When I board a cruise ship the first place I like to head is the Spa.  Well sometimes I grab lunch first but I always get to the spa early on embarkation day.   This is the time when you can tour the spa and check out everything they have to offer.  Sometimes they even have a spa raffle you can enter when you do the tour.   The thing I want to see most in the spa is the Thermal Suite!   If you haven't been to this amazing area on a ship before you are missing out.  
  Almost all cruise ship spas will have some type of thermal suite. They might call it something else, such as Disney calls theirs the Rainforest Room or Princess calls it the Enclave.   Whatever they call it, the thermal suite is an area of the spa where guests can relax and do a little self care on their own.   In the past few months I have been lucky enough to sail on a few different ships and try out each of their thermal suites.  
   
What will you find in a Thermal Suite?
First off I will say they are co-ed so you will find everyone wearing bathing suits.
While it varies from ship to ship most thermal suites will usually have at least a steam room, sauna, and aromatherapy showers.   Many now have a salt room too.
  Some offer hot tubs and/or cool tubs (yep cool water actually feels nice after the steam room or sauna).   If you are lucky they will have a thalassotherapy pool -  these are a bit different than a hot tub as they are larger, use saltwater, the jets are stronger, and they usually have a full body size reclining seat in the water.  I really enjoyed the one in The Enclave on Princess Sky.  Disney Dream and Fantasy have 2 hot tubs on an open air deck portion of the Rainforest room which I also really enjoy.   
Some of the more unique things I have found in thermal suites are the mud room on Virgin and the snow room on MSC and NCL.  I can't say that I am normally a fan of mud or snow but it was fun to try them out in the spa.  I also really liked the crystal room on Celebrity Apex.
  After you've experienced some of the features you will want to just relax and enjoy the zen feeling so most will have some type of heated lounger that you can just melt into.   These are usually my favorite. I say usually because I was not a fan of the heated seating in Virgin's spa.   Some ships place their thermal suite in really nice locations like Celebrity Apex which was at the very front of an upper deck so your view from the heated loungers was amazing, especially around sunset!  The thermal suite on Apex also had nice big window views from the sauna and hanging chairs so there are lots of places to relax and enjoy the view.  Not all thermal suites will be in a location with a view which isn't bad either.  I kind of liked the darker quiet feeling of the Enclave on Sky Princess which is in interior area of a lower deck.

​I have recently sailed on Disney Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages and both offer an amazing spa.  Disney has the Rainforest room and Virgin has Redemption Spa's Thermal Suite.   They are very different and are also dealing with covid differently. Here is my experience with each -  


 Disney Dream's Rainforest Room.   On the Dream the Spa area and fitness are all together on Deck 11 all the way in the front of the ship.  This is also where most of the adult only stuff is located so it is a nice quiet area.  There are 2 hot tubs, 4 different types of showers, along with a steam room, sauna, and heated lounges.  Disney has decided to change the rules for the Rainforest Room due to covid so that only one party is allowed at a time.  You reserve a time slot for a flat fee of $175  and you and up to 10 people in your party are able to have the Rainforest room all to yourself!   Yes it is a little pricey but after the year and half I had I knew it would be worth every penny for me!  I couldn't wait to book my slot as I always enjoy a visit to the Rainforest Room and thought alone would be even better!  I understand that eventually they will go back to normal operations but I would love it if maybe Disney would still offer a few times each day where guests could book a private experience.  
 The Rainforest Room includes a semi-enclosed outdoor section with the 2 hot tubs.  Inside it has heated loungers, a steam room, sauna, and aromatherapy showers. The heated loungers are my favorite place to read a little and nap a lot   I also really love that outdoor area with the hot tubs as there is just something relaxing about having a sea breeze and hearing the ocean.   The showers and steam room and saunas are also nice.  You do have the option to purchase some scrubs to use in the showers but I opted out of that for this time.  The area is a bit small and used to get kind of crowded before covid so I do wish it was bigger.   Either way it is a nice little sanctuary to just unwind and de-stress even if only for an hour and 45 minutes.

