virgin voyages adults only reviews

Virgin Voyages Review & Complete Guide – Everything You Need to Know!

From the moment you step onto a lady ship, as they call them, you realize virgin is a cruise line like no other..

Virgin Voyages offers a unique and upscale cruise experience with luxurious yacht-inspired ambiance, sophisticated dining options, and stylish cabins. Their ships are all-adult and nearly all-inclusive, covering food, tips, service fees, Wi-Fi, and entertainment in the fare.

Quick Things to Know:

• Fitness Classes were not bookable until we got on the ship (though, I am unsure if this is standard practice). One of the people in our group was able to connect to the wifi in the terminal during check-in and was able to start booking while in line.
• Restaurant reservations fill up fast. You may be able to start booking within a week or two of your departure by using the Virgin Voyages app. Once you’ve downloaded the Virgin Voyages app, check to see what date reservations open up and you’re able to book restaurants. You don’t have to wait until you’re on board.
• Bring something red to wear! The Scarlet Party or Scarlet Night is a red-themed party where everyone dresses up in various red outfits and the ship turns red throughout. Depending on the voyage you may witness all of the lovely red outfits drenched in pool water as people tend to end up taking a dip fully clothed! 
• There’s a pajama party! Bring your best PJs for the fun Pajama Party night. Nothing is off limits, there were ALL types on show from skimpy lingerie, boxer shorts, body suits, robes, and some people wearing almost nothing. 

About Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages has created something unique, something special. The vibe of the cruise ships instantly comes across as cool but casual. Elegant but not snobby. Modern but not cold or stark. It feels like just the right mix of cool & sexy without an accompanying jackass vibe that usually comes with being cool… and sexy. Virgin Voyages’ vessels distinguish themselves with a luxurious yacht-inspired ambiance, sophisticated dining options, complimentary Wi-Fi, stylish cabins, and wellness-focused activities.

Let’s not forget, the complete absence of children running around touching all the surfaces and licking all the salt shakers.

Everything you need to know about Virgin Voyages Cruises

For experienced cruisers, Virgin Voyages may come as a bit of a sensory overload. Since there aren’t staff members pitching beverage packages, dining packages, or upgrades at every turn, you can immediately start taking it all in and exploring without interruption.

What is immediately apparent is the staff. They are ALSO unlike anything you’ll experience with other cruise lines. Many are tattooed, pierced, and have funky choices of hairstyles (more on this later) though no less friendly… usually. 

The Virgin Voyages concept is all-adult and nearly all-inclusive where the fare you pay covers all food, tips, service fees, wifi, entertainment, etc. pretty much leaving only your bar tab & shore excursions to pay for.

This concept, I believe, will be amazingly successful, if they (Virgin) can sort out some problems, which I’m confident they can and will.

Virgin Voyages is Adults Only

The first thing that always comes up about Virgin Voyages is how it’s all adult. This is something that the cruise market has needed for decades. With cruises becoming more affordable and family-oriented, travelers who want an adult-only vacation are limited in choices. Virgin has created a playground for grown-ups to enjoy themselves without having to worry about unsupervised and crying children.

What are the age requirements for Virgin Voyages?

To book a cruise, a passenger must be 18 years old or older.

What is the drinking age on Virgin Voyages?

This should be a black-and-white answer, but it’s grey. The official answer is if you’re sailing from US ports and in US waters, you must be 21 or older, however, in reality, the practice seems to be that 18+ can drink after leaving US waters and on Bimini, in Mexico, etc. The FAQ on the Virgin website contradicts the published alcohol policy of 21+, but at the end of the day it’s what happens on the ship that matters, and in practice, everyone we’ve spoken with has had no issue being 18+ and getting a drink. In fact, it’s rarely even questioned when on board.

Virgin Voyages is nearly all-inclusive

Nearly everything is included when you book a Virgin cruise which includes all food, entertainment, basic beverages, tips, WiFi, and gratuities. It’s nice to go on a cruise and not have a bill at the end of the voyage for a bunch of daily gratuities. It’s also nice to not have tips and gratuities tacked on to every beverage purchase or other miscellaneous purchases. The only things not included are alcoholic beverages, excursions, and nominal port fees. The only other charges you’ll likely encounter will be some specialty meal upgrades such as a tomahawk steak or seafood tower. These are few and far between and are clearly marked on menus.

The Cabins on the cruise ships are modern & comfortable

Once you enter your cabin on one of the Virgin ships, in our case, a Sea Terrace on the Valiant Lady , you’ll quickly realize it just feels fresh, trendy, and “hip” without going overboard (pun intended). Absent in the staterooms are the heavy wood accents and floral carpets you often find on more traditional cruise ships. The rooms and cabins feel modern but not uncomfortable. 

The cabins on the Lady Ships feel quite large compared to newer ships with other cruise lines in contrast though, the bathrooms are incredibly small and tight, some of the smallest I’ve ever experienced. 

A real game changer in these staterooms is the technology. Virgin Voyages has invested heavily in technology on their ships from start to finish and the cabins are no exception. You’re greeted with a “scene” when you open the door of your cabin which opens all of the curtains and sets the lighting. There is a tablet in the room where you can control the mood lighting, shades, television, and movies, and request service from the cabin steward. The tablet was a little flakey throughout the voyage and messages to the steward got missed on occasion.

The best part of the cabin is the convertible bed/sofa system. Each cabin has a queen bed that converts into a sofa making the space INCREDIBLE and HUGE feeling. The setup is great for the day when you want to relax and watch TV or get some work done and not be forced to sit on the bed. The conversion can be requested by the stateroom attendant and they’ll convert it on their first rounds of the day and make it back to a bed during the evening rounds. I couldn’t tell if the cabin stewards were a bit grumpy when we asked for this conversion service, but they accommodated the request without question. By the middle of the voyage, I had figured out how to convert the bed into a sofa on my own (and there’s a handy little instruction guide on the tablet), but I left it up to the stewards to convert it back to a bed in the evening. It’s important to know, however, that the cabin attendants usually end their day around 7 pm, so if you don’t have your evening service for whatever reason,  you’re going to be making the sofa into a bed on your own!

The real show stopper of the Virgin Voyages cabins ( Sea Terrace and suites with balconies) are the terraces with the beautiful red hammocks. This is a passenger favorite whenever discussing the Virgin Voyages ships. These hammocks are a real treat allowing you to float over the balcony gently swinging in the breeze as the ship is underway. What a clever and innovative design feature for a cruise ship! 

In addition to the hammock, the balcony has the traditional table and chairs for seating, but realistically the hammock takes up so much space that it becomes crowded quickly with the other furniture items. 

As for storage in the staterooms, because of the converting bed, it’s not possible or practical to put empty bags under the bed, so that all goes into the closet space. The closet area is the only thing that really feels like an afterthought with a cloth curtain as a divider rather than traditional doors. I’m sure it’s a “design feature” but it just makes the room look a little cheap. Otherwise, there is plenty of storage space for any length of cruise (it fits everything for 2 people on a 14-day transatlantic just fine!).  It’s worth noting, that if you need more hangars, just ask, and the cabin steward will bring more for you.

Finally, a nice touch is that you are left with a couple of bottles of water daily in the cabin. One is cooled in the mini-fridge and the other is left out. For those looking for a minibar, it doesn’t exist in the standard balcony cabins / Sea Terrace rooms. In the suites, there are complimentary beverages available.

The Suites on Virgin ships:

There are unique themed suites available on all of the Virgin Voyages ships called the “Rockstar and Mega Rockstar” suites. These are the largest and most expensive accommodations on the ship, but they come with some great perks! 

What do you get with a Mega Rockstar Suite?

The most expensive and lavish suites range from 570 sq feet to over 2000 sq feet and are reminiscent of 5-star hotel suites with whirlpools, outdoor jacuzzis, and huge private terraces (depending on the suite). Each suite is adorned with music memorabilia and a record table to spin some tunes. The guests in these suites have exclusive access to Richard’s Rooftop as well as daily spa access. Additional perks are premium wifi, early access to the ships with priority check-in, and transfer to and from the ship to your hotel or airport.

For those Mega RockStar guests who like to indulge, the suite comes with a bottomless mini bar that is restocked at your request as well as essentially an unlimited bar tab to use during the voyage. While Virgin states that there are limits to the bar tab (reasonable), I’ve never spoken to anyone who’s experienced being told they can’t order more.

• Read : The difference between Rockstar and Mega Rockstar status on Virgin Voyages

What do you get with a Rockstar Suite?

As with the Mega RockStar suites, you have access to the exclusive Richard’s Rooftop, priority boarding, and a stocked minibar (single use, not unlimited). These suites are a bit smaller and range from aft cabins / suites that are a bit more than 400 sq feet to really large corner suites measuring more than 850 sq feet.

Finally, these suites come with a private concierge to help you with bookings, excursions, transportation, etc.

How much do the RockStar and Mega RockStar suites cost?

Expect to spend $6000 for a 5-7 day RockStar suite and more than $10,000 for the Mega RockStar suite. This is based on pricing for a typical Caribbean 7-day cruise where a SeaTerrace rate was approximately $2900

Activities, Shows & Entertainment on the Virgin Voyages ships

There is an impressive lineup of things to do from early-morning yoga to late-night parties. I expected initially that the ship would be more of a “party” ship with nonstop pool parties and day drinking, but surprisingly, Virgin Voyages has put together a good program and schedule for their cruises that includes many activities that aren’t parties. Of course, there’s more of a party vibe once the sun sets, which adds to the allure of the brand and ship. 

During the day, there is a variety of planned activities to do from trivia, games, foodie classes, bingo, and a ton of workouts. (see the sample week-long itinerary below)

Our favorite was the daily trivia where “The Gamer” compiles the best of pop culture, history, current events, and beyond in a multi-round trivia event that he’s uniquely created. Each team will have a booklet to fill out for each round of 10 questions. But this isn’t your average trivia game. The highly curated, weirdly specific genres cater to the weird, the wacky, and the nerdy among us-expanding beyond generations and giving you the freshest, funniest brain-twisters you can find

For people worried about what there is to do during the day on one of these cruises, fear not! There are PLENTY of activities not to mention the obligatory pool time.

The shows and nighttime entertainment

Virgin Voyages has curated a unique lineup of entertainment for each cruise which includes everything from variety and talent show-style entertainment to drag shows and beyond. An example of some of the shows you can expect to see on a Virgin Voyages cruise are:

It’s a Ship Show : Think of this as a dinner show + variety hour with some live music, comedy, and random performances. The food was included but was slightly disappointing, but overall it was good fun. Note: If you are in the front row(s), there is audience participation and you may be called upon!

Duel Reality : Seen in the Red Room, this is part dance performance and part theater. It’s “strange” but worth the effort to see. Important to know: once you are seated, you cannot leave for any reason (bathroom, drinks, etc).

Untitled Danceshow Thing : Think of this as ship performers in a nightclub filming an influencer-inspired show. None of the people in our group quite got the purpose. This is the only show on the ship(s) that I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to experience unless you had nothing else to do.

There are other acts and shows that cycle throughout the voyage, and they’re all different than anything else you’ve likely seen on a cruise, so give them a try!

In addition to the production-style shows that are held within the Manor and Red Room, there are always musicians or DJs scattered throughout the ship that are all quite good. Most bars and lounges have various types of live music featuring solo artists to multi-piece bands.

The inclusion of music on the ship is in the DNA of the Virgin brand and it creates a wonderful vibe day and night.

**Note** The evening entertainment is going through some changes and new shows are being added. We’ll update this as the programs are announced and confirmed.

Receive Our Monthly CruiseLetter

Including cruise reviews, travel tips, and cruise deals

Virgin Cruise Ships are a Health & Wellness anomaly at sea with fitness classes unmatched by other cruise lines

You’ve probably never seen a cruise ship that has such a focus on wellness! Most traditional cruisers go for the bottomless buffet, all-day ice cream, and beverage packages, whereas Virgin Voyages has put a substantial effort into balancing those activities with an abundance of wellness & fitness classes – ALL INCLUDED! Yep, that’s right, the wellness and exercise classes are all part of the fare.  

The ships have professional instructors dedicated to certain activities and classes, for example:

Spin Class – only about 6 people at a time and for someone who’s into spin classes, they are relatively beginner-level.

Bungee Class – low-impact bungee cord workout. Unusual but fun use of bungee cords for balance and stretching. 

Yoga – There are several varieties of yoga but the best was the Low impact, a guided class where beginners didn’t feel out of place.

HIIT Class – Outdoors on deck 16 in the outdoor gym area.

For passengers who are interested in doing their own thing, there are plenty of options with a sports court/basketball court, outdoor workout areas, outdoor gym area, and post-workout chillout spaces.

Another standout feature of the Virgin Voyages cruise ships is the beautiful cardio space full of the latest Technogym equipment. It’s fully integrated with Apple Watch and the “My Wellness” app by Technogym for syncing your workout data. In a separate space across from the pool is the weight lifting and workout space, equally impressive. There’s nothing you can’t do in the gym and cardio rooms, they are some of the nicest and best-equipped gyms I’ve seen, much less those at sea!

For passengers who are looking for an outdoor run, there’s the running track on deck 17.

The pool decks on Virgin Voyages ships

There are two pools on the Virgin ships referred to as the “Aquatic Club”. These pool areas are what most passengers lament about. The consensus is that the pool and sun decks are WAY too small for the passenger capacity. In reality, we found that there were always loungers to be found and a place to soak in the sun was never a problem. I can only guess that it’s because there is so much to do on the ships that people don’t lay around the pool all day as they would while on a typical cruise ship.

The main pool is more like an oversized plunge pool surrounded by loungers and day beds with music playing all day long while the smaller pool towards the rear of the pool deck is quiet and more of an oversized jacuzzi whirlpool.

The pools and pool decks on board the Virgin Voyages ships are much more intimate and have a day club feel about them than the sprawling pool decks that are now common on mega-ships.

The Redemption Spa

The spa & thermal suite is always something I look forward to on a modern cruise ship. This is one of the areas where I feel like Virgin Voyages has failed. That sentiment wasn’t unique to me, however, some people loved it. So let’s explain:

If you are used to the glamorous spas and the thermal suite on other mass-market cruise lines, you’ll likely be disappointed. The Redemption Spa is beautiful like the rest of the ship, but it is like a nice piece of art, where it is ok to look at but doesn’t offer much else. While they have amenities that look like they stack up to other spas at sea, they are impractical and downright uncomfortable. For example, where you would normally find heated stone loungers in modern spas, Virgin Voyages has chosen to heat a floor space, like a large swath of marble heated in which you are supposed to just lay on. I liken this to lying on the ground at some Roman monument in the summer, not at all comfortable. 

Additionally, the whirlpool tubs are small, so small in fact that you better be really comfortable with whoever is sharing it with you because it’s “intimate” to say the least. While there is a plunge pool, it’s room temperature and it’s also extremely small. 

There are the typical sauna and steam rooms you’d expect in any modern spa, and they are what they are. Very basic.

