If you’re considering sailing with Virgin Voyages and want to know what to expect, helpful tips, FAQs and how to prepare – read on for what you need to know about this adults only cruise!
Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady Cabins
What are the cabins like and are they as nice as everyone talks about?
Short answer: they ARE nice (and that’s because it’s a different kind of ship).
Virgin Voyages isn’t your large format cruise ship. The Scarlet Lady fits 2,770 passengers and there are a total of 1,408 passenger cabins. It’s not meant to feel like a huge crammed cruise ship. You’ll immediately notice how different the vibe is from the modern decor and thoughtful design around the ship.
At a high level there are 4 types of rooms: Inside, Sea view, Sea terrace – majority are this kind, Rockstar quarters. For a VERY detailed look at room types, check out this helpful blog post or see the cabins on the Virgin Voyages website.
Virgin Voyages Cabins
What kind of statement room should you book on Scarlet Lady?
We should just stay in an interior view room.. right? NO!!
The majority of the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady ship are cabins with balconies. It’s a totally different cruising experience with fantastic rooms that will make you actually want to spend time IN the room!
However there IS a time you should consider an interior room and that’s when you’re traveling alone.
This (teeny) tiny cabin is just 105-177 square feet for a single person. See THIS room and all rooms in 3D on the Virgin Voyage website by scrolling down to the various room types and clicking “view in 3D”.
Below is a full video of a room tour and review of the Sea Terrace stateroom…
Even more info can be found on the wiki for Scarlet Lady by clicking here.
Get a Virtual Tour of Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady
Check out this blog post to see the deck plans or checkout the full video below for a walkthrough of Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady!
Virgin Voyages Food
Is the food that good that Virgin Voyages would dock the Scarlet Lady in New York City to let picky New Yorkers decide for themselves?
YES.
In case you missed it, in 2021 Virgin Voyages docked at Pier 88 in Manhattan and let New Yorkers experience the restaurants aboard Scarlet Lady (and it was very well received).
An overview of dining on Scarlet Lady
There are over 20 eateries on the ship with five specialty restaurants and it’s NOT your traditional cruise dining.
Why? Let’s start with the biggest thing traditional cruisers complain about most…
There are NO buffets. What replaces the buffet is a dining experience that feels more like dining at a restaurant in a city than dining on a cruise. Expect exceptional service, beautiful decor, and thoughtful trendy menus. (The only reason why you know you’re on a cruise is the ceilings are shorter).
Many are concerned that without buffets, you might be limited on portions. However, you’re not (I have the weight gain to prove it) because not only will the wait staff happily serve you multiple dishes, they are always asking if you’d like another appetizer or a second (or third) entree, etc.
So if you want two of those entrees well by golly, power to ya sister (or brother) and it does NOT cost more. All food is included and it’s rare that there are times in which you pay (there are some options for add-ons like truffles on your pasta, wagyu beef, a tomahawk or a seafood platter).
But IF you want to upgrade your food…
DO consider upgrading your dining experience
There are a very few items you need to pay extra for when cruising on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, but wow, it’s worth it.
The menu above for example is from The Wake, the steakhouse restaurant. There are options for raw seafood towers and aged tomahawk steaks and on one sailing I opted for the Grand Plateau ($70) seafood platter which included lobster, oysters, crawfish, poached shrimp, clams, mussels, crab claws and legs.
It was well worth it.
Not only was it fresh, but the portion sizes of seafood were significantly larger than any restaurant I’ve recently dined at and it was well presented.
Want to see more? See the full video with 10 helpful things to know about dining on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady!
We’re about to talk about drinking on Virgin Voyages, but before we do.. don’t forget you’re allowed to bring wine onto the ship! Here’s some other helpful tips on packing….
What to pack when cruising with Virgin Voyages
Friend: “Don’t forget to bring something red for Scarlet Night”
Me: “Um. What’s Scarlet Night?”
Friend: “Also don’t forget to bring clothes for the pajama party. But it’s outside!”
Me: “Omg what else do I need to be thinking about… How am I supposed to know this?!”
Honest story…
On my first cruising, I didn’t pack the right things. In fact, I packed the wrong things. I embarassingly clutched a pool towel around myself because the night of the “Pajama Party Under the Stars” was colder than I anticipated and no one saw my cute PJ outfit (although tbh, likely no one cared except me. lol).
But I DID remember to pack something scarlet (I generally just find something highly reviewed, but inexpensive on Amazon)
Below you’ll find a free printable pack list with the items I wish I had when I first cruised with Virgin Voyages.
Also included on it? Wine.
While each restaurant has a unique cocktail and wine list, don’t forget you are allowed to bring up to 2 wine bottles per stateroom. Want more tips on what to pack?
OR if you’re just looking for some inspo! See the curated list of Amazon items I’ve put together (and use!) for Virgin Voyages.