​Every cruise out of Miami on Virgin Voyages will make a spot at Bimini in the Bahamas.   One important thing to note is that Bimini is not a private island for Virgin Voyages but offers a private Beach Club that guests on the cruise can enjoy.   For me the private island stops are always the highlight of any cruise in the Caribbean.   I have been to pretty much all of them too.   Disney and Holland America have my favorite private islands but I have also been to NCL's, Princess, and both of Royal Caribbean's.   Technically Royal Caribbean's Labadee isn't a private island since it is actually part of Haiti so I was kind of expecting the Beach Club at Bimini to be sort of like that.  The big difference is that for Labadee the ship pulls up right to the private beach area so you walk off the ship and you are there.  The Beach Club at Bimini is not really walkable from the ship but they do offer a tram all day.   It is at least a 15 minute ride and there really aren't sidewalks which is why I say not walkable from the ship.   The tram also makes 2 stops along the way at an area where shore excursions will depart from and also a casino.  I heard some guests say they were hoping for a small town to explore but all we really saw were resort type areas and some homes.  Golf carts were clearly the way most people on the island get around and I heard you could rent one for the day so I guess if you wanted to go off on your own you could.

​My main focus was to check out the Beach Club.  When you pull up you can tell that most of this is very new - which made me wonder would this have all been ready back in March 2020 when Scarlet Lady was supposed to start.   Either way it was a nice welcome area which reminded me of what you might find in an open air lobby of an all inclusive island resort.  Right away you see the big pool area and there are plenty of places to sit and get comfy everywhere.   The Beach Club kind of reminded me of the way the ship is also designed with lots of smaller areas to enjoy instead of just one huge area.    There are lots of cozy sitting areas around the resort but too bad that doesn't apply to the beachfront. To either side of the pool area there are places to grab lunch (which is included) and drinks. Of course there is a swim up bar and there are also some self-serve soda stations as well.     

​The pool area seemed to have music and stuff going on most of the day and for me that is not what I am looking for on a private beach day so I headed right for the sand!   This is where I was let down though.   The beach area is not very big and felt very crowded with lounge chairs and umbrellas all on top of each other.   Our ship was only about a 1/3 full so I cannot imagine what this beach will be like with a full ship.  There was also a roped off area with nicer lounge chairs but that was for Rockstar guests only.   There are of course cabanas that you can rent but honestly they didn't seem to offer much for the price.  
 I prefer a little more space on my beach day so I can really just relax but you won't really find that here (definitely no social distance).  The other thing I love to do at the private island stops is to float in the gorgeous turquoise water.  Yes the water was that lovely color here but there wasn't a lot of swimming space and the water was a bit rough.   There also wasn't an option to rent a float which I am guessing is due to the small area and not really floatable water.   Along with no floats there weren't really any water toys either.   We usually like to rent a hobie or something like that to go out and play but this beach area really wasn't designed for that.   I guess in my head I was thinking the Beach Club at Bimini would have some fun things in the water like maybe some of those large inflatables or something like that so maybe that is something they are still working on.  Right now the focus seemed to be more on the pool area for activities.  

​The one thing Beach Club at Bimini does have that no other cruise ship private stop does is a late night stay which includes bonfires!   I was very excited for that as I have always wished the ships would stay late and do a night party type thing on their islands.   We spent a couple hours on the beach in the morning and then headed back to the ship to eat and shower and then went back over closer to sunset to enjoy the bonfires and the cooler temperatures.   I found I loved the Beach Club much more at this time of day.  Most people had left so you could grab a lounge on the beach and relax.   They had 3 large metal balls that they used for the fires and they were very cool.   They lit them one by one and each lighting came with some music from the Phantom Folktales which I really enjoyed.   We hung out for a bit and then headed back to the ship to catch the show.   The ship was staying in port until 11:59 pm so it was a really late departure even though I am not really sure how many people even stayed on the beach past 9:00.     

