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30 Essential Virgin Voyages Tips You Need to Know For A Successful Sailing

When you sail with Virgin Voyages, you enter a world where cruising rules are redefined. While you may recognize some elements from traditional cruises, these Virgin Voyages tips will guide you through booking, preparing, and, as well as what to expect when you step aboard one of their distinctive ‘Lady Ships”.

We are seasoned cruisers, but sailing with Virgin Voyages felt almost like being first-time cruisers again. It was an experience, from booking the cruise to finding our way around the ship. We were proactive and booked our dining reservations 45 days in advance, which was important to us to be able to enjoy the fantastic dining experiences onboard. Also, connecting to the ship’s Wi-Fi as soon as we got to the terminal allowed us to quickly book our preferred ‘Shore Things’ with the sailor loot we had.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission at no extra cost. Please refer to our  full disclosure  for details.

We’re not just sharing tips for a Virgin Voyages cruise; we’re giving you the essential Virgin Voyages tips you need to plan a successful cruise.

Table of Contents

Understand the Value of All-Inclusive Rates on Virgin Voyages

Don’t be discouraged by the initial rates; remember, it’s all included on a Virgin Voyages cruise. Most importantly, it will be an ADULT ONLY cruise. When booking my first cruise, I initially found the pricing confusing. Unlike other cruise lines, Virgin’s website shows rates based on double occupancy by default, but you can easily adjust this to ‘per person’ in the filter settings. More importantly, Virgin’s rates inclu de all dining, basic Wi-Fi, gratuities, and even fountain drinks, which are often extra costs on other cruises. When you consider these inclusions, the value of a Virgin Voyages cruise becomes clear.

Not included: alcoholic drinks, spa services, excursions, and some other premium upgrades.

Sofabeds in Standard Cabins

Something that Virgin Voyages does differently—and which has sparked controversy—is using sofabeds instead of traditional beds in standard cabins. The only real beds are found in the Rockstar Suites. Although I initially hesitated, fearing that the sofabeds would be the least comfortable option at sea, the sofabed in our XL Sea Terrace cabin was surprisingly one of the most comfortable beds we’ve ever slept in.

However, sharing the cabin with two or more people can make the sofabed situation awkward. The bed is configured into an L-shape, which means you’ll have to sleep head-to-head, head-to-feet, or feet-to-feet with your cabin mate. A third cabin mate would fit in a bunk. It might surprise you, too, so it’s something to consider when planning who you’re cruising with.

Tip:  Before booking, consider pricing out two cabins instead of one. The cost difference is minimal and could make a huge difference in comfort and privacy, especially if you’re considering cramming into one cabin with multiple people. 

Watch Our XL Sea Terrace Cabin Tour

Book with a First Mate For Extra Perks

First Mates are certified travel/cruise agents with Virgin Voyages. You can book a cruise online, but booking with a First Mate has benefits, including additional perks like Sailor Loot or cabin choices. Their rates will never be more than what you see on Virgin. Someone also acts as a liaison between the cruise line and you, so if you need to make changes, they contact Virgin for you.

Download the Virgin App

Everything on Virgin Voyages operates through their app. Once you create an account with VV and book a cruise, it’s important to download the app. You’ll need it for various essential tasks: check-in, making reservations for dining, experiences, fitness classes, and even controlling the cabin lights. You’ll also receive all your notifications regarding the cruise on that app. So, don’t wait last minute to download it.

Be aware, though, that the app can sometimes be frustrating and sometimes requires patience. It works best on the ship. Despite any hiccups, it will be your primary tool for virtually everything on the ship.

VV Assigns Your Cabin After Booking

When you book a cruise with Virgin Voyages, they’ll assign your cabin number afterward. You can find out your assigned cabin by checking the app or your online account. If the assigned cabin doesn’t meet your preferences, don’t worry—you can call Virgin’s customer service to request a change. If you booked through a travel agent (referred to as a First Mate by Virgin), they can handle the cabin selection or make the call for you.

Here’s a personal tip from our experience: When we first booked with Virgin, we were assigned an XL Sea Terrace cabin. After looking it up online, we realized it didn’t have a hammock, which we really wanted. We called customer service, and they happily changed our cabin for us. So, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need something different. If you booked with a First Mate, you’d contact them first.

Status Match for Extra Perks

If you carry loyalty status with another cruise line, take advantage of  Virgin Voyages’ status match program  to earn ‘Blue Extra’ perks and join their exclusive Sailor’s Club—even on your first or second cruise. This offer is only available until December 31, 2024.

Last year, we utilized our  MSC loyalty status  to obtain ‘Deep Blue Extras’ on our first Virgin cruise. Initially, we had to status match our Hilton Gold status with MSC. Once that was established, we submitted our MSC status to Virgin, and the process was surprisingly smooth. Sadly, Virgin stopped allowing status matches from MSC anymore.

Elevate Your Cruise Experience with the Splash of Romance Package

If you want a smoother start to your cruise, think about adding the Splash of Romance (SOR) package to your booking. With this package, you’ll board the ship right after Deep Blue Extras and Rockstars, which means you get extra time to enjoy the ship. This is a big plus if your check-in time is later, like 3:45 PM.

But the Splash of Romance package includes more than early boarding. You also get a 3-hour thermal spa pass and a bottle of champagne.

Please note:  The Splash of Romance package is an additional cost and limited availability, so be sure to add it to your reservation early.

Curious About RockStar But Think It’s Too Pricey? Try Bidding on an Upgrade

Cruising as a Rockstar or Mega-rockstar has its perks, but let’s be honest, it can be pretty pricey. If you’re feeling lucky, you can try to score an upgrade by submitting a bid for one of these swanky suites. It’s called a Level Upgrade, and while it’s not guaranteed you’ll win if you do, you’ll get to enjoy all those Rockstar benefits without the full price tag. It’s a great way to possibly elevate your experience without breaking the bank .

Check-in and Pick a Boarding Time as Soon as Possible

The Virgin Voyages app lets you check in almost immediately after booking to secure the earliest boarding time at the port. Check-in for other cruise lines typically opens much closer to the departure date. We could check in months in advance, which streamlined our boarding process and got us started on our vacation without any delays. The earlier you get on the ship, the more time you have to start your cruise and get reservations for things.

Book Your Restaurant Reservations 45 Days Before Embarkation Day

For Virgin Voyages, the window to book your restaurant reservations opens 45 days before your embarkation day, right at midnight EST. If you’re a Rockstar, you get a little extra leeway with reservations opening 60 days prior. These slots fill up fast, so I recommend setting a reminder on your calendar to make reservations at 12:01 AM EST on the dot. This ensures you get the preferred dining times without the stress of finding out they’re already booked.

However, if everything is booked by the time you try, don’t worry. Once you get onboard, you’ll have another opportunity to make reservations. Just do this as soon as you embark, ideally on the first day. Afterward, walk-in options may become scarce, and you might have to settle for less convenient times. The effort to book early is well worth it—the food at the sit-down restaurants is outstanding and a highlight of Virgin’s cruise experience.

• You can only reserve a restaurant once during a sailing of 6 nights or less.
• Keep in mind that sit-down dinners do last about 2 hours.

VV Does Brunch

Don’t miss out on a fantastic brunch experience aboard Virgin Voyages. The Wake and Razzle Dazzle both offer brunch throughout the week. We recommend booking a brunch on sea days when you can relax and enjoy your meal without a rush, or consider making it your grand finale with a final brunch on disembarkation day .

Follow the Ship’s Happenings Cast on Instagram

Each Lady Ship has a dedicated ‘Happenings Cast’ on Instagram, and we highly recommend following them. These crew members provide constant updates, activities, and fun around the ship. They’re a wealth of tips and knowledge that can greatly enhance your experience aboard by giving you insider info and highlighting can’t-miss events and activities.

• Scarlet Lady’s Happenings Cast on IG
• Resilient Lady’s Happenings Cast on IG
• Valiant Lady’s Happenings Cast on IG
• Brilliant Lady’s Happenings Cast on IG

What to Pack for Virgin Voyages

While our general cruise packing list is always a good starting point, there are a few Virgin-specific items you’ll definitely want to bring along:

• Refillable Water Bottle:  Virgin Voyages does not provide disposable water bottles on board. They highly recommend bringing a refillable water bottle as plenty of water stations are around the ship, and you can always ask for water at the bars.
• USB-C Wall Plug-in:  The cabins are well-equipped with electrical and USB-A ports but lack USB-C ports. A charging port will be necessary if your devices require this type of connection.
• Hanging Toiletry Bag: Another item we highly recommend, especially if you’re staying in a Sea Terrace, is a hanging toiletry bag. The bathrooms can be a bit cramped, with limited storage and shelving, so having a hanging toiletry bag will keep your essentials organized and easily accessible.
• Pajamas for the Pajama Party: Pack a pair of pajamas or comfy loungewear that you love for the Pajama Party on the first night.
• 80’s VHS Fitness Class Outfit:  For a blast from the past, pack an 80’s themed workout outfit for the 80’s VHS fitness class. It’s a fun way to sweat it out with some nostalgic flair.
• A Red Outfit for Scarlet Night:  Scarlet Night is a signature event on Virgin Voyages, so bring a red outfit or at least a flash of red to join in the fun.
• Gold Outfit for “We Fancy” Night:  Not all itineraries include a “We Fancy” night, but if yours does, a gold outfit or a fun gold accessory will have you fitting right in.

No Need to Print Luggage Tags

One cool thing about Virgin Voyages is that you don’t have to fuss with printing out luggage tags before you sail. Just show up at the cruise port, pull up your cabin number on the Virgin Voyages app, and hand it over to a porter. They’ll sort out your luggage tags right there. It’s easy and one less thing to worry about before departing.

