Virgin Voyages Review – we’re covering everything you need to know:
— What sets Virgin Voyages apart from other cruise lines?
— Is there such a thing as Virgin Voyages drink package?
— Need an honest Virgin Voyages Review?
— Want to know if Virgin is the cruise for you?
This cruise line is shaking up the traditional cruising industry
It’s no secret that we’re not really big fans of cruises. We’ve been on a few, and we thought it wasn’t for us.
A lot of the entertainment is usually geared toward seniors or families.
Their general atmosphere appears to be too traditional and stuffy.
And there’s never enough time in port to see anything interesting.
We’re not saying cruise lines don’t have their appeal—they absolutely do!—but they just weren’t our cup of tea.
So when we heard about Virgin Voyages being different from every other cruise line… Well, we were skeptical.
It turns out we had nothing to worry about! We had a blast!
While we thoroughly enjoyed our Virgin Voyages cruise, we realize that it’s not necessarily for everyone…
— Virgin Voyages Review: 10 Ways They’re Different
Want to know if Virgin Voyages is the cruise for you?
Check out our Virgin Voyages Review. Here are 10 ways that Virgin Voyages is different from every other cruise line out there:
— Adults Only
First and foremost, this cruise line is for adults only.
That means no kids allowed, which means a much more relaxing atmosphere.
Nope, no screaming kids running around.
What’s more is, for the most part, all the adults were on their best behavior. There were a few drunken guests (or sailors, as Virgin likes to call their guests), but thankfully, everyone had a fun time without being incredibly rude or rowdy.
— Longer Port Times
Honestly, this was the main selling point for us – Virgin Voyages offers longer time at ports than other cruise lines do.
Our priority was to be able to explore the ports and not just hop on and off the ship as soon as possible.
With Virgin Voyages, not only do they offer an average of about 8 to 12 hours in each port, but they also offer overnight stays on selected voyages.
It was such a welcome relief not to be rushed throughout all the stops. Unlike other cruises, they never rushed to get you back on the ship, just so they could make money selling you stuff onboard.
On our chosen weeklong itinerary, we had overnight stops in not one but two ports—namely, Cannes and Ibiza.
This gave us more time to enjoy Ibiza’s famed nightlife, and even enabled us to skip over to Cannes’ neighboring principality, Monaco.
Of course, some people prefer to stay on board. But they certainly have the option to skip the ports, in case they want to spend more time on the ship.
This is the whole roasted heirloom cauliflower with pistachios, sesame seed and pomegranate
— Specialty Restaurants Included
Another thing that sets Virgin Voyages apart is that every restaurant on the ship is included in the price of your ticket.
There are no buffets on board, but you can eat as much as you want–with food that’s made to order. Also, there are no extra fees for specialty restaurants or any restaurants with a view.
Beverages are all included too, except for alcoholic or specialty drinks.
The food aboard Virgin Voyages is as varied as the cultures it draws inspiration from, so there was no shortage of options, given the 20+ eateries to choose from.
Some of our favorites were: Extra Virgin, an elevated Italian restaurant; Pink Agave, a trendy Mexican spot; Gunbae, a lively Korean barbecue—complete with drinking games, Razzle Dazzle, a relaxed naughty vegan resto; Test Kitchen, the experimental gastronomic eatery; and The Wake, the sophisticated seafood and steakhouse.
TIP: For the best experience, we recommend you make advanced reservations for the specialty eateries you’re eyeing.
We did exactly that, and we were prioritized at every restaurant. The folks without reservations had to wait a little longer to get a table. Or if you’d like a more relaxed and spontaneous dining experience, there’s also their food court called The Galley. There, you’ll find numerous eateries, no reservations required.
— Bar Tabs instead of Virgin Voyages drink package
“Does Virgin Voyages have an unlimited drink package?”
That seems to be one of the most frequently asked questions from prospective sailors. For now, the answer is no. There is NO unlimited Virgin Voyages drink package. Unlike most mainstream cruise lines, Virgin doesn’t offer traditional beverage packages.
Instead, guests can use their “Bar Tab” to purchase drinks onboard the ship and at Virgin’s private island in Bimini.
The good thing is that Virgin also often has promotions where you get bonus credits if you prepay your bar tab. We’ve seen some where you even double the value of your tab! This means that you’ll be able to enjoy some of your favorite cocktails without feeling like you need to ration them carefully.
And don’t worry: The Bar Tab works exactly like any other tab system; it’s just that instead of paying for each drink individually, you’re paying for everything in one lump sum at the end of your trip (or whenever). This makes it easy for guests who don’t want to guess exactly how much they’ve spent on drinks.
— Modern Cabin Design
The Valiant Lady’s cabins themselves are designed with modern elegance in mind.
Clearly, Virgin Voyages has done away with traditional cabin style in favor of a modern aesthetic with a hint of Scandinavian design.
Each room also features some quirky touches, such as lighting to match your mood and a cozy red hammock for those with balconies.
Rooms are also equipped with a fridge, toiletries, water carafes, and plenty of plug sockets for charging devices.
