virgin 4 day cruises

Fire & Sunset Soirées

4-NIGHT ROUND-TRIP SAILING FROM MIAMI

Painted skies in the Florida Keys

Cruise from vibrant Miami to Key West for a day spent splashing around in the cerulean waters or exploring the lively downtown scene. Afterwards, you’ll head to our private Beach Club experience in Bimini, Bahamas.

Fire & Sunset Soirées • 4 Nights

Sailing on Valiant Lady

  Day 1

Miami, Florida

Departs at 06:00 PM, All aboard 2 hrs before departure

  Day 2

Key West, Florida

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM, local time

  Day 3

  Day 4

Beach Club at Bimini

08:00 AM - 07:00 PM, local time

  Day 5

Arrives at 06:30 AM. Please allow up to an hour for the Gangway to open to disembark

The Virgin Voyages Experience

From captivating coasts to laid-back island vibes, the exclusively adult cruise vacation of your dreams is here.

Terminal V at PortMiami

Uniting the energy of Miami with nautical nods to the history of sailing, we’re infusing our own terminal with the same incredible ethos as our ships.

Hassle-free embarkation

Pre-upload your travel docs to the Virgin Voyages app, get Ready to Sail before leaving home, and make boarding a (sea)breeze in just a few minutes.

Easy port access in Key West

Bask in Key West's laid-back yet wild vibes, knowing you can come and go as you please. With easy access to the ship, you’ll enjoy them even more.

Exclusive access to The Beach Club at Bimini

From beach bonfires to private cabanas and floaty pool parties — all in a resort-like experience where you can actually let your salty hair down.

The places you'll go

From the Wynwood art scene to the world-renowned shores of Miami Beach, the Magic City is a perfect collision of relaxation and cultural exploration.

A haven for artists and sunset-seekers alike, the only poetic rival to the writers who called Key West home is the geography itself.

Besides exploring the islands’ incredible biodiversity, relax at our private beach club experience, Virgin Voyages Beach Club at Bimini.

More Shore Things for your wishlist...

We have even more in our curated catalog.

Let’s make waves

An ocean of opportunities calling your name.

WANDERLUST SATISFIED

Fire & Sunset Soirées

Famous for its crimson and gold-hued sunsets, Key West is more than just a spot to admire the painted skies (but of course, it is that, too). An adopted home to some of America’s most seminal writers (Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, & Robert Frost — to name a few), Key West is an apex of gorgeous cultural collision and celebration. Bahamian Conch, Cuban and African-American cultural heritage create the backbone for the inclusive and accepting philosophy of Key West’s “One Human Family”.

Ready to Book?

We’re making waves from the Caribbean to the Med, the Adriatic to the Red, and everywhere in between across 4 continents. Join us on an unparalleled journey of relaxation and indulgence, and discover the things — and the people — that make each destination so special. Because we didn’t build a cruise, we created a voyage.   Get a delicious taste of the modern romance of sailing that only a Virgin brand could pull off.

Limited-time cruise deals

You deserve a vacation. And you deserve a deal. So we’re making both of those things happen. Wave goodbye to your routine and start planning an exclusively adult experience at sea.

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Rest Your Head

These are the spots you might be calling home. Whether you prefer coffee (or cocktails) overlooking the waves, or waking up late in your own cocoon, we're holding space for you.

Always Included Luxury

We’ve taken care of all the details — so all you have to do is kick back and have the relaxing vacation you deserve. Everything below is included.

From refined dining to relaxed casual, all of our 20+ eateries featuring menus curated by Michelin star chefs are yours to enjoy.

Soft Drinks & Water

Stay hydrated with still and sparkling water, non-pressed juices, sodas, teas and even drip coffee.

Browse, post, and stay connected with wifi — whenever you want, and wherever you are on the ship.

We've taken care (of taking care) of your servers, so we cover the gratuities for your onboard experiences.

Group Fitness Classes

Yoga, meditation, cycling, HIIT classes, and more — all your group fitness classes are covered.

Shows & Entertainment

Developed by the world’s most-talked-about producers and artists, you have a ticket to all of our awe-inspiring shows.

Adults-only voyages. Luxuriously designed. Most 5-star reviews.

Explore over 100 dreamy destinations.   Featuring 20+ eateries with Michelin star chef-curated menus .  Relax and live it up in our modern, super-yacht inspired cabins.

Pick up where you left off…

Your vacation awaits — don’t let these voyages sail away.

Make plans to fall in love — with dreamy voyages sailing across the world. From new Caribbean destinations to our arrival in Australia later this year, lean into the romance of February, because you’ll get 55% off 2nd Sailors and up to $600 in free premium drinks when you book by Feb. 28th, 2023.

An epic, one-of-a-kind sailing. The Limitless Voyage.

Where inspiration meets well-being — we’ve been working with our Chief Entertainment & Lifestyle Officer, Jennifer Lopez, to curate a special, one-time voyage on April 14th - 19th — celebrating women who are making ship happen in business and the world at large.

Virgin Voyages Adults Only Cruises

People don’t need more choices. they need a better option..

Exceptional value will always be included in our sailings.

Always Included Luxury

We’ve taken care of all the details — so all you have to do is kick back and have the relaxing vacation you deserve. Everything below is included.

From refined dining to relaxed casual, all of our 20+ eateries featuring menus curated by Michelin star chefs are yours to enjoy.

Essential Drinks

Stay hydrated with still and sparkling water, non-pressed juices, sodas, teas and even drip coffee.

Browse, post, and stay connected with wifi — whenever you want, and wherever you are on the ship.

We've taken care (of taking care) of your servers, so we cover the gratuities for your onboard experiences.

Group Fitness Classes

Yoga, meditation, cycling, HIIT classes, and more — all your group fitness classes are covered.

Shows & Entertainment

Developed by the world’s most-talked-about producers and artists, you have a ticket to all of our awe-inspiring shows.

Sea Terrace

The ultimate go-to for relaxation, our Sea Terraces stand out for their clever design, flexible furnishings, Roomy Rainshowers, sensory mood lighting, and the hand-woven terrace hammock that almost all of them have.

For solo Sailors looking for quiet moments with a view (and a super large single bed) and duos ready to make eyes with the ocean while perched on our nautically-inspired window seats. Gazing out at the waves every morning, this is the closest you can get to the water without the windblown hair. 

Friend groups, solo Sailors, and duos alike can get in on the Insider action. Roomy Rainshowers and mood lighting punctuate our cozy escapes — giving you the space to recover today and prepare for tomorrow.

RockStar Quarters

If you’re into exclusive access throughout the ship, RockStar Agents at your beck and call, marble-clad bathrooms with premium amenities and spaces conceptualized by world-renowned designer Tom Dixon, then let’s talk suites.

MICHELIN DINING

20+ foodie-approved eateries designed by a Michelin-starred chef collective

With incredible menus and unique experiences designed by a hand-picked Michelin-starred chef collective, all of our 20+ cruise restaurants use fresh ingredients to create made-to-order, always included food to crush any craving — from decadent steakhouse dining and trendy Mexican to our first-to-sea Korean BBQ grilling and fresh market-inspired fare.

Incredible Drinks

Essential Drinks Included. Or grab a Bar Tab package.

Grab a Bar Tab for an all-inclusive cruising experience. It's our elevated and fairer drinks package that lets you revel in craft cocktails from top mixologists, an unrivaled selection of wines, your favorite spirits, and specialty coffee. No Bar Tab, no problem — as all premium beverages are fairly priced. And your voyage fare includes soda, filtered and sparkling water, drip coffee, and non-pressed juices.

Entertainment

Lights. Camera. Action at sea.

We’re swapping classic Broadway productions for a festival-like lineup featuring first-to-sea entertainment, pop-up acts, and immersive experiences created by the world’s most-talked-about directors, choreographers, and artists.

From outdoor yoga and high-intensity workouts to spa days and blowouts

We're giving a Virgin-style makeover to cruise spas and fitness programming.

Group getaways.

Get up to $800 in onboard credit when you bring your crew

Great experiences are even better when shared with friends — especially when you can earn up to $800 in onboard credit to splurge throughout your vacay. So fire up that group chat; you’re all going on a voyage.

The most 5-star cruise reviews

Cruise Critic’s Best New Cruise Ship in 2021. And Condé Nast Traveler’s Best New Cruises in the World in 2022.

What an amazing cruise concept!

"We loved the ship and everything about it. We tried all the restaurants and it is difficult to select one as a favorite - as all had exciting menus and sooooo good food - freshly made of high-quality ingredients."

Virgin delivers cruising as only Virgin can

"This cruise was literally the best vacation we ever went on. Our cabin was spacious and the crew was amazing. The shows were unique and entertaining. The drinks were delicious and it was awesome every bar had different main cocktails so you could try new things. I highly recommend it!"

What a great time!

"This was my first cruise, and what an amazing time it was! The crew was amazing. The food was amazing! I love the places scattered around the ship to eat. Especially The Galley. Great vibe onboard. You can do as much or as little as you want to."

10/10 would recommend

"Overall everything was an amazing experience; the staff always made sure we were good and super helpful. I would recommend anyone to this cruise line over any other one. I think that you are definitely getting your money’s worth in value, in every aspect of the meaning."

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Sail with the flexibility you need

Don’t defer your dream voyage. We have low and flexible payment options for almost every budget, with interest-free financing available.

Reserve now. Pay later.

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What to Expect on Virgin Voyages Compared to Other Cruise Lines (Differences, What to Know, & More)

Never sailed on Virgin Voyages and not quite sure what to expect? Maybe you’ve seen the advertisements and weren’t sure exactly how it compared to other major cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian.

Or maybe you saw that it was adults only and wanted to know more before you spend your hard-earned money on sailing a relatively new cruise line?

So what’s Virgin Voyages like? How is it different from other lines? And what else should you know before you sail? Below, we dive into these questions and give you the real scoop of everything about the cruise line.

How Is Virgin Voyages Different Than Other Cruise Lines?

Trying to explain all the differences between Virgin and more traditional cruise lines is a challenge. Put bluntly, there are a lot of changes both big and small.

Let’s start with being adults only. That actually means much more than simply there are no kids running around the ship.

Instead, everything about the cruise can be tailored to adult tastes. Entertainment on the ship is more mature, such as drag shows in the nightclub. Many events go on until later at night than on a normal cruise. The food offered is more adventurous and upscale (though traditional options are available). The amenities offered around the ship are also different. Instead of waterslides and putt-putt, it’s yoga classes, tattoo parlors, and fitness equipment.

Along with these changes, Virgin also seems to have taken a hard look at traditional things in cruising and made changes that will appeal to many. For instance, the cruise director, art auctions, and roving photographers are out. Instead of a buffet where everyone serves themselves, the cruise line offers a food hall with a number of spots to eat where food is either prepared as you order or plated for you if already made.

There’s no main dining room or formal night. Instead, Virgin Voyages has several different sit down restaurants that are all included with your fare. Gratuities are included in your fare as well, as is wi-fi service.

Bottom line: It’s much more of an all-inclusive feel on the ship, with more that aims to cater to adults that you simply wouldn’t find on other lines.

What’s Included on Virgin Voyages?

One of the big differences we mentioned above is that a number of items that are typically an extra charge on a cruise are included in your fare. Of course, your room, food, and entertainment on the ship are all included. But so are the following items:

• All restaurants on the ship
• Crewmember gratuities
• Basic non-alcoholic drinks, including soda
• Basic wi-fi
• Fitness classes

What you will still have to pay out of pocket for are things like casino gambling, spa treatments, shore excursions, and alcoholic drinks. Still, between food, gratuities, and wi-fi alone, the included items add up to hundreds of dollars per passenger.

What’s the Crowd Like Onboard?

Step onto the ship and you’ll likely notice that your other passengers overall are a little different than on some other lines. Compared to most lines, we think that Virgin Voyages sees passengers that skew younger and a bit more fashionable.

One thing you don’t have to worry about is fitting in. While marketing for Virgin seems to focus on the “cool” factor with lots of beautiful and trendy people, there are all sorts of people on the ship — young, old, black, white, beautiful and not-so-beautiful, gay, straight.

Overall, the crowd seems very inclusive and everyone was friendly as you’d expect on a normal cruise.

Is There a Difference Between Ships?

Anyone who has sailed before knows that so much of your cruise is actually spent onboard the ship. In many ways, the ship is the actual main destination of your cruise, not the ports of call.

Typically there is a major difference between newer and older ships. However, since Virgin Voyages is still a new line, it only has three ships (with a fourth on the way). These vessels all have the same layout. So whether you are on Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, or Resilient Lady, you’ll have a similar experience.

It also means you don’t have to worry about picking the right ship for your cruise. You really only have one option.

What’s the Atmosphere Like on the Ship?

Every cruise line has its own personality, and Virgin Voyages is no different. In our view, the atmosphere definitely tends to be more modern and a bit more “cool” than what’s seen on other lines. If Instagram built a cruise ship, it might look a bit like Virgin.

There’s a lot of use of color (especially lights) to set the mood for different spaces — even down to the wake coming off the back of the ship.

Around the ship are lots of seating and daybeds built for two, which combined with the red you see everywhere, adds to the “sexiness” of the cruise ship.

In fact, we found that most often the atmosphere can change depending on time of day. During most of the day, the atmosphere seems to focus more on relaxation and wellness. There are yoga classes, the vibe is relaxed, and generally slow-paced.

In the late afternoon and evening, things change up a bit with the evening programming that’s more focused on entertainment and partying, including Scarlet Night when everything is doused in red light and the nightclub can go until 3 a.m.

One other note: Overall, we found the staff to be a step above what’s on other cruise lines. Generally any cruise staff is going to be upbeat and friendly. On Virgin Voyages, it simply seemed more genuine and as if the staff had a strong camaraderie between each other. It’s hard to explain, but it was a feeling of the staff being happy you were there.

What Are the Cabins Like?

As you’d expect given the atmosphere on the ship, that “cool” factor extends to the cabin. You can expect the layout of the cruise cabin to be similar to other lines. You’ll have your bed, the bathroom, closet/storage, and balcony (with a hammock swing) if you choose that room type.

But cabins also have some upgraded touches. In a small (but loved) perk, Virgin offers a carafe of water and glasses. That means you don’t have to bring or buy bottles of water or drink out of the bathroom faucet just to get a swig of water in your cabin.

There are also some higher-end touches. In the cabin shower, there’s a rainfall showerhead included, instead of just the sprayer on the end of a wand. Your room is controlled by a tablet that acts as the remote control and can be used to dim lights, and even activate different colors to set the mood. Of course, if you don’t want to use the tablet, manual controls and a TV remote are also offered.

Bottom line: Much of the cabin will be familiar, but with some upgraded features that make it feel nicer than the average cruise room.

What Is The Band?

If you’ve cruised before, it was likely on a line that has a credit card style room key that served to open your room, check you on and off the ship, and charge items to your onboard account.

On Virgin Voyages, you have “The Band” instead. This is a stylish little bracelet (complete with an anchor clasp) that holds a gray tag. This serves the same function as the room keycard. You swipe it on your door sign to unlock the room. It’s scanned when you come and go on the ship, and it’s scanned whenever you make a purchase onboard.

It’s a bit easier than having to dig out your card each time to need it, but it does have a tendency to want to come off occasionally.

What Sort of Entertainment Is There on the Ship?

You’d expect that a ship focused on adults might have different entertainment, and in this case, you’re right.

First, the biggest difference we noticed is that Virgin doesn’t offer a traditional large theater that seats hundreds and hundreds at one time. Instead, they have smaller venues. As a result, there aren’t the big production shows like you see elsewhere.

Instead, the shows are more intimate in crowd size, but still feature amazing talent. One show we say was an acrobatic program between a red team and blue team that features climbing a 25-foot pole in the middle of the stage with no harness, flips after being launched in the air on a see-saw, juggling, and more.

Other shows included a mentalist and comedian with a quick-witted sense of humor that was able to make off-color jokes since everyone was adults. Virgin also had a resident drag queen with several performances during the cruise.

Are Drinks Included? How Much Do They Cost?

So much is included on your cruise, but one area that isn’t — alcoholic beverages. Virgin Voyages does charge for these, but there are a couple of things to know.

First, when it comes to cost the menu prices range from about $10-14 depending on the drink. We ordered some simple drinks (Moscow mule and a mojito) that were only $9. One nice thing is that because gratuity is included, the menu price is what you pay. There is no additional tip tacked on.

As well, Virgin doesn’t have drink packages. Instead they have a “Bar Tab” that’s credit toward drinks. Depending on your booking, you can get this included in your trip. During our cruise we booked and had $300 already included, so drinks were on the house.

How Does Food Work on the Cruise? Is it Good?

One thing you’ll like about Virgin Voyages is that all food on the ship is included. There are no extra charges for some restaurants.

The dining onboard can be thought of in two groups. First, there is The Galley. While the ships don’t have buffets, The Galley is a large dining hall with a number of different stalls serving different foods. There’s a burger spot, a taco spot, ramen/noodle bar, a sushi area, salad area, dessert spot and more. All of these spots are either grab and go or you simply wait a few minutes while they prepare your meal.

Then there are a number of sit-down restaurants serving anything from upscale Mexican to Italian, steak, and more. These spots typically require reservations (though walk-ins are welcome) and fill up quickly. It’s your choice where to eat, and you can dine at whatever time you are able. There is no assigned seating or dining rooms like on many other cruise lines.

To us, the food was solid to very good. The Galley offers a lot of options, whether you want simple (burger and fries) to more adventurous (sushi, ramen). However, the sit-down restaurants are a step above. We especially enjoyed Pink Agave, the upscale Mexican restaurant where everything was phenomenal.

What’s Good About Cruising Virgin Voyages?

