What it's really like to sail with Virgin Voyages

Table Of Content

• Virgin Voyages cruise cabins and suites: Everything you want to know
• Coming 2024: the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club is getting an (even more) epic upgrade.
• What to Expect on Virgin Voyages Compared to Other Cruise Lines (Differences, What to Know, & More)
• History, Review, Itineraries, Ships, Deck Plans, News
• Flexible Booking
• Cruise Line Offers Free Parking for Passengers at One Homeport

Below, we dive into these questions and give you the real scoop of everything about the cruise line. If this sounds like the cruise line for you, contact our My Cruises Holiday Experts to find out more about our exclusive Virgin Voyages packages. Edgy and innovative, Virgin Voyages is bringing new concepts to cruising. From never-before-seen stage productions to unexpected pop-up performances and more than 20 distinctive specialty eateries onboard, Virgin Voyages’ fleet of ships are like no other. Although the menu was experiential, the dishes delivered didn’t wow us, especially when multiple servers lifted individual smoke-filled glass tops to be what seemed like a side dish of fresh peas and egg yolk. Actually, it was super easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle aboard Valiant Lady.

Virgin Voyages cruise cabins and suites: Everything you want to know

In some quad layouts, a queen bed and an extra twin share the same headboard with a bunk overhead. The mattresses are rearranged on a long platform to form various arrangements; any uncovered portion of the platform serves as a nightstand or low table. All Virgin Voyages cabins mix a hip yet minimalist design (think IKEA or micro hotel) with tech-forward accessories (such as an iPad that controls the A/C, curtains and mood lighting). The look is more spare than you'll find on other cruise lines that feature thick mattresses, fluffy duvets and faux-wood cabinetry in their cabins. Virgin also does not use standard cruise industry lingo to refer to its rooms.

Coming 2024: the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club is getting an (even more) epic upgrade.

If you’re someone that’s been turned off by some of the “kitsch” in cruising, then cruising Virgin will be refreshing. There’s no line dancing on the pool deck or roving photographers or overly-excited cruise director. There’s a lot that’s different about Virgin Voyages, and we think that’s what makes it a great cruise line to sail if you’re an adult looking for a getaway. So much is included on your cruise, but one area that isn’t — alcoholic beverages. Virgin Voyages does charge for these, but there are a couple of things to know. Instead, the shows are more intimate in crowd size, but still feature amazing talent.

What to Expect on Virgin Voyages Compared to Other Cruise Lines (Differences, What to Know, & More)

The aft of the superstructure also shows the Promenade Deck and 7 decks of cabin balconies towering above. In December 2021 was announced the partnership with the House Spirits Distillery () for the fleetwide presence of the brand "Aviation American Gin" (aka Aviation Gin/alcohol volume 42%, produced in Portland Oregon since 2006). Signature cocktails (based on the Aviation Gin) available for ordering at each Virgin ship include "The Double Agent at SIP", "Razzle Dazzle's Electric Fizz", "Stella's Groove at The Manor", "Gunbae's French 75". The Internet is provided via MEO and LEO satellites (Medium Earth Orbit and Low Earth Orbit).

I’ve sailed a variety of cruise lines throughout the years, beginning with my first voyage as an 18-year-old living in Fort Lauderdale when my mother took me on a nighttime sail. Back in those days (not to date myself), you could get on a ship out of Port Everglades and go into international waters to drink and gamble. For more spacious bathrooms, tricked-out terraces, lounge and seating spaces, and extra perks, upgrade to the RockStar Quarters.

See the entire world with Virgin Voyages

One thing you’ll like about Virgin Voyages is that all food on the ship is included. First, the biggest difference we noticed is that Virgin doesn’t offer a traditional large theater that seats hundreds and hundreds at one time. As a result, there aren’t the big production shows like you see elsewhere. In the cabin shower, there’s a rainfall showerhead included, instead of just the sprayer on the end of a wand.

