Virgin Voyages Master Thread (do NOT post referral codes – use other thread)
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The free Cava for referral bookings has arrived. It’s called Chic Barcelona. Not great, but hey it was free!
That’s awesome! Thanks. For reference then, transferring from Amex, can this be done with Avios? I put all my purchases on the BA Amex. Can these be transferred to virgin points do you know?
I haven’t signed up yet to Virgin club. I’m thinking- get the credit card 15000 points, then buy the rest which seems to come in at around £1000(???).
Any better ways? Schemes or referrals to get more points quickly? Buying 65000 is actually far more that £1k?Approaches to gaining meaningful amount of points
are:
– sign up bonus for a virgin card (15k/30k)
– sign up bonus for Amex gold/platinum (25k/50k)
– adding supp card holder to gold/plat (3k/5k)
– referring someone to amex from gold/plat (9k/12k)
– transferring such points over from Amex
– sign up bonus for the Virgin money investing (8k)
– referring someone to Virgin Red (1k)Be aware of the time it will take to get points from Virgin (looking at getting points in August if you sign up for the card today) vs. Immediate points transfers from Amex (so long as you make the transfer on the phone).
Looking likely this offer will be around for a while though, and probably extended to Sep/Oct sailings in time… but not guaranteed in any way.
This is why many will be transferring points from amex or buying.
Couldn’t agree more that £1200 is still actually a crazy price for this! Looking to get points and bring the price down. Hoping they’ll do sept/October dates as well which would give me time to build some points up
Hey guys. My first post!!! I’ve been with Amex and Avios points, doing a 2for1 flight for a few years now.
However, this Greek cruise fits my wife’s dream for two reasons-she’s never been to Greece and she’s always want to do a Virgin cruise (usually much too pricey for us)
If someone in the know could give some advice, I’d really appreciate it. Wanting to book this as a suprise for her.
I haven’t signed up yet to Virgin club. I’m thinking- get the credit card 15000 points, then buy the rest which seems to come in at around £1000(???).
Any better ways? Schemes or referrals to get more points quickly? Buying 65000 is actually far more that £1k?
As I say, would love to suprise my wife with this, so any advice would be greatly appreciated
ThanksHello,
My take would be firstly to open a Flying Club/ Virgin Red account.You can’t do anything without this. Currently 80,000 miles/ points (which is current cost of the cruises in miles/points) will set you back £1,200 plus the £15 admin fee. If you’re looking to open a credit card it’ll take a few days for cards to arrive ( presuming you’re accepted) and the initial miles won’t post until after your first transaction the extra 15,000 miles bounds on the CC ( on top of the standard 15,000) ended on 13th June I think.
Personally, I think £1215 pounds for a cruise for two people is a bargain (granted you still need to consider flights, bar tabs etc).Our last cruise, Queensland (on Princess and again minus cost of getting there) probably cost three to four times as much.
When they’ve run this offer in the last few years the price of the cruises (in miles/ points ) increased as time went on so I’ve bitten the bullet and booked two at the current 80,000 miles/points each.If you do pull the trigger flying from the regions may have more options with regards to flights to Athens (obviously depending on where you’re based).
Lastly before doing anything I’d discreetly check that your wife would / will be thrilled ( including making sure she can take time off etc if she’s working / has other commitments ).
Personally I’d be thrilled with such a lovely surprise, but my time is flexibleish these days.
Hope this helps:).
DLThat’s awesome! Thanks. For reference then, transferring from Amex, can this be done with Avios? I put all my purchases on the BA Amex. Can these be transferred to virgin points do you know?
No, once you are in Avios you won’t be able to move them into Virgin miles.
Going on our first cruise at the end of July. Booked our restaurants and trips and are now looking to sort out our bar credit. Is there anywhere that tells you the prices of alcoholic drinks, specifically wine?
Is there anywhere that tells you the prices of alcoholic drinks, specifically wine?
Try https://www.cruisegear.com/virgin-voyages-drink-prices-drink-menus/
The free Cava for referral bookings has arrived. It’s called Chic Barcelona. Not great, but hey it was free!
Glad you got yours, our visit to Sailor Services to chase ours up hasn’t produced the goods yet, but we’ll persevere……Anyway, cheers and hope you are enjoying the cruise!
That’s awesome! Thanks. For reference then, transferring from Amex, can this be done with Avios? I put all my purchases on the BA Amex. Can these be transferred to virgin points do you know?
