Marty's Review on the Scarlet Lady with Virgin Voyages
What is Virgin Voyages?
Virgin Voyages is a brand new adult’s only cruise line and the brainchild of celebrity billionaire entrepreneur, Richard Branson. This revolutionary cruise line has dared to be different in almost every way, and has reimagined what a cruise vacation can and perhaps, should be. Virgin’s first vessel, Scarlet Lady, was meant to make her grand debut in early 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic her inaugural sailing was pushed back until late 2021. Scarlet Lady can accommodate around 2,700 sailors (passengers aboard a Virgin vessel are known as sailors, never guests!), and feels more like a private super-yacht than a modern mega cruise ship. She sails 4 and 5 night itineraries from Miami to various ports in the Caribbean. Virgin even purpose built their own state-of-the-art “Terminal V” at the Port of Miami, and the boarding process is a breeze and extremely well organized. Virgin Voyages second vessel, Valiant Lady, debuted early 2022 and will spend the remainder of the spring and summer months sailing the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to homeport with her sister Scarlet in Miami.
So, what makes Virgin Voyages so different?
Virgin Voyages brings a totally different vibe to cruising than the one you might be used to from other cruise lines. One of the first things you will notice upon boarding a Virgin ship is the distinct lack of kids and amenities geared for children and families. If you are dreaming of splashing around a waterpark at sea or trying your hand at ice skating or rock climbing, Virgin Voyages may not be for you. However, if you are looking for a modern, sophisticated, chic, and classy vibe with just the right amount of cheeky fun baked into the ship’s design and atmosphere, Virgin may be right up your alley.
You won’t find a big main dining room or crowded buffet, but rather, over 20 different sit down and quick service dining concepts, and ALL of them are fully included in the cruise fare. The food is all excellent by cruise ship standards and Virgin has gone out of their way to make sure that Sailors with special dietary restrictions don’t have to compromise. There are an abundance of vegetarian and vegan options available throughout the ship, as well as unique and exciting dining concepts that will delight any palette. Also, on a Virgin cruise you won’t have to worry about being charged daily gratuities as these are included in the cruise fare as well.
Everything onboard is booked and conveyed through Virgin’s intuitive mobile app (download this before you leave home). You will book all your dining and entertainment reservations through the app, as well as receive the daily schedule of events, and while basic Wi-Fi is included, you can upgrade to a super fast connection capable of uploading and streaming video for just $10 per day. On a recent voyage, I was able to FaceTime home with perfect video quality from the middle of the ocean. Isn’t modern technology wild?
Upon check-in you will receive a stylish RFID enabled wrist band that is every bit a magic wand as it is your shipboard payment method and cabin key. Really want to have your mind blown? Open your Virgin app while onboard one of their ships, shake your phone three times and watch as a glass of champagne is delivered to your hands wherever you are through the power of the wristband. Now that’s service!
Virgin’s staterooms are clean, modern and thoughtful in design. They offer everything from a small but highly functional solo cabin (BTW Virgin doesn’t charge a single supplement for these solo rooms!), to the spacious “Sea Terrace” cabins and their comfy hammocks on the balcony for whiling away the lazy Caribbean afternoons, or if you are looking for a VIP experience or just feeling a bit extra, you can opt for the suite life in Virgin’s Rockstar Quarters offering open bar and exclusive access to Richard’s Rooftop sundeck among other special perks.
Make sure you pack something red to wear for any Virgin Voyage. Whereas most traditional cruise lines feature a formal night during one of the days at sea, Virgin hosts “Scarlet Night”. Without giving away some of the mystery and surprise of this special evening, prepare to watch as the entire ship is transformed into a dreamscape of scarlet hued lighting, while roving entertainers perform a collection of borderline absurd acts to delight your senses. The whole spectacle is a riot and thoroughly enjoyable. Don’t miss out!
Service aboard Virgin Voyages is some of the best in the industry in my experience. From the moment you embark, you will be greeted with a smile by everyone from the entertainment staff to the food and beverage crew to your cabin steward. Be prepared to have your every need anticipated by the friendly and attentive staff. Anything you might need in your cabin like unlimited triple filtered still or sparkling water, extra towels or ice is just a click away from reality on the Virgin app or the in-cabin tablet computer—which by the way, also controls your cabin mood lighting and television. Dozens of free on demand TV shows and movies are preloaded on your cabin TV for your enjoyment. Just order some popcorn and gummy bears to be delivered to your stateroom and a movie night at sea is ready to go. Be advised, room service does carry a $5 delivery fee, but if you order an alcoholic beverage the delivery fee is waived.
During the day the atmosphere onboard is very chill. There aren’t any loud, thumping music, no big bingo games or other traditional cruise ship staples like a hokey cruise director making obnoxious announcements at all hours, but there are tons of beautiful and cozy nooks and crannies to lay out and catch some sun, read a book or just relax. Virgin also puts a large emphasis on fitness, and thus offers a variety of included fitness programs on a daily basis. Sunrise yoga at sea anyone?
Every Caribbean itinerary includes a stop at Virgin’s private Beach Club in Bimini, Bahamas, which is beautiful and just a short tram ride from where the ship docks. At the club there are two good sized swimming pools, tons of beach loungers, day beds, hammocks and places to enjoy the stunning beach and blue water. A very tasty Caribbean themed shore lunch is provided free of charge.
Entertainment is on a smaller scale than some bigger competitor ships, but is of excellent quality. Note that since this is an adults only cruise, much of the entertainment can be a bit risqué and include some off-color language and themes that may be offensive to some sailors, but go with an open mind and be delighted by clever retellings of Shakespeare through circus acts, one-woman cabaret shows or even a drag queen hosted pajama party under the stars. Just to name a few of the somewhat avant-garde entertainment options.
Who is Virgin Voyages For?
Virgin Voyages may not be for everyone, but most Baby Boomers to Gen Z’ers and everything in between should find plenty to love and enjoy. You’ll have to leave the kiddos at home, and the vibe may not be quite right for grandma and grandpa with their scooters and canes, but if you are looking for a chance to be pampered aboard a floating adults only resort, you just might consider giving Virgin Voyages a try. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
