The Ultimate Guide to Virgin Voyages

• Exclusively Adult Sanctuary: An 18+ boutique hotel experience at sea with zero kids, zero buffets, and zero formal dress codes across the four Lady Ships.

• Unmatched Upfront Value: All 20+ speciality eateries, Wi-Fi, essential drinks, group fitness, and tips included as standard in your fare.

• The Bar Tab Revolution: Say goodbye to rigid, expensive daily drink packages with Virgin's flexible prepaid credit system.

When Sir Richard Branson set out to launch Virgin Voyages, his ambition was clear: create a cruise line for people who thought they would never step foot on a cruise ship.

By doing away with traditional maritime rules, Virgin Voyages has crafted a modern, relaxed, adults-only sanctuary at sea that feels far more like an upscale boutique hotel than a conventional ocean liner.

Whether you are planning your first trip or looking to break away from traditional cruise norms, here is everything you need to know about sailing with Virgin Voyages.

1. The Adults-Only Experience: Exclusively for Sailors

A Relaxed, Kid-Free Sanctuary

Virgin Voyages is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. By removing family areas, waterslides, and children's clubs, the onboard atmosphere stays remarkably calm, sophisticated, and social.

Guests on board are warmly referred to as "Sailors," while staff members are known simply as "Crew," fostering an informal and welcoming community.

No Formal Nights or Rigid Schedules

Forget packing tuxedos, ballgowns, or suit jackets. Virgin Voyages eliminates formal nights, assigned communal dining tables, and set dining times.

Sailors are invited to dress in whatever makes them feel confident, whether that is relaxed shorts by day or stylish resort wear for late-night cocktails.

2. The Fleet: Meet the Four "Lady Ships"

Virgin Voyages operates four identical sister ships, affectionately known as the "Lady Ships". Built with superyacht-inspired aesthetics, each vessel accommodates approximately 2,700 Sailors and shares the signature red accents, boutique layout, and adults-only atmosphere.

Scarlet Lady

The flagship that started it all, Scarlet Lady introduced Virgin’s fresh vision to the cruise world. Operating primarily out of Miami and the Caribbean, her itineraries feature sun-soaked routes with stops at the exclusive Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas.

Valiant Lady

Valiant Lady brought Virgin’s boutique style to European and British Isles waters. Offering itineraries ranging from roundtrip sailings out of Portsmouth to Mediterranean island hops, she provides rich routes packed with late-night port stays.

Resilient Lady

Resilient Lady expanded the brand's global footprint, sailing dynamic itineraries across Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, and beyond.

Brilliant Lady

The newest addition to the fleet, Brilliant Lady features subtle design refinements while maintaining the iconic Lady Ship layout. She tours North American coastlines, Caribbean waters, and specialised itineraries across the continent.

3. What Is Always Included: Unbeatable Upfront Value

One of Virgin Voyages' greatest unique selling propositions is its transparent pricing structure. Rather than charging extra for every small convenience throughout your holiday, the initial fare covers nearly every essential element of your trip:

• 20+ Unique Eateries: Dine at any speciality restaurant on board with zero cover charges or mandatory upcharges.

• Essential Drinks: Still and sparkling water, non-drip coffees, artisanal teas, soft drinks, and non-pressed juices are complimentary across every venue.

• Unlimited Wi-Fi: Stay connected throughout your voyage without paying for daily internet packages.

• All Gratuities & Tips: All crew tips and service charges are bundled directly into your fare.

• Group Fitness Classes: Join yoga, spin, HIIT, outdoor boxing, and bungee classes at no extra cost.

• Festival-Style Entertainment: Enjoy access to all immersive shows, live gigs, and pop-up events across the ship.

While traditional cruise lines often charge upwards of £25 to £35 per person per night for speciality dining, Virgin Voyages includes every single venue in your base fare.

4. Drinks On Board: Fair Prices and the Bar Tab System

Reasonable Onboard Pricing with Zero Hidden Service Charges

Unlike traditional cruise lines that tack an extra 18% to 20% service fee onto every drink ordered at the bar, Virgin Voyages builds all gratuities directly into the listed price. Onboard prices are kept fair and comparable to upscale bars in major cities:

• Draught & Bottled Beers: Starting from $6 to $7

• Craft Cocktails: Averaging $10 to $14

• Wine by the Glass: Over 40% of the wine list is available under $11 per glass

Essential Hydration Included for Free

Sailors do not need to spend a single penny on non-alcoholic essentials. Still and sparkling water, sodas, drip coffee, teas, and non-pressed juices are complimentary across all venues and dining spots throughout the entire voyage.

How the Bar Tab Works: Virgin's Package Alternative

Virgin Voyages does not offer traditional, unlimited daily drink packages. On conventional lines, these packages can cost £60 to £90 per person per day and often require every adult sharing a cabin to buy one, regardless of how much each person actually drinks.

Instead, Virgin offers total spending flexibility with the Bar Tab, a prepaid credit system that gives Sailors extra spending power on the house:

• $300 Bar Tab: Pre-purchase before you sail and receive a $50 bonus top-up ($350 total spending power).

• $1,000 Bar Tab: Pre-purchase before you sail and receive a $250 bonus top-up ($1,250 total spending power).

