Virgin Voyages Was VERY Different To What I’d Expected. Here’s How

We sailed Virgin for the first time last week out of Miami and loved it!! We are going back in January. Our favorite line out of the 5 we have sailed. Best service, best food and no kids. We had a great time and highly recommend.

Thank you for this. I am more curious about these cruises now; but the comments below about solo cruising still make me cautious.

Wondering if you woll go back on again?

Can I just say: Despite never having been on a cruise - And often thinking I'd not like them at all (I'm very active minded and don't relax easily) - Seeing this video just made me really want to get my backside on a Virgin liner ASAP. While the sight of traditional cruise ships/floating resorts (Delete as appropriate) has always been a turn-off for me, something about the Virgin approach is having the exact opposite effect! 🚢💯😍

(Just so long as the sea-going „Virgin Voyager“ doesn't have the same design mistakes as their old rail-going Class 220 counterparts... 🚅♨😉)

One thing I wish cruises would do is get rid of the extra charges that have started to creep back in, especially specialty dining and one cruise line apparently has upcharges on the main dining room menu. I appreciate that Virgin doesn't have the specialty restaurant and all food is included, but they should include afternoon tea as well. I'm not a drinker so I'm fine with drinks being extra. I would love to see spa treatments included in the fare, but knowing that there are limits to how many customers the spa can serve on a given cruise, I'd be happy with a fare that includes spa treatments in it for extra cost. I just don't like the idea of going on a cruise and then getting another bill at the end. I realize this happens at hotels too.

Worst customer service!!!
We paid in full 6 months ago for a cruise on january 6…. Our 45th wedding anniversary…. Last week we were informed that the sailing was cancelled.😱😩
We were offered the money back or to change departing date.
We accepted a new departing date. To our surprise they later informed us that our interior cabin was not available and that we have to pay an additional $495.00
Beware!!! You Can not triste Virgin. They ruined our celebration.

My husband and I cruised with Virgin this year but we would never go again. If we were vegan, the food would have been great. So much of the food was tasteless and unappealing for our tastes. We have cruised on many cruise lines and this was our only disappointing cruise in years of cruising. We all have an opinion of what is great for us and Virgin will not be on our list for return Voyages.

Remote workers and entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s exist, cruising is just not an old person thing anymore.

This really sounds like what I've been looking for in my first cruise. The idea of smaller venues, in this age of Covid, is a great idea.

I think it is a smart move by Virgin Voyages to avoid the impression of large crowds all over their ships. Many even advertising pictures made by other cruising lines rather deter me because often an overcrowded pool area (as far as I see it) is displayed.

Fantastic review, great job!

The crew represent from 46 to 53 cultures or ethnicity

I'm amazed there are people going on cruises to eat only the foods they are familiar with.
That just seems to defeat the purpose of going on a cruise.
Why go on a cruise if you would prefer to only sit at home and have a bowl of chili while watching reruns of Maverick? ;)

Your cruise seemed a perfect fit for me all around. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you ... great review ....🎉

buddy was scared

Don't you think that you may have had more personal service due to the fact that you are recognized in this industry?

I’m vegan and wonder if Virgin is accommodating for vegans. Yes, I know there’s the one restaurant touted as being vegetarian and vegan friendly, but if you can eat only once in one of the restaurants, this sounds counter to what I’d be looking for. I’m a solo traveler too, so how does that work? Do they have solo cabins with a balcony and are you expected to pay double price?

Loved your review, I had a week on the Valiant Lady (June 2023) and I also found all the crew so helpful and friendly. The food was at a very high standard and tried them all, The Wake was my favourite of all. There were loads of places where you could pick up snacks, I had my daily visit or two to the ice cream shop, the name of the shop made me smile "Lick Me to Ice Cream" :)
I would highly recommend Virgin Voyages and will be booking another trip for 2024

What a brilliant review. I love your thorough relaxed fair stance on it. Ive no cruised before but you are helpme to decide if it is for me or not. I like casual/not to formal and definitely no children, so this could be for us.

I've been on two Virgin cruises as a solo traveler. I so agree with Gary that the food is incredible. I especially enjoyed Pink Agave , the Wake, and the Test Kitchen. Although not having a reservation, I could eat at all restaurants without much waiting. I usually ate breakfast and lunch at the Galley. One thing I missed as a solo traveler was opportunities to engage with other passengers. Because of the pool configuration and no main dining option, I did find social contact to be somewhat limited. BTW...the service was terrific. The crew quickly knew my preferences and name. And the crew is quite engaging. AND at 72 years of age, I finally got a tattoo I love on board. Entertainment was also varied and quite unique from what you would find on other cruise lines. I also found the cost less than most premium lines.

Wait, hold on, did I hear you say that you can’t eat more than once at each of the dining venues?

Thanks for a great review, as usual. I'll be cruising on my first Virgin Voyage on a Transatlantic 14-night cruise in April 2024. I've been apprehensive just because it's my first time on Virgin....and such a long cruise. But, you're review, along with several other folks, has alleviated those concerns....I'm definitely excited about it.