Virgin Voyages Drinks Package DOESN’T exist
Yes you read that right.
A Virgin Voyages drink package isn’t something that’s available.
This is often frustrating for seasoned (booze) cruisers, but Virgin Voyages does it differently. It does not mean you’ll spend more.
A price comparison of Royal Caribbean drink package vs. Virgin Voyage a-la-carte drinks
My boyfriend LOVES cruise drink packages because it means he pays one price and doesn’t have to think about each individual bill when he’s at the bar.
But I honestly wondered “is an unlimited cruise drink package actually worth it?”
My boyfriend and I are not light drinkers (in fact, on a previous Royal Caribbean cruise we had 55 drinks in 3 days – see that video here). It means we are having premium coffee drinks (or coffee drinks with booze in them) in the morning, mimosas without orange juice immediately after that, and then an entire day of … well, you can guess.
When I broke down what I paid for Virgin Voyages (in this video), on a 6 day/5 night cruise we paid $430 on drinks for two people (about 2-4 drinks per day per person)
Compare this to a $1,574 price for two people for the premium drinks package on a 7 day/6 night cruise on Royal Caribbean (see the breakdown of costs in this video).
I was floored.
Did we hold back on Virgin Voyages? Kind of.
I know my boyfriend didn’t go crazy at the bar, but he was also as buzzed as he wanted to be. Our drink tab for 2 people was significantly less than what we paid for the premium drink package on Royal Caribbean.
In my experience, it didn’t feel like a big deal and drinks are relatively inexpensive. While yes, you can find Moet by the glass at $20+, you can always find the majority of drinks around the $9-$12 range.
Helpful tips about how much drinks cost on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, what you can expect and how much you might spend.
Cruise REVIEW answering TOP QUESTIONS
We took all the TOP things people asked about this cruise and shared what we loved, didnât love and whether or not weâd recommend it.
Question: Favorite thing about Virgin Voyages?
Meatball’s answer: The food. I’m not surprised, the food on this cruise REALLY IS amazing. The meals I had would normally cost me anywhere from $150-$200 for two people (with tax and gratuity) for equivalent experiences in restaurants in Miami, New York, SF, etc. To me it wasn’t just amazing, food, but amazing VALUE.
My answer: The vibe. The RIGHT people were on the cruise and it just felt like a really fun and welcoming party. I never felt like I was on a cruise (I’m still tbh, not a huge fan of cruising). We also really loved the unique fitness classes. They are VERY fun.
Question: Least fave thing about Virgin Voyages?
Meatball’s answer: No drink packages. He likes the “set it and forget it” of having a drink package (i.e. don’t need to think about the cost at all because it’s already paid). He also likes the ability to try new things and a drink package means if he hates it, it doesn’t matter.
My answer: Nothing. Lol. Maybe if I dug really deep… I wish they had a music experience in the room. I mean come onnnn it’s Virgin RECORDS. And they didn’t have a music component to allow me to PARTY loud in my room to GREAT music. Hm. Now that I write that.. it’s probably on purpose. Lol.
Adding on to this, I later realized how much I miss having a live reggae band (especially on those Caribbean cruises).
Want more? Checkout the full video!
How much does Virgin Voyages cost?
In this fully transparent video I break down what a 6 day 5 night cruise cost total for TWO people going on the Scarlet Lady out of Miami.
You know what? Itâs not easy making videos like this. Because no one does and it often invites in A LOT of criticism. So CONSIDER THAT⌠đ And be kind. Thanks.
Cost of “just the cruise”
Cruise (alone) = $2,550
Taxes = $308
Total $2,858 or $571/night
Cost of “other things I spent money on”
$43 on coffee
$50 on premium internet
$45 on gifts
$430 on drinks
$200 for ATV riding
I had $200 in sailor loot (i.e. promotional credit)
Total paid was $3,458
Thereâs rounding in here. And thereâs a LOT of gratuity that was given in cash. But this gives you a gist. Thatâs the point. If youâre looking to nickel and dime then oooooh checkout the $25/night cruise I went on. LOL!!! Spoiler alert: it’s a fraction of the price and an even tinnnnier fraction of the fun.
Also, I recently went on Royal Caribbean and ended up paying 3x more than I anticipated. Oops. You can learn more about that in the video below.
What’s entertainment like on Virgin Voyages?
How is it? Itâs modern, itâs unique, itâs EDGEY. Examples of the types of shows and entertainment on Scarlet Lady!
Warning: I get very excited in this video because Iâm highly entertained.
The music on this ship really is amazing. Virgin started as music, remember? So the types of performers they bring in are highly talented and the music they use in the shows⌠I was shazam-ing the entire trip.
Another unique thing? Itâs both immersive and inclusive.
In other words, instead of sitting back and watch a show, many of them involve the audience in a fun and inclusive way. Not only that, even the nightlife and entertainment doesnât have an ounce of pretentiousness. Itâs SO much fun having SO much fun with everyone.
