Virgin Voyages is likely one of the latest cruise traces on the scene, and it actually made a splash within the cruise trade. Bucking cruise traditions like a buffet, set eating occasions, and an all-ages-welcome environment, Virgin Voyages got down to be completely different from the very starting. But, as with each cruise line, there are each professionals and cons of Virgin Voyages. Here, we’re providing you with the rundown on what each the positives and potential negatives are of taking a cruise with this line.
Pros of Virgin Voyages
1. Adults-only
When contemplating the professionals and cons of Virgin Voyages, maybe the most important professional is that no youngsters are allowed. That’s proper, you should be 18 or older to sail with this line. This is a big professional for a lot of cruisers because the overwhelming majority of cruise traces welcomes nearly all ages. Not having youngsters on board implies that Virgin has a extra laid-back environment with the power to host leisure and actions which are suited to simply adults. It additionally implies that company don’t have to fret about youngsters being underfoot — plus no area needed to be taken up onboard for youths’ golf equipment.
2. All eating is included
Virgin Voyages does eating a bit in another way than most different cruise traces. There isn’t any essential eating room; as an alternative a lot of the eating places across the ship are much like specialty eating places on different traces — and so they’re all included!
Guests can get pleasure from venues corresponding to Extra Virgin (Italian), Razzle Dazzle (veggie-forward), The Wake (steakhouse), and Pink Agave (Mexican), amongst others. In lieu of a buffet, there’s The Galley — an informal restaurant the place you possibly can order dishes from varied meals stations and so they’re ready freshly. Casual snacky meals like scorching canine, wings, tender pretzels, and floats will be discovered at The Social Club, with pizza and ice cream spots on board as nicely — all included within the cruise fare.
3. Scarlet Night
Scarlet Night is the celebration to attend on Virgin Voyages, even for individuals who aren’t celebration individuals and don’t attend any others through the cruise. In truth, Scarlet Night may higher be described as a whole Scarlet night, because the festivities begin to unfold lengthy earlier than the head of the event — the huge deck celebration — begins.
4. The Beach Club at Bimini
Before Virgin Voyages even operated its first cruise, the road introduced that it will be debuting a brand-new seaside membership on the Bahamian island of Bimini that will be free for its company to get pleasure from. While not technically unique to Virgin, the seaside membership is only for Virgin Voyages passengers when a ship from the road is docked there.
5. Included health courses
Looking to remain in form (or maybe begin moving into form) in your cruise? You don’t have to simply jog across the monitor or use free weights within the health club! Fitness courses are provided on Virgin Voyages ships, and so they’re fully free. In the Training Camp space on deck 16, passengers can take part in HIIT, bungee courses, and spinning. There’s even a exercise video-style class held in The Manor and dawn yoga classes on The Perch.
6. Balcony hammock
One of Virgin Voyages’ most distinctive facilities is their signature balcony hammocks, accessible in most balcony (Sea Terrace) cabins. These hand-woven crimson hammocks provide a uniquely stress-free strategy to get pleasure from ocean views. Perfect for afternoon naps, morning espresso, or sundown cocktails, the hammocks are greater than only a flashy gimmick. As an amazing different to the busy pool deck on a sea day, these hammocks have turn into a considerably iconic characteristic that we want extra cruise traces had. Though, getting out and in will be tough, particularly after a number of cocktails.
7. The Manor nightclub
When it involves cruise ship nightclubs, The Manor on Virgin Voyages takes the cake. Named after Richard Branson’s first recording studio, the two-story area encompasses a stage, giant dance ground, and three bars so that you’re all the time close to your subsequent beverage. It’s designed extra like a land-based nightclub than a cruise ship one, and right here I feel that’s factor. Daytime exhibits, dwell music, and themed occasions happen within the area that transforms right into a DJ-fueled membership into the night time. The glitzy mirror-filled entrance into The Manor is a pleasant contact, too!
8. Included WiFi and gratuities
Virgin Voyages may very well be thought-about a halfway level between a mainstream cruise line and an all-inclusive model. While some further issues (like alcoholic drinks and excursions) are nonetheless not included, different issues are like gratuities and primary WiFi. Not solely do you not have to fret about day by day gratuities being added to your invoice on the finish of the cruise, however there are not any gratuities added to issues like drink purchases or spa therapies, both. The worth you see is the worth you pay.
9. Creative leisure
In addition to all that encompasses Scarlet Night is a number of different distinctive leisure on Virgin Voyages’ ships. Though every ship varies barely with its leisure lineup, listed below are some exhibits which are provided. Duel Reality is a fast-paced retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a circus-themed twist, whereas Ships within the Night makes use of expertise and choreography to discover the importance of incidental connection. Virgin Voyages all the time has specialty artists like comedians, magicians, and others on rotation too, in addition to plenty of themed dance events and the music-video-meets-club-scene Untitled DanceShowPartyFactor. And don’t overlook the pajama celebration on the primary night time of the cruise!
