There is a scene in it In Gilmore Girls : A Year in the Life , Lorelai told her daughter Rory, "I'm just stressed out and kind of feeling like my own mortality lately." To convey the seriousness of the situation, she revealed that she even Wondering what it would be like to take a cruise. "Then I broke my hip," she joked, referencing their shared view that cruises are for people who are approaching their final destination. Rory yelled in horror, "You're not going on a cruise!" They left the question there.
I must admit, I had a similar reaction when I was first approached about going on a cruise. I had never experienced a vacation like this before, and it wasn't a vacation I imagined I would enjoy at age 31. I've always balked at the idea of having to stick to a strict sailing schedule. I believe vacations should be about exploring the unknown and embracing adventure. Plus, I've always equated cruises with severe cabin fever. But the offer of excursions aboard Virgin Cruises’ Lady of Courage piqued my interest. The adults-only trips are said to be aimed at and cater to a younger crowd and reimagine what cruises offer. So I signed up for the "Irresistible Medical Package," a seven-night trip from Barcelona that takes passengers (or sailors, as it's called when "at sea"), Toulon, Marina Carrara, and Ajacci Shaw, then landing in Ibiza) for the night.
Overall, my cruise experience was much different than I imagined. Below, I’ll detail the most surprising things I discovered while traveling.
"Room with a view" takes on new meaning
When I arrived on the ship, I was greeted by enthusiastic staff who danced to Rihanna to welcome guests aboard. Anxious to see what my room was like—and avoid any awkward dancing—I headed to my ocean-view terrace residence. The room had a balcony, which I quickly adopted as my paradise for watching the sunset. Now, these balconies have a red hammock, perfect for posing for Instagram, but not so great for actually sitting down. (I wish someone had warned me about this beforehand.) Actually, sitting isn't the problem, it's trying to get rid of them, but I'll leave that story to you. Rooms are stylish and feature mood lighting and flat-screen TVs that can play movies. The "spacious shower" wasn't as "spacious" as I had hoped (it reminded me of an ensuite in a college dorm), but it served its purpose.
View on Instagram
Food Delicious food - and not an impressive buffet
I've always equated cruising with standing in line for a buffet, but that was a far cry from my experience exploring the rest of the ship. That is, because there is no buffet on the Valiant Lady. Instead, there's a gourmet deck called The Galley, which houses a variety of stations, all staffed, and there are reservation-only restaurants around the ship. Sailors can book a table at a restaurant of their choice through this all-important app. My highlights were the pasta dinner at Italian restaurant Extra Virgin and the rainbow churros at Razzle Dazzle. I'm also a regular at the pizza place during the day. As is often the case with cruise ships, the Valiant Lady is a cashless zone. You don't have to worry when it comes to food as all food is included in the tour price, as are most soft drinks. However, when it comes to alcohol — or fancy barista coffee, as I discovered early in my stay — sailors need to use their room key (which comes in the form of a high-tech wristband) and have the drink charged to them account.
The antidote to cabin fever
During the day, you'll find plenty of sailors enjoying themselves in the sparkling pool and sun deck. There is also a mini basketball court and running area outside. My personal favorite spot on the ship is the Richard’s Roof, named after Virgin boss Richard Branson. The wraparound bar is surrounded by lounge chairs and a hot tub with unobstructed views of the Mediterranean Sea, making it truly feel like you're on vacation. However, true to its unique nature, this space is usually only available to sailors who live in expensive suites and "rock star quarters."
No need to "go out" at night
When it comes to nightlife, there are plenty of bars to choose from, as well as theater shows and shows for guests to enjoy. One night I attended a vaudeville performance of Romeo and Juliet , which caught my attention. There is also a "sex therapy" show hosted by a "sexologist/doctor". Audience members have the option of wearing provided fancy dress masks and are asked not to film the entire event so that everyone can enjoy their evening with a degree of anonymity. As expected, I saw several people filming segments of the show, which included the "doctor" giving sex advice and then inviting people on stage to participate in intimacy exercises. I wanted to be invisible during the audience participation session, which seemed to work because I wasn't asked to. Towards the end of the show, "TGIF" appeared on the screen. "It's not even Friday!" I thought innocently. However, when "The Doctor" had the audience chanting "Thank God I'm so fucked," I began to realize that this popular acronym has more than one use. Those looking for a more traditional night out can head to The Manor nightclub, which has become one of the ship's most Instagrammable spots thanks to its shimmering light-adorned entrance tunnel.
Explore your location, location, location
Although cruise ships have their unique entertainment features, I found myself eager to stretch my legs beyond the parameters of the ship, so I couldn't wait to get off the ship and explore the land. You can plan your own adventure - as long as you make sure you're back in time for the ship's departure - or you can book (at various add-on prices) excursions, or "shore activities" as Virgin calls them. That's what I did, enjoying the "Highlights of Florence and Pisa" package. The day ended with a trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, where I spent quite some time taking a photo of myself holding it up. I promise you, it was harder than it looked, but I did it in the end. I enjoyed my days out but I did find it limiting as I always had to keep an eye on the clock to make sure I gave myself enough time to get back to the boat before setting off. It really encroaches on the adventure aspect that I crave during vacation. However, I've spoken to many people who prefer to make their own schedule entirely, and others who admit to not leaving the ship at all, so it really comes down to preference.
View on Instagram
this is our purpose
You can imagine my joy when the final leg of the trip included an overnight stay at the marina in Ibiza. What I didn’t know was that the final destination of a cruise is often the crown jewel of travel, so I was interested to see if Ibiza lived up to its reputation. Excited to check out the much-discussed nightlife, I headed to Ushuaia’s outdoor nightclub to check out Calvin Harris’ residency, which turned out to be a great scene. After I finished, I walked across the street to Hï Ibiza, where Idris Elba and David Guetta have their own DJ booth. The next day I opted for a change of pace and wandered around the sights of Ibiza’s Old Town, home to incredible ice cream stalls, eclectic shops and stunning views of the marina – for those willing to climb up the ancient For church people. That's what I did and have no regrets. While I do wish I had put on more sunscreen, such is life in the hot sun.
View on Instagram
On the high seas, age is really just a number
Cruise ships are generally associated with two groups of people: retirees and families with children. But Virgin’s experience exclusively for adults is completely different. I met a group of Americans in their 20s who were eager to explore Europe, and that evening I was introduced to a retired American couple in their 60s who had spent most of their time traveling the world on cruise ships. It was so refreshing to see people of all ages interacting, sharing life stories, and exchanging contact details in the hope of staying in touch once the ship docks.
