Okay please keep in mind that this will only work for parties of 8 or less. If you would like to have 9 or more, you need to go through me (Chloe)
1. Open the Virgin Voyages App
2. Scroll Down
3. Select Book Dining
4. Select Where to Eat
5. Select “add new” to add people to your party
6. Select Your Code to be added to someone else making a reservation OR Select Scan Code to add them to your reservation (Scan code will reveal a camera so someone else’s code can be easily scanned)
If not doing this in person, the person being added will need to send a screen shot of their code to the person making that reservation.
7. Make sure everyone in your party that you want is added. They should now be in blue circles.
8. Select the time of the reservation and press “next”
9. Double check the restaurant, day, time, and the number of people in your party.
10. Select “confirm”. And then dance because you did it! Yay!
All other reservations can be made on your own (if it is a party of less than 9).
Secure a Disembarkation Slot
If you don’t already have the Virgin Voyages App (please download it) Information about the app can be found here (the app is where you can set up excursions, book dinner reservations, and upload travel documents and information). At least one person in each cabin should get it.
Odds and Ends
On the cruise itself, the easiest way to communicate is through whatsApp. We will not be able to text each other once on the ship.
Additional information (as we get closer to the cruise) to come!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a passport?
Yes. 🙂
I’m flying into Miami when should my flight come in?
It is recommended that flights on the launch day arrive by 2pm.
I’m flying out of Miami how early can I book my flight to leave?
Virgin Voyages recommends booking a flight out of MIA with a departure time after 12pm.
We plan on staying before or after the cruise. Where should we stay?
Please go here to access a document reviewing nearby hotels.
I’m driving from Orlando. How long is the drive from Orlando to the Miami port?
Driving takes about 3.5 hours.
What is the address of the cruise terminal at the Port of Miami?
Sailors can bring two (2) 750mL bottles of wine per cabin in carry-on bags (no liquor or beer). Please note, any alcohol in your checked luggage will be collected pre-sailing and returned once your voyage is complete.
Questions still remain?
Are there concerns that were not addressed here? Contact Chloe.
Let’s set sail and celebrate Joe’s 80th birthday from August 13th to the 18th. Please join us on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady!
This cruise is 5 nights and it sets sail from Miami.
There are 3 ports of call: Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Beach Club at Bimini.
Sea Terrace from $2,176 for 2-4 people (balcony with hammock)
Seaview from $1,894 for 1-3 people (window seat or porthole window)
Insider from $1,572 for 1-4 people (no window)
Interested in joining in on the fun? Please contact Chloe/Ferin/Leigh by 3.3.23 and let her know how many people to expect and what type of cabin is preferred. Please text her or indicate your preferences using the form link below.
I am working from home right now and I find myself doing more cooking as well. As I result, I have been gathering recipes that either look interesting or that I have already tried. I think this list will grow as time goes on. 🙂
I made this two days ago and it is a lot of food. I am still eating the left overs. It is quite tasty. The only modification I made was that I didn’t have enough beef broth, so I just added water. I probably could have added bullion for additional flavor, but I did not. I think it had enough flavor with only my one cup of broth.
I made this a week ago for my significant other. Currently, he is on a keto diet…and ugh. I am not about that life, but I am trying to be supportive. This is a great keto friendly recipe and it is especially yummy if you are a fan of dill pickles. Modifications I made to this recipe: no celery, spicy mustard instead of Dijon, and dried dill rather than fresh. I also used pulled chicken rather than the canned stuff.
This is another Keto recipe. However, before this recipe, I had no idea that crack chicken was a “thing.” Had you ever heard of it before? I didn’t not do any modifications on this recipe. It got some positive reviews from the significant other just be careful what you pair this with. The significant other reported possibly coming out of ketosis when he ate the chicken in some keto friendly wraps.
These are seriously amazing. They are my go to I need to impress somebody with who awesome I am at making things cookies. They always yield a fairly sizable batch and they are perfect it would just want to turn your brain off, but still feel like you are doing something productive.
So…. I’m going to be honest. I have not tried this one, yet. I really want to, some of the ingredients were harder to come by than others. I love ruglache, but I have never tried to make it myself. I am excited to try.