There’s a lot that’s different about Virgin Voyages, and we think that’s what makes it a great cruise line to sail if you’re an adult looking for a getaway.

For one, we think the cruise line earns high marks in reinventing what a cruise can be. If you’re someone that’s been turned off by some of the “kitsch” in cruising, then cruising Virgin will be refreshing. There’s no line dancing on the pool deck or roving photographers or overly-excited cruise director.

As well, by including many things with the cruise, the headache of being nickeled and dimed around the ship is gone. Essentially the only things you’ll pay for onboard are alcohol, spa treatments, and gambling.

Finally, by catering to adults Virgin has shifted the design of everything from the ship to food to entertainment to more mature tastes that are more appealing to many.

What Are the Downsides of Cruising Virgin Voyages?

There’s a lot to like about Virgin, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. So what should you know that’s not so good?

Our biggest complaint is that the pool area seems small given the size of the ship. There are two pools, but the main pool only had seating for a couple of hundred people around it that seemed to fill up quickly when at sea.

As well, the reservation system for restaurants needs work. During our cruise we found that reservations were completely booked days in advance, yet when we went down to see if there was any space for walk-in, the restaurants had plenty of open tables. (We were seated immediately.)

We will also say that compared to other mass market lines with mega ships, there aren’t near as many things to do as you see elsewhere. For instance, there’s no roller coaster, go-kart track, zipline, rock-climbing wall or the like. That’s by design as these are largely included to appeal to kids and teens on the ship. However, if you’re someone that likes to be more active, you might be wanting more things to do.

Is Virgin Voyages Right for Me?

Having sailed the line recently, we think there is a lot for passengers to like about the cruise line no matter who you are. As mentioned, we saw all types on the ship from older couples to bachelorette parties. And the appeal is broad.

Overall, the crowd seems to skew younger — and more upscale — than most cruises. The atmosphere — ranging from the vibe on the ship to food to entertainment — definitely caters more to adult tastes. We think who would love the cruise line the most would be a couple from 30-60 years old celebrating an anniversary, special occasion, or simply wanting a romantic trip away. That, however, also casts too narrow a net as we saw all sorts having a great time.

In fact, outside of families, we have a hard time pinpointing who the cruise line wouldn’t appeal to. Personally we were worried that the cruise would be too trendy and cool for us to feel comfortable (there is a tattoo parlor onboard, after all), but that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, it was a great time with a lot of changes made to the traditional cruise to make it more appealing.

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Virgin Voyages

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Brilliant lady, resilient lady, valiant lady, scarlet lady, review of virgin voyages.

Virgin Voyages (formerly "Virgin Cruises", VirginVoyages.com) is a new cruise line company headquartered in Plantation (Florida USA). Virgin Voyages was created as a joint venture between Virgin Group Ltd (British multinational holding company) and Bain Capital LP (multi-asset investment company), with the latter having a majority (51%) shareholding. The establishment of Virgin Cruises was announced by Virgin Group on December 4, 2014. The new cruise line is scheduled to start operations in 2020.

Company History

Bain Capital (1984-founded) is based in Boston (Massachusetts USA) and specializes in private equity, venture capital, credit, public equity, life sciences and real estate, with assets (under management in FY2018) ~USD 105 billion. Virgin Group Ltd (1970-founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell) is based in London (England UK) and specializes in global investments and branding through numerous fully- or partially-owned subsidiary companies in businesses like travel (cruises, hotels, tours, airlines, trains), hospitality, health, banking, retail, communications, entertainment, publishing, charity.

Virgin Group's best-known brands are Virgin Holidays, Virgin Voyages, Virgin Megastores, Virgin Hotels, Virgin Care, Virgin Trains USA (Brightline), and Virgin Airlines (Australia, Atlantic, Connect, and Galactic/spaceflights).

Virgin Voyages operates a fleet of four fully-owned cruise vessels constructed by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA (at Sestri Ponente shipyard/ Genoa ).

In FY2018, Fincantieri reported revenue of EUR 5,4 billion. Currently ranked Europe's largest shipbuilding company, Fincantieri has 8 shipyards (all in Italy), in 2013 acquired VARD (Norway-based company with 9 shipyards) and in 2018 purchased 50% of STX France (Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard in St Nazaire ). Fincantieri builds both commercial and naval ships.

In 2020, Virgin Cruises officially started operations (from Miami Florida USA ) with the 2800-passenger Scarlet Lady . Three more sisterships were inaugurated in the following years - Valiant Lady (2021), Resilient Lady (2022) and Brilliant Lady (2025).

The announcement (initially for 3 ships) was made on June 23, 2015, in Miami, during a press conference (media event "making waves") for Virgin Group's new cruise travel brand. For the event, Richard Branson arrived on a helicopter, landing near Miami's Museum Park. He announced that the total building cost for the 3 ships is USD 2,13 billion (US$710M per unit). The announcement for the 4th ship was made on October 31, 2018, with order value ~EUR 700 million.

The company's current President and CEO is Nirmal Saverimuttu (1979-born in Zambian, raised in Australia), who in September 2023 succeeded Thomas Michael McAlpin (1959-born American). McAlpin joined DCL-Disney Cruise Line in 1995 (as VP of Finance, Business Development & Shore Travel Operations) overseeing the construction of the first Disney ships ( Magic /1998 and Wonder /1999) and the development of Walt Disney's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay . In 2004, he became DCL's President. Prior to heading Virgin Cruises, McAlpin served as CEO of The World Residences at Sea (in the period 2009-2014). Following his retirement from CEO and President, Tom McAlpin continued to serve Virgin Voyages as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Earlier in 2016, Virgin settled US$300M lawsuits filed by Colin Veitch (former NCL-Norwegian CEO), who claimed Virgin had stolen his ideas and moved on with the cruise line concept without him.

Tom McAlpin commented that the company is not to be considered a big player in the cruising industry, but rather "a small boutique line that will offer different experiences". McAlpin and Branson hinted that those experiences might take some cues from other successful Virgin ventures, like Virgin Hotels. The hotel chain is popular for offering free WiFi, minibar drinks at street prices, privacy doors allowing guests to go on about their business while room service brings requests, pet-friendly amenities with no weight or size restrictions.

In October 2016, "Virgin Cruises" was rebranded as "Virgin Voyages". At the time it was first announced, the company's founder Branson said his goal was to create a brand cruising experience that is more likely to appeal to millennials and other people who don't normally take cruise ship vacations.

In regard to onboard gratuities, the company has "No Tipping" policy, which means all gratuities are included in the base cruise fares. Also included in basic fares are beverages, all eateries, group fitness classes. The company also doesn't charge penalties or change fees. Customers are able to hold staterooms for 24 hours with no money down once they've placed a 20% non-refundable deposit. They also have a 7-day grace period allowing them to change bookings for any reason. Cruise departure date and names on bookings can be changed without fees or penalties. Shortly before opening the bookings on Scarlet Lady (Feb 14, 2019), Virgin announced all-inclusive deal policy by which cruises are sold "by cabin price". Fares are also inclusive of dining (shipwide / 20 options, some 24-hour), unlimited WiFi, all fitness classes. Cabin pricing only varies by the number of occupants. For 5-day itineraries, fares start from ~USD 250 pp per day (excluding taxes-fees).

Virgin Cruises' "non-commissionable policy" allows travel agents to earn across customer's entire transaction, including on add-ons (hotels, flights, travel insurance, spa treatments, tours/excursions, premium packages, onboard credits, taxes, fees). Travel agents receive 16% base commission on the transaction (increased from 10% by the expanded "Brilliant To Do Business With" program). "Red Hot Bonus" program additionally offers annually paid revenue up to 6% (in case certain production thresholds are met) in addition to 10% commission on everything sold prior the cruise (excepting taxes and fees).

Company changes 2019 (pre-inauguration)

In early-April 2019, Virgin Voyages signed an exclusive 7-year partnership deal with OSW (OneSpaWorld Holdings Ltd) - a provider of health-and-wellness services and products on cruise vessels and in destination resorts worldwide. OSW provides all the wellness staff, services and products onboard Virgin ships, including yoga and gym trainers, massages, medispa treatments, salon (manicure-pedicure-hairdresser) services. Each ship has a 29-person OSW-employed professional staff. The served facilities include Crow's Nest (outdoor yoga studio), Redemption Spa, Dry-Dock (blowout bar), B-Complex (Fitness Center).

In April 2019, Virgin and Intelligentsia Coffee signed a deal to provide Intelligentsia coffee (Virgin Voyages Blend) and made-to-order beverages at all venues, including the specialty coffee bars ("Ministry of Ground" and "Ministry of Ground Too") served by expert baristas.

In June 2019, Virgin expanded the list of RockStar Suite-only perks with RockStar Agents (dedicated butlers per stateroom), specially dedicated hair and makeup crew (upon request), complimentary laundry service, complimentary Thermal Suite access (Redemption Spa), all-inclusive premium drinks (in all shipboard eateries and bars), personalized bottomless in-room bar (free of charge), option to curate in-port activities.

In late-October 2019 was approved the agreement for Brightline Miami to be rebranded "Virgin Trains" and Virgin Group to build a train station (Virgin Trains PortMiami) at the cruise port. The new station serves high-speed trains and connects PortMiami directly with the USA's intercity railway system and Orlando International Airport.

On November 12, 2019, Richard Branson announced that the second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) will be seasonally homeported in Sydney (NSW Australia) . Branson was in Sydney to launch a partnership between Virgin Australia Airlines and Virgin Voyages and promote affordable Australian and Caribbean fly-cruise deals on Scarlet Lady.

On December 13, 2019, was officially released the "Ship No. 1" perfume (aka "the fragrance of Scarlet Lady"). The sea lavender-based perfume was created by Air Aroma - a company specializing in scent marketing and fragrance systems (diffusers, Aropromo sale scenting devices). Virgin's Ship No. 1 is infused throughout Scarlet Lady. The perfume can be also purchased (only online - via ItSmellsLikeShip.com) for USD 50 per bottle. All net proceeds from these sales go to Ocean Unite (non-profit foundation of 30+ political leaders and business tycoons).

On December 19, 2019, was announced the "Sailor Loot" (OBC/onboard credit) program. These promotions offer OBC (per cabin) for shipboard spending during the current voyage. The OBC is based on the stateroom category and ranges from US$ 100 (interior and oceanview) to US$200 (balcony) and up to US$ 400 (suites).

Now each Virgin cruise ship offers 50+ activities and events. The onboard programming features live performances (by the company's Hapenings Cast) and is managed by Richard Kilman (Virgin's VP of Entertainment).

Company changes 2024

In February Steven Worling (Senior Director of Infrastructure & Security) announced that Virgin Voyages would roll out fleetwide an improved connectivity (Internet/Wi-Fi package) with SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO (satellite service), with onboard connectivity 1,5 Gbps (max per ship). The Internet is provided via MEO and LEO satellites (Medium Earth Orbit and Low Earth Orbit). Shipboard Wi-Fi access is unlimited and for multiple devices per guest.

Company changes 2023

In February, Virgin replaced Harding UK (Bristol-based global travel retail business) with Starboard Cruise Services (Doral Florida-based company). As of 2023, Starboard was contracted by 11 cruise lines and operated on 90+ ships worldwide.

In March was announced an expansion of onboard entertainment fleetwide. The announcement mentioned new cabaret and game shows, new parties (80s Party, We Fancy), and more live music (by the hosted in The Red Room and The Manor program Festival Stage Acts/comedy shows rotating every 2 to 4 weeks). The list of new productions includes three fleetwide game shows (Duel Reality, Untitled DanceShowPartyThing, Miss Behave), the cabaret show Lola’s Library (fleetwide), as well as 3 new productions debuting on Resilient Lady (Persephone, Mind Mangler, Another Rose/Supper Club Series).

In April Virgin signed a partnership deal with WPT/World Poker Tour (2002-founded, internationally televised gaming and entertainment brand). The premium poker experience is offered on Scarlet Lady during all 4-5-night Caribbean itineraries. The ship's new WPT at Sea Poker Room is fitted with 8 poker tables and served by professional dealers. The new gaming venue hosts beginner training sessions, as well as cash games and WPT Prize Package poker tournaments with buy-ins between US$80-320. The US$320 buy-in WPT Prize tournament is held once per cruise. The prize (US$5000) can be used on any future voyage or WPT tournament.

In September, Nirmal Saverimuttu succeeded Michael McAlpin as the company's President and CEO. Along with the new appointment was announced a capital raise of USD 550 million (~EUR 512M/~GBP 440M) with funds managed by Ares Management's Private Equity Group. As of 2023, Ares had ~US$49,2 billion of AUM/assets under management.

In October 2023, Michelle Bentubo was appointed COO/Chief Operating Officer. In 2016-2023 she served the company as VP of Technology & Operations. Previously, she has held executive positions at Walt Disney World (Director of Experience Development), DCL-Disney Cruise Line (Director of Disney's Magical Express) and Bank of America (SVP Technology/2013-16).

In November 2023, Peter Hunt was appointed CFO/Chief Financial Officer. He previously served as CFO for Service King Collision Repair (1976-founded automotive company) and before that was in the leadership team of Virgin America Inc (2004-founded/2018-merged with Alaska Airlines).

Company changes 2022

In March 2022 was announced a partnership with Jennifer Lynn Lopez (1969-born American actress and singer) via her brand company "JLo Beauty and Lifestyle LLC". Jennifer Lopez joined Virgin Voyages as an investor and chief of entertainment/advisor/lifestyle officer. As part of the partnership, fleetwide was introduced "JLo Beauty" (onboard shop) selling the superstar's products at sea for the first time. In June 2023, she was appointed as Virgin's Chief Celebrations Officer.

In September 2022 debuted Virgin's loyalty program "The Sailing Club" by which repeat customers are provided with two main complimentary perks - "Deep Blue Extras" (premium WiFi, invitations to onboard cocktail parties, laundry services) and "Red Hot Booking Bonus Months" (discounted booking with additional OBC/onboard credit).

In September 2022 Virgin partnered with RSB/Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (an independent global membership organization). Virgin also signed long-term agreements with three providers of waste-based sustainable fuels (Argent Energy, GoodFuels, Twelve) to supply the fleet's bunker fuels.

Company changes 2021

In mid-November 2021 was announced an investment in Virgin Voyages by Patricof & Co (1969-founded by Alan Patricof, specializing in venture capital investments). The company is part of Apax Partners LLP (London UK-based equity firm) that also includes Multinational Management Group (1972-founded) and Saunders Karp & Megrue (1988-founded).

In December 2021 was announced the partnership with the House Spirits Distillery () for the fleetwide presence of the brand "Aviation American Gin" (aka Aviation Gin/alcohol volume 42%, produced in Portland Oregon since 2006). Signature cocktails (based on the Aviation Gin) available for ordering at each Virgin ship include "The Double Agent at SIP", "Razzle Dazzle's Electric Fizz", "Stella's Groove at The Manor", "Gunbae's French 75".

Company changes 2020

On April 1, 2020, the company launched its "Jet Transfers Direct to Ship" service. The exclusive "fly-cruise" deal is for RockStar Suite passengers only, allowing them to arrive and depart the boat via chartered or private aircraft. The planes land at The Runway - a top-deck open space (Deck 17 aft) surrounded by a raised Jogging Track.

Virgin cruise ships

On June 23, 2015, Virgin announced it had signed a Letter of Intent with Fincantieri (shipbuilder based in Trieste Italy ) for the construction of 3 ships scheduled for deliveries in 2020-2021-2022 (entering service in 15-month increments).

The shipbuilding order was officially finalized on December 21, 2016. The boats are of the so-called "Lady-class", mid-sized (volume 110000 GT-tons), max passenger capacity 2860 (1410 cabins/90% with balconies), 1150 crew-staff.

The shipbuilding contract was valued at ~EUR 2 billion. The first unit's construction (Scarlet Lady) started with the steel-cutting on March 22, 2017. For the vessel design and construction, Virgin contracted the marine architecture and naval design companies "Roman and Williams" (NYC), Concrete Amsterdam, Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio (London UK), Gem Srl (Italy), Softroom (London UK), WORKac (NYC), Knibb Design, HL Studio (UK), HKS Architects (Dallas USA), PearsonLloyd (London UK).

The first ship's ( Scarlet Lady ) keel-laying ceremony was held on October 31, 2017, and attended by Sir Richard Branson, Tom McAlpin, and Boy George (UK singer, songwriter, fashion designer) who performed as superstar DJ. During the ceremony were also revealed the ship design and hull art of the future Virgin "Lady Ships".

The next image shows the ship's stern (aft) and the signature funnel shape - designed to be a major part of its exterior design. The aft of the superstructure also shows the Promenade Deck and 7 decks of cabin balconies towering above.

Each boat has 86% balcony staterooms and 93% oceanview (outside) cabins. These newbuilds greatly differ from other passenger liners (as design) and target younger and more adventurous travellers (called "sailors").

Virgin's ships are adults-only (passengers under 18 yo/teenagers and kids are not allowed) and Bahamas- flagged (registered in Nassau ).

Dining on Virgin Voyages ships is ticket price-inclusive - no extra charges are applied to any of the 20-plus onboard dining options. The cruise company doesn't believe in "paying more for great food", so it ditched traditional surcharges levied in specialty restaurants. All eateries offer "exceptional made-to-order eats" - complimentary.

As part of the company's sustainable travel policy, Virgin banned single-use plastics and there is no buffet food on the ships. All shipboard food is made-to-order - to reduce waste and lower energy consumption and emissions. Savings are reinvested into fresh (locally sourced) top-quality products, exotic ingredients, highly trained staff, and clean technologies. In April 2019 was signed a partnership with Emerald Brand to supply the fleet with "Tree-Free" (disposable) paper products, including facial-bath tissues, paper towels, napkins, hot cups. Those are made from 60-100% Tree-Free materials via technologies that use by-products of agricultural crops usually wasted or burned.