Read more on the Virgin Voyage website.
7 reasons to sail with Virgin Voyages
Do you actually workout on Virgin Voyages?
Virgin Voyages is true to their âdetox and retoxâ mentality because they make it SO easy to workout and make healthy choices and (equally) SO easy to play and drink and have a lot of fun.
There are SO many options for types of workouts. Whether you want to relax and do yoga and breathing exercises, or try something new and fun like a VHS or bungee class, or do a traditional bootcamp or spin class – itâs ALL available to you.
Costa Maya Port
Located in a more remote part of Mexico, Costa Maya is 2.5 hours drive from Tulum (and 3.5 hours from Playa del Carmen).
I chose to go ATV riding in the jungle followed by a beach club. This is one of the excursions that can be booked direct from Virgin Voyage (see all excursions by clicking here) by I also considered other tours by looking at TOP rated tours in the area.
While the ATV ride was a VERY fun one hour excursion, the beach club lacked in… everything. Learn more in the video below.
Beach Club at Bimini
A beautiful beach, with a bumping club – it’s FUN and it’s a PRIVATE beach club.
The Virgin Voyages Beach Club at Bimini is an experience not to be missed. There is something for everyone whether you want a quiet and secluded experience or you want to be the life of the party and pop bottles.
Below are some helpful things to know..
Virgin Voyages Beach Club Location
Located on North Bimini island, the beach club is a short (5-ish minute) tram ride from the port.
The free tram runs often (and all day while at port) and will take a few stops on the way (if you are interested in renting golf carts or checking out other parts of Bimini).
If you’re NOT considering the beach club (or want to do more than just visit the beach club), consider looking at some of the tours Virgin Voyages or Viator has to offer.
The beach club has everything you need for a great time. You can expect:
- 2 pools
- Pool chairs, beach chairs and private cabanas (located throughout)
- Changing areas with showers and bathrooms
- 2 eating areas (lunch is served around 2pm – there is no food prior this!)
- Hammocks for napping
- A swim up bar
- A VIP experience in the Rockstar area
- Kayaks, jetskis and more for rent
Also helpful to know: the same wifi from the boat is available at the beach club if you want to be connected (or change that dinner reservation!)
Want to learn more and SEE the full experience? Checkout this video:
There are specific things you should pack for the beach club (like a snorkel and a waterproof phone case). Below is a full list of items you should consider packing.
Is Virgin Voyages a GOOD cruise line?
There is a full blog post with 8 things to consider to help you decide IF this is a good cruise for you.
Given Virgin Voyages is not a traditional cruise, there are key things that make many cruisers second guess if it’s the right choice for them. A few examples:
- It’s not a cheap cruise line (relative to other cruises such as Carnival)
- There are no buffets
- There is NO open bar or drinks package
- There is no central gathering point on the ship
- It’s an adults only cruise (and not a family cruise)
- Cruising with Virgin Voyages requires you have an open mind about the entertainment and style of cruising
Or the video below is the visual version of it:
14 ANNOYING THINGS about VIRGIN VOYAGES
While I DO recommend this cruise, anything good also has downsides. Namely:
- You can dine at each restaurant only once
- Restaurant hours can be confusing
- There is no open bar package option
- Sometimes drinks you’ll want are unavailable
- Consider NOT prepaying your bar tab
- It can be a challenge to get into the workout classes you want to sign up for
- Workout classes are often scheduled in the AM only
- There is no music IN the room
- Music on the ship is inconsistent given DJs rotate every few weeks
- All the DJ sets are SHORT
- There’s no live music at the pool (or reggae vibes)
- Capacity NOW is awesome. Capacity LATER when busy, will be not awesome
- The app needs improvement
- You can’t bring a drone on this cruise
More details about ALL of this (with tons of helpful tips) can be found in the video below!
Want more helpful videos?
I’m going to be honest: I’m a super savvy traveler and I didn’t believe travel agents could get a better deal than me..
Until I was proven wrong by a *TOP 100* Virgin Voyages travel agent who beat every price I compared.
Learn more by clicking here!
Not sure if we can get you the best deal? Learn more about us in Virgin Voyages Facebook group by clicking here!
Also, there ARE ways to get a deal on a cruise. My new favorite is looking for Black Friday deals, but did you know about The Wave?! It’s the few months (December, January and March) in which the BEST cruise deals come out. Learn more in this blog post or in the video below!
Bottom Line
Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady offers a fresh new take on cruising and it’s an adults only cruise. Is it worth trying? Absolutely. The food experience is outstanding, the cabins well appointed, fantastic service, but it is not a traditional cruise.
By understanding some of they key differences (smaller ship, no buffet, adults only entertainment, a detox to retox focus on fitness, and more) only you can decide if this style of cruise might be for you!
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