SunnyHarborPublishing.org
Like and Share>
  • Home
  • Sunny Harbor Photography
    • Art by Sunny Harbor Photography
    • Landscape Photography by Sunny Harbor Photography
    • Water Scenes Photography by Sunny Harbor Photography
  • Travel Articles
    • 6 Things You Need to Do This Fall in Reno-Tahoe
    • 80 foot Tall Christmas Tree Debuts Nov 2 at Silver Dollar City
    • Amazing New Cruises and Great Deals from Atlantis
    • American Cruise Lines Alaska Season
    • AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OFFERS ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL ONLINE EXPERIENCES FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES
    • Amped Up Navigator of the Seas Arrives in Homeport of Miami: Royal Caribbean Debuts the Ultimate Short Caribbean Getaway
    • Azamara - Cruise with Confidence into 2021
    • The Banana Patch - Clothing Optional Getaway on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii
    • Banana Winds - Nude Sailing Charters in Marathon, FL and Lake Erie
    • Bare and Gay of Connecticut - a private social club for male gay naturists
    • Bare Buns California - a gay naturist social group in San Diego, California
    • Bare Mountain Retreat - nudist club on 130 private acres near Boise, Idaho
    • Bare Necessities Tour and Travel - Clothing Optional and Nude Cruises
    • Bare to Breakers - running nude through San Francisco
    • Bar S Ranch – North Carolina’s 300 Acre Clothing Free Resort
    • Bell Acres Resort - the Maysville, GA nudist resort
    • Berkshire Vista Resort - a clothing-optional resort and campground in Hancock, MA
    • Bexar Recreation Society - wholesome family nudism in San Antonio, TX
    • Black Hills Bares - a non-landed naturist club in Custer, SD
    • Blind Creek Beach - family-oriented, naturist or clothing-optional beach on Florida's Treasure Coast
    • Black Bear Camp - Alabama's private retreat for adult men
    • Bluebonnet Nudist Park - 66 acres of rolling hills in Alvord, TX
    • Blue Lake Resort - a family oriented nudist park located in the Rock River Valley of Northwestern Illinois
    • Bluff Creek Falls Campground - 50 acre clothing optional campground on Chandler Mountain in Steele, Alabama
    • Boy Erased Movie Review by Curt Solash
    • Boston Area Naturist Group - a gay male nudist organization in New England
    • The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa - clothing optional resort in Wilton Manors, Florida
    • The Camping Bares - clothing-optional travel club in Southern California
    • Camp David - gay men's nudist campground in Wildwood, Florida
    • Camp Mars - the clothing optional gay men's campground in Venus, Florida
    • Canyon State Naturists - naturism in Phoenix, AZ
    • Capital Area Family Naturists - nudists and naturists in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland
    • Carnival Corporation Creates Three Original TV Series for National Networks
    • Carolina Foothills Resort - a family oriented nudist resort and campground in Chesnee, South Carolina
    • Casa Alegra - the clothing optional bed and breakfast near Sarasota, Florida
    • Castaways Travel - Providing Clothing-Optional Vacations and Cruises Worldwide
    • CEDAR LAKES WOODS AND GARDENS - A must-see Nature Coast attraction
    • Cedar Trails Nudist Retreat - the friendliest nudist resort in Southern Ohio
    • Cedar Waters Village Nudist Park, Nottingham, NH
    • Central Florida Nudists host Nude Bowling events
    • Central Ohio Naturist Guy Alliance - an adult male nudist organization, based in Columbus Ohio
    • Chicago Area Naturist Sons (CANS) - an organization of gay male nudists and naturist in and near Chicago, IL
    • Christian Naturist Group - for anyone who wants to learn about Christianity and naturism
    • Christmas at Biltmore adds a touch of Downton Abbey
    • Cirque du Soleil + Walt Disney World
    • CODY YELLOWSTONE - Meander your way through mountains, rolling grasslands, scenic valleys, and spectacular views
    • Colin Cooper Visits Glasgow Scotland
    • Coral Castle Museum Photo Tour- Miami’s quirky, mysterious and world famous attraction
    • Czech Republic - Favorite things about the fall
    • Daytona Beach Outdoors - Beyond-the-beach activities
    • Disney Cruise Line Announces Return to New Orleans Plus Popular Itineraries from Texas, California and Florida
    • Don't Miss These Spring Events on the Florida Space Coast
    • El Rey Mayan Ruins Photo Tour in Cancun, Mexico by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
    • Emerald Azzurra to Visit Saudi Arabia During Inaugural Season on Two Brand New Voyages
