We first set sail on the new adult by design cruise line, Virgin Voyages, last fall. After sailing on the new brand’s first lady ship, there were several things we loved about Scarlet Lady. However, as more traditional cruisers, there were some things that we felt were missing from the cruise. So, we recently set sail the Virgin way once again on a 5-day Riviera Maya cruise. Now, we are back to share what’s changed since our last cruise on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady.
What’s Changed Since Our Last Cruise on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady
Many avid cruisers will appreciate the small tweaks to Scarlet Lady, adding a bit more “traditional” cruise features. Still, there are plenty of things that make Virgin Voyages unique in the crowded mega ship space.
For us, the big draws to this new cruise line are the more all-inclusive nature and the dining. Virgin Voyages base fare covers all dining on the ship, basic WiFi, all service charges and gratuities, and all group fitness classes. Not to mention, the WiFi is some of the best at sea (even if the app still has its glitches).
Thankfully, while there have been small menu updates, the dining quality has not changed since our last sailing. In our opinion, the dining is where Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady shines.
The unique dining rooms offer an intimate atmosphere with some of the best food at sea. Among the top choices include The Wake steakhouse, Italian selections at Extra Virgin, and the tapas at Pink Agave. Each of these complimentary venues are more akin to specialty restaurants on other cruise lines.
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New Terminal
Even before stepping foot onboard the cruise ship, there was one big change. Since we last cruised in October 2021, Virgin Voyages’ new terminal in Miami has debuted. Terminal V is an ultra chic and modern building that exudes a resort vibe.
While the actual embarkation location has changed, the later than typical embarkation times have not. Allowing sailors extra time to disembark the ship in the morning, Virgin Voyages embarkation does not begin until after 1 pm.
Still, we are happy to report that the process was MUCH smoother than our last sailing. With sailors now allowed to arrive to the terminal with a negative COVID test, the health screening and check-in process was quick and simple.
The inside of this new Terminal V is beautiful as well. With trendy furniture, lots of light, and USB charging stations, it’s too bad sailors aren’t allowed into the terminal sooner instead of waiting outside in the heat.
Cabin DĂ©cor
One of the big enhancements to Scarlet Lady since her launch is updates to the cabin dĂ©cor. Presumably based on customer feedback, additional accents have been added to the cabins for a more home-like feel. While small changes, the staterooms do feel warmer and less “hospital-like” or “Ikea-like”.
As you can see from our previous Sea Terrace review, the rooms were very white with minimalistic finishes. Now, the cabins feature wooden accents paying tribute to the brand’s nautical heritage. They also feature new artwork that is fun and very Virgin.
The cabins also received additional drawers for increased storage space on longer itineraries.
New Show in the Red Room
Another big differentiator of Virgin Voyages from mainstream cruise lines is the entertainment. The shows on Scarlet Lady are edgy and admittedly not for everyone. The Red Room is Virgin Voyages’ transformational main theater, which hosted two shows during our last sailing.
We experienced Duel Reality and Untitled DanceShowPartyThing. Duel Reality is a cirque-style performance and a modern take on Romeo and Juliet. Incorporating acrobatics, jugglers, and strength performances, Duel Reality is well-choregraphed and definitely our favorite show.
Untitled DanceShowPartyThing is a more immersive performance. Part social commentary, part dance party, this interactive show features a cast of dancers who deliver a high energy performance from beginning to end.
This time around, we were able to watch the new Red Room show, Ships in the Night. This show is the closest thing Virgin Voyages offers to a typical “cruise show”. Ships in the Night features one lead male singer and the same dance troupe from Untitled DanceShowPartyThing.
Honestly, we didn’t really know what to make of the show, but at least there is a third production show now.
Additional Live Music
During our last sailing on Virgin Voyages, we felt that one of the biggest and glaring omissions was live music. For a brand so rooted in music, this was a surprise to us. So, what’s changed on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady since our last sailing?
