Donald BucoloIt has been over two years since we last sailed with Virgin Voyages. Since then, some cruisers have commented that this premium cruise line has been cutting corners. Of course, we were curious to see if this was true or if the cruise line still delivers an elevated cruise experience. So, we were invited back onboard for the recent Celebration Voyage on Valiant Lady out of Miami to put Virgin Voyages to the test. We are back and share all the details on whether we think Virgin Voyages is still worth it in 2025.
Is Virgin Voyages Really Worth It?
The Dining Experience on Virgin Voyages
For us, perhaps the biggest draw of cruising with Virgin Voyages is the dining. The cruise fare includes dining at 20+ different eateries.
Though, we had heard some rumblings that the food on Virgin Voyages has gone downhill since the cruise line’s launch. We can happily report that this is not the case. In fact, most Virgin Voyages restaurants serve food that is equivalent to what you would get at specialty restaurants on other cruise lines.
We dined at The Wake, Razzle Dazzle, Extra Virgin, The Test Kitchen, and Pink Agave during our recent sailing. All our meals were expertly prepared.
My filet mignon at The Wake was a perfectly seared medium-rare cut. With tempting starters like clam chowder and equally impressive side dishes, this meal easily rivals any steakhouse at sea.
Similarly, we indulged on various starters, such as fried calamari, meatballs, and an antipasti platter, before savoring homemade pastas like bolognese, carbonara, and spaghetti with clams at Extra Virgin.
At Pink Agave, we shared several small plates like guacamole, grilled corn, chicken enchiladas, and seared shrimp. But we also made sure to save room for the bread pudding, one of the best desserts on the entire ship.
While Test Kitchen and Razzle Dazzle aren’t our favorites, the food quality and presentation are still top-notch.
If you were to have similar dining experiences on other cruise lines, you’d easily spend an additional $175 to $300+ per person on top of your cruise fare. But not on Virgin Voyages; it’s all included!
Casual Dining on Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages also gets casual dining right, for the most part.
The Galley is the cruise line’s version of a buffet with several different food stalls serving a variety of cuisine from sushi and burgers to ramen, salads, and more. You can order custom-made selections at each station or take away some pre-made items.
Some standout offerings include tacos at Let’s Taco About, as well as all-day breakfast at Diner and Dash. Other unique offerings include a Noodle station and Wellbread with some tasty breakfast sandwiches.
Health-conscious cruisers will appreciate the Daily Mix soup and salad bar and the options from Hot off the Press for breakfast and lunch.
Although, while the food is fresh and flavorful, The Galley can be frustrating for those who want to grab something quick to eat. Oftentimes, guests order menu items and are given a pager to return once their selection is ready, which could take 10 or more minutes.
Likewise, there’s the Pizza Place, serving some of the best free pizza at sea. Albeit, you can wait up to 20 minutes during busy times for your own personal pizza.
The Sun Club Cafe on Deck 16 is another hidden gem. Serving poke bowls and bao buns in an al fresco setting, it is yet another casual dining option not far from the pool deck.
For even more choice, there are tapas at the Dock and Dock House, including some irresistible shrimp skewers, snacks at the Social Club, and complimentary ice cream at Lick Me Till Ice Cream.
We made sure to sample as much as we could over five days, and all of these offerings lived up to our previous expectations.
Where many other cruise lines have cut back on food quality and included dining options, Virgin Voyages has stayed consistent. The cruise line still offers the best dining at sea in the mid to large-sized vessel category.
The One Dining Caveat
However, getting reservations at restaurants can be a hassle. While Virgin promotes flexibility, popular restaurants like The Wake and Extra Virgin book up incredibly fast pre-cruise. Admittedly, it is a pain point even the CEO acknowledged during a Q&A on the ship.
Our advice? Set a reminder for when reservations open (45-60 days before sailing depending on your room category) and book your must-try venues immediately.
If you miss out, try booking as soon as you board the ship, and keep checking daily for last minute cancellations during your voyage.
Getting a Drink on Virgin Voyages
While the cruise line still offers upscale and exquisite dining for a great value, its beverage program is more questionable.
Unlike many other cruise lines, Virgin Voyages does include basic beverages, such as filtered and sparkling water at meals and soda in The Galley. Some cruise lines charge $15 a day just for a soda package.
However, the rest of the complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, like brewed coffee and non-pressed juices, are standards across all cruise lines. So, Virgin doesn’t provide much additional value when it comes to drinks compared to lines like Oceania or Viking, which include drinks like specialty coffees in their cruise fares.
The bar scene on Virgin Voyages remains relatively unchanged since the launch of the cruise line; however, drink prices have increased.