The company doesn't follow any traditional cruise dining concepts. Virgin ships don't have a main dining room, buffet restaurant, dress code (formal wear policy), assigned dining times or seating. All these concepts were replaced with intimate (boutique hotel-type) eateries offering 20+ dining options - all of which are included in cruise fares.

Virgin ships' signature facilities and venues include:

• Athletic Club (training center) is an outdoor gym area with a boxing ring and gym club equipment) located top-deck aft. Part of the Sports Deck is also the raised jogging track (Runway track, red-white colored), sundeck with open-air lounge (furnished with double daybeds and semi-circular loungers), triple netting area (overlooking below decks), 10 private cabanas (cushioned bed, low table, 2 lounge chairs), beverage service (from the outdoor Sports Bar), foosball tables, swimming pool, showers.
• MyBeast is an outdoor playground / poolside gym area.
• The Crow's Nest (aft sundeck) offers 360-degree views and is furnished with loungers and mats colored in Virgin's signature red. Here are also hosted sunrise and sunset outdoor yoga classes.
• The B Complex in an indoor fitness center with Technogym ARTIS equipment, floor-ceiling windows and separate rooms (studios) for cycling, yoga, cardio and spinning classes.
• Gym and Tonic Bar serves cold-pressed fresh juices.
• Pink Agave is a Mexican restaurant with porthole windows, metallic lighting fixtures, large tables, an elongated curved area (intimate seating with 2-seat tables), separate bar (in the Lobby), private dining room (can be booked for parties and other private events).
• The Manor is ship's 2-deck high Disco Nightclub with a large dance floor.
• The Dock is an outdoor lounge (aft on Deck 7) with cushioned wooden furniture (loungers, deckchairs, daybeds).
• Test Kitchen restaurant features lab-like design (metallic furniture, beakers, test tubes),
• Richard's Rooftop is a top-deck VIP area (Suite passengers-only sundeck) furnished with daybeds, deckchairs, circular loungers, large umbrellas, colored crystals.
• Redemption is the ship's Spa complex (on Deck 5) consisting of a Reception, Mud Room, Salt Room, Hydrotherapy Pool, cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi, Thermal Suite (indoor spa with porthole windows, plunge pool and Jacuzzi), treatment rooms (for massages and treatments) with quartz-mattress beds, Dry Dock Salon (hairdressing services), Stubble and Groom (barbershop), Blow Dry Bar, Male pedicure Spa, Mani-pedi Spa. At night, the wellness complex transforms into a dancing lounge with live DJ music.
• Razzle Dazzle is the vegan-vegetarian restaurant. Part of Razzle Dazzle is Red Bar - juice bar for fresh-squeezed juices and tonics, as well as crafted cocktails from a menu that varies every night. In two days per voyage, at Razzle Dazzle are hosted Drag Brunches featuring live entertainment by "sassy drag queens".

Via the Sailor App (when your phone is shaken), a secret Champagne button allows you to order Moet-Chandon Champagne (Brut Imperial, 750 ml bottle) delivered in an ice bucket and with two glasses. The service is called "Shake for Champagne" and provided anywhere on the ship. The premium wine can be also enjoyed at The Sip - the ship's wine lounge (Virgin's champagne house).- where also is available traditional British Afternoon Tea service.

Virgin cruise passengers are offered complimentary water (filtered and sparkling) at all onboard bars and restaurants. Throughout the ship, there are also complimentary water stations.

Virgin ships' hull art designs are Mermaid-themed (by different artists) and Inspired by traditional figureheads mounted on the bows of historic wooden ships. The designs symbolize the vessels' feminine spirit.

Ship technology

One of the cruise ships' features is the advanced clean energy system provided by the Swedish company Climeon Ocean. The new technology allows reducing CO2 emissions by converting the generated by diesel engines' heat into electricity for shipboard use. Each of the newbuilds has 6 such Climeon units, saving ~5400 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The ship's waste processing system is provided by Scanship.

On April 30, 2018, Virgin Voyages signed with Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) a 10-year "Optimised Maintenance Agreement" giving the corporation extensive and exclusive responsibility of the fleet's technical maintenance. Wartsila's "Dynamic Maintenance Planning" system allows maintenance works to be scheduled based on remotely (real-time) monitored and analyzed vessel performance data. This allows extending service intervals (when onboard equipment doesn't require maintenance).

The Virgin-Wartsila deal includes Remote Operational Support Services, Specific Fuel Oil Consumption, spare parts, engines technical advisory services, comprehensive technical support, personnel training. Wartsila-made ship equipment includes 46F diesel engines, Hybrid Scrubber System, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction/exhaust gas cleaning) and NACOS Platinum series (navigation and automation control systems).

• Each Virgin ship is powered by two 8-cylinder plus two 12-cylinder "Wartsila 46F" marine diesel engines. Wartsila's Hybrid Scrubber System operates in both open and closed-loop and uses seawater to remove SOx from the ship's exhaust. It also significantly reduces NOx emissions.
• Propulsion is based on ABB Azipod XO system (electric drive motors with off-hull submerged azimuth thrusters / 360--degree rotating propellers). These units provide best maneuverability (allowing in-port navigation without tug assistance) and minimal vibrations/noise. By placing the propulsion units outside the hull, the Azipod system frees up space for more lower-deck staterooms.
• ABB Ability technology is based on a network using real-time data transferred to remote centres monitoring and analyzing the propulsion system data and also offering remote technical support.
• In July 2017, was announced that Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) is the provider of vessels' power plants. Among Wartsila's core products are large diesel engines for cruise ships and ferries .

In April 2019 was contracted V-Ships Leisure USA (ship management company) which is part of V-Group Ltd (vessel management and support services provider, industry's first with a dedicated cruise ship division). V-Ships Leisure is responsible for Virgin ships' technical support/management and crew sourcing.

Virgin cruise line's staff and crew uniforms were designed by Gareth Pugh and manufactured by Cintas Corporation (via the "Design Collective by Cintas" division).

• Cintas Corporation (1929-founded, based in Cincinnati, Ohio USA) specializes in businesses products (both for rental and direct purchase) and services, including uniforms, mats, water coolers, cleaning/restroom supplies (chemicals, mops, microfiber towels, disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizers), first aid/safety products, fire extinguishers (also testing and repairs), employee courses (safety, training, compliance). In 2020, Cintas had 40,000+ employees and total revenue USD 7,09 billion (~EUR 6,12B / ~GBP 5,21B).
• Virgin Voyages Crew apparel collection is based on sustainable fabrics and garments specifically designed according to job functions, body types and climates. Unlike the traditional cruise ship uniforms, Virgin's lack the officers' epaulettes (ornamental shoulder pieces that designate his/her rank), as well as ties and waistcoats.

The project was led by Gareth Pugh (British fashion designer) and supervised by Dee Cooper (Virgin Voyages' SVP Design and Customer Experience).

Next image shows one of the initial (train-like) Virgin ship designs.

Virgin cruise bookings on Scarlet Lady were opened on February 5, 2019 (for customers with pre-sale deposits) and on February 14 (for the general public). Beginning February 5, 2019, at FirstMates.com (dedicated website), the cruise company offers all booking tools and information for travel agents (called "First Mates"), including downloadable and digital materials, interactive learning and more. For February 6th was planned the learning campaign "Cabin Fever" on Scarlet Lady staterooms as they went on sale. The website allows travel agents to make bookings on inaugural cruise season 2020 deals (from February 14) and to contact company's Sailor Services (from February 5) in case they have customers with pre-sale deposits.

Bookings for Valiant Lady cruises (Mediterranean 2021) opened on December 19, 2019.

In February 2020 was announced "The Band" - smart wearable technology to be introduced on Scarlet Lady (April 1). The device is made from recycled marine plastic (sustainability initiative) and developed via partnership with The Bionic Company. The lightweight device (RFID wristband) is mailed to all passengers and is complimentary (keepsake). The Band is activated upon boarding the ship and used for onboard purchases and payments (beverages, Casino gaming), booking tours, cabin access (room key), room service ordering (points guest's current location), VIP pass (for Richard's Rooftop).

Virgin's private island resort "Bimini Beach Club" (Bahamas)

The liner Scarlet Lady is the first cruise ship to stop at "Bimini Beach Club" (Virgin Group's private island resort in Bimini Bahamas ). The exclusive destination allows Virgin's Sailors to enjoy world-class entertainment from a rotating cast of DJs led by Mark Ronson. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club offers premium food with locally sourced ingredients and traditional Bahamian favourites like banana leaf-wrapped queen snapper, conch and mango salad, Bahamian rum cake. The complex has 6 bars, outdoor lounge areas with hammock groves, beach loungers, watersport activities, (optional/at extra cost) private poolside and beach-side cabanas for rent.

RockStar Suite passengers benefit from complimentary food service, exclusive bar and outdoor terrace lounge, VIP beach cabanas. The 7-mile (11-km) long island offers extraordinary activities like boating, snorkeling, wreck diving. The partially sunk wreck of SS Sapona (concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground in 1926) is located just a few miles off the island's southern coast.

Virgin's private resort is located on North Bimini Island and at a short bus transfer from the docking pier. It was built via partnership with Resorts World Bimini. This is a 750-acres (3 km2 / 1,2 mi2) beachfront resort-casino-marina-hotel complex operated by Genting Group (Malaysia-based multinational corporation). North Bimini is approx 68 km (42 mi) east of Miami .

Resort's building cost is USD 220 million. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club overlooks the sea and features a large lagoon-style swimming pool. The "resort experience" also features morning open-air exercises (yoga and meditation), afternoon DJ poolside parties, night beach bonfires and live musical performances.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Virgin Voyages postponed the cruise brand's in March 2020 inauguration (Scarlet Lady ship's Showcase Tour / media event in PortMiami) for July 15th (4-day "Richard's Birthday Bash"), with the maiden voyage departing on August 7th from Miami. The ship's originally planned inauguration was for March 29th, 2020 (3-day "Sneak-A-Peek Cruise").

All the scheduled between March 26-August 7th (a total of 29) departures were canceled. In mid-May 2020 were canceled 15 additional departures (through October 15). The 4-night "Richard Branson's 70th Birthday Cruise" (originally planned for July 15, 2020) was rescheduled for July 14, 2021. In late-September 2020 were canceled all Scarlet Lady's November itineraries, and in late-October - the remaining (December 2020) departures. The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for 2021 (January 3, then for May 9). In mid-December were cancelled more itineraries.

The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for August 6, 2021 (Scarlet Lady's Maiden Voyage from Portsmouth England). Valiant Lady's inaugural cruise program was also postponed (Maiden Voyage rescheduled from Nov 14, 2021, to March 18, 2022) and revised.

All affected bookings were provided with the option to cancel with a 125% refund (100% monetary refund) plus 25% in FCC (future cruise credit) or rebook with 200% refund in FCC. As a promo offer, all bookings made by June 30, 2020, received up to USD 500 per person in OBC (onboard credit). A full (100%) monetary refund was optional for cancellations made between May 21-December 31, 2020.

All rebookings made with the 200% FCC were fully refunded (200%) and additionally received 25% in FCC (to be used on another booking). Virgin Voyages also introduced the "Smooth Sailing Program" which allows for itineraries in 2020 (through December 16) the final payment dates to be moved to 60 days (previously 120 days) prior departure. Smooth Sailing also allows cancellations up to 48 hours (prior departure) with receiving a full (100%) refund in FCC.

Itinerary of Virgin Voyages

In 2016, Virgin cruise line's itinerary program was not detailed yet, but Branson mentioned one destination that was on the list - the Caribbean. When asked about Cuba being a potential port destination, he immediately replied "Yes!". This also meant roundtrip departures from a Florida port.

In 2017 was announced that the first Virgin cruise ship ( Scarlet Lady ) will be initially homeported in PortMiami for 7-day Caribbean itineraries departing on Sundays. During the inaugural season 2020-2021, the liner was scheduled to visit Cuba. The company's decision was influenced by conducted customer and travel agency research in the UK and North America. All Virgin cruises to Cuba had to offer an overnight stay in Havana , allowing passengers ("sailors") to explore the country's capital and its unique nightlife.

• 5-day "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Costa Maya (Mexico) . In Mexico, shore excursions include scuba diving (coral reefs) and Mayan ruins.
• 5-day "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Puerto Plata (Dominicana) where shore tours include trekking, surfing, shopping.

The second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) is homeported in Miami during 2022-2023 winter season.

On November 28, 2018, Richard Branson and Tom McAlpin announced in Miami the company's plans to build a new (Virgin-exclusive) cruise terminal in PortMiami. "Virgin Voyages Terminal" is sized 100,000 ft2 (9300 m2) and is on the seaport's northwest side.

Virgin Voyages passengers benefit from an impressive variety of cruises to choose from in the inaugural 2020 season of the line's new build . The 4- or 5-night "Havana After Dark" itineraries allow Sailors to explore the Cuban culture and include an overnight stay in Cuba's capital city.

• The 5-night "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Costa Maya Mexico . The Mayan ruins are just a short distance from the port and colorful coral reefs lie just off-shore. Virgin Voyages partnered with ITM Group for the land tours.
• The 5-night "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Puerto Plata . On the island are offered trekking, surfing and handicraft shopping tours.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises depart from homeport Miami Florida . Virgin ships are also seasonally deployed in Europe (via Transatlantic crossings), with planned visits to several major Mediterranean and UK ports (including Dover and Liverpool ).

However, following the 2019s (June 5 issued) US Government restrictions on USA to Cuba travel, Virgin Voyages revised all scheduled itineraries to exclude Havana . The new itineraries offer late-night call port departures (including a midnight departure) on all revised Caribbean voyages.

• 5-night "Riviera Maya" itinerary visits Playa Del Carmen (across Cozumel Island), with opportunities to explore archaeological and ecological sites or touring the neighbouring Tulum (walled Mayan city).
• 4-night "Fire and Sunset Soirees" (short-breaks) visit Key West Florida (sunset departure) and Bimini Bahamas (with a late-night beach bonfire party and midnight departure). The line's sailors can experience the cultural paradise of Key West, paired with an exclusive late-night beach bonfire soiree. The artistic fire installation draws inspiration from the fireball sculptures on Branson's Necker Island.
• 7-night itineraries (for 2020 Xmas holidays) include the themed cruises "Holidaze and Nights" and "New Year's Ahoy" visiting Puerto Plata Dominicana with Bimini Bahamas and San Juan Puerto Rico.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

In April 2022 was announced that in winter 2023-2024, Resilient Lady will be deployed in Australia and New Zealand (Virgin brand's debut in the region). With homeporting in Melbourne , the roundtrip itineraries ranged between 2-14 nights. Some voyages also visited ports in Tasmania (Hobart, Burnie).

Brilliant Lady's inaugural cruises (2025-2026)

Virgin's Brilliant Lady inaugural cruise season (October 2025 through April 2026) is largely based on homeporting in San Juan Puerto Rico . Initially, from Puerto Rico were scheduled 7-night roundtrip itineraries themed as "Sunsets In The Lesser Antilles" (Oranjestad Aruba, Willemstad Curacao, Fort de France Martinique, Basseterre St. Kitts) and "Southeastern Caribbean Isles" (Tortola BVI, Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe, Bridgetown Barbados, Castries St Lucia, St Johns Antigua).

Brilliant Lady's Maiden Voyages commence from NYC New York , and visit destinations in Bermuda/King's Wharf and Canada/Quebec City . Follows a deployment in the Caribbean, then West Coast USA (California, Alaska), with a relocation itinerary traversing the Panama Canal.

The rescheduled 2025-2026 (October-April) Caribbean program of Brilliant Lady lists islands like Grand Turk/Cockburn Town , Antigua/St John's , Grand Cayman , and Jamaica/Ocho Rios (first-time port for Virgin Voyages). In March 2026 there is a 16-night Panama Canal repositioning itinerary (Miami to Los Angeles) visiting Costa Rica, Antigua, Guatemala, and Mexico (Los Cabos). For April-May 2026 are scheduled California Coastal voyages out of LA, followed by Alaskan cruises out of Seattle WA (May-September 2026).

Valiant Lady's inaugural cruises (2022)

Virgin's second ship ( Valiant Lady ) starts its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departs March 18th) with roundtrips leaving from Portsmouth England .

• 3-night "Long Weekender" to Zeebrugge Belgium
• 11-night "Coast the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal"/UK to Iberia
• 12-night "Late Nights in Portugal and Spain"/UK to Iberia

Follows a Western Mediterranean deployment (May thru October 2022) based on homeporting in Barcelona and 7-day roundtrips (Sunday departures) visiting large port cities in France, Italy and Spain. Valiant Lady's Caribbean program is based on homeporting in Miami Florida USA and includes 2-week Transatlantic crossings on repositioning between Europe and USA (RepositionCruises.com).

• 8-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries (Miami roundtrips) are priced from USD 188 per night and visit Puerto Plata (Dominicana) , San Juan (Puerto Rico) , St Croix Island (USVI) and Bimini (Bahamas) .
• 6-night Western Caribbean itineraries (roundtrips from Miami) visit Roatan Island (Honduras) , Costa Maya (Mexico) and Bimini. Fares start at USD 192 per night.
• Special ( Christmas and New Year's ) itineraries and Atlantic Ocean crossings/relocation voyages are priced from USD 102 per night.

In the Caribbean, Virgin boats are homeported in Miami and all itineraries visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

Resilient Lady's inaugural cruises (2022)

Virgin's third ship ( Resilient Lady ) started its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departed on August 14th) with roundtrips leaving from Piraeus-Athens (Greece) .