Happily, we can report that the cruise line is listening to customer feedback and more live performances have been added throughout the cruise. In addition to the pop-up performances by the Phantom Folktales and the VV House Band, we particularly enjoyed the acoustic guitar player on our sailing, Selkii.
Selkii played in the Roundabout and had a coffee house style. Performances alternated between this acoustic guitarist and the house band in On the Rocks. Honestly, we felt Selkii would have been the perfect performer for either the Dock House or the Loose Cannon, as these venues seem under-utilized especially in the evenings.
Plus, this would allow both performers to play at the same time and disperse the crowds. Of course, it’s fine now when the ship is sailing at only 30% capacity. Though, we envision On the Rocks being very crowded when the ship is fuller given that this is the main venue for live music.
Additionally, musical performances from other members of the Happenings Cast have also been added to the lineup. The Hostess, the Unicorn, and the Diva all now have a set. The drag queen performance by the Diva is definitely a fun addition.
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Additional Cruise Activities
Continuing the trend, Virgin Voyages has also added more traditional cruise activities to the daytime programming. Previously, we felt that there were really no organized activities during the day except fitness classes. While we loved relaxing at the Dock, it would have been nice to have other options.
Now, the Virgin Voyages happenings include trivia, games, scavenger hunts, presentations, and even karaoke. So, if sailors are looking to take a break from the sun, they can participate in one of these offerings.
There are also some up-charge activities available. These include paint classes, mezcal tastings, cooking demonstrations and tastings, and more.
Of course, you can also play some games in the retro arcade, challenge a friend to a shuffleboard or air hockey competition, play a game of b-ball on the sports court, or act like a kid again on the swings and see-saws at the Athletic Club.
Televisions in the Social Club
One of the complaints we heard from many sailors on our last cruise was that there were no televisions around the ship. Like most pool decks, there is no large screen television near the main pool in the Aquatic Club. Further, there is no traditional sports bar or pub on Scarlet Lady.
Once again, Virgin Voyages has listened to this feedback and made a quick-fix. There are now televisions in the Social Club. So, if you want to catch a sporting event while onboard, you will want to head to this venue. You can even grab a hot dog, pretzel, chicken wings, or other snacks from this retro diner.
In our opinion, we still feel that the Social Club and Loose Cannon could be turned into one larger, unified venue. A nautically themed pub with the same great pub snacks and drinks would be nice, along with the already present pub games, arcade, and televisions. Just saying.
Improved Notifications
Finally, Virgin Voyages has stepped up its communication with sailors a bit. While the cruise line is appealing to a younger demographic, it does rely heavily on its app (which does still have some issues).
While there are still no daily announcements from the Captain, there are brief updates made around the ship alerting guests of upcoming activities. There are also paper dailies now available for those who want to check the schedule of events.
In addition to push notifications on the app, we did also receive paper announcements in our stateroom for important messages. Last time, we missed an important time change notice as a push notification was sent to our phone after midnight when we were already asleep. This time, we actually received a paper notification alerting us to be sure to stay on ship time while visiting Cozumel.
We appreciated these small updates. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns while sailing, you can visit Sailor Services on deck 5 where crew members will be happy to assist you further.
Still No Beverage Packages
Alas, the one sticking point where Virgin Voyages doesn’t seem to be budging is beverage packages. The cruise line still does not offer beverage packages for purchase.
Yes, the cruise line does offer a pre-paid Bar Tab often with extra promotional amounts for purchasing. Yet, the onboard drinks will run your bar tab dry pretty quickly.
While the cruise line’s advertising suggests drinks are reasonably priced, cocktails still average around $13. This might be cheaper than some metropolitan cities like Miami, but this is certainly on par with pricing found on other cruise lines….which DO offer drink packages.
Even though we typically average only 5 alcoholic drinks a day, we still usually purchase a beverage package. We still see value in them as we drink a lot of specialty coffee, and we like the peace of mind. There’s no worrying about the bill at the end of the cruise.
For sailors looking to that party vibe on Virgin Voyages, you will definitely want to consider drink prices so you don’t get sticker shock at the end of your cruise.
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