The most unique room is the mud room where you slather buckets of mud all over your body and sit there like a hog fresh out of the mud pit. Not only is it weird, but they, unfortunately, don’t clean it often or very well, meaning it looks like it could be the backdrop of a high-end mud wrestling tournament. 

Finally, the booking process for this spa was overly complicated and poorly managed. You are only able to block 3 hours at a time and you are required to use time all within those three hours, so you can’t come and go throughout the day. 

Another real turn-off was the fact that if you chose to purchase a service like a massage, you weren’t able to use the spa area as a part of that service. It seems petty to not allow people who are already paying an exorbitant rate for a massage, you’d think that using the steam room before or after would be included. 

Our group found the spa so generally unappealing, that even though we were comped anytime access for our entire voyage, most of us only used it once while some of the ladies used it two or three times at most.

What does the day pass cost for the Redemption Spa? 

The costs: $39 – But first, it’s worth noting that the “day pass” is really only a 3-hour pass for use during one day. The price is not outrageous but not an amazing value either. For a spa person, it’s worth checking out. You can also get a day pass included if you buy some packages such as the “Splash of Romance” Package. 

Some passengers have said they’ve been able to purchase a come-and-go pass for the full day for $70. This option may vary by ship and itinerary.

A full voyage pass was available to us for a 3-hour time block once per day during the cruise, but that price wasn’t published (and I forgot to ask). I was told that this offering was being tested and wasn’t necessarily going to be available in the future.

This is how Virgin Voyages explains its spa:

Inspired by an underwater cave, Redemption Spa is a luxury hideaway complete with a hydrotherapy pool, mud room, salt room, cold plunge pools, quartz beds, and a myriad of rejuvenating treatments. Strategically located far from the bustle of the fitness areas, you won’t be mid-massage hearing a nearby cycling instructor telling you to “push through the last climb.” Virgin Voyages

How much are spa services in the Redemption Spa on Virgin Voyages?

Every service you could imagine was available at the Redemption Spa and they come at a pretty steep price. You can see the entire list of services from the Red Book found in the cabins (see here).

A traditional Swedish massage is $179 for 50 minutes and $229 for 75 minutes.  A deep tissue massage is $379 for 50 minutes or $469 for 75 minutes (yes, you’re reading that right) Bamboo massage is $209 for 50 minutes and $249 for 75 minutes. A 50-minute facial is $179 – $229 depending on the variety 

There are other massages & services available, but this gives you an idea of what to expect when planning for your spa treatments

Dining is all specialty and it’s all included with no main dining room to be found

Absent are traditional specialty restaurants, a main dining room, and high cover charges. Virgin Voyages made the choice to have all specialty dining options or themed dining included in the cruise fare. This is by far the biggest part of the “all-inclusive” concept that Virgin has going for them. It’s a great concept and the restaurants are all amazing with a high-quality dining experience in each location. 

Only one reservation per restaurant

Virgin Voyages has a policy to allow one reservation per restaurant per voyage (at dinner). This is in an effort to make sure every passenger or “sailor” has the opportunity to try the eateries.

Virgin Voyages Menus & Restaurants

The Wake – The upscale “steak and seafood” restaurant that is also available for brunch most days with unique brunch items and a variety of egg preparations. This is the most popular restaurant and fills up fast, so reserve early. See The Wake Menu and wine list.

Extra Virgin – The Italian concept that also sometimes does daytime tapas tastings. See the Extra Virgin menu .

Razzle Dazzle – An eclectic mix of feel-good food with a focus on vegetarian options. This restaurant is open for breakfast/brunch and dinner.  See the Razzle Dazzle menu .

Gunbae – A fun group dining event where everyone sits around a hibachi-style grill while the food is cooked ‘on stage’. A unique dining experience! (until you realize the strangers you’re dining with might just be unfriendly) – See the Gunbae Menu

Test Kitchen – Probably the strangest concept on the Virgin Voyages cruise ships is the Test Kitchen where food is served in a laboratory setting which signifies that the chef experiments with food, flavor, and presentation. There are 2 menus served at different times during a voyage (only one menu per night) and each is an unusual dining experience when matched with the suggested wine pairing making for a memorable and quite educational dinner to remember. See the Test Kitchen menu & virtual tour.

Pink Agave – One of our favorites! A Mexican-inspired, small bites eatery that has a little bit of everything. Being from Texas and being an Expat in Europe at the moment, I just missed Mexican food, so whether it’s really that good is subjective, but I thought it was pretty amazing. Small enchiladas, guacamole, tacos, and a variety of other dishes were always good. The only problem we really had was often the items weren’t very warm by the time they got to the table. I suspect they premake many of the items on a line in the kitchen so they have the opportunity to cool down before making it to the table. More than anything, though, the bar is a great secret spot that few people realize is open to just have drinks if you want and the interior + vibe is some of the best on the ship. Groovy, cozy, and feels decidedly luxe (especially for a few tacos!) – If you’re a tequila or mezcal aficionado, this is the place for you, don’t forget to check out the menu for all varieties and tasting options. See the Pink Agave menu & virtual tour.

Other restaurants on the Lady Ships include

The Galley – This is Virgin Voyages’ answer to the buffet, when in fact it’s no buffet at all. It’s a food hall where you can select from a variety of menu options from basic burgers and salads to greasy spoon-style all-American breakfast dishes. You can get sushi, noodles, salads, burgers, pasta, diner-inspired meals, etc. It’s a great option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  For those who are looking for their soda / soft drink fix, there are self-service soda fountains throughout The Galley – take as much as you want. There is also a pastry corner with some of the best desserts and cookies I’ve had on a cruise ship (with a few misses, as well).

The Pizza Place – a grab-and-go small pizza joint with a few different pizza options. On a nice day, there is some lovely outdoor seating as well. 

Lick Me Til Ice Cream – A passenger favorite! Just a good old-fashioned icecream parlor style walk-up bar. Full of homemade icecreams where flavors rotate regularly. 

The Dock House – which is part bar and part outdoor tapas-style bites. Think shrimp skewers, mini sandwiches, chicken skewers, and random small bites. 

Sun Club Cafe – An outdoor top deck area serving things like Poke’ Bowls during the afternoon.

Social Club – A random area on the ship that has things like sweets, popcorn, quick bites (hot dogs, chicken wings, nachos, etc), and pastries so you’ll never go hungry…. ever! 

Finally, there is the Sip Champagne bar that hosts afternoon tea most days. This is a paid event that includes towers of scones and cakes with optional champagne. 

Virgin Voyages Bars, beverages, and beverage packages (Bar Tab)

All essential beverages are included with Virgin Voyages which includes bottomless soda from the fountains, tea, coffee (except specialty coffee), and water. In general, the drink prices are what you would expect in land-based bars and restaurants, not excessively marked up like other cruise lines.

Drink Package & the “Bar Tab”

There is no beverage package or alcohol package offered for Virgin Voyages ships, however, they do have the “Bar Tab” system which is a prepaid amount in $300 increments where Virgin will often add bonus amounts depending on promotions. Typically for every $300 purchased, Virgin Voyages will add an additional $50, however, on a recent voyage we were able to get $100 in addition to our bar tab purchases and we were able to purchase multiple bar tabs and receive multiple bonuses. On occasion, Virgin Voyages will throw in bar tabs for certain itineraries valued up to $600. So while it’s not exactly a drink package, it is a nice way to provide a bit of a bonus. 

Specialty Coffee

It’s worth noting that while all non-alcoholic beverages are included on the ships, however, specialty coffee is NOT included. There are two coffee shops on each ship that serves every coffee drink you could imagine, albeit for an extra fee, the Grounds Club which feels like you’re in an actual coffee shop with complimentary pastries and other sweets. In the Galley, there is another Grounds Club as well. Everyone who had a specialty coffee in our travel group was quite pleased with it, even though it was an extra fee.  

• Everything to know about the Virgin Voyages “Bar Tab”

The bars and lounges on the Virgin Voyages ships

Not surprisingly, there are bars and bar services EVERYWHERE. While some of the bars maintain strange hours, there’s always something open and somewhere to get a drink. 

The Manor – An amazing nightclub at sea with a swanky London club vibe. 

On The Rocks – This bar is the main watering hole in the center of the ship that has everything the entire ship has to offer and is the best place to find craft cocktails.  Afternoon trivia and early evening til late night bands and solo singers are found here almost daily.

Sip Champagne Bar – The champagne bar of the ship is an elegant space that makes a good meeting spot for pre-dinner cocktails. This is generally a quieter area which is also great for spending time reading or working if necessary. 

Loose Canon – A nautical-themed pub bar where trivia can also be found on some days. The selection seems limited compared to other locations on the ship.

Social Club – This is where you can find amazing boozy milkshakes and hotdogs

Dock House & The Dock – My favorite space on the ship in the aft (rear). It is an entire outdoor area with seating, loungers, beds, and umbrellas with bar service. It’s like being in a swanky beach club. On the inside is the Dock House with a similar chill vibe and an attached full bar serving cocktails and small bites where music happens in the evenings.

Aquatic Club – This is the outdoor pool bar in the center of the ship typical of any pool bar on any cruise ship.

Finally, there is Richard’s Rooftop for the exclusive use of the Rock Star and Mega Rock Star guests. It’s part relaxation space and part bar service, a great escape for passengers who have booked suites.

• Read More: Bar Menus with Drink Prices on Virgin Voyages

Let’s not forget the “Shake For Champagne”

A fun and one-of-a-kind experience is shaking your phone for a bottle of champagne! The price for Shake for Champagne is $95 , or the cost of the Moet which comes with glasses and an ice bucket straight to your location within minutes (Usually). We tried this several times around the ship and generally within 10 minutes, a champagne steward found us based on our phone’s location and accurately delivered the “goods”. On some of the promotional packages like a Splash of Romance , there is an included Shake for Champagne.

Solo Travelers

Virgin Voyages has a couple of ways to sail solo! First is a promotion or program where there is no additional charge or single supplement if you want to cruise alone. An amazing advantage to those who just want to have their own good time! This may be somewhat deceiving as the pricing on Virgin tends to be on a PER CABIN basis anyway. So to say there is no supplement for a single traveler is a bit of a gray area.

There are also a limited number of smaller cabins marketed as “Solo Insider” or “Solo Seaview” cabins. It’s worth checking if there are promotions for no single supplement Sea Terrace cabins first, as the price isn’t necessarily compelling for solo cabins.

The staff & crew on Virgin cruise ships

Virgin embraces diversity in a big way. This is why the brand and cruise line is popular with all walks of life and the same can be said for their onboard staff. You’ll see tattoos, piercings, long hair, shaved heads, every ethnicity, and every possible variety of humans working on a Virgin ship. It’s great to see at a corporate level, diversity is embraced. HOWEVER, sometimes it felt like the hiring process prioritized unusual people and unique looks rather than those qualified to provide the best service.

As someone who’s been on countless cruises on almost all major cruise lines, there’s always something that is consistent and it’s the incredible desire to serve the guests. It’s rare to come across a crew member on a cruise ship that isn’t happy to help or at least appears happy to be there doing their job whereas on the 14-day Virgin Voyages transatlantic cruise we took, it appeared there was a large portion of the staff that weren’t terribly friendly or happy to be doing their jobs.

This was noticeable not only with our entire group sailing together but with other passengers as well. Enough so that we mentioned to one of the department managers that it felt like we, the guests, were interrupting the staff holiday when we asked for anything.

In some instances, some of the staff were downright dismissive and rude, a real turn-off considering everything else on the ship was pretty flawless.

Know before you go on a Virgin Voyages cruise. The most common questions with a few helpful tips:

First time on virgin voyages here are some expert tips.

• Take a moment when you have seemingly nothing else you have to do and just walk around the ship and enjoy the art. Some it is absolutely incredible and often overlooked.
• Provided the seas aren’t bad, the hot tubs on the back of deck 16 are open pretty much 24/7. Get yourself a drink and enjoy the sounds of the ocean and the moonlight.
• If you’re into it, there is a topless suntanning area on deck 17. It’s the same place they host morning yoga
• On Scarlet night, get yourself up to the pool deck as soon as it gets dark out. They inflate the octopus pretty early and it’s a great place for selfies before the festivities.
• If you are sailing solo, getting dinner reservations is kind of pointless (read that as not always necessary) beyond the first evening. I usually just decide in the morning where I want to go for dinner that evening.
• If you are going to eat at The Wake, try to time it for 30-45 minutes after the all-aboard time at a port. By doing this you’ll be treated to a great view of the ship pulling away from the port.
• Finding a quiet spot on the ship can be difficult but there are a few spots including “The Scene” (just forward of the pool, port side deck 15) and often the restaurants, which are closed but you can still often sit at a table mid-day.
• If you are a night owl and decide to walk every deck of the ship at 2 am, just be aware that security will come along to say hi and make sure you’re not up to something bad. BTW walking decks 5-14 is equivalent to about 2 miles.
• A magnetic battery-powered night light is a great gadget! If you need to use the restroom at night, the cabin is pretty much pitch black and there’s no low setting on the bathroom light.
• If you are on a longer voyage, consider taking less clothing and using the laundry services instead. It’s a great way to save bag space and it’s quite reasonably priced. If you have deep blue perks one bag of laundry is included so there’s no reason not to use it.
• Do not plan to purchase any Sundries on the ship. This is one of the few places where Virgin goes the traditional cruise ship route and charges through the nose for things. A 4oz sunscreen bottle was $30+ for example. My understanding is feminine products are more normally priced, however.
• While they don’t display them anymore, they do have adult toys for purchase if you ask in the sundries shop.
• The Galley hours are WEIRD. Pay attention to them if you want to go for something other than breakfast food. They keep changing them but at one point you couldn’t get a burger between 2:30 and 6. I think it’s currently 4-6pm but I could be wrong.
• Speaking of the Galley, Nearly every day they have special. Usually, it’s a unique burger but I’ve seen everything from curry to steaks to Fried chicken. If they have a special, order it, I highly doubt you’ll regret it.
• The galley also cycles deserts / pastries so keep an eye out for different stuff every night.
• Premium coffee (Starbucks style stuff) can be purchased but in the galley coffee and tea is freely available if you assemble them yourself. They have milk, creamer, alternative milks, honey, and other stuff to make pretty much whatever you want. They also have a pretty good selection for Twinning’s Teas.
• You can actually get a full breakfast before disembarking the ship at Razzle Dazzle or The Wake. I suggest booking this as you board the ship if you want to do it on the last morning particularly if you want to eat at the wake.

Other fun & unique things on the Virgin Voyages cruise ships

The Net – Unless you’ve been on a luxury yacht, you probably haven’t seen a suspended net like this. A neat feature located in the aft area of the ship on Deck 16 is a sprawling nautical net to lounge on at your leisure. But I must say, it’s really uncomfortable, but fun to try.

