Cruise Lines · Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages Cruises, Booked by Travel Consultants Who Sail Them
What sailing Virgin actually feels like
We have sailed Virgin since the very beginning. Our team was aboard Scarlet Lady’s maiden voyage out of Miami during the pandemic, and between us we have now sailed more than 21 Virgin voyages on Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady. What follows comes from all of those sailings, with recent detail from our March 2026 week on Resilient Lady.
Every announcement and every event on Virgin starts with “Ahoy, Sailors!” and you are expected to shout it back. By day two it is second nature. That sets the tone: Virgin is high energy and playful, with a cast in red at the sail-away party and not a face on deck without a smile.
What stands out, voyage after voyage, is the people. Sailors on Virgin are open and easy to talk to. On our March 2026 sailing alone we met two couples on their first Virgin cruise in the first few hours and shared dinners with them all week. With no children on board, adults set aside the parent role for a few days and simply enjoy themselves.
The entertainment is built for grown-ups. The late show Miss Behaving is crass, profane and very funny, and candidly not one to watch with your 18-year-old. If that sounds like a lot, the ship also has quiet corners, a library nook above the Roundabout on deck 7, and lounge singers in the evening.
Read our day-by-day report from Resilient Lady, March 2026, in Under the Compass.
Is a RockStar suite worth it?
For us, yes. RockStar sailors board through a short priority line, are met by a dedicated RockStar agent and a glass of champagne, and have access to Richard’s Rooftop, a calm deck reserved for suite guests. On a sea day when every chair around the main pool was taken, the Rooftop was the most restful place on the ship.
Suites also include free ShipEats delivery to your cabin. A RockStar suite costs more than a Sea Terrace cabin, so we price both for every client and show the difference before you choose. Many couples find a Sea Terrace is plenty; others, like us, find the suite changes the whole week.
Our first stop after boarding was The Dock, the open-air bar at the stern, for small plates. Order the hanger steak only if you are ready for “just one more plate.”
Where to eat on Virgin
Every restaurant is included, and there are no main dining rooms, so reservations matter. These are the ones we booked and would book again:
- Extra Virgin (Italian). Our favorite. The bolognese is the dish to order here, and the Florentine-style steak is every bit as good. The mini meatballs make a fine starter, and the Chianti Reserva is worth a glass.
- The Wake (steak and seafood). The brunch eggs Benedict and French toast were the most indulgent meal of the week.
- Test Kitchen (a five-course tasting menu with a vegetarian option). Small plates, but we left full.
- The Galley (casual food hall). Busy by 7 AM, quick service and a good Americano.
What’s included in a Virgin Voyages fare, and what isn’t
Included
- Every restaurant on board
- Basic Wi-Fi for browsing and messaging
- Group fitness classes
- Water, coffee, tea and soda
- Shows, the arcade and karaoke rooms
Extra
- Gratuities, charged separately since October 2025. Prepaying before you sail costs less than paying on board.
- Cocktails, wine and specialty coffee
- Faster Wi-Fi or more devices
- Spa treatments
- Shore excursions
Choosing a fare: why we recommend Essential
Virgin’s VoyageFair Choices pricing sells Sea Terrace cabins and below at three fare levels. The lower the price, the less flexibility you keep:
| Base | Essential Our pick | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refunds | None, from the day you book. No future voyage credit. | Refund or future voyage credit up to 45 days before sailing | Most flexible: refund, credit or transfer up to 48 hours before sailing |
| Your cabin | Assigned by Virgin | You choose it | You choose it |
| Restaurant bookings open | 15 days before sailing | 45 days before | 60 days before |
| Name changes | None | Guests 2 to 4 only | Any guest |
| Wi-Fi | Basic, 1 device | Classic, 1 device | Premium, 2 devices |
| Extras | None | None | $15 per person, per night bar tab |
Lock It In rates are Virgin’s lowest prices and the least flexible of all: use it or lose it, with no changes, no refund, a cabin assigned a few days before you sail, and restaurant bookings only 14 days out.