Just a heads-up:  The porters aren’t Virgin employees, so they will probably expect a tip for their help. A small tip can go a long way toward ensuring your luggage is well cared for.

Boarding Process: What to Expect

Boarding with Virgin Voyages doesn’t start until around 2 PM, and they are strict about adhering to scheduled times. Priority boarding is given in stages: Rockstars are first, followed by passengers with Deep Blue Extras (DBE), and then those with a Splash of Romance (SOR) before general boarding begins. If your check-in time is later, say 3 PM, and you arrive early at noon, expect to be asked to return closer to your designated time or stand in line at the designated boarding time and wait.

We recommend arriving about 30 minutes before your scheduled check-in time. If you’re a Rockstar, DBE, or SOR, you might find that the time listed on the app isn’t accurate—you can and should arrive earlier, around 1 PM since you have priority boarding privileges.

Once they let you in, you’ll go through security and check in with a rep who will hand you a band for onboard charges. Then, you’ll be on your way to the terminal to await boarding. Boarding is called by groups, starting with Rockstars.

Goodbye Cruise Cards, Hello Bands

Virgin Voyages has ditched the old-school cruise cards and switched to super convenient bands. These wristbands act as your keycard for everything onboard, making it easy to keep everything you need literally on hand. We loved the convenience of not having to dig around for a card.

You can recycle the bands at the end of your cruise, but I hung onto mine as a keepsake from my first Virgin cruise. It’s a neat little reminder of a great cruise.

Book Shore Things 120 Days in Advance

Got your heart set on a specific shore excursion? The most popular ones can fill up quickly. You can start booking Shore Things 120 days in advance if you’re a Rockstar 145 days.

If you want to use Sailor Loot, you have to wait until you’re connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi. When we entered the cruise terminal, we connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi because we were eager to book the “Swimming with Sharks in Bimini” excursion. The morning tour was already booked, but we got the afternoon tour.

Have trouble with the app? Head to the Shore Things desk as soon as you board deck 7.

Book Popular Activities and Entertainment Upon Boarding

As soon as you step on board, one of the first things you should do is book all the popular activities and entertainment you’re interested in, whether included in your cruise fare or require an additional fee. This is a key reason to get on the ship as early as possible. Many of Virgin Voyages’ venues are relatively small, meaning they fill up quickly. Securing your spot immediately ensures you won’t miss out on any fun or experiences you’re looking forward to during your cruise.

No Drink Packages, But There Are Bar Tabs

Don’t look for a drink package on Virgin Voyages; they don’t offer them. Instead, alcoholic beverages are sold a la carte, meaning you pay for each drink as you go. But here’s a cool tip: you can set up a Bar Tab before you board. If you load $300 onto your Bar Tab, Virgin throws in an extra $50. It’s non-refundable, so you lose it if you don’t finish it on the ship. If you don’t opt for a Bar Tab, any drinks you buy will be charged to your cruise account or deducted from your Sailor Loot.

Come as You Are Dress Code on Virgin

Virgin Voyages takes the whole “Freestyle Cruising” thing to a new level. There aren’t any strict dress codes, and they ask that you skip the swimsuit at dinner. They’ve got some fun theme nights, like Scarlet Lady, but joining in is totally up to you. You can dress how you like and focus on having a good time. It’s all about being yourself and enjoying the ride, so packing should be a breeze.

While the ship had a relaxed vibe, I thought everyone was pretty well dressed at night at dinner.

Fitness Classes Are Included

Unlike most cruise lines that charge extra for fitness classes, Virgin Voyages includes them in your cruise fare. If staying active is part of your cruise goals, you’re in the right place. You can join as many classes as you like without worrying about additional fees. Just remember to book them as soon as you board because they can fill up quickly. Walk-ins might be an option since sometimes people don’t show up at the last minute, but it’s not guaranteed.

Important Note: If you book a class and fail to show up without canceling, Virgin Voyages will charge a $10 no-show fee to your account, which they donate to charity.

Also, it’s worth noting that you won’t find typical frozen drinks like mudslides on the ship. Virgin Voyages offers a variety of crafted cocktails, which are a step up from the usual cruise drink fare. This is perfect for those looking to try something a bit more sophisticated and unique.

You May Want to Upgrade to Premium Wi-Fi

If you need a reliable and fast internet connection, consider upgrading to Premium Wi-Fi onboard. The basic Wi-Fi was a bit sluggish for us, so we switched to the premium option, and it made a world of difference. It’s worth it, especially if you need to stay connected for work, streaming, or just sharing your cruise moments on the go. When we sailed, the upgrade cost was $99 for the five-night cruise.

Be Food Adventurous

The food on Virgin Voyages is some of the best we’ve had at sea—perfect for foodies and anyone who loves good eats. Their food is generally creatively fun, high quality, and gourmet. Sure, they’ve covered the basics with pizza, hot dogs, and sandwiches for those who like to stick to what they know. But if you stick only to those, you’re missing out. On our cruise, we saw too many people looking skeptically at other folks’ plates or sitting in The Wake for brunch, wishing for something a basic Grand Slam Breakfast (they can go to Diner-and-Dash at the Galley for that). Remember, you’re not at Denny’s. Virgin Voyages offers unique, delicious options that are well worth trying. So try something different—you might fall in love with it!

Avoid Lines at The Galley, Raise the Flag

The Galley on Virgin Voyages isn’t your typical cruise buffet—it’s a food court where you can skip the lines. One of the coolest features is the ability to raise a flag at your table when you’re ready to order. You don’t have to queue up unless you grab something quick, like a dessert or a bento box. Standing in line to order isn’t unnecessary and adds to the crowd. Try to avoid it.

Every time we raised the flag at our table in The Galley, servers quickly took our orders, and our food arrived shortly after. It’s a great way to enjoy your meal without the hassle.

Foodie Tid Bits You Should Know: Diner & Dash in the Galley is your all-American diner, open 24/7 on the ship. And to-go, boxes of snacks are always available at the entrance of The Galley and at The Dockhouse exit.

Navigating the Lady Ships

All Lady Ships by Virgin Voyages share a similar design, but getting around isn’t always intuitive. Reviewing the ship’s deck plans before you set sail to save time otherwise spent wandering is wise. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the key areas:

• Sailor Services: Located on Deck 5 Mid-Ship for all your assistance needs.
• Shore Things & My Next Virgin Voyage: Find these on Deck 7 to plan excursions and future trips.
• Main Connector to Lower Decks: To move between decks 6, 5, or 4, head to Deck 7. From here, it’s the most direct route to those lower decks.
• Social Hubs: Deck 7 has bars and eateries, such as the Pizza Palace, Ice Cream, and Grounds Club.
• The Galley: Visit Deck 15 Aft.
• The Manor Entrance: Surprisingly located within the Casino on Deck 6.

Make it a Movie Night in Your Cabin

Who doesn’t love a good movie night? On Virgin Voyages, movies are free and included with your cruise fare, and there’s a huge selection to choose from—everything from classic films to the latest blockbusters. For the full experience, swing by the Social Club to grab some freshly popped popcorn, or hit The Pizza Palace for a slice or two (or maybe even both). Then head back to your cabin for a cozy night in.

Join in on Theme Nights and Events—You Might Be Surprised

If you’re on the fence about joining in on Virgin Voyages’ theme nights and events, give it a shot—you might be pleasantly surprised! As someone who usually keeps to myself, I decided to dive into the fun during Scarlet Night by dressing up in red and heading to the pool party. It turned out to be a blast! Participating can enhance your cruise experience, giving you memorable moments and maybe even helping you make new friends.

Don’t Debark Without Purchasing My Next Virgin Voyage

The My Next Virgin Voyage (MYNV) program is a step up from typical cruise vouchers. It acts as a placeholder for your next cruise, locking in whatever promotional offer they have onboard that week. Here’s how it worked for us: On our last Virgin cruise, we put down $300 towards MYNV, which guaranteed us $600 in sailor loot for our next cruise if we booked within the next two months. Plus, the $300 went towards our deposit. Remember, if you book after those two months, the sailor loot drops to $300.

You can purchase this directly from the My Next Virgin Voyages desk on Deck 7 or through the Virgin App. You’ll need to provide a credit card when buying it, but it won’t be charged to your onboard account. We chose to buy ours at the desk because they provided immediate answers to all our questions and even gave us a PDF of all upcoming cruise itineraries to help us plan our next adventure. However, purchasing through the app is convenient if you know what you want.

You Can Debark the Ship as Late as 10:30 AM

No early morning rush to leave the ship here. Virgin Voyages lets you debark as late as 10:30 AM. That means you can enjoy a leisurely brunch before you say goodbye to the ship—just remember to book it early in the week to get a spot.

Debarkation on Virgin isn’t much different from other cruise lines, apart from the more relaxed check-out time. You can carry your own luggage off early with the self-assist group or pick a debarkation time slot under ‘Shore Things’ in the app a couple of days before the end of the cruise. If you’re not carrying it off yourself, just make sure your luggage is outside your cabin by 10:30 PM the night before.

We went for a later debarkation and kept our luggage with us, which meant we could sleep in a bit on that last day.

Virgin’s Website is a Wealth of Knowledge

I’ve found that Virgin Voyages’ website is way ahead of the curve compared to other cruise lines. It’s packed with answers to almost all your FAQs, plus loads of tips and insights about cruising with them. They even have some cool videos that give you cabin hacks and other handy cruising tips. It’s totally worth taking a bit of time to dive into their site. Also, don’t forget to follow them on social media for the latest updates and some extra tidbits.

