When Virgin Voyages set out to change the way people think about cruises, we jumped at the chance to go on the first trip of their second ship, the Valiant Lady, to less-frequented places.
When compared to the typical cruise experience, a Virgin cruise is like nothing you’ve ever had before. These cruises cater only to adults and include offbeat entertainment and dining options. Let us show you around the Valiant Lady for a week while you enjoy an irresistible Mediterranean trip.
Day 1 in Valiant lady, enjoying RockStar life
We took an early morning trip to Barcelona and had lunch on the stylish silver-gray and red Valiant Lady. Since we booked the RockStar Suite, we get access to a variety of perks, such as a turntable, LPs, and even an electric guitar.
We’re experiencing some of the suite’s features in a more standard room, such as the swing chair on the balcony and the king-size TV controlled by the same iPad-like device that handles the lights and the drapes.
We’re having dinner at Gumbae, a Korean tabletop BBQ restaurant where the shrimp and beef sizzle furiously. Not long after that, we were led into the “Red Room,” which resembled a hangar, and treated to a semi-impromptu performance by a colorful dance troupe that interacted with the attendees.
Day 2 – Toulon, drag artist and swanky rooftop bar
With the irresistible Med cruise, we’ll be at Toulon, the soul of the south of France, without the glitz of the Riviera, before the sun rises.
Knowing it’s too soon for us to think about the free Growth and Guided Meditation, we kick back and enjoy a sunny breakfast at the Galley, Virgin’s twist on the classic buffet with a variety of food and drink options (and servers). You can have a full English, some exquisite fruit and muesli combinations, udon noodles, tacos, or open sandwiches heaped high with smoked salmon to start the day. The morning is free for aimless exploration of the town.
In the afternoon, take a stroll across the countryside to the 16th-century Royal Tower fortification, located at the end of a winding road that ascends and descends the rocky Pointe de Pipady promontory via many little beaches.
At five o’clock in the afternoon, we go to Richard’s Rooftop, a posh bar with enormous circular white beds, where mostly attractive people lounge while drinking the complimentary Moet offered to RockStar guests for one hour every day.
All of Virgin’s themed restaurants are complimentary, but specialty restaurants on other cruise ships cost extra. It’s an evening of Extra Virgin Italian Cuisine, with a wide variety of bright appetizers and hearty main meals that go well beyond the standard fare of pasta.
Virgin also stands out due to its unique entertainment options. In a performance somewhere between a Parisian burlesque and a working men’s club, tonight’s headliner is the Diva, a leggy drag artist who sings, dances, and berates the crowd with gay abandon.
The next act is a complete departure, as American bluesman Slam Allen performs with his group in On the Rocks.
Day 3 Marina di Carrara in Italy, Vaudevillian sex therapist, and Razzle Dazzle
Awake at the crack of dawn, we’re about to arrive in Italy at the port of Marina di Carrara, located south of Genoa and frequented by just a handful of cruise ships. Despite the shipping containers and forklifts that line the port, a long stretch of beach can be seen beyond the gate, and the Apuan Alps, with their white, rich marble-like snow, can be seen rising beyond the carefully planted pines.
Slow Flow with an Open Heart Although yoga doesn’t start as early as meditation, we still need to eat before heading out to a farm for a culinary class, and doing so before dawn would be a major hassle. On the way to this picturesque location, we get a glimpse of Pisa’s leaning tower against the background of hazy heat. Some of the structures here date back to the 13th century, including the ancient stables with vaulted brick ceilings. Even though we didn’t learn anything new, we had a great time chopping sun-ripened tomatoes for our pasta lunch, which we had with our merry friends while staring out over the fields from the balcony. We had to be dragged back to the bus since there is an abundance of local wine, dessert wine, and limoncello.
Razzle Dazzle, a café with vivid colors and sharp furnishings, will be the evening’s dining destination. Vegetarian fare dominates; who knew a cauliflower doused in vadouvan curry sauce, pistachios, sesame seeds, and pomegranate would be so delicious.