Add a Splash of Romance to your voyage

The converging angle of the two walls made it a tight squeeze between the bed and the desk. The shower has one measly shelf and pump bottles of Red Flower shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The rest of the tiny bathroom features a bowl sink and a small vanity where you can store toiletries if you move the hand towels somewhere else (possibly the shelf below with the garbage can).

Flexible Booking

You'll feel like you're in an exclusive setting after taking the open-air tram from the ship's dock to the modern, beautiful beach club. While other ports of call vary based on the sailing, a constant for Scarlet Lady is a stop at its private beach club in the Bahamas. Your cruise price covers dining at all of these spots, plus the quick bite options on the ship. However, some restaurants offer buy-up options labeled as "treat yourself" dishes that cost extra.

As part of the company's sustainable travel policy, Virgin banned single-use plastics and there is no buffet food on the ships. All shipboard food is made-to-order - to reduce waste and lower energy consumption and emissions. Savings are reinvested into fresh (locally sourced) top-quality products, exotic ingredients, highly trained staff, and clean technologies. In April 2019 was signed a partnership with Emerald Brand to supply the fleet with "Tree-Free" (disposable) paper products, including facial-bath tissues, paper towels, napkins, hot cups. Those are made from % Tree-Free materials via technologies that use by-products of agricultural crops usually wasted or burned.

Balcony cabins are designated either regular, extra-large, centrally located or limited-view, and your cruise fare will change depending on which you choose. Cheeky Corner and Suite Aft Suites are also divided into Pretty Big Terrace, Even Bigger Terrace and Biggest Terrace classes. All Virgin Caribbean cruises visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination. Virgin ships are also seasonally deployed in Europe (via Transatlantic crossings), with planned visits to several major Mediterranean and UK ports (including Dover and Liverpool).

At the time it was first announced, the company's founder Branson said his goal was to create a brand cruising experience that is more likely to appeal to millennials and other people who don't normally take cruise ship vacations. Bain Capital (1984-founded) is based in Boston (Massachusetts USA) and specializes in private equity, venture capital, credit, public equity, life sciences and real estate, with assets (under management in FY2018) ~USD 105 billion. As soon as the Scarlet Lady departs US waters the drinking age becomes 18 and the ship is ready to party. The pricing for this cruise line is done a bit differently, charging for cabins that have the capacity for up to 3 passengers (or 'sailors' as the line refers to its passengers).

I spent $2300 on a 4-night Virgin Voyages cruise. Here is what everything cost from a $116 trolley ride to $67 worth of ... - Cruise Blog

I spent $2300 on a 4-night Virgin Voyages cruise. Here is what everything cost from a $116 trolley ride to $67 worth of ....

Posted: Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The room is laid out like a standard Scarlet Lady cabin, but on the far wall, where a window would be, there's a red, round art piece evocative of a porthole. Other than the cabin cleanings, the crew was more noticeable, too. We saw crew members on the basketball courts, eating in The Galley and just generally out and about around the ship even when they didn't appear to be on the clock, which helped create a more relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, unlike Disney Cruise Line, where cabin attendants make it a point to get to know you and your preferences, Virgin Voyages lacked the same personalized service. I never interacted with a person in charge of our cabin, as it would be serviced while we were out (after pushing a button that sent the request to the crew) by a person that, to us, remained nameless and faceless. The bathroom was quite small, to the point where it bordered on being a claustrophobic experience.

Virgin's ships are adults-only (passengers under 18 yo/teenagers and kids are not allowed) and Bahamas-flagged (registered in Nassau). In March was announced an expansion of onboard entertainment fleetwide. The announcement mentioned new cabaret and game shows, new parties (80s Party, We Fancy), and more live music (by the hosted in The Red Room and The Manor program Festival Stage Acts/comedy shows rotating every 2 to 4 weeks).

One show we say was an acrobatic program between a red team and blue team that features climbing a 25-foot pole in the middle of the stage with no harness, flips after being launched in the air on a see-saw, juggling, and more. It’s a bit easier than having to dig out your card each time to need it, but it does have a tendency to want to come off occasionally. It also means you don’t have to worry about picking the right ship for your cruise.