What Gives Virgin Voyages Its Edge

BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

• VV Scarlet Lady: Cruise Review
• How to Book Shore Excursions on Your Own

Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.

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Virgin Voyages

Ahoy Sailor! Virgin Voyages is on a mission to create the world’s most irresistible travel brand. We’re seeking to redefine what you should expect from a holiday at sea and create an Epic Sea Change For All.

Our first ship, Scarlet Lady, is unlike any other ship you’ve ever met. With RockStar Quarters, champagne on demand and amazing food, this is cruising but not as you know it. 

Sailor wellbeing is our priority – we want you to feel your absolute best. A dose of ‘Vitamin Sea’ is naturally intertwined across the entire ship, with a mix of high-energy moments coupled with relaxation and rejuvenation.

Virgin Voyages is committed to having one of the cleanest fleets at sea, by investing in clean efficient technologies and implementing policies to reduce our environmental footprint. You won’t find single-use plastics onboard our ships – we want everyone to make use of recyclable and reusable materials.

Virgin Voyages second ship, Valiant Lady, calls Barcelona her home – setting sail through the Mediterranean in the summers and spending her winters voyaging down in the Caribbean.

In partnership with the Virgin Group, Virgin Voyages is jointly funded by Bain Capital, one of the world’s leading private multi-asset alternative investment firms.

Latest Virgin Voyages stories

Related Virgin Companies

Virgin Voyages Tips | 10 Things to Know Before Your First Cruise

By: Author Emily

Posted on Last updated: January 2, 2024

If you’re sailing with Virgin Voyages, you should be prepared for sun-soaked days, fun-filled nights and flavor-packed meals. But you should also be prepared to do a bit of prep in advance if you want to take your cruise to the next level. In this post, we’ll share our 10 best Virgin Voyages tips to help you get the most out of your cruise.

I recently returned from a 5-day Virgin Voyages Dominican Daze Cruise on the Scarlet Lady . Before this trip, I had only cruised with Disney Cruise Line, and the Virgin Voyages experience was very different. (If you’re interested in how those two cruise lines compare, be sure to check out our post on Disney Cruise Line vs Virgin Voyages .) I learned so many things from my first Virgin Voyages cruise, and I’m sharing it all here.

Follow these tips and you can be sure that you won’t miss out on any of the fun (or food) onboard. The best part about these tips is that most of them can be done before your trip, so by the time you board you can sit back and relax.

Disclaimer: My Virgin Voyages cruise was graciously gifted by our trusted travel advisor, Lauren Quirk, from  Travel With Character . This post is not sponsored by Virgin Voyages or Travel With Character, and I do not receive any compensation in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

1. Complete the “Before You Sail” tasks ASAP.

As soon as you book your Virgin Voyages cruise (or as early as 120 days out), download the Virgin Voyages mobile app and complete the “Before you Sail” tasks. You’ll need the app for a few different things before and during your cruise, so you might as well get it now.

The “Before You Sail” task list has seven steps and takes about ten minutes. It includes things like confirming your passport information, taking a security photo and linking a credit card to use onboard. Most importantly though, this is where you can schedule your embarkation time. (Aka the time you can board the ship.)

It’s important to book your embarkation as soon as possible, because the best boarding times can book up quickly. What are the best embarkation times for Virgin Voyages? The earliest ones, which leads us to …

2. Schedule the earliest embarkation time.

I’d strongly recommend booking the earliest possible embarkation time for your Virgin Voyages cruise. On my cruise, this is 2 PM.

Early boarding has many benefits. Most obviously, you will have more time on the ship, plus shorter queues in the terminal. Most importantly though, early boarding means earlier access to registration for onboard activities. (We’ll talk more about that in tip #6.)

The embarkation experience will vary based on the port you’re sailing from. If you’re sailing from Miami, Virgin Voyages’ Terminal V is very well organized and boarding is quick and orderly. We were scheduled for earliest boarding group, and we were on the ship 20 minutes after we arrived at the terminal.

Boarding times are pretty strictly enforced. There are queues outside the terminal for each boarding time. If you arrive early, you’ll have to wait with your group for your time. You will not be able to board early if you arrive early.

3. Book dining reservations as soon as they open.

Meals are included on all Virgin Voyages cruises. That includes food from all quick service and table service restaurants onboard, as well room service. While all of the food onboard is pretty good, the very best, chef-curated meals can be found at the table service restaurants.

These high-end dining establishments are one of the selling points on Virgin Voyages, but actually getting a table at them takes a little bit of effort.

Virgin Voyages does not automatically schedule any meals for you. That means you’re not guaranteed a chance to dine at every (or any) table service restaurant onboard. You need to proactively make a reservation if you want eat at these table service restaurants.

Dining reservations open up 45 days before your sailing date. The exact time reservations open up reportedly varies, but it is typically around midnight in the departing port’s timezone. For example, if you are scheduled to sail on December 16, 2023 from Miami, your dining would open just after midnight ET the morning of November 1. You could potentially start checking the website in the late evening hours of October 31, around 11:30 PM, because sometimes they open early.

That said, the reservations don’t book up instantly. Unless you have a large party and are really set on a specific restaurant on a specific date and time, you probably don’t need to stay up till midnight to book your reservation. You should definitely plan to book in the morning of the day reservations open, though, for the best selection.

If you happen to miss the reservation window, don’t give up hope. All of the restaurants do have limited space for walk-ups and same-day reservations. This will just take more time and effort. There is also quick service dining available at all times.

4. See if you qualify for Deep Blue Extras.

Virgin Voyages is a relatively new cruise line, so they don’t have an established frequent sailor program just yet. While they build that up, they’re offering a collection of perks to seasoned sailors called Deep Blue Extras through the end of 2024.

Deep Blue Extras are pretty good, too. The perks include a $100 onboard drink credit, $10 per day specialty coffee credit, some complimentary laundry services and a free upgrade to premium wifi. You’ll also have access to a dedicated Sailor Services rep onboard, expedited boarding and a special happy hour.

Anyone who sailed with Virgin Voyages in 2021 (Sea-Blazers) or has sailed twice in 2022 and 2023 (Sea-Rovers) will receive Deep Blue Extras. If you qualify, these rewards will automatically be applied to your next sailing through 2024.

4.5 (Bonus tip!). Don’t tighten your Deep Blue Extras bracelet.

If you do qualify for Deep Blue Extras, you’ll get a special bracelet when you check in at the terminal. This one is a ribbon style bracelet with a one-way clasp — meaning you can tighten it but not loosen it.

If you put this bracelet on, make sure that you keep it loose enough to slide on and off. You don’t actually need this bracelet for anything, and all the perks are connected to your other NFC band. I think this is literally just to demonstrate your status on board.

I slipped mine off right away and just kept it in my purse, but I didn’t actually need it.

5. Use a hair tie for The Band.

When you check in at the terminal, they will give you a bracelet to use during your cruise. The Band is a contactless device that you need to use for pretty much everything on board. It serves as your room key, ID and credit card onboard, and you are required to tap it every time you get on and off the ship.

The NFC device itself is plastic with two attached loops. It is on a rope bracelet that wraps around your wrist twice and attaches with a small metal anchor. As you would expect from that description, the bracelet broke immediately.

Since the tap device is so important for your cruise, I’d recommend bringing a backup bracelet for it. A hair tie is the perfect solution. Slip the hair tie through one of the loops on The Band, and then pull one side of the hair tie through the other side of the hair tie to create a loop knot. Then you can wear the hair tie around your wrist and The Band won’t go anywhere.

Also, any small bracelet that can fit through these loops will do the trick.

6. Sign up for activities in the app as soon as you board.

As soon as you board, connect to the ship’s wifi and open the Virgin Voyages app. At this point, you will be able to see the full itinerary for your cruise and begin signing up for activities. To sign up for an activity, click “Add to Agenda.” (Hearting an activity doesn’t officially sign you up for it.)

Some events are “ticketed,” meaning that there is a cap on how many people can participate. Some ticketed activities have an additional fee (like cocktail classes or coffee tastings), while others are free (like yoga, spin classes and select stage shows). For ticketed events, you’ll need to tap your bracelet in order to enter.

You should sign up for all of your ticketed events as soon as you board, because some ticketed events fill up quickly. If any of these activities are important to you, be sure to check the itinerary and sign up quickly or you may miss out.

Other activities on board (like fitness classes, bingo and parties) are not ticketed. There is no formal cap on who can attend and they don’t check to see if you’ve registered before they let you participate. For these activities, adding them to your agenda is just to keep you organized.

Unfortunately, the Virgin App isn’t great and it’s even worse when everyone is using it at the same time. We experienced the app crashing, spinning and logging us out numerous times on both the basic and premium wifi. So I’d recommend heading to a bar and grabbing a drink for this process so it feels less annoying.

6.5 (Bonus Tip!). Link your party in advance.

Passengers staying in the same room should automatically be connected with each other in the app. That means that anyone in your cabin can register anyone else in your cabin for activities.

However, if you are traveling with friends or family in other cabins, you will need to manually connect them. You can complete this step at anytime, but ideally you should do it before you board. That way, anyone in your party can start booking for the entire party right away.

7. Plan for any in-person registrations.

While most things onboard can be booked in the app, there are a handful of sign-ups that have to be done in person on the ship. These are things with individual time slots, like tattoo and spa appointments and private karaoke registration, and they will be noted as such in the app. If you are set on any of these services/activities, do some research in advance and plan your first day accordingly.

For example, the tattoo parlor opens after the ship has left port and reaches international waters, often around 6 PM. The line for tattoo appointments forms early and gets long very quickly. Appointments on the last cruise day usually book up first, but they’re usually fully booked within a couple hours. If a tattoo is a priority, plan to be there about an hour before it’s scheduled to open for bookings.

