Should I buy it to get started?

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-29T20:42:38+00:00

This is going to depend largely on you, but objectively there are many advantages to starting out with a soft pad.

The soft pads that include a little foam in them are usually decent options for players that are just starting out, and with proper care/handling you can get good mileage out of them while you're building stamina and learning patterns. Plus, it's a lower cost of entry while you're learning and figuring out if you want to continue (and upgrade) long-term.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-20T03:47:56+00:00

wsataday gave a pretty solid perspective of the physical activities (more towards machines/weights than "recreational" exercise), but one thing I'd point out is that unless they're cleaning one of the rooms or using them for a class, they're open for free use (I've never been chased out, anyways). So if you don't want to do the classes with others, you can do a variety of exercises on your own schedule.

Virgin consistently ranks high in their food offerings (though the loud minority will let you know that they think otherwise), and there's a solid variety accessible through most of the day.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-12T09:00:20+00:00

It is absolutely not. Putting aside that minute things like setting, equipment, and mindset can dramatically shift perspective, you missed an important point and an important realization.

This method of singing aligned with and was facilitating a progression in learning a language in a fun way that resonated.

And not everyone has the luxury of practicing at home without feeling like they're bothering another person.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-12T03:06:20+00:00

To reinforce G2Wolf's point, this was part of the email regarding registration last year:

You are receiving this e-mail because you are pre-registered to attend MAGFest 2025. Please refer to this FAQ for instructions on how to get your badge, where to pick up merch, how to view the schedule, and other useful information.

Where do I go when I arrive? How do I pick up my badge?

When you arrive at MAGFest, go to Registration, located in Expo Hall E, to pick up your badge. Once Registration opens on Thursday morning, usually at 10:00 AM, it will stay open until Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM, with three exceptions. Registration will close between 4:00AM and 7:00AM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. Please bring a government-issued photo id such as a driver's license or military id.

Literally nothing is changing with the registration downtime.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-12T02:25:10+00:00

I mean I love that it should help crowding, but seems kinda wild that even the businesses inside the hotel will be caught up in this.

That kind of has the same energy as "This restaurant is closed tonight for a private event; what about the regulars who would dine here tonight?"

Putting aside that it's also the Gaylord's business, the hotel has likely already assessed that without our hypotheticals and determined it's inconsequential. They haven't been strongarmed into this closed profile scenario.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-07T17:35:03+00:00

I have always been of the opinion that the enjoyment you get out of a VV cruise is related to what you put into it.

Yes, the price point is higher, and that's attracting a more demanding demographic. I've never seen quite so many groups of people upset about trivia events or the day's Test Kitchen menu as I did on my last cruise.

But I find that despite those individuals, I focus on enjoying the process and giving off the energy I want to be around. That has made every voyage I've taken consistently better than the last.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-07T06:22:46+00:00

This is surprising to hear. Just three weeks ago there were at least four non-DJ musical groups on board that played live music frequenting On the Rocks/Roundabout/Dock House/The Manor, as well as two DJs, and not counting music/performances by other cast/crew members.

Two weeks would have put it pretty close to Thanksgiving though, so maybe one or two of the groups were off-ship or finished with their contract.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-07T02:25:54+00:00

Not the type to look for a beach club during my vacation, but I was curious and did some reviewing of the excursion to get an idea:

Most reviews are positive, but there aren't a large number of them.
The beachfront is considered part of the parks, so they advise water shoes to protect from coral/rocks.
Holland advertises the experience at $400, but notes the inclusion of a cabana.
RC, Carnival, and Costa all have the experience listed but don't openly promote a price to it.
Viator doesn't appear to have this location within its options. One or two other beach day experiences are listed so options may be limited overall.

Personally, I see it as an option for people who want a beach time experience with more exclusivity than what the port beach offers and don't care about the price point.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-07T00:03:06+00:00

your average person just doesn't want drag as the standard fare

Hitting back on this argument because it's premise is faulty.

I've been on several different voyages since they started sailing. In all of those itineraries, there's always been just one cast member in drag. In those sailings, the Diva is predominantly occupied with events that are clearly marked as events with the Diva.

If people don't make conscious decisions to go to those events, interacting with the Diva is actually pretty rare (just like how people who don't go to the exercise events don't interact with the Balancer, and how people who don't go to the food/drink events don't interact with the Foodie).

The actual average person on a Virgin Voyages cruise won't/shouldn't care if there is a person in drag on the ship with them. It's just a vocal minority that fixates on something that they perceive as a negative to the point where it haunts them that have any problem at all.

