virgin cruises valiant lady reviews

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Review: An EPIC Cruise Experience

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We had such an incredible time on our Virgin cruise , and today I’m sharing a super in-depth Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady review!

Whether you’re considering cruising with Virgin or you’ve already booked your cruise and you’re looking for the scoop, I’m writing up everything you need to know before you go to make the most of your epic Virgin Voyages vacay!

Psst, if you’re eyeing any Virgin Caribbean cruises , here’s their best offer of the season:  Voyages throughout the end of April 2023 in the Caribbean will receive 60% off their second sailor and $200 of sailor loot (onboard credit to use on spa services or shore excursions) !!

We went on the French Daze Ibiza Nights Valiant Lady cruise. I knew I wanted to do one of Virgin’s Mediterranean cruises and was debating between this one and the Irresistible Mediterranean one (both are aboard the Valiant Lady ship).

We ended up going with the French Daze Ibiza Nights cruise because the itinerary on this one just looked epic and I wasn’t familiar with any of the stops on the Irresistible Med itin, but I’m sure that one is awesome too. We actually ended up chatting with the hosts of one of the onboard shows and he said that one was lovely.

And even if you’re heading out on a cruise out of Miami on the Scarlet Lady ship, from what I’ve heard the layout of the ship is pretty much the same, with identical eateries and restaurants, so all of these tips apply as well.

This was my first time going on a cruise and I can already tell the experience onboard Virgin Voyages has forever ruined me.

Virgin really has elevated everything in a way that only the Virgin brand can. They’ve created an epic cruise experience for people who don’t typically like cruises.

Virgin Voyages are adults-only, and it really felt like an adult playground and 24/7 party out on the sea every day/night. There are so many fun things to do onboard, from different shows to trivia night (I usually hate trivia night but their version was so fun), an arcade, karaoke, fine dining, to dancing…that it’s literally impossible to get bored.

We had such an incredible time, we’re already looking at our calendars wondering when we can set sail with Virgin again!

Read on for my in-depth Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady review and all the deets you need to know!

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Review

Know before you go on your virgin voyages cruise.

Here are a few tips/things to know before your Virgin Voyages cruise…because failing to plan is planning to fail. Lol jk it’s not that serious, you’ll have a great time whether you wing it or plan out your itinerary beforehand. But these tips will help you get the most out of your cruise!

Download the Virgin Voyages App

The app is super helpful—when it works. Fair warning, it’s slow and crashes a lot, but for some reason, it works much better once you’re on the ship’s wifi.

Before your trip, you’ll use the app for things like uploading your passport and documents, booking restaurant reservations (see below for more tips on that), and linking up with other sailors in your party so you can share an agenda and make bookings for restaurants and shows together.

You can peruse the app to get acquainted ahead of time with the ship’s spaces (sooo many restaurants) and amenities (like a tattoo parlor, full hair salon, spa, shops, etc.).

Restaurant Reservations on board Valiant Lady

Once you’ve downloaded the Virgin Voyages app, check to see what date reservations open up and you’re able to book restaurants. Mark your calendar and set a reminder for that date, because reservations start to book up quickly!

Book restaurants as soon as reservations open up. This was what I struggled with on the app the most before our trip. It took me a good afternoon to make all of our dinner reservations because the app was so slow and kept crashing, so I’d give it a break and check back again until I was finally able to book everything I wanted.

We dined around 8 pm most nights and that felt perfect. The restaurants do hold some tables for walk-ins rather than reservations too, so if you aren’t able to get all the rezzies you want, you can always stop by on the ship to see if there’s availability.

See the below section all about dining options and my reviews of the restaurants on board for tips on which restaurants to prioritize during your cruise, which ones are best for dinner vs brunch, etc.

Get a Feel for the Shows You Want to Book

Definitely check out the shows in the app and start to get a feel for the ones that interest you the most. I have more notes below in the Shows section of this post describing the different ones and which ones were our favs.

You won’t be able to book any of the shows until you’re onboard on the ship’s wifi, but Omied and I found it helpful to map out which shows we wanted to make sure to hit up and what nights they were playing and fit into our itinerary. That way we had done our research ahead of time and were able to quickly reserve our seats once we were on the ship.

I will say, the actual schedule of some of the shows had shifted around a bit by the time we got on the ship (I had noted some of the shows down for certain nights and they were no longer playing those days), but it was still helpful to have a quick list of which ones were our priority to book.

Cabins on the Valiant Lady

I would definitely recommend springing for an XL Sea Terrace! Having a little balcony with a hammock was so nice.

We also upgraded for $100 to get a centrally located XL Sea Terrace cabin. Cruise ships can feel pretty big and overwhelming, so not having to walk too far to get to the main elevator was nice, but I also don’t think it would have been that big of a deal if we didn’t upgrade to a central room.

Another fun feature of the cabins is your bed converts into a sofa. We never took advantage of this but if you wanted some seating during the day, that’s an option.

Next time, I’m eyeing the Rockstar Suite! 😉 If you watched the last season of The Bachelorette, you’ll recognize the MegaStar Quarters as Gabby’s room where she had her serious chat with Logan.

Helpful Things to Pack for Your Virgin Voyage

Nausea Bands and Dramamine – If you get motion sickness, bring nausea bands & Dramamine . They do have Dramamine on the ship too in case you forget, but it’s a big ship, and if sea sickness hits you probably won’t want to be running around trying to find the medical center on board.

I do tend to get motion sickness and I was pretty nervous about how I would feel since this was my first cruise and I didn’t really know what to expect.

Thankfully, I felt pretty good and really didn’t experience any nausea! There are certain parts of the ship where I could feel the rolling and rocking a bit more than others, but my nausea bands were enough to keep me feeling fine and I didn’t end up needing to take Dramamine.

Travel Steamer – The rooms don’t come equipped with an iron or steamer and if you call down to ask Sailor Services for one, they might not have one available. I was glad I brought my travel steamer (I love this one , it’s lightweight and works great) both for steaming my clothes and for the next item…

Travel Espresso Maker – Probably my only complaint (and we’re getting into first-world problems here) was that there’s no way to make coffee in your room.

I fully recognize I have a caffeine addiction. But I like to get my morning going with some coffee before ever having to leave my room. I don’t live the feeling of showing up at a restaurant for breakfast super groggy and out of it.

Plus with a hammock and sea terrace, it’d be nice to sip coffee out there in the mornings.

I came up with a nice little travel hack solution here that I’m pretty proud of. I brought my travel espresso maker with me (love this thing, I always travel with it because you never know what the in-room coffee situation will be) but I also needed hot water for it.

Sailor Services was not able to provide me with an electric kettle so I could make hot water, which is when I started using my travel steamer to make hot water. Et voilà! Shots of espresso in our room every morning. I felt like MacGyver.

A Red Outfit for Scarlet Night – Scarlet Night happens on Thursday night onboard the ship and it is SO much fun. Truly one of the highlights of our experience on Virgin Voyages.

Be sure to bring a red outfit to wear for this party, and my advice is to wear something that you wouldn’t mind jumping in the pool in because Scarlet Night starts with a pool party, and jumping in while fully clothed is a MUST. Trust me, it’s so so fun. Omied and I had a blast. 😉

My two-piece set is from Dress the Population and it was the perfect shade of Virgin red. It held up great after jumping in the pool too!

Here are a few other red outfit ideas for you if you’re looking for some inspo:

Magnetic Hooks – Turns out the walls have metal in them, and these magnetic hooks for the bathroom/walls were perfect for more hanging space!

We hung hats, wet swimsuits, and wet clothes (from Scarlet Night! ;)) on our hooks and we were happy to have them.

Buy these must-haves before your trip:

Tips Once aboard Valiant Lady

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elise / Travel Blogger + Life (@wtfab)

I felt like this was a good time to share this IG Reel I made about things aboard the Valiant Lady that ~*just make sense*~. There are so many cool, well thought out features on the ship!

Here are a few random notes and tips we learned aboard the ship that will be helpful for you during your voyage!

First things first, let’s start with this hot tip about alcohol lol. You aren’t allowed to bring hard liquor or beer on the ship, but you can bring two bottles of wine per cabin on the ship.

While it isn’t explicitly stated on Virgin’s help page, I believe you can bring on two bottles of wine per port (that’s what we did and we had no problems at all). Here’s what their Help page says about alcohol:

If you must bring that rare bottle of red you got in the south of France, we get it. Sailors are also welcome to bring two (2) 750mL bottles of wine per cabin in carry-on bags.

You can bring your wine with you anywhere on the ship and they’ll open it for you and bring you an ice bucket to chill if it’s a white or champagne.

This came in so clutch. We picked up wine at each stop and drank our bottles with dinner, at shows, and we even popped open a bottle of rosé poolside.

Such a great way to save a bit on alcohol and it was so nice that the staff on the ship were super cool about it and happy to open our bottles wherever we were.

We definitely indulged in ordering cocktails (and shots on Scarlet Night lol) onboard—it’s so easy with just the scan of your wristband—but bringing on wine helped offset the alcohol costs.

Booking Shows

Remember to book the shows you want to see once you’re on board and on the ship’s wifi! Some of them book up fast.

The wifi on the ship is free (yay), but very weak (boo), so don’t expect to be able to work on the ship. You certainly won’t be able to do any video calls, and I could barely post my Insta Stories or check my email sometimes.

Pro-tip, put your DND light on in your cabin before you go to sleep if you don’t want housekeeping to ring your doorbell and open your door at 9 am.

The staff is v efficient and whenever we forgot to put our DND light on, we had someone pop into our room while we were still in bed, which is always awkward.

Shore Things

I would not recommend booking your activities/excursions through Shore things on the app. The excursions we did book we realized later would have been a lot cheaper if we had just booked them ourselves (whether it was booking a train ticket to Antibes or directly booking with a beach club).

Of course, you’re paying

for the convenience of just booking through the app and having a bus pick you up right from the ship, and the guide making sure you get back in time and don’t miss the ship leaving lol. 

But if you’re a comfortable traveler, you can def save some $$ by booking these activities yourself.

Dining Aboard the Valiant Lady / Scarlet Lady

I heard this Tiktok audio and felt so seen, lol. I had to make a Reel with it with some clips from our many dining experiences onboard the ship.

I know y’all can relate because my restaurant guides for all the cities I’ve been to are always some of my top-performing posts. We like to eat! And we like to eat gourmet food, specifically.

And the food aboard the Valiant Lady is totally delicious. There are no buffets, and no up-charges for the nicer restaurants (like there can be on other cruise lines).

The ship’s dining program and menus have been designed by Michelin chefs, and it shows. We were in foodie heaven!

One thing’s for sure, you will not go hungry onboard a Virgin Voyages cruise ship. There are over 20 different eateries available—yes, 20.

So just make peace with the fact that you probably won’t try all of them during your cruise. That’s what my guide is for—to help you figure out which ones to prioritize!

First, let’s start with the six restaurants where you can make reservations. I’m ordering them in order of our favorites so it’s clear which ones are can’t-miss spots.

The Test Kitchen

Test Kitchen is the ship’s experimental restaurant, and it features a six-course tasting menu. It’s experiential and social, and the food is inventive and delicious with beautiful presentation.

We dined at Test Kitchen on our first night on the ship and it was so much fun. Highly recommend doing the wine pairing as well—it was only $35 and they picked some really delicious wines that paired so well with the courses.

Each course highlights a key ingredient, and while the tasting menu does evolve so there’s no way to know what it’ll look like in the future, here’s what our menu featured:

Blue Cheese

We started off strong with a mushroom appetizer that was almost like a creamy mushroom pate, and it was out of this world.

The blue cheese semifreddo was another highlight that we just could not get over.

We found out during the trip that on Thursday night, Test Kitchen switches things up and does a different menu for the rest of the cruise. We loved the first night so much that we booked Test Kitchen again for Thursday night.

While the second night was good, we agreed that the first night was much better, so my rec here is to make sure you go to Test Kitchen Sunday – Wednesday night to make sure you get to enjoy that first menu.

Extra Virgin

Extra Virgin features elevated Italian cuisine, and we had a delicious meal here. This Trattoria serves regionally-inspired dishes with fresh, handmade pasta.

The appetizers are small, which is a good thing because they’re all so yummy you’re going to want to try a few. Definitely get the artichoke heart.

Enjoy some serious carb loading and share a pasta (or three) for your next course. Don’t miss the gnocchi (so soft and creamy—I can’t even) and the pappardelle.

For dessert, the affogato cart is fun. You get to choose which ice cream and toppings you’d like.

Have you ever seen a Korean BBQ restaurant on a cruise ship? Not until Virgin Voyages entered the scene.

Gunbae is SO fun and the Korean BBQ is great. You’re seated six people at a table so even if you’re dining as a couple, you’re going to make some new friends at this interactive dining experience.

Our server was very nice but he kinda insisted on ordering for us and giving us a sampling of different seafood and meats. In hindsight, the kalbi (marinated short ribs) was the absolute best, and I wish we just ordered that with some of the other apps and rice like we had originally wanted.

After dinner, you get to play a fun drinking game with your table. One of the servers will help facilitate and pour you soju, but just know it’s super fun (and definitely harder than it looks lol).

The Wake is Virgin’s modern take on a chic steakhouse, and it’s just the right mix of nostalgia and cool glam.