Spa appointments book up less quickly, and karaoke spots usually open up daily. There might be other in-person registrations, but these are the three I know about. This is just something else you’ll want to take care of early for the best choice in times.

8. Skip luggage service when you board.

Most Virgin Voyages cruises have a luggage service available at embarkation and debarkation. The exact details vary based on your port, but here’s how it works at Terminal V in Miami.

There is a luggage check location outside the terminal. You can leave your bags here and then they will be delivered to your cabin that evening. The timing can vary, but on my cruise they were scheduled to be delivered by 6 PM.

This service can make it easier to navigate the terminal and board the ship without having to deal with your bags. This can also make security a bit easier. If you do use this service, just make sure you keep everything with you that you’ll need before 6 PM (including swimsuits, make up, meds, etc.)

It’s a good service, but I would actually recommend you skip luggage check when you board.

The main reason for that is because rooms are typically ready as soon as you board. On other cruise lines, that’s not the case, so you want to check your bags so you can enjoy the ship without lugging them around. But on Virgin Voyages, you can usually drop your bags in your room right away. This is easier than having to pack a day bag and then waiting for your bags to be delivered.

The Miami terminal is also easy to pull your bags through. The entire route is accessible by elevator, escalator, and/or ramp, so you won’t have issues with stairs. You do have to go through security, but you don’t have to remove anything from your bags like at the airport. If you have an early boarding time, this process can take less than 20 minutes.

8.5 (Bonus Tip!). Do use luggage service if you have a late debarkation time.

Similarly, Virgin Voyages also offers luggage check service on your debarkation day. You can leave your bags outside your door the night before you disembark, and then pick them up just before you exit the terminal. There is a cutoff time, but it’s usually around midnight.

This service does actually make sense if you have a late debarkation time. Most itineraries allow you to stay on the ship as late as 10:30 AM. However, access to the rooms is usually cut off before that. That means you have to keep your luggage with you.

If you plan to leave the ship late and want to have a relaxing morning, you don’t want to be lugging your bags. In this case, it’s a good idea to take advantage of the baggage service.

9. Pack the essentials.

This is not a complete packing list, but there are a few things you should be sure to pack for your Virgin Voyages cruise.

• Passport. There are some ways around this, depending on your itinerary, but it’s best to have it on you when cruising.
• Scarlet outfit. There are a few cruise parties and events, some of which vary by season, but the highlight of every Virgin Voyages cruise is Scarlet Night. Everyone wears red and there are a few events around the ship. It’s really fun and everyone gets into it, so this is the one onboard event you should definitely plan for.
• Sunblock and aloe. I’m usually pretty firmly in the buy-it-there camp, but that’s not always possible on a cruise ship. The stores onboard are only open when the ship is at sea and they are closed when the ship is at port. You might not always be able to buy these important items onboard when you need them.
• Portable charger . Virgin Voyages offers free wifi for everyone, so you might be on your phone more than you think. Plus, you’ll probably be using the app a lot to check the day’s schedules. A portable charger is nice to have in your bag. There are also many outlets around the ship, so you can also just bring an extra cord to keep with you.

10. Plan your flights properly.

If you are flying on either side of your cruise, selecting the right flight times is a delicate art.

Regardless of what port your sailing from, I would recommend flying in at least one day before you sail. Even if you don’t board until late in the afternoon or evening, I still wouldn’t recommend flying in the same day as your cruise departure. There’s always a chance that your flight gets delayed, you get rerouted, your bags get delayed, etc. You don’t want one bad travel day to cost you your entire cruise if you don’t make it there in time.

That same rule of thumb does not necessarily apply to your departure flight. It’s rare (but not impossible) that your cruise disembarkation will be drastically delayed. You can usually plan to fly out the same day that your cruise is scheduled to arrive. This of course varies based on your specific itinerary and port.

If you’re sailing from Miami, Virgin Voyages officially recommends booking a flight no earlier than noon on your arrival day.

Based on my recent personal experience, though, I would say that you could make a domestic flight as early as 10 AM. My disembarkation was scheduled for 8 AM, but I went down at 7:30 AM and walked right off the ship. There were no lines in the terminal, and I was at the Uber pick-up area by 7:42 AM. I arrived at the Miami airport at 8:02 AM and was through PreCheck security by 8:17 AM.

Everything might not always go that smoothly. However, I just wanted to share an actual timeline to help give you an idea.

Final Bonus Tip: Work with a travel advisor.

As I mentioned before, this trip was graciously gifted by our travel advisor at Travel With Character . We always work with them to book our Disney vacations , but this was my first time working with them on a cruise. I got to experience first hand what it was like to have a dedicated travel advisor help with my cruise vacation, and it was a dream.

They stayed on top of all of the timelines I mention throughout this post, and sent out reminders for each task to make sure nothing slipped through the cracks. Not only did they make the cruise planning a breeze, but they also helped plan my hotel and activities in Miami before the cruise, and they quickly found a third-party tour provider when our cruise itinerary changed last minute.

If you want your travel planning to be as stress-free as the cruise itself, I’d highly recommend reaching out to Travel With Character. (And no, they’re not paying me to say that.)

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10+ Virgin Voyages Tips and Things to Know Before You Sail

About to sail on a Virgin Voyages cruise? As we’ve explained before, there is a lot that’s different that you’ll want to know about before you step on board.

Some of the biggest differences — no kids allowed, wi-fi and gratuities included in the fare — are well known and advertised heavily. But there are also a lot of things you may not know before your cruise that are unique to Virgin.

That’s why we’ve created a helpful list of a dozen things that are great tips and things to know for the cruise line. If you’ve never sailed before Virgin, this list can help make you a pro in no time…

Pack Some Red For Your Wardrobe

The signature color on Virgin Voyages is red. You’ll see it everywhere from the logo to the lighting around the ship to the uniforms of some crew members. But one thing you’ll want to do is bring a little red of your own — best if it’s in a snazzy outfit.

One big feature of a Virgin cruise is Scarlet Night. You may have seen ’80s or neon-themed parties on other lines. In a twist, Scarlet Night is where you wear your best red and the ship turns into a red-themed party. There’s red lighting everywhere, entertainers performing around the ship, and everyone is dressed up.

What you don’t want to do is feel out of the loop by leaving your red at home. 

High Status on Another Line? See About a Match

One hard part of creating a new cruise line is getting customers that are loyal to another line to give it a shot. Since cruise lines give perks to customers that have sailed often, getting them to jump to try another is difficult.

To solve this, Virgin Voyages introduced “Experience Match.” If you’re someone with a high status on another line, then Virgin will provide a match that opens up the perks that the cruise line offers its own loyalty program guests. This can include things like bar credit, premium wi-fi, daily coffee credit, and more.

Now you will need to have fairly high status on another cruise line to get a match (for example, Platinum or higher on Carnival) so not everyone will be able to take advantage. But if you can, it’s a no-brainer.

Pay Attention to the Letter on Your Cabin Number

Finding your cabin on the ship can be a little confusing your first time sailing Virgin Voyages due to the numbering convention used.

First, instead of having odd numbered cabins on one side and even numbers on the other, the cruise line uses “A” for rooms on one side of the ship and “Z’ for the other side. Ships in the middle use “M.”

But if you are in room 5266A, there’s another room on the other side of the ship that’s 5266Z. And there could be a mid-ship room that’s 5266M. In other words, you need to pay attention to the entire room number, including the letter at the end.

Otherwise, it could be for some awkward conversations when you’re trying to open up the door to the wrong cabin late at night.

Reservations Are Tricky

When you’re on the ship, you’ll want to be thinking ahead of what you will do. The cruise line uses reservations for its sit-down restaurants and also for some shows. The available spots fill up quickly. If you wait until the day of a show or even just a couple of days before dinner, then you aren’t likely to get a spot.

That’s the bad news. The good news is there are ways to get around not having a reservation.

For shows, often the cruise line has the same performances multiple times during a cruise. So if you don’t see a spot available at first, look at the schedule for later in the cruise on the Virgin Voyages app to see if there are openings at another showtime.

As for restaurants, the cruise line leaves space open for walk-ins. Even if you don’t have a reservation, head down anyway to see if you can get a table. We did this twice during a four-day cruise and were seated immediately both times.

No Announcements, So Pay Attention

If you’re used to traditional cruise lines, one thing that might catch you off-guard is the lack of announcements. There’s no cruise director on the ship, so there’s not someone coming over the intercom every few hours to tell you what’s happening.

This also applies to notifications like when you can leave the ship when docked at a port of call. Instead, you simply need to keep an eye on the time and head down when the ship is scheduled to allow passengers off the ship — or when you see people already debarking.

For those that like having reminders, it can be a bit different. For those who get tired of the interruption of a full-ship announcement, it’s a nice change.

How to Use the Stairwells to Navigate

Many lines have hidden clues in cabin hallways to help you navigate. For instance, Norwegian Cruise Line uses the carpet design to point the way forward with fish swimming ahead or arrows pointing forward.

Virgin uses something similar. Look carefully and you’ll notice that the carpet in the stairwell/elevator areas is actually a different color. It’s red at the aft elevators, blue in the middle of the ship, and purple in the forward stairwell.

This way you can have an idea of where on the ship you are even if there are no windows or other clues to get your bearings.

Think of The Beach Club Port Stop as Two Days

If you sail from Miami, then your cruise will include a stop at The Beach Club. This is Virgin Voyages’ private destination on Bimini in The Bahamas. It features a huge pool area, plenty of spots to relax, and a wide stretch of white sand beach and electric blue water.

