Virgin Voyages, a New Experience!

Virgin Voyages just started sailing this October and we got to experience a 5 night cruise on the Scarlet Lady.  Virgin has taken the cruising experience and given it their own little twist.

Not everything on Virgin is what you would expect from your typical cruise.  There's a lot to unpack here so hold tight, this will probably be more than one blog...

The first major difference here is that these cruises are designed for adult guests only!  No one is younger than 18 and lead guests have to be over 25.  This makes everything feel a bit more refined as everything is made for the adults.  There is also no tipping aboard Virgin Voyages.  Virgin has taken care of the crew so you don't have to.

We booked a "Gorgeous Suite" for this voyage which put us in the "Mega RockStar" category aboard this trip.  Wow!  There were a lot of amazing perks for this level which I will try and break down as we go along though this.

The Scarlet Lady had a different feel than I've had aboard most ships.  Most ships from Carnival all the way up to Disney Cruise ships have a similar vibe.  They just feel like cruise ships.  The Scarlet Lady felt more like a swanky hotel with themed areas...

From the nightclub to the casino, and all of the areas in between, there was a more modern design.  There were distinct parts of the ship with different vibes, where anyone could find a spot to feel comfortable. 

There are also plenty of areas dedicated to health and rejuvenation.  So if you are into that, there are scheduled yoga and spin classes on top of the 24 hour gym and running track.  The only shape I'm in is squishy, so we didn't spend any time there, moving on...

The ship is very "instagrammable!"  There are lots of great areas to be able to snap pics and lots of seating options.  From stools all the way up to bed-like sofas, there's no shortage of seating.  Every guest has access to the wifi, which worked better than I've experienced on most ships, with Mega Rockstars having access to premium streaming wifi.  Angie enjoys just lazing about with a few TikToks, so she loved having this option.

Of course food is all included but basic beverages are also included.  Juice, water, tea, sodas, and even drip coffee are all free aboard the ship.

Alcoholic drinks were the price you would expect aboard a ship.   Mega Rockstars have the perk of all drinks under $25 were included.

The rooms are all very nice and can be setup for singles to go and cruise together.  They are also very "teched" out, our room included a tablet that controlled the rooms lighting, curtains, and even the TV.  Each balcony also has a red hammock seat that was very comfortable.

Our suite was a nice 570 sq ft compared to the normal rooms which are about 250 sq ft.

As Mega Rockstars our room also had a bottomless bar and a curated selection of records to enjoy.  We also had our "roadie" who would handle any requests we made, book things for us, and even took care of our laundry while we were aboard.  We were very spoiled on this trip.

OMG the FOOD!

Dining aboard the ship was an experience.  I generally expect to eat well on a cruise, but the food on Virgin Voyages was something else.

First of all, everything is prepared when you order it.  So, while there is a delay from when you order the food till you get it, it's all very fresh.  Each restaurant and eatery has it's own kitchen, so nothing is being mass-produced like a cruise assembly line.

There are no big dining halls or buffets.  Even the Galley is more like a mall food court with waiters.  You simply sit down and the wait staff will take your order and bring you food from all over.  Plus, the Galley is open 24/7 for the late night munchies.

I'm going to have to write a separate blog on just the dining because there was SO much food to talk about.  Till then I'll leave you with pics of all the yummy food.

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The entertainment aboard the ship was highly varied.  Some of the stage shows were very avant garde while others were a bit risque.

You could take in a show, play board games, watch a comedian, or even go play in the arcade.  There's even an area to reserve private karaoke rooms.  There's a little something for everyone.

You could spend some time in the casino or take in a stage show.  We enjoyed a pajama party on one night and a crazy dance party the next.  There really is a wide variety.

The pool is one of the places they fall short.  If you want to swim at all, this pool isn't for you.  There are plenty of hot tubs and areas to lounge in the water, but only the small square in the middle of the pool has any depth.

Excursions

It wouldn't be much of a cruise if you didn't stop somewhere.

We enjoyed the ruins of Chachoben when we stopped in Costa Maya, Mexico.  As well a stop at the 7 Color Lagoon for drinks and lunch.  There were a variety of excursion options here, from partying, adventuring, or even just relaxing.

Our other stop was at Bimini in the Bahamas.  Virgin has their own private beach club there.  Virgin did a great job of making an adult space that was good for relaxing and partying.

We stayed over at the cabanas by the beach most of the time.

Costa Maya

​Bimini Beach Club

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Virgin Voyages was not like any cruise we had previously experienced.  It was definitely a fun experience that we hope to do again.  We think we would have had even more fun with friends along.  The ship does have a high class party feel, I called it Vegas at Sea.  We will sail with Virgin again in the future!
 
​Ask us for more information about how you can enjoy a trip aboard the Scarlet Lady!

Plus the signage aboard the ship was highly entertaining...