January 2022

Cruising on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady is a cruise like no other

There are many aspects that set Virgin Voyages apart from the rest of the brands in the world of ocean going cruises. Most apparent is that the brand is exclusive to adults only. This alone sets Virgin apart from most other cruiselines, but there are many other things that are different cruising on Virgin.

Dining –

Like other cruise brands, there are a variety or dining options to choose from – more than you will be able to experience in a typical 5 night voyage (unless you are eating your way through the entire cruise) – and the food is very good!

Popular evening dining options include-

• The Wake (Steakhouse)
• Extra Virgin (Italian)
• Gunbae (Korean BBQ)
• Razzle Dazzle (Vegan forward with a naughy list that allows for adding protein)
• Many other options (with a total of 20+ eateries) including….

My personal favorite was Pink Agave (Mexican)…excellent traditional Mexican cuisine. Check out the 1st course-

Also notable is that many cruise ships these days offer specialty dining options at a premium price (sometime $65 additional per person) but not on Virgin – it’s all included here! There are some occasional premium items on the menu for special celebrations, but you don’t miss much if you just stick to the menu.

Wellness –

It is apparent early on that a tremendous amount of space, time and equipment that has been dedicated to wellness. Several group classes (Yoga, Spin, Core & more) – all offered complimentary (as opposed to most cruises where group classes incur additional costs), or just do your own thing in terrific workout facilities with excellent equipment and facilities – even a boxing ring.

Relax –

You can relax in your own style – whether it’s taking some time to paint a mural

or relax at one of the 2 pools on board…

or doing some shopping at one of the unique shops on board….

It’s not uncommon to relax on a cruise… but it is uncommon to take a nap in a most comfortable hammock on your own private balcony…

Note – this hammock, along with every other hammock in the fleet, was designed specifically for the ship, and crafted by a group of artisans in a remote village in Northern Thailand…just one of the small things in a long list of commitments to sustainability that is the Virgin way.

Unique Destinations and Itineraries –

Virgin will soon have 3 ships cruising various itineraries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Transatlantic on 4, 5, 7 and longer cruises.

Whether it’s in the Caribbean, or the Mediterranean, there are unique itineraries that feature destinations that you may not have previously experienced (like overnighting in Ibiza for example) or a crown jewel in the Caribbean – the Bimini Beach Club

Bimini Beach Club –

The private beach club on the Bahamian island of Bimini combines beauty, style, fun and luxe comfort. You can make the day what you want it to be – from full on pool party…

to enjoying excellent food & beverage offerings,  to chilling on a pristine beach and an incredible sunset…

Bar Tab –

Virgin’s Bar Tab is a good value for those wanting to add some premium coffees from the baristas or premium alcoholic beverages from the mixologists. Alcohol drinks price resonable to start with (they are not included in the cruise fare and beverage packages are not offered) but you can get a better value by pre-purchasing a Bar Tab for $300 and when you do you get an extra $50 for a total of $350 on-board spend (at the time of writing this post). My wife and I like to enjoy a nice glass of wine (or 2) with dinner, and a pre-dinner cocktail (or 3), and we had plenty of room on our bar tab…even enough to “Shake for Champagne” on the app (where you can literally shake your app to have a bottle of Moet & Chandon deliverd to your specific location on board)!

See much more in the video with some cruise highlights below…