10. Status Match
As a comparatively newcomer within the cruise trade, Virgin Voyages is providing a limited-time standing match for its Sailing Club loyalty program. If you’re trying to check out Virgin for the primary time, standing matching may very well be a pleasant perk in case you have loyalty standing with one other cruise line (or choose Virgin journey model). It means you don’t have to begin from scratch and may instantly get pleasure from advantages like free specialty espresso, complimentary laundry, and an unique cocktail occasion.
All company who standing match will instantly obtain Blue Extras; nevertheless, you do must be a sure stage in one other model’s loyalty program to qualify. For occasion, Royal Caribbean’s Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle ranges qualify; and Carnival’s Platinum and Diamond statuses qualify.
Additionally, Virgin Voyages simply introduced sailors will now earn Virgin Red factors, 100 factors per sailor, per night time to be precise. This rewards membership enables you to earn and use factors throughout all Virgin manufacturers.
11. Onboard tattoo store
When Virgin Voyages introduced that its brand-new fleet would characteristic a tattoo store, many had been skeptical. However, time has confirmed that the distinctive concept was a profitable one. For centuries, sailors have been related to tattoos, usually tattooing one another throughout free time whereas at sea. Specific forms of sailings even have tattoo traditions. For instance, it’s frequent to get a tattoo of an anchor after one’s first transatlantic crossing. With a tattoo store aboard Virgin Voyages’ ships, it’s potential to honor this piece of maritime historical past and custom whereas nonetheless on board (if it’s your factor). It additionally makes for a really distinctive and memorable memento of a enjoyable cruise journey.
Cons of Virgin Voyages
1. No drink package deal (but)
For those that prefer to get pleasure from some drinks all through their trip, it may be an enormous bummer to find that Virgin Voyages doesn’t provide a standard drink package deal. Instead of a package deal the place you possibly can get pleasure from an almost limitless quantity of drinks every day for one set day by day worth, Virgin provides a program known as Bar Tab. Through Bar Tab, you add cash to your onboard account particularly for drinks, then the cruise line dietary supplements it with a bit of additional Bar Tab credit score. It’s higher than nothing, however for individuals who can drink fairly a number of alcoholic drinks and specialty drinks all through a cruise, it might not be as cost-effective as a standard package deal.
As a silver lining, Virgin Voyages is testing a standard drink package deal proper now, so company may even see one sooner or later.
2. Cabin loos are tiny
While the principle dwelling and bed room area in a Virgin Voyages stateroom is about common for many cruise ships, the lavatory just isn’t. Unless you’re staying in a set, the cabin loos are extremely small. They’re so tiny that if you’re standing in the course of the lavatory, you’re already in the precise spot to do absolutely anything you’d have to do there: brush your tooth, use the bathroom, or step into the bathe. If you wish to prepare within the lavatory concurrently your companion, overlook about it; you’ll have to take turns.
3. Underutilized deck area
Lining the aspect of the ship on deck 16 are a row of cabanas that company can reserve for a day as soon as on board. The cabanas, that are up in opposition to the railing, characteristic slatted partitions and material roofs with a view out to the ocean. A small cabana that may accommodate as much as 4 individuals prices $250. A big cabana, which holds as much as eight, prices $350. Inside is a daybed, chairs, a mini-fridge, and meals and beverage service from a devoted server.
The drawback is, these cabanas are very underutilized, with most remaining empty for almost all of the voyage. This is essentially partly as a result of there actually aren’t many perks related to the cabanas aside from waitservice and a assured spot to lounge with an ocean view. They’re not even situated close to a pool. They are, nevertheless, positioned on a busy hall. I personally have walked by them many occasions and the passageway behind them to get by could be very slim. I feel this deck area may very well be a lot better used with simply common loungers or day beds arrange. This would enable everybody to benefit from the ocean views from that a part of the ship. Especially since they don’t appear to be crammed fairly often, anyway.
4. Little variety between ships
Unlike Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or Carnival, Virgin Voyages’ ships have a really comparable (virtually similar) design and onboard expertise. This is nice for individuals who don’t thoughts consistency and like with the ability to board a unique ship and nonetheless know the place all the things is. It could be a draw back, although, for these searching for selection throughout completely different Virgin Voyages cruises.
For instance, all Virgin Voyages ships characteristic the identical eating venues, although the Razzle Dazzle restaurant is debuting a unique dinnertime expertise on some vessels. Some exhibits and dance events do differ, however all characteristic the identical bars and lounges. On some ships, the Squid Ink tattoo parlor has moved spots. Select small inside design parts are additionally completely different between ships. But for probably the most half, if you happen to’ve sailed one Virgin Voyages ship, you realize precisely what to anticipate and tips on how to navigate any of the opposite vessels within the fleet.