Squid Ink Tattoo Parlor on Virgin Voyages

Squid Ink on Virgin Voyages is the onboard tattoo parlor, the only ones offered at sea. You can indulge in an inked memory for as little as $150 for a standard design (think small anchor or wave) or have the talented artists work magic on something completely custom. Speaking to other sailors it seems the custom work always comes out around $450 for something the size of a playing card, but they will quote you on an individual basis.

Here are the “house” designs offered for about $150 on the Virgin Ships:

Private Karaoke Rooms – Who knew you could book a private karaoke room at sea, totally free! Just look for the “Groupie” sign towards the front of the ship on deck 7. These rooms range in size and just require you to sign in, no fee is necessary. Sing your heart out!

Record Store – Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you stumble upon a corner that is full of music (Vinyl) available to purchase. The Voyage Vinyl will be a treat to any music collector!

The Free Video Game Arcade – Another bit of fun to be had on the ship is the arcade, pool tables and air hockey, all complimentary!

The Casino – Casinos on ships are a big draw for so many passengers, and Virgin Voyages has made sure to provide a gaming experience to meet or exceed a gambler’s expectations. Slots and video poker games are plentiful while there are numerous card tables, roulette wheels, and craps tables as well.

Sail away party – Don’t miss the famous Sail Away party with complimentary sparkling wine that flows freely for about an hour. +/- It’s a ton of fun and sets the vibe of the voyage and allows you to discover who’s on board. It’s a great social exercise to have people meet and greet as well as get a glimpse of the “Happenings Crew” which are the on board entertainers.

Virgin Voyages Reviews – From the passengers’ mouths (or keyboards)…

Just a few comments from passengers who’ve experienced these amazing ships

The restaurants are all really good. Like REALLY good. We had a blast at Test Kitchen. Good food and so much fun. I’d suggest you pair your meals with alcohol for an even better experience. The Wake (I love a steakhouse) was good, but maybe a bit slow. Gunbae was a blast. The food was great. The interactivity was incredible. And Pink Agave was our favourite. Get everything. And then order more of the stuff you loved. There will be a lot of it. On board the Scarlet Lady

The ship is great. I believe it’s the smallest I’ve been on but it feels big with a great layout. Easy to get around. But lots of shops, etc. My only complaint about the size is we experienced a couple of days of high winds and we rolled side-to-side a bit more than I am comfortable with, and a bit more than I believe a bigger ship would have. On board the Scarlet Lady

24 hours into the trip and I’m completely converted. 100% better than Rcl, Ncl, celebrity and obviously carnival. I’ve been on multiple of all these other lines and this is something else entirely. The attention to detail is beyond what other lines could comprehend much less accomplish. The crew is super friendly, endlessly attentive and at the same time super relaxed. It’s almost impossible to describe but you know what someone looks and sounds like when they enjoy their job. On board the Valiant Lady

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our Monthly Cruise Digest?

They do have so cabins: solo insider and so Seaview. You may want to correct that statement.

Hi Iris – I’m glad you brought this up – When i was on the Valiant Lady, they were selling standard cabins with solo rates and not cabins designated for solos only. There was never a mention of Solo specific cabins just cabins that could accommodate 1-3 people. The terminology has changed some and I’ll update the website to reflect that.

We’re Giving Away a Cruise in 2024! Enter Now

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

Adult-Only Experience on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady

Posted on Published: 10/23/2023

When Virgin Voyages announced their brand-new, industry-changing adult-only cruise line, I was intrigued. Although I do love cruising with my kids, I often cruise with friends. The prospect of an adult-only cruise line sounded exciting, and I’m always interested in whatever Richard Branson creates. If you are interested in sailing, this Virgin Voyages review should help you make your decision.

For those unfamiliar with the brand, we’ve reviewed all of the differences below between Virgin Voyages and other cruise lines. These differences include the adults-only aspect, dining (no main dining room and all specialty dining is included), and the included tips.

Recently, I embarked on my first Virgin Voyages cruise on the Scarlet Lady – their first ship. This cruise ship currently leaves from PortMiami’s Terminal V , on various itineraries including Bahamian and Caribbean cruises. We booked the four-day Fire and Sunset Soiree, which stopped at Nassau, and the private Beach Club at Bimini .

Since my first sailing on Virgin Voyages, I’ve sailed two other times on the Scarlet Lady. One of these was the five-day Dominican Daze itinerary, with stops in Puerto Plata and Bimini.

This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, or if you are just reading the title of the blog, you probably know this isn’t our usual content. Instead, it’s the start of a new category here called Gen X Travel. This new category will focus on travels beyond family travel when you are ready to progress into mid-life travel.

Virgin Cruise Review: Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Check out prices and itineraries on Virgin Voyages here .

Virgin Voyages Differences

Virgin Voyages’ new cruise line has really changed the cruising paradigm. Some of the differences are very obvious from the start. The traditional key card has been replaced by The Band, a bracelet-style wearable that can be used to get into your room and charge purchases.

The main dining room and set dining times are gone. Instead, there are included specialty restaurants on board. Guests are able to reserve these in advance and can make one dinner reservation per venue.

The traditional cruising buffet is also gone. Instead, you’ll find the Galley, a food hall-style venue with lots of options. Servers bring your order directly to you. Options at the Galley include ramen, sushi, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and tacos. Soda, filtered/sparkling water, tea, regular coffee, and standard juices are also included.

Instead of a cruise director, Virgin has the Happenings cast. Each one has its own role, with unique titles such as “The Hype”, “The Glow”, “The Hostess”, and “The Bounce”. The amazing crew was all fantastic, and unlike other cruises, tips are all included in your cruise fare.

It took a day or two, but I realized that Virgin Voyages also doesn’t have any ship photographers. As someone who never purchases photos and never wants to take them, I really appreciated this.

Wifi is also included. There are higher speeds available for purchase. I definitely noticed that the included free WiFi was pretty slow, but it served its purpose of keeping me in contact with home. If I had work to do that required WiFi, I would have purchased the upgrade.

When booking your stateroom, you won’t have the option to choose your specific room. Instead, you’ll be assigned one. You can, however, upgrade to a central location when booking your cruise for a slightly higher fee.

Virgin Voyages also doesn’t use single-use plastics. There are no water bottles for sale on the ship, and you’ll have a carafe of water in your room each day. Refill stations are also available around the ship.

Before the Cruise

We registered for a May cruise in March, so we paid in full right away. Restaurant reservations were available in the Virgin Voyages app several weeks later. I tried to time our dining times with the show schedule and ended up being pretty successful. Our sailing was at less than half capacity, so there were plenty of openings.

Check-in can be done in advance on the app, and you’ll be able to provide a payment method, a selfie, health information, and your passport, making your first day a bit easier.

Embarkation Day

Virgin Voyages allow guests to stay onboard longer than other cruise lines on the last day. Therefore, check-in times tend to be a little later on embarkation day. We received the 1:30pm time, which was the earliest offered. Guests that are part of their loyalty program and who purchase the “Splash of Romance” package are able to get onboard in the first group.

It was an easy process to check in, get our wearable, and get on the ship. Our cabins were all available when we arrived, and our luggage was delivered within two hours.

Staterooms on the Scarlet Lady

We booked a sea terrace cabin, which includes a king bed that can be split, as well as a balcony (called sea terrace). The room was very comfortable, although a bit smaller than other cruise rooms I’ve been in recently.

The balconies include bright red hammocks, which is a fantastic addition. I loved reading on the hammock while we were at sea. While most of the Virgin Voyage balcony staterooms have this hammock, a few don’t.

Rooms include mood lighting, which can be controlled by a tablet over the desk. Lights, blinds, and the tv can be individually controlled, or there are also presets that help set a mood.

Hairdryers, mini refrigerators, a carafe of water, a chair, a small table, and bath toiletries (refillable pumps including body wash, conditioner, and shampoo) are all offered in the room. Stateroom service is done once per day, but special requests can be made through the app or the tablet.

Unlike other cruise staterooms I’ve been in, there is no couch. The bed does split into an L position if you are traveling with a friend and want your own bed.

Before our sailing, we received an offer to bid for an upgrade to a suite. We decided, however, to save money and stick with the room we had booked.

Virgin Voyages Restaurants

There are six main restaurants on board, in addition to the Galley, the Dock, the Social Club, the ice cream shop, several coffee shops, and other dining options. Room service is also offered. There was also a display at the entrance of the Galley offering packaged food to go including charcuterie plates, crudite, and salads.

We dined at five of the restaurants – four for dinner and a fifth for three breakfasts. Reservations for these sit-down breakfast meals need to be made in advance, on the app.

Razzle Dazzle: This stylish vegetarian restaurant does have a “naughty” section of the menu including meat dishes including a chicken sandwich and unbelievably delicious bacon. They also have a gorgeous Red Bar. I absolutely love Razzle Dazzle for brunch, but dinner is delicious as well.

Extra Virgin: This Italian restaurant offers a selection of antipasto, appetizers, main entrees, and pastas. We ate there on our first night and really enjoyed it. The highlight of the meal is the affogato cart, which includes a selection of gelatos along with toppings.

Gunbae: We didn’t have a chance to dine in this Korean BBQ restaurant, but we had heard great things about it.

The Wake: The Wake is an upscale steak and seafood restaurant. The decor is closest to the main dining room decors on other cruise lines, and it’s the most upscale of the restaurants. However, like every venue on Virgin Voyages, there is no dress code.

Pink Agave: We loved the food at this upscale Mexican restaurant. We ate there on our last night, and it was my favorite meal of the sailing. In my opinion, this is one “don’t miss” restaurant on Virgin Voyages. In many people’s opinions (including mine!) Pink Agave has the best steak dish onboard.

The Test Kitchen: The Test Kitchen is an experimental restaurant offering a set, six-course menu. It’s definitely an experience, and it’s fun to try food prepared in these different unique ways. If you are on a longer sailing, there’s a second menu so you can try the restaurant twice.

Shops on the Scarlet Lady

With a nod to her British heritage, most of the shops on the Scarlet Lady are located on High Street. Shops include two Virgin Voyages watch shops, a resort-wear shop, a duty-free shop, a cosmetics shop, an essentials shop, a jewelry shop, and a watch shop. In addition, there’s a small display selling vinyl records.

Like other cruise lines, the shops are only open when the ship is not at port. In our experience, they were never too crowded. However, I would have liked to see more branded merchandise. The shops, in my opinion, are definitely an area to improve.

Tattoos on the Scarlet Lady

Virgin Voyages launched with the first tattoo studio at sea – Squid Ink. Squid Ink offers some of the best tattoo artists around the work, on the ship for a limited engagement. You can’t book your tattoo or piercing appointment until you are onboard, but you can look at their Instagram stories to see which artists will be on the ship during your sailing.

Once you are on the ship’s WiFi, you’ll be able to view the schedule for the ship events. Included will be the open booking hours for tattoos. Squid Ink offers some flash tattoo options, and can also accommodate custom requests.

You’ll need to book your time in person. Squid Ink has become very popular, so you’ll want to line up right at opening (or even before).

I got a small wave flash tattoo, and it was a great experience onboard. I’d definitely recommend it if you are considering a tattoo. I did find that the prices were higher than those at shops at home, but the experience is worth it.

If you look at the Squid Ink Instagram page, you can see the various visiting artists for the different ships. Look through the artists’ Instagram pages to see their different styles and examples of their work.

Shows on Virgin Voyages

As you’d expect, the shows on Virgin Voyages are different from those you may be used to on other cruise lines. While the selection may vary depending on voyage and ship, expect to find several different shows playing. Most have several different showings, so you can work them into your dining schedule.

During our sailing, there were several options including a 2-part drag show hosted by “The Diva”, a beautiful dance/singing show called “Ships in the Night”, and a Romeo and Juliet-inspired acrobatics show called “Duel Reality”. Bingo on the ship is also hosted by the Diva, along with another member of the Happenings team. There are other show options, including some limited options specific to individual sailings.

Reservations are required for these shows, and they can be made in the app. For Bingo, you can purchase your cards before the actual games start.

There are several show venues on board, and they are beautiful and unique. The Manor is a two-story venue with a bar, stage, and seats around small tables. There’s a gorgeous mirrored hallway leading to it.

There’s also the Red Room, a multi-use room with stadium-style seating. Both venues are intimate and fairly small.

Parties on Virgin Voyages

There are fun ship-wide parties held every night of your sailing. The most popular of these is Scarlet Night, which was held on day two of our sailing. Be sure to pack your best bright red apparel.

Other parties include a PJ party (held on the first night of our sailing) and a pool float party (held at the Beach Club at Bimini). The parties are all optional but are definitely fun to attend.

Additional Experiences

There are some additional experiences that can be booked on board, in addition to the Shore Things (shore excursions). We signed up for three of them – both at an extra charge.

Shot for Shot – a mixology seminar hosted in The Test Kitchen. In addition to learning how to mix four drinks, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn how to photograph these best for social media postings.

Afternoon Tea – hosted in the Sip Lounge, afternoon tea is an elegant affair with your choice of teas, as well as a selection of scones, pastries, and mini sandwiches. Your tea is offered with or without bubbles (champagne).

Plate, Snap, Eat: Foodie Photo Workshop – In this class, you’ll learn to plate food and take some great pictures, then you’ll enjoy eating your creations.

There’s also a paint night-style event where you’ll learn how to create artwork with the Artist. We didn’t do that event, however. Over my three sailings, I’ve noticed that some of the offerings have changed, and new ones are added regularly.

One very popular activity is the Grog Walk. This is a paid activity that you’ll have to purchase in advance. It books up quickly so you’ll want to reserve it as soon as you get on board.

During the Grog Walk, you’ll travel with a group to different bars and lounges on board. You’ll sample a drink and participate in different fun icebreaker activities.

There’s no beverage package offered on Virgin Voyages. However, you are able to pre-purchase a bar tab. Currently, you’ll get extra money added to the top of your bar tab when you purchase it in advance.

Other Amenities on the Scarlet Lady

In addition to the parties, events, and shows, there are other things to do on Virgin Voyages. There’s a fitness center, as well as a full array of group fitness classes that are included. You do need to sign up for some of these in advance. They are very popular and are a great way to stay fit while on vacation.

The top deck of the ship has a jogging trail loop, and there is also fitness and recreation equipment, like a basketball court, punching bag, boxing ring, swings, and more, on the outdoor decks.

The ship has two pools in the pool area, including one with seating all around the edges. There are also hot tubs on the pool deck.

I loved the arcade, which includes old-school games like Tapper and Donkey Kong. There are also board games that can be played in the Social Club. The Gamer is around at times to show you various games.

Like karaoke? There are several private karaoke rooms that can be booked for small groups. These are completely private.

The Beach Club at Bimini

Although Virgin Voyages does not have a private island, guests do have access to a private beach club when sailing to Bimini. The Beach Club at Bimini is located in the Resorts World area in Bimini, in the Bahamas. During our sailing, our ship was docked at Bimini starting at 8 am and ending with a ship return time of 7:30 pm. This will vary based on your sailing.