​I know they cannot change the location of the Beach Club so I don't think there is a lot they can do for the swimming on the beach but maybe other times of the year will offer calmer water.   I will be back in January and see what I think then.

​Scarlet Lady was supposed to make her US debut back in March 2020 and I was supposed to be on that first voyage so I am glad that finally about 18 months later I got set sail onboard!   I think when Virgin Voyages first started advertising there were some mixed messages about who Virgin was really targeting.  A lot of people thought they were going after the millennials but I can tell you as someone who is a parent of a millenial I think I enjoyed this ship way more than anyone half my age!  There were so many 80s things that I really feel like the target market for this cruise is my generation, the Gen Xers!    

There were so many things I loved about this ship!   Here are my Top 6 -

#1 - I LOVE that it is ADULT ONLY!   I have been on other adult only cruises and there are some I haven't tried yet but generally I tend to be the youngest person on those cruises. There used to be a saying that cruising was for the newlywed or the nearly dead but then came along Disney Cruise Line and some of the other cruise lines realized the family market was a huge untapped one.  While it is great that there are now lots of ships filled with things to attract families with kids, there are many of us that really do not enjoy sharing a cruise ship with hundreds of other people's kids.  I love that Virgin went adult only but yet added so many things that really let adults feel like a kid again.
  Another bonus to adult only right now is that it means everyone onboard is vaccinated.   This made for a much more relaxed vibe onboard and things really almost felt like pre-covid times.   Where else could you go right now and know that every single person you will come in contact with is vaccinated?  

​#4 I Love the Entertainment!   I always like being in the very aft of the ship when we leave port so as we pulled out of Miami we were back there just taking it all in and then all of a sudden there was someone with a guitar and he started singing a sailor type of song and then a few other random people sitting around chimed in with him.   At first I thought what the heck is going on.  Are these just some guests wanting to sing a song but then they finished their song and moved to another deck and started again so we figured oh they must be part of this new type of entertainment Virgin has been talking about.  We ended up catching a few more of their pop up performances throughout the cruise and the last night there were actually a couple scheduled times where you could be sure to catch them do a few songs.   There was a lot of pop up stuff like them and other stuff that you just needed to be in the right place at the right time which was fun.   There are also 2 theatre type venues onboard but they are much smaller more intimate than the huge big production show theaters you get on the other ships.  I really prefer these smaller spots.   We missed a few of the shows but we caught the best one in my opinion which is the headliner show for this cruise called Duel Reality.   I had already seen it on my sneak peak day and loved it so was so happy to get to see it again.   It is one of those type shows where you end up holding your breath so much during the show that even seeing it again a week later I was still holding my breath and not believing they could do the things they did.  It is a can't miss show!  There was also a VHS 80s workout that I had assumed was going to be more of a show type thing poking fun at the seating to the oldies but it turned out it was actually a workout!   It was a lot of fun though and sadly I realized that sweatin to the oldies now means working out to 80s music.  I had flashbacks to highschool PE where the girls usually opted for the Richard Simmons workout instead of playing a sport.   