No, once you are in Avios you won’t be able to move them into Virgin miles.
This is why I mentioned Gold/Plat in my post 🙂
These are the cards with meaningful signup/referral/supp bonuses.
BAPP gets you nowhere in the Virgin points game!Is there anywhere that tells you the prices of alcoholic drinks, specifically wine?
Try https://www.cruisegear.com/virgin-voyages-drink-prices-drink-menus/
Half bottles look like a good way to go!
$55 for 350ml Jack Daniels (or 7 doubles)
vs. a likely ~$9 cost for a single drink
(measure sizes aren’t specified, though)Last year we bought a bar tab on the Virgin Cruise. My wife had her hair done and they used the bar tab for the cost of her hair done. Was this an error?
The free Cava for referral bookings has arrived. It’s called Chic Barcelona. Not great, but hey it was free!
Perseverance paid off….bottle of bubbles delivered today! Thanks for teaming up on the referral.
Last year we bought a bar tab on the Virgin Cruise. My wife had her hair done and they used the bar tab for the cost of her hair done. Was this an error?
I understand that last year their systems didn’t differentiate between Bar Tab and Sailor Loot (general credit) so purchases anywhere would come out of Bar Tab. This has now changed and only drinks come off the Bar Tab.
Perseverance paid off….bottle of bubbles delivered today! Thanks for teaming up on the referral.
It came 2 days later!
I understand that last year their systems didn’t differentiate between Bar Tab and Sailor Loot (general credit) so purchases anywhere would come out of Bar Tab. This has now changed and only drinks come off the Bar Tab.
We had afternoon tea (sandwiches, cakes, scones, pot of tea) and they took the cost off the bar credit.
Palma Majorca on Virgin……
Does anyone recall if there is a shuttle bus to take you from the port to Palma Town Centre…..Thanks
Really scrambling to get 80k points for a cruise, hopefully for October if they release some dates.
Think I’ve found a cheaper way to get them: 15k Hilton points can be transferred to 10k virgin points.
15k Hilton points is currently $80 ($80 for 8000 points, that currently will be doubled), this can be transferred to 10k virgin points
My maths says it would cost £165 to buy 10k virgin points from the directly.
Have I got this correct? This a cheeky loop hole right now?I think the exchange is poor….10,000 Hilton = 1,500 Virgin……There is a 100% Hilton bonus so buying 100,000 Hilton (including the bonus) is $500……So $500 = 15,000 Virgin Points.
$500 is about £395….If you go direct to Virgin (no current bonus) the costs for 15,000 Virgin Points is £225.00 plus there might be a small service charge fee..
Am sure others will correct my maths if I am wrong…
Think I’ve found a cheaper way to get them: 15k Hilton points can be transferred to 10k virgin points.
Incorrect I’m afraid – 10k virgin converts to 15k hilton but NOT the other way round. 10k Hilton converts to 1.5k virgin – as per the above reply.
The purchase rates for miles are very transparent – £150 per 10k plus £15. So 10k = £165. 80k = £1215.
I see there is poker in the casino on the first night of my cruise. Are dollars the main currency in the casino?….I do not want to be doing any transactions on the ship. Thank you.
Dollars are the currency. Any other cash can be converted to dollars by the dealer/cage.
I dread to think what the rate would be! Many thanks, I will take $$
I dread to think what the rate would be! Many thanks, I will take $$
The current rate seems to be 1.224 (at least against the bar tab) which isn’t great… but given the bonus I’m not fussed, I will likely use Curve to pay the final $ bill on the ship.
Palma Majorca on Virgin……
Does anyone recall if there is a shuttle bus to take you from the port to Palma Town Centre…..Thanks
No there isn’t (but there is in Marseille and Ibiza)
I will likely use Curve to pay the final $ bill on the ship.
I thought about doing that, but am concerned that the final billing may go through on a Sunday where curve charges 1.5% forex. Therefore I added a fee-free card as the defaults, and might go to sailor services and make a payment on Curve for the bulk of the balance on the Friday… if I can be bothered! If not, it’ll go through on the default card.
I have booked a cruise on points, and also have Amex Platinum insurance. I assume there are several people like me!
Is there a way of paying for part of “the trip” to ensure I am completely covered by the insurance? Is a prepaid bar tab part of “the trip”?
Many thanks in advance.
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