As you exit the ship, you’ll see containers of towels that you can bring with you to the beach. Bring along the essentials you’ll need, like your phone charger , sunscreen, reading materials, etc. Shore things excursions are available, including cabana rentals at the Beach Club. However, there are plenty of beach and pool chairs and umbrellas available.

The sand and seawater at the Beach Club at Bimini are absolutely amazing. The water is a beautiful light blue and the sand is incredibly soft. The resort includes bars, restrooms, two pools, lots of waterfront space, and more.

Unfortunately, during our first day at Bimini, a thunderstorm interrupted our plans. While we did have the chance to spend some time at the beach and the pool, we didn’t get the opportunity to eat there.

Luckily, on our second and third sailings, we had gorgeous weather at Bimini. We were able to enjoy lunch, which is really fantastic.

For adults looking for something a little different, Virgin Voyages is a fantastic option. After three different sailings, I keep wanting to book another one. The food, fun activities, and fantastic service really make it a great vacation option.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Saturday 8th of October 2022

Hi! My husband and I are interested in this cruise line but we are not interested in a "Las Vegas vibe" cruise (seeing as how we live in Las Vegas, we can get that anytime) We want to go on a cruise and be able to relax. For example, read a book on the lido deck or enjoy an intimate dinner. Do you feel like we could have a "chill" experience and not a "spring break" type experience on Virgin cruises? Thank you

Thursday 13th of October 2022

@stacey, You can absolutely make it a chill experience. My husband and I just got off the ship last Sunday and really enjoyed ourselves. We are not big party people. We were easily able to find plenty of quiet spots to sit up on deck and enjoy our books. At dinner we always had a table for two. We did not have a chance to eat at Gunbae, but our understanding is that it is a shared table experience (which would have also been fine with us, we are not antisocial. Lol). We enjoyed the trivia games, the arcade, and the couple of small venue shows we saw. The cruise really is whatever you want it to be. We had a lovely time together. We visited Key West, just walked around awhile and then did the Jet Ski tour around the island. Finished the port visit by sharing a slice of Key Lime pie. In Bimini my husband did the Scuba excursion and then met up with me on the beach. We loved it so much we booked 2 future cruises while on board because we knew we wanted to come back and they offered a pretty good incentive.

Jodi Grundig

We found that it was really what you make of it - you could definitely spend more relaxing time if you'd like.

Monday 3rd of October 2022

I'm so glad I saw this review on MSN, I first started seeing ads and info online about the new Virgin adults only cruises and have been curious ever since. I loved your info, it's very well detailed and gave me a great overview of your cruise with them. I have a few questions ... I may do a solo cruise if I can't get any of my friends to go with me, do you think this would be a good cruise for a solo cruiser? Also are all of the restaurants included in the price of the cruise? I very much appreciate your reply.

Hi Arlene, the restaurants are all included. There are some premium items on the menus that aren't but we were very happy with the standard items. It's also a great line for a solo cruiser, and there are even interior rooms perfect for a solo cruiser.

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady Deck Plans & Reviews

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Activities & entertainment

• Active Diversions
• Aquatic Club
• B-Complex Build & Balance
• B-Complex Burn & Bike
• Boxing Ring
• Fitness Classes
• Gym & Tonic Bar
• Redemption Spa *
• Sports Area
• Stubble & Groom *
• Sun Club Sanctuary
• Tattoo Parlor *
• The Roundabout Atrium
• Training Camp
• The Tune Up *
• The Crow's Nest
• The Cabanas *
• Squid Ink *
• Richard's Rooftop
• The Casino *
• Vibrant Nightlife
• The Wake - Aft-facing Surf & Turf
• The Test Kitchen - Experimental
• Extra Virgin - italian
• Gunbae - Korean BBQ
• The Galley - Market-style food hall
• Pink Agave - Mexican & Mezcal
• Sun Club Cafe - Outdoor Casual
• The Dock - Outdoor Eatery
• The Pizza Place - Pizza
• Aquatic Club Bar - Poolside Bar *
• The Athletic Club Bar - Sports Drinks *
• Razzle Dazzle - Vegetarian
• Excellent 1,878
• Very Good 485
• Average 319
• Terrible 174
• All languages ( 3,016 )
• English ( 3,005 )
• Spanish ( 11 )

Upcoming itineraries

769.300.1151

[email protected]

• May 5, 2023

Setting Sail on an Unforgettable Adventure: A Comprehensive Review of My First Virgin Voyages Cruise

Disclaimer: Even though I received a 4-day cruise at a very deep discount by Virgin Voyages to try their cruise line out, they are not sponsoring this review. Therefore, this review is completely my opinion without any say by Virgin Voyages.

I recently got to try a 4-day cruise on the adults-only Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady. We set sail from Miami with stops in Key West, Florida, and Bimini, Bahamas, as well as a day at sea. Even though I went through intensive training through Virgin Voyages (and became a gold level advisor), I had never sailed with them. So, it was nice to experience everything I had learned.

Here’s my review by these various areas:

The Virgin Voyages app is a must! This is how you’ll complete your online check-in, make dinner reservations, book shows/activities and shore things (excursions). It's also your daily happenings guide. For the most part, the app is very easy to use.

EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION

Embarkation was very simple. Complete your check-in process well in advance of your cruise via the app. When you complete the online check-in you’ll also select an embarkation time. Be sure to arrive early as our boarding group was allowed to begin 30 minutes early.

You’ll go through a check-in process where you will be given your sea bands (a wearable that gets scanned anytime you board or leave the ship, access your stateroom, or make purchases onboard at the stores or bar). After you get your wearable you will proceed through security and then put into another boarding group.

This went very quickly and smoothly. We were on board within 30 minutes of arriving at the terminal.

Disembarking wasn’t bad but was a bit confusing. There wasn’t much communication about this process other than you need to select a disembarkation time in the app. Once this process began it went fairly easy but took a little while. Just like any other cruise line, they’ll scan you off the ship and then you’ll proceed through customs.

We were in a Sea Terrace room (also known as a balcony stateroom on other cruise lines). The rooms were typical size. The air conditioning worked very well. The only negative about the room is there is no couch. The bed can be made into a couch supposedly but that’s not as convenient. Also, the bathrooms are the smallest I’ve ever been in on a cruise ship. Only one person can be in the bathroom at a time.

A fresh bottle of water is provided daily. The water tastes good without any funny taste unlike some cruise lines.

There are no towel animals or evening turndown service on Virgin Voyages. So if you are used to that when you cruise, don’t expect it with Virgin Voyages .

There are no buffets on Virgin Voyages . I am mixed about this. I do like being able to go and pick out what I want to eat but I also cannot stand to see food wasted by greedy passengers who stack their plates high with food and never eat it.

The “casual” dining area is called The Galley. This is kind of like a food court. However, you order from your table and servers will bring it to you. The food in the galley is ok but nothing to get excited about. I did have issues almost every day with service here. The servers are super nice but often would forget to bring part of my breakfast each day and after waiting I would have to remind them.

The restaurants are top notch! Not only do they have impeccable service, but the food quality is superb. My favorite was The Test Kitchen for the experience and The Pink Agave for the food. With its unique six course meal, The Test Kitchen is Michelin quality food, in my opinion.

The Wake is the hardest one to get into as it is the most popular one. So we didn’t get to try it. However, we did eat at Razzle Dazzle (vegetarian but has a secret menu with steaks), The Test Kitchen (set menu with six courses of uniquely prepared recipes), The Pink Agave (high end Mexican cuisine), and Gunbae (Korean BBQ grill).

Reservations are recommended for each of the restaurants so you do not have a wait.

Basic drinks, including soft drinks are included in your cruise fare. If you want specialty coffee or alcoholic beverages then you will need to pay for those.

You can opt to do a “bar tab” that has a special bonus if you pre-purchase (ask me about it when you book your cruise). The beauty of Virgin Voyages’s bar tab is that you can link your cabin mates to it and share with them. So not everyone in your travel party has to have a “drink package” to use. If you don’t consume much alcohol then it's probably not worth getting a bar tab and instead simply purchase your drinks individually. They are very reasonably priced and often cheaper than what you would spend at many restaurants back at home.

For this to be an adults-only cruise, I was a bit disappointed by the size of the pools. They have one small pool and one larger pool. These are the happening places, especially on sea days. There isn’t much seating and it gets taken quickly by those saving seats for others.

Virgin Voyages is a “come as you are '' sailing. So shorts, collared shirts, jeans, slacks, sun dresses, etc. are perfectly fine for dining. No formal attire is needed.

Rember, Virgin Voyages is an adults-only (18+) cruise line. So, NO KIDS!! Does that make you want to book a cruise today?

BIMINI BEACH CLUB

I was somewhat disappointed over Virgin’s beach club at Bimini, Bahamas. The beach was clean and pretty but you must be off the ship early to get a good seat unless you reserved (for a hefty fee) one of the cabanas.

They do not start serving lunch until around noon. Beyond that there is nothing to eat at the club. So, you must take snacks from the ship with you if you want to eat before lunch is served. I found this to be disappointing since they start serving drinks at 10:30 a.m. Sometimes you want a snack with your beverage, am I right?

The lunch offering was pretty tasty and is included in your cruise fare.

Nobody comes to the seating area to take drink orders or even collect your drinkware. I found that interesting as they could have probably made more money by doing this.

The worst part about the beach club is they allow smoking pretty much anywhere except the bar area. So while we were trying to enjoy our time lounging we had people smoking around us. This is horrible. We wanted to enjoy our day but were exposed to cigar and cigarette smoke. Virgin should allow smoking only in a designated area away from the general crowd.

The next time I sail with Virgin, I would probably just opt to just spend the day at the pool on the ship instead of getting off and going to the beach club.

There is no cruise director. So, unless you keep up with what’s happening on the ship via the app you do miss a good bit of opportunity for activities, games, and shows.

I do like that they have an area where they have all sorts of board games, air hockey, etc. This is a great place to hang out and socialize with your group or with someone you met onboard. You can get popcorn, hot dogs, pretzels and candy here to snack on while enjoying social time.

The Dual Reality show is a must-see! I equate this show similar to Cirque du Soleil. You will definitely be entertained and energized. Be sure to book a reservation for this in the app.

Even though you are supposed to “book” a slot for the various activities/games on board the ship, nobody ever checked that. So, just be prepared that the activity could be full when it's your time to show up. Therefore, get to your activity early.

There are several shops on board. Most are high-end items. However, there’s one that sells Virgin Voyages souvenirs and also a sundry shop. The duty free liquor store was very reasonably priced.

SHIP SIZE If you aren’t a fan of the mega ships, then Virgin Voyages’s ships are probably just what you are looking for. With an approximate capacity of 2,800 passengers and 1,200 crew, these ships are very easy to get around which makes it ideal for those who prefer smaller ships.

CLEANLINESS

While not as clean as a Disney cruise ship, I felt Virgin Voyages did a really good job to keep the ship clean, especially compared to other cruise lines I have sailed on.

While we did not use the fitness facilities, spa, or casino, those are available and are really nice. Be sure to reserve those complimentary fitness classes early!

All-in-all, while I was critical of a few things regarding my cruise, I would not hesitate to go again or sell the cruise line to my clients. I think it certainly has a good fit for the right clients and overall a really good value for what’s included.

So, if you are interested in learning more about Virgin Voyages , please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested in booking a Virgin Voyages cruise, you have two easy options:

Contact me and let me help you get everything booked.

Use my affiliate link and book yourself but I get listed as the agent of record which allows me to assist you with your booking.

Bon voyage!

Recent Posts

15 Things NOT to Forget to Pack for a Cruise

8 Reasons Why Travelers Won’t Consider Ocean Cruises

Cruise The Virgin Voyages Way

Comentários

Virgin Voyages Review: The Scarlet Lady Dominican Daze

• Meet Adriana
• Privacy Policy
• Let’s Collaborate
• Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

Chateau Elan Winery and Resort Review

Hilton Cancun – An All-Inclusive Resort Review

My Honest Take On The HydraFacial

Travel Outfits For Women

Courtyard Marriott Gatlinburg

Virgin Voyages is a new cruise line that offers adults-only, all-inclusive, and luxurious voyages. The Scarlet Lady is one of the two ships operating in the Virgin Voyages fleet.

In this post, the scarlet lady.

In the fall of 2021, the Scarlet Lady started its sailing regularly, providing guests with unique amenities such as the first-ever tattoo parlor at sea, various inclusive dining options, complimentary exercise classes, a spa, and more! I had the opportunity to sail on the Dominican Daze voyage on the Scarlet Lady, and here is my honest review of Virgin Voyages .

The Scarlet Lady sails around the Caribbean and Mexico from Port Miami. This ship can accommodate over 2,770 passengers and 1,160 crew. The vessel has 1,408 passenger cabins, including 78 suites, 1,030 balcony cabins, 95 window cabins, and 105 inside cabins.

The Scarlet Lady cruise ship offers a variety of features and amenities for its passengers, including 20 dining options, a variety of bars and lounges, a spa and fitness center, a casino, and nightly entertainment.

The Scarlet Lady cruise ship provides a trendy and exclusive adults-only experience.

THE DOMINICAN DAZE VOYAGE

The Dominican Daze cruise on the Scarlet Lady is a 5-night Caribbean itinerary that leaves from Miami , Florida, with a stop in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and includes a full day at the exclusive Beach Club in Bimini, Bahamas .

EMBARKATION 

Embarkation was a breeze. I was given Rockstar Status , which provides the following:

• VIP entrance with priority boarding.
• Exclusive access to Richard’s Rooftop – a members-only sundeck
• Early booking and priority access to spa treatments
• Early booking to eateries on board
• Early booking for events onboard
• Early booking for offshore experiences
• Exclusive access 24/7 to the team of RockStar Agents

The ship creates an ambiance right from the moment you step on board. Virgin has its aesthetic, and if I had to compare Virgin Voyages to a hotel, I would compare it to a W Hotel. It has a fun and hip vibe to its ship. 

THE SEA CABINS

On the Scarlet Lady, there are three primary types of cabins and a variety of suites: Insider (interior, without a window), Sea View (with a window that has a porthole), and Sea Terrace (featuring a balcony and a rope hammock).

I had a Sea Terrace Room on the 13th Deck. The Sea Terrace cabins on the Scarlet Lady offer guests a balcony with a rope hammock and a convertible bed that can be turned into a full-sized bed. Except everything you would get in a luxury hotel in your cabin except way smaller.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT MY SEA TERRACE CABIN

• The Sea Terrace room featured a balcony with a rope hammock, which provides a comfortable and relaxing space to enjoy the ocean view.
• The room was extremely clean when we arrived! 
• The modular converting bed is a unique feature that allows for more space during the day and a comfortable sleeping arrangement at night.
• The room was controlled with an iPad-like device, which I thought was pretty cool.

While the sea terrace cabin on the Scarlet Lady may offer stunning ocean views, there are some negatives to consider. One downside is that these cabins have small bathrooms and lack storage space. Additionally, the sea terrace cabins may be smaller and more compact than other cabin options on the ship, which could be a drawback for those who prefer more space. Keep in mind, you are meant to spend time on the ship versus being in your room, and I was barely in my room unless it was bedtime.