#5  I Love all the Included in your cost items.   Virgin includes a lot of things in your basic cruise fare.   Like I already mentioned they include all the dining locations onboard - even the ice cream and candy!   They also include basic beverages in your cruise cost.   If you have been on some of the other lines you know you will shell out $10 a day for a soda package per person!   I really am not a big soda drinker but on vacation it is nice to get a cold soda a few times.   I also like that they have the self service drink locations open all the time so you can get one whenever you want.  Yes I was a little surprised that they were actually self service but I was happy.   Adult beverages are not included and they do not offer a drink package which I also actually think is better.   The adult beverages are reasonably priced though so for someone like me that might only have 1 or 2 I would prefer cheaper prices vs  the cruise lines with the drink packages that jack up the cost of the drinks so those of us paying per drink end up making up for the people who maximize their package.   It was so nice to have free wifi!   I know not everyone wants to be connected whole on vacation but let's be real we are all so used to being connected all the time that it is just nice to have the option without paying for it and also without having to worry oh no did I log off or am I wasting all my paid minutes.   Some people said it was slow but honestly I thought it was just fine for doing things like checking email and popping a few photos onto social media.  All fitness classes are included which I thought cool I will try to do some but that didn't happen - unless you count my sweating to the 80s.   The couple classes I wanted to try were already full before I could make a reservation.  Next cruise I will know to try getting on the ship earlier so I can go right in the app and grab those.  I am assuming covid rules might have really limited the number of guests they could allow this cruise so hopefully getting into those will get easier.   I saved the best for last - Gratuities are included!   It was nice to know you didn't have to worry about either pre-paying or having that charge on your account at the end of the cruise.   I was a little worried that service might not be as good since all the crew knew they were already tipped no matter what but I didn't find that at all.   

#6 - I Love the Design of the Ship.  Even though the ship is what I would call a large ship with the capacity to hold about 2800 guests it never feels like a big ship.   The whole design is set up with lots of smaller nooks and comfy spots to hang out that you never feel like you are in some large open area that could be full of a lot of people.   Despite the fact that there isn't a lot of signage once you find your way around you realize it was all very easy to get to.   One of my favorite places is the very back of the ship on Deck 7 (there are 17 decks total so this is towards the bottom).  Deck 7 goes all the way to the back of the ship whereas all the decks above are back a bit so when you are on deck 7 you can see all the way up to the bottom of deck 16 and the big net.   The area is called The Dock and it has some comfy spots to sit and just enjoy watching the wake of the ship as we cruise.   There is also a real tree back there which I think is a really nice touch.  I love when cruise ships have real plants and flowers onboard.   You can of course get some snacks or drinks delivered to you while you are enjoying this comfy area.  The pop up entertainment even made some stops there.   

That is my top 6 and really I could have written more but it has been a busy week and I am already getting this sent out late today. Stay tuned next week I will give some more information on the cruise in general and a few of the things that I didn't love as much.  ​

I know you might think I am crazy to say that an adult only cruise line and the most family friendly cruise line would have anything in common but they do.   Here are 5 things I have found already - 

#1 Both Disney and Virgin were already big in the Entertainment and Travel industries before going into the Cruise business and they both changed the way people thought about cruising.

#2 Both cruise lines really switched up the way dining is done onboard a cruise.   Disney introduced their rotational dining where you get to enjoy the 3 main restaurants and your serving team goes with you to each one.   Virgin has done away with main dining rooms and also a buffet (which technically was perfect timing since we have probably seen the end of the buffet as we knew it anyway).  Instead Virgin offers over 20 different places you can eat onboard and it will not cost you anything extra.

#3 Both cruise lines brought their entertainment knowledge to their cruise ships.   Disney was the first to really bring theatrical shows onboard and Virgin is also doing entertainment with their own Virgin twist.   The show I got to see while onboard for the day was nothing like what I had seen on a cruise before and I cannot wait to see what else they are doing.

#4 Both cruise lines include basic beverages like soft drinks in your cruise fare.  I know it might sound like a small thing but most cruise lines will charge you extra for a soda.   Virgin is also including Wi-Fi and Gratuities in their cruise fare.  It would be nice if Disney did the same, especially the wi-fi since that would mean crew could use it too.  I found out by talking to a lot of crew lately that it really is the most important thing to be able to talk to family at home.

#5 Both cruise lines had the same President  when they started.  Tom McAlpin did so many things to make Disney Cruise Line what it is today and now he is doing the same for Virgin.     PS - That is Tom in the photo with me above.

Maybe I will find even more similarities while I am cruising - stay tuned for a full report when I get back in a few days!