I am a fan of the Loose Cannon. This nautically-themed bar is tucked away on Deck 7. It has great decor and theming, even if it is usually empty. The Draught Haus also offers an admirable selection of beers on draft and in cans/bottles. However, this venue’s location in the Roundabout does not provide much of a pub-like atmosphere.
We love the Dock and Dock House’s vibe and chill ambiance as well, and the drinks here are a must-try.
However, the lineup of specialty cocktails at bars like Sip Champagne Bar or even On the Rocks and The Manor nightclub are not necessarily memorable.
Where Virgin Voyages Misses the Mark
Perhaps Virgin Voyages’ biggest miss is the lack of a drink package. For alcoholic drinks, Virgin uses what they call a “Bar Tab” system. Instead of a flat daily rate for unlimited drinks, you pre-pay for a tab, and the cruise line adds bonus dollars depending on how much you commit.
For example, if you pre-pay $300, the cruise line might add a $50 bonus, giving you $350 to spend on drinks. The bonus amounts on the Bar Tab fluctuate, so you might find a better promotion offering more bonus money.
It was once true that the drinks at bars and lounges were reasonably priced, but that is not the case anymore. Most cocktails are around $13 – $18, putting them on par with the competition. Craft beers are closer to $9, and wines vary from $11 to $20 a glass.
Additionally, our daily iced lattes and cold brew coffees were $8 each. These actually might be the most expensive coffees we have ever had at sea.
With the Bar Tab offering minimal bonus cash, sailors are not saving much money by pre-buying these credits. And the credits are not refundable either.
However, Virgin Voyages has been piloting a drink package. It will be interesting to see if they change course and begin offering this option on future cruises.
In short, Virgin Voyages likely won’t save you any money on your bar bill. In fact, you might be spending more money with this cruise line than the competitors depending on your drinking habits.
Virgin Voyages Entertainment
Heidi and I are usually on the same page regarding our opinions about cruise ships. One area we have debated in the past is Virgin Voyages’ entertainment. I have always been more of a fan of the unique shows than she has.
After this sailing, I am starting to accept her position. Virgin Voyages’ entertainment is different but not necessarily better than traditional cruise entertainment.
During our sailing, we attended The Miss Behave Show, an interactive competition with good energy that is somewhat chaotic and repetitive.
We caught a headliner act called “The Magnets” as well. This talented a cappella group most resembled traditional cruise ship entertainment. In fact, we immediately compared them to Mo5aic which we’ve seen several times on Royal Caribbean ships. The Magnets’ productions were Heidi’s favorite of the cruise.
Perhaps my favorite signature production was Around the World with the Diva. While definitely not something you would see on any other cruise line, this drag performance was fun without being too over the top.
On Valiant Lady, Virgin has moved its signature Untitled DanceShowPartyThing to the last night of the cruise. It is still the same show with lots of energy, but having seen it several times now, I can see why the show could catch people off guard when featured as the Welcome Aboard show.
The cruise line has also discontinued the most risqué show, Never Sleep Alone. Instead, there’s the Love Love Love with the Hostess show in The Manor. In our opinion, it was a more tame and somewhat disjointed attempt to replace Never Sleep Alone.
Unfortunately, one of our favorite Virgin Voyages shows, Duel Reality, wasn’t offered during our sailing on Valiant Lady either. It appears that the cruise line is starting to differientate entertainment across the fleet, so you might only get to see this phenomenal cirque-style show if you sail on Scarlet Lady.
Onboard Activities and Nightlife on Virgin Voyages
When it comes to other nightlife, the Scarlet Night party still shines. The whole ship turns red, literally and figuratively, with most sailors getting in on the fun. Of course, many also get into the pool to top things off at the signature deck party towards the end of the evening.
Aside from Scarlet Night, there are several other themed parties that occur during the cruise like the PJ Party in the Athletic Club and We Fancy in The Manor.
However, we think Virgin Voyages still has some work to do regarding live music. On the Rocks and the Roundabout still offer the most live music, but they are right next to each other so don’t occur at the same time. For a ship of this size, we believe live music performances should co-occur to help disperse the crowds.
Many venues still seem underutilized in the evenings especially the Dock House. An acoustic guitarist would work great here or in the Loose Cannon. A sing-along piano bar would also be a great addition to the fleet as these types of venues are often standing-room-only on other cruise lines.
Nonetheless, we did enjoy the live music that was offered. Selkii, a solo guitarist, offered your typical coffee house vibes. We’ve seen her on previous sailings and always enjoy her sets.
Two rock bands, Plan V and Kennedi and the Groove, rotated sets on different nights at On the Rocks. A house band, Groove Trio, played reggae and soul several times as well. So, there wasn’t a lack of talent onboard; it was just poor scheduling.
Virgin Voyages has also caved somewhat when it comes to onboard activities.
