SWoK asked a previous sailor what Virgin Voyages was like, and we asked them to give their opinion to us about Virgin Voyages.
I wanted to write this review about our previous experience aboard Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady. This is for anyone who loves to cruise hates to cruise, is an experienced cruiser, or has never been on a cruise before. Virgin Voyages is a different type of cruise line! From start to finish we enjoyed every minute of our cruise. The last cruise we went on before this one was my husband’s first time cruising and it was not a good experience. He said he would never cruise again. I begged him to give cruising one more try because I had heard such good things about Virgin that I wanted to give it a try. He did agree and was not disappointed. We have two more Virgin cruises booked for this year. One of the biggest things that sets Virgin apart from the rest is it is only for those 18 and over. I love my kids and grandkids, but when my husband and I take a trip for ourselves we would rather not have kids running around and screaming and yelling everywhere we turn. It was nice to get in the pool or the hot tub without kids! Just a few things I noticed about Virgin before I get into the actual trip itself. I hear people say to me all the time “I would love to go on a Virgin cruise, but they are so expensive compared to other cruise lines. “Well, I guess if you only look at the upfront price it does seem that way at first glance. The best part about Virgin is you know how much you are spending upfront. There is no extra cost to go to the fancy dining room, the shows don’t cost extra, and you don’t have to pay for an expensive drink package just because the other person in your room wants it (that can get pricey if you don’t drink or don’t drink as much), Wi-Fi is included, and gratuities. Those things all add up on other cruise lines. So, what may start as a “cheap” cruise, by the time you add on all the extra things that you enjoy while cruising you have spent more on these other lines than you would have right up front. At the end of the cruise, you could have a large bill that you may not have been prepared for and it was just for things like having a couple of sodas or mixed drinks or going to the steakhouse for dinner one evening. That’s not the case with Virgin. Since all the restaurants are included, you don’t have to only eat in certain dining rooms to avoid extra charges. You can eat at all of them!
What did you like about the bar tab and other onboard credits?
They are always offering promotions where you can practically get your bar tab and some other onboard credits for free. When you purchase a $300 bar tab before sailing, they automatically give you an extra $50. We did a $600 bar tab and got a free $100 which was nice. The drink prices are like land bar prices, so your dollars go a long way. By the end of the week, we hadn’t used all our bar tab and didn’t want it to go to waste so we had a REALLY good time at the beach club in Bimini.
They seem to always have promotions going on for free bar tabs and Sailor loot when you book. If you put a deposit
down while onboard for a later cruise, they offer you even more credit that can be combined with any promotion they have going on at the time of booking. For my next cruise, I have $1100 in credits just because of the promotion they had going on and because I put down the placeholder deposit. I will be doing that again!!!!!
For those who do not know, Sailor Loot can be used for:
What was check-in like?
The onboarding process was quick and easy. I loved the fact that they gave us these cute bracelets that we could use for everything, so we didn’t have to worry about carrying around a key card. My husband loses our room keys all the time so just knowing that we wouldn’t have to go to guest services during our trip for a new room key was exciting in itself (it’s the little things) The bracelet was how they identify you getting on and off at ports, any charges you make, and they act as your key to your staterooms.
Your first impression of your cabin on the ship?
We stayed in a balcony room, and it was so nice. They have smart cabins, so everything is controlled by an iPad in your room. When you leave the room, the lights automatically go off and the curtains close. When you re-enter, they come back on, and the curtains reopen unless it’s evening. My absolute favorite part was the hammock on the balcony. I spent a lot of time out there in the evening. I may have even fallen asleep out there a couple of times. There is just something about swaying in a hammock with the ocean breeze blowing that is so relaxing. They also provide a throw blanket for you to use for the duration of your trip which was I thought a nice little touch because I love blankets!
What were your thoughts on the restaurants on the ship?
There were so many good restaurants on the ship, and we tried to visit every single one, but it just wasn’t possible there were so many. They do recommend you make reservations for the restaurants, but we had a late reservation one evening and didn’t think we would make it, so we went about 2 hours early and they were able to accommodate us. The staff was always smiling and helpful. You could tell they enjoyed working on this ship. Our favorite place to eat was the Test Kitchen. They serve about 6 different courses, and we did the wine and cocktail pairing with that. It is an experience you do not want to miss out on. There is something to eat around the clock and even room service is included. We did that a couple of times for breakfast, so we didn’t have to venture out early and of course a few late evenings too.
Did you do anything extra at night, watch a show, go to an event?
The shows were so entertaining. A lot of adult humor and it was great since they didn’t have to worry about subject matter with little ears around. Something was going on all around the ship all day and evening. The champagne party to start off the cruise was a lot of fun with champagne for everyone to enjoy. There was music and dancing and some of the crew was doing some different circus acts around the pool. It was a great way to start the week. They have a pajama party in the evening one night where you can get together and mingle and meet other sailors. It’s a lot of fun and who doesn’t love a good theme party? One of my favorite nights was the scarlet night. Most everyone was dressed in red. I loved seeing all the different ways people expressed themselves dressed in scarlet. We saw people
in everything from costumes and onesies to casual wear and elegant wear. It was cool to see the ship turn red!! They made a big deal out of this.
Sea days vs port days, what did you do and why?
The ship offered a lot of things to do throughout the day whether docked or at sea. You can even get a tattoo on board if you feel so inclined. They have a nice area full of a bunch of games which was a great way to meet some new people. There were a few hot tubs throughout the different decks, and they seemed to be always open. We sat in one late one night just chatting with another couple. The ship is big, and we never felt crowded. There were a couple of nights it rained, and they had to move some of the outside entertainment inside but it wasn’t an issue.
Overall, what do you think about your experience onboard?
There was nothing we could find to complain about. I’ll admit I was a little nervous at first. I grew up in a very conservative household and was very sheltered. I had heard a few rumors about Virgin being “adult only” but not in the way of no kids allowed, so I wasn’t sure how comfortable I would be. What I will say on that note, is this is a very inclusive ship. It never felt like anyone was judging anyone else. Everyone was there to have a good time. I never felt uncomfortable with my surroundings at any time. It’s like a big adult spring break where everyone can be happy and carefree. It’s not a nude cruise or a swinger’s cruise as I was led to believe and I know others have been too. It’s just a place for everyone to have a great time with no children. It wasn’t scary at all! If you get the chance, you should check out Virgin Voyages. I can hardly wait for my next sailing.