When you visit, you’ll only spend a day here. However, it can really be thought of as two days. Head out in the morning, and it feels like a relaxing beach resort. There aren’t a ton of people, the music is calm, and you have your run of the place. Lay in a hammock, swim on the beach, take a dip in the pool.

In the afternoon, things change a little. You can still find your place to relax, but the pool party starts up complete with a DJ, dancers from the entertainment team and dozens of inflatable floats. It’s a very different atmosphere.

Be Careful Booking a Room on Deck 8, Mid-Ship

If you are able to book a specific room on your cruise, there’s one spot we’d suggest you avoid at all costs — the middle of the ship on Deck 8.

Most of the time cruise lines are thoughtful about where they place cabins in relation to public spaces, but Virgin Voyages ships were built with a quirk. The Manor is a nightclub on the ship, and it takes up two decks — Decks 6 and 7. That means the roof of the hotspot is the floor of Deck 8 where there are cabins.

We were assigned a cabin here, and the bass from the nightclub reverberated through the walls, straight through the bed and seemingly right into our ear. Finally at about 1:30 a.m. on the first night, we went to the front desk to ask about changing rooms. Thankfully, the staff had another room and we moved immediately.

The better bet is just to avoid this spot on the ship unless you plan to be the one in the nightclub yourself. ( You can see a deck plan here. )

Talk to “Chart Room” Desk for Faster Service

Every ship has a Guest Services desk (on Virgin Voyages it’s called Sailor Services) that can help you with any question you might have on the ship. This can cover anything from having to switch rooms due to being over the nightclub to fixing your onboard account.

However, the lines here — especially at the beginning and end of the cruise — can be long on any ship. That’s why Virgin Voyages also has a second location that many people don’t realize.

If you need help with something, you can also stop by the Chart Room, located on Deck 7.  It’s not heavily advertised, but they are able to help with most questions, giving you a chance to get any issues taken care of without having to wait in line.

Internet Is Included, But Upgrade to Stream Video/Music

One great thing about the cruise is that a lot is included in the fare. This includes gratuities, all food, and wi-fi.

And truth be told, the wi-fi is solid. When we tested the speed, it only came in at 1.5 Mbps, but felt much faster. It also didn’t have issues with slowing down or dropping service as we’ve seen on other lines. The only drawback is that you can’t stream with the basic included wi-fi.

If you want to stream video or music, then you’ll need to upgrade. The cost is $15 per day and you can do it by the day or the entire trip. When we upgraded we reached speeds of around 6 Mbps and had no issues streaming such as buffering or lagging. It did take a few minutes of watching before the picture turned to sharp HD.

There’s no Keycard on Virgin, but The Band

If you’ve sailed other cruise lines, then you know that most have a credit card style room key. You use this to access your cabin, make purchases on the ship, and for disembarking.

Virgin Voyages uses something called The Band. Instead of a plastic card you have a stylish bracelet that you wrap around your wrist and keep on with the anchor clasp. If you don’t want to wear it on your wrist, you could also put it on a lanyard or just keep it in your pocket. It can be a little annoying as it wears a bit loose, but it is also nice not to have to dig into your pocket every time you want to get into the room.

Hot Tubs at the Back of the Ship Rarely Get Full

Want to have your own personal hot tub on the ship? It’s not really yours, but it may as well be.

The pool area on the ship can get crowded and it feels like there isn’t much seating either in the pool or around it. This includes the hot tubs. What we saw, however, was that during the cruise the two hot tubs at the back of the ship were largely forgotten. They were either empty or only had two people in them.

If you’re wanting a spot to relax and watch the sunset, it’s hard to beat this location.

More on Sailing Virgin Voyages:

• What to Expect on Virgin Voyages Compared to Other Cruise Lines (Differences, What to Know, & More)
• Virgin Voyages Live Blog: First Impressions of a Completely Different Cruise Line

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

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My first Virgin Voyages cruise impressed me so much, I decided on day one to stay onboard for back-to-back sailings. Here are 14 things I loved.

• I went on a 5-night Virgin Voyages cruise and loved it so much, I booked an immediate second trip.
• I paid $2,711 for my first cruise, and $880 to stay on for the second through an onboard promotion.
• For the back-to-back trips, I didn't have to change rooms and experienced two different itineraries.

I'm a seasoned cruiser who recently sailed on the adults-only Virgin Voyages for the first time. I enjoyed my trip on the Scarlet Lady ship so much, I booked a back-to-back second sailing and stayed onboard.

I'm a seasoned cruiser and estimate I've spent more than 100 weeks at sea . During that time, I've sailed on lines like Carnival , Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian .

But this past summer, I tried the adults-only Virgin Voyages for the first time and boarded the Scarlet Lady for a five-night sailing to the Dominican Republic and Bahamas from Miami.

I paid $2,711, inclusive of taxes and port fees, for the cruise. I wasn't sure what to expect going into the trip on a line that was unfamiliar to me, but midway through, I knew I was a fan.

So much so, that I took advantage of an onboard promotion to stay on Scarlet Lady and make my trip nine nights with a second, back-to-back sailing to additional destinations in the Caribbean.

I didn't have to change rooms, got to experience three different places, and left feeling very impressed.

I didn't intend to book two back-to-back sailings, but I'm glad I did. I got to experience different ports of call, and go back to my favorite.

My first five-night "Dominican Daze" itinerary left from Miami and included full day visits to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Bimini, Bahamas, where the cruise line operated their own private beach club.

The swanky vibe of the latter was a big draw for me, and part of what initially attracted me to book with Virgin Voyages. My sailing also included two sea days, which were ideal for exploring the ship and enjoying sunny days by the pool. 

My second itinerary, which the cruise line called "Fire & Sunset Soirées," would stop in Key West, Florida, and return to Bimini and its beach club, which was a major reason I wanted to stay onboard.

During my sailings, I swam in the pools, sampled nine specialty eateries, and never felt overcrowded even though Scarlet Lady is only slightly above what Cruise Critic considers a mid-size ship . It can accommodate up to 2,770 passengers who are ages 18 and over, and 86% of guest cabins have a balcony .

Here's a closer look at each sailing, what my experience was like, and what convinced me to stay onboard Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady longer. 

I set sail from Miami in a balcony cabin on deck eight of Scarlet Lady that impressed me right away.

On Scarlet Lady, I booked an XL Sea Terrace balcony cabin , and the price included gratuities, Wi-Fi, beverages like soda, and specialty dining.

I thought this was a good value given all the inclusions, most of which were things I typically pay extra for on other cruise lines.

My 265-square-foot cabin came with a large balcony to enjoy ocean views, and as a solo traveler, I felt like my stateroom had a generous layout with dedicated spaces for sleeping, lounging, working, and storing my belongings comfortably.

All specialty dining on Virgin Voyages is included in the base cruise fare and I loved the different approach to each venue, from menu selections to overall ambiance.

Based on my past cruising experiences, I have come to anticipate a few things when it comes to dining on cruises. 

Typically, that includes a buffet, a main dining room, and handful of other eateries where very few à la carte   venues are included in the base cruise fare, and often come with an extra upcharge.

Virgin Voyages tossed that tradition out in favor of all-you-can-eat anywhere and everywhere. Scarlet Lady has 20 different restaurants, none of which came with a surcharge.

Dining options ranged from steak and seafood at The Wake to Korean barbeque at Gunbae,  tasty Mexican dishes at Pink Agave, and more.

As I sampled each restaurant, I kept double checking that I didn't really have to pay extra. I thought it was incredible that everything was included.

I also appreciated that snacks and treats were included, too, like the ice cream shop.

I was genuinely surprised by some of the handcrafted treats I found onboard Scarlet Lady.

One was homemade ice cream at the Lick Me Till Ice Cream treat shop which has no charge, just like the other Scarlet Lady food options. 

I thought their selections were impressive with traditional flavors supplemented by gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options.

My favorite flavor was Brown Butter Financier, that tasted like an elevated vanilla.

The shop was open daily and flavor options changed throughout my sailing so I could try something different each visit. 

Virgin Voyages offers a choice of purchasing an alcohol package at the start of the sailing, or à la carte.

Like meals, basic drinks like sodas and drip coffee, were included in the cruise rate.

But alcohol did come with an extra charge, like every other cruise I've taken.

Unlike traditional cruise drink packages, though, Virgin Voyages instead offers the option of either purchasing a pre-paid bar tab, which can be shared among friends, or going à la carte – and paying for each beverage as it's purchased, which is what I did. 

Since I'm not much of a drinker, I knew the second option was a better value for me, as I would likely only have one or two on my entire sailing. During my cruise, I noticed beer starts at just $5, while cocktails averaged between $10-15.

On the first day of the trip, I was thrilled to see no reservations were required for the extra-large pool loungers or poolside daybeds, and I never saw these used to capacity.

My favorite way to spend sea days on Scarlet Lady was lounging by the pool.

Too often, I find that pool decks on cruise ships are overcrowded , yet this was not my experience during either of my sailings. I noticed loungers and seating for well over 100 people, yet I never saw poolside seating used to capacity. There were also two pools on Scarlet Lady. The main pool, pictured here, and a wellness pool, both on Deck 15.

But my favorite pool perk were the large daybeds, also provided free of charge. I thought they large enough to be suitable for couples or groups of friends, and indulgent for one person at a time, like me.

I never had to wait to find a seat and loved that all of the lounger options by the pool were free with no reservation required. 

I found the wellness pool to be particularly appealing at night because the water was so warm.

While the main pool was my choice by day, the wellness pool was my go-to at night.

On past cruises, I've found that cruise ship pools often close by midnight. Yet one of the things that surprised me about Virgin Voyages is that they keep their pools open even later. 

Once a crew member told me the pools stay open until around 3 a.m., I knew every night I would end my day by taking a post-midnight dip. And I chose the wellness pool for it, as it was heated to what felt like body temperature.

