What if there was a cruise line that didn’t require a “formal dress night” or have set dining times with assigned seating among strangers, and there were no buffets? What if specialty dining at unique restaurants was included, and it was an adults-only cruise? These are the questions that Sir Richard Branson wanted to tackle when creating his new cruise line. He has definitely rocked the boat with his brand new Virgin Voyages, which set sail in the fall of 2021. This adults-only cruise line provides 20 restaurants and none of which feature buffet-style dining. All meals are included with each Virgin Voyages fare, so there aren’t any surprises with the bill. There are a variety of late-night dining options, as well as high-end experiences. There are no set dining times, no forced group dining, and the cruise fare includes wifi and gratuities. This past fall, the first ship to launch was the Scarlet Lady, which has 1330 cabins plus 78 rock star suites.
Branson also added a tech experience to this cruise line, with an easy-to-use wristband that is the key to your cabin, as well as what you use to purchase drinks and excursions. There is also a convenient app that allows cruisers to purchase tours, reserve dining times, book show tickets, communicate with guest services, and keep an eye on the onboard spending tab.
Virgin Voyages features outside-of-the-box entertainment in several different venues. For those that want to stay up late, there are pool parties, nightclubs, and hip musical performances often taking place simultaneously in different areas of the ship. There is also a state-of-the-art gym with several daily classes from HIIT to yoga to aerial fitness. There is no additional fee for any of the classes. There is a beautiful spa, a top deck walking track, a pool, Jacuzzi’s, a basketball court, a casino and several shops on board, including a vinyl record store. There is a barbershop and the world famous “Squid Ink” tattoo parlor.
Currently, the Scarlet Lady is sailing from Miami on 3 or 4-night itineraries to the Caribbean. Within weeks, Virgin Voyages 2nd ship, the Valiant Lady, makes her debut. The Valiant Lady will be sailing in the Mediterranean, offering 7-13 day itineraries.
I was fortunate to sail on the Scarlet Lady in February. Having sailed on over 30+ different cruises, the new Virgin Voyages provided one of the best cruise experiences I have ever had. The crew, servers, and activity personnel go above and beyond and take service to a whole new level! Currently, Virgin Voyages is offering amazing promotions that include $100 cabin credit and solo traveler sales. If you are interested in sailing on one of the new Virgin Voyages ships, please contact VIP Vacations as they are the only travel agency in the valley with 3 gold tier Virgin Voyages specialists that have already sailed on the beautiful Scarlet Lady and have access to the latest sales and deals!