The worst cruise ever. OMG I hated the boat and it was like a freak show. The shows was all about DRAG and Tucking. The boat configuration is terrible.

has a bit of a butlins vibe going on in places

I'm not into partying at all... like you. I may be in my early 40's, but I don't like alcohol or partying. My brother used to party too hard and now he's six feet under. I haven't felt like partying because of his partying.

My husband and I are chefs and we thought the food was amazing on the voyage. We also had a great time on the ship it was amazing.

Food, fitness and diversity- exactly what I want!

The only place on the ship besides the pool area that was crowded was the On-the-Rocks bar and that was my favorite area. I never got a sense of the ship being crowded. I did not like the way the bars were tucked away and closed off unlike Royal Caribbean and Carnival where they are out in the open - if you're walking along the hallway in public areas, you just naturally walk by many bars and venues. I like that. I felt really alone as a solo cruiser on the Valiant Lady. There were no overhead announcements pulling everyone together and I missed a lot of the shows because I found the app confusing. The food was amazing, however! The crew was wonderful and I really enjoyed my stateroom. Scarlett Night was really awesome, but I found there was a lack of activities during the day I could get into. You have to book these things immediately upon boarding or you lose out. Along with having to book dinner the vacation felt very regimented.

As a picky eater, being told I HAVE to go to different restaurants every dinner does not sit well.

Just did a 5 night Gem - Venice (Trieste), Croatia, Slovenia. Loved it! Barely noticed the announcements, never did any shows, or felt necessary to spend extra.

They allow sailors with tattoos? What's next? Carpenters with hammers? Cooks with knives, and programmers with computers?

I've just booked my third VV solo cruise. I truly feel this business model picks up a huge fringe market of people who perhaps weren't sold on traditional cruising but still love being on the ocean. I could live on a lady ship forever.

We are going on Resilient Lady in October. Great food and trying new things are two things that sold me on booking this trip. We are 72 and very active. We also recently got back over $300 by watching prices. We use Vacations to Go which have always been great. I heard you mention them on one of your talks . Thank you for your videos. We have cruised about 7 times and always learn something new from you.

The main pool deck on most cruise ships is linked to their buffet. Getting away from that model really works for me.
I love the great music, sip and cool off design.

We recently cruised on the Valient Lady and loved every bit of it!!!

Do you need to prove having a vaccine for the China virus?

Greetings from New Jersey. I have never been on a cruise, but I plan on taking my first cruise vacation on Virgin later this year, because there are no children allowed on board. In my opinion, that's really the best thing about Virgin.

My husband and I (LGBT Couple) just got back from an 8 night Caribbean cruise on the Virgin Valiant Lady (March 2023). While the cabins could have been designed better and the app can be quirky and does needs a revamp, I need to express that the most important aspect of a Virgin cruise is the fun and inclusive overall experience. We have been on 15+ cruises as a couple and never have we felt more welcomed. The diversity of both the crew and the passengers made this the most fun and at the same time relaxing vacation we have had at sea. We are middle aged and not what I would consider Instagram gays and will still had an amazing time interacting with fellow sailors and the crew. I really hope that Virgin Voyages does well and is around for a long time.

If the food is included... How much can you eat in one restaurant?

Gary good review but another cruise reviewer did a cabin review for scarlet lady and i was hoping you would provide another point of view. Her review was quite surprising and did highlight a significant differece others may note

come to australia gary and join us on our december honeymoon cruise on resilient lady hehe

Which itinerary were you on? When I saw the vv documentary where they had Bimini as part of the itinerary it really put me off cruising with them, I have never been on a cruise & i want to get it right first time. I am late 20’s and I’m looking for relaxed, non partying and not in your face cruise 😅

I just came back on the 8th . I love it, no kids, not overly crowded. It was perfect. But it depend on what r looking for. If u want Amusement park setup then u go with the bigger ship. So comparing ship is not the answer. Everything thing was great.

This surprised me i thought it was going to be party party i will have to book one of these cruises im new to cruising so this is refreshing type of cruise to me as it seams more relaxed then most brands out there thanks for posting this as I think I will be booking a cruise with virgin knowing I feel more happy about it thanks again for posting

Who gets a tattoo on a cruise?
😂

Their on-ship food is very amazing, top of all, eateries are afree. The dining experience is amazing. Don't spend money in restaurants, book the Virgin and enjoy 20+ restaurants free of cost. I myself love the food they served on ship.

You changed my mind. Thanks so much..I have desire to try many different lines just knowing in advance what i was getting into. I am not into the very close to bone as you said show and it seems like that was stressed to the max in advertisements and that turned me off. Yet you shared the service and the fun for a solo parts of the cruise and different restaurants of high quality and different cuisines in different than specialty ways ...and some retro dance exercise and walking on the top looked fun. Not my favorite decor and color styles, but some places looked modern lovely and unique. Quite a few of the points you have shared on a couple of your videos have made me feel like ok...maybe yes...at least once.