We only made it to The Wake for breakfast, but next time I’d definitely like to try it for dinner too. It’d also be really fun to time your dinner here to be around sunset when you’re out at sea because the big windows look out to, you guessed it, the wake of the ship.

Pro-tip, if you have time on Sunday when you dock back at Barcelona, you can make reservations for breakfast at The Wake and enjoy some eggs benny, french toast, and a mimosa before disembarking the ship.

Razzle Dazzle

Razzle Dazzle has a mix of comfort food (think fried chicken and burgers) and healthy vegetarian options. You know which route we went lol.

We went to Razzle twice, once for dinner and once for breakfast. I think I preferred it for a breakfast or lunchtime meal.

Pink Agave is the ship’s elevated Mexican restaurant, and it’s the only sit-down restaurant we didn’t make it to during our cruise. We just didn’t have enough time to dine at every restaurant, and my friend Jess from Miss Moore Style who had been on the same cruise a few months earlier said this would be the one to de-prioritize, so it didn’t quite make the cut.

I did hear they make great margaritas, so we’ll have try it for ourselves next time!

Ok, now let’s get into some of the other eateries on the ship that are more like quick bites…

The Pizza Place

I can’t tell you how many times Omied and I grabbed pizza here, whether we wanted a late afternoon bite or a midnight snack after dancing. It was So. Good.

The pizzas are made fresh to order with a thin, crispy crust. You can enjoy your pizza here or take it to go.

The Galley is like a food hall, with a bunch of different eateries here. Sit down and grab any open table, and a server will come over and take your order.

You can order from any of the many different eateries here. I had ramen one day, paninis another, and simple eggs and bacon another day.

The Galley is the spot for a quick breakfast before heading out exploring at your next port. There’s also self-serve black coffee here for free. You can order premium coffee from the Grounds Club here as well, but that isn’t included and will cost ~$5.

During lunchtime, I loved grabbing sushi rolls from Bento Baby.

Lick Me Til Ice Cream

Lol, the name on this one is so naughty. We definitely stopped by and got ice cream a few times during the cruise, and they rotate flavors so there was always something new to try.

Sun Club Cafe

Don’t miss the poke bowls here! I’d recommend asking for a double portion of tuna. It’s perfect for grabbing lunch when you’re having a pool day.

The Dock / The Dock House

We didn’t get a chance to dine here either, but The Dock House and its outdoor area The Dock feature Mediterranean cuisine. The menu looked good!

The Dock has more like mezze bites and indoors The Dock House has entree options.

The Social Club Diner

I’d skip the food at Social Club Diner—it’s a pretty bare-bones hot dog situation most days. BUT they do have a small sweets bar that I couldn’t not stop at every time we passed by. They had these cake pops that were so addicting!

Shows and Entertainment

Once again, Virgin has elevated this element of cruise ships—no cheesy magic shows or weird ventriloquist acts here! The shows on the ship were absolutely top-notch.

We hit up all of the shows so that I could give you all my first-hand recs, so here’s a quick synopsis of each show. Just like with the restaurants, these are in order of favorite to least favorite.

Duel Reality

Duel Reality is a must! It’s a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but with Cirque du Soleil style acrobatics.

These guys are all so incredibly talented, and they put on a jaw-dropping performance.

Ship Show wasn’t really on our radar until we happened to meet the host of this show on one of our excursions. He was there with his parents who had come on the cruise to see him in the show (cute) and told us a bit about the show.

It’s a variety show with a mix of music and dancing, and several short acts that are once again jaw-dropping. Like a couple who rollerbladed around on a small, circular stand and the guy twirled the girl around by a strap around her head/neck. WHAT.

They also serve dinner with the Ship Show, but I heard the food was just ok so I’d recommend doing what we did—bring a bottle of wine to enjoy during the show, and then make dinner reservations at a different restaurant after.

Untitled Dance Show Party Thing

Ok, I really don’t know how to describe this one lol. And I almost feel like it’s better if you don’t really know what to expect.

So for this one, I’m just gonna show you a pic of my outfit from that night, which involved this killer hot pink sequin jumpsuit from Dress The Population . I received so many compliments on this jumpsuit all night long!

Just be sure to wear shoes that are comfortable for dancing/standing in for an hour because there’s no seating at this show.

The Mentalist Magic Show

If you have a free night, The Mentalist show is definitely worthwhile. He did some pretty crazy things that I’m still in awe over.

It’s a pretty large theatre so if you’re going to do this one I’d recommend arriving 15 minutes early so you can get a seat up front.

Never Sleep Alone

NSA was definitely our least favorite show. Some of the things she made people do onstage were funny/entertaining, but getting paired up with a random middle-aged man and telling him my deepest desires and fantasies was just straight-up awkward and not my idea of a good time.

If you want to watch the show but not participate, you can ask to be seated in the upstairs/balcony area, which is what I wish we did!

French Daze Ibiza Nights Itinerary and Recommendations

If you’re wondering what to do in each of the destinations on this cruise, I’ve got you covered below! I’m covering activities and where to eat/drink during your time in Marseilles, Cannes, Olbia, and Ibiza.

Sunday, Day 1: Boarding and Embarkation

Before you set sail, once you fill out your forms on the Virgin Voyages app you can choose your embarkation time. We chose 4 pm because we wanted plenty of time to get settled and explore the ship before dinner.

Turns out that as Rockstars, you can board as early as 2 pm, and you also have access to a VIP check-in line that’s much shorter.

The boarding process was easy. You check in and they take your luggage for you and drop it off in your room by 6 pm. If you want to head straight to the pool, keep your swimsuit with you!

Once you’re on board and connected to the ship’s wifi, you can book the shows you want. You can try planning ahead but by the time our cruise set sail the shows/timing were a little different than when I had looked a month earlier.

The first evening includes free champagne up at the deck above the pool as you sail away from Barcelona so be sure not to miss that! If you’re a Rockstar, you also get free champagne every evening at Richard’s Roofdeck. 😉

Monday, Day 2: Marseilles

We had heard mixed things about Marseilles, like that it was gritty. And while there’s definitely more graffiti than say, Nice, we really didn’t find it to be dirtier than any other European city and enjoyed our day here.

Here’s what we did during our day in Marseille:

Basilica de Notre Dame

The Basilica is beautiful and it’s on top of a hill so it has amazing views of Marseilles.

It’s free to enter and a nice way to kick off your day in Marseilles. You can take a cab or Uber up, or there’s also a tram from the old port.

Lunch at Sepia

We strolled down the hill a bit to a restaurant called Sepia that serves traditional French cuisine.

Our lunch here was fantastic and I’d highly recommend this spot! We had the haddock appetizer and tuna belly and both were delicious.

La Corniche

After lunch, we took an Uber over to La Corniche where we walked along the water.

If we had known there was a beach club there I would have brought my swimsuit and we probably would have parked it there for the rest of the afternoon, especially since it was so hot.

Instead, we grabbed drinks at the Le Bords de Mer rooftop overlooking the water.

Palais Longchamp

If you want to check out one more thing in Marseilles, you can visit the Palais Longchamp, an impressive fountain monument dedicated to water.

Tuesday, Day 3: Cannes

On day three we arrived in Cannes. If you haven’t been to Nice or Eze before, I would definitely recommend taking the train over there since you have all day/night and part of the next day at this stop.

Since we’ve been to Nice before we wanted to visit another town, and we booked the Antibes absinthe tasting excursion through Shore Things.

Tbh, we should have just taken the train to Antibes and strolled around ourselves and visited the absinthe bar. The tour didn’t include much besides the shuttle + the tasting and was $100.

When we returned to Cannes, we walked around and did a bit of shopping (the Zara’s in Europe are just so much better than the ones in the States) and stopped at my fav, Laduree, for macarons.

Dinner at Astoux et Brun

We walked over to Astoux et Brun for dinner and because we were there on the earlier side (by European standards), we were able to get seated right away. By the time we left, the line was getting pretty long.

It was here that I had the most amazing mussels of my life for dinner! They were so sweet and delicious and the cream broth they were covered in was out of this world.

Wednesday, Day 4: Cannes and then setting sail

We were planning on going to St Marguerite but it was raining so we ended up just relaxing on the ship.

But if your weather holds, I’d recommend going to St Marguerite island because it does look gorgeous! And you’ll have plenty of ship time on Friday on your way to Ibiza all day.

Thursday, Day 5: Olbia

We were once again unlucky with the weather on this day and all the excursions were canceled due to rain (even though it ended up hardly sprinkling).

The town of Olbia itself really doesn’t have much to do. We strolled around a bit but honestly quickly got bored and went back to the ship.

Olbia is definitely a port that you need to book an excursion from. From what I’ve heard, a catamaran sail would be ideal as it goes to stunning small beaches and coves that you otherwise can’t get to.

We were planning on doing the food and wine tuk-tuk tour , but the timing didn’t work out. Here are some other ideas for activities you can book in Olbia through GetYourGuide:

Jess also recommended renting a scooter at the port and checking out some of the beaches.

Thursday night is also Scarlet Night and like I said, one of our favorite experiences on the ship!

Friday, Day 6: Ibiza

Most of day six is spent out at sea on your way to Ibiza. We arrived in the evening, just in time for dinner.

Day six at sea is a great opportunity to relax at the spa, where they have cold plunge pools, a sauna, and mud bath room.

And of course, it’s a great day to get in some pool time.

The ship has the above pool and a smaller, circular one. It does get pretty crowded, especially on a day when you’re out at sea and there’s not much else to do.

So if you want to get a day bed, definitely come early.

Dinner at Laylah

We strolled around Ibiza and did a little shopping at some of the cute local stores before heading to dinner.

Omied picked this restaurant and it was soo good. It’s super vibey and fun and they had a DJ playing great music.

The menu is tapas style, Mediterranean food, and the cocktails were delicious. While the food was really good, the portions are a bit small and it’s def a bit pricey. I think between the two of us we spent 190 €.

Nightlife in Ibiza

Of course, Ibiza is known for its epic clubs and parties.

David Guetta has a residency at Hï Ibiza and we were contemplating going, but then we found out he doesn’t come on until like 3 am, and honestly, I’m tired just typing that lol.

We decided to keep it chill that night.

Keeper is a fun bar with good music and chill vibes if you’re looking for somewhere to go that isn’t a club with 80,000 people in it.

We tried going at 10:30 pm after dinner but apparently, that was too early because no one was there and their clean-up crew was setting up outside. We’re not in Kansas anymore lol so you’ll prob want to show up closer to midnight.

Saturday, Day 7: Ibiza

For our day in Ibiza, we went to Tanit Beach Club, which we booked through Shore Things (and later regretted).

The beach club itself was great with good food and decent drinks. We had a day bed and umbrellas and had a nice day here.

However, we realized we really should have just booked the beach club ourselves and taken a cab over here.

Booking through Shore things cost 235€ per person. While Tanit’s website isn’t super clear on pricing, it seems to be about 100 – 150 € for a day bed.

So I would def recommend spending your Saturday in Ibiza at a beach club, but booking it yourself!

That’s a wrap on my super detailed (and long lol) Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady review! As you can tell, Virgin has successfully turned me into a cruise person and I’m dying to set sail with them again.

Next year they’re launching some new itineraries, including Greece/Croatia and South Pacific sailings (including itineraries with Sydney, Bali , and Singapore), so definitely stay tuned for that on the Virgin Voyages website !

Huge thank you to Virgin Voyages for hosting us on this epic cruise experience!

The ships themselves are virtually identical. Their itineraries are different, with Valiant Lady starting in Barcelona and covering Mediterranean cities, and Scarlet Lady starting in Miami for Caribbean cruises.

Alcohol, premium coffee drinks, amenities like the spa/hair salon, and excursions cost extra. Things like wifi, tips, and all dining are included in your fare.

Valiant Lady accommodates 2,700 passengers and 1,150 crew members.

Love to travel? Me too. Check out travel guides from around the world here .

Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab , a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.

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Sunday 16th of October 2022

Okayyy this post was so helpful!! My hubby and I have been eyeing Virgin's new cruise line but wondering if it's all it's hyped up to be. Your post convinced us to book!

• Virgin Voyages

Just Cruised on Valiant Lady - Here's my review

By FirstTimeFreddy , April 30, 2022 in Virgin Voyages

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FirstTimeFreddy

Disclaimer:  This review is based on my experience of a 5 night Amsterdam to Portsmouth sailing on 24th April 2022. This was my first experience with Virgin Voyages, but not the Virgin brand. I can only speak from my own experience of the ship. Your mileage may be different. On this particular sailing of Valiant Lady, only 600 passengers were on board. I sailed solo and I'm a 48 year old man.

As a loyal Virgin Atlantic customer and also regular cruiser, I decided to try Virgin Voyages on a 5 night sailing on the Valiant Lady from Amsterdam to Portsmouth. From the moment I boarded the ship it was very apparent that Virgin were determined to do things differently and set themselves apart from the mainstay cruise lines. They've dared to challenge passenger (Sailor) expectations and in many ways the ship feels like it's 'out with the old and in with the new'. On paper this clean sheet approach sounds quite exciting and innovative. However, the reality is somewhat opposite, as there are numerous problems with Virgin's 'redefined' cruise model.

Firstly let me start with some positives.

