I’m nervous. I want to be excited. Really, I do. There’s nothing like one’s first time. But I’m nervous. I’ve never experienced anything like it before and I’m not sure it will be able to live up to all the hype. Everybody with more experience than me tells me it is the greatest thing ever, and that I won’t regret it. Still, I’m not sure I’m ready.

Sorry…I couldn’t resist. I’m talking about my first cruise with Virgin Voyages, of course. Virgin Voyages is Sir Richard Branson’s newest venture in the hospitality industry. When he isn’t galivanting around the cosmos in one of his spaceships, he’s christening another of his new ocean cruise ships. Sir Richard’s first cruise ship, Scarlet Lady, docked in Manhattan last week for a three-day, red-carpet gala event and is now in her home port of Miami preparing for her first revenue sailing. In typical Virgin style they are referring to Scarlet Lady’s first sailing out of Miami on October 6th not as her inaugural sailing, as every other cruise line would, but as her “Mer-maiden” voyage. Get used to the cheeky play on words…Virgin has thrown an entirely new lexicon at the cruise industry that I still haven’t fully assimilated. Janet and I are fortunate to be booked on Scarlet Lady’s second sailing out of Miami, departing October 10th, and we are looking forward to sharing that experience with you. Check back for more!