There was rarely anyone else using the pool after midnight, and I loved feeling like I had this amenity all to myself.

I was such a fan of these late-night swims, it became a major reason why I started thinking about extending my vacation with a second sailing.

My first night onboard hadn't even concluded when I knew I wanted to book another voyage immediately. Thankfully, I found an enticing promotion.

During my first evening onboard Scarlet Lady, I came upon the future cruise bookings desk.

Their promotional signage caught my eye, and I started seriously considering booking a second sailing.

There were several deals available, but the sales rep told me about a "solo sailor deal" offering steep discounts, devoid of single supplement fees often charged by other cruise lines. That's when a cruise line charges a solo traveler the same price for their cabin as for two people, as it helps the cruise line make up for the revenue that would have come from having a second person onboard, according to the LA Times .  

The deal meant I only would pay $880 to stay on for an immediate second cruise, adding a four-night trip to Key West, Florida, and back to Bimini. I could even stay in the same cabin.

Based on my first day on Scarlet Lady, I knew I wanted to do it. I had already sampled delicious food, enjoyed the pool day and night, and appreciated that everything was included in the cruise fare. 

I booked and paid in full right on the spot.

With my vacation transformed into a nine-night sailing, I felt even more relaxed and ready to explore the ship. 

On sea days, I used cute cabanas by the pool that have no extra cost.

Waking up the next day, I felt extra relaxed on my first day at sea, knowing I now had more than a week to enjoy Scarlet Lady.

It was a perfectly sunny day, so I spent quality time at both the main pool and the wellness pool, and was surprised to find free-to-use cabanas overlooking the pool deck.

Like the daybeds, these were available first-come, first-serve but with so many available, it seemed to me like anyone who wanted to lounge in the playful, red-striped cabanas could easily do so. 

There were also many quiet zones to chill out with an ocean view.

Everywhere I turned on the ship, I found quiet, serene spaces for lounging or reading with an ocean view as the backdrop.

One of my favorite spaces was on deck seven, pictured here, where The Dock Outdoor Restaurant & Bar Lounge had seating, loungers, and daybeds that could be used freely throughout the day.

The entire promenade deck also had quiet seating and lounging options, ensuring a leisurely sea day before the first port visit.

My first port of call was Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. I found it easy to navigate thanks to helpful maps I saw around the port plaza.

I've been to Puerto Plata before, but I appreciated the reminder of all there was to do immediately at the port, including access to a bar's resort pool.

At the port, I saw plenty of shops, eateries, Duty Free, and excursion desks for those who want to join a formal tour. 

Since the ship was in port all day, and I was familiar with Puerto Plata, I opted for a 15-minute walk to downtown so I could visit my favorite cafes in town that I've visited before.

My next port of call was Bimini, Bahamas. Here, Virgin Voyages operates to a sophisticated beach club for cruise guests with enormous pools.

Before even booking my first Scarlet Lady sailing, I knew I wanted to cruise with Virgin Voyages because of their massive beach resort on the island of Bimini in the Bahamas.

In the cruise line's promotions, I was enticed by images of inviting pools and a large sandy beach, all included in the Virgin Voyages cruise fare. 

Once I arrived at the beach club, I was even more impressed. I noticed sleek poolside seating, an abundance of palm trees for shade, and soft sand just steps from the resort pools.

There were loungers around each pool, and the beach also provided chairs and loungers. Anyone who wanted a seat could find one, and at no extra charge. 

I also thought the beach at the club was picturesque, and great for taking a dip in the cool blue water.

I thought the overall vibe at the beach club was chill, with people simply relaxing in the sun.

I loved the soft sand on the beach and how calm the water was. I thought it was ideal for enjoying a cool dip on a hot sunny day.

I noticed other guests swimming, playing catch in the waves, and sunning on loungers. It was an amazing day simply relaxing at the beach, and I felt extra lucky to have booked a second voyage so I would have another chance to visit to this beachside escape.

Later, when most other passengers disembarked, a handful of guests including myself instead went to a quick check-in for the back-to-back sailing.

On the last day of my first cruise, just about every passenger disembarked as usual.

Only a handful of guests were booked on a back-to-back sailing like me, and the small group of us waited in a common space to be checked out of the first cruise, then quickly checked back in for the second sailing.

We met crew in a central lounge area, and once we completed the brief check-in process, we were able to enjoy the rest of the day as we pleased.

I could have explored off-ship in Miami for the afternoon if desired, but I preferred to continue lazing about by the pool.  

In between sailings, I thought the ship was extra quiet until afternoon on the second sailing's embarkation day.

Since I was able to stay in my same cabin, I didn't need to pack and unpack again, and had lots of time for sunning at the pool, taking a nap, and exploring the ship even more.

I thought it was neat to see the ship empty out and feel like I had most of it to myself. I explored a variety of lounge spaces where no guests were to be found as the crew prepared the ship for the next sailing. 

The extra time onboard also gave me an opportunity to sample more eateries and enjoy my favorites a second time.

Now that my cruise vacation was nine days long, I had even more time to explore additional restaurants during the second itinerary.

I made a repeat visit to Pink Agave for elevated Mexican street food like chicken enchiladas, grilled corn, and house made guacamole. 

My second sailing also added variety to my port visits. In Key West, we docked right downtown at Mallory Square, so it was easy to walk to attractions on my own.

Waking up in downtown Key West was a dream. When I disembarked the ship, I found I was already in the center of things and it was just a short walk to local cafes and attractions.

I've visited Key West many times, but I always welcome another visit, and having a port visit was ideal for exploring on foot and not having to pay expensive hotel prices, had I flown in for a vacation.

The ship docked in Key West for about 10 hours, so I had more than enough time to wander around and explore. I strolled through the historic district, visited the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, and even found funky art of the writer throughout town.

On my second voyage, I was so happy to return to the beach club in Bimini.

On my second visit to the beach club, I went straight to my favorite spots at the pools and enjoyed another blissful day in the sun.

As relaxing as my first visit was, the second time back was even better as I knew my way around. I felt like I could just kick back and enjoy my last port day knowing I made the most of my cruising experience. 

After two back-to-back sailings, I can't wait to cruise on Virgin Voyages again. Next time I'll be hitching a ride on their other ship, Valiant Lady.

When I first booked with Virgin Voyages, I wasn't sure what to expect on an adults-only cruise.

But my first impression was so strong, as I loved the relaxed vibe onboard and all the great food that was included in the cruise fare. I thought it was amazing to be able to book an immediate second sailing at such a reduced rate, and I'm so glad I spent the extra time on Scarlet Lady. 

That extra time gave me more days to dine around the ship and spend time poolside.

Plus, with everything I needed included in the cruise fare, I feel like I had excellent value on both cruises.

I cannot wait to sail with Virgin Voyages again, and while Scarlet Lady will remain a favorite of mine, next time, I plan to try out their other ship, Valiant Lady. Until then.

• Main content

Virgin Voyages Sailing Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know

Does Virgin Voyages have a loyalty program? The short answer is yes, and it recently got a major overhaul.

That said, the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club, as it's called, is a relatively simple program, as was the case when it was first unveiled in August 2022 .

The program has just three tiers of benefits as compared to five or more at many cruise lines, and it doesn't offer nearly the array of perks that you'll find at bigger cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean .

Still, some of the perks you can get through the program can be quite valuable. They include free laundry service and free premium Wi-Fi at the program's higher tiers, two things that normally can cost quite a bit extra on cruise ships.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

There is also a daily specialty coffee credit for members at the second and third tiers of the program that is like money in the bank if you're a regular latte or cappuccino drinker. And the perks don't end there.

Note that the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club is a loyalty program exclusive to Virgin Voyages, separate from the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red programs that are connected to other Virgin brands.

Members of those programs in the U.S. can already redeem their Virgin points on sailings on all of the line's current ships: Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady. Capital One cardholders can also access cruises for points through a partnership between Capital One and Virgin Red .

Ways to earn points

The Virgin Voyages Sailing Club point-earning system is about as simple as can be: You earn one credit for every cruise you take with the line.

Unlike at some cruise brands, there are no complicated formulas for earning points that take into account the type of cabin you book or the length of your cruise. It's one cruise, one credit. End of story.

Note that certain low-priced sailings and nonrevenue fares do not get you any credits. To be eligible for a credit, a voyage must be a full-fare sailing that hasn't used a discounted access key or other low-fare pricing methods, such as gifted cruises, comped casino cruises or voyages bought with airline points.

Reduced rate voyages and certain other booking types also are not eligible to earn or receive perks.

Additionally, the credit for voyages doesn't accrue toward perks until 30 days following the completion of the voyage.

Virgin Voyages Sailing Club loyalty levels

There are three tiers to the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club program:

• Sailing Club membership (after one sailing)
• Blue Extras (after two sailings)
• Deep Blue Extras (after four sailings)

The first tier of the program, the basic Sailing Club membership, brings just three relatively minor perks. The most notable is that you become eligible for special offers on cruises.

Additionally, you will be among the first to be alerted to promotions that the line announces. You'll also receive a quarterly members newsletter.

It's not until you reach the second tier of the program, Blue Extras, that you start to get some perks that you can use when on board ships. These include a free specialty coffee every day of your cruise and free laundry service for one bag of laundry per voyage.

Blue Extras members also get:

• An invitation to an exclusive cocktail event
• A dedicated phone support line (known as Sailor Services)

The elite level that makes a difference

The Deep Blue Extras level is where your Virgin Voyages Sailing Club membership really starts paying off.

At this level, you can order two specialty coffees per day at no charge, and your complimentary laundry allowance goes up. You'll get two pressed items for free, as well as one specialty cleaning item and a bag of regular laundry.