1. The attitude and demeanour of the crew.

The friendliness of the crew was the real silver lining to my voyage. The crew seemed genuinely relaxed and happy to be there. Every crew member that I encountered was friendly and approachable. Virgin have introduced a relaxed dress code for its crew and they all seemed to appreciate the less formal environment. Virgin have also allowed crew to be individuals as part of their policy of inclusivity. You will find many of them sporting Tattoos and Piercings and the crew certainly appreciate and enjoy this freedom of expression. This was great to see and I think other cruise lines could learn a thing or two here. 

2. Hydration won't be a problem.

Unlike other cruise lines that charge for bottles of water or include them in paid drinks packages, Virgin ensures that everyone on board has access to both still and sparkling water at all times. You can order multiple Carafes of water to your room at any time without charge. There is also plenty of water bottle filling stations throughout the ship. You won't go thirsty for water on a Virgin Voyages cruise.  

3. The Cabins and the Hammock.

Since debuting their first ship, the Scarlet Lady, Virgin have brought some much needed extra warmth to the interior of the cabins on the Valiant Lady. Many have criticised the cabins as looking like an Ikea catalogue, but I really enjoyed the decor and as a solo cruiser, there was plenty of storage. However, I can appreciate that others may require more storage overall. All cabins have tablet controlled LED mood and main lighting. In the Sea Terrace (Balcony) cabins, your tablet can also control your curtains/drapes. I thought the mood lighting was fun and innovative idea and it helped bring an extra feel to the cabin. However, the winning feature was the Hammock on the balcony. It was comfortable, safe and very relaxing, no matter what your body size is. I'm a big chap and would never dream of getting in a Hammock usually, but I did get into this one and it was extremely relaxing and a lovely addition to the cabin.

4. Virgin's interior design.

I thought the ship looked modern and stylish, just as you would expect from the Virgin brand. The real stand out were the elevators which have large LED screens on the back wall, as well as clever lighting that gives the illusion of being in an Aquarium or Pool. Very innovative and a fun addition where every elevator has a different colour palette.

5. Some honourable mentions.

The speciality restaurants on board are very good. In particular, Pink Agave which is their Mexican cuisine offering. It was delicious. But overall, all of the speciality restaurants on board served food of excellent quality. The fact that these restaurants are included in your cruise fare is also a great move by Virgin Voyages. Big thumbs up from me.

Which brings me to the things I didn't like about the Valiant Lady.

1. Level of service

On any other cruise ship you can expect to be offered a drink, be it alcoholic, soft or a hot beverage not matter where you are on the ship. On other cruise lines you can happily sit in the Atrium, soft seating areas of the ship or the sun decks and be tended to by plenty of waiters. However, on my particular sailing Virgin really let itself down. I sat in the Atrium area of the ship very close to a Bar. It took 20 minutes before a member of the bar staff approached me to ask if I wanted a drink. He had been busy chatting with his colleague prior to this. When he eventually came to me, I asked for a coffee and some milk, but was told 'No'.

Virgin sell premium Coffee on board and also free drip Coffee from specific areas of the ship. The bars onboard don't have individual Coffee machines and bar staff won't bring you a hot beverage. They will bring you a paid alcoholic drink, but if you want a Tea or a Coffee, you'll be told to go to the Coffee Bar and purchase a drink or visit those decks that have free drip Coffee available. This is unheard of on other cruise lines. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than capable of getting up and getting my own drink. However, this is not what we've come to expect from full service cruise lines such as Celebrity, P&O, Princess and Royal Caribbean. Likewise, on the sun decks there was one member of bar staff behind the bar and just one person acting as remote bar staff nearby. I appreciate that sailing the English Channel is hardly typical sun-bathing weather, but when the sun did come out, there simply wasn't enough crew to take drinks orders. I spent one afternoon on the highest sun deck of the ship and not once did the bar staff come near or by.  

What confuses me is that Virgin already knows how to provide excellent waiter service. Just look at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow. At the Clubhouse your every need is tended to and anything you want is brought to you. Why Virgin haven't simply taken this model and transferred it to their cruise ships is beyond me. But this issue needs to be addressed and improvements made.

2. Crew training and levels of cleanliness in The Galley

On deck 15 you will find The Galley which is Virgin's take on main dining and a buffet. Virgin have removed all main dining options from their cruise ships and instead offer 6 casual dining options in a buffet style table service area. You have to sit and wait for a crew member to approach you to take your order, then wait for your food to be brought to you. As lovely and friendly as the crew are, the level of cleanliness was very disappointing. Crew were so laid back and chatty with one another that often tables were left dirty with crumbs and other food detritus left on the floor.

On my first afternoon on the ship I decided to eat in The Galley. I watched crew members within feet of dirty tables, making no effort to clean them. It finally took a supervisor to instruct them to clean the tables and the floor. On another occasion I decided to grab some drip Coffee from The Galley. I decided to sit and enjoy the sea views, but quickly realised that 5 tables in my vicinity were dirty with no one around to clean them. Then on my third day on the ship I attended The Galley for Breakfast. The table looked clean and so I sat down ready to order my food. To my dismay, when I looked at the floor under my table it was strewn with food and crumbs.

There is clearly a training issue here that needs to be addressed by Virgin. Not once did I see any crew member with a broom or dust pan cleaning under tables. On other cruise lines standards are much higher, but with Virgin there seems to be no one assigned to specific tasks. Instead it appears that all crew are expected to share the responsibility. Sadly, from what I witnessed, few wished to accept that responsibility. Though I appreciate Virgin's relaxed approach, its crew seemed easily distracted by one another and were quick to forget that they have a job to do.

3. Poor entertainment, little to do of a daytime and removal of a daily newsletter.

Apart from a Guitarist and a venue where you can play board games, I found very little else to do on the ship. On other cruise lines you have a Cruise Director who is visible and interactive with their passengers. There is no such person that I could see who fulfilled this role on the Valiant Lady. Indeed I couldn't even tell you who the Captain was. On other cruise lines you have such things as indoor archery, dance classes, a Library,   glass blowing, art auctions, ice skating etc. Virgin's reinvention of the cruise experience has completely removed such things. Instead, they seem focused on fitness and wellbeing and concentrate their offerings in this area. Overall, the ship lacked the energy and atmosphere that I've experienced on other cruise lines.

Virgin have also removed paper daily newsletters from cabins. Instead, they wish you to use the Virgin Voyages App to keep abreast of what's happening on the ship. For me, this is a big step backwards by Virgin. The App isn't reliable and the events information contained within it is piecemeal at best. With the conventional newsletter, a cruise passenger could expect up to 4 pages of concise information detailing events and opening times. Though I appreciate Virgin wanting to save on paper waste, most cruise lines have comprehensive recycling systems in place. I can see what Virgin was aiming for by removing paper and replacing it with a digital technology. However, the App must at least be on par with what it's replacing. Sadly, it isn't. In addition, not everyone is tech-savvy or can download and use Apps. Older generations or experienced cruisers may not appreciate this move away from what they're used to on other cruise lines, and may not be inclined to use the App.

As for the entertainment, I could only find one main show. Duel Reality was their only offering and it was located in their theatre called The Red Room. Now I say theatre but I use this term very loosely. Virgin call it a 'transformational multi-use theatre at sea', but it looked more like a basketball court with cinema style seating on either side. It was very odd looking and didn't have the capacity of a conventional theatre. In fairness the show was entertaining and fun, but in my opinion, cruise ship theatres really don't need Prosceniums or Alleys. As innovative as it appeared to be, it added nothing to the experience.  

4. Terrible WIFI that cannot be upgraded.

The WIFI offered by Virgin Voyages is included in your cruise fare, but it was very poor. It didn't help matters that the crew are also given free reign to use ship WIFI, so at any one time there can be a lot of people trying to access it. Also, you cannot upgrade to a better WIFI package that enables streaming of any kind. I was so relieved when we arrived into Zeebrugge for two days, because I was able to use the 5G connectivity on my phone. Compared to its competitors, Virgin's free WIFI is bare bones and I found it incredibly frustrating that there was no way to upgrade it.

5. Noise from the Gym & Running Track in Deck 14 cabins.

My cabin was 14124Z on the deck 14. The Gym is located directly above and covers both sides of the ship. One side is cardiovascular and the other weight training. The crashing and booming of weights being dropped or pull bars being released with heavy weights attached, was horrendous. The Gym must have been open 24hrs because the noise was continuous day and night, even into the early hours of the morning.

I complained to the Gym attendant and was told that signage had been placed in the area to ask people to use the equipment responsibly. However, both crew and passengers were slamming the weights continuously. Upon inspection of the Gym, none of the heavy equipment had any kind of rubber matting underneath to absorb the noise. Equipment on the Valiant Lady has simply been placed onto the floor surface. As such, there isn't any kind of noise dampening, and so noise travels directly to the decks below.

It's also worth noting that the elevated running track attached to Deck 15 doesn't have any noise dampening. In deck 14 cabins you will continuously hear the pounding of running feet above you. In all my years of cruising I've never experienced a cabin with so much noise coming from above.

In fairness to Virgin, every cruise ship has noise and vibration issues. Some cabins are in close proximity to theatres, clubs, bars and sun decks. I've learned from experience to always travel with a good set of Ear Plugs and I advise anyone going on a cruise to take plenty with them. Nevertheless, If you're cruising with Virgin, make sure you look at the deck plans very carefully before selecting your cabin. Avoid cabins on the upper decks on these Fincantieri designed ships. You have been warned.

In conclusion:

Virgin Voyages have tried to reinvent the wheel, but did the wheel really need reinventing? By trying so hard to be different, they may have only succeeded in confusing the traditional cruiser, making the experience less, not more enjoyable. Virgin's service provision isn't on par with its competitors and it shows. There are personal touches that you'll find on other cruise lines which are glaringly omitted here.

Though it's commendable that Virgin have tried to think outside the box and innovate, they've removed or reimagined parts of the cruise experience that really didn't need to be touched. Other cruise lines have finely tuned their offerings over many decades and with great success. They know what the customer wants and they make sure they deliver in order to grab their share of a multi-billion dollar market.

To this, it seems quite arrogant that Virgin has entered the industry presuming it knows better. The truth is that it's possible to be both innovative and trendy without removing some of the traditional spaces on a cruise ship. Just ask Celebrity or Norwegian and look at what they've created on their new ships. Change for the sake of change doesn't make sense.   

There's a lot of style to be found on Virgin Voyages, but sadly the substance still needs work. If Virgin Voyages want to play with the big boys, they're going to need to improve service standards in line with their competitors. They're charging a premium price and experienced cruisers will have premium expectations. Indeed, for the same price you pay on a Virgin cruise, you could cruise with other all-inclusive cruise lines and have alcohol included.  

In my opinion, Virgin Voyages will appeal to the younger, trendier, fitness focused and less experienced crowd. For those of us that are older and have had the pleasure of experiencing many other cruise lines, Virgin Voyages as it currently operates, can only disappoint.

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That’s a fair review.

My best guess is that when they were coming up with the concept for VV, they aimed it at people who partied in Ibiza or Cancun in their late teens and 20s and now, in their 30s and 40s, want to relive those holidays by partying at night, getting up at lunchtime, lying by the pool, having dinner and partying again.

In other words - they’ve thrown everything at their night-time events but assumed no-one really wants to be entertained during the day.

I’m yet to be convinced the concept will succeed, however brave and well-intentioned. Most of those 30 and 40-somethings will now have full-time jobs and kids who aren’t allowed to sail, so that’s them lost. And the people who DO have the money, no kids at home and time to cruise all year round - the over-50s and retirees - are actively being put off the brand.   

There’s a reason why the mainstream lines all tend to copy each other. I applaud VV for trying to be different - the crew and the food really do set them apart - but I’m not convinced the market they’re trying to win is big enough. They can’t survive if they’re only selling 600 tickets on ships that hold 2,700 (although I realise your voyage was a late notice one-off).

4 hours ago, gumshoe958 said: That’s a fair review.   My best guess is that when they were coming up with the concept for VV, they aimed it at people who partied in Ibiza or Cancun in their late teens and 20s and now, in their 30s and 40s, want to relive those holidays by partying at night, getting up at lunchtime, lying by the pool, having dinner and partying again.   In other words - they’ve thrown everything at their night-time events but assumed no-one really wants to be entertained during the day.   I’m yet to be convinced the concept will succeed, however brave and well-intentioned. Most of those 30 and 40-somethings will now have full-time jobs and kids who aren’t allowed to sail, so that’s them lost. And the people who DO have the money, no kids at home and time to cruise all year round - the over-50s and retirees - are actively being put off the brand.    There’s a reason why the mainstream lines all tend to copy each other. I applaud VV for trying to be different - the crew and the food really do set them apart - but I’m not convinced the market they’re trying to win is big enough. They can’t survive if they’re only selling 600 tickets on ships that hold 2,700 (although I realise your voyage was a late notice one-off).

All made worse by sea-day-heavy itineraries (especially with Caribbean routes). Their strategy could work with a port-heavy itinerary because at least people can get off the ship.

johnnylikely

Yes, that was my question from the off- what can Virgin do that is better- even on the more cheaper cruise lines I still find the service to be pretty good- defo better than most places on land lol

They've missed the mark on many things, but you can't beat the vibe of people on the ship. All 3 cruises I've done, I've met some great people.

You have to wonder with $3-4billion in ships can they sustain it?