​6 years ago Brad and I took our first cruise together and it was a Disney Cruise.  As you can imagine there were a lot of kids onboard.  While we loved the cruise and Disney does a great job of offering adult only areas we thought wouldn't it be great if there weren't any kids onboard LOL.   Our next cruise was a river cruise so we did get to enjoy a kid free ship on that cruise and it was wonderful!  Almost a year after that we took a 30 day cruise on Holland America and there was just 1 kid onboard.  We realized that there were a lot of poeple that prefered a cruise without kids, not just without thier own kids but without anyone else's kids too.

I am working on www.cruisewithoutkids which also has a facebook page and instagram with the same name and I will be posting more information so please feel free to check them out and follow them if you also like the idea of a vacation without kids.  

This week I want to talk about 2 cruise lines that are always adult only and they are Virgin Voyages and Viking.   



Virgin Voyages
This is the new kid on the block - or should I say new no kid on the block.  Virgin Voyages was suppoed to start sailing March of 2020 but as we all know that didn't happen.   As of now it looks like May 2021 will the first voyage of this brand new ship.   Richard Branson wanted to create a new way to cruise and I think he might have done it.   The ships are adult only they also inlcude a lot of things many other cruise lines do not.  Ever thought about getting a tattoo on a cruise ship?  Well now you can do it!  They also have no buffets and include over 20 eateries in your cruise fare.   They also include tips and wi-fi in your cruise cost.  I am very excited to try this new experience and am looking forward to my cruise in May!   I will be sure to tell you all about it!
   

Viking 
You have probobly seen the commercials for Viking River Cruises but they also have Ocean Cruises too.  They are also coming out with a river boat for the Mississippi and an Expedition ship too so there is a lot going on with Viking.   They are always adult only on all of thier ships and like Virgin they include more in your cruise cost than the usual cruise line.  The Viking Ocean ships are smaller than your typical ocean cruise ship holding under 1,000 guests which also allows you to get into smaller ports.

After the year the cruise lines have had it is nice to know that we will still get to see 12 new ships start sailing in 2021!   Below I have listed them in order of when they should be starting to sail but that is subject to change.   Feel free to sign along!

On the 1st ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - a Ship With No Kids!

1.  Viking Venus - scheduled to sail January 2021 she will be the 7th Ocean Ship for Viking with 2 more on the way in 2022.  All of the Viking ships are identical and offer only verandah rooms and are adult only.   Viking has one of the youngest Ocean fleet with the 1st ship debuting in 2015. Venus will sail the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.   All of the Viking Ocean ships do carry less than 1000 passengers putting them in the Small Ship category.  

On the 2nd ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - a 2 Story Red Frog Tiki bar and a Roller Coaster!

2. Carnival Mardi Gras - scheduled to sail April 2021 she will bring us the first roller coaster at sea.  Yes that is Santa taking a spin on it in the photo at the top.  Mardi Gras will be doing Caribbean sailings out of Port Canaveral and she is a mega ship carrying over 5,000 guests.

On the 3rd ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us  - a 300 Hundred foot North Star, a 2 Story Lime and Coconut bar, and a Glow in the Dark Laser Tag!

3. Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas - scheduled to sail April 2021 she will be the first in the Quantum Ultra Class to sail in the US and Europe.   Odyssey of the Seas will sail out of Rome and Fort Lauderdale offering Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings.   Holding up to 4,200 passengers she is another mega ship.

On the 4th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - 16 Indoor bars, 5 Unique pools, 2 Cirque shows, and the Longest LED Dome at Sea!

4. MSC Virtuosa - scheduled to sail April 2021 she will be the second Meraviglia Plus class ship for MSC.  This will stay in Europe offering cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Middle East.  Another mega class ship that can carry 4,800 passengers.

On the 5th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - A LUXURY YACHT EXPERIENCE, 4 Dining rooms, Aft marina, Infinity pool, and All Rooms Are Suites.

5. Ritz Carlton Evrima - scheduled to sail April 2021 she will be the first the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection. 
She will offer sailings in Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada/New England, and the Caribbean.   That does also mean there are opportunities to do Atlantic crossings on this amazing ship!   Evrima is an all suite, all balcony, all inclusive ship.   With only about 300 passengers onboard it is a luxurious small ship.  