IS THE SCARLET LADY ALL-INCLUSIVE?

All tips are included in the fare. All dining venues are complimentary, with chef-curated experiences at 20+ eateries. Passengers can also enjoy free Wi-Fi and unlimited group fitness classes.

WHAT IS A BAR TAB ON VIRGIN VOYAGES?

Alcohol is NOT included. You will need to set up a bar tab on the app. Virgin Voyages offers a prepaid bar tab for passengers to use on board. The Bar Tab is onboard credit that can be used on board or at The Beach Club in Bimini for any beverage not included in the voyage fare, like alcohol, premium coffee drinks, and more!

Passengers can pre-purchase their $300 Bar Tab on the Virgin Voyages app. By pre-purchasing the $300 Bar Tab, passengers will receive an extra $50 bonus to spend at any bar on board or The Beach Club at Bimini. This must be done 24 hours prior to sailing. The Bar Tab is the only option for purchasing drinks that are not included in the voyage fare.

RESTAURANTS ON THE SCARLET LADY

If you follow me on TikTok , this was the most talked about in my daily videos highlighting my trip – the food. For me, the food was the only negative thing about my cruise.

You will be emailed a month before (if you are Rockstar Status) to book your dining reservations. Be sure to do this immediately. I waited a week after being notified, and our dinners were at 9 pm. Reservations fill up quickly!

The Scarlet Lady cruise fare covers all dining options; no central main dining room exists. Instead of the typical buffet or main dining hall, the Scarlet Lady offers a variety of distinctive restaurants, bars, lounges, and quick-service dining options.

The Galley on the Scarlet Lady is designed to resemble modern food halls or marketplaces found in many cities. The Galley offers a variety of casual meal options throughout the day, with a unique layout that features a mix of counters and food stations instead of traditional islands or rows. You can access menus through QR codes here, but orders are taken in person. Guests can help themselves to drinks; brand sodas are included in the fare. The options were okay – but when you are on a cruise for a week, the options become limited. Our orders take a long time to arrive after placing them, so be patient.

Pink Agave – This is their upscale Mexican restaurant. The drinks here were amazing, and the food was good. Don’t expect tex-mex style food. Instead, you will have authentic style Mexican food. Again, menu options are limited, but remember that you can order as much food as you’d like, as it is all included. All plates are about medium-sized but are meant to be shared. This was one of my favorites on the ship compared to the others.

Razzle Dazzle:  This restaurant on the Scarlet Lady cruise ship offers a vegetarian-forward menu with a mix of plant-based and meaty options. The food was okay, but the desserts were amazing!

Extra Virgin:  This is the Italian restaurant aboard the Scarlet Lady. They have fresh pasta dishes here. I had a pasta and shrimp dish and I was not much of a fan. I found that the food lacked flavor.

The Dock House – Tucked away in the back of the boat on Deck 7 – this eatery is designed with a nautical theme and offers a variety of specialty cocktails and small plates. I tried their grilled shrimp and chicken skewers here, and again, I needed more flavor. The food took over 25 minutes to come out, which I though was very long considering that these were small plates. However, they have delicious healthy juices to choose from, which was nice.

The Pizza Place:  You could not go wrong with The Pizza Place. Your pizza is made to order, and you can customize your pizza. I ate more pizza on my trip than anything because I was quite disappointed with the food on the ship. However, the pizza was very delicious.

A Weekend in Bryson City, North Carolina Travel Guide

The Wake – The Wake is a steak and seafood restaurant on the Scarlet Lady. It is the largest restaurant on board, showing beautiful views of the ship’s wake. The restaurant offers a refined dining experience with a menu that includes premium cuts of beef, fresh seafood, and an extensive wine list. The food was good here. I liked that they had a variety of dishes to choose from. 

There are other restaurants like Gunbae , a Korean Restaurant with flameless grills for you to cook your food, and the Test Kitchen , where you get to experiment with different flavors.

Overall, the food did not meet my expectations. I’ve spoken to many people, and the food reviews were mixed. Some loved it, and some did not so much. 

VIRGIN VOYAGES ACTIVITIES, ENTERTAINMENT & AMENITIES

The Scarlet Lady offers a variety of unique and exciting activities, immersive theater performances, and parties. The ship also features a casino, a spa, and a variety of bars and lounges. Passengers can also enjoy various outdoor activities, such as a jogging track and a basketball court. The entertainment on board is designed to be immersive and interactive.

The shows get booked up rather fast, and because of this, I was unable to check any of them out. This is why I can’t stress enough to get on the ship as early as you can and start booking your shows and spa treatments immediately; otherwise, you will miss out as I did.

Be sure to participate in the sail-off party, where you receive complimentary champagne, a pajama party where you get cookies and milk, and dress up in all red for the infamous Scarlet Night. I had a great time at these events! 

There are two pools on the Scarlet Lady. The main pool is very small for the number of people on this ship. This is a pool you get in to cool off, and that’s it. It gets very crowded, as you can see here. 

They also have a second pool, but I was told it was more like a jacuzzi. Either way, both pools could only hold a few people on this ship.

Thermal Suite on Scarlet Lady

The Scarlet Lady features a thermal spa, a relaxation and wellness area that includes a variety of hot and cold experiences to soothe and rejuvenate passengers. The thermal spa on the Scarlet Lady is called Redemption Spa , designed to be a calming oasis for passengers to unwind and relax. 

The spa features a mud room, a salt room, cold plunge pools, saunas, and steam rooms. Passengers can purchase a day pass or a voyage-long pass to access the thermal spa. I highly recommend visiting the Thermal Suite.

SERVICE AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Scarlet Lady Dominican Daze Cruise with Virgin Voyages service was exceptional. The staff was friendly, attentive, and always willing to go above and beyond to ensure a great experience for everyone on board. Every aspect of the service was top-notch, from the restaurants to the bars to the spa. I was particularly impressed by the attention to detail and the personalized touches throughout the cruise. It was clear that the staff truly cared about making my trip unforgettable.

What impressed me was Virgin Voyages ‘ commitment to sustainability . They’ve eliminated single-use plastics and use sustainable materials in their decor. They take their responsibility to the environment seriously, which sets them apart.

WOULD I GO ON A ANOTHER VIRGIN VOYAGE CRUISE?

Final thoughts , would  i recommend virgin voyages.

@adrianalately

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

© 2023 Adriana Lately LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages |

Find a Cruise on Virgin Voyages

with a cruise advisor

Cruising with Virgin

The brainchild of British entrepreneur Richard Branson, Virgin Voyages is a hip, adults-only cruise line that aims to be a bit different from the other options on the cruising market. And according to recent cruisers, it succeeds; many rave that a Virgin Voyages sailing is unlike any cruise experience they've had before (in a good way). Virgin Voyages' ships stand out with their superyacht-inspired atmosphere, upscale dining outlets, free Wi-Fi access, design-forward staterooms and wellness activities. There are four ships in the fleet (the newest ship debuts in 2024):  Scarlet Lady ,  Valiant Lady , Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady (scheduled to debut in 2024). The line sails to a variety of destinations around the globe, including popular spots in the Caribbean, Europe and the South Pacific. Virgin's ships have departed from ports in  Miami ;  San Juan, Puerto Rico ;  Barcelona , Spain;  Athens, Greece ;  Dubai, United Arab Emirates ;  Singapore ;  Melbourne, Australia ; and  Auckland, New Zealand  so far, and Virgin continues to switch up itineraries to sail from destinations around the world. Itineraries typically last anywhere from two to 15 nights.

Cruisers can enjoy numerous amenities on Virgin's ships, including swanky pools with plenty of lounge seating, group workout classes, unique evening performances and more. Meanwhile, foodies will appreciate the ships' 20-plus dining venues and specialty bars, and the fact that sodas, drip coffee and other "essential drinks" are included in the cruise fare. Shore excursion options (called “Shore Things” by the cruise line) range from snorkeling and exploring Mayan ruins in Mexico to cultural tours and beach club relaxation in the  Bahamas  to scenic bike rides and food tastings in  Corfu, Greece . Keep in mind that Virgin Voyages excursions are subject to change based on the time of year, weather, availability and more.

U.S. News Insider Tip:  One detail to note about Virgin Voyages is the line’s four ships are nearly identical and feature the same layout. This means you can focus on finding a cruise with the dates and itinerary you want without having to compare ships or unique amenities. –  Holly Johnson, Contributor

Pros & Cons

Adults-only cruise line with brand-new ships

Focus on food, wellness and technology (including free Wi-Fi)

Unique evening entertainment options

High-tech features may not appeal to traditional cruisers

New line means there are fewer ships to choose from

No traditional buffets on board

• Expert Rating » 4.5
• Traveler Rating » 4.3
• Health Rating » 4.5

Virgin Voyages has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

• # 1 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money
• # 3 in Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean
• # 6 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples

Explore Photos

Virgin Voyages Ships

Resilient Lady

Scarlet Lady

Valiant Lady

Before You Book

• Note: To see Virgin Voyages' flexible deposit, cancellation and rebooking policies, visit its website .
• Virgin Voyages requires a deposit of 20% of the cruise fare to confirm a booking. A reservation can be held for 24 hours without a deposit up to 45 days prior to sailing; bookings made within 44 days of the sailing (or less) require full payment at the time of booking.
• Final payment is due 120 days before the trip departure date.
• The cancellation policy varies depending on when you decide to cancel your cruise and how much of it you've paid. Depending on the timing, you may be eligible for a full refund of the deposit and any payments, a refund of any payments (but not the deposit) or a future cruise credit. If you cancel 44 days or less before your cruise, you are not eligible for any refund or credit. For more information, see the Cancellation Policies section on the Virgin Voyages terms and conditions page .
• The cruise line allows only adults ages 18 or older on its cruises.
• If you are pregnant, you must be less than 24 weeks by the end of the sailing to book a trip with Virgin Voyages.
• At the time of booking, guests are asked to notify the cruise line of any special requirements or accommodation needed, including wheelchair access and service animal requests. Cruisers requiring a service animal must notify the cruise line no later than 21 days prior to departure. You also can call Virgin Voyages directly at 1-954-488-2955 to request assistance with these matters.

Before You Board

• Cruisers will need a current passport that's valid for six months past the end of the voyage date.
• Check-in for Virgin Voyages cruises takes place entirely on the line's mobile app. This means you don’t have to print cruise tickets or bring other printed documentation along.
• Boarding is typically around 2 p.m. and disembarkation times vary by cruise. Virgin Voyages instructs travelers to refer to their booking confirmation for additional information on timing and notes the departure time listed means the exact time the ship leaves the dock, so cruisers should plan accordingly to arrive well in advance.
• There are no specific luggage restrictions, but Virgin recommends limiting the number of bags you bring on board. If you are arriving at your departure destination by plane, be sure to consult airline luggage policies before your trip.
• Cruisers can book shore excursions – which Virgin calls "Shore Things" – in the Sailor App at least 120 days prior to sailing. Travelers booked in RockStar Quarters will be able to book shore excursions 135 days ahead of sailing. Payment is due at the time of booking.
• Passengers can secure dining reservations and entertainment starting 45 days before departure through the Sailor App or via a travel agent. Those booked in higher-level accommodations (Mega RockStar and RockStar Quarters) receive early access to reservations: 60 days prior to departure. Reservations for spa and wellness experiences can only be made on board.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

Celebrity Cruises

MSC Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Is Virgin Voyages the cruise for cruise haters?

--> BY Quentin Long

Last updated . 15 November 2019

A cruise for adults with a tattoo parlour onboard are just two of the differences that Virgin Voyages is betting will attract a different cruiser. Quentin Long sat down with two of the people responsible for bringing this vision to life to find out just how different Virgin Voyages will be.

The human headline, Sir Richard Branson, has just necked Moët from a bottle to a cheering and adoring crowd of Australian travel agents and media. In about 30 minutes he will be dancing on the bar.

This is how Virgin Voyages tells the Australian travel industry it is open for business – and it doesn’t even have a ship yet. Virgin will take delivery of the first of four new ships, the Scarlet Lady, on Valentine’s Day 2020.

Any product that is badged Virgin comes with hype and high expectations thanks to the 70-year-old founder’s zest for the risqué and racy, and Virgin Voyages is staking its future on its ability to differentiate true to the Virgin brand.

Virgin Voyages CCO Nirmal Saverimuttu tells me he thinks he may just have cracked the code to open cruising up to a new market.

The Scarlet Lady

“There is a whole group of people we spoke to when we did our research that said ‘in my everyday life I am at boutique hotels, at cool restaurants and bars, places with high-end design and I would love it if you could marry that with a cruise’.”

The real secret ingredient, according to Saverimuttu, is that it’s adults only. “As we did more and more research we saw significant preference and rate premium from people who wanted an adults-only product.”

How does this translate onboard?

The inspiration behind the onboard experience is – ironically – based on terra firma, Shane Riley, assistant vice president of international sales, tells me as more glasses of Moët are delivered to our table.

Inside the Razzle Dazzle red bar

“We have taken what happens in the best cities in the world and curated that into an experience that will allow people to live their life onboard as they do there.”

Which could explain why Squid Ink, the tattoo parlour onboard, was included in the mix.

As with any brave reimagining of a product, the language of the established industry has been discarded to make a statement: guests are ‘sailors’, entertainment is referred to as ‘events and gigs’ and the service ethos is described as ‘rock star’, as in you will be treated like one.

A sure-fire rock star favourite will be the Shake for Champagne on-demand service. Sailors can get a fresh bottle of Moët delivered to them within minutes if they open the Virgin Voyages Sailor app and shake it.

The Wake is one of the most upmarket places onboard

But that’s not the most ‘Virgin’ of talking points – the ice-cream parlour is called Lick Me Till Ice Cream and the dining table in the RockStar suite comes with a set of stairs for rockers to get on the tabletop more easily for some grooving.

With 20-plus eateries, the volume of places to eat is on par with most cruise ships, although the lack of buffet could be considered different.

Razzle Dazzle is a vegetarian restaurant where one can be ‘naughty’ and add some animal protein and is probably the most off-the-cruise-script outlet. ’50s steak, seafood and martini-styled The Wake is one of the most upmarket places onboard.

Razzle Dazzle is the onboard vegetarian restaurant

The cabins are said to be roomier than a standard ship’s cabin thanks to the innovative German design of the Seabed. Virgin is claiming the first of its kind at sea with a bed and lounge that can be rearranged to make space to entertain people in your cabin.

The renderings show a very sleek sop modern design. It could be compared to the Celebrity Cruise aesthetic.

The RockStar suites are so on brand – a hot tub on the huge balcony, an outdoor shower, the previously mentioned table with stairs and guitars.

Rooms feature a bed and lounge that can be rearranged to entertain

A new show by infamous producer and playwright Randy Wiener (founder of NYC’s out-there ‘theatre of varieties’ The Box) has been commissioned along with circus acts and micro pop-up plays.