Never Sleep Alone is tonight’s event, and it features a sleazy Vaudevillian sex therapist named Dr. A (who sports a tidy haircut, huge specs, and a tight skirt) who invites members of the audience up on stage to participate in quizzes and dubious shenanigans while the band plays in the background.
Day 4 Ajaccio (Corsica), Pink Agave and Duel Reality
The capital of Corsica, Ajaccio, is where we dock, and we stroll around the brand-new waterfront market hall even if the cheese, saucisson, fresh garlic, and olives don’t exactly make good souvenirs.
Napoleon was born in this city, and his childhood home is now a quaint yet foreboding museum dedicated to the Bonaparte family.
Outside the ship’s Dock House bar, we indulge in a sweet potato and chickpea burger before passing on the posture alignment workshop and instead taking a stroll down the water’s edge beyond the marina to a little beach where we refresh with a swim and a nap.
This evening, we dined at Pink Agave, a classy Mexican restaurant with a more refined menu than its name implies.
You’re in the nick of time to see Duel Reality, the best entertainment at sea. With the use of climbing poles, trapezes, springboards, and more, a group of gymnasts and circus performers play out the love-and-gangs tale of West Side Story in a high-flying, death-defying melee, with girls and boys tumbling to within inches of the floor before somersaulting away.
Day 5 Cagliari, Sardinia, Champagne happy hour and The Wake
Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, has a hilltop medieval old town that seems more African than Mediterranean, and it is already 24 degrees when we arrive. We go up to the top of the hill and down, taking in the views over Valiant Lady and the plains and mountains in the interior, as well as exploring the exquisite marble interior of the Santa Maria cathedral.
When we get back on the ship, we barely have time to shower before the champagne happy hour and supper at The Wake, which looks out over the stern. We dine on excellent clam chowder and a perfectly cooked New York strip at what is perhaps the best and most traditional restaurant.
Guests are encouraged to wear red in honor of “Red Night,” another party theme. We are fashion failures since we do not possess any red clothing, yet we still choose to join the crowds of people lounging by the pool.
People are dancing in the shallow end of the pool to loud music and a dance display, and there are dozens of them. We’re wearing good pants, so please don’t touch them. We end the day with a nightcap at the Dock House since we are too tired to play any more slam.
Day 6 Day at sea, Diva Bingo, an evening stroll in Ibiza
Today is our only day at sea, so we’re taking it easy. Have a leisurely breakfast in the open air in the galley before setting off to see all that the ship has to offer. There is a section of loungers and couches at the back, away from the main pool center, and a row of shaded gazebos for rent along the deck. This is the sports section, complete with a basketball court in a cage, outdoor exercise equipment, and even a table football.
We stop by the Diva’s morning bingo session, refuel at the ship’s specialty coffee bar, The Grounds, and then go to the ship’s fitness center, which is perhaps the best at sea thanks to its sweeping glass walls and plenty of equipment.
We’re back in The Wake and entering Ibiza at seven o’clock. We ride the free shuttle into Ibiza Town’s downtown area and go for a walk along the shoreline, where dozens of bars and restaurants are packed with tourists out for a night of drinking and dining.
Day 7 Chiringuito Blue Beach, Test Kitchen
A day basking in the Ibiza sun. We take a trip to Santa Eulalia del Ríu’s Chiringuito Blue Beach Club, where we relax on loungers only yards from the water. There was a lot of time spent playing in the waves, followed by a meal of razor clams at the restaurant’s outside patio and a walk down the Ríu, the only river in the Balearics, shaded by towering trees.
We had a multi-course tasting meal with wine pairings in the Test Kitchen—a bite of fish here, a lamb chop with baby carrots and asparagus standing in aubergine cream there.
How much
Starting at £1,657.44 per cabin (£828.72 per person), you can cruise alone with tips and internet included on Virgin Voyages’ (virginvoyages.com) wide selection of irresistible Med cruises.
Conclusion:
The Valiant Lady is a great ship with entertainment that is very different from anything else on a cruise and a great way of life for younger people who want to travel.