    • Emerald Waterways Announces New River Ship, Emerald Luna, to Debut in 2021
    • The Empire State Building Observatory Experience $165 million Renovation Is Complete
    • Entabeni Game Reserve
    • Enter to win vacations
    • Explore Kentucky’s Bluegrass & Bourbon on Cycle of Life Adventures Bike Tour
    • FATMAN - movie review by Steven Skelley
    • Five Reasons to Visit Cambodia Aboard an Authentic Star Clippers Sailing Ship
    • Florida's Treasure Coast - How to Get the Most of 48 Hours on Florida's Treasure Coast
    • FREE WHEELING AROUND NAVARRE BEACH FLORIDA
    • Gay Naturists International - An organization that cares about who you are, not what you do
    • GayStPeteHouse - St Petersburg, Florida's clothing optional gay men's bed and breakfast
    • Glen Eden - where Southern California gets naked!
    • Gold Coast Bare Skins - south Florida guys who enjoy nudism
    • Gondwana Ecotours Announces Alaska Northern Lights Photo Tour
    • Goodland Country Club - one of the nation's oldest nudist parks
    • GRAND CANYON LODGE NORTH RIM TO OPEN JUNE 15 WITH LIMITED SERVICES
    • The Grand Resort and Spa - Fort Lauderdale's gay men's resort with clothing-optional Tropical Courtyard and 10-man Jacuzzi
    • Group Petitions for Nude Beach in Jacksonville, Florida
    • Gulf Coast Nudist Yacht Club - nude boating recreation on the waters of the Texas Gulf Coast
    • The Hacienda at Warm Sands - the most luxurious upscale gay male resort hotel in California
    • Hangin Loose - clothing optional retreat and botanical gardens
    • Harbin Hot Springs - just north of the Napa Valley, California
    • Haulover Beach - South Florida's World Famous Clothing Optional Beach
    • Healthy Hides of Houston - a non-landed clothing optional social club in the Houston, Texas area
    • Heartland Naturists - family-friendly nudism in Lenexa, Kansas
    • The Helios Society - family nudist club near Gembrook, Victoria, Australia
    • Hidden Springs - the Pacific Northwest Travel Nudist Club
    • How I Remember Cocoa Village As A Kid - FLORIDA MEMORIES FROM A FLORIDA NATIVE BY TOM ROUTZONG
    • Hurtigruten Expeditions launches African cruises
    • New Lanark World Heritage Site - the 18th century Mill Village less than one hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh
    • Lazy Turtle RiverFront Grill & Tiki Bar in Palm Bay, Florida
    • THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF GEORGE MICHAEL NATIONAL TOUR HITS THE ROAD IN 2022
    • Lithuanian Forests - 7 Magic Outdoor Attractions
    • Manhattan Tower – New Units, Covid Protocols and Dining
    • Mountain Bike Across Bears Ears National Monument with Escape Adventures
    • MSC CRUISES offers an incredible choice of ships and destinations for Summer 2023
    • The Museum of the Rockies - See An Amazing Collection Of T.Rex, Allosaurus, Mammoths, Rhinos and Bone-Crushing Dogs
    • MY DOG ROMEO book review by Steven Skelley
    • Naturist B&B - Naturist / Clothing Optional Boutique B&B in East Northamptonshire UK
    • Oregon’s Scenic Bikeways - Spend the night in bicyclist bliss
    • Palm Springs Noir book review by Curt Solash
    • Pioneertown - The Old West Movie Set You Can Visit
    • SAILORDUDES GAY SAILING ADVENTURES – NUDE AND CLOTHING OPTIONAL GAY CRUISES
    • Santa Invasion! Florida Couple Displays Their 1000+ Piece Santa Collection
    • Space Coast Eco Tours - Two Hours Of Beauty, Peace And Fun
    • Steven and Tom Visit Discovery Cove Orlando
    • Steven and Tom Visit the Wizard of Oz Museum
    • SunEden Naturist Nudist Resort – the Leading Naturist Resort in Africa
    • Tom's Toys - FLORIDA MEMORIES FROM A FLORIDA NATIVE BY TOM ROUTZONG
    • Venezuela’s Lost World - A Backpacker’s Dream
    • VIKING Announces Newest Ocean Ship And Three New Itineraries
    • VIKING MARKS FLOAT OUT OF SEVENTH OCEAN SHIP
    • VIKING WELCOMES GUESTS BACK ON BOARD IN ICELAND, CONTINUING SUCCESSFUL RESTART
    • VISIT SAN ANTONIO - Experience the city’s historical significance
    • Wanderfull - Around the World in 6 Dishes
    • Washington County, Florida, has preserved its past and invites today’s visitors to explore and enjoy
    • We Would Choose This AirBnB Condo Rental Over Any Hotel Room In Melbourne
    • Wild Women Expeditions Plans Journey through Mongolia’s Gobi Desert
    • Windsong Sailing Charters - clothing optional sailing charters in Tampa Bay
    • Windstar Cruises 2021 and 2022 - Small Ship Cruises along the West Coast, Mexico and the South Pacific
    • You've Got To See This 1001 Piece Santa Collection


