Have you heard about the newest Adults Only Cruise Line that is changing the cruise game?

Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady had its first sailing in 2021 and I just returned from 4 incredible nights aboard this ship!

So what makes Virgin Voyages different from other cruise lines? There are so many ways! I’ll highlight just a few!

First, let’s talk about food! Food is a huge part of cruising and one of the most important aspects of a cruise for a lot of people. Virgin Voyages has done away with the traditional buffet. Instead, you order from a variety of food stands. Everything is prepared fresh and it’s all you care to eat!

In addition to the Gallery, there are 20+ eateries that are included in your cruise fare! Choose from the classic steak and sea house, The Wake; Razzle Dazzle, a vegetarian forward restaurant serving contemporary American fare; Test Kitchen, a laboratory-like eatery that is part cooking school and part restaurant; Pink Agave, (quite possibly my favorite meal on my cruise), Scarlet Lady’s upscale Mexican restaurant that offers authentic dishes including tlayudas, memelas, sopes, tortas, esquites, tamales and an expansive array of mezcals; Gunbae is a traditional Japanese Steakhouse; and Extra Virgin, is a delicious Italian eatery. I enjoyed tableside Gelato for dessert at Extra Virgin and it was heavenly!

Reservations are recommended for the above restaurants, but walk ups may be available.

In addition to the sit down restaurants, there are several options for snacks and quick bites! My favorite was Lick Me Till Ice Cream, a delicous ice cream shop. There’s also a pizza place, a gaming bar with popcorn, pretzels, wings and sweet treats, plus lots of yummy pastries available at the 2 coffee shops on board.

Another area where Virgin Voyages really switches things up is in the area of entertainment. You are not going to find traditional cruise entertainment, such as Broadway style shows or stand up comedians onboard.

On our sailing, we took in an extremely high energy drag show, a wacky game show/variety show mix and a modern re-telling of Romeo and Juliet using dance, acrobatics and music. There was never a dull moment and we were so impressed by the talent onboard!

Let’s talk about our beautiful stateroom! This is not your typical cabin! It’s hard to choose what my favorite feature was! I was obsessed with the ability to transform the bed into a sofa to open up the room. I also loved my balcony hammock and rainshower head in the bathroom. The stateroom controls are operated on a tablet and there are some fun lighting surprises!

If you are looking for excitement, there’s plenty to keep you busy, but there are also so many places to relax! In addition to your typical pools and hot tubs, I was really struck by the number of wide open spaces, both inside and out on the decks. It was easy to find a quiet spot to sunbathe, read or even nap.

One last difference is that Virgin Voyages does not offer a beverage package. All sailings include what Virgin considers Essential Drinks (Soda, juices, drip coffee, water). When it comes to alcohol, smoothies, fresh pressed juices or hand crafted coffees, Virgin offers a Bar Tab. Current promotions include up to a $600 Bar Tab. On our 4 night sailing, my husband and I had a $300 bar tab promo and still had over $100 left when we disembarked. Virgin Voyages prides themselves on the affordability of their beverages.

According to Virgin’s website, “We will always offer a single digit option inclusive of gratuity for bubbles, rose, white, red, house spirits and/or beer in every outlet. 70% of our wines by the glass are less than $15 versus 59% of the other premium cruise line, 46% of the urban restaurant and 57% of the boutique hotel.”

Virgin Voyages inclusions are another area where they stand out from other cruise lines. WiFi and all tips and gratuities are included in your cruise fare.

If you would like more information about Virgin Voyages and their other ships and itineraries, you can contact me at Jen.mcgurn@marvelousmousetravels or review options at https://tinyurl.com/VV2023JM.