A little while back I finally took my first cruise on Virgin Voyages. As a travel professional, I'm paid to be critical. As a shy introvert, I'm used to being a wallflower. I never imagined a cruise ship would be the place I'd feel free enough to dance in a pool full of strangers. But Virgin Voyages isn't just a cruise; it's an experience that helped me break out of my shell. Here’s how.
Virgin Voyages planned to launch the Scarlet Lady in March 2020. And, well, yeah that didn’t happen for … reasons. But eventually cruises were allowed to sail again. And in the midst of a very stressful year-and-a-half that included my beloved furbaby passing away from lymphoma, I needed a real break and a chance to restore my energy and my joy. I jumped at the chance to finally sail with Virgin Voyages.
And it was stunning.
I didn’t just go on a vacation; I experienced a shift in how I see cruising. As a Travel Advisor, I can be pretty exacting and critical. But this? This was a vibe.
What Makes Virgin Voyages Different?
Before I get into the personal experience, let me describe how Virgin Voyages stands apart in the cruising world.
Sophisticated, But Not Stuffy
What is luxury? It’s a question that plagues the travel industry. In most cases, people think luxury means fancy clothes, far-too-expensive wines, and a self-important attitude that looks down on the “little people.” Screw all that.
At Outward Travel, luxury means crafting an experience that gives you what you want, where you want it, when you need it. And that’s Virgin Voyages.
This is not a cheap cruise, to be perfectly honest. But it’s not out of reach, either. And boy-howdy do you get more than what you pay for. I like to call it “sophistication without stuffiness.”
The ships are gorgeous. They are not monsters, they are well appointed. Yacht-like design on an affordable scale. The common spaces feel like stepping into professionally designed galleries, because they actually are designed by some of the best interior designers and decorators in the world.
The staterooms are an incredible home away from home. All cruise cabins are a wee bit small but these don't feel like it. The SeaBed concerts from sofa to comfy bed, so if you want sleep, you're good. You want to host all your new friends and the floor space opens up like Moses And the Red Sea.
The Most Value All Included
When you pay more, you expect more. With Virgin Voyages, you get more. I already described the ambiance, but we're talking hard dollars in this section. Here's the not-so-basics that are included:
Gratuities. Yup, no tips. No tips at bars, restaurants, for your stateroom attendant, nowhere. The crew actually isn't allowed to accept tips (though they might on the sly if you're really happy with them, or they're cute, but generally, no)
All Food. All of it. Everywhere on the ship. There are no add-on specialty restaurants that cost extra. All the snacks, the ice cream parlour, the restaurants, all of it. And the food is gooooood.
Basic Bevvies. All soda, water, drip coffee, tea, etc are all included. That may sound weird but some cruise lines do actually charge for anything but water. The only drinks that Virgin Voyages charges for are alcohol, specialty coffee, and fresh squeezed juices.
Standard WiFi. No need to pay $20 per day for Internet. Basic WiFi, which is good enough for email, social media, and even some streaming, is free. You can also upgrade for a reasonable price if you need a little more speed (looking at you, Road Warriors, Content Creators, and Streamers)
Group Fitness Classes. If you enjoy a bit of exercise as part of unwinding, there are some fantastic fitness spaces onboard these ships, and group classes are all included.
Entertainment. Most cruise lines have free shows, but not like Virgin’s. They have worked with some awesome creative houses to create fully customized shows that include acrobatics, comedy, song-and-dance, and their own resident drag queen.
So What’s a Travel Professional’s Opinion about Virgin Voyages?
In short, I think they have created an incredible cruise experience. It may not be for everyone, but for those who want to travel without kids, who want excellence in their experiences, don’t want a typical cruise, and enjoy a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, it’s perfect.
Food onboard Virgin Voyages
Delicious Yogurt Parfait on Virgin Voyages
The Mushroom Souffle at the Test Kitchen on Virgin Voyages
Steak Dish at Test Kitchen on Virgin Voyages
Delicious Fruit Dish on Virgin Voyages
A sneaky dessert on Virgin Voyages. Is it a fruit, or ice cream?
Some amazing octopus skewers at the Dock House on a Virgin Voyages ship
Smoked peas with egg yolk at the Virgin Voyages Test Kitchen
Jalepeno shredded beef on Virgin Voayages ship, from Pink Agave
Meal at Gunbae on Virgin Voyages
The Food: Virgin Voyages Restaurants are Really Good
I was on a different cruise line recently and found myself in the buffet. Huge rows of food of all kinds, and none of it was all that appetizing. There’s just something disenchanting about buckets of noodles, soft steaks, and salad ingredients that have all been sitting out for an hour that banishes my appetite.
