Heidi BucoloVirgin Voyages does almost everything differently, and that’s exactly why a first cruise with the brand can catch you off guard. There’s no main dining room, no kids, no set dinner times, and non-traditional entertainment. But there is more packed into your fare than you’d expect if you’ve sailed with other maintstream cruise lines before.
We’ve sailed Virgin in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Alaska so we’ve picked up plenty of insider knowledge along the way. That’s why we’ve rounded up the 40 tips we’d hand a friend before their first voyage.
Before You Book
The choices you make before you ever step onboard shape your whole Virgin Voyages experience. Since VoyageFair Choices arrived, the fare you pick affects your price, your flexibility, your WiFi, and even how early you can book dining. Add in Virgin’s solo-friendly pricing and perks you may not know about, and a little planning at this stage pays off. Here’s where to start.
Book early
As with most cruise lines, Virgin’s cruise fares tend to be lowest the moment a new season of itineraries opens, then climb as cabins start to sell out closer to the sailing date. If you already know where and when you want to sail, booking early is the simplest way to pay less for the exact same voyage.
It also gives you first dibs on the popular sailings and cabin categories, which can sell out well ahead of time.
Think hard about which fare you pick
Since VoyageFair Choices launched, your fare isn’t just a price anymore, it’s a set of rules and inclusions. The Base fare is the cheapest, but it’s non-refundable, allows no changes, and your cabin can be assigned as late as 7 days before you sail.
For most first-timers, the Essential price tier is the sweet spot. It’s closest to Virgin’s old all-in feel, stays refundable as credit, and leaves room to change plans. If you’re looking for even more inclusions, go with the Premium fare with adds in premium WiFi and a Bar Tab.
Only book the Base fare if your dates (and travel companions) are locked in stone.
Use a travel advisor
A good travel advisor often has access to group rates, Sailor Loot, or Bar Tab promotions you won’t find booking on your own. On a line with as many quirks as Virgin, having someone who knows the ropes is worth a lot, too, especially if you’re not familiar with the brand.
Best of all, it doesn’t cost you extra, and you get a real person to call when your plans shift or you run into any issues. Since travel advisor commisions are baked into cruise fares, you’re basically paying for one even if you don’t use their services.
Solo travelers, Virgin is built for you
Virgin is one of the few lines that is actually designed for solo sailors. There are dedicated solo cabins priced without the hefty single supplement most lines tack on, so you’re not paying double to travel alone. These cabins are limited so you’ll need to book early to secure one. If these solo cabins are already booked up, watch for promotions with reduced or no single supplements on double occupancy rooms.
The social atmosphere on Virgin Voyages helps too. Communal tables, group activities, and a relaxed crowd make it easy to meet people if you want to, and easy to keep to yourself if you don’t.
Pick your ship by the itinerary
All four Lady ships are nearly identical: the same size, layout, and general vibe. So, there’s no single best ship in the fleet like there is on other cruise lines with huge differences between classes. The experience onboard is extremely similar across ships. Brilliant Lady, sailing in Alaska, has a few slight modifications from her predecessors but nothing major.
That means you can safely choose your voyage based on where it goes, rather than which ship you want to sail on. Let the ports do the deciding for you. Currently, Virgin features sailings in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Alaska. In 2028, the cruise line will debut cruises to Scandinavia and the Baltics.
Always buy travel insurance
Cruise plans go sideways for all kinds of reasons, and a good travel insurance policy covers you for medical issues, trip interruptions, lost luggage, and sometimes even cancel for any reason. It’s a small cost against the price of the whole trip, and definitely worth it.
This matters even more on a Base fare, which is non-refundable. If something comes up, insurance may be your only way to recover the money. However, we recommend purchasing this insurance from a separate provider not the cruise line.
Before You Sail
Once your voyage is booked, a handful of small tasks in the days beforehand set you up for a smooth sailing. Knowing what to download, print, and pack ahead of time saves confusion at the terminal. Getting it done before you leave home means you step onboard ready for vacation.
Download the app before your cruise
The Virgin Voyages app runs your whole experience. It starts with checking in for your cruise and booking dining reservations. Once onboard, you’ll use it to book spa appointments or fitness classes, view your onboard spending account, and check the daily schedule for a listing of all the day’s activities and entertainment, so download it well before you sail.
It’s especially important to have because Virgin makes very few loudspeaker announcements. The app sends push notifications in place of the reminders you’d normally hear over the intercom.
