The Connected Traveler Attends First Mate Spectacular Soiree

The first week of January, Virgin Voyages invited me to attend their annual First Mate Spectacular Soiree, celebrating the top 100 travel advisors in North America. Virgin Voyages hosted us for a four-night Fire & Sunset Soirees itinerary. Departing from Miami with stops in Key West and Virgin’s Beach Club at Bimini, the cruise was a celebration of another successful year.

The cruise line aimed to go beyond conventional award presentations by bringing everyone together for a voyage filled with exclusive events. Among the highlights were special gatherings such as an exclusive brunch with bubbles and the First Mates Ink Awards Ceremony. This unconventional celebration mirrored Virgin’s out-of-the-box thinking for which it is known.

The gathering was a tremendous opportunity to meet other First Mates with whom I could collaborate and expand offerings for The Connected Traveler Family. I gratefully attended with colleagues from my same host agency, Alex Lopez and Kristin Holak. There were countless others with whom I strengthened my relationships, built new friendships and enjoyed a couple of laughs. These are far too many to list, but, trust me, it is a congenial relationship where we help each other-this is a unique Virgin experience for which i am grateful.
Over a three-day period, the top 30, of which I am a member, got to have dinner in groups of 10 with Vice President of North American Sales, John Diorio and 9 other advisors at Pink Agave. John may have spilled the tea. We were asked questions about future ports we wanted to see, other itineraries we wanted and more. Of course, we asked about Brilliant, but, unfortunately, no launch date was announced.

We learned the scoop on some great new itineraries, new group promotions, changes to the placeholder program, and what sale offers can be combined. The best part was, as many of you know, we were able to secure some placeholders under the old rules, so if you are looking to book a cabin, now is the time to let us know.

The voyage proved to be a memorable experience, blending appreciation for achievements with a distinctive Virgin flair. The experience definitely will result in an improved voyage experience for The Connected Traveler Family.

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