What Is Virgin Voyages Actually Like?
Let us guess.
You keep hearing incredible things about Virgin Voyages.
Everyone you know who has set sail with them has come home raving about the food/the entertainment/the ships/the accommodation/no, seriously THE FOOD/all of the above.
You’re beginning to feel like you’re missing out. You’re itching to book your very first Virgin Voyage, but one question keeps playing on your mind:
“But what is it really like?”
Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Panache Cruises, we happen to be experts on all things Virgin Voyages. We’ve put together a handy little guide outlining everything you need to know—keep reading to find out more.
First things first…
What actually is Virgin Voyages?
This seems like a pretty good place to start, so allow us to explain.
Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line offering premium luxury across four boutique-style ships:
With a focus of providing the most unforgettable experiences to the contemporary traveller, guests who book can look forward to an array of delectable dining, jaw-dropping entertainment and some of the most expansive facilities at sea.
THE BASICS
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, there are some things about the Virgin Voyages experience that you should know right from the off:
- It’s adults-only (18+). Yes, we know that we’ve already said that, but it’s a real boon for the brand, offering an experience perfectly crafted with grown-ups in mind. You’ll find fun and playfulness is spades, without ever scrimping on style.
- If you have limited cruising experience, it’s possible that you have preconceived notions about the ships and their passenger demographics. However, with Virgin Voyages, you can wave goodbye to stereotypes. All adults are welcome on board, and upon embarking you’ll find a diverse group of fellow travellers, including honeymooning couples, big friend groups and multigenerational families with adult children.
- Have you heard about the Virgin Voyages app? This will be your one-stop shop for quite literally EVERYTHING whilst onboard, so if you’ve already booked your cruise, you’ll want to download it ASAP. A Virgin Voyages cruise is designed to resemble a ‘choose-your -own-adventure’ experience more than anything else and the app allows you to do just that. Check in, book shows and activities, make dinner reservations, select your excursions and more! Every day, you’ll be able to check the app and find out what’s happening aboard, so be sure to keep an eye out! Psst…the app also has a ‘Shake for Champagne’ feature, which is well worth utilising if you feel like splashing out.
- Embarkation is an incredibly streamlined process, thanks to the app. Check in in advance and choose what time you’d like to step aboard. Then all that’s left for you to is turn up! Oh, and this is also the point where you’ll collect your Band.
- Which brings us very nicely to our next point—The Band. Sadly, this is not a group of musicians who serenade you all around the ships (although with Virgin Voyages, never say never). No, The Band is a wearable designed to make the cruise experience as simple as possible. They are scanned each time you leave and board the ship, can be used as a room key, allow you make purchases at all the onboard bars and shops and keep track of your spends at the Casino. Very useful, if you ask us.
- Spends, by the way, come in the form of Sailor Loot. Sailor Loot is how Virgin Voyages refer to on board credit (OBC) which can be spent on drinks, spa treatments, shopping sprees and ‘Treat Yourself’ menu items. Happy spending!
ACCOMMODATION
Whether you’re someone who likes to spend all day revelling in your cabin, ordering room service, taking long baths, having movie nights or you just use it as a place to sleep, your accommodation is a key part of the cruising experience. True to form, Virgin Voyages do things a little bit differently when it comes to their suites and staterooms, blending chic 60s yachting culture with a bit of rock and roll edge and ultimately offering a range of utterly unique spaces.
Indeed, you’ll be spoilt for choice, with three different categories of standard cabin and eight suite categories. As previously stated, Virgin Voyages is adults-only, so you won’t find any family rooms per se but many of the rooms accommodate up to four guests, so if you’re travelling as a group, it may be worth considering.
Check out our breakdown of the different cabin types below, as well as how much of the overall accommodation they represent, as a percentage.
- Insider Rooms – 8%
- Sea Views – 7%
- Sea Terrace – 79%
- Rockstar Quarters – 6%
For a more detailed guide to the different kind of RockStar Quarters and the overall Rockstar experience, click here.
FOOD
Let’s face it: the Virgin Voyages experience wouldn’t be the Virgin Voyages experience without the food.
Even if you know next to nothing about the line, someone you know is sure to have waxed lyrical about the mouthwatering cuisine at some point. If you set sail with Virgin, we regret you inform you that yes, you WILL become that person whose camera roll mostly contains photos of your meals.
The first thing you need to know is that you won’t find any buffets on board. Not only does that reduce food waste, it also means that none of the food is mass-produced and each dish is made to order in one of the 20+ eateries on board.
Seriously, we’re not exaggerating when we say that there is something for everyone here. Craving comfort food? Check. Dreaming of delectable desserts? Done. Fantasising about fine dining? Coming right up. Plus, any dietary requirement can be catered for, so no one has to miss out.
Here are just some of the principal dining venues on board:
Razzle Dazzle – This is where you’ll find familiar favourites, morning, noon and night, with a selection of both veggie and meat-based options.
Test Kitchen – An innovative dining experience at sea comprising an experimental tasting menu created by world-class chefs.
Pink Agave – Authentic Mexican dishes rule the roost here (trust us, the guacamole is famous for a reason).
Gunbae –Get stuck in at this Korean barbecue restaurant, where you can grill meat, seafood and veggies at your table. This is a really great way to socialise with your fellow sailors.
The Wake – A cut above, this incredibly popular venue is the most sophisticated on board, reminiscent of New York’s Golden Age.
Extra Virgin – Who doesn’t love Italian food? Their freshly-made pasta dishes simply cannot be missed.
The Social Club Diner – A traditional American diner at sea, complete with snacks AND games, including shuffleboard, foosball and air hockey.
The Pizza Place – Exactly what it says on the tin, where guests can choose a classic pizza or design their own.