At Voyage Vinyl a collection of old classic vinyl can be found and purchased. But it is the on board karaoke at The Groupie that will probably be the scene of many a crimes against music.

The launch itineraries are decidedly old world cruise – the Caribbean, but with a stop at the exclusive, for Virgin Voyages Sailors, The Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas.

With the launch of the inaugural sailing of Lady Scarlet still months away, we’ll have to wait to see whether Virgin Voyages can deliver on its promise.

But Saverimuttu is confident. “I think people will love everything we have come up with… because everyone deserves to be treated like a rock star once in their lives, right?”

Virgin Voyages Details

Scarlet Lady sets sail in April 2020

You might also like

How to pack for a cruise: a checklist

Packing for a cruise may seem like an easy task in theory, but the reality presents more challenges than you might expect. Here is how to make it smoo...

Why the ultimate way for women to travel is solo

The only way I've ever travelled is solo, so the concept of solo female travel has never seemed unusual to me. In fact, it has always appealed as the ...

9 weird and wonderful laundromats from around the world

Airing their dirty laundry – you won’t believe these latest tourist attractions Just when you thought you’d seen it all, there’s a new type o...

My first Virgin Voyages cruise impressed me so much, I decided on day one to stay onboard for back-to-back sailings. Here are 14 things I loved.

• I went on a 5-night Virgin Voyages cruise and loved it so much, I booked an immediate second trip.
• I paid $2,711 for my first cruise, and $880 to stay on for the second through an onboard promotion.
• For the back-to-back trips, I didn't have to change rooms and experienced two different itineraries.

I'm a seasoned cruiser who recently sailed on the adults-only Virgin Voyages for the first time. I enjoyed my trip on the Scarlet Lady ship so much, I booked a back-to-back second sailing and stayed onboard.

I'm a seasoned cruiser and estimate I've spent more than 100 weeks at sea . During that time, I've sailed on lines like Carnival , Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian .

But this past summer, I tried the adults-only Virgin Voyages for the first time and boarded the Scarlet Lady for a five-night sailing to the Dominican Republic and Bahamas from Miami.

I paid $2,711, inclusive of taxes and port fees, for the cruise. I wasn't sure what to expect going into the trip on a line that was unfamiliar to me, but midway through, I knew I was a fan.

So much so, that I took advantage of an onboard promotion to stay on Scarlet Lady and make my trip nine nights with a second, back-to-back sailing to additional destinations in the Caribbean.

I didn't have to change rooms, got to experience three different places, and left feeling very impressed.

I didn't intend to book two back-to-back sailings, but I'm glad I did. I got to experience different ports of call, and go back to my favorite.

My first five-night "Dominican Daze" itinerary left from Miami and included full day visits to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Bimini, Bahamas, where the cruise line operated their own private beach club.

The swanky vibe of the latter was a big draw for me, and part of what initially attracted me to book with Virgin Voyages. My sailing also included two sea days, which were ideal for exploring the ship and enjoying sunny days by the pool. 

My second itinerary, which the cruise line called "Fire & Sunset Soirées," would stop in Key West, Florida, and return to Bimini and its beach club, which was a major reason I wanted to stay onboard.

During my sailings, I swam in the pools, sampled nine specialty eateries, and never felt overcrowded even though Scarlet Lady is only slightly above what Cruise Critic considers a mid-size ship . It can accommodate up to 2,770 passengers who are ages 18 and over, and 86% of guest cabins have a balcony .

Here's a closer look at each sailing, what my experience was like, and what convinced me to stay onboard Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady longer. 

I set sail from Miami in a balcony cabin on deck eight of Scarlet Lady that impressed me right away.

On Scarlet Lady, I booked an XL Sea Terrace balcony cabin , and the price included gratuities, Wi-Fi, beverages like soda, and specialty dining.

I thought this was a good value given all the inclusions, most of which were things I typically pay extra for on other cruise lines.

My 265-square-foot cabin came with a large balcony to enjoy ocean views, and as a solo traveler, I felt like my stateroom had a generous layout with dedicated spaces for sleeping, lounging, working, and storing my belongings comfortably.

All specialty dining on Virgin Voyages is included in the base cruise fare and I loved the different approach to each venue, from menu selections to overall ambiance.

Based on my past cruising experiences, I have come to anticipate a few things when it comes to dining on cruises. 

Typically, that includes a buffet, a main dining room, and handful of other eateries where very few à la carte   venues are included in the base cruise fare, and often come with an extra upcharge.

Virgin Voyages tossed that tradition out in favor of all-you-can-eat anywhere and everywhere. Scarlet Lady has 20 different restaurants, none of which came with a surcharge.

Dining options ranged from steak and seafood at The Wake to Korean barbeque at Gunbae,  tasty Mexican dishes at Pink Agave, and more.

As I sampled each restaurant, I kept double checking that I didn't really have to pay extra. I thought it was incredible that everything was included.

I also appreciated that snacks and treats were included, too, like the ice cream shop.

I was genuinely surprised by some of the handcrafted treats I found onboard Scarlet Lady.

One was homemade ice cream at the Lick Me Till Ice Cream treat shop which has no charge, just like the other Scarlet Lady food options. 

I thought their selections were impressive with traditional flavors supplemented by gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options.

My favorite flavor was Brown Butter Financier, that tasted like an elevated vanilla.

The shop was open daily and flavor options changed throughout my sailing so I could try something different each visit. 

Virgin Voyages offers a choice of purchasing an alcohol package at the start of the sailing, or à la carte.

Like meals, basic drinks like sodas and drip coffee, were included in the cruise rate.

But alcohol did come with an extra charge, like every other cruise I've taken.

Unlike traditional cruise drink packages, though, Virgin Voyages instead offers the option of either purchasing a pre-paid bar tab, which can be shared among friends, or going à la carte – and paying for each beverage as it's purchased, which is what I did. 

Since I'm not much of a drinker, I knew the second option was a better value for me, as I would likely only have one or two on my entire sailing. During my cruise, I noticed beer starts at just $5, while cocktails averaged between $10-15.

On the first day of the trip, I was thrilled to see no reservations were required for the extra-large pool loungers or poolside daybeds, and I never saw these used to capacity.

My favorite way to spend sea days on Scarlet Lady was lounging by the pool.

Too often, I find that pool decks on cruise ships are overcrowded , yet this was not my experience during either of my sailings. I noticed loungers and seating for well over 100 people, yet I never saw poolside seating used to capacity. There were also two pools on Scarlet Lady. The main pool, pictured here, and a wellness pool, both on Deck 15.

But my favorite pool perk were the large daybeds, also provided free of charge. I thought they large enough to be suitable for couples or groups of friends, and indulgent for one person at a time, like me.

I never had to wait to find a seat and loved that all of the lounger options by the pool were free with no reservation required. 

I found the wellness pool to be particularly appealing at night because the water was so warm.

While the main pool was my choice by day, the wellness pool was my go-to at night.

On past cruises, I've found that cruise ship pools often close by midnight. Yet one of the things that surprised me about Virgin Voyages is that they keep their pools open even later. 

Once a crew member told me the pools stay open until around 3 a.m., I knew every night I would end my day by taking a post-midnight dip. And I chose the wellness pool for it, as it was heated to what felt like body temperature.

There was rarely anyone else using the pool after midnight, and I loved feeling like I had this amenity all to myself.

I was such a fan of these late-night swims, it became a major reason why I started thinking about extending my vacation with a second sailing.

My first night onboard hadn't even concluded when I knew I wanted to book another voyage immediately. Thankfully, I found an enticing promotion.

During my first evening onboard Scarlet Lady, I came upon the future cruise bookings desk.

Their promotional signage caught my eye, and I started seriously considering booking a second sailing.

There were several deals available, but the sales rep told me about a "solo sailor deal" offering steep discounts, devoid of single supplement fees often charged by other cruise lines. That's when a cruise line charges a solo traveler the same price for their cabin as for two people, as it helps the cruise line make up for the revenue that would have come from having a second person onboard, according to the LA Times .  

The deal meant I only would pay $880 to stay on for an immediate second cruise, adding a four-night trip to Key West, Florida, and back to Bimini. I could even stay in the same cabin.

Based on my first day on Scarlet Lady, I knew I wanted to do it. I had already sampled delicious food, enjoyed the pool day and night, and appreciated that everything was included in the cruise fare. 

I booked and paid in full right on the spot.

With my vacation transformed into a nine-night sailing, I felt even more relaxed and ready to explore the ship. 

On sea days, I used cute cabanas by the pool that have no extra cost.

Waking up the next day, I felt extra relaxed on my first day at sea, knowing I now had more than a week to enjoy Scarlet Lady.

It was a perfectly sunny day, so I spent quality time at both the main pool and the wellness pool, and was surprised to find free-to-use cabanas overlooking the pool deck.

Like the daybeds, these were available first-come, first-serve but with so many available, it seemed to me like anyone who wanted to lounge in the playful, red-striped cabanas could easily do so. 

There were also many quiet zones to chill out with an ocean view.

Everywhere I turned on the ship, I found quiet, serene spaces for lounging or reading with an ocean view as the backdrop.

One of my favorite spaces was on deck seven, pictured here, where The Dock Outdoor Restaurant & Bar Lounge had seating, loungers, and daybeds that could be used freely throughout the day.

The entire promenade deck also had quiet seating and lounging options, ensuring a leisurely sea day before the first port visit.

My first port of call was Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. I found it easy to navigate thanks to helpful maps I saw around the port plaza.

I've been to Puerto Plata before, but I appreciated the reminder of all there was to do immediately at the port, including access to a bar's resort pool.

At the port, I saw plenty of shops, eateries, Duty Free, and excursion desks for those who want to join a formal tour. 

Since the ship was in port all day, and I was familiar with Puerto Plata, I opted for a 15-minute walk to downtown so I could visit my favorite cafes in town that I've visited before.

My next port of call was Bimini, Bahamas. Here, Virgin Voyages operates to a sophisticated beach club for cruise guests with enormous pools.

Before even booking my first Scarlet Lady sailing, I knew I wanted to cruise with Virgin Voyages because of their massive beach resort on the island of Bimini in the Bahamas.

In the cruise line's promotions, I was enticed by images of inviting pools and a large sandy beach, all included in the Virgin Voyages cruise fare. 

Once I arrived at the beach club, I was even more impressed. I noticed sleek poolside seating, an abundance of palm trees for shade, and soft sand just steps from the resort pools.

There were loungers around each pool, and the beach also provided chairs and loungers. Anyone who wanted a seat could find one, and at no extra charge. 

I also thought the beach at the club was picturesque, and great for taking a dip in the cool blue water.

I thought the overall vibe at the beach club was chill, with people simply relaxing in the sun.

I loved the soft sand on the beach and how calm the water was. I thought it was ideal for enjoying a cool dip on a hot sunny day.

I noticed other guests swimming, playing catch in the waves, and sunning on loungers. It was an amazing day simply relaxing at the beach, and I felt extra lucky to have booked a second voyage so I would have another chance to visit to this beachside escape.

Later, when most other passengers disembarked, a handful of guests including myself instead went to a quick check-in for the back-to-back sailing.

On the last day of my first cruise, just about every passenger disembarked as usual.

Only a handful of guests were booked on a back-to-back sailing like me, and the small group of us waited in a common space to be checked out of the first cruise, then quickly checked back in for the second sailing.

We met crew in a central lounge area, and once we completed the brief check-in process, we were able to enjoy the rest of the day as we pleased.

I could have explored off-ship in Miami for the afternoon if desired, but I preferred to continue lazing about by the pool.  

In between sailings, I thought the ship was extra quiet until afternoon on the second sailing's embarkation day.

Since I was able to stay in my same cabin, I didn't need to pack and unpack again, and had lots of time for sunning at the pool, taking a nap, and exploring the ship even more.

I thought it was neat to see the ship empty out and feel like I had most of it to myself. I explored a variety of lounge spaces where no guests were to be found as the crew prepared the ship for the next sailing. 

The extra time onboard also gave me an opportunity to sample more eateries and enjoy my favorites a second time.

Now that my cruise vacation was nine days long, I had even more time to explore additional restaurants during the second itinerary.

I made a repeat visit to Pink Agave for elevated Mexican street food like chicken enchiladas, grilled corn, and house made guacamole. 

My second sailing also added variety to my port visits. In Key West, we docked right downtown at Mallory Square, so it was easy to walk to attractions on my own.

Waking up in downtown Key West was a dream. When I disembarked the ship, I found I was already in the center of things and it was just a short walk to local cafes and attractions.

I've visited Key West many times, but I always welcome another visit, and having a port visit was ideal for exploring on foot and not having to pay expensive hotel prices, had I flown in for a vacation.

The ship docked in Key West for about 10 hours, so I had more than enough time to wander around and explore. I strolled through the historic district, visited the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, and even found funky art of the writer throughout town.

On my second voyage, I was so happy to return to the beach club in Bimini.

On my second visit to the beach club, I went straight to my favorite spots at the pools and enjoyed another blissful day in the sun.

As relaxing as my first visit was, the second time back was even better as I knew my way around. I felt like I could just kick back and enjoy my last port day knowing I made the most of my cruising experience. 

After two back-to-back sailings, I can't wait to cruise on Virgin Voyages again. Next time I'll be hitching a ride on their other ship, Valiant Lady.

When I first booked with Virgin Voyages, I wasn't sure what to expect on an adults-only cruise.

But my first impression was so strong, as I loved the relaxed vibe onboard and all the great food that was included in the cruise fare. I thought it was amazing to be able to book an immediate second sailing at such a reduced rate, and I'm so glad I spent the extra time on Scarlet Lady. 

That extra time gave me more days to dine around the ship and spend time poolside.

Plus, with everything I needed included in the cruise fare, I feel like I had excellent value on both cruises.

I cannot wait to sail with Virgin Voyages again, and while Scarlet Lady will remain a favorite of mine, next time, I plan to try out their other ship, Valiant Lady. Until then.

• Main content

Suggested companies

Msc cruises, royal caribbean cruises, celebrity cruises.

Virgin Voyages   Reviews

In the Cruise Agency category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 3.5.

Most relevant

What a poor way to treat customers

What a poor way to treat customers. We booked a cruise and paid for the ultimate experience - the massive suite. A pretty penny. We paid upfront. The sign of a good customer. We have 3 other very large holidays with the Virgin group - significant monies. Then without warning I got a 15 second voice mail 2 weeks ago telling me my sailign had been cancelled and I would be refunded. No offer of a rebooking, any chance of getting that cabin size less than 10 months away from the desired sailing. Messages sent by me, absolutely rubbish responses, 'your travel agent will refund you' - I never booked with an agent I booked directly with Virgin! No refund, no offer of a rebook, no human contact, wondering whether Virgin have totally lost the plot.