Our Magazines!


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture


Steven and Tom Visit
​Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Picture

Steven and Tom Visit Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Virgin Voyages is a refreshing new cruise vacation experience. The vibe is relaxed yet somehow still completely upscale. We loved the ship, the fun and the spectacular food!


Picture

Day 1
 
We chose to park in the Port of Miami parking garage right at the port. Exiting the garage, we were literally thirty feet from the entrance line for the ship.
 
We were standing in line at 1:45 p.m. By 2:45 p.m., we were on the Scarlet Lady. In that one hour, we were divided into smaller groups, our Covid Vaccination cards were examined, we were rapid-tested for Covid and were escorted aboard. It was an extremely organized process performed by a top-notch, friendly staff.
 
We boarded the ship and, unlike on most other cruise lines, our cabin was ready for us. The cabin's modern design is both stylish and roomy. The L-shaped bed is a nice change that was perfect for us. Plus, the red hammock on the balcony is a lot of fun. The television, lighting and curtains are all controlled by a computer tablet which also allowed us to contact our cabin steward for anything else we might need during the cruise.
 
We spent the rest of our first day exploring the ship and sampling the twenty available dining and snack options. What a day!
 
 
Day 2
 
We switched time zones overnight so the first thing we did was set our watches back an hour to be on the correct ship's time. We went to The Galley for coffee and breakfast cooked-to-order. Since this was a day at-sea, we had all day to sample and enjoy the ship's charms. The Lick It Til Ice Cream ice cream parlor soon became our favorite place to over-indulge. There never seemed to be anywhere on the ship that was crowded. We went to one of the swimming pools and had our choice of lounges, chairs or daybeds big enough for three adults! We chose a daybed.
 
We were all a bit surprised when the Scarlet Lady suddenly slowed and then stopped completely. The Captain come over the intercom to announce that the ship was stopping to save a group of people floating in a rowboat. After a skillful sea rescue, Scarlet Lady met with a Coast Guard ship where the rescued boaters were taken for care. Then, it was back to our cruise adventure.
 
At lunch, we went to the pizza parlor and ordered two pies. Tom chose a White Pizza named Pretty Fly For A White Pie. I chose a Pizza with mozzarella and tomato sauce. We sat at a table with an outside view as our pizzas were cooked to order as we watched. As usual, we devoured every bite and enjoyed each one.
 
We used our handy Virgin Voyages app to book seats at the Duel Reality show at 6:00 p.m. We are so glad we did! The show is like no other cruise ship show we have ever seen and we have seen a lot. It is a skillfully blended mix of Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, Cirque du Soleil, Olympic gymnastics, trapeze artistry and circus sideshow. You have to experience it to believe it. The audience responded with a well-deserved standing ovation.  

THE FOOD!


Day 3
 
The Scarlet Lady arrived in Cozumel, Mexico. Cozumel is an island off the coast. Since we have been to Cozumel multiple times before, we chose to stay onboard the ship and have a relaxing day.
 
We made reservations at The Wake restaurant for lunch. The service here, like everywhere else on this ship, was excellent. We ordered a shrimp appetizer and a bowl of clam chowder. For our entrée, we each ordered a Hammer Steak served with a small salad and French Fries. For dessert, we each had a serving of Strawberry Cheesecake. This is not regular cruise ship food. Each dish is a culinary delight. We left happy and satisfied.
 
In the afternoon, we enjoyed some time in the swimming pool on a poolside lounge big enough for three adults. Then, we explored the video arcade filled with classic video machines, the air hockey tables and the nearby candy shop where a crew member gladly fills a paper bag with a delicious assortment of candies or popcorn free of charge. Feeling gluttonous, we also stopped by the ice cream shop again for another double dip cone of our favorite flavors.
 
Since our dinner reservation was not unil 7:30 p.m., we relaxed in our air conditioned cabin and chose a movie from our cabin computer tablet to watch on our large screen, wall-mounted television.  We also spent a bit of time on our balcony overlooking Cozumel.
 
