For mother-son duo Robin and Josh Katz, cruising is a family affair.
Robin, a Cruise Planners franchise owner, has 23 years of experience selling travel and has been a top producer for Cruise Planners since 2013. Then, 10 months ago, her millennial son Josh joined the biz as an advisor after an inspirational mother-son trip to Thailand and China.
Late last year, the Katzes were among the first travel advisors (also known as “First Mates” by Virgin) to sail onboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady — albeit, on two separate voyages — as the ship sailed the four-night Fire and Sunset Soirees itinerary during its inaugural season from PortMiami.
Here, the two give their take on the experience, and how to best sell the ship to cruising clients.
What were your impressions of Virgin Voyages as a new cruise line to sell?
Robin: I have been watching Virgin Voyages prepare to sail in the U.S. for a few years now, and thought some of their concepts were quite different than the competitors in the market. They had different names for things, such as “sailors” (for clients) “first mates” (for travel agents), “eateries” (for onboard restaurants), etc. The eye-catching names of some of the venues caught some of us old-timers in the industry off guard, as we had to quickly learn the new terms and be able to refer to them as we shared our knowledge with potential clients. The innovation and unique ideas were interesting to see on paper, but seeing everything firsthand was very exciting.
Josh: I did watch a lot of videos and did quite a bit of research before getting on the ship, so I had a good idea of what I was getting into. I knew it would be a unique and funky twist on your typical cruising experience, and it met my expectations and went beyond them, as well.
How about your impressions of Virgin’s flagship, the adults-only Scarlet Lady?
Robin: The experience onboard the Scarlet Lady didn’t disappoint. With incredible gourmet restaurants and multiple places onboard the ship to either relax or be active, I found the ship to be a perfect place for adults to sail without children onboard. Prior to sailing, I had heard from so many colleagues in the industry about the restaurants and delicious food, and I sailed onboard with die-hard foodies. We ordered a variety of options in all the eateries, and we ate our way through the Caribbean and Mexico. The food really was a “wow” factor for all of us.
The variety onboard offered a nice contrast from a conventional cruise.
Josh: Although I knew it would be a unique experience, getting into the underwater-themed elevators, seeing the LED lights in the hallways and the abundance of colors throughout the ship definitely surprised me. No other cruise line has anything like this onboard. It was the little details that blew me away.
Travel advisors Robin Katz (left) and her son Josh
Credit: 2022 Robin KatzWhat were some of the standout venues onboard? And what were your favorite parts of the ship?
Robin: All specialty eateries were standouts, as they were so different from one another, and the presentations were all unique. We loved Extra Virgin (Scarlet Lady’s Italian eatery) and ate there twice. The pop-up entertainment was very creative, as it was never expected and could be just around the corner on the way to somewhere else.
The variety [of venues] onboard offered a nice contrast from a conventional cruise. Some of my favorite areas of the ship were the Dock House and The Dock. I loved my [stateroom’s] hammock and its comfy bedding. The On The Rocks bar was a great place to meet for before- and after-dinner drinks. There were so many comfortable spaces onboard for sailors to spread out.
Josh: This may sound a bit boring, but I spent a lot of time on the hammock on the balcony of our Sea Terrace stateroom. It was the perfect spot to grab a glass of wine and relax while cruising. Otherwise, I really did enjoy hanging out by the Dock House with all the comfy beds on the deck outside. You were able to relax on the back of the boat and order drinks and barbecue there — the perfect combination!
I would not recommend it as a first-time sailing … If a guest were to sail Virgin Voyages first, I feel they would be heavily underwhelmed by other cruise lines.
Robin, how does Virgin Voyages compare to other cruise lines in the market?
Robin: Virgin Voyages isn’t quite a luxury line, and it’s not your typical premium line, so it truly has its own characteristics. I always mention to my clients that there is a perfect fit for everyone. The Scarlet Lady had a boutique feel with a twist focused on gourmet food, unusual entertainment, activities and loosely organized experiences that you could take part in — or not — and still walk away feeling rested, well-fed and pampered. This line is not entertainment-focused like many are, and while there is a “line up” [of experiences], not many guests seemed to feel like they needed to be entertained each day to enjoy the cruise.
Josh, do you think the millennial market will respond well to this cruise line? When selling to this audience, what are you going to highlight?
Josh: I think Virgin Voyages is the perfect option for the millennial market. It is a bit pricy, but I can confidently confirm that the price reflects the experience. The whole experience — from the live band in the nightclub to the basketball court and the vintage game room — is certainly something that can cater to the millennial crowd. Most importantly, for any millennial foodies, this cruise line is superior.
Who do you think are the ideal cruisers for this product? And do you think this line appeals to those who haven’t cruised before?
Robin: The ages of people who may be attracted to Virgin Voyages can vary from guests in their 30s to guests 65+ (guests younger than 30 may not be able to afford Virgin Voyages just yet, but would still enjoy it). Open-minded cruisers who like a variety of new experiences and excellent food should be prepared to try this brand. And if they are not looking for a conventional cruise with typical entertainment, there are enough venues to stay busy while onboard.
I was disappointed in not being able to take the bungee [group fitness] class. They only offer some fitness classes with a limited number of guests (for example, the bungee class was offered four times for six guests per class). I think some cruisers will miss the turndown service (often provided by other cruise lines), as well as having a hard copy of the day’s activities provided in the evening. I think offering these two features would be great move for Virgin Voyages, but overall, I look forward to watching the growth and expansion of [the line].
Virgin Voyages isn’t quite a luxury line, and it’s not your typical premium line, so it truly has its own characteristics.
Josh: In my opinion, this cruise line caters mostly to the millennial market. However, anybody age 50+ can certainly have a great time onboard. It was a classy experience, while keeping it fun and lively. The food was absolutely amazing — and who doesn't like a good meal (especially four to five days in a row)? I do think the line appeals to those who haven't cruised before, but I would not recommend it as a first-time sailing. It takes away the unique experience. If a guest were to sail Virgin Voyages first, I feel they would be heavily underwhelmed by other cruise lines.
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