Date of experience : May 02, 2024

Great locations, bad boat experiences

While the locations were great; this is not a cruise for those individuals who would rather not see or experience overly extroverted LGTBQ+ environments. Adults only cruise. The no-drugs warning is not complied with whatsoever. If you do not like the smell of marijuana, do not for one second think the no-drugs sign prevents people from brining it on the boat, or smoking it on the beach you go to in Bimini. The room was decent, nothing extravagant. The non-square room creates an issue with getting around the bed to the balcony. If you don’t want to look at rescue boats, get a room above floor 10. The staff were great with assistance and service.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

Best cruise ever

This was my 5th cruise. It was by far the best experience I've had on a boat. Customer service exceeded expectations. Nothing was overly crowded. The food options were so incredible. Between the restaurants and the gallery there was something for everyone. The make your own salad was by far the best salad "bar" I've ever eaten. The dessert options were delicious too. So many options. I loved that it was adult only. I love children but sometimes it's nice to not have them around. The casino and shops were both nice. The tattoo shop on board was fantastic. My sister and I got matching tattoos. The terrace was nice. The hammock was a great place to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze. I loved all the options for bars. All the bartenders knew what they were doing and the drinks were reasonably priced. I can honestly say I will never go on another cruise line. Virgin won me over for life!!

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

One of the best vacations EVER

One of the best vacations EVER! The staff at Virgin are so incredible especially Karina our Rockstar agent! She was so professional and accommodating on both of our voyages (we sailed back to back April 7-17! Gabriel was great too! We are definitely planning another voyage for next year! The food was delicious, our suite was a “cheeky corner suite” with an aft balcony which I highly recommend! Zsolt at the On the Rocks bar was a fantastic server along with Dragona our housekeeper who was also top notch! Ayu at Richard’s Rooftop became our sweet friend as well! She was so attentive! We had no idea how great an all adult cruise was until we sailed Virgin- I cannot recommend this cruise line enough and even got teary eyed when we disembarked. The entertainment was great and Scarlet Night was definitely worth it! One thing I failed to do was rent a golf cart in Grand Turk which I would recommend doing in advance next time.

Date of experience : April 07, 2024

Cancelled our booked cruise, no customer service since

Cancelled our booked cruise, after emailing and emailing and finally contacting via social media... they emailed us with an offer of a replacement cruise but since then we have had nothing but radio silence (we have followed up with them multiple times) to see what our options are. Moral of the story... don't book anything with Virgin Voyages

Date of experience : March 06, 2024

Overall great first time cruise, but be aware for racism on board from other sailors

Overall, the service was pretty good, and I was impressed by the options for food choices, activities and entertainment, but I wish the crowd of people were less racist; the Extra Virgin experience threw us off for our last day. We come on vacation to have fun and relax, not to be profiled and made uncomfortable by racist guests. This is something to look into. I would also like to say a big Thank you to Maria, who I was on the phone with before I got on the ship because I was running late due to my flight being delayed. I was able to get there in the nick of time. She sent an urgent email to the terminal crew and informed them we were running late. She stayed on the phone with me and offered encouragement while I panicked about missing the cruise. It was really appreciated, and it's something I will always remember. Thank you, Maria. You were really appreciated, and you are the real MVP. I appreciate all the help. Thanks for helping me create my first cruise experience.

Sous chef on deck seven pizza pizza pizza …

I enjoyed my trip overall thank to Sous chef On deck seven great pizza best pizza I had on a cruise and the hotdogs, popcorn and chicken. I enjoyed it so I had to say something about my food experience. It would be the pizza the hotdogs and the popcorn and chicken thank you sous chef on deck seven I truly appreciate you making my experience much better and for that I’ll give them a five STAR if I had the base my ratings on any other restaurant, they would not get a five the food was not done or horrible

Most Epic Experience

I had the most amazing experience anyone could imagine. I’ve often experience car sickness as a passenger. So I prepared myself, by buying lots of medications for motion sickness. I never use any of those items, because I was just fine. It was the smoothest sail ever!!! The food was amazingly fresh, the ship was immaculately clean, the staff were awesome. The entertainment was wonderful !! I had so much fun experience, I’m exhausted talking about it. I just want to recover and plan my next voyage.

Date of experience : March 24, 2024

Pulled a scam the day after the cancellation period

One day after the full cancellation period they decided to remove an entire country from the itinerary based on their own feedback. They offered everyone on board $11 in sailor loot for the inconvenience and that's it! After getting real feedback they changed their stance within 12 hours. These people will do everything they can to ruin your vacation

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Can’t rate this cruise line highly enough.

Exceptional service. 4 and 5 star restaurants. Food was amazing. Cabin and balcony had ample amount of space and good facilities. We never struggled to find seating/loungers to relax or participate in the many activities. We will be back for sure. Pity next season for us down under has been cancelled🤨

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Sexual advances from a Crew member with no action taken..

Similar to the review posted by Michael Healy on 14th March my partner too was hit on by a staff member called Dion J***** who propositioned her for sex. Again, similarly to the other review left by Michael it was reported to VV customer services but they have done nothing at all. Absolutely appalling.

Date of experience : September 09, 2023

"Embarking on Elegance: A Rock Star's Journey Aboard Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, Where Dreams Set Sail"

Embarking on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady was like stepping into a dream where every detail was tailored to perfection. From the moment I set foot on the ship, I knew this was going to be the best cruise I've ever experienced. The Rock Star status is not just a title; it's a passport to an elevated world of luxury and exclusivity that I will always choose when cruising with Virgin Voyages. The vast array of cuisine on board was a culinary odyssey, a testament to the ship's commitment to gastronomic excellence. With over 20 eateries, each dish crafted by Michelin-starred chefs, the flavors were as diverse as they were delightful. From the sizzling Korean BBQ at Gunbae to the sophisticated ambiance of The Wake's steak and seafood, every meal was an adventure in itself. But what truly made the trip unforgettable was the concierge service provided to us Rock Stars. My assigned concierge was the epitome of professionalism and warmth, ensuring every aspect of my journey was seamless and enjoyable. Her attention to detail and genuine care for my preferences turned a great vacation into an extraordinary one. In summary, the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady isn't just a cruise; it's a celebration of style, comfort, and indulgence. With Rock Star status, the journey transcends the ordinary, offering a taste of the good life that's simply irresistible. I can't wait for my next voyage with Virgin Voyages, where I know I'll be treated to another round of impeccable service, exquisite dining, and memories to last a lifetime.

The Resilient Lady is a lovely, modern ship. The restaurants, food and staff are exceptional. I am, however, disappointed by the lack of concern over what could become quite a problem. I was bitten by something in my cabin. The bites look quite like those of a bed bug. It took 3 visits for an investigation and I never received an update from them. I was promised a call and was to have my laundry done-never happened. Another in our group was also bitten and I've since discovered another on a different floor. The manager was not interested and seemed not to want to take any precautionary measures to prevent a possible outbreak or that I may take it home. I spent a rather unpleasant 2 weeks with weeping itchy bites. Let's hope it doesn't spread.

Date of experience : March 15, 2024

Sad To Report

I’m surprised that such a nice experience can be ruined due to corporate greed. There was a $453.68 charge on my account. I called customer service and now they are refusing to honor their agreement and give me a refund. I have writing that I’m due this refund but I will need to take legal action. If you sail with them be sure to get costs writing.

unforgettable

My trip to international turf floating on international waters with friendly faces and exceptional service on VIRGIN VOYAGES was top rated and pure fun! The ships food and entertainment was very diverse and provocative and will have you wanting more. I'm really regretting I haven't sea traveled before! Now, All I can say is Cheers to VIRGIN VOYAGES for setting up an experience of a lifetime! If you are looking for a secluded great time and worry free enjoyment THIS IS IT!

I’ve been on 20 cruises with 7 cruiselines

I’ve been on 20 cruises with seven different cruise lines, if Virgin Voyages is your first ever cruise you’re really setting yourself a really high bar.! Fantastic food and restaurants, amazing that soft drinks is unlimited and included. The only thing is getting used to booking all the restaurants and shows which unfortunately we missed out on some due to high demand and overbooked. Small theatre!

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

ZERO CUSTOMER SRVICE

I have NEVER felt LESS important to a company than Virgin !! The cruise itself was ok and the service was alright. The ports were lack luster , excursions limited. The dinning availability was awful. Eating dinner at 10pm is NOT ENJOYABLE. The icing on the cake was when we were at their "private" Beach club in Bimini and due to their neglect of pathways, my toe was broken. NOT ONCE did anyone inquire if I was ok after I was in Medical and xray .We disembarked the next day and as they hurled us off for the next group of victims,I was never offered a wheelchair or help getting through disembarkation !!!! The pJ party was great. Other than that ......Terrible experience.

Date of experience : February 25, 2024

Top notch experience

Top notch experience ! From the culinary ; live events ; cocktails ; spa ; gym; pool facilities ; ports and relaxation at its best ! Can’t say enough to invite others to join the Sailors as us that have enjoyed to come aboard !

David Lewenz room 8202Z review of his experience

On a scale of one to 10 I’d give an overall reading, rating about 8.5. The free brewed coffee on a scale of one to 10 was about a five staff and I mean all the staff 10 solid and food quality and presentation 10 solid the room accommodations were very nice but tight there’s no way two people can share a cabin with a balcony comfortably Architectural interior design of the boat was also there was a phenomenal amount of planning that went into building this boat. It shows in all areas. Charging $200 for tour of the bridge and engine room is just plain stupid if it was $50 a person, I probably would’ve paid it . The workout facilities were good not as good as my gym membership at lifetime fitness but it worked and I got a good workout every day. Track was also very nice. I use room service once and paid the seven dollar delivery charge and I understand you got offset your labor cost somehow Drink package was good quality of drinks was very good. Ships entertainment live venue was OK. The two comedians were terrible but the Vil show was very funny and good the bar music, particularly the Hispanic group was excellent and the food was also

Date of experience : March 22, 2024

Lovely customer service from Nicholas

Been going back and fourth with customer service for a while over an issue. Everyone is always so lovely however, really pleased with Nicholas who I spoke to today. He is one of the supervisors and was really friendly and happy to resolve my problem as quick as possible. I really appreciate it! Thank you so much. We absolutely love Virgin Voyages. We had our first ever one last year and have since booked 4 more.

Date of experience : March 14, 2024

Virgin Cruises: Everything You Need To Know About Setting Sail

W hen it comes to big, international cruise lines, Virgin Voyages is the new kid on the block, and the company seems to like that reputation. Founded in 2014, Virgin Cruises cultivates a youthful, streamlined, come-as-you-are atmosphere. There is no dress code. No children are allowed onboard. Very little about the ship is exclusive or labeled "VIP." Best of all, their cruises are generally more affordable than for other big-name lines.

That logo probably looks familiar if you've ever spent time in a major airport or mall. "Virgin" started as a music distributor in London way back in the 1970s, and the jazzy red sign has lured passersby into Virgin Records stores for decades. The Virgin Group trademark has gradually expanded into other industries as well, including Virgin Hotels, British airline Virgin Atlantic, and even the satellite-launching Virgin Orbit. Cruise ships may have seemed like an inevitable investment, but Virgin has stayed true to its rock-and-roll roots.

Your idea of a cruise may consist of canasta glasses and shuffleboard, but these excursions aim for a hipper demographic. Virgin Voyages are an excuse for adults of all ages to chill out, get fit, eat well, and party hard — and enjoy free WiFi the whole time. Virgin Voyages even messes with the traditional cruising lingo to distance itself from other lines. The vessels are known as "Lady Ships." Passengers are "Sailors." Land-based tours are "Shore Things." Not sure what to expect on your maiden — er, Virgin — voyage? Here are some tips to get you acclimated.

Read more: 15 Reasons You Should Never Take A Cruise

Virgin Is For Adults Only

While there are many great cruise lines to book for your next family vacation , Virgin Voyages is for adults only, which means any parents are required to treat themselves and leave the kids at home. On the one hand, you won't have to watch your language or worry about tripping over toddlers in the corridors. The 18-plus age limit attracts a wide range of people, from teens traveling independently for the first time to music-loving Gen Xers to retirees looking for something a little different. That said, Virgin "Sailors" typically skew younger than passengers on other cruise lines, so you're more likely to run into groups of twenty-somethings eager to get their party on. Entertainment options can be more risqué and freewheeling than on, say, a Disney cruise.

The diverse array of bars is a huge draw for Virgin, and as with many cruises, sailors who are 18 or older are permitted to buy and consume alcoholic drinks w hile at sea . When you reach the port, the usual national laws apply, which means under-21 teetotaling in the United States. 

These Ships Are Big

As of this writing, Virgin Voyages has a fleet of three "Lady Ships," with a fourth slated for later in 2024. The design of each vessel takes inspiration from the "superyacht" craze, which generally translates as a narrower, sleeker design and bright, modernist decor. Note that these ships are pretty big, even for cruise ships, with 1,404 cabins and suites that can accommodate up to 2,762 Sailors on a single voyage. Add to that total 1,150 crew members, and you've got a pretty bustling ship.

Cruise ships can come in bigger sizes, including the largest-ever Icon of the Seas , but if you don't like crowds or are looking for something more bespoke, consider looking elsewhere. The advantage of a 110,000-ton ship is the impressive range of onboard activities, including pools, bars, restaurants, a casino, a spa, multiple fitness options, and a full bill of live entertainment, so you'll never want for something to do. 

Virgin Has Sailaways Around The Globe

Virgin Voyages has grown steadily in the past decade, and the Lady Ships now cover much of the globe, including the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and a Transatlantic passage. Most Americans will depart from Miami, as this will be the most convenient port to reach by plane, and the Virgin Voyages headquarters are also based in Plantation, Florida, so it's home turf. That said, more ambitious travelers can find sailaways in more far-flung locations, from Athens, Greece, to Sydney, Australia.

Itineraries can last from a few days to two weeks. Many Sailors may enjoy the idea of crossing the Atlantic by ship, and because the Virgin brand was originally founded in the United Kingdom, the seaside British city of Portsmouth is a popular place to start a journey, especially if you're interested in Northern Europe. Virgin Voyages left less of a footprint in Africa and South America, but the company's rapid growth and imminent fourth ship may extend its reach. Stay tuned.

Virgin Is Pretty Affordable

Virgin has earned a reputation for quality and competitive pricing. Cruise lines travel everywhere, and their pricing is also all over the map; you can find bargains that undercut the most generic airport hotel, or you can spend a literal fortune on luxury accommodations and add-ons. Virgin lies somewhere in the middle, with some passengers reporting total pricing of as little as $133 per day.

Virgin also doesn't push extravagant VIP packages on its Sailors, and with rare exceptions — such as Richard's Rooftop — most Sailors receive egalitarian treatment. Almost all dining aboard is included, so you don't have to worry about paying for individual meals. This means you have extra cash to use on Shore Things, merchandise, and other optional treats. One of the most pleasant surprises is that Virgin Voyages will calculate your gratuities into the total price, so you don't have to expect a hefty (and unexpected) bill at the end of your trip. Rest assured that all crew members receive tips. 

