[Paul B]

PaulSmith wrote:

A bit late but we thoroughly enjoyed our Greek Glow week at the beginning of August. Having now done three VV on three ships, I’m actually (and very sadly) a little bored of the format. The crew are fantastic, the boats are a great design and the quality of food is top-notch. It is an amazing redemption and cash prices are very tempting

That said, you can only take going to exactly the same restaurants with the same menu (actually not quite so good in a couple of cases, eg Extra Virgin) for three years in a row. The quality of the shows is good but this time around way more limited and not brilliantly scheduled.

On our trip, the ports we called at (Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum, Mykonos) all felt like tourist traps for cruise ships and whilst kind of fun, it really made the point that cruising isn’t really for me. Virgin do it astonishingly well according the number of people we have met who have sailed with other lines. And as “frequent fliers’ on VV, the little extras you get are noticeable, early entry on the boat, a free bag of laundry, some free $$$ to spend at the bar. Watch out airlines, that sets the bar high!!

Honestly, folks, I’m not being a sad git. It’s a great experience and I am massively a fan and if there is a 2024 redemption I will be first in line.

How would you compare Greek Glow on Resilient to your sailings out of Barcelona on Valiant Lady, which I’m guessing were likely your previous sailings if via points?

[Paul B]

Wessex wrote:

Began Med cruise yesterday, anyone managed to get tea and coffee facilities in their suite (mega rock stars). Using room service takes about 40mins for delivery…TIA

How of interest, what was your accepted upgrade bid?

[Paul B]

RonnieB wrote:

The fund dropped quite a bit last week, but Im going to stay in until I get the points.

I’ve now withdrawn (closed accounts), hopefully will receive the codes without issue. The fund did indeed start to drop last week and it looks like I’ve exited with exactly what I originally invested.

[Paul B]

drdan wrote:

Not me…but as per prior post, they have til end of August to email u the code.

Ah yes that’s correct.Have you exited your investment?

[Paul B]

I can see my DBE’s and the respective $100 bar tab showing separately under both sailors add on’s. Hopefully that will stick, their IT can send you either way.

[Paul B]

Has anyone received their code(s) yet? I haven’t yet, however closed my GIA and ISA today having met the terms.

[Paul B]

delbell wrote:

Hi
Here’s a Referral link for onboard credit/bubbly for the Transatlantic Med to Miami cruise 29.10 – 12.11

https://virg.in/UhEr

If you need any further information contact me by email
derek@delbell.co.uk

Surname Bell
Booking Ref 787717

Hope to see you onboard. :)😎

For the Irresistible Med on 27/08 I have the following contacts:
Andrew J
Darren C
Eleonora S
Faizaan P
Graham C
Jeffrey B
Keith M
Lottie T
Nathaniel F
Paul B
Sue C

If you look in the app, ME, Add-ons and a bottle of bubbly should be showing.
Does anyone know how to claim this when on board.

It will arrive in your room, if not already there on arrival. I think I’m linked with you, albeit I’m on the Greek Glow sailing out of Athens on the 27th – odd!

[Paul B]

kingchris wrote:

Just booked today for the 13-20 Aug, 2023 The Irresistible Med.

Happy to be linked 🙂

Cutting it nice and close, any issues with booking so near to sailing?

[Paul B]

FFoxSake wrote:

Paul B wrote:

Any Greek Glow tips or shore excursions direct or via a third party very welcome. Sailing next month

Just returned from this trip yesterday (had an extra day in Athens afterwards). Amazing value. The ships facilities and food were even better than expected. Approx 1500 passengers (capacity is 2700) and 1100 crew. At times it felt like a giant private yacht, especially when docked with so many passengers going ashore. The crew were without exception a credit to VV.

I took elderly parents (young at heart 80s) and my brother and they were all fine despite the current Southern Europe heatwave. AC in the cabins is quiet and efficient. Main Ship areas areas are all very comfortable and plenty of external shady areas. Whilst cruising the breeze helped too.

As first time visitors to the islands area we found enough to explore locally under our own steam so didn’t book any extra excursions.
– Santorini you anchor offshore and use tenders. If just exploring Fira town it makes sense to go early/late and avoid the middle of the day as the cable car queues will be vey long (around 1 hour each way). Or just take the 580+ steps…
– Rhodes you dock at the port and can walk to the old town in 10 minutes.
– Bodrum was again fully docked in port. Easy to stroll around locally and use a small local beach.
– Mykonos was initially anchored offshore (so tenders needed) but moved to the dock early evening and overnight. They provided a free 24 hour shuttle bus into the main town from the new port.

Tried all of the main restaurants at least once. All very good, some a bit harder to get your ideal choice of time than others.
e.g. Test Kitchen (think 6-course tasting menu, large plates and small food) is a huge area and probably the least popular. Pink Agave (Mexican) very popular but in a smaller space.
Once there the servers are great with advice and explanations. No hard upsell for the extra $$$ items and no need to bother. The food was consistently excellent and plentiful. No problem with ordering multiple dishes just to try both when you can’t decide.