The target audience seems to have changed a bit since the first ship was launched.  At that time, it seemed to be aimed at the 20 somethings who were spending Daddy's money.  Now it is appealing to a much wider age group.  They've also changed some of the ship decor in cabins and some of the facilities in response to customer requests, comments, etc.  For example, they remodeled some cabins to what they are calling "ambulatory accessible," which will not admit a wheelchair or scooter thru the doorways, but had additional grab bars and other assist devices added as they discovered that they had more requests for HA cabins than they had in the original design. In the Caribbean, the wifi can be upgraded (for a fee).  There is a paper schedule available at their equivalent of Guest Services, and the schedule is far more complete than what is on the app.  The pop up entertainment is fun, but obviously you never know where or what will happen--fun, but would rather know sometimes that there will be a short presentation.  I don't know what to say about the dirt/crumbs on the floors and tables in the Galley not cleaned.  Hopefully someone will get the crew in gear and keep things spotless as most other lines do....but this ship has been in service for a short while now.  I would have thought that training would have been completed! Thanks for  a great, comprehensive review.

CruisingWalter

@FirstTimeFreddy  Thanks for the fantastic review. We have been sailing since 2006 and have so far cruised 7 different lines. Princess, Disney, Celebrity, NCL, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. We were more intrigued with Virgin when the first announced the ships and the drag brunch along with what appeared to be a lot more entertainment than what ended up rolling out after the shutdowns. We are sailing Scarlet Lady in July and were able to upgrade all the way to a Cheeky Corner Suite so we'll most likely lounge the day away in Richard's Rooftop or on our own balcony. 

The pattern of 'inattentive' or 'lazy' crew seems to be a prevailing thread in many of the reviews both here on Cruise Critic and other forums. Friendly as can be, but they don't have that same attention to detail and cleanliness as you come to expect from the amazing crews aboard the cruise lines. I've had attendants at the pool go down multiple decks to get me a cappuccino with me even realizing where they had to go. The crews are the main reason we keep coming back to cruising, there is no other experience like it. 

We'll see how they do on Scarlet in July. Thanks again for a really well thought out review. 

I think a lot of your negatives are due to comparing it to another cruise line, whereas I hadn’t done a before and thought of it differently.

If I wanted a coffee I would go and sit in a coffee bar, I wouldn’t assume the beer bar would serve me coffee. I never saw waited service in the upstairs atrium but didn’t expect it either, I might have found it intrusive and like they were constantly up selling being asked if I wanted drinks when not in a bar area.

There were paper newsletters schedules available if you wanted it too.

Personally I also thought of the daytime as being like in any other resort, time for the pool or hot tub, sunbathing, gym, reading a book that sort of thing. But we also did the VHS casual group workout, had brunch, watched a comedy show and played a game show during the daytime too so personally I wasn’t bored on both a three night and a four night sailing.

For evening entertainment there was Duel Reality, Never Sleep Alone (didn’t watch it as not interesting for me), UntitledDanceShowPartyThing, pajama party, a blues band and several other things. I also loved the Heartbeat clubbing night in the Manor and stayed out til 2am.

but I’ve never cruised before so what Virgin offered was what I wanted and expected. Sounds like many other cruises for me might be too much?

A very comprehensive review, which sort of matches my own experience, having just got off The Valiant Lady this morning, with the exception of the food, which was dismal.  We dined in the Extra Virgin the first night and thought the food was bland.  The second night we dined in The Wake, having had to wait 40 minutes in a queue  to get in for our 8.15 reservation.  There was no explanation as to the delay from anybody.  When we finally sat down, we then waited approx 1 hour for our meal and whilst 2 of us had our steaks cooked as requested, the 3rd one was cooked so much, you could have soled our shoes with it! What a waste of a fillet mignon!  When we complained about said steak, the waitress offered to replace it but was told no thank you, it was too late and put the vegetables on the plate, just to eat something and then the waitress reappeared with a new steak on a plate and took away the existing plate with vegetables on it, so then all she had was the new steak!   The 3rd night we dined in Gunbae, again had to wait for approx 30 minutes for our 8 o’clock reservation.  We noticed at a later time, they had actually cancelled our reservation at 7 o’clock because they were too busy, although we booked this slot on 26th March!  The food wasn’t To my taste, but that is just personal choice. Breakfast was a complete shambles with the food being cold, substituted without any consultation and being forgotten about.  I’m afraid there were a lot of problems with the app. as well, had to go to customer services 3 times to get answers to questions regarding mix ups over our bar tab and disembarkation time. 

We booked Virgin Voyages as we really like the Virgin brand and hoped for something exciting, but with all the problems we experienced,  I’m both sorry and sad to say that it would take a lot to entice me to cruise again with them.

InVelvetSlumber

I also just returned from the last 3-nighter on Valiant, and can relate to a lot of the issues mentioned so far. We were on the same trip a few weeks ago and weren’t impressed with the experience, but as that trip was cut short, we decided to give Virgin a second chance.

This time around the ship was much busier (I heard about 70% capacity), and it really felt like they couldn’t cope.

As soon as I boarded I tried to book an exercise class, but they were all fully booked for the whole trip! As were most of the shows. I managed to make one reservation for ‘songs with the hostess’, but the event ended up being cancelled with no prior warning. 

There were often cryptic things on the line-up, that really could have done with an explanation, for example I’m not sure how anyone is supposed to know that ‘Scoop there it is’ is some sort of quiz.

I even got told off a couple of times! Once for going down some stairs following signs for the ‘IV’ bar (which I guess doesn’t exist?) and once for using a weighing machine in the gym - neither of which were labelled as ‘off limits’ in any way!

All in all, another Virgin cruise does not appeal to me.

9 hours ago, Jeaannie55 said:  I’m afraid there were a lot of problems with the app. as well, had to go to customer services 3 times to get answers to questions regarding mix ups over our bar tab and disembarkation time.

Did you ever get a clear answer on when to disembark? Sailor services couldn't seem to tell us, and the app had no information. We just guessed in the end, and finally got told in the Captains announcement at 9am on disembarkation day,  that we all had to be off by 11. 

No we didn’t, we did the same guesswork and guessed it would be about 10.30 by talking to other people.  Then we heard the announcement by the Captain while we were in the Galley on disembarkation day.

There’s a section on the app where you can choose your disembarkation time. Not that it seems to make any difference. I’ve always just wandered off whenever, before 10.30.

2 hours ago, gumshoe958 said: There’s a section on the app where you can choose your disembarkation time.

This feature showed up on our cruise last month (where we could stay on until 2pm), but was not available on the one this weekend

11 minutes ago, InVelvetSlumber said: This feature showed up on our cruise last month (where we could stay on until 2pm), but was not available on the one this weekend

THe usual is that you can stay on until 11.  Boarding of the next cruise starts at 2pm and the rooms need to be ready for incoming guests.  So unless there is not a cruise immediately boarding after you, 2pm would not be possible.

36 minutes ago, cantgetin said: So unless there is not a cruise immediately boarding after you, 2pm would not be possible.

The next cruise was a charter, so we were able to stay on until 2pm.

MarkWiltonM

We were thinking about a 5-night Caribbean cruise on Scarlet Lady this July but after reading this thread we are going to skip Virgin.

On 5/3/2022 at 11:17 AM, MarkWiltonM said: We were thinking about a 5-night Caribbean cruise on Scarlet Lady this July but after reading this thread we are going to skip Virgin.

Curious to know what your concerns are - I sailed in December and had a totally different experience.  It seems like Scarlet had some hiccups during the UK voyages last year, so I'm wondering if Valiant is working through similar kinks.

Yes, there are no Broadway shows, newlywed games, or stand-up comics, and you have to "find your own fun" during the daytime.  We went to the gym, spa or hung out at the pool or other deck soft seating most days on the ship.  There were a ton of events in the late afternoon/evenings - trivia, karaoke, games, shows, casino, etc.  We didn't have enough time to do everything we wanted to in 5 nights.

It does seem like they have some provisioning issues in the UK, but food was plentiful, fresh and tasty on our voyage out of Miami.  It also seems like wifi has issues in the UK - we didn't have any issues checking emails/browsing the internet on the basic wifi.  You could upgrade, which didn't increase speeds, it just unlocked the streaming ports. 

Crew was very helpful and accommodating and definitely made a difference in our experience.

16 hours ago, _tacocat_ said: Curious to know what your concerns are - I sailed in December and had a totally different experience.  It seems like Scarlet had some hiccups during the UK voyages last year, so I'm wondering if Valiant is working through similar kinks.

Thanks for providing another point of view. I'm booked on the TA in Oct (Barcelona to Miami) and while TA  one-way re-positioning type cruises are rarely full, it does seem from quite a few reviews that the ship can't cope when occupancy is higher. I've read complaints that restaurants are all booked up, virtual queues for restaurant seating not working (so has to continually check with maitre'd by walking up throughout the night) and everything else that is bookable is also booked out. Having heard positive reviews about the food, I would hate to be eating in the Galley for the entire cruise! Hope these are just "new ship launch" kinks that will be worked out by Oct.  I only paid $130 deposit so far and not decided whether to just ditch the deposit given the very mixed reviews.

23 minutes ago, Zana711 said:   Thanks for providing another point of view. I'm booked on the TA in Oct (Barcelona to Miami) and while TA  one-way re-positioning type cruises are rarely full, it does seem from quite a few reviews that the ship can't cope when occupancy is higher. I've read complaints that restaurants are all booked up, virtual queues for restaurant seating not working (so has to continually check with maitre'd by walking up throughout the night) and everything else that is bookable is also booked out. Having heard positive reviews about the food, I would hate to be eating in the Galley for the entire cruise! Hope these are just "new ship launch" kinks that will be worked out by Oct.  I only paid $130 deposit so far and not decided whether to just ditch the deposit given the very mixed reviews.

I think with enough planning you shouldn't have any problems with things booking out (unless it's a crazy busy sailing which I doubt). But if you book your restaurants as soon as possible- that's what I did. My concern would be what would there be to do to keep me occupied on such a long cruise with VV

15 hours ago, Zana711 said:   Thanks for providing another point of view. I'm booked on the TA in Oct (Barcelona to Miami) and while TA  one-way re-positioning type cruises are rarely full, it does seem from quite a few reviews that the ship can't cope when occupancy is higher. I've read complaints that restaurants are all booked up, virtual queues for restaurant seating not working (so has to continually check with maitre'd by walking up throughout the night) and everything else that is bookable is also booked out. Having heard positive reviews about the food, I would hate to be eating in the Galley for the entire cruise! Hope these are just "new ship launch" kinks that will be worked out by Oct.  I only paid $130 deposit so far and not decided whether to just ditch the deposit given the very mixed reviews.

I'm on the same cruise and have no hesitations.  First, they have 2 11 or 12 night cruises to work out the kinks between now and our sailing.  Next, a Virgin rep told me that their target for our cruise is 65% occupancy, or about 1700 people.  They are nowhere near that now. That's busier than they've been, but a long way from capacity. They are anticipating allowing 2 or 3 advance bookings at each restaurant, as well as allowing walk ins.  I haven't heard of any issues with people not getting reservations. The max wait one person reported was 10 minutes.  I really expect that they'll work the bugs out of the system thru the summer and all should be fine by October.  No, I won't be happy if I can't get reservations, but I'm not hearing reports of that being a problem...at least for now.

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Review: Valiant Lady

What is the line? Virgin Voyages

Name of ship? Valiant Lady

Passenger occupancy? 2,700

Itinerary? Seven-night Western Mediterranean: Barcelona-Toulon-Marina di Carrara, Italy-Ajaccio, Corsica-Cagliari, Sardinia-Ibiza-Barcelona

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?  

Virgin Voyages made its debut in 2022 with two ships and a mission to reinvent the experience for people who may never have considered a cruise before. Richard Branson, who confesses to hating the traditional idea of a cruise, has set out to disrupt the industry by offering adults-only itineraries appealing to the ‘young at heart’—with all-inclusive dining inspired by street-food trends, innovative entertainment that leans into club culture and stand-up comedy, and accomplished design by some of the brightest sparks on the block. Based on the inaugural voyage, it’s also extremely diverse, with a strong LGTBQ+ presence and a spread of ethnicities and age groups. There’s certainly an uninhibited, ‘party in the pool’ attitude onboard, but it never goes too overboard. And as a medium-sized ship, it’s able to dock at some interesting, lesser-known ports of call, such as Toulon and Ajaccio—plus it’s the only cruise experience that overnights on Ibiza, meaning those who want to keep the party going can stay out until the morning.      

Tell us about the ship in general  

The  Valiant Lady is the second ship in the Virgin fleet (which will number four in 2023), having made her maiden voyage in March 2022. At 278 metres long, she’s a mid-sized ship with 1,330 cabins and 78 suites (almost all with sea views) capable of holding a total of 2,700 passengers. Those are the stats, but the ship’s character is defined by the Black mermaid painted on its hull and the red octopus that comes alive, flashlight eyes and all, on the pool deck during DJ sets – the sense of inclusivity and fun flows all around. From a distance, the Valiant Lady may resemble a typical cruise ship with a rather prominent red funnel, but look closely and you’ll see trampoline-style netting at the stern for sunbathing, a deckside boxing ring and a standalone running track that circles the ship like a halo. Safe to say it’s also the only cruise ship at sea with its own tattoo parlour, mezcal bar and vinyl store. A central circular staircase has that high-kicking ‘sashay-down-me’ vibe, a diamante-sparkling mirrored ‘infinity’ corridor leads to the Manor nightclub, and there are so many different bars and restaurants – each with their own distinct design identity – that you’ll still be discovering new places on your last day.  The main swimming pool is an obvious hub, and can get busy; a less obvious one is Richard’s Rooftop at the stern, an Ibiza-white space with hot tub, bar and sofas accessible only by suite guests. At times, the ship can feel like a floating festival, albeit one with that takes its health kicks seriously – the onboard spa is very slick, all marble and Scandi-style wood with a salt room and hammams with porthole views. 

