To be honest – our group was really 70+. We were eight girlfriends, most of a group who have been gathering for a winter trip over the past 20 years. This year’s Virgin Cruise is our 16th trip.
Geographically, we live from Maryland to Miami, but we met during the past 25 years at our summer homes in the North Carolina mountains. Our trips used to center on golf, but those days have faded. Our getaways now focus on lots of talk, food, drinks, more talk, cards, and, most of all, laughter. We’ve been everywhere from Vegas, Jamaica, Santa Fe, Sea Island, and most resort areas in Florida. This was our third cruise, sailing on a 4-day voyage out of Miami to Key West and Bimini.
First, I have to report, the trip was fun. Yes, we were among the oldest on the Virgin Valiant Lady, but no one cared.
Virgin’s demographics skew young (but not too young, it’s adults only). They dine on trendy food, toss down assorted shots, and party like crazy. And they are technologically savvy. Most of our group are not.
There is, of course, an app you must have on your phone to check in or even board the ship. And, in the room, a tablet controls everything. There are no written instructions. It became a comedy to figure out if there were more than 4 movies available, any live news, a way to get hold of your cabin steward, or how to control the lights. I think I was the only one who knew you could change the ambient lighting to different “mood” colors.
The food in the restaurants was very good, and the Duel Reality show in the theater was extremely well done (Duel is not spelled wrong; it was a uniquely energetic interpretation of a Romeo & Juliet family feud). We enjoyed playing trivia, the campy show with drag queen “The Diva,” winning in the Casino (not me), complimentary Diet Coke, and some serious on-board jewelry shopping.
The Scarlet Night party and The Manor nightclub were fabulous for most passengers. I was a voyeur for a while – observing all the fun at both locations. And those outfits! Everyone seriously dressed the part. The first night of the cruise, we skipped the big pajama party with surprise guest hip hop star Flo Rida. Believe it or not – I’ve seen Flo Rida, and I’m sure it was great. Watching young adults less than half my age party did make me feel younger – for just a little while anyway.
While in Bimini, we checked out the Beach Club just because we could. We might have been the only guests not wearing swimsuits (temps in the low 70s & breezy). It was very nice, beautiful in fact – but we headed back on the now deserted ship to get in a good, quiet game of canasta.
Sadly, through the years, we have lost three good friends, and four have lost husbands. We missed the gals who couldn’t join us this year and agreed we will do these trips as long as we can. Being together is good for our health and sanity!
Don’t wait to spend quality time with your friends because you may never get the chance. Can’t wait to see where we end up next year.
Tips if you are a “mature” passenger on Virgin:
- Number 1: Find your Cabin steward and have them explain all the features in the room
- Try, try, try to make your dinner reservations in advance, if you have more than 6 in your group it’s not easy and you will have to make multiple reservations at the same time for parts of the group
- They don’t give you luggage tags, getting on and off the ship is super easy
- Don’t be shy about asking for what you need. You want ice – ask for it; prefer a printed version of the daily activity sheet, ask and you shall receive
- Accept the fact there will be loud music everywhere – after all, this is a Sir Richard Branson (of Virgin Records) ship
- Go to the Deck 15 food court to get your free morning coffee, they will charge you at other locations
- You can pick up a ship map at Sailor Services if the app isn’t working well (and it wasn’t)
- If you have status with another cruise line, Virgin will sometimes extend their basic status to you, but it must be arranged at least 2 weeks ahead of sailing
- Take your own salt shaker (food was often spicy, but never salty and finding a working shaker was a serious challenge)
- You don’t have to be off the ship until 10:30 AM, so it’s a much more relaxing final morning
- Soak up the vibe and channel feeling younger!
I am honored to report that Uniworld Boutique River Cruise company selected my post about visiting Monet’s home and garden to feature in their newsletter Sincerely Uniworld. Click to read: Monet’s World at Giverny
You could be a thousand miles from a big city – but in reality, you are about an hour outside the Nation’s Capital. Gently curving rural two-lane roads are the norm here. Tucked away down one of these roads is the 418-acre site, Oatlands. Now a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Oatlands is more than 200 years old and its history is entwined with the early trials, tribulations, successes, and controversies of our developing country.
Brick-by-brick built by slaves
Oatlands was the crown jewel of the Carter family and construction of the Federal-style mansion began in 1804 with bricks made by enslaved labor. By the beginning of the Civil War, 133 slaves were working the fields, grounds, mansion, and buildings. It was the largest plantation in Loudoun County, Virginia. But I am getting ahead of myself because the backstory is very interesting.
The land that eventually became Oatlands was a land grant to Robert “King” Carter. The massive 300,000-acre plantation enslaved about 3,000.
Short-lived emancipation
King’s grandson, Robert Carter III inherited a portion of the land added to his other land holdings. Although he enslaved more than 500, he came to believe slavery was immoral and in 1791 filed a Deed of Emancipation to free them all. It was an exceptionally controversial action for its time and involved a complicated legal process. It is believed to be the largest (and little-known) private emancipation in American history.
Robert III, however, failed to influence his 10 children or most of his relatives and neighbors. It was his son Geroge who built the Oatlands mansion and returned to the life of a slaveholder.
A new beginning
The family’s fortunes did not fare well after the Civil War and eventually, the home came into the possession of the Eustis family. William Eustis was the grandson of William Corcoran and his wife Edith Morton’s father was Vice President under President Benjamin Harrison. Edith was a childhood friend of Franklin Roosevelt, who visited Oatlands several times. Upon Edith’s death, her surviving daughters donated the home, property, and furnishings to the National Trust.
Trust staff is working hard to curate the items in the home, restore the mansion, care for the 28 outbuildings, maintain the grounds, and create interpretative material. They provide excellent tours delving into the fascinating personal details of the families – both owners and enslaved – whose lives intertwined here. I have only scratched the surface of the Oatland’s story in this post.
You can tell from these pics that we visited during the holidays and it was a cold, bleak day. It must be beautiful in the spring and fall. The mansion and visitor’s center will reopen April 1, 2025, but the grounds and gardens are open daily from 10 – 5. Visiting the grounds is free, and the gardens require a $10 ticket. Tours are by appointment. There are also many special events throughout the year from Teas to special lectures. Check out the current offerings online at https://oatlands.org/
Take a tour. History buffs will not be disappointed.
If you are of Spanish descent (I am), and/or live somewhere like Miami (I do), and/or have a sense of humor, you will get a kick out of this cute Spanglish twist on an old favorite tradition. I have no idea where it came from or who wrote it – but it is definitely decades old. Another gem I found among my mother’s papers. It makes me laugh and I hope it will you too. Let’s see how many get the joke.
It was the night before Christmas
And all thru the casa
Not a creature is stirring
Caramba! Qué pasa!
The Stockings are hanging
Con mucho cuidado
In hopes that St. Nicholas
Will feel obligado
To leave a few cosas
Aquí and allí
For Chico and Chica
(Y something para me).
Los niños are snuggled
All safe in their camas
(Some in vestidos, and
some in pajamas)
Their little cabezas
Are full of good things
Qué esperan: qué cosas
St. Nick will bring?
Santa is down
At the corner saloon
Muy borracho
Since mid-afternoon.
Mama is sitting beside the ventana
When Santa en manera extraña
Lit up like fuego;
Qué goma* mañana!
El va to bed
As morning approaches
Feliz Pascuas to all
And to all Buenos Noches.
Notes for those who need help: borracho is drunk; *goma means hangover (in this colloquial use from Central America) and Pascuas is Easter!