For most clients we recommend Essential. It keeps your refund window open until 45 days before sailing and, above all, lets us choose your cabin with you. Premium makes sense if you plan to order drinks on board anyway or want the most flexibility. Gratuities are separate on every fare, currently $20 per person per night prepaid or $22 paid on board.
Why your cabin choice matters
Cabin selection is where we add the most. Book online or call the cruise line and you get whatever cabin the system offers; nobody looks at where it sits on the ship. We know these ships: which cabins sit beside busy corridors or late-night venues, where you feel the most motion, and which positions are the quietest. We start with how you like to travel, search what is actually available, and choose the best cabin with you. Most people do not know they have these options. Getting the cabin right is the first step to getting the whole voyage right.
See how inclusions compare across cruise lines.
Inclusions and fare rules are set by Virgin Voyages and can change. We confirm the current terms for your sailing before you book.
Port days on Virgin
Our Western Caribbean sailing called at Roatán, Costa Maya and Cozumel, three of the best dive destinations in the Caribbean. Two lessons from those days:
- Pick your gangway time. When several ships are in port, either be in the first wave off or wait about an hour after the call. Both work. The crowd in between does not.
- Be back an hour early. You will board without a line and have time to get ready for dinner.
Diving is not sold as a Virgin excursion, so we arrange it with vetted local operators. Every cruise booked with us includes Shore Secrets, our own port guide with offline maps for each stop.
The Virgin Voyages fleet
| Ship | In service | Where we sail her |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Lady | 2021 | Caribbean from Miami |
| Valiant Lady | 2022 | Caribbean from Miami; Northern Europe from Amsterdam |
| Resilient Lady | 2023 | Western Caribbean from Miami |
| Brilliant Lady | 2025 | Alaska from Seattle |
The four ships are near-identical in size and layout, so the itinerary and dates usually decide which one is right for you. Not sure Virgin is the right line for this trip?
Our upcoming Virgin Voyages sailings
We hold group space on these sailings, and every cabin includes Shore Secrets.
See all our hosted group sailings.
Virgin Voyages questions we hear
Is Virgin Voyages adults only?
Yes. Every sailor must be 18 or older. If you are traveling with children, we will point you to a line built for families instead.
Are gratuities included on Virgin Voyages?
Not anymore. Since October 2025, gratuities are charged separately from the fare. You can prepay them before you sail at a lower daily rate than paying on board, and we set that up when you book.
Does it cost more to book Virgin Voyages through a travel consultant?
No. You pay the same fare as booking direct with Virgin. Through us you also get Gold Level First Mates who have sailed all four ships, a cabin chosen for how you travel rather than assigned by a computer, and Shore Secrets port guides for every stop.
Should I book Virgin’s Lock It In rate?
Only if your dates are certain and the cabin location does not matter to you. Lock It In costs less, but it is use it or lose it: no changes, no refund, a cabin assigned a few days before you sail, and no restaurant bookings until 14 days out. For most clients we recommend the Essential fare, so we can choose your cabin with you.
Is a RockStar suite worth the extra cost?
For us it was. The priority boarding, the RockStar agent and Richard’s Rooftop made a busy ship feel calm when we wanted it to. We price a suite and a Sea Terrace side by side so you can decide with real numbers.
What should I wear for Scarlet Night?
Red, and as much of it as you like. Women often wear a red cocktail dress; men wear a red shirt or a statement red jacket. If you will be near the pool, bring a second red outfit you do not mind getting wet.
Which Virgin Voyages ship is best?
We have sailed all four, and they are near-identical, so choose by itinerary and dates first. For Caribbean sailings from Miami, Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady are all excellent; Brilliant Lady is the newest and sails Alaska from Seattle in summer 2027.
Plan your Virgin Voyage with someone who has sailed it
Tell us how you like to travel, and your Aurévia travel consultant will reply within one business day with ship, cabin and fare options. Let us hold your cabin.