Print your luggage tags
Like many cruise lines, it’ll save you time at the cruise terminal by printing your luggage tags ahead of time. Virgin emails these tags roughly 72 hours before embarkation. Print them at home but don’t attach them until you’re heading to the port on embarkation day. With tags in place, your bags are ready to hand off to the porters the moment you arrive.
It’s a small step, but it saves you from sorting out tags in the port chaos on boarding day. Don’t worry: if you forget them, the porters will have extras on hand.
Travel with your passport
Virgin Voyages is stricter about passports than most cruise lines. Officially every Sailor needs one, though they’ll grant exceptions on eligible closed-loop voyages from Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, or New York with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID.
Keep in mind that even though the cruise line will make the exception, it’s still good practice to always travel with one. Some specific ports may require one to disembark for the day. If an unexpected event forces you to leave the ship early in a foreign country, you’ll need one to get home as well. The same applies if you happen to miss the ship at one of your port stops.
Pack red, plus a few themed pieces
Scarlet Night is the signature event on Virgin Voyages’ sailings. It’s a shipwide, wear-red affair, so pack something in that color to join in on the fun. This can be anything from a touch of red to an over-the-top outfit, let your personality shine.
Check your specific sailing for other themed events too, like the first-night PJ Party, themed nighttime parties in The Manor, or the VHS workout classes. Of course, coordinating attire is optional but why not lean into it.
Pack a few cabin hacks
Virgin rooms are uniquely designed but notoriously compact, so a couple of small items go a long way with cabin organization and storage, especially on longer voyages. The walls of most cruise ship cabins are metal, which makes magnetic hooks perfect for hanging bags, hats, and jackets. We always bring them on all our cruises to help free up some valuable closet space for our actual clothing.
A hanging pocket organizer is the other winner. It holds chargers, toiletries, sunglasses, and the like. It’s a lifesaver for freeing up your limited counter space while still fully unpacking.
Bring a reusable water bottle
Virgin Voyages has no single-use plastics onboard, so there are no bottled waters available. Instead, you’ll find refill stations around the ship and carafes delivered to your room each day. So, packing a reusable water bottle for your cruise is key.
A reusable bottle means you always have water on hand for port days, workouts, and anywhere else around the ship without hunting for a refill spot when you need water the most.
Bring wine, or pre-order buckets
You’re allowed to carry on two 750ml bottles of wine or champagne per cabin on embarkation day. Buy your favorites at shore prices and enjoy them on your balcony, where there’s no corkage fee. The $25 fee only applies if you drink it in a restaurant. Just note that beer and hard liquor can’t be brought aboard.
If you’d rather not haul bottles, you can pre-order beverage buckets of beer or canned cocktails to have waiting in your cabin instead. It’s convenient and will also save you a bit of money.
Dining
Food is where Virgin shines, but dining works nothing like a traditional cruise. There’s no main dining room, no true buffet, and no set dinner times, just 20-plus restaurants that are all included in your fare. That freedom is great once you know how it works, but a little planning is necessary.
Book your must-do restaurants early
The six main restaurants on Virgin ships require reservations: The Wake, Test Kitchen, Gunbae, Razzle Dazzle, Extra Virgin, and Pink Agave. Your dining reservation window depends on your fare and cabin, running from 120 days out for suites down to 15 days for the Base fare. Whenever yours opens, book your must-dine restaurants immediately.
Don’t fret if you can’t get everything pre-cruise, though. More reservations open once you’re onboard, and the dining concierge on embarkation day can help. Even check throughout the sailing, as new times will open up as other sailors cancel or change their plans.
Order more than one dish
Every restaurant on Virgin is included in your fare, with no per-person cover charges and no upcharge for extree entrees like many other cruise lines. So there’s no reason to hold back. If you’re torn between two appetizers or want to try a second entree, why not order both.
If availability allows, you could even dine at one restaurant for apps and then head to another for dinner later in the evening!
Of note: while most dishes are included, some menus have select “Treat Yourself” items that do cost extra.
Don’t skip brunch
While you may have heard past sailors raving about the dinner menus at these restaurants, you may not realize that a couple of them also serve brunch. So, you shouldn’t sleep in on these offerings.
The Wake, better known as the dinnertime steakhouse, features brunch items like steak & eggs and various benedicts. Razzle Dazzle offers brunch too with the can’t-miss smoked bacon. Build a lazy sea day morning around one of them and you won’t be disappointed.