• The 7-day roundtrip "Greek Island Glow" itinerary visits the Greek islands Santorini, Rhodes, Crete (Chania) and Mykonos.
• The 7-day roundtrip "Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems" itinerary visits Croatia (Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Kotor), and Greece (Kerkyra/Corfu Island, and Argostoli/Kefalonia Island).
• The "Greek Isles" program (scheduled between August 14 - October 23) ended with the 11-day Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the Caribbean (from Lisbon to San Juan/departure November 1st).

The inaugural Caribbean season 2022-2023 (Nov 12 - April 15) was based on homeporting in San Juan Puerto Rico and 7-day roundtrips.

• The "Southeastern Caribbean Isles" itinerary visits Tortola Island BVI (Road Town), Guadeloupe (Pointe-a-Pitre), Barbados (Bridgetown), St Lucia (Castries) and Antigua (St Johns).
• The "Sunsets In The Lesser Antilles" itinerary visits St Kitts (Basseterre), Martinique (Fort-de-France), Curacao (Willemstad) and Aruba (Oranjestad).

In 2023-2024 (December-March), Resilient Lady was deployed in Australia. The program included three relocation itineraries from Europe to Asia and Australia (RepositionCruises.com) - 14-day from Athens to Dubai (Oct 22), 15-day from Dubai to Singapore (Nov 5) and 15-day from Singapore to Sydney NSW (Nov 20).

Itineraries 2024-2025

Virgin's 2024-2025 (April) schedule lists 19 maiden/new ports and 27 different itineraries in the UK, Australia/NZ, and the Caribbean. Among these are the "Seachange Series" (ship relocation voyages) providing extended sea travel opportunities.

Resilient Lady is homeported in Piraeus-Athens Greece (May through July 2024) for Aegean and Adriatic itineraries. In the summer (August through September 2024) Resilient Lady visits Bordeaux ,  La Coruna , and  Bilbao on the relocation voyage to England.

On February 26, 2024, Virgin Voyages canceled Resilient Lady's 2024-2025 Australian program, citing security concerns (due to the Red Sea war crisis) impacting the ship's scheduled repositioning voyages through the Suez Canal (between Europe and Australia/RepositionCruises.com). Virgin also announced that Resilient Lady (after completing the Mediterranean season on October 20th/2024) will be deployed in the Caribbean and homeported in San Juan (Puerto Rico) offering 7-8-10-11-night roundtrips to St Maarten, St Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.

Valiant Lady (from  PortMiami  and  San Juan Puerto Rico ) offers Caribbean roundtrips (winter 2023-2024) and in April 2024.

Scarlet Lady in summer 2024 is deployed in the Mediterranean and has scheduled two repositioning voyages - from Barcelona to Civitavecchia-Rome, and a Transatlantic crossing to Miami for a new Caribbean deployement.

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Introducing Brilliant Lady to Virgin Voyages’ award-winning fleet

Set to hit the high seas in September 2025, Brilliant Lady is the highly anticipated fourth and final vessel in the Virgin Voyages Lady Fleet. She’s not just a ship but a chance to see the world in a whole new way.

Perhaps the most exciting part of Brilliant Lady’s launch is the opportunity to explore new horizons. With its adapted frame, the ship is designed to navigate new landscapes like the glaciers of Alaska and the vibrant waters of the Panama Canal.

Brilliant Lady's inaugural season will kick off with the ultimate cross-country sea trip before debuting itineraries with exciting new ports like New York, Los Angeles and Alaska.

Let’s talk itineraries:

New York City, September 2025 - October 2025. Brilliant Lady’s journey begins in the city that never sleeps. Following a premiere showcase for New Yorkers, Brilliant Lady will sail to Bermuda and Canada’s Quebec City. Other new ports of call include Maine, Charleston, Boston, Halifax, and New Brunswick.

Miami, October 2025 - April 2026. Warming up for the winter season, Brilliant Lady will embark on a collection of extended Caribbean getaways to Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Cartagena. Brilliant Lady will also head back to sailor favorites like Turks & Caicos, Antigua and Grand Cayman along with newcomer Ocho Rios, Jamaica’s most coveted port.

Panama Canal Crossing, March 2026. This epic 16-night voyage crosses from Miami to Los Angeles, sailing south towards Colombia before a jaunt through the Panama Canal. Sailors will then explore Costa Rica, Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking Guatemala’s acclaimed Lake Atitlán as well as a final stop in Los Cabos.

Los Angeles, April 2026 - May 2026. Sailors can explore California’s stunning west coast with calls in Baja, Puerto Vallarta, Santa Barbara, Catalina Island and San Diego.

Seattle, May 2026 - September 2026. Departing from Seattle, summer 2026 will take Brilliant Lady to the vast landscapes of Alaska’s breathtaking shores where sailors can spot an abundance of wildlife including bald eagles, orca, seals, bears and humpback whales.

From the glittering archipelago of Bermuda to the lush rainforests of Jamaica, Brilliant Lady offers a range of voyages spanning from 5 to 14 nights. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, there’s something for everyone on board.

Of course it’s not just about the destinations, but also the experience on board. Named the best large-ship liner by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, Virgin Voyages continues to disrupt the travel industry with its unparalleled offerings.

Virgin Voyages started as a simple idea for me and has blossomed into the world’s top cruise line with a full fleet of ships. This ship is going to be brilliant in every possible way, and that includes the incredible new places we can travel to. Alaska, LA, New York - here we come! – Richard Branson

Virgin Voyages prides itself on thoughtful design, culinary experiences from Michelin-Star chefs, and award-winning entertainment from the Happenings Cast to ensure every moment is filled with excitement. From the signature red balcony hammocks to a mermaid-inspired spa, every detail has been carefully crafted to surprise and delight.

True to her name, the newest ship will be nothing short of Brilliant.

For those eager to secure their spot on board, Virgin Voyages is offering the Brilliant 4 You Pass, which grants access to all of Brilliant Lady’s MerMaiden voyages complete with a RockStar Suite and one complimentary Shore Thing per voyage.

And for those dreaming of an Alaskan adventure, the Alaska Front(ier) of the Line Pass ensures priority booking for limited itineraries beginning May 8, 2024. To secure the priority window, sailors can submit an early deposit. Placeholders are $500 for Sea Terraces, $1,000 for RockStar Quarters and $2,500 for Mega RockStar Quarters.

Sailors previously slated to sail on Brilliant Lady will be given priority access to book a MerMaiden voyage.

Can’t wait? Virgin Red , Virgin’s Group-wide rewards club, has anchored some extraordinary exclusive deals for its members with Summer 2024 Mediterranean, Caribbean and Transatlantic sailings. Beginning today, members can use Virgin Points to book a Virgin Voyages sailing from just 115,000 Virgin Points. Find out more at Virgin Red or download the Virgin Red app on your smartphone.

So, are you ready to set sail with Virgin Voyages ? Visit Virgin Voyages or contact your First Mate to start planning your brilliant getaway.

Seas the day with a Virgin Voyage on Virgin Red this year

Work from helm with virgin voyages new scarlet summer season pass.

Exclusive offer: Unleash the holiday you with Virgin

Too hip or just right? Here's what it was really like sailing on Virgin Voyages for the first time

With a nighttime show called "Never Sleep Alone" that awards golden condoms to participants, an onboard tattoo parlor and in-room music and lighting settings with options like "get it on" and "hangover mode," adults-only Virgin Voyages clearly caters to a kid-free crowd. Still, I had no idea what to expect as I stepped onto Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady .

Leading up to its maiden voyage in 2021, Virgin Voyages marketed itself as the cruise line for vacationers who otherwise weren't interested in traditional cruising. It aimed to appeal to those who were young and hip, wanted to party and craved an atmosphere without little kids running around.

Up until recently, I'd only ever sailed with Disney Cruise Line — and with my kids in tow. However, the Virgin Voyages concept has intrigued me since it launched.

Could Richard Branson's edgy Virgin Voyages truly be a perfect match for trips without kids? Or, would I feel completely out of place and overwhelmed by the rock star attitude featured throughout the cruise line's ships?

There was only one way to satisfy my curiosity — I booked a sailing on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady.

Would the four-night cruise from Miami , with stops in both Key West, Florida, and Bimini, Bahamas, impress me enough to consider Virgin Voyages for future trips? Here's what I took away from the experience — and whether I'd cruise with Virgin Voyages again.

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

There's a surprisingly diverse crowd on board

Like many people, I went into my cruise expecting most passengers (or "sailors," as the line calls them) to be millennials based on the flashy marketing I've seen from the line. Much to my surprise, though, there was a fair mix of people on my sailing.

Sure, there were millennials in their late 20s, 30s and even early 40s — including me, as I fall within the oldest bracket for that generation — but for every 27-year-old on board, there was also someone close to 70 years old like the cruise line's founder, Richard Branson.

Last year, Tom McAlpin, the president and CEO of Virgin Voyages, told TPG's resident cruise expert Gene Sloan that on early sailings of Scarlet Lady, the average passenger age was in the 50s, with plenty on board in their 60s and 70s. Based on my trip, I'd say that is still a pretty accurate representation.

After a few days on board, it became clear that what passengers had in common wasn't the age listed in their passports but rather the shared desire to have a good time. For the most part, my fellow cruisers were a diverse, inclusive and vibrant group of vacationers who were all eager to strike up conversations with others, regardless of age.

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

The adult-oriented persona isn't as extreme as you might expect

While there is a "Scarlet Night" celebration featuring lots of red lights and sailors donning their best scarlet-colored attire, the atmosphere on board is far from what you'll find in Amsterdam's Red Light District.

The entertainment we experienced fell somewhere between PG-13 and R, though we admittedly headed to bed by 11 p.m., so perhaps offerings leaned more X-rated as the night went on.

There were a couple of shows that I wouldn't want to see with, say, my parents, such as the previously mentioned "Never Sleep Alone." During that event, participants were awarded golden condoms that granted access to a post-show VIP party. However, those adult activities were easy to spot on the agenda, so you could easily skip them if you wanted a more tame cruise experience.

Beyond the evening entertainment, the vibe was similar to what you'd find in Las Vegas . The pools, restaurants, spa, casino and exercise classes all featured plenty of skimpy outfits and adult-oriented jokes and innuendos, though you could avoid anything that was too outside your comfort zone.

Related: 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation

Dining options are plentiful (albeit hit or miss)

As far as I'm concerned, cruises are for eating — and Virgin Voyages offers numerous places to dine on Scarlet Lady.

In addition to featuring more than 20 grab-and-go spots and traditional sit-down eateries, there's the large Galley venue with various vendors arranged in a way similar to what you'd find in a food court or buffet.

Given all the options available, there were more places than we could try on our first Virgin Voyages cruise. Still, we sought to sample as much as possible during our four-night sailing.

If you're looking for a traditional sit-down experience, six onboard restaurants accept reservations for dinner: The Wake (which serves steaks and seafood), Razzle Dazzle Restaurant (a contemporary venue with vegetarian and American fare), The Test Kitchen (a laboratory-style eatery), Pink Agave (where gourmet Mexican cuisine is on the menu), Extra Virgin (an Italian-inspired venue) and Gunbae (which specializes in Korean barbecue).

Your cruise price covers dining at all of these spots, plus the quick bite options on the ship. However, some restaurants offer buy-up options labeled as "treat yourself" dishes that cost extra. For example, a half-dozen oysters at The Wake are going to set you back an additional $20, but the steak and clam chowder are 100% included.

Besides the main restaurants, there's the previously mentioned Galley, where you can savor everything from sushi roll bento boxes to 24-hour diner food. It is a hybrid of a grab-and-go and dine-in experience, meaning how you order will vary depending on which station you visit.

Additionally, you'll find casual spots that serve ice cream, pizza, poke bowls and more. You can also order room service; the food is complimentary, but there's a $5 delivery fee.

While I appreciated the array of options at our disposal, I found the quality of the food and service to be hit or miss. Some restaurants I loved so much that I went back a second time; at others, I took a solitary bite of food before deciding to move on.

For example, the tuna poke bowl I excitedly tried at the Sun Club Cafe was patently awful, and the sushi rolls at The Galley were disappointing, reminding me of what I'd find in my Texas grocery store.

Similarly, The Wake was lackluster, to say the least. While some fellow cruisers we met enjoyed the restaurant, it was extremely underwhelming during our visit, serving the worst shrimp and grits I've ever had. Not to mention, the service was slow and seafood options were surprisingly limited for a restaurant that claims to specialize in steak and seafood.

It wasn't all mediocre, though.

Gunbae's Korean fare was not only delicious but served in a setting that was an absolute blast to experience. It really captured how Virgin markets itself by offering staff-led drinking games and communal seating that encourages socializing. We had such a great time there that when we walked into a quiet and sparsely populated restaurant on our last night, we turned around and went back to Gunbae for a repeat experience that was just as memorable as our first visit.

Pink Agave was another standout restaurant. It didn't offer as much of a party vibe as Gunbae, but it still felt lively and served a solid selection of Mexican dishes.

Related: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 9 best meals you can have at sea

The cabins are decent but could be improved

Unless you splurge on a pricy RockStar suite , you'll be placed in a cabin that looks modern but otherwise seems fairly standard, other than the fancy mood lighting.

Our Sea Terrace cabin was spotless and stayed true to the modern theme featured throughout the ship, but it wasn't the most comfortable spot on the whole.

While we enjoyed the red outdoor hammock that was shockingly comfortable and not merely a cute, Instagram-worthy gimmick, as well as the selection of in-room movies, which ranged from the original "Top Gun" to newer releases like "Elvis," the rest of the cabin left a lot to be desired.

The bathroom was quite small, to the point where it bordered on being a claustrophobic experience.

The bed was also rather hard and uncomfortable for my personal tastes, so much so that by the last night of our trip, I was ready to return to my more inviting setup at home.

Additionally, unlike Disney Cruise Line, where cabin attendants make it a point to get to know you and your preferences, Virgin Voyages lacked the same personalized service. I never interacted with a person in charge of our cabin, as it would be serviced while we were out (after pushing a button that sent the request to the crew) by a person that, to us, remained nameless and faceless.

Related: Virgin Voyages to debut cruise loyalty program in 2023, with temporary perks available now

The private beach club is top-notch

While other ports of call vary based on the sailing, a constant for Scarlet Lady is a stop at its private beach club in the Bahamas.

Situated on the island of Bimini, this spot was, in a word, fabulous.

Although it's not quite a private island like Royal Caribbean's CocoCay and Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay, that doesn't really matter. You'll feel like you're in an exclusive setting after taking the open-air tram from the ship's dock to the modern, beautiful beach club.

The club offers a couple of large pools, ample lounge chairs and towels, plenty of bars and a picture-perfect beach. A swim-up bar would have been nice, but that's being picky.

During your visit to the club, any drinks you order are charged to the ship, so bar tab credits you have during your cruise will work here, too. The food, which ranged from snapper steamed in a banana leaf to a salad featuring Bahamian mango and macadamia, is included, though some dishes were better than others. I loved mixing the curry, rice and snapper I ordered all together to create a pretty tasty bowl.

On-island entertainment is available as well, though I can't speak to what happened as the afternoon wore on, as we hit our sun quota by midday. However, rumor has it there was a pool float party that occurred after our departure.

Related: Virgin Voyages hopes to draw cruise newbies like me: Here's my first impression from its first sailing

You won't find the usual cruise experience on board

Virgin Voyages does not simply give its amenities and activities quirky names — like "Lick Me Til Ice Cream" for the onboard ice cream shop. The overall experience is a bit different than what you'll come across on traditional cruise lines.

To start, there are no drink packages — and that was a big complaint I heard on the ship from folks who were used to sailing with other lines that offer unlimited drink inclusion options . Instead, Virgin Voyages offers a bar tab that you can load before you sail. Sometimes bar tab credit is also included with the sailing as part of a promotion.

Blessedly, there are no keycards and associated lanyards to keep up with but rather adjustable bracelets that look like friendship bracelets from middle school. Unlike the ones from your childhood, these have built-in technology that opens your cabin door, allows you to charge things to your account and more.

There are also no set dining times, restaurant rotations or dress codes, though you can — and should — make dinner reservations. As a result, you can dine at whichever restaurant you prefer at a time that works for you.

Other than the cabin cleanings, the crew was more noticeable, too. We saw crew members on the basketball courts, eating in The Galley and just generally out and about around the ship even when they didn't appear to be on the clock, which helped create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Additionally, we didn't have to worry about extra tips, taxes or fees. Tips for the crew, spa services and more are factored into your cruise price, so what you see on the menu really is what you can expect to pay.

Another noticeable (and welcome) difference was how laid-back the line was with announcements and disembarking. Outside of a welcome announcement from the captain on the first day, we didn't hear another peep. On the last day, you just had to be off the ship by a respectable 10:45 a.m., so you could still go to a workout class, play some air hockey and have brunch without feeling rushed to depart.

Related: 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly

Bottom line

Despite some underwhelming aspects here and there, such as some design choices we didn't love and a very crowded pool area, we had a great time.

The late-night spicy ramen, social atmosphere and fun ports more than made up for any hiccups. For us, it was like a four-day long party without the hangover.

In fact, we had such a great time that before disembarking Scarlet Lady, we put a $300 deposit down on a future Virgin Voyages sailing so we could receive $900 in discounts and credits the next time around.

It's safe to say that overall, the cruise was absolutely worth it — and one we can't wait to do all over again.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Cruise Holidays

New horizons - and waking up to them - fresh vistas every time you pull back those curtains, and relaxing on some of the most exciting ships ever to sail the seven seas. We know what makes a cruise, and know every ship from top to bottom, stem to stern. We know the best ports to call at, and the best ways to combine a cruise trip with the perfect destination whether it's one, two or three! With two-thirds of this big, beautiful world covered in ocean, luxury, adventure, and even water slides aren’t limited to just dry land anymore.