Who is onboard?  

On the inaugural voyage in May 2022, the passenger list included everyone from experienced, 40-cruises-under-their-belts sea dogs to first-timers; birthday-party groups to singletons. They were mainly from the US and UK, and ranged from mid-20s to 60s. One female couple from Los Angeles were celebrating their honeymoon onboard; a single lawyer from New York was on his way to the F1 race in Barcelona. Having Sir Richard Branson onboard for its ‘MerMaiden’ voyage also helped pull in a few curious sailors (as passengers are referred to continually), as well as industry pros keen to experience the new launch.  

Describe the cabins

On the small side but comfortable – mine was a standard Sea Terrace Cabin with a bed that can be converted into a pair of sofas to maximise space, a curved desk and a terrace just large enough for two metal chairs and a Virgin-red hammock. There’s a touch pad to control temperature and request room service, USB plugs on either side of the bed, a small fridge and wall-mounted TV, while the bathroom has a rainforest shower. One smart detail is that a movement sensor automatically turns lights on and off and opens the curtains for you. The cabin was fine for a week’s voyage but nothing to put a message in a bottle about. More space can be found in the suites, the Rockstar Quarters, which come in a variety of sizes (the largest sleep four) and give guests fast-track access to excursions and restaurants, and to the Richard’s Rooftop deck lounge—a couple even have their own DJ decks and wall-mounted guitars. Of the cabins, 30 are accessible and 46 are designed for solo travelers.

Tell us about the crew  

A melting pot of 90 nationalities makes up the crew here, all of whom are clearly very happy to be working here. It’s very apparent that Virgin takes good care of their staff. They’re encouraged to take shore leave and use the ship’s facilities when they’re off-duty—so there’s no sense of them being hidden away below deck – and have their own bars, including one on the top deck. 

What food and drink options are available on board?  

This is where the  Valiant Lady really stands out. There are 20 places to eat onboard, all of them included in the price of the voyage, and inspired by the New York and London dining scenes. Each of the spaces has been created by one of five different design studios—none of which has worked on a cruise ship before—which gives a very distinctive aesthetic. Razzle Dazzle, for example, was inspired by the camouflage pattern used by warships in WWI and II, while its plant-based menu includes heirloom squash ravioli, mushroom tartare and rainbow churros; Pink Agave, with its mezcal bar and Mexican menu of tamales, chicken enchiladas and rich mole sauces (a favourite) was designed by Tom Dixon, all blues and pinks with an entrance that’s very Sixties sci-fi. Gunbae is a boisterous Korean BBQ joint, where guests are thrown together on horseshoe-tables and encouraged to mingle while downing shots of soju, while Test Kitchen is a clever approximation of an experimental chef’s table, with a tasting menu prepared at an open kitchen and wine pairings. Elsewhere are options for pizzas, Mediterranean salads and small plates, while for quick fixes the Galley is a food hall with eight options, ranging from bento boxes to tacos. Of all the restaurants, I wish I’d spent more time at The Wake, an elegant surf-and-turf spot designed by Roman & Williams (Freehand hotels, Standard Highlight, NoMad London) in homage to mid-century Manhattan, an oyster-shell glow of a space with stern-window views, tableside Martini mixing and filet mignon and Maine lobster on the menu—though few had discovered its brunch potential. As for bars, there are standalone craft ale and Champagne options, a wine bar at the Extra Virgin restaurant and the outdoor Dock, a favorite for sundowner cocktails. Damn good flat whites, by the way, at Grounds Club, for those who despair of insipid cruise coffee. This isn’t, by the way, a ship to ask about getting a place on the captain’s table – though reservations are needed for individual restaurants. 

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?  

Yes, wellness is a key feature of the  Valiant Lady , at Branson’s request, and a lot of thought has gone into the Deck 5 Redemption Spa, a beautiful, free-flowing space that takes in a variety of hydrotherapy pools, a wood-lined sauna, mud room and salt cave, with cold plunge pools and even quartz massage beds – most of which have porthole views to the ocean outside. There’s also a mani-pedi bar, barbershop and hairstyling bar.

Activities and entertainment  

Even on the most sophisticated cruise ships there’s always a little corniness when it comes to entertainment, but the shows on  Valiant Lady were among the most original and inventive I’ve encountered—a whole week went by without hearing a single note of Andrew Lloyd Webber. In fact, several were ones I’d pay to see if they ever toured my home city. There were kinetic dance performances that morphed into a club night with guests taking to the floor alongside a number of sequinned Carnival queens, a thrillingly acrobatic retelling of Romeo and Juliet, drag-queen karaoke sessions and a sexologist comedy show, Never Sleep Alone, which featured some toe-curling audience participation. The nightclub is partly inspired by Studio 54 (albeit without Bianca Jagger riding in on a white horse) and feels credible, with stage performers leading the dancing, while the unique shape-shifting theatre has seating and a stage that slides around to make various configurations; small impromptu performances also materialize in public spaces around the ship, along with a nightly blues session at the base of the circular staircase. There’s also a variety of activities such as cocktail mixing lessons, pajama parties and shuffleboard, as well as Pilates and yoga, and an outdoor gym. At the casino one night, I won and lost a mighty $20 over the course of an hour on the roulette wheel, and tried to figure out how on earth to play craps. Once a week, there’s a Scarlet Night pool party in which half the crew and guests end up jumping in (on the inaugural voyage, Branson led the way). 

How was the experience for families?  

This is a cruise line for the young at heart, but that doesn’t include children. 

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?  

Sailing between Barcelona and Ibiza and back, the Irresistible Med itinerary took us to some lesser-visited Mediterranean ports – as a mid-sized ship, the  Valiant Lady is able to access ports that bigger ships can’t. Toulon is a mini Marseilles with modernist architecture and a pretty beach; Marina di Carrara, the famous marble quarries gleaming like snow-capped mountains in the distance, has a beautiful old town; Ajaccio is full of Napoleonic history and a busy food market. Once the ship docks in Ibiza Town, there’s a beach club just for guests, and the overnight anchorage means you can stay out all night at DC-10 if you like. Excursions are probably the most conventional aspect of Virgin Voyages, with longer trips to destinations such as Florence, and experiences such as snorkelling, pasta making and truffle-hunting with dogs. Groups signing up for different activities often found themselves at the same place. (A Napoleon tour of Cagliari was a gentle if underwhelming tour of the town, mostly spending time at a bistro for a 10.30am bottle of wine and an over-dubbed dramatised film about the Emperor’s life.) Using the app – which had teething problems—to book trips took away any personal contact with the excursion team and the opportunity to ask questions. The itineraries needed a little more detail, such as how long coach journeys would take.  

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Virgin Voyages’ sustainable credentials are impressive, too: heat from the engines is converted into clean electricity,  and it’s the first carbon-neutral cruise line for direct emissions. Shoreside power is used where possible, waste water recycled into drinking water, and the presence sensors in the cabins ensure they flip into energy-saver mode once you’ve left. And rather than treading water, the cruise line has partnered with a variety of sustainable, waste-based fuel providers in order to reach net zero by 2050. There are no single-used plastics or takeaway cups onboard, and those bright-red hammocks were sourced from a community project in rural Thailand. 

Anything we missed  

The boarding experience in Barcelona (from the ferry port, meaning you can walk straight from town) was very speedy, a matter of minutes, and guests are given an electronic wristband that works as a room key (any payments are taken using this too). 

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

This is a design-savvy, wonderfully inclusive ship that offers a genuinely different cruising experience, with some of the most exciting and varied restaurant menus afloat, and entertainment that will grab you by the seat of your pants. Those expecting a traditional, dress-up-for-dinner experience may want to sit this one out, but for anyone who appreciates a fresh approach—along with a refreshingly diverse set of fellow sailors—the  Valiant Lady ’s an obvious choice.  

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Hi! I'm Laura

Gallivanting Laura

Travel & Lifestyle

Caribbean , Cruises , Florida , Travel · 27 June 2024

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Cruise Review 

I recently sailed on a luxury cruise with Virgin Voyages onboard the Valiant Lady to celebrate my 40th birthday. I chose one of their Caribbean cruise itineraries called Dominican Daze . The 5-night itinerary included stops in Miami, Florida, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Bimini Bahamas. So, if you are considering a Virgin Voyages cruise or sailing on Valiant Lady, I’m sharing my thoughts and experiences onboard in this guide. A Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady adult-only cruise promises a unique experience for travellers looking for something different from traditional cruises.   

• How old is Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady?
• Virgin Voyages Cabins on the Valiant Lady
• Dining on Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady
• Virgin Voyages Drinks Package
• What is the dress code on Virgin Voyages?
• What Entertainment is on board?
• Health & Wellness
• Virgin Voyages Shore Things

How old is Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady? 

Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady is the cruise line’s second ship, making its maiden voyage in March 2022. It is around two years old, holds 2,770 passengers and offers a sleek design and modern amenities. You can view the deck plan on the Virgin Voyages site.

Virgin Voyages Cabins on the Valiant Lady 

The accommodations on the Valiant Lady are modern, functional, spacious and offer all the comforts of home. Whether you stay in a cosy interior room or a lavish suite, you will enjoy stylish decor and thoughtful amenities throughout your stay.   

Interior, Sea View & Sea Terrace Cabins 

On my Virgin Voyage, I booked a Sea Terrace Cabin, it seemed to offer the best value for money. It was on deck 13 in the middle of the ship near the elevators, which was very convenient. The main draw to this type of cabin was the balcony space. It had a red hammock for relaxing on and some outdoor furniture. It is a great private space to enjoy the ocean views and doesn’t cost much more than the Sea View or Interior cabins.    

All of the accommodation onboard is designed with a focus on functionality and comfort, featuring clean lines, smart storage solutions, and a soothing colour palette. The lighting, TV and curtains are controlled wirelessly by a tablet. I liked playing around with the different mood lighting settings. It also displays the mandatory safety video when passengers first embark on the ship. There is a refrigerator, which I appreciated, a safety deposit box and plenty of closet storage and drawers. By the bed, there is also an extra pull-out drawer space, which truly maximises the space inside the cabin. 

The bathroom is compact, much like most cruise ships. However, the shower cubicle is positioned to the side, meaning the mirror, sink or toilet can be used at the same time. Overall, I was happy with the Sea Terrace Cabin choice. 

RockStar & Mega RockStar Quarters 

However, if you’re celebrating a special occasion, you’d like more space onboard, or simply want to live like a Rock Star, booking a suite might be for you. These luxurious suites have a rock-and-roll vibe. They are spacious with high-end furnishings, a king-sized bed, large bathrooms with separate toilet, and a sizeable balcony. They offer a VIP experience with perks like priority boarding and restaurant reservations, 24/7 dedicated RockStar Agent for personalised service and access to Richard’s Rooftop, a private members-only sun deck.   

Richard’s Rooftop is an exclusive private deck for those with RockStar status onboard. It’s located on deck 17 at the front of the ship and features luxurious daybeds, loungers, jacuzzi pools, a full-service bar, and a complimentary champagne happy hour between 5 pm-6 pm.  It’s the perfect area to relax and enjoy those days at sea.

At check-in passengers receive a red wristband (black if you are a RockStar). You’re required to wear them at all times during the cruise as they function as your room key, identification and payment device for any onboard spending. 

Dining on Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady 

One of the standout features of Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady is its variety of dining options.  Every restaurant and eatery on board, including gratuities, are included in the price of a cruise. There are no extra fees, and the dining is what sets Virgin Voyages apart from any other cruise line in my opinion. This even includes cabin service, also known as Ship Eats on board. 

From gourmet restaurants to casual eateries, there is something for every palate on board. The ship also has several bars and lounges where passengers can enjoy signature cocktails and stunning ocean views. I loved checking out a different restaurant and bar every night instead of returning to the same table.  

Specialty Restaurants

There are six specialty dining restaurants on board the Valiant Lady that are worth visiting. Each one offers Michelin-starred chef-curated menus, and sailors can reserve pre-cruise. 

• The Wake : An elegant steak and seafood restaurant with a sophisticated, upscale design featuring a grand staircase and panoramic ocean views. Open for breakfast and dinner.  
• Razzle Dazzle : A playful, vibrant dining space with bold black-and-white stripes, serving a creative menu that caters to vegetarians and meat-eaters. Open for breakfast and dinner.  
• Pink Agave: A chic Mexican restaurant with a sleek, modern design, mood lighting, and communal seating for a social dining experience. It was one of my favourite restaurants, and also has a great bar for the best margaritas.  
• Gunbae : A lively Korean BBQ restaurant with interactive, communal grill tables and a fun, energetic atmosphere.  
• The Test Kitchen : An experimental, laboratory-like dining space with a minimalist design, offering a unique, 6-course dining experience focused on innovative cuisine.  
• Extra Virgin: An Italian trattoria that offers a contemporary take on classic Italian cuisine, in a chic and inviting atmosphere. 

