Cineplex VIP: It’s still one of my favourite evenings when I am back on land!
Years ago, my car-pooling partner in crime, Sue, told me about something new at Cineplex: VIP movies. At the time, the idea that you could sit in a movie theatre with a glass of wine and have food delivered to your seat seemed downright revolutionary. Naturally, I had to investigate.
The good news is that VIP didn’t disappear. In fact, Cineplex expanded the concept, and what I loved about it in the first place is still very much part of the experience.
It Turns Going to a Movie Into a Night Out
What sold me originally wasn’t really the movie. It was everything around it.
You can choose your seats in advance, arrive early and have dinner or a cocktail in the VIP Lounge, then settle into an adults-only theatre with plenty of room to get comfortable. Cineplex currently offers food and cocktails delivered to your seat, and some VIP locations have full recliners. Select theatres have even added ordering through the Cineplex app.
And frankly, once you’ve watched a movie with a cocktail beside you and someone bringing dinner to your seat, going back to balancing popcorn on your lap feels a little uncivilized.
The Original VIP Experiment
On my first visit, I went early to investigate the lounge, purely for research purposes, obviously. I ordered a bottle of wine and appetizers before heading into the theatre. I remember being ridiculously impressed that we had selected our exact seats online. Today, reserved seating seems completely normal, but at the time I thought it was brilliant.
The big leather seats, little tables and in-seat service made the whole evening feel less like going to the movies and more like an actual night out.
And What Does This Have to Do With Boating?
Almost nothing. And I’m keeping this post anyway.
Cineplex VIP remains one of my favourite easy night out ideas, especially during those darker Vancouver months when the boat is tucked away, and we’re all looking for an excuse to get out of the house. ⚓️
