buy them…

[Tracy]

Yes, holiday inn or holiday inn express jersey city $300pn. Doubletree jersey city $500pn. Holiday inn express Brooklyn $400pn…

[Tracy]

Interestingly, he has received the Amex email to say he has used the offer….but app still saying £625 pending 🤞

[Tracy]

@Dragonlady, I’m a bargain basement shopper too 😂. Still want designer items for that price though…
I’ve just booked flights to US using the United Amex offer (not sure I’ve done it right tho 😊) so I can cruise there instead.

[Tracy]

@Dragonlady, no I didn’t book the Reykjavik trip, the itinerary just didn’t grab me enough…still on the hunt for a great deal on a great itinerary (not gonna happen I’m sure 😂)

[Tracy]

New itineraries until 2027 released today…..no error fares unfortunately from what I can see 😂

[Tracy]

Apparently a big announcement due today, is this the big announcement? 😂😂😂

Dragonlady wrote:

And this afternoon they’ve announced 100 Virgin Red points per person per night earned for cruises booked directly through Virgin Voyages.
That’s right 100 points per night per person …🤣🤣I mean really ? Why bother ?

[Tracy]

Thanks @JillKinkell, I’ve been looking at flights with LATAM, think I read somewhere that it’s cheaper on the local LATAM site, did you do this?

@masaccio, thanks for the Easter island info, sounds like 3/4 nights are adequate. Will be looking to book hotels soon, not paying 5 star prices though, any mid range recommendations?

[Tracy]

OH is able to refer from green Amex but not BAPP. He has held green Amex continuously for years, never referred from it or closed and re-opened it. BAPP was used for referrals, closed etc. Amex definitely is keeping tabs….

[Tracy]

One thing I’ve noticed with checking the virgin cruises this year is that as prices have gone up this year, more people are buying insider cabins, they are selling out sometimes before the sea terrace. Makes it more expensive to book last minute (as I prefer to do) as only the more expensive cabins are left 🙁

[Tracy]

I have also had a pretty awful experience with a BA female crew attendant. I asked for a tea just before we hit turbulence so she had to tell me I would have to wait for the tea until after the seat belt sign was switched off, fair enough. Seat belt signs off after 30 mins, waited another 15 mins. Staff all chatting in the galley, I go to galley and ask for a tea and get told in no uncertain terms to go back to my seat and that it’s coming….she was so off with me for the rest of the flight too, pretty much just ignored me or was rude when I asked for something. Made for an uncomfortable flight. Don’t know if it’s just me but, as a female traveller, I prefer to deal with male members of crew.

[Tracy]

Just a quick update on this.
Hilton Tokyo, I agreed the upgrade fee with hotel in advance. Then a couple days before checkin I received an eupgrade email that was cheaper so I contacted the hotel who cancelled the original upgrade. On arrival at hotel I was given a free upgrade to executive room with lounge access. I am Hilton Gold. The lounge access was very nice to have each evening…I loved the pork gyoza lol.
Hilton Hiroshima, we were also given a free upgrade to an executive room. Again, very nice lounge with great drinks and nice food.
Doubletree higashiyama, nice hotel, bit further out of Kyoto area than I would have liked. No executive lounge but diamonds get a free 1 hour all you can drink in the restaurant/lounge. Everyone else has to pay 1200yen (about £6) per room. Best £6 per night I’ve spent in a hotel lol. Staff were fantastic and let us try the more expensive gins too. Loved the Kyoto tea gin.