Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship Crew Tour in Bimini. Bahamian lunch and island tour!

[ka4wja]

Hello to you all.
I'm not sure exactly where to post this message. But, figured here is a good spot? (while I've never been on a Cruise Ship, if I were ever to do so, it's little things like highlighted here that would steer me to Virgin Voyages)
I'm just sharing this as a way of showing that there are still some out there in our world that do care about each other, enjoy learning about others / other cultures, etc...(and, even though we ocean sailors / cruisers like to think we are some of the last bastion, there are others out here too.)


Virgin Voyages Cruise Line does things a bit different. They don't own a "private island", like other cruise lines, but rather contract a nice "beach club" on Bimini Island, in the Bahamas..BUT...

But, they also encourage their passengers AND crew to learn about real local culture and engage / befriend many local Bahamians!

This video of a short "crew tour", was filmed/produced by a friend of mine who works as crew on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady. Showing her eating fresh conch salad (for the first time), fresh caught local fish (snapper?) and some sweet home-made pineapple juice.
All wonderfully prepared by Miss Antoinette (a long-time fixture of Bimini)!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLV6BiTw57s

This is just her own video, from her personal Youtube channel....and, it is not in anyway affiliated with Virgin Voyages Cruise Lines!
As I wrote, I've never been on a Cruise Ship (doubt I ever will), and I assume neither have most here (nor most that watch my sailing / maritime-radio videos)...but, if you ever do desire to "take a cruise" (or have friends looking at doing so), my advice is to look seriously at Virgin Voyages.
They are "adults only" (no one under 18 allowed), all up-scale restaurants included, are very conscience of "leaving a clean wake", etc.....and, aren't like the "big corporate cruise lines" that act like bull-dozers / 800lb gorilla's!


BTW, if you all are curious how far back my connection to the Bahamas go....have a look here....that's a pic of me holding one of the barracuda's I caught fishing with my Dad (he's also in the pic, with his back to us) and my brother and sister, in Bimini...
This was early 1966....just before I turned 5 years old....this was the start of over 55 years of wonderful times in the Bahamas!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoAsx6Yvkzr/



And, if you also wish to see a Life Boat Tour (on a Cruise Ship), have a look at Lucy's wonderfully fun life-boat-tour video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yY2iuh2NUs

Also, if you care to help a young explorer out, subscribe to her Youtube channel.
(remember the pay on-board Cruise Ships is crap....by USA standards, it's below minimum wage....so, some of the "western" workers on-board have side-gigs...like Youtube)

I hope some of you not only enjoy the above, but also don't look to far down your nose at Virgin Voyages ships, 'cuz they do seem to be doing things a bit differently than the rest of them!

Fair winds to all.

John
s/v Annie Laurie, WDB6927
MMSI# 366933110