At dinner, we enjoyed the Pink Agave restaurant – a high end take on Mexican cuisine. This is not your tacos, chips and salsa joint. The menu offers courses of small plates, medium plates and large plates. We skipped over the small plates and ordered two medium plates and two large plates to share. We snaked on spicy nuts and chips until our medium plates arrived. The medium plates we chose were five grilled shrimp in sauce and two chicken enchilladas. They were fabulous in both appearance and taste.
 
Our large plates arrived at just the right time. We had chosen a Ribeye steak with queso cooked medium and Conchinita Pibil - smoked pork. Both were 5 Star restaurant delicious.
 
Even though we didn’t think we could take another bite, we gave in and ordered desserts. We chose the Tamal De Chocolate and the Bread Pudding. We did not share these! My Tamal De Chocolate was a chocolate lover’s dessert dream. With chocolate masa and mexican chocolate. Tom, who is a bread pudding lover, devoured every bite of his ice cream covered dessert.


THE FUN!


Day 4
 
At sea day! This was another beautiful day to rest, relax and enjoy all that Scarlet Lady has to offer. It was a very full day of lounging, swimming, chatting, sunning, napping, hammock-ing, eating, playing, and more eating!
 
Day 5
 
We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the Galley and then enjoyed our morning on our balcony and on the upper decks watching our arrival to Bimini, Bahamas and the Virgin Voyages exclusive Beach Club. The crew skillfully brought the Scarlet Lady alongside the pier where trolleys waited to take passengers to the Beach Club.
 
We took an elevator to deck four and were off the ship and standing on the pier in under three minutes. There was no wait to board the trolley and we were on the way to the beach in minutes, The beach and all the Virgin amenities are just a short drive away and on the far side of the Resort Club Bimini by Hilton where we’ve vacationed in the past. Mariah Carey vacations here.
 
The Beach Club At Bimini features a lagoon style pool, six different bars, two food stations and three types of cabanas that guests can book for an additional fee. There are more than  enough lounges, chairs, tables, umbrellas for everyone. We are happy to report that the changing rooms, restrooms, showers and lockers are all first-rate, clean and easy to find.
 
On the other side of the swimming pool is the fabulous white sand beach with the turquoise water that the Bahamas are famous for. The afternoons offer a DJ and at night there's a giant bonfire finale.
 
With the help of Guest Services, we made reservations for dinner at Extra Virgin Elevated Italian. What an experience! This trattoria serves classic Italian dishes and handmade pastas in a casual setting. We ordered Braised Mini Meatballs in Marinara Sauce, Porcini Rubbed New York Strip Steak, Spatchcocked Grilled Chicken in Piccata, and Bucatini Carbonara. For dessert, we shared a Vanilla Gelati and a Limoncello Sorbetti. The service was excellent. The atmosphere was perfect. The food was the best we have tasted on any cruise.
 
After dinner, we roamed the ship enjoying Scarlet Night. Passengers dressed in whatever red-themed clothing suited their individuality. Tom chose a red shirt. I chose to wear a black kilt with red shoes. The ship was decorated with giant inflatable fish suspended from the ceilings and a two-story tall, orange octopus! Live music and fun and games were offered throughout the evening.
 
We chose a disembarkation time via our Virgin app. Luggage was collected after 10:00 p.m. outside our cabin door.

THE SHIP!


Day 6
 
We arrived back in Miami around 7:00 a.m. Breakfast venues were open for one final meal onboard. Disembarkation was well-organized. We were off the ship, out of the parking garage and on the road home at 8:30 a.m.

Article and photos by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong. Copyright 2021 Sunny Harbor Publishing

Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing, Rockledge, FL 32956
Phone: 
321-252-9874
Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com
Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Save up to 50% off combined prices for admission to must-see attractions with CityPASS. Shop now!

Want to read more fantastic travel articles?
Choose a magazine below that fits your travel interests!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Join shareasale.com, Earn Cash!
Straighten your teeth, for 60% less than braces, with clear aligners sent directly to you.
Even if our visit may have been provided by various travel suppliers for the purposes of reviewing and writing about them, our opinions are not swayed negatively or positively. Our policy: We sometimes are invited to review a venue. We choose to only write positive articles. If you read one of our articles, you know that we had a positive experience. If we have a negative experience, we simply choose not to write anything about that venue. Our tastes may not be your tastes. We want to focus on the positives in life.
Proudly powered by Weebly