But that's just the appetizer for the main course of perks at this level: a $100 per cruise credit for alcoholic drinks (or, as Virgin likes to call it, a $100 bar tab credit). This is a significant perk, as it amounts to real money saved when cruising, assuming you like to order drinks while at sea.

Deep Blue Extras members also get all the other perks of the two previous tier levels, plus:

• An unlimited premium Wi-Fi package
• Access to expedited boarding

The access to expedited boarding is not just for you but your cabin mates, assuming they arrive with you at the terminal. Your cabin mates will also be able to attend the exclusive cocktail event, which is a perk for Blue Extras and Deep Blue Extras members.

Note that many of these perks appear as credits on your final bill. You will still be charged for the premium Wi-Fi when you sign up for it and the specialty coffees when you order them, and the charges will appear on your onboard account, but they will be waived before the end of the voyage when Virgin Voyages runs your credit card.

In addition to being available to cruisers who complete four sailings under the revamped program, the Deep Blue Extras perks are also available to two broad categories of cruisers established under the old program:

• Sea-Blazers : These are the "pioneers" of Virgin Voyages sailings who cruised with the line in 2021, its first year of operation. In addition to the temporary perks available to all eligible Sailing Club members, this group will get a $125 bar tab bonus for every $300 bar tab purchased every time they sail with the line for the rest of their lives; this was something Virgin Voyages promised them back in 2021.
• Sea-Rovers : These are customers who sailed with Virgin Voyages at least twice between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023. They are receiving all the Deep Blue Extras perks, plus a $100 bar tab bonus for every $300 bar tab purchased through 2024.

Under the new program, Sea-Blazers and Sea-Rovers will continue to receive all the Deep Blue Extras perks through the end of 2025.

Get perks faster with a Sailing Club status match

As of April 3, Virgin Voyages is offering a status match to cruisers who hold loyalty status with other select cruise and travel brands.

The Sailing Club Status Match program, as it's called, offers immediate Sailing Club membership and Blue Extras perks to cruisers who provide confirmation of loyalty status in other programs and have a confirmed eligible booking with Virgin Voyages.

As part of this program, you can receive Blue Extras perks on your very first voyage with Virgin Voyages instead of having to wait until your third cruise with the line.

Virgin Voyages offers this status match with the following loyalty programs:

• Azamara Circle (for Explorer, Discoverer, Discover Plus and Discover Platinum members)
• Carnival Cruise Line's VIFP Club (for Platinum and Diamond members)
• Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club (for Captain's Club, Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith members)
• Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Club (for Silver, Gold, Platinum and Pearl members)
• Holland America's Mariner Society (for 3-Star, 4-Star and 5-Star Mariner members)
• Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards (for Platinum, Sapphire, Diamond and Ambassador members)
• Oceania Club (for Gold, Platinum, Diamond and President's Circle members)
• P&O Peninsular Club (for Mediterranean Tier, Caribbean Tier, Baltic Tier and Ligurian Tier members)
• Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle (for Platinum and Elite members)
• Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society (for Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (for Gold members)
• Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer (for Gold, Platinum and Beyond members)
• Windstar Cruises' Yacht Club (for One Star, Two Star, Three Star and Four Star members)

Bottom line

Virgin Voyages has a relatively modest loyalty program with just three tiers and not all that many perks at each of the tiers, but it does offer several valuable perks at its higher tiers, including free laundry service, free premium Wi-Fi and a significant credit toward drinks.

One thing to keep in mind when evaluating the benefits available through the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club loyalty program is that many of the perks that other lines offer cruisers as part of their loyalty programs are already included in the base fares for Virgin Voyages cruises. Virgin Voyages includes gratuities, specialty dining and a basic Wi-Fi package in the fares for every cabin on its ships, for instance. As a result, there are fewer valuable extras to give away to its customers with status in the loyalty program.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
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• What to pack for your first cruise

Ring in Pride Month with a LGBTQ+-friendly cruise.

From our onboard social events to gay-friendly destinations, our lgbtq+ cruises are unmatched..

At Virgin Voyages, Pride isn’t just something we celebrate one month of the year. It’s a philosophy that’s baked into our identity. Our culture of inclusivity is quite literally who we are, and has been since our inception. During Scarlet Lady’s inaugural season in 2020, Atlantis Events chartered the ship for a special LGBTQ+ voyage , and to celebrate, Sir Richard Branson toured NYC on a Virgin Voyages Pride bus . The Virgin brand has always been at the forefront of supporting the LGBTQ+ community, creating inclusive travel experiences that promote diversity and welcome all aboard. No matter what community you identify with, here’s why a cruise is the perfect way to celebrate Pride Month.  

Celebrate Pride Month with travel

Let’s be clear – no matter what month of the year it is, we should celebrate diversity and inclusion, and feel the freedom to let loose in a judgment-free way. June is Pride Month , which means taking a few weeks to be extra mindful about this philosophy. It also means getting creative with how we celebrate ourselves and those around us in the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/aromantic) community. For example, one of the ways we’re celebrating is with curated specialty cocktails and mocktails inspired by the colors of the pride flag, available fleetwide throughout the month of June.

Call us biased, but at Virgin Voyages, we think travel is the best way to ring in Pride Month. What better way to celebrate diversity and inclusivity than by meeting new people and exploring LGBTQ+ friendly cultures at our ports around the world? We take “pride” in fostering a sense of community onboard our cruise ships where everyone feels comfortable being themselves.

A Welcoming LGBTQ cruise line

We pride ourselves on being friendly not just to the LGBTQ+ community, but to all communities regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. From Pride events like drag cabaret shows and drag bingo to midday dancing on the pool deck and private karaoke rooms where you can sing your favorite songs without judgment – it’s all part of our “ exclusivity meets inclusivity ” mindset. That extends not just to our Sailors, but our Crew as well. Both onboard, behind-the-scenes, and in our on-shore offices, we create a welcoming environment where all feel comfortable and celebrated.

An inclusive travel experience curated for you

Before anything else, we’re all about creating a sense of community – not just between Sailors, but between Sailors and Crew, too. To us, this is what the LGBTQ+ spirit is all about. An environment where you can be yourself without fear of judgment or stigma, and meet other like minded people looking to share in an epic, open-minded vacation experience. 

“Inclusive” has many meanings for us. Most importantly, it means giving our Sailors the space – and freedom from rules or restrictions, like dress codes – to be themselves. It also represents the value included in every cruise fare. That means award-winning entertainment (some of which is deliciously NSFW), 20+ eateries featuring a diverse range of cuisine , group fitness options, and events and activities geared toward the LGBTQ+ community.

Come as You Are:

It’s no secret that cruise ships are an ideal relaxation experience, but we’re adding a layer of health and wellness you just don’t get on other cruise lines . Between our running track with panoramic ocean views, group fitness classes, and a rejuvenating spa, we’re making it easy to stay on top of your wellness regimen (or start a new one!). 

Exploring new destinations and cultures is one of the clear perks of cruising , but you could also easily spend your entire trip exploring our many onboard amenities and activity spaces. 

We love to eat, and we know you do too. That’s why we offer over 20 complimentary onboard eateries, from romantic Italian to a Korean BBQ with a party atmosphere.

Hustle & Grind

Just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your fitness routine. Whether you’re merely staying true to your daily workout or taking the opportunity to start a new fitness regimen, we’ve got free fitness classes and a high-tech gym to make sure you meet your wellness goals. 

Vacation is for letting loose and dancing like nobody’s watching. Though plenty of people will likely be watching, none of them will be judging. Our Sailors flock to The Manor nightclub for a judgment-free night of shaking, shimmying, and making lasting memories with new friends. 

Whether you’re traveling solo, in a pair, or as a group, a Virgin Voyages cruise is the perfect way to celebrate Pride Month. We even encourage you to Add a Splash for Your Bash to take the party to the next level, including a bottomless brunch and a special dinner party with curated drinks.

Popular LGBTQ-friendly travel destinations

The best part about cruising is visiting several new destinations during the same trip, and making new friends along the way. Not only do we sail to dozens of exciting ports around the world, many of those ports are known for being LGBTQ+ friendly, meaning you won’t just feel right at home on our ship – you’ll also feel the love while exploring the shore. 

Miami is world famous as a LGBTQ+ destination, from its family-friendly queer scene in South Beach to legendary gay nightclubs all over the city.

Key West is home to some of the world’s most colorful and inclusive LGBTQ+ events, like drag shows, gay and lesbian fishing trips, gay pool parties, and plenty of gay-owned restaurants, bars, and cafes.

One of Mexico’s most popular gay areas, Cozumel is home to an annual Pride celebration, as well as several bars, restaurants, and hotels that cater specifically to the LGBTQ+ community.

One of the nightlife capitals of Europe, Ibiza is also known for its thriving gay scene. There are plenty of gay-friendly bars to choose from on this lively island.

The Greek Islands – especially Santorini – are known for their gay-friendly atmosphere and welcoming, inclusive vibe. Santorini is also one of the most picturesque places you could ever ask to spend a day lounging on the beach.

Experience our inclusive and award-winning cruises

Regardless of when you choose to sail, who you choose to sail with, and where you go on your journey, we remain committed to offering exceptional travel experiences for the LGBTQ+ community. From our rocking nightlife and bookable private karaoke lounges to fun pop-up activations, specialty Pride cocktails and mocktails, and innovative dining concepts designed to help you meet fellow Sailors, we strive to give you the most value at sea. 

And speaking of value, you can save up to 80% on your second Sailor for summer cruises when you book now. It’s really just another way we’re leveling up your voyage and making the party too irresistible to pass up. We’ve been celebrating Pride loud and proud for years – now we want you to come celebrate with us.