I don’t have children….but as I have aged into the crotchedy old millennial I am, I have gained friends with children. This is a fairly new thing for me. And recently for the first time, I was invited to a child’s birthday who was not related to me in anyway. Then…the most unprecedented thing happened. I said yes! I will go to that two year-old’s party on a pirate ship. So….then I went and I learned some things. Here are ten things that I learned.
Pirate Ships (and other children’s parties, especially when the child is younger) have alcohol. So that’s something to think about.
I like dressing up always. If its a theme party, why not dress up? Who says that kids are the only ones that get to wear fun clothing and be adorable?
Pirate costumes look very similar to biker gang costumes.
The children will play with one another and activities will be geared towards entertaining them. I don’t know why I thought I would have to like go on a treasure hunt or something along side the children.
5. Pinatas and small children are adorable, but it takes a ridiculous amount of time for them to break them open.
6. I also realized that pinatas aren’t great for that whole concept related to ” Bobbi, we don’t pick up and eat them from off the ground.” Pinatas are such a specific exception to that rule. One of the very young kiddos started to pick up candy and little pieces of trash to put in their goody bag and their parents did a nice job of being like “no, not that…get that one…no baby, stop, that’s trash.”
7. Sometimes, if someone offers you help…even if you don’t like it… you gotta take it. We spent forever driving around trying to find a parking space (prob like 10 minutes). About ten minutes before the pirate ship was supposed to leave, my partner volunteered to drop me off and he would continue to drive around in hopes of finding a spot. This way, at least I was on the ship when it sailed away. I did not like this idea at all! But I took what was offered, because he had a point and we did not drive two hours for neither of us to be on that boat. When I waited near the boat, I felt less stressed, because I knew I would be on the boat if nothing else. But he ended up making it back before the boat left! And we got to be pirates together! It was a good reminder. Sometimes, I tend to forget…when someone is offering something, they are trying to help me. They are not obligated or burdened. They are doing it, because they care about me and want to help.
8. Watching children eat cupcakes is one of the purest simple joys a person can experience. All their little frosting faces were adorable.
9. I can’t do a classic duck face. After several iterations of trial and error, I realized all my duck faces look like fish faces. I guess, I can accept that about myself. Plus, I was at an aquarium making faces at a duck, so maybe a fish face was more appropriate...
10. And the biggest one! I shouldn’t stop myself from going to kid’s parties just because I don’t have kids. It was so enjoyable just to talk the other adults, watch the little ones run around, and eat my pizza and cupcake. Honestly, I was so worried about what it was gonna “look like” or if it would be weird and should have been more focused on thinking about my friend and wanting to be there because I love her and her little pirate.
In a few days, I will be getting on a plane and going to another country! Woo! WOO! As such, I thought I would chronicle my planning process, because I have a whole routine, but I’ve never written it down. I should explain why it’s a process. I was born in Hawaii, and the cost of living was quite expensive. My parents needed to work multiple jobs. Luckily, my extended family is quite large, so I ended up being watched on and off by all my various aunts and uncles. At some point while I was a toddler, my parents decided that they needed to relocate. They felt they would be better able to provide for me and they would also actually be able to see me more often as well. My parents opted to move to the mainland. However, it caused a little kerfluffle, because all my aunts and uncles who saw me on the daily no longer could see me without hoping on a several hours long plane ride. A bargain was struck and from then on my parents flew me back to Hawaii (sometimes by myself) to spend the summer with my extended family. This semi-routine travel throughout my childhood resulted in some wonky travel habits some awesome and others that probably aren’t great. Either way, I’m excited to share with you
Hydration Hacks
Research has shown that when we are flying in the air that our taste buds change. In some cases, our taste gets dulled a bit with things that are sweet or salty. However, sour/bitter can be preferable. I just read that more people prefer tomato juice on airplanes in comparison to in everyday life. I may have to try it out, because I am not a fan of bloody marys, but maybe I will be on an airplane.
If you are flying on a plane, bring an empty water bottle. You can fill it up with water after you get through security. There are also flavor packets now for single servings so you can make yourself some grape drink or whatever.
