Virgin Valiant Lady Day 1: Transfer Chaos and First Impressions

Today was the day I said goodbye to the MSC Poesia and hello to the Virgin Valiant Lady. I had my schedule all planned out starting with room service on my balcony. However, unlike every other day when it showed up like clockwork, they were late... I packed but held off showering. Eventually, I called the front desk... no sir we won't deliver room service on disembarkation day. I have never read this anywhere but it is the second time I have experienced this so it must be an MSC shipwide policy.

I rushed to get ready and headed down to the dining room which has usually been pretty peaceful but was packed today. When I asked if this was normal, the waitress said it is because they are always mostly empty the first half hour or so of scheduled breakfast but get full as it gets close to closing time.

I got back to my room and tipped my room steward who was very grateful. I took a picture of his name tag so I will be sure to spell it correctly on the comment email. I headed for the theater right on time and they were leaving just as I arrived. My group basically walked straight out and off of the ship with the few exceptions that they sent back to.pay off their accounts.

The entire disembarkation process took maybe 15 minutes from my room to.baggage claim.

The Barcelona Terminal is set up like arrivals in an airport. I wouldnt hesitate to send my bag the night before next time so I didn't have to roll it off myself. (Provided I marked it in some way that made it easy to find)

Since I needed to get to the old cruise terminal, I fiest had to walk from Terminal A to Terminal B which is 1/3 mile before using a crosswalk to get to the bridge up and over the bay. The road ramps way up and curves around.

At the top, I looked left and could look back and left to see the MSC Poesia at Terminal A and Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas at Terminal.B.

I crossed the road to.the other side of the bridge and took this pic of the Valiant Lady to the right of the bridge.

My total walk took 45 minutes. I gave my passport to the porters and they checked my bag in so I could keep only a day bag with me with my passport, wallet, and my champagne from MSC to give to my friends. (Never check alcohol- it needs to be carry on for a ship)

There is a coffee shop across the street which provided free wifi and a restroom to paying customers. I bought a pepsi and camped here until my 2:15 checkin.

The Check in area was packed. I had done a status match so I had expedited boarding and the entire process end to end was maybe 30 minutes for "Deep Blue Rewards" members. We got to use the Splash of Romance line but we had to ask or we wouldn't have known.

My friend didn't status match and it took him 15 to 30 minutes more than it took me.

I went straight to my room and showered. My luggage hadn't arrived at my room yet, but once I finished my shower it arrived. I checked out the stateroom and took a picture of my old ship from my new ship. This room seems the same width but longer. There is no closet door, just a curtain. I'll review the room more as time goes on.

I went down and had some tapas at the Dock. I apologize that the food is half eaten but I was hangry by this point.

The Tapas was delicious. Sadly it was a mad rush back to the room to watch the muster video which was really trying to be rockstar fun but achieved rock star annoying. I turned the volume way down so I could just read the closed captioning.

Then it was time to rush up to the top deck for a sailaway party before we rushed down to our dinner reservation at The Wake. 

The service and the food were fantastic.

After dinner I went to sailor services because I just couldn't log into my Virgin app. It turns out they put a space in my last name. Once that was sorted out I rushed up to a semi risqué talk with the lady who hosts a show.on board- a sort of meet and greet. I tried to go to the comedian but I just wanted some piece and quiet.

So far, Virgin is a totally different experience which was complicated by my lack of ability to use  the app. They turn off IP privacy as well.as other settings changes to make the app work. There were many very equally frustrated people down there.

On the good side, the Internet is fast, the food is fantastic and the bed is comfortable. I will skip the pajama party and call it a day.

Happy Cruising!