Cruise Types

Whether this is your first cruise trip or your 21st, there’s a lot of open water out there to explore, and a lot of choice when it comes to destinations, resorts and the cruises themselves. We wouldn’t want you to feel overwhelmed when it comes to planning your time sailing the ocean blue, so we’re here to break down our cruise types for you.

Cruise and stay

Cruise & Stay holidays merge everything that rocks about cruise holidays with a fun-filled stay in an extraordinary place. Whether you want a blissful beach break or to stick around to explore a city, you can easily pair it with an epic cruise experience to keep your journey constantly fresh and vibrant. Party, relax and treat yourself onboard before getting up close and personal with a fantastic destination, all in one holiday.

Fly and cruise

Booking a fly and cruise option gets you to your holiday destination quicker than setting sail from a UK port, so you can reach those gorgeous Caribbean islands in a shorter space of time. Or maybe combine a cheeky stay on land (Florida, perhaps?) before hopping on board one of our favourite cruise lines. There's so many options we can help with to make your cruise holiday perfectly tailored to you.

Since we're part of the Virgin family, it's a no brainer we'll fly you with Virgin Atlantic to start your cruise.

Cruise from the UK

Don’t feel like flying? Want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the airport? We’ve got you covered with plenty of departures from ports in the UK, and you’ll still have the world at your fingertips. Sail around Europe for a taster (perfect for those who are new to cruising), or take the scenic route over the ocean as far as the Caribbean for cruise holidays that start as soon as you’re onboard.

Get your Vitamin Sea

Virgin Voyages

Cruise into the Caribbean or head to the Med on a unique Virgin Voyage, where the glamour of a boutique hotel on the ocean is blended with unmistakable Virgin style and service. Sophisticated, adults-only, and offering an unbelievable choice of dining, you'll enjoy a voyage that's unlike any other.

Virgin Atlantic Holidays is the only place where you can book the full cruise package – Virgin Atlantic flights, hotels and your Virgin Voyage – all in one place. Find out more about what Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady have in store...

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LONG WEEKEND CRUISES

Published on May 15, 2019

It's tempting to think of a cruise as an epic ocean escape, but you don't need a long trip to have a great adventure. Spend a long weekend exploring the pristine, white beaches of the Bahamas, the ancient Tulum Ruins in Mexico or the sky-blue waters of the Eastern Caribbean during holiday weekends such as Memorial Day and Labor Day.

WHERE WILL YOUR NEXT WEEKEND CRUISE TAKE YOU?

Don't let the long weekend flash before your eyes — see the world instead! Choose among these unforgettable destinations and make the most of your long weekend on a 3 to 5-night cruise. Gather your gang and put the nine-to-five behind you as you embrace island time. From zip-lining over the stunning waters of Haiti to snorkeling off the pink beaches of Bermuda , you'll be sure to bring new meaning to the term weekend warrior.

OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

In just a few days, you can cruise to Mexico and explore the world-famous beach resort of Cancun, discover colorful Cozumel and traipse through the ancient Tulum Ruins. Venture inland into the jungles of the Yucatán or underground into the iconic cenote swimming holes. Mexico is close to many U.S. cruise ports, such as Galveston , which makes it an ideal choice for shorter cruise itineraries.

Another excellent choice would be the Bahamas, which is the most convenient option if you plan to cruise from Florida. The wide variety of ports within the islands of the Bahamas themselves make this a perfect destination for Memorial Day weekend cruises. Calling at Nassau allows you to explore the vibrant capital of the Bahamas, while wilder adventures await in Bimini, Paradise Island and beyond. Further sweetening the deal is Perfect Day at CocoCay , where the kids can brave the largest wave pool in the Caribbean while you belly up to the swim-up bar.

One of the best last-minute tips for weekend cruises is to select ports like luxurious Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica , which are far enough from the mainland that they might not be as crowded as closer options. Other popular cruise destinations in the Western Caribbean include San Juan, resort-filled Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic and even the port of Labadee in Haiti — where you can find thrilling adventure on the world's longest over-water zip line.

Alternatively, if you can stretch your Labor Day weekend cruise beyond just a few nights, you might venture deep into the Eastern Caribbean . Dock at ports within and beyond the U.S. and British Virgin Islands to discover some of the most exotic jewels of the tropical Atlantic. Sink your toes into the golden sand of Pinney's Beach on St. Kitts and Nevis, hike above the sea in Cabrits National Park on Dominica and marvel at contrasting cultures on the Dutch-French island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. Or head further north to Bermuda, whose azure waters and pink beaches are warmed year-round by the jet stream.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CALLS

Many of the best Memorial Day cruise destinations are interchangeable with places you might go over the Labor Day holiday. Memorial Day activities for the whole family, such as letting loose on CocoCay private in the Bahamas , are just as enticing in late May as they are in early September.

On the other hand, some important advantages present themselves to travelers who are able to cruise during the Memorial Day holiday, no matter who you're traveling with or where you sail from. If you're looking for Memorial Day weekend getaways for couples, keep in mind that school tends to be out during May. Therefore, while family-friendly destinations such as the Bahamas and Mexico will be on the crowded side, romantic escapes to St. Kitts and Nevis or even Bermuda might have more availability. Have a private, romantic moment at Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, widely considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean . Couples might also consider dipping into their paid time off hours, since extending a weekend cruise to include Thursday or Tuesday will reduce the number of other travelers able to take the trip.

None of which is to say that Memorial Day weekend cruises for families are a non-starter, particularly if you start shopping now. After determining how many days you can cruise and where you want to depart from, you can immediately begin browsing Memorial Day cruises. For instance, if you live in Atlanta, you can fly or drive your family to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami and take a 2 or 3-night cruise to family-friendly CocoCay private island.

As is the case for general long weekend travel or even trips you take over Labor Day, many of the best cruises are the most adventurous ones. Why not head beyond the comforts of Cancun to the lesser docked-at cruise ports of Belize? Whatever you do, allow your brainstorming and research to be fun. After all, Labor Day is meant to be a break from work, not create more of it.

GET AWAY THIS LABOR DAY

The good news is that while Labor Day is a popular time to travel, possibilities for Labor Day weekend cruises are practically unlimited. If you combine this built-in advantage with smart strategic moves, like booking early and leaving from a convenient departure port, you'll manage to cruise stress-free at one of the busiest times of the year. Moreover, being open to a wide range of destinations — from top choices like the Bahamas and Cancun to secondary options like Puerto Rico — further sweetens the deal.

Assuming you can only take three days for your Labor Day cruise, most of the best cruises are going to be the ones closest to you. If you live in the Northeast, you might depart from New Jersey's Cape Liberty Cruise Port for Bermuda, which is the closest major cruise destination to the New York City area . For a trip like this, the journey is the destination — enjoy the cerulean horizon of the open Atlantic before frolicking on legendary Bermuda shores like Horseshoe Bay Beach.

Remember that flexibility opens up your options. One of the best last-minute tips, even if you plan to sail over Labor Day weekend, is to make yourself more available. This could be in terms of the number of nights. A five-night departure from Miami to the Bahamas is less likely to be fully booked during Labor Day than a shorter Bahamas cruise since many people are unable or unwilling to take off additional days. Likewise, if you can manage to fly to Houston or New York, being able to sail from Cape Liberty Cruise Port or Galveston invites additional possibilities and, depending on how full bookings are for your dates, better prices as well.

Or, if you have some flexible time off work, you could choose to travel during a period adjacent to the Labor Day holiday for an even less stressful experience. Browse long weekend cruises during the last week of August or the second week of September, whether you stay close to the U.S. mainland with departures to Mexico and Belize or Grand Cayman and Puerto Rico, or take a longer cruise to Jamaica or even the Virgin Islands. Deserted Honeymoon Beach on St. Thomas beckons you, whether you're looking to relax on its sunkissed shores or get active with some snorkel gear.

PICK YOUR PORT

Proper planning is essential to making sure your trip goes off without a hitch, whether you happen to be shopping for long weekend cruises throughout the year or you've selected travel dates during the Labor or Memorial Day holiday. An important first step is choosing the right port. The majority of Americans are within a nonstop flight (or even a short drive) of Galveston, Texas , New York City , or Florida's popular Fort Lauderdale and Miami cruise terminals .

Galveston is a great choice for Labor Day weekend cruises. The most obvious reason for this is how close departing here situates you to the treasures of the Mexican Yucatan, though more distant options exist. Continue sailing south to Belize, whose otherworldly Great Blue Hole you have to see to believe, or head over to the shallows of Western Caribbean and immerse yourself in the history and culture like the ancient pyramids in Cozumel, Mexico.

If you live in the Northeast, you'll be pleased to know that many of the best cruises for shorter itineraries also depart from the New York City area. Leaving from Bayonne's Cape Liberty Cruise Port, it's easy to cruise toward the paradisiacal shores of Bermuda, whose coral-rich beaches are prone to giving off a pink color. You can also head farther south to the Bahamas, and even into the Caribbean Sea — as long as you can devote four or five nights to your cruise instead of just two or three. Explore Western and Central Caribbean destinations like Grand Cayman, or head east to Antigua and Barbuda, where the panoramic lookout from Shirley Heights will have you feeling on top of the world, literally.

Florida, which has two very popular ports of departure, is perhaps the best place to set off on Memorial Day weekend cruises. In addition to the fact that you'll be able to shop sailings from both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, both locations put you in a great position to explore the Caribbean Sea. For shorter trips, you'll likely stick to nearby islands like the Bahamas and Grand Cayman, though you might also be able to reach Jamaica or even the Virgin Islands if you have a few additional days to spare. In fact, Florida is arguably the optimal place to depart from on more adventurous cruises, since you start being close to the most exotic destinations in the Caribbean.

There's no better way to spend an extra day off than in beachside bliss. From once-in-a-lifetime thrills to the soothing sound of lapping, blue waves, setting sail to one of these beautiful destinations is sure to make your next travel vacation one for the books with a relaxing weekend getaway or one week cruise .

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Though cruise booking generally opens several months in advance, deals on long weekend cruises may post just weeks or even days before departure. If you're flexible about when you sail, you'll enjoy some pretty sweet deals.

On the other hand, for Labor and Memorial Day weekend cruises, booking (or at least searching) early is often a fact of life. Begin shopping early in the year, and book as soon as you begin to notice availability decreasing.

Be smart when you get onboard to avoid undue stress. For example, eat before or after typical meal times, then enjoy less crowded common areas while most others are eating.

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St. Thomas, USVI

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Cruises that visit St. Thomas offer some of the best photo opportunities in the Caribbean. That’s why a Carnival cruise to the Virgin Islands tops many folk’s vacation wish lists. Seafarers from around the globe have flocked to the sheltered harbors of St. Thomas since pirates sailed these seas. Today, cruises to St. Thomas dock in one of the busiest and most developed ports in the West Indies: Charlotte Amalie, the island’s historic capital. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of the market bustle, and swing to the beat of scratch bands. Or plant yourself on a beautiful beach and relax the day away. The choice is yours when you cruise to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Play on the creamy white sands of Magens Bay Beach.
• Get up close to sea horses and tropical fish at Coral World.
• Charter a sailboat to explore secret coves and turquoise bays.
• Toast your cruise to St. Thomas at a beach bar in Frenchtown.

Things to do in St. Thomas

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We have a few ideas for you.

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

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Best 3-Day & 4-Day Cruises

Enjoy Island Life

A three- or four-day cruise to Key West and the Bahamas is the perfect getaway. Lounge on pristine beaches in The Bahamas and sail along dreamy coastlines with a cool rum punch in hand. In Key West, explore galleries and quirky pubs. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and relaxed.

On board our stylish, contemporary ships, you’ll have ample time to enjoy world-class cuisine, unwind by the pool, and indulge in blissful treatments in the spa. Elevate your experience to The Retreat®, where you’ll enjoy exclusive dining, a tranquil lounge, and suite accommodation. Unwind and recharge with a spectacular three- or four-day cruise with Celebrity Cruises.

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For the first time ever, we’re taking you to one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive islands, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island destination combines the best of beachside bliss and sun-soaked excitement.

Bustling Nassau offers an impressive range of activities for every taste. Admire the stately Georgian architecture and 18th-century Fort Montagu. Taste creamy conch chowder and decadent rum cake. Bask under the palms on Blue Lagoon Island, or drift amid rainbow-colored shoals of fish at Pearl Island. You could even join a watercolor class to capture the brilliant white, aquamarine, and sapphire-blue colors surrounding you.

The warm waters around sleepy Bimini beckon, whether you want to snorkel over multicolored reefs, look out for docile sharks from the comfort of a glass-bottomed boat, or head out to sea to learn how the locals fish for conch. While it’s tempting to swing in a hammock with a chilled rum punch in hand, there’s cultural interest here, too. Check out the Dolphin House, a labor of love built over time by a local historian using shells, sea glass, and upcycled materials from the ocean.

Quirky, bohemian Key West is so tiny you can explore it on foot, whether you’re headed for the white sands and colorful reefs of Fort Zachary Taylor State Park or prefer to check out the island’s many art galleries. Writer Ernest Hemingway lived here in the 1930s and his Spanish colonial-style mansion is now a museum. Look out for the six-toed cats that roam the tropical gardens. Whatever you do, be sure to make time for a slice of tangy Key lime pie, which originated here.

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Events & Entertainment On Board Virgin Voyages Ships

Explore the events and entertainment available to sailors on board the Virgin Voyages cruise ships; Scarlet Lady , Valiant Lady , Resilient Lady and the upcoming Brilliant Lady . Some of these events are exclusive to individual ships while others available on board all of the ships in Virgin’s fleet.

• Headline Shows
• Club Nights
• Cabaret Shows
• Food and Drink Events
• Scarlet Night Events
• Pool Events
• Gambling Events
• Wellness Events

View Event Line-up

heels Featured Headline Shows

Virgin Voyages attracts top acrobats, singers, dancers, comedians, and cirque performers from around the globe. Many are stars from renowned touring companies or even The Olympic Games. Their headline shows promise unique and unforgettable entertainment at sea.

See all Headline Shows

Duel Reality

On Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady

An artful retelling of Romeo and Juliet by stunning acrobatics performers. Watch as two groups grapple with the desire to rise above one another through graceful and death-defying acts.

Festival Stage

On all ships

Taking a cue from festival-style performances, Virgin Voyages invites a rotation of comedians, magicians, and specialty artists across the entire fleet.

It’s a Rock Show-ke

On Scarlet Lady

Scarlet Lady's new show, "It’s a Rock Show-ke," offers classic rock and 90s music in the Red Room, enhancing longer voyages.

Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle

On Resilient Lady

Mind Mangler is headline show; a spoof of classic mind-reading and magic shows that you might find on other cruise lines. Originating from the Edinburgh Fringe, this is an unpredictable and fun show with a great cast.

Miss Behave Show

On Resilient Lady and Valiant Lady

"Miss Behave Show" – a revolutionary game show that defies conventions. Brace yourself for a unique experience as Team AHOY and Team SAILOR engage in a fierce competition for points with your hosts.

On Brilliant Lady and Resilient Lady

A unique retelling of Greek mythology with the ultimate mix of acrobatics, singing, dancing and much more that has to be seen.

Ships in the Night

Offering a creative combination of technology and choreography this show more closely resembles other cruise ship offerings in a full broadway style production.

UNTITLED DANCESHOWPARTYTHING

Join your Virgin Voyages dancers for a one-of-a-kind dance show with joyful dance moments, catchy tunes, and unexpected surprises.

album Featured Club Nights

Club nights are the raucous centrepiece of select nights of your Virgin Voyages. The Happenings Cast will help lead proceedings in a wild themed night of DJ beats and fun details and features. Some of these club night events will have a fun optional dress code for those sailors that really want to show off their disco flair.

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BoomVang is a dedicated club night on Virgin Voyages ships, offering music, dancing, and immersive experiences in The Manor nightclub.

This club night is one of the original Virgin Voyages parties - with mixes of house, groove, funk, pop, and disco on the dance floor and exciting and fun performances from The Happenings Cast.

Klub Rubiks: Not your Average 80s Party

Put on your 1980s-inspired glad-rags and get ready to boogie with fun electric beats and the occasional dance interlude from The Happenings Cast. With some zany performances and fun music this club night is a must!

A vibrant blend of the past and the present. This unique nighttime event on Virgin Voyages not only reverberates with the iconic disco sounds of the 70s and 80s but adds a modern twist with spontaneous performances from a seasonal roster of circus performers.

The PJ Party

Encouraging guests to wear their best pyjamas, the PJ Party offers a memorable night of music, dancing, and unexpected surprises.

On Brilliant Lady , Resilient Lady and Valiant Lady

This glitteringly-GOLD event is about all things fancy. The Happenings Cast invite you to celebrate the last night of your cruise in style as they guide you though a golden fantasy of world music beats.

perfume Featured Cabaret Shows

Cabaret events onboard Virgin Voyages are shows are performed in a bar-service setting. This normally involves a stage-show with live vocal performances and dancing. Some dinner-show cabaret events will have a meal served as part of their offering.

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Another Rose

An immersive up charge event combing the elements of cabaret and immersive theater to create an unforgettable dinner party journey.

Around The World With The Diva

Around the World in 80 Minutes with The Diva. She'll dance, sing and lip-sync her way around the world and bring you along for the voyage.

It's a Ship Show

On Valiant Lady

The ultimate variety show onboard, an eclectic host will guide you through a unique twist on the old-school variety hour. Featuring food, live music, comedy and performances from talent around the world.

Lola's Library

This late at night event won't resemble your local library. Your host, Lola, alongside a cast of characters — like her nerdy assistant, Dewey, and the bossy maid, Mary — will take you through the eclectic book collection.