On Virgin Voyages, there is no buffet. Instead, there are specialty restaurants throughout the ship that focus on a particular culinary theme and make your food fresh to order. Apart from the sit-down restaurants, there’s the Galley which is a food hall of 10+ mini-restaurants (all made to order) ranging from poke bowls to cheeseburgers. And those sit-down restaurants are something special too. Brunch at The Wake was divine, and the Latin fare at Pink Agave was heavenly (and even better than I’ve had in Mexico).
And since it’s all included, there are no limits. Can’t decide between entrees? Have a little bit of both! Go to the Dock House for a quick savory bite and then Lick Me ‘Til Ice Scream for dessert.
The Winner: The Test Kitchen
If you are a foodie, you must absolutely have a meal at Test Kitchen. This is truly experimental culinary fare, and it’s something incredible. I don’t want to spoil the surprises, but do know that your meal at Test Kitchen would cost hundreds of dollars on land. From the mushroom mousse (that I thought was an actual mushroom) to the smoked peas, every bite was a symphony of flavors in my mouth.
About the Drinks
Virgin Voyages does not do drink packages, but that doesn’t make it more expensive. You can pre-purchase a Bar Tab and get a little bonus (such as an extra $50 on a $300 prepaid tab), and that could easily last you the whole cruise. The drinks are not expensive - they are definitely cheaper than what I’ve paid in Denver or New York City, and they are incredibly creative and tasty, with a higher degree of mixology excellence than ones that cost twice as much.
Have you ever had a buzz button? That cocktail was the first time I’d ever experienced it, and the tingly sensation was so rad, I’d have gotten more if there weren’t two dozen more fascinating drinks to try. And if you’re not a drinker, that’s no problem either. They have a huge menu at every bar of mocktails that are just as creative as their boozy cousins.
The Best Cruise for Service & Hospitality
Hospitality and service are among my chief criteria for evaluating a travel offering. If the place is beautiful but the people are unfriendly, it’s not worth going to. Virgin Voyages is in the top three experiences I’ve had where the hospitality made all the difference (the others are Sandals and the Sonnenalp Vail).
On most cruises, you have a Cruise Director. They are the single person in charge of all the entertainment and customer happiness during the cruise. But when it’s one person for hundred or a couple thousand—they are just a name and a far-away face. Instead of a cruise director, Virgin Voyages have the Happenings Cast - a dozen people who specialize in a particular feature of the cruise (like food, gaming, fitness, or more) and every one of them is approachable, friendly, and actually cares about you having a great time.
But it’s not just the up-front faces that make the cruise special - hospitality is core to the personality of every crew member. And it’s not because they are looking for a tip - the gratuities are included and the crew doesn’t even accept tips. They all legitimately care about ensuring you have a great time. Here are three ways I saw their stellar hospitality in action:
A Virgin Voyages crew member welcoming guests onbaord.
The Diva and The Spark, part of the Happenings Cast, at Drag Queen Bingo
Stand Up Comic Alvin Williams performing on Virgin Voyages
Jeof and Friends posing for a selfie with The Gamer, part of the Happenings Cast
The Diva, part of the Happenings Cast, during her signature show onboard Virgin Voyages
A member of the bridge crew on Virgin Voyages
Innocuous Feedback Led to Free Champagne
Every day the Sailor App asks how your day was and if you have feedback. I submitted some very innocuous and unimportant feedback about my stateroom. I’d asked the stateroom attendant to convert my room from “bed mode” to “couch mode” but the linens were just stacked on the edge of the bed. It’s no big deal, but I thought there could be a more elegant solution in the future. I was very clear it was no big deal, and yet when I returned to my room there was a bottle of bubbly waiting on ice as a thank-you for the feedback.
The Lost Phone
One of my new friends on board left her phone in a venue. She went back for it pretty quickly, but it was already taken to Sailor Services. When she went to the customer service desk to retrieve it, not only did they have it waiting for her, but they noticed the battery was getting a little low so they had it on a charger waiting for her. She got her phone back—with a nearly full battery!
Hunting Me Down to Make It Right
One of my other new friends on board had a negative experience at a bar on the first night. I personally wasn’t happy about it and did send feedback on the app. Three nights later, the Head of Food Service stopped by my table at Gunbae to apologize and make it right with some free drinks.