Lick Me Til…Ice Cream – We promise the ice cream is just as exciting as the name, with several fan favourites and a new featured flavour every day.
Sun Club – Even cruisers want to be healthy sometimes, and this is the place to do it with a selection of Hawaiian-inspired bowls to be enjoyed under the sun.
The Dock – Simply sit, catch some rays and raise your flag when you want serving. The Mezze cart will stop at your table whenever you’re ready.
DRINKS
Whilst on board, you’ll find that all soft drinks are included in the fare. However, if you’d like to spice things up with alcoholic beverages or speciality coffee (and why not? You’re on holiday, after all) that will cost extra.
This is where the Bar Tab comes in.
You can purchase your Bar Tab in advance and link it to your Band, which you just need to tap every time you want to buy a drink. Plus, pre-booking the Bar Tab means you’ll enjoy bonuses = even more drinks!
The best part is that you can connect your cabin mates’ Bands to your Bar Tab—sharing is caring!
…But if you wanted to save it all for yourself, we’d understand.
Of course, if you’re not a big drinker, there’s always the option to purchase drinks on an individual basis, as and when you’d like one.
POOL
Fancy a dip? You’ll find the Aquatic Club Pool right in the centre of the Aquatic Club area. To be honest, this is not a pool for keen swimmers to come and practise their butterfly stroke, but it is an excellent place to spend time, dance, sunbathe, mingle with fellow guests and partake in poolside events. During events like Scarlet Night, the pool is the life and soul of the party—if you didn’t jump in fully clothed, did you even go??
For a slightly more tranquil atmosphere, you can always pay a visit to the Wellbeing Pool on Deck 15. This calm little poolside paradise is exactly what it sounds like—a secluded whirlpool for guests to relax, get away from the hustle and bustle and take a load off.
ATTIRE
Ah, dress codes. We know them, we (mostly) love them, we get A LOT of questions about them. After all, you don’t want to open your suitcase only to realise you’ve packed entirely the wrong thing.
Luckily, it’s nigh-on impossible to pack the wrong thing with Virgin Voyages, as they operate a strictly ‘come as you are’ policy. Whether you want after-dinner cocktails in a kaftan and flip-flops, brunch in a three-piece suit, or even pizza in your pyjamas, anything goes. Virgin are committed to fostering a relaxed atmosphere, with no formal attire required (unless you want to).
In a nutshell, wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.
ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT
One thing we guarantee you’ll never be on a Virgin Voyage is bored, with so many activity and entertainment options on offer, you’ll struggle to choose.
By day, there are a range of fitness classes available, including spin, yoga and HIIT, among others, as well as slightly more unique sessions, such as bungee fitness and 90s boyband dance classes.
Fancy something a little less strenuous? The ship is your oyster, with art classes, bingo, trivia, video games, food tastings, scavenger hunts and even makeup classes in the schedule.
And when the sun goes down? That’s really just the beginning, with one of the most fabulous entertainment programmes at sea, featuring magic shows, drag, improv comedy, musicals, Cirque de Soleil style extravaganzas and more! Some of the most popular include the acrobatic Romeo and Juliet retelling, ‘Duel Reality’ and murder mystery game show, ‘Murder in The Manor’.
Speaking of The Manor, this glitzy, two-storey space is home to some of the most dazzling spectacles on board. Imbued with a 70s punk vibe, a typical evening here begins with a show before moving into a mind-blowing nightclub party. For even more late-night fun, guests can visit the Casino, where blackjack, roulette, poker and 115 different slot machines are theirs to enjoy!
FACILITIES
Each of Virgin’s four vessels boasts an impressive set of amenities. Seriously, anything you can dream up, they probably have.
If good old-fashioned R&R is top of your priority list, you’ll find the underwater cavern inspired Redemption Spa on Deck 5. Here, you can enjoy some hydrotherapy, treat yourself to a facial or massage, sip peppermint tea on a quartz bed or bask in a mud bath. For your styling needs, go up one more level to Deck 6, where you will find Dry Dock for the ladies and Stubble and Groom for gentleman’s grooming.
Many people view a cruise as their time to relax and an excuse to put the gym on hold for a week or two. However, for others, visiting a state-of-the-art fitness facility with sweeping ocean views and high-tech equipment is all part of the experience. Virgin’s gyms are particularly impressive, with Build, Bike and Balance rooms, ocean-facing yoga studios, bungee fitness equipment and a team of personal trainers on hand.
Alternatively, you could head on up to Deck 16, where you’ll find the Athletic club, complete with running track, basketball court, boxing ring and a juice bar.
SHOP
As you can see, there’s a lot to get excited about on a Virgin Voyage—but there’s always time to shop ‘til you drop. Aboard, you’ll find:
Voyage Vinyl – A record store where you can purchase all your favourite albums—perfect for spinning on your in-room turntable.
Squid Ink Tattoo Parlour – Yes, you read that right. You can get a tattoo at sea (and plenty of people do!)
Necessities Shop – Here, you’ll find the basics, including suncream, over the counter medication, snacks, phone chargers and more!
High Street – Luxury lovers rejoice, you’ll find everything here. We’re talking high-end watches, cosmetics, fashion, jewellery and of course, Virgin Voyages merchandise.
Booty Free – This is where you can stock up on top-shelf alcohol and tobacco products, without paying the taxes usually associated with them.
Get Lost – Ok, it may not have the most inviting name, but if you’ve enjoyed your Virgin Voyage, you’ll want to stop at Get Lost—to book your next one!
And that’s it! Our comprehensive guide to Virgin Voyages, answering the question:
“What is it really like?”
You can find out more about Virgin Voyages and the itineraries on offer here.