Thirsty at the airport? I would suggest buying something in a plastic bottle. This way you can close the bottle again if you aren’t done drinking it. The fountain soda option may seem like a good option, but if you carry it on the plane where ever will you put it? That thing tips over….it will spill.
Do you like soda? Did you know you can ask for the entire can on the majority of airlines and they will give you the whole thing?
Snack Hacks
When I was younger, I used to raid the pantry for snacks that I could bring on to the plane. However, now that I am older and wiser, I realized that this method is ineffective. I have gone on some many trips in which random gummy fruit or a bag or chips have come there and back home again with me. The tough truth is…if all you have in your pantry is odds and ends in your pantry…if you don’t eat whatever those things are in your everyday, why would you eat them while you are on a plane?
I usually need to go to the store last minute to get my flight snacks, if I do it too early, I end up eating them before I am even on the way to the airport. Here is list of what I typically get.
Chips (Cheesy Munchies, Funions, or Doritos)
Gum
Fruity Candy (Hi Chew or Mamba)
Gummy Candy (Varies depending on my mood)
“Safe” Chocolate meaning something individually wrapped or candy covered to prevent them from melting all over (m&m’s and sixlets)
Healthy snack (there are some grocery stores that sell little samplers with cheese, crackers, a fruit, and chicken salad)
I don’t have time to shop!
Do you have a Starbucks gift card? My family loves Starbucks and I always seem to have one somewhere. You can use these cards at the airport starbucks. Go ahead, buy yourself that coffee, gum, chips, and cake pop. It’s a good way to treat yourself at the airport without making a huge dent in your bank account.
I have had a couple holiday events so far this month, and they have either required making a dish to share and wrapping some sort of gift or both. So I’m going to talk about all the extra paper. I always end up “mis-measuring” what is needed to wrap a present and then need to cut off the excess. If you aren’t like me, you get a gold star and win all the winter holidays! I
Anyway, I always feel bad about those extra scraps. They no longer have a purpose, and I would not be my mother’s daughter if I didn’t try to do something with them. Also as a disclaimer, I am lazy crafty so if you are super intense, you can probably put my ideas to shame lol. Okay…sooo that begs the question WTF do I do with these scraps?!
Make a name tag/baby card
I don’t usually spend money on those cute little labels that you can address to people. They are cute but….I have extra wrapping paper! Rather than ditching those scraps just fold a rectangle in half and get some tape and BAM! You gotta label that matches with your present.
Make a fun paper bow
So disclaimer, this takes a lot of tape, there is probably a way that uses less tape, but this is how I make my bows so WHATEVA I do what I want.
Let’s get started! Look below for the pictures to correspond with the numbers.
Get all your scraps and cut them up into strips. They don’t have to be even thickness, but I do like them to be around the same length.
Very loosely fold your paper and tape the ends together.
After you are done taping it should make a nice tear shape.
Start taping to the package. The tape should be facing in towards the center of the present.
Tape down three more tear drops to make your base.
Add additional tear drops under your base you just created. This will make your bow fluffy. Attach the under layer of tear drops by rolling the tape sticky side out.
When you are done creating two layers of tear drops, you will see that your bow is beginning to have some dimension to it. You can continue to add additional tear drops under the two layers you already have. In addition, varying at which Continue this process until your bow is nice a fluffy or you get bored (usually what happens to me).
Two layers of tear drops one right under the other.
Let’s finish this bow!!!!
Pick out a fun scrap that you think is pretty.
Roll the scrap and tape either side down, so the paper stays rolled.
Roll a piece of tape sticky side out and stick it to whatever side of your rolled paper that’s not as pretty.
Boop the rolled paper down into the center of your bow (tape side down). Being careful to only press down from the inside of your round (or else you will flatten the nice floofy round you made).
Last step!!!! Dance around while you celebrate your fun bow!!!!
THE BEST FANCY WRAP JOB (Present Pull Tab)
Wanna impress your in-laws by being extra? This is the hack for you (results may vary depending on the in-laws)!!!! I am going to show you how to make a pull tab on your presents so friends and family can rip open those gifts with style. Play the video below to see all the pull tab action!