But why did it take three days? Because I kept changing my dining reservations at the last minute. It turns out he had been going to every restaurant I was supposed to be at looking for me—for the whole cruise. He finally tracked me down to ensure I knew management heard my feedback and was going to make it right.
I have a bunch more examples from just a four-day cruise. But throughout every single interaction, by every single crew member, one thing was crystal clear: the entire crew cares about you having a great experience.
My Cabin on a Virgin Voyages Cruise, showing my Seabed converted to couch mode ... and also all my stuff everywhere.
Sip: The champagne (and high tea) bar on Virgin Voyages
The Wellbeing Pool area onboard Virgin Voyages
The main pool on Virgin Voyages, with luxurious pool-side double-wide loungers perfect for soaking in some sun.
One of the hot tubs onboard Virgin Voyages. Relaxation to the max.
Comfort at Every Turn
I mentioned earlier that the ships have a yacht-like feel at scale. That’s no joke, and it’s not hype. These ships really are gorgeous and super comfortable.
A lot of times, the cabin on a cruise ship feels cramped. That’s fine for people who think they should be out and about on the ship, doing all the things. For some of us who need a little downtime, the cabins are a perfect refuge. From the Seabed that easily converts from bed to couch, to the glamorous desk area and side chair. The cabins are smart too - with the tap of a button the control panel will dim the lights, close the curtains, and bring up the movie selection for an easy couple of hours of rest. If you want to cuddle with your bae(s) or simply zone out before bed, these are incredible sanctuaries.
And let’s not forget about Virgin Voyage’s signature cabin feature: the Hammock. The vast majority of cabins have balconies, and all but a few of those have the most comfortable hammock you’ll ever lie in. When you’re at sea, or even in port, there’s nothing quite like watching the world go by slowly, suspended in a cradle of comfort.
Pro Tip #1: We’ve heard a lot of stories of couples “fighting” over the hammock. The new Brilliant Lady is a little narrower (to fit through the Panama Canal) and so the cabins are a little smaller, but they make up for it by having two hammocks on many of the balconies.
Pro Tip #2: There are always cameras on the outside of a ship and the bridge does extend outward to see some of the cabins. If you prefer to be outside au natural, get a cabin toward the middle or rear of the ship—and don’t go textile-less when you’re in port.
An Atmosphere of Acceptance From the Moment You Board
As a fairly shy introvert, I’m more wallflower than party animal. Yet one of the most remarkable aspects of my cruise on Virgin Voyages was the feeling of acceptance throughout the experience. Sure, some events—like the Grog Walk—are definitely geared toward extroverts and I kind of hated that one. But most of the time, I felt free to be myself, or whoever I wanted to be that day.
Even if you’re not a party person, the parties are great. You can be a wallflower if you prefer, and just soak it all in, and you still won’t feel left out. Scarlet Night is not so much a party but an ship-wide experience. The Pajama Party is just a fun, if perhaps a bit too loud, night to hang out in your comfy gear. And if you are onboard wanting to break out of your shell a little bit, get in the pool and dance like I did.
The Most Important Takeaway: I Broke Out of My Shell
I mentioned I’m an introvert. But this cruise was an opportunity to cut loose, to recover from a stressful year, and even find myself a little bit. In just four days, Virgin Voyages helped me embrace a different part of myself, and that is why it will always be my favorite cruise experience.
I climbed aboard as a solo traveler. And yet it was so easy to make new friends. A fellow gay guy and his best gal pal became my travel buddies, and we had an amazing time together. On Virgin Voyages, everyone is welcome and everyone is eager to welcome each other.
There are all sorts of people on board. The average age is mid-to-late 40s, but there are plenty of people older and younger than that. The thing about Virgin Voyage travelers is that they don’t get all caught up in their own crap — everyone is there to have a good time no matter who you are, where you come from, or who you love.
I normally don’t do well at parties, I tend to be more of a wallflower and legitimately enjoy watching the festivities. But at multiple pool-deck parties, I not only cut loose but I danced in the pool (I am so not a dancer). I never felt more free, more relaxed, or more expressive in my whole life.
My short cruise on Virgin Voyages wasn’t just a vacation, it was healing. So know this: If you've ever felt too shy, too anxious, or too introverted to take the trip you've been dreaming of, this is your sign. Virgin Voyages isn't just a vacation; it’s a space to rediscover yourself. Let us help you get there.