When we first sailed with them, we commented on the lack of things to do, and now there are diverse daytime and nighttime activities offered.
Many of them are similar to what you would find on other cruise lines with a Virgin twist. Activities like trivia, game shows, and even karaoke are now regular parts of the events and happenings. There are also board games, an arcade, dance classes, and more all included in the cruise fare.
Another benefit of Virgin Voyages is free group fitness classes. They offer a variety of sessions, from spin classes to VHS Workout (cue the 80s spandex attire) and morning yoga. Many classes have limited spots, so it is best to book onboard.
The included group classes for fitness enthusiasts probably save you around $25 a day compared to other cruise lines. However, the rest of the fitness areas (the gym) were on par with other cruise lines or seemingly not utilized at all (the boxing ring and other equipment at the Athletic Club). Yes, Virgin Voyages even offers pickleball in its sports court.
Staterooms
Love them or hate them, the staterooms on Virgin Voyages boast some useful features and some design flaws. For this sailing, we stayed in cabin 13178A. Located midship on the port side of Deck 13, this Sea Terrace stateroom measures approximately 185 square feet and has a 40-foot balcony.
The multi-functional furniture and sparse accommodations are not for everyone. We missed having the typical storage space you find on most cruise lines. There is little drawer or shelf space anywhere else in the cabin beyond the closet.
With one accent chair, a small table, and a small desk, there isn’t much room to spread out in the cabin.
Another miss for Virgin Voyages is the transformational seabed. While first touted as a useful feature, the cruise line has essentially abandoned using your bed as a sofa. During our five-night sailing, the bed remained as a bed the entire time, which meant there was no sofa in the room.
On a positive note, the room has several power outlets and USB outlets near the bed and desk, so we didn’t have issues charging our devices or using computers during the sailing.
The tablet-controlled mood lighting system lets you change your cabin’s lighting with presets. While it’s a fun novelty, we didn’t make use of it at all. The same tablet has other features too like controlling the television, checking your account, opening the blinds, or ordering room service (i.e., Ship Eats).
Further, Virgin made some questionable choices in the bathroom design. While the shower is spacious and has good water pressure (a legitimate positive), the sink is frustratingly small, and the countertop space is virtually non-existent. If you travel with even a modest amount of toiletries, you’ll struggle for space to store them.
What Virgin gets RIGHT is the Sea Terrace hammock in most balcony cabins. This feature, while seemingly gimmicky, is genuinely enjoyable. We spent several relaxing hours here watching the ocean. Too bad they can’t figure out a way to have two hammocks so you don’t have to fight over who gets to use it.
Is There Really No Nickel and Diming on Virgin Voyages?
Basic WiFi is among the other inclusions on Virgin Voyages. While the included internet is adequate for social media and checking emails, the cruise line now offers other upgraded packages.
Unfortunately, these packages start at $30 per day, per device for premium WiFi. This puts Virgin on par with other cruise lines offering similar streaming internet at sea.
As part of our package, we had the Work from Sea internet. At $50 a day, per device, this internet boasts faster speeds and VPN capabilities.
I was able to take Teams calls, but the WiFi did not work any better (or worse) than other streaming packages from competitor cruise lines who now use Starlink, which charge around $20 to $30 daily.
While the free basic WiFi might not be a huge value in this rapidly changing digital world, the included gratuities certainly are.
We appreciate the transparent pricing. Virgin Voyages doesn’t charge service charges or gratuities, whether purchasing a cocktail or getting a massage. So, that $15 cocktail is $15, and you don’t need to pay an extra $2.70 to $3.00 in service charges per libation.
Along with no gratuities on purchases, there is no daily service charge. Virgin Voyages still includes all tips and gratuities in the base fare. There are no additional daily charges automatically added to your shipboard account, no envelopes on the last day, and no awkward tipping interactions, creating a more relaxed service experience.
Traditional cruise lines typically charge $16 to $20 per person, per day in automatic gratuities. That’s $80 to $100 per person on a 5-night cruise, or $160 to $200 for a couple.
Of course, cruisers are free to tip crew members who go above and beyond, like our favorite barista RJ, who got to know our drink order by Day 2 and was upbeat and fun regardless of the time of day.
Is It Worth Taking a Virgin Voyages Cruise in 2025?
We analyzed pricing for similar 7-night Western Caribbean cruises on Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line, focusing on balcony accommodations booked 7 months in advance.
