We’ve been back from our cruise for a few weeks now and we had an absolutely amazing experience. We met loads of new people and have ended up with new friends from all over the world. We’ve laughed and laughed about just how great the whole experience was.

However, during Scarlet night we were talking with some of our new friends and a member of the happenings cast. The happenings cast member said something akin to oh you guys should come with me. Now as we were talking as a 4 we naturally thought they meant all of us. We followed along as we had heard about stories that get told and performances etc.

When we reached the top of the stairs the happenings cast member turned round and was quite rude. They basically said to the guys we were talking to ‘are these guys with you’. But in a rude manner, so much so that it took us all back and the guys replied ‘er we guess so’ and looked very uncomfortable. The HCM then barked at them to sit down then in equally harsh tones asked ‘is there anything I can do to help’. We were somewhat taken aback and my wife actually believed it was part of the performance as this genuinely came out of nowhere.

I realised a little quicker than the wife that this conversation was not going the way she thought it was and that there were crossed wires. It came across that HCM just didn’t like us or thought we were trying to be cheap or whatever and promptly removed us from the situation. This is probably us being overly sensitive, but as it was our only negative experience for a whole week it does stick out.

Now anyone can have a bad day. Being polite and welcoming to people you think are AHs must be difficult. But we were at a loss as to where it came from and the venom that the conversation was delivered with. We didn’t mention it on our feedback form, as when we returned we were on such a high. However, on reflection we felt that the whole interaction was not handled in a very ‘Virgin way’.

We obviously wouldn’t want the cast member to get any negative feedback whatsoever as at the end of the day this is someone’s livelihood. But we do sort of wish we had said something at the time. Anyway we like it that much we’ve just booked our second voyage and we will be booking our third very soon.