LOLz Supper Club

Launched in March 2024 on Scarlet Lady LOLz Supper Club offers up a selection of comedians in The Manor night club paired with food.

The Hostess Sings Her Secrets

The ship's hostess guides the audience through the best ways to host a dinner party all tied up in a post modern jukebox style cabaret show within The Manor.

bar Featured Food and Drink Events

Food and drink events on Virgin Voyages are some of the most infamous of them all! With events like the 'Grog Walk', 'Rice Rice Baby' and 'Shot for Shot' being some of the most memorable events in your voyage line-up. These events often include speciality cocktails, bubble or other speciality drinks as part of the running order.

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Afternoon Tea

Each sea day at Sip Lounge - Afternoon Tea. Spanning three hours with some of the world's freshest and most vibrant teas and cocktails.

Beyond Tequila: Rituals and Stories of a Mezcalier

Virgin Voyages' Beyond Tequila at Pink Agave: debunking myths, tasting history, and mescal insights for $50.

Bottomless Brunch

Available daily at The Wake & Razzle Dazzle for a low cost of $25 for up to 2 hours of bottomless brunch drinks.

Bubbles & Bites - Champagne & Fried Chicken

Bubbles & Bites offers a distinctive culinary experience combining champagne tasting with the comfort of fried chicken for a $45 charge.

Flight Night/Brews & Crews

Experience a lively beer tasting event that feels more like a party than a lecture.

A must-do on the first night of you voyage - the renowned Virgin Voyages bar crawl. A great way to start your first night and meet your fellow sailors. Famous for helping sailors meet lifelong friends!

Loteria Gigante

Deemed a 'millennial bingo' Loteria Gigante is a silly mix of bingo and tequila/mezcal tasting. A fun event with plenty of flair hosted in Pink Agave, the Mexican restaurant by The Happenings Cast.

A bartending street-fight; Two mixologists go head-to-head to mix up the best cocktail. Judged by the crowd and emceed with campy and fun 90s R'n'B antics by The Happenings Cast.

A Greek Culinary Experience Embark on a culinary voyage inspired by the vibrant flavors of Greece with Opa Hour. Launched...

Path of the Negroni - Master Beverage Class

A unique blend of Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin. Path of the Negroni is a tasting experience takes place in Extra Virgin on Deck 6.

Rice Rice Baby - Sushi Class

Rice Rice Baby is hosted by the esteemed Foodie from the Happenings Cast on Virgin Voyages. Sailors will delve into the art of sushi-making for a nominal fee of $25 per person.

Richard's Champagne/Sunset Happy Hour for Rockstars

Every day, Virgin Voyages hosts a Sunset Happy Hour, offering a unique opportunity for Rockstars and Mega Rockstars to connect with their fellow cruisers and Rockstar agents whilst enjoying a range of drinks.

Shot For Shot

A mixology-and-mingle class. A mixologist and 'The Foodie' from The Happenings Cast will guide you through producing 3 signature cocktails, a great way meet other sailors and sample some fantastic cocktails.

dress Featured Scarlet Night Events

Scarlet Night is one of the highlights of most sailor's voyages. The whole ship transforms to celebrate this unique night with a huge number or unique events happening across all major venues and bars. Lead by The Happenings Cast, Scarlet Night is an unmissable series of events, keep an eye for it in your event line-up and remember to always “Keep it Red!” with your best red outfit.

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Scarlet Night: (Not-So Pool) Party

When bad weather makes the pool party a washout, Virgin Voyages doesn't let that stop Scarlet Night. The fun and festivities of Scarlet Night are brought to The Red Room for something extra special.

Scarlet Night: Opening Event

The opening event for Scarlet Night, here The Happenings Cast will welcome you to the fun and excitement Scarlet Night has to offer with music and dancing and a special Virgin Voyages toast.

Scarlet Night: Pool Party

One of the most talked-about events of any Virgin Voyage. The Scarlet Night Pool Party is the biggest Scarlet Night celebration. Dress to get wet as the party heats up when sailors are invited to let loose and dance in the pool!

Scarlet Night: The Afterparty

After the pool party, the final event in the Scarlet Night line-up is the afterparty. The Manor night club lights up red with current pop hits and club beats to finish Scarlet Night off with a bang.

The Octopus Garden: The Story of Scarlet Night

The Octopus Goddess invites you into her realm to sing the tales of Scarlet Night.

The Tentacle Tour

This invite-only tour is reserved only for Virgin Voyages VIP guests. We can’t reveal all the secrets here but it's not one to miss if you get a special invite!

bikini Featured Pool Events

These events happen around the ship's main pool. It's always good to be ready to get wet because the fun really starts when you take the party into the pool itself! There are raised sections on each end of the pool so you can dance and be part of the action without having to go all the way in.

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Let’s Set Sail (Sail Away Party)

As your lady ship pushes away from the shore "Let's Set Sail" is the start of your vacation, with free bubbles and a mingle with your Happenings cast.

casual Featured Casual Fun Events

There's something around every corner on board the Virgin Voyages ships. These events include everything from behind the scenes tours to karaoke.  Often ran by an energetic member of The Happenings Cast .

See all Casual Fun Events

Behind the Scenes - Ship Tour

Take a step behind the inner workings of Virgin Voyages through their 2.5 hour Behind the Scenes ship tour visiting the bridge and more.

Karaoke with The Happenings Cast

A casual and fun karaoke event at The Social Club, select members of The Happenings Cast will help emcee proceedings with a digital songbook of thousands of songs.

Nintendo Switch Game Night

Nintendo Switch Game Night offers the opportunity for sailors to immerse themselves in some friendly competition while sailing the high seas. Virgin Voyages provides all the equipment and games !

card Featured Gambling Events

Virgin Voyages is world-renown for adult fun at sea. With its well-furnished on-board casino tables, slots and casino bar. The Virgin Voyages Happenings Cast members offer exclusive gaming events throughout your voyage from tournaments in the casino to fun Bingo With The Diva.

See all Gambling Events

Bingo With The Diva

A big bingo event hosted by The Diva - the ship's fabulous resident drag queen. Co-hosted by a member of The Happenings Cast this is a unique take on the classic game with campy and saucy thrown into the mix.

Horseplay Seahorse Auction & Race

Race your own personalized painted seahorse for the chance to win the grand cash prize on the final day of your cruise!

The 9 best Bahamas cruises for every type of traveler

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.

The best Bahamas cru ises take you away from the daily grind, transporting you to theme park-like private islands and beach-lined paradises. Cruise choices include new and jazzed-up ships sailing an array of short and weeklong Bahamas itineraries. Cruising to the Bahamas is so easy you may even be able to go without a passport .

Family-friendly lines, such as Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, offer cruises focused on the Bahamas all year. So do newcomers Virgin Voyages, with its adults-only sailings, and Margaritaville at Sea, offering short two-night hops and longer cruise-and-stay packages. The winter and early spring seasons bring a handful of itineraries on premium lines like Celebrity Cruises and Holland America.

The only cruise lines that don’t regularly offer Bahamas cruises are the luxury lines. But don’t worry, luxe lovers: Many of the ships we included on our list of the best Bahamas cruises offer suites that come with concierge services, private enclaves or special spa privileges. If a luxury cruise to the Bahamas is your goal, look at the top suite options on a mainstream or premium line.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

Whether you’re looking for a quick and cheap getaway or a week at the beach, here are the best Bahamas cruise itineraries to start your search, in order from shortest to longest.

2-night cruises on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise from Palm Beach, Florida

Though cruising is relatively new to the Margaritaville travel and hospitality franchise, cruise line Margaritaville at Sea is essentially a rebranding of the old Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. Its refurbished ship, Paradise, originally debuted in the 1990s for Costa Cruises.

One Jimmy Buffett-themed makeover later, the ship is a perfect fit for the laid-back vibe of the Bahamas. Grab a drink or a bite to eat from the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, try your luck at the Par-A-Dice Casino and enjoy plenty of entertainment, including the musical production, “Tales from Margaritaville: Jimmy’s Ship Show.” There’s a kids club, a teen club, a spa and two pools stocked with beach balls and inflatable parrots.

The two-night cruise itinerary includes one day in Freeport, where you can shop, hit the casino, enjoy water sports or chill on the beach. The ship offers shore excursions, or you can explore independently. Margaritaville at Sea also offers cruise-and-stay itineraries of either four or six nights (including the two nights onboard the ship). These packages let you choose between two partner hotels in Freeport, where you’ll stay two or four nights on land, then hop back on the ship for your return night at sea.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise carries around 1,300 passengers in an assortment of inside and ocean-view cabins, all around 176 square feet, which is larger than the average for those categories on most mainstream ships. Ten suites with balconies are also available, with 524 square feet of space.

Who should go? Obviously, Parrotheads are gonna want to try this ship, with all its Jimmy Buffett-inspired themes and decor, but it’s also a good trial run for anyone on the fence about cruising. Pricing makes this a great cruise to enjoy an escape without spending a fortune. We found weekday sailings that begin at $99 per person based on double occupancy for an inside cabin.

Related: Best Bahamas cruise tips for first-timers and repeat visitors alike

3- or 4-night cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas from Miami

This itinerary may be the best overall short Bahamas cruise. Both the three- and four-night cruises have stops at Nassau and Royal Caribbean ‘s massive private island — Perfect Day at CocoCay . Those two stops combined give cruisers the opportunity to enjoy water sports, spend some time at the beach and experience a bit of Bahamian culture.

Freedom of the Seas has plenty of onboard fun to occupy travelers of all ages on sea days. It’s loaded with top-deck slides and water features, specialty restaurant choices and more entertainment options than you can take in on a short cruise. Carrying around 4,000 cruise guests, Freedom of the Seas is big enough to impress without being overwhelming.

Plus, logistics for cruising out of Miami are simple enough for even first-time cruisers. From flight choices to pre- or post-cruise hotels, it’s a city that caters to tourists, especially the cruising ones.

Who should go? From first-timers to veteran cruisers, anyone looking for a short but fun-filled hop to the Bahamas should give Freedom of the Seas a look. Families looking for a quick escape will find entertainment and activities for toddlers to teens. The ship is also ideal for family reunions, bachelorette parties and birthday cruises. Couples will love the adults-only Solarium with its extra-large hot tubs looking out over the sea.

Related: Bahamas cruise packing list: What to pack for the islands

3- or 4-night cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida

When Royal Caribbean’ s giant Utopia of the Seas debuts in July 2024, it will offer a bevy of short sailings, including three- and four-night sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida. The 236,860-ton, 5,669-passenger vessel will be the second-largest cruise ship in the world and offer more exciting amenities than any other cruise ship sailing short itineraries in North America.

Why? The newest, biggest ships in the world typically sail longer cruises. Offering short cruises on its humongous Oasis Class ships is new for Royal Caribbean; sister ship Allure of the Seas will test out the concept before Utopia launches.

Families with kids will definitely go bananas over the choices on board the new ship. The top deck alone will feature three separate pool areas, a surfing simulator, a kiddie splash zone, a basketball court, two rock walls, a miniature golf course and even a zip line.

The ship will also boast an extensive selection of restaurants, bars, lounges and shops. Additionally, there will be an indoor skating rink, a spa and a showroom with Broadway-style shows.

Utopia of the Seas’ inaugural voyage is set for July 22, 2024, and will be a four-night cruise to Nassau and the line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. The second sailing will be a three-night cruise to the Bahamas that departs on July 26, 2024.

Who should go?  Short sailings on this new ship will appeal to all sorts of cruisers. Historically, new ships are reserved for longer itineraries, so this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a snack-size sampling of a brand-new ship without spending the money on a longer sailing.

Families craving a quick getaway where the entire brood is satisfied will not be disappointed. In addition to seemingly endless kid-friendly amenities and top-notch children’s programming, Utopia of the Seas will feature a casino and adults-only spaces.

Related: These 2 cruise lines are building new private destinations in the Bahamas

3- or 4-night cruises on Disney Wish from Port Canaveral, Florida

Disney waited a decade to build its next new ship, but Disney dreamers had their wish granted in 2022. Even better, the new Disney Wish cruises to the Bahamas. Designed to be the perfect complement to a visit to Orlando’s Disney theme parks, these short cruises visit Nassau and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The four-night itinerary adds a sea day to enjoy the ship.

Disney Wish is designed to immerse cruisers in the various Disney worlds through technology. An onboard augmented reality game turns the Disney Cruise Line Navigator smartphone app into a virtual spyglass that lets cruisers participate in a fantasy adventure with Disney and Pixar characters. The AquaMouse waterslide combines a splashy tube ride in a two-seater raft with a pre-adventure tale told through screens at the beginning of the ride. Diners at the Worlds of Marvel restaurant take part in an interactive Avengers-themed experience through videos and special effects.

Wish carries 4,000 passengers in cabins and suites designed to simplify cruising with kids. But never fear, adult Disney fans; you’ll also find your spot on board. From the “Star Wars”-themed Hyperspace Lounge to the Quiet Cove adults-only sun deck, Disney manages to cater to grownups as well as kids.

Who should go ? This is obviously the best Bahamas cruise for lovers of all things Disney, including “Star Wars” and Marvel fans.

Related: Best shore excursions for Bahamas cruises

3- or 4-night cruises on Celebrity Reflection from Fort Lauderdale

Beginning in April 2024, Celebrity Cruises will sail three- and four-night voyages round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, year-round.

The 3,046-passenger Celebrity Reflection will offer a consistent rotation of three-night weekend cruises (departing each Friday and returning each Monday morning) and four-night weekday sailings (departing each Monday and returning each Friday morning).

Itineraries will include stops at Key West in Florida and Nassau and Bimini in the Bahamas.

Celebrity appeals mostly to the 40-plus set sans small children. It’s light on the kid-centric attractions (such as waterslides, go-karts and laser tag) that other big-ship lines include. The line offers instead lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas. (If you do have kids in tow, you can take advantage of the extensive children’s program, Camp at Sea. It provides supervised activities daily for children ages 3-12 in dedicated spaces.)

Celebrity Reflection is the line’s last and largest Solstice Class cruise ship. The Solstice C lass ships feature some of the most stylish outdoor pool decks at sea, with indoor, adults-only pool areas that, notably, are topped with glass panels embedded with solar panels that contribute to the ship’s power grid. You’ll also find large spas, casinos, showrooms and a nice selection of restaurants on board.

This ship also boasts one of the most spectacular suites in the cruising world — the 1,646-square-foot Reflection Suite. It was the first two-bedroom suite on a Celebrity Cruises vessel.

Who should go? This an ideal cruise for older travelers who are new to cruising and want to sample one or frequent cruisers who might prefer a shorter time at sea. Although Celebrity doesn’t draw many families with young children, the shorter Bahamas itineraries are also perfect for multigenerational family groups seeking an affordable cruise that appeals to all ages.

4-night cruises on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady from Miami

Virgin Voyages aimed to be a disrupter in the cruise market from the beginning — creating a product designed to please even those who claim they would never set foot on a cruise ship. Yet the itinerary for this four-night Bahamas cruise on Scarlet Lady is fairly ordinary. Ports of call include Key West and a private beach club on the Bahamian island of Bimini.

It’s the ship itself that sets this cruise apart from the pack. You’ll find unique cabins (with balcony hammocks), brash red livery and one-of-a-kind onboard activities, such as tattoo parlors, drag shows and ‘80s-themed fitness classes, to keep its 2,700 sailors (as Virgin calls its passengers) entertained.

Who should go ? This is the best Bahamas cruise for the non-cruiser who is either young at heart or young and eager to party aboard this glitzy ship. If you’re easily offended by loud music, round-the-clock partying or sexual innuendo, this is not your Bahamas cruise.

4-day cruises on Norwegian Jade from Miami

Norwegian Cruise Line offers four-day sailings from Miami aboard Norwegian Jade. Ports of call include Key West and Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s private island.

Port diversions consist of touring the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum and the Key West Aquarium, shopping along Nassau’s Bay Street and exploring the white-sand beaches and pristine waters on Great Stirrup Cay.

The 2,402-passenger vessel is part of the line’s Jewel class of ships. Though the ship launched in 2006, it received a substantial refurbishment in 2017 that included a cabin remodel, new and expanded dining and a design overhaul.

Norwegian Jewel might not have the extensive top-deck attractions of newer ships, like Norwegian Prima, or as many restaurants and bars. However, passengers will find plenty to occupy their time onboard with scheduled activities, a casino, spa and pool areas.

Who should go? Families, couples and friend groups will appreciate the unstructured nature of a Norwegian cruise. The line’s “freestyle cruising” mantra — cruising without rigid dining schedules, dress codes and formal nights — is perfectly suited for short sailings. With a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times, passengers have lots of flexibility for their limited time at sea.

Related: Best time to cruise to the Bahamas

5-night cruises on Carnival Sunshine from South Carolina

I am a huge lover of five-night sailings. They are long enough to scratch the cruise itch and short enough to account for travel time to and from the port without adding any extra vacation days. Plus, the slightly longer itineraries are less popular with hard partiers who can be disruptive on shorter Bahamas cruises.

Carnival Cruise Line offers 10 different five-night sailings from Charleston, South Carolina, aboard the 3,002-passenger Carnival Sunshine. It’s currently Carnival’s oldest ship (it debuted in 1996 under the name Carnival Destiny). However, in 2013, the line gave it a $200 million bow-to-stern glow-up and renamed it Carnival Sunshine. The overhaul produced a new top-deck WaterWorks water park, a comedy club and several bars, lounges and restaurants.

Depending on which itinerary you choose, you can chill out on the beaches of Bimini, shop Nassau’s iconic straw market or go horseback riding by the shore of Carnival’s private island, Half Moon Cay. Consider a pre- or post-cruise stay in Charleston to take in the city’s historic landmarks, epic dining and charming cobblestone streets.