Know that Razzle Dazzle has changed
If you’ve sailed Virgin before, Razzle Dazzle might not be the venue you remember. It’s been revamped with new menus, and the evening concept now varies by ship. What used to offer vegetarian-foward dishes, the menu has shifted to American comfort foods. Plus, three ships feature a unique dinner experience: Scarlet Lady – Lucky Lotus (Chinese), Valiant Lady – Ariya (Indian), and Brilliant Lady – Rojo (Spanish).
So even repeat sailors should give it another look if it’s been a while since your last voyage.
Look for Extra Virgin’s ship-specific dishes
Extra Virgin, the Italian trattoria, isn’t identical across the fleet anymore either. Each ship carries a few menu items unique to that vessel. Look for the icon on the menu designating the dishes. It’s a small detail, but if you’re a foodie, it’s worth knowing which dishes are unique to the vessel.
For instance, Brilliant Lady has a signature fritto misto appetizer, along with spaghetti alla puttanesca and braised lamb girella pasta dishes.
Try The Test Kitchen’s vegetarian menu
The Test Kitchen is Virgin’s experimental, lab-themed restaurant with a set tasting menu. The cruise line rotates through three menus depending on the length of the voyage. If you’re a picky eater like I am, don’t let the set menu automatically turn you off from booking.
Beyond the standard menu, there’s a separate vegetarian tasting version. If you’re plant-based or just don’t like one of the courses on the menu, you can swap it out for the alternative vegetarian option. Ask to see that menu once onboard to decide whether those options are more your flavor.
Try Ship Eats
Ship Eats is Virgin’s take on room service that includes breakfast, all-day options, and late-night bites. For a small delivery fee, you can order items like nutella-stuffed French toast or eggs and bacon for breakfast and charcuterie, a cheese burger, or NY strip steak right from your app. There’s a $10 delivery fee (waived if you’re staying in a suite), but it’s perfect for a slow morning on your balcony or a snack after a night out.
It even comes thoughtfully packed in a picnic-like carrying case, which is very convenient for transporting.
Don’t sleep on the casual spots
The included specialty-restaurant-quality venues get all the buzz, but Virgin’s other casual venues are great too. The Dock (and Dock House) does excellent Mediterranean-style tapas with great aft views and a chic beach club vibe. The Pizza Place slings delicious made-to-order personal pies, and The Sun Club Cafe serves up poke bowls and bao buns in an outdoor setting overlooking the pool deck.
Not to mention, there’s free ice cream, snacks like pretzels, hot dogs, and chicken wings at The Social Club, and The Galley with several unique food stalls. The Galley is Virgin’s take on a buffet with made-to-order dishes ranging from burgers and sandwiches to tacos and noodles. There’s even a 24/7 diner so you can grab a good bite at any hour.
Money, Drinks, and Tipping
Virgin keeps its pricing simpler than most lines, but there are still a few smart money moves you should know. Drinks work through a Bar Tab rather than the usual drink packages, gratuities recently changed, and a couple of extras are worth paying for while others aren’t. These tips help you budget accurately and make your dollars go the furthest.
Buy a Bar Tab for the bonus, but only what you’ll drink
Virgin doesn’t sell traditional drink packages. Instead, you can pre-load a Bar Tab, and the line adds bonus credit based on how much you buy. For instance, $300 tab becomes $350 to use for purchasing beverages on the ship. The catch is that you only receive the bonus dollars when purchasing pre-cruise (and sometimes on embarkation day).
One word of caution: Bar Tab is non-refundable once you sail. So estimate honestly what you’ll actually drink and buy to that, since anything left over at the end of the cruise is gone. You don’t want to feel the need to over-indulge the last day of the sailing just to get your money’s worth.
Bar Tab and Sailor Loot aren’t the same
You might be wondering what’s the difference between Bar Tab and Sailor Loot. These two credits look similar on your account but work very differently. Bar Tab covers drinks only. Sailor Loot is flexible and can be used on almost anything, from the spa to excursions to retail. But both are non-refundable. You can purchase a Bar Tab, but Sailor Loot is usually provided as part of a promotion either when booking the cruise or through a travel agent (think onboard credit).
Here’s the insider part. When you buy a drink, Virgin pulls from your Bar Tab first, then your Sailor Loot. So loading a Bar Tab saves your Sailor Loot for other purchases.