Things you will need are all the normal gift wrapping supplies (the gift, tape, scissors, and wrapping paper). In addition, if you wanna be fancy, some pretty duct tape would be nice. If you are planning on using duct tape, make sure you have sharp scissors (it makes your life significantly easier when you cut the duct tape into strips).
Cut your duct tape into several thin strips (you can also just use the duct tape’s natural thickness, but I prefer a thinner pull tab).
Lay the strips of tape to form a line that spans the entirety of the wrapping paper. If you cut the tape into strips for a thinner pull tab, ensure that each strip overlaps with the next (at least a 1/2 inch). This is to ensure that your pull tab stays together so that the present can be opened with only one fluid pull.
Make sure there is a little extra tape coming off the side of the paper. You will want to fold that extra tape tab onto itself so there is no sticky part of the tape exposed.
After, that wrap the present as you normally would minding that the little tab is always visible.
The pink arrows in the pictures above show where the pull tab is in each step of the wrapping process. The arrow pointing to the fancy star type shape shows what the pull tab will look like after your present is totally wrapped. And there you have it! A gift with a pull tab!
When I’m feeling down or someone just treated me like poo, I will write and record myself saying positive and inspirational things about myself. I like to think of audio like my own personal hype-girl (like how in rap they have hype-men). Below you will also see the script I used just in case you don’t have head phones available.
Hypegirl for a Down Day (in audio form)
Hypegirl for a Down Day (in text form)
I know you are having a not so great day, but that is okay. You are allowed to feel whatever negative emotion you are feeling. If you would like to continue feeling mad/sad/frustrated or any other emotion, you can. You can even ugly cry, but if you came here maybe you are trying to get out of that feelings slump. So let’s get started, shall we?
You are an amazing person who brings value to this world. Girl, you are deserving of love. Your voice and opinions are important and worth hearing.
Haters are going to hate, but don’t let them damper your shine. Maybe they are going through something. You don’t have to go through their something as well. Do not punish yourself or let others punish you for someone else’s hardships that you had nothing to do with.
Some people aren’t going to understand you, but you do you. You do you, because you are legit the best and most qualified person in the WORLD and in space and time to do you. You’re the best at that and the best there ever will be. Shine as brightly as you would like to shine. Dance if you want to, sing if you want to, run screaming into the night if you want to…as long as it is you being true to you. You are wonderful, strong, beautiful, and resilient. And it’s okay if you sometimes need reminders of your awesomeness. Because you are… because you are awesome.
Have you ever been in a situation where you realize you are running low on toilet paper, but have no motivation to go to the store? Have you resorted to taking a little extra TP from a public restroom to avoid going shopping for just a little bit longer? No? Just me? lol Adulting is hard, especially when you don’t want to do it.
I have not been in that toilet paper situation since I jumped on the Subscribe and Save bandwagon. You can subscribe to one or two items, OR if you have 5 or more subscriptions for the month Amazon will bump up your savings by 5% or more.
You can get all kinds of things like grocery staples, office supplies, and cosmetics. Below you can see what’s on my subscription list for January and you can totally see that my order is all over the place in terms of things I subscribe to.
My subscribe and save subscriptions for Jan so far.
I love that the subscription is also customizable. You can designate when subscriptions are sent to you each mother and often you need a particular subscription. For example, I don’t need 36 rolls of toilet paper every month. If I need 36 rolls of toilet paper every 5 months, I can set my subscription to do that. Setting subscriptions to come within certain time intervals helps me adult! Like did you know that you should be changing your toothbrush every 3ish months? I sure didn’t until recently, and I know I was using my brushes for waaaaaay longer. Now I can have tooth brushes as a subscription and whenever I get a new toothbrush in the mail, I will know its time to throw away the old one. Easy Peezy.
I’m going to need that toothbrush with the candy and juice Amazon is suggesting for me. haha
OH OH! And did I mention, they have pet supplies! It is so great for having pets, because then I can make sure my fur babies always have what the need. I get their food and litter through subscribe and save (and even occasional toys and treats). Trust me your fur babies will thank you!
My meows patiently waiting for me to finish this blog post.
Disclaimer*** These thoughts are my own and this post is in no way sponsored by amazon (although a sponsorship amazon or elsewhere would be awesome…just saying…hint. hint…lol).