So many freebies/bonuses too (HfP subscribers paradise!):
– Referral bookings ($50 loot for each cabin)
– linked cabins (bottle of regular fizz for each cabin)
– superb housekeeping (they even gave us a bottle of Moet just to “celebrate something” – normally $95 from the menu)
– Deep Blue Extras (via status match IHG –> MSC Cruises –> Virgin)
$100 bar tab
$100 bar tab bonus (instead of usual $50) when buying a $300 bar tab before sailing
$10 per day for specialty coffees/teas
one big laundry bag (value about $35)
one hour “cocktail” event (in reality bottomless fizz/sangria) just for DBE sailors and cabin mates

One quick aside. We flew with Sky Express for the first time (from LGW for convenience/flight times) and were impressed with the new A321neo both ways.
Also for a budget airline the seat allocation was surprisingly good. You can opt to pay and choose seats during booking but we chose to take a chance and were pleasantly surprised to be able to able to choose ANY seat for free during online check-in (48 hours before flights). No problem with getting 4 together (A/B/C + D in the 3+3 layout, even snagged Row 2 on the return). I’d use them again.

If you have time spare in Athens and the extreme heat is still an issue I’d recommend spending it at the Acropolis museum. Wonderfully spacious, modern, plenty of resting places and some of the best (air conditioned) views of the Parthenon too!

Did you receive the $50 referral loot also, lucky you! Any idea how and was it in adt. to the bottle of fizz?

Some good tips here.

[Paul B]

BA Flyer IHG Stayer wrote:

That’s how they do it now (and has been the case for some time)

Any update here? I was of the understanding that BAH are simply refunding these vouchers upon receipt, and then coming back to you as such for payment. If you want them refunded of course, that could be your best bet.

[Paul B]

Any Greek Glow tips or shore excursions direct or via a third party very welcome. Sailing next month

[Paul B]

Richie wrote:

Cymro wrote:

Currently sweltering in Athens awaiting tomorrow’s sailing. Have already written off a couple of shore excursions.

Did you buy a drinks package that includes ice?

Because of the heat?

[Paul B]

Yes I can also confirm booking and cancelling works

[Paul B]

Paul B wrote:

Regrettably unable to make this now, happy to send them on at face value, they are SeatSpy pre sale tickets also so I believe receive an additional entry in the raffle.

Have a great night everyone

Paul (dot) brighton (at) yahoo.co.uk

Just to update, these are now gone

[Paul B]

Looks like it’s now gone, for now… will it return for later in the Summer is the question.

[Paul B]

Regrettably unable to make this now, happy to send them on at face value, they are SeatSpy pre sale tickets also so I believe receive an additional entry in the raffle.

Have a great night everyone

Paul (dot) brighton (at) yahoo.co.uk

[Paul B]

Aston100 wrote:

Paul B wrote:

Am I too late to the party to submit my claim to Creation? I also lost the XY&Z of statement points, free night voucher and the card fee.

No, raise a complaint.

Is there a template or best way to do this? Not to be lazy, just wondering if it maybe exists somewhere now that I am late to the party (maybe too late)

[Paul B]

Am I too late to the party to submit my claim to Creation? I also lost the XY&Z of statement points, free night voucher and the card fee.

[Paul B]

Rich_A wrote:

£5k into the cautious fund would only cost you £3 in charges for the month, assuming you came out about even on the investment.

If you’re subscribing to an ISA, though, you’d have to decide whether you want to keep it with Virgin (and their charges), transfer it to a cheaper provider after July, or sell and surrender this year’s ISA allowance. A bit messy for £80 worth of points, when you could get £200 from a bank switch!

Is there any price to sell or move to another provider? Happy to surrender my allowance (this year)

[Paul B]

If doing this purely for the 8k (x2) what’s most likely the cheapest route, I’m guessing opening and funding just before the 30th for a start?

[Paul B]

LewisB wrote:

I didn’t pay any tax on board Valiant last year. I don’t think I purchased any alcohol whilst the ship was docked either which may explain it. I don’t believe alcohol whilst sailing is VATable, although will be liable if docked at the local percentage.

I paid VAT on every single alcohol purchase on Valiant regardless of being at Sea or in Port; Spain, Italy and France.

[Paul B]

Is anyone sailing Greek Glow Aug 6-13th?

[Paul B]

Here is my referral link for the Greek Island Glow sailing, 27th Aug – 3rd Sept

https://virg.in/Ucs4

[Paul B]

Sprout wrote:

We’ve never been on a cruise before so hoping someone can help me with a couple of basic questions…
– If a ship leaves at 6pm what time to you have to be there (trying to coordinate flights)
– Is therefore some sort of discount if you buy a bar tab? (if not, I don’t understand the point of it?)
Many thanks

They’ll board you through to 16.30, even as late as 17.00, and no earlier than 13.00, and even then that’s with priority via Rockstar status (with a Suite reservation, or in this case successful upgrade), Splash of Romance or Deep Blue Extra’s (in that order).

There is a discount with purchasing a $300 bar tab in advance in that you receive a $50 bonus, sometimes enhanced to a $100 bonus.

[Paul B]

Here is (also) my referral link for Greek Island Glow, 06th – 13th Aug

https://virg.in/UcnQ