Budget for gratuities now
As of late 2025, the daily crew gratuity is no longer part of your cruise fare. It’s a separate charge now, like most other cruise lines, so factor it into your budget from the start. Pre-paying these gratuities locks it in at $20 per person per night, versus $22 if you wait and pay onboard.
Of note: while the daily gratuity is extra now, Virgin doesn’t charge the typical 18% or 20% gratuity on onboard purchases. The price you see is the price you pay.
Buy a thermal suite pass for a port day
The thermal suite at the Redemption Spa isn’t included in your fare, but it’s one of the better splurges onboard. A pass runs roughly $59 on port days and $79 on sea days for a three-hour block (two hours on Brilliant Lady in Alaska). The nice thing is that you don’t have to buy for the full week or even the full day, which makes the cost much more affordable if you want to check it out but not commit.
Our recommendation is to purchase a pass on a port day. It’s cheaper and it’s less crowded. While most other sailors are ashore, you can enjoy a relaxing morning or afternoon in the therapy pool, steam rooms, sauna, or salt room.
Embarkation Day
If you haven’t figured it out by now, embarkation day on Virgin runs a little differently, too. Boarding starts later than many lines, think around 2 PM, but there is a silver lining. Get the few quick mandatory tasks out of the way right when you board, and you can still get to enjoying a drink poolside before sail away.
Head straight to your cabin
Unlike many cruise lines where you’re stuck lugging around your carry-on items until mid-afternoon, Virgin has your cabin ready the moment you board. Given the later embarkation time, you can drop your bags and settle in right away on embarkation day. That makes for a smooth start to any trip!
Once you check off the few must-do items, like muster drill and making reservations, you can start exploring the ship and getting ready to set sail the Virgin way.
Knock out the muster drill first thing
Muster drill is a mandatory maritime requirement for all cruise lines, but the good news is that Virgin’s safety drill is mostly digital. You can watch the briefing in the app or on your stateroom’s television. Once complete, you’ll need to check in at your assigned muster station in person for a few brief instructions. This is the place you would report in an actual emergency, so remember it.
Everyone has to complete this process before the ship sails. If you do it as soon as you board, it’s off your list and frees you up to enjoy the rest of the day.
Reserve everything else the second you board
Beyond dining (which you can pre-reserve), a lot of Virgin’s best experiences take reservations, and they can only be made once onboard the ship. These activities will fill fast, so we recommend logging into the cruise line’s WiFi as soon as you board to book these experiences in the app.
Things like group fitness classes, Squid Ink tattoo appointments, spa treatments, select shows, and up-charge activities like mixology classes need to be booked. Waiting even a day can mean missing out on them entirely.
Getting the Most Onboard
Once you’re settled, a handful of habits separate sailors who get the most out of a Virgin cruise from those who miss half of it. A lot of the best moments are easy to walk right past, from free extras to app features. These tips make sure you don’t leave anything good on the table.
Enjoy the relaxed schedule
Unlike some cruise lines where you feel like you need to race from one activity to the next if you want to fit everything into your vacation, the vibe on Virgin is more relaxed. Yes, there’s still a lot to do, but it doesn’t feel as overwhelming.
Along with a later than typcial embarkation, you can also disembark the ship later, allowing you to sleep in or grab breakfast on your final morning. Disembarkation times run as late as about 10:30 AM depending on the ship and itinerary. Just book your flights with the later schedule in mind.
Spend a day at Bimini
Most Caribbean and Bahamas sailings stop at The Beach Club at Bimini, Virgin’s private beach destination, and it’s included in your fare. There’s no admission fee, food is complimentary, and your Bar Tab works at the bars.
It’s more than a typical beach day, though, as there’s two lagoon-style pools, DJs, a flotilla party, beach games, yoga, and more. But, you’re also free to explore the rest of Bimini if you choose.
Hit the Glam Station before Scarlet Night
Before Scarlet Night (and sometimes on other select evenings), the Virgin Voyages’ Happenings Cast sets up a free “Glam Station” with glitter, rhinestones, and face paint to help you get into the spirit. It’s complimentary, unique to Virgin Voyages, and a fun way to prep for the ship’s biggest party. Check the app for the exact times and location and swing by early as the lines can get long later in the evening.
You don’t have to book excursions through Virgin
Virgin’s own Shore Things are convenient, but they aren’t your only option. These shore excursions through the cruise line are often more expensive and have larger group sizes. Independent operators like Shore Excursions Group often run the same or similar tours for less. Shore Excursions Group even builds in a return-to-ship guarantee or they’ll pay to get you to the next port.
