Virgin Voyages is one of the newest cruise lines to hit the market, an extension of Virgin Group founded by the famous enterpreneur Richard Branson. Their motto is "an epic sea change for all" bringing a new take on cruising. Read on to find out if this should be the next cruise for you.
As a newbie to cruising (I specialize in domestic and international land vacations) when I first heard of Virgin Voyages I was intrigued by the adults only concept and boutique design of the ship. I had never really had an interest in cruising before until this cruise line and decided to give it a go. I brought my mom along since we take a yearly trip together and we headed off to Miami.
First Impressions
We arrived excited and ready to the Port of Miami at the newly opened Virgin Voyages terminal. Upon arrival you are directed to take your COVID-19 test (which is currently required as of this writing) prior to boarding the ship. All passengers must be fully vaccinated as well. Getting through was pretty quick and easy. Our ship had reduced capacity so it would be interesting to see how things are once "back to normal". The staff at the port were helpful and welcoming.
On Board
Once we were finally able to board we immediately started exploring! I am big on design and comfort level and there were so many unique and cozy spots to chill, relax, and just take in the vibe. If you haven't booked any shows or specialty restaurants in advance you want to do that immediately once you get on board through the VV app. They get booked up quick!
Your wristband is basically your wallet but it's pretty cool looking, waterproof, and recyclable! One of the first things we did was to meet with the "Foodie" because we had to get the low down on some of the best eats on the ship. Luckily, we were able to experience most of the restaurants on board. If you are a true foodie be sure to check out The Test Kitchen which features a 6 course meal paired with your choice of beer, wine, or alcholic beverages matched to each dish. A fantastic experience!
Entertainment was on point. Duel Reality was my favorite show but all were great. Definitely check out Never Sleep Alone as well for a sexy good time! Scarlet Night was fun. It's a themed night where everyone wears red and ends with a dance party in the pool. And don't miss the Squid Games inspired beach games at the Beach Club in Bimini!
The Good and the Not So Good
What I loved about the Scarlet Lady was its unique design and feel, that it is adults only (18+), and the spacious cabins that featured rain showerheads and the hammocks on the balconies. There is a really cool story behind where the hammocks are made and come from. The music was pretty decent throughout the ship as well giving you that hip vibe. And if you're lucky you might get invited to a secret experience only for a select few!
On the flip side, we did experience a hiccup with a Shore Things activity we booked. Long story short we ended up missing our tour in Nassau due to a lack of direction on meeting point. 4 other people missed the tour as well as a result of not knowing where to go and not finding anyone outside of the port. Interestingly enough it was very easy to find the Shore Things meeting point in Bimini. The port in Nassau is super chaotic so it would be a good idea to have better visibility and clear direction on where to meet for any tours with VV there.
Some of the eateries in the Galley were not open all the time or were only open during selected times and many closed at 10:00 pm. A little early for me, especially when you have entertainment going until about 11 or 12am but you can order food to your room 24/7.
Tip: when accessing the basic wi-fi make sure you stay on airplane mode or else the Virgin Voyages app won't work. Still needs some improvements but we managed.
Should you go on a VV cruise?
Overall, I give my first cruise on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady a 4 out of 5 stars. If you are open minded, looking for an adults only experience where you can bring out your inner child as well, and looking for a new and exciting cruise experience then this cruise line is for you. It is perfect for groups and singles.
Most of the crew were absolutely amazing, the food and entertainment was great, and the vibe was just right. Special shoutout to Sabrina our server at Pink Agave and our cabin services crew Yus and Emi who take great care of us.
If you are ready to experience a Virgin Voyages cruise for yourself or your group I would be happy to help plan your trip! They have some exciting sailings coming up in Greece, to Dubai, and more. Don't just hear about it, go see for yourself!
Get started today by booking a complimentary discovery call here.
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