On the 6th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - 6 fine dining restaurants, 100 Suites, 2 Story solarium, Fold out marina, 2 Helicopters, and a Submarine!

6. Crystal Endeavor - scheduled to sail May 2021 she will be the first Expedition ship for Crystal.  Endeavor is a purpose built Polar Class yacht, all suite, with attentive butlers and an expedition team.   She will sail all over the world but she was built for Antarctica.   Just 200 guests onboard means it is a luxurious expedition on this small ship.

On the 7th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - 8 Dining options, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Stage Center, BB King's Blues Club, BBC Earth Concert, World Stage theater, and Club Orange!

7. Holland America's Rotterdam - scheduled to sail August 2021 she will be the 7th ship to bear the name Rotterdam.  Holland America recently sold the previous Rotterdam as part of the downsizing many lines did during this shutdown.  Rotterdam will be the new flagship of Holland America sailing the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe.  Carrying just under 2,700 guests I consider her a Mid Size ship.

On the 8th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - 20 bars and lounges, 5D Cinema, Largest interactive water park at sea, a LEGO themed kids club, Full size bowling alley,  World's first digital cruise assistant, MSC Yacht Club, and F1 Simulators.

8. MSC Seashore - scheduled to sail August 2021 she is the largest ship to be built in Italy and the 1st of MSC's EVO class ship.  This is one of the MSC ships that will sail in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.   With over 4,500 guests Seashore is a mega ship.

On the 9th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - 8 Dining options, S.A.L.T. Lab, Cigar Lounge and Bar, Arts Cafe, Live jazz and blues, Zagara beauty spa, Observation library, Fitness center, and a Casino.

9. Silver Dawn - scheduled to sail September 2021 she is the 10th ultra luxury ship to join the Silversea fleet.  She will be sailing the Mediterranean and South America.   Did you know that Silversea was part of the Royal Caribbean family?   With just less than 600 guests onboard she is a small ship.

On the 10th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - The Largest balconies at sea, Only jazz theater at sea, Princess's largest ever thermal suite, The Voice of the Ocean singing competition, Salty Dog Gastropub, Ultimate Balcony Dining, The Princess Luxury Bed, the Sanctuary, Sleep by Princess, and Chocolate Journeys!

10. Discovery Princess - scheduled to sail November 2021 she is the 3rd vessel designed from the ground up with Princess Medallion Class and also the final Royal-class ship.  Discovery Princess will sail the Caribbean, Mediterranean, California Coast, Mexican Riviera, and South America.  Carrying over 3,600 guests she is a Mega ship.

On the 11th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - More than 20 Specialty eateries all included, At Sea Tattoo Parlor, Private karaoke rooms,  Onboard record shop, Immersive entertainment experiences, All fitness classes included, Gentleman's Barber shop, Boxing Ring, Rockstar Suites, No Buffets and No Kids!

11. Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady - recently rescheduled to sail starting November 2021 she will be the second ship for Virgin Voyages, neither of which have had paying guests sail onboard yet.  Valiant Lady will sail the Mediterranean and Caribbean.  Even though she does have 17 decks only up to 2,770 passengers makes her more of a mid-size ship.   

On the 12th ship of 2021 the cruise world brings to us - 24 Zodiacs, 2 Submarines, Double sea kayaks, Mountain bikes, E-bikes, Landing Zone, Expedition Lounge, Constellation Lounge, Near water level Bow Lounge, Guest Experts onboard, All Verandah Suites, and a Discovery Center!

12. Seabourn Venture - scheduled to sail December 2021 she will be the first Ultra-Luxury purpose built expedition ship for Seabourn.  Did you know Seabourn is part of the Carnival Corporation?  She will stick to mainly polar areas in South American and Northern Europe.   With only 132 suites that means just a max of 264 guests onboard this ultra luxury small ship.