So, when deciding on what to do in port, be sure to weigh all your options.
Use the app to chat with Sailor Services
Besides the typical cruise line app features, Virgin’s app has a built-in chat feature that is free to use. You can chat with Sailor Services right in the app, which beats waiting in line at the desk for a quick question or to resolve an issue. Guests were previously able to chat with each other as well, but this feature wasn’t working on our most recent August 2026 sailing.
Currently, you are only able to link other sailors for the purposes of coordinating reservations. Instead, download WhatsApp prior to your cruise and add your newly made friends to a group chat to communicate with them during the sailing.
Get connected, then go airplane mode
Basic WiFi is included for every sailor, so connect as soon as you board. Then put your phone into airplane mode to avoid surprise roaming charges once you’re at sea.
If you need more than basic browsing, you can upgrade your WiFi to Premium or even Work From Sea. Premium adds faster browsing, video calling, and entertainment streaming, while Work From Sea adds VPN.
Grab the Daily Program
Your daily schedule of activities and shows lives in the app. It’s the best way to plan your day and stay up to date on what’s happening on the ship. You can even add these events to your calendar and get push notifications when they are about to start.
However, if you’d prefer the streamlined paper format, printed copies are usually available at Sailor Services and the Grounds Club. They’re handy for scanning the day at a glance or if you’d prefer not to carry your phone with you at all times.
Don’t miss the ship
Even with your phone in airplane mode, the time zone can change automatically, depending on which satellites its pinging. This means the display time on your phone and smart watch may not match the ship’s time. This mix up could cause you to be late for an activity or a shore excursion, or even worse, cause you to miss the all-aboard time of your ship while in port.
To be safe, the easy fix is to set your phone clock to manual and always match the ship’s time. When in doubt, you can always ask the crew at the gangway for the current time and/or the all-aboard time.
Cash in on your Sailing Club perks
You’re automatically enrolled in Virgin’s loyalty program, the Sailing Club, after your first voyage, with perks that grow as you sail more. Once you’ve reached 3 voyages, you’ll qualify for Blue Extras. Once you’ve reached 5 voyages, you’ll earn even more perks with Deep Blue Extras. These benefits add things like specialty coffees, laundry, priority boarding, and Bar Tab credit.
If you’ve already sailed with the cruise line, check what you’ve unlocked and actually use it. It’s easy to forget a benefit you’re entitled to. Who doesn’t love free lattes?
More is included than you think
If you’ve sailed other mainstream cruise lines before, it’s also easy to forget all the extras that are included on Virgin Voyages that aren’t on other brands. Things like soda, fitness classes, gelato, and arcade games won’t cost you any extra, so take full advantage of them. Free ice cream? Yes, please!
On most lines those little charges pile onto your onboard account one swipe at a time, but on Virgin they’re already yours. There’s no deciding if they’re worth the upcharge or not.
Before You Head Home
The last day of a cruise sneaks up fast, but two quick moves make it better. One saves you money on your next Virgin cruise, and the other saves you a headache after you’re home. Here’s how to end the trip on the right note.
Book your next voyage onboard
If you’ve caught the Virgin bug by the end of your sailing, book your next one before you leave. The My Next Virgin Voyage program offers a better rate plus onboard credit when you book onboard. For a 6-8 night cruise, sailors save $200 on the cruise fare and get $200 onboard credit. You only need a $150 deposit to lock in the next placeholder booking.
You can apply it to a future date you choose later. The newly announced updates to this program change the requirement to book and sail within two years of purchase. Keep in mind that name changes are no longer permitted for new MNVV placeholder purchases.
If you’re ready to book a specific voyage while onboard, you might be able to score an even better deal.
Check your onboard account
The day before you disembark, review your onboard account in the app to make sure everything looks accurate. It’s much easier to sort out a mistaken or duplicate charge while you’re still on the ship. Catching a discrepancy now means a quick visit to (or chat with) Sailor Services, preferably prior to disembarkation morning. Once you’re home, it’s a lot harder to get a charge reversed and means wasted time on the phone trying to dispute it.
Comments
Did you find these Virgin Voyages tips helpful? Do you have a sailing booked on Scarlet, Valiant, Resilient, or Brilliant Lady? Drop us an anchor below with your own Virgin Voyages tips, tricks, and secrets.