You're With The Band

It's standard practice for cruises to come with a scannable key card for opening doors and making purchases, but Virgin cleverly markets this item as "The Band." More than just a card or a fob, The Band has a catchy name and even catchier design, like a Space Age version of hippie bracelets. The Band can be worn in lots of different ways, though most people will probably wrap it comfortably around their wrists.

This accessory is your room key, your payment method, and your casino card, all wrapped in one. The Band's best gimmick is its Shake for Champagne delivery; you shake it rigorously, and a bottle of bubbly will be delivered to you. Virgin even has a savvy environment tie-in: The Band is fashioned from recycled plastic waste rescued from the sea. If you're not sure exactly how much six grams of plastic is, imagine cutting a water bottle in half, and that's how much litter you've repurposed.

Virgin Doesn't Have A Luggage Limit

Unlike airlines, which may weigh every bag you bring on the plane and measure your suitcase to the inch, cruise lines tend to be much more relaxed about luggage limits. Virgin is no exception: Staff won't cut you off at a precise size or weight, and all they ask is moderation. Because of Virgin's history in the music business, they even encourage you to bring musical instruments, as long as they're portable and can fit through an X-ray machine at the security checkpoint. You can even bring up to two sealed bottles of wine, though beer and spirits are not allowed.

Virgin has the usual list of restricted items, most of which are obvious, such as firearms, wet cell batteries, and Hoverboards. When packing for your next cruise vacation , note that clothing irons are not permitted, along with drones; keep this in mind if you're fantasizing about epic aerial videos of the ship easing into port.

There's A (Very Important) App

All major cruise lines have their own apps, which can expedite reservations and customize a passenger's experience without involving a crew member or an 800 number. Virgin Voyages describes its app as a kind of virtual concierge, and it becomes useful long before you board the ship. The app will walk you through your itinerary, itemizing every event and option you can expect on a given day. You can reserve your Shore Things excursions through the app, learn about the different dining options aboard, book a spa visit, or order room service. Whether you're looking for a prompt delivery of fresh towels to your cabin or a snorkeling experience four days from now, all you have to do is tap your way through the app.

Pre-brooking can be really helpful, as time can be disorienting on any ocean-bound vacation — just be sure to  check the cruise ship calendar before booking a cruise . Cleverly, the Virgin Voyages app can also be a social experience by scanning other sailors' assigned QR codes and connecting them to your account. This allows families and groups to coordinate dining and activities together.

There's A Bar Tab System

Virgin Voyages doesn't have the kind of drinks package you'll find on other cruise lines, but it does have Bar Tab, a credit system that you can pay for in advance. That credit goes by the pseudonym "Sailor Loot," and as you buy premium beverages on your Bar Tab, you earn free drinks later on. This translates to a $10 bonus when you spend $100, $25 when you spend $200, and so on. You can easily set this up on the Virgin Voyages app or through the company's hotline.

The catch is that you have to set up and purchase your Bar Tab account at least 24 hours  before  you sail. This system isn't necessary to purchase drinks onboard, but if you're the kind of traveler who likes special benefits, make sure your Bar Tab is ready to use by the time you walk up that gangplank. You're also welcome to use this system to buy drinks for other people, so groups may consider pooling their resources.

The Ships Embrace Accessibility

In a perfect world, every deck on every cruise ship would be easy to navigate, no matter how passengers get around. No ship is perfect, but Virgin Voyages seems to take a special interest in accessibility: Wheelchairs can be brought aboard or rented from a partner company, Scootaround, and each ship is outfitted with wheelchair-accessible cabins. Pool lifts help disabled swimmers in and out of the water, and all public venues have accessible seating. Sailors who are deaf or hard of hearing can request a visual alert kit and assistive listening devices in many of the ship's venues, among other useful tools. Sailors who are blind or have other vision challenges will find braille and tactile signage and can ask for a guided tour.

While regular pets aren't permitted aboard, service animals are, and leashed dogs can be brought into most public spaces and eateries. Just remember that animals aren't always permitted on land without special permission from the host country, so it's important to research each port's legal requirements.

You Can Select A Cabin Type

In short, you can pick your cabin type , and Virgin will usually assign you a specific unit. Each cabin comes with WiFi, eco-conscious construction, and 24-hour room service. Along the ship's edges, you can select from a Sea Terrace which has a balcony, or a Sea View with a porthole. Interior lodging is cleverly branded as "Insider" cabins, which have no windows at all but can accommodate up to four people. If you're quick to reserve, you may also secure a pair of connecting cabins.

Cabins are all equipped with rain showers, hair dryers, adjustable lighting, and both European and American-style electrical sockets. For travelers in a higher tax bracket, Rockstar Quarters can provide you with up to 2,147 square feet of space, and a variety of Suites may include marble bathrooms and brass highlights. These accommodations are best booked through a Virgin Voyages agent.

There's Plenty To Eat

You could argue that Virgin Voyages are like giant floating food-halls. The 20-plus dining venues are known as "eateries," and you won't find a single buffet among them. Eateries are designed to feel like sit-down restaurants, many of them casual and diner-style, others upscale and showcasing global cuisines. Some samples: Razzle Dazzle offers elevated pub food in a casual setting, Pink Agave gives the Michelin treatment to classic Mexican fare, and Gunbae (Korean for "bottoms up") serves up gourmet barbecue. Many eateries specialize in shareable plates, perfect for families or groups of friends. The eateries are also packed with plant-based and allergy-sensitive fare.

Reservations aren't required, but you can reserve a table on the Virgin Voyages app and may consider them for culinary hot spots. To make the process as painless as possible, all these eateries are free of charge, and service charges are already included, so you can walk in and out without even thinking about the check.

The Merchants Are Unique

The Virgin brand started as a record store, so it's no surprise that Virgin Voyages would corner the market on retail. This row of luxury stores is known as "High Street," a common British expression for the shopping district. The shops specialize in luxury items, such as up-market fashion, cosmetics, and, yes, music. But you can also find everyday toiletries at The Essentials, and reasonably priced bottles of wine at the onboard liquor store. Virgin merchants are known for consistent pricing, which isn't always the case on cruise ships that use flash sales to draw in customers.

The most "metal" thing you can do on a Virgin Voyages ship is get yourself a tattoo, and the Squid Ink studio is open for business on every Lady Ship. This is a very professional outfit, and many Sailors will like the novelty of getting some artwork done at sea. As a result, you will probably want to reserve your session in advance, and you can expect to pay what many customers would consider premium prices.

The Entertainment Is World Class — And Off-Beat

Leave it to a company that started as a record shop to drum up epic live performances. Most large cruise ships are respected for their Broadway-caliber shows, which is no small feat in the middle of the ocean. Predictably, Virgin likes to host unusual programming, such as the ship-wide Scarlet Night event, which covers the entire ship in red costumes and lighting, featuring circus performers and live instrumentals. There's also the wildly avant-garde Untitled Dance Show Partything, the immersive theatrical experience Persephone, and a wide range of stage performances in The Red Room. Each night, you'll have fresh opportunities to join a dance party or sing karaoke.

If you don't require throbbing music or explosions of glitter, no problem. There's a very traditional casino and a video arcade stocked with vintage games. And if you need a more holistic alternative to all that rockstar living, you can join a yoga session or group workout in one of the fitness centers.

Read the original article on Explore .

Virgin Voyages plans first cruises from New York, Los Angeles with new ship

Virgin Voyages is finally bringing its adults-only cruises to the New York and Los Angeles markets.

The 2-year-old cruise brand, which currently operates most of its North America sailings out of Miami, on Wednesday announced it would soon offer its first regular sailings from the giant coastal cities as well as Seattle.

The trips will kick off in late 2025 on the line's next new ship, the long-delayed, 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

As part of the announcement, Virgin Voyages said Brilliant Lady would finally start sailing in September 2025. That's nearly two years later than the line originally planned when it announced the vessel in 2018.

Brilliant Lady was originally scheduled to debut in December 2023 .

Virgin Voyages on Wednesday outlined a year's worth of sailings for Brilliant Lady that included sailings to Bermuda, New England and Canada, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, the Panama Canal, the west coasts of Mexico and California, and Alaska.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Virgin Voyages ship

The trips will kick off Sept. 5, 2025, with the vessel's maiden voyage (called a Mermaiden voyage by Virgin Voyages) out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City.

Four more voyages out of New York, ranging from five to 13 nights, will follow during September and October of 2025.

The New York-based trips will include calls in Bermuda, as well as such eastern ports as Charleston, South Carolina; Boston; and Halifax, Saint John and Quebec City in Canada.

After operating out of New York, Brilliant Lady will reposition to Miami and then Los Angeles and Seattle for the following sailings:

• 17 voyages from Miami between October 2025 and April 2026. The trips will range in length from seven to 12 nights and include stops in Aruba; Bonaire; Curacao; Cartagena, Colombia; Turks and Caicos; Antigua; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
• One 16-night Panama Canal cruise departing March 21, 2026 . The one-way voyage from Miami to Los Angeles will bring calls to Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico.
• Four voyages out of Los Angeles starting April 7, 2026. The sailings will range from five to eight nights and bring calls along the west coast of California and Mexico.
• A yet-to-be-determined number of cruises out of Seattle starting in May 2026 through September 2026 . Details of the sailings will be announced soon, the line said.

While details of the Alaska sailings have yet to be set, customers can secure access to a priority booking window for the sailings by placing a deposit of $500 to $2,500 with Virgin Voyages starting May 8, 2024.

The deposit program will be called the Alaska Front(ier) of the Line Pass. The required deposit amount varies depending on the type of cabin that a customer wants to book.

Like Virgin Voyages' first three vessels ( Scarlet Lady , Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady ), Brilliant Lady has been designed to shake up the cruise industry with a new, hipper style of cruising. The ship will have everything from a tattoo parlor to a colorful karaoke lounge. To ensure a proper party vibe, it also will be a kid-free travel zone , with a minimum age to sail of 18.

Related: Is Virgin Voyages right for you? Our thoughts

Since its first vessel sailed out of Miami in late 2021, Virgin has been going after travelers who might think themselves too cool to cruise. To that end, Brilliant Lady will have no buffets, no dress codes, and no big Broadway-style theater shows. For entertainment, expect interactive dance parties and DJ sets. Suites will have a rock star theme .

Virgin Voyages on Wednesday said customers (called "sailors" by the line) who were previously scheduled to sail on Brilliant Lady before its debut was delayed will be given priority access to book the ship's first voyages out of New York and Los Angeles.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Back to Black

The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

• Sam Taylor-Johnson
• Matt Greenhalgh
• Marisa Abela
• Eddie Marsan
• Jack O'Connell
• 67 User reviews
• 70 Critic reviews
• 49 Metascore

• Nick Shymansky

• Perfume Paul
• Great Auntie Renee

• Uncle Harold
• Auntie Melody

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The Big List of Summer Movies

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Marisa Abela had done most of the singing in this film herself. She trained extensively to mimic Amy Winehouse 's vocals.

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 2 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

"Virgin Celebration Voyage" Returns for Second Year with Sir Richard Branson & Boy George

Virgin voyages’ celebration series expands; includes three extraordinary voyages featuring special guests and some of virgin’s most influential leaders.

• Sir Richard Branson and Boy George at the Helm http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virginvoyages.com%2Fpress%2Flatest-releases%2F2nd-celebration-voyage-sir-richard-branson-and-boy-george" data-size="large" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sharetype="twitter" aria-label="Share on Twitter" data-category="VV-__path__" data-action="social-share" data-label="twitter" >

MIAMI, FL - April 25, 2024 - Virgin Voyages is calling fans of the Virgin brand and loyal Sailors to embark on the company’s second-annual “Virgin Celebration Voyage.” In honor of Virgin’s 50+ year history, guests will have the opportunity to sail on three distinct voyages across the brand's worldwide fleet of Lady Ships. Featuring an incredible line-up of guests – most notably, the man who started it all, Sir Richard Branson – along with Boy George from Culture Club and a variety of Virgin company executives, these epic voyages are set to immerse Sailors into the brand’s rock-n-roll history and exciting future. Sir Richard and Virgin Voyages are thrilled to welcome Virgin executives alongside a distinguished cohort of Virgin Galactic-flown astronauts who recently returned from space. They’ll be joined by the famous Boy George whose iconic contributions to music and beloved single “Karma Chameleon” have left an indelible mark on pop culture. Together, these esteemed guests will lend their star power to this memorable adventure celebrating Virgin’s musical history with unparalleled brand insights. Sailors will have the opportunity to dive into immersive experiences that capture the disruptive essence of the Virgin brand. Hosted Shore Things, energizing fitness classes, interactive workshops, exclusive fireside chats and daily happy hours are just a few of the unique programs available during each Virgin Celebration Voyage. "Not only are we excited to bring back this special series, but we’re making a splash, doing it bigger & better than in 2023 with not one, but three incredible voyages,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages . "Once a year, our Sailors have unprecedented access to immerse themselves in the magic of both Virgin Voyages and the Virgin brand. They’ll be rubbing elbows with visionary leaders from across the Virgin family and this year’s very special guests.” Dates for this year’s “Virgin Celebration Voyage” include:

• Valiant Lady - August 30 - September 4 : Dominican Daze (Miami - Puerto Plata - Beach Club at Bimini - Miami)
• Scarlet Lady - September 1-8 : French Daze & Ibiza Nights (Barcelona - Marseille - Cannes - Palma de Mallorca - Ibiza - Barcelona)
• Resilient Lady - September 3-8 : UK to Zeebrugge & Amsterdam (Portsmouth - Amsterdam - Zeebrugge (Bruges) - Portsmouth)

For more information about Virgin Voyages, or to book a cabin during the “Virgin Celebration Voyages,” visit www.VirginVoyages.com.

About Virgin Voyages

Promising to Create an Epic Sea Change for All, Virgin Voyages is the award-winning, exclusively adult cruise line founded by Sir Richard Branson. Delivering unforgettable, relaxing vacations at sea, Virgin Voyages launched at the end of 2021. Inspired by superyacht design, its fleet of Lady Ships exemplify an elevated, boutique hotel at sea with contemporary spaces that strike the perfect balance of nautical chic and glamour. Currently departing from the sun-soaked cities of Miami, Barcelona, and Athens, the fleet offers more than 60 unique itineraries, sailing to 100 incredible ports of call.

On-board, 20+ eateries feature culinary experiences from Michelin-star chefs, stylish workout spaces and group fitness classes are offered daily, and a festival-like line-up of intimate and larger-than-life shows are on the agenda. Paired with modern, tech-savvy cabins, designer suites fit for a rockstar, and a mermaid-inspired spa and thermal suite, the brand is taking the industry by storm. In 2023, Virgin Voyages won Travel + Leisure’s highly coveted World’s Best Award for the best mega-ship ocean cruise line and swept the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards - the first time a brand has won in all five categories.

Virgin Voyages Media Contact

Public relations team, michelle estevam.