Sarah BretzEver since its launch a few years ago, Virgin Voyages has been known as a premium brand that includes more in its base cruise fare than most other lines. And while that remains true, some things are changing. Virgin Voyages has just launched a new tiered system to its cruise fares, called VoyageFair Choices. Through these new fares, guests can choose just how much they want included in their vacation up-front. Here’s our guide to the three new cruise fares you can choose from on Virgin Voyages.
Note: These changes apply to new Virgin Voyages cruise bookings made on or after October 7, 2025. If you have a cruise after October 7th but you booked prior to that date, your booking will remain unchanged and the inclusions you booked with will be honored.
Quick Summary: Virgin Voyages New Pricing
What’s Changed: Virgin Voyages launches tiered cruise fares effective on October 7, 2025, replacing their previous all-inclusive model.
Three New Fare Options:
- Base Fare: Budget option with basic WiFi, 15-day dining reservations, non-refundable
- Essential Fare: Mid-tier with classic WiFi, 45-day dining reservations, some flexibility
- Premium Fare: Top tier with premium WiFi for 2 devices, bar tab included, 60-day dining reservations
Biggest Changes:
- Gratuities now separate ($20/night if pre-paid, $22/night onboard)
- WiFi tiers now vary by fare type
- Dining reservation windows shortened for budget bookings
- Less flexibility for changes on lower-tier fares
Bottom Line: Essential fare is closest to the old Virgin Voyages experience. Choose Base for budget savings, Premium for maximum perks without booking a suite.
Virgin Voyages VoyageFair Choices Explained (October 2025 Update)
Base Fare
The base fare is the most affordable of the three tiers, making it best for those who are on a tight budget. It’s a non-refundable fare, and does not allow for changes to the sail date, the stateroom, or the guests who are sailing. The base fare is introducing a new Basic WiFi tier for one device per person. It allows access to basic internet functions like messaging, light browsing, and social media. If you book the Base fare, you have access to book onboard dining reservations 15 days prior to sailing.
Pros:
- Most affordable option for budget-conscious cruisers
- Still includes basic WiFi (messaging, light browsing, social media)
- Access to all ship amenities and entertainment
- Can still book dining reservations
Cons:
- Non-refundable with no change flexibility
- Only 15-day dining reservation window (shortest timeframe)
- Basic WiFi limited to one device per person
- Cannot change guests or sail dates after booking
Essential Fare
The Essential fare is the middle tier, and is closest to the pre-October 7, 2025 pricing structure and offerings available to Virgin Voyages guests. It allows for the ability to adjust voyage dates using a future cruise credit. Name changes are also allowed for guests two through four (meaning everyone in a cabin can be switched except the primary passenger).
Classic WiFi for one device per person is also included in the Essential fare. Classic WiFi includes messaging, browsing, social media, and audio calling capabilities. This fare tier also includes the ability to reserve dining 45 days prior to sailing.
Pros:
- Closest to Virgin’s original all-inclusive experience
- 45-day dining reservation window
- Classic WiFi included
- Allows voyage date changes via future cruise credit
- Can change guest names (except primary passenger)
Cons:
- More expensive than Base fare
- WiFi still limited to one device per person
- No included bar tab or drink credits
- Standard customer service (no priority support)
Premium Fare
The Premium fare is the top tier, not counting the extra perks that are included for suite guests. Premium includes Premium WiFi for two devices per person, with streaming and video capabilities added. An included Bar Tab (which is a drinks credit) and access to a priority support line for pre-cruise booking is also included. And, for the first time, Sea Terrace categories and below will enjoy a 60-day dining reservation window, which was previously only available to suite guests.
Pros:
- Premium WiFi for two devices per person with streaming/video
- Included Bar Tab (drink credits)
- 60-day dining reservation window (previously suite-only perk)
- Priority customer support line access
- Maximum flexibility for changes and modifications
Cons:
- Highest price point of the three tiers
- May include perks some guests won’t use
- Still not as many inclusions as booking an actual suite
- Suites still get to book dining ahead of this fare
For an in-depth look at all of what’s included on a Virgin Voyages cruise, check out this post.
Do suites still come with exclusive perks?
Suite guests have not been forgotten in Virgin Voyages’ updates. Since the Premium fare now allows for dining reservations 60 days in advance — which used to be the timeframe for suite guests — suite guests can now reserve dining 120 days prior to sailing. The other inclusions for those staying in suites will remain unchanged: access to Richard’s Rooftop sundeck, curated in-room bars, dedicated RockStar Agent service, and Classic WiFi.
Guests staying in the highest suite category, Mega RockStar suites, also receive daily Bar Tabs and the highest WiFi tier available on Virgin Voyages for two devices, Work from Sea.
Are gratuities still included in the Virgin Voyages cruise fare?
Gratuities are another major change for Virgin Voyages as of October 7, 2025. Daily gratuities have been unbundled from the cruise fare, and instead are displayed as a separate line item at the time of booking. Despite this, Virgin Voyages says that “the total cost of a voyage does not change.”
Passengers can pre-pay their daily gratuities at a discounted rate of $20 per person, per night. Or, if they choose to wait until they’re on board, $22 per person, per night will be charged to the onboard account.
Though daily gratuities will now be separated from the cruise fare, tipping is not automatically charged or expected anywhere else on board. This means that the only thing that’s changing is how daily gratuities are handled.
So what’s changed with Virgin Voyages’ pricing?
The biggest difference with Virgin Voyages’ new pricing structure is that gratuities are no longer included in the cruise fare. While you can still pre-pay for them at the time of booking, they are displayed as a separate line item and guests can wait to pay them on board instead.
As well, the dining reservation window for those who book with the Base fare is significantly shorter than it’s ever been before. Previously, all standard staterooms allowed for restaurant reservations 45 days in advance, with suite guests enjoying a longer 60-day window. Now, the Base fare only allows for reservations to be made 15 days in advance. The Essential fare stays the same at 45 days, and the Premium fare moves up to 60. Suite guests will now have a whopping 120 days prior to sailing to make dining reservations.
WiFi access has also become more nuanced. WiFi was and remains free on Virgin Voyages, with everyone previously receiving Classic WiFi that allowed for browsing, emailing, messaging, and access to social media. The Premium WiFi was available for an upcharge and included the capability for streaming and video calls. The highest tier, called Work from Sea, was also available for purchase and provided to Mega RockStar suite guests for free (and still is). Now, a new WiFi tier (Basic) has been added.
Virgin Voyages is also shifting how it handles guest changes prior to sailing. Pre-October 7th, all names on a reservation could be changed up to 48 hours prior to sailing at no added cost. Now, that privilege is reserved for those who book through the Premium fare. Similarly, pre-October 7th guests could change their cruise date up to 45 days prior to sailing. Now, only those who book with Essential or Premium fare have that option.
Which cruise fare should I book with?
If you’re looking for the closest option to Virgin Voyages’ previous cruise fare, choose the middle-of-the-road Essential fare. If you’re on a tight budget or just want to keep your vacation spending to a minimum, you’ll probably want to go for the Base fare. Just keep in mind that dining reservations for the Base fare can only be made 15 days out, so you might not get into every restaurant on your desired day and time. Though, you can always book dining once you get on board, too, as Virgin only opens a limited portion of its dining reservations ahead of time.
If you’re looking for the best inclusions without booking a suite, you’ll likely want to go for the Premium fare. The included Bar Tab is a nice perk, and you’ll get the upgraded wifi for two devices per person. Plus, you’ll likely have your pick of dining reservations, as the only people who can book restaurants before you are those staying in suites.
Comments
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