Who should go? These cruises are the best Bahamas sailings for those who prefer the intimacy of an older ship and don’t care about flashy amenities and onboard attractions on newer vessels. Plus, they’re ideal for travelers who live north of Florida and are looking for a more convenient drive-to departure port.

8-night cruises on Carnival Venezia from New York City

The 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia is a bit of an outlier in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. Originally built for Italy-based Costa Cruises and launched in 2019, it joined the Carnival family in May 2023. (Carnival Corporation is the parent company of both Costa and Carnival.)

The ship was renovated to add many of Carnival’s signature venues. However, many of its Costa-aligned, Italian-themed designs remain, including a real gondola “sailing” down the middle of its main dining room and a pool deck built to look like a Venetian boulevard.

Guests might feel like they’ve been whisked away to Italy thanks to regional touches like the handmade Italian gelato at JavaBlue Cafe and the Italian liqueur-infused concoctions found at many bars.

Two eight-night voyages out of New York City include stops at Freeport, Nassau and Half Moon Cay.

Who should go? This Bahamas cruise is ideal for anyone looking for a different Carnival experience during a weeklong cruise. It’s almost like traveling to Italy and the Bahamas in one trip.

Bottom line

The best Bahamas cruises offer something cruisers can’t quite get enough of — whether it’s beach time or party time. While short sailings are still the most popular Bahamas itineraries, you can find options for almost every cruising style. The key is identifying the cruise that fits your style, preferred activities and vacation budget.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Virgin Voyages Review: Are Virgin Cruises Only for Party People? Here's Our Experience

When Virgin Voyages began sailing in 2021, its first ship, Scarlet Lady , sold voyages from Miami throughout the Caribbean. Even though it began sailing in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Virgin’s low-key party cruises to Bimini and Beyond were an instant hit. In the early days, the highlight of a Virgin cruise was a stop at the Bimini islands of the Bahamas, where guests could party at the new Virgin Voyages Beach Club, featuring celebrity DJs and lots of daybeds for luxurious lounging. 

The stop at Virgin Voyages’ private beach defined the new brand’s party aesthetic. Rowdier than Royal Caribbean, classier than Carnival, and younger than Holland America, Virgin beckoned to a hipper tier of guests: millennials who wouldn’t normally go on a crowded, mass-market cruise. Virgin Voyages cruises are open to guests aged 18 and over only, so there are no kids running around, and frequent Virgin Voyages cruisers are even referred to by the company as “RockStars.” 

Virgin’s prices can seem higher than comparable cruises, but the numbers work out in the end. For example, tip-fatigued Americans rejoice in the fact there are no gratuities on Virgin ships. A lot is included, such as group exercise classes and basic beverages including sodas. There are no buffets (although the line’s The Galley has cafeteria-style prepared food ready to serve—crew simply hands dishes to you), and there is no additional cost for eating at any of the specialty dining restaurants on board. 

These changes from the mid-priced industry norm sound great, but the question remains: How many hip millennials are there who would honestly want to take a cruise at all? 

As of June 2024, Virgin now has four ships ( Scarlet Lady , Valiant Lady , Brilliant Lady , Resilient Lady ), with more to be added to the fleet in the coming years. Virgin is no longer playing it safe in Bimini-bound party cruise territory, either. I joined the Scarlet Lady , the ship on which it all began but which is pretty much the same as the others, this time sailing along the European shores of the Mediterranean Sea. 

So how does the mass-market cruise passenger—who might be a bit older, somewhat geekier—fit in with the cool Virgin crowd?

A few hours after we set sail, I walked around to explore the ship, but it felt like something was missing. Everything was just… quiet. The champagne lounge was empty, the tattoo parlor was empty, the private karaoke booths were empty, and there was no activity in the central promenade except for one guy playing guitar in a bar beneath the main spiral staircase. Where were the cool millennials they were supposedly made for? 

Most of the passengers wandering around were polite, middle-aged cruisers. Their jeans shorts looked forlorn in contrast with the velvet couches of the champagne lounge. A pajama party was scheduled for later that evening, but I only packed cotton gym shorts that are not meant to be seen by anyone else. It didn’t seem like most of the other shy passengers were the pajama party crowd either. 

Back in the refuge of my cabin, I found out where my fellow customers were. They were arguing in the room next to mine. Every word they shared was articulated through the thin cabin walls. It seemed that even though the cruise had just started, the stress of traveling had worn their nerves, and they accused each other of trivial wrongdoings of one sort or another. The louder adversary yelled, “What do you want? I don’t know what you want!” Or was that the voice of the Scarlet Lady , trying to please me? 

Instead of joining the pajama party, I called room service and ordered a bowl of the Virgin Voyages chicken soup, which is highly touted on board and is only available by delivery to your room. (Room service has a $7 service charge, but that’s waived if you order any sort of paid drink such as alcohol.) The soup was good. It had lots of orecchiette noodles al dente, which is super difficult to do in a hot soup. And it was seasoned just right. I didn’t quite get the vibe of this ship yet, but at least I had the comforting embrace of that bowl of soup. 

Somebody must have gone to the pajama party, because at around midnight, another neighbor treated our entire side of the ship, and all of the Mediterranean Sea, to loudly singing an unrequested serenade from their balcony. 

I was awake anyway. My first night was teaching me about the hard luck sleeping on this ship: Virgin Voyages beds aren’t actually beds in the American sense of the term. While cruise lines like Celebrity have their own brand of luxury mattresses that are even sold on land should you wish to take one home, beds in Virgin cabins (pictured above) are more like two benches, neither of which have much padding, pushed together and covered with sheets. 

During the day, passengers can request housekeeping configure the benches into L-shaped seating. If you don’t do this, you’ll only have a single chair to sit on.

In my Sea Terrace cabin (pictured above), the mid-sized standard cabin category (about 200 sq. ft./ 18.5 sq. m), the frame for the bench/bed includes a large wooden board that sticks out of the side to support the L-shaped configuration. That piece of frame gobbles up valuable floor space, with no space for any other furniture except for a single chair. If passengers leave the cabin set to the bed configuration, which they often do, how are two people supposed to eat room service meals? 

I had signed up for an all-day activity, a tour of three cities in France by bus in just 8 hours. The tour was standard shore excursion stuff: on the bus, off the bus, herded like cattle, released into the wilds of the French Riviera to graze on croissants and buy “I Love France” t-shirts. 

Back on the ship, feeling simultaneously exhausted yet frazzled from the experience, I hoped an espresso martini would both perk me up and calm me down. 

On Virgin, there aren’t any of those infamous cruise drink packages, where you pay several hundred dollars for unlimited access to standard alcoholic beverages. Instead, you deposit money in a non-refundable account, with added bonuses from Virgin if enough money is deposited. For example, a $300 deposit may receive $50 in bonus money, if that’s the incentive offered on your particular voyage. Each drink is then deducted from your account, encouraging you to drink up all of the money. At least there is a manageable end in sight. 

I chit-chatted with a nice husband-and-wife couple at the bar. They hailed from somewhere in Canada and had been on multiple voyages with various cruise lines in their past adventures. This was their first Virgin cruise, and they absolutely loved the excursion today. Seeing all of the South of France in 8 hours by bus was apparently their idea of a good time. But back on the ship, they said, they were a little bit bored. “There isn’t much going on,” the husband said.

Unlike traditional cruise lines that blast event updates over the ship public address systems, Virgin makes no announcements—at all. It’s part of a “chill vibe,” the phrase for the anti-cruise cruise experience that Virgin wants to cultivate. Passengers can read event listings on the Virgin Voyages app, but that app is deservedly panned for being clunky, confusing, and often glitchy. And with no activities going on in the central areas of the ship, The Canadian couple expressed feeling disconnected with the social scene. That one guy playing guitar in the bar beneath the staircase wasn’t doing much to liven the place up.

I finished my drink and said my goodbyes, and as I walked along, I approached The Red Room, the ship’s theatre (pictured above in a photograph staged by Virgin) where music was booming out of the doors. I peeked inside. A group called Dual Reality was performing an acrobatic parkour-meets-street-dancing interpretation of Romeo and Juliet. As weird as that sounds, the show was lively and fun, and the audience applauded enthusiastically. Oh, so this is where everybody is, I thought. Too bad the Canadians didn’t know.

With an entire day at sea, I committed to being social and trying as many activities as possible. First, I finally found where the cool people were hanging out. The hipster hive was down on Deck 7 at The Dock (pictured above in a publicity image provided by Virgin), an outdoor deck where rows of daybeds beckoned with views of the ocean’s horizon. 

Here was the Virgin Voyages cruise that I had envisioned: men with funny mustaches and women with lusciously inflated lips drinking IPAs or just scrolling their own social media accounts. Mellow music, nobody screaming at you to join a ping pong contest—the vibe was elegant and chill. Alas, there were no beds open at The Dock, because as much as Virgin tries to be the anti-cruise cruise, the Scarlet Lady still falls prey to that scourge of the high seas, People Who Save Seats By Putting Their Stuff Down And Then Vanish For Hours. A cruise is a cruise is a cruise. (“We can’t do anything about it,” said a server, motioning to an unused bed with a backpack on it, before rolling his eyes and adding, “…unfortunately.”) 

I was at the elevators when a curly-haired twentysomething woman bounced around the corner, clad entirely in colorful Spandex. We had already met briefly, but she greeted me like an old friend. “What ya doin’?” she chirped, in a rolling English accent. I stammered a response about being lost as usual.

She shook her head dismissively. “Come with me,” she commanded, and playfully grabbed my arm to pull me onto an elevator. We scurried across the ship to The Manor, the ship’s nightclub—yet another space that I did not know existed—where ‘80s music was blaring. 

Three members of the Virgin Voyages crew were on stage, adorned in neon ‘80s attire and leading a class in old-school aerobics. My new friend pointed to an empty space in the crowd where I could have some room to move and we joined the action, working up a sweaty glow to songs by Janet Jackson and Madonna. The main attraction was the witty, sexually suggestive banter from the instructors.

“Everybody grab your Shake Weights!” shouted one of the instructors, and everyone ran to the equipment table to grab one of the isometric contraptions. (And because Virgin includes all activities in the fare, there was no one to stop us to ask us to pay anything to join.) Shake shake shake, we proceeded to shake them vigorously in front of our faces, while the instructors lobbed jokes laced with sexual innuendo. This would never happen on Norwegian , I thought, as I shook myself silly. Carnival, maybe .

Following that class, I actually succeeded in finding another fun new activity: Drag Queen Bingo. For $40, I received two sets of Bingo cards in the hopes of winning several hundred dollars in prize money. 

The hostess of the event, a drag queen called The Diva, sauntered onto the stage, her sequin gown gracefully draped across her football player’s shoulders. Her entrance was greeted by uproarious applause from the audience, and she launched into singing a skilled rendition of “Defying Gravity” from the musical Wicked . The passenger sitting next to me, a middle-aged mom from Long Island taking the cruise with her (18-year old) daughter, clapped vigorously and cheered. “This is my ninth Virgin cruise,” she told me, her voice thick with a Long Island accent. “I know all of the drag queens on all of the ships. This one is the best singer.”

I asked her what she loved so much about Virgin Voyages that kept bringing her back. “The staff,” she gushed. “They’re so friendly. And there is such a feeling of acceptance on the ship, for everybody. Especially for the LGBTs,” and she motioned toward The Diva, who was rattling off the rules of the Bingo game. 

 I agreed, and I mentioned how I noticed a plentiful supply of same-sex couples (lured by Virgin’s adults-only policy) who held hands as they moved about the ship. “It’s not like they’re swappin’ spit at the pool,” she said emphatically, shaking her head. “They just want to be themselves, to be free.” She paused as her eyes gazed into the distance. “I think it’s beau-ti-ful .”

That evening, I checked the Virgin Voyages app for open seats at the restaurants. Virgin ships have more than 20 specialty dining options, from Korean barbecue to “vegetarian-forward” cuisine, ramen noodles, upscale Mexican, and the list goes on. The food in these restaurants was arguably the best aspect of ship life on Virgin Voyages. I thought everything, really everything, was delicious. I chose The Test Kitchen (pictured above), the experimental food lab concept on Virgin ships, where guests are served a set 6-course meal, with each dish highlighting one particular ingredient. “Beets,” “Asparagus,” “Venison”—flavors are accentuated with emulsions and foams, with combinations like strawberries and wasabi blending together to create a unique culinary experience. Or at least that’s the goal. Portions are small, so big eaters tend to grab a pizza after.

I sat at the bar next to a young woman who had just been served her first course, a plate of mushroom pâté. Mushrooms were blended with cream and truffle oil and then molded back into a cartoonish shape of a mushroom, to be spread on toast. She was telling the server she didn’t think she could eat it. 

Everyone around her, the server included, sprang into action, encouraging her to try it: it really is good, you can do it, it’s not as weird as it looks . The couple sitting on her other side, both of whom were of grandparenting age, looked at her lovingly and cooed “Try just one bite, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it.” And she turned to look at me, searching for sympathy, but all I could come up with was, "You know this is all free, so you can just go get something else if you don’t like it.”

Strangely, this reasoning seemed to register with her. She sat up straight, and slathered some of the grey goo on a piece of toast. After a moment’s hesitation and a deep encouraging breath, she took her first crunchy bite. Her eyebrows raised and her eyes widened at the cool, creamy, savory goodness with just a hint of truffle. She smiled and looked around. Her fans cheered her on. And as we applauded her bravery for trying something new, I thought:  Okay, Scarlet Lady, well played. I’m starting to get it now.  

Today, it seemed everyone found their vibe. This was Scarlet Night, the premier party of this Bimini-free cruise, where everyone is encouraged to wear red and gather on the pool deck, to dance and drink and be merry.  House music boomed through the air as lasers shot beams of light across the crowd. Retirees shuffled back and forth with energetic millennials who happened to bounce by. Everyone was dressed for the occasion somehow, including the the Virgin staff members, who seemed to be wearing as little as possible. 

I spotted the Canadians from days before. She looked fabulous in her red dress, and he was wearing a red flannel shirt, presumably the only red shirt that he owned. Watching them coyly dance back and forth, but smiling at each other, I was glad that they finally figured out how to join the party. 

And it seems that’s what Virgin Voyages is really all about.  Some cruises hire cruise staff to run around with perma-smiles and force drunken karaoke upon passersby in the central promenade. Virgin doesn’t do that. It welcomes you onto its ships and its provides the champagne and the trendy beer and the beautiful spaces to sit, but it is up to you to figure out how to make it work.

Later, I saw my Drag Bingo friend from Long Island. We had an overnight stay in Ibiza coming up, which would be nice, but after that the cruise would come to an end. She asked me if I was sad to be leaving soon. I told her I really was sad, a little. Like The Canadians, I had finally figured out how to join the party, too. 

She told me to she was already signed up for her next Virgin cruise, bringing her tally to 10. But, she said, this cruise was going to be hard to beat: “I was up on the RockStar deck,” she said, referring to the deck for VIP frequent cruisers like herself, “And there was a group of guys, and they were having a gay wedding!”

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The land lover’s guide to cruising with virgin voyages.

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Richard Branson’s cruise line is creating new on-land excursions — just epic enough to make you want to set sail.

The Scarlet Lady is one of four Virgin branded cruise ships.

On a recent Tuesday in May, three neither rich nor famous ladies are running full-tilt through the streets of Cannes, France, past the star-studded red carpet during the opening of its 77th annual film festival. In just a few hours, Meryl Streep will arrive to receive her Honorary Palme d'Or prize. And the latest films from legends like Francis Ford Coppola, George Miller and Kevin Costner will have their world premieres.

Meanwhile, we three amigos are dodging the French police, skirting a wall of metal barricades, and elbowing through a crush of paparazzi snapping photos — of everyone but us.

“If you fall, I’m not carrying you back to the boat!” shouts my ship-mate Jo, as her flip-flops smack the pavement. “I’m not going to fall!” I shout back, gaining speed despite being in a somewhat sozzled state courtesy of the iconic Carlton Cannes hotel — a truly wonderful spot to witness Hollywood royalty roll by sur La Croisette. But that’s beside the point. We’ve got to get back to the floating resort called Scarlet Lady before we’re left stranded on the French Riviera without her 20 restaurants, two outdoor pools, full-service spa, fitness center and our own Mega Rock Star cabin with an ocean-facing balcony, fully stocked bar and dedicated butler.

The Rock Star robe confers cabin status.

In my defense, being deposited on shore during the Cannes film festival is really THE time to wear impossibly high heels if there ever was one. Because being dressed for the unexpected, spontaneous bursts of joy that just happen-to-happen before, during, or after an on-land excursion is, in my humble opinion, the entire point of cruising in the first place.

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For better or worse, cruising is back. Carnival , Norwegian and Royal Caribbean all reported entering the year with record highs for individual bookings and cruise pricing. Though Virgin Voyages is a relatively small player in the mega-ship space with only three ships in operation (its fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, will set sail September 2025 from New York City), the company is leaning heavily into its “ Shore Things ” excursions. Exclusive or novel on-land tours are a clear way to differentiate their product offerings and increase bookings. Having recently raised $550 million from investors , the pressure to do so is high.

On average, only 30% of Virgin sailors book tours according to Shore Things manager Ali Samms, which means there’s room to grow. Of course, others are doing the same ; evermore elaborate excursions are becoming table-stakes for the industry.

“We usually offer 15 to 20 tours per port, at varying price points,” Natasha Salzedo, Virgin Voyages Director of Itineraries and Destinations, explains. “Everyone has different expectations, so I’m hoping we can find something everyone can connect with and really delve into the destination. ‘Off the beaten path’ means something a little different for everybody, but really being able to uncover hidden gems that a sailor would have never known about or weren’t able to experience before — that’s the idea.”