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We’re all about the best “ships,” from friendship to partnerships, to cruise ships and beyond., introverts and extroverts alike; our voyages have something for everyone., celebrate pride month with our amazing crew.

Virgin Voyages cruise deal offers a month on board with Caribbean season pass

Travelers can make a cruise ship in the Caribbean their floating vacation home this summer.

Virgin Voyages is launching a Summer Season Pass on its Valiant Lady ship, allowing guests to sail six back-to-back cruises over the course of a month at a discounted price. The adults-only cruise line added the Caribbean option after seeing high demand for its season passes in the Mediterranean on Resilient Lady and Scarlet Lady earlier this year. The offers are aimed at remote workers who want a change of scenery – though you don’t have to be working to take advantage.

“We heard from travelers in North America who wanted the option to sail the stunning Caribbean and stay a bit closer to home while working in a similar time zone,” a Virgin Voyages spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

What are the terms of the Caribbean Summer Season Pass?

Passengers have the option to take their month at sea in June, July, August or September. Each option includes six back to back cruises over the following dates:

• June 7-July 5
• July 5-Aug. 2
• Sept. 4-Oct. 1

Destinations include Key West, Florida; Bimini in the Bahamas; Costa Maya, Mexico, Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos and more, though stops vary by itinerary.

Cruise booking tips: There's more to it than picking your travel dates

How much does the Caribbean Summer Season Pass cost?

The pass starts at $12,000 for up to two guests, a 25% discount compared to purchasing the cruises separately. Passholders will be booked in Central Sea Terrace cabins and get wash and fold laundry service, two specialty coffees per day, premium Wi-Fi and other perks.

Travelers can book online .

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

From shaking beds to gender-neutral toilets, we’re flying the flag for these inclusive cruises

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A holiday isn’t a holiday if it makes life more difficult, right? And for many, a cruising trip abroad can feel like a bridge too far.

If you’ve ever gone away and been tutted at or gawked at while enjoying a moment at the bar, you’d probably rather stay home instead.

Well, a number of cruise operators have been thinking about how to make their trips more inclusive and accessible to a wider variety of guests, and their efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Whether it’s gender-neutral toilets or sign language interpreters, we’ve plucked the boats that boast a better experience for everyone from the Sailawaze Excellence Awards .

Virgin Voyages

After a day of sightseeing, what can be more entertaining than a night of drag performance? It’s par for the course at Virgin Voyages, where all staff are encouraged to express their gender identity freely.

The company prides itself on being a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ passengers with its gender-neutral toilets and hospitable atmosphere.

Founder Richard Branson has a long history of supporting gay rights, beginning with legendary Heaven nightclub in London, and the celebrations on his ships ramp up in June as themed parties are thrown and guests are presented with pride-inspired cocktails and on-deck DJs.

Celebrity Cruises

If you thought cruises were only for the silver-haired, you’d be wrong. Celebrity Cruises are a riot of colour, flying every hue of the LGBTQ+ flag – especially in June, Pride Month.

The operation, which travels to every continent, even hosted the first legal same-sex marriage at sea in 2018 and regularly holds gay weddings.

Celebrity Cruises says it promotes diversity among both staff and guests and throws regular LGBTQ+ welcome events to get the party started.

Disney Cruise Line

Family-friendly operators Disney Cruise Line prides itself on making trips accessible to those with additional needs. Guests with disabilities have access to comfortable staterooms and suites, along with a full range of services, facilities, and amenities, including auxiliary aids.

Its liners are also home to specially designed communication staterooms for guests with hearing disabilities, including a vibrating bed shaker under the mattress and an indicating panel with light signals for the doorbell, telephone calls, general alarm and fire alarm.

The ships also provide sign language interpreters for shows and entertainment.

Saga Cruises

If a loud party isn’t for you, over 50s can enjoy a more sedate voyage, with Saga Cruises providing a number of options for guests with mobility issues. A chauffeur service to and from ports is provided as standard on all trips, rooms are equipped with hearing loop systems and hoists are available to help guests in and out of the pools.

Assistance is also provided to those who need help with baggage and large print is provided in the cinema guide and daily paper, alongside Braille playing cards.

A-Rosa Cruises

Meanwhile, A-Rosa Cruises are designed with families and multi-generational groups in mind. Under-15s travel for free and family rooms have been provided so up to five can share a room while they meander along Europe’s rivers, waking up in a different city each day.

Hosts are available to take care of youngsters in the kids club, where children can choose from a variety of activities, including crafting, T-shirt design and face painting while adults can enjoy a relaxing treatment at the spa.

The rest of the nominations

Food & beverage.

Aqua Expeditions

TUI River Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Explora Journeys

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

P&O Cruises

Riverside Luxury Cruises

Emerald Cruises

Amawaterways

Swan Hellenic

Princess Cruises

MSC Cruises

Royal Caribbean

Sustainability.

AE Expeditions

The Majestic Line

Portsmouth International Port

Hurtigruten

ENTERTAINMENT

Carnival Cruise Line

Marella Cruises

COLLABORATIONS

Ambassador Cruise Line

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Oceania Cruises

Havila Voyages

Pandaw Expeditions

Holland America Line

CroisiEurope

VIVA Cruises

This year, European river specialist VIVA Cruises launched its inaugural LGBT voyage, which took travellers to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam where they could visit the world’s largest archive of LGBTQ+ history by day and party at the city’s vibrant gay and lesbian bars by night.

VIVA is a member of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, an organisation built to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism.

Autistic travellers, those with Down syndrome and other additional needs can benefit from a specially designed holiday with Royal Caribbean. Priority check-in, boarding and departure are available to those who need it and the Autism on the Seas programme offers ‘staffed cruises’ with specialised respite sessions and private activities and sessions.

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Guests can choose from Autism-friendly dietary menus and scooters, wheelchairs and walkers are provided for on shore excursions and service animals are welcome on board.

MORE : Are you a top or a bottom? How to navigate sexual identities in the bedroom

MORE : This is how Eloise Bridgerton should escape the fate she was given in the books

MORE : The UK was once the most LGBTQ-friendly place in Europe – now we’re far from it

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Virgin Voyages free cruise winner says prize will cost her $8,000 in flights after Virgin ends Australian cruises

Morgan* won a cruise with Virgin Voyages — but cashing in on the trip would mean having to spend $8,000 on flights, more than the value of the original prize. 

"We definitely don't love Virgin at the moment," she said.

"I think we feel pretty used to be honest."

Morgan won a twin share cruise in November last year.

She was flying Virgin Airlines to her home state of Tasmania after a work trip in Melbourne when she noticed something unusual at the departure gates.

"They had a lot of cameras around, there was dancing … they asked everybody to wear sailor hats when we boarded our flight."

Once on board, the air steward called Virgin boss Richard Branson on Facetime, who announced everybody had won a free Virgin Voyages Cruise.

"We were thrilled," Morgan said.

"Everyone around me was so excited."

Here is how Virgin promoted the event:

Cruise winner left high and dry

Morgan runs a small business, so gathering together savings and taking time away for a holiday for her and her partner is always tough.

"It was just nice … to get us through a bit of a tough year … to know at the end of the year we could take a break and have this free cruise," she said.

The couple used their prize to book a cruise out of Brisbane, but in February this year they were told all of Virgin's Australian cruises had been cancelled because of ongoing tensions in the Red Sea.

Morgan contacted Virgin's public relations team to see whether she could still redeem the prize and was told her only options were to take a cruise out of Europe or the Caribbean.

She discovered two return flights to the Caribbean would cost $8,000, more than the $7,000 value of original prize.

"When I clarified this with Virgin's PR team they stopped responding," she said.

Morgan said she is keen not to appear entitled but points out that "Virgin got precisely what they wanted; a massive amount of media coverage".

"We know this because people sent us messages from all over Australia saying they saw me on the news winning a cruise.

"It feels like they got all the benefits and we got nothing but cancellation fees."

The couple had to change the flights they booked to meet the cruise, at a cost of around $150.

"We were genuinely shocked, we thought Virgin would provide us with an alternative prize like a flight credit … or they would allow us to rebook on a later season," Morgan said.

"They sort of gave up on us … like 'you're a bit of a problem now'.

"It just feels very corporate for a brand that tries not to be very corporate."

A marketing strategy that works

Virgin "relies on winners to become brand ambassadors by sharing their stories with friends, family and social media followers," Dr Balkrushna Potdar, lecturer in marketing at the University of Tasmania, said.

Dr Potdar said while Virgin benefitted from showcasing winners, it was essential the company honoured promises made during the promotion.

He said with the cancellation of Australian cruises, Virgin should provide a replacement prize or compensation — if that doesn't happen, the company risks damage to its brand and people may lose trust in Virgin and see their marketing practice as deceptive.

"The winner's negative experience may become a cautionary tale dissuading potential customers from engaging with the brand," Dr Potdar said.

He said Virgin should consider some form of damage control including a "heartfelt apology" and an offer of compensation.

"This could include covering the cost of flights to Europe or the Caribbean, offering a free cruise credit, providing additional perks and benefits," he said.

Virgin apologises but said safety must come first

In a statement, a Virgin Australia Group spokesperson said "we apologise to our winners who can no longer redeem their prize due to the cancellation of Virgin Voyages' Australian and New Zealand cruises amid the conflict in the Red Sea".

The spokesperson said safety was always its priority.

"We are grateful that Virgin Voyages have offered all impacted guests the opportunity to take complimentary cruises on its other international sailings, including in Europe and the Caribbean."

The value of the replacement cruise is $10,500.

Morgan has described Virgin's response as "tone deaf".

* name has been changed

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