Bar Tabs can be used for alcoholic beverages, barista-made speciality coffees, fresh-pressed juices, and smoothies. Best of all, unlike rigid daily packages, a Bar Tab can be shared freely with cabin mates, family, or friends to buy rounds on board or at The Beach Club at Bimini.

5. Revolutionary Dining: 20+ Eateries with Zero Buffets

Virgin Voyages has completely eliminated traditional main dining rooms and buffet lines. Instead, every meal is cooked fresh to order across more than 20 distinct venues, all included in your fare.

The Wake

An elegant, aft-facing steakhouse and seafood venue serving filet mignon, clam chowder, and fresh oysters alongside sweeping views of the ship's wake.

Gunbae

A high-energy Korean BBQ restaurant where guests sit at interactive round tables with built-in flaming grills to enjoy seasoned meats, seafood, and lively social drinking games led by the crew.

Pink Agave

An upscale Mexican restaurant featuring elevated regional specialities, gourmet tacos, and curated mezcal pairings set beneath dramatic metallic archways.

Razzle Dazzle

A vibrant, plant-forward eatery offering creative vegetarian and vegan dishes alongside a cheeky selection of comfort foods for meat lovers.

Extra Virgin

An intimate Italian trattoria serving hand-crafted daily pastas, regional Italian wines, cured meats, and tableside affogato.

The Galley

A modern food hall replacing the traditional cruise buffet, offering made-to-order options like fresh sushi, tacos, diner burgers, paninis, and noodle bowls.

6. A Full Range of Cabins: From Insiders to RockStar Suites

Virgin Voyages offers a versatile array of accommodations designed with ambient mood lighting, clean modern aesthetics, and integrated room controls via an in-room tablet.

Insider Cabins

Ideal for Sailors who plan to spend most of their time enjoying the ship, Insider cabins offer cosy, stylish, windowless retreats featuring mood-lighting presets and smart room technology:

• Standard Insider: A comfortable, space-efficient option for couples or duo travellers.

• Solo Insider: Purpose-built specifically for independent travellers. These cosy single-occupancy rooms mean solo cruisers do not have to pay unfair single supplements.

• Social Insider: Designed with groups of friends or family in mind, these unique cabins feature comfortable bunk-bed configurations that accommodate up to four Sailors.

Sea View Cabins

Featuring a large porthole window right near the water level, Sea View cabins combine natural ocean light with space-efficient design.

Virgin also offers dedicated Solo Sea View cabins, ensuring solo travellers can enjoy ocean views without paying for double occupancy.

Sea Terrace Cabins: Seabeds and Red Hammocks

The most popular accommodation category on board, Sea Terrace cabins feature private outdoor balconies with ocean views. These rooms highlight two of Virgin Voyages' most famous design innovations:

• The Convertible Seabed: Most Sea Terrace rooms feature a customisable bed that transforms from a king-sized mattress into an L-shaped sofa during the day, giving Sailors extra floor space to relax or entertain.

• The Red Balcony Hammock: Every Sea Terrace balcony comes fitted with Virgin's signature red hand-woven hammock. These comfortable hammocks are hand-crafted by artisan women in Thailand through a social enterprise partnership, offering an idyllic spot to lounge over the waves.

RockStar and Mega RockStar Quarters

For Sailors seeking the ultimate VIP treatment, Virgin offers extravagant suite accommodations with exclusive perks:

• Access to Richard's Rooftop, an exclusive private sun deck with dedicated bar service.

• Dedicated agent service to handle dining reservations, shore excursions, and onboard requests.

• In-room cocktail bar setups and complimentary access to the Thermal Suite for Mega RockStar guests.

7. Nightlife, Scarlet Night, and Shake for Champagne

The Manor Nightclub and Iconic Starburst Tunnel

Named in honour of Sir Richard Branson's legendary first music recording studio, The Manor is the ship's signature two-story nightclub.

Famous for its shimmering, mirror-lined starburst entry tunnel, unquestionably the most Instagrammed spot at sea, The Manor hosts everything from late-night DJ sets and live music gigs to edgy cabaret performances and immersive theatrical shows.

Boundary-Pushing Entertainment

Say goodbye to traditional Broadway revues. Entertainment on Virgin Voyages is curated by world-class directors and choreographers.

The primary performance space, The Red Room, is a transformable multi-form theatre that shifts from a traditional stage into an alleyway arena or flat-floor dance hall for acrobatic shows and immersive gigs.

Scarlet Night Celebrations

The climax of every voyage is Scarlet Night, a ship-wide celebration where Sailors dress in red as the entire vessel transforms with red lighting, pop-up performances, giant art installations, and a late-night pool party.

Shake for Champagne

The fun extends into the Virgin Voyages mobile app, which features the famous Shake for Champagne service.

With a simple shake of your phone anywhere on board, a chilled bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne can be delivered directly to your location, complete with champagne flutes.

Is Virgin Voyages Right for Your Next Cruise?

Virgin Voyages stands out as a genuine pioneer in the cruise industry. By combining an adults-only sanctuary with a stunning fleet of four Lady Ships, incredible culinary variety, generous inclusions, fair drink pricing, and flexible Bar Tab bonuses, Sir Richard Branson’s line offers an unmatched way to explore the oceans on your own terms.