How to Make Restaurant Reservations 

Making reservations for the restaurants is easy. Once sailors have a booking confirmation number, download the Virgin Voyages app. Passengers can view menus and make reservations before setting sail. The most popular time is between 7.30 – 8.30 pm, but if your preferred time slot isn’t available, do not worry. Once onboard the ship, you can make dining reservations in person on embarkation. All restaurants also accept walk-ins, so there may be a wait time.     

Aside from the restaurants, there is also The Galley . This area has several eateries in one spot, much like a large food court. There is a range of grab-and-go boxes, sushi, healthy eats, burgers, sandwiches, cakes, tacos and more! My favourites were Bento Baby (for sushi) and Let’s Taco Bout It, for you guessed it, tacos. 

I also found Virgin Voyages to be extremely accommodating at catering to food allergies. If you’d like to read more, I’ve written a full review about my dining experience on board, particularly around the gluten-free options on Virgin Voyages .

Virgin Voyages Drinks Package – Valiant Lady

Virgin Voyages takes a different approach to beverages compared to traditional cruise lines. They offer a “Bar Tab” system in place of a traditional drinks package. Here’s an overview of what is included in the cruise fare, and what add-ons are available to purchase.   

Basic beverages are free to every sailor on board the Valiant Lady. This includes still and sparkling water, soft drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite, basic drip coffee and tea, and a variety of juices, especially during breakfast hours.  

Bar Tabs * are available for purchase and include alcoholic beverages, speciality coffees, smoothies, and premium teas. The Bar Tab can be used at any bar, restaurant, or café on the ship. It gives guests the flexibility to choose when and where to enjoy their drinks. They must be purchased pre-cruise, and Virgin Voyages often adds a bonus. As an example, I purchased a $300 bar tab before setting sail, and Virgin Voyages gave me an extra $50 to spend on board.   

I loved that not every sailor in the cabin had to purchase a Bar Tab. And if you meet someone on the ship and you’d like to buy them a beer, you can! The prices are also similar to what you might pay at a good bar or restaurant on land, and they include gratuities. It’s a perk and a much more relaxed approach. If you do not purchase a bar tab, any additional costs are added to your cabin and invoiced at the end of your voyage. 

*Sailors must be at least 18 to sail with Virgin Voyages, as all their cruises are for adults only. However, you must be 21 or older to purchase a bar tab.   

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What is the Dress Code on Virgin Voyages? 

Overall Virgin Voyages embraces a relaxed and casual yet chic approach to their dress code. Typically, smart casual attire is all that is required. Sailors don’t have to worry about traditional formal nights, there aren’t any, and guests are encouraged to dress how they please.  There are themed parties and events (such as Scarlet Night), but I’ll go into more detail about those below.

What Entertainment is on board? 

In terms of entertainment, Valiant Lady does not disappoint. From live music performances to comedy shows and dance parties, there is always something happening on board to keep guests entertained. The schedule was easy to find in the Virgin Voyages app, as well as large information screens around the ship.  

During the Dominican Daze itinerary, there was so much on board. On the first day, Valiant Lady hosted a sail away party and pyjama party! It set the tone, and from then on there were comedy, music, magic, dance shows, trivia and fitness activities. Scarlet Night is one of Virgin Voyages’ signature parties, and it happens on every cruise. Sailors are encouraged to dress in red for the event which features parties, performances, and events throughout the ship, culminating in a grand celebration. They usually take place on the pool deck, but during my voyage, we encountered bad weather, so it was moved inside. While it wasn’t the event I expected to see, it was a fun party night.   

It’s worth checking the schedule in the app before setting sail to plan any outfits or clothing items you’d like to wear. Scarlet Night and the Pyjama Party are two that I planned outfits for. 

Health & Wellness on the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady    

The Valiant Lady ship also offers wellness activities like yoga, Pilates, and HIIT and a fully equipped gym for those looking to stay active during their vacation. The spa is also available for those wishing to relax and unwind. 

The Redemption Spa

The Redemption Spa offers a comprehensive spa experience, with treatments like massages, facials, body wraps, acupuncture and nutritional consultations. I visited twice during my cruise, once to get a deep tissue massage and the second to enjoy their Thermal Suite Pass offer.  The deep tissue massage lasted one hour for a price of $225. It is on the pricier side when it comes to spa costs. I had some areas I specifically wanted work on, but the masseuse gave me an overall deep-tissue massage. While this was the ultimate treat, I wouldn’t book in for another massage on Virgin Voyages based on this. 

Thermal Suite Pass

However, Virgin Voyages offers a Thermal Suite Pass on board Valiant Lady, and it is worth checking out. The passes cost $59 on port days and $79 on sea days and grant access to the thermal suite for around 3 hours. What does the pass include? The thermal suite has many relaxing and therapeutic pools and rooms with many health benefits. A hydrotherapy pool with therapeutic jets to soothe muscles and promote relaxation. Cold plunge pools to invigorate the body and stimulate circulation. A salt room infused with Himalayan salt to promote respiratory health and relaxation. The hot and cold marble benches are a unique way to relax, lie down and unwind. It also has a mud room where guests can apply a mineral-rich mud mask to detoxify and rejuvenate the skin.  

Once checked-in, sailors have access to a locker, white robe, slippers and a mud mask pot. Thermal Suite Passes are available to reserve once on board the ship. Head to the Redemption Spa reception on Deck 5 and make your reservation. I went there first to secure a morning time slot on one of the sea days. It was such a relaxing experience, and I highly recommend purchasing one. 

Virgin Voyages Shore Things – Valiant Lady

Like most cruise lines, Virgin Voyages offers shore excursions and experiences available at the various ports of call on their itineraries. Sailors can book before setting sail through the Virgin Voyages app or website. Excursions can also be booked onboard, either through the app or at the Shore Things desk.  

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

I chose not to do any excursions on my cruise as I didn’t feel the need to. The first stop on the Dominican Daze itinerary was Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Valiant Lady docked at Taino Bay port and had many facilities for passengers. From bars, a lazy river and shopping, some sailors chose to stay in port. I took a walk into the town centre of Puerto Plata to explore the sights as it is a short stroll. 

Bimini Beach Club, Bahamas 

If sailing on a Virgin Voyages Caribbean itinerary like I did, the ship will stop at their beautiful private Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas. It’s an island paradise and the perfect place to enjoy the crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches and pool parties.  

Virgin Voyages has a shuttle from the ship directly to the beach club. Guests can relax at the beach or enjoy time in the pools. There is a chill pool and a party pool with entertainment and a DJ. The Floaty Pool Party happens during each ship visit. Grab a floaty and enjoy the fun. Food and WiFi are also available at The Beach Club at Bimini, they’re included in the cruise fare. 

Overall, Virgin Voyages ‘ Valiant Lady offers a unique and upscale cruising experience that sets it apart from other ships in the industry. If you’re looking for a sophisticated yet fun-filled getaway at sea, this ship is definitely worth considering for your next vacation. Take a look at their offers and book a Virgin Voyages cruise on board the Valiant Lady, or another in their fleet. If you have any questions about the cruise, please let me know in the comments below, via my contact form, or over on  Instagram .   

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29 June 2024 at 13:45

I like the fact that you can get a cabin with a balcony for not too much more than the interior cabins, looks like a nice perk on Virgin Voyages.

30 June 2024 at 17:44

Absolutely! It makes all the difference!

29 July 2024 at 09:34

Great read, Laura, the last time I went cruising, I had three kids under 5 years old; I think it’s about time I returned. Your blog post has reminded me of all the reasons why it was such a good holiday!

1 August 2024 at 17:38

Oh wow, sounds like it’s definitely time to take another cruise! Glad you enjoyed the read.

31 July 2024 at 12:11

I love that these cruises are 18+. That would be a big draw for my husband and I.

We LOVED that aspect too, makes such a difference to the overall experience!

I worked at a cruise port for a year but never actually got to go one one of the ships. This is giving me serious jealousy, i’ve got to book a trip asap!

1 August 2024 at 17:39

No way, that’s torture!! Haha you should definitely book one 😉

31 July 2024 at 16:21

I had not heard much about the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady. So it was interesting to learn more. How interesting to see that your balcony had a hammock! I must admit I am used to more all inclusive cruises so having to pay extra even for specialty coffee would require adjustment. But I certainly would check out the Thermal Suite. Good to know more.

13 August 2024 at 08:41

Happy to provide some insight.

1 August 2024 at 17:30

Such a luxury cruise, I love that you can get a room with balcony for not that much more, and a hammock on the balcony!

13 August 2024 at 08:42

That’s what I loved too, definitely worth that little bit extra 🙂

2 August 2024 at 06:18

The view at your window is amazing plus with a hammock! then an 18+ cruise is what I just need. My first cruise should definitely be this.

Yes! It was a great cruise for us for these reasons too 🙂

12 August 2024 at 15:25

Does Virgin have the normal regular dining room or is it all “special” restaurants? We want the options of going to either.

13 August 2024 at 08:46

Hi Lee, they do offer dining in ‘The Galley’ area which is more of a food court concept. Similar to a buffet on most cruise lines, except on Virgin the dishes are made to order. There are also eateries throughout the ship that don’t require reservations like the specialty spots. I hope this helps 🙂

30 August 2024 at 15:09

I loved everything except the entertainment and some of the food wasn’t that great. Bimini was AMAZING and the pool parties were super fun!

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Valiant Lady

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages |

Find a Cruise on Valiant Lady

with a cruise advisor

Virgin Voyages ' second ship can hold a maximum of 2,762 passengers and 1,150 crew members. Debuted in March 2022, Valiant Lady receives rave reviews from travelers thanks to its well-appointed cabins and excellent service.

Valiant Lady features more than 20 eateries – all of which are included with your cruise fare – serving cuisine ranging from seafood and steaks to Korean barbecue. For entertainment, guests on board can head to the Red Room, where the ship's largest productions are held. However, Valiant Lady also holds several pop-up performances throughout the day in various locations around the ship. Other entertainment options include trivia, board games, an arcade and more.

All accommodations come equipped with high-end amenities like rain showers, flat-screen TVs and adjustable Seabeds – beds that can be converted into couches when guests want extra legroom. For additional perks, like a European king mattress and a terrace with a hammock, opt for one of Valiant Lady's RockStar Quarters. These lavish digs range from 570 to 2,167 square feet and are serviced 24/7 by RockStar Agents, Virgin Voyages' version of a butler.

Valiant Lady sails to several popular destinations in the Mediterranean (think: Cannes, France , and Ibiza, Spain ), as well as Caribbean hot spots like San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic . The ship also offers transatlantic voyages.

U.S. News Insider Tip:  If you didn't lock in the dining reservations you wanted before your trip, don't despair. Reservations open up for popular eateries and times during each sailing as restaurants release bookings and people cancel. You can also try walking into eateries that require reservations to see if they can fit you in. –  Holly Johnson, Contributor

Pros & Cons

Plenty of entertainment options

Alcoholic drinks are not included in the base fare

• Expert Rating » 4.5
• Traveler Rating » 4.1
• Health Rating » 4.0

Valiant Lady ranks # 3 out of 3 Virgin Voyages Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 3 in Best Virgin Voyages
• # 38 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 39 in Best Affordable Cruises
• # 40 in Best Cruises for Couples

Valiant Lady offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Valiant Lady contains 14 decks. Find out which features are available on each Valiant Lady deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 89 guests have reviewed Valiant Lady , giving it a rating of 4.3 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Valiant Lady .. Valiant effort… Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Review & Our Real Experience

We spent 14 days on board the beautiful Valiant Lady and had the opportunity to try every restaurant, bar, class, and space on the ship – multiple times. Here’s what to expect:

We recently sailed the Valiant Lady with a group of friends, co-workers, and newfound acquaintances, I thought it was a good opportunity to not sugarcoat the reality of the Virgin experience. At the same time, we know the company is new and quickly learning the industry, so we will likely see many things improve over time.

The Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady is a beautiful, modern cruise ship that can be polarizing

The ship is known for its amazing restaurants, bars, fitness classes, spa, and entertainment options such as a nightclub that feels like you’re in the middle of a posh London disco. The Valiant Lady and its sister ship the Scarlet Lady are a new breed of ships in the cruise industry bringing adult-only, nearly all-inclusive cruising to the masses. This is long overdue, and a welcome addition to the cruise industry! Virgin Voyages is all adults making the Valiant Lady a cruise ship where the adults can treat it like a playground without being interrupted by children 🙂

Virgin Voyages has created a following of people who love the brand and the experience. The cruise industry needs something like Virgin to offer unique vacations to the adult-only segment of the travel population. I feel like they are delivering – but I also fear they’re missing an opportunity to convert travelers who love cruise experiences, which may make the brand unsustainable. Not only does Virgin need to attract new cruise travelers in specific demographics (young, millennial, solo travelers, etc), but they need to wow people who would otherwise seek a cruise on more traditional lines.

Requisite “TL;DR.” 