Perhaps, the biggest surprise is that the room felt like a regular hotel room, with two regular-sized suitcases fitting easily without moving any furniture.
The bathroom was small, as expected on a ship, but manageable. Rob is 6’2″ but he fit comfortably inside the shower, which had both a cool waterfall shower and a handheld shower.
— Tech-focused
Without a doubt, Virgin Voyages has to be one of the most tech-focused cruise lines out there.
They have a cool app that lets you get in touch with customer service using your tablet, make restaurant reservations, and book Shore Thing port excursions.
We used the app to contact customer service while having dinner, so we didn’t have to walk to the desk just to ask a question.
It wasn’t an instant response, but within 15 to 20 minutes, we had someone chatting with us and helping us, all on the app. There were some instances when the app was glitchy while we were at sea, but it was reliable for the most part.
Also, unlike some other cruise lines, Virgin Voyages has free Wi-Fi on board. That means you can browse, post, and stay connected with Wi-Fi—whenever you want, and wherever you are on the ship.
There’s even a tablet in every room, which lets you control lighting and temperature without ever having to get out of bed. It also lets you message your cabin attendant directly through text.
And if that’s not enough, all rooms have keyless entry!
This means never having to worry about carrying around a bunch of keys or cards—no matter where you are on board.
— Unique Ship Entertainment
Virgin Voyages is taking a novel approach to onboard entertainment.
It’s opted for cutting-edge immersive experiences and unique events over classic Broadway productions.
Entertainment options include Never Sleep Alone, a risque sexuality-themed show; Duel Reality, a modern acrobatic take on Romeo and Juliet; UNTITLED DANCESHOW PARTYTHING—an evening-long dance party with no set format; It’s a Ship Show—an amusing part-dinner show, part-talk show performance; and many others.
Their ships are also known for their LIVELY nightclub scene. And not just that, they’ve got signature dance parties, fun pajama parties, and the shipwide gala night, Scarlet Night, where everyone is encouraged to wear red.
— Eco-friendly Focus
Virgin Voyages is also making waves in the cruise industry for its unique eco-friendly practices.
The company plans to deliver on its promises of delivering one of the best holidays at sea while making a positive difference for people and the planet.
This was something that struck us the most. We witnessed so many examples of how they really walked the talk about going green.
Here are just some of the numerous examples in action: On our Shore Thing port excursion, there were no plastic bottles of water, only boxed water. Our cabin attendant refilled our water carafe daily, no plastic necessary! Water refilling stations were all over the ship, cloth napkins were largely used instead of paper ones, and reusable takeaway containers and utensils were standard in most restaurants.
And most of all, there were no buffets—food will be served on demand. This meant much less food waste.
— Fitness and Wellness Focus
From the yoga classes and 80’s aerobics class to the spa and gym, Virgin Voyages is an oasis for wellness enthusiasts.
We’ve been on our fair share of cruises, but we’ve never been on one that was so fitness-focused.
There are so many areas to get fit and active: a cardio room, weights gym, spin studio, high-intensity training room, indoor and outdoor yoga areas, a fun outdoor boxing ring, and a bright-red running track around the top of the ship. All of these come with state-of-the-art equipment and some with expansive sea views.
There’s also a relaxing spa offering everything from luxury massages to day passes to their thermal suite.
Our only critique is it can be hard to get into the smaller classes due to limited space; so make sure to sign up the moment you embark to ensure your spot.
— Commitment to Diversity
Virgin Voyages is committed to diversity and inclusivity, and they’re not afraid to show it.
We also saw this firsthand—it’s not just lip service: Virgin Voyages’ employees and performers are of all ages, backgrounds, races, genders, nationalities, and religions. The employees never shied away from showing off their personalities—there were so many employees with visible tattoos, body piercings, bright hair colors, and more.
Don’t be fooled by the flamboyant style though—we found that everyone was professional and cheerful. Save for one unpleasant employee, everyone was in good spirits.
We sincerely felt that the employees all wanted us to have a good time. We never once felt uncomfortable around anyone.
Despite the flamboyance, none of the employees were too provocative or in-your-face. If anything, the sailors were the ones who were a bit out there with their outfits.
We didn’t mind this at all—but we realize that this super open atmosphere may be surprising for some.
So perhaps this is something to keep in mind if you are on the conservative side of things.
— Bottomline: Virgin Voyages Review
As a company that has made a commitment to pushing boundaries, Virgin Voyages certainly does not shy away from a challenge.
They’re totally shaking up the cruise industry, and it’s a good thing. They’re just starting out, and despite any early hiccups–it’s great to see how quick and open they are to changing things up in the traditional cruising sector.
This cruise line is offering a unique, adults-only experience that’s different from anything else on the market.
The future of cruising looks bright with Virgin Voyages.
They’re really setting themselves apart—and we can’t wait to see what else they will do next!
Disclaimer: We were invited by the Virgin Voyages team as media guests. However, all opinions expressed in this article are our own and based on our honest personal experience. We were not obligated or pressured to create a positive review.
Valiant Lady exterior ship photos courtesy of Virgin Voyages.
All other photos by Rob & Joli.