5. Can be dear
While costs aren’t fairly up there with luxurious traces, Virgin Voyages positively suits into the premium class by way of value. There are only a few cruises that value $100 per individual, per night time or much less, even for an inside stateroom. In truth, anticipate to pay between $140 and $190 per individual, per night time for an inside cabin. For a balcony, you’re taking a look at round $200 to $240 per individual, per night time.
However, it’s essential to keep in mind that with this larger value comes extra inclusions. For many passengers, a Virgin Voyages cruise may even out in comparison with many mainstream choices. With all eating, gratuities, and primary WiFi included within the cruise fare, there may be added worth to go together with the marginally larger price ticket.
6. Limited actually grab-and-go choices
While it’s nice that every one meals is included within the cruise fare on Virgin, we do want the road provided a bit extra relating to actually grab-and-go choices. The Social Club is nice however has a really restricted menu, serving issues like scorching canine, tender pretzels, wings, and floats. The Pizza Place serves up recent pies made-to-order, and is open till 2 am for these late-night cravings.
Sun Club Café is a walk-up counter-service venue on the sundeck subsequent to the doorway to Richard’s Rooftop. It serves bao buns, bowls, and dips. This venue is a bit hidden away and most of the people both overlook it’s there or by no means discover it in any respect.
Other not-quite-sit-down however not fairly quick-service choices embody The Galley (Virgin Voyages’ reply to a buffet that’s extra like a meals market) and The Dock aft sundeck which serves a small menu of tapas within the afternoon.
While there are a number of choices for informal eating, it may take ten or twenty minutes to organize. If you need a fast chunk with out the wait, your solely choices are the “quickeze” containers within the buffet (or close to The Dock) which are sometimes a salad, vegetable crudite, or a sandwhich.
7. Lack of thrills and sights
If we had a ‘this could be a pro or con’ class, this level would positively slot in there. Virgin Voyages is a really laid-back cruise line. There are not any essential eating rooms or set eating occasions, there aren’t many bulletins on the loudspeaker all through the day, and there aren’t many bells and whistles on board.
For many, this appears like — and is — the proper trip. But others could discover that they miss among the extra distinctive facilities on different cruise ships corresponding to water slides, mountain climbing partitions, or escape rooms (as a result of these issues aren’t only for youngsters!).
8. Limited itinerary choices
Since Virgin Voyages solely has three ships (with a fourth setting sail this September), it’s solely logical that it isn’t in a position to provide as many itinerary choices as different traces. But with that being stated, there’s a good selection to select from if you happen to’re versatile in regards to the time of 12 months you wish to go to a given area. For instance, this spring and summer time company can select from Mediterranean or a restricted variety of northern Europe voyages on Scarlet or Resilient Lady. In the autumn and winter, each ships will provide Caribbean cruises.
Valiant Lady will spend this spring and summer time in Miami earlier than relocating to San Juan for southern Caribbean sailings. The fleet’s fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, will provide a number of cruises to Canada/New England from New York in addition to Caribbean sailings from Miami and Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. In spring 2026, the vessel will transfer to Seattle for Virgin Voyages’ first season in Alaska.
But if you happen to’re on the lookout for sailings in Asia, Hawaii, or Australia, you received’t discover them on Virgin Voyages. As nicely, areas just like the Mexican Riviera, northern Europe, and Canada/New England have very restricted seasons with this line; you’ll by far have probably the most choices within the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
9. Party environment could not attraction to conventional cruisers
Virgin Voyages’ energetic environment could be a particular downside for these used to standard cruise experiences. The ships characteristic late-night DJ units, dance events, and different non-traditional leisure. While quiet areas do exist onboard, the general ambiance caters extra to these searching for a trip with a full of life social scene moderately than a predictable cruise expertise, which can not attraction to extra conventional cruisers.
10. Limited poolside area
The pool and surrounding deck area on Virgin ships are inclined to replenish rapidly, particularly on sea days when everybody desires to absorb the solar. With fewer and smaller swimming pools in comparison with mainstream mega-ships, discovering loungers may very well be troublesome. While the adults-only idea eliminates the splashing and noise of youngsters’s areas, it doesn’t remedy the area problem. The essential pool merely isn’t sized appropriately for the variety of passengers. This leads to a considerably cramped expertise throughout peak hours.
Do you agree with our listing of the professionals and cons of Virgin Voyages? Do you may have anything so as to add to this listing? Drop us an anchor beneath to share your experiences cruising with Virgin.