• Valiant Lady is a Valiant Effort but there are a number of challenges to reaching a loyal base of customers who book year after year. 
• People – the staff issues are bleeding over into the guest experience and are caused by issues in the internal processes and technology challenges;
• Process – primarily a lack of communication between staff members and between staff and passengers;
• Technology – the high degree of technological dependence leaves both staff and passengers struggling when the “uh oh something went wrong” occurs. 
• There’s still a lot to love despite the shortcomings

Food/Restaurants on the Valiant Lady

Overall we adored the quality and selection of food on board. We found most of the food to be excellent, and going out to dinner genuinely felt like going to a nice restaurant every night. We did make all our reservations on the app at the 45 days out mark and it took us from about midnight until 1 am EST to make them all with the app crashing but we got everything we wanted (we booked Extra Virgin , Test Kitchen for Menu A, Pink Agave , Razzle Dazzle , The Wake , Gunbae , Test Kitchen for Menu B, and Pink Agave again). As someone who has done Disney vacations (on land) for years and was briefly a travel agent specializing in Disney, this felt very similar to that process and didn’t really bother me.

We did end up canceling our reservation at The Wake as it conflicted with a show, switched our second night at Test Kitchen to that night at a better time, and then did have to wait sort of stand-by for a table at the Wake on our second last night but it wasn’t a big deal.

Service in the restaurants was sometimes a bit slow but it didn’t bother us terribly, we enjoyed a leisurely 90-minute-2-hour dinner as it leaves time to digest and enjoy more options and to chat. The one night we wanted to move quicker to make a show our server happily accommodated. We found wait times in The Galley to be very reasonable, we always ordered at the counters. We had quite a long wait at the Dock for tapas but again didn’t mind

We found the food overall to be mostly hits with just a few misses:

• Sun Club Cafe: The poke bowl (we only tried the salmon) was pretty bland, and the bao buns had good filling but the bao was more like pita bread than the steamed bao we’re used to
• Overall raw seafood on the boat was somewhat lacking – it didn’t taste off to me but just like the cuts weren’t great
• Sushi rice felt really dry but honestly still hit the spot

Those were all the notable gaps, we genuinely loved everything else, here were our favorites:

• The chocolate olive oil cake from Extra Virgin
• The clam chowder and dorado from The Wake
• The pork belly, bibimbap, and soft serve from Gunbae
• The mushroom, corn, scallop, shrimp, blue cheese, and strawberry courses at The Test Kitchen
• The gazpacho, acai bowl, fried chicken, beet pierogi, and fries at Razzle Dazzle
• The shrimp and octopus from The Dock/Dockhouse
• The chorizo breakfast burrito from Let’s Taco Bout It
• The tomato/mozzarella sandwich from Hot off the Press
• Everything from the Pizza Place
• The corn, lechon, and rum cake from the Bimini Beach Club

Crew/Service on the Valiant Lady

Overall we found the crew to be friendly and the service to be good! The ship was close to capacity and this was evident, but we don’t mind waiting a little bit for things. A few crew seemed REALLY annoyed with us (the Social Club staff were mad every time we asked for candy or popcorn, which was only once every 1-2 days), and our room attendant was super frustrated when we asked for water refills (again once a day in addition to the normal cleaning). Maybe this was us not knowing what’s appropriate?

Honestly, we didn’t mind this, most people were kind and friendly and it was easy to write off the odd weird interaction as someone having a rough day. We much preferred this to the attitude we felt from the crew on Carnival – they were very accommodating but seemed almost scared of us, and seemed VERY frightened of bad reviews which made us uneasy.

Valiant Lady .. Valiant effort… 

Halfway through 14 days of a transatlantic crossing on Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady, I had time to reflect on the first week and the time remaining until we were to reach Miami. Because most Virgin cruises will be week-long journeys, I thought it would be appropriate to share what a week on the Valiant Lady was really like.

As an avid cruise traveler and someone who regularly makes the crossing by sea from my home in Europe to visit family in America – this is not an unfamiliar trip. For reference, I often travel on repositioning cruises on Norwegian, Cunard, and a few others.

I like the aspect of mixing a holiday into the travel process of getting to the U.S. However, the Virgin Voyages experience has left me at times bewildered , amused, delighted, frustrated, angry, and even offended.

The mantra of this company is to “change the way things are done,” “to make cruising better”, and “to do things differently” but along the way, they seem to have lost sight of the fundamental goal of the cruise – delight your customer… and when I weighed up the first seven days the scales are decidedly not falling on the side of joy and delight.

Let the flames begin

It’s important to know, that while this is a candid overview of our Virgin & Valiant Lady experience, we did, overall really enjoy the voyage and would do it again, for the right price . But the rest of this commentary may not be well received by hard-core fanboys and fangirls of Virgin Voyages. I’m prepared for the heat 😉

Despite the good food and generally decent service, there were many “issues”

The defenders of the brand who can’t stand to hear anything negative about the cruise line usually make comments like:

“Virgin isn’t for everyone…” and “maybe you’re too old for this” or “your expectations are too high.”  So let’s just take these few in detail.  – Virgin Fan Club 🙂

Let’s start with the first one – “ Virgin isn’t for everyone ”

This may be a true statement, but the goal of a business is to attract and hopefully RETAIN customers – why else have a loyalty program – there’s an expectation that those people will travel with you again. But the experiences on board I cannot see that being the case for a high repeat cruise rate – maybe I’m wrong but only time will tell. I believe the marketing, the branding, and “the vibe” will get people to give Virgin Voyages a try – that one-off trip to see what the fuss is all about but there will be a struggle to build a large base year over year customers like the more established lines have done.

“ You’re too old… “

Well considering the average age on this voyage was pushing 60… you tell me? Is this a ship full of Instagram models, influencers, and wannabe’s… no.. they’re around for sure because that’s how math works – they brought that average down to under 60 to account for the large demographic onboard well above that number.

“ Your expectations are too high… “

Ok, possibly… but if you signed up for a specific set of services and they are not delivered is that really my fault for expecting what I paid for? or the business for over-promising? 

So what is really going on here onboard the Valiant Lady. From our meetings with various levels of management from a variety of departments it starts to become clear that there is some discontent at sea and no one is quite sure of the source. What is clear – it’s bleeding over into the guest experience. When doing a bit of research I came across this quote from Richard Branson: 

“Clients don’t come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” Richard Branson

Unfortunately – for a large number of “sailors” on Valiant Lady the theory that all those happy employees are taking care of guest does not seem to be materializing, and it’s causing a relatively high customer dissatisfaction score relative to Virgin Voyage’s other ship the Scarlet Lady. 

At 7 days in, I had both experienced and witnessed staff at multiple levels and venues on the ship demonstrate behaviors ranging from disinterested to dismissive to actively ignoring a passenger seeking assistance. What is driving this behavior? Are there some behind-the-scenes issues as passengers we are not aware of? Are there incentives in place to reach some internal corporate goal? Or are the crew simply annoyed that paying passengers interrupt their transatlantic holiday? (as an aside this crossing is the first Virgin Voyages ship to have paying passengers for this type of voyage – all previous ones were just crew)

You May Be Interested In: Virgin Voyages Bar Tab – Everything You Should Know Virgin Voyages Drink Prices & Drink Menus The Sea Terrace on the Valiant Lady 360 tour

I’m not just a travel writer – but also a management consultant

I have spent decades working with executive teams at the largest companies in the world and have some experience with corporate culture and business transformation.

So as I sit and observe, experience, and take note – I’m left with those three fundamental pillars of people, process, and technology. Often preached in prime time by the likes of Marcus Lemonis and others – it is as fundamental as the sun rising in the east. With these three concepts optimized for your business – any business can thrive. 

So how does this apply to Valiant Lady? Let’s walk through them. Starting with the technology. Oddly enough this is how most companies “get it wrong” there is a dependence on technology which makes it both a crutch and an excuse when things go wrong.  So much so that it’s become a running joke onboard “Uh Oh something went wrong” – that’s the screen that you will see quite often on the Virgin Voyages app as you use it on a daily basis for your interaction with ship services, entertainment, etc. 

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The developers of the Virgin Voyage App – clearly have not been onboard for a cruise

Free-flowing cruise credits, which the line is well known for, should be gifted to the developers. Once they use the app onboard in an unstable internet environment, experience the user interface and realize the shortcomings of seeing WHAT is happening on a specific day, WHAT activities you have booked, and how those things may or may not overlap. The inability to easily find other activities you may be interested in and when they are occurring.

There is a high dependence on using the app onboard with no real fallback situation – I’ve waited to check in at a restaurant while a diner has a long discussion with a maitre’d to make, change, and verify their booking for nights throughout their cruise. This leads to a “process” issue – bookings for events, dining, etc. 

In-room technology. The room is 99% driven by the tablet – when that goes wrong (and let’s face it – it’s tech – it will go wrong) your experience is severely impacted. In my experience, the tablet completely “detached” itself from the room and could not access the lights, tv, curtains, etc. Thankfully there is a manual set of light switches and a switch for the motorized cutains. However, it took a full day to get this resolved. Next, the tablet is used for access to your cabin steward – on multiple occasions, requests are entered on the tablet – there are preset choices for things like laundry pickup, more water, changing bed to sofa, etc. They are not relayed to the actual device the steward carries. Again this seems like a process issue but it’s clearly impacted by the technology.

The primary breakdown in process on Valiant Lady is communication

Process – Process is generally viewed as a series of workflows – the transfer of information between people, systems, departments, etc. This flow is enabled by technology but is not necessarily defined by technology. As a passenger, the primary breakdown in the process on Valiant Lady is communication. Starting from the online booking to the purchase of “bar tabs” and other pre-voyage add-ons. The communication between Virgin Voyages and the passenger is a challenge. Again there is a dependence on “the app” to communicate with Virgin Voyages staff – many an hour is wasted waiting in a virtual queue to ask a question only to see them “hang up” once you are “next in line” – The frequency I’ve heard this story repeated by people in casual conversation makes it difficult to believe in coincidence. Is this a technology or a people issue? 

At check-in for embarkation, while relatively smooth during the luggage process and security screening you arrive at a staff member to review your documents and attach your various wristbands. However, if you purchased any additional add-ons pre-voyage you are simply left on your own to decipher – there is no information or documentation beyond what you saw online when booked. This would be fine, but these people charged with delivering those services onboard often aren’t informed what those services are! Again a breakdown in communication led to a poor guest experience. Mix the lack of knowledge with the previously mentioned level of disinterest in customer service and it’s an incendiary mix in which the staff’s primary recourse is – “Here ya go have some bar tab…”  What happens when fuel meets fire… 

As a passenger I’m not privy to the behind-the-scenes processes onboard – only what I can glean by having conversations with friendlier members of staff – and they do love to talk with people who seem genuinely interested in their day, experience, etc. Challenges with the handheld devices they use, challenges with the food order entry and delivery systems, food temperature delivery issues resulting from issues with the systems, bar stock levels, the lack of updates for QR code food menus leading to guest disappointment. Over and over tales of front line service worker telling their managers about the problems only to receive “this is the process” as a response. One said “I can only say I’m sorry so many times in a day!” This may well be one of the driving factors in the PEOPLE issue – they are simply defeated by their internal “process” and have retreated to disinterest – if I ignore that passenger I won’t have to deal with saying “sorry your food is cold” or “sorry we don’t have that drink” or “sorry this is taking so long” 

There are lovely, engaging, happy people working here…. but…..

PEOPLE , namely employees, that key component from the Branson quote. There are lovely, engaging, happy people working here. They make the experience for the guest whether they are a restaurant server in Gunbae or a cocktail server in On the Rocks bar. Those people stand out from the crowd of people who are here for whatever reason other than guest experience. Often times there is a sense that the crew are on holiday and passengers vacillate somewhere between an amusement and annoyance on their trip to America. 

One of the guiding principles in business transformation is that ‘people do what they are incented.’ It encapsulates that we as a species operate inherently in self-interest. How does that apply in business – you must align your employee incentives in a way that aligns with the goals of the organization. The goal of Virgin Voyages should be to surprise and delight guest with a new and innovative way to experience a cruise holiday. To do that they need people aligned with that goal. Instead – it seems the goal is to “disrupt the cruise industry” … honestly, we’ve had Covid for that. The Valiant Lady experience has been simply to disrupt passenger’s holiday by allowing staff to leave mid-dinner service for their own dinner reservation or serve their colleague’s birthday party happening on the other side of the same restaurant. People, they are doing what they are incented to do,  There is an incentive to go out to nice restaurants because they are available to crew. People want to make their friends happy – so they go serve that table – leaving the paying strangers to whoever isn’t on break. Again the incentive – people like to be liked… but that goal isn’t in the interest of the paying passengers or the business of growing a loyal customer base for the business. 

This has gone on far longer than most people will read and there is far more to say and much more that could be analyzed, so let’s distill this to a consensus & sentiment from the group we traveled with:

As in life, you’re only a Virgin once…

Without some fundamental changes, I suspect this could be the case with most passengers on Virgin Voyages rather than a long happy relationship.

While there are plenty of people who rave about their experience, there are a fair number of people who’ve tried Virgin Voyages and effectively say “one and done”

Of course, this experience isn’t for everyone. It’s unusual and unique and actually quite enjoyable if you can get past the quirks.

The ship is beautiful, the food is superior to most other cruise lines and the entertainment is unique. There is room in the cruise industry for Virgin, and they’ll make their way. There are already plenty of loyal cruisers to Virgin Voyages, but collectively we hope that they work out the kinks sooner than later to keep happy travelers returning to the brand!