This summer and into the fall, Scarlet Lady is sailing seven-night Mediterranean itineraries out of Barcelona dubbed “ Irresistible Med ” and “ French Daze & Ibiza Nights .” Choosing the latter, I convinced Jo, my friend of 28 years, who, like me, gave birth in the dire circumstances of 2020, to celebrate this Mother’s Day by going all-in and signing up for excursions in every possible port of call, including Marseilles, Cannes, Mallorca and Ibiza. To us, the prospect of a whole week without wiping noses or soothing toddler tantrums is like telling us we’re about to be beamed to the moon. We don’t believe it until…

A massive 912-foot honker, emblazoned with the scantily-clad Scarlet mermaid, presents herself in the middle of Barcelona’s busy port. The high seas await!

Sip Lounge Champagne Bar

We’re welcomed onboard with champagne flutes and ushered into a swanky lounge bar, where we’re checked-in to our Tom Dixon-designed RockStar suite, complete with vinyl record player and adjustable mood lighting. There are 1,330 cabins and 78 RockStar quarters aboard the Scarlet Lady, where we expect to receive “RockStar” treatment.

Which is fitting, as this is a very Branson boat. Meaning, it’s an adults-only party staffed by omnipresent DJs. There are solo traveler itineraries, with plenty of opportunities for singles to coagulate. And, on Scarlet Night, the week’s biggest party, people end up dancing in the pool with hired dancers and drag queens. Here are the highlights:

Cassis, France

MARSEILLE | DAY 2

The Calanques Coast by Boat and Foot

At first glance, Marseille is massive, gritty and chaotic. But as our tour bus heads east down the highway, the busy port soon gives way to the vineyards of Cassis, a cheerfully-colored seaside town, famous for its dramatic cliffs and crisp rosé wine. We admire the hand-painted boats along the docks until it's time to get in one, a small sightseeing charter, which takes us out for a close-up look at Les Calanques — a dramatic coastline of powder-white limestone cliffs, covered in tall, thin pine trees that grow straight up from the rocks, and seem to peer over the azure bays below.

Our Franglish-speaking tour guide, Audrey, grew up outside Marseille, and provides us with a basic overview of each place-of-interest. She points out Port-Miou, a natural cove with its own small, sandy beach, though evidently it would be too cold (in May), or too time-consuming for our group to stop and swim. So, we head back to Cassis, and are left with under two hours “at leisure.” At this point, we’re starving, so four of us take the boat captain’s advice and head to La Vieille Auberge , one of many French bistros along the harbor. “Go there, not there” he grunts through leathery-tan skin. “Next door, people get sick.” Like they say, locals know best. It’s touristy, but we don’t care, because the tuna tartare is fresh, the Sancerre is flowing and the daube provençale (beef bourguignon) is served in its own copper pot. We’re in France mes amis , let the gourmet games begin!

Welcome to the Carlton Cannes hotel, the icon of the French Riviera

CANNES | DAY 3

Red, White, & Rosé Days

Bright and early (around 9am cruise time) we’re speeding towards the shore in a small tender boat, chatting away with a serial-cruising couple from Dallas, when suddenly the Cannes coastline unfurls before our eyes. The buildings look pink, nestled into hillside cliffs, gently waking up with the morning sun. La Côte D’Azur.

Firmly on land, our guide Sandrine from Nice shepherds us into a bus, which drives (painfully) away from Cannes, just as it prepares for its film festival close-up. Alas, we have no choice. This is a group tour, which require a go-with-the-flow mentality, so we hurtle along the coast past Pierre Cardin’s bizarre bubble house, the stunning red rocks of Cap Roux and through the Provençal countryside towards Taradeau, grounds of Château Saint-Martin , which dates back to 1740. The cellar tour and wine tasting is an opportunity to socialize with other sailors. After the third pour of light and fruity Eternelle Favorite rosé, everyone is sharing their experiences and feeling appreciative of the thirsty 18th-century monks who originally made this place a wine-making priory. Their stone cellar is still in use.

By 2:30pm, we’re deposited back in Cannes, with the caveat that we must return to the boat by 7:30pm. That’s five glorious hours to be here on this night of nights, when the whole city comes alive with excitement. Women are decked out to the nines with the GDPs of small nations hanging on their necks. We scurry along the Croisette to the Carlton Cannes hotel because we cliché Americans are still in love with the 1995 movie French Kiss . Remember when Meg Ryan pratfalls over the dessert tray? This is that hotel. There’s zero chance we’re getting a table. But we have to try. I give the doorman my warmest smile, and the next thing you know, we’re escorted past a lobby press conference and a bright-eyed bartender is asking how we like our martinis. Clean with ice cold Tanqueray in a coupe glass, merci .

A stop at Son Marroig, outside Deià, a magical village in Mallorca.

PALMA DE MALLORCA | DAY 5

Culture in Valldemossa and Lunch in Deià

After Cannes, it’s a blessing that we have a day in-between excursions at sea. These are days to rest, exercise, play, work (the free-wifi actually works thanks to Starlink), and then try not to overeat — all food is included in your ticket price — on this floating party resort. The reprieve gives us the energy we’ll need for what happens today: our first-ever visit to Mallorca, which rises from the Balearic sea like a Moorish dream. The word that comes to mind is: exquisite.

Our official Mallorcan guide, Dominik Gelada Rabiger deserves a mention, because he gives the best tour yet. On group jaunts like these, the quality of your experience depends almost entirely on the guide. Rabiger was born and raised here, speaks English, German and Spanish, and knows everything there is to know about this island. On the bus ride through the Tramuntana mountains to Valldemossa, he regales us with the island’s history (Mallorca switched between Roman, Byzantine, and Moor rule before becoming the autonomous region of Spain it is today). Next, we tour the grand old monastery La Cartuja, once home to kings, monks, and the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and his French mistress, novelist Amantine Dupin (1804-1876), who used the pseudonym George Sand. Frankly, the town is really milking the couple’s three months here, when Chopin was quarantined with tuberculosis, for all the tourist dollars it can — but we don’t mind. We’re treated to a 15-minute piano recital in the concert hall, which occurs eight times daily in summer, and then emerge to a sunny afternoon, free to buy cutesy souvenirs like these Spanish espadrilles .

Our next stop solidifies my stance: great excursions can justify a cruise. An al fresco lunch overlooking the sea has been organized in Deià, at La Residencia, a Belmond hotel . If you follow luxury hotels, you know Belmond is one of the world’s best brands, and this particular property — formerly owned in the 1980s by Richard Branson himself (word is he’s been trying to buy it back ever since) — is everything a hotel lover could ask for, starting with the stone entrance. To get to lunch, we hike the pavers up to Restaurante Miro’s terrace, past lush landscaping overflowing with lavender, lemon trees, olive trees and the seductive scent of white jasmine.

The tables are beautifully set with local wines (read: unavailable back home), homemade breads, and plenty of Mallorcan olives and olive oil. Salads are a mix of tomato and mozzarella full of Jabugo ham from pure-bred Ibérico pigs dressed in balsamic cream, followed by beef tenderloin with potato gnocchi in a red wine sauce. We wash it all down with a Raimat cabernet , and finish the elegant meal with perfect rectangles of homemade almond cake, served with a side of deeply comforting almond gelato.

Let’s just say, I’m already counting the days until I return to stay here for as long as humanly possible. Fun fact: United Airlines flies direct from Newark to Palma.

The 'Pharmacy Bar' at Six Senses Ibiza, a wellness resort.

IBIZA | DAY 6-7

Ibiza Beach Club Experience

To culminate the week, an overnight stay in Ibiza is the night many on this party-happy cruise ship have been waiting for. For us mamas, the idea of clubbing until 4am sounds more like a nightmare. Judging from our short stint at the Scarlet Lady’s nightclub, the Manor, we wouldn’t last more than 30 minutes inside Ibiza’s Pacha, the famed oontz-oontz nightclub where everyone else is headed. Instead, we merry sailors (now a tight-knit group of four) head to the Six Senses resort on the north side of the island, just a 30-minute Uber ride away. Ibiza’s sunset, seen from the Beach Caves restaurant at Six Senses, is spectacular. The strum of the guitar from the long-haired, barefoot smiling Spanish buddha, Juan Calero Navalon, is the kind of transporting experience that encapsulates why people travel in the first place.

By the next morning, we’re ripe for rest and relaxation. Thankfully, the ‘beach club experience’ involves lying down on a full sized foam mattress (with pillows!) right out on the sand at the Nassau Beach Club . This venue is the most touristy yet, but once again, that doesn’t bother us because we’re shaded by a large umbrella, drinking a complimentary pitcher of Sangria, enjoying the views. These people bring hooch beachwear to another level. Diamond mesh doesn’t cover anything, honey!

Very soon, our adventure will come to a close and we’ll be flying coach from Barcelona back to real life. But daytime in Ibiza is a bit like daytime in Las Vegas — it’s just what we need to emotionally move on. It also helps that Gaya, our exceptionally helpful “Mega Rockstar Agent,” essentially a cabin butler, has already organized our car transfer back to the airport without us having to lift a finger. A hospitality graduate from Mumbai, she has looked after our every need throughout the week.

There are some experiences you only dream about and there are those you didn't know you needed — until they're right in front of you. Gleefully chasing the ship from the Cannes promenade during the film festival is one I’ll never forget, nor is watching the sun dip into the sea off the coast of Ibiza. What will last, long after we return home, is the positive effect on our friendship. For us, it means that every time we wear our espadrilles or make espresso in our duty-free Barcelona cups, we will think wistfully of Mother’s Day-Week — which, after this most epic working-mom cruise — should definitely become a thing.

7 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BOOKING

• Bookings: Virgin heavily promotes Shore Excursions weeks before boarding via email marketing blasts. Don’t ignore them. Book your excursions early, or they will be sold out, because there are not enough seats to go around.
• Passport: You do not need to carry your passport. Store it in your safe on the boat; just make sure you’re back on board on time! Your tour guide will remind you of your curfew time at least thrice.
• Paperwork: You’ll be asked to sign a ticket contract before embarkation and liability waivers on tour buses. It’s par for the course.
• Tips: No tips are needed for tour guides. Tipping is included in your voyage fare.
• Refunds: Shore Things are fully refundable, if you cancel 48 hours before the start of the excursion taking place. You can use the Virgin Voyages App to do this, which the company makes you download before boarding. It’s where you’ll find your itinerary, communicate with staff, or order food and drinks to your cabin.
• Pricing: Virgin Voyages uses dynamic pricing to dictate tour pricing (the higher demand for a specific tour, the higher the price). Per their website, “Please be aware that price will vary by voyage and can be found in your app or by calling Sailor Services.” When you see ‘Starting from,’ take it with a grain of salt. Our Shore Things ranged from $320 to $530.
• Tour Operators : “This Shore Thing operator has received third-party certification based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria” is listed on each of the above tours. If it’s not listed, choose one that is.

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5 Affordable Cruise Vacations to Book — Plus How to Find the Best Deals

Here's what you need to know to save money on your next cruise.

Best Affordable Cruise Lines

How to find the best cruise deals, tips for saving money while on board.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruising has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. This form of travel is incredibly convenient (read: no need to pack and unpack), and everything you need can be found right on board — ultimately taking the stress out of trip planning. Plus, with hundreds of ships at sea across dozens of lines, there’s a cruise out here for every type of traveler. Fortunately, cruising doesn’t have to cost a small fortune, and many budget-conscious travelers may opt to set sail for their next trip. Below, we’ve rounded up the best cruise lines offering affordable fares coupled with value-packed inclusions to stretch your dollar further. We’ve also tapped some expert cruise specialists to share their top tips and tricks to help you save money both on and off the ship.

Here's everything you need to know to book an affordable cruise vacation.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

This adults-only cruise line from Richard Branson — which also happens to be a Travel + Leisure World’s Best Award winner — offers excellent value. In fact, according to T+L A-list cruise advisor and Q Cruise + Travel founder and president Rob Clabbers, Virgin Voyages fares “include more than on most mainstream large-ship cruise lines.” For example, he says, “Virgin fares include internet access, gratuities, all meals — there are no cover charges for its restaurants that on most other lines would be considered specialty restaurants.” Beverages like soft drinks, coffee, and tea are also included, as are snacks, mezze at the aft terrace, and group workout classes. Best of all, there are no pricey beverage packages. “Instead,” says Clabbers, cruisers — or, as Virgin calls them, sailors — can buy their own reasonably priced drinks (think: beers from $6, $10 cocktails, and wines by the glass under $11) a la carte. Additionally, with some promotions , the cruise line throws in a “ bar tab ” credit that can be used towards drinks.

Princess Cruises

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Another World’s Best Award winner — and WBA Hall of Fame Honoree, no less — this fan-favorite ocean line is renowned for refined ships, serene ambiance, and exceptional service. Moreover, per Clabbers, passengers can choose from “optional packages to help customize a passenger’s trip that provide savings over buying things separately.” For an extra $60 per day, consider Princess Plus, which offers perks like Wi-Fi for one device per guest, gratuities, fitness classes (two per sailing), and beverages like bottled water, specialty coffee, soft drinks, and juice. Alternatively, for $80 per day, passengers can spring on the Princess Premier package, which features the same beverages plus specialty dining (two per sailing), unlimited fitness classes, premium desserts, reserved theater seating, and Wi-Fi (four devices per guest).

Norwegian Cruise Line 

Norwegian Cruise Line is a favorite among families of all ages for its over-the-top entertainment and activities (think: go-karting, Broadway-caliber productions, and so on). “While Norwegian Cruise Line may price slightly higher than some of its competitors, you need to consider the Free at Sea package,” says travel advisor Jennifer Travis of Marvelous Mouse Travels . She goes on to describe the promotion as a “game-changer when it comes to cruising” since it includes perks like a “free open bar (up to $1,400 in savings), free specialty dining (up to $180 in savings), free Wi-Fi (up to $200 in savings), and a $50 discount on excursions.” Other Free at Sea perks include 70 percent off second guests, free third and fourth guests (on select dates), and free airfare (per the cruise line’s website: “ Pay airfare for one guest, and you'll automatically lock in roundtrip flights for two ”). Also, you can’t go wrong with the Free at Sea Plus package, which includes a wider selection of beverages, more specialty dining, unlimited Wi-Fi, and additional shore excursion credits. Before booking, be sure to check the line’s full selection of deals , which run the gamut from half-off deposits to $150 cruise credits and more.

Royal Caribbean

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Zip lines, water slides, surfing simulators, ice skating, rock climbing walls: Find all this and more aboard (most) Royal Caribbean ships — and, best of all, they’re complimentary! Ideal for fun- and adventure-loving travelers of all ages — read: kids and kids-at-heart alike — it’s pretty much impossible to be bored while cruising on this World’s Best Award-winning mega-ship line . Additionally, according to Travis, Royal Caribbean “offers some of the best short itineraries,” some of which clock in at under $200 per person for two-night sailings. Longer itineraries, including a seven-night Bahamas sailing aboard one of the line’s newest ships, Odyssey of the Seas , clock in at under $600 per person. The line also offers an abundance of deals , including up to $600 off sailings, 60 percent off second guests, and more.

Carnival Cruise Line 

Courtesy of Carnival Cruises

“ Carnival Cruise Line is known for its competitive pricing without cutting back on the onboard activities or various dining options, thus making them an attractive option to budget-conscious cruisers,” explains Travis. For example, many itineraries, including a four-night Bahamas cruise from Miami , clock in at just over $150 per person. Additionally, says the travel advisor, “Carnival sails to a wide variety of destinations from so many local ports that you almost do not need to fly to your cruise ship anymore, which is another huge savings given the cost (and stress) flights can add to any vacation.” Keep an eye out for frequent flash sales for even more savings.

Booking early is an easy way to save on your next cruise vacation . “Typically,” says Travis, “the best pricing on a cruise is when the schedule is first released.” And, while you could wait for a last-minute deal, “you may not get the room category that you want.” Similarly, Clabbers says that flexibility is key when it comes to finding — and scoring — the best cruise deals . For example, he previously told T+L that if you are “very flexible and are looking for a standard room on a large ship on an itinerary that repeats week after week, you are more likely to find a promotional fare.”

Conversely, giving up some of that flexibility sometimes pays off. According to Clabbers, select cruise lines will offer lower fares to those who opt for a nonrefundable deposit instead of a refundable one. Finally, you may also consider cruising in shoulder season or even low season. Sure, the weather won’t be perfect, but the fewer crowds and cheaper fares more than make up for that, especially if you’re on a budget.

While your tab can quickly rack up once on board, there are several savvy ways to save money. For one, consider bringing your own booze. According to Travis, “Many cruise lines allow their guests to bring a specific amount of alcohol or nonalcoholic beverages onboard the ships, which can help save you money while you are on the ship.” Additionally, ​​Michele Benard , another travel advisor at Marvelous Mouse Travels, advises packing your own necessities from home — like Advil, Tums,  motion sickness medicine, and after-sun lotion — as opposed to buying them on board at a much higher price. You’ll also want to skip the souvenirs at the onboard gift shop, which tend to be more expensive than those you’d find in port.

Benard also recommends taking advantage of “all the free activities on the cruise ships,” which can include everything from water slides to trivia game shows. Pro tip: “Stay onboard during a port day, and the lines won’t be as long.” On a similar note, spa treatments tend to be less expensive on port days, so those craving some R&R — that is, sans breaking the bank — may consider booking a service during this time.

Finally, says Clabbers, save money on your next cruise by enlisting the help of an onboard cruise consultant to select your next sailing. “You will typically receive an onboard credit or savings on your next cruise, and your own travel advisor will be alerted so they can help you plan your vacation.”

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