The table below shows how Virgin Voyages’ pricing compares to the competition.
| Amenities | Virgin Voyages | Celebrity Xcel | Star Princess | Norwegian Prima |
| Base Price | $3,570 | $3,000 | $2,300 | $3,250 (with “More at Sea”) |
| Package Price | N/A | $4,180 All Included | $3,500 Premier | N/A |
| Main Dining | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Specialty Dining | ✓ All 20+ venues included | ✗ $35-$70 per person per day | ✗ $35-$70 per person per day ✓ Included with Premier | ✓ Limited (3 dinners included with promotion) |
| Soda | ✓ Included | ✗ Pay as you go ✓ Included with All Included | ✗ $17.69 per person, per day ✓ Included with Premier | ✓ Included with More at Sea |
| Alcoholic Beverages | ✗ Pay as you go | ✗ Pay as you go ✓ Classic package with All Included | ✗ Pay as you go ✓ Unlimited with Premier | ✓ Unlimited Bar with More at Sea |
| WiFi | ✓ Basic WiFi included | ✗ $20.99 per device, per day ✓ Basic WiFi with All Included | ✗ $25 per device, per day ✓ High-speed (4 devices) with Premier | ✓ Limited number of minutes with More at Sea |
| Fitness Classes | ✓ Included | ✗ $25 per class | ✗ $16 per class ✓ Included with Premier | ✗ $24 per class |
| Gratuities | ✓ Included | ✓ Included in prices shown (pre-paid at booking) | ✗ $17 per person per day ✓ Included in Premiere Package | ✗ $20 per person per day |
| Shore Excursions | ✗ Extra charge | ✗ Extra charge | ✗ Extra charge | ✓ $50 Credit per port of call |
Note: All prices are for a centrally located balcony cabin for two people on a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary booked 7 months in advance.
Virgin Voyages’ fare of $3,570 includes everything we’ve discussed—specialty dining, basic beverages, WiFi, gratuities, and fitness classes. At first glance, this appears higher than competitors’ fares, with Star Princess starting at just $2,300 and Celebrity Xcel at $3,000 for the base fare.
However, the comparison isn’t that straightforward. Once you add a few specialty dinners and WiFi, the pricing for those cruises is more in line with Virgin Voyages.
With Norwegian’s “More at Sea” promotion, the Western Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Prima is currently $3,250. This promotion includes unlimited drinks, three specialty dinners, and WiFi minutes.
Plus, the cruise line provides shore excursion credits for tours at each port of call. However, specialty coffee and bottled water are not included. Add daily gratuities, and you have a close match to Virgin Voyages but with unlimited alcoholic beverages.
The Princess Premier package, at $3,500, is the closest competitor to Virgin in terms of included value. It offers unlimited alcoholic beverages, all specialty dining, fitness classes, high-speed internet, and even service charges. Actually, in some ways, Princess Cruises is providing more than Virgin with that unlimited drink package.
So, deciding if it’s worth it to sail with Virgin Voyages really comes down to your cruising style and what you value the most as inclusions when traveling.
Who Should Sail With Virgin Voyages?
While Virgin Voyages was a bargain when the cruise line first launched, the line’s current cruise fares align more with those of other premium and contemporary cruise lines.
Don’t get us wrong, we think Virgin Voyages is still a great cruise for the price. However, the cruise line has increased its fares to reflect better what’s included and is now just more comparable to other cruise lines (which have generally increased in price across the board over the past four years).
For some, having access to all 20+ restaurants without additional charges represents significant value for foodies who would otherwise pay $35-75 per person at specialty venues on other ships. The included WiFi and gratuities also remove the nickel-and-diming feeling many cruisers dislike.
However, those who consistently drink 5-6 or more alcoholic beverages a day while cruising might find Princess Premier to be more valuable, as it includes unlimited alcoholic beverages and matches Virgin Voyages’ other inclusions. Virgin’s pay-as-you-go Bar Tab system can add up quickly for those enjoying multiple drinks daily, but it might save some money for those who only have 1 or 2 glasses of wine with dinner each day.
Traditional cruise enthusiasts might also find less value in Virgin’s approach. If you appreciate formal nights and the familiar rhythm of mainstream cruising, you might miss these elements that Virgin intentionally avoids. But, if you loathe dressing up for formal nights and taking photos on the atrium staircase, Virgin might be your answer.
Regardless of your cruising style, we would encourage you to try Virgin Voyages as the line definitely provides a fresh take on cruising. Virgin currently offers a variety of quick 4- and 5-day cruises, which are the perfect introduction. When compared to other short cruise options, Virgin Voyages is often a fantastic value as it includes few upcharges besides alcoholic beverages. Plus, the ships are newer than many others that offer these quick getaways.
Virgin Voyages is continuing to expand as well to keep sailors coming back for more. With updated dining concepts and new entertainment, new itineraries and destinations, and Brilliant Lady launching later this year, we look forward to setting sail with the brand again soon.
Comments
Do you think Virgin Voyages is worth it? Have you sailed on one of the ships in the Virgin fleet yet? Drop us an anchor below with your Virgin Voyages cruise reviews.
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