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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First look: 10 things I love about Virgin Voyages' new Valiant Lady cruise ship

Editor's Note

Merpeople, rousing games of Clue and exercise classes that will have you sweating to the oldies are just some of the bizarre but intriguing offerings on Virgin Voyages ' Valiant Lady, the second vessel for the latest mega-ship line to enter the cruise market.

I'm just back from the three-night inaugural sailing, and I have so much to report that I honestly don't know where to begin.

I feel like I've just stepped out of a teenage boy's fever dream. He's a rockstar dressed in '80s neon one minute and a professional gamer stuffing his face with popcorn and gelato the next. All the while, he's making "that's what she said" jokes. It's a lot – both in terms of the chaos and the sexual innuendo – but I have a feeling that's exactly what founder Richard Branson intended.

From it all, I've gathered the most noteworthy bits and will try my very best to distill them – both pros and cons – for you here.

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Energetic, social and nostalgic with just the right amount of partying, Valiant Lady is a welcoming place for both young and young-at-heart adults. (Children aren't allowed.) Although I haven't sailed on Scarlet Lady yet, I'm told Valiant Lady is similar but with the raunch turned down a few notches, thanks to cruiser feedback.

It's an active ship, with groups of people constantly mingling at bars, at shows and in various areas for trivia, board games – think favorites like Mousetrap, Trouble, Mall Madness and Operation – casino play and a chance to relive their childhood with vintage video games in the arcade.

Activities you might find on other ships are on Valiant Lady too, but often with a twist. Take, for example, the Test Kitchen's Shot for Shot event, where you'll learn not only how to make shots but also how to photograph them properly for social media. You can also expect to see impromptu performances throughout the vessel. Don't be surprised if you have no idea what's going on. You'll be in good company.

The caveat here is that all the activity, which is usually paired with pulsating music, does make it difficult to find quiet spaces, especially if you don't have a balcony cabin. Richard's Rooftop is a great top-deck space, but you have to be booked in a suite to access it, and the weather has to be favorable.

Also note that most bars, lounges and social hubs are on the small side, so they feel crowded. It was true on my sailing, which was only at about 54% capacity. I can't imagine how difficult it will be to find a seat when the ship is full.

The inclusivity

Part of what truly stands out to me about Virgin Voyages is its commitment to inclusivity – on many levels. At every show, you'll see performers of all shapes, sizes, colors and genders. The entertainment cast is a more accurate representation of both people and talent than I've seen on any other ship sailing with any other cruise line.

There are also welcome shoutouts to groups that are largely underrepresented in U.S. markets. The mermaid painted on the hull of Valiant Lady is Black and was designed by a Black woman, there's a restaurant onboard that caters largely to vegetarians, and if you don't see at least one person in drag on your cruise, you aren't paying attention.

Additionally, major kudos to the line for adding all-gender bathrooms among its restroom options. (There are separate male and female bathrooms also.)

Personally, I'm thrilled to see the ways in which Virgin has embraced an "everybody's welcome" attitude, but I acknowledge that some of it could be over the top or even uncomfortable for some passengers. For example, I'm all about sexual empowerment, but I left the "Never Sleep Alone" show after the host asked each member of the audience to find a stranger and tell them about their first sexual encounter. Nope. Pass.

And people aren't the only way Virgin is inclusive. Its fares include basic Wi-Fi, crew gratuities, fitness classes, all restaurants, soft drinks and nearly 70 free on-demand movies.

It's nice to be able to dine at a different restaurant each night without worrying about running up a huge onboard bill, and it leaves more money to be spent on other extras like alcohol, spa treatments or shore excursions.

The selections are surprisingly robust, too – Mexican, Korean, diner fare, sushi, seafood, Mediterranean tapas, pizza, burgers, Italian, molecular gastronomy, ice cream and popsicles, candy and popcorn, and a variety of healthy grab-and-go options like salad, charcuterie, fruit, and meat and cheese. There's also a cafe that serves free pastries and cookies (but the coffee costs extra).

The downside here is that the included Wi-Fi is horrible on voyages out of Portsmouth, and the usual premium extra-fee option isn't available yet. Additionally, just about anything worth doing on board – including the free stuff – requires a reservation, which is a pain. My advice? Book everything that looks interesting to you on the first day, or you might miss out. You can always cancel later. This is especially true for certain exercise classes, which have small class sizes and are only offered once or twice per sailing.

I struck up conversations with several crew members on Valiant Lady, and one thing is clear: they're happy. Most of the ones I spoke with worked for other cruise lines previously, and the common refrain is that Virgin treats its employees well. There's less of a social hierarchy; in many ways, it seems like the caste system so common in other fleets has largely been torched.

Mingling is encouraged between not only crew from different departments but also between crew and passengers. It's not unusual to see a crew member snagging a seat at a table full of guests to chat or sipping an alcoholic drink while hosting an onboard event.

Happier crew members generally mean happier passengers, and it creates a sense of community that I haven't felt when sailing with most other lines.

Another marked difference I noticed is that both officers and crew wear uniforms that could pass as street clothes in other environments. They dress for comfort, rather than for propriety – except for the times (and there are many) when they're in lavish costumes.

I do think it's wonderful that the dress codes have been relaxed for the crew – if passengers can wear jeans on formal night, why shouldn't the crew be allowed to wear T-shirts to work? – but I did miss seeing officers walking around the ship in their crisp, white uniforms. I often found myself wondering "Is that person crew or a guest?" when I had a question. Hint: Look for a nametag. If they're wearing one, they're crew.

When I did need help, I was usually pointed in the right direction. However, some crew seemed like they were still getting their feet wet. (These sorts of issues are expected on an inaugural sailing and will likely improve with time.)

I won't go so far as to say it's a problem yet, but there were a couple of times when I was waiting to be helped, and crew members didn't see me because they were on their phones. Freedom and familiarity are great, but not at the expense of customer service. (Note: The devices crew use to scan passengers' "The Band" bracelets look a bit like mobile phones, so it's possible that's what I saw them using. Either way, it was a distraction.)

The entertainment

Whether it's "Never Sleep Alone," a risque share-your-deepest-desires after-hours show starring a "sex therapist"; "Duel Reality," an acrobatic dance battle between two families a la "Romeo and Juliet"; or "Scarlet Night," which celebrates the fictional love story between a daring sailor and an octopus goddess (don't ask), the shows are like nothing you've seen on any other ship, and they ooze with audience participation.

One of the best spaces on the vessel to catch a show is The Red Room. You might expect whips and handcuffs, but instead, you'll find a rarity at sea – a theater that can be arranged in several configurations depending on the show. The seats extend and contract like bleachers, allowing for stadium seating on both sides or, when a stage is involved, just one.

Other entertainment consists of mixology classes, bar crawls, trivia, board game play, themed parties and quirky workouts. Take, for instance, the "VHS (Videos, Headbands, Simmons)" class, where crew lead a 50-minute aerobic workout set to '80s music while wearing fluorescent tank tops, short shorts and sweatbands. (Yes, cruisers are also encouraged to dress up. And, yes, Shake Weights are involved.)

As is the style for Virgin brands, a lot of the fun is accompanied by sexual references. Normally I love a clever-but-racy joke, but there are so many on Virgin Voyages' ships that it sometimes feels like the brand is trying a little too hard to be edgy.

To be fair, lewdness is employed in varying degrees, and it isn't always so intolerable. While I found the outright vulgarity at "Never Sleep Alone" to be off-putting, the VHS workout was replete with double entendres -- balls, thrusting and working up a sweat -- that just made me chuckle.

Also, you'll want to avoid the health and wellness seminars. (They're sales pitches.)

As far as cruise line apps go, Virgin's is one of the best I've seen. It's got tons of functionality, allowing passengers to complete pre-cruise check-in electronically, watch the muster drill video, and view and book daily activities.

It also lets cruisers make shore excursion and dining reservations, see what they've signed up for, view their onboard accounts, request room service or Champagne deliveries , summon their room stewards and jump in a virtual queue for guest services inquiries. Yet, it still manages to offer a simple user experience.

However, there are still some glitches. I was logged out several times throughout the course of my sailing, and it was a pain to look up my password and sign in again every time. Pages within the app would also refresh several times before finally remaining static enough for me to scroll to where I needed to be.

Some functions -- such as one that allows food to be delivered to you anywhere onboard via Bluetooth -- also weren't yet up and running, and when I jumped in the virtual queue for guest services, I waited more than an hour with no response before finally giving up.

The onboard Wi-Fi was also a severe pain point, which might have contributed to some of the app issues. (I'm told it will improve when the ship repositions to its Barcelona homeport.)

The Seabeds

Some people dislike Virgin Voyages' Seabeds – beds that convert into sofas during the day to allow for more cabin space. I think the concept is clever.

In bed configuration, the mattress is actually comfortable. In couch configuration, there's much more space if you plan to be in your room during the day. Plus, the bedside tables make for a great setup if you're working remotely like I was.

But you have to remember to ask for the configurations to be switched. If you forget, you could return from a late night of partying to discover your bed is still a sofa. (The incredibly useful in-cabin tablet will allow you to request the swap. Less than 60 seconds after asking to have my couch turned back into a bed, my room attendant was at my door.)

Speaking of accommodations, I'm obsessed with the simple but quirky cabin designs, which are mostly white with light woods and fun color pops – a striped throw pillow here, a color-changing mirror accent there and, of course, pinkish-purple accent lights.

I also adore the high-tech aspects, which allow you to push a button for "please make up my room" or "do not disturb." You can request everything from room service and on-demand films to fresh towels via a tablet on the vanity.

The hammocks found on all balconies are also a genius touch; frankly, all cruise lines should have them. (Sadly it was a bit too cold for me to enjoy mine for more than a few minutes.)

I do like that the bathrooms offer shampoo, conditioner and shower gel (Red Flower brand) instead of all-in-one, and there's a shower door instead of a curtain.

What I didn't love was the storage. Cabins on sister ship Scarlet Lady were recently redone to incorporate more shelves and drawer space , and Valiant Lady was constructed with them to begin with. However, I sailed alone in a room meant for two, I brought only a carry-on for my three-night voyage, and I still used up all of the available drawers.

The bathroom is also painfully small – about the size of an airplane bathroom – and there's nowhere to put toiletries unless you leave them on the sink. The showerhead options are rainfall or wand. I found the wand to be problematic; if you aim it at yourself, it also sprays the door, creating potential leaks. I'm not a fan of rainfall heads, either, as they make it difficult to avoid getting my hair wet when I don't want to wash it.

Also, it's minor but worth mentioning that the hangers look like a slightly more expensive version of the wire ones you'd get at the dry-cleaners, and they left bumps in the shoulders of some of my tops.

The (not so secret) secrets

If you're someone who craves exclusivity, Valiant Lady is the ship for you. You can always find limited-capacity events, including mixology seminars, fitness classes and – my favorite – a VIP experience on the ship's "Scarlet Night."

You can be selected as a VIP by joining in certain activities throughout the ship. After winning trivia two days in a row, my teammates and I were invited to participate in what amounted to a pirate-themed scavenger hunt below deck, complete with drinks and magic tricks in a hidden bar.

If that sounds fun to you, be sure to participate when you hear calls for free Champagne, trivia and other daily pursuits that could score you an invite.

Want more insider info? Ask for the "secret" menu at vegetarian-forward restaurant Razzle Dazzle. Oddly, it includes non-veggie items like steak or buttered chicken, depending on the region where the ship is sailing.

Spoiler: You'll hear lots of people mentioning said menu, so it's not really "secret" anymore. It's also not a physical menu, so don't expect a piece of paper to be handed to you when you inquire about it. TPG Principal Writer Gene Sloan tried the secret steak and said he wouldn't recommend it, so I steered clear.

The homage to shipbuilding

Throughout the vessel, you'll see nods to the ship's construction. I think the most fun are the metallic bars you might see on some of the walls, including the ones just outside of the Test Kitchen. They bear numbers, which indicate the ship's structural frame lines.

The vessel's cabin numbers are also linked to the frame lines, which is why they seem so random. For example, my cabin was 10314A, which means I was on Deck 10, my room was located at frame line 314, and I was on side A, which is port. (Z is starboard.)

There's no drawback to the frame line displays. But, with regard to the cabin numbering, since the same frame lines appear on both sides of the ship, that means cabin numbers are repeated -- one on either side -- making it crucial for cruisers to pay attention to the A or Z in their room assignments.

In keeping with its music industry roots, Virgin Voyages uses something called "The Band" instead of traditional cruise keycards. They look a bit like '80s friendship bracelets, and they're made from plastic that was fished from the ocean and recycled.

They're convenient and fairly unobtrusive. You also don't have to remember to take your card with you when you leave your room. Plus, since there are no cards, you aren't required to insert one when you enter your cabin in order to get the lights to work. (If you're concerned about saving energy, fear not. There are motion sensors that turn off the lights and close the curtains when no movement is detected after a certain period of time.)

The bracelets are a solid idea overall, but they're not the most attractive. They've got a hideous gray plastic bit attached, which serves as the mechanism that unlocks your cabin door and allows you to charge onboard purchases to your account.

They're also incredibly difficult to put on yourself if you aren't sailing with anyone, and they're not great mementos from the trip, as they don't include your name, the ship's name or the sailing date like a keycard would.