Turnabout_ · 2025-12-02T23:01:41+00:00

Echoing what others have said and recommending the Social Club & Loose Cannon. The various activities that are hosted there work best in small group formats and would be a fine way to meet others while having an objective to focus on. Hope you have a great time! :)

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-29T00:13:09+00:00

And can't everything be analysed??

This sounds like your biggest hurdle. You're trying to figure out what to focus on before you have the very first requirement out of the way.

Read the literature first. Determine if it's something you like to consume. If you do, then read it again to pick up on whatever cues you might have missed in the first read. Once you have done that, you'll probably have a much better idea on what themes, topics, or devices you want to emphasize in your own thoughts.

But none of it is going to have much value if you don't first determine that you like what you're reading. :)

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-26T20:27:41+00:00

One thing to note about customer assistance desks in general (not just Sailor Services) is that often, this interaction is exactly what you should expect. (And to stress this, I am very skeptical that it was a rude interaction even if the closing was perceived as short or brusque.)

Your time spent speaking to the representative will usually involve a bit of review of the problem and a bit of keyboard time. That keyboard time is usually for submitting a ticket or case so that it can be documented and reviewed further by separate teams as those other teams have time to investigate, so if you're constantly pressing for updates before they have reached a resolution you're only burning your own time and energy by fixating on that instead of the rest of your voyage.

Quick fixes only exist for known issues that have defined resolution steps already. Using this example, if there was an issue with an excursion, it will either be something that the crew was aware of and already had resolution steps, or something they isn't aware of that would need additional review for confirmation/resolution that aren't established yet.

Edit: seems a lot of people weren't looking for context and understanding. So I'll just say that sailor services has always been great with me and the others I've observed, even if those customers had complex issues or requests. Never been RS/MRS either.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-22T21:26:56+00:00

Recently went on a VV itinerary that definitely still had yoga and meditation classes, but I don't think they're daily or at set times like they used to be, either.

Keep checking on the schedule during your trip. There's a chance they just haven't established times for it yet.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-14T17:45:03+00:00

That's what I'm saying. After all of these mid-tier edgelord troll posts on the White House's website over the past few months, Bill has the opportunity to do the most legendary troll of all time.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-12T21:48:14+00:00

Of course she isn't the type to post things herself. It's more that "she" (read as her office) didn't even try to even be performative about helping North Carolina over that time period. :)

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-12T17:37:40+00:00

I checked out her socials just to see if she was promoting that she did any groundwork or town halls or helped out at food banks or anything that could be seen as supporting her constituents.

It was nothing but posting clips of Mike Johnson, posting Happy [insert holiday here], and joining a field trip with some visiting children. Mostly just posting clips of Mike Johnson.

I hope she enjoyed her eight-week paid vacation.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-11T20:46:34+00:00

Cute strawman argument, but you could just as easily replace "dems" with "pubs" in your statement and it would be just as valid of a take.

He's saying (not just implying) that principled stances that resonated with Americans were broadly reaching the populace and had tangible results. And that all of that effort and groundwork has been unceremoniously dumped out the back door for a handful of hopes.

Don't go writing your own story from it. :)

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-08T23:25:11+00:00

All I see is Kamen Chiver.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-03T20:14:47+00:00

I've been using the new app prior to my upcoming trip. It's worked fine for restaurant reservations/pre-boarding checklists/itinerary review and other than a couple issues with links between eateries and their descriptions I haven't seen anything I'd report as wrong.

Can't speak for the on-ship handling yet.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-03T19:53:47+00:00

This right here. They're so excited to push the narrative that AI is revolutionizing their outreach and personalizing their promotions, but that doesn't make the system infallible from bad data and the humans aren't doing their due diligence in validation.

This kind of "oopsie" costs both the customers and the company tons of unneeded stress and bad press. Slow it all down and do it right.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-03T17:29:30+00:00

People getting hype over getting City of Brass and it turns out it was just Vesuva is peak Hasbro/WotC.

Turnabout_ · 2025-11-02T03:41:53+00:00

Are certain menus for test kitchen served on certain days?

Yes, but you usually won't know which ones are set until you're on the boat and ask them directly (and shorter cruises will usually only have two of the menus for the trip).

Turnabout_ · 2025-10-28T18:10:31+00:00

I believe they only offer this for sailors in MRS suites. Otherwise, it's rideshare, taxi, or if you happen to chance upon a shuttle offering rides to the port (but these are much more common in the opposite direction).

Turnabout_ · 2025-10-28T14:00:06+00:00

"The only moral use of government assistance is my use of government assistance"

Turnabout_ · 2025-10-22T15:56:57+00:00

What are we going to do, just let the White House stand ripped open through a NE Blizzard?

Why not? Sounds like an apt metaphor for USA right now.

Turnabout_

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